During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
It is time to take my medicine. This Super Bowl was the worst I have ever had to endure. While I can say that I live a blessed life when I can say that this February day was one of the worst I have ever seen, it just plain sucked to be a Pats fan for a long time after this game. I understand the incredible joy and release other fans had for this game but it was Super Bowl I would like to forget although I never will. As a disclaimer, this will not be a Simmons type of post where I complain about officiating or blame the loss on extraneous factors. The Giants deserve the win and it belongs to them. The Phoenix Pounding out of Perfection is next.
New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Who Wants It More?"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: While the biggest focus was on the Patriots trying to become the first team to go 19-0, the Giants had history oftheir own right. This was the Giants' 4th Super Bowl, all with a different QB and they became the first NFC Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl, winning each playoff game on the road. The Patriots completed the first ever 16-0 regular season. The team was mired in controversy after the Jets complained to the league about the videotaping on the field of a Patriots assistant in week 2. After that the Patriots made their mission to go Cobra Kai on the league, showing no mercy as they won every game en route to the playoffs. The two teams played each other in the final week of the season, with the Pats escaping 38-35 as Brady and Moss broke the record for TDs at their respective positions on the clinching TD.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: All fans united against the Patriots, it was like nothing the league had ever seen. After the Spygate business and the arrogance of the Pats, fans were fervent in hoping for someone to stop their march to perfection. The story came to dominate the NFL during the season. When the Patriots failed to win the Super Bowl, it was more than the '72 Dolphins rejoicing, it was a legion of fans realizing they never had to deal with Patriot fans using this season to attempt to trump any sports argument from now until eternity.
High Profile Element-4.5: The Patriots had lost the 2006 AFC Championship to the Colts, largely because Tom Brady had receivers make critical errors on key plays. The bug-eyed drops that prevented them from clinching that game so the Patriots dealt a 24th round pick for Randy Moss(LOL Al Davis) and 2nd and 7th round pick for Wes Welker. The addition of Dante Stallworth as a 3rd receiver and Adalius Thomas at linebacker finished the best personnel the Patriots had produced. Early on in the season New England was in the zone; they beat the Chargers at home, Dallas and Indy on the road and blew out weaker opponents. Toward the end of the season the Patriots had to hold on in games against the Eagles, Ravens, and Giants but still prevailed. They ultimately failed but when you take a step back the team was incredible:
The Giants on the other hand began the season in turmoil, losing their first two games. Eli Manning's leadership came into question, but the Giants were able to bounce back and win 10 games. After dispatching Tampa in the Wild Card round, they upset Dallas and Green Bay in overtime. The strength of the team was in their defensive line, with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck.
Venue/Atmosphere- 5: The scene at the Super Bowl was crazy. Both teams had fans that travel well and the element of the undefeated season provided extra excitement. Glendale provided a great backdrop and stadium for the event. Even Joe Buck seemed a little excited for the game. Jordan Sparks performed the national anthem. Tom Petty sang the halftime show. At this point the game was 7-3 so there was much left in doubt. Musical taste is extremely personal in taste but I will say I am a huge Tom Petty fan so I thought the choice was a huge home run.
Personal Enjoyment- 2: It was pretty hard for me not to put a "1" in the column for this game. It goes without saying that I did not enjoy this game, but the historic nature of it allowed me to (sort of) put it in perspective.
Cleet's Rating Index: 21.5
Where I Was: I was in my final semester of grad school when this game took place. I was toughing it out by living at home and working the graveyard shift stocking shelves at the local store to pay my bills. I had to work the night of the Super Bowl and it took near begging to let him allow me to come into work an hour late so I could watch the full game. I made a deal that I would stay later into the morning.
My parents came into the room to watch the 2nd half while I paced the floor after the Giants took a 10-7 lead. When Brady went to Moss with 2:42 left I thought it was in the bag, but it was not to be. On the play when Manning hit Burress for the winning TD my Mom saw the play unfold before the pass even came close to Plaxico. She saw Plaxico had Hobbs beat and screamed out "Oh no!" That was the worst night of work I ever had. Aside from being in a bad mood, the store was in a mess and the trucks had not been unloaded properly so I was there until after 8 am. I had plenty of time to relive the game instantly in my mind.
What Happened in the World: A day after the game Iran launched a rocket into space after it opened its first space center. I'm a believer making your country economically feasible before you try to enter space but maybe that's just me.
Record of Note: The 3 lead changes in the 4th quarter were a Super Bowl record which brought the excitement to an otherwise dull, sloppy, defensive battle.
Game MVP: Eli Manning's two 4th quarter touchdowns earned him the MVP. For all the scrutiny that was piled on ELi throughout the year, he played lights out in the playoffs that year.
Most Memorable Play: No quips, no comments, no complaining of holding or dissertation on lucky catches, this play will be replayed even after I am long gone.
NFL Fallout: After a wedding Catfish and I attended for our friend K-man this past summer we went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. In the modern wing of the building they had an area set-up with this Super Bowl on replay. I will never escape this game, because it was a great Super Bowl and provides a chance for people to always throw out the 18-1 tag and there is nothing I can do. It is what it is. The Patriots were a great team, the team of the decade, but when it was their time to make history, they failed.
Saturday, February 6
Super Bowl Countdown #8: Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl Countdown #9: Super Bowl XXVIII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
The final edition of the quadruplicate of fail for the Bills. Aside from their Super Bowl against the Giants 3 years prior the Bills losses were all by double-digits. In this Super Bowl the Bills came out with purpose and stormed to a lead at halftime, but once again they got in their own way and made critical mistakes. Emmitt Smith was the star of the show, piling up the yards and putting Buffalo away in the second half. The Aftermath of Atlanta after the break.
Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
Semi-Lame Nickname: "We're Back America; Deal with It!"
