Site update

Binnenkort zal www.nflnieuws.nl officieel van start gaan, er wordt op dit moment de laatste hand aan gelegd.

Seahawks land another back, sign Jones

For the second time this week, the Seattle Seahawks have landed a free agent running back. NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports the team reached an agreement on a four-year deal worth up to $16 million Friday with former Cowboys running back Julius Jones.

The contract includes $4 million guaranteed, and $5.5 million in the first year of the deal, Schefter reports. This week, the Seahawks have signed former Lions running back T.J. Duckett and have now landed Jones, leaving less room in the backfield and on the team's salary cap for former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander and/or Seahawks running back Maurice Morris.

Jones, who spent his first four seasons in Dallas, is two years removed from the only 1,000-yard season of his career, when he rushed for 1,084 yards and four touchdowns in 2006. Last year, Jones was displaced in favor of Pro Bowler Marion Barber, and rushed for only 588 yards and two scores, the lowest numbers of his career. Jones will turn 27 in August.

Seattle has dedicated this offseason to remodeling its running game, hiring former Kansas City offensive coordinator Mike Solari as offensive line coach and signing former Pro Bowl offensive guard Mike Wahle. Duckett's signing was thought to potentially be a complement to Alexander, to help Seattle mostly in short-yardage situations the Seahawks' have struggled with the last two seasons. But the Jones' deal could be a sign the team is going in a different direction.

Seattle's running game has significantly fallen off since Alexander was the league MVP for the 2005 season. That was when he rushed for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns as the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl. Alexander has been injured and ineffective since, and Seattle has averaged just 4.0 yards per carry in 2006 and 3.8 last season.

Moss, Culpepper talk about reuniting with Minnesota Vikings via free agency

With no deal close with the New England Patriots, Randy Moss continues to explore all options in his first professional exposure to free agency.

On Saturday night, he came up with an interesting idea. He reached out to Daunte Culpepper, his former quarterback with the Minnesota Vikings. The two former teammates discussed the possibility of finishing what they started in Minnesota on any NFL team interested, sources told ESPN.com.

Though their relationship ended a little rocky when Moss left the Vikings to go to the Raiders in a trade, Moss and Culpepper stayed in touch with each other and stayed friends. They joked that at some point they might be free agents at the same time and might have a chance to unite. As Moss spent his second day in unrestricted free agency Saturday, he started to think about Culpepper, who also is a free agent. What they had talked about for years all of a sudden was true.

Don't necessarily confuse this as a package deal. It's an option for teams looking for a quarterback and a wide receiver and solving both needs at the same time.

At the age of 30, Moss has accomplished everything except getting a Super Bowl ring. He has been on the two highest scoring offensive teams in NFL history, one in Minnesota and last season in New England. He has 774 catches, 12,193 receiving yards and 124 touchdown receptions. He's been to six Pro Bowls.

It's a reflective time in his career. He's looked back on his accomplishments and his future.

He's also had a chance to reflect on his friendships, which prompted his call to Culpepper. They spent time on the phone Saturday night talking about the Vikings days and comparing notes on what they are hearing in free agency.


On Friday, Moss, while still in talks with the Patriots, started to listen to what other teams had to say about their interest in him. There is no word on how many teams contacted him and he has no visits scheduled yet. He's studying options. Moss can stay with the Patriots. He can move on to another team. He can reunite with Culpepper on another team.

Moss set an NFL record by catching 23 touchdown passes from Tom Brady this season. This will be his 11th season, but this is his first chance to study all options as a free agent.

Als deze deal door zou gaan acht ik de vikings een grote kanshebber op de superbowl met een fantastische offense van Adrian Peterson en Randy Moss.

Short transfer update

Andre' Davis WR/KR
-Associated Press-
The Houston Texans agreed to a multiyear contract with free agent receiver and kick returner Andre' Davis on Thursday, just hours before the start of free agency.

Davis emerged as one of Houston's top receivers last season when Andre Johnson missed seven games with a knee sprain. Davis finished with 33 catches for 583 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last season, including two in Houston's season finale against Jacksonville.

Isaac Bruce, WR/Gus Frerotte, QB
-Associated Press-
For the second time in three years, the St. Louis Rams released wide receiver Isaac Bruce. This time they may be cutting ties for good with the last player remaining from the team's 1995 move from Los Angeles to St. Louis.

The 36-year-old Frerotte, also a 14-year veteran, made three starts when starter Marc Bulger was sidelined by injury and played in nine games overall in two seasons. Last year, he threw seven touchdown passes with 12 interceptions.

Tennessee Titans
-Associated Press-
The Tennessee Titans cut ties with wide receiver David Givens and tendered one-year contracts to seven restricted agents including All-Pro kicker Rob Bironas, tight end Bo Scaife and starting right tackle David Stewart.

The Titans signed Givens to a $24 million, five-year deal in 2006, but the former Patriots receiver played in only five games that season before tearing his left ACL.

Bironas and Stewart are expected to be attractive targets when free agency opens Friday. If the Titans don't match any offers, they would get a second-round draft pick for Bironas and first round for Stewart.

The Titans also tended offers to safety Vincent Fuller, cornerback Reynaldo Hill, fullback Casey Cramer and offensive lineman Daniel Loper.

Tijdelijke afwezigheid

Vanwege drukke werkzaamheden aan de nieuwe site, is er de laatste tijd niet veel gepost in deze american football blog.
Daarom zullen TIJDELIJK de berichten in het Engels zijn totdat in de eerste week van Maart de nieuwe site online gaat.
1 van de thema's op de nieuwe site zal zijn, dat er elke week in het off-season een team centraal staat. Ook Arena Football zal niet vergeten worden.

Maar aangezien ik toch bezig ben; wat willen jullie, de lezers van nflnieuws als functie op de site zien? Om te reageren: zie onderaan deze post.

Via de mail

Vandaag via de mail een 2 leuke filmpje's ontvangen:

Perfectville,pop. 1


Perfectville,pop. 2

Giants celebrate Super win

Spagnuolo weigert aanbod 'Skins en blijft bij de Giants

WASHINGTON -- Steve Spagnuolo heeft besloten zicht terug te trekken voor de baan als Headcoach van de Washington Redskins donderdag, vanwege zijn verlangen om bij de Super Bowl winnaar, de New York Giants, te blijven werken.

"Zijn hart is in New York City," zei Spagnuolo's agent, Bob Lamonte. "Hij houdt van de zelfstandigheid. Hij houdt van de spelers. Hij voelt dat hij hier moet blijven."

NFL Network's Adam Schefter vertelde dat verwacht wordt dat de Giants ervoor gaan zorgen dat Spagnuolo de best-betaalde defensive coordinator in de NFL wordt.

