10/01/2012 American Football

Heather and welcome to highlights of the season's NFL players. The

post-season party is already under way, I'd we will be bringing you

the best of the action from the wild card weekend. The action

eventually delivered all the drama and intrigue we associate with the

NFL, but ultimately only 12 teams can make it to the promised land of

the play-offs. In each conference the four divisional winners get a

tokamaks seeds. The two of the best regular-season wreckers get up by

into the past when, meaning reigning champions Green Bay

Packers join the action next week along with San Francisco, Baltimore

and England. Tonight we see did Cincinnati Bengals a visit the

Houston Texans. The Detroit Lions against the New Orleans Saints, and

the Atlanta Falcons in the Big Apple, to take on the New York

Giants. The number accompanying each team in the case their seeding

in the play-offs. So, the lowest remaining seeds after the wild-card

round will play the New England Patriots ended AFC, and the Green

Bay Packers in the NFC. From there, the surviving teams in his

conference face of to see who goes on to complete -- compete in the

Super Bowl in two months' time. You can watch that live and then aged

the on the BBC on February 5th. We have dusted off our resident BBC

NFL expert, Mike Carlson. You look well considering you have spent the

last 12 months in a cupboard back there! It was a strange season for

lots of reasons but it was record- breaking in terms of offence. We

have seen some price packages, too. Sir of that big offensive explosion

dissipated as the season went on but that three big offence of teams,

the Saints, the Green Bay Packers, and the Detroit Lions are through,

and a couple of big surprises, too. The 49ers captured the NFC Western

generation. And of course, the team were going to see next, the Denver

Broncos, very few people would expect him to get into the play-

offs in mid-season because it looked like they would be no when

the it. Good to see the 49ers and the Broncos back in the picture. We

start of the action with the Denver Broncos. Despite just eight wins

and a colossus, Denver Broncos claimed the division also vital and

secured a tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers. One man has a

dominated the headlines in Denver after some divine intervention in

weeks seven to stop Tim Tebow led Denver to the AFC West title in

with his own particular brand of football, and his extraordinary

attractiveness at playing games. let's go, it is not going to be

close. The Pittsburgh Steelers panda way to the Claires every year,

but this year two the fees from the Baltimore ravens punctuated their

success and cost them they have seen or title. It is the absence of

their running back that concerns them. Let's head over to mile-high

Denver, where two field goals have given this burden Elly 6-0 with. We

joined up with the Broncos in joined up with the Broncos in

possession. Let's see if Tim Tebow can manage this. He fires it. On

the completion, he was walloped by Harrison. It is his own defence.

James Harrison watching the quarterback. He sees the completion

and goes inside and gets to hit low, on Erik Decker. It is a ruling on

the field about the completed pass. Just watch it, is the ball moving

out as it goes down, and turning? It is very close. The man does not

take control of the ball... Now, it is that, and 12. Tim Tebow,

launching the long ball for Thomas. Thomas with a catch. The play that

they have been playing for four weeks. The coverage is good from

Demaryius Thomas. What Jersey goes downfield with all the movement.

Tim Tebow does not like what he sees. It seems cover vase she looks

than their, but this is what he loves to do, eat, done the

sidelines. And that through his perfect. Then there reporting that

we will not see Erik Decker again in this game, he has a knee injury.

Cot by Eddie Wall, was he in? Yes, the Broncos comeback from third,

and 12. Eddie Royle, on the receiving end. The first touchdown

in 22 drives. Who's been going on, 7-6. After the yard strike. Tim

Tebow to Royle just like that. We rejoin the game with in the back in

possession. -- with Denver Broncos tries to get away from Tyler. He

comes back twice, and Tykes Taylor with into the ground. And Denver

Broncos are set up at the Pittsburgh 13. Tim Tebow still has

it. That his tether, and Ryan Mundy, coming up. Second, and six. It is

not the first time, he has got the touchdown. Tim Tebow takes it

across! A just looks like he has jumped over the screen. Look at 68

leading Rudolph. �245. It is a full back running with the football. And

how about Franklin, number 74, with the tackle, getting in a good block,

too? 14-6. Second, and seven. Ayers got to him And that left ankle has

been aggravated, again. Matt Sparks gets Robert Adair is going

backwards. But they just won them intercepted by Quentin Carter. The

rookie, from Oklahoma. And again, Rothlisberger hit the deck.

