AFC Championship Live Blog: Chargers @ Patriots, Pre-Game and First Half
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Hello folks, S2N here with you for the AFC Championship game, and I'm still having a hard time believing that Jim Nantz is an award-winner of any sort.
Have some fun in comments with the pre-game, and I'll be back for the start of the game.
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Phil Simms is offending all sense of fashion yet again with that shirt and tie. Who picks that out for him?
Jesus, you'd think football players never played in the cold before. Windchills at 0, and....Steve Tasker as a sideline reporter? I'm guessing CBS didn't want to get caught without a sideliner for injury reports again after last week. Gostowski kicks off to Sproles, who's tackled at the 25 -- and here comes Marmalard. LDT gets three on his first carry and two on the second.
Does anyone else find it annoying when announcers say "last year's MVP vs. this year's MVP?" as if Tom Brady and LDT actually square off on the field, literally?
Anyway, incomplete on third down, and Mike Scifres kicks one back....and there's going to be a five yard flag for running into the punter. They'll try it again. Welker fair-catches the next punt at the 27. Brady overthrows Kyle Brady on first down -- no perfection for Tom Terrific. Koolaid Maroney gets only two yards on the 2nd down carry -- and Antonio Gates is going out of the game. Another incompletion, and it's trading 3 and outs.
Ed in comments says the Pats scored 13 of 17 times on first drives. Make that 13 0f 18 now. Sproles gets the punt back somewhere inside the 30 of SD. Rivers hits Chris Chambers for 20 something and they're at the 43. Michael Turner gets 5 to the 49. Going to Chambers again past midfield. Asante Samuel knocks down the pass headed for Vincent Jackson. Short pass to LDT for a yard or two, as Gates is back in the game. Rodney Harrison comes up on the blitz and rushes Rivers into a 3rd and 9 incompletion -- and he just juked LDT, who was trying to pass-block. Kevin Faulk is back for the punt -- fair catch at the 10.
First play is a rush hit behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. Wes Welker makes up that loss on the next play with a catch and the yards after at the 20. Pressure on Brady, hurled downfield, and we've got a flag for illegal contact on Quentin Jammer -- and that one was a legit call past five yards. Maroney gets nothing on the next carry. Brady to Ben Watson for nine, but 3rd and 1 is incomplete after that. We've seen Chris Hanson twice now, very early. Sproles gets it back to the 39 of San Diego.
I FUCKING HATE THIS MCDONALD'S AD. I hate that they're playing the long version of this, with that lame ass song.
Michael Turner gets a first down right off the bat and back to midfield with the rush. He then gets four more on the next carry. Rivers throws a floater out of bounds towards Jackson that hasn't come down yet. Marmalard gets sacked by the former Charger Junior Seau -- plus a holding call on SD, which is declined. Scifres comes out to punt again. Touchback for the Patriots.
Looks like Ted Cottrell watched the film from the Pats-Ravens game. The one where, y'know, they put pressure on Brady. - randomranting
Amazing concept, isn't it? Put pressure on the QB and make them rush their decisions! And, we have tangible results! Quentin Jammer picks Dreamboat right off the bat. Turner rushes for five -- and is brought down with a 15-yard face mask. Chambers ropes in a good catch there to make it first and goal at the 9. Turner gets a yard. 2nd down brings a pass to Lorenzo Neal, which isn't in his vicinity. Rivers hits Chambers in the end zone, but it's called incomplete -- he was out of bounds by plenty. Nate Kaeding on...it's up and through.
Chargers 3, Patriots 0. If this is the SD offense, god help them if the Patriots get it straight on O.
Brady and Co. start at the 35. Welker gets nine on the catch. Brady overthrows Randy Moss for a 3rd and 1. Heath Evans pumbles through for 3 yards and a first down.
Jesus Tapdancing Christ, Nancy Boy. That's an end-around that Moss ran, not a reverse. Simms, you should fucking correct him. Out to Faulk on the screen for four yards, Stallworth for five more to close out the first quarter. Maroney gets that first down with a seven yard run to the outside. First and goal is a short one to Faulk with a touchdown saving tackle by Eric Weddle.
