The divisional round of the NFL playoffs, nicknamed the “slots” begin Saturday afternoon in Denver when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Broncos. The Ravens won the lone playoff clash between the teams in a wild card round game in 2000. The Ravens then won two road games and the Super Bowl.
Despite what the NFL deems, I consider the Ravens the descendants of the old Cleveland Browns (for example, in baseball the old Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins and a new Washington Senators team now the Texas Rangers, began play in Washington D.C. in 1961. The records of the Senators, Walter Johnson for example, are with the Twins.) Without going into the hypocrisy involved in the fact the Ravens are not recognized as the Browns’ descendants, I recall three AFC Title game victories by the Broncos over the Browns, who moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1996. Denver lost the subsequent Super Bowl all three times after beating the Browns for the AFC crown.
Last year Eli Manning won his second Super Bowl with a (9-7) Giants team. Now brother Peyton, (a playoff bust in losses at New England in 2003 and 2004, a home loss as the AFC one seed in 2005 and another home loss as the two seed in 2007) and a well coached, “parts in place” Denver team is the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Surely, if they do, Manning will get a disproportionate amount of the credit. I predict, but admittedly hope not, that Manning will have an excellent post season and may well win a second title on the AFC TV network with Jim Nantz “gushing” about him.
One thought, Archie Manning, a fine quarterback, but ridiculously remembered for more than he was, predicted a low scoring national title game. He was wrong, a loss. He and his sons have it so good and here’s hoping Peyton is denied another title. I should talk, but Peyton have you learned how to plug in your toaster yet?
Peyton, Archie & Eli
Four times Alabama had been denied a mythical national championship by Notre Dame. All four times, the results were close and even disputed. This time it was Alabama winning the title vs Notre Dame and it was not close.
From the moment he got off the team bus and kissed his beautiful girlfriend wearing a bowtie, it was A. J. Mc Carron’s night. He threw four touchdown passes, two to Amari Cooper, as Alabama claimed a third BCS Title in 4 seasons easing (42-14) vs Notre Dame. Alabama now has nine Associated Press titles which is one more than Notre Dame which is next with eight. The A.P. vote started in 1936.
In 1966, 1973, 1974 and 1977 Notre Dame either directly or indirectly cost Alabama at least a share of the national title. In 1973 Notre Dame won by one point and claimed the title. The next year they played the spoiler’s role and won by 3 points denying the “Crimson Tide” a share of the title. Far worse and a big reason people dislike Notre Dame football is that in both 1966 and 1977, “The Fighting Irish” and not Alabama were voted national champions. Notre Dame had a tie while Alabama went unbeaten and untied in 1966 but Notre Dame was voted the title. In 1977 Notre Dame ranked fifth vaulted over third ranked Alabama to win the title. Each was a convincing bowl game winner. This time it was Alabama and it was not close.
Last night I saw that a beautiful woman, Angie Dickinson, is a part of the “thread” that relates to Alabama and their local rival, Auburn. As Frank Sinatra’s character “Danny Ocean’s” estranged wife (roles reprised by George Clooney and Julia Roberts in the “Ocean’s Eleven” remake) in the original Ocean’s Eleven (1960), Angie’s character says “What’s the good news: that Auburn beat Alabama by 12?” Alas, A. J. Mc Carron’s beautiful girlfriend Katherine Webb graduated from Auburn.
Ocean’s Eleven–Frank Sinatra and Angie Dickinson
All four favorites, three playing at home, won wild card round games this past weekend. I believe all four divisional round games are intriguing though both AFC top seeds Denver (Broncos) and New England (Patriots) will likely be ten point favorites by game time. Each is favored by nine points to start the week.
If either Cincinnati or Indianapolis had won, first off, the line(s) would have been even higher, and I believe those teams would have had little chance to win going to either Denver or New England. The Baltimore Ravens visit the Denver to start the divisional round while the Houston Texans go to New England to end the divisional round.
Both NFC games are deemed more competitive, as surprisingly, the top seeded Atlanta Falcons are less than three point favorites in their Sunday game vs the Seattle Seahawks. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were “chirping” about Seattle’s chances, therefore I predict Atlanta and QB Matt Ryan get off their playoff “schneid” and win next week. The Saturday night game has the San Francisco 49ers as 3 point favorites at home vs the Green Bay Packers.
