1st half of the Chicago Bears against the San Francisco 49er’s in week 11

The 49er’s are the first to get the football and they get a first down on their first play. And ironically enough the Bears get an unnecessary roughness 15 yard penalty on the play so a big gain on the first play.

San Francisco has been pretty effective so far in the air and have moved down field well and have made it into the red zone fairly quickly. They go for a pass play in the end zone on a 3rd and one but it didn’t work and they take the field goal so they are first to put the points on the board. Score is 3 to 0.

Chicago goes 3 and out on their first drive. They also had a bad kick so the 49er’s start with good field position on their next drive.

Another drive by San Francisco with passes and a big pass puts them in a 1st and goal situation, then a pass into the end zone and suddenly the 49er’s have a 10 point lead and are shutting out the Bears. Score is 10 to 0. Chicago has a little better drive but they can’t convert a 3rd down around mid field and have to punt again.

As the 1st period ends the score is at San Francisco 10 to Chicago 0. The 49er’s have possession and the ball is on the 36 with a 2nd and 3.

Even though the Chicago Bears are the NFC North leaders, their offense is not playing like they are. They need to start doing something on the offensive side of the ball with the next drive in order to stay alive in this game.

On a 3rd and 12 Chicago tries a pass play and instead of converting the 3rd down Tarell Brown corner back for San Francisco intercepts the football and the 49er’s have another chance to put more points up before the end of the first half.

A great run once again by Frank Gore and they have a first down. San Francisco is mixing it up well switching it up between play action and short pass plays as well as running plays and many of them have been gaing them the yards they need. They are in the red zone again threatening to put Chicago in a 3 score deficit.

Chicago makes a big play on defense and gets the sack on a 3rd and 11 and for them to go for a field goal giving the 49er’s their 4th score. The score now stands at 20 to 0. There is just over 6 minutes left in the first half.

The Bears start their next drive from the 30. A 3 and out once again and the Bears have to punt the ball back to San Francisco again. This drive the Bears are able to break up a 3rd down and force the 49er’s to punt.

With just over 2 minutes left on the clock, Chicago still has enough time to get some points up before the end of the half. Another 3 and out from deep inside their own territory and Chicago punts and the 49er’s will take over with the ball on their own 38.

Chicago stops San Francisco again and has one last shot with less than a minute to go in the first half but they can’t make anything happen. The half time score in San Francisco 20 to Chicago 0.

The second half with the Pittsburgh Steelers down by 3 points at the half against the Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens start the half with the football but the Steelers stop them cold on a 3 and out so Pittsburgh will get their first opportunity of the half.

In a great move by the Raven defense, they manage to pick off a pass for the interception. The Ravens do manage to turn the next posssession into 3 points with the field goal and the score is now 13 to Baltimore 7.

The Steelers are doing a little better on this drive and have made it to mid field. A costly penalty for a helmet to helmet hit against the Ravens gives the Steelers additional yards after a first down deep in Raven territory.

Pittsburgh manages the clock poorly and burn 2 timeouts just before the 3rd quarter ends. This may work against them later in the game. They can’t get in the end zone but do get the field goal making the score Pittsburgh 10 to Baltimore 13.

There is only enough time on the clock for the kickoff and maybe one or two plays. Shortly after starting the 4th quarter Pittsburgh is able to get their first sack of the game and forces the Ravens to punt.

I have noticed the the Ravens seem to be locking up the center a little better on a few of the rushing plays that Pittsburgh has attempted in the middle. After they break up a 2nd down run in the middle and a short pass on 3rd the Steelers must punt.

Although there have been a few scores, a lot of this football game has taken place on either side of mid field and has made it into each of the red zones very few times considering the total number of possessions.

Another drive by the Ravens and another drive shut down by the Steelers. Pittsburgh takes over after the punt at the 25.

The Steelers use their last time out with 2:04 left on the clock so the Ravens will run their 3rd down play and then there will be the 2 minute warning. Pittsburgh must stop the Ravens on 3rd and 7.

