In the Zone

Like everyone in the New England area I was not too happy that CBS had decided the game we all wanted to see while we waited for the Pats-Colts was Jets vs. Jaguars. Not Steelers vs. Bengals. Who makes these decisions? If there are no good games to choose from then, OK, give me the Jets so I can enjoy rooting against them. But when the 6-2 upstart Bengals are going to Pittsburgh to play the 6-2 Steelers in an NFC North clash with huge playoff implications then I want to see that. But we get the Jets.

Fortunately I get the NFL Network's newest creation -- the RedZone channel. It's not like having the NFL Ticket on satellite where you can watch every game played. But it's darn close. And for the price I would say it's actually better. The premise of the channel is that they will cut to any game (or any two games using the "double box") when a team gets in the red zone. "You'll see every touchdown today live,'' says Scott Hanson, the host of RedZone and my personal guide to all the action. And then he said the words that made my day ... "We don't do commercials." The NFL just gets it. There's no way that the league that created the Super Bowl, Monday Night Football, the "America's Game" series, and the commercial-free RedZone is going to screw things up by expanding the season to 18 games. No way.

But back to the RedZone. It's a rapid-fire delivery of football. One second you are in the Meadowlands, then cut to Carolina, then off to Pittsburgh, then back to the Meadowlands, then off to Minnesota. You can watch four or more games almost simultaneously. It's like the early rounds of March Madness used to be when it was on ESPN. They way it still should be.

The 1 p.m. games kick off -- and the RedZone kicks into gear. There are eight games. I'm putting my remote down and letting Scott do the work for me.

1:15: There's Brett Favre. He's just standing there. There seems to be a TV timeout yet we are at the Lions-Vikes game. Oh, no. Don't tell me the RedZone is just another method to recruit more members into the cult of Favre.

1:18: Off to the Bengals-Steelers game. Carson Palmer hits Mr. Ochocinco for 16 yards on a 3rd-and-10 on the opening drive. Big play. But wait. The Bengals are on their own 30-yard line. That's not the red zone. The RedZone channel shows plays from all over the field? Sweet.

1:20: The Broncos, trying to break a two-game losing streak, have a good chance to do that at Washington. Kyle Orton launches a bomb to Brandon Marshall for a 40-yard touchdown. This should be an easy one for Denver.

1:22: Cut to the Meadowlands. I just can't get away from the Jets. The Jags have the ball at the NYJ 33 on a 3rd and 2. The Jags have Maurice Jones-Drew. Jets coach Rex Ryan knows there's a run coming so he has the Jets ready of course. The ball gets handed off to Mojo who breaks through the line, makes a cut and busts into the open, rambling for a 33-yard TD. Cut to a shot of Mt. Ryan looking not-too-happy. I push the remote further away.

1:24: Favre again. This time he is playing. I'm surprised it took so long to get back to him. Brett throws an incompletion and the Vikings will settle for an early field goal. Is this the day Favre plays like the career leader in picks?

1:32: Things are happening fast now. And RedZone is everywhere. The Saints are looking to stay undefeated against the Rams. Brees throws for Shockey but it's picked off. Swing to Washington and the Skins are driving to tie up Denver. Jason Campbell throws a short TD pass. Maybe this won't be so easy for the Broncos.

1:34: Back to Pittsburgh and Troy Palumalu is walking off the field with his hair in tow. He's limping. He doesn't look good. That's a huge loss for the Steelers and a big break for Cincy. The Steelers kick off after a field goal and Bengals return-man Bernard Scott takes it 96 yards for a touchdown. Steelers are reeling.

1:37: The games are moving into the second quarter and, as Scott tells me, "they are all shaping up into some great battles." If he's trying to sell me on RedZone he can relax. I'm sold.

1:40: The Jags are down at the NYJ 11-yard line. David Garrard scrambles in for a touchdown. A loss today would kill the Jets before they even get to Foxborough next week. I'm OK with that.


