This week the NFL season kicked off with a bang. We saw great players return to their old form, rookies put themselves on the map, and some teams that simply did not show. Here are my "Winners and Losers" of Week 1 as well as my predictions for this year:
Winners:
Seawhawks: After losing veteran leadership this off season, many questioned if the Seahawks could have the same fire they had last year and avoid a "championship hangover". All doubts were put to rest with Seattles impressive 36-16 win over the Packers. Marshawn Lynch looked unstoppable while Russel Wilson was efficient off play action and did not make any mistakes similar to last years postseason. The defense once again looked good all around, forcing 2 turnovers and three sacks. Look for Seattle to roll to a number one seed once again.
Steelers: Though the defense stumbled in the second half, the Steelers offense looked like a force to be reckoned with in their opener. Ben Roethilsberger looked sharp throwing 23 for 34 for 365 yards and a touchdown. Antonio Brown seemed to make up for the loss of Emmanuel Sanders with a solid game and Leveon Bell probably played one of the best games of his young career rushing fr 109 yards and a touchdown. Look for the Steelers to keep things interesting in the AFC North.
Falcons: After a disappointing season last year, the Falcons put on a show against their rival ,The Saints. Matt Ryan threw for a record 448 yards and linked up with key players such as Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Devon Hester. The defense looked solid considering they were up against Drew Brees and the rest of the Saints offense, and they forced a huge turnover in overtime that led to a Matt Bryant field goal that sealed a victory.
Dolphins: A lot of pressure was put of Joe Philbin and the Dolphins coming into the season after last years locker room issues and late season collapse. Many said Philbin could be on the hot seat if he does not produce this season. Up against the Patriots as well as a 20-10 halftime deficit, things were not looking good. The Dolphins battled back despite playing thee backup linebackers and pulled off a 33-20 win. The win showed the Dolphins ability to compete with one of The AFCs finest and shows they have a chance in the weak AFC East division. Look for players like Ryan Tannehill and Knowshon Moreno who had big games today to have big roles in their season this year.
Losers:
Ravens: The Ravens have their hands full with off-the-field issues today after the Ray Rice incident escalated today, but they have plenty of work to do on the field this season after a disappointing Week 1. After winning the Superbowl in 2012, the Ravens have become a one-dimensional offense which features Joe Flacco throwing around 40-60 times a game and a banged up defense. The Ravens failed to score in the first half against the Bengals and Andy Dalton exposed a depleted secondary with a 77-yard touchdown to AJ Green late to seal the win. It might be too early to give up on this resilient Ravens squad, but with a tough schedule early this season, off the field distractions, and a tough AFC North division, it will be tough for The Ravens this year if they play like they did on Sunday.
Chiefs: The Chiefs were widely considered the surprise team in 2013, but faded towards the end of the year which led to them bowing out in the Wild Card round due to a second half collapse. The Chiefs offense last year was a methodical one that controlled the clock and put up points and the defense forced a ton of turnovers and held teams to very few points and yards. On Sunday, they looked flat in all phases of the game. Star running back Jamaal Charles only got 7 carries for 19 yards. (It is beyond me why he did not get the ball more.) Alex Smith did not look particular strong without Dwayne Bowe, throwing for only 202 yards and 1 touchdown. Jack Locker took advantage of that is missing Brandon Flowers from last year. The front seven that was so dominant last year only amassed four tackles for losses the whole game. The Chiefs are very talented and can easily turn things around, but losing by so much to an average team like the Titans could make it challenging to compete in a competitive AFC.
Bears: Despite having a great offense once again, The Bears failed to execute when it counted against the Bills and took the loss in overtime. The knock on The Bears over the last two seasons has been their defense not making big plays when it matters to keep them in important games. This was the case once again vs The Bills. The once top tier Bears defense gave up 193 rush yards and only forced one Bills turnover, despite facing a turnover prone EJ Manuel. It was The Bears who could not hold onto the ball, for Jay Cutler threw two critical picks in the game as well as one fumble. We all know how great The Bears offense can be with weapons like Forte, Marshall, Jeffrey etc, but if the defense continues to struggle in big moments and find themselves behind other strong NFC North teams in the division race.
Predictions:
NFC: AFC:
1st Seed) Seahawks 1st Seed: Broncos
2nd Seed) Packers 2nd Seed:Bengals
3rd Seed) Falcons 3rd Seed: Colts
4th Seed) Eagles 4th Seed: Patriots
5th Seed) Saints 5th Seed: Texans
6th Seed) 49ers 6th Seed: Dolphins
Wild Card Round:
Falcons over 49ers
Saints over Eagles
Colts over Dolphins
Patriots over Texans
Divisional Round:
Seahawks over Saints
Packers over Falcons
Broncos over Patriots
Colts over Bengals
Championship Round:
Seahawks over Packers
Colts over Broncos
Super Bowl: Seahawks: 37 Colts: 24
Feel free to submit your league predictions as well as any other feedback . Thanks for reading!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Sunday, August 31, 2014
"Final Four" of Football
This year, the NCAA has introduced the first College Football Playoff where the four top teams with compete for the national championship games. Here are my teams that I will believe will contend this year following Week 1:
Number 1 Seed: Florida State Seminoles 13-0 - The defending national champions are a force to be reckoned with once again. Reigning Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston returns hungry for a second title after a great first year. He showed incredible poise throughout his freshman year which should only get better this season. Winston looked good his first start against Oklahoma State. Though he did throw two early interceptions, he finished the night strong; 24-39, 367 yards and one touchdown to senior, Rashad Greene who should be his number one target this year. Greene does not have the size that Kelvin Benjamin had, but his speed and agility make him difficult to cover which was exposed last night as he finished with 11 catches for 203 yards. Another target on offense is tight end Nick O'leary who should catch plenty of balls over the middle this season , spreading the field for other targets. The Noles run game was lacking Week 1 vs an exceptional Oklahoma State front seven, but look for Karlos Williams to have some better games vs some upcoming opponents such as Citadel and Clemson, who gave up 328 yards to Georgia. The Seminoles defense was strong last year and returns seven starters including Mario Edwards, Terrance Smith and PJ Williams. With a fairly easy schedule (#47 toughest) look for Florida State to be in this years playoff.