waited. Rothlisberger lets it go, because he wants to protect himself,

with the coverage than the field, Dower. To the end zone, and

complete. Her -- to sincere though -- Tim Tebow. The flag is at the

line of scrimmage. Matthew Wall this was uncovered. Personal file.

is released. There goes the throw. And that is a good call. James

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

they make the stock here? And it is knocked away by William Gay. What

this season he has had. 50, nine yards build cause, and then took

over the job from Jason Ely. So 19 points in less than six minutes.

Denver Broncos added another three points to cap a brilliant second

quarter, making the score 20-six as the teams headed into the locker

room at half-time. We picked the game up and the second half with

the shell-shocked Pittsburgh incomplete, water it! -- what a hit.

And first done, to Sanders. If you can't move as a quarterback, Rush

it's right up the middle. -- rush the 20, and done, but the ball is

out. And it is rolled a pass down on the field. This one is going to

be looked at. I am going to guess that Redman was tackled, inches

short of the goal line. It looks like it is going to be just short.

But there is no doubt that, to control the football, his knee is

right site for the touchdown. Wallace, in motion, he hands it to

him, the Old College Steam Suite -- sweep. After an exchange of field

goals and the 4th quarter, we joined Pittsburgh Steelers back in

Denver Broncos territory, and drooling. --trailing. Tinted were

this defensive line which is the best way to play that pits Broads

Tours offence. Going for the touchdown with Wallace, and it is

almost intercepted. Bailey had a bead on it but he could not bring

it down. Mike Wallace trying to wander through the defence. But

they are all but chaired Bailey. Good position, undercuts the

football, goes for the interception. 15 Korea puts, more than any E D,

out. Just one play after Bailey had a great changes. That ensured

Roethlisberger got out of the pocket and how about this?

A great comeback completed by the con version and with second

remaining, they were back in That's the hard part.

Roethlisberger looks. Redman. So big Ben who got his name big Ben

because of a hail Mary pass he completed at Miami University to

ovetime would give the other team a chance to hitback. A touchdown and

it is all over. Eddie Royal is the returner.

Will he get a chance? No, he won't. So the Broncos will take over at

the 20. The first snap of the overtime. The

Broncos have been in three overtime games this year and they won them

six in the first possession to close it out. They do it in the

very first play. An amazing finish to that game.

That's the Tebow celebration! I notice Tebow time was trending on

Twitter. This guy is amazing. He generated a a lot of headlines on

and off the pitch. Is he the real deal? He is playing in a system

where they are happy top run the ball a lot and let him throw a

ball a lot and let him throw a little and play good defence.

He has got a good coach in John Fox who can get the best out of him. He

is not a polished quarterback, the Steel Steelers made it look easy.

Is that not the easy way to deal with a quarterback? They are

willing to let let him run which most teams wouldn't be willing to

with their quarterback. Look at him, with their quarterback. Look at him,

when he does run. The steelers are tired and look old

and look at Franklin. They have two linemen at that stage where

everybody should be up there stopping.

Why is Tebow a controversial figure? Well, it is the

Christianity. His father was a missionary and he was born in the

missionary and he was born in the Philippines.

His mother made a television commercial which aired during the

Super Bowl about how she was ill when she was pregnant and they told

her to abort him and she wouldn't abort him... It is the anti-

abortion thing? Well, that's what got the attention. He is a

committed Christian and he doesn't wear it on his shoulders. He is not

overbearing about it. But when you combine that with his leadership

abilities, it makes a story. Well, he is becoming a huge star in

his own right now, isn't he? I am no NFL tactician, I was looking at

this game last night and I was thinking where is the coverage?

Through the whole game, they had runs. Look at at Mundy coming up at

runs. Look at at Mundy coming up at the top of your screen. The

cornerbacks have to play deep. Mundy is not there to make the

throw difficult and Thomas does a great job.

You see right there, there is the stiff arm and it is all over. You

know, it was going against the trend. The Steelers were selling

out to stop the run game and Tebow beat them passing.

