Detroit Lions at New England Patriots - 1.Half ( 1985 Week 14 )

New England Patriots

7 months ago

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Transcript

00:00:00The offensive alignment Brown

00:00:02Dietrich Mott Dorney Stringer

00:00:05and David Lewis is the tight end

00:00:10so to be first in 10 all at the

00:00:13twenty five yard line as the

00:00:15Lions know they must win in order

00:00:17to stay in the playoff picture

00:00:27Jones tackled by garden very

00:00:29and very starting off at the

00:00:31left defensive end spot for the

00:00:33Patriots along with Lester

00:00:34Williams and Julius Adams a

00:00:3615 year veteran the linebackers

00:00:38tippet Nelson McGrew and Donnie

00:00:40Blackmon a secondary it's a good

00:00:43one Ronnie Lippitt Raymond

00:00:44Claiborne Roland James and Fred

00:00:46Mirian who has seven

00:00:47interceptions tied for the lead

00:00:48in the AFC conference second

00:00:52down

00:00:53down actually he loses a couple

00:01:04of yards as Lester Williams

00:01:06starting this afternoon the

00:01:07four year man from Miami Florida

00:01:08makes a tackle and this is the

00:01:10best Patriots defense people

00:01:12tell us in the history of the

00:01:13franchise and that's some twenty

00:01:15six years they are aggressive

00:01:16they are highly ranked and you

00:01:18know what they have those guys

00:01:20especially at linebackers to

00:01:21Steve Nelson's the Andre tippet

00:01:23who can make things happen

00:01:26that's really been one of the

00:01:27things that the Patriots have

00:01:28lacked here is a great

00:01:29aggressive defense and they have

00:01:31it this year third and ten five

00:01:35defensive backs in now for the

00:01:37Patriots that will back to pass

00:01:41complete.

00:01:42This is Mark Nichols Nichols to

00:01:44the 30 yard line and gets no

00:01:45more and a standing ovation for

00:01:55the Patriot defense.

00:01:56Exactly what we were talking

00:01:57about John.

00:01:58He needed that short passing and

00:02:00he tries to get the ball to

00:02:01Nichols and let him run with it

00:02:02the high percentage pass but

00:02:04that defense is aggressive and

00:02:06Don Blackman made the play and

00:02:08there was a fumble on the play.

00:02:11That's why the ovation and

00:02:12Johnny Rembrandt came up with it

00:02:14so immediately that aggressive

00:02:16defense that we were talking

00:02:17about comes up with a big turn

00:02:18over Patriots as we know can

00:02:25strike from anywhere on the

00:02:26field have a slot to the top of

00:02:28the formation.

00:02:30Tony Eason is a quarterback.

00:02:33This is a handoff.

00:02:34This is Greg James so the

00:02:40offensive alignment for the

00:02:41Tony Eason a quarterback Tony

00:02:42Collins Greg James who's going

00:02:44into the ballgame today needs

00:02:46only 88 yards to get a thousand

00:02:47yards rushing Stanley Morgan and

00:02:49Irvin Friar the offensive

00:02:51alignment up front Holloway

00:02:53Hannah Morris Ron Wooten Steve

00:02:56Moore and Lynn Dawson the tight

00:02:57end so a big turnover for the

00:03:09Patriots who are favored this

00:03:11afternoon getting inside the 20

00:03:24yard line tackle by Jimmy

00:03:25Williams and the Patriots almost

00:03:28gave the ball back there it's

00:03:29great game cost James at the end

00:03:32of his play.

00:03:33Take a look at it here runs to

00:03:34the right side that's Tony

00:03:35Collins leading it.

00:03:36James just picking his way and

00:03:39this is how the Detroit Lions

00:03:40have won all year long.

00:03:41They've been able to get

00:03:42turnovers here.

00:03:43They don't get it as James

00:03:45reaches out and pulls that ball

00:03:46back in so a very big afternoon

00:03:52for a young Craig James as the

00:03:55alignment now is being brought

00:03:56out to see if it is a first down

00:03:58James is able to get up 88 yards

00:04:00today.

00:04:01He will gain a thousand come one

00:04:03of four men in Patriot history

00:04:04has to do that.

00:04:05He'll join that select crew of

00:04:06Jim Nance Sam the band Cunningham

00:04:08and his running mate in the

00:04:09backfield.

00:04:10That's Tony Collins but more

00:04:14important to James and the rest

00:04:16of the Patriots is a victory this

00:04:18afternoon as they have their

00:04:21destiny in their own hands.

00:04:22If they can go on and win the

00:04:23last three games first in 10 all

00:04:26of the 19 way action pass.

00:04:31It's a screen the screaming pass

00:04:35is to lend us and tackle by

00:04:36Demetrius Johnson.

00:04:38Now the defensive alignment for

00:04:40the Detroit Lions.

00:04:41Will you engage Curtis Green and

00:04:44Keith Ferguson who they signed

00:04:45from the San Diego Chargers a

00:04:46couple of weeks ago.

00:04:47He's going to be in the

00:04:50San Diego Chargers a couple of

00:04:51weeks ago.

00:04:52They're linebackers a pretty

00:04:53good core.

00:04:54Jimmy Williams August Curley

00:04:55can fan Teddy back in the lineup

00:04:57and Angelo King the secondary

00:04:59Bobby Watkins Bruce McNorton

00:05:00Demetrius Johnson who just made

00:05:02the tackle and William Graham

00:05:09pick up only one yard on the

00:05:10play second and nine

00:05:16gets to the outside gets to

00:05:20about the 16 yard line.

00:05:22That's where Keith Ferguson

00:05:23along with Bobby Watkins comes

00:05:24up to make the tackles along

00:05:26with number fifty nine Jimmy

00:05:27Williams.

00:05:28And it's obvious what the

00:05:29Patriots are trying to do.

00:05:30They know that the Detroit Lions

00:05:32are the second worst defense in

00:05:34the NFL against the run and

00:05:36that's what they're trying to do

00:05:37get Craig James some yardage but

00:05:39right now he's going to have to

00:05:40put the ball up just inside the

00:05:43coaches told us yesterday they

00:05:45said they're going to be

00:05:46willing to let the Patriots run

00:05:49but as you saw by that graphic

00:05:50they have been more aggressive

00:05:51getting pressure on the

00:05:52quarterback in the last two

00:05:53games third and seven from the

00:05:57shotgun.

00:05:58Here's Eason one of the things

00:06:22that Tony Eason has to learn is

00:06:24when to throw the ball when to

00:06:25hit the carpet and when to take

00:06:27off here he takes off and watch

00:06:28him at the end of this play

00:06:30dives into the end zone.

00:06:31He wanted it.

00:06:32It's an important game for Tony

00:06:34Eason with all the controversy

00:06:35around here with Steve Grogan

00:06:37and that's his first touchdown

00:06:38of the season.

00:06:39Jim 16 yards.

00:06:40Tony Franklin in to attempt the

00:06:42extra point conversion and he's

00:06:44in his end to hold and it is

00:06:51good.

00:06:53So after a 16 yard scramble for

00:06:55a touchdown by Tony Eason the

00:06:57New England Patriots have the

00:06:58lead over the Detroit Lions.

00:06:59We'll be right back when you're

00:07:03left.

00:07:04So it is a turnover by the

00:07:06Detroit Lions.

00:07:07John that got the Patriots on

00:07:08the scoreboard.

00:07:09The Lions aren't simply they

00:07:10aren't a good enough team to

00:07:11have early turnover to recover.

00:07:13Now Mark Nichols take a look at

00:07:15it right here comes across the

00:07:16middle.

00:07:17He's trying to get first down.

00:07:18He's hit by Blockman.

00:07:19Now it's hard to see but the

00:07:20ball came out right there.

00:07:21The question we had was whether

00:07:22the whistle had blown.

00:07:23Obviously the officials hadn't

00:07:25blown the whistle.

00:07:26Patriots come up with recovery

00:07:28and then Eason takes it in to

00:07:30give them a 7 nothing early

00:07:31lead.

00:07:32And Tony Franklin all set to

00:07:33kick off again.

00:07:35Five plays twenty nine yards two

00:07:37minutes and 18 seconds.

00:07:38He's in going in from 16 yards

00:07:40out.

00:07:44So the A.J. Jones again.

00:07:49Jones to a twenty nine yard

00:07:51line.

00:07:52That's where it'll be first and

00:07:5310 again for the Lions.

00:07:54Brian Ingram making the tackle

00:07:56by number 51.

00:07:57Brian Ingram number 83.

00:07:59Secret Jones the Patriots as we

00:08:03know a very good team at home

00:08:04and so are the Lions but the

00:08:05Lions have been horrible on the

00:08:07road.

00:08:08They certainly have to go 6 and

00:08:090 at home.

00:08:10It's something you know when

00:08:11they go on that yellow brick

00:08:12road to Oz.

00:08:13I mean in Detroit it's known as

00:08:15the Silverdome.

00:08:16It seems like arrow hit one

00:08:17time.

00:08:18It seems like the magicians the

00:08:19wizards today they're away and

00:08:21have their work cut out for

00:08:23them.

00:08:24This is James Jones Jones gets

00:08:26across the 30 to about the 32

00:08:28yard line tackle by Roland James

00:08:30and you talk about a little

00:08:31magic.

00:08:32That's exactly what they're

00:08:33going to have to have this

00:08:34afternoon and they're going to

00:08:35have to get it from James Jones.

00:08:37Everything pivots around James

00:08:39Jones their entire offensive game

00:08:41plan since he's been healthy has

00:08:43been to give James Jones the

00:08:44ball.

00:08:45Let him get some yardage force

00:08:46from the Patriot linebackers to

00:08:48come up to respect him and then

00:08:50play action pass.

00:08:51But Jones can't get yardage.

00:08:52Eric Hipple will be in trouble.

00:08:55The Lions are already in

00:08:56trouble.

00:08:57We're down 7 nothing.

00:09:01And off the Jones he pulls his

00:09:04way across the 35 yard line

00:09:06before he's tackled by Ronnie

00:09:07Lippitt.

00:09:08It's interesting you talk to the

00:09:09Patriot linebackers the tippets

00:09:11and the Steve Nelson's and they

00:09:12talk about James Jones in terms

00:09:14of a Sam Cunningham type of

00:09:15running back.

