Congratulations to the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks on moving to the Divisional round of the playoffs.
I've never understood the excessive bashing of a team from fans and media following a loss. It seems the media does it to simply fuel the raging fans. They don't really need any help. Losing is frustrating. I get that. I'm certainly frustrated that the Vikings season ended too soon. The Vikings went into Green Bay without two of their most important offensive players, quarterback Christian Ponder and receiver Percy Harvin. The Vikings lost to an elite Packers team. Even at full strength the Vikings faced a difficult task. I've tried to think more about Adrian Peterson's incredible, jaw-dropping season and a surprising playoff appearance. A team coming together. Improving over the course of the season. There's so much more to be happy about with the 2012 Minnesota Vikings than there is to bitch about. The Vikings are a young team that is much closer to being elite than anyone could have hoped. Just a couple more players will make next year's playoff run a whole lot longer.
Vikings defensive end Jared Allen has a motor that never stops. Injuries have always been a part of football. A player like Allen often plays an entire season with various injuries. It's unbelievable that he's never had surgery since he had his tonsils removed when he was a mini-Allen. He will have that first surgery this offseason to repair a torn labrum.
Despite some shaky play in the middle of the season, I thought that Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder made some nice strides in his second season. He'll get even better with improved footwork in the pocket. Sometimes the best moves to avoid the pass rush are small moves. Just a slide to the side or a step up or back. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is incredible at this. Colts rookie quarterback Andrew Luck makes it look easy too. Incredible for a rookie but Luck is no ordinary rookie. Ponder's movements often look frantic. It's all or nothing. Instead of these little movements he's rolling out or running. Improvements in his pocket movement will bring great overall improvements in his game.
It was great to see Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis back on a football field. This playoff run will be his last. It's been a treat to watch Lewis play football for 17 years.
Anquan Boldin has been one of the best pass catchers in the league for a while now. He was awesome in the second half yesterday. Game changing awesome.
With the NFL's great concern over player safety I never thought that I'd again hear of a coach ignore a doctor's recommendation on a player's health. I was wrong. Dr. James (thank you for your work on Peterson's knee) Andrews works as a sideline adviser for the Redskins on game day. Apparently he didn't clear Robert Griffin III to re-enter the game in which he initially injured his knee. Coach Mike Shanahan said that he did. This isn't good.
The Colts played nearly the entire season without head coach Chuck Pagano as he underwent treatment for leukemia. The coach that led them all season, Bruce Arians, then misses this playoff game against the Ravens with an illness. It's unbelievable and unfortunate.
"Luck overthrows Brazill." heehee
Ravens coach John Harbaugh has won a playoff game in each of his five seasons. He's still missing that one big win but he's done some terrific coaching.
Ray Rice fumbled twice yesterday. He doesn't fumble that many times during an entire season.
In two Indianapolis playoff games at Baltimore Adam Vinatieri has scored all 24 Colts points.
"I hate cleaning and packing." -Vikings fullback Jerome Felton
The Seattle Seahawks-Washington Redskins game was terrific until Robert Griffin III left it. Tough and physical. Griffin's been dealing with the well publicized injured knee for a few weeks. He and his team started hot in scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions. The Seahawks got some hits on Griffin. One in particular on the wrong side of the rules. It was difficult to watch him limp around the field. His knee finally gave out while trying to handle a low shotgun snap. The Seahawks put it away from there.
I really hate seeing Seahawks coach Pete Carroll win games. Since his USC days I've not found a more annoying coach.
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is an ass. I hope that Julio Jones and Roddy White take him apart next week.
Speaking of next week's Seattle-Atlanta game. Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson enters that game with more playoff wins (1) than Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
After the coaching slaughter this time last week there were seven head coach openings. There's five now with Kansas City hiring Andy Reid and Buffalo hiring Syracuse coach Doug Marrone. Oregon coach Chip Kelly played his now annual games with NFL teams. He apparently interviewed with Cleveland and Philadelphia. Last year he led Tampa Bay along. Personally, I think that he's afraid of the big boys in the NFL.
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