The Steelers have an offsides call on the play so it brings up a 3rd and 2 plus the 2 minute warning. This means the Ravens will run the 3rd down after the 2 minute warning and have a chance to eat up a good bit more clock time even if the Steelers can stop themn on the next play.

Pittsburgh gets the sack on the next play so the Ravens will need to punt but they will use as much time off the clock as they can. Prescious time ticking away Pittsburgh is trying but is not moving the ball effectively.

With the game on the line you can be sure that they will go for it on 4th even if they don’t convert the 3rd down. Sure enough a low snap but Byron Leftwich extends the play and makes an incomplete pass. The last play of the game was very ugly and after a few latterals time runs out.

The final score of the game is Pittsburgh Steelers 10 to Baltimore Ravens 13.

1st half of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the bookies favorites Baltimore Ravens in week 11?

Tonight’s matchup in the AFC North between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens may well be an exciting game. The books are favoring the Ravens, but the more I am looking at this the more I think that quarterback Byron Leftwich may surprise a number of people including the bookies.

He is actually in his 10th season and has the experience to win football games. And like I mentioned in an article earlier today here with running back Rashard Mendenhall back in the game the Steelers have a returning weapon in their running game that is explosive and can make things happen on the ground.

On their very first possession from mid field, Leftwich scrambles and runs it in for a touchdown. The Steelers put points on the board in less than one minute with a great start.

The Pittsburgh defense does their job during their first time on the field and stop the Ravens and they must punt providing Leftwich another opportunity to take the field and also to extend their lead early in the game.

The Ravens defense makes a big play and force a turnover. Flacco and the offense comes out on the field for the Ravens second offensive drive. Pittsburgh does the defense job again and force Baltimore to a field goal. This takes the score Ravens 3 to Steelers 7.

The Ravens stop the Steelers just about mid field so they must punt giving Baltimore another shot at points. But once again Pittsburgh stops them so their offense will get the ball back with minutes left in the 1st quarter.

A 3 and out for the Steelers on this drive and they punt the ball, and Jacoby Jones has a great kick return, breaks a tackle in mid field and takes it in for a touchdown. Baltimore now has the lead for the first time in the game and the score is Ravens 10 to Steelers 7.

After a trade of possessions and the Ravens have the ball again and are approaching the red zone just as the 1st quarter comes to an end.

Forced to attempt another field goal due to Pittsburgh breaking up their third down they miss an turn the ball over to the Steelers with decent field position. Unable to convert on the 3rd down the Ravens get the ball back.

The Steelers defense has been doing their job well tonight and force another punt by the Ravens. They have certainly shown why they are rated #1. Ironically the Ravens stop the Steelers on this drive and must punt again as well.

Stopped again the Ravens punt again giving the Steelers one more shot before the end of the first half. They are unable to convert it and punt with 27 seconds left on the clock. The Ravens take a knee and that ends the first half.

The half time score is Baltimore 10 to Pittsburgh 7.

Second half in week 11 New England Patriots against the Indianapolis Colts

The Patriots get in for the points on their first drive of the half and make the job for the Colts more difficult. The score moves to New England 31 to Indianapolis 17.

The New England defense stops the Colts offense on their first drive of the half and clearly swing the momentum of the game to their favor. The Patriots will get the ball back deep in their own territory with a 14 point lead.

The Colts defense does manage to stop the Patriots on 3rd down and they punt for the first time in the game. They will start the next drive with decent field position and the ball is on the 26. On a blitz the New England defense manage to force a fumble on the sack and recover the ball. On the very next play they take it in for a touchdown and the Patriots extend their lead and the score is 38 Patriots to the Colts 17.

Down by 21 points the Colts still have the ball and a 1st down as the 3rd quarter ends. The ball is on the New England 23 yard line. But on the first play of the 4th quarter the ball is picked off by Alfonzo Dennard and run in for another defensive touchdown. With the extra point the Patriots have a huge lead with the score at 45 to 17 for the Colts.

Finally able to do something in the half the Colts get a touchdown making the score Indianapolis 24 to New England 45.

