24
Jan
2010
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY: Live Gameday Blog
By ArtieFufkin
(Photos via ESPN.com)
Well, the big day is here. Championship Sunday. Colts vs Jets and Saints vs Vikings for the right to play in Super Bowl XLIV. By now we all know the set-up. It’s time to shut up and play.
We’ll be following the game action all day long, and providing our ongoing thoughts in the comments section. Please join us, won’t you?
CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP TO FOLLOW ALONG IN THE COMMENTS
This just in: Rex’s dad Buddy will be attendance for the first time at today’s Jets game. Could get crazy in Indy today.
Also, we’ve already got one “combo plate” reference by Rex Ryan in discussing the type of defense they’ll throw at the Colts. Do you think he just goes through life viewing everything in the context of food?
In the AFC, I gotta say, I like the Jets today. They just seem to be playing with the right combination of momentum, swagger and luck on their side. I think the Jets defense will give Manning a hard time … Darelle Revis vs Reggie Wayne will be the match-up to watch.
Plus, the Colts are just so sterile and almost boringly efficient. It’s time for the next chapter in the AFC.
JETS 24-21
BRAYLON EDWARDS!!! 80-yard score! Wow. Didn’t see that one coming.
7-0 Jets
Big goal line stop by the Jets to hold the Colts to a FG … 7-6 NY.
The Colts are having success throwing to Austin Collie on crossing patterns, but so far the Jets defense has bent but not broken.
Shonn Greene is going to be a big factor in today’s game
Sanchez to Dustin Keller for his 2nd TD of the game … 14-6 Jets. This game is definitely going the Jets way so far. Sanchez looking good, and they even got the gadget play from Brad Smith to Cotchery to work.
Let’s see how Pey-Pey responds.
TURNOVER! Addai gets leveled by Calvin Pace in the backfield and coughs it up.
Jets ball at the Colts 30.
Manning to Collie for a 16 yard TD … 17-13 Jets
Colts mount an important 80-yard drive near the end of the half. ALL of the 80 yards were to Austin Collie. He now has 105 yards and 1 TD.
Guess Revis can’t cover everyone, huh?
Shonn Greene heads to the locker room with an injury … that would be a huge loss for the Jets.
And here come the Colts. Manning to Dallas Clark puts the Colts up 27-17 with just under 9 minutes remaining.
So barring a miraculous comeback, it looks like the Colts should advance.
Yawn.
Sanchez picked off. That should do it. 30-17 Colts, FINAL.
Looking ahead to the NFC Championship, I’ve gotta go with the Saints in that one. Of course, the Vikings defensive front four are going to be a factor, and you can never discount the power of the Favre Factor, so it should be a good game. But as the home team, and with their offensive weapons, I just think you have to give New Orleans the edge.
I think Favre gets picked off late by Darren Sharper to seal the victory.
31-24 SAINTS
Impressive drive to start the game for the Vikings. Peterson finishes with the score. Vikings up 7-0.
That should take a little air out of the Superdome.
PIERRE THOMAS! Takes the screen 38-yards for a score, with a great cutback inside for the last 10. 7-7
Looks like we’ve got a shootout on our hands.
Favre hits Sidney Rice for a 5-yard TD, 14-7 Vikings.
Saints had 3 penalties on the drive, 2 for first downs.
And back come the Saints. Brees to Henderson for the tying score. 14-14
Anyone feel like playing defense today?
Whaddayaknow? A defensive stop by the Saints. Will wonders never cease.
Huge turnover by Reggie Bush on a muffed punt. Vikings recover at the Saints 10 yard line.
Bush clearly trying to avoid having to make good on that promise to marry Kim Kardashian if the Saints win the SB.
Favre returns the favor with a fumbled handoff inside the 10. Saints recover, and dodge a huge bullet.
14-14 at the half. Great game so far.
Saints score easily to start the 2nd half – 21-14 N.O.
But the Vikings – lead by TE Shiancoe – come right back down the field to tie the ball game, with AP punching it in from the 1. Peterson almost gave the ball away, but the Vikings recovered to keep the drive alive.
21-21
Peterson puts another ball on the turf, but scrambles to get it back … that’s his 2nd fumble this half. Fortunately for the Vikings, neither of them were lost.
Favre gets picked off by Jonathan Vilma! Favre is limping off … looks like his knee might have gotten taken out after he released the ball.
Saints ball at the NO 31
After getting the ball back, the Vikings turn the ball over AGAIN … this time Percy Harvin fumbles the ball away, and the Saints capitalize with a Bush TD reception from Brees.
3rd TD by Brees and 3rd TO of the day by Minnesota
28-21 Saints
No way. ANOTHER Vikings turnover. This time Berrian fumbles it away after the catch … this time inside the 10 yard line!
Minnesota today: 6 fumbles (3 lost), 1 int
No quit in this Vikings club, as they come back down the field to tie it up. Set up by a big Pass Interference call in the endzone, Peterson get his 3rd TD of the day from 2 yards out, to go along with 120 yards so far.
28-28
Favre gets the ball with 2-1/2 minutes and 79 yards to go to win the game.
Couldn’t really ask for anything more out of this game.
Looking like this is going to come down to the leg of Ryan Longwell.
Vikings with the ball – 3rd and 10 at at the 34 yard line … this would be a 51-yarder from here.
12 men in the huddle call pushes Minnesota back 5 yards … they need some yardage here to give Longwell a chance
FARVE IS PICKED OFF by Porter!!!! OHHHHHHH! Huge screw up by Favre.
This thing is going to overtime.
Saints win the toss, get good field position on the kick return and move the ball enough to set up Garrett Harley to attempt a 40-yard FG for the win.
AND IT’S GOOD!!!
SAINTS WIN 31-28
Saints vs Colts in the Super Bowl.