Wk 2 Games of the Week

[Aestis]

Courtesy of Gmoney:


MIN at PIT

Week 2 GOTW has the 1-0 Vikings traveling to the steel city to take on the 1-0 Steelers in our AWFL Prime time game of the week. In week 1 the Vikings had no problem dispatching the Saint 33-6. Teddy Bridgewater passed for 205 yards and a TD while Florida State Rookie Darwin Cook had a nice NFL debut by rushing for 96 yards and a TD. The defense of the Vikings also was quite impressive as they forced Drew Brees into throwing 3 picks while holding the Saint offense to 183 yards for the entire match up.

The Steelers are coming off a 40=17 win over the the Browns. The game was closer than the final as the pesky Browns actually led the ga,e 10-6 midway through the 3rd QTR. Then the Steelers defense went to work, They mad QB Kizer look like the rookie he is by returning 2 pics for TD's in the final 16 minutes to break the game wide open. The Steeler D forced Kizer into 5 interceptions for the game. Big Ben passed for 261 yards and a TD and Bell had 32 carries for 101 yards with 62 of those yards coming in the final QTR.

This game should be pretty exciting to watch and 1 of these teams will start this season off 2-0. Will the Vikings purple eater defense slow down Big Ben and Bell? Will the Steel curtain defense shut down the Vikings in a similar manner.

The spread on the game varies depending on your location. The Minnesota Gazzette are making the Vikings a 3 point favorite on the road in the game. However the Pittsburgh Sun are making the Steelers a 10 point favorites in the game. Early odds in the Worls famous Ceasers Palace in Las Vegas are making this game a pick em.

[chief bearhawk]

Didn't know where to put this, but I like to do right ups on great games, win or loss (week 1 was not great lol) If I should create a thread going forward let me know.

The Saints week 1 opener left fans looking for their aint's brown paper bags, so expectations going into the Week 2 home opener were low to say the least, with the defending champion Patriots coming to town off a 28-10 win over the Chiefs.

The Pats received the opening kickoff, and to everyone's surprise gained no yards on 1st and 2nd down, and then Brady forced a throw over the middle that was picked by Mr. Catfished himself Manti Te'o. Setting up the Saints on the Patriots 34. After a 13 yard pickup to gin and a good rush from AP and Ingram the saints found themselves with 1st and goal from the 2. With two power runners, you expect an TD is imminent, but the Pats run D held strong, forcing the Saints to settle for a FG.

The saints D followed up with a second 3 and out on the patriots second drive, and after the Punt took over on their own 38. Facing a 3 and 1, and coming of the short ground game failure of the previous drive, they Saints turned to Brees who looked for a quick dump to the flat out of a pistol trips bunch formation, where Sneed looked to be open, but Morgan Burnett had other plans, and picked it of giving the Patriots the ball on the 38.

Brady moved the ball downfield with two passes to the 24, and on 3 and 5, gave it to White on the draw, who took it 17 yards to the one, and on 1 and goal Brady found cooks on a slant for a TD. 7-3 Patriots.

The Saints took over at their own 21, and began moving downfield, Picking up a first down on a 12 yard run as the quarter expired. The first play of the second quarter saw Brees back in the Pistol Trips right formation again, where he found Giin moving left to right on a gray route against the Pats Nickel 3-3-5 Cover 3 look. Ginn's speed had the LB beat easily and was looking for more when Malcom Butler lost his jockstrap on a juke and Snead sealed McCourty off downfield letting Ginn go 45 yards to pay dirt. 10-7 Saints.

Tom Brady came out slinging on the next drive going 3-4 on for 11, 12, incomplete, 11 yards, before turning and handing to White for only 2 yards on the next to plays. An incompletion led to a 53 yard attempt for Gostkowski, who had just enough leg to tie things up 10-10.

The Saints drive saw a 26 yard pickup on 3rd down, before being forced to punt, and Dorsett returned the punt 31 yards to the NE 44. Brady again moved the ball well through the air, getting the Patriots into FG range again, but again they saw the drive stall, and Gostkowski hit a 5 yard FG to put the Pats up 13-10 with 2:24 to play.

Ginn took the Kickoff to the 28, and the saints went on an 11 play drive, picking up 25 yards through the air, 11 yards on the back of Ingram, and the balance by AP as he capped the drive with an 11 yard run with 10 seconds remaining in the half. The Saints took the 17-13 lead in to the half, and were receiving the 2nd half kickoff.

