ESPN analyst and sportscaster Chris Berman brought up the old saying “that’s why they play the game” at half time during the New England Patriots Buffalo Bills Monday night showdown at Gillette Stadium. The Bills were ahead and in control for the entire game, aside from the last portion of the fourth quarter when Tom Brady connected with TE Ben Watson for two touchdowns.  The 12 point swing resulted in a New England 25-24 victory.  With two minutes left on the clock and all time outs still available, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick decided for special teams to kick off deep with hopes that the defense would take care of business. Special teams decided to bring it back earlier than expected, stripping the ball and recovering Leodis McKelvin’s fumble to set up the go-ahead TD. Tom Brady in his first game since week 1 of last season completed 39 passes for 378 yards.  Randy Moss came up with 141 yards from 12 grabs, outplaying Buffalo’s newly acquired wide-out Terrell Owens (held to 46 yards).  “I felt good all night, we were just off. The plays we needed to make – fourth downs we missed, third downs we missed, two chances in the red area, the interception – those things really get you behind the 8-ball,” said Brady. “We recovered with just a few seconds left. Sometimes it happens like that. It’s a pretty special victory.” The Pats will have the week to correct their mistakes and look forward to their Sunday game against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. New England Patriots tickets are now available!

Week 1 surely met all expectations with upsets in some areas and pure dominance in others.  Monday nights Marquee match-ups both showed as nothing short of thrilling, knowing the under dogs fought to the end but the favorites stood on top when the final horn sounded.  Check for all NFL week 1 scores below. Thursday, September 10, 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers 13, Tennessee Titans 10 – Jedd Reed knocked one through the up rights from 33 yards away to lift Pittsburgh past the Titans in the NFL’s initial 2009 contest. Sunday, September 13, 2009 Indianapolis Colts 14, Jacksonville Jaguars 12 – Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning earned 301 passing yards and a TD in his regular season debut. Atlanta Falcons 19, Miami Dolphins 7 – Miami avoided the shut out with a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia Eagles 38, Carolina Panthers 10 – The Eagles put up and impressive 28 points in the second quarter to coast in this one.  Despite the victory, QB Donovan McNabb is injured with a fractured rib and remains day to day. New York Jets 24, Houston Texans 7 – Jets Quarterback March Sanchez notched his first career win as his defense shut out the Texans in the first three quarters of play. New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 27 – New Orleans scored 28 first half points in this highly offensive battle at the Superdome.  Denver Broncos 12, Cincinnati Bengals 7 – Broncos wide-out Brandon Stokley grabbed a deflected pass for 87 yards with 17 seconds left, scoring the final game changing touchdown. Minnesota Vikings 34, Cleveland Browns 20 - RB Adrian Peterson scored three touchdowns from his 180 yards, making Brett Favre’s job as Minnesota’s quarterback just a little easier. Baltimore Ravens 38, Kansas City Chiefs 24 – The Ravens racked up 21 fourth quarter points to win in convincing fashion. Dallas Cowboys 34, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21 – Quarterback Tony Romo showed his experience yesterday with the Cowboys, throwing for 353 yards and three touchdowns. New York Giants 23, Washington Redskins 17 – Washington was able to make up some ground in the fourth with a touchdown, but failed to recover the onside kick in the final minutes. San Francisco 49ers 20, Arizona Cardinals 16 – The Cardinals had 12 penalties for 82 yards, which definitely served as a major factor regarding this outcome. Seattle Seahawks 28, St. Louis Rams 0 – Seattle’s offense took care of business in the second and third quarters as their defense completely shut down all Rams scoring attempts. Green Bay Packers 21, Chicago Bears 15 – Green Bay came up with the win after scoring 11 fourth quarter points.  Monday, September 14, 2009 New England Patriots 25, Buffalo Bills 24 – Down by 11 with 2:10 minutes remaining, Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady led his team back with two touchdown passes to steal the game from Buffalo. San Diego Chargers 24, Oakland Raiders 20 – Philip Rivers threw for a total of 252 yards and one touchdown, charging San Diego past Oakland in the fourth quarter.

Tonight’s Red Sox, Rays game didn’t get far.  The weather forced a rain out and the game will start fresh on Sunday 9/13 at 12 noon. Sunday’s originally scheduled game at 1:35pm has been moved to 5pm.  Tickets for 9/11 will be honored at the first game on Sunday at noon. Tickets for the 9/13 game at 1:35pm will be honored at the 5pm game on Sunday.  Red Sox tickets are still available for both games on Sunday.

Jeff Reed was able to find the uprights and kick it right through to seal the 13-10 Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Tennessee Titans with 4:32 OT minutes passed at Heinz Field.  The NFL opening match up served as quite the defensive battle, knowing both teams were held to zero points in the first and third quarters. The Titans were really hammering down on Pittsburgh’s running game until Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger came up with another strategy: find Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward open downfield.  Big Ben wound up throwing for 363 yards with 33 of 43 passes completed.  Nine of those connections went to Holmes who piled up 131 yards.  Ward was right behind with 103 yards gained on eight receptions. Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher found the game a tough way for his squad to start their regular season.  “We had chances and opportunities but missed a field goal, had a field goal blocked,” said Fisher. “I believe we’ve got a good football team in that locker room and we’re going to bounce back.”  Don’t miss out on an NFL jam packed Sunday, along with a Bills vs. Patriots 7:00 pm Monday game followed by a 10:15 Chargers vs. Raiders showdown. All NFL Regular season tickets are available now!

