NFL 2009 Season Review

 

 

Super Bowl XLIV: Saints 31 - Colts 17

Saints Alive!
Brees by Colts 31-17 for Super Bowl XLIV Victory
Super Bowl XLIV - Saints 31 Colts 17, Drew Brees Super Bowl XLIV MVP

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees throws pair of touchdown passes as the New Orleans Saints rally from early 10-point deficit and defeats the Indianapolis Colts 31-17. Brees awarded MVP for completing 32-of-39 with 288 passing yards, two TD passes, 0 interceptions and 114.5 passer rating.

Colts Aim for 5th NFL Championship
Super Bowl XLIV

Aiming for a NFL fifth championship for one of the most storied franchises in the NFL's 90 seasons, the Indianapolis Colts, 16-2, meet the New Orleans Saints, 15-3, in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. (EST)

New Orleans Saints Come Marchin' In to South Florida
Super Bowl XLIV

The New Orleans Saints make their first Super Bowl appearance when they face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Sunday, February 7. The Saints clinched the berth with a dramatic 31-28 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game

NFL Popularity America's Choice
Super Bowl XLIV

The National Football League is America's most popular sports league, comprised of 32 franchises that compete each year to win the Super Bowl, the world's biggest annual sporting event. Business Week magazine calls the NFL 'one of America's best-run businesses.' So, just how popular is the NFL

Drew Brees & Chris Johnson Named 2009 FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year
NFL 2009

FedEx and the NFL announce Saints QB Drew Brees & Titans RB Chris Johnson as the winners of the seventh annual FEDEX AIR & GROUND® NFL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS at a press conference in South Florida, site of Super Bowl XLIV.

 

Fantastic Four Ready For NFL Championship Weekend
NFL 2009 AFC & NFC Championship Weekend Preview

The NFL 2009 Playoffs are down to four teams as the Jets travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts in the AFC Championship. Meanwhile, the NFC Championship comes down to a battle in New Orleans between the Vikings and the Saints. Here's a preview of the AFC and NFC Championships plus a recap of the previous week's Divisional Playoff round

 

Kurt Warner

NFL's Great 8 Take Center Stage In Divisional Playoffs
NFL 2009 Playoffs Divisional Weekend Preview

The NFL 2009 Season is down to its "Great Eight" as the Divisional Round of the NFL 2009 Playoffs. On Saturday the Cardinals take on the Saints in New Orleans while the Ravens travel to Indianapolis to meet the Colts. On Sunday, the Cowboys are on the road against the Vikings while the Jets head west to face the San Diego Chargers. Here's a preview of this weekend's playoff games

NFL 2009 Playoffs: Super Season Kicks Off
NFL 2009 Playoff Statistics

The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday and Sunday, January 9-10, with Wild Card Weekend. On Saturday, the New York Jets play at the Cincinnati Bengals (NBC, 4:30 PM ET) and the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Dallas Cowboys (NBC, 8:00 PM ET). Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens at the New England Patriots (CBS, 1:00 PM ET) and the Green Bay Packers traveling to face the Arizona Cardinals (FOX, 4:40 PM ET).

Jets Playoff Destiny in own hands

All on the Line as NFL 2009 Regular Season Ends
NFL 2009 Week 17

Sixteen weeks down, one to go.

"This has been one of the best years, especially at the end of the season, for teams having to fight for a playoff spot," says New York Jets running back THOMAS JONES. "It's do-or-die every game."

With one week to play, there are still 17 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida.

 

Impressive Rookie Class Makes Presence Felt
NFL 2009 Rookies

This season, rookies have made significant contributions all over the field. Through the first 15 weeks, a total of 118 rookies have started at least one game this season, which is already among the highest totals for a season since the current seven-round draft format was implemented in 1994

Young NFL Talent Shines Bright
NFL 2009

"The talent pool for young NFL players is incredible," says NFL.com senior analyst GIL BRANDT. "I think we have a good group of young players come into the league every year, because of the good things that they do in high school and college. The guy that comes into the league today is so much stronger than ever before and so much better prepared than ever before."

Undefeated Saints & Colts Aim to Clinch Division Titles plus Thanksgiving Day Tripleheader
NFL 2009 Week 12

As the NFL enters Week 12, two teams -- the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints -- can clinch their divisions. Since 1990, only three teams -- 1997 San Francisco, 2004 Philadelphia and 2007 New England -- have clinched their divisions by their 11th game of the season. Plus, the Colts and Saints, both 10-0, form just the 3rd pair in NFL history to start a season 10-0, joining the 1934 Detroit Lions / Chicago Bears and the 1990 New York Giants / San Francisco 49ers

Brett Favre

Favre Returns to Lambeau; 3 Unbeatens Most Since Merger
NFL 2009 Week 8

NFL 2009 Week 8 is here and three teams -- Denver (6-0), Indianapolis (6-0) and New Orleans (6-0) -- remain undefeated -- the first time since the 1970 merger that the league has had three undefeated teams through the first seven weeks. Plus Brett Fvare -- who set numerous Packers records including most games (255), wins (160), attempts (8,754), completions (5,377), yards (61,655), touchdowns (442) and passer rating (85.8) -- returns to Green Bay as a Viking for the first time.