Koolaid Maroney does an "OH YEAH!" and busts through the pile for six. Gostowski's kick is good, 7-3, New England.
Let the running up of the score commence....Sproles brings the kickoff back to the 30. Jackson hauls one in for 15. A "coach's decision" to keep LDT out? Norv Turner has had his first NORV! moment. Jackson nabs another one for 17 yards -- someone will be stupid enough to waste an early fantasy pick on him next season. Turner gets the next two carries and we've got 3rd and 1. Jackson again for 21 at the nine yard line. Rivers rolls out on 2nd down and tries to hit Gates -- and Tedy Bruschi makes a solid defensive play on that one. Rivers hits Chambers -- but Ellis Hobbs just took his legs out from under him, and here comes Kaeding again. His kick is good, 7-6, Patriots.
Again, this is going to look real bad if the Patriots get end zone on this next drive, and to quote PM, the NE O-line got themselves unfucked on the last drive -- so that doesn't bode well.
Nantz is great as lead announcer of the NE broadcast team. - Anon
+1.
Pats starting at the 40. Left Faulk WIDE FUCKING OPEN and he gets 13 yards into Bolts territory. Koolaid takes three tacklers with him for five yards. Welker gets a short catch on the next play. Quentin Jammer knocks down the third down pass to force fourth down, and Dateline NBC is out to punt. Kelley Washington makes a nice special teams play, batting the ball back and it's downed at the 4.
LDT looks like Darth Tomlinson on the sidelines all bundled up. Turner gets seven yards on the first two carries. Sproles gets 4 for the first down. Rivers gets smacked up HARD, threw a rainbow ball, and Asante Samuel beat out Chris Chambers for the ball -- he runs it back a bit, too. Nice hit by Vrabel, and sloppy by Chambers for not keeping position on Samuel.
Brady to Faulk for 13, then Brady to Jabar Gaffney for END ZONE. Extra point good, 14-6, Patriots.
That was promptly followed by a nice Marmalard face and vintage, vintage NORV! Face.
"The Patriots are too good at throwing and catching and getting up the field." - PS, master of the obvious. Sproles gets very little on the first play -- and if I were LDT, I'd be plotting Norval's death in the locker room come halftime. ANOTHER RIVERS PICK, this time via Ellis Hobbs, who fumbles and Samuel falls on it.
Kevin Faulk gets eight yards on some good blocking as NE tries to get all the way for a killer score before the half. Two minute warning.
IBM just showed a clip of Steve Smith making an amazing play for the Panthers. That had to be from last season or something.
Jim Nantz just mentioned that the Giants-Packers game was on Fox. This would not be notable except for the fact that announcers never mention another network. Welker incomplete, punt to Sproles, he's out at the SD 35. Darren Sproles busts one out -- gets about 30+ or so into NE territory, and they're reviewing the play.
"That made sense to you, right?" - Phil
"I've been around you long enough to be able to interpret." - Jim
Accidental truths revealed. Ball stays with SD, Rivers hits Gates for 8. Sproles gets stopped on the pass a yard shy of the first down. Chargers burn the last time out. Rivers rolls and throws out of bounds with no one open. Kaeding on for the FG, and Coach Hobo calls a time out to ice the shite playoff kicker that Kaeding is. Kick is good from 40 yards out, 14-9, Patriots. But the Pats will still get the ball back to start the second half -- job's not done there.
See you in the 2nd half thread, everyone.
127 Comments:
1st Love the River shot he looks like the retard he is.
2nd when did JB have his body invaded by Berman??
Why is Junior Seau dressed like a Bolshevik?
I am so damn sick of hearing about the cold weather. It's not like the Giants play in Miami! They playing New York. They, too, are a "cold weather team," whatever the hell that means. These idiots on CBS talk as if Brett Favre is the only human being who can function in below 0 temperatures.
sorry for my tortured syntax. This:
"They playing New York"
Should read: "They play in New York."
