Monday, December 19, 2011

Monday Night Football week 15

This week, delayed shortly by a power outage at Candlestick Park, the San Francisco 49ers host the Pittsburgh Steelers. San Francisco struck first with a 22 yard David Akers field goal. Akers added on for the 49ers in the second quarter with a 38 yard field goal. The score was 6-0 at halftime. Pittsburgh got on the board in the third quarter with a Shaun Suisham 51 yard field goal. San Francisco extended the lead with Alex Smith tossing a 1 yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis, and Akers made the PAT. The 49ers kept it up in the fourth quarter with a 5 yard touchdown rush by Frank Gore, and Akers was there with the extra point. San Francisco held on for a 20-3 win, improving to 11-3 while the Steelers are now 10-4.

Fantasy Hockey All-Stars week 10

1. Zach Parise, 3 G, 5 A, +6, 4 PIM, 0 PPP, 18 SOG
2. Tim Thomas, 2 W, 1.00 GAA, 78 SV, .975 SV%, 1 SO
3. Evgeni Malkin, 5 G, 3 A, -1, 0 PIM, 3 PPP, 16 SOG
4. Olli Jokinen, 3 G, 3 A, -3, 2 PIM, 4 PPP, 18 SOG
5. Ilya Kovalchuk, 2 G, 5 A, +3, 2 PIM, 2 PPP, 13 SOG

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sunday Night game week 15

This week, the San Diego Chargers host the Baltimore Ravens. San Diego opened with a 2 yard Mike Tolbert touchdown run, and a Nick Novak extra point. Baltimore answered in the second quarter as Joe Flacco tossed a 15 yard touchdown to Ed Dickson, and Billy Cundiff added the extra point. The Chargers got the lead back with Novak's field goal of 45 yards. Ryan Mathews extended the San Diego lead on a 1 yard touchdown run, and Novak's PAT made it 17-7 at the half. The Chargers added on again in the third quarter with a 28 yard touchdown from Philip Rivers to Malcom Floyd, and Novak kicked another extra point. Mathews kept San Diego on a roll with a 3 yard touchdown run, and Novak was there with the extra point. Novak added a 28 yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the Chargers. The Ravens got a few back when Flacco tossed a 36 yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith, and Cundiff supplied the extra point. This made it 34-14, with San Diego going to 7-7 and Baltimore falling to 10-4.

NHL Day 74 2011-2012

Only three games on today, and a reminder that there is no hockey over the Christmas weekend in respect of the holiday. Football is primarily on Saturday to avoid the holiday as well, although there will be one regular Sunday night game. With that said, we begin in...

Florida, as the Panthers host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Jose Theodore play in the blue paint. Sean Bergenheim got Florida on the board first with his seventh of the season, assisted by Shawn Matthias and Ed Jovanovski. Carolina replied with Tim Gleason's goal, coming off of Jamie McBain and Tuomo Ruutu. The Hurricanes took the lead in the second period with an unassisted Chad LaRose goal, his ninth of the year. The Panthers tied it in the third period on a power play goal by Jason Garrison, his tenth of the season, powered by Mikael Samuelsson and Jovanovski. Florida went on to beat Carolina in overtime when the sixteenth of the year for Kris Versteeg crossed the goal line, and helping him earn the 3-2 victory were Stephen Weiss and Brian Campbell. The three stars belong to Versteeg, Garrison, and LaRose, while Jovanovski gets honorable mention.

Over to Chicago, where the Blackhawks hosted the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Ray Emery played between the pipes. Chicago opened with Steve Montador sinking his fifth of the season, courtesy of Jamal Mayers and Viktor Stalberg. The Blackhawks added on in the second period when Niklas Hjalmarsson scored, via Marian Hossa and Marcus Kruger. Chicago kept going with a Patrick Kane goal, his ninth of the year coming on the power play from Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews. Calgary got on the board when the eleventh of the campaign by Olli Jokinen found twine, also a power play goal, fueled by Alex Tanguay and Curtis Glencross. The Blackhawks answered back with Hossa's fifteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Patrick Sharp and Dave Bolland. The Flames got as close as 4-2 before taking the loss when Glencross potted his tenth of the year, yet another power play goal, with the help of Jarome Iginla and Jokinen. Hjalmarsson, Hossa, and Toews earned the official three stars, while Jokinen and Glencross earn honorable mentions.

