Monday, January 07, 2008

NFL Highway, Wild Card Weekend


The NFL highway has turned into a dead end for all but eight teams. What happened in the wonderful world of professional football this weekend?

On Saturday, the Washington Redskins did the expected and laid an egg in the Great Northwest, losing to Seattle, 35-14. The Seahawks returned two interceptions for touchdowns in this game. The Seahawks earned a trip to Mike Holmgren’s former home in Green Bay to face the Packers. Seattle is flying under the radar, but is a team to be reckoned with.

The best game of the weekend was Saturday night in Pittsburgh. There was no snow, only cold weather. Jacksonville won at Heinz Field for the second time in four weeks, 31-29. The Jaguars had a 28-10 lead in the third quarter. Pittsburgh came back with a vengeance, even taking a 29-28 lead before Jacksonville was able to earn a field goal and the victory. The Jags now earn the privilege of a Saturday night game in beautiful Foxboro, Massachusetts against the New England Patriots.

Another road team won on Sunday, as the New York Football Giants flexed their muscle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 24-14 victory. Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes for the Giants. The G-men now get a chance to play the Dallas Cowboys for the third time next Sunday at the stadium with a hole in the roof. The Bucs had the automatic bid from the NFC South, the NFL’s equivalent to the Mid-American Conference. They were promptly dispatched by a team from the greatest division in football, the NFC East, winners of 10 and participants in 18 Super Bowls.

In Sunday’s nightcap, the San Diego Chargers struggled for the first two and a half quarters against the Tennessee Titans. The Chargers finally broke through for two touchdowns, and won their first playoff game in 13 years with a 17-6 win over the Titans. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 42 yards on 21 carries, but the Chargers were able to win in spite of that. The Chargers move on to a date on Sunday with Peyton Manning and the Colts in Indianapolis.

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