NFC Wild Card Live-Blog: Eagles @ Vikings, 1st Half
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Game: NFC Wild Card Playoff #2
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1, 2nd place, NFC East) vs. Minnesota Vikings (10-6, NFC North Champs)
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
Start Time: 4:30 PM EST
Announcers and Network: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver, Fox
Miscellany: Teacher vs. student at the coaching positions, how many boneheaded decisions either Andy Reid or Brad Childress make involving play-calling or clock management. Tarvaris Jackson's in a playoff game for the first time, Donovan McNabb and his battle with the naysayers in Philly. All valid narrative points for Buckbot, Jr. and Troy.
Favorite: Philly (-3)
S2N's Pick: Eagles, on the premise that Reid will screw up less than Childress, as well as the first-time playoff QB factor.
It's the Mormon Walrus vs. Coach Major Dad in the Metrodome, folks! Marvel at the specter of bad clock management and play calls designed not to the benefit of the skills of the quarterbacks running both offenses!
Does Chris Myers really need all this work? Seriously? CBS seems to survive with no sideline reporters for Nantz and Simms, why both Oliver and Myers?
Quinton Demps brings the return out to the 11, and Donovan McNabb will start with the ball. McNabb overthrows DeSean Jackson, but mostly because a lineman was about to knock the crap out of him. Westbrook gets his first carry, and loses yardage on it. McNabb hits Kevin Curtis right in the numbers on 3rd down, getting out past the 20 for a first down. Westbrook goes inside for two yards on the carry.
Andy Reid hasn't shaved his beard. He looks like Michael Moore gone football coach. Donny Mac overthrows Greg Lewis, going for the deep strike. 3rd down pass to TE Brent Celek, and he's very, very close to a first down. It's short, and here comes the punt team after Troy made an exceptionally dumb comment about Celek needing to know where the marker is -- one, it was a quick out and two, he was trying to make the move to get the extra yard.
Bernard Berrian returns Sav Rocca's punt to the 10 yard line, but that's it. Tarvaris Jackson throws it away just in time to avoid the sack. Adrian Peterson loses a yard on his first carry. Chester Taylor gets a first down on his first touch in the game. AP brought down for another loss, followed by a screen to the left for Taylor again for 8 yards. Taylor will be short on third down, despite Buckbot saying it depends on the spot.
Chris Kluwe's punt goes to Jackson, who dodges one side of the Vikes' special teams, gets to the outside, and runs all the way to the Minnesota 34.
Does Andy Reid have an ammo belt on holding up his pants? - 49er16
@49er - that belt is Reid's utility belt. It is where he keeps everything he needs to get through the game: a box of twinkies, a selection of proven to be ineffective short yardage plays, and the phone number for his kids' parole officer.- Mal
Westbrook gets two yards on the carry. McNabb scrambles back to the line of scrimmage, away from Jared Allen. After another failed play, David Akers nails a 44-yard FG. 3-0, Philly.
Hicks returns to the 22. AP for two yards, and he took a bit of time to get up. Five for Taylor, and a quick strike from Jackson to Berrian gains a first down. Quinton Mikell nearly picks off Jackson on the next play. Taylor gains seven on his next carry, getting whacked by Brian Dawkins. Jackson hits Bobby Wade for 19 yards. Peterson picks up 2 as he comes back in, ball at the Philly 40. A couple of incompletions after that, and Kluwe comes back on to punt; the kick goes out of bounds at the 16.
Well, now it's marked at the 25 after an official conference. Donny Mac throws to Hank Baskett for the first time today -- gain of 7. (Kendra must be happy.) Correll Buckhalter gets the carry, busts through a hole and then cuts to the right sideline for 26 yards on the run. Buckhalter gets a yard on the next rush. McNabb hits Reggie Brown for 8 yards on 2nd down; 3rd and 1 coming. Vikings call time.
The pass to Westbrook is incomplete, and Akers will try a 51-yard FG. Perfect kick, 6-0, Philly.
Maurice Hicks returns the kickoff to the 22. No yards for AP on the first carry, but an offsides penalty makes it 1st and 5. Jackson throws it away with a defender chasing him. Taylor's tackled for a loss by Mikell. Jackson steps up and hits Sidney Rice at the 38. He follows that up with a pass to Visanthe Shiancoe on first down. Jackson goes downfield for Berrian -- and Brian Dawkins had a better angle on that than Berrian did. Sheldon Brown breaks up the 3rd down pass to Andre Ellison -- but there's a PI flag on Brown. That was kind of ticky-tack.