Red Sox manager Terry Francona had Victor Martinez on the bench until bottom of the seventh inning last night against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway.  Called in to pinch hit in a 4-4 tie-game situation; Martinez hit a drive to left center for a double with the bases loaded to provide Boston with the lift they needed to notch the win. Seemed like a good decision after all. “I think he enjoys that situation, for sure,” said Francona. ”He’d rather have been starting, but it’s nice that on nights he hasn’t started, he’s sitting there ready to hit.” The bats were on all night for the Red Sox, as Pedroia, Youkilis, Ortiz, Bay and Varitek all showcased multi-hit games. Paul Byrd threw for five innings to start for Boston and gave up two runs on six hits, leaving the win for Billy Wagner to snag in the seventh.  In his first career AL win Wagner struck out two in his one inning of work.  Papelbon came to help finish the bottom of the eighth and took control again in the ninth. “They were turning it up a little bit, so we had to go out there and battle,” said Wagner. We had some big hits when we needed them to give us a lead, and the bullpen held on and did what they were supposed to do.” The Sox will now look to start their three-game weekend match up with the Tampa Bay Rays, a team that was just swept by the AL East leading New York Yankees.  John Lester (12-7) will get the nod to start on the hill tomorrow against Tampa Bay’s James Shields (9-10). Purchase your Boston Red Sox tickets right here with us at AceTicket.com

Dustin Pedroia led the derby for the Boston Red Sox with two home runs and three RBI’s as they went on to demolish the Orioles 10-0 last night at Fenway Park.  After a dismal Labor day showing in regards to Boston’s offense, Kevin Youkilis, Alex Gonzalez, JD Drew, and David Ortiz all decided to take their drivers out against entire Baltimore pitching staff yesterday as well.  Big Papi’s center field shot ranked him tied with Frank Thomas for the most home runs all-time produced by a designated hitter. It didn’t seem to be on his mind during the game, since he just found out by reporters during post-game interviews.  “I did? Ortiz Asked. “Wow. That’s a good accomplishment. Frank Thomas is a 500-home-run hitter, so to be tied with him, that’s special.” Ortiz has belted 312 career total homers and 269 as a DH. Clay Buchholz never gave the Orioles a chance to come back (let alone score a run), allowing just three hits and one walk in his seven innings of work.  Michael Bowden came in from the bullpen and shut the door in the eighth and ninth.  “They had to respect every pitch that he could throw for strikes,” said manager Terry Francona on Buchholz. “When he pitches like that, and I’m not trying to get ahead of myself, it’s amazing how good the organization feels about the future. You look at him out there putting up zeroes, and the way he can do it, it’s very exciting.” The Red Sox are now two games up on the Wild Card over the Texas Rangers heading into tonight’s game against Baltimore.  With just over twenty games left in the regular season, Boston will look to keep that Wild Card lead and attempt to make up some ground in the AL East Standings. Boston Red Sox tickets are still available!

Red Sox ace pitcher Josh Beckett was really hitting his spots yesterday against the Chicago White Sox, throwing for six scoreless innings with one blow-up three run block early in the 3rd.  Boston scored the initial run in the 1st inning but were shut out for the rest of the game, resulting in a 5-1 White Sox victory.  Even though Beckett looked solid from the mound he still had a very displeased look after the game.  “I got outpitched,” said Beckett. “We need to win ballgames right now. That’s what everybody in this room gets paid to do. We didn’t win today.” The man who outpitched him (Mark Buehrle) threw for seven innings as well, giving up the single Red Sox run in the first. Jacoby Ellsbury decided to come to work on labor day, as he was the only player in a Boston uniform to produce more than one hit along with scoring their only run of the game.  “I’m not going to say he wasn’t good, he was very good,” said Red Sox third basemen Mike Lowell on Buehrle’s outing. “But you almost go back saying, ‘Man I should have hit that pitch, and that pitch,’ because velocity is not a part of his game. It’s back and forth and location. Under those circumstances, I think he did a very good job. You just don’t feel like you got dominated, because you’re not blown away.” Just 2 1/2 games up on the Wild Card ahead the Texas Rangers, Boston will move on to host the Baltimore Orioles for two games before the Tampa Bay Rays come to town for the weekend. Boston Red Sox tickets are still available!

Clay Buchholz in his six innings pitched last night gave up just three runs with three strike outs as the Boston Red Sox out-lasted the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 at Tropicana Field.  The crucial rubber-match victory put the Sox three games ahead of the Texas Rangers in the Wild Card standings and six games above Tampa Bay.  “It was really good to get a win here tonight,” said Kevin Youkilis. “Coming in here this time of year against a team that’s in the Wild Card race with you, you’ve just got to come in and win the series, and we did a good job of that tonight. Youkilis, one of the leading offensive contributors for Boston hit 3-for-5 yesterday with an RBI.  Victor Martinez and Jason Bay picked up the rest of the slack, combining for four hits and three RBI’s.  “I like our spot right now,” said Bay. “There’s still a whole month of baseball left. Obviously you get close to the end, and each game is magnified. Better to be on top than looking up.” The Sox are currently making their way to the Windy City for a series against the Chicago White Sox.  Paul Byrd is next up on the pitching rotation for Boston.  Game time is scheduled for 8:11 pm Boston Red Sox tickets are now available!

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has recently stated that Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick will be eligible to play by the third week of the 2009 NFL regular season.  “Hopefully we can have a success story here, which would be good for society in general,” said Goodell. “He’s realistic about the challenges ahead, and anxious to play football.” The Eagles are set to match up with the New York Jets for their last preseason game before they open up the regular season in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers on September 13th.  Vick will be able to officially take the field on September 20th when his team hosts the New Orleans Saints in Philadelphia. Get your Philadelphia Eagles tickets here at AceTicket.com!

Longtime stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard is planning a 2010 U.S. “Stripped Too” tour, and will be performing around every major city in the U.S. starting January 16th at the Madison Garden.  (more)