For all you poor souls who had to compete this week, here's who was most likely beneficial to have on your team.
Quarterbacks: Tim Tebow and Ben Roethlisberger
Running Backs: Ryan Mathews and Arian Foster
Wide Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald and Mike Wallace
Tight Ends: Rob Gronkowski and Vernon Davis
Kickers: Nate Kaeding and Adam Vinatieri
This weekly edition will return in Week 1 of the 2011 season. Watch for playoff recaps of the NFL on Sundays only. Good luck next year, and enjoy the games.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Fantasy Hockey All-Stars, week 12
Here's the MVPs of fantasy hockey this week, giving out fabulous performances.
Center: Mikko Koivu, 2 goals, 4 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 22 shots on goal
Left Wing: Tuomo Ruutu, 1 goal, 5 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 5 shots on goal
Right Wing: Shane Doan, 5 goals, 3 assists, 0, 2 penalty minutes, 2 power play points, 23 shots on goal
Defenseman: Nicklas Lidstrom, 2 goals, 6 assists, +1, 0 penalty minutes, 6 power play points, 8 shots on goal
Goaltender: Semyon Varlamov, 2 wins, 0.50 goals against average, 57 saves, .983 save percentage, 1 shutout
Those are the best options by position this week. Particularly weak was left wing, with no one in the top ten rankings for the week, so consider this a relative award for Tuomo Ruutu.
Center: Mikko Koivu, 2 goals, 4 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 22 shots on goal
Left Wing: Tuomo Ruutu, 1 goal, 5 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 5 shots on goal
Right Wing: Shane Doan, 5 goals, 3 assists, 0, 2 penalty minutes, 2 power play points, 23 shots on goal
Defenseman: Nicklas Lidstrom, 2 goals, 6 assists, +1, 0 penalty minutes, 6 power play points, 8 shots on goal
Goaltender: Semyon Varlamov, 2 wins, 0.50 goals against average, 57 saves, .983 save percentage, 1 shutout
Those are the best options by position this week. Particularly weak was left wing, with no one in the top ten rankings for the week, so consider this a relative award for Tuomo Ruutu.
Song of the Week, I of 2011
This week's song of the week has special value to me, as it is the song that got me into Avenged Sevenfold. The song is called Trashed and Scattered (PG-13 language), the fifth track off of their mainstream debut City of Evil. At the first hearing of this song, I became interested in the band, and from there I have been a fan. This is common for me to fall in love with one song and then the band, and that's how it happened for this hard rock powerhouse group. Catch this segment next week.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sunday Night Football week 17
This week's match, due to NFL flex scheduling, involved a winner-take-all game for NFC West glory between the host Seattle Seahawks and visiting St. Louis Rams. Charlie Whitehurst put Seattle up first, throwing a touchdown pass to Mike Williams for 4 yards, with Olindo Mare adding the extra point. St. Louis charged back to bring the score at halftime to 7-3 on the foot of Josh Brown, who had a 32 yard field goal in the second quarter. Brown and Mare exchanged field goals for the Rams and Seahawks in the third quarter, with Brown kicking true from 27 yards and Mare good from 31 yards. Mare added two more field goals in the fourth quarter, of 38 and 34 yards, bringing the score to its final of 16-6 Seattle. Both teams ended 7-9 on the season, but Seattle goes to the playoffs based on better divisional record.
Late Games, week 17
There are seven late games on for this week, following the same general theme as the early games for those with playoff implications.
First off, the Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears. After going scoreless through the first quarter, Robbie Gould got Chicago on the board with a 30 yard field goal. Mason Crosby answered for Green Bay in the third quarter with a 23 yard field goal. Aaron Rodgers gave the Packers a lead with a 1 yard touchdown pass to Donald Lee, and Crosby made the extra point. The 10-3 scoring favoing the Packes over the Bears was the final, with Green Bay jumping up to 10-6, and Chicago falling to 11-5.
