Redskins Win NFC East, Vikes Squeeze Into Postseason, Broncos and Pats Get Byes and More

The last week in the NFL was huge as it featured quite a few good games with playoff implications.

The biggest perhaps was the Cowboys vs. the Redskins with the NFC East title on the line and the loser not getting into the postseason. Both sides started out slow and it was tied at 7 heading into the locker room. The 2nd half had more of the Washington's ground game wearing down the Dallas defense. Rookie Alfred Morris managed to run an even 200 yards against the Cowboys and managed 3 rushing TDs. RG3, meanwhile, only had 100 passing yards going 9/18 with 63 rushing yards and a rushing TD.

Dallas fell behind by 11 and managed to cut the lead by 3 with just under 6 minutes left. Tony Romo, however, made a season ending mistake throwing his third interception of the game with this one being picked off by London Fletcher on a dump pass to DeMarco Murray. The Redskins managed to kill the clock down to 1:09 left in regulation and scored the nail-in-the-coffin TD with Morris' third score. Redskins win the NFC East 28-18. Dallas misses the playoffs for a third straight season while Washington gets in with a rookie QB and running back leading the way.

There was also a big game earlier that day involving the Packers and the Vikings. Green Bay was fighting for the #2 seed in the NFC while Minnesota was fighting to just get into the postseason. The Packers knew that Adrian Peterson of the Vikings was going to run on them and they still couldn't stop him. Peterson ran for 199 yards including a 26 yard run to get the Vikings a chip shot field goal for Blair Walsh to win the game 37-34. Peterson, however, still finishes 9 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson single season rushing record. Vikings get into the playoffs as a wild card while the Packers lose the #2 seed with this loss and the 49ers beating the Cardinals 27-13 claiming the bye week for themselves.

Some craziness in the top seeding of the AFC. In an emotional game in which Chuck Pagano made his return to the Colts, Indianapolis beats Houston 28-16. The Broncos and the Patriots both capitalized on the Texans loss winning their respective games. Denver blows out Kansas City 38-3 while New England shuts out Miami 28-0. Broncos get the #1 seed and home field advantage while the Pats grab the #2 seed. Texans are stuck playing in the wild card round of the playoffs as they finished the last 4 games of the season 1-3 after starting 11-1.

As for noteworthy news, the Giants blow out the Eagles 42-7 but are eliminated from playoff contention. Looks like a 9-7 record didn't cut it this year for the G-Men. The Bears win their game 26-24 over the Lions but with the Vikings win they fall just short of the playoffs. Minnesota and Chicago have the same record of 10-6 but the advantage goes to the Vikes who had a better divisional record of 4-2. Last one I'll mention is that the Seahawks beat the Rams 20-13. Not really a significant win with the 49ers claiming the NFC West but Seattle finishes the season undefeated at home with a 8-0 record at CenturyLink Field. Thank goodness nobody has to play them there in the postseason.

A great 2012 regular season ends with a lot of excitement and noticeably 3 rookie quarterbacks leading their teams into the playoffs. Two of them will actually meet in the wild card round of the postseason with the Seahawks traveling to Washington to play the Redskins. It's going to be a good postseason.

P.S. There is also an interesting game on the other NFC wild card game with the Vikings now going to Green Bay to play the Packers. Let's see if the Pack can stop Peterson at home.

P.P.S. Click here for a full recap of the 49ers win over the Cardinals. Be sure to check out the 49ers section at prosportsblogging.com for updates on the team before and after each game.

Thanksgiving Football: Blowouts and an OT

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving day. If not, three football games hopefully took your mind off that fact.

The first one ended up being a close finish. The Texans and the Lions played a back and forth game and then some. Every time that the Lions got in front, the Texans came back. Houston didn't grab the lead until the overtime winning field goal that gave them the win 34-31. Both teams had over 1000 yards of combined offense in this game but it's the Texans that get the win and possibly end the postseason chase for the Lions.

The next game featured the traditional Cowboys and Indians match up but this time with Robert Griffin III. The Redskins came to Dallas to play the Cowboys in their traditional home Thanksgiving game and from the start RG3 owned this game. RG3 threw for 311 passing yards for 4 TDs and one INT. The Redskins went up 28-3 by halftime. The Cowboys didn't go away and tried to come back but they ended up losing to the Redskins 38-31 anyway. Tony Romo threw the ball 62 times in this one for 441 yards and 3 TDs but he also threw 2 INTs. This was also Romo's first loss as Cowboys QB on Thanksgiving.

The last "game" of the day was the Patriots coming into New Jersey and putting the Jets to bed and not with Turkey. A crazy 2nd quarter which involved 3 Tom Brady TD throws and a couple of fumbles returned for TDs gave the Pats 35 points in the quarter alone. The Jets ended up turning the ball over 5 times with 4 of those by fumbles. The Pats destroy the Jets 49-19 and dash any remaining chance for a postseason for NYJ.