Number 2 Seed: Oklahoma Sooners 12-0 - Last year, The Oklahoma Sooners shocked the world going 11-1 and winning the Sugar Bowl over heavily favored Alabama. Returning quarterback, Trevor Knight looks to improve on a promising freshman year. The knock on him was he only looked good because he played against Big 12 defenses, which are notoriously bad, but he silenced his critics by throwing for 348 yards and 4 TDs against the Crimson Tide defense. He looked as efficient as Sam Bradford in his Sooner days week 1 vs LA Tech throwing for 23 completions and a passer rating of 122.2. The defense looked very impressive despite an early ejection and being pulled out for the backups in the fourth quarter. Talented defenses like Oklahoma's a hard to come by especially in The Big 12. With the Sooners ability to run some clock thanks to a solid running game featuring Samaje Perine and Keith Ford, look for some solid game management against lesser opponents and some more speed and big plays against bigger opponents like Baylor and Kansas State. If Trevor Knight stays hot and the defense plays solid, Look for Oklahoma to be a top contender for the title.
Number 3 Seed: Alabama Crimson Tide 12-1- Though it is not you typical Nick Saban team, it is one that looks determined to redeem themselves from last years losing streak. The tide have a new quarterback, Blake Sims, who looked good despite being his first start against West Virginia. He threw 24-33 with 250 yards. The development of Sims will be key in the easier non conference games leading up to the bigger games such as #18 Ole Miss, #13 LSU, and #6 Auburn. He has pieces around him to work with such as running backs TJ Yeldon and Derrick Henry, both great combinations of speed and strength as well as Wide Receiver Amari Cooper, who will be heavily targeted throughout the year. The Tide once again have a top tier SEC defense who returns five talented starters as well as many fresh recruits like Dashawn Hand and Tony Brown. the tide have had the lowest points against totals the last two seasons and this year looks no different. With a schedule that isn't as challenging as usual. look for the tide to be right in the mix once again.
Number 4 Seed: Oregon Ducks 13-0- Each and every year, The Ducks seem to be in the mix for a national championship. This year, I like their chances. With an explosive offensive led by quarterback, Marcus Mariota and a stingy defense The Ducks are ready to blow out teams once again. This year, their schedule consists of a week 2 match up with #8 Michigan State, a week 6 match up with #7 UCLA and a week 9 match up vs #11 Stanford, all of which are very manageable. Michigan State has a strong defense, but they lost six experienced starters from last year, including two very talented defensive backs. Look for Mariota to exploit their younger secondary. UCLA did not look impressive in their opening game against UVA, Heisman contender Brent Hundley did not look sharp or in sync with his receivers which result in only one offensive touchdown all game. The defense did get three touchdowns, but against a team like Oregon who only had 18 turnovers all of last year, it will be tough to get a win. Stanford has won the last two games against Oregon and looked impressive week one. next week they play a tough USC team which will give Oregon a better idea of how they really are, but any team can have its troubles with Oregon, who uses a high tempo offense and shutdown defense to win games. Running backs Byron Marshall and Royce Freeman will do most of the work load for the Ducks this year. They combined for 165 yards on just 18 carries week one. With defenses having to zone in on them will guarding against the pass with Mariota being so efficient, look for Oregon to race through the PAC 12 and into the playoffs.
This is my top four. What's yours? Feel free to comments and follow on twitter @SherrySports
Number 1 Seed: Florida State Seminoles 13-0 - The defending national champions are a force to be reckoned with once again. Reigning Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston returns hungry for a second title after a great first year. He showed incredible poise throughout his freshman year which should only get better this season. Winston looked good his first start against Oklahoma State. Though he did throw two early interceptions, he finished the night strong; 24-39, 367 yards and one touchdown to senior, Rashad Greene who should be his number one target this year. Greene does not have the size that Kelvin Benjamin had, but his speed and agility make him difficult to cover which was exposed last night as he finished with 11 catches for 203 yards. Another target on offense is tight end Nick O'leary who should catch plenty of balls over the middle this season , spreading the field for other targets. The Noles run game was lacking Week 1 vs an exceptional Oklahoma State front seven, but look for Karlos Williams to have some better games vs some upcoming opponents such as Citadel and Clemson, who gave up 328 yards to Georgia. The Seminoles defense was strong last year and returns seven starters including Mario Edwards, Terrance Smith and PJ Williams. With a fairly easy schedule (#47 toughest) look for Florida State to be in this years playoff.
Number 2 Seed: Oklahoma Sooners 12-0 - Last year, The Oklahoma Sooners shocked the world going 11-1 and winning the Sugar Bowl over heavily favored Alabama. Returning quarterback, Trevor Knight looks to improve on a promising freshman year. The knock on him was he only looked good because he played against Big 12 defenses, which are notoriously bad, but he silenced his critics by throwing for 348 yards and 4 TDs against the Crimson Tide defense. He looked as efficient as Sam Bradford in his Sooner days week 1 vs LA Tech throwing for 23 completions and a passer rating of 122.2. The defense looked very impressive despite an early ejection and being pulled out for the backups in the fourth quarter. Talented defenses like Oklahoma's a hard to come by especially in The Big 12. With the Sooners ability to run some clock thanks to a solid running game featuring Samaje Perine and Keith Ford, look for some solid game management against lesser opponents and some more speed and big plays against bigger opponents like Baylor and Kansas State. If Trevor Knight stays hot and the defense plays solid, Look for Oklahoma to be a top contender for the title.
Number 3 Seed: Alabama Crimson Tide 12-1- Though it is not you typical Nick Saban team, it is one that looks determined to redeem themselves from last years losing streak. The tide have a new quarterback, Blake Sims, who looked good despite being his first start against West Virginia. He threw 24-33 with 250 yards. The development of Sims will be key in the easier non conference games leading up to the bigger games such as #18 Ole Miss, #13 LSU, and #6 Auburn. He has pieces around him to work with such as running backs TJ Yeldon and Derrick Henry, both great combinations of speed and strength as well as Wide Receiver Amari Cooper, who will be heavily targeted throughout the year. The Tide once again have a top tier SEC defense who returns five talented starters as well as many fresh recruits like Dashawn Hand and Tony Brown. the tide have had the lowest points against totals the last two seasons and this year looks no different. With a schedule that isn't as challenging as usual. look for the tide to be right in the mix once again.
Number 4 Seed: Oregon Ducks 13-0- Each and every year, The Ducks seem to be in the mix for a national championship. This year, I like their chances. With an explosive offensive led by quarterback, Marcus Mariota and a stingy defense The Ducks are ready to blow out teams once again. This year, their schedule consists of a week 2 match up with #8 Michigan State, a week 6 match up with #7 UCLA and a week 9 match up vs #11 Stanford, all of which are very manageable. Michigan State has a strong defense, but they lost six experienced starters from last year, including two very talented defensive backs. Look for Mariota to exploit their younger secondary. UCLA did not look impressive in their opening game against UVA, Heisman contender Brent Hundley did not look sharp or in sync with his receivers which result in only one offensive touchdown all game. The defense did get three touchdowns, but against a team like Oregon who only had 18 turnovers all of last year, it will be tough to get a win. Stanford has won the last two games against Oregon and looked impressive week one. next week they play a tough USC team which will give Oregon a better idea of how they really are, but any team can have its troubles with Oregon, who uses a high tempo offense and shutdown defense to win games. Running backs Byron Marshall and Royce Freeman will do most of the work load for the Ducks this year. They combined for 165 yards on just 18 carries week one. With defenses having to zone in on them will guarding against the pass with Mariota being so efficient, look for Oregon to race through the PAC 12 and into the playoffs.