Speaking of Joe Buck, who worked Seattle’s win at Washington which ended an eight game Seahawks’ road playoffs losing streak, he did not exactly take a stand near the end of the broadcast. The Seahawks were ahead by ten points with about 2 minutes left to play and had the ball at around the Redskins’ 25 yard line. At this point Buck said “It APPEARS Seattle will get a road win.”
Joe Buck, “Mr. Cautious”
Seeing “Grace” with its great four person cast of Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon (like Rachel Mol and Bobby Cannavale, an actor on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” who is standing out on stage), Kate Arrington and the incomparable, Ed Asner was a great experience. The play written by Craig Wright is at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street) and has only two performances left. Those performances are today at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 3 p.m.
“Grace” is directed by Dexter Bullard and is visually stimulating as the characters move around in two Florida apartments. Issues of faith are addressed with humor and I believe, insight. All the actors give moving performances.
Additionally, all four actors took significant time on a cold night to sign programs and even pose for pictures after the performance. I found a similarity between Mr. Asner’s “Karl” and his incredible performance as “Axel Jordache” in “Rich Man Poor Man,” one of my favorites. I imitated some “Axel” (not a great rendition but sincere as imitation is) and Mr. Asner added some favorite “Axel” lines of his own. We had a nice chat and of course social activist, human rights activist, superb actor and it turns out nice guy, Asner hopes Leonard Peltier (see “Bring Leonard Peltier Home,” December 17, 2012) is given his freedom soon.
Ah injustice, God or not, believe or not believe (all themes in “Grace”) are concepts likely beyond our comprehension. We are able to “pick and choose” and perhaps hang on to something as we journey in this life. We certainly can invoke the “golden rule” and to paraphrase, be kind to each other.
Ed Asner
As is the case with millions worldwide, I need a cup of coffee to get going in the morning. Today, having to give a little blood, for routine tests, I could not eat or drink anything.
How was I to manage as my new routine has me up at 6 a.m.? (How the mighty, who once stayed up until the last game was over, have fallen as I often go to sleep earlier.) The office was not open until 9 a.m.
Somehow I managed and feel better having done so. Tomorrow I will have coffee and probably will not break that routine. Yet there is a good feeling that this one day I did without coffee, first thing in the morning.
Why is it that almost all (if not all, tell me of any not so inclined) of the so called analysts assigned to NFL football games by the networks call for the conservative play call? This is especially concerning when going for the first down or touchdown on a 4th down play. They seemingly always say try a field goal or punt.
One of the most egregious examples of this type of thinking, and not surprising by a quarterback turned analyst, was during the Vikings/Packers game and the ridiculous comment was by former quarterback, Troy Aikman. Unlike “there is never anything wrong” ex QB, Phil Simms, Aikman is not an automatic go to the “mute” button for me, but after Sunday he is pretty close.
The score was (34-27) Vikings, when Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy went for and made a 4th and 1 at his own 43 with less than 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter. At that juncture, Aikman said “I can’t believe Mike McCarthy went for it” and then said nothing more on the subject. Maybe a producer type told him in his headset that only once in 6 possessions were the Packers held without points and that was when they fumbled. In short, their offense was great, the defense was awful and Aikman “could not believe” they went 4th and one, down 7 points with less than six minutes to go in the game. Would he have wanted such treatment as a quarterback?!! Of course not!
PS Green Bay scored a touchdown on the possession but lost when, guess what, they could not stop the Vikings.
With the Denver Broncos as the top seed and favorite to win the AFC, it is noteworthy (doubt anyone will note this before me, if at all) that the top four seeds in the NFC are the four most recent Broncos’ Super Bowl opponents.
Denver split those four Super Bowl games, winning the last two vs current NFC one seed Atlanta Falcons in 1998 and NFC three seed, Green Bay Packers in 1997. The NFC two seed SF 49ers demolished the Broncos in the 1989 season Super Bowl while the Washington Redskins fell behind (13-0) before blitzing Denver in the 1987 season Super Bowl.
The other two Denver Super Bowl appearances were vs NFC East teams that were alive for a playoff berth going into the final day of the regular season yesterday. Neither the Dallas Cowboys, who beat the Broncos in the 1977 season Supe nor the New York Giants, who ripped Denver in the 1986 season Super Bowl made the playoffs.
