Week 13 Bumps, Bruises and Bow-outs

QB Chris Chandler - Sprained shoulder
QB Steve McNair - Strained calf
QB Patrick Ramsey - Jaw and foot injury
RB Warrick Dunn - Leg injury
RB Clinton Portis - Heel bruise
TE Shannon Sharpe - Bruised ribs

Baltimore Stealth Bombers

Marcus Robinson turned in an incredible seven catch, 131 yard performance with a league leading four touchdowns. It was the first time this season any non-quarterback had scored four touchdowns in a single game and it was a career best for Robinson. If you did not see that coming, and not even Robinson did, it was probably because he had only nine catches for 76 yards on the entire year. Over the course of eight games. And never scored this season until yesterday.

Robinson only had two touchdowns in all of last season and only three scores in all of 2001. Robinson was a stealth bomber - no one had him on the radar until the explosion happen and after you run to your waiver wire, you may never see him again.

Woohoo! Are we starting over?

As everyone knows, receivers become less important the deeper into the cold weather that the season gets. All those big passing yards and scores of the early fall give way to more running once the thermometer gets low and the clouds become dark. It happens every season, naturally. Over the past four weeks, we have seen progressively less receivers that catch more than one touchdown in a game. The declining trend for the past month has been 5, 2, 1 and in week 11 there were no receivers with more than one touchdown.

And then came week 12 which by trend should have somehow managed a negative number of wide receivers with multiple touchdowns but it did not happen. Instead, there were a season high six wideouts with multiple touchdowns to include Marcus Robinson (4), Chad Johnson (3), Darrell Jackson (2), David Boston (2), Anquan Boldin (2) and finally Bobby Engram (2). Not bad considering only a total of 22 wideouts caught any touchdowns yesterday.

Of the lucky half dozen, only Engram scored a touchdown the previous week. At least consistency is still consistently not consistent.

Okay - I'm terrified of orange, are you happy now?!?

Tommy Maddox had his worst game of the season in week five when he faced the Cleveland Browns and only managed 11 of 24 for 136 yards and two interceptions. He improved to the point where he had scored in the last four games this season and came off a 327 yard effort against the 49ers. But those orange guys were on the schedule again this week and Maddox walked away only 9 of 24 for 73 yards and one score. Somehow the Steelers still won but the even better news is that Maddox will not have to play them again this season.

And at current rate, maybe never again.

One if by land, two if by Detroit

When the Vikings-Lions game went into the fourth quarter, it was surprisingly still a 7-7 tie. Though the Lions had one of the worst defenses against the pass and were playing on the road where they had lost the last 21 games, the Vikings were unable to put Detroit away. Fortunately, someone read the script in time to let everyone know how it was supposed to end and the Vikings finished with the expected 24-14 victory.

The win was not via Culpepper or Moss or even Bennett. The only reason the Vikings won was that Joey Harrington threw two interceptions in the final two and a half minutes and both were returned for touchdowns. The Vikings could have won 24-7 but since so many of you had made bets on the 10.5 point line, the Lions went ahead and finally scored their second touchdown with only 35 seconds left to play.

Drama 101 - Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

The Greatest Win that Never Was

The Texans set the stage for a win of legendary proportion for their franchise (legends being easier when you are only 27 weeks old). After the Patriots had battled back to throw the game into overtime, the Texans won the coin toss and received the ball. On the first play in the extra period, Tony Banks threw an interception that was returned to the Houston 23-yard line. The Texans held them on three plays since New England was content to inch forward for their field goal.

And then it happened. From the Houston 27-yard line, SS Ramon Walker sliced through the line and had the first blocked field goal in the history of the franchise, thereby denying the Patriots the win and giving the Texans the ball. Houston drove to the New England 40-yard line and then stalled. After swapping a couple of punts, Brady drove the Patriots down the field and secured the game winning field goal.

But in Houston, those close losses are getting more exciting all the time.