This is my top four. What's yours? Feel free to comments and follow on twitter @SherrySports
Saturday, March 22, 2014
March Madness Sleepers
This week, March Madness began with a highly entertaining Round of 64. Similar to previous years, there were a large amount of upsets. Some of them seemed like pure flukes while others showed the country that they are poised for a deep tournament run. Here are three low seeded teams that could potentially be a Cinderella story this year.
SF Austin, South Region (12th Seed)
Prior to their win against VCU, SF Austin had little to no national exposure. Once they were given a chance, people saw how good they really were. SF Austin came into the tournament red hot, on a 28 game win streak including a conference championship. They made their way through the regular season behind their star Junior Forward, Jacob Parker. Parker averaged around 15 points per game as well as a 48% clip from behind the arc. The Lumberjacks also spread the ball to their other guards and finished the regular season averaging 16.6 assists per game (8th in the country). Virginia Commonwealth University came into the tournament for the third straight year. They had made a deep run as a low seed to the final four a few years back, and looked ready to do it again. The game was very close for the most part, but VCU held off the Lumberjacks who were making threes as well as free throws (17-23) to stay in the game. VCU led by four with just seconds left when Desmond Haymon made a last second three pointer and got fouled. The rare four point play sent the game to OT where it went back and forth once again. SF Austin led by two when VCU attempted a game winning three to advance. It rimmed out and SF Austin had won. They will play UCLA in attempt to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time ever. UCLA forces lots of turnovers which is one of The Lumberjacks weaknesses. If SF Austin wants to shock the world again, they must cut down on turnovers and show the world why they are ranked the 13th best offense in the country.
Tennessee, Midwest Region (11th Seed)
Tennessee played in the infamous play-in game vs a heavily favored Iowa opponent. The Volunteers started off slow and it looked like it might get out of hand. The soon closed the gap and ended the half only down three and they had captured most of the momentum. They fought with the Hawkeyes until the bitter end and forced overtime, where they ran away with the win 78-65. Senior Guard Jordan McRae scored 20 and the Volunteers showed how strong they were in the paint. In the regular season, they were 20th in the nation on the glass and the first round was no different. Tennessee then played Umass in the round of 64. Umass came in as a sixth seed behind their star guard Chaz WIlliams (16 points per game 7 assists per game 2 steals per game). Tennesee exploded on offense against the Minutemen, and stretched out a 41-22 halftime lead. The final score was 86-67. Jarnell Stokes had a double-double (26 points, 14 rebounds), and once again, the Volunteers defense played god enough to advance. They will play Mercer (14th seed) who beat Duke in their first round match up. Duke did not play good defense vs Mercer which is why Tennessee could easily give the Mercer Bears a tough time. The Volunteers look like such a dual threat team both on offense and defense for their run to be stopped. Look for Tennessee to possibly Mercer and continue even deeper into the tournament.
Pittsburgh, South Region (9th Seed)
Pittsburgh had a very strong season in the ACC which their record might not tell you. Their seven losses were to good tournament teams such as Duke, Syracuse, UVA etc. They played solid defense all year, only allowing around 62 points per game, 20th in the nation. They played very well in their conference tournament, but lost to top seed UVA by three. They felt under appreciated when they received a nine seed in the tournament, so they made easy work for 8 seed Colorado 77-48 in the first round. Talib Zanna scored 16 points in the first half and totaled 5 rebounds as well. The Panthers defense was rock solid, for they only allowed 18 points in the first half. Colorado ended up with a 36% field goal precentage for the game, showing that the Panthers were just too good defensively. James Robinson had a good game, totaling 6 rebounds, 8 assists and three steals. They will play a very tough Florida team today, who is number one overall. Florida looked decent in their opener, but not nearly as good as they should if they want to beat Pittsburgh. If Pittsburgh can break the Florida press and play solid defense. If they can shut down key players like Scotty Wilbekin, they could pull a huge upset and advance through an upset heavy south bracket.
The tournament has been great so far and will only get better it goes on with the teams listed above.
SF Austin, South Region (12th Seed)
Prior to their win against VCU, SF Austin had little to no national exposure. Once they were given a chance, people saw how good they really were. SF Austin came into the tournament red hot, on a 28 game win streak including a conference championship. They made their way through the regular season behind their star Junior Forward, Jacob Parker. Parker averaged around 15 points per game as well as a 48% clip from behind the arc. The Lumberjacks also spread the ball to their other guards and finished the regular season averaging 16.6 assists per game (8th in the country). Virginia Commonwealth University came into the tournament for the third straight year. They had made a deep run as a low seed to the final four a few years back, and looked ready to do it again. The game was very close for the most part, but VCU held off the Lumberjacks who were making threes as well as free throws (17-23) to stay in the game. VCU led by four with just seconds left when Desmond Haymon made a last second three pointer and got fouled. The rare four point play sent the game to OT where it went back and forth once again. SF Austin led by two when VCU attempted a game winning three to advance. It rimmed out and SF Austin had won. They will play UCLA in attempt to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time ever. UCLA forces lots of turnovers which is one of The Lumberjacks weaknesses. If SF Austin wants to shock the world again, they must cut down on turnovers and show the world why they are ranked the 13th best offense in the country.
Tennessee, Midwest Region (11th Seed)
Tennessee played in the infamous play-in game vs a heavily favored Iowa opponent. The Volunteers started off slow and it looked like it might get out of hand. The soon closed the gap and ended the half only down three and they had captured most of the momentum. They fought with the Hawkeyes until the bitter end and forced overtime, where they ran away with the win 78-65. Senior Guard Jordan McRae scored 20 and the Volunteers showed how strong they were in the paint. In the regular season, they were 20th in the nation on the glass and the first round was no different. Tennessee then played Umass in the round of 64. Umass came in as a sixth seed behind their star guard Chaz WIlliams (16 points per game 7 assists per game 2 steals per game). Tennesee exploded on offense against the Minutemen, and stretched out a 41-22 halftime lead. The final score was 86-67. Jarnell Stokes had a double-double (26 points, 14 rebounds), and once again, the Volunteers defense played god enough to advance. They will play Mercer (14th seed) who beat Duke in their first round match up. Duke did not play good defense vs Mercer which is why Tennessee could easily give the Mercer Bears a tough time. The Volunteers look like such a dual threat team both on offense and defense for their run to be stopped. Look for Tennessee to possibly Mercer and continue even deeper into the tournament.
