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Big Day For Sweeney, Flamers Roll 55-7
The Flamers retaining their undefeated mark of what is now 13-0 is overshadowed at this point, as WR Nelly Sweeney broke not one, but TWO NFL records Sunday against the Patriots. Sweeney went to nearly 100 yards receiving for the day on the game's opening drive alone. She caught two passes, including a 63-yd TD pass from QB Steve Marcucci, to give her a total of 85 yards and a TD only 2:00 into the game. The Flamers continued to surge through the first half, going to the locker room with a 31-0 lead. During the first half, Sweeney caught for another 131 yards, totaling 216 for the game, which was not only enough to make Nelly Sweeney the new holder of the NFL record for receiving yards in a season (passing Jerry Rice who had 1,848 in 1995), it was also exactly enough to make her the first and only receiver to gain 2,000 yards in a season. She also scored her 2nd TD of the game. Sweeney in the second half caught for 138 yards and yet another TD, giving her 354 for the game. This was enough to help Sweeney break the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game, passing Willie Anderson of the LA Rams. Anderson had received for 336 vs. New Orleans on November 26, 1989, ironically exactly 11 years prior to Sweeney breaking his record. Not to be overshadowed, the running game performed well also, as RB Harold Currier ran 18 times for 78 yards, and 4 TDs. This increased Currier's total in rushing touchdowns, with 17 for the season, by far the most in the NFL. QB Steve Marcucci threw 2 interceptions, but threw for 432 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game. The Flamers also had a defensive turnover, when CB Lauren Byrne picked off a Drew Bledsoe pass up the middle, returning it 13 yards. They built up a 55-0 lead late in the 4th quarter, in hopes of their 3rd shutout of the season, until the Patriots moved a late drive to the end zone capped off by a Patriots RB Lamont Warren 12-yd TD run with merely 2:34 left in the game. Nelly Sweeney was the game's MVP, her 4th time winning the award.