Met een streep door de naam van de Giants defensive coordinator, worden Ron Meeks en Jim Fassel de favorieten om Joe Gibbs als headcoach van de Redskins op te gaan volgen.

Een persoon die bekend is met de Redskins' selectie proces zei dat Spagnuolo en het team vonden dat Spagnuolo ongeveer 1 of 2 jaar te vroeg was om een head coach te worden.

Ik vermoed zelf dat Steve Spagnuolo over een aantal jaar Tom Coughlin bij de New York Giants zal opvolgen. Tom is inmiddels 61 en zou, na zoveel jaar en inmiddels MET superbowl ring met een gerust hart afscheid kunnen nemen van de Giants en het American Football.

Omdattie zo mooi is!

Super Bowl XLII play of the game
Uploaded by igrecman

Leatherheads Reclame

Alle american football fans opgelet, er komt binnenkort een nieuwe film genaamd leatherheads. Over American Football; Leatherheads met George Clooney en Renee Zellweger.

Vrouwen, en football

Coca-Cola It's Mine Superbowl Reclame

WALL•E Superbowl Reclame

Ook de Toy Story figuren keken naar de Superbowl:

Bud Light Oertijd

Wheel suck!
Bottle opener suck!

Audi R8 Superbowl Commercial

Ik vond het een van de leukste Superbowl reclames van XLII:

SUPERBOWL XLII CHAMPIONS

DE SUPERBOWL XLII CHAMPIONS: NEW YORK GIANTS

XLII Wedstrijdverslag

Iedereen veel succes toegewenst, voor welk team je ook bent!

Live wedstrijd verslag:
0:19 Het volkslied,we gaan bijna beginnen!
0:26 Giants winnen de toss en gaan de bal ontvangen, Eli mag zijn eerste slag gaan proberen te slaan.
0:36 Eli begint goed, 2x een 3rd down die succesvol is.

Feit:de winnaars van de Toss van de laatste 11 superbowls hebben maar 2x gewonnen

0:40 Warren duikt bijna OP bradshaw
0:41 Bradshaw pakt weer een aantal yards, maar 3rd & 7.
0:42 Steve Smith vangt de bal tussen 2 man in.
0:43 Giants inmiddels op de 17 yard lijn.
0:44 4th down voor de Giants na een goede verdedigende actie van Harrison.
0:45 Giants staan op het scoreboard, fieldgoal Tynes, 3-0

Feit: Het blijkt dat de NFL klassementsleider in passing yards in 41 jaargangen nog nooit een Super Bowl heeft gewonnen. Quarterback Tom Brady van de New England Patriots eindigde dit jaar bovenaan de lijst met 4806 passing yards.

New England Patriots balbezit vanaf hun eigen 44 yard lijn
0:50 Showtime voor Brady en de Giants defense.
1:00 Giants krijgen pass interference penalty om de oren. Bal op de 1-yard lijn.

1E KWART AFGELOPEN GIANTS 3-0 PATRIOTS

Feit:Eli Manning is de 7de No. 1 overall pick die start in de Super Bowl als quarterback; de anderen zijn Peyton Manning, Drew Bledsoe, Troy Aikman, John Elway, Jim Plunkett en Terry Bradshaw.

1:02 Touchdown Patriots, 1-yard run van Maroney, 3-7

Feit: totnutoe hebben 3,205,733 mensen een Super Bowl wedstrijd bezocht.

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 40 yard lijn
1:14 Na een fantastisch gevangen 38-yard pass op Toomer zit het de Giants niet mee, smith laat de bal glippen en wordt opgevangen door Hobbs. Eerste interceptie van de wedstrijd.

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 33 yard lijn
1:17 New England kon niet lang genieten van balbezit, 3rd & 1 lukte niet en na een mooie return van McQuarters starten de Giants weer.

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 36 yard lijn
1:20 Ook dit werd weer niks...

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 30 yard lijn
1:29 New York laat zien waar ze goed in zijn, de sacks. 2x achter elkaar wordt Brady eenvoudig gesackt voor in totaal 14 yards.

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 43 yard lijn
1:31 Hopelijk wordt dit weer een goede aanval serie van de Giants.
1:32 Bradshaw is blijkbaar lezer hier, een 13 yard rush.
1:33 En ook Brandon Jacobs weet er doorheen te stormen, 7 yards.
Wie heeft Tiki Barber nog nodig, niet de Giants. Zou hij het Giants struikelblok zijn geweest afgelopen jaren?
1:37 Fumble van Manning, recovered door NYG Steve Smith, maar een penalty waardoor een punt onvermijdelijk is.

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 11 yard lijn
1:45 Nadat ze met geluk ontsnapte uit de slechte veldpositie kwam Brady zeer onder druk te staan waarna er een fumble ontstond die werd gepakt de NYG Osi Umenyiora.

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun Patriots 49 yard lijn
1:55 Doordat ze te weinig tijd hadden moest er snel gespeeld worden. Daardoor weinig yards voor de Giants dus gaan we de halftime in met een show met Alicia Keys.
Tot over een kwartier!

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 21 yard lijn
2:30 Eerste serie plays werd niet veel voor de Patriots.

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 14 yard lijn
2:33 Challenge Bellichick, vanwege 12 Giants op het veld, werd gereviewed en bleek te kloppen. 5-Yard penalty, dus New England balbezit.

New England balbezit vanaf Giants 44 yard lijn
2:40 Grote play door Faulk voor 14-yards.

2:42 Strahan WEER met een sack, 4th & 13 en de Patriots kiezen ervoor door te blijven gooien, maar missen dus een turnover on downs.

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 31 yard lijn
2:50 De Giants 3rd & 8 wordt niet gevangen, dus we gaan weer punten, het wordt wel een saaie superbowl zo ;D

Feit:De Patriots zijn het 17e team dat leid in de NFL in scoring die de Super Bowl haalt. De vorigw 16 teams staan 9-7 in se Super Bowl (laatste twee -- de ’05 Seahawks en ’01 Rams -- verloren). Het laatste team dat leid in de NFL in scoring en winnaar van de Super Bowl waren de ’99 Rams in XXXIV.

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 10 yard lijn
2:57 Waar blijft de klasse van New England, waardoor ze 18-0 zijn geworden,heen gegaan, achter gelaten in Boston?
2:59 Penalty voor Light, 5-yards false start.
3:00 3rd & 15 inmiddels weer, Tom Brady z'n topvorm is blijkbaar weg.
3:01 4th down, dus weer een punt dalijk aan het begin van het 4e kwart.
3:02 Het begint er op de lijken dat dit een superbowl met weinig punten wordt, gaat googlen naar Superbowl met minste punten..