They probably saw the Mayne event today and believe that Brett runs naked in the snow.
WTF is with the gameshow?
Is River wearing a Texas Tech windbreaker in the piece with Leslie Vissar? I wonder how the folks at NC State feel bout that?
Eeesh. My grandmother looks more spry that Rivers. That clip of him warming up can't make Charger fans too happy.
"Dexter" is coming to network TV! I'm pleasantly surprised a network would take a risk like that...
Goodness, that's a big trophy. And Shannon got last place. That's deserving. I'm sure the engineers love having to come up with True/False graphics on top of each other for him because he doesn't understand the game.
Is CBS actually broadcasting the game? According to their broadcast crew, the outcome's already determined.
"Hello friends, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms" - Jim Nantz
"I'm not your friend Jim" - Me.
No Ed Hoculi. But at least there is no Gerry Austin.
O/U on Peyton Manning ads -- anyone want to guess?
Switcheroo!
NE has scored on 13 of 17 1st drives.
Even John McLaughlin thinks Simms' shirt-tie combination is offensive.
The ghost of Austin alive and well.
Sad but true: one of my roommates wants LT to do well because he was on his fantasy team in the season that has already ended.
The MVP's should square off. Two man enter, one man leave. KUMITE!
Gates to the locker room already. Not good for SD, but they are getting good pressure on Brady...
Once again, with the pre-game, CBS lives up to the Kathleen Sullivan annouited nickname of "The Cheap Broadcasting System."
Two incomplete passes by Brady already? BRING ON CASSEL!!!
Wow. Brady is off! 0-2 .. man, he sucks.
Good throw by Rivers there.
Not a good toss by Rivers. He really sails the ball on those deeper routes.
"equipment issue?" is that akin to "wardrobe malfunction?"
LDT with the whifferoo on the block. He really cares for his QB. You can tell 'cause he tries.
That's a euphemism for "jam a needle in there and numb it up Doc".
SD is double-daring Pats to throw long.
i totally agree with S2N, Jim Nantz isnt all that! They should of kept greg gumbel as the lead. Jim is the lead for every freaking thing on CBS
Finally, a NE first down. Shocked it took this long.
Why don't they just have Manning choke his way through that commercial? "Bummed about the end of of football season? Me, t..AAACCKKK COUGH, HACK, ACK!!!!"
@hollywood wags:
Methinks you are correct. Good call.
Anonymous said...
O/U on Peyton Manning ads -- anyone want to guess?
I'm guessing at least 14 Peyton commercials.
WHY WONT CBS USED SAM RYAN AS THEIR SIDELINE REPORTER? SHE IS HOT? STEVE TASKER CAN STAY HOME!
NEXT YEAR THEY SHOULD MOVE SAM RYAN TO THE SIDELINES WITH THE LEAD TEAM....
Brady not very accurate today.
Cottrell will be hailed as a genius. Never mind he had a huge wind to help him. This is just the Ravens game, Pt. II
Tom Brady insists his wife call these games, be the lead girl.
It sucks, but what are ya gonna do.
Super Bowl NFL Champion Football Player Steve Tasker does a mean Kermit THE Frog.
Looks like Ted Cotrell watched the film from the Pats-Ravens game. The one where, y'know, they put pressure on Brady.
I know I'm only setting myself up for disappointment, but I really want the Bears to sign Turner. Too bad they think Ced Benson is an NFL player.
I hate the song in the McDonald's ad too. I always found it annoying when they would play it at Miami Heat home games
CBS sends Sam Ryan to Green Bay (stupid)
Jimmy Johnson looks 40 years younger in the Coors Light ad
Ted Cottrell looks like the Michelin Tire man in that coat
Holy crap what a bad throw.
What a piss-poor toss by Brady. SD defense is really doing a solid job so far.
I never understand ads for the clarity and crispness of a picture when the target audience doesn't have a monitor capable of appreciating such nuance.
Does anyone else think Phil Rivers looks very Kosar-esqe today?
Phil Simms sucks
Double Sure, Jimmy?
