NFL 2008 RSS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) at Atlanta Falcons (8-5)
Heading into week 15, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the
NFC's first Wildcard slot, while the Falcons are tied with the Cowboys for the second NFC Wildcard position.
This season, NFC South teams are collectively 24-2 at home. The Atlanta Falcons are 5-1 at home this season. The
Falcons only loss at home this season came at the hands of the Denver Broncos 24-20 in Week 11 of the NFL 2008 Season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) - Atlanta Falcons (8-5) Series
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers own an 18 to 12 edge in the series against the Falcons
and have won 12 of the last 16 meetings with the Falcons, including a 24-9 victory over the
Falcons in Week 2 (9/14/2008).
In that game, Bucs RB Earnest Graham gained 116 yards, including a 68-yard TD run. Buccaneers QB Brian Griese
added 160 yards & 1 TD.
Falcons QB Matt Ryan had his full complement of rookie mistakes against the Bucs in Week 2.
Matt Ryan threw the first interceptions of his career into an aggressive Buccaneers defense. Ryan
rebounded and the Falcons showed incredible heart in the second half, but could not overcome his first-half miscues.
Ryan misfired on his first nine pass attempts as the Falcons offense struggled to get into the powerful groove
it established the previous week in a victory over the Detroit Lions.
Tampa Bay won both meetings last season with a 31-7 victory at Atlanta followed by a 37-3 win at home.
NFL 2008 Week 14: Carolina Panthers 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23
Playing on Monday Night Football for the first time since 2006, Tampa
Bay's four-game winning streak came to an end against the Panthers.
Wasted in the loss was WR Antonio Bryant's record-setting performance as he posted nine
receptions for a career-high 200 yards, the second-highest run total in franchise
history, and two touchdowns.
The Buccaneers offense produced 384 yards and 21 first downs, but the Panthers running attack
proved to be the difference as they posted 299 yards on 37 carries, tied for the second-highest total
ever surrendered by the Buccaneers defense.
Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, Bucs CB Ronde Barber picked off QB Jake Delhomme
in Buccaneers territory. Tampa Bay drove to the Panthers one-yard line, but had to settle
for a K Matt Bryant field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
Set up by a 40-yard RB DeAngelo Williams run, Carolina
took a 10-3 lead before halftime on a RB Jonathan Stewart two-yard touchdown
run.
On the first drive of the second half, S Jermaine Phillips intercepted Delhomme
at midfield and two plays later, QB Jeff Garcia hit WR Antonio Bryant for a
50-yard score and a 10-10 tie. Carolina responded following Bryant's touchdown
with a long touchdown pass of its own as Delhomme hit WR Steve Smith for a 38-
yard score. Set up by a 39-yard pass to Bryant, RB Carnell Williams tied the score
at 17-17 with a four-yard touchdown run on the game's next possession, but the
Panthers again responded as Stewart ran in from four yards out to give Carolina a
24-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers punted on their next
possession and Carolina followed with another touchdown run as Williams scampered
for a 16-yard score and a 31-17 lead. With less than three minutes remaining,
Garcia found Bryant in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown, but
the extra point was blocked and Carolina held a 31-23 advantage. Bryant's onside
kick attempt failed and the Panthers secured the victory as Williams scored his
second touchdown of the evening on a 36-yard run with 2:07 left in the contest.
NFL 2008 Week 14: New Orleans Saints 29, Atlanta Falcons 25
Last Sunday, the Falcons fell five points shy of a victory against the New Orleans Saints, losing 29-25.
Quarterback Matt Ryan established a new career-high in passing yards with 315, rushed for his first NFL touchdown
and added a passing TD as well.
Wide receiver Roddy White also posted a new career-high after finishing with 164 receiving yards on 10 receptions.