Slicing down the field, a pass by quarterback Tom Brady gets a first down at mid field. Then a great run gets them to the 3 yard line, and a short hop and the Patriots are in the end zone again extending their lead to 28 points again. This makes the score 52 to the Colts 24.

With just under 8 minutes left in the game the Colts drive is stopped and they are forced to punt. A great return by Julian Edelman gives the Patriots good field position with the ball on the Colt 29.

A pass and catch on the 11 gives them a first down and they are knocking on the touchdown door once again. A short run in by Shane Vereen and they get another touchdown. With the extra point it takes the score to Patriots 59 to the Colts 24.

What looked to be a decent drive by the Colts after reaching mid field, a pass by quarterback Andrew Luck is picked off once again, his third interception of the game. It’s ironic that Luck has thrown for over 300 yards in this game.

The final score in the game New England Patriots 59 to Indianapolis Colts 24.

The Indianapolis Colts meet the New England Patriots in the 1st half

I switched over to this game late due to the Tampa Bay win in their overtime game against the Carolina Panthers. The first play I see is a punt return by the Patriots in for a touch down.

They kick the ball and shortly thereafter the Patriots intercept a pass by quarterback Andrew Luck, and run it back 59 yards for a second touchdown. This puts the score at New England 21 to the Colts 14.

Since I hadn’t seen the first quarter of the game and needing to judge what I am seeing on this drive by New England it appears that Andrew Luck is not letting the interception bother him and is putting together a decent drive. Unable to complete the drive with 6 points the Colts take the field goal and take the score to 17 to Patriots 21.

Patriot quarterback Tom Brady will get the ball back on the 25 with just over 5 minutes left in the first half. As the game hits the two minute warning the field goal team will take the field in an attempt to extend the Patriot lead. New England makes the field goal and the score is 24 Patriots to the Colts 17.

Indianapolis will get the ball back and has just under 2 minutes left in the first half. On a 3rd and 3 Andrew Luck completes a pass to just before mid field and the Colts call a time out with 1 minute 23 seconds left in the half.

Running out of time the Colts have no choice but to attempt a 58 yard field goal, but is unsuccessful. So the half time score is New England 24 to Indianapolis 17.

With only seconds left Tampa makes a two point conversion and ties the game with Carolina Panthers and force an overtime game

Tampa wins the toss and elects to recieve. They start from the 20.

Two carries by Doug Martin and the Buccaneers are inside the 45 of the Panthers. josh Freeman has settled down and like he played the last part of regulation time, has been making his throws count. They get another first down inside the 20.

A short pass to Dallas Clark and Tampa wins the football game in overtime with a final score of 27 Tampa to 21 Carolina.

Will the Carolina Panthers keep their lead against Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half of week 11?

Tampa Bay gets off to a slow start in the 2nd half and punts without doing much of anything on their first possession.

A false start on the 1st down backs the Panthers up. Then on a 1st and 15 the Buc’s get the sack and brings up a 2nd and 15. On a 3rd and 17 the pass is complete but short of the 1st so the Panthers go 3 and out. Carolina tries a fake and the play is broken up and Tampa takes over on downs.

The 3rd quarter has been a trade of possessions. On 1st down Tampa attempts a pass deep in their own territory but the pass is picked off and Carolina gets the ball back. Tampa manages to stop the drive so they will get another shot to get the lead back.

Unable to get the first down again Tampa must punt giving the Panthers the ball back around their own 16 yard line. Once again on a 3rd and 1 Cam Newton keeps the football and gets the 1st. Like I had predicted on this week’s “Offsides” article I suggested that Tampa would need to try and contain Newton. Tampa does make the stop and Carolina punts again.

Back to back first downs for Tampa and they are getting close to mid field. As we reach the end of the 3rd quarter Tampa get’s the first down in Carolina territory with the score still at Carolina 14 to Tampa 10.

Tampa decides to go for it on 4th and short. On the run in to the end zone the ball is fumbled just as he crosses the goal line so it goes up to the replay booth to determine if it was a touchdown before the fumble. Since the ruling on the field was a fumble recovered by a touchback, there was not enough evidence to overturn the play so the Panthers get the ball back.

