I know I have previously espoused the virtues of the NFL Red Zone in this space. But making the wild assumption you may have missed that particular blog (and, boy, is that a possibility), allow me to once again toot the horn of a product that any rabid football fan should have.
For those who might be unfamiliar with the channel, it is owned and operated by the NFL. It brings bits and pieces of every Sunday afternoon game, guaranteeing that you will see “every touchdown of every game” and they never fail in that mission. They call it “whip around coverage” and as each game heads towards moments of excitement The Red Zone takes you there. For an avid fantasy football player or fan, it never disappoints. Scott Hanson is the host and does a masterful job setting up the video.
If you needed any proof of how addicting this channel can be, just ask someone who had The Red Zone this past Sunday. There were five games that were decided in the final seconds of regulations or overtime and you could see all those finishes on one channel.
The Giants, desperate for a win (0-2 going into the game), looked like they were on their way to an overtime against the Eagles and the Giants had all the momentum. However, they were beaten in the last second by a 61-yard field goal by Jake Elliot. The Red Zone had all the excitement of the last two minutes.
The Atlanta Falcons had a four-point lead when Detroit’s Golden Tate caught what appeared to be a last second winning touchdown. A “pick” penalty was called against the Lions, 10 seconds were run off the clock due to the penalty and Atlanta won the game. There were plenty of “couch potato” second-guessing moments in those final seconds and The Red Zone offered up all the evidence you needed.
The Houston Texans had a fourth and inches on the Patriots 18-yard line with @2:30 to go and a two-point lead. The Texans chose to kick the field goal. Of course, Tom Brady took New England down the field, escaped a potential interception, and threw the game-winning touchdown. I guess it was another “Ho-hum” for Brady, but not for those of us watching The Red Zone looking for an upset by a team that was a 13.5 point underdog.
I do not like the NFL overtime rule which allows a team to score a touchdown for the win, without ever giving the opponent a chance to possess the football. That is what the Chicago Bears did to the Steelers on Sunday. There was plenty of chaos at the end of this one, but The Red Zone kept us informed.
Finally, the Bills beat the Broncos (the same team that demolished Dallas the previous week). There was a bizarre penalty in this one that allowed the Bills to kick a field goal and put the game out of reach. This was just another upset in a weekend of upsets that you could have experienced by watching The Red Zone.
The Red Zone costs $59.99 for the season on RCN. This past weekend, it was well-worth the investment. Actually, it’s true every weekend.
And… at the end of the day, they show every touchdown from every game, as promised!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- This space has recently become my Saquon Barkley weekly call-out and this week is no exception. If you missed Penn State against Iowa on Saturday night (I did not, thanks to TIVO), go back and watch it. Whitehall’s Barkley had his best day ever rushing for 211 yards. He had 94 yards in receptions and set the Penn State record for all-purpose yards in a game. The Iowa coach said about Barkley, “The big difference in the game was that running back. He is a phenomenal player”. By the way, Penn State won on the very last play of the game 21-19.
- With the NFL and the NBA players now angry at the President, is MLB and the NHL far behind?
- Derek Jeter will soon be in charge of the Miami Marlins as the head of business and baseball operations. He will dismiss the current president and before that dismissal, Jeter wants him to fire Andre Dawson and Tony Perez (both Hall of Famers), Jeff Conine (former great Marlin player), and former manager Jack McKeon. This team will, obviously, be Derek’s team.
- The World Champion Chicago Cubs should clinch their division this week. Lafayette’s Joe Maddon is the manager and they seem ready to defend their title in October as they currently are playing great baseball. If I can’t root for the Phillies in the postseason, then I’m a Cubs’ fan.
- Parkland travels to Whitehall this Friday for a big rivalry match-up LIVE on RCN at 7:00pm. Lafayette opens the Patriot League season on Saturday afternoon in Worcester, Mass. at 1:00pm. That is where I will be. Northern Lehigh travels to Pen Argyl for a 7:00pm game.
Gary’s Guesses: NFL Picks – (LAST WEEK – 9-7; OVERALL – 29-17 – 63%)
Week Four
GREEN BAY
NEW ORLEANS
DALLAS
HOUSTON
DETROIT
ATLANTA
BALTIMORE
CINCINNATI
NEW ENGLAND
JACKSONVILLE
ARIZONA
PHILADELPHIA
GIANTS
DENVER
SEATTLE
KANSAS CITY