First down toss to AP gets outside to the right for 6. Injury time out as Asante Samuel collapses in a heap on his leg.
"3rd down and a long 2....", sayeth Buckbot, as Purple Jesus takes the handoff and makes that long 2 a short memory all the way to the end zone. TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS! Ryan Longwell adds the XP, 7-6, Vikings.
Demps takes the kick up to about the 28. McNabb to Curtis on a great throw for 11 yards. Antoine Winfield knocks the next pass away from DeSean Jackson. And there's another time out blown by the Vikings' D.
The "G" campaign for Gatorade is entirely useless. No ad campaign should fail to tell the viewer what it's actually trying to sell.
McNabb to Jason Avant for five yards on 2nd down after the TO. He then goes deep for DeSean Jackson, who brings it in and is out of bounds at the Vikings' 21. Westbrook gets three yards on first down. He gets five on his next rush, 3rd and 2...blitz on....McNabb's pass incomplete for Kevin Curtis; Akers coming on for another FG try -- up and good, 9-7, Philly retakes the lead.
Hicks makes a 25 yard return on the kickoff. AP for 6, 2nd down pass incomplete to Kleinsasser. Jackson throws.....and Asante Samuel picks it off! Samuel rushes down the sideline, and he's in the end zone for the Eagles TOUCHDOWN! Akers kick is up and good, 16-7, Eagles.
They'll add a 15 yard penalty for celebration on the kickoff (dumbest rule ever, really.)
I guess Asante Samuel has his Ed Reed underwear on for the game. - Anon @ 5:49
How much bad news can the Vikes get on one play? Interception. Eagles TD. Tavaris hurt on the play. Frerotte warming up on the sideline. The only thing missing was Mike Tice scalping tickets in the parking lot. - Mal
Ed Reed would've scored on that play and tackled Jackson at the same time. - SSR
Jackson pitches to AP on first down, and it's a loss of a yard. AP picks up five on the next carry, and another 3rd and 6 for the Vikes. In other news, I'm going to start selling Ed Reed Underoos for some extra spending cash. Bernard Berrian brings in the third down pass and heads all the way to the Philly 31. Bobby Wade uses his hops to get another first down at the 21 on the catch. Taylor up the middle for 8 yards; he follows it up by busting through to the 6 for a first and goal. Two minute warning.
Can we get a damn translator for Troy. Some one to spit would what he's trying to say in less than three minutes. - Lord Nero
@Nero - and it's all in one - three minute long - sentence. That guy abuses conjunctions the way Ed Reed abuses quarterbacks. - Gibbon Jockey
I now just ignore Troy whenever Joe asks him to explain something. Taylor rushes to the 3.
Goddamnit, Fox. Don't show me that graphic with Norv Turner being 13-1 in December and January. I CANNOT DEAL WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HIM BEING A GOOD COACH.
Anyway, AP gets the ball, runs off tackle left, and that's TOUCHDOWN, VIKES. Longwell's kick is up and good, 16-14, Eagles.
Kickoff out to the 25. Pass to Avant for 13 yards.
"I'm about as much of a doctor as Dr. Phil, but I believe he's [Darren Sharper] is questionable for the rest of the game with the pain he's in." - Chris Myers
3rd and 1, and a bizarre play call -- aired out for Kevin Curtis and Cedric Griffin comes down with the pick. Why call that when the Vikes' defense isn't set at all? Andy Reid brain-fart, ahoy!
Bunch of running plays has the Minnesota crowd booing like crazy. Now, they punt after a horrid pass play call on third down (ka-ching, Major Dad!) DeSean Jackson returns the punt for 18 yards. Pass to Westbrook, who gets out of bounds after nine yards. Another pass to Westbrook on 3rd down with 8 seconds left -- he gets the first down, but time runs out. 16-14, Eagles at halftime.
220 Comments:
Welcome to the Questionable Play Calls Bowl! Team Childress is a 2-point favorite.
"I'm the hottest, sexiest guy on here." - Menefee
Gag.
Good thing this game isn't in phili. I would be confused on who is being booed.
That was totally unexpected, but hilarious, by Menefee.
Live from Minneapolis we will decide the NFL's 2008-9 WTF Game Management Champion.
All ties broken by a three man comittee of Mike Holmgren, Dan Snyder, and Ed Hochuli.
Chris Myers is getting a lot of work this week.
Over/Under on questionable playcalling by both Reid and Childress.
My guess is that Myers wife locked him out of the house...something about her acting like her mother.
