2012-2013 NFL Playoffs
“Here’s an interesting question. Is it right for the New Orleans Saints to be in the postseason this year, with Bountygate still looming large over their heads?”
“I mean, you can try to say they didn’t really get punished by still having a chance at a Lombardi, but what can the NFL really do? Make Robert Griffin III sit out a year? Postseason bans like the NCAA does?”
“There’s an interesting idea. Could the NFL ever do a postseason ban?”
“Absolutely not. Look, Bountygate was awful and maybe the NFL went too light with just suspensions and no second round picks for two years. Maybe without one of those first round picks, they can’t pull the heist off for Griffin. I still think Sean Payton is one lucky man for only a year off. But this is the matter of fact. Let’s say the Saints go 13-3 or 14-2, or hell, 16-0. You can’t have one of the best teams sitting at home just because of what people before them did. And why would you even show up as a player? So, perhaps it is injustice that they can still get to the Super Bowl the same year Bountygate was discovered. But blame Robert Griffin III and his amazing play.”
-Sunday NFL Countdown Transcript.
2013 AFC Wildcard Round at. New England Patriots
“We have a regular season rematch in the Wildcard round. The Jacksonville Jaguars fell to the New England Patriots at home in Week Sixteen in a very exciting 37-34 game. Andrew Luck and Eli Manning both threw 4 touchdowns, but it was Luck who got the last laugh with his Overtime drive to set up the Game Winning Field Goal. This should be a good one again.”
-cut into the 1st Quarter-
“2nd and 4 for the Jaguars when Miller gets 11 over the middle. Manning is under center this time, drops back a fake to Ingram before he goes deep to the endzone...caught! Andre Johnson is there as he always is, and the Jaguars strike first with a 27 yard strike to Johnson!”
-cut into the 1st Quarter-
“1st and 5 after Phillips jumps offsides, and that gets the Patriots into the Jaguars’ side of the field. At the Jaguars’ 48 yard line. Luck in shotgun formation, he drops back, the blitz incoming, so he rolls out to his right and then fires a deep one...right to Hilton, who is going to...be into the endzone! A huge bomb right to Hilton, and that can tie the game up.”
-cut into the 2nd Quarter-
“1st and 15, a false start by the Patriots pushing them back to the Jaguars’ 30 now. Luck under center, motions Hilton over, and then fakes a screen to him before he goes over the middle right to Pitta, who gets upended but lands in the endzone, so that’s a touchdown! The Patriots take their first lead of the game, with 12:02 left to go in the 2nd Quarter.”
-cut into the 2nd Quarter-
“2nd and 3 as Ingram nearly breaks free, he only had one man to beat, but was brought down. Still, the Jaguars are inching closer to that tying touchdown, 22 yards out from the endzone. Manning under center, drops back fakes a dump off to Ingram before he goes deep...it’s tipped, and it’s picked off! Talib batted it up and McCourty comes down with the interception in the endzone!”
-cut into the 2nd Quarter-
“1st and Goal after Luck gets 11 with a scramble, and they now have three attempts to punch the ball in from 7 yards out. Luck under center, drops back a give to Foster who goes right up the middle, and he’s into the endzone! That’s another touchdown for the Patriots, and the PAT cane make it a 21-7 game as we near halftime.”
-cut into the 3rd Quarter-
“Johnson tried to extend for the endzone, instead he gets shoved out of bounds at the Patriots’ 2 yard line, after a bomb by Manning for 48 yards. 1st and Goal now, Manning under center, drops back and gives it to Ingram who goes right up the middle with ease! Touchdown Jacksonville, and they chip into the lead of the Patriots.”
-cut into the 4th Quarter-
“2nd and 16 after the holding on Boling, pushing the Jaguars back 10 yards. Still trying to get the tying touchdown, with 6:20 left to go in the game. Manning in an empty backfield, drops back has protection so he steps up and goes deep...tipped...right into Manningham’s hands, and he’s into the endzone! The PAT by Bullock can tie the game up!”
-cut into the 4th Quarter-
“With 0:05 left to go, the Patriots aren’t even close to being in Gostkowski’s range, the kick would be 69 yards, so they can try for a hail mary or take a knee to send the game into overtime. Luck empty backfield, Jaguars only send three, so the Patriots keep them at bay and Luck slings it deep..batted dow...into Welker’s hands, but he’s wrapped up just short of the endzone at the one yard line. Oh my goodness! The Hail Mary nearly pays off for the Patriots, but the Jaguars are focused enough to deny Welker the miracle! Wow!”
