Chargers rally for win, but Seahawks clinch division
Football Betting Lines
12/25/2006 - Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philip Rivers did it again, rebounding from a horrid start to lead the Chargers to a comeback victory, 20-17, over Seattle.
Despite the defeat, the Seahawks clinched their third straight NFC West title by virtue of San Francisco's 26-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Rivers completed only 10-of-30 passes for 181 yards with two TDs, but he found Vincent Jackson for a 37-yard score with 29 seconds left that gave the Chargers the win, and kept San Diego (13-2) in line for home field advantage throughout the playoffs with their ninth straight win.
The Chargers are a game ahead of the 12-3 Ravens for the AFC's top seed, and can clinch home field with either a win next week against Arizona, or a Ravens loss to Buffalo. The Ravens hold the tiebreaker over the Chargers thanks to a 16-13 win in week four.
Jackson inexplicably broke wide open down the deep middle in the game's final minute, and Rivers hit him in stride in the end zone for the game-winning score. The reception capped a five-catch, 97-yard game for Jackson, who also had a touchdown catch in the second quarter.
"As soon as the defense made the stop we came back on the field we just said let's go and score," said Jackson.
San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson had another stellar game on the ground, gaining 123 yards on 22 carries, but failed to add to his NFL-record 31 touchdowns.
Matt Hasselbeck completed 17-of-37 passes for 189 yards, and threw two costly interceptions, both in San Diego territory. Shaun Alexander had 31 rushes for 140 yards and two scores, but Seattle (8-7) fell for the third straight week. Bobby Engram had four catches for 65 yards. and Deion Branch caught five balls for 61 yards in the loss for the Seahawks, who head to Tampa Bay next Sunday to conclude the regular season.
"They (the Chargers) were strong, fast, and big. They played with a lot of intensity," said Alexander, who added, "It's always nice to win your division."
Jackson's game-winner capped a 59-yard drive that only took 1:31, and left Seattle with little time on offense. A Shawne Merriman sack and three Hasselbeck incompletions sealed the win for the Chargers.
Merriman had three sacks on the day, giving him 15 1/2 on the season.
Seattle moved the ball well on its second drive, driving to the San Diego 34- yard line. The Seahawks couldn't capitalize, though, as Hasselbeck was intercepted by Clinton Hart at the San Diego 23.
Neither team managed much on offense for the rest of the first half, until Tomlinson broke through to set up the game's first score. Taking over at the San Diego 14-yard line, the MVP-candidate burst through the right side and streaked 62 yards down the field to the Seattle 24-yard line. Five plays later Rivers found Jackson for a nine-yard touchdown pass, giving the Chargers a 7-0 lead with 3:18 left in the first half.
The Seahawks appeared poised to answer on the ensuing possession, again driving into San Diego territory, moving to the 26-yard line with just over one minute left in the first half. Hasselbeck overthrew Engram deep over the middle, though, and Engram deflected the ball, which Hart was able to dive and haul in at the six-yard line for his second interception of the game.
A Nate Kaeding 46-yard field goal put the Chargers up 10-0 with 12:12 left in the third quarter.
Nate Burleson electrified the crowd with a 96-yard return of the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown that could have made it 10-7 early in the third quarter, but the play was called back on a hold by Bennie Joppru.
Starting at their own 48-yard line after pinning the Chargers deep in their own territory, the Seahawks were able to move the ball to the San Diego 33- yard line. The left side of the Seattle line blew open a gaping hole on the next play, and Alexander sprinted 33-yards virtually untouched for the touchdown, pulling Seattle to within 10-7 with 6:10 left in the third quarter.
A 40-yard field goal by Kaeding padded San Diego's lead to 13-7 with 2:24 left in the third.
San Diego punter Mike Scifres shanked a 30-yard punt on the first play of the fourth quarter, setting the Seahawks up at their own 45. Alexander busted through the middle for a nine-yard score, giving the Seahawks their first lead of the game, 14-13, with 12:58 left in the game.
Seattle extended to a 17-13 lead on a 33-yard field goal by Josh Brown with 5:07 left, capping a 12-play, 47-yard drive that drained 6:09 off of the clock.
Game Notes
Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant was helped off of the field early in the third quarter with an injured right ankle. He was taken to the locker room for X-rays and did not return...This was the first time that Tomlinson could not find the end zone since week five against Pittsburgh, a 10-game streak...Hasselbeck was sacked six times.
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Leinart completed 9-of-13 passes for 162 yards and a score before spraining his left shoulder just before halftime, as the Arizona Cardinals went on to top San Francisco, 26-20, and knock the 49ers o
<< Bengals botch PAT as Broncos slip away victorious
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Broncos improved their playoff chances with
a lot of luck Sunday, as the Bengals botched an extra point attempt with 41
seconds remaining, giving Denver a 24-23 win at a snowy Invesco Field.
Carson Palm
<< Leinart sprains shoulder
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt
Leinart sprained his left shoulder in the first half against the San Francisco
49ers on Sunday.
Leinart got sacked by Roderick Green just under the two-minute mark of th
<< Vikings to cut Marcus Robinson
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Vikings informed veteran
wide receiver Marcus Robinson that he will be released.
According to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Robinson received a
call from Vikings VP of p
<< Action Jackson: Rams top Redskins in OT
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steven Jackson ran 21 yards to the end zone
with 8:27 left in overtime, as the St. Louis Rams kept their slim playoff
hopes alive with a 37-31 victory over the Washington Redskins.
After both teams h
Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hawaii junior quarterback Colt Brennan broke the NCAA single-season touchdown passing record, throwing his 55th in the Hawaii Bowl Sunday against Arizona State Brennan has three touchdown passes in the game, b
Brennan breaks TD passing record as Warriors win Hawaii Bowl >>
Honolulu, HI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan broke the NCAA
single-season touchdown passing record, throwing for five scores, all in the
second half, and a school-record 559 yards, as the Warriors beat Arizona
State,
NCAA Division I-A Touchdown Passes, Season >>
57 - Colt Brennan, Hawaii, 200654 - David Klingler, Houston, 199052 - B.J. Symons, Texas Tech, 200347 - Jim McMahon, Brigham Young, 198046 - Andre Ware, Houston, 198946 - Tim Rattay, Louisiana Tech, 199845 - Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech, 2002Copyrigh
Remaining Free Agents List >>
NEW YORK (AP) -The 83 remaining free agents:AMERICAN LEAGUEBALTIMORE (4) - Bruce Chen, lhp; Russ Ortiz, rhp; Fernando Tatis, 3b; Chris Widger, c.BOSTON (4) - Keith Foulke, rhp; Gabe Kapler, of; Mark Loretta, 3b; Trot Nixon, of.CHICAGO (3) - Sandy Al
Heat, Lakers meet for third straight year on Christmas Day >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers and the defending world champion
Miami Heat hook up for the third straight year on Christmas Day, as the teams
battle in the only NBA contest of the day at AmericanAirlines Arena.
On Christmas Day in
Teams that should be in: Stanford
Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds | |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do: Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney. Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson. Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable. Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
|
For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com
Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.
MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.
(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977. Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.
Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer. In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season.
MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season. Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite. After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.
Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions. They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.