"Hello friends, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms" - Jim Nantz
"I'm not your friend Jim" - Me.
Every week. Horrible shirt and tie combo by Simms. And why do they still wear that ugly company blazer?
The Pats better unfuck their blocking schemes or Brady is in for a long day.
Did anyone else notice the highlight used in the Circuit City commercial is Phil Rivers at NC State vs. Clemson.
Oh god Survivor promos
The reason the Cheap Broadcasting System (There's the Kathleen Sullivan reference again) hasn't had sideline reporters all season is that they don't do anything significant to the game telecast.
Geez. Brady is off, off, off. SD is doing a good job of making him move his feet.
Very stupid to send Sam Ryan to Green Bay! Anonymous is right! Sam should be added to the lead team as a full time sideline reporter next season!
Really nice cut by Moss there.
Over pursue much Bolts?
God Nantz creamed his shorts when Moss broke free
Not very good tackling by SD on this drive.
It looked like Rivers was only blinking with half his face on the sideline in that shot of him "relaxing.
Consider the NE O-Line unfucked. Nice drive there.
Haha, AA. I loved that. "Let the running up the score commence." Yeah.. I hope so.
I'm shocked! They actually use Steve Tasker for a report! Jim Nantz is overrated!
Wow. LDT taken out via "coach's decision." He's either really, really hurt, or Norv is pissed about the whiff on the blitz pickup.
Dr Peppers + Cheers = HUH?
What a dumb ass commercial.
Great LB play from NE so far...
And Norv Turner, losing heat from his body as he is not wearing any hat. KMore than 2/3 of your body heat is lost through your head when you don't wear a hat. It's a scientific fact!
No, Nantz is great as lead announcer of the NE broadcast team.
Exactly. He should replace Don Criqui on the TV broadcasts of preseason games.
GREAT open field tackle by Hobbs! That's a solid play.
anonymous, 4:01 PM US EST:
"[Jim] Nantz is great as the lead announcer of the NE broadcast team."
He just P\/\/N3D Jim Nantz!
nantz is already thinking about seeing Tiger next weekend.
Two stalled drives inside the 10. The NORV! Effect is taking hold.
Apparently, steroids do not make you smart enough to cover the back out of the backfield, huh, Shawne?
Its HGH u need to cover out of the backfiled right Rodney?
No, HGH only enables you to not piss off your teammates with stupid personal foul penalties.
That was a nice play by Jammer. He's done a good job of manning up on Moss thus far.
WOW!!! What a ST play by Washington!
I've been watching sports for 15 years, and outside of Vitale/Duke and local guys, I've never seen a more blatant obvious bias than Nantz/Simms. It's like they take offense that the Patriots even have to play these games. Just listen to their voices when NE makes a big play compared to the Chargers. It's pathetic.
Cromartie and Jammer have played well
Phil Rivers = Bernie Kosar 1988
Simms is just awful
I know. No wonder why they only did one Titans game this year. That's because they were required to by the network. Would have rater seen Gumbel and Dierdorf.
So, does this make Norv Turner, Rory Sabbatini?
Really, really stupid throw by Rivers. Take the sack, kid. Nice effort by Samuel to wrestle that ball away. I guess now we know why Chambers only converts 67% of balls thrown in his direction into catches. Perhaps a little light in the ass...
CBS wants NE to do well because it helps ratings and Ad rates just as Fox wants to NE to win since they have the Super Bowl.
That wasnt a trip by Vrabel???
Vrabel tripped Rivers . . . no call.
17 of 20 points scored against the wind.
Wow. We get Rivers with the douchey-whiney face and the NORV! face in consecutive shots. +1 to CBS' producers!
And they dont even comment on the trip or possible trip. Cmon Phil!!!
Vrabel tripped Rivers, no doubt about it. Pussy.
That was really close to a trip by Vrabel, but I think the ref may have though he was down blocked into him. Close call that went NE's way, I suppose...
I know I maybe a little late but
Rivers + Marmalarde = LMAO
Every time I see that mug of his I can't stop laughing
Ummmm. Yeah. TIVO says that was a trip. Pretty douchey of Nantz and Simms not to even mention it...imagine if the tables were turned and it was Merriman and Brady...
