NFL FOOTBALL - 2008
14/09/08 - San Diego Chargers (38) @ (39) Denver Broncos - The Broncos stunned the Chargers with a tieing TD with 24 seconds left and then converted the winning 2 point play to register a big win. Both teams put up a lot of offense with the Broncos WR Brandon Marshall (18-166-1) setting a team record for catches and Chargers RB Darren Sproles (7-53-0 + 2-72-1) putting up 317 all-purpose yards inc. a 103 yard kick-off return TD and a 66 yard TD catch. But the final decisive play came from Broncos QB Jay Cutler (36-50-350-4) who led Denver 80 yards in the final 4 minutes to the sensational finish and the win (10, 2 Discs, CBS - Enberg/Cross, NTSC)
15/09/08 - Philadelphia Eagles (37) @ (41) Dallas Cowboys - In the final Monday Night football game at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys used a big game from QB Tony Romo (21-30-312-3) and WR's Jason Witten (7-110-0) and Terrell Owens (3-89-2) to beat the equally impressive Eagles. In the 1st half, the Cowboys scored on a 72 yard TD pass and a 98 yard kick-off return TD as the teams combined for 54 points. The 2nd half was slower and Dallas needed 2 TD's in the final 10 minutes to win the game. The Eagles were led by QB Donovan McNabb (25-37-281-1) and rookie WR DeSean Jackson (6-110-0) who should have scored on a 61 yard TD but dropped the ball in celebration before crossing the goal-line (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
21/09/08 - Miami Dolphins (38) @ (13) New England Patriots - The Dolphins stunned the Patriots, ending the Pats 21 game regular season win streak and recording the first win for new Head Coach Tony Sparano. The Dolphins were unconventional, using RB Ronnie Brown (17-113-4 + 1 TD pass) to confuse the Pats defense as he lined up at QB, running in 4 TD's and passing for 1 TD. Regular QB Chad Pennington (17-20-226-0) had a good game while his opposite number Matt Cassel (19-31-131-1) struggled (10, 2 Discs, CBS - Eagle/Wilcots, PAL)
22/09/08 - New York Jets (29) @ (48) San Diego Chargers - The Chargers finally got their season on track with a big win over the Jets, using a 31-14 half-time lead to see out the game. Chargers QB Phillip Rivers (19-25-250-3) and RB LaDainian Tomlinson (26-67-2) had good games while Jets QB Brett Favre (30-42-271-3) also had a good game in defeat (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
28/09/08 - Arizona Cardinals (35) @ (56) New York Jets - In a shoot-out, Jets QB Brett Favre (24-34-289-6) had a record-setting day against the Cardinals. Favre tied a team record with 6 TD passes, with 3 to WR Laveranues Coles (8-105-3). The Jets took control of the game with a 34 point 2nd quarter before the Cardinals, led by QB Kurt Warner (40-57-472-2) started a 2nd half fightback. But the Jets held firm and closed out the game with 22 points in the final quarter. The Cardinals also featured WR's Steve Breaston (9-122-0), Anquan Boldin (10-119-1) and Larry Fitzgerald (8-122-0). The Jets wore throwback jerseys (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Stockton/Billick/Baldinger, NTSC)
06/10/08 - Minnesota Vikings (30) @ (27) New Orleans Saints - Despite a record setting day from RB Reggie Bush, the Saints fell to the Vikings on a 30 yard FG with 13 seconds left. Bush returned 2 punts for TD's (71 yds and 64 yds) but was thwarted by the play of Vikings QB Gus Frerotte (19-36-222-1). Saints QB Drew Brees (26-46-330-1) had a good game in defeat but the team was done in by 4 turnovers and 11 penalties (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
