I just looked over the gallery of "Best Regular-Season Games Since 1990" and I have to say, it kind of upset me. Sure, at the moment of the opening kickoff, those were the best games - they had the best teams playing for the highest stakes. But some of them weren't even close! And none of the games were of make-or-break significance - they were all two good teams, usually vying for home-field advantage should they meet in the conference championship. Sometimes, winner-makes-the-playoffs games are far more exciting. All but one of the games featured mini-dynasty teams, too, feeding the hype machine even more and ignoring the achievements of the one-year wonders.
To me, a great game needs to have:
1) a close finish, where a play within the final minute determines the outcome.
2) two teams playing very good football throughout (no slopfests)
3) significance - either playoff implications, a rivalry, or a turnaround game.
4) memorable plays or events.
With that being said, I'm going to say something that the NFL world might consider sacreligious. Sunday's Pats-Colts game was NOT the Game of the Century. It wasn't even the Game Of 2007.
1) The finish wasn't any more exciting than any other 4-point victory. It's not like the Colts made it to the 1-yard line and stalled. The game-sealing plays happened with 2:25 and 2:13 left to play. After that, it was over. Grade: B.
2) They definitely do fine in this category - both teams played very well. The turnovers were because of superb defensive plays, not sloppy offense. Though the Patriots' heavy number of penalties knocks it down 1/3 of a grade. A.
3) We all know about the significance of this one. Rivalry, check. Playoff implications, check. Plus, it's the biggest hurdle on New England's path to undefeatedville. A+.
4) There were two plays that will stick in my memory for a while: Joseph Addai's masterful running (and the perfect blocking downfield) on his 73-yard touchdown, and the strip-sack of Peyton Manning at the end of the game when the ball fell into Rosevelt Colvin's arms. Yeah, Randy Moss caught a 55-yard bomb. It wasn't even one of his six best plays of the season. B.
So that's a darn good game, and ranks in the top ten for the year, certainly. But I think we've seen better. For example:
Cleveland vs. Cincinnati, week 2:
1) An interception with 21 seconds left sealed the game for the Browns. After a offensive scorefest, a defensive play won the game. A.
2) Yeah, the defenses were awful, but the offenses were SO GOOD that they still get a solid grade here. B+.
3) Yes, it's a rivalry, and this game signified the changing of the guard in Ohio, which has proved to not be a fluke. It was also the coming-out party for Derek Anderson, who is turning out to be a Pro Bowl candidate. We're just missing playoff implications. A.
4) How about 11 combined touchdown passes for memorable plays, 8 of which were 10 yards or longer? Plus the midfiend interception, Jamal Lewis' 66-yard run, and kick returns of 85 and 65 yards by Josh Cribbs and Glenn Holt, respectively? A+.
Oakland at Denver, week 2.
1) A missed field goal with no time left caused overtime, and overtime was won by a field goal. Dre Bly threw in a final-minute interception to boot. A+.
2) There were a number of interceptions, but both teams have very talented secondaries, so I won't deduct too many points. The defenses get the credit for this grade. A-.
3) Long-standing rivalry, could end up having playoff implications in a weak division. B.
4) A safety, a 44-yard interception return TD, a 46-yard TD pass to nearly-forgotten Jerry Porter - yeah, they're all good, but this game will be remembered ultimately for starting the trend of calling last-millisecond timeouts to make kickers try the field goal twice. A+.
Chicago at Green Bay, week 6
1) An end-zone interception by Brandon McGowan clinched the victory, after a TD right before the 2-minute warning got the Bears a 7-point lead. A+.
2) This was another game marked by darn good defense, with a few turnovers, and fairly low yardage. The Bears played the best they have all year, though the Pack didn't quite have their act together. B-.
3) Huge rivalry, thus far it's Green Bay's only loss, and could cost them home-field in the playoffs. Time will tell. A.