Fox conversion chart: fat dude dressed as Viking = band shot
Ed Reed sent a text message to Lito Sheppard right before the game, and the Eagles are suddenly a 20-point favorite.
Wow, according to Joe Suck, the ENTIRE population of Minneaplolis is watching the game. I'm sure the local FOX affiliate is happy
Outside of going to a Prince concert there isn't anything else to watch in Minniapolis.
Does Andy Reid have an ammo belt on holding up his pants?
"Andy Reid is inclined to give up on run game." - Aikman, early nominee for understatement of year
Does anyone else think that Andy Reid looks like the walus in Alice in Wonderland?
First of many gutless Reid calls. Play to win Andy on fourth and 6 inches.
Way to be aggressive, Andy.
Joe Buck is not bashing anyone yet. Good for him.
C'mon Gibbon. There will be plenty of opportunities to criticize Reid's play calling later in the game. Going for it on 4th down on your own 33 is not a smart call.
over under on Tavaris "Judas" Jackson getting sacked?
@Lord nero. Goo goo gachoo.
Troy great as always.
And remember, the yellow line is unofficial.
The Mike Holmgren 3rd down draw works in Minnesota's system!
@49er - that belt is Reid's utility belt. It is where he keeps everything he needs to get through the game: a box of twinkies, a selection of proven to be ineffective short yardage plays, and the phone number for his kids' parole officer.
Oh boy, Nathan Brice is back......
More goodness from Troy.
@mal
I think it's the perfect opportunity to make a statement. Lots of time left in the game and it tells the team they are there to win. Considering the % of success is overwhelmingly in the Iggles favor in that situation why not be aggressive?
Oooooooo, nasty stuff, Mal.
why is andy reid wearing a heavy black coat like its 20 degrees.
On behalf of all of us, nathan, will you please SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!?
Go for it.
@ James Craven: I apologize. Uncalled for cheap shots. Those need to be saved for when they are warranted.
How many times will Joe Buck say "It depends on the spot." during this game? Hey Joe, IT'S FOOTBALL! IT ALWAYS DEPENDS ON THE SPOT! Talk about awful announcing.
BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is why Wordpress > Blogger, I'd ban Nathan's butt forever.
who wears the radio for the eagles D? it wasn't on the Screen.
No bashing, Joe. You do waaaay too much of that.
and I'm gonna make the same complaint here about Childress...and completely disagree with Aikman.
Don't let the game come to you. Take the game to the other team. That's what champions do. These guys just want to play out the string and hope for the best...
When phili is on defense walter brimley comes out as a stand in for Reid.
Usually, it's the MLB #55, anon 4:54 PM...
@anon 4:52 - he thinks he's in The Matrix.
Troy rarely if ever bashes.
McNabb is starring as the greased up deaf guy
Tony Corrente is the second best ref in the NFL behind Hochuli.
Who is Nathan Brice?
McNabb runs around trying to make plays and the receiver drops the ball and a lineman gets called for a penalty. Shamful.
Make it a 44 yarder and it's 3-0 Iggles.
David "Green" Akers. Da dum da da da........ IT'S GOOD!!!!!!
Nathan Brice is an imfamous troller who was here on New Years Day.
He is also the perennial pain in the ass.
@ Mal, he's a troll who comes up with names like WildHoots and CraigFerguson.
I love Chris Berman.
I am 6'3.
Ok. Seen him here before. Didn't know he had a real name.
Stay Classy, Nathan Brice you scumbag.
Damn it i was meaning to make a tally sheet of all the bud light and hemi commercials.
@Mal he pisses us all off.
Andy "Tara" Reid will be back next year. Count on it.
Louisville leads 25-20. They have underachieved this year.
Remind me to not tick you guys off.
Sargent Peterson for a small gain.
And then you can't spell Gus Ferrotte without "GEAH!"
SARGENT PETERSON, CHICAGO POLICE!!!
Sargent Tibbs!!! Sargent Tibbs!!! I say SARGENT!!!!!!
The slowed-down, someone-might-be-dying-so-we-should-be-respectful version of the "going to commercials" music on Fox needs a name.
The use of excessive violence on Nathan Brice had been approved.
Jim and Phil were great, as they most of the time are, until Jim starts to opine too much.
He was wide open!!
Shut up, Nathan!
You better wake him up before he go-gos on that one.
I'm on fire!!!!!!
That was a Sydney issue.
Texas and Florida should be your winners.
FUCK NATHAN BRICE!! KILL YOURSELF!!
Where is Richard Childress?
Well I think we're in for a boring game.
Thank you, Anon 5:09 PM for that insightful comment about Nathan Brice.