A disappointing finish to a bruising season. Where do the

Steelers go from here? A lot of guys was missing. One player has a

sickle cell problem. He wasn't playing. They had a lot of injuries.

Not to take anything away from Denver, but this played into

Denver's hands and made the game very difficult for Pittsburgh to

win. It was a credit to them that they fought back and they were in a

position to win it at the end of the game.

Yes, the Steelers will be back. sooner or later.

Our second game is a potential shootout. We saw two quarter backs

who both through from over 5,000 yards going head-to-head in the

this season. His cast of receivers is impressive with Jimmy Graham and

Darren Sproles emerging. The Lions reached the play-offs for the first

time since 1999. Stafford had a huge role in the centre.

The Saints will be aware that when Megatrone gets into the game, he is

after the 49 line. Calvin Johnson 326lbs. Number one pick in 07.

They run Titus Young, the rooky, who picks up nine yards and he is

taken down by Jonathan Vilma. That figure on the right side and that

is Titus Young who gets position on on Jabari Greer. Stafford throws

and that will be caught and they go to Titus Young again.

They drafted him in the second round.

There is a toss to Johnson. Johnson kicks the ball to the ten yard line.

First in goal, the nose of the ball right on the ten. Stafford throws

over the middle and it is caught by Will Heler. What an impressive

drive by Matthew Stafford. extra point gave the Lions a 7-0

lead. They were unable to take advantage of this and and punted

back to the Saints. one over the middle. That is really

his comfort zone right there. Saints have been sensational this

year and that is caught and that's the pressure. It is his second year

Here Thomas does the running back. In the Lions territory. To the 35

yard line. That's what they didn't have at the end of last season.

They went into the play-offs and they had no running game at all.

Here is 31 yards for Thomas. And Sproles and Sproles, before he gets

back and picks up time. Brees has Smith is in. Sproles picking up six

to the five yard line. Henderson, and hackled to the

corner by Wright. -- tackled to the stopped initially behind the line

and just kept on. Sproles takes it into the end zone to cap an 89 yard

takes the ball into sap saints territory. -- Saints territory.

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will be caught by Johnson for the touch Down. Calvin Johnson gives

and make those plays, there is almost no way to defend that play.

The Saints squandered possession with this fumble. The Saints did

add this goal on their next yard line. Brees. Meachem on the

outside. And through the middle, he takes it

out to the 40 yard line into Devery Henderson, to give New

Orleans Saints the lead. -- touchdown. It takes them one minute

and 51 seconds to get out in front. There's a point gave a yawning

sense a three-point lead and then you'll insane started another drive

that was kept alive thanks to this extraordinary move by Drew Brees.

We rejoin the action with the Saints at the 39 wide line. Thomas,

Brechin tackles, and he gets the ball to the midfield strike. --

uniform tonight, because LANs more is not and he makes his first grab

or the evening -- Lance Moore. It is caught inside the five-yard line

by Marquess Coulson. -- market is Corston -- Marques Colston. Caught

by Graeme, extending across the goal line with that slam dunk.

helps when nobody is guarding it. Detroit Lions caught completely

off-guard than out opposition. might have been deflected, and

Calvin Johnson is escorted out of bounds at the party five-yard line.

Bus - the 35 outline -- the 35 yard line. Unable to come up with his

young, second ban. It is thrown into traffic, and caught by Calvin

Johnson, the almost unstoppable Calvin Johnson at the fortified

and Johnson makes the catch. Had it on the outside, had position on the

defenders, and it will be first than an goal. -- first down and

goal. Titus Young making the catch, and dangerous pass, just short of

the goal line. And now, Stafford is going to try to do it himself. And

that is going to the third done, and call. -- third down and goal.

Rolling out his staff work, trying to take it into the endzone -- is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

incomplete -- she's going deep, and Busch role. And on the thought in

my yard line, it is Jabari Greer with the turnover. -- the 39 yard

Saints 17 points ahead. There was celebration in your lanes, and we

rejoin the action with Detroit Lions looking to launch their own

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

his first done, as Titus Young Harper, and out of bounds he goes,

and out of bounds caused Brandon yard line. For lines, than the

field, five-and-a-half, to go. -- down the field. It is dumped off,

to Kevin Smith, who looks to go at Titus Young, incomplete, good,

tight coverage. And that will be third done -- down. Johnson,

touchdown, and that silences as crowd of almost 70,000, as Johnson

makes it will catch of the night, 212 yards, his second touchdown.

