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Week 20 NFL Game Recaps



Patriots 23, Ravens 20

  • How do you miss a 32-yard field goal? Billy Cundiff was paid $2.2 million this year. It's simply inexcusable that he couldn't convert a routine kick to send this game to overtime. He can't be allowed back to this team. Not after this.

    Of course, Cundiff shouldn't have been in that position anyway because Joe Flacco threw a game-winning touchdown to Lee Evans two plays earlier. Unfortunately for Baltimore, Evans couldn't hang on to the football, as Sterling Moore, who was on the practice squad earlier in the year, knocked the ball out of his hands. Moore saved the season for Tom Brady, who has now tied John Elway for most Super Bowl appearances (5) and Joe Montana for most playoff victories (16). If Brady wins in two weeks, it's an easy argument to say that he's the best quarterback in NFL history.

  • Brady didn't play like the best quarterback in NFL history in this contest, however. He finished 22-of-36 for 239 yards, one rushing touchdown and two interceptions. He was just off. The picks weren't really his fault because they were just great plays by the Baltimore defense (the second, which Bernard Pollard tipped to Jimmy Smith in the end zone, is the best interception I've ever seen), but Brady missed some routine throws, including one where he had Rob Gronkowski open in the end zone.

    Brady will obviously need to play better in the Super Bowl because his defense isn't good enough to carry the team. If Moore doesn't knock the ball out of Evans' hands, the Patriots would have surrendered a game-winning drive to Joe freaking Flacco. That says it all.

  • Speaking of Flacco, he was pretty brutal early on, but got into a rhythm in the second and third quarters just when it looked like he wouldn't be able to get a first down. Flacco finished 22-of-36 for 306 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He scrambled smartly when needed (4-27) and made some really nice throws, though New England's putrid defense made it pretty easy for him. Unfortunately, the pick was awful, as it was heaved right to Brandon Spikes with 7:30 remaining in regulation in Patriots' territory.

    Flacco deserves a ton of credit for this near-victory because he was handicapped by Cam Cameron's atrocious play-calling. Cameron decided to run the ball on first down on the opening three drives, putting Flacco in second-and-long each time. The Ravens consequently had to punt on all three occasions.

    Cameron's play-calling would improve, but he really screwed up on the penultimate drive of the fourth quarter. He had Ray Rice run a draw on 3rd-and-3 on the New England 30 - a down in which the Ravens couldn't lose yardage no matter what. Rice was tackled three yards behind the line of scrimmage, forcing Baltimore to go for it on 4th-and-6. Flacco would throw incomplete because of pressure.

    If I'm Cameron, I'm sending Cundiff a gift basket (and perhaps a suitcase full of money) because if the kicker doesn't whiff on that field goal, Cameron would have been the easy scapegoat.

  • There was one seemingly critical injury in this contest, and that was to Gronkowski. The big tight end injured his ankle and had to be helped into the locker room. He would eventually return, so that bodes well for his chances to play in two weeks. The Gronk led the team with 87 receiving yards (5 catches). Both Aaron Hernandez (7-66) and Wes Welker (6-53) had more receptions.

  • BenJarvus Green-Ellis was the lone Patriot skill-position player to find the end zone. The Law Firm was a monster, bulldozing the Baltimore defense for 68 yards on just 15 carries. He was so impressive that I joked, "Green-Ellis is the second coming of Walter Payton!" in the Live In-Games Thread on the forum.

  • Green-Ellis amazingly edged out Rice by a single yard. Rice dashed for 67 yards on 21 carries. He had just one reception for 11 more yards, which makes you wonder why he wasn't a bigger factor in the aerial attack.

  • Anquan Boldin had a second-consecutive solid performance, hauling in six grabs for 101 yards. Torrey Smith (3-82) and Dennis Pitta (5-41) both found the end zone. Smith could have had a much greater performance, as he was open twice for deep balls, but Flacco overthrew him on both occasions.

    Ed Dickson, meanwhile, really struggled. He had a big drop and was guilty of a crucial false start in the fourth quarter.

  • Congratulations to the Patriots for advancing to Super Bowl XLVI. I'm rooting for Bob Kraft because of his wife's passing earlier this year. However, I have to criticize him for one thing. He needs to shell out more money for the national anthem performer. Yes, the homeless woman poured her heart and soul into singing the Star-Spangled Banner, but Kraft needs to get a musician who doesn't live in a cardboard box next time.





