By Bob Stephens
We’re coming to you live from the last game of the 2007 NFL regular season. The Colts at 13-2 are playing the 9-6 Titans, in a game that is meaningless for Indianapolis but means everything for Tennessee and Cleveland. As a Browns fan, I feel it’s only fair to warn you that the column’s going be biased. Deal with it. A Tennessee win means they’re going to the playoffs, while a Tennessee loss means the Browns go. The X-factor, of course, is that the Colts cannot improve or negatively affect their playoff experience at this point, which means the key Indy playmakers like Manning, Addai, and Wayne, will most likely rest for most of the game.
What follows is a running commentary as I watch the game. The idea is not my original; I’m borrowing the format from ESPN’s Sports Guy Bill Simmons. This is my first contribution to our new website, if you have any feedback please email us at EvanandBob@wire2wiresports.com. Your comments are much appreciated. Please enjoy.
8:19: We just learned that Marvin Harrison will be inactive for tonight’s game. That doesn’t bode well for the Browns chances, as Manning will not be able to use this game to get more time with Harrison and the Colt starters will likely only play the 1st quarter or so.
8:23: Andrea Kramer is interviewing Jeff Fischer about the unusual nature of this game given that Indy may sit the majority of their starters for much of the game. She also brought up Vince Young’s scrambling ability as a key focus for Tennessee’s success tonight.
8:24: And we’re underway. Vince Young takes the field.
8:26: Back to back long runs for LenDale White. Let’s go Colts. Poor rush D so far.
8:28: We just learned courtesy of John Madden that the Colt’s blitzed because “they were trying to get to Vince Young before he could get rid of the ball.” That’s priceless. I couldn’t make this stuff up.
8:31: First and goal from the 9 or so. Al Michaels just mentioned a collective groan coming from Cleveland – and from my dad on the sofa beside me. I just heard “would you play some defense please!”
8:31: Touchdown Titans. Six minutes and 19 seconds. I don’t believe the Titans ever faced a 3rd down that whole drive. Check that, my dad just informed me that they had one. Well it felt like none.
8:37: Wow, I just learned from Michaels that Manning was drafted a decade ago. It doesn’t seem that he’s been in the league that long. He’s so good. Quick pass to Wayne for a first down. What a great addition to our fantasy team this year Wayne was.
8:39: Just had the Colt offensive introductions. Never knew Dallas Clark looked like he should be playing the role of “Jethro the hick farmer” in your average porn flick. Seriously, check out his photo sometime.
8:40: Quick pass to Jethro for 9 yards.
8:41: Wayne just got rocked and fumbled. More collective groans from Cleveland. “Oh, no” from my father. Seriously Wayne, I just gave you props four minutes ago. What gives?!?!?!?
8:45: And the Colt D makes a stop in the backfield!
8:47: On a 3rd and 11 the Colts hold Tennessee to about a 9 yard scramble by Vince Young. Good news there, let’s go Peyton Manning.
8:51: Injury timeout for Albert Haynesworth. If he has to miss time in this game it could be a big boost for the Indianapolis/Cleveland fan bases. Titans are 0-3 without Haynesworth. He’s an impact player, that’s for sure.
8:54: How about these priceless pep talks from Peyton Manning? Love em’. I’m definitely going to check out priceless.com/peptalks at the half. Yeah, you’re feeling me. You love it.
8:57: Wayne has 99 catches now. I guess they want to get him to at least 100. Fine, let’s make the next one count before he rides the bench.
8:58: Now he has 100. Nevermind.
8:59: 101.
8:59 and some seconds: 102
9:00: Indianapolis settles for a field goal attempt. It’s good. I have to wonder if that’s the last we’ll see of Manning now that we’re already into the second quarter.
9:03: Colts special teams look good so far. Could be a good sign for them in the playoffs. I really believe they have a chance to beat the Patriots, and if the Browns end up missing the playoffs I’ll be rooting for that matchup big time. I know the whole Manning/Brady has been beaten to death, but this year is special and Manning is a competitor. With Harrison back he should be even more of a threat.
