For some teams the last two weeks of the season can be an after thought for one of two reasons. The first being that your team has locked up there playoff seed, so they put the emphasis on resting there top players. The second being most teams need these last to games to sneak into the post season party, but if there unsuccessful then they’ll be packing flip flops and tank tops. Now just like we’ve had all season there were a ton of games perfect for the holiday season.
We’ll start this weeks coverage in Detroit where the Lions were looking to get back into the playoffs with a win against the Chargers. The Chargers just as they always do in December are playing lights out and a win here only strengthens there playoff chances after a rough month of November. The Lions would get right to work as QB Matthew Stafford was hot leading the team up and down the field scoring at will resulting in a 24 – 0 half time lead. The Chargers were able to put some points on the board in the third quarter, but the Lions would prove to be too much as they continued there scoring spree with another 14 points in the second half wrapping up the 38 – 10 victory and punching there playoff ticket for the first time since the 1999 season. Lions fans get ready because with Megatron ….aka Calvin Johnson and that offense getting back into that early season groove your sure to make some noise.
Next this year’s version of “Raider Nation” was looking to keep pace with the division leading Broncos when they took on the Chiefs this weekend. For the Raiders a must win game in order to get into the playoffs, for the Chiefs could they play just as well as they did last week ending the Packers streak and possibly getting Romeo Crennell that permanent head coach slot? When the Chiefs and Raiders face off its usually a hard fought , hard hitting contest, highly penalized, with points being hard to come by. This game would follow suit as both teams could only manage a field goal for a 3 – 3 halftime score. Midway through the third quarter Raiders QB Carson Palmer stepped up and made a play connecting with WR D. Moore for a 69 yard touchdown giving the Raiders a 10 – 3 lead. Late in the fourth quarter with the Raiders still leading 13 – 6 the Chiefs made some plays to put them in position to pull it out. Chiefs RB Dexter McCluster took a 49 yard screen pass all the way down to the 5 yard line putting the Chiefs in scoring position. On the next play Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe would catch a touchdown pass for a 13 – 13 tie. With a win the Chiefs could almost do the impossible win the division as the Broncos lost earlier in the day. After a Raiders punt the Chiefs got the ball back and made a couple of plays to get the ball into field goal range with 9 seconds left on the clock. They get the field goal unit on , but Raiders DE Richard Seymour blocks the attempt (his second block of the game) sending the game into overtime. The Raiders would get the ball first and QB Carson Palmer took full advantage finding WR Derius Heyward 0 Bey for a long completion that got them right into field goal range. Raiders kicker Sebastian Janakowski ( this dude is 6’3 275 ….yeah a kicker) takes the field and ends the game with a good 26 yard attempt for a 16 – 13 win.
The Eagles were up next with there games against the Cowboys. A win for the Eagles and they could still keep there hopes alive (depending on what happened with the Giants Vs. Jets game) and after last weeks performance against the Jets along with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones saying ” He was scared of the Eagles” ….. made so this had all the makings of a classic NFC East rivalry. As we have all seen for moments during the season when the Eagles offense is clicking there isn’t much any defense could do to slow they down. The way the game started it was like that scene from State Property when Beans told dude in the rim shop … “You can either get down or lay down”….. after some stuttering the Cowboys definitely choose to lay down. Eagles QB Mike Vick lead two scoring drives for a 14 – 0 halftime lead. Right before the half Cowboys QB Tony Romo got sacked sustaining a injury to his throwing hands, news they Cowboys definitely didn’t want to hear. However both teams got news at halftime about the Jets vs. Giants game that had playoff implications for both teams. The Eagles learned that they wouldn’t be in this years playoffs and the Cowboys learned that no matter what happened in this game there fate would be decided next week. With this in mind the Cowboys ruled Romo out for the second half going with back up QB Stephen McGee. For the Eagles it was the same mindset play hard and finish this season strong as they controlled the rest of the game only giving up a late score sealing the 20 – 7 victory.
As I was writing this a got a text from friend of the blog “Uncle Richard Junior” who said and I quote ” Whoever said we was the dream team in the beginning of the season is going …….NIGHT – NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried to warm him that these are professional athlete’s with security and guns (no permits), so he might wanna re-think his plans. His response …… Man Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m gonna see him … me by myself …. all day ….up all night with Nikki & Drake …. one pillow …. no pillow case …. Y’all know the rest so….VY watch your back !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I don’t know about y’all but the next game was my favorite of the whole weekend as I had members of my family split down the middle for the Jets vs. Giants. With all the pre game hype throughout the week and the playoff implications the game held for both teams I expected it to be a good one. Either that or I knew I was guaranteed some funny YouTube videos featuring my family as the game unfolded. The Jets got things started with a solid drive down the filed for an early score and 7 – 0 lead. Even with the score the Jets fans in the house didn’t want start talking yet. From the Giants fans all you heard was “It’s Aight…… It’s Aight” (yes we speak fluent ebonics in my family thanks to the new Rosetta Stone). On the field the Giants would answer with a field goal cutting the Jets lead to 7 – 3. Then it happened…. The Giants were backed up on there own 1 yard line and on a 3 – 11 play Eli found Jersey’s own Victor Cruz for a 99 yard touchdown catch and run.