    Giants 20, 49ers 17

  • Cam Cameron obtained Ten Ginn with the ninth-overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, a selection that was viewed at the time as a major reach. Who would have thought that four-and-a-half years later, Cameron would be one of the scapegoats for one championship game loss, while Ginn's absence would be the reason for another championship defeat?

    Seriously, how big was Ginn's knee injury? If he's in the game, the 49ers don't muff a punt and fumble a return in overtime. You really have to feel for Kyle Williams. Unlike Billy Cundiff, Williams' main job isn't returning punts. He was in the game because Ginn was hurt. That doesn't excuse his two crucial mistakes that led to 10 New York points, but if you're comparing Williams to Cundiff, it's no contest. The kicker was more responsible.

  • This was a dead-even game otherwise. The total yardage was 319-319 at the end of regulation, and both squads would have been worthy NFC champions. The reason I picked the Giants, however, was that an even matchup like this would go to the team with the better quarterback. And Eli Manning was unquestionably the superior signal-caller.

    Manning went 32-of-58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns. That's an impressive stat line considering the immense pressure he was under. He seldom had time in the pocket and took six sacks (2.5 from Ray McDonald). San Francisco's defense definitely came to play.

    As for Alex Smith, he was 12-of-26 for 196 yards and two scores. He made a couple of great throws to Vernon Davis, but two things stick out to me. First, he had an open Kyle Williams downfield for a long touchdown in the second quarter, but overthrew him by about five yards. Second, Smith couldn't convert a third down to save his life. He was 1-of-13 in those situations, with the only positive result coming right at the very end of regulation when the Giants allowed him to complete a pass well short of the end zone.

    I don't want you to think that Smith is a lost cause or anything. He made great strides this year, and it wouldn't be fair to dismiss him because of this loss, especially after his late-game heroics versus New Orleans. He deserves a chance with more than one weapon to throw to. Vernon Davis was a monster again (3-112, 2 TDs), but no other Niner receiver or tight end did anything. Michael Crabtree caught one ball for three years yards.

  • Frank Gore had a really nice game. He rushed for 74 yards on just 16 carries, and chipped in with six catches for 45 receiving yards. Remember when I said this contest was evenly played? Well, Ahmad Bradshaw had the same amount of rushing yards and receptions (20-74; 6-52).

  • The star for the Giants was Victor Cruz, who had a whopping 10 grabs for 142 yards. All of his work came early though, and he didn't get a single reception in about 10 of the final drives. Hakeem Nicks (5-55) also played well, while Mario Manningham (1-17) and Bear Pascoe (1-6) caught Manning's touchdowns.



    My playoff 2011 NFL Power Rankings, will be posted Monday morning.

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    Spraynard 01-21-2013 09:31 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.49 (total posts: 1)
    17     15

    After every Ravens playoff win Walt has done nothing but make excuses for why the other team dropped the ball and lost rather than why the Ravens won. Ever think that beating Luck then going on the road to beat Manning and then going on the road again to beat Brady might just mean something else is going on besides the opponents messing up? Give credit where credit is due and stop making excuses.
    Big C 01-21-2013 08:45 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.113 (total posts: 2)
    6     6

    I hate to say I told you so, but I did tell you so. The Patriots offense is such a gimmicky, tricky-dicky system that thrives on mistakes and mis alignment. I knew the 2nd half was going to be a problem for the Patriots when they threw every razzle-dazzle play in the book at the Ravens in the 1st half. Plus they aren't build for the physical game the Ravens were going to play. You're damn right Brady quit, he threw that ball away and still got hit. If he'd have kept running, not only would Ngata have stopped him short (uhh he's way faster than Brady) but I promise his night would have ended right there. But this was going to happen. The Ravens have a lot of Talent and the Patriots have a lot of tricks and play in a weak division.
    Josh 01-21-2013 05:53 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.224 (total posts: 1)
    6     4

    Even if Brady had gotten the 4 yards, Haloti would have made him pay for it. They were still behind, and they wouldn't be able to come back anyway with a flattened Brady.
    Ridley 01-21-2013 04:28 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.17 (total posts: 1)
    19     5

    Ridley lowered his head to deliver the hit/run over Pollard, though....
    Zach 01-21-2013 03:09 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.249 (total posts: 1)
    79     84

    The patriots got a few lucky calls

    The hit on pitta over the middle: if that wasnt a hit on a defenseless receiver then I don't know what is, if that was Bernard pollard instead of mayo there would have been 9 flag on the field.

    Ed Reed also got hit on a fair catch and there was no call there.

    But we're on to the Super Bowl

    Go ravens!