“Not going to lie, when I saw the ball go into Welker’s hands, I’m pretty sure my heart stopped working for a few seconds.”
-Les Miles’ Post-Retirement Interview with ESPN’s Chris Berman.
-cut into Overtime-
“The Patriots get the ball first after winning the Coin Toss. All they need to do is to get into range for Stephen Gostkowski. McCourty lined deep in the endzone for the kickoff, as Bullock will send it deep...right into his hands, and he takes it out of the endzone, down the middle of the field, cuts to his left, down the sidelines, cuts to avoid Bullock and he will...be caught! The Jaguars are able to just catch him as he returns it to the Jaguars 43 yard line.”
“1st and 10, the Patriots only need about 15-20 yards for a comfortable kick. Luck under center, drops back and gives it off to Foster who goes up the middle, but is quickly wrapped up for two yards.”
“2nd and 8, at the Jaguars’ 41 yard line this time. Luck under center, and another give to Foster, who cuts to his right, and can only get about two again this time. That’ll bring up 3rd down, still not in a good range for Gostkowski.”
“3rd and 6 now, at the Jaguars 39 yard line. Luck will be with Foster in the backfield, as he fakes a long delayed off to Foster before he steps up and going for the endzone...picked off by Thomas! In the endzone, that is crucial and the Patriots’ turn the ball over after an incredible kickoff return to start Overtime!”
-cut into Overtime-
“3rd and 2 after Manning misses Johnson down the field, and they’ll now have to try to get the first down to keep this drive going. At the Patriots 40 yard line. Manning under center, the give to Ingram who is wrapped up short...the ball comes out, it’s punched out somewhere, and Manning tries to get it...but it squirts out, and the Patriots recover!”
-cut into Overtime-
“Luck gets Hilton on the slant, and that gets 7, getting to the Jaguars 27 yard line, and it looks like Coach Belichick will send out Stephen Gostkowski to end the game. The Jaguars don’t have any timeouts, having to use them to avoid delay of games, and that could come back to haunt them. So here we go, one chance for the Patriots to kick the Field Goal and move onto Houston. The snap is in, and it’s going to...miss! Off the left upright, and the game continues on here!”
Replays show a fingertip just scraping the ball at the line of scrimmage.
“The Jaguars survive thanks to barely an inch of one of their player’s fingers!”
-cut into Second Overtime-
“Manning can’t find Sanders, and that will bring out Dustin Colquitt to punt the ball deep. Their first possession of the Double Overtime results in a punt. Colquitt sends the ball...very deep, but Welker hauls it in, misses a tackle, down the left side of the field, but is quickly shoved out of bounds. Only a return of about 12 yards, and that sets up the drive at their own 27 yard line.”
“1st and 10, Luck under center, the offense has to know those guys on the other side are getting tired. But again, so are the Patriots. So we’ll see if they’ll play it methodical or try to take a shot early. Luck drops back, Foster gets a block on the edge so he goes over the middle, hits Slater over the middle, who is taking it down the sidelines but will be shoved out of bounds, a gain of 15 after the crossing route.”
“1st and 10 again, this time at the Jaguars’ 32 yard line. Luck under center, drops back to give it off to Foster who goes out to his right, shrugs a tackler off, then stiff arms one! Now down the sidelines, Thomas giving chase, and he is able to just catch him! That effort by Foster nearly breaks loose for the win, but instead that’s a gain of 23 yards!”
“Another set of fresh markers at the Jaguars 45 yard line this time. A few more chunk of yards can get into Field Goal range, but their kick was blocked with 2:39 left to go in the first Overtime period. Luck under center, drops back, a give to Foster...no that’s a fake, and then he throws it deep...right into the hands of Hilton, and he is getting chased by Griffin...but he’s not caught! The New England Patriots win the game, 27-21, and they finally beat the Jaguars in the postseason!”
Final Score
Jacksonville Jaguars 21 New England Patriots 27 2O.T
“It never feels good to lose in the postseason. But god, that game was exhausting wasn’t it.”
-Les Miles still cracking jokes even in defeat.