Feit: Superbowl XII had de minste punten tot nu toe: Dolphins-Redskins eindigde in 14-7

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 20 yard lijn
3:07 Mooie play en catch door Boss voor 35 yards, zouden ze het nu wel kunnen afmaken?
3:08 Shockey op de tribune...moet hij niet beneden bij zijn teamgenoot staan om ze te steunen..?
3:09 Steve Smith, de rookie,met opnieuw een goede catch, 12 yards nog te gaan voor de Giants
3:10 Bradshaw pakt weer yards, nog 5 te gaan.
3:11 TOUCHDOWN NEW YORK GIANTS TYREE 10-7

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 11 yard lijn
3:16 Zou dit de meest verbazende seizoen worden en de 18-1 Patriots worden??? We weten het binnen een half uur.
3:18 Randy Moss, wat is er met je gebeurt...pas 2 receptions voor 35 yards.

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 29 yard lijn
3:23 Gaan ze de beslissende slag uitdelen aan de Patriots? Nu zal het om tactiek gaan, bal behouden en tijd verspelen.
3:24 3rd & 8, 1-yard short, jammer, weer een punt.
3:25 Coughlin, zo oud en nog wind hij zich zo hard op...

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 20 yard lijn
3:31 aardige drive inmiddels van de Patriots, inmiddels al 50 yards.
3:32 New York Defense, nu moeten jullie ze echt stoppen..!
3:33 1st down binnen de 20, het zou toch niet????
3:34 Nog 6 yards.
3:40 TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS RANDY MOSS 10-14

New York Giants balbezit vanaf hun eigen 17 yard lijn
3:47 De Giants MOETEN een touchdown scoren, 4th & 1 wordt overwonnen,
3:49 Zelfs Manning gaat rennen om yards te winnen. 1ste timeout Giants.
56 yards te gaan.
3:51 Na een rugby scramble blijft Manning aan de bal en levert een goede pass op Tyree voor 32 yards
24 te gaan, 1 time out.
3:53 Manning trekt weer een sprintje, maar moet laatste time out gebruiken.
25 te gaan, 0 time outs, 51 seconden.
3:55 Steve Smith vangt hem, 1st down en dan out of bounds.
3:56 TOUCHDOWN NEW YORK GIANTS PALAXIO BURRESS 17-14
ADIOS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 18-1!
3:57 Peyton gaat tekeer op de tribune!!

New England balbezit vanaf hun eigen 20 yard lijn
4:00 Brady opnieuw gesacked.
4:03 TURNOVER ON DOWNS

4:05 DE GIANTS WINNEN SUPERBOWL XLII, PATRIOTS 18-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4:16 De titel uitreiking, ja ja hij gaat echt naar New York!

De New York Giants weg naar Superbowl XLII

Het sprookje van New York begon in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Tegen de piraten van de Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Van te voren waren er verschillende meningen over Eli Manning, in de vorige play-off wedstrijden was het een jongen die nog moest groeien.
Maar deze wedstrijd verbaasde vriend EN vijand zich over de volwassenheid van Eli Manning.
Het werd een wedstrijd zonder interceptions van Manning's passes, tegenover 20 in het reguliere seizoen.
Het werd 24-14 in het voordeel van de Giants en ze gingen door naar de volgende wedstrijd tegen hun angstgegner, de Dallas Cowboys.
Video Giants-Buccaneers

Nadat verrassend van de Buccaneers werd gewonnen kwam er een nieuwe horde op het pad: de Dallas Cowboys.
De Cowboys, divisiegenoot van de Giants hadden in het reguliere seizoen al 2x gewonnen van de Giants. Thuis werd het 35-45 in het voordeel van de Cowboys en in Giant Stadium werd het 31-20.
De Cowboys, die overigens als Nr. 1 van de NFC de play-offs in ging, speelden meer tegen zichzelf door veel overtredingen te maken, maar wederom speelde Eli Manning een dijk van een wedstrijd.
De Giants versloegen de Cowboys met 21-17 maar het was vooral een morele overwinning.
Next stop: De Green Bay Packers.
Video Giants-Cowboys

In deze extreem koude NFC championship speelde Eli Manning opnieuw zeer sterk maar waren Bradshaw,Jacobs en kicker Tynes bijzonder belangrijk in dit duel.
Tynes, die de wedstrijd in reguliere tijd al had kunnen beslissen miste twee fieldgoals in het 4e kwart waardoor er een overtime nodig was. Gelukkig voor de Giants werd de bal in de overtime geintercept door Corey Webster waardoor Tynes opnieuw een fieldgoal kans kreeg en die maakte.
New York Giants 23-20 Green Bay Packers.
Video Giants-Packers

De Road Warriors in de Superbowl, tegen de 18-0 Patriots.
Wie er wint, dat weten we vannacht!
Live coverage op www.nflnieuws.blogspot.com!

Live Coverage Superbowl XLII

Vannacht zal Superbowl XLII gespeeld worden.
NFLnieuws zal hiervan live verslag van uit brengen.
Alle feiten en leuke weetjes tijdens de commercial breaks.

Ook de Buffalo Bills in 2008 naar het buitenland!

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The NFL map will include Canada now that the Buffalo Bills will play an annual regular-season game in Toronto starting this year.

Citing the "tremendous amount of interest" the Bills generate across neighboring southern Ontario, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Friday that the team will play a regular-season game in Toronto in each of the next five seasons.

The plan also includes three Bills preseason games -- one every other year starting this season -- in Toronto during that stretch.

The NFL has played games outside the United States, most recently when Miami faced the New York Giants in London in October. But the Bills will be the league's first team to do it annually.

In his pre-Super Bowl address to reporters, Goodell said the Bills' plan, first presented to league owners in October, "was done thoughtfully to help regionalize the team even more broadly.

"I think this will be great for all fans because I think it will give the opportunity for the people of Toronto to have a game in their market and it will also give Buffalo Bills fans a chance to go to that game," he said in Phoenix.

Goodell didn't say when this year's game will be played, which team the Bills will play or how tickets will be distributed. The NFL schedule isn't due out until April, but it's expected the game will be played in December to avoid conflict with the CFL season, which concludes with the Grey Cup championship in late November.

Toronto's FAN 590 radio station has reported that Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats season-ticket holders will have the first opportunity to buy tickets, followed by Bills season-ticket holders. The station also reported that the average ticket price for games will be $250, and buyers would have to buy tickets for all eight games to be played in Toronto through 2012.

That's a significant increase over ticket prices at Ralph Wilson Stadium, which average about $46 each.

A press conference has been tentatively scheduled to take place in Toronto next week.

The games would be played at the downtown Rogers Centre, a domed stadium with a retractable roof that's home to the Argonauts and baseball's Toronto Blue Jays.

