Archive for the ‘Live Game Blog’ Category
You are currently browsing the archives for the Live Game Blog category.
22
Nov
2009
NFL WEEK 11 LIVE GAME BLOG! THE GIANTS DO-OR-DIE EDITION!
(Source: CNYCentral.com)
The 5-4 New York Giants face the 5-4 Atlanta Falcons. Equal records, and a good matchup, but it’s the G-Men who must put an end to a dizzying spiral into the abyss.
We’ll be following the action all day long.
Check out the comments section to share your thoughts, vent, and follow the action.
16
Nov
2009
LIVE GAME BLOG! MONDAY NIGHT SHOWD…. OH WAIT, NOBODY CARES.
I was about to post my writeup on the Browns-Ravens game… but I was overcome with a sense of futility. Back to staring at the wall.
15
Nov
2009
NFL WEEK TEN LIVE GAME BLOG: THE BRADY VS. MANNING EDITION
Love 'em or hate 'em, this is still the best quarterback duel in the National Football League. (Sources: Al Tielemans/SI)
For the past half-decade, it’s been the NFL’s best, if not only, great quarterback showdown. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. For two teams that don’t play in the same division, these guys have an uncanny knack for meeting annually at a critical juncture. Brady, of course, is the quintessential NFL quarterback, exuding confidence under pressure, a “team-first” attitude, and a will of steel. He’s got the looks, the super-model wife, and a handful of Super Bowl rings. He’s been lavished with riches beyond belief, and yet he remains likable.
Manning, meanwhile, has always been a perfect fit for Indianapolis, a throwback signal caller who’s been an absolute rock for a franchise that drifted for decades before his arrival. With a richer bloodline than any quarterback in our lifetime (even his little brother’s beaten Brady), he’s answered some of his sharpest critics (who wondered if he’d ever win a Super Bowl) and is currently enjoying one of his finest seasons to date. While he’s over-exposed and marketed idiotically — he and Eli come across a little dim in their countless ad campaigns — there’s no denying his achievements on the field.
The most-heated NFL rivalries almost always involve the game’s best quarterbacks. The Cowboys-Niners matchups featured the likes of Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, and Steve Young in the prime of their careers. The Niners and Giants pitted Montana vs. Phil Simms. When the Browns and Broncos met in three AFC Championships, it only happened because Bernie Kosar and John Elway led those teams.
Remember those great Giants-Redskins matchups between Dave Brown and Heath Shuler? Me neither.
This is a quarterback’s league. Always has been, always will be. Even if the Brady-Manning pregame hype is a bit tedious, it has produced some fascinating games. In a league where there are fewer and fewer powerhouse teams amid increased parody, we long for a true clash of the titans, and this may be as good as it gets in 2009.
We’ll be commenting on the games all day, and look forward to chatting with you. Click the comments section to join us for Week 10 in the National Football League.
8
Nov
2009
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!
Ogletree is a guy the Cowboys like (Photo: AP)
Big game on the slate tonight between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. With the Giants loss to San Diego today, the Eagles can really take control in the division with a win tonight. The Cowboys are trying to show that they are legit and not the same team that got humiliated at the Linc last year.
I am going to offer thoughts on the game throughout the evening. If you are interested in following along or participating just join in in the comments section below.
1
Nov
2009
NFL WEEK 8 LIVE GAME BLOG: FAVRE VS. THE CITY OF GREEN BAY EDITION!
Aaron planned to whisper: "The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master." Not so fast, Mr. Rodgers. (Source: AP)
When Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings clashed with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football earlier this season, the NFL’s elder statesman met and surpassed all expectations, the Vikings won easily, and the press fell in love with Favre all over again. Nice show, but we always felt that something was sorely missing from that hype-fest: Brett might have been facing his old team–in the harmonious, 75-degree confines of the Superdome–but what about his old fans? Entirely different story. THIS is the game that needed to be on Monday Night Football… but we won’t complain.
A great day of football is ahead.
Got something to say? Bring it.
Hit the “Comments” button and go to town.
(Yes… I fashioned this message in topical purple and green…)
25
Oct
2009
NFL Gameday: ReadAndReact Buffalo Wing Summit
mmmmm ... wings
Several of your faithful ReadAndReact staffers – TheDarkHorse, Artie Fufkin and steverodgers – will convene in a suburban Denver sports bar this morning to take in this week’s NFL action. Many wings will be eaten. Many beers will be drunk (drank?). Many laughs will be shared. It is a cold, snowy Sunday in Colorado. A perfect day for football.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the Vikings/Steelers and 49ers/Texans as the best early match-ups, along with the Browns/Packers for strictly masochistic reasons. Falcons/Cowboys is the best late game, with the Giants/Cardinals closing things out tonight, in what could be a shootout.