Pittsburgh, South Region (9th Seed)
Pittsburgh had a very strong season in the ACC which their record might not tell you. Their seven losses were to good tournament teams such as Duke, Syracuse, UVA etc. They played solid defense all year, only allowing around 62 points per game, 20th in the nation. They played very well in their conference tournament, but lost to top seed UVA by three. They felt under appreciated when they received a nine seed in the tournament, so they made easy work for 8 seed Colorado 77-48 in the first round. Talib Zanna scored 16 points in the first half and totaled 5 rebounds as well. The Panthers defense was rock solid, for they only allowed 18 points in the first half. Colorado ended up with a 36% field goal precentage for the game, showing that the Panthers were just too good defensively. James Robinson had a good game, totaling 6 rebounds, 8 assists and three steals. They will play a very tough Florida team today, who is number one overall. Florida looked decent in their opener, but not nearly as good as they should if they want to beat Pittsburgh. If Pittsburgh can break the Florida press and play solid defense. If they can shut down key players like Scotty Wilbekin, they could pull a huge upset and advance through an upset heavy south bracket.
The tournament has been great so far and will only get better it goes on with the teams listed above.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
The Yankee Captain
Today, Derek Jeter announced that the 2014 season will be his last. For any Yankee fan, this is a sad day hearing that the face of the franchise and captain will soon be gone, but it is also a time to reflect. Derek Jeter was part of the cornerstone that brought five world championship to the Bronx.
First, there is so much that Derek did off the field. He was announced as Captain in 2003, but many of his teammates and colleagues would tell you that he was captain far before that. He was never the most talented, but his work ethic and leadership on and off the field brought a winning attitude to New York, so the captain decision was inevitable.
Derek Jeter also was a valuable asset on the field for fourteen years as part of the Yankees. Here are some of his top moments:
2001 ALDS Game 3: "The Flip"
Down two games to none, The Yankees traveled to Oakland needing a win. The Yankees led early 1-0 when Terrence Long lined a ball into the right field corner. Shane Spencer got the ball and launched it towards home plate, but was offline and missed both cut off men. Jeremy Giambi raced home and it looked as if he would cross the plate standing up. Then, Derek Jeter flashed across the diamond from his normal position, grabbed the ball, and shoveled the ball to Jorge Posada, who tagged out Giambi. This ridiculous play saved the run and preserved the lead. The Yankees won the game and the series but it would have never happened if Jeter had not saved the run. Many people still are shocked how Jeter was in the perfect position to save the run and the season.
July 9th 2011: His 3000th hit
In 2011 Jeter did not have a great year compared to his past years. Midway though the year, Jeter suffered a calf injury that lengthened the wait of his 3000th hit. People questioned if his best days were behind him, but Jeter came back off the DL looking better than ever and was poised to get hit number 3000. On July 9th, The Yankees were at home vs The Rays. Jeter was sitting on 2998 hits when he led off the first inning. He hit a hard ground ball through the hole for number 2999 and the crowd became excited. Later in the game down 1-0 Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate again against Rays ace David Price. He worked the count full and on the 3-2 pitch Jeter launched a ball over the fence for his 3000th hit. Jeter became the second player to hit a home run for his 3000th hit (Wade Boggs), and the first Yankee ever to achieve the 3000 hit clip. This was more than just a stat for many Yankee fans. Derek Jeter's 3000th hit represented the culmination of 15 years of hard work, bringing five titles and reviving baseball in The Bronx. For him to do it at home and finishing the day 5-5 with the game winning RBI showed that Jeter's desire for the team to win outweighed an individual achievement, which is what matters most.
October 31st 2001: World Series Walkoff:
When the World Series began, many New Yorkers were still recovering from the tragedy that was September 11th, 2001. The Yankees 2001 postseason run was able to ease some of the pain that many were feeling, so when they reached the World Series, the city could not be happier. The Yankees fell behind early in the series to The Arizona Diamondbacks, who had two great pitchers; Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.The Yankees trailed in the series 2-1 and faced Curt Schilling and a potentially 3-1 World Series deficit. The Yankees trailed most of the game until with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth when Tino Martinez hit a two run homer to tie the game at three. Yankee Stadium was the loudest it had ever been and they knew their World Series chances were alive and well. Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate in extra innings as the clock struck midnight. For the first time ever Major League Baseball was being played in November. Jeter continued his at bat and lined a pitch down the right field line. The ball just barely got over the fence and secured a Yankees 4-3 victory. The crowd went wild as the newly dubbed "Mr. November" rounded the bases. not only had he won the game, he had restored faith in the city that no matter how hard times got, New York would keep fighting, which was even more important than the game itself.
As you can see, Derek Jeter is more than a shortstop. He is more than a 13-time all star, 5 time gold glove winner and 5 time world champion. He is a leader on and off the field and a great ambassador for the game of baseball. Though he will be greatly missed after this year, it is important that we remember all the great things he has done.
First, there is so much that Derek did off the field. He was announced as Captain in 2003, but many of his teammates and colleagues would tell you that he was captain far before that. He was never the most talented, but his work ethic and leadership on and off the field brought a winning attitude to New York, so the captain decision was inevitable.
Derek Jeter also was a valuable asset on the field for fourteen years as part of the Yankees. Here are some of his top moments:
2001 ALDS Game 3: "The Flip"
Down two games to none, The Yankees traveled to Oakland needing a win. The Yankees led early 1-0 when Terrence Long lined a ball into the right field corner. Shane Spencer got the ball and launched it towards home plate, but was offline and missed both cut off men. Jeremy Giambi raced home and it looked as if he would cross the plate standing up. Then, Derek Jeter flashed across the diamond from his normal position, grabbed the ball, and shoveled the ball to Jorge Posada, who tagged out Giambi. This ridiculous play saved the run and preserved the lead. The Yankees won the game and the series but it would have never happened if Jeter had not saved the run. Many people still are shocked how Jeter was in the perfect position to save the run and the season.
July 9th 2011: His 3000th hit
In 2011 Jeter did not have a great year compared to his past years. Midway though the year, Jeter suffered a calf injury that lengthened the wait of his 3000th hit. People questioned if his best days were behind him, but Jeter came back off the DL looking better than ever and was poised to get hit number 3000. On July 9th, The Yankees were at home vs The Rays. Jeter was sitting on 2998 hits when he led off the first inning. He hit a hard ground ball through the hole for number 2999 and the crowd became excited. Later in the game down 1-0 Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate again against Rays ace David Price. He worked the count full and on the 3-2 pitch Jeter launched a ball over the fence for his 3000th hit. Jeter became the second player to hit a home run for his 3000th hit (Wade Boggs), and the first Yankee ever to achieve the 3000 hit clip. This was more than just a stat for many Yankee fans. Derek Jeter's 3000th hit represented the culmination of 15 years of hard work, bringing five titles and reviving baseball in The Bronx. For him to do it at home and finishing the day 5-5 with the game winning RBI showed that Jeter's desire for the team to win outweighed an individual achievement, which is what matters most.
