The Futbol Cardinals and the Rams flirted with history in a Doormat Thursday matchup, kicking 6 field goals in a game with no touchdowns, proving that soccer might be interesting. In the end it was Arizona taking the win 4-2, er 12-6, The all-time NFL record for most field goals in a game is 8, and it has been done twice. Once by one kicker, Rob Bironas for Tennessee vs Houston in 2007 (no FG for Houston in that game. Titans won 38-36). For two teams, in 2011 the Oakland Raiders had 6 field goals, and the Chicago Bears had 2, making a total of 8 combined field goals in another Doormat classic.
But no one has kicked more than six field goals in a game that had no touchdowns, making this game a nice curiosity in the Doormat Basement. Top that off with 16 punts and only 26 first downs (just 9 on third down) and under 450 yards total offense in the game.
With Hill knocked out of the game it was two third string quarterbacks running for their lives.
Though this was not really a doormat game--Cards are 11-3, it sure felt like one.
What a great Thursday night!
I watched some of this on replay- Sean Hill and his receivers were so far off in communication! But I must say Hill certainly passed to an open area multiple times.
ReplyDeleteShaun Hill, that is.
ReplyDelete6 FIELD GOALS AND 16 PUNTS.
ReplyDeleteThat's a ball getting kicked every 2.7 minutes. If you add the kickoffs after the field goals and the opening and second half kicks that makes a foot kicking a ball (excluding fumbles kicked) every 1.875 minutes. Better ice down those legs and feet, man.
ReplyDeleteThat's a hall of fame stat. some of the three and outs were so fast, I thought we were still in the commercial break.
ReplyDeleteafter watching parts of 2 games and listening to another on radio today, I can firmly say that the NFL refs are having too much influence on the games. It is now worse then the NBA.
ReplyDeleteraiders/cheifs: 12 penalities in first 20 minutes. and that is not counting the couple of offsetting penalties where both teams got flagged on same play.
49ers./seahawks: hitting a defenseless QB: half the distance to the goal line and a 1st down. late 3rd quarter 3point lead.
Browns/bengals: this was the worst, because 4 separate penalties in the 1st half against Browns were all comparable to what we call "ticky-tack" fouls in NBA. a bizarre horse collar tackle on a DB pulling a WR out of bounds, ineligible receiver on a screen pass, helmet to helmet tackle on a QB, and a guy running out of bounds on a punt coverage, where the opposing team was running out of bounds along with him.
This strict "by the letter" game calling gave the Bengals so much momentum that the Browns could not recover and completely fell apart.
Over the years there have been many controversial calls made by refs that have changed the course or even assisted in the victory of a team, 1976 Fred Dreith calling a roughing the passer on a patriot DL late in the 4th quarter to allow Stabler to win a playoff game, a defensive holding call on a Bills LB that tackled a Cowboy RB after an extremely effective play action pass during a super bowl. The Brady tuck pass, (although did not lead to a score, but a notorious call). But these calls were aberrations then and far enough apart that we were not worried about the game. Now however I fear the outcome is not good. there are simply too many judgement calls being made by officials. I have no problem with delay of game or encroachment, but personal fouls are being called far too many times and it is a call that is totally subjective.
This is not the first I have written on this subject this year, Previously I suggested that the punishment should match the penalty. If a player makes a hit that injures another, then that player is removed from the game for the rest of the half. or at least until the opponent returns if it is sooner. no more yardage tacked onto the play. At that time however the debate was more about player safety and encroaching flopping than refs controlling the game. This is where I think the discussion should be today. no more ticky-tack calls!!