00:09:16Big strong.

00:09:17Maybe not a great running back

00:09:19yet but maybe in time he will be

00:09:21in that kind of a category.

00:09:24You really can't help but be

00:09:25impressed with this New England

00:09:26defense.

00:09:27We talked to Andre Tippett a

00:09:29couple of days ago.

00:09:30He told us about how aggressive

00:09:32they are and they can be as

00:09:33aggressive defense as anyone in

00:09:34the league.

00:09:35Third and two.

00:09:39Jones and Alvin Moore in the

00:09:41field.

00:09:44He goes back to pass into and

00:09:47out of the hands of Ronnie

00:09:48Lippitt.

00:09:51Now Leonard Thompson is

00:09:52complaining that Ronnie Lippitt

00:09:53pushed him out of bounds.

00:09:55Well Leonard Thompson did step

00:09:57out of bounds and that's why you

00:09:58saw the officials had.

00:10:00Take a look at it as Leonard

00:10:01Thompson tries to go up here.

00:10:03Remember Hipple bobbled the ball

00:10:04dropped it right here.

00:10:05Watch Leonard Thompson step out

00:10:07of bounds there.

00:10:08He cannot come back in and catch

00:10:09the ball.

00:10:10It's a little bit.

00:10:11It almost comes up with the

00:10:12intercepts.

00:10:14So it is fourth down now for the

00:10:16Lions.

00:10:17Mike Black into punt and the

00:10:20ever dangerous Irvin Friar back

00:10:23to receive for the Patriots.

00:10:25And we all know what Irvin Friar

00:10:27can do once he gets his hands on

00:10:28the ball.

00:10:31Good high five prior signaling

00:10:33for a fair catch.

00:10:34He does at the 14 yard line.

00:10:38He's got the ball.

00:10:39He's got seven nothing and they

00:10:40have the ball.

00:10:43No John when you think about

00:10:44young Tony Eason he's a young

00:10:46man who has really come into his

00:10:48own in the last well in the last

00:10:49couple of weeks because he was

00:10:50out when Steve Brogan was

00:10:51playing well and he learned from

00:10:52watching Brogan.

00:10:53He certainly did.

00:10:54I mean Brogan came in and really

00:10:55ignited this franchise winning

00:10:57six games in a row.

00:10:58Eason had been out with a with

00:11:00an injury.

00:11:01He came back and now the

00:11:02pressure's on him.

00:11:03He said he learned a little

00:11:04perspective from watching Brogan

00:11:05what to do in certain situations

00:11:07and he really wants to perform

00:11:08well in front of the home crowd

00:11:09because it's the first time the

00:11:10Patriots have been home in about

00:11:11a month.

00:11:12First and 10 ball at the 15 yard

00:11:14line of the Patriots handoff to

00:11:16Craig James James to the 22 yard

00:11:19line.

00:11:20William Gay making the tackle.

00:11:23Now let's go to Brent Musberg in

00:11:24New York for this NFL Today

00:11:26update.

00:11:28Well Jim the Cincinnati Bengals

00:11:30are going with a no huddle

00:11:31attack.

00:11:32They move down the field for

00:11:33this touchdown.

00:11:34They already had scored a safety

00:11:36Larry Kennebrew second effort

00:11:37got him in and it's nine nothing

00:11:39Bengals over the Cowboys.

00:11:40Let's go back to Jimmy John

00:11:43caught the Cowboys by surprise.

00:11:45I certainly did.

00:11:46And it's seven nothing here.

00:11:47The Patriots have the ball.

00:11:53It's James again getting to the

00:11:55outside.

00:11:56There's a flag on the plate.

00:11:57Great James gets across the 25

00:11:59to the 26 yard line August

00:12:01Curley and on the tackle for

00:12:02Detroit early.

00:12:03The preliminary indication is

00:12:05holding against the Patriots

00:12:07score updates around the National

00:12:08Football League first quarter

00:12:10Cincinnati seven Atlanta nothing

00:12:12first quarter six ninety nine

00:12:14Dallas nothing.

00:12:16That penalty against the veteran

00:12:22John Hannah 13 years out of

00:12:26Alabama.

00:12:27But that's the direction they'll

00:12:28go.

00:12:29Hannah and Holloway the all pro

00:12:30side of the Patriots line the

00:12:32left side of their line.

00:12:33That's where they like to run the

00:12:34ball.

00:12:36And he is you talk about an

00:12:37experienced veteran even called

00:12:39a play last week.

00:12:40We'll tell you about that a

00:12:41little bit later on in the ball

00:12:42game.

00:12:44Second and 13.

00:12:47He gets the ball off the team.

00:12:50William Gay again and on the

00:12:52tackle for the Lions along with

00:12:53Curtis Green.

00:12:57It was interesting last week

00:12:58about the play that John Hannah

00:13:00called because the offensive

00:13:01linemen have so much confidence

00:13:02in themselves.

00:13:03They just told Tony and hey

00:13:04let's let's run this play.

00:13:05It was interesting because he

00:13:06said then said to Hannah he

00:13:08said well you're going to

00:13:09guarantee me five yards.

00:13:10They said yeah we'll guarantee

00:13:11you five yards and they just got

00:13:13the five five yards plus a

00:13:15little bit.

00:13:17William Gay who has had a

00:13:18controversial career with the

00:13:20Detroit Lions told us yesterday

00:13:21he wouldn't be surprised if he

00:13:22was let go next year which is a

00:13:23surprise statement like that

00:13:25from him from the shotgun third

00:13:29and 13 decent throws over the

00:13:34head of Lynn Dawson and that

00:13:38will force the Patriots to punt

00:13:40that'll bring up the fourth and

00:13:4113 Patriots.

00:13:42There's still a lot of people in

00:13:43this area who say that in Rio

00:13:45Tony Eason has a lot of time

00:13:47that he's probably one of the

00:13:48better quarterbacks in the

00:13:49league.

00:13:50You know one of the raps on Tony

00:13:51Eason is that he has nervous

00:13:52feet when there's pressure on

00:13:53him.

00:13:54He reacts poorly but you have to

00:13:55remember that Tony Eason is only

00:13:57in his third year.

00:13:58He's working under a new

00:13:59offense.

00:14:00So all of those variables do

00:14:01contribute to the problems that

00:14:02Eason has had.

00:14:04Rich Camarillo all set to punt

00:14:06and Pete Manley will receive for

00:14:10the Lions.

00:14:11He's at their forty five yard

00:14:13line and Detroit should come out

00:14:14of this in pretty good field

00:14:15position.

00:14:19High short manly signaling for a

00:14:21fair catch and he does at the

00:14:23forty six yard line.

00:14:27At the Patriots 45.

00:14:29Hey John.

00:14:30Next Saturday right here on CBS

00:14:31Sports.

00:14:32This is going to be a good one.

00:14:33The Chicago Bears go against

00:14:34your former teammates the Jets.

00:14:35This is serious football but you

00:14:37know if there's one team that

00:14:38can beat the Jets outside of

00:14:39Miami doing it last week.

00:14:41Beaches Chicago Bears it's a New

00:14:42York Jets because they have

00:14:44those tough guys especially on

00:14:46defense.

00:14:47The Cleco the Gaston of the

00:14:48Marty Lyons who can mix it up

00:14:50with the Bears.

00:14:51It's 12 noon Eastern time right

00:14:53here on CBS.

00:14:54The Patriots are in the game.

00:14:56Lions and the Patriots.

00:14:58James Jones gets the ball.

00:15:00I'd say that Patriot defense is

00:15:02just swarming all over the Lions

00:15:04Larry McGrew in on the tackle

00:15:07Larry McGrew number 15.

00:15:09The linebackers are the best

00:15:10part of this defense.

00:15:11Take a look at him right here

00:15:12McGrew tip it fighting off the

00:15:14block Patriots rich white shirts

00:15:16everywhere.

00:15:18The Patriots 44 Julius Adams

00:15:25Lester Williams.

00:15:26There's big Lester starting

00:15:27today getting the starting

00:15:28assignment because we were told

00:15:29yesterday that he's bigger

00:15:31stronger and at that nose

00:15:32tackle.

00:15:33That's the kind of athlete that

00:15:34you need.

00:15:35Second down now for the Lions

00:15:39play action pass the ball back

00:15:42throws and almost intercepted

00:15:46Raymond Claiborne the all pro

00:15:48almost had an interception as

00:15:50Hipple went back.

00:15:51Look at first for Leonard Thompson

00:15:53then went to his alternate

00:15:54exactly.

00:15:55Take a look at it as a little

00:15:56fake.

00:15:57That's what everything comes off

00:15:58when he's looking for Leonard

00:15:59Thompson tries to find his

00:16:00secondary receiver almost does

00:16:02what he throws into a whole

00:16:03bunch of white shirts that

00:16:04could have been intercepted.

00:16:05Hipple is now only one of three

00:16:08one of four now for one yard and

00:16:12and the Lions really running on

00:16:14a treadmill right now.

00:16:15They aren't going any place

00:16:17third down now.

00:16:19Pete Manley gives the Lions

00:16:21three wide receivers.

00:16:26Hipple throws does Alvin Moore

00:16:28out of the backfield and it's

00:16:29over his head.

00:16:31Alvin Moore was wide open out of

00:16:33the backfield and beaten the

00:16:34linebacker on that side but the

00:16:35pass was just too long.

00:16:36That's what every offense loves

00:16:38to get the isolated on

00:16:39Blackman and Alvin Moore had to

00:16:41step at the ball been thrown

00:16:42well it might have been six

00:16:44points.

00:16:45Those are the kinds of things

00:16:47that the Lions have failed to do

00:16:50on the road.

00:16:51They get someone open can't get

00:16:52the ball to him.

00:16:53Fourth down Mike Black in the

00:16:55front for Detroit.

00:16:56Urban Friar back to receive deep

00:16:59for the Patriots at his 10 yard

00:17:01line.

00:17:04Mike Black has not had a punt

00:17:06blocked so far this year and he

00:17:10gets this one off.

00:17:11I'm handling for the sidelines.