Things opened slow for the Saints in the 3rd, as Brees took a sack on the first play from scrimmage, which ultimately forced the 3 and out, and gave excellent field position to the Patriots after Dorsett picked up 22 yards on the punt return the NE started at their own 41. They were unable to turn field position into points, and ended up punting after 5 plays, resulting in a touchback. The saints followed suit, punting after 5 plays of their own, and NE took over at their own 20.

The Patriots, down four, came out with focus and precision on the next drive. The Saints put Brady in 4th and 5 positions back to back, but Tom was able to find White for 12 and Dorsett for 7, and the Patriots found themselves at the Saints 40, where they had seen multiple drives stall in the first half. After a incomplete pass, Brady came out in an empty set, 3 WR to the short (right) side. The saints were in a dime set, and were bringing MLB pressure with cover 2 over the top. Gronk and Mitchell both set great blocks as Brady dumped the screen to Dorsett and big #61 Cannon rumbled 10 yards down field to seal the Safety Bell and Dorsett took it 40 yards clean, to give the patriots the lead 20-17.

The Saints picked up 7 on second down as the 3 quarter ended. While they opened the 2nd quarter with a TD, the result was not as good opening the fourth on third and 3 ad Brees through his second INT of the game, this one to Malcom Butler, and the Patriots found themselves with 1st down at the Saints 23. The Saints D pulled of a 3 and out stop and Gostkowski punched home a 34 yard FG to give the Patriots a 23 - 17 lead.

The Saints began moving the ball well on the next drive which started with 10:39 remaining in the 4th. Bree hit passes of 8 and 15 yards to Ingram and Snead respectively, before facing a 3rd and 6 on NE 47. Bree looked for Ginn but ws incomplete, and the Saints played for field position. Morstead showed that special teams matter, pinning the Patriots at their own 4. The Saints D, who had played well all game, forced another 3 and out with the patriots netting -1 yards and punting from their end zone. The Saints went for the block but the punt was clean, and Ginn had no return. The field position battle however was in their favor as they took over at their own 38.

With 7:18 to play, the Saints needed a score. Brees opened the drive up with a 20 yard completion to Fleener, off play action across the middle. After a two yard run the Saints were 2nd and 8 at the NE 40. Brees, lined up on the left hash, had 3 receivers to his left and Fleener off to the right. The Patriots in a Dollar look, allowed the big horses to open a gapping hole on the short side. AP looked to be clear, but seemed to be low on gas, and was caught by Burnett, who took a great angle from the opposite side safety position, taking AP down at the 1. We had seen this before from the Saints opening drive, where AP was held three consecutive plays, so instead of AP, Brees turned and handed to Kuuuuuhhhhnnnnnnn, the crowd erupted as he took the 1st and goal carry in for 6. 24-23 Saints with 5:24 to play.

Is there any other QB you would not want to face in a 4th quarter comeback situation? After a touchback, Brady and crew went to work, well for 3 plays as the Saints D forced another 3 and out! The Patriots D however was up to the task and did the same, and took over on their own 28 with 2:34 to go. Que classic Brady to Gronk hook up. On second and 10, Brady hits Gronk four a 30 yard strike. 1 and 10 at NO 42 at the two minute warning.

1st down - -2 yard run by White. Saints let clock run.
2nd down - -2 yard completion to White. Saints let clock run, we need to win this with a D stand.
3rd down - Saints know whats coming, they had seen this look before, and know the Pats only need to get into FG range. Brady out of the shotgun, White to his right. Draw is coming, and MR Robertson was there to stuff it for a 3 yard pickup. Saints let the clock run.
4th Down: Brady in the shotgun on the left hash with White to his right. 3 WR to his left. Ground alone to the right. Saints in Quarter set, cover 4. They had prepared for this all week. The achieved gold in the weekly practice sets with focus on cover 4. It was time to shine. Brady having other plans, looks for Dorsett, but Bell has other plans, and its picked off! Returned to the 35. SAINTS BALL, but wait, there are 26 seconds left on the clock, and NE has all three time outs. Que classic AP. Saints in the I, with TE on the right. HB Power opens a lane that Chief Bearhawk himself could have ran through. AP motors down 38 yards down field, protects the rock, and gets tackled in bounds to seal it.

24-23 Saints Win!

Bumble, as mentioned, one of the funnest Madden games i have played in a while. Good luck the rest of the way:

Key Stats can be found on Daddy Leagues lol.