Four of the 5 wild card round games played thus far Pittsburgh (Steelers) hosts the Houston Texans tonight, to complete the round) were down to the wire, thrilling entities.
When the proverbial “dust cleared” the “slots”/divisional round is almost set. One Saturday tilt will match the NFC top seed Seattle Seahawks, just under a TD “fave” and the San Francisco 49ers for the second time in three weeks, perhaps again on a Saturday night.
Yesterday the Niners eliminated the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, holding on to a 4 point lead as there were 4 straight Eagles no gains, once they reached the Niners’ 21, in the closing minute or so.
Also on Saturday, in what appears to be a scintillating matchup, (again one never knows but surely the largely, high scoring NFL delivered quite an array of close w/cd/rd games), AFC top seed Denver (Broncos) will host the Buffalo Bills, the latter riding a key push on a Josh Allen “sneak,” to a last minute, go ahead to stay, TD in a (27-24) win at Jacksonville (Jaguars).
Perhaps they will clash in the upcoming Supe, a day shy of 4 weeks hence, both the above mentioned Allen and the day before Matthew Stafford, each directed winning touchdown drives for decisive scores sans the safety net of a tying FG in back pocket.
Stafford’s 21 yard TD toss to Colby Parkinson lifted the 10 point “fave” Rams (34-31) over (call it 3-1-1, likely all 10’s and all but the Eagles and Chargers (that next and last), 7’s yet “live” fear and …..) Carolina (Panthers) and into Chicago, forty years later as the great Bears defense stymied Brock Dieter and L.A. in that year’s semi/NFC title tilt.
Chi, down by the comeback score (21-3) (see many examples but I watched none as it was Amazon Prime, which dominates and also delivered a “grabber” that day), again overcame the Packers, winning (31-27) and opened 4 plus point(s) underdogs, albeit at home vs the Rams, some time next Sunday.
Finally, the intense Mike Vrabel (somehow Michigan 2023 title coach Jim Harbaugh, also an excellent one did not seem “as,”) coached, AFC “2” seed New England Patriots won the least competitive of the 5 thus far, (16-3) vs the L.A. Chargers.
Next either a ’96 Sunday slots redux vs the Steelers or a stretch but vs the city whose then Oilers “slotted” N.E. in their first home game in that round.
Since that ’78 season slot 3 home loss to the Houston Oilers, N.E. has gone (13-1) in home slots/div round games. (The only loss to the Jets, yes the Jets in 2010).
The national title tilt will match unbeaten (15-0) Indiana, (they opened a TD plus “fave”) and (13-2) Miami Florida, to be played in Miami on Monday night January 19th–(J 19, if you will indulge, evoking the ‘Canes (plus 11’ing, a great Nebraska team to claim the first of 4 titles in 9 seasons).
Indiana, for so long, a “no chance” football team, is seeking its first football crown to go along with 5 such in basketball, one with the last unbeaten team, fifty years ago.
After Miami’s down to the wire (31-27) win vs a game Mississippi team, which essentially culminated with Carson Beck’s easy, 3 yard scramble TD,– Indiana (56-22) over (both, pero not me) Oregon with Heisman Trophy winner, Fern Mendoza throwing 5 TD passes and D’Angelo Ponds (not booting), but “Int ret TDing” on the game’s first scrimmage play, was not worth watching. I watched all of Mia/Ole Miss, none of Indiana/Oregon.
Believe me Miami has an advantage, playing at home, however, Indiana fans will be there and the noise level and frankly the ambiance was much better when the ‘Canes and certainly the Dolphins played at the now long gone, Orange Bowl, pictured above.
Days back and in one of those opinion videos, this on unbreakable sports records, was read and topping/beginning the list, was Glenn Hall’s streak of 502 consecutive regular season starts as a goaltender.
Hall died days back at age 94. Nicknamed “Mr. Goalie,” he played for Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis, more profoundly for the latter two, who happened to clash in “Chi,” on the day Hall died.