00:17:14There's a flag on the play and

00:17:16the ball goes out of bounds

00:17:17inside the five yard line it's

00:17:19being ruled out of bounds at

00:17:20about the two yard line but

00:17:21there is a flag on the play

00:17:28referee Gene Barth talking to his

00:17:32headlines when Burt told her and

00:17:34the rest of his officials getting

00:17:35the call all straightened out and

00:17:36he'll give it to us.

00:17:42We have multiple fouls against

00:17:44the receivers.

00:17:45Forty two homing thirty five

00:17:47homing.

00:17:48It's a post possession foul.

00:17:50We'll enforce it from the dead

00:17:51ball spot half the distance to

00:17:53the goal line.

00:17:56All I can say Jim is they won't

00:17:57lose that much yardage on that

00:17:59penalty.

00:18:00We'll be back in just a moment

00:18:02as the Patriots take over first

00:18:03in 10.

00:18:07So after the 42 yard punt by

00:18:09Mike Black and the penalty

00:18:11Patriots have the ball at their

00:18:13own one yard line.

00:18:14I'm Jim Hill along with John

00:18:15Dockery.

00:18:17Six and a half minutes left to

00:18:19go in the first period.

00:18:20The Patriots have the ball and

00:18:21they have the lead.

00:18:24Patriots with two tight ends

00:18:26Lynn Dawson and Derek Ramsey

00:18:33handoff goes to Craig James

00:18:36James gets pushed back into the

00:18:37end zone by Angelo King and

00:18:40there is a flag on the play.

00:18:52First of all you question that

00:19:02call against Jimmy Williams.

00:19:03John I question it.

00:19:05I also it's the worst time in

00:19:07the world when you have a team

00:19:08backed up on their own ends on

00:19:10one yard line and take a look at

00:19:12it right here.

00:19:16It's questionable.

00:19:17You don't know whether the

00:19:18whistle had blown or not.

00:19:19Williams is just coming in to

00:19:20take off.

00:19:21Very questionable.

00:19:22What does get the Patriots some

00:19:23breathing room in a first down.

00:19:25It certainly gets him out of a

00:19:26big big hole gives him a first

00:19:28in 10 11 yard line.

00:19:34James again right up the middle

00:19:41tackle by Demetrius Johnson.

00:19:42But let's go to Brent Musburger

00:19:43in New York for this NFL Today

00:19:45update.

00:19:47Well Jim you and John are going

00:19:48to find this hard to believe but

00:19:49in less than six minutes the

00:19:50Bengals opened up a 16 point

00:19:52lead on the Cowboys.

00:19:53Here's a forty five yarder from

00:19:55Boomer Esiason to Eddie Brown

00:19:56and yes they are still going

00:19:58without the huddle.

00:19:59One way to keep the Blitzers off

00:20:00the field.

00:20:01Let's go back to Jim and John

00:20:04Brent you're absolutely correct.

00:20:05That is hard to believe.

00:20:07And I can see the Giants in New

00:20:08York jumping up and down.

00:20:10You better believe it.

00:20:12Hand off again to James tackle

00:20:15by August early.

00:20:16I should say the Giants in

00:20:18Houston because they're playing

00:20:19down there and if Dallas should

00:20:20lose in the Giants win it will

00:20:22be tied up in that NFC East

00:20:25pickup will be second down to

00:20:26nine to twenty nine.

00:20:28So it'll be second down to

00:20:29update Cincinnati 16 Dallas

00:20:32Patriots have the lead seven

00:20:33nothing.

00:20:34Let's take a look at some

00:20:35scores here and up in Green Bay.

00:20:37We were there last week John

00:20:38remember that Miami over the

00:20:39Packers six to three in Miami

00:20:41St. Louis over the New Orleans

00:20:43Saints seven to nothing in the

00:20:44first quarter.

00:20:45And it's Kansas City over

00:20:47Atlanta 14 nothing in the first

00:20:48period.

00:20:50Second and nine for the Patriots

00:20:54handoff to James again but it

00:20:57looked like he missed the

00:20:58handoff and he's held on to the

00:21:00ball.

00:21:01So Tony he's been trying to make

00:21:02the handoff to Craig James

00:21:03misses it and he's a hangs on

00:21:09loss of two yards and I think

00:21:10that's what he does right here.

00:21:12You see how wide Craig James was

00:21:14was either a problem with the

00:21:15quarterback not coming to James

00:21:16or James being too wide.

00:21:17But wisely Tony Eason tucked it

00:21:19away so there wasn't a fumble.

00:21:21He had to reach and that ball

00:21:22couldn't come off the hip as

00:21:23you've seen many times when a

00:21:25quarterback has to reach to a

00:21:26running back.

00:21:27But he wisely tucked it away.

00:21:29So Stephen starring comes into

00:21:31the ballgame now to give the

00:21:32Patriots three wide receivers six

00:21:34defensive backs now in for the

00:21:35Lions from the shotgun.

00:21:42There's a flag on the play

00:21:43preliminary indication is delay

00:21:44of game.

00:21:45Delay of game.

00:21:46Number 11.

00:21:50So all of a sudden John we're

00:21:51seeing a couple of mistakes now

00:21:52by the Patriots and Tony Eason

00:21:55we talked to him yesterday and I

00:21:56thought he was extremely uptight.

00:21:59Earlier in the year he was

00:22:00relaxed.

00:22:01He had come off a great season

00:22:02the year before third ranked

00:22:04passer in the NFL.

00:22:05But yesterday he was very tight

00:22:07and all the controversy with

00:22:08Steve Grogan leading the past

00:22:10all those victories I think is

00:22:12On third down again from the

00:22:14shotgun.

00:22:16Eason throws complete to early

00:22:18flyer tackle made by Angelo

00:22:22King.

00:22:23Very very questionable pattern.

00:22:26A difference in style.

00:22:27You have to wonder if Steve

00:22:28Grogan wouldn't have gone

00:22:29upfield and tried for the first

00:22:31down with Stanley Morgan.

00:22:33Instead what is he to do a safe

00:22:35high percentage pass over the

00:22:36middle to Friar in the hopes of

00:22:37Friar will catch the ball and be

00:22:39able to run for the first down

00:22:40Pete Manley all set to receive

00:22:43Rich Camarillo's punt line drive

00:22:54punt that man will take and

00:22:55return from the twenty five yard

00:22:57line.

00:22:58There is a flag on the plate or

00:22:59two flags on the plate.

00:23:01Manley gets to the thirty five

00:23:03yard line and that's where he is

00:23:05But as we mentioned there are

00:23:06two flags on the play tackle made

00:23:08by Jim Bowman.

00:23:16That punt was forty nine yards

00:23:18and players from both sides now

00:23:20John indicating that the

00:23:21penalties are against each other

00:23:23with ninety three on the

00:23:25receiving team holding with

00:23:27ineligible down illegally on the

00:23:29kicking team number fifty four

00:23:32so Camarillo will get another

00:23:34opportunity to punt and you look

00:23:37at the Detroit Lions and you look

00:23:39at them as a team and they are

00:23:41seven and six they're in the

00:23:42playoff run as are New England

00:23:44Patriots obviously with the

00:23:45Lions despite statistics have

00:23:47beaten some incredible teams I

00:23:49mean they beat the Dolphins the

00:23:50forty niners the Cowboys and the

00:23:52Jets on Thanksgiving Day.

00:23:54You know they're just so tough

00:23:55at home.

00:23:56You know they're just so tough

00:23:57at home.

00:23:58It seems you know the fact that

00:24:00they don't have the rarefied air

00:24:02of the Silverdome does something

00:24:03to them.

00:24:04Certainly does.

00:24:05Leonard Thompson was joking

00:24:06yesterday he said I cut up some

00:24:08of the astroturf and put it in

00:24:09my shoes.

00:24:13They even talked about putting a

00:24:14little bit of the dome in their

00:24:15helmet.

00:24:16I think they were kidding us

00:24:17there about that one.

00:24:18Yes.

00:24:21Camarillo's punt again.

00:24:23Manly at the thirty seven yard

00:24:25line.

00:24:27Special teams for the Patriots

00:24:29doing a good job.

00:24:30Tackle there made by Johnny

00:24:32Rembrandt made a fumble recovery

00:24:34and we'll be back in just a

00:24:35moment.

00:24:40John I don't think there's any

00:24:41question.

00:24:42Eric Hipple loves his home

00:24:43cooking in Detroit.

00:24:44He certainly does.

00:24:45He talks about the fans giving

00:24:47him support in the comfort zone

00:24:49of playing in ideal condition.

00:24:51First in 10 for the Lions and

00:24:52Eric Hipple.

00:24:57Handoff goes to James Jones.

00:24:58He gets into the secondary.

00:25:00Jones gets away from Raymond

00:25:01play one and knocked out of

00:25:02bounds by Fred Marion.

00:25:05There's a perfect example of why

00:25:06the Lions depend so much on

00:25:08Jones and why their offense

00:25:09surrounds him.

00:25:10Exactly.

00:25:11And you know this team is

00:25:12obviously without Billy Sims out

00:25:13with a knee injury.

00:25:14He's got a knee injury.

00:25:15He's got a knee injury.

00:25:16He's got a knee injury.

00:25:17He's got a knee injury.

00:25:18He's got a knee injury.

00:25:19And if you can call it that

00:25:20James Jones is out with a knee

00:25:21injury.

00:25:22He's got a knee injury.

00:25:23He's got a knee injury.

00:25:24He's got a knee injury.

00:25:25He's got a knee injury.

00:25:26He's got a knee injury.

00:25:27Billy Sims out with a knee

00:25:28injury all year long.

00:25:30That's good blocking.

00:25:31And then Jones surprisingly fast

00:25:33for a big match to change hands

00:25:35right there and use the stiff

00:25:36arm to get extra yards.

00:25:37James Jones with a big pickup a

00:25:39pickup of 21 yards.

00:25:4435 yard line up the Patriots

00:25:46Pippel rolls, throws, complete to Mark Nichols, Nichols inside the 15, tries to run over a defender and gets down to the 12-yard line.

00:25:53Those are the kinds of plays that Eric Pippel runs so well. A little play-action fake.

00:25:58And then Nichols just comes across from the other side. It's a tough play for defensive backs.