Second on the list, the Washington Redskins host the New York Giants. The Giants got the first points with a Lawrence Tynes 20 yard field goal. New York extended their lead with Brandon Jacobs 2 yard touchdown run, and Tynes was there to provide the extra point to make it 10-0. Rex Grossman helped get Washington on the board with a 1 yard touchdown pass to Fred Davis, and Graham Gano made the point after to take the score to 10-7 at halftime. Eli Manning got the Giants going again in the third quarter with a 92 yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham, with Tynes making the extra point on the big touchdown. The Redskins found the end zone again with Grossman passing to Anthony Armstrong for 64 yards and the score, and Gano added the extra point. The Giants would hold on to defeat the Redskins 17-14, improving to 10-6, and dropping Washington to 6-10.
Following that, the Houston Texans host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston struck first, with Arian Foster running 2 yards in for the touchdown, followed by a Neil Rackers extra point. Rackers struck with a field goal as well, from 26 yards. Jacksonville got on the board in the second quarter with Rashad Jennings 3 yard touchdown run, followed by a Josh Scobee extra point. Derrick Ward answered by running 35 yards for a touchdown, and Rackers was good with the extra point. The Jaguars came back with a 39 yard field goal by Scobee. Jacksonville tied the game at 17 with Trent Edwards touchdown pass to Marcades Lewis of 7 yards, and Scobee made the extra point. The Texans took a 20-17 lead into halftime with Rackers kicking a 33 yard field goal. Houston extended its lead in the third quarter with Matt Schaub throwing a touchdown to Owen Daniels for 5 yards, followed by a Rackers extra point. Foster ran a touchdown of 35 yards in the fourth quarter, with Rackers coming through with another extra point. Houston would defeat Jacksonville 34-17, improving to 6-10, and dragging the Jaguars to 8-8.
Heading to Pennsylvania, where the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys. After going scoreless in the first quarter, Philadelphia struck in the second quarter with Kevin Kolb passing to Chad Hall for 4 yards and the touchdown, followed by a David Akers extra point. Dallas tied the game when DeMarcus Ware returned a Kolb fumble 17 yards for the touchdown. David Buehler made the extra point. Things were quiet in the third quarter, but Akers kicked a fourth quarter field goal of 43 yards and another of 22 yards. Stephen McGee gave the Cowboys the lead with a touchdown pass of 4 yards to Jason Witten, and Buehler added the extra point. The Cowboys would hold onto the 14-13 lead and defeat the Eagles, improving to 6-10 for the year, dropping Philadelphia to 10-6.
Back west a bit, the Indianapolis Colts host the Tennessee Titans. Adam Vinatieri opened the scoring for Indianapolis, kicking a 48 yard field goal, but Rob Bironas answered for Tennessee with a 26 yard field goal. Vinatieri added a 44 yard field goal for the Colts in the second quarter. Bironas picked up the tying points again for the Titans, kicking a 42 yard field goal. The Colts got the first touchdown of the game in the second quarter, with Peyton Manning connecting with Reggie Wayne for 7 yards, and Vinatieri supplied the extra point. This is rare, because due to Indianapolis' recent success, Manning generally does not play in week 17. Tennessee found an equalizer with Kerry Collins finding Kenny Britt for a 21 yard touchdown, with Bironas adding the point after. The Colts were displeased, taking the lead back on a Manning touchdown of 30 yards to Pierre Garcon, followed by a Vinatieri extra point. Collins helped to retie the game with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Chris Johnson, and Bironas tacked on an extra point, tying the game at 20. Vinatieri saved it for the Colts, kicking a last second field goal of 43 yards to win 23-20, improving to 10-6 and going to the playoffs, while dropping the Titans to 6-10.
