Lang on NFL: Smith makes his mark
Posted January 16, 2012 12:27 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
1) “A game to remember”
Jim Harbaugh’s rallying cry for the San Francisco 49ers all year has been; “Who’s got it better than us?” This is followed by every player screaming “Nobody!”
The 49ers had good reason to scream Saturday after they prevailed in one of the greatest endings to a football game I have ever witnessed. In the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, there were four lead changes as the 49ers and the Saints combined to score four touchdowns.
Star of the game:
49ers tight end Vernon Davis wins this award for his record-setting performance in the biggest game of his life. Davis caught seven passes for 180 yards, the most by a tight end in NFL playoff history. But Davis will most be remembered for his game-winning touchdown with 14 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, a moment that will forever go down in 49ers playoff history.
Stiff of the game:
With Drew Brees giving his team the lead not once, but twice within the final 4:02 of the fourth quarter, this award goes out to the entire Saints secondary. Throughout the final quarter, the unit suffered breakdowns in coverage and missed tackles as Alex Smith and Davis brought the 49ers back from the dead twice to win the game.
Turning point:
In a game that featured four lead changes in the final four minutes, the 49ers were forced to come up with big plays to keep up with Brees and the Saints. After Jimmy Graham scored a 66-yard touchdown with less than two minutes to play, the pressure was on San Francisco. Smith needed to find a way to get the 49ers into at least field goal range for kicker David Akers. With the ball on their 33-yard line and 40 seconds left to play, Smith hit Davis in stride on a 47-yard pass play.
Unsung hero:
Former Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner earns honourable mention for his numerous bone-crushing tackles on Saturday. But the ultimate unsung hero is Smith for putting together the greatest game of his career on the biggest stage. Long considered a first-round bust, Smith has blossomed under Harbaugh this season. Smith did what nobody thought was possible; he went toe-to-toe with Brees in a shootout and didn’t blink. The former No. 1 pick tossed three touchdowns and ran for a go ahead 28-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
What’s next?:
The 49ers will make their first appearance in the NFC Championship game since 1998 when they host the Giants on Sunday.
2) “Brady’s beat down”
This season’s version of Tebowmania was put to rest once and for all as Tom Brady and the Patriots announced to the world that they are ready to make another serious run at the Super Bowl.
Star of the game:
I think Brady was sick of hearing about Tim Tebow for the last two weeks and the Patriots quarterback wins the star of the game award after he shredded the Broncos secondary for 363 yards and six touchdowns.
Brady set a new NFL record with five passing touchdowns in the first half as he erased any and all doubt who was the best quarterback on the field in that game. Brady’s performance overshadowed an incredible game by tight end Rob Gronkowski that saw him tie a NFL playoff record with three touchdown catches. If that wasn’t enough, Brady capped off his night with a 48-yard punton a quick kick late in the fourth quarter.
Stiff of the game:
Poor Tebow didn’t stand a chance. With an extra week to prepare for the Broncos, Bill Belichick came up with an game plan to confuse and frustrate Tebow all night long. He ended the game with only nine completions for 136 yards and a mere 13 yards rushing on five carries.
Turning point:
At first glance it would seem the turning point in this game took place on the opening drive when the Patriots needed all of five plays to take a 7-0 lead. Upon further review the turning point in the game took place late in the second quarter with the Patriots up 21-7. Brady hooked up with veteran receiver Deion Branch for a 61-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach for the overmatched Broncos.
Unsung hero:
Rob Ninkovich wins this award after playing a superb game Saturday. Ninkovich ended up with nine tackles, one and half sacks, two quarterback hits and a tackle for a loss. Every time Tebow and the Broncos tried to confuse the Patriots defence with their option running game, Ninkovich was there to make a play.
What’s next?:
After two straight years of being “one and done” the Patriots have lived to play one more week. Sunday in Foxboro the Patriots will host the Ravens.
3) “Eli’s coming”
The Green Bay Packers amazing run is no more. There will be no Super Bowl repeat this year as the Giants walked into Lambeau Field and punched the Packers in the mouth.
Star of the game:
Once again Eli Manning came up big in a pressure situation in the postseason. On the road, facing the best team in the NFL, Manning carved up the Packers secondary for 330 yards and three touchdowns. Manning made the Packers pay dearly for their turnovers as he repeatedly exposed weaknesses in their secondary. Every chance he had to go for the throat, Manning attacked the Packers defence with a vengeance. In the end, Manning played the kind of game that Packers fans were expecting out of Aaron Rodgers. He was just that good on Sunday.
Stiff of the game:
The entire Packers offense deserves this award for fumbling away a chance to get back to the NFC Championship game. Super Bowl teams don’t drop at least six passes and
fumble the ball away three times.
While the Giants deserve credit for how hard they played, that does not excuse the Packers for making so many mental mistakes in a playoff game. Even with all the drops, Aaron Rodgers deserves a share of the blame for the Packers issues on offense.
Turning point:
The turning point in the game took place right at the end of the first half. With the Giants holding on to a slim 13-10 lead, Manning decided to throw up a hail mary to the endzone.
37 yards later Hakeem Nicks out jumped two Packers defenders to come up with the stunning touchdown grab. The Packers went into the locker room in a state of shock they were unable to recover from.
Unsung hero:
This award is shared by Giants linebackers Michael Boley and Chase Blackburn. Boley ended up with nine tackles, two sacks, two quarterback hits and three tackles for losses. Meanwhile Blackburn scooped up a Ryan Grant fumble and rumbled 40 yards to the Packers four-yard line. The very next play Manning hit Mario Manningham with a four-yard touchdown pass that put the game out of reach for the Packers.
What’s next?:
Up next the Giants will travel west
to San Francisco for a date with the 49ers in the NFC Championship game. Or as the Giants players and coaches are calling it, “Week 20” of a football schedule that they hope won’t end.
4) “Winning ugly”
Star of the game:
It was tough to pick a star from the Baltimore Ravens because so few players had what you would call a star-worthy performance. Anquan Boldin made some key receptions and scored a touchdown. But he only caught a total of four passes. Joe Flacco threw two touchdowns, but was generally ineffective for most of the game and struggled to put together any sustained drives. Houston Texans running back Arian Foster was the best offensive player in the game in a losing cause. Ultimately there were no true star performances by the Ravens.
Stiff of the game:
T.J. Yates deserves some votes after he tossed three interceptions. With Arian Foster running wild for 132 yards and the Texans defence balling out, all Yates had to do was play smart and not turn the ball over and they would have won the game. But considering it was only the seventh start in his young career, it wasn’t a shock to see the rookie make those kinds of mistakes in that kind of game.
The ultimate stiff in this game was Texans receiver Jacoby Jones. Making a boneheaded decision to field a bouncing punt instead of letting the Ravens down it, Jones fumbled the ball away at the Texans two-yard line. Three plays later the Ravens made Jones pay for his dumb mistake with a one-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco.
Turning point:
On a day when the Ravens offence struggled, the turning point in this game was provided by their defense. Ed Reed came up with a crucial interception late in the fourth quarter when the Texans were driving to tie the game. The amazing Reed now has eight interceptions in 10 career playoff games.
Unsung hero:
The unsung hero of this game is from the losing team, Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt. The rookie out of Wisconsin gave the Ravens nightmares all day long. Watt, known as the “Milkman” to his teammates, had two and half sacks, three quarterback hits, and three tackles for losses and led both teams with a total of 12 tackles.
What’s next?:
Up next Ray Lewis and the Ravens will take a trip to Gillette Stadium to face Tom Brady and the Patriots.