12/10/08 - Dallas Cowboys (24) @ (30) Arizona Cardinals - A wild game in Glendale was won in Overtime by the Cardinals on a blocked punt. The Cardinals started the quickest against their old nemesis as they returned the opening kick-off 93 yards for a TD but couldn't build on it as the Cowboys scored 10 points in the 4th quarter to force the overtime, including a 52 yard FG as time expired. The Cowboys couldn't move the ball and set up to punt but the Cardinals blocked the kick and returned it 3 yards for the winning score. The Cowboys were led by QB Tony Romo (24-38-321-3 inc. TD passes of 55 and 70 yards) while the Cardinals were led by QB Kurt Warner (22-30-236-2) (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Stockton/Aikman/Oliver, NTSC)
13/10/08 - New York Giants (14) @ (35) Cleveland Browns - The Browns shocked the unbeaten Giants on Monday Night Football, ended the Giants 11 game road win streak. Cleveland QB Derek Anderson (18-29-310-2) had a big game with WR Braylon Edwards (5-154-1) his main target. The Defense chipped in aswell with a 94 yard interception return for a TD by Eric Wright. Giants QB Eli Manning (18-28-196-1) contributed to the off-night with 3 interceptions (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
26/10/08 - San Diego Chargers (32) v (37) New Orleans Saints - In the 2nd NFL regular season game to played in London, the Saints held on at the death to thwart a Chargers comeback. The hero for the Saints was QB Drew Brees (30-41-339-3) who was playing against his old team for the first time. The Saints took a 30-17 lead early in the 3rd quarter before Chargers QB Philip Rivers (25-40-341-3) started throwing the ball more and led the team to within a TD before throwing an interception in the last minute that effectively ended their chances. The Chargers did get one last chance at a "Hail Mary" on the last play but it was batted away and the Saints celebrated the win (10, 3 Discs, CBS - Nantz/Simms, PAL)
10/11/08 - San Francisco 49ers (24) @ (29) Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals won their first Monday Night Football game in 6 attempts, holding the 49ers out of the end-zone on a last play goal-line stand from the 2 yard line. The heroes for Arizona were QB Kurt Warner (32-42-328-3) and a defense that forced 3 turnovers in the 2nd half, with 1 interception setting up the game winning TD. 49ers RB Frank Gore (23-99-0) had a good game in defeat (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
13/11/08 - New York Jets (34) @ (31) New England Patriots - The Jets took sole possession of the AFC East division with an Overtime win over their nemesis, the Patriots. The Jets took a 1st half lead of 24-6 on the arm of QB Brett Favre (26-33-258-2) and a 92 yard kick-off return TD from Leon Washington. But the Patriots fought back as QB Matt Cassel (30-51-400-3) threw 2 TD passes in the 2nd half and sent the game into overtime with a 16 yard TD pass to WR Randy Moss (3-26-1) with 1 second left. The Jets composed themselves in OT and finished the job with a game winning 34 yard FG from Jay Feely. The Jets also featured RB Thomas Jones (30-104-1). The Patriots also featured WR's Wes Welker (7-108-0) and Benjamin Watson (8-88-1) (10, 2 Discs, NFL Network - Papa/Collinsworth, NTSC)
16/11/08 - Denver Broncos (34) @ (30) Cleveland Browns - The Broncos stunned the Browns with a big 4th quarter comeback that ruined the 1st NFL start for Browns QB Brady Quinn. The Bronscos were down 23-13 as the final quarter started but QB Jay Cutler (24-42-447-3) threw 3 TD passes, the last with 1:14 left, to stun the home crowd. The 447 passing yards were a career high for Cutler and included a 93 yard TD pass to WR Eddie Royal (6-164-1). Browns QB Brady Quinn (23-35-239-2) had a big game on his debut with WR Kellen Winslow Jr. (10-111-2) his favourite target (10, 2 Discs, NFL Network - Papa/Collinsworth, NTSC)
