Big plays galore in the first quarter

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It didn't take long before Texas A&M and Arkansas started putting on a show.

The Aggies had plays of 48 and 44 yards before Arkansas got back into the game with a 68-yard touchdown.

After the first quarter, the Aggies lead 14-7.

Last week, the Aggies struggled early with Oklahoma State's offensive pace. This week, Texas A&M is doing it to the Hogs. Texas A&M's pace is giving Arkansas problems, but the real problem is Texas A&M's recommitment to the running game.

A week after becoming the forgotten man in Texas A&M's running game, Christine Michael has re-emerged with a pair of touchdowns, including his 48-yard score on an awkward exchange with quarterback Ryan Tannehill and a hurdle over a few linemen into the open field.

Michael appeared to grab the ball out of Tannehill's hand as he cocked to throw. When he does that and scores from midfield, though, everybody's happy, even if it's not pretty.

Texas A&M's defense has been solid, but the 68-yard touchdown to Jarius Wright late in the quarter was a rare bust for the unit, which has been consistently pressuring Tyler Wilson and putting him on his back.

Dustin Harris gave the Aggies their only sack with a big hit on Wilson, who didn't see the unblocked corner.

With these two offenses, expect more big plays before it's over.

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Burleson: Stafford making elite plays for Lions

Published: September 19th, 2011 | Tags: Nate Burleson, Around the League, Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford is healthy, and his ability to stay on the field (yes, it’s only two games) has allowed him the opportunity to impress just about everyone. That includes his teammates.

Lions WR Nate Burleson told NFL Network’s “Around the League” Monday that Stafford is making the same plays elite quarterbacks make.

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“The one thing I can point out about Matt is that there are certain plays and certain throws that he takes chances on that not a lot of quarterbacks can even try to attempt,” said Burleson. “I remember in the preseason game versus the Patriots I caught a ball over the middle and I went to the sideline and said, ‘I didn’t think you were going to make that pass.’ He looked at me and said, ‘well the guy’s head was turned; by the time I got the ball to you, he couldn’t find it.’

“That’s just the type of play that elite quarterbacks make. He’s young, he’s still showing everybody what he has. But hopefully by the end of the season [with] consistent play by us as a team and him as a quarterback, he’ll prove to people he is one of the better quarterbacks in this league.”

Due to injuries and other factors, Stafford didn’t find instant individual or team success like Mark Sanchez, Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan. But the former first overall pick in the 2009 draft might finally be showing he’s the best of the league’s young crop of quarterbacks.

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Steelers need the big plays on both sides

Published: January 15th, 2011 | Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Antonio Brown, Antwaan Randle El, Dawan Landry, Ed Reed, Emmanuel Sanders, Michael Oher, Mike Wallace

The Ravens have jumped out to a 14-point lead with a number of big plays, and the Steelers need to do the same thing here in the second half.

The Ravens are going to keep safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry over Steelers WR Mike Wallace, but Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown have speed, too. So the Steelers have to keep spreading them out and trying to work on the depth of the Ravens cornerbacks.

The Steelers also have used gimmick plays in the past, a flea-flicker with Antwaan Randle El might be in order. They need something explosive.

On defense, I would overload Ravens T Michael Oher with defensive back blitzes and gamble on a big play out of my defense.

Posted in: Jason La Canfora  

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Chiefs Just Three Plays From a Perfect Game Last Week In Seattle

A blocked punt. A blocked field goal. A blown assignment on an 87 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

OK, maybe not perfect, but pretty close.

It’s been rare that we’ve seen that kind of break down in the special teams. Maybe you have to credit the Seahawks.

The 87 yard touchdown is more of a concern, one that I’m sure they’ve talked about this week.

This was as complete a game as we’ve seen from this team in a very long time. Take away those 87 yards on that pass play and the Seahawks end up with 195 yards passing to go along with their 20 yards rushing.

The defense was dominating. The running game was fantastic, even by the high standard they’ve already set.

I’m hoping by now it has become less fashionable to criticize Matt Cassel. One of the few stats he is not one of highest ranked quarterbacks at this points in total yards passing.

That’s what “top quarterbacks” are based on. Unless of course you know something about football.

Dwayne Bowe has turned into one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. That came out of nowhere. Two months ago the guy couldn’t hold a ball thrown into his hands.

One of the most telling plays, to me, was a third a ten late in the game. Bowe went about 12 yards, curled back and Cassel delivered the ball low, right where he should. Bowe caught the ball, first down.