Finally, the St. Louis Blues host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Jaroslav Halak were the masked men. Columbus struck first with a Derek MacKenzie goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Fedor Tyutin. St. Louis quickly replied on a Kevin Shattenkirk goal, his fifth of the year, with the lone assist by Matt D'Agostini. The Blues soon took the lead with T.J. Oshie potting his eleventh of the season, and the lone helper came from David Backes. The Blue Jackets got going again in the second period with the seventh of the year from Derek Dorsett, passed from Tyutin and Nikita Nikitin. Columbus took the lead on a power play goal, Mark Letestu's fifth of the season, powered by R.J. Umberger and Derick Brassard. St. Louis tied it again with Alex Steen putting his eleventh of the year away, thanks to Oshie and Carlo Colaiacovo. The Blues took a lead with Jason Arnott recording his sixth of the season, coming off of David Perron and Jamie Langenbrunner. St. Louis went farther ahead with Alex Pietrangelo notching his fifth of the year, with the help of Backes. The Blue Jackets got one back when Brassard found a home for his third of the season, guided in by Umberger and Tyutin, the latter picking up a sock trick. The Blues iced it 6-4 with an empty net goal from Patrik Berglund, his eighth of the year, set up by Langenbrunner and Perron. The three stars were awarded to Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, and Tyutin, while Brassard, Oshie, Umberger, Langenbrunner, Backes, and Perron all had nice cases for inclusion.

NFL Late Games week 15

Four games on the back half of the slate, beginning with the Oakland Raiders hosting the Detroit Lions. Louis Murphy put Oakland on the board first with a 12 yard touchdown run, and Sebastian Janikowski added on the extra point. Detroit answered with a 51 yard Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson, and Jason Hanson was there to kick the extra point. The Raiders took the lead again in the second quarter when Carson Palmer found Darrius Heyward-Bey for a 43 yard touchdown connection, and Janikowski tacked on the extra point. The Lions kept pace with Stafford finding Nate Burleson for 39 yards and a touchdown, allowing another Hanson extra point. The score favored Oakland 17-14 at the half due to a Janikowski field goal from 46 yards. The Raiders got some separation after a silent third quarter with a fourth quarter field goal of 51 yards from the boot of Janikowski. Oakland added on again with Aaron Curry returning a Stafford fumble for a touchdown, a 6 yard play capped off with a Janikowski extra point. Detroit pulled back with Stafford finding Titus Young for a 3 yard touchdown connection, and Hanson added on the extra point. The Lions took the lead when Stafford tossed a 6 yard touchdown pass to Johnson, and Hanson had the go-ahead extra point. Detroit was able to hold onto the 28-27 lead despite a furious attempt by Oakland for the comeback, and this improved them to 9-5 while the Raiders fell to 7-7.

A little south and east, the Arizona Cardinals host the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland opened on a 1 yard Peyton Hillis touchdown run, and Phil Dawson supplied the extra point. Dawson also kicked a second quarter field goal from 44 yards for the Browns. Arizona got on the board and made it 10-7 at the half with John Skelton tossing a touchdown pass of 9 yards to Andre Roberts, with Jay Feely good on the extra point.  Cleveland extended their lead in the third quarter as Seneca Wallace threw 76 yards to Greg little for a touchdown, and Dawson tallied his extra point. The Cardinals pulled back in the fourth quarter on a Beanie Wells touchdown run of a yard, and Feely made another extra point. Feely tied it for Arizona with a 33 yard field goal. The Cardinals beat the Browns in overtime on a 22 yard Feely field goal, and improved to 7-7 while sending the opposition to 4-10.