Wildcard Round
Jacksonville Jaguars 21 New England Patriots 27 2O.T
New Orleans Saints 7 Green Bay Packers 41
Cincinnati Bengals 10 Baltimore Ravens 20
Seattle Seahawks 30 Dallas Cowboys 17
Divisional Round
Baltimore Ravens 32 Denver Broncos 36
Green Bay Packers 27 San Francisco 49ers 37
Seattle Seahawks 21 Atlanta Falcons 24 O.T
New England Patriots 20 Houston Texans 27
Championship Round
San Francisco 49ers 28 Atlanta Falcons 24
Houston Texans 23 Denver Broncos 21
Super Bowl 47 San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans
“This is a Super Bowl of firsts for both teams. For the San Francisco 49ers, it’s their first Super Bowl since the Steve Young days. And to everyone’s surprise, it’s with Colin Kaepernick.”
Shots of Colin Kaepernick warming up
“He started the year on the bench behind Alex Smith. But when Smith went down with a shoulder injury in the middle of the year, he stepped in, wowed everyone and he kept the starting job. He’s a pretty good passer, but his real talent is getting yards and scores with his running ability.”
“And on the other side of the field, the Houston Texans are in their first ever Super Bowl in franchise history. Just two weeks ago they were in their first ever AFC Championship game, and now can lift the Lombardi trophy. And of course, the sudden winning can be in large part in the Tom Brady trade.”
Shots of Tom Brady warming up
“It’s his third Super Bowl, but his first with the Texans. Being traded on draft night from New England to Houston, it seems like he’s out to prove the Patriots wrong. He won Super Bowl 36 by defeating the St.Louis Rams, then losing Super Bowl 38 against the Green Bay Packers. He can get his second ring here tonight.”
-cut into the 1st Quarter-
“The kickoff goes out of the back of the endzone, and that will start the game for the 49ers at their own 20 yard line. And a fun match up to watch all night, will be Kaepernick against JJ Watt. If they want to contain his running, Watt will have to be the first man up. 1st and 10, Kaepernick drops back, gives a fake to Gore, before he is brought down! And of course, Watt is the man on the sack! It looks like he heard us from up here, as he gets the sack, and it’s a loss of 6 yards.”
“2nd and 16 at their own 14 now. Watt steps up by starting the game with a sack. Kaepernick with Gore to his right, the snap and it’ll be an option as...Watt brings him down again! He reads the fake to Gore perfectly, and he gets his second sack on just the second play of the game!”
“3rd and 23, at their own 7 yard line. Watt single handedly blowing up their first drive of the game. Kaepernick under center, drops back and gives it off to Gore, who goes up the middle and is able to salvage some yards with a gain of 6, but that’ll make it a 3 and out for the first drive of the game.”
-cut into the 1st Quarter-
“Brady misses Daniels in the endzone, so that brings out Shayne Graham to boot the ball in to give them the first points of the game. From 21 yards out, it’s just barely more than a PAT, so the snap is in and the kick...right down the middle. That makes it 3-0 for Houston here in the first quarter.”
-cut into the 2nd Quarter-
“2nd and 4 when Gore can get 6 just straight up the middle. Now at the Texans’ 21 yard line. Kaepernick in the backfield with Gore next to him, another option, he keeps it himself goes out to the right, down the sidelines, and avoids a diving attempt at him, and scores! Touchdown San Francisco as Kaepernick gets another rushing touchdown!”
-cut into the 2nd Quarter-
“2nd and Goal as Martin gets denied. The Texans still trailing 7-3 with 2:39 left to go in the first half of play. Brady under center, drops back and he quickly goes to the corner...and Jeffery hauls it in for the score!”
-cut into the 2nd Quarter-
“Only 4 seconds remain in the first half, and that means David Akers will have to come on out to try to make the halftime score 10-10. From 42 yards out, the snap is in and the kick will...go wide left! It’s no good, and that means the game remains at 10-7 in favor of Houston as we go into the break!”
-cut into the 3rd Quarter-
“2nd and 1 after Kaepernick manages to almost get the first down, but he’s a yard short. At the Texans’ 18 yard line, they’re driving down the field here to try to get the lead back or to tie the game with a kick. Kaepernick is under center, drops back a fake to Gore, so he steps up and...the ball comes out! Watt nails Kaepernick, and recovers the fumble himself! He jars the ball loose and gets it!”
-cut into the 3rd Quarter-
“1st and Goal as Brady finds Walter for a gain of 18 and setting up three attempts to score, and add onto their lead with a touchdown. Brady under center, a handoff to Martin who goes up the gut and scores! That’s a touchdown, and the PAT can make it a ten point lead for the Texans!”