Rookie Wide Receivers Making Impact in NFC
NFL 2009

As the NFL 2009 season approaches the halfway point, rookies around the league are making their mark. In the NFC, four rookie wide receivers -- Minnesota's PERCY HARVIN, Chicago's JOHNNY KNOX, Philadelphia's JEREMY MACLIN and the New York Giants' HAKEEM NICKS -- have quickly adapted to the NFL, making significant contributions to their teams.

AFC's Reliable Rookies
NFL 2009

NFL coaches often preach patience, especially with rookies. Making the transition from college to pro can be just as demanding mentally as it is physically, but year after year, rookies across the NFL emerge as key contributors. A look at a few of the notable 2009 AFC rookies

 

Drew Brees Saints QB

Pats & Bucs Meet in London Plus 3 Unbeatens in Action
NFL 2009 Week 7 Preview

The Patriots-Buccaneers' meeting is the third regular-season game at Wembley Stadium.

Meanwhile, back home stateside, three of the remaining four unbeatens -- Indianapolis (5-0), Minnesota (6-0) and New Orleans (5-0) -- will be in action. Denver (6-0) has a bye in Week 7 after a 34-23 win at San Diego on Monday night.

 

Eli Manning & His 5-0 Giants

Giants (5-0) Visit Saints (4-0) in Battle of Unbeatens
NFL 2009 Week 6 Preview

"This is certainly the game of the week," says NFL Network analyst STEVE MARIUCCI of this Sunday's showdown between the 5-0 New York Giants and 4-0 New Orleans Saints.

 

Patrick Willis - LB San Francisco 49ers

Plenty of NFL Excitement Ahead
NFL 2009 Week 3 Preview

Two weeks into the 2009 NFL season, nine teams find themselves undefeated at 2-0. Of those nine clubs, four -- Denver, New Orleans, New York Jets and San Francisco -- did not make the playoffs last year.

But, of course, there is plenty of football left. Since realignment in 2002, 48 of the 84 playoff teams (57.1 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2.

Four of the past eight Super Bowl champions began their seasons with a 1-1 or 0-2 record.

Ben Roethlisberger

Steelers & Titans Kickoff NFL 2009
NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

The NFL kicks off its 2009 season when the Super Bowl XLIII champion PITTSBURGH STEELERS host the TENNESSEE TITANS on NBC at 8:30 PM ET. Continuing a tradition that started in 2004, the previous year's Super Bowl winner hosts the NFL Thursday night season Kickoff the following September. This year's Kickoff Weekend features ...

 

 

La Dainian Tomlinson

La Dainian Tomlinson - L.T. Closes in on More TD Records
NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

San Diego Chargers running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON ranks among the NFL's elite, especially when it comes to scoring touchdowns. In his career, Tomlinson ranks second in rushing touchdowns (126) and is tied for fourth in total TDs (141).

 

70th Anniversary of First Televised NFL Game
NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

Seventy years ago, the NFL and NBC tried something that would change football, and television, forever. On October 22, 1939, the Brooklyn Dodgers hosted the Philadelphia Eagles at Ebbets Field. The contest marked the first time pro football was broadcast on television.

Monday Night Football Celebrates 40th Season
NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

NFL Monday Night Football kicks off its 40th season on September 14 with an "AFL 50th Anniversary" doubleheader on ESPN and a new face in the broadcast booth!

25 Years Since Dan Marino's 5,084 Passing Yards Single Season Record
NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

In 2008, DREW BREES of the New Orleans Saints had the kind of season a quarterback dreams about: 10 300-yard games -- including two 400-yard performances -- and an eye-popping total of 5,069 passing yards. Yet even with that effort, Brees still could not match Dan Marino's record-setting season with the Miami Dolphins in 1984.

10th Anniversary of Instant Replay
NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

After 10 full seasons, instant replay has become an accepted and integral part of football. Several other professional and amateur sports, including college football, have followed the NFL's lead and instituted some form of video replay during that time.

Best NFL Records, Past 10 Years
NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

Over the past 10 years, five NFL teams have posted a winning percentage of .600 or better -- led by the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (114-46, .713).

 

NFL 2010 Season Review

NFL 2008 Season Review