00:26:03See Lippitt covering him, and watch Nichols. They're playing the zone, so Lippitt lets him go.

00:26:07That leaves Nichols wide open. Pippel rolls out, finds him for the first down.

00:26:12A pick-up of 22 yards, and all of a sudden, John, just like that, the Lions are threatening.

00:26:18And once again, it was the running game. James Jones with the big run, setting up the pass play.

00:26:23Ball at the 12-yard line, first and 10.

00:26:28Pippel back to pass.

00:26:31Rolls into the end zone, over the head of Mark Nichols, covered there by Ronnie Lippitt.

00:26:43The Patriots are an excellent team at putting pressure on the quarterback,

00:26:46even though they've reshuffled their defensive line.

00:26:48Right here, as Pippel throws, he's taken down by Lester Williams.

00:26:55And remember, that Patriot defensive line, as you look across it,

00:26:58has the oldest defensive lineman in the league, number 85, Julius Adams.

00:27:02And Kenneth Simms is hurt in some number one draft games, and that is effectively their loss.

00:27:07And that pressure on Pippel then will enforce him to throw the ball long.

00:27:11Second down for the Lions.

00:27:15Pippel again, taken to the air, throws.

00:27:19The closest Detroit line was Alvin Moore.

00:27:24And it falls incomplete.

00:27:26Looked like a mix-up on the pass pattern then.

00:27:28You see Pippel running over there to talk to Alvin Moore.

00:27:30Something happened. What they like most is to send their wide receivers in across the middle

00:27:34and send the back out into the flat. That's what he wanted to do.

00:27:37Alvin Moore cut inside instead of going outside, and Pippel had problems.

00:27:40And those are the kinds of things, John, that really drive a coach crazy

00:27:43because you're in the scoring opportunity, you have a chance to get on the scoreboard,

00:27:47and you have a mix-up, a mental breakdown.

00:27:51Third and ten. Pete Manley comes in. He has the Lions' three wide receivers.

00:28:00The drop play to Jones.

00:28:03Jones to the eight-yard line, tackled by Donnie Blackman.

00:28:07There's Rembert also in on the tackle.

00:28:10So a mental mistake is going to cost them seven points

00:28:14unless they pull off a fake here and we'll have them to go four-three.

00:28:17At that time, they try to catch the Patriot defense off balance in that situation,

00:28:21and spring James Jones up the middle. It didn't work.

00:28:24Eddie Murray in to attempt a field goal.

00:28:26It'll be a 25-yard attempt, 26-yard attempt.

00:28:32And it's right down the middle, and good.

00:28:34So Eddie Murray connects from 26 yards out,

00:28:37and scored now the Patriots over the Lions 7-3.

00:28:42This is a very important game for both clubs, as we all know.

00:28:46Next Sunday right here on CBS, another big important game, John.

00:28:50The New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys.

00:28:52The Cowboys are trailing right now.

00:28:54Green Bay versus Detroit, and St. Louis taking on the Rams out in Los Angeles.

00:28:57Oh, what a big game for the Giants.

00:28:59As you look at the standings in the East, if Dallas loses today,

00:29:02they'll be 9-5.

00:29:03If the Giants beat Houston, they'll be 9-5,

00:29:05and will be deadlocked for first place in the NFC East.

00:29:10And the score of that game, Cincinnati leading Dallas 22-0.

00:29:14Boomer Esaias and Eddie Brown.

00:29:16Boy, can you believe they're shutting out Dallas.

00:29:21Catching Dallas by surprise, as we saw in the update from Brent Muswerder.

00:29:25Going from a no-huddle offense,

00:29:28to a Stephon Starring.

00:29:31It's back to receive for the New England Patriots.

00:29:35And you know, this is a serious game, Jim.

00:29:37You know, we talk about Dallas and the Giants next week.

00:29:39That's a playoff.

00:29:40This is playoff implications, too.

00:29:42Because, you know, if Detroit wins today,

00:29:44and they must win their remaining three games,

00:29:46they'll have a shot at a playoff spot.

00:29:48Of course, New England has their destiny in their own hands.

00:29:51And, you know, if Dallas loses,

00:29:53they'll have a shot at a playoff spot.

00:29:54Of course, New England has their destiny in their own hands.

00:29:57If they win all three games,

00:29:59then they will definitely be in the playoffs.

00:30:02And that's the best way you want to be,

00:30:04as far as the team is concerned, going into the playoffs.

00:30:06Because you only have yourself to blame if you don't make it.

00:30:13Starring takes it all about three yards inside the end zone.

00:30:17We roll the touchback.

00:30:19And now let's go once again to Brent Muswerder in New York

00:30:21for this NFL Today update.

00:30:24Well, Jim, the Bengals struck again.

00:30:26Watch Remington, the center.

00:30:27He drives Klingscales about 10 yards out,

00:30:30and James Brooks goes 27 yards for the score.

00:30:33They miss an extra point.

00:30:34They finally make a mistake.

00:30:35It is 22-0.

00:30:37Bengals lead the Cowboys first quarter.

00:30:39Let's go back to Jim.

00:30:42I really find that hard to believe.

00:30:44So do I.

00:30:45Remember, Jim, that Cincinnati is not out of it in the central in the AFC.

00:30:48I mean, they're 6-7.

00:30:50Cleaver leads at 7-6, and that could be.

00:30:54The Patriots have the ball first and 10,

00:30:56and they have the lead as Tony Eason goes back.

00:30:58Trying to set up the screen, and he does, to break James.

00:31:01James has some running room.

00:31:04James gets enough yards for the first down

00:31:06as he gets to the 36-yard line, tackled by August Curley.

00:31:09And guess who is out in front, number 73.

00:31:12Take a look at the left side of your screen.

00:31:13Watch him.

00:31:14John Hannah gets a block, then slips out.

00:31:16Watch him get a second block.

00:31:18See him outside?

00:31:19He takes on a lion, takes him down.

00:31:21Good blocking by number 75, Guy Morris.

00:31:24And great, James does the rest.

00:31:26Ideal stuff.

00:31:27That's how you draw it up on the blackboard.

00:31:29Certainly does.

00:31:30And, you know, when you go behind someone like a Hannah,

00:31:32we saw their offensive unit yesterday,

00:31:34so loose and relaxed and having fun.

00:31:37And I think that's the key to it right now for the Patriots.

00:31:40The Lions now with four defensive linemen in.

00:31:44First and 10 for New England.

00:31:46Eason throws.

00:31:48And it is complete to Stanley Morgan.

00:31:52And that gives you an idea of Tony Eason's arm.

00:31:54He has a strong arm.

00:31:55How did he not drill that?

00:31:56Bruce McNorton might have gotten there to knock it away

00:31:58or come up with the interception.

00:32:00And with that play, that is the end of the first period.

00:32:03As the New England Patriots have a 7-3 lead over the Detroit Lions.

00:32:06Stay with us.

00:32:17CBS Sports coverage of the National Football League

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00:32:47John, that reception by Stanley Morgan puts him over 7,000 yards

00:32:51in his illustrious career.

00:32:52Nine fine years out of Tennessee.

00:32:56Second in less than one.

00:32:59Right up the middle is Tony Collins.

00:33:01And Collins gets enough yardage for the first down.

00:33:05Keith Ferguson making the tackle for the Detroit Lions.

00:33:08Interesting contrast here.

00:33:10Tony Collins at one time was the star, the featured back.

00:33:13Tony Collins at one time was the star, the featured back.

00:33:16Now he's the blocking back for Craig James.

00:33:18It was only two years ago that Tony Collins went over 1,000 yards.

00:33:22And now it's Craig James, as you mentioned, getting closer to that 1,000-yard mark.

00:33:28Ball at the 48-yard line of the Lions.

00:33:31Eason.

00:33:33Throws.

00:33:34Complete.

00:33:39That's Derek Ramsey.

00:33:40Derek Ramsey.

00:33:41And we were told that when Tony Eason goes back into the ball game,

00:33:43he likes to throw to Derek Ramsey.

00:33:45He certainly does, and he's been criticized for having nervous feet.

00:33:48Here, he steps up the way you should.

00:33:50He waits, and then he drills the ball.

00:33:52See that arm?

00:33:53He gets a completion to Ramsey.

00:33:57And he gives the Patriots a first down.

00:34:01At the 32-yard line of Detroit.

00:34:04The Patriots have a 7-3 lead.

00:34:0713.50 left to go in the first half.

00:34:11Hand off to Tony Collins.

00:34:15Collins.

00:34:17Gets back to about the 30-yard line.

00:34:19Curtis Green along with Jimmy Williams making the tackle.

00:34:21And Jimmy Williams made an outstanding play there.

00:34:23A linebacker taking on the big pulling guard, John Hanna.

00:34:27He turned the play back inside.

00:34:29He kept Hanna off him, and that forced his other teammates' time to come and to make the tackle.

00:34:35Well, Jimmy Williams knows, as he told us, that he wants to be a big play person.

00:34:38And he has to make those kinds of plays in order to be successful in this defense.

00:34:46Second down, and Eason is back to pass again.

00:34:49The blitz is on, he throws it away.

00:34:53Once again, Irvin Fryer says it is a completed pass.

00:34:56And it is.

00:34:58The pass is being ruled complete to Stanley Morgan.

00:35:01Irvin Fryer right over there giving the officials a little hand.

00:35:06Stanley Morgan coming back for the ball.

00:35:08As Eason is hit after he throws it.

00:35:10Take a look at him right here.

00:35:11Good blocking.

00:35:13Delivers the ball, and watch him come back.

00:35:15See him come back and get those arms underneath it before it hits the turf.

00:35:18Excellent play by Stanley Morgan.

00:35:20And Eason doing an excellent job of standing right there.

00:35:23Even taking the pressure as he was hit then by August Curley.

00:35:29First down.

00:35:35The toss back.

00:35:36This is James.

00:35:38James inside the 15, down to about the 10.

00:35:40Made it inside the 10-yard line.

00:35:42Tackled by Curtis Green again.

00:35:44That time the blade, Tony Collins, did the job.

00:35:47Take a look at it here.

00:35:48Jimmy Williams, number 59, coming across the line.

00:35:50Watch Tony Collins.

00:35:51He goes low, he takes Williams down.