We’ll do our best to share ongoing commentary via iPhone, and you can be assured it will get progressively sloppy as the day wears merrily forward. Enjoy the games!!!
13
Sep
2009
Week 1 NFL Live Blog: Late Games
A classic NFC East rivalry resumes this afternoon at the Meadowlands
The early round of games are just finishing up, where we saw Adrian Peterson run wild for 180 yards and 3 TDs, Drew Brees throw for 6 TDs, Donovan McNabb leaving the game with broken ribs, and an absolutely CRAZY finish in Cincinatti, with the Broncos beating the Bengals on a last second 87-yd tipped-ball TD by Brandon Stokley.
There are only 3 late games this afternoon, with the Giants/Redskins the clear marquee match-up. Let’s face it, the 2 lame NFC West showdowns – Cardinals/49ers and Seahawks/Rams - are background noise to this old-school rivalry. Everyone wonders if the Giants can replace Plaxico Burress, and the Redskins hope Albert Haynesworth can help them slow down the NY running game.
We’ll continue to follow the action, and post our wildly insightful/humorous thoughts in the comments.
22
Aug
2009
( ( ( LIVE GAME BLOG ) ) ) Browns vs. Lions
The Browns 10-year rebuilding plan continues today!
And we are here to follow the action. After a dismal showing against Green Bay last Saturday, will the Browns have their act together today in Cleveland Browns Stadium? Will Eric Mangini‘s team be different than those coached by Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, or Romeo Crenell–or is this just more of the same?
Aspects of the game the Browns need to improve:
- Every aspect
There’s an incredible amount of attention on the QB battle between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, but the reality is that neither of these guys has separated from the pack. Neither has shown they can play consistent football week to week (or even practice to practice). The “quarterback controversy” here, in my opinion, is the fact that we’re going into the season for the eleventh time since the Browns return to the league WITHOUT a clear-cut starter–and minus a true leader at the position.
Here are two problems that suggest disaster for this team: (1) They cannot run the football; (2) They cannot stop the run. That’s the recipe for a painful, long season. This team that has to get tougher, smarter, and refuse to lie down. Winning or losing preseason games is not of core importance–but playing well, gaining confidence, and nailing down Mangini’s new system are critical.
Will the team get their act together today? We’ll post throughout the game, right after the jump…
17
Aug
2009
Pre-Season MNF – Giants/Panthers game blog
Osi Umenyiora returns to the Giants after missing 2008 with an injury (Photo: NY Daily News)
Since this is the first pre-season game that I’m actually going to watch in earnest, I figured I’d keep track of my thoughts during the game … or at least the first half of it.
Warning: I’m an unabashed Giants fan, but I’ll try to play this relatively straight. It’s only pre-season, so let’s not get too carried away by anything we see tonight … mainly, you’re praying for no injuries, and to see that your vets look sharp, and which newcomers have a chance to make an impact.
I’ll be keeping an eye on the Giants’ receiving corps – especially rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden – who are going to need to step up big this year. The Giants defense is banged up, with all 3 of their FA acquisitions (DE Chris Canty, DT Rocky Bernard and LB Michael Boley) sitting this one out. Also of note on the injured list, WR Steve Smith – both of them, actually.
Alright, it’s football time. Let’s do this.
8:06pmET: Suzy Kolber interviews Eli Manning on the sidelines. Eli is still a bit of a mushmouth, but he says all the right things. He kinda reminds me of Nuke Laloush in Bull Durham. “We’re just gonna take it one game at a time, and the good lord willin’ …”
1st Quarter
8:08pm: Panthers start with the ball. DeAngelo Williams gets the first carry for Carolina. Jon Gruden is already better than Kornheiser ever was.
8:09pm: Giants D get a 3-and-out on the first series. Strong start for what should be one of the best units in the league. Mario Manningham gets a big punt return.
8:11pm: Brandon Jacobs gets the first 2 carries. I bought a #27 Jacobs jersey in the off-season. First offensive jersey I’ve ever owned. Jacobs is just a beast.
8:12pm: Eli Manning fires a bullet to Manningham on 3rd down, called back for Illegal Formation, but still nice to see. Incompletion on the next play leads to a Feagles punt.
8:16pm: Nice to see Justin Tuck and Osi Uymeniora back together. Giants will be using 5-man DL fronts this season. Osi gets a sack/strip as I type this. Nasty.
8:24pm: Brandon Jacobs gets out in the open field and runs over his first DB of the season. Poor #31 Richard Marshall is the victim for Carolina.
The Giants running game appears to be fully operational (Photo: NY Daily News)
8:25pm: Domenick Hixon gets a big gain on the bubble screen. And then Ahmad Bradshaw finishes off the drive with a 20-yd TD run. The Panthers just cant tackle. 7-0 Giants