Running back Michael Turner paced a ground attack with 61 yards and tallied his 14th rushing touchdown of the season,
which ties a franchise high.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-4)
QB JEFF GARCIA has won his last 6 starts in row vs. the Atlanta Falcons In 9 career starts vs. the Atlanta Falcons,
Garcia has completed 160 of 254 (63.0 pct.) for 1,960 yards with 12 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 97.6 passer rating. When Garcia has
95.0 or more rating as starter (including playoffs), his teams are 36-13 (.735) RB WARRICK DUNN spent 6 seasons
with the Atlanta Falcons (2002-07) & rushed for 5,981 yards & 30 TDs. Dunn needs 3 catches to become 6th player in NFL
history with 10,000 or more rush yards (10,870) & 500 or more receptions (497) WR ANTONIO BRYANT had career-high
200 yards on 9 catches and 2 touchdowns last week versus the Panthers on Monday Night Football. Bryant needs 64 yards for
2nd career 1,000-yard season CB RONDE BARBER has 2 TDs in past 3 vs. the Atlanta Falcons Had 41-yard fumble
recovery for a TD in 11/18/07 contest & 29-yard INT-TD in 12/16/07 meeting. Has 11 career defensive TDs (fumble
recoveries & INT), most among active players & 3rd all-time. DE GAINES ADAMS has 5.0 sacks & 2 FFs in 3 meetings &
aims for 4th in row vs. the Atlanta Falcons with sack. S JERMAINE PHILLIPS aims for 3rd in row with INT. Had INT
in 12/16/07 meeting
ATLANTA FALCONS (8-5)
Falcons Rookie QB MATT RYAN is 5-1 (.833) at home & has 107.1 passer rating, completing 96 of 144 (66.7 pct.) for
1,411 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT this season. The Falcons are 6-0 when Ryan has 100.0 or more rating RB MICHAEL
TURNER ranks 2nd in the NFL with 1,269 rush yards & ties for 1st with 14 rush TDs. This year, Turner has rushed for 672 yards
(112.0 per game) & 12 TDs in 6 home games. When Turner has 8 or more carries, his teams are 19-5 (.792). RB JERIOUS
NORWOOD has 6 career TDs & 4 have been 67 or more yards WR RODDY WHITE had 10 catches for 164 yards last
week. White has 72 catches for 1,136 yards (103.3 per game) & 6 TDs in past 11, including 7 100-yard games. In past
5 at home, White has 28 catches for 471 yards (94.2 per game) & 3 TDs, including 3 100-yard games DE JOHN
ABRAHAM has 22.5 sacks in past 28. Abraham has 80.0 sacks since 2000, tied for 3rd most in the NFL and has sacks in 5 of 6
career meetings. DT JONATHAN BABINEAUX had sack in last meeting.
PREDICTION: Atlanta Falcons 27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
No reason to go against the grain here and pick a road team in an NFC South game. More importantly,
rookie phenom and Falcons quarterback is a much better player than his dismal NFL 2008 Week 2 performance indicates.
Consider that game, Matt Ryan's real NFL debut.
The Buccaneers secondary is still one of the best in the NFL, but without a strong pass-rush on Ryan, the Falcons
rookie will not have that much difficulty reading the Bucs defensive schemas.
RELATED NFL 2008 Week 15
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Mad Dash to the Playoffs as NFL 2008 Season Enters Its Final 3 Weeks
The final three weeks of the NFL 2008 season are upon us, and aside from the division-winning Arizona Cardinals (8-5),
New York Giants (11-2) and Tennessee Titans (12-1), it's a mad dash for the nine remaining playoff spots among the 19 teams still
eligible. There will be twists and turns in the remaining 3 weeks of the NFL 2008 regular season.
Saints Face Bears and Chicago's December Chill
The big question is whether Quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints top-ranked NFL passing offense can perform up to
its explosive level outdoors in the December chill of the Chicago night. The New Orleans Saints utilized a more
balanced run / pass attack last week in topping the Atlanta Falcons 29-25.
Giants & Cowboys Look to Get Back to Their Winning Ways
The NFC East champion New York Giants (11-2) look to clinch a first round playoff bye as they visit the
Dallas Cowboys (8-5) in Texas Stadium on Sunday Night Football. The Cowboys need to keep winning to insure a playoff berth as they hang on to
the last playoff spot in the NFC. The Giants are 5-1 on the road this season, and the Dallas Cowboys are 5-1 at home.
AFC North Division Rivals Set for Defensive Battle
NFL 2008 Week 15 presents one of the most heated rivalries in the NFL between two AFC North division foes as the
Steelers travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens this Sunday. On paper, this AFC North match-up should be one intense
defensive battle. Pittsburgh enters the contest ranked No. 1, while the Ravens are No. 2.
