On a divisional matchup weekend in the NFL, the playoffs are now set and breaking news…Dallas QB Tony Romo won't be part of the playoffs…..
I know, I know not exactly a big surprise, especially for long-suffering Cowboys fans. They continue to be America's team, but just like the Buffalo Bills are just good enough to lose.
And lose they did last night to a young QB star who should have a stellar career, much more so than Romo. Robert Griffin III came into the league as a Heisman winner in college and now he is a bona fide NFL superstar, leading the Redskins to the NFC East title for the first time since 1999.
They won 28-18 and it was a sombre NFL Network crew of former Cowboys Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders who presided over the post-mortem
Helped out by another young stud in the making, RB Alfred Morris, Washington is one of the league's surprising teams this season. They finished a solid 10-6 and have as bright a future as any team.
They led the NFL in team rushing with a 169.3 per game average, almost five yards more per game than the Vikings and Adrian Peterson. Morris 1,613 yards were second to Peterson, who finished nine yards shy of breaking RB Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105.
RGIII picked up 815 yards on the ground, despite missing a game after he twisted his leg gruesomely. He led all QBs in rushing.
In Minnesota, it was the AP show as the Vikings beat the Packers 37-34 to claim a wild card seed and another meeting next week at Lambeau.
All day long in Fox America's Game of the Week, the TV guys Joe Buck and Troy Aikman took pains showing Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers and his frustration with the officials, especially referee Mike Carey.
Apparently, the golden boy Rodgers (who is a great QB but is very sensitive to criticism) didn't like Carey's ball placement and continued berating the 22-year veteran. But as NFL fans know by listening to Carey explain infractions, he is not one to be rushed.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy talked about the officials during a half-time interview and the whining was on. But later, McCarthy somehow got away with throwing a challenge flag after a scoring play. The cameras showed WR Jordy Nelson nabbing the red flag, thus most likely saving McCarthy being Schwartzed.
You lost the game guys, get over it. Maybe the officials were glacial placing the ball but maybe you shouldn't have thrown that flag.
The third best RB in the league has been Marshawn Lynch, of the Seattle Seahawks. Yesterday, they beat a scrappy St. Louis Rams team 20-13.
On one play, Lynch got into beast mode picking up some tough yards. "You're not going to stop Marshawn Lynch by grabbing his jersey," said TV analyst Tim Ryan. Exactly! Lynch has been known to cause earthquakes during some of his long and punishing runs the past few years.
Meanwhile, in Indianapolis the Texans cruised into town for a final game matchup against divisional rivals the Colts and seemed overmatched from the beginning in a 28-16 loss.
Head coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts looks on against the Houston Texans during the game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It was the return of emotional leader coach Chuck Pagano as a banner showed the slogan Chuckstrong then Coltstrong. Not a dry eye in the house as the appreciative mid-westerners showed their appreciation for what Pagano has gone through, battling cancer and leading his team from a hospital bed, to an 11-5 record and a berth in the playoffs.
At one point, the cameras showed a furious looking Texans QB Matt Schaub. He did not look pleased as the AFC's formerly top seed have to play again next weekend against the Bengals.
Colts Deji Karim returned a kickoff 101 yards to erase a short-lived Houston lead. "Speed kills, doesn't it Dan?" asked TV host Greg Gumbel to his partner Dan Dierdorf. "The Houston lead lasted a matter of seconds."
It wasn't the most exciting of final weekends in the NFL, but one thing they do better than any other league is finish with a bang. All games were divisional matchups and this should be done by all pro North American leagues forever.
Nothing like ending the season with some hate! Now onto the playoffs!
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