1:42: Marc Bulger connects on a TD pass to put the Rams ahead of the Saints. That touchdown is followed by a whirlwind series of plays from several games: A touchdown pass by the Bills; a pick by Jason Taylor for Miami; a Delhomme-Smith touchdown for the Panthers as they look to upset division rival Altanta. Finally a cut to Minnesota and Adrian Peterson busts a 22-yard touchdown run. Maybe he's the reason the Vikes are winning. Naaaaah.

2:13: Broncos QB Kyle Orton seems to hurt himself on a play right at the end of the half. Things are really not going so well for Denver.

We hit the half for the 1 p.m. games. I don't know about Scott Hanson but I'm a little tired. I guess he isn't because he immediately launches into a recap of the first half of all the games. I immediately launch into a turkey sandwich and a beer.

2:41: The games are back on. First stop New Orleans where the unbeaten Saints are deadlocked with the Panthers at 14. Courtney Robey takes the kick for New Orleans and takes it all the way to the house. Touchdown! This is gonna be a busy half for my man Scott.

2:44: Over to Minnesota. The Lions, trailing by just a touchdown get the ball to start the half and ... fumble! The Vikes recover. I know what Lions fans are feeling. It sucks. A few plays later Adrian Peterson takes it in from 1-yard out for a touchdown. Peterson again? Why isn't the greatest human ever to walk the planet getting to throw touchdowns?

2:47: Back to Pittsburgh where the Steelers are leading 9-3 early in the third quarter. Roethlisberger drops back and throws a pass at midfield that is picked and taken down to the Pittsburgh 14. That might be the mistake the Bengals needed.

2:54: The third quarter is winding down and the Saints are inside the 10-yard line looking to break open their game against the Rams. Brees hits Colston who tries to jump over a defender for a score, but ends up fumbling into the end zone for a touchback. Big missed opportunity right there.

3:02: We are in Minnesota. The Vikings (my pick in an NFL survivor pool) have their hands full with the lowly Lions. The Vikings Ray Edwards launches himself at the QB, knocks him and the ball flying. Big play. Wait. Penalty flag. Helmet-to-helmet hit. Lions keep the ball and then score to cut the lead to seven. A Lions upset would be great.

3:09: All eight early games are still up for grabs as a graphic on the screen shows. "This is what makes the NFL so much fun," says Scott. I know, he works for the NFL. But he's right.

3:12: The Jets are losing 21-13 (OK, I want to see some of that). Sanchez hits Braylon Edwards in the corner of the end zone but he can't get his feet down. Then Edwards drops one. He is a great addition to the Jets but they got away from their running game when he arrived. Field goal.

3:15: Falcons trying to comeback and avoid the upset against the Panthers. Matt Ryan rolls to his right and hits the tight end for a touchdown. Falcons go for two to tie the game. Announcer doesn't like the call. He's right. Falcons are stopped and trail 21-19.

3:19: Vince Young is trying to win his third straight game since taking over as the Titans starting QB. He drops back to pass, sees nothing, and takes off for the end zone. He looks just like he did when he led Texas to the National Championship in college football a few years ago. If he could improve slightly throwing the ball he really could be a heck of an NFL QB.

3:20: The Steelers, trailing Cincy at home, are driving for a score but Big Ben's pass falls incomplete. The Steelers settle for another field goal to tie the game at 12. I know some Bengals fans who must be fearing the worst.

3:23: The Redskins are driving with a chance to take the lead against Denver. If they can hand the Broncos their third straight loss that would be a big help for the Patriots. Come on Skins!

3:38: Bucs hit a bomb to close within a field goal of Miami. Mark and I were saying we want the Wildcats to win so they stay alive in the playoff hunt and continue to play hard against other AFC contenders.

3:31: Broncos starting QB Kyle Orton is out and not coming back. Backup Chris Simms throws one into the end zone where the Skins pick it off. Come on Skins!

