Golden Globes: The winners list
The 69th annual Golden Globes wrapped up on Sunday without too many bleeped curse words, fumbled speeches - or surprise wins.
As predicted, George Clooney and Meryl Streep picked up a best actor and best actress in a dramatic motion picture Golden Globe, respectively, while "The Artist" nabbed three awards, including best comedic motion picture.
When it came time to hand out the best dramatic motion picture Golden Globe, that one went to Clooney's "The Descendants."
Here's the list of winners:
Best motion picture, drama
"The Descendants"
Best actress in a motion picture, drama
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Best actor in a motion picture drama
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Best motion picture, musical or comedy
"The Artist"
Best actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy
Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"
Best actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Best supporting actress in a motion picture
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Best supporting actor in a motion picture
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Best animated feature film
"The Adventures of Tintin"
Best director – motion picture
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"
Best foreign language film
"A Separation" (Iran)
Best TV series, drama
"Homeland"
Best actor in a TV series, drama
Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"
Best actress in a TV series, drama
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Best TV series, comedy
"Modern Family"
Best actress in a TV series, comedy
Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Best actor in a TV series, comedy
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Best supporting actress in a series, mini-series, or TV movie
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"
Best supporting actor in a series, mini-series or TV movie
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Best TV movie or mini-series
"Downton Abbey"
Best actor in a mini-series or TV movie
Idris Elba, "Luther"
Best actress in a mini-series or TV movie
Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"
Best original score - motion picture
Ludovic Bource, "The Artist"
Best original song - motion picture
"Masterpiece," from "W.E."
Best screenplay - motion picture
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Golden Globes Go to Octavia Spencer, Idris Elba & Morgan Freeman
The 2012 Golden Globes were given out Sunday night in Hollywood. Among the many winners were Octavia Spencer, Idris Elba and Morgan Freeman.
Spencer won best supporting actress for her role as a brassy housekeeper joining other black maids to share stories about life with their white employers in the 1960s Deep South tale “The Help.”
“With regard to domestics in this country, now and then, I think Dr. King said it best: ‘All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.’ And I thank you for recognizing that with our film,” Spencer said.
Idris Elba of “Luther” won the Golden Globe award for actor in a series, miniseries or motion picture made for television.
Morgan Freeman, awarded this year’s Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, is well aware of how influential movies and the film industry can be on its audiences.
“One of the more effective avenues for learning American history is movies. I was always a big reader when I was a kid, but movies -– they’re so impactive,” Freeman told reporters backstage at the Globes on Sunday.
Since Meryl Streep won the Golden Globe for best actress in a drama for her turn as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady,” that means Viola Davis didn’t win for her lead role as Aibileen in “The Help.” That could portend things to come for Davis as some see the Globes as a key step to winning an Oscar. On the other hand noted and super snarky Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke says that the Globes very seldom pick Oscar winners. She gave the best film category as an example.
She also dropped this lug about Tyler Perry and Idris Elba winning for his “Luther” role.
“Considering that Tyler Perry stole Elba’s Alex Cross role, this is small comfort indeed for Idris. Really, Tyler, stick to cross-dressing in your movies and holding Oprah’s handbag the rest of the time.”
Dayuum, like we told you, she’s super snarky and straight crazy, we think. Anyway, she’s no joke. In fact, check out her Deadline blog for the full scoop on who won what at the 2012 Golden Globes.
Nicki Minaj and Bruno Mars to perform at Grammy Awards
Nicki Minaj, Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars are set to perform at next month's Grammy Awards, it has been announced.
Minaj is nominated for four awards at the ceremony, including best new artist and rap album for Pink Friday.
Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson have also been announced as performers at the annual event, which takes place on 12 February this year.
Kanye West has the most nominations with seven, including song of the year for All Of The Lights.
The rapper reached the top five in the UK album chart last year with Watch The Throne, a collaborative album with Jay-Z.
Adele is nominated for six Grammys after her hugely successful year in America, where she scored both the best-selling single and album of 2011.