Detroit Lions attempted to retain possession but New Orleans Saints

made the mistake in handling the ball and snuffed out all hopes of a

Detroit comeback as they ran down the clock with another faultless

drive. This one pseudopod the 5-28 victory for the New Orleans Saints,

led by another incredible performance by Drew Brees. Not a

bad performance from a man who seems to score with almost every

seems to score with almost every drive. At half-time we decided to

bear down, one drive at a time and we scored on every drive during the

second half, and that is what you hope for. It has been an amazing

season for Drew Brees. It was a game of two halves, that one,

wasn't it? I think so, he would break the most records for passing

in the season for nothing, but Detroit were certainly in it, at

14-7, they had a great chance to make it 21-7. This is a fumble.

There is no question, because it never left his hand. But it had

already been ruled as an incomplete pass. The NFL are special rules for

these situations because we have had a couple of controversial plays

in the past. It is one of these cases where they have all

legislated the game. They should try to keep the whistle in the mire,

and not blow it. There is still room for human error, even allowing

for the video referees. It would have made it 21-7, which is a

different ball game, Detroit Lions showed a lot of defensive

indiscipline and drop a couple of sitters. This was the worst one.

Drew Brees under throws it, it is a bad role, under pressure. And Barry

guess it right in the bread basket and less at will between his hands.

-- lets it go between his hands. Could have, would have, should have,

from Detroit Lions. But plenty of them to build on. The penultimate

match on the card tonight finds as with two brickies in the uncharted

waters of play-off football. -- rookies. We knew that we had to

fight, and we had to bleed for each other, the whole way! The Texans

are in the play-offs of a pastime ever, despite losing their top two

quality full-backs. In his first game against the Cincinnati Bengals

his team has limped into the close Not many pit the Cincinnati Bengals

4 a wild card, but Andy Dalton has had a formidable season, in

partnership with fellow rookie, AJ Green. And even when conventional

methods fail, the Cincinnati Bengals can find a way. We can get

to the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, where Cincinnati are in

AJ Green. Automatic first down. There is the match-up of the day.

He is entitled to that piece of turf, that AJ Green wanted. Dalton,

under pressure, rose underneath. And learn it all the way. He will

be marked down at about the two- yard line. First on goal. Here is

Benson. Touchdown, Cincinnati. going to get the key block here,

Coates. Could read by Benson, to get skinny, to the wall, touchdown.

The Cincinnati Bengals get a touch down one from Cedric Benson, to

take the early lead, 7-0. Yates, looking down field. That is on

target. There is a flak than. -- flag down. Automatic first round. -

- down. First down for the Texans, them there, but it was not called

and here we are at the end of the play. Let's see the foot in the

football. He hits the pylon. That's a touchdown.

And Jones getting a talk over on half. Each half having added a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 41 seconds

Houston! LL Lott, he is fired up are still leading 17-10 and driving

Crocker. Crocker had it in his sights and could not hold it.

Incomplete. JJ Lott did make the the catch and

Crocker didn't. They are down in six. Johnson for a

first down as Gates impro vises. Johnson jugled it for a moment,

latched on to it. Touchdown for Foster. He has 92

yards and 29 receiving. Gates, plenty of time and going

deep for Johnson, wide open. Got it. Touchdown!

What a great job! Look how clean that is and if you are going to do

a double move, you have got to have about this for the the vetan. The

Texans lead -- veteran. The Texans was intercepted for the second time.

We regain the game on the Bengals receivers fell down and this one is

picked up. Watch what happens to the corner. And this place is

rocking. The crowd were celebrating again

when Foster punished the turnover with a 42 yard touchdown run,

giving the Texans their first ever Another tale of the two

quarterbacks this one. It It it been unfair on Andy Dalton to

suggest the interceptions were the difference between the two 134.