9:06: More insights courtesy of Madden: “When you play fake, its just a fake handoff…”
9:07: Bob Sanders is from Erie PA, maybe he’s a Browns fan. 20 yard pass play. Colts D looks like complete crap. That doesn’t look good for them in that regard in terms of playoff success.
9:09: And the ball’s on the ground! Colts have it. A sure scoring situation (the Titans were in the red zone) is negated.
9:11: Manning is out, Addai is out. Let’s go Sorgi. A great first play from scrimmage is negated by an illegal block in the back.
9:14: Wayne is still in the game. Thank goodness. He now has more receiving yards than any player in the league; he’s directly ahead of Moss and Chad Johnson. Hope he stays in. To Wayne again. He’s got a dozen passes according to Michaels. And he’s out of the game. Nevermind
9:18: Man is it painful to watch the Indianapolis second stringers when the Browns need a victory. This is such crap. Just because the Browns didn’t play an AFC team taking it easy they’re gonna miss the playoffs? Complete crap.
9:22: Bob Sanders is a physical player. Tennessee called a bootleg, Young was pressured and threw the outlet to the tight end. Sanders threw the TE to the ground. Love it. Come on Colts!
9:26: So an illegal block from behind costs the Colts about 30 yards on the ensuing punt return. Take back what I said earlier about the Colts special teams.
9:28: A quote from Al Michaels: “This has to be so agonizing for the Cleveland Browns fans.” Yeah, you think? Three and out for the Colts. Colts punt coverage continues to look good.
9:31: How excited are you for the return of American Gladiators? I’m more than just a little excited. I gotta ask though, why did it take so long?
9:33: Holy Cow. I have never seen a play like that. Young’s pass was incomplete, bounced off a Colt defender, and then flew 15 yards to another Titan. They brought up the immaculate reception. Come on, I need a break!
9:37: Great tackle of Young by Bob Sanders. Great play, kept him in bounds. Tennessee is on the last drive of the half on the Colts 42. Third and 15 with 50 seconds left.
9:40: Sorgi takes a knee to end the half after the Titans punt.
9:42: As promised, priceless.com/peptalks: “Hey, Bobby, I hear you stink at golf. Well, keep your head up; that is of course unless you’re golfing. Then you should keep your head down and your back straight. Watch this…”
9:45: Hey Bobby, heard you scored a new job, that’s great. But we all know new jobs can be intimidating. I remember my first day, all that running, throwing and tackling. You’re gonna be sore for a few days, I’m gonna warn you. Just put some ice on whatever hurts and keep digging, before you know it you’ll be team captain. Remember, the game of life isn’t gonna win itself.” Ok, that’s enough. Check out the rest for yourself.
9:53: I just saw a Public Service Announcement warning kids against Steroids and HGH. Really? Have we come to this? I guess we have, look at the accused. Apparently, if you take steroids or HGH you put up Hall of Fame numbers. Anyway, is anyone really going to listen to that PSA? If I still played competitive sports I’d definitely be asking the local gym rat to score me some HGH.
9:58: And the Colts go 3 and out again. I blame Lane Kiffen for that BS timeout against the Browns in Week 3. What kind of a name is Lane anyway?
10:03: And Tennessee puts the ball on the ground again! Colts football. Come on, let’s get in the endzone here.
10:04: Personal foul on Tennessee for a late hit. Good, good. Ball on the TEN 15, first and 10.
10:06: Another automatic first for Indy. Come on, let’s capitalize here Sorgi!
10:07: Touchdown Colts! Come on guys, let’s keep this up! Colts take the lead 10-7. 9:09 left in the third.
10:16: Vince Young is down. Injury timeout. Kerry Collins will be in to replace him. I hate to root for injuries and I hope Young is ok, I just hope he’s ok tomorrow and for next season.
10:20: Kerry Collins is looking good. Maybe it’s the Colt second and third string secondary that is looking crappy. False start pushes Tennessee into the gray area in terms of field goal range. Another penalty on offense, delay of game this time. It’d be a really long field goal now.
10:22: 10 yard gain, back in field goal range.
10:23: On the sideline Vince Young puts on a baseball cap. At least it’s not a helmet.
10:25: The game is now tied at 10 after a 40 yard Tennessee field goal.