I am thankful that yesterday featured a great day of football for us all to enjoy. Hope it wasn't all you did though. Now I got to go. I got leftover Pumpkin Pie for breakfast.

P.S. Can the Jets open their Christmas present early this year?

Romo Throws 5 Picks in Last Night's Loss

Tony Romo played a great week 1 in the Cowboys win over the Giants. It has gotten worse from there on.

The Cowboys went into last night's game a chance to go up 3-1 tied for the NFC East lead. The Chicago Bears were pretty much in the same boat just a different division. The debate has always been waging between the two respective QB's of Tony Romo and Jay Cutler and whether either one of them has what it takes to get to a Super Bowl. Last night didn't help Tony Romo's chances. Romo threw a total of five INTs on the night in which two of them were returned for TDs. His mistakes and the lack of a rushing attack led to the loss. Kyle Orton even got some playing time it as it became that bad. Cowboys lose at home, 34-18.

Maybe we should start calling him"Two-Face" Romo. That or the whole team. It's not all Tony Romo's fault for how bad the Cowboys can be but the mistakes that he can sometimes make someone wonder if he is all worth it. The whole team needs to play better, there is no doubt there. But Romo himself needs to more consistent with the ball so he can give his team a chance to comeback instead of making it worse.

P.S. Now on Twitter for some reason. Follow me on Twitter @TheSportsKhanSF.

Cowboys Spoil Opener for G-Men and My Super Bowl XLVII Pick (Please Let Me Be Right)

Finally kickoff is here and the football season can begin.

Because of the President's speech being tomorrow night, the NFL season kicked off tonight as planned and started in New Jersey with the Dallas Cowboys going against the New York Giants. These two teams played at the end of the last season which had the Giants going into the playoffs and leaving the Cowboys eating their dust. What better way to get back at the Giants than spoiling their opening night.

Tony Romo remembered that night and played like heck to avenge it. After a less than average start to the game which included a INT, Romo rebounded and managed to lead the Cowboys down field for a TD pass to Kevin Ogletree with about a minute to go in the first half. Romo came out in the second half delivering two long TD passes in the 3rd and 4th quarter respectively with the one in the 4th being on a 1st and 30 play. The Giants would score to put it within seven but the Cowboys got the ball back and managed to kill the clock off. Cowboys win the first NFL game of the season 24-17.

Truly a phenomenal performance by Romo and the Cowboys all around. A shaky start for the team and quite a few penalties as well (13) but they managed to exploit the secondary and win the game. Kevin Ogletree made a name for himself tonight in the process catching 8 balls for 114 yards and 2 TDs. As for the Giants, time to stop celebrating and get back to the chalk board. Also, look the ball into your hands, Victor Cruz.

The season starts and who am I picking to win the Super Bowl? I'm going hometown favorite on this pick and choosing the San Francisco 49ers over the Houston Texans to win the Super Bowl. There is no way to say this isn't a bias pick. All I can say is that I am a pessimist at heart and as I make this pick, I don't believe the 49ers will win the Super Bowl. YES, I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY!!!

I'm basically trying to fight my negative side to make this pick. GO NINERS!!!

P.S. Them or the Eagles. DAMN IT!!!

2012 NFC East Preview: How 'Bout RG3?

The 2012 NFL Season is almost upon us which means it's time to look at each division and predict what will happen to the best of my knowledge. I took a long shot with the Bucs last year and I assure you that I will not be foolish to pick a team like that again.

That being said, I really like the Redskins. They have Robert Griffin III as their new QB, he looked good during his brief time in the preseason, and I believe they can go a long way with him at the helm... if this was a prediction for beyond this season but it's not. They will bomb this year as RG3 tries to navigate through the league. There is interesting speculation here as to whether or not he will have a magnificent season like Cam Newton had last year. He might not win a lot of games as it looks like the Redskins are underdogs for most of them but he can still have a terrific season.

As for the rest of the NFC East, it seems like any teams game. The Super Bowl Champion Giants might be the strongest (barely) but they could easily be upset. They got beat by Washington the two times they faced them last year. Once they get into the postseason, watch out but they have to get there first. Tony Romo and the Cowboys have something to prove after the way they finished 8-8 last year and just missed the postseason. I'm not confident, however, that they have gotten better. Romo was playing his heart out last season and he still couldn't pull them into the playoffs.

So my favorite is going to be the Eagles. Seems like a long shot considering that Michael Vick can't play a full season because he keeps getting hurt but I think this team has a lot to prove after the "Dynasty" comment made last year and they will pull it together somehow. Plus Nick Foles, the back up, is having a nice preseason and might be able to hold the team together for a game or so if Vick gets injured.

P.S. It seems almost ironic that Vince Young, the guy who made the "Dynasty" comment last year, doesn't have a team to call home after Buffalo cut him. Apparently, the Bills would rather trade for Tavaris Jackson, a fair QB at best, as their #2 QB than stick with Young. What a fall from Tennessee it has been.