-cut into the 3rd Quarter-
“2nd and 13 after a false start, and that brings the 49ers back to the 40 yard line. Trying to drive to chip into the Texans’ 17-7 lead. Kaepernick under center, drops back and gives it to Gore who goes up the middle, cuts out to his left, past a few blocks, down the sidelines and he’s going to go...all the way for the touchdown! That’s a touchdown!”
-cut into the 4th Quarter-
“Another miss into the endzone, Brady trying to float it too much for Daniels in the back of the endzone. So from 4 yards out, the kick will be basically a PAT. The teams are ready to go, the snap is in and the kick...right down the middle from Graham. That’ll make it a 20-14 game, with 8:22 left to play.”
-cut into the 4th Quarter-
“Jones pins the 49ers deep, at their own 19 yard line. With 3:22 left to play in the game, they have to drive down the field and score if they want any hope at lifting that Lombardi. Kaepernick starts under center for this drive. Drops back, and a fake to Gore, as he’s under pressure by Watt and he quickly fires it out of bounds to avoid a sack. That could’ve been Watt’s fourth sack of the game, absolutely unheard of!”
“2nd and 10 now. Kaepernick under center, drops back, Gore gets the edge and Kaepernick will fire to the left, where Moss hauls it in for a gain of 7 before being wrapped up, and that’ll make it 3rd and 3 with 3:02 left and counting. They’re hurrying back to the line, Kaepernick gets the snap off, drops back, pressure still coming so he rolls out to his right, keeps himself, cuts to the inside, but is brought down. Still good enough for 6, and the fresh set of markers.”
“1st and 10, still miles away from the endzone, at their own 31 yard line, 2:50 and ticking to go. Kaepernick by himself, drops back and he will quickly go over the middle, and he finds Davis for a gain of 12, taking them to their own 43 yard line, and hurrying up offense is coming out, and a quick snap for the 49ers, Kaepernick dropping back, under pressure, so he rolls out to the left, looking for someone open, nothing there, and he takes it himself, and is shoved out of bounds, a gain of about 5, but the clock stops at 2:38 to go.”
“2nd and 5, at their own 36, still plenty of time left to go, no reason to panic. Kaepernick dropping back, and again the pressure incoming, so he goes up the middle, past a defender, and gets the first down as he slides to protect himself.”
“A refresh of markers brings up 1st and 10, at their own 41 yard line. Kaepernick in an empty backfield, motions Ginn over, fakes a screen to him before quickly spinning around to fire for Moss, who goes up the sidelines, and is shoved out of bounds. A gain of 10, and that’ll bring them to the Texans’ 49 yard line, and the clock is stopped at 2:11.”
“1st and 10, the snap gets off, Kaepernick drops back and Watt is in the backfield, so Kaepernick scampers away and tries to hit Davis, but it’s just over his head, and that’ll make it 2:02 left, 2nd and 10.”
“Kaepernick will be by himself again, 5 receivers out wide. He gets the snap, and this time has a clean pocket, so he goes to the left, where Ginn hauls it in, slips under the tackle, and is going down the sidelines! But he is quickly pushed out, but not before getting a gain of 15, that means they’ll get 1st and 10, at the Texans’ 34 yard line.”
“1:54 to go, 1st and 10 at the Texans’ 34 yard line. The touchdown will tie the game, while the following PAT will give them the lead. But they have to cross the plain first. The snap gets off, Kaepernick drops back, and he quickly goes over the middle, where Cushing tips it...but it falls to the ground. Cushing breaking the pass up, but nothing happens. 2nd and 10 now, Kaepernick with Gore next to him, the snap gets off, and Gore blocks Watt on the edge and he will fire to the left...where it is tipped again...this time into the hands of Joseph! The 49ers turn the ball over!”
-cut to the post-game interviews-
“I know we’ve asked you this too many times this season Tom, but considering you’re now looking at the Lombardi trophy for the first time in ten years. Would you like to say anything to New England?”
TB: Man you guys are persistent. I said it in the offseason, I’m happy they gave me the chance to start in this league, and I can definitely say I’m happy they traded me here. I mean, I just won my second Super Bowl!”
Final Score
San Francisco 49ers 14 Houston Texans 20
Notes:
Wanted to make a marathon game against the Patriots, while having the Super Bowl be Houston win quick off the Brady trade. So enjoy as always.