To Denver, where the Broncos host the San Diego Chargers. Tim Tebow got things started for Denver, finding the man with the utmost respect to his former teams, Brandon Lloyd, for 14 yards and the touchdown, with Steve Hauschka making the extra point. San Diego tied it with Ryan Mathews 27 yard touchdown run, and the following Nate Kaeding extra point. The Chargers took the lead on a field goal by Kaeding from 42 yards, and extended that lead with his 45 yard kick, followed by yet another from 47 yards out. Mathews ran a touchdown in for 12 yards in the third quarter, with Kaeding adding another extra point. Kaeding also added a 37 yard field goal in the third quarter. Tebow threw a touchdown pass to Eric Decker to cut the deficit for the Broncos, the 6 yard score being capped off by a Hauschka extra point. Mathews added a third touchdown run, from 31 yards this time, and Kaeding was good with extra point once more. Denver answered to make it 33-21 with a kickoff return by Cassius Vaughn of 97 yards, with Hauschka providing the extra point. Tebow ran a touchdown in late in the game as well, from 6 yards, with Hauschka adding another point after, bringing the score to 33-28 San Diego. This was the final, with the Chargers jumping up to 9-7 and the Broncos falling to 4-12.
Lastly, the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco got on the board with Alex Smith connecting with Ted Ginn, Jr. for 37 yards. Jeff Reed was good on the extra point, and the second quarter field goal he added on from 39 yards. Arizona got on the scoreboard with John Skelton passing to Larry Fitzgerlad for 10 yards and the touchdown, followed by a Jay Feely extra point. The 49ers extended their lead with Smith's pass to Vernon Davis for 59 yards and the touchdown, followed by a Reed extra point. Brian Westbrook added two 6 yard touchdown runs for San Francisco, with Reed supplying both extra points. Tarell Brown helped the 49ers get defensive for a touchdown, intercepting Richard Bartel for 62 yards and the score, with Reed providing the extra point. The 38-7 score favoring the 49ers over the Cardinals was the final, with San Francisco improving to 6-10 and dropping Arizona to 5-11.
First off, the Green Bay Packers host the Chicago Bears. After going scoreless through the first quarter, Robbie Gould got Chicago on the board with a 30 yard field goal. Mason Crosby answered for Green Bay in the third quarter with a 23 yard field goal. Aaron Rodgers gave the Packers a lead with a 1 yard touchdown pass to Donald Lee, and Crosby made the extra point. The 10-3 scoring favoing the Packes over the Bears was the final, with Green Bay jumping up to 10-6, and Chicago falling to 11-5.
Second on the list, the Washington Redskins host the New York Giants. The Giants got the first points with a Lawrence Tynes 20 yard field goal. New York extended their lead with Brandon Jacobs 2 yard touchdown run, and Tynes was there to provide the extra point to make it 10-0. Rex Grossman helped get Washington on the board with a 1 yard touchdown pass to Fred Davis, and Graham Gano made the point after to take the score to 10-7 at halftime. Eli Manning got the Giants going again in the third quarter with a 92 yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham, with Tynes making the extra point on the big touchdown. The Redskins found the end zone again with Grossman passing to Anthony Armstrong for 64 yards and the score, and Gano added the extra point. The Giants would hold on to defeat the Redskins 17-14, improving to 10-6, and dropping Washington to 6-10.
Following that, the Houston Texans host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston struck first, with Arian Foster running 2 yards in for the touchdown, followed by a Neil Rackers extra point. Rackers struck with a field goal as well, from 26 yards. Jacksonville got on the board in the second quarter with Rashad Jennings 3 yard touchdown run, followed by a Josh Scobee extra point. Derrick Ward answered by running 35 yards for a touchdown, and Rackers was good with the extra point. The Jaguars came back with a 39 yard field goal by Scobee. Jacksonville tied the game at 17 with Trent Edwards touchdown pass to Marcades Lewis of 7 yards, and Scobee made the extra point. The Texans took a 20-17 lead into halftime with Rackers kicking a 33 yard field goal. Houston extended its lead in the third quarter with Matt Schaub throwing a touchdown to Owen Daniels for 5 yards, followed by a Rackers extra point. Foster ran a touchdown of 35 yards in the fourth quarter, with Rackers coming through with another extra point. Houston would defeat Jacksonville 34-17, improving to 6-10, and dragging the Jaguars to 8-8.