It is not yet known whether she will perform at the ceremony following surgery on her vocal cords in November.
Bruno Mars, who has previously topped the UK singles chart with Grenade, The Lazy Song and Just The Way You Are, is also nominated for six awards.
Foo Fighters released their seventh album Wasting Light last year.
The band, who were formed by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl in 1994, also headlined Radio 1's Big Weekend in Carlisle last May.
In November, Nicki Minaj was named Billboard's Rising Star 2011.
The 29-year-old is best known for her hits Your Love, Fly and Super Bass, which reached number eight in the UK singles chart last year.
The Grammy Awards 2012 take place in Los Angeles on Sunday 12 February.
First online TV network to hit the region
Jamaican and Caribbean content providers and users are set to benefit from eMedia Interactive’s iVu online TV network, a new media company based in Jamaica, offering ad-supported and premium on-demand streaming of TV shows, plays, movies and webisodes to PCs, tablets, smartphones and TV.
The first of its kind in the Caribbean, the organisation is saying the programming will revolutionise the region’s Internet experience by providing a unique means to access content and earn online. It is scheduled to launched on February 15.
By creating a single global destination for the best in Jamaican and Caribbean content, it will be streamed with geo-targeted advertising (viewers can select their preferred choice of ads), allowing Jamaican and Caribbean countries to reach consumers like never before, at home, in the diaspora and worldwide.
“With a single click, anyone, anywhere in the world, will have instant access to world-class content from the region. eMedia Interactive is very excited about this new initiative because we’re bringing to the Caribbean what Hulu has done for content providers around the world, but with an exclusive focus on regional content,” said Tyrone Wilson, CEO of eMedia Interactive.
“The media landscape has changed tremendously over the last few years. Internet-powered smartphones, tablets and connected TVs have changed the way people consume content. iVu Tv will change entertainment in Jamaica, providing a new way for people to access content,” said Wilson.
“There is no shortage of talented content providers, but currently they do not have the funding to take their projects to the next level for the enjoyment of viewers here and abroad, who can enjoy greater choice and better quality content. Our iVu online TV network is the best way to ensure that their content moves from the Caribbean to the world.”
Available via free and premium subscriptions, the service is underpinned by world-class technology from our partners Brightcove, a leading global provider of cloud-content services.
Targeting a social media and tech-savvy, content-hungry population, iVu TV is set to be the leader in regional online content and is available on-the-go via BlackBerry, Android, iPhone and iPad mobile applications.
Through a unique partnership with Roku Roku streaming player, iVu will also be instantly available on television sets.
“We not only offer content providers a chance to earn from their content online; protection and enforcement of their intellectual property rights online; but also a chance to reach a global market – why should a Cabbie Chronicles or a Contender not also be watched or syndicated in other markets such as the United States and or South Africa? iVu gives them that opportunity,” added Wilson.
Bruce Springsteen Plays Surprise Set At New Jersey Benefit Concert
To someone passing by the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park last night, the sight of fans standing in the freezing cold, desperately pleading with complete strangers for extra tickets probably seemed a little odd. After all, the biggest names on the bill for the Light of Day Parkinson's benefit were David Bromberg, Garland Jeffreys and Southside Johnny. They'd probably be even more shocked to learn that the face value of tickets ranged from $47 to $381, and the show sold out in seconds.
The vintage Bruce Springsteen shirts that some of the fans were wearing would be a good clue as to what was going on. Anyone who lives in New Jersey knows that anytime any artist plays anywhere near Asbury Park rumors start flying that Bruce might show up. Usually he doesn't - but the Light of Day is a different story. He's been to nearly every one since the benefit shows began in 2000, and since the concerts got upgraded from tiny clubs to the Paramount Theater a few years ago, Springsteen's presence has pretty much been a guarantee. Some fans actually travel in from Europe for the show. I imagine that they did not leave disappointed.