Historical Significance- 4.5: This marked the first and only time in Super Bowl history the game was a rematch of the previous year. The Bills had to deal with a lot of media and fan scrutiny leading up to the game. People were eager to get on the Bill's case about their previous losing efforts. On the other side, the Cowboys were basking in the afterglow of their title the year before but the rumblings between Jerr-uh and Jimmy Johnson had begun to make their way into the public. This would be the final game JJ would coach for the Cowboys.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 3.5: The game started off with the feeling that Buffalo might have a chance in this one. However, the Cowboys scored 24 unanswered points and the Bills never held the lead once they gave it up in the 2nd half.
High Profile Element-5: By the time this game took place, everyone knew the cast of players that were involved. Jim Kelly had been successfully running the "K-Gun" offense for years. Kelly joined a lot of prestigious company for starting 4 Super Bowls but he is the only one to start 4 of them consecutively. The defense was still the team's weakness as it ranked 28th in the league in yardage. Despite that it still had players like Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley and Cornelius Bennett.
The Cowboys had the same attack it had been using with the strong running game of Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin as the leading receiver. The offensive line led the way with Erik Williams, Nate Newton and the like. Russell Maryland was the anchor on defense.
You cannot stop Jim Lampley's early 90s hair, you can only hope it does not swallow you whole.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: This was the first Super Bowl played in Georgia so the the Georgia carpet was rolled out in the pregame ceremonies with Charlie Daniels and Kriss Kross(how timeless!). Natalie Cole sang the anthem. The halftime was certain to dismiss all redneck stereotypes of the south by having country music stars Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and Wynonna Judd. Despite all this, it should be noted that the Georgia Dome is a great venue in Atlanta where the Peach Bowl and SEC Championship has been held recently.
Personal Enjoyment- 4: The game provided a real rooting interest for me in football when I was a young man of 13. I wanted to see the Bills win one finally. I had, as had everyone, watched them fall short the years prior but as in life, sometimes the deserving and suffering are not given what they have been waiting for.
Cleet's Rating Index: 21
Where I Was: I know I have given props to my Dad earlier in the countdown, but I have to say early on he realized that I had more of an attachment to sports than he ever did. By this time he would roll out the BBQ and wings to celebrate the big game, I always appreciated that.
What Happened in the World: Nine days before the game Lorena Bobbitt was found not guilty for reasons of insanity for chopping off her husbands ding dong. I don't remember all the facts of the case but how do you argue a woman is not insane for chopping off a dude's manhood? Ouch babe.
Record of Note: The biggest record that cannot be ignored, Buffalo was the first team to lose four straight Super Bowls. Even though that is a record someone would never want top repeat, it probably will never be duplicated. As Bill Kent Hull said after the game, "In the immediate future we'll be thought of as losers, But one day down the road, when I'm no longer playing, they'll say, 'Wow, they won four straight AFC championships. They must have been good.'"
Game MVP: Emmitt Smith had 132 yards with 2 TDs on the ground.
LVP: Thurman Thomas. He said it himself after the game, "Dallas didn't wear us down in the second half, I fumbled. I cost us the game." Thomas fumbled in the 3rd quarter :45 seconds in and it was returned by James Washington for a TD. It was Thomas' 2nd fumble of the game which resulted in 10 Dallas points and the Bills would not score again.
Most Memorable Play: The drive after Thomas fumbled return for the Cowboys, Smith carried the ball 7 of 8 plays and capped it off with a 15 yard TD run that put Dallas up 20-13 and they would not look back.
NFL Fallout: The Bills have never been the same since this loss. Kelly and the entire cast from their Super Bowl run would soon fade away and it has led to the Bills not making a playoff appearance this current entire decade. They have not put their faith in....Chan Gailey. All Bills fans have now are the memories of the Super Bowl runs that never came to fruition. For the Cowboys they never had Johnson coaching for them again but Jerr-uh was able to sign some key free agents and have Switzer guide them to another title a couple years later.
Super Bowl Countdown #10: Super Bowl XXX
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
As the countdown for the big game tomorrow reaches its conclusion, our Super Bowl Countdown is now into the top 10. This game stands out for me, two historic franchises renewing an old rivalry with plenty of colorful personalities on both sides. The Cowboys were the dominant team of the decade of this time. It was a great game but ultimately the Steelers made too many mistakes. The Old Duel in the Desert comes in at 10.
Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Take Me Higher"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4.5: The teams were meeting for the third time in the big game which is currently the most rematches. The Cowboys and Steelers were vying for their 5th title each which would join the 49ers for the most after San Fran won the previous year. It would be 3 titles in 4 years for the Cowboys. This is a great intro to the game read by the masterful Dick Enberg, when he still had all his scruples.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 4.5: While the Cowboys put it away late it was hotly contested. The Steelers' formidable defense put up a valiant effort against the huge O-line and offensive playmakers Dallas possessed. It featured great big plays though, like Deion Sanders making a long catch down the field. Quick side note, this was the height of Sanders' arrogance. If you remember he won the title with San Francisco the year before and then bolted for Dallas. When he was interviewed after the game with the trophy he quipped, "They didn't let me hold this last year." Taking a shot at your former team after you just one the championship, sometimes the most talented men can be the most insecure. There was also a great onside kick by Cowher in the 4th quarter that helped the team pull within 3.
High Profile Element-4: The Cowboys had much of the same cast that had brought them their prior success. NFL Free Agency had just become a reality in the league and the way personnel decisions were being made was about to change. Deion Sanders was an indication of the fluid nature of player moves to come. He was on his 3rd team in 3 years. The rest of the Cowboys backfield was just as impressive with Darren Woodson, Larry Brown(remember the name?), and Brock Marion. Charles Haley was along for his 5th Super Bowl title. The offense included the usual cast of characters, but again the huge line was the catalyst in that it gave Aikman time to dissect the defense and huge holes for Emmitt Smith to run through(or "runulate his game stratatics" as Emmitt would call it). They were led Pro Bowlers Larry Allen, Mark Tuinei, Nate Newton, and Ray Donaldson.
