The Luck of the Lucky

Last night on Monday Night Football, Atlanta kicker Todd Peterson became the latest in a long line of miraculous fantasy heroes for the dominant Silver & Black franchise as his meaningless 2nd field in the 4th quarter of a long decided game propelled my team to a 1-point victory in the first round of the EFFL playoffs.  Peterson joined Patrick Jeffers, Steve Beuerlein, Mike Vanderjagt (who single-handedly beat 2 Colts teammates, including Marvin Harrison, on MNF with my team trailing by 14 points), Jay Feely (when he was on Atlanta), and of course, Eddie "Boo" Williams, as unheralded players who have put up unbelievable weeks when desperately needed to help drive the franchise to 4 league championships in the past 6 years.  And Garett became the latest in a long line of unfortunate losers to come within the path of the Silver & Black playoff machine, now with a career record of 11-1.

Todd Peterson is the definition of "journeyman" kicker, having appeared on 5 other NFL teams before joining the Altanta Falcons this offseason (which is why the picture above shows him in a 49ers uniform - hey, at least it's red).  And he wasn't even on my roster at this time last week.  But an injury in practice 2 weeks ago by the NFL's leading kicker this season, Neil Rackers, required a mad scramble on my part to pick up a replacement.  And despite my constant bellyaching over that time about Rackers' ill-timed injury, I did some borderline obsessive research into all of the available free agent kickers for this first playoff game, and decided on Mr. Peterson as my #1 option, due to a nearly impeccable 18 of 19 field goal mark and the fact that the team he was facing - the Saints - was the #2 easiest team this season for kickers to score against (yes, there are websites that track that information).  I got Peterson in the free agent bidding process, using up $1.01 of my remaining $1.16 in bidding money to ensure his spot on my squad and I felt pretty confident that he could put up 8 to 10 points.  I just didn't know how much I would need it at the time, and how close it came to not happening.

Neil Rackers' injury, which was originally feared as a season-ending calf muscle pull turned out to be not as serious and by Friday of last week, he was banging through field goals in practice.  But reports on Rotoworld and at the Arizona newspapers were that Rackers was taking less steps during practice in order to protect the calf (on his plant leg), so he would only be handling "short" field goals and extra points on Sunday.  He had been such a superb kicker all season, though, that I still wanted to start him and was debating it all the way up until Sunday morning, when my lineup needed to be set.  I was an underdog in the game, going against Shaun Alexander against the 49ers while my best player Edgerrin James was facing the tough Jaguars defense, so I felt I needed every edge I could get, and was almost willing to risk going with Rackers - the 2nd highest scorer on my team for the season.  But I couldn't find any information on him that morning that confirmed whether or not he was kicking long field goals and so I left him on the bench.  Rackers ended up booting a 44-yarder (with full steps) in the first quarter of their game, leaving me cursing up a storm at Fox & Hound.  But he only ended up with 7 points.  If I had started him, I would have lost.

And Sunday did not go all that well for me, at least not early.  Edgerrin, Reggie Wayne, and Stephen Jackson (3 of my top 4 scorers on the year besides Rackers) were all being shut down in their 1 o'clock games.  Only a late punt return touchdown by rookie Tennessee Titan Pacman Jones gave me hope, since the 4th "player" I was starting in the early contest was the Titans D, who I had picked up 2 weeks earlier just for this matchup against the Texans (you gotta look ahead in this league).  Thanks to a call into Traum, who was monitoring the scores, I learned that I was up 27-3 in the early matchups, with the Titans D chipping in an impressive 13 points.  But I had now lost 3 of my best players, Garett only had his defense and #3 WR going, and I still had to face the wrath of Shaun Alexander, the #1 fantasy player at any position this season.

Eli Manning to Tiki Barber for an opening drive touchdown cut my lead in half, but for some unknown reason, the Seahawks were throwing a lot and Alexander was missing out on the touchdowns, so by halftime of the 4 o'clock games, Garett had only pulled even with me.  But Drew Brees was doing nothing (while my other QB, Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck, had already scored 4 touchdowns) and the Giants were continuing to put up points for my opponent's players.  When Alexander finally got his touchdown in the middle of the 3rd quarter, I figured all hope was lost and left the bar.  I was a bit mistaken.

Brees got on fire against a prevent defense that was trying to prevent Miami from holding onto the upset, and after he rushed in a touchdown, Garett's lead was down to single digits.  Alexander was out of the game, and the Giants game was just about over.  All of the sudden, I had a chance.  Brees scored again, Eli Manning got intercepted, and the lead was down to 3 points.  I still had Peterson waiting on Monday night (against a single player of his) and now I was feeling like a miracle win could happen.  But then David Akers banged home a 50-yard field goal to send the Giants into overtime, Eli and Tiki drove them down the field for a Jay Feely game-winning blast and the final Sunday tally had me down by 7 points going into Monday night.  Not insurmountable, certainly - and more than I could have hoped for driving home from the bar - but I was surely a longshot.  The fact that Terry Glenn's 18 point explosion sat rotting on my bench in lieu of Rod Smith's 3 point outing was probably going to haunt me the whole offseason.

