[Jerry] Jones has been part of more than 30 drafts as the team's owner and general manager. He has presided over No. 1 overall picks and a number of high-level trades. "I've never had an experience like that in the draft room. Ever," Jones said.
This is a pretty cool story. Randy Scott on ESPN SportsCenter summed up my thoughts on it pretty well: "Don't you make me like the Cowboys...don't you dare humanize that star."
posted by matt in Sunday, April 30, 2023
Lions led by a point with about two minutes left in the game. Surely they were set up to follow the script, I thought. But no! They finished strong, killing the would-be game winning drive by sacking Justin Fields, ending his otherwise brilliant performance on the day. Totally off script for the Lions. Great win.
postposted by matt in Sunday, November 13, 2022
Ah, the Detroit Lions did it again. Victory was seemingly in hand...until it wasn't. In the last minute I mentally prepared for overtime, assuming they would hold the Vikings to a game-tying field goal.
Nope. A defensive breakdown left a recover wide open in end zone to give Minnesota, with the extra point, a four point lead with forty-five seconds left.
So there's a chance, right? Yes, there was, indeed, a chance. The Lions even seemed to start a March down the field, but then it sputtered. And then it died when quarterback Jared Goff inexplicably pulled the trigger on the Hail Mary on third down, with time left on the clock for another play. Needless to say his pass was intercepted at the goal line, killing any chance the Lions had at winning.
Ah, yes, the Lions did it again.
tags: sportsfootballnfllionsdetroit
postposted by matt in Sunday, September 25, 2022
I think this past weekend was the single best weekend of football I've ever seen. All four NFL playoff games were incredible, each with a thrilling finish. Every game ended regulation with a field goal, three of which ended the game and the last sending it into overtime.
I wanted the Bills to win last night, and I think everyone watching (including me) was sure they would after they scored to go ahead with 13 seconds left. The Chiefs' game-tying drive was incredible, to be sure, but the Bills' defense played those last 13 seconds of regulation like they were already focused on the win. And overtime rules basically come down to the flip of a coin, and the Bills lost that, too.
postposted by matt in Monday, January 24, 2022
Another great NFL playoff game today, the third of the weekend to end with a last second field goal. What a great weekend of football (and we still have the Bills / Chiefs game later tonight).
I was a little torn between the Buccaneers and the Rams - I like all Tampa Bay sports teams (yes, even with the addition of Tom Brady), but it's hard not to root for Matthew Stafford. I mean, twelve years in Detroit - someone give that man a trophy already.
I can get behind the Rams. And the Bills - we'll see if they can win tonight.
postposted by matt in Sunday, January 23, 2022
Yesterday's NFL playoff games were fantastic - both ended on a last second field goal. The League's system - a grueling now seventeen game regular season with playoff spots determined by wins - consistently produces a great post-season product.
Contrast that to the college football "system," which awards "playoff" spots to teams based on arbitrary rankings, algorithms, and, I'm sure, one or more smoke-filled rooms. I haven't researched the stats, but it sure feels like that "system" produces more lopsided, uninteresting "playoff" games than games that are actually fun to watch.
postposted by matt in Sunday, January 23, 2022
I watched 'All Madden' last night. I like biopics, particularly when they reveal something that I didn't know about the person beforehand. This one didn't reveal much about Madden I didn't already know (I even remember reading about his panic attack on a flight from Tampa that was the reason he travelled by train...and then, famously, by bus). But I still loved it. Nostalgia works. Including the old commercials was a nice touch.
postposted by matt in Monday, December 27, 2021
Just watched the Lions and Steelers play to a tie, 16-16. The ten minutes of overtime had to be the worst ten minutes of pro football I've ever watched. Turnovers, penalties, a horribly missed field goal, and just plain sloppy play. It was an embarrassment for the league. It was hysterical, though.
And the the Lions didn't lose, so at least there's that.
postposted by matt in Sunday, November 14, 2021
Buckeyes win over Penn State. Survive, really. But, an ugly win is still better than a loss, and way better than an ugly loss, like the L Michigan took today.
tags: footballcollegefootballohiostategobucks
postposted by matt in Saturday, October 30, 2021
Michigan lost to Michigan State today. Certainly this is Harbaugh's best year, and it has felt like "Michigan is back" for the last several weeks. Today was a test of all of that, though, with the Wolverines playing the closely-ranked (Michigan is ranked 6th, Sparty 8th) and also undefeated (both 7-0 before the game) Spartans on the road. Most of the game felt like confirmation that, finally, Michigan is indeed back and relevant again — they lead by 16 in the third quarter. But, ultimately, the game delivered a confirmation of another sort — Harbaugh still can't win the big game.
tags: footballcollegefootballmichiganbigten
postposted by matt in Saturday, October 30, 2021
Don't look now, but the NFL's golden boy, Patrick Mahomes, has a losing record (2-3). And he really should be 1-4, since the opening week win over Cleveland was enabled by a horrible call. I'm hoping the comparisons to Tom Brady will be dialed back a bit now.
postposted by matt in Monday, October 11, 2021
I didn't get to watch much college football yesterday, but I think the sixty minutes I watched last night had to be the best hour of the day. When I tuned in at about 10:00, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Alabama were all losing, with time running out in their respective games (and I'd be happy with a loss for each of these teams). Michigan and Notre Dame ended up surviving their games (by the same final score, btw - 32-29), in dramatic fashion. Alabama lost to unranked Texas A&M on a last second field goal.
All of this in the span of about an hour!
tags: footballcollegefootballncaa
postposted by matt in Sunday, October 10, 2021
This NFL season has drawn me in more than any other season in recent memory. I'm not sure why. It might have something to do with the Browns having a legitimate shot at making a playoff run. Maybe it's because Ohio State already lost and, well, one loss in college football makes it feel like the season is over. Heck, I'm even sort of rooting for Tom Brady. We're only in Week 4, too.
postposted by matt in Sunday, October 3, 2021
This is consistent with my observations. All major sports leagues need to innovate to attract younger viewers. Weird halftime shows aren't going to cut it. And I'm not sure in game betting is the answer, either.
posted by matt in Monday, February 15, 2021
Chris Collinsworth started the Monday morning quarterbacking a little early, criticizing the Eagles' move during the game last night. Well, the next Giants / Eagles game will be must watch television.
tags: footballnfleaglesgiantsphivnyg
posted by matt in Monday, January 4, 2021
They're in! The Browns made the playoffs today, edging the Steelers in a game in which the rosters of both teams were impacted by COVID19. This marks the first time the Browns have made the playoffs since 2002 - eighteen years ago! And the best part - the wildcard game next week is a rematch of today's battle. Should do wonders for the rivalry!
tags: footballnflclevelandclevelandbrownsclevpit
postposted by matt in Sunday, January 3, 2021