In the east, the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New York Jets in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia started by recovering a fumble from Santonio Holmes and having Juqua Parker take it 47 yards for the touchdown, allowing Alex Henery the right to the extra point. The Eagles were a bit more conventional on the next touchdown, as Michael Vick threw 26 yards to Brent Celek for the score, and Henery made another extra point. Philadelphia continued the attack in the second quarter on an 11 yard Vick touchdown run, and Henery made another extra point. The Eagles pounded away when LeSean McCoy ran 9 yards for his touchdown, and Henery added on another extra point. New York finally got on the board with Nick Folk blasting in a 39 yard field goal. The Jets got some momentum with Mark Sanchez's 25 yard touchdown pass to Holmes, and a Folk extra point. The score at halftime was 28-13 due to New York getting a late field goal of 28 yards from Folk. Philadelphia added on again in the third quarter with a 1 yard McCoy touchdown run, and Henery was there to add the extra point. The Eagles also tallied on Henery's 28 yard field goal. Philadelphia stayed unstoppable with McCoy busting out a 33 yard touchdown run, and Henery supplying another extra point. The Jets got a few back, far too late, as Sanchez threw 9 yards to Plaxico Burress for the touchdown, but they failed on the two point attempt. This made it 45-19, and that was a final in the Eagles favor, allwoing them to advance to 6-8 and bring New York down to 8-6.

Finally, in Denver, the Broncos host the New England Patriots in a dream game for the media. Denver drew first blood with a 9 yard Tim Tebow touchdown run, but they failed the two point attempt. New England took the lead when Tom Brady threw 33 yards for a touchdown to Chad Ochocinco, and Stephen Gostkowski made the extra point. The Broncos took the lead again as Lance Ball ran 32 yards for a touchdown, and Matt Prater got the shot this time to make the extra point. Prater also added a 26 yard field goal for Denver in the second quarter. The Patriots shot back with Brady finding Aaron Hernandez on a 1 yard touchdown pass, and Gostkowski added on another extra point. Gostkowski kicked a 21 yard field goal for New England after that, giving them the lead again. The Patriots extended the lead with Brady himself running 1 yard for a touchdown, and Gostkowski supplied the extra point. New England led 27-16 at halftime thanks to Gostkowski's 34 yard field goal. The Patriots added on late in the third quarter with a touchdown run of 10 yards for Danny Woodhead, and Gostkowski kicked another PAT. Denver got some back with Tebow running 2 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Prater's extra point made it 34-23. New England re-extended their lead with a 1 yard BenJarvus Green-Ellis touchdown run, and Gostkowski easily added the extra point. The Patriots won the game 41-23, and improved to 11-3 while taking Denver to 8-6.

NFL Early Games week 15

There are eight early games on this week. First of all...

The Houston Texans host the Carolina Panthers. Carolina struck first with Cam Newton tossing a touchdown pass to Steve Smith 26 yards away, and Olindo Mare handled the extra point. The Panthers moved along in the second quarter on Newton's 9 yard touchdown to Jeremy Shockey, and Mare again handled the PAT. Carolina was up 21-0 at the half due to a 7 yard touchdown run by Richie Brockel, and Mare once again kicked an extra point. Houston got on the board in the third quarter with two Neil Rackers field goals, from 26 and 34 yards away. The Texans pulled closer with a 1 yard Arian Foster touchdown run in the fourth quarter, allowing a Rackers extra point. The Panthers put the game in the bag with a 24 yard DeAngelo Williams touchdown rush, and Mare's extra point made it 28-13. Carolina is now 5-9 while Houston is 10-4.