Heading to Pennsylvania, where the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys. After going scoreless in the first quarter, Philadelphia struck in the second quarter with Kevin Kolb passing to Chad Hall for 4 yards and the touchdown, followed by a David Akers extra point. Dallas tied the game when DeMarcus Ware returned a Kolb fumble 17 yards for the touchdown. David Buehler made the extra point. Things were quiet in the third quarter, but Akers kicked a fourth quarter field goal of 43 yards and another of 22 yards. Stephen McGee gave the Cowboys the lead with a touchdown pass of 4 yards to Jason Witten, and Buehler added the extra point. The Cowboys would hold onto the 14-13 lead and defeat the Eagles, improving to 6-10 for the year, dropping Philadelphia to 10-6.
Back west a bit, the Indianapolis Colts host the Tennessee Titans. Adam Vinatieri opened the scoring for Indianapolis, kicking a 48 yard field goal, but Rob Bironas answered for Tennessee with a 26 yard field goal. Vinatieri added a 44 yard field goal for the Colts in the second quarter. Bironas picked up the tying points again for the Titans, kicking a 42 yard field goal. The Colts got the first touchdown of the game in the second quarter, with Peyton Manning connecting with Reggie Wayne for 7 yards, and Vinatieri supplied the extra point. This is rare, because due to Indianapolis' recent success, Manning generally does not play in week 17. Tennessee found an equalizer with Kerry Collins finding Kenny Britt for a 21 yard touchdown, with Bironas adding the point after. The Colts were displeased, taking the lead back on a Manning touchdown of 30 yards to Pierre Garcon, followed by a Vinatieri extra point. Collins helped to retie the game with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Chris Johnson, and Bironas tacked on an extra point, tying the game at 20. Vinatieri saved it for the Colts, kicking a last second field goal of 43 yards to win 23-20, improving to 10-6 and going to the playoffs, while dropping the Titans to 6-10.
To Denver, where the Broncos host the San Diego Chargers. Tim Tebow got things started for Denver, finding the man with the utmost respect to his former teams, Brandon Lloyd, for 14 yards and the touchdown, with Steve Hauschka making the extra point. San Diego tied it with Ryan Mathews 27 yard touchdown run, and the following Nate Kaeding extra point. The Chargers took the lead on a field goal by Kaeding from 42 yards, and extended that lead with his 45 yard kick, followed by yet another from 47 yards out. Mathews ran a touchdown in for 12 yards in the third quarter, with Kaeding adding another extra point. Kaeding also added a 37 yard field goal in the third quarter. Tebow threw a touchdown pass to Eric Decker to cut the deficit for the Broncos, the 6 yard score being capped off by a Hauschka extra point. Mathews added a third touchdown run, from 31 yards this time, and Kaeding was good with extra point once more. Denver answered to make it 33-21 with a kickoff return by Cassius Vaughn of 97 yards, with Hauschka providing the extra point. Tebow ran a touchdown in late in the game as well, from 6 yards, with Hauschka adding another point after, bringing the score to 33-28 San Diego. This was the final, with the Chargers jumping up to 9-7 and the Broncos falling to 4-12.
Lastly, the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco got on the board with Alex Smith connecting with Ted Ginn, Jr. for 37 yards. Jeff Reed was good on the extra point, and the second quarter field goal he added on from 39 yards. Arizona got on the scoreboard with John Skelton passing to Larry Fitzgerlad for 10 yards and the touchdown, followed by a Jay Feely extra point. The 49ers extended their lead with Smith's pass to Vernon Davis for 59 yards and the touchdown, followed by a Reed extra point. Brian Westbrook added two 6 yard touchdown runs for San Francisco, with Reed supplying both extra points. Tarell Brown helped the 49ers get defensive for a touchdown, intercepting Richard Bartel for 62 yards and the score, with Reed providing the extra point. The 38-7 score favoring the 49ers over the Cardinals was the final, with San Francisco improving to 6-10 and dropping Arizona to 5-11.