The Bills' bid is their most ambitious attempt to secure the small-market franchise's long-term future in Buffalo by tapping into Toronto's vast corporate base. Toronto is Canada's financial capital and largest city, with a population of about 4.6 million and located a 90-minute drive from Buffalo.

The Bills, who count Toronto as part of their territory, attract an average of 15,000 Canadian fans to their home games, but have had little success establishing marketing deals and selling luxury suites to companies north of the border.

The Bills have maintained this is an extension of their bid to regionalize their base.

But fears have been raised that these games mark the first step toward permanent relocation, especially once team owner Ralph Wilson dies.

The 89-year-old Wilson doesn't intend to sell or relocate the Bills while he's alive, but does plan to have the team sold to the highest bidder after his death.

Ted Rogers, who owns the Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre, has teamed with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum to lead a group seeking to bring NFL football to Canada.

In November, Rogers questioned Buffalo's long-term ability to support an NFL franchise, while backing the Bills' bid to play limited games in Toronto.

Net als vorig jaar wordt er in 2008 een wedstrijd uit de Amerikaanse National Football League in Londen gespeeld. Op 26 oktober treden de American football-teams San Diego Chargers en New Orleans Saints op Wembley tegen elkaar in het strijdperk. Vorig jaar won New York Giants in Londen met 13-10 van Miami Dolphins.
New York - Miami was destijds de eerste NFL-wedstrijd buiten de Verenigde Staten. De Giants staan komend weekend in Arizona in de Super Bowl tegen New England Patriots.

De San Diego Chargers tegen de New Orleans Saints!!!
Klinkt als een prachtig affiche, hopelijk gaat het dit jaar beter met de kaartverkoop.
Gelijk m'n verwachte rooster gekeken, 26 oktober zou mij heel mooi uitkomen, net na de tentamens.

NFLnieuws houdt je op de hoogte over NFL London 2008!!!!

Need a pair of glasses? Read This!

Glasses, they come in different models: Against the sun, for diving, rimless...
But glasses are expensive to buy at your local store. But not at when you buy them at this great sale by Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case!
Personally i would prefer this one:

A nice rimless glass made from titanium, so it's very strong material and weights almost nothing.
I prefer buying them at Zenni Optical because they sell only their own manufactured frames direct to the customer, with no middlemen and virtually no advertising budget.

NFLnieuws verloot een fles champagne!

NFLnieuws is dit seizoen begonnen als Nederlandstalige weblog over de NFL.
Voor volgens seizoen staan er nieuwe dingen te wachten, zoals een eigen domein en site, forum en vele extra's.

Om dit eerste seizoen te vieren verloot NFLnieuws een fles champagne.

Wat moet je doen om ervoor in aanmerking te komen?
Stuur jou voorspelling over de Superbowl in naar nflnieuws(apenstaart)gmail.com.
Vermeld in het bericht:
-Wie de winnaar wordt. (1 Punt)
-Wat de eindstand wordt. (3 punten per correct antwoord)
-Wie als eerste scoort. (2 Punten)
-Welke QB de meeste passing yards in Superbowl XLII. (2 Punten)
-Wie de Superbowl MVP wordt. (2 Punten)
-Elke dag zal er een extra vraag gesteld worden op deze weblog over de NFL, wie het goede antwoord geeft krijgt er 1 punt bij.

Ik zou het op prijs stellen als jullie ook laten weten wat voor items je verwacht op de nieuwe site.

Dr. G, the knee-replacing angel.

Do you have arthritis and do you think about having a knee replacement? Stop searching for a doctor because Dr. Allen Gustafson is the perfect surgeon for you. Who is he? He is a skilled, one of the best and widely known expert in total joint replacement (TJR) and reconstruction. He is the founder of the Center for Joint Replacement, where he has more than 4,000 primary and complex hip and knee replacements, and is the co-founder of the Peterson Tribology Lab, a state of the art facility that is dedicated to orthopaedic research.

AFC-championship 2007 game: San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots

@



San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
Uitgezonden door: CBS/NASN
Begintijd: 3:00 PM/21:00 Nederlandse tijd


Injury Report San Diego Chargers:

Uitgeschakeld: Niemand

Twijfelachtig: Antonio Gates(TE-Teen), Philip Rivers(QB-Knie), Jamal Williams(DT-Enkel)

Waarschijnlijk meespelen: Shawne Merriman(LB-Ziekte)


Injury Report New England Patriots:

Uitgeschakeld: Mel Mitchell(S-Biceps)

Twijfelachtig: Niemand

Waarschijnlijk meespelen: Rodney Harrison(S-Dijbeen), Tom Brady(QB-Rechter Schouder)

NFC-championship 2007 game: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

@



New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
Uitgezonden door: Fox / NASN
Begintijd: 6:30 PM/00:30 Nederlandse tijd


Injury Report New York Giants:

Uitgeschakeld: Kevin Dockery(CB-Heup)

Twijfelachtig: Sam Madison(CB-Abdomen), Plaxico Burress(WR-Enkel), Aaron Ross(CB-Schouder)

Waarschijnlijk meespelen: Kareem McKenzie(T-Enkel)


Injury Report Green Bay Packers:

Uitgeschakeld: Niemand

Twijfelachtig: Will Blackmon(CB-Voet)

Waarschijnlijk meespelen: Nick Barnett(LB-Hamstring), Bubba Franks(TE-Knie), Koren Robinson(WR-Knie), Scott Wells(C-Glute), Charles Woodson(CB-Knie)

Valentines day coming up!

Love is in the air!
Everyone who don't have a present for their loved one, you still have 27 days to get a present. Because we men occupied the television watching football, baseball, hockey and basketball we should buy a great present.
Thankfully nflnieuws is able to help you in your search to the most amazing present ever.
Especially, dont forget to send flowers using these Fleurop coupons.
For the big spenders, women love jewelry, the best place to buy them with this Zales.com coupons.

online coupons

NFL to return to the United Kingdom in 2008

The NFL is heading back across the pond.

After playing a highly successful game in London last October, the NFL announced that it would return to the United Kingdom for a regular-season game in 2008 as part of the NFL’s International Series of regular-season games.

“The game in London was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the entire 2007 season,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The fan interest was tremendous. The passion they demonstrated for our sport that day continued throughout the season, as television viewership in the U.K. has grown by 40 percent since the game. We had an overwhelmingly positive response to the event from all involved – the teams, our sponsors and business partners and of course the fans themselves. We look forward to another spectacular event in 2008.”

Details about the game -– including the venue and competing teams -– are expected to be confirmed during Super Bowl week (Jan. 28-Feb. 3) in Arizona.

In 2006, NFL owners approved a five-year plan to stage a limited number of regular-season games outside the United States. The series kicked off in London on October 28 when the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins, 13-10, before a sellout crowd of 81,176 at Wembley Stadium.

