It's just around the corner. Can you taste it? Can you feel the electricity in the air? Super Bowl Sunday is just 26 days away. The official SheWiredSports countdown begins today. Start planning your chili recipe, the 7-layer nacho dip, and the infamous BBQ burgers. Stock up on your favorite beer, or the cheapest, and place your bets. February 1st in Tampa Bay is going to be historical. I'm going to jump out on a limb here and make my pick now; Tennessee and Carolina will meet at Super Bowl 43.
It kills me to say that, however, because that would mean that my Cardiac Cards will lose on Saturday to the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately, I believe this is their fate. But let's not focus on the depressing future. The Arizona Cardinals, led by old-man Warner, displayed a remarkable propensity for running the football and punishing the quarterback in their win against the Atlanta Falcons and "Matty Ice." Matt Ryan was sacked three times, intercepted twice, and never found his groove against the Arizona defense. It was their determination in stopping power-rusher Michael Turner and amazing jump on the snap count that drove the Cardiac Cards to their first playoff win since '98.
Edgerrin James, who has made it known more than once that he will not be wearing a Cardinal's uniform next season, ran for 73 yards, which might not seem like much, but it left the field wide open for Fitzgerald and Bolden to run circles around the Falcon's defense. The Card's were a team of a different color on Saturday, limiting mistakes to one interception, one missed field goal, and few penalties. They will have to play even tougher next Saturday when they head to Carolina, fight the jet-lag, and take on the undefeated-at-home-Panthers.
The San Diego Chargers had us all on the edge of our seat as they kept pace with the Indianapolis Colts, winning in overtime. The Chargers won due to their heart. Looking at the numbers, you'd guess the Colts had this game in the bag. MVP Payton Manning threw for 310 yards with no interceptions, while on the opposite side Rivers through for only 217 with one interception.
This game jumped back and forth more times than a lesbian relationship, with the Colts leading in the 1st quarter, the Chargers in the 2nd, the Colts in the 3rd, and the Chargers tying it up in the last seconds of the 4th. With Ladanian Tomlinson sidelined due to a groin injury, Darren Sproles was responsible for picking up the slack. Overlooking his one crucial fumble, Sproles turned up the heat with an amazing performance and the game winning touchdown in overtime. This is the second year-in-a-row that San Diego has bumped Indianapolis out of Super Bowl contention. The Chargers will head to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers.
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Rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson could not keep his composure against the Philadelphia defense on Sunday, as the Eagles sailed past the Vikings 26-14. Throwing for only 164 yards with one interception, Jackson's nerves and lack of post-season experience left Vikings fans wondering why QB Gus Frerotte was benched when Jackson's back injury had healed, even though Frerotte was the defining reason Minnesota had made it to the post-season. While McNabb, who himself was benched during the regular season, did not play a perfect game, his ability to scramble and see downfield allowed the Eagles to simply outplay Minnesota. They are headed to New York to take on the rested Super Bowl champion Giants.
Speaking of QB's choking under pressure, Miami's Chad Pennington, who was tossed to the curb by the NY Jets in their pursuit of Favre, could not withstand post-season heat, throwing a total of four interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens. Miami turned the ball over five times in their embarrassing 27-9 loss. What can I say about this game other than it was boring. Pennington fought the press, and his history with the Jets, to bring his team to the AFC Wild Card game, a feat that Favre's team could not accomplish. I'm going to be honest, I didn't watch much of this one, on account that it was over before halftime. Baltimore's QB did not fare much better. Although he had no interceptions, he threw no touchdowns and only racked up 135 yards with 9 completions. It was a sad game, without much heart, another reason I couldn't watch it.
San Diego and Arizona played with more heart than we've seen any team play with all season. They were not going to be taken for granted, and refused to take no for an answer. I'm not sure what Coach Whisenhunt and Coach Turner said to the boys in the locker rooms before Saturday's games, but it lit a fire beneath them. Post-season always seems to bring out the best in players. Teams struggling to stay above the line during regular-season dig deep and find that hunger they felt on the Pop-Warner fields. Passion; it's something you don't often see in professional sports. Players have their million-dollar contracts, their Beamers and mansions. This is why I love post-season play. It's when you truly distinguish the boys from the men, the passionate from the pathetic.
Missed the last Sports for Girls? Read it here.