It is these type of plays that the Chiefs have not been making. Normally, that route would have been run eight yards and curled for a 6 yard gain. If not, Bowe would have dropped it, or it would have been too low.

If they can do that on a consistent basis, they will be very difficult to beat, home or away.

They have a tough road in front of them. We will know they have turned the corner if they can go into San Diego and win.

Regardless, in many ways they have turned that corner that we have been waiting for.

I have been excited about the way the Chiefs have been building their organization. With ten wins in three years, and a 7-4 record this year, it’s hard not to be.

Winning the Super Bowl is the goal for every team, every year. We all know, however, that’s not really the case. The Lions, Bills, Panthers and Chiefs, to name a few, probably had few expectations of actually reaching that goal this season.

If the Chiefs make the playoffs they will be a very dangerous team. I say that because in order to do that, they will have to win some big games between now and the end of the season.

If they fail to make the playoffs, this will be an off season with great optimism for next year.

Each week, this team grows, matures and improves. That does not mean we should be shocked at setbacks and bad losses. The loss to the Broncos should never happen. The loss to the Raiders is understandable, but avoidable.

This week, just take care of business. Then worry about next week.

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Pick Six: Most memorable plays in NFL history

Every Lynyrd Skynyrd-loving Jacksonville citizen worth their salt will claim that they were at EverBank Field when the Jaguars beat the Texans on QB David Garrard‘s desperation heave to WR Mike Thomas, regardless of what the attendance says.

Because big moments are what define the NFL. And some of the best ones even get a fancy nickname. Here are my top six most memorable plays in NFL history:

6. Music City Miracle

Following the Bills’ kickoff on the game’s final play, Titans WR Kevin Dyson takes a field-wide lateral from TE Frank Wycheck and races 75 yards to lift Tennessee over Buffalo in an AFC Wild Card Game. What made the outcome more delicious was that Bills coach Wade Phillips had benched QB Doug Flutie for the game after Rob Johnson performed well in a meaningless Week 17 contest that was played after their playoff slot had been determined. Phillips was seconds away from being justified for an unjust move. The Football Gods said otherwise.

5. Tyree’s catch in Super Bowl XLII

Talk about your desperation heaves. Giants QB Eli Manning fights through a number of defenders, launches the ball toward a little-known David Tyree, who pins it to his helmet while Patriots safety Rodney Harrison desperately tries to knock it away. This is what happens to Harrison when he tries to play by the rules. The play set up Plaxico Burress‘ winning touchdown reception to end the Patriots’ bid for perfection.

4. The Holy Roller

The Raiders were once known (should that be past tense?) as rule breakers. But QB Ken Stabler might not have broken the rules when he intentionally fumbled the ball forward against the Chargers, which allowed RB Pete Banaszak to knock it into the end zone so TE Dave Casper could fall on it for a touchdown. A rule was later added making this illegal.

3. Immaculate Reception

This might be hard for you youngsters to believe, but there was a time when the Steelers were a downtrodden franchise and the Raiders were among the NFL’s elite. But when Steelers RB Franco Harris caught a ball that had ricocheted off John “Frenchy” Fuqua‘s hands via the Raiders’ Jack Tatum and raced into the end zone, a dynasty was born.

The only thing that could have made this play more memorable would have been if the referee had buried his head into the replay booth for five minutes, if there were a replay rule at the time, and later emerged to explain that there was no conclusive evidence, and the play would stand.

2. The Hail Mary

The one and only. Cowboys QB Roger Staubach threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to WR Drew Pearson in the closing seconds of a 1975 NFC Divisional playoff game. After the game, Staubach referred to the pass as a “Hail Mary” and the legend was born. Vikings fans still say that Pearson pushed off and call it Holy (expletive).

1. The Tuck Rule

This game had everything you would want: a snow storm, in the playoffs, and the Raiders losing. Patriots QB Tom Brady appeared to have fumbled in the closing minutes to give Oakland the win. But the now-famous NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2, Note 2 said otherwise. Brady went on to lead New England to the win and ultimately a Super Bowl win over St. Louis. Adam Vinatieri‘s winning boot in the Super Bowl deserves an honorable mention here.

Also deserving votes: the Ghost to the Post, the Sea of Hands, and the fight between Rams and Raiders fans during a Week 11 game at Anaheim Stadium in 1994.

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