The NFL played its first-ever regular-season game outside the United States on Oct. 2, 2005 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. A crowd of 103,467 –- the largest for a regular-season game in NFL history –- saw the Arizona Cardinals defeat the San Francisco 49ers, 31-14.

El Pollo Loco’s citrus-marinated flame-grilled chicken with Chinese noodles

El Pollo Loco’s citrus-marinated flame-grilled chicken with Chinese noodles
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Number of people: 4

Ingredients:
250 gr Chinese noodles
1 El Pollo Loco’s citrus-marinated flame-grilled chicken
180 gr bamboo shoot
180 gr beansprouts
1 leek
1 carrot
1 red bell pepper
¼ white cabbage
Fresh ginger
Black pepper
Ketjap manis (sweet)
Ginger lemon oil
Mace
Katoembar
Salt

The Recipe:
Wash and cut all the vegetables small (especially the carrot). Wok the leeks, peppers, cabbage, carrots in the gingeroil and add grated fresh ginger. Herb it with black pepper, mace, katoembar, ketjap and salt. Then add the bamboo shoots and bean sprouts. You could add some boiling water if there is no more water in it.

Pour boiling water in a bowl and put a bouillion cube in the water. After five minutes you put the noodles in a colander to leak. Mix the vegetables with the noodles and serve the El Pollo Loco’s citrus-marinated flame-grilled chicken with it.


Mexican chicken

Wedstrijdverslag Giants-Cowboys

De New York Giants hebben net als de San Diego Chargers vriend en vijand verbaasd door de Conference championship te bereiken. De Dallas Cowboys werden met 17-21 in het Texas Stadium verslagen.

Tot zestien seconden voor tijd mochten de Cowboys nog hopen op een overwinning. Vanaf de 23-yard line van de Giants gooide Dallas' quarterback Tony Romo de bal op fourth down de endzone in. De bal werd echter ondergeschept door cornerback R.W. McQuarters waarmee hij de wedstrijd definitief in het slot gooide en de verrassing compleet was.

New York deed de gehele wedstrijd niet onder van het sterk geachte Dallas. Eli Manning, quarterback van de Giants, leidde zijn manschappen al meteen de eerste drive de endzone in met een 52-yard touchdown pass naar Amani Toomer.

De Cowboys herstelden zich in het tweede kwart. De eerste play van dat kwart was dan ook meteen al raak. Wie anders dan quarterback Tony Romo en de fitte wide receiver Terrell Owens brachten de stand op gelijke hoogte door een 5-yard touchdown pass. Een challenge van New York haalde niks uit. Even later was het running back Marion Barber die vanaf de Giants 1-yard line de bal endzone inliep waarmee de stand op 14-7 kwam. Met nog 53 seconden op de klok kreeg Manning de kans New York naar een score te leiden. Een goede drive van de Giants eindigde uiteindelijk in de endzone door middel van een 4-yard touchdown pass naar wederom Amani Toomer.

Dallas antwoordde in het derde kwart. Nick Folk schoot een field goal van 34 yards tussen de palen en herstelde daarmee de voorsprong van de Cowboys: 17-14. De Giants hadden tot dusverre moeite druk te zetten op Romo, maar dit zou veranderen in het vierde kwart.

Dat vierde kwart begon goed voor New York. De derde play leverde al zeven punten op. Running back Brandon Jacobs zette met een 1-yard touchdown run de 17-21 op het scorebord. Deze stand zou uiteindelijk de eindstand betekenen mede dankzij de interception van McQuarters. Dit was overigens de enige turn-over van de wedstrijd waarin Dallas elf keer bestraft werd voor een totaal van 84 yards, vaak op cruciale momenten.

De New York Giants zullen het in de NFC Conference championship nu moeten opnemen tegen de Green Bay Packers op Lambeau Field. De winnaar van deze wedstrijd zal 3 februari afreizen naar Arizona, de plaats van handeling van Super Bowl XLII.

Lorenzo Neal fit voor AFC Conference Final

Lorenzo Neal, de fullback van de San Diego Chargers, zal zondag in de AFC finale spelen tegen de New England Patriots.

Neal brak zijn been in het reguliere seizoen tegen de Tennessee Titans. De fullback zou afgelopen weekend spelen, maar werd op het laatste moment niet opgesteld, doordat hij toch nog niet helemaal fit was. Maar nu staat vast dat de fullback zal spelen. Of hij de starter wordt is niet zeker, daar zijn vervanger, Andrew Pinnock, goed heeft gepresteerd in de afwezigheid van Neal.

Rivers onzeker voor AFC Conference championship tegen New England Patriots.

Het is nog maar de vraag of Philip Rivers aanstaande zondag tegen de Patriots kan spelen. De quarterback van de San Diego Chargers ondervindt nog veel last van een blessure die hij opliep in de divisional play-offs tegen de Indianapolis Colts.

In die wedstrijd kwam hij bij een screen play verkeerd neer met zijn rechterbeen waarbij hij zijn rechterknie blesseerde. De play eindigde voor Rivers wel in een 56-yard touchdown pass. "Op dit moment is hij questionable voor de wedstrijd van zondag maar heeft hij nog wel kansen", aldus headcoach Norv Turner.

De logische vervanger voor Rivers is backup quarterback Billy Volek. Hij verving Rivers al in de wedstrijd tegen Indianapolis en deed dit meer dan naar behoren. Drie van zijn vier passes kwamen aan voor 48 yards. Een 1-yard quarterback touchdown sneak van Volek bleek uiteindelijk genoeg voor de winnende touchdown.

Er was ook goed nieuws uit het kamp van San Diego. Sterspeler LaDainian Tomlinson zei dat hij hoogstwaarschijnlijk gewoon kan spelen tegen de New England Patriots. De league MVP van vorig seizoen kwam de gehele tweede helft niet in actie tegen de Colts.

Resultaten NFL Divisional Play-offs

AFC:
Jacksonville Jaguars 20-31 New England Patriots
San Diego Chargers 28-24 Indianapolis Colts

NFC:
Seattle Seahawks 20-42 Green Bay Packers
New York Giants 21-17 Dallas Cowboys

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NFL: AFC Wild Card Weekend Samenvatting

Tennessee Titans 6-17 San Diego Chargers
De, met geluk verkregen wild card, Tennessee Titans mochten voor hun play-off wedstrijd afreizen naar het westen om daar tegen de kampioen van de AFC West,de San Diego Chargers te strijden voor een plaats in de volgende ronde van de play-offs.