17/11/08 - Cleveland Browns (29) @ (27) Buffalo Bills - With each team trying to save it's season, it was the Browns that took the win by surviving a 47 yard FG attempt in the last minute by the Bills that went wide. The Browns took the lead with a career long 56 yard FG by kicker Phil Dawson with 1:39 left, set-up by a drive from QB Brady Quinn (14-36-185-0) making his 1st career road start in only his 2nd start. The Browns also featured RB's Jamal Lewis (18-65-0) and Jerome Harrison (3-80-1 inc. 72 yard TD run). The Bills featured QB Trent Edwards (16-26-148-1) and RB Marshawn Lynch (23-119-0) (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
24/11/08 - Green Bay Packers (29) @ (51) New Orleans Saints - In their first home game in 6 games, the Saints used a big 2nd half to finally beat the Packers. After a 1st half shootout that saw the Saints QB Drew Brees (20-26-323-4) and the Packers Aaron Rodgers (23-41-248-2) go toe-to-toe, the 2nd half belonged to the Saints as they out-scored the Packers 27-8. The Saints also featured RB Pierre Thomas (15-87-2) and WR Lance Moore (5-115-2) but were missing RB Reggie Bush due to injury. The Packers also featured RB Ryan Grant (18-67-0) and WR Greg Jennings (8-101-1) (10, 2010 Re-Broadcast with no half-time or commercials, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
30/11/08 - Chicago Bears (14) @ (34) Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings beat their NFC North rivals, blowing them out after a close first half. The turning point was a late 2nd Quarter goal-line stand by the Vikings defense that stopped the Bears on 4 straight plays from the 1 yard line. The Vikings Offense then stunned the Bears as QB Gus Frerotte (16-25-210-1) threw a 99 yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian (4-122-1), the longest play in Minnesota history. The play knocked the stuffing out of the Bears who then conceded 21 points in the 2nd half to lose the game. The Bears were led by QB Kyle Orton (11-29-153-2) and RB Matt Forte (22-96-0). The Vikings also featured RB Adrian Peterson (28-131-1) (10, 2 Discs, NBC - Michaels/Madden/Kremer, PAL)
01/12/08 - Jacksonville Jaguars (17) @ (30) Houston Texans - The first ever Monday Night Football game in Texans history ended just as they hoped, with a big win. The Texans, dressed in all-Red, went in 10-0 at the half and rookie RB Steve Slaton (21-130-2) closed out the win with 2 TD runs in the 4th Quarter that halted a short Jaguars comeback. The Texans were led on Offense by QB Sage Rosenfels (14-24-200-1) and on Defense by DL Mario Williams (5 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 fumble). The Jaguars were led by QB David Garrard (25-35-287-1) and WR Matt Jones (8-104-0) (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
20/12/08 - Baltimore Ravens (33) @ (24) Dallas Cowboys - In the last NFL game at Texas Stadium, the Ravens spoiled the party by holding off a Cowboys comeback in the 4th quarter. The Ravens sealed the win with 2 runs of over 75 yards in the 4th quarter; the first a 77 yarder by RB Willis McGahee (8-108-1) and the second an 82 yarder by Le'Ron McClain (22-139-1). The Ravens also featured rookie QB Joe Flacco (17-25-149-1). The Cowboys were led by QB Tony Romo (24-45-252-2) (10, 2 Discs, NFL Network - Papa/Sanders/Faulk, NTSC)
21/12/08 - Arizona Cardinals (7) @ (47) New England Patriots - In a snow blizzard in Foxboro, the Patriots scored on 9 of their 10 possessions to beat the NFC West champions. The Patriots defense held Cardinals QB Kurt Warner (6-18-30-0) to a career low 30 yards and restricted the Cardinals offense to 186 total yards. The Patriots offense was led by QB Matt Cassel (20-36-345-3) and he had help from RB Sammy Morris (15-88-0) and WR's Jabbar Gaffney (5-90-0), Randy Moss (2-87-1 inc. 76 yard TD catch) and Wes Welker (7-68-1) who drew a flag in the 2nd quarter when he performed a "Snow Angel" in the end-zone after scoring a TD (10, 2 Discs, FOX - Alberts/Johnston/Siragusa, NTSC)