00:35:53And that gives James a chance to get outside to make some yards.

00:35:57You mentioned Tony Collins.

00:35:58You called him the blade.

00:35:59The blade.

00:36:00Because he told us yesterday, when I get outside, I'm going to cut those linebackers.

00:36:04And that's exactly what he did.

00:36:06And he said, my nickname is the blade.

00:36:08And he likes, he likes actually blocking for James.

00:36:11Who now has 39 yards on 9 carats.

00:36:15Second down.

00:36:16All on the 10-yard line.

00:36:19It's James again.

00:36:22James to the outside.

00:36:23Gets to about the 6-yard line.

00:36:24There he's bumped out of bounds by William Graham.

00:36:27And what you're seeing now from the Patriots is a nice, balanced offense.

00:36:31Raymond Berry said he wanted the mix.

00:36:33He knows he's playing against one of the worst teams against the Russian NFL.

00:36:36But he said, you know, we're going to run great, James.

00:36:39We're also going to mix it up with the pass.

00:36:41Because I've been lulled to sleep before.

00:36:43And just trying to jam the ball down people's throats in the NFL.

00:36:46And it just doesn't work.

00:36:47And that's what he's got right now.

00:36:49A nice balance.

00:36:50Here's Tom Ramsey, the backup quarterback.

00:36:52Who will be sending in the signals.

00:36:55And there's Steve Grogan on the crutches, on the sidelines.

00:36:57Broken leg.

00:36:59And before he broke his leg, he was quarterbacking here.

00:37:01And they won six games for him.

00:37:03First and goal.

00:37:06Here's James again.

00:37:10And Curtis Green has really been making some outstanding plays from his nose tackle position.

00:37:15And the nose tackle position for the Detroit Lions has been a disaster.

00:37:19First Doug English gets hurt.

00:37:21Then Eric Williams.

00:37:22So they need Curtis Green to make plays like this.

00:37:26Watch Curtis Green come into the picture with good pursuit.

00:37:28They have to have that because the nose has been decimated.

00:37:34So Jimmy Williams will really have to be on his toes now.

00:37:38Getting the rest of his defensive teammates for Detroit all fired up.

00:37:44And this is an area where the Patriots told us they'd like to go to their tight end if they pass it.

00:37:49But instead they run.

00:37:50Here's James again trying to get to the outside.

00:37:52James run out of bounds at about the six yard line by William Frizzell.

00:37:56William Frizzell.

00:38:00It was interesting talking to Craig James.

00:38:02We said, you know, you're getting near 1,000 yards.

00:38:04You're having a better year than your friend Eric Dickerson who has overshadowed you for most of your careers.

00:38:10He said, yeah, I try to call Eric during the week to ask him what was happening with the Rams out there.

00:38:15And maybe also to tell him that he was about to get 1,000 yards if he stayed out there.

00:38:20James and Dickerson were in the same backfield at SMU.

00:38:23Third down and goal.

00:38:24Ball at the six yard line.

00:38:26Stephan Starring comes in now for the Patriots to give them three wide receivers.

00:38:30Eason from the shotgun formation.

00:38:33Throws into the end zone.

00:38:35Touchdown New England.

00:38:44We mentioned that Tony Eason likes to look for their tight end.

00:38:47Derek Ramsey down by the goal line.

00:38:49And what a move he put on number 26 Frizzell.

00:38:52He faked outside, went inside, see Frizzell.

00:38:54He's about three yards behind.

00:38:56That's because Ramsey put a quick move, faked to the outside, and then went inside.

00:39:01The first touchdown reception for Derek Ramsey this season.

00:39:08Isn't that hard to believe when you consider the year he had last year?

00:39:11Sixty-six receptions, seven touchdowns.

00:39:15Of course, it is a different offense.

00:39:17That's right.

00:39:18And his favorite quarterback is in right now.

00:39:20He likes Eason and they like each other.

00:39:23Tony Franklin in to attempt the extra point conversion.

00:39:29And the New England Patriots have a 14-3 lead over the Detroit Lions.

00:39:35Stay with us. We'll be right back.

00:39:39Now the Patriots will kick off on the 30 yard line because on the touchdown pass to Derek Ramsey,

00:39:44Irvin Fryer came over, grabbed the ball, and spiked it.

00:39:46And as you know, there is no celebration in the end zone.

00:39:51Alvin Hall is set deep to receive.

00:39:56He gets it at about the 19 yard line.

00:40:00Alvin Hall over the 30 to the 31 yard line.

00:40:03That's where the Lions will take over first and 10.

00:40:05And now there is even more pressure on Hipple.

00:40:07You know, you mentioned earlier in the beginning of the show, Jim,

00:40:10the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character of the Detroit Lions.

00:40:14Well, Eric Hipple is in that category because at times he looks like Joe Montana

00:40:19or a young theisman as you look at the home and road records for Eric Hipple.

00:40:23Other times he looks like a sandlot quarterback.

00:40:25I mean, that consistency. He's starting to get it.

00:40:28But all season long he's been up and down. It's been a rollercoaster ride.

00:40:31And right now that rollercoaster is at a low.

00:40:34As far as the Lions are concerned, Hipple has only completed a couple of passes

00:40:37and goes back to see if he can complete a third.

00:40:39He throws. Completes to Alvin Moore.

00:40:41Moore has some running room.

00:40:43Moore run out of bounds by Fred Merriam.

00:40:49And this is a smart play.

00:40:51They know they don't have the dominant people on offense to control a good patriot defense.

00:40:56So screens, draws, little traps, short passing is a wise play selection.

00:41:01Take a look at it right here.

00:41:02He's looking away, and then he just flips it out to Alvin Moore.

00:41:05Good block out front there.

00:41:07By number 70, Keith Dorney, and then Alvin Moore gets the rest himself.

00:41:11Thirteen yards on the play. Good enough for a first down.

00:41:19There's a flag on the play as James Jones gets the ball.

00:41:24Jones to the 47-yard line, tackled by Rivera and Andre Tippett.

00:41:29But as we mentioned, there is a flag on the play.

00:41:33Illegal motion against the Lions.

00:41:36It looked like Mark Nichols was moving just a little bit ahead of the snap.

00:41:43Illegal motion, number 86, was not set.

00:41:47Still a first down.

00:41:49That was Mark Nichols, number 86.

00:41:52And when Mark Nichols has come on, I mean, talking to Daryl Rogers earlier, yesterday,

00:41:58he said Mark Nichols has gotten more and more consistent because he's been forced to play and start.

00:42:03He's not the kind of player that can come off the bench and contribute.

00:42:06But when he's starting, as he's been for the last 67 years,

00:42:09The Lions haven't been doing well, but they're going to try now.

00:42:12Throw is complete.

00:42:14Pass is complete to David Lewis.

00:42:16They're tied in, but there's another flag on the play.

00:42:19Larry McGrew making the tackle, number 50.

00:42:22And that was just a question of David Lewis playing off the linebacker, McGrew.

00:42:26In a fair 87-yard snap.

00:42:29Not just playing off him, maybe I should say,

00:42:32playing off the linebacker, McGrew.

00:42:36Not just playing off him, maybe I should say, pushing off him.

00:42:40Big David Lewis, 6'3", 240 pounds.

00:42:44McGrew was all over him.

00:42:46He pushed off him, went inside, and that was a penalty.

00:42:51So again, whenever the Lions get something started, they stop themselves.

00:42:55And they're not the kind of offense that can afford to do those kinds of things.

00:42:59They are the worst offense in terms of total yards in the NFL.

00:43:04But yet, they've been able to win and beat some good teams.

00:43:07The Dolphins, the Niners, the Jets, the Cowboys.

00:43:10And they're playing another good team this afternoon, but on the road,

00:43:13which is where they've had horrible success.

00:43:16Still first down, 25 yards to go now.

00:43:19Hand off to James Jones.

00:43:22Jones up to the 41-yard line.

00:43:25Tackle there made by Lester Williams.

00:43:28So Jones comes back.

00:43:30Makes a good gain on the play.

00:43:33But it is second down now.

00:43:44Tiple told us yesterday he's going to use a lot of Jones,

00:43:47use a lot of Jones, and then come back and play action with him,

00:43:50and then try and throw deep.

00:43:51Maybe to Lenny Thompson.

00:43:52Thompson has a bump and run at the top of his screen.

00:43:56Hipple the pass.

00:43:58Across the middle, and it is over the head of David Lewis

00:44:02and could have been intercepted by Fred Merriam.

00:44:05There have got to be a lot of question marks in Hipple's mind right now.

00:44:08No doubt about it.

00:44:09Hipple is having one of the best years of his career,

00:44:12especially when you consider interception-wise.

00:44:14But here he's got nervous feet.

00:44:15He doesn't throw the ball very well.

00:44:17And as you said, had it been a little higher, it might have been intercepted.

00:44:20But talking about Hipple's year, when you consider his career,

00:44:24he's normally thrown more interceptions than touchdowns.

00:44:26But this year, he has 16 touchdowns, 12 interceptions.

00:44:30That's four TDs for every three interceptions.

00:44:33That's decent for a quarterback.

00:44:37But this afternoon, throwing for only 37 yards.

00:44:39That is not decent.

00:44:42On third down is Hipple back again.

00:44:44Throws out into the flag.

00:44:45Complete to James Jones.

00:44:47Jones, one out of bounds at the 45-yard line by Donnie Blackmon.

00:44:54And the crowd here at Foxborough Sullivan Stadium, a sellout crowd.

00:44:58And that gives you an idea of the fervor of the New England Patriots fans.

00:45:02I mean, yeah, they will sell out for a big game with the Jets or the Dolphins.

00:45:06But to sell out for a game with Detroit, you know how important it is.

00:45:09And they can smell the playoff.

00:45:11The fans here really getting into their ball club this time of the season, as you mentioned.

00:45:16That's really all they're talking about right now is what will the Patriots do?

00:45:20Will they continue?

00:45:21Will they do what they've done in the past?

00:45:22And that is have horrible success at the end of the season.

00:45:25Irvin Fryer, back to receive deep for New England.

00:45:30And Mike Black, once again, hunting for the Lions.

00:45:39Black, angling towards the sidelines.

00:45:42Here's Fryer at the 14.