The Steelers embodied their coach. Bill Cowher had taken over in 1992 and despite early success Pittsburgh could not get to the big game in his first few playoff attempts. The Steelers survived the AFC Championship after a Hail Mary attempt by Jim Harbaugh almost was completed in the endzone. However, after this game the reputation of falling short in the playoffs would follow Cowher until he was able to lead the Steelers to the win in Super Bowl XL. Neil O'Donnell(I wonder how those in Pittsburgh feel about old Neil nowadays) led the offense, that was headlined by bruiser Bam Morris and quicker back Eric Pegram. Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen(great football name) was a pro-bowler on the outside. The defense was where this team made their bones though. Linebackers Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd(a true beast) were the havoc-makers on defense. Carnell Lake and Rod Woodson led the defensive backfield.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3.5: Arizona had been denied the Super Bowl a few years earlier because of their inability to recognize MLK day. This was the last Super Bowl to be played on a college campus and in a stadium that had bleacher seats. Oh bleacher seats, what a marvel of stadium technology. The pregame show consisted of a tribute to Native Americans and the Old West. Interesting that they provided a juxtaposition of the old culture of this country next to the present culture that wiped it out. Vanessa Williams sang the national anthem and Diana Ross performed the halftime show. Divas everywhere.
Personal Enjoyment- 4: By this point, I had grown tired of the Cowboys. There are a lot of Cowboys fans everywhere, but in Charlotte there are a ton. Perhaps just as many of them as Panther fans. This year was the first in existence for the Panthers so Cowboy fans felt it was their duty to point out this was how it is done in the National Football League(/Jaws). Therefore I was hoping the Steelers would pull it out.
Cleet's Rating Index: 20.5
Where I Was: I was in my first year of high school at this point. High School is an important stage for a young person's development; it is time to get a little more mature and start figuring out who you are. Just like your personal development is beginning so too is your sports acumen. You begin to see things in the game aside from the obvious and deciding what you really like and dislike about sports.
What Happened in the World: Two days before the game, Hillary Clinton testified before a grand jury for her involvement with the Whitewater scandal. Those Clintons had quite a ride didn't they?
Record of Note: This was the first Super Bowl to present the trophy to the owner of the team and coach on the field. I remember this one because as Barry Switzer held the trophy and passed it to Jerr-ah, he yelled out like Corky, "WE DID! WE DID! WE DID!" I always thought that was amusing.
Game MVP: Larry Brown became the first cornerback to win the MVP award. This was based on his two interceptions of Neil O'Donnell, which as you see below consisted of him standing there and the ball hitting him right in his hands. Brown went on to sign a big free-agent contract with the Raiders and have little production.
LVP: Neil O'Donnell came into the game with the fewest interceptions per pass attempt in league history. Whoops. The 3 interceptions O'Donnell threw sealed his fate in Super Bowl lore and led to his release by the Steelers in the off-season. Neil signed with the Jets but never became effective again.
Most Memorable Play: The surprise onside kick still sticks out in my mind if we want to remain positive and ignore that last pick by O'Donnell. NFL films has a great exchange of Cowher and his coaches planning the onside kick after the late field goal.
NFL Fallout: The Steelers would continue to have success under Cowher but did not reach the Super Bowl again for ten years. The Cowboys began a slow slide into mediocrity after this win. The members of the team were eventually lost to free-agency or old age. The Cowboys would not win another playoff game after 1996 until their victory over the Eagles in this year's playoffs.
Friday, February 5
It's Friday
For Walter Peck. The crotch shot through the dress is very unappreciated in this day and time.
Super Bowl Countdown #11: Super Bowl XXIX
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
A trip back to the good old days, or the unbearable days depending on where you allegiance lies. Jacksonville got its first Super Bowl bid to tepid reviews. The Eagles had finally taken the step of winning the NFC Championship games after 3 tries. The Patriots captured their 3rd title in 4 years while Philly was left with the bro-drama between McNabb and TO. Joy in Jacksonville is next.
New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Building Bridges"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: By this time the Patriots image had flipped on its side. A gritty once in a while team in the 80s and 90s, the Patriots were now on the mountain top. Add to the fact that the Red Sox had just won their first World Series in 86 years and the hate pointed toward the northeast corner of the nation. The Patriots were smoking though, they won 21 straight games going back to the previous season until they fell to the Steelers on Halloween.
The Eagles fans went crazy for this game. Remember this was before the Phillies won the World Series so the city was starved for a Championship. There were stories of people taking out extra mortgages on their house just to make the trek down to Florida. I'm sure in hindsight that was a bad move considering what happened to the housing market. McNabb and Reid were in the 5th year of their regime and with the late Jim Johnson heading the defense, they were a dominant force in the NFC.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 4: The game was competitive throughout, although the Eagles ran out of gas toward the end, they had the ball with :46 left down 3. It is interesting that many don't consider the Super Bowl an all-timer, mostly because of how the Eagles carried themselves in the 4th quarter and the McNabb/TO aftermath. It was rumored that McNabb was spewing chunks instead of running the no huddle but here is his explanation:
High Profile Element-4: This Patriots team did not go undefeated in the regular season, they went 14-2 but this team was more consistently great throughout than the 18-1 Pats of 2007 and of course they won the title. Brady had fully come into his own. The receivers were not has sparkly as the Moss/Welker combo, but with Deion Branch hurt David Givens, Troy Brown and David Patten stepped up and were led by Brady into success. The biggest addition was Corey Dillon though. For the first time the Patriots had a great rushing attack. Dillon went for a team record 1,635 yards.
The defense was more of a patchwork collection of backups that Belichick turned into a viable defense. Ty Law and Tyrone Poole went down at cornerback during the regular season, luckily the Patriots had drafted Asante Samuel the year before. But with Eugene Wilson and Randall Gay also getting hurt the Patriots turned to Troy Brown to play cornerback, where he had 3 picks. Rodney Harrison was able to make it through the season unscathed and provided a great backstop. The Patriots were stronger at linebacker with Bruschi, Vrabel, McGinest, and Ted Johnson. Up front Richard Seymour and rookie Vince Wilfork presented problems for opposing lines.
