You would assume a football player as old as Morten Andersen, 46, would have seen everything, but maybe not. He had the winning field goal in Atlanta’s incredibly entertaining 41-38 overtime victory over Pittsburgh in one of numerous Sunday games in which kickers were caught in bizarre circumstances.
Instead of “send in the clowns,” it was send in the kickers. Some of them, like Andersen, were being kissed by teammates while some won’t be kissed by their mothers today.
Let’s review the oddest:
Let Pops do it (eventually). With 29 seconds left in regulation and the game tied at 38-38, the Falcons wanted full-time punter Michael Koenen to kick a 56-yard field goal because Andersen is, well, old. And Koenen did it — but the officials said Pittsburgh Coach Bill Cowher called for a timeout just a split-second before the snap. Koenen kicks again and misses but Troy Polamalu may have tripped on his own hair and bumped into Koenen, who acted as if he had been shot. Now Atlanta switches to Andersen for a 52-yard kick but the old man is short.
Somehow 25 seconds are still on the clock. Pittsburgh gets close enough to kick a 50-yard field goal by Jeff Reed with eight seconds left but he never gets the chance because WR Nate Washington moves and the time is run off the clock. It’s OT and the Falcons moved 65 yards in 10 plays before Andersen kicks a 32-yarder to win it.
Piece of cake.
Call your union rep. Surely Green Bay’s Dave Rayner can make some kind of appeal for how he was robbed at the end of the first half in Miami. With four seconds left in the half, Rayner kicks a 55-yarder but it doesn’t count because Miami’s Zach Thomas gets a 15-yard penalty for “disconcerting” activity by yelling, “Shift!” or something close to that. OK, Rayner kicks again and is good from 40 yards but his blocker, Mike Montgomery, grabbed a facemask. Time expired during the kick and “by rule the half will not be extended for an offensive foul.” Bummer, Dave.
Count your blessings. Kansas City’s Lawrence Tynes was about to try a 48-yard field goal at home to upset San Diego but his own Kris Wilson moved for a 5-yard penalty. So Tynes kicked a career-long 53-yarder for the win and for recognition as Geico’s Play of the Day. What Geico didn’t mention is that the Chiefs needed the late kick because Tynes missed a PAT earlier. Better lucky than good.
The biggest Buc. You can read more elsewhere about Matt Bryant and his winning 62-yard field goal for Tampa Bay. Reminds me of the Yuks’ first coach, John McKay, and his disgust with kickers. He once said of kicker Bill Capece, “Capece is kaput,” and had an offensive guard, George Yarno, kick a short FG.
There were other kicking tales Sunday but these are the best (or worst) depending on what team you supported. Kickers — can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
OH NO, OAKLAND!
Let this be a lesson to everyone — history can slip out of your fingers in an afternoon. The Raiders no longer are unique in their lack of victories. Now they are just another rotten team with one win that’s fighting for next year’s first draft pick. I blame WR Randy Moss for his offensive efforts that reminded us how scary he was a few years ago.
But look at Arizona rookie QB Matt Leinart, who was badly outplayed by Oakland’s Andrew Walter (and Marques Tuiasosopo). Former UCF Coach Mike Kruczek must hope Cards Coach Dennis Green doesn’t fire his offensive coordinator again. (Green elevated Kruczek from quarterback coach to OC last week because Kruczek got along so well with Leinart. Oops.)
Who’s the worst in the NFL now? Hint: The answer could be found in this state.
SUNDAY SNAPSHOTS
Catch of the day. Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward makes a 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown — the last 30 yards missing one shoe.
Gave you Kansas City’s stunning upset of San Diego in Saturday’s Pro Picks. Not much else, but at least gave you that.
Some star players hurt, including Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (concussion) and Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck (knee), but nothing looked worse than the helmet Washington RB Clinton Portis took in the midsection. Well, a little lower than the midsection.
Proof Fox is finished. For the Arizona-Oakland game, they let Tony Siragusa sit in the booth — and talk.
On Thursday, we touted Jets RB Leon Washington as best “Waiver wire” pick of the week. He got 129 yards and two scores on 20 carries.
MONDAY NIGHT MATCHUP
E.R. GIANTS (3-2)
AT DALLAS (3-2)
8:30, ESPN
Happy Giants: According to LB Antonio Pierce, the previously dysfunctional Giants are a Dr. Phil-approved family now. “Guys are having fun again. Guys out there are shooting hoops [after making sacks]. [TE Jeremy] Shockey is talking smack. Eli [Manning] is even pumped up. We have put all the other stuff on the side.” Apparently nobody asked Antonio to describe “all the other stuff.”
Cowboys at home: Never insult a Cowboy on his home range. In two wins at home, the Cowboys outscored opponents 61-16. And QB Drew Bledsoe has four TDs and no interceptions at home compared to three TDs and seven picks on the road. That’s a passer rating of 93.3 at home and 53.7 away.
Strahan smiles: Cowboy blockers must watch for that “two-gap” grin of Giants DE Michael Strahan at all times. He has 13 sacks in his last 10 games against the Cowboys. More than that, Strahan (130.5 career sacks) needs 2.5 to best the team record set by Lawrence Taylor. And he’s not alone as someone to fear, for the Giants’ D sacked Mike Vick seven times last week.
Heeerrre’s T.O. — No surprise that Terrell Owens loves the center stage of Monday nights. He has 16 TD catches on MNF, tied for second all time. His numbers include 11 TDs in his last eight MNF appearances and four 100-yard games in the past five. But double-cover him and you are begging to be burned by Terry Glenn, who has had a TD of at least 20 yards in his last three MNF games.
POINT SPREAD: Cowboys favored by 3 1/2.
JERRY’S PICK: Cowboys by 5.