October 31st 2001: World Series Walkoff:
When the World Series began, many New Yorkers were still recovering from the tragedy that was September 11th, 2001. The Yankees 2001 postseason run was able to ease some of the pain that many were feeling, so when they reached the World Series, the city could not be happier. The Yankees fell behind early in the series to The Arizona Diamondbacks, who had two great pitchers; Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.The Yankees trailed in the series 2-1 and faced Curt Schilling and a potentially 3-1 World Series deficit. The Yankees trailed most of the game until with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth when Tino Martinez hit a two run homer to tie the game at three. Yankee Stadium was the loudest it had ever been and they knew their World Series chances were alive and well. Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate in extra innings as the clock struck midnight. For the first time ever Major League Baseball was being played in November. Jeter continued his at bat and lined a pitch down the right field line. The ball just barely got over the fence and secured a Yankees 4-3 victory. The crowd went wild as the newly dubbed "Mr. November" rounded the bases. not only had he won the game, he had restored faith in the city that no matter how hard times got, New York would keep fighting, which was even more important than the game itself.
As you can see, Derek Jeter is more than a shortstop. He is more than a 13-time all star, 5 time gold glove winner and 5 time world champion. He is a leader on and off the field and a great ambassador for the game of baseball. Though he will be greatly missed after this year, it is important that we remember all the great things he has done.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
The Road Ends Here
This weekend there are two great championship games on to decide who will play for the Lombardi Trophy.The Broncos will host The Patriots and The Seahawks will host the 49ers.
AFC Championship Game: Patriots vs Broncos Sunday 3:30 PM
Overview: This will be the fifteenth meeting between Brady and Manning (Brady leads 10-4, 2-1 in the playoffs). the Broncos have home field advantage after the win against the Chargers While The patriots come into the game after a win against the Colts. New England defeated Denver 34-31 in overtime in Week 12.
Running Game Advantage: Patriots
Last week, the Patriots rushed for 234 yards against the Colts defense. Legarrette Blount rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns. The Patriots not only have Blount, the power back, but they also have two speed backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen who both have performed well in the playoffs in years past. The Broncos counter with Knowshon Moreno, a talented back with big play ability. he rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown last week in a win against San Diego. Denver has been running the ball often and effectively in the past few weeks. It will be necessary for them to be effective in the cold weather where it will be harder to pass the ball.
Passing Game Advantage: Broncos
Peyton Manning has broken many records along the way to this game with his talented receiving core. He threw 55 touchdowns this year to a myriad of talented receivers such as Demaryious Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, and Julius Thomas. They kill teams by running well designed plays where every receiver is a viable option. While Brady is a future hall of famer, He has not looked as sharp of late. He has not thrown over 200 yards in the past three weeks against average secondaries. Also, he has not had a consistent target all year that has been healthy and productive besides Julian Edelman. Though saying this, TOm Brady is still Tom Brady and can hurt any defense. Look for the Patriots to establish the run early and throw out of play action later.
Defensive Advantage: Patriots
The Patriots have a lot of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, but still are very strong. Their two corner backs, Aqib Talib and Alfonzo Dennard are two very good, lock down corners. They will have two hold down the Broncos outside threats to win. The secondary picked off Andrew Luck four times in last weeks win. Luck had only previously thrown nine picks all season. Manning arguably had his worst game of the season (19-36 150 yards 2 TDs 1 INT), so it will be interesting to see how he performs at home this time. The Broncos team has a great rush defense, but their pass defense has been susceptible to giving up a lot of yards against good teams. Brady threw for 344 yards against them in the regular season and is poised to do it again.
Prediction: Patriots 38-35
New England has played in a ton of close games this year and has been tested more. New England looked very sharp both last week and when they played Denver at home in Week 12. If Lagerrette Blount can hold onto the ball and control the clock, this will open the door for Brady to find mismatches in the secondary. Manning will definitely be formidable at home with healthy weapons, but in the end, I don't think his defense is as good as Brady's which is why I believe it will come down to a final drive where Manning is picked off and falls to 10-12 in the playoffs and 4-11 against Brady.
NFC Championship Game: 49ers vs. Seahawks Sunday 6:30 PM
Running Game Advantage: Even
This game features two very tough running backs; Marshawn Lynch and Frank Gore. Lynch rushed for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns last week against the Saints. He is one of the toughest backs to bring down at first contact, so he gets lots of extra yards just by keeping his legs moving. He averaged 85 yards per game vs San Francisco's tough rush defense this year. Gore has rushed for 153 yards this postseason against Green bay and Carolina. Both teams have mobile quarterbacks as well. While Russel Wilson is classified more as a pocket passer, he can run effectively too. Colin Kaepernick has been notoriously known for tearing up defenses with his legs when he gets out of the pocket. His rush attempts have been limited this year to prolong his career, but in a game of this magnitude he should be able to cut loose and run.
Passing Game Advantage: Seahawks
Russell Wilson is not the flashiest passer around, but he is very effective. He completed 63% of his passes during the regular season and threw 26 touchdowns. The Seahawks rely heavily on their run game and work around that, which is why Wilson averages the lowest amount of attempts per game (25.8). Even last week against New Orleans he threw for 108 on nine completions (18 attempts 50% completion). this stats might not look great on paper, but he managed the game well and made a huge play to Doug Baldwin which put his team in position to score and win. Kaepernick can be a very streaky passer as well. He can throw the ball extremely well at times to his various big -time targets, but other times he can be very inaccurate. He has only completed 53% of his passes this postseason. He also had 14 turnovers in the regular season which won't be good against Seattle's ball hawking secondary. In his two meetings against Seattle he has completed a mere 49% of his passes and thrown four interceptions to only one touchdown. The crowd will be into it as well, so this game could be a tough game for Kaeperncik passing-wise.
Defensive Advantage: Even
While the Seahawks are well known for having the best secondary in the league, the 49ers defense has one of the top front sevens in the league. The 49ers allowed only 95.9 rushing yards per game while Seattle allowed only 172 passing yards per game. Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are poised to contain Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis and control the "big play". Linebackers like Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman along with Justin and Aldon Smith look to bottle up Marshawn Lynch and force Wilson to pass. I don't think you will find two evenly matched defenses anywhere else.
