The Seahawks won, which was what most people, myself included, certainly predicted.
What was surprising was the way that they won, by barely holding on against a desperate Detroit team that seemed to be outplaying them, except without the scoreboard reflecting this.
Really, the Lions appeared to be about to win the game, with Calvin Johnson running the ball into the end zone, when Kam Chancellor punched the ball out of his hands. The ball headed towards the back of the end zone, but then Seattle linebacker KJ Wright punched the ball out of bounds near the back of the end zone.
The Seahawks got the ball back and, with such little time remaining, just took a knee in victory formation to secure the win.
However, the biggest play of the game, the game saving punch of the ball by Chancellor to cause a fumble followed by Wright's punch should not have counted. I have been watching ESPN since, and everyone seems to agree that the batting of the ball out of bounds is illegal, and according to NFL rules, the Lions should have gotten the ball back at the 1-yard line.
In other words, they really still should have had a chance - a good chance - to win the game.
Instead, they suffer their fourth straight loss, officially, and their season seems to be teetering on the brink at 0-4, while the Seahawks, who have looked far less impressive than in recent seasons, escape with a 2-2 record that keeps them in the suddenly tight NFC West race.
That was a strange, if super exciting, end. But the call apparently should not have counted, and the controversy ensues.
Also, although I like the city of Seattle, and the Seahawks as a team as well, it seems that there are a lot of strange calls and ends of games that it raises some eyebrows now. This is happening a bit too much to simply dismiss it. Detroit should have had another chance at taking the victory, and they were cheated out of it, much like the Packers were cheated out of what should have been a solid road victory with another controversial call. Of course, comparisons between the endings of both games have begun already.
You can say that it is only one game. However, the one game a few years ago likely cost the Packers the second seed in the playoffs, as well as a playoff bye. it also meant that the showdown between the Packers and 49ers in the playoffs was at Candlestick park, and not Lambeau Field. That could certainly have made a difference.
Also, the Seahawks won the NFC West by one game last season, after trailing the Cardinals by three full games at one point. Granted, the Cardinals just lost, and the NFC West seems a lot tighter at this point of the season this year then it did at this point last year. But still, it is not unthinkable that whoever wins the division does so by one game. So, they really need to review these kinds of plays, and perhaps make potentially game deciding plays automatically reviewable.
Something should be done by the NFL about this.
Okay, time for predictions for next week:
(Thursday Night) Indianapolis at Houston - The Colts are without Luck, and Houston will want to recover after being humiliated last weekend. But I suspect that the Colts will find a way to win this one, although it would not surprise me if they do not, because they certainly will not get as lucky as they did against Jacksonville. My pick: Indy
Chicago at Kansas City - Yes, Chicago finally won a game. But barely, and at home. Now, they go out on the road to face an angry Chiefs team that has not won since opening day. Sorry, no chance for Da Bears. My pick: KC
Cleveland at Baltimore - The Browns really are starting to look bad again, while the Ravens earned a potentially season defining game in Pittsburgh, where they likely would have been done with a loss. The Ravens should benefit from home field advantage, as well as facing a fairly weak team. My pick: The Ravens
Jacksonville at Tampa Bay - Jax was cheated, or rather cheated themselves out of what would have been an amazing victory last weekend. Now, they go up against a weak Bucs team, and I suspect that they get things right enough to win. My pick: Jax
Washington at Atlanta - Yes, Washington is playing surprisingly well. But Atlanta is not an easy place to play on the road, especially this season. I like the Falcons to win this one. My pick: Atlanta
St. Louis at Green Bay - Another surprising victory by St. Louis, knocking off the previously unbeaten Cardinals. But that means that they will not sneak up on Green Bay, and the Packers are very tough to beat, especially at Lambeau. My pick: Green Bay Packers
Buffalo at Tennessee - The Titans are unpredictable, especially coming off a bye. But then again, Buffalo has been remarkably inconsistent as well. Still, Buffalo fields the better team. My pick; Buffalo
New Orleans at Philadelphia - Okay, so the Saints earned their first victory of the season. Now, the question is whether they can go on the road and do the same thing against an increasingly desperate Eagles team. My guess is that they cannot. My pick: Philly
Seattle at Cincinnati - The Seahawks just squeaked by with a win against Detroit, but they will have a much tougher time of things in the Jungle. I like Cincy to establish themselves early, and take the Seahawks out in the second half. My pick: Cincy
Arizona at Detroit - The Lions want to right the ship before it is too late. But the Cardinals are a very tough team, and want to recover from the loss last week. Sorry, Lions fans. My pick: Arizona
Denver at Oakland - The Raiders have been surprisingly decent thus far. The Denver Broncos, in the meantime, have been gritting out victories, and look solid. I like Denver to squeak out a narrow victory in this contest. My pick: Denver
New England at Dallas - Last time the Patriots played in Dallas, they were enjoying their historic 2007 run. Now, New England may, or may not, be enjoying another historical run. But they are the champions, and coming off a bye week, they should have more than enough to get past a weakened Dallas squad. My pick: New England
San Francisco at NY Giants - The Giants almost beat the 49ers last season at the Meadowlands, but narrowly lost. They need to win this one, and San Francisco is not nearly as good as they were last season. My pick: NY Giants
(Monday Night) - Pittsburgh at San Diego - The Chargers and the Steelers each might have their seasons on the line in this one. Without Roethlisberger, the Steelers look very mortal. My pick: San Diego
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