Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 310 of 1503)

      Example 948A that stats can be misleading

      September 26, 2010 /
      Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton throws against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 26, 2010 in Denver. UPI/Gary C. Caskey Photo via Newscom

      If someone were to ask me before the games today how many points the Broncos would score if Kyle Orton threw for 476 yards, I probably would have responded with: “31.”

      Because you have to figure that Denver gets in the end zone at least four times if Kyle freaking Orton is throwing for 476 yards. I mean, there’s no way the Broncos are scoring less than 31 points if Kyle bowl haircut Orton throws for 476 yards, right?

      Thirteen. As in 13. As in 13 points the Broncos scored on Sunday in their 27-13 loss to the Colts.

      How does Kyle Orton throw for 476 yards and the Broncos only score 13 points? Matt Schaub threw for nearly 500 yards last week in Washington. Do you know how many points the Texans scored? Thirty. I realize that Houston has a much more potent offense than Denver, but the math doesn’t add up when a quarterback throws for nearly 500 yards, only turns the ball over once and his team only scores 13 measly points.

      Josh McDaniels is going to look at the film from the game today and puke. Peyton Manning threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns, but everyone knew he was going to do that. He’s Peyton Manning. When Kyle Orton gives you 476 yards, you have to at least be in position to win that game in the end.

      The Broncos ran nine plays inside the Colts’ 15-yard line in the second quarter alone and only came away with three points. The red zone offense was brutal the entire game and some of that is on McDaniels, some of it is on Orton, some of that is on his receivers, some of it is on the offensive line and some of it you just have to chalk up to good defense.

      Either way, Kyle Orton threw for 476 yards today and the Broncos only scored 13 points. I guess I could have just written that and saved myself 250-plus words, because it explains it all.

      External Sports, NFL

      Janikowski seals win for Cardinals as Gradkowski plays well again for Raiders

      September 26, 2010 /
      GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Tom Cable of the Oakland Raiders watches from the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

      Garrett Hartley’s best friend right now goes by the name of Sebastian Janikowski.

      Just three hours after Hartley missed what would have been a game-winning 29-yard field goal for the Saints (who wound up losing to the Falcons in overtime earlier in the day), Janikowski missed his own chip shot as the Raiders fell to the Cardinals 24-23 in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

      Bruce Gradkowski and Darren McFadden led the Raiders on an 11-play, 66-yard drive to the Arizona 14-yard line to set Janikowski up with what should have been a game-winning kick. But he pushed the 32-yard field goal right and the Cardinals hung on to a not-so-well-deserved victory. (They turned the ball over three times and committed seven penalties for 104 yards. This coming after turning the ball over three times and committing 10 penalties for 109 yards in a loss to the Falcons last week.)

      Besides Janikowski’s miss, the story here is the continued stellar play of Gradkowski, who completed 17-of-34 pass attempts for 255 yards and a touchdown. He did throw an interception, but he led the Raiders into the red zone twice late in the fourth quarter and gave them a chance to win. If anyone thought he would relinquish the starting quarterback job after snatching it from Jason Campbell last week, you were mistaken. It looks like for now, Tom Cable made the right decision to stick with Gradkowski.

      Go ahead, Bruce – get down with your bad throwing-motion self.

      External Sports, NFL

      Saints manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

      September 26, 2010 /
      NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 26: Garrett Hartley of the New Orleans Saints reacts to missing a field goal in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons at the Louisiana Superdome on September 26, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Falcons defeated the Saints 27-24. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

      You can’t miss that kick, Garrett Hartley. You just can’t.

      Ten out of 10 times you have to make that kick. You’re in a dome from 29 yards out – you can’t miss.

      But he missed. Clanked. Saints lose.

      If you didn’t see the Falcons-Saints game on Sunday, you missed the best finish of the young season. The game was well played on both sides, the action was outstanding throughout and the outcome came down to the last second – like most football games should.

      But you can’t miss that kick, Hartley.

      The Saints had moved into position to kick the game-winning field goal with about eight minutes remaining in overtime. Hartley then pushed a 29-yard chip shot to the left and it clanked off the left upright to give the Falcons new life.