The Eagles had a good defense themselves that was built on pressure. Lito Sheppard, Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis led one of the best defensive backfields in the league. Their line featured Corey Simon, Jevon Kearse, and Derrick Burgess. It is interesting that some of these names don't seem that great in today's NFL, but 5 years ago they were in their prime.
TO arrived at Philadelphia through an interesting process. Originally San Francisco made a trade with Baltimore to get TO but Owens contested that San Fran no longer held his rights. In the end he was allowed to join the Eagles and had a great season but fractured his fibula against the Cowboys in December and was out for the playoffs. Thanks to modern medicine and a hyperbaric chamber Owens was able to play even with the screws in his leg. Mcnabb had an outstanding season with 31 TDs and only 8 INTs(first QB to throw over 30 and under 10) and led the Eagles to Jacksonville without TO in the playoffs. Brian Westbrook was the leader out of the backfield.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3.5: There were a lot of dissenters about how Jacksonville handled its hosting. There were complaints about the traffic, the crowding, lack of nightlife, and use of cruise ships as hotels. The weather was also colder(59 degrees) than some were used to.
Alicia Keys sang 'America the Beautiful' in a tribute to Ray Charles and the combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy sang the anthem. Awesome.
The halftime show was Paul McCartney in a very toned down performance, the reason was that the prior year Janet Jackson had her nipple displayed by Justin Timberlake so the NFL wanted a can't-miss show. Old guy strumming guitar fit the bill, but if you are going to go with an old guy a Beatle is a good choice.
Personal Enjoyment- 4.5: You may be asking why I would not put a 5 for a game in which my own team won the title, I will explain below. The Pats winning was awesome though.
Cleet Ratings Index: 20
Where I Was: Where did my .5 deduction come from? My ex-girlfriend had invited me up to visit her. She was living in Tampa and I was in Miami. She was in her first year of medical school and spent the game studying while I watched the game on low volume while she sat at her desk studying. You ever been in a relationship that was over yet you were still in it? Yeah it sucks and I was stuck while I should have been going crazy(drunkenly) at my team becoming a dynasty, I was wallowing in self-pity and emasculation. MINUS A HALF A POINT OF ENJOYMENT!!
What Happened in the World: Four days after the game North Korea announced it had nuclear weapons as protection against the US. You think those nukes will save you? We have a lot more than you do commies.
Record of Note: Deion Branch recorded the most catches by a receiver in consecutive Super Bowls with 21. Too bad his head swelled to crazy proportions and he held out from the Patriots and refused a new contract to join the Seahawks in 2006. How did that work out for him? Exactly.
Game MVP: Branch won the MVP through tying Jerry Rice with 11 receptions and gaining 133 yards. He was the third player to win the MVP without scoring a TD.
LVP: Freddie Mitchell. Freddie decided to run his mouth before the game, and then went on to catch one ball for eleven yards. He was not done though, after the game was over he claimed the Eagles would have won if onlythey had found a way to get the ball to Mitchell more.
Most Memorable Play: This actually occurred before the game for me. Tedi Bruschi, who would later that year fall ill with a stroke, was filmed before the game playing with his kids on the field.
NFL Fallout: Owens would go on to famously criticize McNabb for his fatigue in the Super Bowl and would not even finish the next year in Philly. He would move onto the Dallas where at first he showed more love for his quarterback than he did with McNabb, but was still shown the door. The Eagles have pressed on with the McNabb/Reid era, and while they have not made it back to the Super Bowl, they have made the playoffs consistently which is not good enough for Philly fans as we all know.
The Patriots won their last title. After the game Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel both left as coordinators to take head coaching jobs, neither which worked out and resulted in their hiring in Kansas City this offseason. The Pats had the great run in 2007 and made the playoffs in other years but never finished the season like they did this year. It was the last time the Patriots were on top at the end.
Invisible hammer of victory!
Thursday, February 4
Super Bowl Countdown #12: Super Bowl XXVII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
The Cowboys returned to glory at the expense of the Bills. Puffy Starter jackets for everyone! Although this game was a blowout, it stands out very vividly in my mind and had great plays, personalities, and laid the foundation for an epic rematch the next year. The Pasadena Pounding is next.
Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
Semi-Lame Nickname: "How Bout 'Em?"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: The Cowboys had not sniffed the Super Bowl in 15 years, the Bills were back for a third helping. The Cowboys were favored by 6.5. Both teams featured prolific offenses but again the defense was the difference. The teams would be ultimately be linked for their back-to-back duels in the Super Bowl.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 3: The game was not close, but there are a lot of Cowboy fans throughout the land and the prolific return to dominance by Dallas increased the momentum of the NFL becoming the country's top sport. I would never and will never call Dallas "America's Team" but a lot of people out there care how this team does each year.
High Profile Element- 4.5: The names have reputations that precede them: Jimmy Johnson, Marv Leavy, Aikman and Kelly(both HoFs), Thurman Thomas and Emmit Smith, Andre Reed and Michael Irvin, Bruce Smith and Charles Haley, and the list goes on.
Dallas beat the 49ers in the NFC title game that would signal the reversal of fortune for the Cowboys in reverse that they got after the 1981 "The Catch" game. Buffalo meanwhile staged the epic comeback against the Houston Oilers led by Frank Reich. Kelly and Thomas were out for both playoff games until the Super Bowl.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4.5: As the BCS title game showed us last month, the Rose Bowl is a great place to watch championship football. The Rose Bowl received the bid after Arizona lost out thanks for their inability to get the MLK holiday passed in a timely manner. Garth Brooks sang the national anthem, does anybody remember when he came out with that alter ego Chris Gaines? Yeah that's when the country collectively realized Brooks had lost it. The halftime show featured the one and only Michael Jackson. Creepy as he was, Jackson pulled in more viewers than the actual game.