Up to Buffalo, where the Bills welcomed in the Miami Dolphins. Buffalo led off with C.J. Spiller rushing 24 yards for a touchdown, and Dave Rayner made the extra point. Miami tied it with a Matt Moore touchdown pass of 22 yards to Anthony Fasano, and Dan Carpenter made the extra point here. Carpenter left it at 13-7 Dolphins when halftime came after kicking two field goals, good from 20 and 26 yards out. Miami extended the lead in the third quarter when Moore found Brandon Marshall for a 65 yard touchdown connection, allowing Carpenter to kick a PAT. Carpenter added on for the Dolphins with another 26 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Bills tried to get some back as Ryan Fitzpatrick passed a 3 yard throw to Spiller for a touchdown, but the two-point attempt was a failure. Miami answered with Reggie Bush ripping off a 76 yard touchdown run, and Carpenter was true with the extra point. Buffalo answered back on Fitzpatrick's 2 yard touchdown to Derek Hagan, and Rayner was good with the extra point. Raynerr cut the score to 30-23 with a 34 yard field goal for the Bills, but they couldn't tie the game and lost. Both teams are now 5-9.

Down a bit to Indianapolis, where the Colts host the Tennessee Titans. Indianapolis led off when Adam Vinatieri nailed a 47 yard field goal. Tennessee answered in the second quarter with a pair of Rob Bironas field goals for a 6-3 halftime score, good from 53 and 21 yards away. The Colts got going again in the third quarter as Dan Orlovsky threw 18 yards for a touchdown to Reggie Wayne, and Vinatieri made the extra point. Indianapolis got defensive on the next score, as Jacob Lacey picked off Matt Hasselbeck, and took it 32 yards to get the touchdown, allowing another Vinatieri PAT. Vinatieri also kicked a 40 yard field goal for Indianapolis in the fourth quarter. Jake Locker tried to rally the Titans with a 7 yard touchdown to Nate Washington and Bironas making the extra point. The Colts squashed the comeback with an 80 yard Donald Brown touchdown run, making it 27-13 after the Vinatieri extra point. This held as a final, giving the Colts a 1-13 record and the Titans a 7-7 marker.

A little to the west, the St. Louis Rams hosted the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati opened with Mike Nugent making a 21 yard field goal. St. Louis took a 6-3 lead into the locker rooms after field goals of 26 and 43 yards by Josh Brown. Nugent tied it for the Bengals in the third quarter on a 41 yard field goal kick. Cincinnati took the lead when Bernard Scott ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Nugent tallied the extra point. Cedric Benson extended the Bengal lead with a 4 yard touchdown run, and Nugent tacked on another PAT. The Rams got as close as 20-13 when Kellen Clemens found Danario Alexander on a 25 yard touchdown pass, and Brown made the extra point. This was a final, and the Bengals are now 8-6 while the Rams are 2-12.

North a tad to Chicago, as the Bears host the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle led off with a 2 yard Marshawn Lynch Skittle mission, and Steven Hauschka made the extra point. Chicago quickly got it back as Tarvaris Jackson fumbled in the end zone and it was picked up by Israel Idonije, allowing Robbie Gould the tying extra point. The Bears led 14-7 at halftime thanks to Caleb Hanie tossing a 25 yard touchdown to Kahlil Bell, and Gould adding on another extra point. Lynch went for bag number two in the third quarter by rushing 3 yards for a touchdown, and Hauschka retied the game with the extra point for the Seahawks. Seattle took the lead as Red Bryant intercepted Hanie and took it in 20 yards for a touchdown, allowing Hauschka another PAT. Hauschka also kicked a 33 yard field goal for the Seahawks near the end of the quarter. Jackson corrected his early mistake for Seattle by tossing a 2 yard touchdown to Michael Robinson, and Hauschka was there for the extra point yet again. The Seahawks iced the game at 38-14 when Brandon Browner pickd Hanie off and ran to the end zone for a touchdown play of 42 yards, allowing Hauschka a final extra point. Seattle is now 7-7, as is Chicago.

