Jax Sporting News©

It's Still Christmas in Denver

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated January 8, 2012

Denver,CO--If Christmas weren't already over it would surely have been hailed a 'Christmas Miracle'.  Tim Tebow led the Denver Broncos ahead of the Pittsburg Steelers for most of the post season playoff game.  The Steelers were making what looked like a well earned come from behind win but just managed to tie the score by the end of regulation.

New overtime rules implemented this year state that each team gets at least one possession unless one team score a touchdown; a field goal will not automatically win the game as in regular season overtime. The coin toss was held; Pittsburg made the call of tails. The coin landed heads and without question Denver received the ball.

If you blinked, left the room for a quick snack or bathroom break, you missed it! One snap, one throw, one catch and Demaryius Thomas and Tim Tebow clinched Denver's first playoff game of the season 29-23 against the Pittsburg Steelers.

Denver's next opponent will be the New England Patriots where they are without doubt the under, under dogs.

By James Critch  Story Updated December 10, 2011

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to EverBank Field this Sunday to face off versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, it will be a game between two disappointing teams. Both teams were expected to make a playoff run this season. In the Jags case, not being a playoff contender cost head coach Jack Del Rio his job. Tampa Bay at 4-8 and Jacksonville sitting at 3-9, the season is all but over for both.

With little to play for but pride and respect, if you can gain any from a game with such little importance, there are still interesting match ups. For one thing one of the most exciting players in the NFL will be present in Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Following that, it’s pretty much just a game for both respective teams’ true fans.

1.      Maurice Jones-Drew versus the Buccaneers defensive front

When facing the Jaguars all teams know the main focus is to stop the league’s leading rusher Maurice Jones-Drew. This is easier said than done. Having faced six to eight man fronts all season, Jones-Drew has still been able to have one of his most productive seasons to date. With his league leading 1,137 yards rushing and averaging 4.5 yards per carry, Jones-Drew is spearheading the league’s 11^th ranked rushing offense that is averaging 119 yards per game.

The season may be over for the Jaguars when it comes to playoffs, but for the offensive line, their goal is to get Jones-Drew the rushing title. Veteran guard Uche Nwaneri  recently told Jaguars.com , “We have our goals set as a line. One of them is to be a Top 5 rushing team in the league and to get Maurice ‘X’ amount of yards every game. To have him take first place in the lead for the rushing title, that makes us really proud.” Running backs coach Earnest Byner feels the same way. “We want to win and if a byproduct of that is him getting the rushing title, then great.”

2.      Will Jaguars head coach Mel Tucker give Blaine Gabbert more opportunities?  

With the season over for the Jaguars, it would be nice to see more from rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert.  Unfortunately right now he is one of the lowest ranked signal callers in the league, his passing offense is ranked 31 in the league, averaging 135 yards passing per game and he has thrown for 1,566 yards while completing a dismal 49.5% of his passes.

There was some speculation that ex- head coach Jack Del Rio was holding back on opening up the offense and in a way handcuffing Gabbert. And following this past Monday night game versus the San Diego Chargers, which was one of Gabbert’s more successful outings, interim head coach Mel Tucker was happy with Gabbert slinging the ball 33 times, completing 57% of his passes. He was quoted following the game in the Jacksonville Times Union: “Blaine did some good things. He completed some balls, moved the team down the field. Looked like he had real good poise, was in rhythm. I thought that was huge. I was pleased with what we did offensively.” 

3.      The injuries suffered on the defensive side of the ball could come back to haunt the Jaguars.

The Jaguars currently have the 4^th ranked pass defense in the league, giving up 192 yards per game along with the 14^th rush defense allowing 111 yards per game. Unfortunately these stats were obtained before a whirlwind of injuries swept through the Jags locker-room.  

The Jags now have a stat that no team wants to obtain. They are number one in I-R injuries. They currently have 20 players placed on season ending injured reserve. The most recent are starting defensive end Aaron Kampman, and three starting defensive backs; Rashean Mathis, Derek Cox and William Middleton.  

When it comes to the loss of Kampman and other injuries that have taken place to the defensive line including John Chick (IR) and Matt Roth (concussion), starting defensive end Jeremy Mincey put it best when he told the Florida Times Union; “seems like we are running out of firepower at the end.”

Starting linebacker Paul Posluszny mentioned to the Times Union; “we’re going to have to get creative with the guys we have.”

The season may be over both these teams, but it is still an inner state rivalry and bragging rights are up for grabs. And that’s pretty much all this game has riding on it.

By James Critch  Story Updated September 17, 2011

Now that week one in the NFL has come to an end and we are all getting ready for the upcoming weekend of games, I cannot get a thought out of my head. We just celebrated the tenth anniversary of 9/11. My thoughts and prayers go out to those that were lost and to their family members. Even though this was a tragic day in American history, the NFL honors it with class.

In Jacksonville Florida along with other NFL city stadiums, the NFL paid tribute to the fallen of 9/11. A moment of silence was held. While this was taking place local firefighters, police officers, members of their surrounding military personnel, NFL players and coaches held a flag that stretched the entire length and width of the field.  Following the National Anthem, there was a military flyover.

I have heard a lot of people that go to the games talk about the flyover and how “awesome” it is. But according to a friend of mine, who has been a Jag fan and season ticket holder for over 10 years mentioned,  “following this flyover, you could not only see the difference in people’s faces, you could feel the pride in the stadium. There were very few dry eyes in the stadium, from what I could see.”

The events of 9/11 were a dark time for the United States and it still leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths. It’s a day that will live in infamy. It is an event that caused more deaths than Pearl Harbor (according to NYmag.com in 9/11 America lost 2,479 people and according to Wikianswers America lost 2,403 people in Pearl Harbor).

According to one man that was at the Jags game and was raised with a military background, but would only allow the use of his first name for this article, John believes, “the flyovers represent America’s strength. We are a strong country and we can handle any adversity that comes our way. We are the best country in the world.”

I was able to speak with two other people that attended the game. One is a 42 year-old entrepreneur named Miguel Salas that has been a Jag fan for years and has been to almost every home game. His thoughts on the flyovers are, “This flyover was the most exciting thing about the game day experience. I wish I could have one flyover go over my house every morning. What a way to start the day.”

The second gentleman that I spoke to was a 22 year-old Sales Service Rep named Matt Hernandez.  “It filled me with pride to be an American, to have the jets fly over, along with the star spangled banner to start the greatest sport in the USA. It gets you pumped up to be an American.  The game day experience would not be the same without it.”

With the passing of the tenth anniversary of 9/11 it is a time to reflect and realize that even with the greatest of tragedies; we are a country of survivors. We will always adapt and overcome.  

Military flyovers are a typical part of the NFL game day experience, but for many of us, this past Sunday’s, just made us realize that we are united and we are the Red, White, and Blue.