Via the AP: Cowboys blow it again with loss to Lions

I don’t know what has happened to the Dallas defense. Unless there is some radical turn-around, they are going to be one and done in the playoffs.

Via SI.com: Behind Barber’s career day, Giants top Skins

In his last regular-season game, Barber carried 23 times for 234 yards — a career high and franchise record — and three touchdowns Saturday night in a 34-28 victory over the Washington Redskins. The victory ended New York’s seven-week free fall just in time for the Giants to make the postseason as a .500 team.

Impressive. And quite the way to end his regular-season career.

Of course, since NFLN and Charter can’t get their act together, I didn’t get to see it.

[Cross-posted at OTB Sports]

Via SI.com: McCoy ties freshman record; Texas takes Alamo

Colt McCoy was supposed be a placeholder for Texas at quarterback this season. Now, he’s a record holder.

The redshirt freshman who replaced Vince Young turned in another gritty performance with two touchdown passes to rally the No. 18 Longhorns to a 26-24 victory Saturday over Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.

[…]

McCoy finished 26-for-40 for 308 yards. His 29 touchdown passes this season tied the NCAA freshman record set by Nevada’s David Neill in 1998.

Indeed, McCoy has been a very pleasant surprise this year. His impact is underscored by the fact that Texas’ two loses this season came in games where McCoy was hurt and was unable to play the entire games in question.

[Cross-posted at OTB Sports]

(18) Texas 26, Iowa 24

So, I wonder when Texas is going to show up to the Alamobowl? As it is, they seem not to have arrived yet.

Ugh.

Look no further.

The fact that Tennessee goes into the final week with a shot at the playoffs should mean two things:

1) Vince Young has to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

and

2) The Titans would be nuts not to give Jeff Fischer a massive contract extension.

[Cross-posted at OTB Sports]

Speaking of the Big XII and bowls, I have a student who needs it noted to him that a Big XII team beat his Crimson Tide this week:
Oklahoma St. 34, Alabama 31.

Via the AP: Texas Tech 44, Minnesota 41, OT

Tech (8-6) appeared finished after Minnesota (6-7) took a 38-7 lead with 7:47 to go in the third quarter. But the Red Raiders mounted a furious comeback, scoring 31 unanswered points in less than 20 minutes.

Alex Trlica’s 52-yard field goal as regulation expired sent the game into overtime.

Joel Monroe kicked a 32-yard field goal to put Minnesota up 41-38 in overtime, but Shannon Woods scored on a 3-yard run to win it for the Red Raiders.

It would have been an embarrassment for Tech and the Big XII if they had lost to a team that came into the game at .500.

That’s more like it: San Antonio 106, Utah 83.

After losing badly to the Bucks, this is much better.