His four teams should be very good this year.
It is less than two months until NASCAR is back. It will be great, as always.
I WANT TO MURDER NATHAN!!!!!!!
Playoffs?
Best. Sound bite. Ever!
3-0 Scott Eggleston. He was the crew chief when Michael Waltrip won the Daytona 500 in 2001.
He put the biscuit in the (gunshot)....
Okay I won't say it.
@JamesCraven - I agree. It is almost sacrilegious to use it in a common commercial like that.
SHUT THE FUCK UP NATHAN!!!
Derrike Cope is trying to come back. We shall see if he can still do it.
He put the biscuit in the bunny!!! How about that one????
Um, S2N, you got a gun? i just want to shoot Nathan brice right now, as does everyone else.
You have to give me that one.
Get it? Because Baskett is engaged to Kendra from The Girls Next Door.
Our first F-up by a coach. Childress just had to call a timeout with :06 left in the quarter.
I DIP BISCUITS IN MY GRAVY FILLED VAGINA!!!
This is like crack to me.
How about "The Reciever Next Door" I used from the Giants-Eagles SNF game 11/2, SSR?
You have to follow the names that I am giving myself.
Stay Classless, Classless woman!
Eagles once again cannot convert a short yardage play.
I hope this isn't a field goal game. That would just suck.
Get the point??
outside of Martina the Ballerina Gramatica, David Akers has to be my least favorite placekicker
Yeah, Nathan. We know your real name, pal!
And Andy scores first for a questionable play call on 3rd and 1.
There will be four judges this year.
American Idol: Where repetition gets us ratings.
@ Chris - you're forgetting about Sebastian Janikowski.
The four judge's dad was a Congressman from New York.
Go away and play in traffic on I-95, Nathan...
Reminds me of Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. He's gonna kill himself a crab!!!
Oh, yeah. Forgot about C-Bass...
It is I-459 here in Alabama.
You wear so many masks Nathan. The hardest must be your own.
Will you be having the chicken or the C-Bass?
Go play there then, Brice!
STAY CLASSY MOTHERFUCKERS!
*Gives a standing ovation to Lord Nero* BRAVO! BRAVO!
Nice screen by Tavaris eluding the pressure
The fighting Kelly Ripas are beating the fighting Craig Fergusons.
No, YOU stay classy, anon 5:23 PM
Ed Reed would have caught the shit out of that
You really have to be good to get that one.
Troy: "Nobody has caught more big balls this year than Berrian".
Got any more Ed Reed facts, people?
wow. That looked similar to a play during the first half of the UK-ECU game, and there was no penalty there...
go fuck yourself you piece of shit commenters, stay classy this, you're sick that, go fuck a goat and chomp on a dick because you love cock, you eat cock, you sniff cock, you jerkoff dick, you cum on another persons dick, so suck my dick too.
everyone should fuck themselves you suck dick and this place sucks dick and everyone like dick.
dick dick dick dick dick dick dick dick dick dick dick.
DICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think i just found nathan's facebook on Google. God what an ugly MFer.
uh-oh. Samuel's hurt
There goes "Cracker Jack Hips" Samual
Come on Anon 5:28 PM, what do you really think?
Ed Reed created Nathan Brice because he enjoys watching human beings suffer.
@anon; if you want dudes to suck your dick that makes you gay as well.
Purple Jesus. hallelujah. he is risen.
I was hoping that the ref would knock purple jesus off his feet
"Adrian Peterson, just went deep." - Joe Buck
Ewwwwwwww.
AP is like a 21st Century version of Barry Sanders. He'll gain only 2, 3, 2, -1, then break one for 60 and a score...
to Lord Nero, I was wondering the same thing myself. Like the ref who gave the forearm shiver to Stephen Garcia of S.Carolina when they played LSU
Ed Reed would've stopped that AP touchdown. Probably would've tackled him for a loss, too.
exactly Chris
The umpire had the most contact with AP near the line of scrimmage on that run.
an Eric "Sleeping with" Bieniemy sighting???
Wait. Eric "Sleeping With" Bienemy is the Vikes RB coach? Sorry for the bad Bermanism.
Who let the dummies talk?
Tv needs more cop and reality shows.
That's my bad. Shoulda never brought it up, but I couldn't resist...WTF is up with BK decapitating Cletus and sticking his head on a snowman...creepy.
Can't someone knock out Nathan with a vodka bottle, like the Philly fan.
Anywhere else that would've been a flag
The Vikings secondary needs more Smoot.