    Ps Walt that was a very short recap in which you talked about what the patriots Didnt do rather than what the ravens did do.
    f**ing retards 01-21-2013 12:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.146 (total posts: 1)
    37     34

    I'm mad because walter is horrible but I comment every week on every single one of his awful articles. I only come to this site to make fun of walter because I have nothing better to do with my life. I hate his analysis and he has nothing good to say...yet here I am...ebonnnnyyyyy and ivooorrryyyyy
    AMD 01-21-2013 10:53 am xxx.xxx.xxx.176 (total posts: 1)
    13     11

    Give the Ravens defense the credit it deserves Walter. They beat Manning and Brady on the road in consecutive playoff games. Admittedly this is not the dominant Ravens defense we have seen much of the past decade, but they still got it done when it mattered most.

    New England averaged 35 points a game. Baltimore SHUT THEM OUT at home in the second half.
    Run-DMG 01-21-2013 10:06 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.11 (total posts: 4)
    7     5

    It's time to trade Peytom Branning. He completely melts down come playoff time nowadays.
    Sampetra 01-21-2013 09:58 am xxx.xxx.xxx.138 (total posts: 1)
    34     24

    @ Run-DMG

    There was nothing dirty about the hit on Ridley. Hard hit? Yes.

    Dirty? No.
    Run-DMG 01-21-2013 09:39 am xxx.xxx.xxx4.11 (total posts: 4)
    86     143

    Pollard needs to be suspended before he ends someone's career or kills them. He's not a monster; he's a dirty punk.
    Sherm13 01-21-2013 08:52 am xxx.xxx.xxx.120 (total posts: 1)
    16     7

    On what planet is Patrick Ching's injury considered "key"?

    He is terrible, a penalty machine on special teams an is behind Gregory and Wilson on the depth chart. Chung will be gone anyway after the season and has been completely useless this year.
    Jimmy the Duke 01-21-2013 03:29 am xxx.xxx.xxx.246 (total posts: 2)
    7     5

    So I wonder what the over-under is going to be on the number of times analysts say "Harbowl" over the next two weeks? even if it is 4 million Id still bet on over...
    Adam C 01-20-2013 11:46 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.240 (total posts: 1)
    11     7

    That NFC Championship was mostly due to the 49ers defense not Colin Kaepernick.
    Walter's Ravens Patriots Recap 01-20-2013 11:31 pm xxx.xxx.xxx1.43 (total posts: 1)
    105     87

    The Ravens are clearly the worst team in football. Look at all the things that had to happen for them to win.

    -- The officiating sucked. The Patriots were flagged for 4 penalties. If it was called properly the Ravens would have had 190 yards worth.

    -- The instant replay was also flawed. Clearly the Patriots never really turned the ball over, these should have been overturned.

    -- The weather was clearly a factor. Tom Brady was clearly out of his element.

    -- 2 of Baltimore's 3 touchdowns should not have counted because I bet on New England, but Vegas rigged the game anyway.

    -- Finally, aliens changed the outcome by using mind control on Bill Belichick.

    Basically the Ravens suck and should have lost about 48-2. Next week they will lose by at least that much.
    Stupid Articles 01-14-2013 11:26 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.144 (total posts: 2)
    22     8

    Ravens-Broncos analysis summary - Officiating went ravens way (boy, who didn't expect that from Walt), Flacco's big day was only because of Bailey (he is not the only DB on the field you know)

    ^ More BS excuses from "I bet against the ravens again" Walt


    2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22


    2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22


    2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21


    Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20


    NFL Picks - Feb. 3








    2012: Live 2012 NFL Draft Blog - April 26
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    Super Bowl XLVII Recap - Feb. 4
    Super Bowl XLVII Live Blog - Feb. 4


    2011: Live 2011 NFL Draft Blog - April 28
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    Super Bowl XLVI Live Blog - Feb. 6


    2010: Live 2010 NFL Draft Blog - April 22
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    Super Bowl XLV Live Blog - Feb. 6


    2009: Live 2009 NFL Draft Blog - April 25
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    2008: Live 2008 NFL Draft Blog - April 26
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    Super Bowl XLIII Live Blog


    2007: NFL Draft: Day 1 Review Blog - April 28
    Quarterback Rankings - June 25
    NFL Kickoff Blog - Sept. 6
    Chief Carl Has Lost a Step - Sept. 9
    The NFL Cheated the Patriots - Sept. 16
    NFL Week 3 Wrap-Up - Sept. 23
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    2008 Championship Sunday Diary - Jan. 20
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