Football Reporters Online

2010 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

NEW YORK JETS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

By Don Stokes Senior Writer Football Reporters Online

The road to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV and the Lombardi trophy will continue on Sunday Jan, 23rd for either the 2010 AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, led by their 4th year Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Or the upstart AFC Wildcard New York Jets with their 2nd year Head Coach Rex Ryan. For the Pittsburgh Steelers this will be their 15th AFC Championship appearance since the NFL merger in 1970 and their 11th time hosting the game. This appearance is old hat for the “Steelers” fateful the loyal hardhat lunch bucket fan base Pittsburgh have enjoyed throughout their teams colorful past. For they have watched their “Super Steelers” with players named Bradshaw, Swann, Mean Joe and Franco dominate the NFL playoff scene for the past 40 NFL seasons.

Read the rest of this entry →

Pats Waited For Mistakes, Instead Sanchez Made Plays

By TJ Rosenthal-Jets Reporter-Football Reporters Online/Pro Football NYC

You couldn’t have asked Bill Belichick and New England for a better scenario. One that included the Jets having to ride QB Mark Sanchez to victory in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.. On four occasions however, it WAS the arm of the Jets second year QB that provided the big plays. A collection of clutch daggers that sent the 14-2 Patriots into an offseason prematurely from the perspective of a team that owned the number one seed in the AFC.

First it was Sanchez hooking up with RB Ladainian Tomlinson on a tough throw and catch in the flat by the goal line. The play resulted in a TD scamper and a 7-3 lead with 10:00 left in the half. More than that it was a huge emotional boost for a team that finally rewarded it’s defenses hard work for twenty minutes, with points and a lead.

Read the rest of this entry →

The Beatles coined the phrase “Come Together” for pop culture back on their 1969 LP Abbey Road. For these 2010 New York Jets, the notion of running on all cylinders is essential now. The Jets will have a difficult time making out of the AFC, and even out of Lucas Oil stadium on Saturday night, if they don’t begin to put it together collectively during the same game. At times the defense has won games, other times it was a confident Mark Sanchez spearheading the way. Special teams has kicked in to help out in key spots too but now that the playoffs are hours away, it’s now or never for to put it all together.

Read the rest of this entry →

McKnight’s Opportunity Could Help The Jets In January-By TJ Rosenthal-Jets Reporter-Football Reporters Online/Pro Football NYC

(photo: McKnight made Pete Carroll very happy at times while at USC, but has yet to show the same ability with the Jets-Credit Wikimedia commons Share Alike)

The introduction that the Jets got to Joe McKnight was kind of like a fraternal hazing one. There was the rookie out of USC vomiting during Spring minicamp, after being selected in the 4th round out of USC. Giving off the impression of being out of shape and unmotivated, when it was really nerves that set off the initial story of McKnight in the local New York media.

McKnight, the heir to Reggie Bush was never healthy enough to challenge Bush’s 38 touchdown career in college. Nagging injuries left him healthy only in 2009, and contributed to his mere 15 touchdown output as a Trojan.

Read the rest of this entry →

C’mon now, you didn’t think I was going to avoid a foot related pun on national “just when you think anything else couldn’t happen for your team to grab headlines, it is found out your head coach and his wife make foot fetish videos and post them all over the Internet” day?

Honestly, I have nothing to comment on it, except for the following:

1. This was the cover story on a major newspaper’s front page section, not sports section, in the biggest city in our country. What does that say about journalism in America?
2. For everybody hating on Rex about this, save your hate for Bill Belichick who had affair and ruined two marriages in the process. So what if Rex is into his wife’s feet? A little weird? Yes…actually very weird, but whatever it is their personal life.
3. Finally, you really put these videos on YouTube and all over the Internet, Mr. and Mrs. Ryan and expected nobody to eventually find out?

Read the rest of this entry →

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-8) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-6)

Chargers' QB Philip Rivers

Kickoff: 8:00pn ET
Site: Qualcomm Stadium
Surface: Grass

TV: NFLN (5:00 PM PT): Bob Papa, Matt Millen, Alex Flanagan (Field reporter).

RADIO: Westwood One Radio: Kevin Kugler, Trent Green, Laura Okmin (Field reporter).  SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 125 (SF), 126 (SD).  XM: 124 (WW1), 102 (SF), 103 (SD).

LAST GAME: 10/15/06: Chargers 48 at 49ers 19. San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for 4 TDs as Chargers outlast San Francisco. San Diego outgains 49ers 421-274 in total yards.

LAST GAME AT SITE: 11/17/02: Chargers 20, 49ers 17 (OT). San Diego K Steve Christie kicks 40-yd FG with 4:11 remaining in OT. Chargers QB Drew Brees passes for 336 yards & 2 TDs.

Read the rest of this entry →

The 9-2 New York Jets travel to Foxborough to continue their heated rivalry with the retooled New England Patriots (9-2) in battle for the top spot in the AFC.

Kickoff: 8:30pm ET
Site: Gillette Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf

Last Game: 9/19/10: Patriots 14 at Jets 28. New York QB Mark Sanchez completes 21 of 30 passes (70.0 pct.) for 220 yards with career-high 3 TDs & 0 INTs for 124.3 passer rating.
Read the rest of this entry →