And then the miracle happened.  Todd Peterson against Donte Stallworth, with a 7 point lead to be overcome.  I figured I needed 3 field goals and a couple extra points and to hold Stallworth under 80 yards and I'd win.  It was a possibility.  But Michael Vick looked pretty damn great and the Saints' defense was, well, defenseless and the Falcons kept flying past field goal range and into the endzone.  Stallworth was being mostly held in check, but he cleared 40 yards early in the 3rd quarter, and my only scoring had been extra points.  After Vick scored his second rushing touchdown, leaving me down by 5 nearing the end of the third quarter, I figured all hope was lost.  And I got ready for bed.

I gave it a few more minutes, back-to-back three-and-outs for each team, the 3rd quarter ended, and I went to sleep.  I needed 2 field goals from a team that didn't need to score anymore to win and to hold Stallworth without any more yards for an entire quarter for a team whose only hope was the throw the ball.  No chance.  I was asleep.  And when I woke up in the morning, I didn't even check the score.  At least not immediately.  After showering and getting dressed, I put on ESPN, barely paying attention, until the score of the MNF game scrolled across the bottom of the screen.  Atlanta 36 - New Orleans 17.  Huh?  What?  I was more confused than anything.

When I went to sleep, Atlanta had 28.  So they went for a 2-point conversion?  Why?  Fumbled snap?  That's what I was thinking.  Unless... unless... sprinting toward my computer... unless they got a safety.  Turning the computer on.... No way... no chance... and even so, 2 field goals - no way, they had to miss an extra point or something... why would they even be lining up for field goals that late in a blowout... no way... and Stallworth had to put up more yards... clicking on CBS Sportsline... no chance... no way.... typing in Internet password... don't even get excited... Wait... what?  That can't be right.  No.  It can't be.... clicking on the "F" (for final score)... no... 

And there it was in big bold numbers... Silver & Black 64, Football & Chain 63.  Donte Stallworth had not caught another pass.  Todd Peterson had kicked two field goals.  The luckiest bastard alive (tm Abbott) had pulled off a miracle.  Unbelievable.  Apparently Vick got hurt after throwing a pass across midfield with less than 11 minutes to play, and the roughing the passer penalty put the ball at the 28.  With Vick shaken up, the Falcons ran three straight times, leaving Todd Peterson with a 42 yard field goal attempt.  Good.  And Silver & Black was down by 2.  8 minutes left.  New Orleans went 3 and out (including an incompletion intended for Stallworth) and Atlanta got the ball back at their own 30.  6 minutes left.  A monster 50 yard pass to ALGE CRUMPLER!  First down, in field goal range.  Oh baby!  But then a good run by backup quarterback Matt Schaub left them at first and goal inside the 10.  A touchdown was no good... I would still be down by a point.  The Saints needed to stop them.  Two runs by Warrick Dunn got the ball to the three.  And then on 3rd and goal Schaub had an apparently open Crumpler, but the pass was well off target.  4th down.  Todd Peterson trots onto the field.  20 yarder... it's good!  Silver & Black up by 1.  3 minutes to play.

But the game wasn't over... All Stallworth needed was 18 yards for another point and I'd be tied  (and lose the tiebreaker).  But here is the collection of plays for New Orleans on their final drive of the game, according to NFL.com.  And if you'll notice, there's no sign of Donte Stallworth.

1-10-NO25	(2:55) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to A.Thomas to NO 31 for 6 yards (D.Williams).
2-4-NO31	(2:29) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass incomplete to Z.Hilton.
3-4-NO31	(2:25) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass incomplete to D.Henderson.
4-4-NO31	(2:21) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to Z.Hilton to NO 41 for 10 yards (D.Hall).
1-10-NO41	(2:15) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to A.Smith to NO 45 for 4 yards (D.Williams).
2-6-NO45	(2:00) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass incomplete to A.Smith.
3-6-NO45	(1:55) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to J.Horn to ATL 47 for 8 yards (D.Williams).
1-10-ATL47	(1:30) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to D.Henderson to ATL 39 for 8 yards (D.Hall).
2-2-ATL39	(:58) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to A.Smith to ATL 35 for 4 yards (D.Williams).
1-10-ATL35	(:50) (Shotgun) A.Brooks up the middle to ATL 25 for 10 yards (P.Kerney).
1-10-ATL25	(:37) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass incomplete to D.Henderson.
2-10-ATL25	(:32) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to A.Smith to ATL 21 for 4 yards (A.Edwards).
3-6-ATL21	(:01) (Shotgun) A.Brooks pass to Z.Hilton to ATL 15 for 6 yards (D.Hall)

Sorry Garett.  Tough, tough loss.  Was Stallworth even on the field at the end there?  Who's "Z. Hilton"?  Unbelievable.  And now I get to play Rudnick in the semifinals, a matchup that will be as blood-fueled as any in the history of fantasy football.  Thank you, Todd Peterson, thank you.

Comments

[LegFuJohnson]

That pass to Crumpler really wasn't that off target. Crumpler really should have made that catch. I wonder if that drop cost Koren... that's his Alge Crumpler.

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