So Chris, how are the preps in Tampa for SB XLIII? And will Keith Olbermann get the hero's welcome down there?
What's the G?
Vikings need more sexy boat parties
James, it's a Gatorade ad campaign.
Is that Lil Wayne doing the voice-over on that b/w commercial?
That G campaign makes me want to switch to Powerade...
All I've really seen is some articles in the local rags about what parties are going to take place. There's one party in the Channelside district the night before that will include Pam Anderson. Another big play by Jackson. Anyway, as for Olberfurher, I'm not sure he'll get a hero's welcome...
Peyton Manning trying to pull off a menacing face not believable
Not a good Manningface, hunh jg?
Not to go off-topic, but has anyone checked out the CBB game involving UCLA and Oregon? What's up with those Oregon unis?
Does anyone wish that the Super Bowl be a week of games around a party rather than a week of parties around a game?
blame nike chris...blame nike and their colorblind designers
WLIRUWP:GWRP((((((((TRRRUWRWR BURPW#ORW#)((######WHwrt4yttlwtlhttktewrtrhweire5u
Blame Phil Knight, he's made Oregon his personal bitch...
GOOD NIGHT!
so much for Samuel and his bad hip. He just got a pick 6
WOO HOO!!! I knew Judas Jackson would show up
I guess Asante Samuel has his Ed Reed underwear on for the game.
How much bad news can the Vikes get on one play? Interception. Eagles TD. Tavaris hurt on the play. Frerotte warming up on the sideline. The only thing missing was Mike Tice scalping tickets in the parking lot.
Ed Reed would've scored on that play and tackled Jackson at the same time.
Spiderman wears Ed Reed underwear.
If Jackson is hurt, this could be a bad thing for the Eagles. Gus could really hurt the Eagles.
What the hell was tarvaris trying to do there other than get KTFO? He jumped INTO the block.
goodness.
Did Samuel look as if he was using the ball as a Whizzinator after the TD, and that was why the flag was thrown?
Wasn't there a Viking who got suspened for using th Whizenator?
Good lord there have been a ton of injuries already. I'd hate to see what would happen if they played this game outside.
@ Chris - very funny.
Can we get a damn translator for Troy. Some one to spit would what he's trying to say in less than three minutes.
Onterrio Smith, JamesCraven
Thanks, Chris in Tampa. And my apologies for our Phillies beating up your Rays in te World Series.
@Nero - and it's all in one - three minute long - sentence. That guy abuses conjunctions the way Ed Reed abuses quarterbacks.
Guess Aikman has never been to Conjunction junction. What's his function?
I have a penis because I am a man.
The boogy man checks his closet for ed reed
@James Craven - nice School House Rock reference.
I think im just going to start calling aikman, "mumbles".
And, But and Or.
They get Troy pretty far.....
What's the over/under on the number of people Bauer will kill in the first episode of 24?
http://pricelesscommentary.blogspot.com/2009/01/vikings-vs-eagles-live-game-blog.html
Asante Samuel's hip looks alright as he returns a TJack pick 43 yards for a td. Adding insult to injury Chris Clemons does a pile-driver / block on TJack that would impress the Undertaker or any fake wrestler.
EAGLES 16 Vikes 7.
Text message from my only friend from Minnesota aka Partyboy. "He (TJack) is poop."
To which I replied "Go Wildcat with AP as qb." Partyboy, "I've been saying that all year."
Bernard Berrian catches a ball that's not thrown 40 yards down the field (27 slant, breaks tackle and gets some yac) - who would have thought that was possible.
For that possible reason for the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty earlier...
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc233/ct2874/003.jpg
"I'm about as much of a doctor as Dr. Phil." - Chris Myers
"I'm about much of a doctor as Dr. Phil." - Chris Meyers
Chris Myers: "I'm as much a doctor as Dr. Phil".
I dream of the day when there are no Dr Phil references.
For the record Chris Myers is way more qualified as a doctor than Dr. Phil.
http://pricelesscommentary.blogspot.com/2009/01/vikings-vs-eagles-live-game-blog.html
What the hell was that?
Fire Andy Reid.
lol JamesCraven. You're welcome
Andy Reid brain fart !
For those who have Andy Reid in the questionable-game-management pool: ch-ching!
Find a big guy on the roster that can run the ball one freakin' yard, Andy. Pitiful. Short yardage has been their biggest problem all year and they haven't pretended to address it.
And Dr. Phil isn't even licensed to be a doctor in California.
What the hell is Childress doing? Shoulda been 3 straight runs.
That's goddawful.
GO VIKINGS!!!!