looking back (oct. 13-19) | monday night football: chicago bears, 24, arizona cardinals, 23
Duh-dun-dun-dun. Monday Night Football featured one of the best games of the year this week as the Arizona Cardinals snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, improbably losing to the Chicago Bears 24-23, without the Bears registering an offensive touchdown.
Leading 23-3 with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Matt Leinart and the Cardinals took the field feeling very confident. The Chicago defense, though, defending its undefeated status, laid a bear-trap for the Cardinals. On second down, Leinart was blindsided by Mark Anderson as the defensive end broke through untouched to sack the former USC star, forcing a fumble. Mike Brown picked up the ball and easily ran it in for a touchdown from three yards out.
Three drives later, with 5:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, Cardinals running back Edgerrin James was stuffed at the line and held in place long enough for Brian Urlacher to strip the ball from the former All-pro running back. Cornerback Charles Tillman recovered and went the distance: 23-17 Cardinals.
On the next drive, Devin Hester returned a Cardinals punt 83 yards for a touchdown that gaves the Bears a one-point lead. The Cardinals still had a chance, as Leinart led a drive down to the Bears' 23 setting up Neil Rackers for a game-clinching 40-yard field goal. But for the second straight week, Rackers came up empty, missing left as the Bears went on to win.
Rex Grossman, who up to this game had been arguably the team's MVP, was dreadful in the win, throwing four interceptions and losing two fumbles on 14-37 passing. But as the Bears have proved in the past, a good defense can put more than enough points on the board.
looking ahead (oct. 20 - 26) | men's soccer, tufts vs. williams
This Saturday's men's soccer game against the Williams Ephs, it's all about the numbers. With the regular season approaching its close, and playoff spots a precious commodity, the weekend is a stat-aholic's dream. Tufts, 2-4-1 in the NESCAC and 6-5-1 overall, is currently tied with Bates for sixth in the league, with Colby (1-5-1, 3-5-2) close on its heels at eighth. Only the top seven teams receive bids to the season-ending NESCAC tournament, and the Jumbos' match against the formidable Ephs (5-1-0 against league competition and 10-1-0 overall) will go a long way in determining if Tufts remains a 2006 playoff contender.
After a dismal start to the 2006 campgain, the Jumbos put some midseason magic together, turning their season from a nightmarish 0-4-1 start. The streak included victories over Bates and Bowdoin, with the rest of the wins coming in non-conference games. The Jumbos have won six of their last seven games, with the final win coming on Tuesday against non-conference UMass-Dartmouth. The team has fielded a balanced offense, getting goals from nine different players during the stretch, including a pair of two-goal games from senior Mattia Chason. Their only loss in the stretch was a tough one, however, as they fell 3-1 to Trinity on Saturday. If the Jumbos are going to prove that they belong in the NESCAC tournament, and extend their 2006 campaign into the postseason, NESCAC games are the only way to do it, and the match-up against perennial contender Williams on Saturday is their next chance.
Coming away from Kraft Field with a win over Williams will not be an easy task. The Ephs, ranked second behind Wesleyan in the NESCAC with a 5-1 conference record, have routinely defeated the Jumbos since 1999, and claimed the NESCAC conference crown for a four-year stretch from 2001 to 2004. Though a loss by either Bates or Colby this weekend would help the Tufts cause considerably, the Jumbos will have to bring their A-game against the Ephs to ensure that their playoff fate rests securely in their own hands.