Capializing on Tampa mistakes the Panthers are quick to get back to mid field. The Panthers get into the end zone again and take the score to 21 Carolina to Tampa 10.

Down by 11 points Tampa must be very careful with both the clock and their play calling. They make it into Panther territory but are forced to go for it on 4th down from the 40 after an incomplete pass on 3rd. They get the 1st on the 30 yard line so they are inching closer to striking distance.

They must convert on this drive since a field goal would still have them down more than a touchdown. They find themselves in a 4th down situation and opt for the kick and it is good. this takes the score to 13 Buccaneers to Panthers 21.

With 4 minutes left in the game the Panthers only need to keep control of the ball and wind the clock down. Tampa needs to concentrate on trying to force a turnover.

On a risky 3rd down play by Carolina, they get the 1st down just before mid field with a pass play. At the two minute warning it is 3rd and 12 with ball on the 42 yard line. even if Tampa has the opportunity to get the ball back they are short on time and have no time outs left.

Tampa will get the ball back with just under a minute left in the game having used all their time outs. They will start the drive from the 20.

With 20 seconds left they get the first down on the 24. On the next play Vincent Jackson catches it in the end zone so Tampa has no choice but to attempt a 2 point conversion to tie the game and force an overtime. They get the conversion so this game goes into overtime.

Will Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Carolina Panthers and keep their playoff hopes alive?

The Panthers get the first possession of the game but are unable to do much with it and punt the ball. This has been a normal start for the Panthers since they have struggled most of theis season with their offense especially in the early parts of their games.

Tampa’s first possession stalls and goes 3 and out which is actually uncharacteristic for them this season. Tampa punts the ball and on the return the Panthers give up the ball and the Buc’s recover so they have the ball back and get a turnover early in the football game.

Tampa gets the touchdown so they are first with points on the board with a pass to Nate Byham in the end zone. Although they had a slow start on their first drive, the turnover resulting in a touchdown is the confidence boost they needed.

Again Carolina is unable to get anywhere with their drive and they must punt from their own red zone giving Tampa great field position. The Buccaneers will start their next drive from the 48 yard line. Unable to get in for 6 points ion this drive Tampa takes the field goal and extends their lead. The score is now Tampa 10 to Carolina 0.

On a 3rd and 15 the Buccaneers get a sack and force the Panthers to punt from deep in their own territory which gives Tampa the ball back with great field position from just about mid field.

A great play by the Panther defense and they get an interception and run the ball back for a touchdown. This puts Carolina back within 3 points and the score is now Tampa 10 to Carolina 7.

Just as the 1st quarter ends Tampa has gotten a first down and have the ball on their own 40 yard line with a 3 point lead over the Panthers.

So far in the second quarter the Panthers have had a good bit more momentum. The drive is doing well and they have a 1st down just outside the 10 yard line. On a 3rd down pass in the end zone they draw the pass interference call and get the first down on the 1 yard line. The Panthers push their way in and get the points and take the lead away from Tampa taking the score to 14 to 10.

The momentum that the Panthers picked up early in the quarter continues and they stop the drive of Tampa and force them to punt. Tampa’s defense must get to work and stop the next drive and get their offense back opn the field.

True to form Cam Newton, quarterback for the Panthers runs 10 yards for a first down. Newton is a very mobile quarterback and ona 3rd and 13 when it appears the play is falling apart he manages to come out of the pocket and makes the yards right up the center and makes the first down keeping the drive alive.

A nice pass to Greg Olsen and the Panthers get a first down on the 13. Michael Bennett gets the sack and brings up a 3rd and 9. A penalty on the next play negates a touchdown and brings up 3rd and 19. An incomplete pass and the Panthers must attempt a filed goal but is unsuccessful so the Buccaneers will get the nall back with just over 2 minutes left in the first half.