First Sandwich of 2011
To kick off the new year, nothing says 2011 like a turkey and ham on wheat, with the added bonus of bacon. The sandwich, which went untoasted despite the weather yet had the warmness of bacon on it provided an interesting flavor combination. The bread was fresh, and the meats were tasty, giving the sandwich a good appeal all around. Sandwich Showdown should continue next week.
NFL Early Games, week 17
The last week of the regular season is upon us, and with that, some teams have nothing to play for, and others are playing for the chance to get in the heralded playoffs for a chance at the Super Bowl. There are eight games early on the somewhat-butchered flex schedule today, starting off with...
The New England Patriots hosting the Miami Dolphins. New England opened the scoring with Tom Brady connecting with Rob Gronkowski for 13 yards, followed by a Shayne Graham extra point. BenJarvus Green-Ellis provided a 1 yard touchdown run as well, and after the Graham extra point, the Patriots had a 14-0 lead. Graham added a field goal for New England, from 28 yards. After Miami's Brandon Fields punted, Julian Edelman returned it 94 yards for a touchdown, with Graham making his extra point. Brady found Alge Crumpler in the third quarter for 10 yards and the touchdown, with Graham adding the point after. Coming in to relieve Brady for the rest of the regular season was Brian Hoyer, who found Brandon Tate for 42 yards and the touchdown, with another Graham extra point. The Dolphins did get on the board late in the fourth quarter, as Tyler Thigpen connected with Davone Bess for 21 yards and a touchdown, followed by a Dan Carpenter extra point. The 38-7 score favoring the Patriots was the final, who improved to 14-2, and dropped the Dolphins to 7-9.
Next up is the Detroit Lions hosting the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit opened the scoring in the second quarter with Dave Rayner kicking a 55 yard field goal. Shaun Hill extended the Lions lead with his touchdown pass of 7 yards to Nate Burleson, and Rayner added an extra point. Rayner added a 37 yard field goal in the third quarter. Minnesota got on the board with Jared Allen intercepting Hill for 36 yards and a touchdown, followed by Ryan Longwell's extra point to trim the Lions lead to 13-7. Longwell cut the lead down farther, adding a field goal for the Vikings of 27 yards. Maurice Morris got Detroit going again with a 5 yard touchdown run, followed by Rayner adding an extra point. Longwell added a 48 yard field goal, producing the eventual final that had Detroit toppling Minnesota 20-13, finishing their seasons at 6-10 each.
Following that game, the Atlanta Falcons hosted the Carolina Panthers. Atlanta put the first points on the board with Matt Ryan finding Tony Gonzalez for 6 yards, followed by a Matt Bryant extra point. The Falcons extended their lead on a punt return by Eric Weems of 55 yards after Carolina's Jason Baker punted. Matt Bryant supplied the point after. The Falcons kept scoring with Ryan finding Roddy White for 14 yards, followed by a Bryant extra point. John Kasay got the Panthers on the board in the third quarter with a 23 yard field goal, answered by Bryant, who was good from 47 yards out. Michael Turner helped Atlanta pour some more points on with a 3 yard touchdown run, followed by a Bryant extra point. Carolina added on a touchdown from Jimmy Clausen to Jeff King for 2 yards, with Kasay adding the point after, bringing us to the final of 31-10 Falcons. Atlanta went to 13-3, and Carolina fell to 2-14.
Heading to Kansas City, with the Chiefs hosting the Oakland Raiders. Kansas City dented the scoreboard first with a field goal from Ryan Succop, good from 30 yards. Oakland answered with Jason Campbell passing to Chaz Schilens for 5 yards and the score, followed by a Sebastian Janikowski extra point. Janikowksi added a 38 yard field goal to make it 10-3 Raiders before halftime. Jamaal Charles ran in for a touchdown of 5 yards, followed by a Succop extra point, but Oakland reclaimed the lead on a Michael Bush touchdown run of 26 yards, with a Janikowski extra point making it 17-10 Raiders. Jacoby Ford extended the lead for Oakland with his 10 yard touchdown run, and Janikowski added the extra point. The Raiders added another touchdown, this one coming defensively in the hands of Stanford Routt, who intercepted Matt Cassel for 22 yards and the touchdown. Janikowski made the extra point to put the score at 31-10. This was the final, and Oakland jumped up to 8-8, while Kansas City fell to 10-6.