North again, as the Minnesota Vikings hosted the New Orleans Saints. Minnesota opened on a Ryan Longwell field goal of 44 yards. New Orleans replied with a 5 yard Drew Brees touchdown pass to Lance Moore, and John Kasay made the extra point. Longwell pulled the Vikings back in the second quarter on a 49 yard field goal. Brees and the Saints sped away again with a 1 yard touchdown to Jimmy Graham, and Kasay was there with the extra point. Minnesota got some back with Christian Ponder tossing a 10 yard touchdown pass to Toby Gerhart, and Longwell was true with the extra point. New Orleans would take a 21-13 lead into the locker rooms when Brees tossed a 13 yard touchdown to Darren Sproles, and Kasay once more made the extra point. Brees continued to throw well for the Saints in the third quarter by finding John Gilmore for a 2 yard touchdown reception, and Kasay kicked another PAT. Brees hooked up with Moore again to give New Orleans an even bigger lead, this time a 47 yard connection, and Kasay kicked another extra point. The Saints added to the domination in the fourth quarter when Pierre Thomas rushed 1 yard to get the touchdown, and Kasay supplied his last extra point of the game. The Vikings cut the deficit only to 42-20 when Ponder found Gerhart on a 16 yard touchdown pass, and Longwell finished the scoring with the extra point. New Orleans is now 11-3 while Minnesota is 2-12.

Back to Missouri, where the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Green Bay Packers. The score was 6-0 at halftime because of Kansas City's Ryan Succop kicked a 19 and a 32 yard field goal each in the first quarter, and scoring silence in the second quarter. The game picked up a bit in the third quarter as Green Bay took the lead when Aaron Rodgers passed 2 yard for a touchdown to Donald Driver, and Mason Crosby made the extra point. Succop gave the Chiefs the lead back with a 46 yard field goal. Succop also kicked a 20 yard field goal for Kansas City in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs took a larger lead with a 1 yard Jackie Battle touchdown run, allowing Succop to kick the extra point. The Packers got it to 19-14 with Rodgers rushing 8 yards to get a touchdown, and Crosby was good with the PAT, but they could not get any farther and they lost. Green Bay is now 13-1, the pursuit of a perfect season once again squashed, and Kansas City is now 6-8.

Finally, the New York Giants host the Washington Redskins. Washington started off with Graham Gano kicking a 36 yard field goal. Rex Grossman kept the Redskins going in the second quarter, by passing a touchdown to Santana Moss for 20 yards, and Gano made the extra point. Washington extended the lead again on Darrel Young's 6 yard touchdown rush and a Gano extra point. New York got on the board just before the half with a Lawrence Tynes field goal of 40 yards, for a 17-3 score. The Redskins went back on the attack in the third quarter with Gano blasting a 43 yard field goal. Washington added on again in the fourth quarter with Gano's 25 yard field goal. The Giants made it 23-10, and got no further points after that, when Ahmad Bradshaw ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Tynes kicked in a PAT. Washington improves to 5-9 while dropping New York to 7-7.

Saturday Night Football week 15

The game this Saturday night is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Dallas Cowboys. Tony Romo got Dallas going with an 8 yard touchdown pass to Miles Austin, and Dan Bailey made the extra point. Romo then add on for the Cowboys with an 8 yard touchdown pass to Dez Bryant, and Bailey made another extra point. Romo upped the distance a bit in the second quarter, good for a touchdown of 9 yards to Laurent Robinson, and Bailey was true with the extra point again. Romo then chose to run a 1 yard touchdown in, and the extra point from Bailey made it 28-0 Cowboys at halftime. Romo kept getting involved in the scoring, but this time it was his fumble and the 7 yard touchdown return of it by Dekoda Watson that was the scoring play, and Connor Barth made the extra point. Bailey answered for Dallas with a 30 yard field goal. The Buccaneers made it 31-15 after Josh Freeman found Dezmon Briscoe for a 13 yard touchdown pass and Kellen Winslow on the two-point conversion. The fourth quarter was silent, leaving the above score as a final, moving the Cowboys to 8-6 and Tampa Bay down to 4-10.