4) Lance Briggs picked up 16 tackles, the final-second interception was a record-tier, entering Favre into the record books with George Blanda, a 41-yard TD to Greg Jennings, and a 34-yd go-ahead TD to Desmond Clark to affirm that Brian Griese is not Rex Grossman. A+.
I'm sure I could think of more, but there are only so many hours in a day. So what I'm saying is, let's let go of the hype. The Game is over, it was great, but it wasn't anywhere near the greatest.
Ashley Allen
Tori Praver
Did You See That?
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How about the Dallas-Buffalo game, I know it was INT filled but that contributed to the finish of it. It definetly turned around Buffalos season. It was decided on the final play of the game, and I can think of numerous plays that stand out. I know the rivalry isn't there but still it was a heck of a game.
Kmark
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I'd pick the Buffalo-Dallas game as the game of the year, even if I didn't like the result. Green Bay-Chicago was also a very good game.
I'd disagree with the Cincinnati-Browns game. The game featured such awful defense that it shouldn't be in the top 10. It did indeed feature a changing of the guard in Ohio, but it looked like arena football.
Giants-Washington Week 3 was also a very good game. Top five. That last half turned the Giants season around. They haven't lost since.
Nikolai
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The only questions I have now are:
1) When will Oakland start JeMarcus Russell?
2) Will Detroit end up on top of their division ?
3) What happend Denver??
4) Will the Pats go undefeated?
5) Who is Brady Quinn again?
Stay tuned to the exciting 2nd half of the NFL season for answers to these and other important questions.
Tracy00214-Is back!
Total Comments (32396)
Yeah, missed the ball on Buffalo-Dallas. It's a little lacking in the significance department, but with the two-time Super Bowl matchup and the fact that it was part of the Trent Edwards Turnaround in Buffalo, I'd give it a good enough grade to top NE-IND.
We'll agree to disagre on CIN-CLE, Nikolai. I considered New York-Washington, but one team played awful in the first half, and the other played awful in the second, so it didn't quite make my cut. It'd be top ten, but probably behind NE-IND.
Tracy, thanks for helping remind us all that the season didn't end last Sunday.
Dan TM is Stupendous…
Evanston , IL
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Glad to see you put an A+ on the Pat's Colt's rivalry Danno,there is a reason these two teams play every year and that is because they are one of the fiercest rivals in the NFL.It's almost like the Colt's never left the AFC East.The Cowboy's and Eagles got a poor rating the other night due to the fact that the Eagles are not what they once where.The Colt's game got huge ratings though.As of right now,today what would you say are the best rivalry's in the NFL besides Pat's and Colt's and Cowboy's and Eagle's.Bear's and Packer's maybe ?
Harry Callahan
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Raven's and Steeler's maybe,even after last night.
Harry Callahan
Total Comments (10043)
I don't think Raven's - Steeler's is as big as Brown's - Steeler's is, even though it's been lopsided recently. The fact that they were both born in blue-collar, industrial football towns only about 90 minutes away, and an overall record of CLE 55 and PIT 49 (+2 in the playoffs) makes it still one of the best rivalries in the sport today.
CLandBrowns
Solon , OH
Total Comments (31)
First of all, do people around you in Dallas really hate Philadelphia more than Washington? I guess T.O. does that to people. But I'll never believe that Dallas-Washington isn't the biggest rivalry in football. But you said "best," not "biggest," which I'll distinguish between. Right now, Pats-Colts is a "better" rivalry, because the entire nation tunes in. Which might be a case for Philly-Dallas being "better" than DC-Dallas.
So I'd say, mostly in order, though I'm not sold:
Pats-Colts
Bears-Packers
Eagles-Cowboys
Redskins-Cowboys
Ravens-Browns (maybe now the hatred won't be one-sided)
Chiefs-Broncos (more relevant in recent years than Raiders-Broncos)
Pats-Jets (thank you Mangini)
Eagles-Giants
Ravens-Steelers (can't seem to be great at the same time)
And these are my favorite up-and-coming rivalries:
Jags-Titans
Seahawks-Rams
Titans-Texans
Bucs-Panthers
Dan TM is Stupendous…
Evanston , IL
Total Comments (2071)
Funny, we all disagree on what the biggest AFC North rivalry is.