Prediction: Seahawks 23-17
The crowd will play a huge role in this game. If Seattle is able to contain Kaepernick and Gore, they will force the 49ers to throw the ball which is where San Francisco is prone to mistakes. In the end, I believe Seattle has more big plays in them and they will pull off the win.
AFC Championship Game: Patriots vs Broncos Sunday 3:30 PM
Overview: This will be the fifteenth meeting between Brady and Manning (Brady leads 10-4, 2-1 in the playoffs). the Broncos have home field advantage after the win against the Chargers While The patriots come into the game after a win against the Colts. New England defeated Denver 34-31 in overtime in Week 12.
Running Game Advantage: Patriots
Last week, the Patriots rushed for 234 yards against the Colts defense. Legarrette Blount rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns. The Patriots not only have Blount, the power back, but they also have two speed backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen who both have performed well in the playoffs in years past. The Broncos counter with Knowshon Moreno, a talented back with big play ability. he rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown last week in a win against San Diego. Denver has been running the ball often and effectively in the past few weeks. It will be necessary for them to be effective in the cold weather where it will be harder to pass the ball.
Passing Game Advantage: Broncos
Peyton Manning has broken many records along the way to this game with his talented receiving core. He threw 55 touchdowns this year to a myriad of talented receivers such as Demaryious Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, and Julius Thomas. They kill teams by running well designed plays where every receiver is a viable option. While Brady is a future hall of famer, He has not looked as sharp of late. He has not thrown over 200 yards in the past three weeks against average secondaries. Also, he has not had a consistent target all year that has been healthy and productive besides Julian Edelman. Though saying this, TOm Brady is still Tom Brady and can hurt any defense. Look for the Patriots to establish the run early and throw out of play action later.
Defensive Advantage: Patriots
The Patriots have a lot of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, but still are very strong. Their two corner backs, Aqib Talib and Alfonzo Dennard are two very good, lock down corners. They will have two hold down the Broncos outside threats to win. The secondary picked off Andrew Luck four times in last weeks win. Luck had only previously thrown nine picks all season. Manning arguably had his worst game of the season (19-36 150 yards 2 TDs 1 INT), so it will be interesting to see how he performs at home this time. The Broncos team has a great rush defense, but their pass defense has been susceptible to giving up a lot of yards against good teams. Brady threw for 344 yards against them in the regular season and is poised to do it again.
Prediction: Patriots 38-35
New England has played in a ton of close games this year and has been tested more. New England looked very sharp both last week and when they played Denver at home in Week 12. If Lagerrette Blount can hold onto the ball and control the clock, this will open the door for Brady to find mismatches in the secondary. Manning will definitely be formidable at home with healthy weapons, but in the end, I don't think his defense is as good as Brady's which is why I believe it will come down to a final drive where Manning is picked off and falls to 10-12 in the playoffs and 4-11 against Brady.
NFC Championship Game: 49ers vs. Seahawks Sunday 6:30 PM
Running Game Advantage: Even
This game features two very tough running backs; Marshawn Lynch and Frank Gore. Lynch rushed for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns last week against the Saints. He is one of the toughest backs to bring down at first contact, so he gets lots of extra yards just by keeping his legs moving. He averaged 85 yards per game vs San Francisco's tough rush defense this year. Gore has rushed for 153 yards this postseason against Green bay and Carolina. Both teams have mobile quarterbacks as well. While Russel Wilson is classified more as a pocket passer, he can run effectively too. Colin Kaepernick has been notoriously known for tearing up defenses with his legs when he gets out of the pocket. His rush attempts have been limited this year to prolong his career, but in a game of this magnitude he should be able to cut loose and run.
Passing Game Advantage: Seahawks
Russell Wilson is not the flashiest passer around, but he is very effective. He completed 63% of his passes during the regular season and threw 26 touchdowns. The Seahawks rely heavily on their run game and work around that, which is why Wilson averages the lowest amount of attempts per game (25.8). Even last week against New Orleans he threw for 108 on nine completions (18 attempts 50% completion). this stats might not look great on paper, but he managed the game well and made a huge play to Doug Baldwin which put his team in position to score and win. Kaepernick can be a very streaky passer as well. He can throw the ball extremely well at times to his various big -time targets, but other times he can be very inaccurate. He has only completed 53% of his passes this postseason. He also had 14 turnovers in the regular season which won't be good against Seattle's ball hawking secondary. In his two meetings against Seattle he has completed a mere 49% of his passes and thrown four interceptions to only one touchdown. The crowd will be into it as well, so this game could be a tough game for Kaeperncik passing-wise.
Defensive Advantage: Even
While the Seahawks are well known for having the best secondary in the league, the 49ers defense has one of the top front sevens in the league. The 49ers allowed only 95.9 rushing yards per game while Seattle allowed only 172 passing yards per game. Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are poised to contain Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis and control the "big play". Linebackers like Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman along with Justin and Aldon Smith look to bottle up Marshawn Lynch and force Wilson to pass. I don't think you will find two evenly matched defenses anywhere else.
Prediction: Seahawks 23-17
The crowd will play a huge role in this game. If Seattle is able to contain Kaepernick and Gore, they will force the 49ers to throw the ball which is where San Francisco is prone to mistakes. In the end, I believe Seattle has more big plays in them and they will pull off the win.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
A Year in Review
This year in college football was a great one. It was exciting from start to finish and it is safe to say that every week brought new surprises and moments that had every fan on the edge of their seat. Here are my five top games of the 2013-2014 season.
5) Penn State: 43 Michigan: 40 October 12th
This game was a will go down as a great victory in Penn State history. With all the adversity the Nittany Lions faced throughout the past few years, it was good to see them have a statement win against a big time program.The game started out fast with both teams scoring left and right. Michigan, the favorite to win the game, suffered from early turnovers and over 100,000 Penn State fans making it hard to even hear the snap count. The lead was 21-10 Penn State at halftime, but Michigan had several quick, momentum swinging scores in the second half and led 34-27 with under a minute to go. Christian Hackenberg began to drive down the field and completed a hail mary to Allen Robinson on the one with less than thirty seconds left. Hackenberg then scored to send the game to overtime. In OT Penn State failed to score but blocked Michigan’s field goal attempt. In OT #2 the teams traded field goal. In OT #3 Penn State fumbled, but Brandon Gibbons missed a 37 yard kick that would've won the game. He redeemed himself in OT #4 with a field goal. Penn State then got the ball and rather than going for the tie on fourth-and-one Penn State went for it. Later on the drive, Bill Belton punched it in from two yards out to seal a miraculous win for Penn State. This game solidified how good Bill O'brien was as well as how good his depleted team could play when the stakes are high. Overall, it was a great game and a great way to start off the countdown.