Into Cleveland, with the Browns hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh drew first blood with Ben Roethlisberger connecting with Mike Wallace for a touchdown of 56 yards. Shaun Suisham added the extra point. The Steelers extended their lead to 14-0 with Rashard Mendenhall running 1 yard for the touchdown, followed by a Suisham extra point. Phil Dawson put Cleveland on the board with his 19 yard field goal. Pittsburgh replied with another 1 yard touchdown run from Mendenhall followed by another Suisham extra point. The Steelers added on with Roethlisberger finding Heath Miller for 4 yards and the touchdown, and made it 28-3 thanks to Suisham's extra point. Suisham kicked a 41 yard field goal late in the second quarter. Getting tricky in the third quarter was Pittsburgh, with wideout Antwaan Randle El connecting on a touchdown pass with Hines Ward for 3 yards, followed by a Suisham extra point once more. Suisham added a 24 yard field goal. The Browns registered a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, as Colt McCoy connected with Brian Robiskie for 20 yards, but the two point attempt from Seneca Wallace to Benjamin Watson failed, putting the score at 41-9 Steelers, which was the final, giving Pittsburgh a bump up to 12-4 and dropping Cleveland to 5-11.
Back east with the New York Jets hosting the Buffalo Bills. Nick Folk put New York up first with his 28 yard field goal. The Jets got defensive on their second touchdown, with Marquice Cole intercepting Buffalo quarterback Brian Brohm for 35 yards, and Folk added the extra point. Mark Brunell helped make it 17-0 for the Jets by connecting with Santonio Holmes for 17 yards, and Folk was true on the extra point. The Bills got even for the earlier interception with their own, thanks to Jairus Byrd picking off Brunell for 37 yards and the touchdown, followed by Rian Lindell adding an extra point. Brunell answered by tossing a touchdown to his own team, finding Braylon Edwards for 52 yards, with Folk adding the extra point to make it 24-7. Extending the New York lead was Kellen Clemmens, who ran a touchdown in for 10 yards, providing another Folk extra point opportunity, which was successful. Another rushing touchdown was added on for the Jets, 16 yards by John Conner, with Folk making it 38-7 with the extra point. The Jets cruised to a victory of the most recently mentioned score over the Bills, finishing the season at 11-5, and dropping the Bills to 4-12 for the end of the year.
Down south to where the New Orleans Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Connor Barth put the visiting Tampa Bay up first with his 43 yard field goal. Drew Brees found the answer for New Orleans in passing 4 yards to Jimmy Graham, followed by a Garrett Hartley extra point to make it 7-3. The Buccaneers took the lead on Josh Freeman's 2 yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Briscoe, with the 10-7 score being produced after the Barth extra point. Hartley evened the score at 10 with his 45 yard field goal, but Barth answered with a 32 yard kick of his own and an extra point on the Freeman 18 yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams, putting Tampa Bay up 20-10. Hartley put the Saints within a touchdown with his 38 yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but was answered by Barth kicking a 48 yard field goal. The Buccaneers went on to beat the Saints 23-13, improving to 10-6, and the Saints falling to 11-5, with both teams watching later today for playoff hopes.
Lastly for the early games, the Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals. Billy Cundiff put the Ravens up first with a 25 yard field goal. Cundiff added a 47 yard field goal in the second quarter for Baltimore. Ray Rice helped make it 13-0 in the third quarter with a 7 yard touchdown run, capped off by a Cundiff extra point to make it 13-0. Cincinnati visited the end zone for the first time today when Carson Palmer connected with Jerome Simpson for 11 yards, and Clint Stitser added the extra point. The 13-7 scoring of the Ravens over the Bengals was the final, with Baltimore ending the regular season at 12-4, and Cincinnati falling to 4-12.