One NFC wild card round game will be a redux of yesterday’s regular season finale when the Minnesota Vikings face the Green Bay Packers, this time in Green Bay on Saturday night. Heaven forbid it happens, but a fan will have to suffer frostbite or worse for the TV controlled NFL to consider the danger of a night game at a cold weather site. On Sunday, in the later game, it is Seattle-Washington if you will: the Seahawks of Seattle vs the Washington D.C. Redskins.
On the season’s final day, with help from the Indianapolis Colts, who knocked the Houston Texans from a one seed to a three seed, the Denver Broncos gained the AFC one seed. Give the John Fox coached and Peyton Manning at quarterback team credit as they won their last eleven regular season games.
The New England Patriots will host a divisional round game for the third straight season after ascending to the AFC two seed. It will be the seventh time that the Pats have hosted a divisional round game in the Bill Belichick/Tom Brady era that began in 2001. New England won five of the previous six and all five subsequent AFC Title games, all but one of those at home. New England won their first three Super Bowls but lost in their last two, both to the New York Giants.
For the second straight year, the NFL wild card round will begin with the 6th seed Cincinnati Bengals traveling to Houston to meet the three seed, Texans. The other AFC tilt will be the earlier game on Sunday with the 5th seed Indianapolis Colts going to Baltimore where they had their greatest glory as the Baltimore Colts to take on the Ravens. Both home team, higher seeds are favored but by less than a touchdown.
Peyton Manning
Today is the exact 50 year anniversary of the Green Bay Packers’ (16-7) win vs the New York Giants in the 1962 NFL Title Game, played on a bitterly cold day at Yankee Stadium.
Jerry Kramer, who was better known as a great guard, yet disgracefully is not in the Football Hall of Fame, kicked three field goals for the Packers. Jim Taylor, who lead the NFL in rushing that 1962 season (the only time in his nine seasons that Jim Brown, who finished fourth that season, did not lead the league in rushing) had the lone Packers’ touchdown. The late Ray Nitschke, who recovered two fumbles, was the MVP of the game. That night he appeared on the television show, “What’s My Line.”
I recall listening to the game on the radio with my father and best friend. The latter was deemed too young at age seven to attend the game, given the freezing conditions. His father and others in their group whom I fondly recall taking parking tickets off cars already ticketed, putting them on their vehicle (a van as I recall), successfully illegally parking near Yankee Stadium, were in attendance.
Perhaps it is them cheering in the NFL Films version of the game, standing behind the “402” mark at Yankee Stadium. (This was the first title game recorded by NFL Films, then Blair Motion Pictures, named for founder Ed Sabol’s daughter. I note this in the year we lost Steve Sabol, Ed’s son, who contributed so much with NFL Films.)
Fifty years later, it is the last day of the regular season in the NFL. It is likely, not certain, that the Giants will be eliminated from title hopes again, exactly 50 years later. While the Packers can secure a week off and at least one home game, no matter they will not be eliminated from title hopes today. The Giants of (’61-63) did not win a title though led by Y.A. Tittle; had some great records. Twice the Giants with both Eli Manning at quarterback and mediocre records did win the title.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d8060eda2/The-1962-NFL-Championship-Game
I was truly mesmerized watching “Flip Side: The Patti Page Story” at the “59E59” Theaters. Two gifted singers, Haley Jane Pierce and Lindsie Van Winkle sang close to thirty of Patti Page’s songs.
“Flipside” is written and directed by Greg White and received fifteen awards from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Coincidentally, one of the show’s numbers is “Father, Father” sadly recalling that both Ms. Page’s father and President Kennedy died in 1963.
Patti Page was born Clara Ann Fowler and Ms. Pierce looks back on Patti Page’s career as Clara Ann Fowler at Tulsa, Oklahoma radio station KTUL in 1965. Ms. Van Winkle is Patti Page as she wears many great outfits in singing such hits as “How Much is that Doggie in the Window,” having great interaction with an audience member “caught” not singing along. He responded nicely after Ms. Van Winkle sat next to him.
Renditions of “Tennessee Waltz” and “This is my Song” close the show honoring the now 85 year old Patti Page, who sold over ten million records and was the first to “dub in” her own voice on recordings, in effect singing in harmony with herself. This was illustrated very well in the show with the two “Patti Pages” and Clara Ann Fowler’s voice heard loud and clear as her father wanted.
I responded well to the show and highly recommend it. However, there are only two performances left, tonight, Saturday December 29th at 8 p.m. and tomorrow afternoon at 3 P.M. at “59E59” Theaters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AkLE4X-bbU
Andy B Sports 