De wedstrijd begon van beide kanten moeizaam. Nadat de Titans op een 3-0 voorsprong waren gekomen in het eerste kwart, raakte ze aan het begin van het 2e kwart de bal kwijt door een fumble. De Chargers konden echter niet veel met die balbezit. Bij een diepe pass op Jackson werd de bal in de endzone ge-intercept. Toen de bal weer in San Diego's bezit was kregen ze, na een mooie catch van Jackson in een goede mogelijkheid voor een field goal op de 45 yard lijn. De bal draaide door naar de rechterkant, dus een gemiste field goal van Keading. Aan het eind van het tweede kwart lieten de Titans zien hoe het wel moest door een 44-yard field goal te scoren.

Na de rust liet Keading zien dat hij wel een field goal kon maken van de 20 yard lijn. Daarna zouden de Chargers voor het eerst in de wedstrijd op voorsprong komen. Een play action waarna Jackson wederom vrij stond, zijn directe verdediger uitkapte en daardoor een touchdown scoorde. Toen er daarna druk op teams kwam te staan lieten de Titans duidelijk zien daar tegen niet tegen te kunnen. Een 29-yard field goal werd gemist en vlak daarna kwam er een 39-yard pass naar Chambers, die door 3 man gedekt werd. Enkele play's later kwam er een pass door het midden op LaDainian Tomlinson maar werd geen touchdown, bij 4th-and-goal lukte het LT wel.
Met nog 4 minuten op de klok intercepte de Chargers de bal en lieten de tijd eenvoudig weglopen.

Video Samenvatting Tennessee Titans - San Diego Chargers
Volgende wedstrijd San Diego Chargers: @ Indianapolis Colts, 13 januari 19:00(Nederlandse Tijd)


Jacksonville Jaguars 31-29 Pittsburgh Steelers
Dat de AFC South de sterkste division is, werd dit seizoen wel duidelijk. Indianapolis Colts als division kampioen en de Tennessee Titans en Jacksonville Jaguars in de play-offs als wild-card. De Pittsburgh Steelers zijn sinds de overwinning in Superbowl XL niet meer overtuigend geweest.

De Steelers kwamen als eerste op het scoreboard, maar met geluk, de bal werd bij de 1yard lijn gefumbled en recovered door de Jaguars, maar de officials vonden dat de bal gewoon in bezit van de Steelers was, nadat de Head-Coach van de Jaguars de beslissing challengede. Even laten zouden de Steelers vanuit die positie een touchdown scoren. De return van de bal zorgde bijna voor een touchdown maar bij de volgende play maakte ook de Jaguars een touchdown.
In het 2e kwart werd de bal ge-intercept door Mathis die daardoor een touchdown kon maken. Bij het volgende balbezit voor de Steelers kon Mathis de bal opnieuw intercepten en even later stond het 21-7 voor de Jaguars. Aan het eind van de eerste helft kwam er weer een slechte bal van Roethlisberger waardoor de Jaguars weer konden intercepten.

Maar na de rust kwamen de Steelers goed terug, een interception zorgde ervoor dat ze de mogelijkheid kregen voor een field goal en een 11 punten achterstand. Daarna kwamen de Jaguars weer met een touchdown waardoor de Steelers maar liefst 18 punten achter stonden. Maar toen kwam er een nieuwe wederopstanding. 1e play van het 4e kwart zorgde direct voor een touchdown voor de Steelers. 3 minuten later scoorde de Steelers opnieuw een touchdown waardoor de achterstand ineens maar 5 punten was.
Er werd besloten voor een 2-point conversion, die succesvol was, maar er was een overtreding gezien op een speler van de Steelers. Na een interception door een Steeler werd er weer een touchdown gescoord en weer gekozen voor een 2-point conversion, die wederom mislukte. Tussenstand 28-29.
Met nog 2 minuten op de klok kwam er een geweldige rush van de Jaguars QB waardoor er de mogelijkheid was tot een field goal en de eindstand op het bord kwam. 31-29.
De 2 pogingen voor een 2-point conversion hadden de Steelers eigenlijk de das omgedaan.

Video Samenvatting Jacksonville Jaguars - Pittsburgh Steelers
Volgende wedstrijd Jacksonville Jaguars: @ New England Patriots, 13 januari 02:00(Nederlandse Tijd)