The night began with sets by local acts RockNRoll Chorus and Lisa Bouchelle, though I didn't get to my seat until shortly before Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan began to play around 7:45 PM. Like many acts on the bill, D'Urso is a regional artist with a long history of playing on the Jersey Shore, but not a lot of national recognition. His energetic set featured his original composition "Noisy Guitars," which he mashed up with The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated." He wrapped it up with a lovely rendition of the Steve Van Zandt-penned "All I Needed Was You," which Southside Johnny recorded on his 1991 disc Better Days.
Next up was Garland Jeffreys, a New York songwriter who cut a series of acclaimed albums in the 1970s, but never moved beyond a cult audience. His set focused on material from his new LP The King of In Between, though at the end he did break out a great cover of "96 Tears" by Question Mark & The Mysterians. "I have a special guest in from the country," Jeffreys said shortly before wrapping up his thirty minute set. "I'd like to invite him onstage…Mr. Bruce Springsteen!" The crowd instantly jumped from their seats like they'd been electrocuted, and out came a ludicrous number of cellphone cameras. Springsteen added some tasty guitar licks to Jeffreys' most famous song "Wild In The Streets," which was memorably covered by the Circle Jerks in the early 1980s. You could feel the collective sigh of relief from everyone who dropped $381 on a ticket with the (well-placed) hope that Springsteen was going to show up.
John Eddie - yet another longtime Jersey Shore rocker who never quite made it big - had the difficult task of following that up. Eddie started in the 1980s recording Springsteen-like songs (even working with the E Street Band at the behest of his label), but his recent work has shifted more toward country rock. Kid Rock covered his song "Lowlife" on his mega-hit album Rock N Roll Jesus in 2007. "For the first time in my life, my rent was paid on time," Eddie said to the crowd before playing his own rendition of the tune. Eddie deserved that windfall. He's a great performer, and his ode to alcohol "I'm Gonna Drink You Pretty" had the entire crowd laughing and singing along.
Folk icon David Bromberg was originally billed as the headliner of the show, but after the schedule was laid out he wound up playing fourth to last. He had the challenge of doing a quiet acoustic set accompanied only by a poorly-amplified trombone player to a crowd growing increasingly impatient to see Springsteen come back out. He won them over with his incredible fingerpicking, and his mash-up of "Bring It With Me When You Come" with "Wooly Bully."
After some filibustering by by the show's host, Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore, the curtain lifted and Willie Nile and his band began a blistering set. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Nile is another critically acclaimed New York rocker who released a series of well-regarded albums in the early 1980s but never managed to reach a wide audience. His original song "Cell Phones Ringing In The Pockets of the Dead" and a great punk medley of "Blitzkrieg Bop/California Sun/Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" had the entire crowd on their feet, and just when they were about to sit down, his close friend Bruce Springsteen came out to play guitar and sing background vocals on the Nile-original "One Guitar." Nile often comes onstage at the end of Springsteen concerts, so it was nice to see Bruce return the favor.
Southside Johnny's new group Southside Johnny And The Poor Fools were a late addition to the bill. Featuring E Street Band violinist Soozie Tyrell, the group performs stripped-down, acoustic versions of songs from Southside Johnny's vast catalog. Classics like "Love On The Wrong Side Of Town," "This Time It's For Real" and "I Don't Want To Go Home" have been performed countless times in Asbury Park, but they never sounded this quiet and mournful. Tyrell took over on vocals for a cover of the Lucinda Williams tune "Can't Let Go," and they wrapped up with "Trapped Again." Springsteen co-wrote that song, but he stayed backstage during the entire set by his good buddy. Maybe Southside wanted to showcase his new band without the whole thing being overshadowed by Bruce.
