Luck Had Nothing to Do With It

That's the word that is being used to describe the Seahawks victory over the New York Giants yesterday.

And it's nonsense.

Luck had absolutely nothing to do with it. Here's why:

On a 3rd and 13 from their own 46, Eli Manning completes a 23-yard pass to Plaxico Burress at the Seahawks 31-yard line. On the next play, Luke Petitgout commits his 23rd false start penalty of the day, pushing them back to the Seahawks 36.

Manning then completes a pass to Jeremy Shockey down to the Seahawk 26, which he fumbles and the ball is recovered by Giants WR Tim Carter at the Seahawk 20. Mike Holmgren calls a timeout, and the play ends up being reviewed by the booth where it's determined that Jeremy Shockey never had possession of the ball. So, wipe away 16 yards and a down, and you've got 2nd and 15 from the Seahawks 36.

Manning attempts a QB draw, which is stuffed by Seahawks DE Grant Wistrom for no gain. Next play is a pass to Plaxico Burress, which is broken up by Andre Dyson, leaving the Giants with a 4th and 15 from the Seahawk 36. Jay Feely missed the 53-yard FG attempt.

Is that luck? No, it's not luck. A 50-yard FG by a visiting kicker not named Neil Rackers is unheard of in late November at Qwest Field, but it might've been good from 48 (original line of scrimmage before the penalty) or from 37 yards (if Holmgren doesn't take the timeout giving the replay offical time to review the play).

So chalk that missed field goal up to good defense (Dyson knocking the ball out of Shockey's hands, making the incompletion more obvious, and forcing the incomplete pass on Burress; Grant Wistrom alertly snuffing out Mannings QB draw attempt) and heads up coaching by Holmgren.

The later field goal attempt (45 yards) was makeable, but by that time, Feely was so out of sorts, it shouldn't surprise anyone that he missed it.

If you're going to say it was "luck", the you probably believe in the "football gods", as well. For example, perhaps those Jay Feely missed kicks were due to:

a.) Jeremy Shockey's non-TD in the 2nd quarter. You still have to have "complete the catch" in the end zone, and Shockey did not. Seahawks FS Marquand Manuel knocked the ball loose (and Shockey on his ass) before the left foot ever touched the ground. The same rules that govern the 5-yard line apply in the end zone.

b.) Amani Toomer's TD was much closer, but two officials were within feet of the play and neither of them could say whether or not it was a completed pass, so they gave it to the Giants knowing replay could bail them out if they were wrong. Nice that they erred on the side of awarding the Giants points, wasn't it? Plus, it appeared as though Toomer's left heel was touching the white paint before his second foot was down. I've heard this from impartial observers, as well.

c.) Jeremy Shockey and Michael Strahan's idiotic celebrations of missed field goals. Shockey taunted the camera, not even looking at Feely's botched effort at the end of regulation. The stunned look on his face afterwards was so priceless, I will pay top dollar for a still image of it. And then Michael Strahan runs out to midfield after Feely's 1st missed field goal in overtime, sans helmet, even though he needed it since the game wasn't over.

The Giants have no one to blame but themselves. When you go on the road and commit 16 penalties (11 false starts), your marquee players (Shockey/Burress) combine to drop half a dozen footballs, you shouldn't expect to win. That you were in a position to win the game is the only way "luck" factored into things.

So What Now?

At 9-2 the Seahawks are still in the driver's seat in the NFC. They have a one-game lead on the Bears and Panthers, and essentially a 3-game lead on the Giants, Cowboys and Falcons, thanks to beating all 3 this season.

After the way the Seahawks crowd impacted the Giants, is there any team that wants to come into Seattle in January? Probably not. And the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC will likely come through Seattle. Look at their remaining schedule:

Dec 5th @ Philadelphia (5-6)
Dec 11th San Francisco (2-9)
Dec 18th @ Tennessee (3-8)
Dec 24th Indianapolis (10-0)
Dec 31st @ Green Bay (2-9)

The absolute worst I can see the Seahawks going is 3-2 down the stretch, which would put them at 12-4 to end the season. That would mean Chicago and Carolina would have to go 4-1 down the stretch to get the #1 seed. Dallas, Atlanta and New York, even if the Seahawks went 3-2, couldn't unseat the Seahawks, who own the tiebreakers over both (Seattle beat them both this year), even if they win out.

The Sauce

If the Seahawks OT win was a heaping plate of ribs, Michael Irvin's drug-related arrest was definitely the sauce.

Now, I do think that if Irvin is still hitting the pipe, it's a tragic situation that I hope he gets help for. I don't wish the man ill will. But I do think it's funny, because his contract is up at the end of the year, and ESPN should not, under any circumstance, retain his services.

The way he cheerleads for the Cowboys while blindly defending the actions of anyone playing the WR position, automatically call into question his journalistic integrity. Like it or not, Irvin has a duty to be objective, and he fails miserably at doing that.

Even during yesterday's segment with Shaun Alexander, Irvin turned it into a "why haven't they paid you, yet?" affair. You know what, Mike? Alexander has representation and both sides are working towards a new contract, so butt out. They don't need your help. Oh, and thanks for jumping on-board a story that's been running in Seattle since last February. Way to go, genius.

His shtick is so tired, even Steve Young and Tom Jackson were mocking Irvin after the Alexander segment yesterday. And that's saying something!

You know, I hate to say it, but ESPN has slipped to the bottom of the NFL pregame show pile. They're even below FOX, who employs two mammary glands named Jillian Barberie. And CBS, who gets it right. Sure, it's vanilla, but it's informative and moderately entertaining, and that's what a pregame show should be. You don't have to go over the top, you just have to dispense information in a somewhat entertaining manner.

Speaking of which, Armen Keteyian's segment on Steve Belichick made me wish I had a TiVo. Brilliant stuff.

Fuck You, Peter King

Since I live on the east coast, I rarely lend credence to the "East coast bias" argument that those on the left coast tend to resort to when their teams aren't getting enough publicity. But Peter King, c'mon, you're better than what you wrote today.

The Giants are the best team in the NFC? Puh-lease. Maybe that would mean something if you didn't live in Ernie Accorsi's lower intestines. They're good, don't get me wrong, but the best?

They got two gift (and by gift I mean "non") TDs yesterday, dropped half a dozen passes and committed 16 penalties. When they had taken the crowd out of it in the 3rd quarter, Eli Manning let them back in the game by throwing a punt to Michael Boulware, which rejuvenated the crowd and the Seahawks, who immediately took the lead. Is that the makings of the "best team in the NFC"? I don't think so.

And your egg nog latte tastes metallic? The horror, you say! That's what you get for continually spending $4 on burnt coffee.

For the record, "Seattle's lovely new home" was opened in 2002. Same year that Gillette Stadium was built.