FORCE IT MUCH PHIL
" Nice hit by Vrabel" - Are you drunk? He fucking blatantly tripped Rivers, which illegal. Of course no one mentions it.
Another shitty pass by Rivers. He's gotta sit. Can't even step into his throws. Bring on Volek.
Leg whip actually and yes it was but I think that Triplett saw it as Vrabel was blocked into Rivers (I hate NE so no bias)
"Oh he bounces out!" -Nantz
Sounds like he is about to blow his load...just like every time the Patriots advance the ball.
@rob:
I thought that Vrabel was blocked into him initially as well, but I replayed it a couple times and it was pretty clear that he intentionally tossed his leg out there. Not that it matters. Rivers is just hucking it around and NORV! has inexplicably benched the best all-around back in the NFL.
Nice stonemitts from Welkaaahhh there...
"Oh he bounces out!" -Nantz
Sounds like he is about to blow his load...just like every time the Patriots advance the ball.
Well how is he supposed to sound? "Oh, he bounced out. That was pretty good, but I'm sure the Chargers are better." ? God forbid someone get excited.. you know.. like they are calling the AFC Championship or something.
@PM:
Went back and watched again and it looks a little intentional but at full speed I can see why it wasn't called.
Wes Welker not liking the cold
SD has been the superior team, except for a crippled QB, and Chambers' failure to prevent an int.
Cowher was right in the pre-game.
@ rob:
Agreed. On both counts.
"The NFL is challenging the ruling on the field of positive yardage against the Patriots."
@ rob:
agreed. on both counts.
He is supposed to sound the same for both sides-and he doesn't.
Good call. Not a fumble
He sounds like he's for both sides to me in some cases. It's just the Chargers need to make some semi-exciting plays, like with the Sproles run. I just think people hear what they want to hear sometimes.
They seem to play nice regarding the other network during the playoffs etc at the request of the League
Nice open-field play bu Meriweather! Forced SD to use that timeout and prevented the 1st down.
Well, you seem to be a cult of one here on that subject, anon.
Another horrid play by Rivers. Not ability to step up and then he ignores a wide-open Turner in the middle of the field. Douchey and bad. Not a good combo, Phil.
Yeah, I know. I hate most broadcasting, but he isn't sucking too much Patriots wii-wii just yet. I mean, that will probably change I'm sure when they do something else exciting, I just don't see it at the moment.
Kaeding nearly shanks the chip shot. Ye gods.
Isn't Kaeding that guy who missed a field goal to win the game and a field goal in overtime before they lost the game a few years ago? I thought they cut him (or whoever that was).
Garth Brooks? I thought he's "retired" more than Michael Jordan and Roger Clemens at this point.
"The trip" again not mentioned
Cowher wants Volek to make his pick look Genius
Wtf at Dan's phone ringing o.o;
Marino's cell just went off unfrickenbelievable
make that twice, what a genius
Shannon said "shlaba dab da ba ba lab blabla dib dab babla da doo"
I have to say I agree.
These guys do know about vibrate only mode on cell phones, right?
Bill Cowher:
"Defend Faulk, defend Welker...Randy Moss is not going to beat you."
You, sir, are a fucking idiot.
LOL. Three times during the half-time show. "TURN IT OFF!"
Too funny.
kushiro, that is hysterical
Guys - the phone ring was an ad, U think Marino's phone makes the Sprint commercial sound?
Maybe it's an ad, but it was still pretty funny.
I hate Joe Montana and the Joe's Diner commercials are funny
Garth Brooks had "retired" more times than professional wrestlers like Hoak *snort* Horgan!
stephen:
Thanks, man, but I just type what I hear.
I found a video (Super Bowl Radio Row) on Boston.TV thought you'd like to see it:
http://www.boston.tv/clips/631741639.html
First! Love the facial expression on Rivers. I wonder if he'll be that way when he's getting his face pounded into the ground as I hope.