4) Clemson: 40 Ohio State: 35 January 3rd Orange Bowl
This game was an explosion of offense. The game showcased two great dual threat quarterbacks, Braxton Miller and Taj Boyd. The game was played just as expected with lots of scoring right from the beginning on long plays. Taj Boyd scored on a 48 yard run but Braxton came right back with a 33 yard touchdown run. Just before the half, with the Tigers up 14-9 Boyd rolled out and tried to float one into the end zone for six, but he was picked off of an amazing one handed catch which kept Clemson at bay at the time. Ohio State trailed 21-9 early in the third quarter but scored 20 unanswered points to go up 29-20 The two teams exchanged touchdowns after that and Ohio State held a 35-34 lead. Clemson then scored to make it 40-35 but it was up to the defense and they stepped up to the plate. They picked off a wounded Braxton Milller twice to secure an Orange Bowl victory. This back and forth contest showcased some future NFL talent. Sammy Watkins won the MVP with 17 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns. While some other bowl games were very low scoring methodical game. This prime time showdown had a ton of speedy offenses and brutal defenses which pounded opposing backs all night. Everyone who viewed this game saw just how talented every player was and how poised each team was after watching the opposing team score time after time. This Orange Bowl will go down as one of the best.
3) Ohio State: 42 Michigan: 41 November 30th
This game has been a rivalry for many years, but this one was special. Ohio State had come into the game at 11-0 while Michigan had stumbled in at 7-4, but a big win at home would have changed the outlook of the whole season for the wolverines. Experts thought there was no way that Michigan could keep up with The Buckeyes high octane offense. Both teams came out firing to start and the teams kept up with each other through the first thirty minutes, as the score was tied 21-21 at half time. The was a fight that broke out mid game which showed just how much the game meant to both teams which led to several ejections. In the third quarter, The Buckeyes scored 14 points which Michigan got right back in the fourth. Tied at 35-35 Ohio State jumped on the back of Carlos Hyde. He totaled 226 rushing yards throughout the whole game, but the most important yard was with under three minutes left, when he scored to give Ohio State a seven point lead. Michigan drove down the field once again and Devin Gardner (451 yards 4 TDs in the game) connected with Devin Funchess for a two yard score. Following the score, Brady Hoke elected to go for two points and the win rather than going to overtime. Devin Gardner was intercepted on the two point conversion which sealed Michigan's fate. Though the upset was not completed, the game was truly something special. The two rivals combined for 1029 offensive yards, 54 first downs, 12 touchdowns and 83 points. The number s were completely insane and the fact that this rivalry is so well documented made this game even more phenomenal.
2) Auburn: 34 Alabama: 28 November 30th Iron Bowl
This rivalry is always a good one, but when the teams are ranked #1 and #4 in the country, the game is just that much more important. There was a ton riding on this game, a possible Heisman trophy, a spot in the SEC Championship and a trip to the National Championship were all on the line. As one would suspect, this game was very well coached. The first quarter only amassed seven points (an Auburn 45 yard touchdown) as both defenses looked strong. As the second quarter began, Alabama began to kick it into second gear. they scored 21 unanswered points and controlled most of the clock. Tre Mason did score to make it 21-14 going into halftime, setting up a second half for the ages. The third quarter mirrored the first quarter as Auburn scored one touchdown which was the only score of the quarter.Nick Marshall did not pass often, but was effective when he did. He connected with C.J. Uzomah for a score that tied the game at 21 going into the fourth. AJ McCarron threw a 99 yard touchdown with Amari Cooper to give the Tide a lead. The score looked to be AJ McCarron's "heisman moment" and looked like it was going to clinch the Tide a victory. The Tigers got one last chance to score, but started their drive with a series of inside runs which confused many. Finally, Marshall pulled the ball back and threw to Sammie Coates who raced to the end zone to tie the game with 32 seconds left. Alabama got the ball and drove through Auurns prevent defense to the 40 yard line which set up a last-second, 57 yard field goal attempt. As the whole state of Alabama held its breath, cade Foster kicked the ball short of the upright which allowed Chris Davis to catch the ball and return it from the back of the endzone. He sprinted past all of Alabama's players into the end zone as time expired. it was considered the most wild finish to a game ever and the fact that a national championship bid and bragging rights to a rivalry game only made the contest that much better.
1) Florida State: 34 Auburn: 31 January 6th BCS National Championship
Many would argue that this years Iron Bowl was a better game, but the fact that this was the National Championship makes it number one. this game pitted two potent offense and strong defenses against each other. Florida State was led by Heisman winner Jameis Winston and a relentless offensive attack. auburn was the king of the comeback with a great rushing attack from Tre Mason and Nick Marshall. The Seminoles were the favorite and Florida State did strike first with a field goal, but Auburn then scored 21 unanswered points and dominated The Seminoles in the process. Jameis was sacked often and was only 5/12 on his first 12 attempts. It looked to be a potential Auburn rout until Florida State scored right before the half to make it 21-10 at the half. Florida State rode their momentum into the second half. they scored 10 straight to cut the lead to one. Auburn than tacked on three more points to make it 24-20. with around four minutes left, many thought this would be Florida State's last chance to win, but the kickoff was returned 100 yards by Levonte Whitfield to give The Seminoles the lead. Auburn came storming back and returned to their usual self on offense and marched down the field. Tre Mason, Heisman finalist, punished the Seminoles defense the whole drive and finished with a 37 yard rumble into the end zone. He finished with 195 yards, the second most rushing yards in a BCS National Championship. Now it was time to see if Winston had one final drive left in him. The drive started with short completions that brought them close to midfield. Jameis Winston then completed a pass to Rashad Greene for four yards, but Greene broke a few tackles and raced inside Auburn territory. With under a minute to play Winston continued the drive in the red zone down to the 2 yard line. With just thirteen seconds left, Winston lobbed a ball to Kelvin Benjamin who hauled it in and gave The Florida State the final lead. The defense held on and Florida State won 34-31. This game was fantastic from start to finish and capped off what was a fantastic season. The showcase of talent was unreal and the game was no short of excellent.