Bob Pulford, a member of 4 Toronto title teams was also honored that night. of the three teams he played for and contributed most to, the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues clashing that night.
Glenn was in goal for the 1961 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, who ended Montreal’s incredible run of 5 straight crowns in the semifinal round.
In 1968, with Hall brilliant in defeat vs Montreal in the established East (Montreal) vs expansion West (St. Louis Blues) final round, in effect (’68-’70), he became the second of what are now 6 players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as ‘offs MVP, though their team did not win the Cup. (Roger Crozier in net for the ’66 Red Wings/”Vogues” was/is the first such).
Hall in all 18 Blues’ ‘offs games in 1968.
Hall playing in at least part of 3 straight final rounds for the Blues was in goal when the great goalie “allowed” perhaps the greatest of all players, Bobby Orr’s iconic goal which clinched the Boston Bruins first title in 29 years.
Hall was “cool” about constant rightful publicity for Bobby’s iconic, flying through the air, iconic goal (Derek Sanderson’s great pass set it up) but once told Mr. Orr–did you not score any other goals?!
They played in Philly that night Martin Luther King had been killed and Hall and St. Louis won (1-0) on Jim Roberts’ goal vs Philly (Flyers) with their eventual great goaltender, Bernie Parent in net.
Within a year, the bulk obviously in 2025, Ken Dryden, Bernie, Ed Giacomin and now “Mr. Goalie,” Hall, all excellent or better in goal, have died.
Tonight, the first college football semifinal game takes place in the state of Arizona’s Fiesta Bowl, with Miami Florida a FG plus favorite vs Mississippi.
Tomorrow night, top ranked, lone unbeaten at (14-0) Indiana is also (-3 plus) facing Oregon with very possible first two NFL draft selections, quarterbacks, Fernando Mendoza (the Fernando thing with the Dodgers “patching” Valenzuela, another Fernando, to repeat crowns and Mendoza’s Heisman) for once “no chance” Indiana and Dante Moore of Oregon.
Miami won an incredible 4 titles in 9 seasons (’83-’91) and one other that in 2001. None of the other 3 remaining teams has ever won a crown.
No, not an itch, (that is 7), it is teams that were in “5” year Supes at least qualifying for the 14 teams (only top seeds, ’05 Supe loser Seattle and ’15 winner Denver (Broncos)–the Seahawks “Suped” Denver in one of far too many Peyton Manning bad ‘offs tilts in 2013, get wild card round byes) NFL playoffs.
In addition to the top seeds, the (10-7) Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 16 game NFL slate, in the lone head to head tilt for qualification, with a (26-24) win over the Baltimore Ravens. “Pitts” made three “5” year Supes, they were the team that beat Seattle in the above referenced ’05 season such and they also split in “5” yr. such vs Dallas, winning in ’75 and losing 20 years later.
Seattle gained the “1” seed winning (13-3) on Saturday night while huge “fave” in an in between spread tilt, won (19-3) vs 7 seed L.A. (Chargers) to secure the franchise’s 7th top seed, this from a team that failed to even qualify for the albeit, far less teams in, ‘offs in their first 17 seasons, (1960-1976).
A quirk tiebreaker got (8-9) Carolina (Panthers) in though Tampa Bay (Buccaneers) the div winner the last 4 seasons, (16-14’d) them in the earlier Saturday tilt as Atlanta also by 2 points and as at least a FG favorite, beat New Orleans, yielding a 3 way (8-9) tie among those 2 and the Falcons(I am no John Gielgud, far from it, but so many “well paiders” say between, when it is among for more than 2 (ode to Schaefer Beer and its iconic “more than one” slogan) which yields the “5” seed Rams (-10) at “Caro” in the first wild card round tilt, late Saturday afternoon at Carolina.