Wake me when we trail by 24

The Falcons head to Houston this week and the Texans would be well advised to not read too much into that 2-9 record by Atlanta. Lulled to sleep by the sirens of mediocrity, the Giants were dashed on the rocks of humility three weeks ago by those sneaky Falcons. Two weeks ago in New Orleans, the Falcons took a 20-3 lead into halftime before losing 23-20. Yesterday against the mighty 9-2 Titans, before the second quarter started Tennessee had already fallen behind 21-0. They eventually lost 38-31 but made the Titans work for the win.

After seven weeks of complete futility, Atlanta has spent the last three weeks showing that you cannot take anyone lightly in the NFL or they will run up the score. Since the last two teams still came back from huge deficits to win anyway, getting the future opponents to care may still be difficult.

Sunday's Couch Commentary

Game-O-The-Week

There were several great games this week. Three overtime affairs, big performances around the league, some big upsets, a trap game or two and whole bunch of favored teams sprinting at the end to get their "W". Looking back, how could you not love an overtime game that ends with 85 points scored? Okay, aside from the fact you did not start any of the players?

Winner: Seattle 41, Baltimore 44

Let's set the stage for this frenzied affair.

At the half, no one was surprised too much that the Seahawks had gained a 17-3 lead. Matt Hasselbeck already had 132 yards passing and two touchdowns while Anthony Wright only had completed three passes for a total of 37 yards. That's all - just 37 yards. Jamal Lewis had 40 yards on 11 carries and the game looked like a lost cause since Baltimore could not throw the ball.

And with that, let's pull down the lock-bar on this roller coaster and please - keep your hands inside of the car at all times.

The Ravens took the opening kickoff and thanks to a 43 yard pass to Travis Taylor, reached the Seattle 13 yard line on third down and three. Knowing that this was Lewis territory (as are all other places on the field), the Seahawks were surprised when Marcus Robinson caught his second pass in the game for a touchdown. Realize that Mr. Robinson had only caught two passes once this season - otherwise he had eight games with only one catch in each. And no scores. Lightning strikes - once.

Since the score became 17-10 so suddenly, Matt Hasselbeck wasted no time. He threw once to Darrell Jackson for 19 yards and then hit Koren Robinson with a 38-yard touchdown for a safer 24-10 lead.

On the next series, Anthony Wright starts at his own ten yard line and after one Lewis run, Wright fumbles the ball and recovers it himself for a five yard loss. One incomplete later and they punt, only it shanks and goes out of bounds at the Baltimore 29-yard line.

Seattle does not gain any yards but still kicks a field goal to make the score 27-10. This is easy. Almost not fair. This is sort of like a roller coaster car chugging up that hill slowly with only about 23 minutes left to play. Time to get loopy! Here we go! Hands inside!

Ravens take the kickoff, four plays to midfield and on third and five, Wright hits Marcus Robinson with a 50 yard touchdown. It is his second score! Whee! 27-17!

Seahawks get the ball on their own 20-yard line and on first and ten, Hasselbeck hits Darrell Jackson for his second touchdown in the game on an 80 yard bomb! Oh wow! Whee! 34-17!

Ravens get a good kick return to midfield and after four plays are at the Seattle 25-yard line. On second and ten, Anthony Wright hits Marcus Robinson for another touchdown! I swear! His third one! This loopy stuff never ends! All the change is flying from my pockets and I no longer realize what is up or down anymore. 34-24 and three touchdowns scored in the last three minutes! What? There's more? 38 points in the third quarter and there is still more? Whoa!

The Seahawks take over on their own 46-yard line since special teams coverage is not so special in this game. Hasselbeck is throwing to Engram and handing off to Alexander. When the fourth quarter finally comes, the Seahawks are on the Ravens 5-yard line and on third down, he throws to Bobby Engram again for a touchdown! It is now 41-24. This is no longer a gridiron war, it is a "nuclear winter starts here" event.

Baltimore takes over but tries to throw to Todd Heap. The game slows down. Todd is not meant to be today. Four and out and they punt and the Seahawks reach the Ravens 36-yard line before opting to punt. Already hard to kick a 53 yard field goal and since they are up 41-24, they figure to make it tough on the Ravens.

