Reflections on Championship Sunday

I don’t even know where to begin with this post because the two games that we were played yesterday spoiled football fans around the nation. The first game to kick off the great day of football was the AFC championship game featuring the Colts and Jets. I had no doubt in my mind heading into the game that the Colts weren’t going to take care of business. Unfortunately for me, the Jets had me eating my words for close to thirty minutes of the game, but that’s why two halves are played. The games first scoring drive came from the Colts as the Jets bend but don’t break defense only yielded a field goal. This didn’t seem to rattle the Jets, as on their next play from scrimmage Mark Sanchez threw a bomb to Braylon Edwards (yes, he actually caught it), and ran in for the long TD score. It was a brilliant play call to go up top right away, as the Colts were expecting the run. The Jets D then held the Colts to another FG and the Jets were back in business. Once again, the Colts were 100 percent defending the run, and just like that the Jets used a wildcat pass to get back to the red zone. A few plays later, Sanchez threw another TD pass, and it was 14-6 Jets that quick. Was this really going to happen? Were the Jets seriously going to knock off the mighty Colts and Peyton Manning at home? Not much changed on the Colts next drive as they fumbled deep in their own territory and the Jets had their hopes set on a 21-3 halftime score. However, the Colts D bailed out the offense and held the Jets to a field goal. 17-3 Jets late in the 2nd quarter. No one in the nation would have predicted that from this point on it would be all Colts, but that’s basically the story here. Manning led the Colts down the field instantaneously and threw a TD strike to Austin Collie to cut the lead to 17-10 at halftime. This is where the tides turned completely and there was the feeling that Manning was starting to figure out the puzzle that’s the Jets defense.
        The 2nd half saw Manning just pick apart the Jets D hitting Garcon and Collie left and right. Revis did his part for most of the game, but luckily for the Colts there is only one of him. The only 3rd quarter score was a beautiful Manning strike to Garcon to give the Colts the lead for the first time. This is where fans just knew that might be it for the Jets and there rookie QB led offense. The 4th quarter was no different than the third as the Colts were responsible for all the points. A Dallas Clark TD reception was the nail in the coffin that deflated the Jets. A late Matt Stover FG closed out the scoring at 30-17. I’ll admit it was a gutsy performance by the Jets and to their credit no one dreamed they would get this far. This leaves Rex Ryan with some lofty expectations next year and only time will tell if his team will live up to it.

        An even better game followed the AFC championship game, as a battle of two best of offenses in the league took place between the Vikings and Saints took place down in New Orleans. Both teams came out firing in this one, starting with the Vikings. Favre came out throwing, moving the ball down the field with ease. The drive ended with a 19 yard TD run by Peterson and the Vikings took the early 7-0 lead. Apparently the Saints offense was just as ready to score as they followed up with their own impressive scoring drive, eventually scoring on a screen pass to Pierre Thomas. In only about 9 minutes of play, it was 7-7. The Vikings got the ball back and the Saints D failed yet again to keep the Vikings out of the end zone, this time letting Favre connect with Sidney Rice on a 5 yard pass to give the Vikes a 14-7 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. The 2nd quarter didn’t see as much scoring; only a Brees TD pass to Devery Henderson to tie the game at 14. The Vikings blew a huge opportunity late in the half as Reggie Bush muffed a punt that should have been a blatant fair catch call. Minnesota recovered in the Saints red zone but managed to screw up a golden opportunity as Favre and Peterson had a bad exchange on the ball, causing the fumble and the Saints jumped right on it.
        The start of the 2nd half was just like the beginning of the game. The Saints drove right down the field and Garcon found the end zone again. It was the Saints first lead of the game at 21-14. It didn’t last long. Favre led the Vikings right down the field again and the TD drive was capped off by another Peterson TD to tie the game again. The 4th quarter was just like the 3rd as both teams exchanged TDs. The Saints scored on a Reggie Bush TD to grab the lead again. However, once again, the Saints D failed to keep the Vikings out of the red zone as Peterson scored for the third time. This is where the game just got even more ridiculous. Everyone who watched the game knows the Vikings fumbled SIX TIMES and where somehow still in this game. Somehow they survived all the turnovers and found themselves in a position to win the game. With two minutes left and a tie game, the Vikings were driving and looked as if they were entering Ryan Longwell’s FG range. Enter vintage Brett Favre. With only 19 seconds left and after an inexcusable 12 men in the huddle penalty the Vikings were forced to throw on 3rd down to get closer for a FG. Favre rolled out to his right, had running room in which he could have picked up about 8 yards (which would have been enough) but instead threw across his body and into the middle of the field. I don’t care who is throwing the ball, that is a terrible decision, and everyone knows what happens when you do that, INTERCEPTION. Stunned. Shocked. Dumbfounded. Whatever you want to call it, that was everyone’s reaction. The rest is history. Overtime ensued and Favre never got a chance to redeem himself (partly in thanks to hideous calls by the refs that gave the Saints critical yards) as the Saints won the toss and 23 year old Hartley kicked a game winner in OT to send his team into the Superbowl. The game was an instant classic and it’s a shame Favre’s last pass may be a pick. Again.
-PJ