Real-Deal Panthers Set to Expose Broncos at Home
The AFC West-leading Broncos (8-5) face the NFC South-leading Panthers (10-3) in Week 15. Denver heads to Carolina
sporting a 3-game road winning streak and winners of 4 of their last 5. The Panthers come off their most
impressive victory of the season proving they are the real-deal this season.
AFC East Leading Jets Aim to Rebound Against Bills
After defining moment victories on the road against the Patriots & Titans, the Jets have fallen to lesser opponents over the
past two weeks. First losing to the Broncos at home (34-17) and then losing to the 49ers (24-14) in San Francisco, the Jets
now find themselves in a dogfight for the AFC East title.
NFC Division Leading Vikings & Cardinals Clash in Desert
This Sunday's game is a match-up of first-place teams with 8-5 records as the Vikings visit the Cardinals in Arizona.
The Minnesota Vikings have a one-game lead on Chicago in the NFC North. The Cardinals are the NFC West champions.
NFL Playoff Races Intensify as Season Enters Final 3 Weeks
NFL 2008 Weekend 15 - Playoff Races, Playoff Scenarios & Strength of Schedule
With three weeks remaining in the regular season only 3 teams have clinched playoff spots while the race to make the
playoffs is even tighter.
NFL 2008 Week 14 was a week in which three teams clinched NFL playoff spots. The Tennessee Titans (12-1) clinched the
AFC South by defeating the Cleveland Browns 28-9. The Arizona Cardinals won the NFC West by winning 34-10 over the Saint
Louis Rams. And even though, they lost to the Eagles 2-14, the Giants clinched the NFC East by virtue of the Dallas Cowboys
20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL 1958 Championship: Giants vs Colts
The Greatest NFL Game Ever Played
50th Anniversary of the Greatest NFL Game Ever Played: 1958 NFL Championship at Yankee Stadium
Fifty years ago this December 28, 2008, what would become known as "The Greatest Game every Played" took
place -– the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants at Yankee
Stadium in New York City.
And when Colts fullback ALAN AMECHE burst through a hole
for a one-yard touchdown with 6:45 left in overtime (left) – at 4:51 on a foggy, drizzly day –
he took the National Football League with him into a new era.
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NFL 2008 WEEK 14 SCHEDULE
(All times local)
Thursday, December 4
Oakland at San Diego, 5:00 PM (NFLN)
Sunday, December 7
Miami at Buffalo (Toronto), 4:05 PM
Kansas City at Denver, 2:05 PM
N.Y. Jets at San Francisco, 1:05 PM
Jacksonville at Chicago, 12:00 PM
New England at Seattle, 1:05 PM
Minnesota at Detroit, 1:00 PM
St. Louis at Arizona, 2:15 PM
Houston at Green Bay, 12:00 PM
Dallas at Pittsburgh, 4:15 PM
Cincinnati at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Atlanta at New Orleans, 12:00 PM
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Tennessee, 12:00 PM
Washington at Baltimore, 8:15 PM (NBC)
Monday, December 8
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 8:30 PM (ESPN)
NFL 2008 WEEK 13 RESULTS – NOVEMBER 27, 30- DECEMBER 1
(Home team in CAPS)
Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 27, 2008)
Tennessee Titans 47 DETROIT LIONS 10
DALLAS COWBOYS 34 Seattle Seahawks 9
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 48 Arizona Cardinals 20
Sunday, November 30
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 23 New Orleans Saints 20
N.Y. Giants 23 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 7
Atlanta Falcons 22 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 16
Pittsburgh Steelers 33 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 10
Denver Broncos 34 N.Y. JETS 17
San Francisco 49ers 10 BUFFALO BILLS 3
Kansas City Chiefs 20 OAKLAND RAIDERS 13
Baltimore Ravens 34 CINCINNATI BENGALS 3
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 34 Chicago Bears 14
Indianapolis Colts 10 CLEVELAND BROWNS 6
Carolina Panthers 35 GREEN BAY PACKERS 31
Miami Dolphins 16 SAINT LOUIS RAMS 12
Monday, December 1
HOUSTON TEXANS 30 Jacksonville Jaguars 17
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