The Ravens only manage five plays to reach their own 30-yard line and have to punt. But Ken Lucas muffs the punt. He muffs the punt! You idiot, he muffed the punt! Already on the Seattle 35-yard line, first down has Lewis slicing off right tackle for - HE FUMBLES! He fumbles the ball! DOH! Seattle takes over. What a heartbreaker. I cannot take this much longer. Does this ride ever end?

After four plays net a six yard loss, Seattle punts the ball and THEY BLOCKED THE PUNT! OH MY! They blocked the punt! They blocked the - HEY -ED REED HAS IT AND, AND, AND HE SCORES A TOUCHDOWN! For the love of - it's 41-31. I need a break here.

The Seahawks take the kickoff and knowing that they are going to run to kill the clock that is now under six minutes left to play, they throw it to Mili and Robinson with an Alexander dash to reach the Baltimore 31-yard line. On first and ten, Mack strong busts up the middle and NO WAY! HE FUMBLES! What? Ray Lewis recovers? I feel feint again!

With only 4 minutes left and down by ten, the Ravens reach the Seattle 39 yard line with 2:47 left to play and on second and two, Wright is sacked for 16 yards. On third and 18, he gets sacked AGAIN for ten more yards. Hey - it is now the two minute warning, fourth down and 28 yards to go and in the words of Ray Lewis "are you ready to go?" Why yes, I think I am - let's do this thing!

Wright hits Frank Sanders for a 44 yard gain for a first down! Wright hits Lewis for 8 yards. He hits Sanders again for four yards. With only 1:17 left to play, he hits NO WAY! YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME! ROBINSON FOR A 9-YARD TD!?!?! Oh my, where is my glycerin? Stop this car! I demand - stop it! I cannot take this! Is anyone listening to me?

The Ravens still have time outs and go for the onside kick but Alex Bannister covers it for Seattle. With 1:11 left, Alexander for six yards, time out! Alexander for three yards - time-out! Alexander met at the line on third and one - TIME-OUT! On fourth and one, Hasselbeck dives for that first down and there are bodies crashing and struggling and, and ... and he does not make it. They are giving the ball to Baltimore with 39 seconds left on the Ravens 33-yard line. Can it be?

First down - incomplete to Robinson (like we did not ALL see that coming).
Second down - incomplete to Robinson (bucket does not reach the water in that well anymore) but wait - Marcus Trufant had pass interference of 44 yards! With 25 seconds left, Ravens are on the Seattle 23-yard line. Lewis runs up the middle for seven yards, Wright spikes the ball with four seconds left on the Seattle 16 yard line and Stover trots onto the field to nail a 40 yard field goal to FREAKING TIE THE GAME AS TIME EXPIRES! It's like going on a roller coaster and when it finally pulls into the station - it takes off again!

Seattle wins the toss but after five plays, Hasselbeck is sacked on third down and they punt to the Baltimore 21-yard line. Wright runs for eight yards, Lewis for 14 and then Wright to Taylor reaches midfield. Then Lewis, Lewis, incomplete, Lewis and incomplete finds the Ravens still around midfield with third and 15. Take a guess what happens next.

Marcus Robinson catches a 19 yard pass down to the Seattle 32-yard line. First down.

Lewis, Lewis, Lewis reaches for Seattle 24-yard line where on fourth down, throw the bucket away, train is in the station, cut the power, fat lady is a'singing and Stover is good on a 42 yard field goal for a RAVEN WIN 44-41 IN OVERTIME! RAVENS WIN! AN INCREDIBLE COMEBACK! I'm exhausted. I think I am going to be sick now. "No Mas."

So a thrilling and astounding game ends. Anthony Wright goes from 37 first half yards to 319 yards and four scores in the game. There were 65 points scored after halftime and the Ravens won not by stifling defense or handing off to Jamal Lewis 38 times. They won it because Anthony Wright found Marcus Robinson for more touchdowns than Robinson had caught in two years. When it came down to it, they were ready to go. They were ready to get the job done. They were always down but never beaten. They never gave up. They won.

So here's to you, Mr. Robinson. Heaven holds a place for those who play...

Now get back to work...