Wild Card Weekend Results:
6. New York Jets @ 3. Indianapolis Colts: Colts 31, Jets 30.
5. Baltimore Ravens @ 4. Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs 24, Ravens 17.
6. Green Bay Packers @ 3. Philadelphia Eagles: Eagles 14, Packers 7.
And the one we care about, according to Madden:
5. NOR @ 4. SEA 1/8/11, 3:30 PM
Played the game without Colston, P. Thomas, Ivory, M. Jenkins, Graham, and Roby. Henderson returned kicks, Bush returned punts.
First Quarter: Seattle breaks off a big play for a first down, then go three and out, punt. Shockey finishes a 12-play, 65-yard drive with a TD on 4th and goal from the one. I had to think about this play hard. Would Coach Payton do this? And I think he would (and will) go for it in some of these critical situations during the playoffs. Seahawks get the ball to Marshawn Lynch on 3rd and 10, who is just past the first down marker when Shanle strips him, and Sharper returns the fumble for a TD. Seattle wins on the challenge of the play, but has to settle for a 52-yard field goal attempt after the defense holds them on 3rd and inches. Danny Noonan. Danny Noooonaaann! Miss it, miss it, Noonan! He missed it! At the end of the first, it’s Saints 7, Seahawks 0.
Second Quarter: Five plays and 57 yards later, Shockey scores his second TD, this time from eight yards out. Saints D, now starting to figure out Hasselbeck, holds Seattle to a three and out. Reggie! Reggie! Reggie! Reggie brings the punt back to the Seattle 46. Meachem drops a TD on 3rd and one from the 8, and Saints settle for a 23-yard Hartley FG. Seattle is in the two minute offense and picks up yardage in big chunks to get into the red zone. Sharper picks off Hasselbeck on the 9 but is hurt. New Orleans has 0:49 and three time outs. No problem. Moore hauls in an 80-yard bomb to get to the one. Bush runs it in on the next play. At halftime, it’s Saints 24, Seahawks 0.
Third Quarter: Saints get the ball first and go 61 yards in seven plays, capped by a 16-yard Dave Thomas score. Seattle’s Lynch scores on the next possession. Devery Henderson brings back the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a TD. Saints 38, Seahawks 7.
Fourth Quarter: Seattle three and out, then the Saints score on a 12-yard Dave Thomas TD at the end of a 6-play, 54-yard drive. Seattle turns it over on downs. New Orleans runs out the clock. Final Score: Saints 45 – Seahawks 7.
Player of the Game: Brees 20/24, 300 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs. Rushing: J. Jones 8-37, Bush 6-18, 1 TD. Receiving: Meachem 5-86, Evans 4-34, Bush, 2-46, Shockey 2-9, 2 TDs, D. Thomas 2-31, 2 TDs, Moore 2/92. Greer, Ellis, one sack each. Sharper 1 INT, Henderson 2 KR for 119 yards, TD.
Looking forward to: Bush naysayers eating crow after he turns it on for the playoffs.
Not looking forward to: Green Bay losing and the Saints faint hopes of a home playoff game evaporating.
Media Prediction: ESPN has 90-minute special on Tom Brady’s hair.
Madden Tip: Hey Madden, here’s a tip for you. Where’s the feature for a mini-tournament? That would be great this time of year. It would be great to have a round robin version as well as single elimination tourney with up to 12 teams to simulate the playoffs.