Just short of the 1st down on a 4th and short Tampa decides not to go for it, but before punting line up like they are in an attempt to draw the Panthers offsides. It doesn’t work and Tampa punts. The Panthers get the ball back with a minute left on the clock and 1 time out left in the half.

As the half ends the score still stands at Carolina 14 to Tampa 10.

Starting down 9 points, Tampa Bay Buccaneers must play the 2nd half better against the Buffalo Bills

The half starts with the Bills getting the football first and sure enough, they give the ball to Spiller on the first 2 downs, and on the second one he gets the first down.

Buffalo is playing much better than I ever expected to see. They just seem to be slicing their way down the field. Miami is able to stop them from getting into field goal range so the Dolphins will get their first second half possession.

On a second and 10 Lee Smith stops Reggie Bush deep in the backfield for a big loss. Miami can not convert the 3rd and must punt the ball giving the Bills great field position on the 24.

Miami gets the sack on a 3rd and 8 so they force the Bills to punt. The Miami defense has done a fair job on stopping the Bills on a portion of their drives, the Dolphin offense has just not been able to do much with the ball when they did have it.

Miami will get the ball back around the 36 yard line. A decent pass to Brian Hartline and they get a 1st at the 45. The drive would have been over, but another penalty and Miami gets a first down.

A decent pass to Brian Hartline and they get a 1st at the 45. The drive would have been over, but another penalty and Miami gets a first down. Miami attempts a 50 yard field goal but it hits the upright so the Bills take over at mid field.

As the 3rd quarter ends, the score stands at Buffalo 19 to miami 7. Buffalo has the ball on a 3rd and 13 with ball on the 40. Buffalo does not get the 1st down and must punt.

Miami gets the ball back with decent field position. Miami has now gone 27 quarters without an offensive touchdown. They can not win many games with those kinds of stats from their offense. A first down by Reggie Bush.

A pass to Davone Bess and another 1st down and it’s first and goal with the ball on the 9. They really have to convert this drive into a touchdown. On a 2nd and goal with the ball on the 6 it appears that the Bills get the sack but instead it’s a facemask on Buffalo so they get the first down and spot the ball on the 6.

1 st down is a short loss and on 2nd down they push on the ground for a few yards. This brings up 3rd and goal from the 2. The pass in the end zone is ruled incomplete on the field but the challenge flag comes out so we wait for the replay officials’ ruling.

The ruling is overturned so the Dolphins get credit for the touchdown and we are back to a single score game. With the extra point the score is now Miami 14 to Buffalo 19.

Buffalo gets the ball back with a little over 8 minutes left in the football game with a 5 point lead. CJ Spiller again. What would have brought up 3rd and 10 another penalty, this time holding on Nolan Carroll and it gives the Bills a 1st down.

Miami is able to stop the next round of downs and the Bills bring out the punting team. The punt takes a Bills bounce and the football is spotted on the 1 yard line. Another drive that Miami must start from deep in their own territory.

On a 3rd and 2 Tannehill gets a 1st with a short pass on the left. And another first down, if they can keep this up they can get to mid field. As we hit the 2 minute warning the Dolphins have the ball and are in a must convert situation. A field goal is not good enough so they must get down field and into the end zone since they are down 5 points.

Instead of converting 2nd down into a 1st, the Bills intercept the ball. With under 2 minutes left in the game the Bills really only need to run a few plays, control the football and get a first down, and they can wind the clock down with the lead.

CJ Spiller gets 6 yards. Spiller gets 2 more yards right up the center. Miami stops them on the 3rd so they will get one more opportunity. The Dolphins get the ball back on the 15 yard line, but they are out of time outs with 1 minute and 24 seconds.

3 plays and 3 first downs but an offensive pass interference hurts the drive and they must replay the latest down, but they still have 43 seconds left with the ball on the 43. But on the next play Byron Scott intercepts the ball and the Bills win the game.

The final score Buffalo 19 to Miami 14.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet the Buffalo Bills in week 11

The Dolphins start the game with the first possession and a short run by Reggie Bush and then a short pass to receiver Brian Hartline and it brings up 3rd and short, but they are unable to get the 3rd down conversion so the first drive goes 3 and out and it gives the Bills their first shot at the ball.