5) Penn State: 43 Michigan: 40 October 12th
This game was a will go down as a great victory in Penn State history. With all the adversity the Nittany Lions faced throughout the past few years, it was good to see them have a statement win against a big time program.The game started out fast with both teams scoring left and right. Michigan, the favorite to win the game, suffered from early turnovers and over 100,000 Penn State fans making it hard to even hear the snap count. The lead was 21-10 Penn State at halftime, but Michigan had several quick, momentum swinging scores in the second half and led 34-27 with under a minute to go. Christian Hackenberg began to drive down the field and completed a hail mary to Allen Robinson on the one with less than thirty seconds left. Hackenberg then scored to send the game to overtime. In OT Penn State failed to score but blocked Michigan’s field goal attempt. In OT #2 the teams traded field goal. In OT #3 Penn State fumbled, but Brandon Gibbons missed a 37 yard kick that would've won the game. He redeemed himself in OT #4 with a field goal. Penn State then got the ball and rather than going for the tie on fourth-and-one Penn State went for it. Later on the drive, Bill Belton punched it in from two yards out to seal a miraculous win for Penn State. This game solidified how good Bill O'brien was as well as how good his depleted team could play when the stakes are high. Overall, it was a great game and a great way to start off the countdown.
4) Clemson: 40 Ohio State: 35 January 3rd Orange Bowl
This game was an explosion of offense. The game showcased two great dual threat quarterbacks, Braxton Miller and Taj Boyd. The game was played just as expected with lots of scoring right from the beginning on long plays. Taj Boyd scored on a 48 yard run but Braxton came right back with a 33 yard touchdown run. Just before the half, with the Tigers up 14-9 Boyd rolled out and tried to float one into the end zone for six, but he was picked off of an amazing one handed catch which kept Clemson at bay at the time. Ohio State trailed 21-9 early in the third quarter but scored 20 unanswered points to go up 29-20 The two teams exchanged touchdowns after that and Ohio State held a 35-34 lead. Clemson then scored to make it 40-35 but it was up to the defense and they stepped up to the plate. They picked off a wounded Braxton Milller twice to secure an Orange Bowl victory. This back and forth contest showcased some future NFL talent. Sammy Watkins won the MVP with 17 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns. While some other bowl games were very low scoring methodical game. This prime time showdown had a ton of speedy offenses and brutal defenses which pounded opposing backs all night. Everyone who viewed this game saw just how talented every player was and how poised each team was after watching the opposing team score time after time. This Orange Bowl will go down as one of the best.
3) Ohio State: 42 Michigan: 41 November 30th
This game has been a rivalry for many years, but this one was special. Ohio State had come into the game at 11-0 while Michigan had stumbled in at 7-4, but a big win at home would have changed the outlook of the whole season for the wolverines. Experts thought there was no way that Michigan could keep up with The Buckeyes high octane offense. Both teams came out firing to start and the teams kept up with each other through the first thirty minutes, as the score was tied 21-21 at half time. The was a fight that broke out mid game which showed just how much the game meant to both teams which led to several ejections. In the third quarter, The Buckeyes scored 14 points which Michigan got right back in the fourth. Tied at 35-35 Ohio State jumped on the back of Carlos Hyde. He totaled 226 rushing yards throughout the whole game, but the most important yard was with under three minutes left, when he scored to give Ohio State a seven point lead. Michigan drove down the field once again and Devin Gardner (451 yards 4 TDs in the game) connected with Devin Funchess for a two yard score. Following the score, Brady Hoke elected to go for two points and the win rather than going to overtime. Devin Gardner was intercepted on the two point conversion which sealed Michigan's fate. Though the upset was not completed, the game was truly something special. The two rivals combined for 1029 offensive yards, 54 first downs, 12 touchdowns and 83 points. The number s were completely insane and the fact that this rivalry is so well documented made this game even more phenomenal.
2) Auburn: 34 Alabama: 28 November 30th Iron Bowl
This rivalry is always a good one, but when the teams are ranked #1 and #4 in the country, the game is just that much more important. There was a ton riding on this game, a possible Heisman trophy, a spot in the SEC Championship and a trip to the National Championship were all on the line. As one would suspect, this game was very well coached. The first quarter only amassed seven points (an Auburn 45 yard touchdown) as both defenses looked strong. As the second quarter began, Alabama began to kick it into second gear. they scored 21 unanswered points and controlled most of the clock. Tre Mason did score to make it 21-14 going into halftime, setting up a second half for the ages. The third quarter mirrored the first quarter as Auburn scored one touchdown which was the only score of the quarter.Nick Marshall did not pass often, but was effective when he did. He connected with C.J. Uzomah for a score that tied the game at 21 going into the fourth. AJ McCarron threw a 99 yard touchdown with Amari Cooper to give the Tide a lead. The score looked to be AJ McCarron's "heisman moment" and looked like it was going to clinch the Tide a victory. The Tigers got one last chance to score, but started their drive with a series of inside runs which confused many. Finally, Marshall pulled the ball back and threw to Sammie Coates who raced to the end zone to tie the game with 32 seconds left. Alabama got the ball and drove through Auurns prevent defense to the 40 yard line which set up a last-second, 57 yard field goal attempt. As the whole state of Alabama held its breath, cade Foster kicked the ball short of the upright which allowed Chris Davis to catch the ball and return it from the back of the endzone. He sprinted past all of Alabama's players into the end zone as time expired. it was considered the most wild finish to a game ever and the fact that a national championship bid and bragging rights to a rivalry game only made the contest that much better.
1) Florida State: 34 Auburn: 31 January 6th BCS National Championship
Many would argue that this years Iron Bowl was a better game, but the fact that this was the National Championship makes it number one. this game pitted two potent offense and strong defenses against each other. Florida State was led by Heisman winner Jameis Winston and a relentless offensive attack. auburn was the king of the comeback with a great rushing attack from Tre Mason and Nick Marshall. The Seminoles were the favorite and Florida State did strike first with a field goal, but Auburn then scored 21 unanswered points and dominated The Seminoles in the process. Jameis was sacked often and was only 5/12 on his first 12 attempts. It looked to be a potential Auburn rout until Florida State scored right before the half to make it 21-10 at the half. Florida State rode their momentum into the second half. they scored 10 straight to cut the lead to one. Auburn than tacked on three more points to make it 24-20. with around four minutes left, many thought this would be Florida State's last chance to win, but the kickoff was returned 100 yards by Levonte Whitfield to give The Seminoles the lead. Auburn came storming back and returned to their usual self on offense and marched down the field. Tre Mason, Heisman finalist, punished the Seminoles defense the whole drive and finished with a 37 yard rumble into the end zone. He finished with 195 yards, the second most rushing yards in a BCS National Championship. Now it was time to see if Winston had one final drive left in him. The drive started with short completions that brought them close to midfield. Jameis Winston then completed a pass to Rashad Greene for four yards, but Greene broke a few tackles and raced inside Auburn territory. With under a minute to play Winston continued the drive in the red zone down to the 2 yard line. With just thirteen seconds left, Winston lobbed a ball to Kelvin Benjamin who hauled it in and gave The Florida State the final lead. The defense held on and Florida State won 34-31. This game was fantastic from start to finish and capped off what was a fantastic season. The showcase of talent was unreal and the game was no short of excellent.
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