Monday, December 31, 2007

Ravens Season Over, So Is Brian Billicks Job

Brian Billick was fired after nine seasons coaching in Baltimore. As he started with the Ravens, they were a very aggressive and determined team, playoff bound and even won a super bowl. But Brian Billick's demise came slow and painfully as the Ravens seasons have deteriorated through the years. After the disappointing 5 - 11 record this year, just 24 hours after their last game, Brian Billick and his entire staff was dismissed from their jobs.

Billick won the 2001 Super Bowl in just his second season with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2006, the Ravens were 13-3, but this year lost a team record nine in a row. Billick had three years left on his contract that would have paid him US$5 million per season.

NFL Playoff Schedule

Here's the latest for the 2008 NFL Playoff Schedule:

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, January 5, 2008
NFC Wild Card Game - Things will kickoff with the Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks at 4:30pm on NBC. This will be a rematch of the playoff game from 2005 when the Seahawks beat the Redskins in the first round 20-13 in Seattle.
AFC Wild Card Game - Jacksonville Jaguars will travel to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a game at 8pm on NBC.

Sunday, January 6, 2008
NFC Wild Card Game - New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1pm on FOX
AFC Wild Card Game - Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers at 4:30pm on CBS

Divisional Playoffs
Saturday, January 12, 2008
NFC Divisional Playoff Game - 4:30pm - FOX
AFC Divisional Playoff Game - 8:00pm - CBS

Sunday, January 13, 2008
AFC Divisional Playoff Game - 1:00pm - CBS
NFC Divisional Playoff Game - 4:30pm - FOX

Conference Championships
Sunday, January 20, 2008
AFC Championship Game - 3:00pm - CBS
NFC Championship Game - 6:30pm - FOX

Super Bowl XLII
Sunday, February 3, 2008 - University of Phoenix Stadium
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion - 6:00pm - FOX

I can't wait for it all to start next weekend.

Your 2008 NFL Opponents Are In

Looks as if the Patriot's will have the long hauls this upcoming year. They will be scheduled for four cross-country trips for 2008 that will see them in Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

So far, all home and away opponents are set but game dates and times are still TBD. So go ahead and start planning for next year by seeing who your favorite NFL team will face in 2008.

You can see who your team will face here.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Redskins In, Vikings Out - NFL Playoffs

Washington Redskins 27 - Dallas Cowboys 6
I don't know what's worse for team morale, being blown out without your starters in and resting them for the playoffs like Jacksonville did today against Houston, or playing your starters (who produce nothing) and getting thumped by a rival. Well, the Redskins thumped the Cowboys this afternoon and battled there way back into the playoffs. Mystique, mojo, win one for the Gibb'er, remember Sean Taylor, whatever you want to call it, they did it. The Washington Redskins are the final NFC team in the playoffs this year.

Wade Phillips is an idiot. How do you even play your starters in a situation where you've already wrapped up your playoff spot coming into the game, almost getting Romo hurt with no time left before half-time and sticking him back in a Hail Mary type situation, and for what? Probably one of the best decisions he made today was pulling Tony Romo with 6:42 left in the third quarter at which point the Cowboys had a grand total of about 80 yards total offense. The Washington Redskins defense played really lights-out today and at the beginning of the 4th quarter, that big offensive line of Dallas had garnered negative total yards on the ground. What happened to the ground game?

A very impressive performance by the Washington Redskins today. Santana Moss had a huge day on the Dallas secondary and the old man Todd Collins can still wing it with a QB rating of 106.4. They are really playing with a lot of confidence and Seattle better get ready for this Washington Redskins team. Nothing like a rematch to start these NFL playoffs. Seattle came out the victor in 2005 with a 20-10 victory over the Washington Redskins, but I'm expecting a much tighter game this time around. Should be fun to watch. With the way the Washington Redskins are currently playing, I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the later playoff rounds.