Awesome note about the aesthetic quality of the game: O.J. Simpson did the coin toss, awesome.
Personal Enjoyment- 3.5: Again despite the margin of defeat this was the first we saw of the 1990s Cowboys on the big stage and the Bills were now familiar with everyone, but not in a good way.
Cleet's Rating Index: 19.5
Where I Was: I was 12 but did not possess a Starter Jacket. I was rooting for the Bills, but had not developed any annoyance at Dallas or their fans that I have now.
What Happened in the World: Five days after the game, Belgium became a federal state instead of a kingdom. The world was forever changed.
Record of Note: The Bills had 9 turnovers, they turned the ball over NIIIIIIINE times, which was a record.
Game MVP: Troy Aikman won the MVP. 273 yards and 4 TDs, the Bills defense never had a chance.
LVP/Most Memorable Play: Nate Newton. The Bills did play horribly but everyone remembers this play by Don Beebe when Newton got a little premature with this celebration.
NFL Fallout: The two teams would meet again in Atlanta the next year in which both teams would be labeled as they were after this game; Dallas as the 90s dynasty, and the Bills as 4 in a row Super Bowl losers. Jimmy Johnson also became the first coach to win a Super Bowl and a college football national title. Who did he win the title with in college? U already know.
Super Bowl #13: Super Bowl XLI
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
History repeating this year as the Colts travel to Miami again to compete for a title this year. Three years ago the Colts arrived in Miami on the heels of the biggest comeback in AFC title game history, where they met with the Chicago Bears. Up until this game people were giving Peyton Manning the "can he win the big one?" business which was just as absurd as people asking this year "can he cement his legacy?" Peyton is Peyton. He is the most analytical QB of his generation and will go down as one of the best, if not the best ever when all is said and done. The Bears presented a defensive challenge but proved to be too weak on offense to combat the Colts in South Florida. Monumental Miami Win comes in at lucky 13 on the countdown.
Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17
Semi-Lame Nickname: "The Goal is to Get to the Game"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: The most historically significant fact about the two teams is that this was the first Super Bowl to feature two African-American head coaches. Tony Dungy had hired Lovie Smith as a defensive assistant many years ago and now the two were squaring off. The two teams were the closest teams to ever play for a Super Bowl geographically. It was truly a midwesterner's dream. Also another offensive versus defensive clash. Also this two teams were two of the NFL's first franchises; the teams were originally the Dayton Triangles(became the Colts) and the Decatur Staleys(became the Bears). Bears vs. Colts just does not sound the same as Triangles vs. Staleys.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 4: The game was close throughout and came down to the 4th quarter which is what fans ultimately want in a Super Bowl. The Bears jumped up early giving the impression they could win the game, but ultimately Manning did what was needed to win.
High Profile Element- 4: Mannings counterpart was Rex Grossman. The Sex Cannon was not regarded anywhere close to Manning but he did throw for 3,100 yards and 23 touchdowns. However, the same problem that would be his undoing in his Bears' career and this game was ever present. He had 25 turnovers during the 2006 season. Many of the Colts characters were same as we know them today. Marvin Harrison was still in the league but Reggie Wayne had taken over as Manning's deep threat. Rookie Joseph Addai replaced veteran Edge James. Dallas Clark split time with Ben Utecht at tight end. The Colts had also dumped their "idiot kicker" Mike Vanderjagt in favor of Super Bowl hero Adam Vinatieri. On defense Dwight Freen, who had a healthy ankle this time, was their fiercest pass rusher, but Robert Mathis was there as well. Cato June was the Colts ballhawk and Bob Sanders was their helper with the run from the backfield. Fortunately Sanders was not injured for the Colts at this time, he saved that for the regular season where he only played four games.
The Bears were third in scoring defense and scored 65 points on defense and special teams. Ogunleye, Tommie Harris, and Mark Anderson put fear in opposing QBs. Brian Urlacher was in his Pro Bowl form and Lance Briggs was flying around the field like a runaway Lamborghini. Ricky Manning Jr. took time away from meals at Denny's to record 5 picks as did Charles Tillman. Devin Hester was only a rookie and used as a returner where he set a record with 6 returns. Grossman had two solid receiving weapons in Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian. Chicago also had both Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson as RBs, and now they have neither.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3.5: Once again the white people flocked to South Florida to enjoy its riches. However, as does happen in the region from time to time, it rained for the Super Bowl, making it the first rainy big game in history. Billy Joel sang the anthem, joining Aaron Neville as the first performer to do it twice. Marlee Matlin signed the national anthem, quality. Halftime belonged to Prince, who wore some kind of babooshka to shield his hair from the rain. I know he is a musical genius but I am kind of lukewarm on him, but the performance was better than his Vikings song.
Personal Enjoyment- 3.5 I make no secret that I was pulling for the Bears in this game because the Colts had knocked off my Patriots, but I was not burning with heathen fire in rage at the Colts. If they won they won, and they did. Despite what Catfish believes I don't have vicious enmity for the organization or Peyton Manning. In fact, I was rooting for the Colts to go 19-0 this year until they bitched out on it.
Cleet's Rating Index: 19
Where I Was: I was in my first year of grad school, bartending and catering to pay bills so I was in full bum mode. I literally woke up at 3 PM and went to sleep at 6 AM. Catfish was nice enough to invite me over to his then-girlfriend's new house. A short side story: I watched the AFC Championship Game at our apartment by myself drinking leftover Modelo from my friends' engagement party weeks earlier. I was in such a celebratory mood at the Patriots 21-3 lead I about passed out at halftime and only regained clarity in time to watch the Pats piss away the 4th quarter, good times.
Anyway, watching the game was fine and relaxing since neither of us had a huge rooting interest. Of course, I had to make a move in bad form. While wolfing down nachos I dropped a chunk of salsa on the girl's brand new white rug. Awkward and sad, I scrubbed the best I could with a moist paper towel.