Four games are tied with less than 10 minutes to go. "We've got some great finishes coming up," says Scottie, "and we'll show you them all." What remote?

3:34: The Jets are going for it on 4th and 1 at the Jags 15-yard line. Jets RB Green takes the pitch and heads left. The field is wide open and he takes it down the the 1. Huge play. Crowd cheers. First-and-goal but Sanchez is confused and burns a timeout. Crowd boos. But it's OK because Thomas Jones hurdles over the pile to score. Jets retake the lead, 22-21. Jets miss the two point conversion. Are the Pats the only team that can make those?

3:37: Whip around to Pittsburgh where the Bengals are in the red zone. How great would it be if the Bengals knock off the Steelers for the second time a week after completing the sweep against the Ravens. Bengals kicker Shayne Graham hits his fifth field goal for a 15-12 lead. It's a battle of field goals. Turns out the Jets-Jags game is better. CBS was right.

"We're in Week 10 and we have not had this happen,'' Scottie says breathlessly as if he's watching the results from Florida in 2000.

3:40: Bills driving against the Titans. Not sure why we are checking on this game so often. Other than the throwback unis that are great.

3:41: Skins Devin Thomas takes a swing pass, dodges four tackles, and takes the ball down inside the Denver 15 with the score tied 17-17. First and goal. Under four minutes to go. "That six-game winning streak must feel like a long time ago to the Broncos," says Dan Dierdorf. Third and goal. Skins stick with the run and Ladell Betts pounds it in. Skins lead! Josh McDaniels is starting to age.

3:45: Big Ben and the Steelers are at their own 30 and running out of time. Third down. Incomplete pass. Punt. This is the same Pittsburgh team that went into Denver and won a hard-fought game? The top 10 teams in the league are really very even.

3:48: Jason Elam lines up to kick a field goal that can put the Falcons ahead late in the game. He kicks it and shanks it to the left. Maybe the Falcons aren't a playoff team like I thought.

3:50: 1:20 left in Pittsburgh. The Steelers face a fourth down to keep their drive alive. He steps back, gets rushed, and tosses up a lame duck that falls incomplete. Bengals win! They are 7-2 and are in the driver's seat to win the AFC North. The number of experts who predicted that before the season? Zero.

3:51: Washington is driving for what would be a clinching touchdown. Betts takes the hand off and takes it in for a score. The Skins are going to pull off the huge upset. McDaniels is getting a real taste of head coaching in the NFL now.

3:54: The Jaguars, who started on their own 17, have moved the ball into Jets territory. Garrard hits his receiver down to the Jets 14 to set themselves up for a game-winning field goal.

3:57: Falcons have one last chance to pull out the game. Matt Ryan drops back and sends one deep but it's intercepted. The Falcons are going to fall to 5-4 while the Panthers get to 4-5 after starting 0-3. Just one of several surprising turnarounds this season.

4:02: Jacksonville has run the clock down to three seconds and Josh Scobee comes out to win it. The kick is up. It's good! J-E-T-S go D-O-W-N.

4:08: Saints pull out another win to go to 9-0. That's the fourth game they looked like they were going to lose where they got a little lucky. One more win and they will be unbeaten for the Monday night game with the Pats in two weeks. They'll need more than luck in that game.

4:13: The Wildcats kick a field goal to beat the Bucs. Four games in a row come down to the last play. Teams such as Miami, Carolina, and Tennessee are right around .500 but are good teams. And they are playing all out to try to stay in contention for a wild card spot. Makes for good football. An afternoon of swinging around the league proves how entertaining the NFL is right now.

The 4 p.m. games have started and the RedZone starts all over again. Packers-Cowboys. Eagles-Chargers. I just can't watch three more hours of whiplash football coverage, can I? No. Time to walk the dog and get a brief breath of air. And then time to prepare the food and drink for tonight's big game. I won't need the NFL RedZone to watch that one.