That's all for the morning games. Sandwich post to soon follow, along with late games at their conclusion.
The New England Patriots hosting the Miami Dolphins. New England opened the scoring with Tom Brady connecting with Rob Gronkowski for 13 yards, followed by a Shayne Graham extra point. BenJarvus Green-Ellis provided a 1 yard touchdown run as well, and after the Graham extra point, the Patriots had a 14-0 lead. Graham added a field goal for New England, from 28 yards. After Miami's Brandon Fields punted, Julian Edelman returned it 94 yards for a touchdown, with Graham making his extra point. Brady found Alge Crumpler in the third quarter for 10 yards and the touchdown, with Graham adding the point after. Coming in to relieve Brady for the rest of the regular season was Brian Hoyer, who found Brandon Tate for 42 yards and the touchdown, with another Graham extra point. The Dolphins did get on the board late in the fourth quarter, as Tyler Thigpen connected with Davone Bess for 21 yards and a touchdown, followed by a Dan Carpenter extra point. The 38-7 score favoring the Patriots was the final, who improved to 14-2, and dropped the Dolphins to 7-9.
Next up is the Detroit Lions hosting the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit opened the scoring in the second quarter with Dave Rayner kicking a 55 yard field goal. Shaun Hill extended the Lions lead with his touchdown pass of 7 yards to Nate Burleson, and Rayner added an extra point. Rayner added a 37 yard field goal in the third quarter. Minnesota got on the board with Jared Allen intercepting Hill for 36 yards and a touchdown, followed by Ryan Longwell's extra point to trim the Lions lead to 13-7. Longwell cut the lead down farther, adding a field goal for the Vikings of 27 yards. Maurice Morris got Detroit going again with a 5 yard touchdown run, followed by Rayner adding an extra point. Longwell added a 48 yard field goal, producing the eventual final that had Detroit toppling Minnesota 20-13, finishing their seasons at 6-10 each.
Following that game, the Atlanta Falcons hosted the Carolina Panthers. Atlanta put the first points on the board with Matt Ryan finding Tony Gonzalez for 6 yards, followed by a Matt Bryant extra point. The Falcons extended their lead on a punt return by Eric Weems of 55 yards after Carolina's Jason Baker punted. Matt Bryant supplied the point after. The Falcons kept scoring with Ryan finding Roddy White for 14 yards, followed by a Bryant extra point. John Kasay got the Panthers on the board in the third quarter with a 23 yard field goal, answered by Bryant, who was good from 47 yards out. Michael Turner helped Atlanta pour some more points on with a 3 yard touchdown run, followed by a Bryant extra point. Carolina added on a touchdown from Jimmy Clausen to Jeff King for 2 yards, with Kasay adding the point after, bringing us to the final of 31-10 Falcons. Atlanta went to 13-3, and Carolina fell to 2-14.
Heading to Kansas City, with the Chiefs hosting the Oakland Raiders. Kansas City dented the scoreboard first with a field goal from Ryan Succop, good from 30 yards. Oakland answered with Jason Campbell passing to Chaz Schilens for 5 yards and the score, followed by a Sebastian Janikowski extra point. Janikowksi added a 38 yard field goal to make it 10-3 Raiders before halftime. Jamaal Charles ran in for a touchdown of 5 yards, followed by a Succop extra point, but Oakland reclaimed the lead on a Michael Bush touchdown run of 26 yards, with a Janikowski extra point making it 17-10 Raiders. Jacoby Ford extended the lead for Oakland with his 10 yard touchdown run, and Janikowski added the extra point. The Raiders added another touchdown, this one coming defensively in the hands of Stanford Routt, who intercepted Matt Cassel for 22 yards and the touchdown. Janikowski made the extra point to put the score at 31-10. This was the final, and Oakland jumped up to 8-8, while Kansas City fell to 10-6.