The curtain rose for the final act of the night to reveal Bruce Springsteen standing alone with an acoustic guitar. For only the second time in his career, he played "Incident On 57th Street" solo acoustic. A wonderful moment like that often gets swallowed up in a giant arena, but in a tiny theater it was absolutely spellbinding. The crowd sang along to every word, and was clearly savoring every moment of the long, beautiful song. Bruce then went back into the wings and gave the stage to Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. Joe's story is very different from many of the previous night's performers. Yes, he released a series of beloved albums in the early 1980s and was pegged as the "next big thing," only to get dropped from his label and fade into obscurity. Yes, he's a friend of Bruce Springsteen. But he's not from New York or New Jersey. He's from Pittsburgh. (For more on Grushecky, check out this article.)
After bringing out David Bromberg for a blues number, Grushecky kicked off his set with "East Carson Street." It's a wonderfully powerful song that explains why he never left Pittsburgh. "Please understand," he sang. "The roots they run deep. I can feel this town breathe. I can feel its heart beat…It's where I had my best times. Where I want to grow old." It's hard not to admire a guy who never gave up on his rock and roll dreams. He has a full-time job as a special education teacher in Pittsburgh, but he's out playing bars and clubs whenever his schedule allows. About twice a year, however, he gets to play with arguably the single biggest rock star in the country.
The camera phones came back out when Springsteen walked onstage to join Grushecky and the Houserockers for "Darkness On The Edge of Town." This is the seventh time that Springsteen has performed with this group since the last E Street Band tour ended in late 2009, and by this point they have the routine down cold. Bruce and Joe take turns leading the band as they alternate between Springsteen classics and songs that Joe and Bruce wrote together in the 1990s. Special attention was played to Darkness On The Edge of Town, with the group breaking out "Adam Raised A Cain" and the recently resurrected outtake "Save My Love."
The highlight of the entire set may have been the back to back Nebraska songs "Atlantic City" and "Johnny 99." Both are stark, depressing songs about men with "debts no honest man can pay" who are reduced to crime. But they played them both like party anthems, with Springsteen jumping on top of the drum riser, teasing the crowd with false endings and guitar solo after guitar solo. It was absolutely incredible. If the much-fabled electric Nebraska actually exists, they really should release that thing one day. The world needs a Bruce Springsteen Bootleg Series.
Before kicking into "Because The Night," Bruce called Willie Nile, John Eddie and Garland Jeffreys back to the stage. By this point it was well past 1:00 AM and much of the crowd had been there since the show began at 6:30 PM. Nobody seemed to mind in the least, though there must have been some babysitters in New Jersey last night making a killing on overtime pay. Springsteen dove into the crowd to lead a sing-along on "Waiting On A Sunny Day," and after the Grusecky original "Pumping Iron," Max Weinberg ran onstage and took over on drums for the concert's theme song "Light of Day." Every performer from the night came out of the wings to sing along, and they stuck around for a chaotic "Promised Land."
It was now 2:00 AM and that sure seemed like a closer, but Bruce called out for "Twist and Shout" that went for a predictably long time. Big Pussy got in on the fun, walking to the center of the stage and breaking out some dance moves. Even the Bruce hardcores seemed drained at this point, but Springsteen was still a beam of energy. Someone brought out a birthday cake for Light of Day founder (and Parkinson's sufferer) Bob Benjamin, and Bruce shared some hysterical memories of how he met Bob at the opening date of the Darkness On The Edge of Town tour in Buffalo in 1978. "I was stalking you," Benjamin admitted.
The night ended with a sing-along version of "Thunder Road." Like at last year's Light of Day, the crowd managed to almost completely drown out Springsteen. I've heard the song countless times, but it always takes on a special meaning at events like this. The song may be about a man trying to flee a "town full of losers," but last night it was about that town coming together to battle a horrible disease and throw a giant party. It was Springsteen's first appearance of 2012, and hopefully the kick-off of a busy and productive year.
NFL playoffs: San Francisco 49ers upset New Orleans Saints in thriller
San Francisco are one game away from the Super Bowl after edging out New Orleans 36-32 in one of the finest playoff games in NFL history.
The lead changed hands four times in as many minutes at the end of an enthralling encounter, with the 49ers sealing victory with just nine seconds remaining.