21/12/08 - Carolina Panthers (28) @ (34) New York Giants - In the battle for the NFC's #1 seed in the playoffs, the Giants re-discovered their Superbowl-Champion mentality by beating the Panthers in Overtime in chilly Giants Stadium. The Giants used a total of 301 yards rushing with Derrick Ward (15-215-0) and Brandon Jacobs (24-87-3) doing the damage. The Panthers started strong, scoring on their first 3 possesions with RB DeAngelo Williams (24-108-4) having a big game before the Giants running game started to click. The Giants held the Panthers to only 7 points in the 2nd half and then forced overtime with a 1 yard run and 2 point conversion with 3 minutes remaining. Both Giants QB Eli Manning (17-27-181-0) and Panthers QB Jake Delhomme (11-19-185-0) had quiet games, struggling in the swirling wind (10, 2 Discs, NBC - Michaels/Madden/Kremer, PAL)
22/12/08 - Green Bay Packers (17) @ (20) Chicago Bears - In the coldest ever game at Soldier Field, the Bears kept alive their playoff chances by beating the old enemy. The Bears were down 14-3 at the half but rallied to tie the game with 3 minutes remaining. The Packers had on last chance to win but a 38 yard FG with 18 seconds left was blocked, forcing Overtime, where the Bears made their own 38 yard FG for the win. The Packers were led by QB Aaron Rodgers (24-39-260-2) while the Bears were led by QB Kyle Orton (14-27-142-1) and RB Matt Forte (23-73-1) (10, 2 Discs, ESPN - Tirico/Jaworski/Kornheiser, PAL)
28/12/08 - Denver Broncos (21) @ (52) San Diego Chargers - The battle for AFC West title went down to the final game and it was the Chargers that seized their chance with a big win over the Broncos. San Diego were up 24-6 at the half and cruised home, sending Denver to their 3rd defeat in a row and knocking them out of the Playoffs. The stars for San Diego were QB Philip Rivers (15-20-207-2), RB's Darren Sproles (14-115-1) and LaDainian Tomlinson (14-96-3) + WR's Chris Chambers (3-50-0) and Antonio Gates (3-49-0). The Broncos were led by QB Jay Cutler (33-49-316-1), RB Tatum Bell (8-86-2) and WR's Eddie Royal (11-76-0) and Brandon Marshall (6-55-0). The loss prompted the firing of Head Coach Mike Shanahan and proved to be the final game for QB Jay Cutler, who was traded to the Bears in the Off-Season (10, 2 Discs, NBC - Michaels/Madden/Kremer, NTSC)
03/01/09 - NFC Wildcard - Atlanta Falcons (14) @ (30) Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals won their 1st Playoff game at home in 61 years, as they used a balanced Offense and a strong Defense to see off the Falcons. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner (19-32-271-2) had a good game with TD passes of 42 and 71 yards while the defense also chipped in with a 27 yard fumble recovery return for a TD. Falcons rookie QB Matt Ryan (26-40-199-2) and RB Michael Turner (18-42-1) had sub-par days, only scoring 7 points in the 2nd half (10, 2 Discs, NBC - Hammond/Collinsworth/Barber, NTSC)
18/01/09 - NFC Championship - Philadelphia Eagles (25) @ (32) Arizona Cardinals - The Cardinals upset the Eagles to reach their 1st ever Superbowl. The Cardinals raced out to a 24-6 lead at the half thanks to QB Kurt Warner (21-28-279-4) and WR Larry Fitzgerald (9-152-3) but then watched the Eagles, led by QB Donovan McNabb (28-47-375-3), mount a huge comeback to take the lead 25-24 early in the 4th quarter. But Warner kept his head and led the Cardinals to the game clinching TD with 3 minutes remaining (10, Discs 1 and 2 are the full game - Disc 3 is the Channel 5 hi-lites of both Championship games, 3 Discs, FOX - Buck/Aikman, NTSC)