What Happened in the World: Two days before the game the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report that global climate change is "very likely" to have been caused by humans. Since then the definition of "very likely" has been debated. Note to everyone, stop making global warming jokes when it is freezing outside, you're an idiot.
Record of Note: Devin Hester set a record when he returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a TD. Here is a Cloverfield version of the play:
Later in the quarter Reggie Wayne caught a 53-yard TD pass from Manning. This marked the first time in Super Bowl history two players from the same college scored consecutive TDs. What was the school you say? U already know.
Game MVP: Pey-Pey went for 247 with a TD and a pick, but his big moment was in the 2nd half when he led the drive that gave them the lead 16-14, a lead that they would not relinquish(said in Facenda voice).
LVP: Sex Cannon. He fumbled a snap and with the Bears down 5 and needing a big drive he threw a pick-6 to Kelvin Haden that put the game out of reach.
Most Memorable Play: For me it is still the pick-6 that put the game out of reach.
NFL Fallout: The Bears were never able to regain their defensive prowess from this season. Urlacher began getting hampered by injuries and Lovie was nearly dragged into oblivion by sticking with Grossman for so long. They traded Thomas Jones and eventually released Benson. They traded their second-round pick for Gaines Adams(RIP) and acquired Jay Cutler in a huge deal with the Broncos. It did not work out so well this past year but the Bears brought in Mark Martz, which may make things much better or much worse.
The Colts continued their success and while there are many reasons, Bill Polian among them, it is #18 that drives the train. Manning has brought along new receivers to replace the old and repeatedly comes up big in big games. In a few days he will try to get the Colts their second title in 3 years.
Wednesday, February 3
Super Bowl Countdown #14: Super Bowl XXII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
This was the first Super Bowl I remember watching with a vested interest in football. I was young, and truly did not appreciate the true impact of what Doug Williams accomplished, but years later I have grown in appreciation while most people forget. SOMETIMES YOU FORGET RUSH LIMBAUGH! Over a decade before Oxycodone-mouth said the media wanted a black quarterback to succeed, a black quarterback led his team to a Super Bowl title. The labor dispute of the season did not take away from what Williams and the Redskins did that night. The Jackhammer of Jack Murphy after the break.
Washington Redskins 42, Denver Broncos 10
Semi-Lame Nickname: "First African-American to.."
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4.5: Not all the focus was on Williams and race. The Broncos were the favored team and many expected Elway to get his ring after being denied by the Giants the previous this year. Joe Gibbs was attempting to win the second Super Bowl during his tenure.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 3.5: The Game ended up being a blowout, but 2nd quarter was entertaining unless you were a Denver fan. Washington erupted for 35 points to take a 35-10 lead into halftime. Only 7 2nd half points would be scored so the game fizzled out.
High Profile Element- 4: Williams was not even the starter in 1987. Jay Schroeder suffered a separated shoulder early in the season and was replaced by Williams. Although Schroeder tried to come back Gibbs felt Williams was the better choice. The Redskins also had injuries at the RB position. Former Heisman trophy winner and leading rusher George Rogers was too injured to make a major contribution so rookie Timmy Smith stepped in.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3.5: As mentioned earlier in the countdown, we are all aware of the greatness of San Diego and how fortunate all the San Diegoans...San Diegoites...San Diegans are to live there. This was the first Super Bowl to have the MNF crew I grew up with (Michaels, Gifford, Dierdorf) call the game. A tribute to Bob Hope headlined the pre-game festivities and the halftime show had Chubby Checker, the Rockettes, and 88 grand pianos which sounds more like a dream I once had then a halftime show.
Personal Enjoyment- 3: Like I said I was a little too young to fully appreciate the entirety of the game, but one of the best things my Dad every did for me was buy me a subscription to Sports Illustrated and help me read through it. That doesn't really relate to this game, but I remember getting my issue with Doug Williams on the front, thanks Dad.
Cleet's Rating Index: 19
Where I Was: As I mentioned I was in first grade. I had moved to Charlotte just 6 months earlier. I cried on my first day of first grade, lame I know. I remember a kid in our class was a huge Redskins fan so he made a big deal of the game. Wasn't first grade awesome? It was the last grade I had story time in; when you would move to the reading carpet and the teacher would read "The Boxcar Children" or something like that to you. At least for me, from 2nd grade on there was still a reading carpet but you had to do the reading yourself.
What Happened in the World: Six days before the game, Dan Rather and George H.W. Bush had a heated interview over Bush's role in the Iran-Contra scandal. Immediately makes me think of that Phil Hartman SNL skit where he plays Reagan and is nice and kind with the girl scouts but turns into a hardass when they leave the room.
Record of Note: Timmy Smith rushed for 204 yards which still stands today. No one has come close since.
Game MVP: Doug Williams tied a Super Bowl record with 4 TDs, all of them in the same quarter. He had a nasty tackle early on in the game and his knee twisted. Schroeder came in and promptly got sacked. Williams came back for his record setting 2nd quarter, and finished the game in spite of his knee swelling.
LVP: Every ignorant ass moron that ever said a black player could not lead a team to a championship. Suck on it.
Most Memorable Play: The moment when Williams was announced as the MVP and his teammates surrounded him on the field as seen in the video below:
NFL Fallout: The Broncos were denied their 3rd chance at a Super Bowl, and the 49ers would make it 4 losses a few years later. Joe Gibbs had another Super Bowl waiting with another QB.
Super Bowl Countdown #15: Super Bowl XXXI
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Brett Favre is like a kid out there. NO, he really was a kid out there for Super Bowl 30. A young, spry, braces-wearing lad of 27 was number 4 in New Orleans. Is it fitting that Favre lost what may have been his last game(or was it?) in the same building where he had his one most shining moment? Maybe it was just a coincidence. But this game was not all about Favre(thankfully), it was more about the Packers using a bronze statue toting speedster to put the game out of reach and adding a 12th title to Titletown. The Patriots were the Patriots before they were the Patriots and this game set in motion the very wheels that would churn out the Pats as we know them today. Green Bay and his Favre-ness Sanctifying the Superdome after the break.
Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Return to Glory"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: Say what you will about Green Bay, but the fact that the community has ownership of the team and has been able to hang onto the franchise while the sport rose to the most popular in the country is impressive. It had been a long time since the Packers were on the precipice of title. The Patriots storyline with Parcells as I mentioned above had a profound effect on the league that still remains today.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 4: Looking back people are quick to say that this game was not close because of the double-digit margin of victory and that the Pats never led after the first quarter, but the game was not settled until later in the 2nd half. It was a good game with lots of big plays and fireworks on both sides of the ball.
High Profile Element- 4: Darn, Favre is inescapable, but there were other great players on this Packer team. Mike Holmgren led the team as a Bill Walsh disciple. He took over the team in '92 and had them improving and the playoffs after one year. They had a three-headed monster in the backfield with Levens, Bennett, and Henderson. Pro Bowl Center Frank Winters and guard Adam Timmerman anchored the line. In the receiving game, Antonio Freeman was Favre's number one target; also present was Andre "Bad Moon" Rison(one of the few Berman nicknames that holds up, unlike his house when Left Eye got a hold of it[too soon? RIP]) and Don Beebe who had suffered through 4 Super Bowl losses with the Bills. There was a dual threat at tight-end with Keith Jackson(whoa Nelly) and Mark Chmura before he threw a post-prom bash. The defense was beefy up front with Santana Dotson and the Minister Reggie White. Wouldn't you know Eugene Robinson was in the defensive backfield. No word on if he blew off steam before the big game like he attempted to two years later.
The Patriots were more of a Cinderella team this year. Drew Bledsoe at this time was a young gunner in the league. Not many could match him for his ability to throw the ball down the field. His choice target was a rookie by the name of Terry Glenn. Oh Terry Glen. She was the subject of much dispute in New England. She was not the choice that Parcells wanted to pick that year in the draft which led in part to the friction between Parcells and owner Robert Kraft. The defensive coordinator brought in for the 1996 season, Bill Belichick was known to be the go between for Parcells and Kraft's front office. But I digress, Ben Coates had 62 catches in 1996! The big key to the Patriots offense was the ability of Curtis Martin. Not only did Martin gain big yardage on the ground(1,152 yards), but he helped set up the play-action for the New England offense. On defense, rookie Teddy Bruschi was part of an aggressive linebacking group led by Willie McGinest. The defensive backfield featured the legal firm of Ty Law, Laywer Milloy and Big Play Willie Clay.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: This Super Bowl was first to be played on the Fox Network marking the start of a new era on how football was presented to the masses, for better of worse. The intro to the game, while a tad cheesy, was not too bad considering Joe Namath appears to be sober and Fox apparently did not yet have the technology to construct an annoying, ridiculous black and yellow robot that can play the guitar and hit a baseball.
Luther Vandross sang the national anthem, RIP big fella(this is still my favorite Vandross moment). James Brown(RIP crazy fella), ZZ Top, and the Blues Brothers performed at halftime. Call me a purist but the Blues Brothers without John Belushi is not the real Blues Brothers. It is like the David Lee Roth Van Halen people, just never the same energy. I do not like a single piece of work James Belushi is in, except for Mr. Destiny. That movie was the bomb, hard to beat Rene Russo in her prime.
Personal Enjoyment- 2: Watching your team lose is never fun, but this was when the Pats were lovable upstarts. They were 14 point underdogs for a reason. Still, hope was sprung eternal when New England took a 14-10 lead. Just getting there is never good enough, no matter if people thought you would not be there in the first place.
Cleet's Rating Index: 18
Where I Was: Living in North Carolina, wearing my puffy blue Patriots jacket all that winter in High School I was labeled as a bandwagon fan. Considering I had the jacket since the beginning of winter in December/January when the Pats were far from a favorite to get to the game I thought this amusing. I had only been a Patriots fan for a few years though. As I had said I was a Joe Montana fan when I was a small kid. Once the Montana era ended in San Francisco I was left searching for NFL team affiliation. I returned to the area of my parents youth, New York. I was, am, and always will be a Mets fan but I failed to grasp onto the New Jersey York teams. I ventured next to the place of my birth and where I lived until I was in the first grade, Connecticut. Since it was in the New England area and the Patriots had new, snazzy(at the time) jerseys I latched onto the team. There were not winning at the time, but like I said I am a Mets fan so I had grown accustomed to my team failing by the early 90s. Little did I know that a few years later the Patriots became what they are now. I always tell people that I went from getting laughed at to spat at for being a Pats fan.
What Happened in the World: Six days earlier Bill Clinton was inaugurated to his second term. I bet he had a cigar in celebration.
Record of Note: The win extended the Packers record for NFL Championships to 12, but according to ESPN, Valdosta, Georgia is titletown, USA.
Game MVP: Desmond Howard came out of nowhere. He was picked up by the Packers after a few unspectacular seasons with the Redskins and he was picked up in the expansion draft by the Jaguars for a season. Howard set records for total return yards and combined return yards with 244. Interestingly many people do not remember him as Super Bowl MVP, but remember this instead,
LVP: Hard to pick one, but I'll go with whoever decided to put Los Del Rio in the pregame ceremony to perform Macarena.
Most Memorable Play: After the Patriots cut the lead to 7 in the 3rd quarter, but following a Curtis Martin 18 yard TD Howard returned the kickoff 99 yards to the house which put the game out of reach.
What a kid out there, removing his helmet and running to the sideline like a complete jackass after a first quarter TD pass.