“Caro” was the team Denver with Peyton Manning beat, however, ’twas their defense as Manning did little, certainly not anywhere what would be needed to call him a true great, that lost to Denver in the most recent “5”year Supe.
The “2” seeds (for the 6th straight season, after I believe 42 seasons of the far better giving 2’s byes, belong to “5” year (’85) Supe opponents Chicago (Bears) and New England Patriots.
Chi ripped N.E. (46-10) with its famed and all-time type great 4-6 defense, plus plenty of offense (46-10), in that NBC telecast Supe. Then it was Enberg, this NBCer on Feb. 8th is Tirico. Talk about deflation!!
‘Twas Dick Enberg then Merlin Olsen on William ‘el” Refrigerator Perry’s Supe TD in which Chi ripped N.E.
That tilt and the upcoming one forty years later was telecast by NBC.
32 games remain, (16 NFL “reg,” 13 NFL ‘offs games culminating in the Supe on Feb. 8th and 3 in the college ‘offs), the # evoking Jim Brown whose last truly meaningful game was 60 years ago yesterday in a (23-12) ’65 title tilt loss at Green Bay.
Another great “32” and as with Jim a true favorite, Sandy Koufax turned 90 days back while another Earvin “Magic” Johnson was the most recent Rose Bowl’s grand marshal.
One more great player/#32 Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson scored both TD’s in USC’s ’67 title clinching Rose Bowl win in the only other (before the days back Indiana ease which with Ole Miss’ upset win vs Georgia and Miami’s such vs Ohio State, leaves Indiana a pretty sizable plurality “fave” to title) Indiana Rose Bowl appearance.
You do not give Jim Brown an ultimatum, however, then Browns’ owner and significant NFL figure, Art Modell did and Jim on the set of the great film, “The Dirty Dozen,” announced his retirement from pro football, though near the top of his game, which still makes him, the almost no argument, greatest of all running backs.
After a fairly tense Miami win vs Ohio State on New Year’s Eve, two ho hums, (now (14-0) Indiana with Fernando Mendoza starring ripped ‘Bama which finished with 4 losses preceded by Oregon’s shutout of Texas Tech) a scintillating Sugar (Bowl) manifested in Ole Miss, a near TD u/dog winning (39-34) vs 3rd seed Georgia.
In that “Sugar,” (ode to Peter B. and The Archies), Lucas Carneiro FG with :05 left broke a (34-34) tie and notes might include 2 bad decisions by 2 time title winner, Georgia coach, Kirby Smart and a weird across the field lateral type play that yielded a safety and a Georgia onside kick recovery. Still it ended Ole Miss by 5 and now 3 point underdogs vs Miami on January 8th.
In the noon Eastern Time start, “Orange” Oregon eased (23-0) vs Texas Tech and are 4 plus point(s) underdogs, vs Indiana and Mendoza, a week from tonight.
Heisman Trophy winner, (14-0) and plurality “fave” to title, Indiana QB, Fernando Mendoza, pictured above.
Miami Florida an incredible four time champion in 9 seasons (’83-’91) but with just one crown, that in ’01 since then knocked out defending champion, plurality favorite and second ranked Ohio State in the first “quarter” played as the Cotton Bowl.
A far better and deserving Ohio State team was denied even one crown when U.C.L.A. Rose Bowled them exactly 50 years ago tomorrow on another Thursday January 1st.
Ohio State won crowns in ’02 (that vs defending champion Miami in 2 overtimes with the aid of a key interference call vs the ‘Canes (Miami), in the first 4 team ‘off in ’14 (once Canes fan “Stone” said 14 as) and in last year’s first 12 team ‘off.
The ‘Canes will meet the winner of tomorrow’s night/finale of 3 bowl/playoff games, evoking the good days of meaningful 1/1 bowl games, between Georgia a near TD “fave” vs Ole Miss.
In the day’s first tilt, Oregon is a slight favorite vs Texas Tech, the latter the higher ranked team. (In 5 ‘offs quarters, the bye/higher ranked team lost).