Into Cleveland, with the Browns hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh drew first blood with Ben Roethlisberger connecting with Mike Wallace for a touchdown of 56 yards. Shaun Suisham added the extra point. The Steelers extended their lead to 14-0 with Rashard Mendenhall running 1 yard for the touchdown, followed by a Suisham extra point. Phil Dawson put Cleveland on the board with his 19 yard field goal. Pittsburgh replied with another 1 yard touchdown run from Mendenhall followed by another Suisham extra point. The Steelers added on with Roethlisberger finding Heath Miller for 4 yards and the touchdown, and made it 28-3 thanks to Suisham's extra point. Suisham kicked a 41 yard field goal late in the second quarter. Getting tricky in the third quarter was Pittsburgh, with wideout Antwaan Randle El connecting on a touchdown pass with Hines Ward for 3 yards, followed by a Suisham extra point once more. Suisham added a 24 yard field goal. The Browns registered a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, as Colt McCoy connected with Brian Robiskie for 20 yards, but the two point attempt from Seneca Wallace to Benjamin Watson failed, putting the score at 41-9 Steelers, which was the final, giving Pittsburgh a bump up to 12-4 and dropping Cleveland to 5-11.
Back east with the New York Jets hosting the Buffalo Bills. Nick Folk put New York up first with his 28 yard field goal. The Jets got defensive on their second touchdown, with Marquice Cole intercepting Buffalo quarterback Brian Brohm for 35 yards, and Folk added the extra point. Mark Brunell helped make it 17-0 for the Jets by connecting with Santonio Holmes for 17 yards, and Folk was true on the extra point. The Bills got even for the earlier interception with their own, thanks to Jairus Byrd picking off Brunell for 37 yards and the touchdown, followed by Rian Lindell adding an extra point. Brunell answered by tossing a touchdown to his own team, finding Braylon Edwards for 52 yards, with Folk adding the extra point to make it 24-7. Extending the New York lead was Kellen Clemmens, who ran a touchdown in for 10 yards, providing another Folk extra point opportunity, which was successful. Another rushing touchdown was added on for the Jets, 16 yards by John Conner, with Folk making it 38-7 with the extra point. The Jets cruised to a victory of the most recently mentioned score over the Bills, finishing the season at 11-5, and dropping the Bills to 4-12 for the end of the year.
Down south to where the New Orleans Saints host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Connor Barth put the visiting Tampa Bay up first with his 43 yard field goal. Drew Brees found the answer for New Orleans in passing 4 yards to Jimmy Graham, followed by a Garrett Hartley extra point to make it 7-3. The Buccaneers took the lead on Josh Freeman's 2 yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Briscoe, with the 10-7 score being produced after the Barth extra point. Hartley evened the score at 10 with his 45 yard field goal, but Barth answered with a 32 yard kick of his own and an extra point on the Freeman 18 yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams, putting Tampa Bay up 20-10. Hartley put the Saints within a touchdown with his 38 yard field goal in the fourth quarter, but was answered by Barth kicking a 48 yard field goal. The Buccaneers went on to beat the Saints 23-13, improving to 10-6, and the Saints falling to 11-5, with both teams watching later today for playoff hopes.
Lastly for the early games, the Baltimore Ravens host the Cincinnati Bengals. Billy Cundiff put the Ravens up first with a 25 yard field goal. Cundiff added a 47 yard field goal in the second quarter for Baltimore. Ray Rice helped make it 13-0 in the third quarter with a 7 yard touchdown run, capped off by a Cundiff extra point to make it 13-0. Cincinnati visited the end zone for the first time today when Carson Palmer connected with Jerome Simpson for 11 yards, and Clint Stitser added the extra point. The 13-7 scoring of the Ravens over the Bengals was the final, with Baltimore ending the regular season at 12-4, and Cincinnati falling to 4-12.
That's all for the morning games. Sandwich post to soon follow, along with late games at their conclusion.
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