NFL: AFC Wild Card Weekend

VS

Second-half rally sends Chargers into AFC Divisional date with Colts

SAN DIEGO -- LaDainian Tomlinson jumped for joy. Norv Turner's eyes were red.
It was rainy and gloomy, but it might as well have been a sunny day.
Yes, the San Diego Chargers can win in the playoffs. Thirteen long years after their last postseason victory, the Chargers finally came to life late in the second half Sunday to beat the Tennessee Titans 17-6 in an AFC Wild Card Game.
Tomlinson was held to 42 yards on 21 carries, but the star running back got to celebrate the first playoff victory in three tries in his brilliant seven-year career.
"It didn't come easy, but I tell you, I'm just happy to get that first one," Tomlinson said.
"It's a relief, but at the same time, it's not like we're saying, 'OK, we won a playoff game, so let's get ready to lose,' you know what I mean? I'm already thinking about next week and how tough of a game we're going to have going to Indianapolis, facing the champs."
The Chargers (12-5) advance to face the Colts on Sunday. San Diego escaped with a 23-21 win over the Colts at Qualcomm Stadium on Nov. 11, when Peyton Manning threw a career-high six interceptions and Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field-goal attempt with 1:31 left.
The Titans bottled up Tomlinson, the two-time NFL rushing champion and 2006 league MVP, and dared quarterback Philip Rivers to beat them. The second-year starter did just that, throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson late in the third quarter that gave San Diego its first lead at 10-6.
L.T. finally found the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, on a fourth-down leap over the pile from inside the 1-yard line that had to survive a video review.
Tomlinson went airborne and was met by linebacker Stephen Tulloch, but the running back used a second effort to get the ball over the goal line before linebacker Colin Allred knocked it out of his hands.
"I just felt like going through the air was a better option," Tomlinson said.
Tomlinson jumped for joy once he emerged from the pile, but Titans coach Jeff Fisher threw his red challenge flag. After a review, it was ruled that the ball crossed the plane. Tomlinson celebrated again on the sideline. Tomlinson's wife, LaTorsha, doesn't like it when he leaps over the pile. Asked if he expected to hear about it, he said: "Absolutely."
Twelve of Tomlinson's 21 carries went for 1 yard or less, including four for losses.
There would be no comeback for Vince Young and the Titans (10-7), who were missing four offensive starters due to injuries.
"Nobody gave us a chance to be here," Young said. "We're just happy to be part of it. Next year, we'll have a good run again."
Said Fisher: "I thought Vince played well enough for us to win. He got banged around a little bit and bounced back, made some throws."
Just like that, the nightmares of the Marty Schottenheimer era finally went away in San Diego.
Schottenheimer was fired due to front-office friction in February, a month after San Diego inexplicably melted down in a 24-21 divisional-round playoff loss to New England. The Chargers had gone an NFL-best 14-2 in 2006.
Two years earlier, the Chargers lost in overtime to the New York Jets in a home wild-card game.
Overall, the Chargers had lost four straight postseason games dating to their ugly 49-26 loss to San Francisco in the Super Bowl following the 1994 season.
Turner improved his career playoff record as a head coach to 2-1. After stumbling to a 1-3 start this season and then leveling off at 5-5, the Chargers have won seven straight and 11 of 13 under Turner.
"Norv was brought here in an odd situation," Tomlinson said. "It was either, get us back to the playoffs and win a game in the playoffs, or you're a failure. That was kind of what he was given."
When it was noted during his postgame news conference that his eyes were red, Turner said: "I don't know. It's probably the rain.
"This game is about the players. They fought through a lot of ups and downs, and a lot of disappointments. This is a start for them."
Rivers was 19-of-30 for 292 yards, with one interception. Chris Chambers had six catches for 121 yards, and Jackson had five for 114.
"We wanted Philip Rivers to beat us," Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "I think he did a good job of that. Anytime you leave anybody wide open, any quarterback in this league is going to hit them."
The Titans were looking for some payback after losing to the Chargers in overtime in Nashville in a tough, nasty game five weeks ago. Several players were hurt, and four players were fined a total of $32,500 by the NFL.
The Titans started faster than the Chargers in this game, but couldn't find the end zone.
Pro Bowl kicker Rob Bironas, who led the NFL with 35 field goals, had kicks of 30 and 44 yards to give the Titans a 6-0 halftime lead. He pushed a 38-yarder just wide left in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
The Titans weren't happy at their inability again to score touchdowns instead of settling for field goals.
"That's been our problem all year, scoring points," wide receiver Eric Moulds said.
The Titans were heading for a great scoring chance early in the second quarter when Chris Brown fumbled when he was hit by Shawne Merriman, with Shaun Phillips recovering at the Chargers 9-yard line. San Diego ended up punting.
The Chargers lost three-time All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates to a sprained left big toe late in the second quarter. He's questionable for the Indy game.
Notes: Tomlinson spent the last few minutes on the sideline with a wrap on his left calf. ... This was the third time the Chargers had two or more players surpass 100 yards receiving in a playoff game. In their epic 41-38 overtime win against Miami on Jan. 2, 1982, Kellen Winslow had 166 yards, Charlie Joiner 108 and Wes Chandler 106. In a wild-card win over Pittsburgh on Jan. 9, 1983, Chandler had 124 and Winslow 102. ... Fisher is 0-5 in his career against San Diego and 1-10, counting playoffs, on the West Coast.

NFL: AFC Wild Card Weekend

VS

Jaguars collapse in fourth, but rally to beat Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- The past means nothing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Pittsburgh, and neither does a frantic Steelers fourth-quarter rally. The Jaguars overcame both obstacles there for the second time in three weeks, and next up might be another date with history.

Josh Scobee saved the game by kicking a 25-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining and the Jaguars came back after squandering an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter to beat the Steelers 31-29 on Saturday night in an AFC wild-card game that was wild in every sense of the word.

Jacksonville, becoming the first opponent to win twice in Pittsburgh in the same season in the Steelers' 75-season history, appeared to be done after Najeh Davenport's second 1-yard TD run of the game gave the Steelers a 29-28 lead with about six minutes remaining. But quarterback David Garrard, not an exceptional runner, found a seam on a convert-or-else fourth-and-2 play and rambled 32 yards to the Steelers 11 with 1:56 left.

"Right before we went out, I pulled the guys together and said, `Guys, you got to love it, this is what we're here for,"' coach Jack Del Rio said. "Now let's go out and make some plays and win it."

The Jaguars will play unbeaten New England in Foxborough on Saturday night, after the Chargers beat the Titans on Sunday.

Garrard aided the Steelers' comeback by throwing two interceptions -- one less than he had all season -- only to come up with the play that may have saved the Jaguars' season.

They kind of lost their gaps, they thought pass, I was able to get through there," Garrard said. "I just wanted to get a first down. I did enough to get into field-goal range and that was all I was thinking about."

Steelers linebacker Larry Foote argued emphatically that Jacksonville's offensive line held on Garrard's run.

"I don't want to get fined, but watch the long quarterback sneak," Foote said. "Watch the middle of the defensive line and you'll see. You'll see it. Watch what happens in the middle of the field. ... You see a big old hole open up and you'll see the reason why."

Ben Roethlisberger (29-of-42, 337 yards) put the Steelers into a deep hole himself by throwing three interceptions before halftime, then got rolling after he began lining up in a shotgun formation and threw touchdown passes to Santonio Holmes (37 yards) and Heath Miller (14 yards) in 4½ minutes of the fourth quarter to get Pittsburgh within 28-23.

"Ben is our leader, he's always going to be our leader. I'll ride or die with him any day," right tackle Willie Colon said in a subdued Steelers locker room, one filled with disappointment but no screaming or angry words. "He's tremendous and I love him to death and he led us back."

The Steelers rallied from 15 points down to tie Jacksonville late in the Jaguars' 29-22 win at Heinz Field on Dec. 16, but couldn't close the deal. They couldn't this time, either, even though Roethlisberger, shouldering the Steelers' offense virtually by himself with no running game, was 17-of-23 for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Hines Ward made 10 catches for 135 yards, but the Willie Parker-less Steelers ran for only 43 yards on 26 carries.

Pittsburgh also came up two points short by gambling, perhaps unwisely, for 2-point conversions after each of its final two touchdowns and getting neither. If the Steelers had kicked both times, Scobee's field goal would have only tied it.

"It's very disappointing, everyone's fired up," linebacker Clark Haggans said. "We fought hard. We came up short. It was a play here, a play there."

The Jaguars have beaten Pittsburgh four times in the last three seasons, including that Dec. 16 win, and they appeared ready to do easily by building a 28-10 lead behind backup running back Maurice Jones-Drew's playmaking and Rashean Mathis' two important interceptions.

Then, in less than only about eight minutes, they almost gave away their season.

"I was very proud of our guys for responding after watching that 18-point lead evaporate," Del Rio said. "Certainly, getting this experience will benefit our football team. We wanted to stay calm, stay poised and understand that that's what you need to do, make some plays. We needed every bit of them."

Jones-Drew, in a performance filled with big plays, scored on a 43-yard swing pass after one of Roethlisberger's interceptions and a 10-yard run that provided the 18-point lead. Jones-Drew's 96-yard kickoff return the first time Jacksonville touched the ball set up Fred Taylor's 1-yard touchdown run and immediately answered the Steelers' opening-possession 80-yard touchdown drive.