Crocker held on to an interception then it would have been a different

story, but dropped interceptions were happening all weekend. Dalton

has had a a great rooky season. Cincinnati Bengals could never get

what they wanted. TJ Yates was able to concentrate on his passing

because they had the run game going and Foster had a tremendous day

against the Bengals defence. To be fair to Dalton, it was a lack

of options? It took a little while to get going, but when they did,

their offensive line seemed to take defence. Foster, this was the

fourth quarter, by then it looked like Cincinnati Bengals had run out

of gas. The Bengals beat the season that they could beat, but couldn't

beat the the teams that were a lot better than them.

Despite the talk of the rookies, when they did get a pass going.

They let Johnson sit for three games and rest his injuries. He

hardly played this season and then TJ Yates got a chance to hit him

wide open. If you wonder why he is so open, if you look at the replay,

it is a double move. Johnson is going to go on the left-hand side

of your screen and break to the sidelines and as the ball is

released, he has broken deep. The cornerback has gone to the sideline,

but Yates has thrown the ball behind knowing that's what Johnson

is going to do. They have executed this perfectly.

Houston had a great turn around. JJ Watt, all rookies this season. New

defence players did a great job. The play-offs can be hitting a hot

streak at the right time and the New York Giants and the Atlanta

Falcons could cause damage as both of them seem to be doing exactly

offs with a final day of victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Manning

leads the league often hooking up with victor Cruz.

The Atlanta Falcons have a pair of receivers that will strike fear

howling sea of blue. In the first quarter the defences were on top.

Both teams going three and out in their first two possessions.

At the start of the second quarter, the falcons coach declined to kick,

instead going for the first down on fourth and one, shutting out Matt

Ryan, much to the delight of the coach. We join the action with the

it away. This is going to be interesting, if it is intentional

grounding in the end zone and a penalty in the end zone they can

award a safety in the first two points of of this game.

He is outside of the tackle box, but does the ball get beyond the

line of scrimmage? That's the real key..

. There was no receiver in the area. That foul happened in the end zone,

the result of the play, safety. Manning on third down. He was going

to pick it up and take it out across the 35.

Atlanta's defensive front made the biggest impact. Jacobs is down

inside the 20 and still going near the 15. Atlanta, the Giants 4-13

Manning - what a catch. Touchdown! Run the ball. Run the ball and they

come back and play action on first down. What it does, to the line

backers and the ball that, I don't think it got tipped, it was behind,

but they are they are able to make the play. That's great drive by the

Giants. What they needed. 69 yards on that drive.

The game continued to work for the Giants as they dominated the third

quarter, but were unable to convert time of possession into a touchdown.

They settled for this goal, but it was still a one possession game.

The Falcons failed to find a first down, struggling to gain short

yardage and giving the ball back to runs in the middle on the slot, but

they don't get the corner running with Nicks. There is a bust in

coverage there and it looks like the corner should have been in man

coverage on Nicks and he is wide open in the field and he is able to

then get the touchdown. The giants running game which had

been the lowest ranked in the league, continued to overwhelm the

Falcons defence in the first quarter.

And the run game set-up this touchdown pass 27 yards, Manning to

Manningham. For the touchdown, Manningham.

there would be no Fal comes comeback, the -- Falcon comeback.

It is special. A play-off win in the new stadium. That's a big win

the new stadium. That's a big win today, guys. The second half we got

a goal. A great win today. They can't all have been last

second touchdowns. It was a different kind of game that one,

but I guess at this stage of the season, it is results that count.

The Giants dominated when when they got going. His receiver stepped up

and Manning as the knack of just avoiding the rush, taking a little

step up, getting the guy and Nicks underneath. The defence is supposed

to prevent this from happening, not The defence didn't deliver and a

lot of people will be worried about the Giants in the next round. They

have a rush upfront which kept Alan Alan ta's defence in check.

They go to play the Packers. Is that the stand out side from the

division? It is really tough at this point. It is one of the two.

The two games that will jump out are the Patriots and the brnk kos.

Kos -- Broncos. The Giants beat the Broncos. The best balanced game is

the Saints and the 49 ers. Texans and Ravens, who knows who is going

to show up for the Ravens. Can they put points on the board? Can they

rattle the rooky quarterback? can catch highlights of those games

at the same time next week at 12.10 on Tuesday morning, but Monday

night. We will be back for that one. It is time for youing it back in

your cupboard for another week! Some real big hitters joining us