On the kick return Leodis McKelvin gets a good block and he runs the field and gets the touchdown on the return. The Bills are first to score and they lead 7 to 0 just minutes into the game. I certainly did not see the Bills scoring this quick and this certainly has the potential tochange the momentum of the game from the beginning.

A 15 yard penalty for a low block on Buffalo gives the Dolphins good field position. Buffalo is able to sack Miami on the next down and suddenly the Dolphins are working from a deficit and it is 3rd and 14. Nothing much happening and Miami has to kick again. This is certainly not a good start for the Dolphins.

Sometimes when games start out like this I often wonder how the oddsmakers at the sportsbooks feel about such big unexpected starts like touchdowns on kickoff returns and such. i would think that these kinds of big plays this early in the game would tend to increase the amount of in-play betting activity.

Two downs and 2 carries by CJ Spiller and the Bills get within a yard of the 1st down. On 3rd down a great stop by Reshad Jones and the Bills go 3 and out and must punt the football. Miami has a decent return and get good field position.

On the next play Brian Hartline coughs up the ball and the Bills recover and they have the ball back and another chance to extend their lead. The momentum is on the side of Buffalo so far this game.

On a 3rd and 10 after a false start penalty, the Bills get the 1st down. Another pass to receiver Steve Johnson and the Bills are well within Dolphin territory. Even though the Bills make it into the red zone Miami is able to shut down the 3rd down conversion but they do get the field goal. The Bills extend their lead and the score is 10 to 0.

And on the kick return Marcus Thigpen returns for Miami, breaks a tackle and runs it back 96 yards for the touchdown, so Miami cuts the lead and the score s now 7 Miami to Buffalo 10. There is just over 4 minutes in the first quarter.

A short screen pass to CJ Spiller and he gets the first down and the Bills are at mid field. Miami does keep them out of the end zone, but they do manage to get the field goal so the score is now 13 Buffalo to 7 Miami. The first quarter is just about to end.

The Dolphins were just unable to get past mid field on this drive and they bring out the punting unit. The Bills will start the next drive on their own 12 yard line.

Then on a 3rd and 5 a pass interference call on Miami gives the Bills a first down at mid field. On a 2nd and 10 the Dolphins break up the play and Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick runs it out for another first down. Another pass interfverence on Miami, on Nolan Carroll again, and the Bills get another big first down.

The Bills are in the red zone again. A good stop by Miami and they force the Bills into a field goal attempt. They get the points and the score is now Bills 16 to Dolphins 7.

After an incomplete pass deep in the secondary, a short pass to Reggie Bush and Miami gets a 1st down. Tannehill can not make it happen and Miami has to punt again. The Bills get the ball back at the 16 yard line with just over 6 minutes left in the first half.

Another pass interference call on Carroll, his 3rd of the game, and Buffalo gets the first down. A nice job on the Dolphin defense and they stop the 3rd down conversion and for the Bills to punt. The defense has actually played a decent enough game so far, but mistakes have given the Bills good field postion and a number of first downs.

Miami gets the ball back on their own 10 yard line with just over 3 minutes in the first half. This next possession is very important to miami since it gives them the opportunity to cut the 9 point lead to a single score game before the end of the half.

Buffalo stops them on their own 1 yard line and gets the sack. Miami must punt and Buffalo gets the ball back and will start from mid field at the 2 minute warning.

2 plays, 30 yards or so and 2 1st downs, Spiller is having a great game. He has 97 yards so far in the first half. A pass to Steve Johnson and they get the first down on the 4 yard line. Buffalo takes the field goal just as the half ends. The Bills take a 12 point lead into the locker room with a score of 19 to Miami 7.

Like I had predicted in the article I wrote yesterday here, while researching tonight’s game in advance, I knew that Spiller would be a threat that the Dolphins would have to try and contain. Miami will have to do a better job of stopping him. He has been doing a great job finding the hole and driving up the center, and he has caught a few passes and turned them into nice gains.