Dan TM is Stupendous…
Evanston , IL
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My take on the AFC Norths biggest rivalry is Steelers/ Bengals, especially after Palmers injury...and the Jets are #1 on every Patriot fans hit list. *polishes sniper rifle*
Tracy00214-Is back!
Total Comments (32396)
I agree on the Buffalo/Dallas game. That was absolutely the craziest finish I've ever seen. (...with the possible exception of Majkowski to Sharpe in "the instant replay game," but we won't go there.)
I'd also say Packers/Broncos on MNF, but I know I'm biased.
...but I'm not sure I agree with Dan's premise here. This was a huge game, and it was very well played. I think maybe Dan TM is a "hype-hater." ...which, granted, is understandable. Who doesn't get sick of a media frenzy? But, still, one shouldn't let the media ruin something good. This was a see-saw game the whole way, and it came down to which great players on which great team could make more great plays. I mean, that's great football. What more does a guy want?
Curly Lambeau
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Btw, I think Packer fans hate Vikings fans more than they hate Bears fans. I respect the Bears, I loathe the Vikings. ...stupid Vikings... Tracy, can I borrow that sniper rifle when you're done with it?
Curly Lambeau
Total Comments (5170)
Giants-Cowboys is becoming a good rivalry again.
Redskins-Dallas is the biggest rivalry in the NFL. No matter how badly or well those teams are doing, it is always a fierce game that can go either way.
Back when the AFC west was worth watching, Oakland-Denver and Oakland-Kansas City were great rivalries. Among the best.
Nikolai
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We were asking, great games of the year (to date)...Green Bay/Denver qualifies. I'm not sold on NE/Indy being GREAT; good, perhaps; held everybody's interest...but, NOT great.
Nikolai has it right: when the Skins face off against the Cowturds, the records DON'T matter!!! I'll also go along with OAK/DEN and OAK/KC, back in the olden days.
DC Sports Nut: Nats,…
Total Comments (2558)
The AFC North is one large rivalry, almost every game in it is a rivalry match for the Browns:
Browns - Steelers : old school hate
Browns - Ravens : stole our team, won a super bowl, thanks
Browns - Bengals: battle of ohio
CLandBrowns
Solon , OH
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GOOD point...
DC Sports Nut: Nats,…
Total Comments (2558)
CLandBrowns - can't forget
Steelers - Ravens : one is almost always among league elite
Steelers - Bengals : Ohio River battle
Ravens - Bengals: all O vs. all D
Dan TM is Stupendous…
Evanston , IL
Total Comments (2071)
Curly, I am indeed a hype-hater. I'm generally against any team or teams getting too much headline when there's great football being played all over the place.
I also never watched Titanic, don't play DDR, haven't read any Harry Potter books, and don't spend much time on YouTube. Nothing against any of the above, I'm sure they're great - I'd just rather spend my time doing stuff everyone else isn't.
Dan TM is Stupendous…
Evanston , IL
Total Comments (2071)
It is funny in the NFC East how everyone hates the Cowboys most.
And Tracy, as far as NE-IND vs NE-NYJ; I agree that in New England, the Jets are a bigger rival. But to the rest of the country, it's Pats-Colts. That's why I distinguished between "bigger" rivalry and "better" rivalry (same story with Skins-Cowboys vs. Eagles-Cowboys).
Dan TM is Stupendous…
Evanston , IL
Total Comments (2071)
Dan, Im a Giants fan from my head to my toes, I have many good memories of Great Dallas games, they are Americas team. If you
are A Dallas Hater your jealous. May the better team win. Dallas
fans should stand tall as well as the Giants good or bad.
Beat the Eagles down.
GO SKINS ON SUNDAY.
New York Rocks
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