00:45:45And gets to about the 16-yard line where he's tackled.

00:45:48And that's where the Patriots will take over first and 10 when we return.

00:45:51They have the lead, 14-3.

00:45:55The Patriots have the lead.

00:45:56They have the ball.

00:45:57And they have big John Hannah, who's their leader up front.

00:46:00Boy, was he loose in the locker room.

00:46:01He's wearing that Jets T-shirt yesterday in the locker room.

00:46:03He said, where'd you get that?

00:46:05He said his friend Joe Queco gave it to him.

00:46:07Of course, they're not pulling for the Jets up in Buffalo today.

00:46:10Not at all.

00:46:11And right now, they're pulling for each other.

00:46:13Mosey to Tupou in the backfield now with Tony Collins.

00:46:18And Collins gets the ball.

00:46:20Running behind Hannah.

00:46:22Collins to the 18-yard line before he's tackled there by Keith Ferguson.

00:46:28Other scores this afternoon.

00:46:29Indianapolis and Chicago tied at 3 in the second period.

00:46:34Kansas City over Atlanta, 21-7 also in the second quarter.

00:46:39St. Louis leading the New Orleans Saints, 14-3.

00:46:43And the Jets over Buffalo, 14-0.

00:46:45John, your team doing it there.

00:46:46And Wesley Walker, 96-yard touchdown pass from Ken O'Brien.

00:46:51Second down here for New England.

00:46:53Tony Collins again.

00:46:56Collins to the 23-yard line.

00:46:58Curtis Green, who has been in on just about every tackle this afternoon, makes another one.

00:47:03And of course, the Jets have to continue to win.

00:47:05They are winning up in Buffalo.

00:47:06And if they do, they'll stay tied for first with the Patriots should the Patriots win.

00:47:11Kind of strange now.

00:47:12Greg James is out.

00:47:13Collins is in.

00:47:14And we talked to him yesterday.

00:47:15We asked Tony Collins, hey, have you been talking to Greg James about getting 1,000 yards?

00:47:19He said, yeah, I told him there's no other feeling in the world like it.

00:47:22It certainly is a special plateau for a running back.

00:47:25And Collins is pulling for James.

00:47:28On third down.

00:47:31It's Collins again.

00:47:33Collins into the secondary.

00:47:34You better watch out.

00:47:35He has some speed.

00:47:39Tony Collins gets to the 49-yard line of the Detroit Lions before he's knocked out of bounds.

00:47:43He's knocked out of bounds by William Graham.

00:47:46It's a first down for the Patriots.

00:47:48And this is a left linebacker's job.

00:47:50We'll take a look at 59.

00:47:51Jimmy Williams right there.

00:47:53He gets blocked.

00:47:54Now, then Collins, who hasn't carried the ball that much this year, cuts to the outside and gets big yardage.

00:48:01Jimmy Williams right here, fighting off the blocker.

00:48:04That's Mosey Tatupu leading the way.

00:48:07And then Collins just cuts inside.

00:48:08He was too occupied.

00:48:09He didn't get his hands out in front to play off the blocker.

00:48:11That's why Tatupu is in there to make those kinds of blocks.

00:48:14First down now.

00:48:15Mason goes back to pass.

00:48:17Sets up the screen.

00:48:18Complete to Collins.

00:48:19He has a couple of blockers.

00:48:20Good block by John Hanna.

00:48:28Tony Collins finally tackled by Demetrius Johnson and William Gay.

00:48:31Not only a good block by John Hanna, but watch the center, Guy Morris, number 75.

00:48:36Blocked.

00:48:37And then he pulls out.

00:48:39See him to the left of your screen.

00:48:40He gets a block right there.

00:48:42A number 50 August Curley.

00:48:44And that gives Collins some extra room to run.

00:48:46He picks up first down.

00:48:4816 yards on the play.

00:48:50Ball now at the 32-yard line of Detroit.

00:48:56Cedric Jones.

00:48:57Another fine receiver in now for the Patriots.

00:48:59As Eason goes back to pass.

00:49:01Throws to the near sideline.

00:49:03The pass is ruled complete.

00:49:06Cedric Jones who just came in the ballgame.

00:49:08We talked about him being another good receiver.

00:49:10And they go to him immediately.

00:49:12And Cedric Jones doesn't have the great speed.

00:49:14But he has the know-how and the sense of knowing where he is on the field.

00:49:17Watch here how he brings his feet just down inbounds for the completion.

00:49:22See him right there leaning.

00:49:23Both feet inbounds for the reception.

00:49:25Do you agree with me that the Patriots probably have the finest core of wide receivers in the NFL?

00:49:30Boy, if they don't, it's very close.

00:49:32When you look at Stanley Morgan, Irvin Fryer, Stephen Starring, Cedric Jones.

00:49:36They are outstanding.

00:49:38Eason 9 of 10 for 98 yards.

00:49:41A toss back to Collins.

00:49:43Collins gets inside the 20.

00:49:45Down to the 15-yard line.

00:49:47William Graham along with Angelo King and Curtis Green in on the tackle for Detroit.

00:49:51And right now this game belongs to New England Patriots.

00:49:54They're dominating the line of scrimmage with their big offensive line.

00:49:57Of course, we know the Lions are having their problems on the defensive line.

00:50:01I mean, you bring a guy in a few weeks ago who was waived by the San Diego Chargers.

00:50:06Keith Ferguson.

00:50:07And you're starting him on your defensive line.

00:50:09You know your very thing.

00:50:10Wayne Vance was telling us yesterday.

00:50:12Defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

00:50:15He said people that would get off the waiver wire are better than the ones we had originally.

00:50:19Says something about the talent on a Detroit Lion.

00:50:21It certainly does.

00:50:22Hand off up the middle to Mosey Tatupu.

00:50:25Tackle there made by Ken Fantetti.

00:50:27You talk about the Lions and they've really been doing it with mirrors.

00:50:30That's exactly what Darryl Rodgers told us.

00:50:33And take a look at Fantetti.

00:50:34He's an example of that.

00:50:35Number 57.

00:50:36Out most of the year with injury problems.

00:50:38Here, he meets Tatupu.

00:50:40And I'll never forget what Monty Clark once told us about Fantetti.

00:50:44He said, he is my deluxe hitter.

00:50:47When he hits people, it's high on the Richter scale.

00:50:50Well, I think Tatupu can attest to that right now.

00:50:52Because he was stopped right at the line of scrimmage.

00:50:54Stephan Starring comes in to give the Patriots three wide receivers.

00:50:59Greg James is back in the backfield now.

00:51:01Eason from the shotgun.

00:51:03Throws off the blitz.

00:51:05Complete to Irvin Flyer, but there is a flag on the plate.

00:51:09Tony Eason criticized not being able to stand the pressure, the heat in the NFL.

00:51:14Last week, a big game against the Colts.

00:51:16Burned him for three touchdowns on blitzes.

00:51:19There the blitz comes.

00:51:20He gets rid of the ball in a hurry.

00:51:23A preliminary call by Gene Barth.

00:51:24Illegal motion against the Patriots.

00:51:26But remember what Eason told us yesterday about the blitz.

00:51:29He said, I hope they blitz more.

00:51:31Illegal motion.

00:51:3267 off, man.

00:51:33Five yards penalty.

00:51:35We'll replay the third now.

00:51:37I think Tony Eason has grown up a little bit this year.

00:51:39He's gotten enormous criticism from the fans and from the press here in Boston.

00:51:44Questioning so much, he's questioning his courage.

00:51:47I mean, and this is a tough sport.

00:51:49This is a brutal sport.

00:51:50The one thing you always have as a ball player is your courage.

00:51:53And they were saying that maybe Eason didn't have the wherewithal or the character to stand in there.

00:51:58Today, he's doing it.

00:51:59Last week, he did it.

00:52:00And doing a fine job.

00:52:02Four minutes, nine seconds left to go in the first half.

00:52:04From the shotgun again.

00:52:06Eason steps up into the bucket.

00:52:07Good job when he throws behind Craig James.

00:52:11That time, he had a little time.

00:52:12He was a little edgy.

00:52:13His feet were nervous.

00:52:15But he's been in a tough situation all year long because Steve Grogan was a favorite of a lot of the veterans on this veteran Patriot team.

00:52:23And as the Patriots get set to attempt a field goal here,

00:52:26as Tony Franklin has not had a field goal block as he's been a member of the Patriots,

00:52:30he did something for his people up front.

00:52:32He bought them all a pair of cowboy boots.

00:52:34The boots cost about $100 a piece.

00:52:36Over $1,000 in gifts.

00:52:38Well, you've got to take care of the people who take care of you.

00:52:40You better believe it.

00:52:41They're going to try and take care of him now.

00:52:42As Eason is holding for this field goal attempt.

00:52:44This will be a 38-yard attempt.

00:52:50They protect.

00:52:51And it's good again.

00:52:54So Tony Franklin from 38 yards out.

00:52:58And the New England Patriots extend their lead over the Detroit Lions, 17-3.

00:53:06John, that 38-yard field goal was good, but not by much.

00:53:10When you see it, you'll see it hits the upright way up high.

00:53:15Watch it right here.

00:53:17And then it spins through.

00:53:18It's good.

00:53:21Look at Tony.

00:53:22Yes.

00:53:25Tony Eason and Tony Franklin celebrating.

00:53:29So Franklin, who has bought cowboy boots for his linemen up front

00:53:33that protect him on field goal attempts,

00:53:35connects from 38 yards out.

00:53:37Patriots have a 17-3 lead over the Detroit Lions.

00:53:42And just about everywhere you go in town,

00:53:44when you ask people if the Lions have a chance at this ballgame,

00:53:47just about everyone I've heard said, no, absolutely not.

00:53:50They believe in their Patriots.

00:53:51They have an outstanding defense.

00:53:53They have some weapons on offense the Patriots do.

00:53:55And they are in the playoff hunt.

00:54:07A.J. Jones with the 15-yard line.

00:54:10A.J. Jones across the 30- to the 33-yard line.

00:54:14Lions will take over first and 10.

00:54:16Tackle there made by Rodney Swain.

00:54:21This really tells the whole story, doesn't it, John?

00:54:23It really does.