Taylor, who ran for 147 yards in Pittsburgh last month and had 381 yards in his last two games there, was held to 48 yards on 16 carries and, but it didn't matter.

"It was a tough way to get a win and we got one," Jones-Drew said.

The Jaguars came in off six wins in their last eight games, while the Steelers -- missing five starters, including star running back Parker -- limped into the postseason with three losses in four games and four in seven.

With no Parker, the NFL's leading rusher until he broke his right leg Dec. 20 against St. Louis, the Steelers needed to be creative offensively and Roethlisberger was exactly that on the opening possession. Using rollouts and swing passes to gain the yardage they normally get on Parker's running, the Steelers drove 80 yards for Davenport's 1-yard TD run and a 7-0 lead.

That efficient, creative Steelers offense disappeared the rest of the half, replaced by the familiar mistake-a-minute style so common when they ended five seasons with home playoff losses under former coach Bill Cower from 1992-2004. Cowher, coincidentally, resigned as coach after 15 seasons a year to the day Saturday.

Mathis, who decided Jacksonville's 23-17 overtime win at Heinz Field in 2005 with an interception return touchdown in overtime, jumped on a slant pattern by Holmes early in the second quarter for his 63-yard interception return. Two plays before, the Steelers appeared to get a big break when a tipped pass intended for Miller deflected to Ward for a 33-yard gain, a mini-Immaculate Reception 35 years and two weeks after the original.

Roethlisberger, perhaps attempting to prove he wasn't discouraged by that interception, went right back at Mathis on Pittsburgh's next possession -- and was intercepted by him again. The Jaguars promptly scored two plays later, on a 43-yard swing pass to Jones-Drew that made it 21-7.

With the Steelers driving late in the half, after Scobee's missed 46-yard field goal attempt, Roethlisberger was intercepted yet again by rookie backup lineman Derek Landri.

Despite the comeback, the Steelers ended their first season under new coach Mike Tomlin the same way they did their first under Cowher in 1992, with a first-game playoff loss on their home field.

"We fell short," Tomlin said. "Nothing really soothes the feeling we have right now."

WIld Card voorbeschouwing

Wild Card Playbook: Seahawks vs. Redskins

NFL Total Access: Redskins vs. Seahawks discussion

Week 18: Redskins vs. Seahawks Preview

Seahawks' unique home-field advantage

SEATTLE -- Joe Gibbs appreciates where his Redskins are as much as anyone.

Four consecutive wins to end the regular season sent Washington to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

The improbable, inspirational December surge, which followed the death of defensive leader Sean Taylor, also allowed Gibbs to rebound from what he calls the "lowest point" of his 16 years as a head coach. Gibbs called consecutive time outs at the end of a game five weeks ago, earning a 15-yard penalty and making Buffalo's winning field goal easier.

As for where the Redskins are going Saturday? Well, the Hall of Fame coach doesn't appreciate that so much.

"That's the good news," Gibbs said of the 10th playoff berth in his legendary career. "The bad news is we're going to Seattle. It's not a good place to go for a playoff game."

The Seahawks were 7-1 at home this season and are 34-7 at Qwest Field since Week 16 of the 2002 season. Only New England's 35-7 home mark is better during that span. Since 2001, Seattle is 42-14 at home, second only to the Patriots' 45-11.

That doesn't include the playoffs, in which the Seahawks are 3-1 at Qwest Field. That includes a 20-10 win over the Redskins in the teams' previous meeting, during the divisional playoffs in January 2006 on Seattle's way to the Super Bowl. That is Gibbs' only loss is six career games against the Seahawks.

"I think ... we went to Seattle not knowing," Washington running star Clinton Portis said. "That stadium was loud. The crowd was amazing."

It's not just that Seattle is starved for a title -- though it is, not having felt a major men's professional sports championship since the 1979 SuperSonics won the NBA.

And, no, it's generally not the weather. Saturday is expected to bring -- shocker! -- steady rain and temperatures in the mid 40s during the game, with gusty winds that will make it feel like the mid 30s. But Seattle's FieldTurf, which is near real grass without the mud, and a high-tech draining system generally neutralize the effects of most weather.

Seattle's home-field advantage largely comes from Qwest Field's cantilever roofs along each sideline. Each is 760-feet long, the same as three 747 jets parked end-to-end. The roofs hang over each upper decks of each sidelines and cover 70 percent of the 67,000 seats. They are supposedly designed to keep fans semidry during the many rainy games.

But effectively, the roofs are noise traps that push the fans' roars back onto the playing surface, making players' ears ring and grandstands shake. The Seahawks love to point out that their "12th Man" of fans has caused 68 false-start penalties by opponents during the last three seasons. The New York Giants had 11 in one memorable mess of a loss at Seattle in 2005.

The Minnesota Vikings' home inside the Metrodome is second in the league in that span, having produced 57 opponents' false starts.

"I would think that an indoor facility would be louder than outdoor, but I hear that Seattle is louder," said Redskins quarterback Todd Collins, whose four consecutive wins included a key victory last month at Minnesota.

He was last inside Qwest Field in 2002, when he was a backup with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seahawks were chronically mediocre.

At least one Redskins player -- a native of Lacey, Wash., about an hour south of Seattle, no less -- thinks the Seahawks' noise is artificially enhanced.

"That place had to be miked up because the last time we played there, it was ridiculous. We couldn't hear ourselves talk," running back Mike Sellers told The Washington Times this week. "For a stadium that small, it can't be that loud."

That made Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren -- and presumably the 67,000 locals who hold tickets for Saturday's game -- smile.

"Anyone who's been to a game here knows it's not artificial. It's all our fans," Holmgren said. "It's a learned activity for them. So you don't have to encourage them a lot.

"Now, I would suspect that if they think someone is accusing us of doing something like that, they might even come with a little more voice."

Holmgren grinned. About the only thing he didn't do was stomp his foot to emphasize his invitation to the fans.

This isn't the first time opponents have accused the Seahawks of piping in recorded noise. The Giants did after their false-start fiasco two seasons ago.

The NFL sent a memorandum early in the 2006 season, before the Giants played again in Seattle, about such complaints. A monitor from the league attended a game here that season to ensure there wasn't artificial amplification.

"It is quite an experience," Holmgren said of a Seattle home game. "The people that I have talked to this year -- that I might bump into at a store or something, that went to the game for the first time -- they can't believe it. They just cannot believe it.

"So, I suspect, if history tells us anything, that in the playoffs it will be noisy.

"It's one of the things when it is all said and done here for me I'll feel very, very good about: the fact that going to the game at Qwest Field is fun again. ... We need them Saturday, that's for sure."