NFL Fallout: Favre got his title. He said this after the game: "Thirty years from now, the kids will be getting ready for Super Bowl LXI, and NFL Films will drag out Steve Sabol -- he'll be around 102 then—and he'll talk about how Brett Favre fought through such adversity." Yep, he went third-person. The Favre saga is well documented. The Packers and Holmgren went back to the big game the next year but soon Holmgren left but number 4 was always there, until he retired and unretired then was traded and then retired again, was released, unretired, and signed with the Vikings.
The Patriots were left in disarray after the Super Bowl when Parcells did not even travel back with the team. Parcells left for the Jets with Belichick, famously saying that "If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." Pete Carroll took over and went .500 but then left for USC and now Seattle while Parcells took the Jets as far as the AFC Championship game and then retired, saying he would not coach again. He wanted Belichick to take over for him with the Jets but Belichick wanted more player control so he left for the Patriots and the Kraft family(with which he had grown comfortable with) with whom he would win 3 titles. Parcells would eventually take over coaching for the Cowboys but did not ultimately mesh with Jer-ah. Finally Parcells landed in Miami as the president and now I've gone cross-eyed.
Tuesday, February 2
Super Bowl Countdown #16: Super Bowl XXXV
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Every Super Bowl is memorable, but some have components that put them in the "all-time" category. This Super Bowl was all about the Ravens' defense which been the key to success all season long and was in this game. It may be hard to call them definitively the best NFL defense of all time, but they are in the discussion. The Tampa Tear-up is next.
Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Festivus Maximus" Brian Billick had imposed a no utterance of the words "playoffs" or "postseason" so Baltimore started using the term Festivus instead. While that is fine, going the next step and calling the big game your own twist on the nickname, not so much.
Scores:
Historical Significance- 3.5: The Ravens had the chance to put the exclamation on their record setting defense, which allowed a record 165 points in the regular season. The city of Baltimore was also after their first Super Bowl since the Colts won it 30 years prior before hopping the Mayflower out of town. The Giants went from mid-season flubs to winning 7 in a row on the way to reaching their 3rd Super Bowl.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 3: There were fireworks early in the 2nd half, but the Giants were only close once and after the 2nd quarter were never within one possession.
High Profile Element- 4: The Ravens defense was coached by Marvin Lewis, with Rex Ryan a defensive assistant. The line was anchored by Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa, who beached himself onto Rich Ganon in the AFC Championship game. Peter Boulware, Jamie Sharper, and Ray Lewis were at linebacker and the backfield had Chris McAlister and Duane Starks before they became stale and Hall of Famer Rod Woodson. The offense was much less to write home about even though Brian Billick came in as an offensive "guru" from working with the Vikings during their record-setting points scored season in 1998. Trent Dilfer, who became the go-to reference for a game-managing Super Bowl QB, lead the 16th ranked offense. Shannon Sharpe was galloping around at tight end in the passing game. The Ravens were run-oriented with Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes at RB. The Ravens entered the game as a wild-card winner in the AFC yet they were 3 point favorites, because of the defense.
The Giants came out of nowhere 3/4 of the way through the season. Sitting at 7-4, Jim Fassel went to the podium after a loss to the Lions and gave his poker euphemism about making the playoffs. It is at 1:20 in the video below but the whole video is great, although Coors commercials have tainted the fun.
Man I love that Ditka sound bite, "What do you care?!" Either the reporter baited him by asking why he was in a bad mood or the dude was an idiot.
Kerry Collins arose from the ashes to lead the Giants during the season. At this point, years before he took over for Vince Young, Collins was considered a wash-out. He had documented drinking problems, clashes with teammates and innuendos of racism with Carolina and was considered a semi-pariah. Collins was aided by Tiki Barber in the backfield and Amani Toomer no the outside. Strahan and Ken Hamilton anchored the defense and Jason Sehorn helped contribute to the teams' 14 interceptions. In the divisional round, Sehorn had this memorable pick of McNabb that helped the Giants to a 20-10 win.
The Giants then roasted the Vikings 41-0 in the championship game.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3: The pregame show was titled "Life is Super in Central Florida". The only thing I can say on that is that of all the places in Central Florida, which I find detestable overall, Tampa is the least offensive. Who better to convey this message than Sting, Styx, and PYT? Ray Charles celebrated 225 years of America by singing his sweet version of 'America the Beautiful'. The Backstreet Boys sung the national anthem.....no comment. The halftime show was what most people remember about the entertainment. Aerosmith was the headline band, with Mary J. Blige, Nelly, Brittney Spears and NSYNC. Bonus, this was when Brittney was still smoking.
Personal Enjoyment- 3: The game was a semi-snoozer but if you were a fan of defense as they say, and I was of this Baltimore defense, it was a dominating performance.
Cleet's Rating Index: 17.5
Where I Was: While I was in college at Miami, this was the Super Bowl I remember the least. Many people were discussing Ray Lewis, because of his legal problems and his association with the U.
What Happened in the World: Two days before the game an earthquake hit Gujarat, India which killed 12,000 people. Not Haiti-like numbers but tectonic plates are not be messed with.
Record of Note: The Giants had every single offensive possession end in failure. Collins threw 4 picks, there were 11 punts, and one fumble was lost.
Game MVP: Ray Lewis. How fun is it for people to make stabbing jokes! The truth is that Lewis was seen as a peacemaker who tried to restrain his friends that night after Super Bowl 29 in Atlanta. His testimony was never refuted with any proof and his guilty charge was obstruction of justice for initially not cooperating when his two friends got arrested. Lewis has admitted he was not living on the straight and narrow, but the close call with incarceration put him on the path to better living and better play on the field.
LVP: Giants offense. Even while going up against one of the best defenses, you have to put some offensive points on the board, especially when you just notched 41 points the game prior. Even the Patriots put 10 on the '86 Bears.
Most Memorable Play: In the 3rd quarter after Duane Starks returned a TD to the house making it 17-0, Ron Dixon took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a TD which breathed life into the Giants. The glimmer was put out on the next ensuing kickoff that was taken 84 yards by Jermaine Lewis.