Little did anybody know at the moment but this would be the deciding play of the game. It was only a 10 – 7 halftime lead for the Giants, surely the Jets would be able to fight back right??????????? From that point on the silence , head shaking , thug mean mugs…..said it all as the Giants continuing to make big plays. Jets safety Brodney Pool became a poster child as Giants RB Ahmad ” Pocket Hercules” Bardshaw ran him over for a score pushing the lead to 17 – 7. Wait that was a serious “PAWS” and violation of MAN CODE # 211 which states “You can never address another grown man by a suspect nickname and yes this extends to sporting events.” I apologize people …… don’t judge me.
The Giants would get a field goal pushing the lead to 20 – 7 and after a weird stretch where there were turnovers , penalties, a Jets touchdown called back and turnovers by both teams the Jets would finally make it a game as Sanchez was able to score himself on a rushing attempt cutting the lead to 20 – 14. The Jets were able to get the ball back again but the Giants “D” was up to the task getting a safety pushing the lead to 22 – 14. The Jets weren’t able to do anything else with the ball giving it back to the Giants after a three and out series on offense. The Giants drove the ball down the field capping there drive with another Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown sealing the game and maybe the Jets playoff fate with the 29 – 14 victory. After that the real fun began as family members that are Giants fans are running around the house mocking all the Jets touchdown celebrations, screaming “Can’t Wait” to see what head coach Rex Ryan has to say , screaming GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG – Men, crazy Facebook post/tags, etc. The funny thing that I heard after the game was the meeting on the field between Jets head coach Rex Ryan and Giants RB Brandon Jacobs ( Who my cousin call a 6’5 cheerleader……. #funnyashell) . Rex was said to have told Jacobs to “Shut the F up” and Jacobs was said to have responded with ” I’ll punch you in the F’N face.” Even in the press conference Jacobs keep it going saying ” I’m the wrong Giants player to mess with”. ……LMBO I would agree with him though because any player in 2011 -2012 that would wear the same sweater dress shirt combination that this dude wore to a couple of press conferences clearly doesn’t have anyone messing with him or giving him dressing tips. I’m just saying fellas y’all know we all rocked that look in our fourth grade school pictures ………………look at this
Overall the Giants and there fans got what they wanted bragging right for the whole state of New York and we have to wait another four years to see it again. Well people next week is the end of the regular season which means we have to prepare one of two things. The speech on how are team will do in the playoffs or what went wrong this season ending with the wait til next year remark. Either way its going to be a good one ….. Here are the rest of the week’s scores.
Colts 19 – Texans 16 (With the 1st pick in the 2012 NFL Draft the Colts select …….)
Ravens 20 – Browns 14
Bills 40 – Broncos 14
Panthers 48 – Bucs 16 (Sorry Irvington, NJ Raheem Morris will lose his job…smh)
Bengals 23 – Cardinals 16
Pats 27 – Dolphins 24
Steelers 27 – Rams 0
Titans 23 – Jagz 17
Viks 33 – Redskins 26
Niners 19 – Seahawks 17
Packers 35 – Bears 21 (ALL ROADS LEAD THROUGH THE FROZEN TUNDRA……GET SOME)
Saints 45 – Falcons16
In this weeks version of “Say Word” I wanna talk about the phenomena or foolery that happen this week with the re-release of the Jordan XI Concords nationwide. Now I am definitely a sneaker-head but what these people were doing in preparation for the release and paying upwards of $200 for a pair. I can honestly say that I have never paid $200 for a pair of sneakers in my life and refuse to for many reasons, but the scene created this weekend was crazy. You had people across the country lined up like it was “Black Friday” again for shoes. Reports of people camping out at shopping malls two to three days prior to the release, images on the news of people with there toddlers in strollers waiting, reports of people breaking into stores , destroying mall property, robbing people that were coming out of the store with them and the ultimate the new interviews of people there talking about why they were in line and why they had to have these shoes. One young man called himself a ” real shoe guy ” as he and his friends do nothing but get money alllllll day so its nothing for them to buy shoes!!!! C’mon people it never fails when a camera is around we hit the red button that says “hood” on it so we can talk to these reporters. Dude tried to tame it down a lil by saying he was sadden seeing young kids crying that they couldn’t get a pair of shoes especially during the holidays. Then he hit that “hood” button again saying ” Hey parents we do have some pair that were selling so look us up.”
Is this whats it come down too paying a car note in some cases for shoes? Listen people I get it we all have our guilty pleasures and the feeling that we work hard for our money, but when those wants out weigh our needs its just crazy. In 2012 people lets please make a better effort to not make it so easy for people to say ” Just look at them…… and shake they head at our actions.” Really the Concords are hot and I defiantly would take a pair if anyone would like to donate them , but how hot they gonna be if the lights get cut off , or your child gets hurt over them…… Hey its just my thoughts but I hope that you start to think about it too. Til next week people ……”Be Easy” You’ve just read The Rucker Report