10:27: Official word from the Titans is Vince Young’s quad is strained. Return is questionable.
10:29: As Vince Young leaves to the locker room, another Indianapolis long gain is brought back for an illegal man downfield. They seriously can’t get a break. Where’s Peyton Manning?
10:30: At this point I’m starting to wonder whether it was the right decision to watch this game live. I probably should have just popped in a DVD, played some Wii, or read a book, then checked the score later. Do Cleveland fans really deserve this? If the Colts were going to lose, why do they have to make it close? Come on, this city needs a break. They had Boston on the ropes in the ALCS and couldn’t close the deal. Go Colts!
10:32: Al Michaels just reminded us that a tie was good for Cleveland as well. Thanks Al, but I think there’s a better chance of a meteor rocking into the RCA dome than this game ending in a tie.
10:34: Another Sorgi incompletion. This guy is going to kill me. Another Sorgi incompletion. “What are you doing, man?” from my dad on the sofa. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
10:38: Vince Young jogs out onto the sideline. You know his leg is starting to numb so he can get back in there.
10:42: A bad spot gives Tennessee an undeserved first down. Why? Why? Bob Sanders is on the bench, I am not hopeful at the moment. Why isn’t there division pride in this game? If Manning, Wayne, and Addai had been playing the entire time they’d be up by two td’s.
10:46: Another American Gladiators commercial. Apparently they joust over a swimming pool. Awesome. When the series makes its second comeback in 2032, do you think they’ll add alligators to that swimming pool? I hope so.
10:48: Bironas just nailed a 54 yard field goal. Tennessee takes the lead by three.
10:52: And Sorgi is sacked for a seven yard loss. Shoot me in the head please. Get Manning back in the game, please. Please. Please. That Wayne fumble in the first quarter might turn out to be the difference between a postseason for the Browns and an extended vacation into offseason.
10:54: Not a great Indianapolis punt. Less than six minutes remaining on the Browns season. At least I didn’t have my girlfriend buy me that Browns jersey for Christmas. Better just get one for my birthday in August.
10:57: First down for Tennessee. Big blow to the Browns playoff chances. I want to punch Jim Sorgi in the throat (as a thought, didn’t a Buckeye take Sorgi out of the Wisconsin game in ’03 by pinching his throat?) I’m glad he did. Love the internet – I just looked that up. It was Robert Reynolds…what an embarrassment.
10:59: From my dad: “Oakland, that was the killer! I knew it!” Darn you, Lane Kiffen.
11:02: Kerry Collins has a freaking gray beard. How old is he? Another Bironas field goal is good and Tennessee is up by six. How’s that tie looking now, Michaels?
11:05: Another Sorgi incompletion. Ok, second and 10, 2:47 left. Colts have the ball on their own 25.
11:07: From Madden: “The Colts are starting to look like a team that has all its starters on the bench.” Thanks John. Where have you been for the last hour?
11:09: We’re at the two minute warning and Sorgi just turned it over on downs. Another season of not making the playoffs for the Browns. Can I swear on this website? We have no sponsors, we have no advertisers. Hell, I don’t even have a boss. Anyway, I’ll try to keep it PG. $%##%^^&&*^##$%%$^^&&*$#@. I hate the Colts. I hate Tennessee. I hate Kerry Collins. I hate Tony Dungy.
11:11: I guess now I take a minute to reflect…hold on. Stop that. Hold that thought. TONY DUNGY DIDN’T EVEN MAKE THE TITANS SNAP THE BALL ON FOURTH DOWN. IS HE SAVING HIS TIMEOUT FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS??? THIS IS A F****** OUTRAGE.
11:12: I’m sorry, but the way this season ended for the Browns is such bull. There is no way that Tennessee should get to go to the playoffs because their last game happened to be against the Indianapolis “B” team. A comparable scenario would be the Browns playing the Steelers this week. Low and behold, the Steelers rested Big Ben today and lost to the division worst Ravens. If the Browns had the Steelers scheduled today, they would be in the playoffs. I’m so furious right now.
11:15: Well, that’s all from me now, hopefully the next time you read something from me on this site it will be a little more positive. Thanks for sticking with me til the end, until next time…