Then in the Rose Bowl/quarter, top ranked Indiana, evoking memories of John Isenbarger and ’67, is also a near TD “fave” vs Alabama.
‘Bama has a plethora of college football crowns (at least 12, 6 under Nick Saban, 5 coached by Paul “Bear” Bryant and one with Gene Stallings at the helm, that one clinched vs a Miami team, favored to claim a 5th crown in 10 seasons), but none in basketball.
Indiana is the near reverse with 5 basketball crowns, 3 under Bob Knight and 2 under Branch McCracken) and none in football.
John Isenbarger, pictured above led Indiana to their only previous Rose Bowl appearance after the 1967 season.
In that game played on 1/1/1968 a running back named Simpson scored both TD’s as U.S,C. won (14-3) and claimed the ’67 title.
Isenbarger and O.J. died about a month apart 56 years later in 2024.
Six of the seven NFC ‘offs participants are and essentially have been known for a while.
Only one team knows its seed, that the to be “7” (ode to Mickey (Mantle) and there have been 5 same year (’36,’39’ ’61, ’62 and ’96) Yankees/Packers crowns, however for the 24th time in 25 seasons, the Yankees did not win it all and while G.B. conceivably can, there ‘es’ ‘mucho’ wood to chop.”
Saturday night’s Sea at S.F. (a redux of the ’13 NFC title tilt won by Seattle en route to their lone title) winner will be the NFC top seed. If Sea wins and the Rams beat Arizona late afternoon Sunday then the Rams would be the “5” and surely pretty big faves at the NFC South winner, which would be currently (8-8) Carolina if they “Saturday afternoon” Tampa Bay on the road or if in an odd quirk, Atlanta wins at New Orleans early Sunday.
Elsewhere the “2” seed once so coveted and still a “bond yielding at least two home tilts if said “2” wins its first and possibly all 3 within the conference a situation the Eagles rode to a second title in eight seasons, last year.
This year “Philly” (Eagles) need help and their own win, respectively a Lions at Chi (Bears) win and their own home win vs “Wash.” Remember neither the Bears or Eagles can be the “1” and be off the next week thus it will be interesting to see how each team plays it regarding perhaps resting players.
Likely, in the simultaneous late Sunday starts, each will be motivated to win as again the “2” seed while no longer affording a wild card round bye, still has, above referenced value.
While both the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots clinched division crowns, the “Jax” Jaguars also were penultimate regular season week winners and have opened at least 10 point “faves” to win theirs (AFC South).
That would manifest if they win hosting Tennessee (Titans) or if Houston (Texans) lose at home to the Indianapolis Colts, however one AFC “div” has not been decided but will in a head to head/yet another big Baltimore Ravens/ Pittsburgh Steelers clash.
The Ravens in a Peacock game (I watched Svengoolie and there was a Dr. Raven character in the week’s movie) beat the Packers and earlier today, the Ravens/the old Browns got help from the now (4-12) newer, exponentially less glorious ones, as they (13-6’d) Pittsburgh. “Balt” opened a FG/Fave in next week’s, at Pittsburgh clash.
It evokes memories of the, or at least a rare other time, a head to head clash would or did decide a Steelers’ ‘offs bid.
In 1963, the New York Giants won (33-17) at Yankee Stadium to win the NFL Eastern Conference crown vs the Steelers, who played 39 seasons (’33 when the first NFL title game was played-’71 without making the scheduled ‘offs, be it the title game (’33-’65), as much as a conference ‘off or title game no less the Supe ’66-’69 and one of the 8 ‘offs teams upon the AFC/NFC configuration start ’70 and ’71) which had ‘offs, sans an appearance in any.
The Texans, Bills and Chargers are in the playoffs as are the Jaguars, Broncos and Pats.
The talented Rich Koz is “Svengoolie.”
Andy B Sports 