00:54:24They're doing absolutely nothing offensively in Detroit,

00:54:27but really they are the worst offense in terms of stats in the NFL.

00:54:31What they've relied on all year long is an opportunistic offense

00:54:35and a defense that bends and doesn't break.

00:54:37They want to stay in the game, stay in the game,

00:54:39and then maybe win it at the end.

00:54:41This is not the kind of game that the Lions like to play

00:54:44or are capable of winning.

00:54:47They really have problems coming from behind.

00:54:49And going against the Patriot team, which ranks 7th in the league in defense,

00:54:52makes it even tougher.

00:54:53Hipple throws across the middle for David Lewis,

00:54:56and it is ruled incomplete.

00:54:59And remember, Hipple talked to us a little bit last night.

00:55:02He said, you know, really what we want to do

00:55:04is we want to run the ball to James Jones.

00:55:06We want to set up the play action.

00:55:08We want to move a little bit.

00:55:10But just in case we can't run,

00:55:12we've been working on our drop-back passing game all week.

00:55:16And that first-down graphic tells it all.

00:55:1813 to 3, first downs, New England.

00:55:21Hipple's only completed 5 of 11, 45 yards.

00:55:25Second down in 10.

00:55:27Hipple back to pass again.

00:55:29Throws down the middle.

00:55:32Pass was intended for Mark Nichols,

00:55:34and he met all kinds of traffic in Fred Marion and Raymond Claiborne.

00:55:38And Eric Hipple ought to thank Mark Nichols for preventing an interception.

00:55:42He goes for the ball right here.

00:55:44Hipple dropping back.

00:55:45You see him backpedal?

00:55:46He wants to throw to the left side.

00:55:48He wants more vision.

00:55:49That's the reason he backpedaled.

00:55:51There, Nichols just went for it.

00:55:53To keep the interception out of the hands of Raymond Claiborne.

00:55:56So Mark Nichols, who has done a fine job of receiving passes,

00:56:01then prevented an interception.

00:56:04But my, oh my.

00:56:08The Lions have not done anything this afternoon on third down

00:56:11and they're faced with that same situation now.

00:56:15Hipple throws completely Jones out of the backfield.

00:56:20Jones tackled at the 40-yard line,

00:56:22and it will not be enough yardage for the first down.

00:56:24Andre Tippett, who's having an all-pro season, makes the tackle.

00:56:31Andre Tippett, who made the tackle, has 13.5 sacks.

00:56:36And watch the pressure on Hipple.

00:56:38That's Julius Adams, number 85.

00:56:40Lomas Brown is doing a good job on him.

00:56:42But at the last minute, up the middle,

00:56:44Garen Veras comes in and gets to Hipple's feet.

00:56:50So Mike Black is in to hunt now for the Lions.

00:56:55Hunting is Mike Black.

00:56:58And he better be careful, because if Irvin Fryer has some room,

00:57:01he can really make things happen.

00:57:04Fryer has it at the 19.

00:57:08And Fryer trying to make things happen.

00:57:11Irvin Fryer at the 50.

00:57:14Fryer at the 40-yard line.

00:57:16Fryer still on his feet.

00:57:17Hardly knocked out of bounds.

00:57:27Irvin Fryer, who told us that he knows he's a big play man

00:57:30and he likes to make things happen, he had been.

00:57:33You get an idea of why, Jim, he is a big play.

00:57:35He's a game-breaker.

00:57:36Why he was the first player taken in the 18th inning

00:57:39He was the first player taken in the 84 draft.

00:57:42The man is pure magic.

00:57:44Watch this speed, balance, strength.

00:57:47And but for Alvin Hall, making a good play at the end of this run,

00:57:51number 35, watch him right here come into your screen.

00:57:54He piles it up.

00:57:57Bingo.

00:57:58Might have been even more.

00:57:5941-yard kick, 47-yard return.

00:58:02Irvin Fryer.

00:58:03He's in back to pass.

00:58:04On first down.

00:58:05Throws.

00:58:06The ball is complete.

00:58:07Derek Ramsey.

00:58:10Angelo King making the tackle for the Lions.

00:58:14So Tony Eason immediately taking advantage of that punt return

00:58:18and putting pressure, continuous pressure on the Lions.

00:58:21And that's what Eason does so well.

00:58:23The high percentage passing game.

00:58:25That's a new offense really here in New England.

00:58:27Last year it was more like the Raiders go up field,

00:58:30throw the ball down, try to get the yardage,

00:58:32making the quarterback do it all himself, Jim,

00:58:34with the reads, with the calls.

00:58:36But now it's more of a high-percession passing game,

00:58:39much like the San Francisco 49ers,

00:58:41and Eason is starting to adapt to it.

00:58:43New England is leading 17-3.

00:58:50Two minutes to go in the first half.

00:58:51I'm Jim Hill along with John Dockery,

00:58:53the Patriots with a 14-point lead over the Detroit Lions.

00:58:56Craig James in after his 1,000 yards.

00:58:59Today he has 43 yards on 12 carries.

00:59:02He was out a little while ago.

00:59:03Tony Collins doing a lot of the running.

00:59:05They were just alternating.

00:59:06That's right, and he needs 88 yards for that 1,000 mark.

00:59:11On second down for New England.

00:59:16Eason to pass, throws over the middle,

00:59:18into and out of the hands of Derek Ramsey.

00:59:22So Derek Ramsey, who has caught a six-yard touchdown pass

00:59:26from Tony Eason, can't hang on to that one.

00:59:30And it is now third down.

00:59:33The Patriots really, with Eason now,

00:59:35doing pretty much what they want to.

00:59:37And you look at his stats.

00:59:39Impressive last week, also impressive

00:59:41as he riddled the Colts.

00:59:42And the Patriots on defense last week had a bad day,

00:59:45so it was really Eason gaining that victory.

00:59:48Stephan Starring comes in now for New England,

00:59:50gives them three wide receivers.

00:59:52Eason from the shotgun formation.

00:59:57Eason up in the pocket, throws again.

01:00:00Ramsey can't hold up.

01:00:01I mean, he was wide open, too.

01:00:03And that's what happened last week.

01:00:04They dropped three or four passes on Tony Eason.

01:00:06That ball totally catchable,

01:00:08as was the one he threw just before that.

01:00:10Ramsey having his problems holding on.

01:00:12Take a look.

01:00:14They'll tell you that the difference between

01:00:16Eason's ball and Grogan's ball

01:00:18is that Eason has a much stronger arm.

01:00:20The ball gets there a lot quicker, but still.

01:00:22These are professional receivers.

01:00:24They should catch the ball.

01:00:26So Tony Franklin, who hit from 38 yards out

01:00:29a little while ago,

01:00:31is in now to attempt one in from 47 yards.

01:00:39Eason is holding.

01:00:4047-yard field goal is no good.

01:00:49Franklin misses wide to the right from 47 yards out.

01:00:56One minute, 46 seconds left to go in the first half.

01:01:01And for a change, the Lions get a break.

01:01:04Coming up at halftime, Brent Irv,

01:01:07John Madden in the studio with scores and highlights,

01:01:10and also a conversation with Rams head coach John Robbins.

01:01:14Jim, now you're from California.

01:01:15You're in L.A.

01:01:16What is the matter with the Rams?

01:01:18I think the Rams have lacked versatility on offense.

01:01:22They depended on their defense so much

01:01:24the first half of the year.

01:01:25They jumped out to a 7-0 record,

01:01:27but in the second half of the season,

01:01:29they haven't had much versatility on offense,

01:01:31and it's finally caught up with them.

01:01:32We'll hear what John Robinson has to say

01:01:34about that coming up at halftime.

01:01:36That's in a minute, 44 seconds.

01:01:38That's Hipple.

01:01:39There's a flag on the play.

01:01:40The ball is complete to Mark Nichols.

01:01:44There was confusion.

01:01:45He had two receivers right in the same area,

01:01:47but talking about Robinson and the Rams

01:01:49coming up at halftime,

01:01:50you know, he had so much.

01:01:52He was defending Dieter Brock so much all year long.

01:01:54Is he still doing that?

01:01:55I'll be interested to find out at halftime

01:01:57what he's feeling about his quarterback.

01:02:04Now, Leonard Thompson looks like

01:02:05he really got his bell rung.

01:02:07He tried to get up once,

01:02:09but he stumbled back down,

01:02:12and the 11-year veteran

01:02:16from Oklahoma State

01:02:19is now being attended to.

01:02:21Leonard Thompson, who had three touchdown receptions

01:02:23against the New York Jets.

01:02:25Here's Leonard Thompson getting banged around

01:02:27right there in the middle,

01:02:29and he and Nichols collide,

01:02:31and he goes down,

01:02:33and he's just now up on the field,

01:02:35but Leonard Thompson talking about being an old guy.

01:02:37We mentioned 11 years, wide receiver in the league,

01:02:39and he said, well, you know,

01:02:40I have that Geritol body.

01:02:42I just keep coming back,

01:02:43and he's one tough wide receiver.

01:02:45He appears to be all right as he's leaving the field,

01:02:48and they can't lose him.

01:02:50They don't have that many big play offensive weapons.

01:02:53Leonard Thompson is one of those.

01:02:55He had three touchdowns last week,

01:02:58and now Thanksgiving Day against the Jets.

01:03:00Thanksgiving Day against the Jets,

01:03:01and they're also missing Jeff Chadwick, too.

01:03:03And they're also missing, obviously,

01:03:04Billy Simms out for the year.

01:03:07First down for the Lions

01:03:10at their 35-yard line.

01:03:14Couple of throws complete to Alvin Moore

01:03:16out of the backfield at the 41-yard line.

01:03:18Donnie Blackman in on the tackle,

01:03:20along with Fred Merriam.

01:03:22A minute and a half left to go in the first half.

01:03:25Carl Bland, number 80,

01:03:27comes in to give the Lions three wide receivers.

01:03:33There's a flag thrown down.

01:03:35Pipple throws complete to Pete Manley.

01:03:37Manley to the 50.

01:03:38Manley into New England territory.

01:03:40He runs out of bounds.

01:03:41As I mentioned, a flag on the plate.

01:03:44Manley goes out of bounds.