      Thanks to a motivated Michael Turner and Jason Snelling, Atlanta took the gift and marched 57 yards on 12 plays to set up a 46-yard game-winning Matt Bryant field goal to beat the Saints, 27-24. The drive was also helped by a pass interference call on Jabari Greer to give the Falcons a new set of downs when it looked like New Orleans was going to get the ball back on fourth down.

      In the end, the Falcons did what they had to do to win and by no means was this a cheap victory. They went into New Orleans and traded haymaker after haymaker with the Saints for four and a half quarters. Matt Ryan (19-of-30 for 228 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs) was outstanding, Michael Turner (30 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD) was bruising and Tony Gonzalez (8 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD) silenced critics who said he has lost a step. The defense also forced three turnovers and was aided by the offense controlling the clock for 45:50 to the Saints’ 27:15.

      It was a tremendous win for the Falcons, especially since it was on the road. The overtime loss to the Steelers in Week 1 now feels like a distant memory.

      As for the Saints, Hartley has to make that kick but as always, there were other factors that decided the game. Drew Brees threw two interceptions, including one inside Atlanta territory that he underthrew in a desperate attempt to make a play. Chris Ivory also fumbled inside Falcons’ territory and the defense allowed Atlanta to chew up 11 minutes of the clock on a touchdown drive to tie the game at 14-14 heading into halftime. (That was the same drive where the Saints allowed the Falcons to convert two fourth down plays.)

      Of course, all of the Saints’ miscues today could have been erased if Hartley makes that field goal. He was a hero six nights ago in San Francisco and now plays the role of the goat today.

      This one’s for you, Garrett.

      “LONESOME KICKER” from Greg Kohs on Vimeo.

      External Sports, NFL

      Randy Moss reaches 150 career touchdowns in win over Bills

      September 26, 2010 /
      FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Randy Moss of the New England Patriots greets teammates during drills before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

      Randy Moss only caught two passes on Sunday, but they went for touchdowns in the Patriots’ 38-30 win over the Bills in Week 2.

      His first TD of the day allowed him to join Jerry Rice (197) as the second player in NFL history to reach 150 touchdown receptions in a career. Moss added another score midway through the third quarter just to show off. (Actually, he made the catch with about 60 people around him to give New England the lead again at 24-16.)

      And wait, how have we not talked about this yet? The Bills hung with the Patriots? In New England? With Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback?

      Outside of the two interceptions he threw, Fitzpatrick turned in a pretty solid effort. He completed 20-of-28 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, while showing remarkably better awareness and pocket presence than Trent Edwards while nearly leading the Bills to the upset. He’s not Jim Kelly, but he at least gives Buffalo a fighting chance every week.

      The Patriots have to do something about their pass rush. They got to Fitzpatrick only once today and produced only three QB hits. That’s not going to get it done on a weekly basis.

      External Sports, NFL

      Ray Rice injured in Ravens’ win over Browns

      September 26, 2010 /
      Aug. 07, 2010 - Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America - August 07, 2010: Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.

      While the extent of the injury is still unknown, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in his post game press conference that Ray Rice injured his knee in the team’s 24-17 win over the Browns on Sunday.

      The Ravens were only leading by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but Rice didn’t play on their final two drives so the injury must be somewhat serious. Harbaugh said that he doesn’t have ligament damage, but even a sprain could sideline Rice for the next couple of weeks.

      On a lighter note, the Ravens’ offense looked like a completely different unit today then they did in the first two weeks. Joe Flacco played with more confidence then he did last week in Cincinnati while throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns. All three scores went to Anquan Boldin, who hauled in eight catches for 142 yards and made Eric Wright’s life miserable for three hours.

      But while the Baltimore offense played remarkably better, the defense took a gigantic step backwards. They allowed Peyton Hillis to rush for 144 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown, as well as catch seven passes for 36 yards.

      Of course, a sand bunker 20 feet high and seven miles wide couldn’t stop Hillis today. Every time he got his hands on the ball he pushed the pile forward and gained positive yards. The Ravens’ have one of the better front sevens in football, so to watch Hillis do what he did today was pretty impressive.

      It looks like Jerome Harrison and James Davis will have to fight over the scraps every week, because it’s going to take a S.W.A.T. team to remove Hillis from the starting lineup now.

      External Sports, NFL

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