Sunday, January 24, 2021

Battle of the Bays

Green Bay and Tampa Bay are playing for the NFC Title.  On the first drive of the game, Tom Brady looks like the greatest quarterback in NFL history, hitting three big passes on third down, including a touchdown.  Bucs lead 7-0 with 10 minutes left in the first quarter.

26 comments:

  1. Meanwhile, over on CBS Sports, Western is going for a sweep of MTSU. The Hilltoppers lead 45-38 with 10:39 left in the game.

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  2. The 1960's were the Golden Age of American sports uniforms, and the teams that were great in the 1960's (and therefore stayed with those uniforms) are generally the teams with the best uniforms today. The Packers, Cowboys, Colts, Celtics, Yankees, Cardinals, Dodgers, Alabama football, Notre Dame football, and UCLA basketball are all in this category.

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    1. A lot of folks my age would like to see Tampa Bay go back to their old uniforms, but I always thought those uniforms looked silly.

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  3. After one quarter, the Bucs lead 7-0. With 4:39 left, Western leads MTSU 55-51.

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  4. One minute into the second quarter, Aaron Rodgers hurls a long touchdown pass, and the game is tied at 7.

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  5. But Brady hits a 59-yard pass on 3d and 9, and Leonard Fournette follows up with a 20-yard run for a touchdown. Bucs lead 14-7 with 12:24 left in the half.

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  6. Speaking of uniforms, Western looked great in their traditional red and white with "WESTERN" and "KENTUCKY" on the front of the jersey. They put the hammer down on MTSU, and roll to a 68-52 win. Tops are now 13-4 overall (with wins over Memphis and Alabama) and 6-2 in C-USA. Next weekend, they host back-to-back games against Old Dominion.

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    1. 13-4 is Western's best start since 2001-02. That team rolled into the NCAA's with a number-9 seed and a 28-3 record before losing to Stanford in the first round.

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  7. Packers drive down to the TB 6, but can go no further and kick a field goal. Bucs lead 14-10 with 4:59 left in the half.

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  8. And now the roof has caved in on Green Bay. With 38 seconds left in the half, Rodgers threw an interception, and TB took over at the 50. With 10 seconds left in the half, TB faced a fourth and 3 at the 43. Brady completed a four yard pass, giving them a first down at the 39 with 8 seconds left. And with time for only one more play, Brady hurls a 39 yard TOUCHDOWN PASS to a receiver who somehow got behind the entire GB defense. Kurt Warner, calling the game on radio, was appalled with the Packer defense -- as he should be. Bucs lead 21-10 at the half.

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    1. In the last couple, three seasons, we've seen at least four touchdowns on inexplicable defensive plays--this one, the Vikings against the Saints in the playoffs, the Dolphins in one game last season when I felt they were tanking and the Raiders against the Jets for their first victory (I think). Each of these seemed at the time like the biggest defensive breakdown I'd ever seen, and now I wonder if Michael Wilbon is correct that, on the whole, NFL coaching is at an historical low.

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  9. In the third quarter, TB quickly scored to take a 28-10 lead. But the Pack got a touchdown, then an interception, then another touchdown (and failed two-point conversion). So now it's 28-23 Tampa with one quarter left.

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  10. What a year for Tampa fans. The Lightning win the Stanley Cup. The Devil Rays win the American League pennant. And now this.

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  11. Watching Brady, you have to wonder how many other coaches could have done what Belichick did if they'd had Brady as their quarterback. Think about guys like Andy Reid and Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin who have taken criticism for their teams losing in the playoffs, and then imagine what their record would look like with Brady. My guess is that in 2000, there were at least 10 guys who could have won six Super Bowls with Tom Brady. Maybe more like 20.

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    1. Belichick was a .500 coach before Brady and the cheating in New England.

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    2. This may also explain why Belichick's disciples haven't done very well.

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  12. Brady drives the Bucs deep into GB territory, but Brady's pass to Mike Evans (who is wide open at the GB 10) is a big high. It tips off of Evans's hands, and is INTERCEPTED by the Pack. The ball is returned back to the GB 20, and Aaron Rodgers will take over with 12:20 left.

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  13. On 3d and 5, Rodgers is sacked. The Pack go three and out, and they punt. TB will start from its own 40.

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  14. On 3d and 3, the Packers blitz. Brady throws it up for grabs, and the Pack gets its third interception in three possessions. Green Bay takes over at its own 23 with 9:15 left.

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  15. But the Pack go three and out again. They punt again, and TB starts from its own 28. 8:10 left in the game. Tampa Bay 28, Green Bay 23.

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  16. Brady throws a 29-yard catch and run completion to Gronkowski, and that sets up a field goal. TB leads 31-23 with 4:42 left.

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  17. Packers get 1st and goal at the 8, but then Rodgers throws three consecutive incomplete passes. The Pack kicks a field goal, and they trail 31-26 with 2:05 left.

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  18. On 3d and 4, with GB having used two of its timeouts, Brady overthrows his receiver. But the Packers are called for DEFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE, and that's a first down for TB. That's probably going to be your ball game.

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  19. Final: Tampa Bay 31, Green Bay 26.

    True fact: Tom Brady has as many NFC titles in one season as Aaron Rodgers has is in his entire career.

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  20. I am rooting for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

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