01:03:46Pete Manley, who we normally see returning punts,

01:03:48has to come in.

01:03:49Leonard Thompson just went out as he was injured.

01:03:51The Lions shorthanded at the wide receiver position.

01:03:59Andre Tippett offsides for the Patriots.

01:04:02And there are times in a two-minute offense

01:04:05right before the half

01:04:06when a quarterback,

01:04:07especially a guy like Eric Hippel,

01:04:09when he's not thinking and just reacting and doing,

01:04:12will move a team a lot more effectively

01:04:14than in a normal situation.

01:04:15No new points on the board now.

01:04:17Patriots are controlling the momentum of this game.

01:04:20Hippel trying to control his offense now.

01:04:22Throws.

01:04:23The pass was intended for Mark Nichols.

01:04:28Roland James defending for the Patriots.

01:04:31And once again, Hippel throwing the pass,

01:04:33but a lot of pressure being put on him.

01:04:35You see Julius Adams, number 85,

01:04:37coming from the outside.

01:04:38Lomas Brown doing a good job from the backside, though.

01:04:41He does get pressure from Lester Williams, number 72.

01:04:44You were talking about Hippel rushing

01:04:47and completing a lot of passes.

01:04:49That's when he says he operates at his best,

01:04:52when he doesn't have to do a lot of thinking and just react.

01:04:58He's only completed half of his passes this afternoon.

01:05:00Second down, a minute and seven seconds

01:05:02left to go in the first half.

01:05:06And Hippel is set.

01:05:08So Lester Williams, who got the starting assignment today

01:05:11because he's big and tough up front,

01:05:13records his first set.

01:05:15And the Patriots have been waiting for Lester Williams

01:05:17to come of age.

01:05:18He's had injuries over the last three years,

01:05:20but he was the top draft choice with Kenneth Sims

01:05:23in that draft back in 1982.

01:05:25Here he gets pressure.

01:05:26And you mentioned they started him

01:05:28for that specific reason in place of Dennis Owens

01:05:32because they needed more rush.

01:05:35They needed more strength.

01:05:36And Lester Williams can do that for the Patriots.

01:05:39And Lester gives them a little enthusiasm, too.

01:05:41There's a timeout on the field taken by the Lions.

01:05:44A little over a minute to go in the first half.

01:05:47As the New England Patriots,

01:05:49who are tied with the Jets and the Dolphins,

01:05:51were first place in the AFC Eastern Division,

01:05:54treating this like a playoff game.

01:05:56We're told that Leonard Thompson will return.

01:05:58He was just shaken up a little bit.

01:06:00And as you mentioned, Tom,

01:06:01They certainly need that guy.

01:06:02Oh, they certainly do.

01:06:03They don't have that many big play machines.

01:06:05His hip is along the sideline.

01:06:07Now, this is normally a conservative offense.

01:06:09Right here, he has to stretch it out a little bit

01:06:11and try and get at least a field goal.

01:06:19The Lions still have one more timeout remaining.

01:06:22The Patriots, their full complement of three.

01:06:25The reason they have all of theirs,

01:06:27things have been going well.

01:06:30The Patriots lead at 17-3.

01:06:32It's the third down now for Detroit.

01:06:38Pippen with plenty of time.

01:06:39Throws to the corner for Pete Manley.

01:06:41But Raymond Claiborne had him covered like a blanket.

01:06:45Raymond Claiborne.

01:06:47You know, Raymond Claiborne is an amazing story.

01:06:50119 consecutive stars.

01:06:53He's a great guy.

01:06:54He's a great player.

01:06:56Amazing story.

01:06:57119 consecutive starts for a defensive back.

01:07:00Nine years in the league.

01:07:02I mean, he's just so smart.

01:07:04He knows the situation right now.

01:07:05He knows what Hipple has to do.

01:07:07I mean, he was almost running that pattern

01:07:09before the receiver was running it.

01:07:10That comes from having the knowledge,

01:07:12the head, and the athletic ability.

01:07:15Looked like Claiborne was the intended receiver.

01:07:17He sure did.

01:07:18That's right.

01:07:20Mike Black in to punt again.

01:07:23And we saw what Irvin Fryer did the last time.

01:07:25Black punted for 41.

01:07:27Fryer returned it for 47.

01:07:31Less than a minute to go in the first half.

01:07:36The ball goes over Fryer's head.

01:07:38It's bouncing at about the 10.

01:07:41And the ball is down at the 11-yard line.

01:07:46Ball is down at the 11-yard line.

01:07:48So the New England Patriots, who have the lead, have the ball.

01:07:5248 seconds left to go in the first half.

01:07:55And don't forget, coming up at halftime,

01:07:57Brent Irv, John Madden in the studio

01:07:59with all the scores and highlights

01:08:01and an interview with Los Angeles Rams head coach

01:08:03John Robinson about the woes of the Rams

01:08:06who've lost four of their last six games.

01:08:09And they have a tough one against the 49ers on Monday night.

01:08:13It's amazing.

01:08:14Most of the people in the Los Angeles area

01:08:17think that the 49ers are going to win.

01:08:19The Patriots are favored by 10 points already.

01:08:23Craig James in the backfield now for the Patriots,

01:08:25and he gets the ball.

01:08:26James over the 15 to the 18-yard line,

01:08:28tackled by Curtis Green.

01:08:30Tackled by Curtis Green.

01:08:32Craig James closing in on that 100-yard mark,

01:08:35or rather the 1,000-yard mark,

01:08:37as he needs 88 yards going into today's ballgame.

01:08:40It was interesting when you talked to Craig James.

01:08:42He said, I don't want to be one of those running backs

01:08:44who gets 1,000 yards but only has an average

01:08:46of maybe 3, 3 1⁄2 yards.

01:08:48I want to keep my average around 5 yards per carry.

01:08:51He's very close to that.

01:08:52He's around 4.7 coming in today.

01:08:54So Craig James wants to earn it

01:08:56with that good percentage on the ground per carry.

01:09:00And there will be no more action in the first half.

01:09:04As the clock runs down, Craig James, Tony Eason,

01:09:07and his New England teammates go off the field.

01:09:10They have a 17 to 3 lead over the Detroit Lions

01:09:13and really a must-ball game for both teams.

01:09:16But the Patriots came out all fired up,

01:09:18controlled the first half,

01:09:19and doing exactly what they wanted to, John.

01:09:21The Patriots were serious about this game, Jim.

01:09:23They know the playoffs are at hand.

01:09:25They know they're tied with Miami and the Jets

01:09:28for the lead in the AFC East.

01:09:29And they know if they win their next three games,

01:09:32they're assured of a playoff spot.

01:09:34So this is serious stuff.

01:09:35Detroit, an outside chance coming in at 7 and 6.

01:09:38They would need help.

01:09:39But they, too, have to win all their three games

01:09:43to have a shot.

01:09:44So the New England Patriots

01:09:45at halftime have a 17 to 3 lead over the Detroit Lions.

01:09:48You stay with us.

01:09:49We'll be back in just a moment.

01:09:52♪♪

01:09:55Welcome back to New York.

01:09:56And, John and Irv, let's take everybody to the scoreboard

01:09:58and get them up to date.

01:09:59In the AFC East, of course,

01:10:00those fans up in Boston, they're wondering.

01:10:02Yes, the Dolphins are winning,

01:10:03and so, too, are the Jets

01:10:04as the Patriots are beating the Lions.

01:10:06On the road, they are a different team, aren't they?

01:10:0817 to 3, Patriots at the half.

01:10:10Now, Chicago and Indianapolis.

01:10:11This will surprise you.

01:10:12Bears had a chance to score

01:10:13inside the 5-yard line.

01:10:14Could not get the job done with Matsui.

01:10:16They settled for a field goal by Butler.

01:10:18Then the Colts came back and kicked one,

01:10:20and now they are tied at 3.

01:10:21Kansas City and Atlanta,

01:10:22and Kansas City is all over the Falcons right now.

01:10:2524-7 second quarter there.

01:10:27Green Bay and Miami.

01:10:28The Dolphins are handling the cold

01:10:30not nearly as bad as it was a week ago.

01:10:32It is 20 to 3.

01:10:33Three touchdown passes by Marino in that game.

01:10:3610 yards, 21 yards, and 16 yards.

01:10:39St. Louis and New Orleans,

01:10:40and the Cardinals showing some life today.

01:10:4221-6 over the New Orleans Saints at the half.

01:10:45Buffalo and the Jets.

01:10:46Here's the Jets' score.

01:10:4721-0 in that game.

01:10:49A 96-yard touchdown pass

01:10:51from Ken O'Brien to Wesley Walker.

01:10:53That is the longest touchdown pass

01:10:55in the history of the Jet franchise.

01:10:57Philadelphia and Washington.

01:10:59It is 5-3.

01:11:00Eagles with the lead.

01:11:01Pretty much a sloppy first half in that game so far.

01:11:04And Cincinnati and Dallas.

01:11:06Hard to believe this one.

01:11:0722-3.

01:11:09The Bengals score all 22 of their points

01:11:11in the first half.

01:11:12Here comes Tony Dorsett.

01:11:14This is one of the funniest-looking fumbles

01:11:17I've ever seen.

01:11:18If that can be funny.

01:11:20But look at how that ball popped back

01:11:22about 15 yards before Danny White picked it up.

01:11:25Here comes the safety guard.

01:11:27Ross Browner, number 79,

01:11:29put the pressure on there

01:11:30and first nailed White in the end zone

01:11:32for the two points.

01:11:33Now watch James Brooks

01:11:35set up a step behind the line of scrimmage.

01:11:37This is a trick play here.

01:11:39Well, what it was,

01:11:40it's a 4-0 Dallas defense.

01:11:42You see Dexter Clinkscale, 47,

01:11:44was chasing Brooks here.

01:11:45He was lined up as a nose tackle

01:11:47against Remington.

01:11:48And, Herb, they were able to get some heat

01:11:50on Esiason on this play.

01:11:51Well, I tell you, they did.

01:11:52On this play with John Dutton on him

01:11:54and Jesse Penn on him,

01:11:55Esiason went out with a knee injury.

01:11:57All right, John, can the Cowboys come back?

Detroit Lions at New England Patriots - 1.Half ( 1985 Week 14 )

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