Andy Reid hoping familiarity breeds success | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/06/2010 – Philadelphia Inquirer

The question was posed to Andy Reid, and he hesitated for a few seconds while deciding the correct way to answer it.

Is there anything good about facing the same team two weeks in a row?

In this case, it’s the Dallas Cowboys, a team that has just defeated the Eagles handily, 24-0. It’s a team that has already beaten the Eagles twice this season. And despite having not won a playoff game in 14 years, it’s a team brimming ..read more

NFC Playoff Race: Which NFC Team Will Be Super Bowl Bound? – Bleacher Report

With one week left in the 2009-2010 NFL season, there are around ten AFC teams with a shot at the playoffs. Attempting to decipher the various scenarios will give nearly anyone a brain cramp.

However, the NFC playoff teams are set. Even though seeding is yet to be determined, the six teams that are playoff bound are the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, and the Green Bay Packers.

The team that plays the best in the ..read more

NFL playoff picture update following the afternoon games – Los Angeles Times

The Baltimore Ravens have taken one of the two AFC wild-card playoff spots with their 21-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders this afternoon, while the Dallas Cowboys have clinched the NFC East title with a 24-0 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles will now return to Dallas for a first-round playoff game at Cowboys Stadium next week.

The Arizona Cardinals, the defending NFC champion, fell to Green Bay, 33-7, on Sunday and will ..read more

Steelers and Texans keep playoff hopes alive – Reuters

MIAMI (Reuters) – Defending Super Bowl champions Pittsburgh Steelers and the surprising Houston Texans kept their slim playoff hopes alive with victories on Sunday, the final day of the NFL regular season.

Sports

The Steelers (9-7) eliminated the Miami Dolphins (7-9) with a 30-24 win and the Texans (9-7) posted a 34-27 victory over the playoff bound New England Patriots (10-6). Both Pittsburgh and Houston need losses by other AFC teams later on Sunday, however, to remain in the postseason hunt.

Minnesota Vikings ..read more

Playoff Preview? Not Quite, as Pack Rolls Cautious Cards – FanHouse

GLENDALE, Ariz. — It was supposed to be a coming attraction. Or, if you like, an uncommon distraction.

On Sunday afternoon the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals met knowing that they’d be facing one another six or seven days from now on the same field in the opening round of the NFC playoffs. How exactly does a coach prepare his team for such a game? Does ..read more

Pat Summerall Biography: Pat Summerall will call the action at the 74th Cotton Bowl for Fox! (Entertainment and Showbiz!)

George Allen “Pat” Summerall, former American football player and television sportscaster, does ot only once in year but he does it with great pleasure. He will be calling the action at the 74th Cotton Bowl for Fox.

“Just to be involved with the Cotton Bowl is a cherished part of my life,” Summerall said. “It means a lot to me. Preparation for a college game is more difficult than a professional game, because there are so many more players and the ..read more

Instant Replay: Stewart shines in Jersey – ESPN

At least the NFL’s “Daily Show” doesn’t go on a long, holiday vacation.

Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart showed up for his Christmas weekend assignment — in the starring role in place of the injured DeAngelo Williams — and proceeded to set a Carolina Panthers franchise record with 206 rushing yards while totaling a week-best (entering the Sunday night game) 27 fantasy points. What’s more, he did it against a New York Giants defense that, in spite of its recent struggles, ..read more

Sunday’s NFL Roundup – The Canadian Press

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 3 hours ago

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, three to Randy Moss, and the young defence put together its third straight solid game as New England beat Jacksonville 35-7 on Sunday, clinching the AFC East and further dimming the Jaguars’ slim post-season chances.

For the Patriots (10-5), it was another encouraging outing in what had been an inconsistent season. They took the division after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2002 ..read more

The wait on the Week 17 prime-time game – Minneapolis Star Tribune (blog)

Everyone knows the Vikings will play host to the New York Giants next Sunday but we don’t know is what game will be picked to be the Sunday night contest on NBC. And that’s a big deal considering the Vikings playoff position could be up in the air heading into the final weekend.

NFL spokesman Dan Masonson said in an e-mail that a Sunday night game must be selected by the league by Tuesday but could be determined as early as ..read more

Packers vs. Seahawks: Green Bay Demolishes Seattle, 48-10

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are going back to the playoffs, forcing four interceptions by Matt Hasselbeck to beat the Seattle Seahawks 48-10 on Sunday – then getting a big boost from the Carolina Panthers.

Sunday’s victory, combined with the New York Giants’ blowout loss to Carolina, put the Packers (10-5) back in the postseason after going 6-10 last season and getting off to a disappointing 4-4 start this year. The Panthers beat the Giants 41-9.

It was Hasselbeck’s ..read more