Alex Smith masterminded the winning drive before Vernon Davis somehow survived a brutal hit to cling onto the quarterback's 14-yard touchdown pass for the decisive score.
The 49ers - who dominated the sport for much of the late 1980s and early 90s with future Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice - will meet the New York Giantswho beat the Green Pay Packers 37-20
San Francisco's success under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh was not widely predicted but his pragmatic and unspectacular approach could yet prove the old adage that while "offences win games, defences win championships".
Many thought that old cliche was dead in the modern era, which is dominated by high-scoring offences largely reliant on the passing game.
None more so than the Saints, whose quarterback Drew Brees recently smashed Dan Marino's 27-year-old record for the most passing yards in a regular season.
But it was to be another old saying that would really do for the Saints - that turnovers often prove fatal.
The 49ers twice intercepted Brees and forced three fumbles. To put the 49ers' defence and special teams' heroics into perspective, the Saints had only previously suffered five fumbles all season.
Even so, Saints fans will consider themselves unlucky after bravely battling back from a nightmare start which saw them trail 17-0 at the start of the second quarter following Smith's touchdown passes of 49 yards and four yards respectively to Davis and Michael Crabtree.
Brees responded with a pair of touchdown passes of his own, to Jimmy Graham (14 yards) and Marques Colston (25).
Defences then took over, restricting both teams to field goals to leave the 49ers 20-14 ahead with little more than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Then the fireworks really began.
The diminutive but eel-like Darren Sproles caught a 44-yard pass from Brees to level things up before the point-after gave the visiting Saints the lead for the first time.
Not to be outdone, Smith restored the Niners' lead with a cleverly designed and perfectly executed 28-yard touchdown run down the left sideline.
But still the Saints were not done. Graham caught another long pass from Brees, evaded the 49ers' lunging secondary and completed a 66-yard touchdown to silence the majority in the Candlestick Park crowd.
A successful two-point conversion then meant the Saints, with only 1.37 remaining, led 32-29.
And so began the drive which will cement Smith - who has until now largely struggled to cope with the pressure of being the number one pick in the 2005 draft - a place in 49ers history alongside Montana and Young.
Down to one timeout and starting from his own 15 yard line, he marched his team down the field in one last, do-or-die, effort.
Having successfully got into David Akers' field goal range, most assumed the 49ers would play conservatively, kick the three points, and take the game into overtime.
But Smith seized the day and his accurate bullet pass found Davis to the delight of the Red and Gold army and set up a meeting with either the Packers or Giants next Sunday.
The first AFC divisional playoff, however, was far less dramatic as the New England Patriots blitzed the Denver Broncos 45-10.
In a game billed as the battle of the quarterbacks - the classical style of consistently brilliant Tom Brady against the young upstart Tim Tebow - the old master firmly put on a masterclass for the rookie.
Brady, who tied a playoff record with six touchdown passes, including three to one of the standout players of the season tight end Rob Gronkowski, was practically perfect.
Meanwhile Tebow, famed for his devout faith and "Tebowing" celebrations in which he kneels down to pray, simply could not compete.
He completed only nine passes from 26 attempts, for just 136 yards, and will know that he needs to do a lot more in future seasons to win over critics yet to be convinced of credentials to be an elite quarterback.
With homefield advantage guaranteed throughout the playoffs, courtesy of their outstanding regular season record, the Patriots will next Sunday welcome to Foxborough the Baltimore Ravens.
BBC
Duncan helps Spurs improve to 9-0 at home
Tim Duncan spent the summer trying to improve his jump shots.
It showed Sunday night as the two-time MVP and 13-time All-Star scored 24 points, many on jumpers, to lead the Spurs to a 102-91 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, keeping the Spurs perfect at home.
"Especially this summer, I worked on it a lot trying to extend my range a little bit," Duncan said. "Be a little more consistent. It's been up and down so far but great tonight."
Tony Parker had 17 points and nine assists for the Spurs, who have won three straight and improved to 9-0 at home - their best opening since they won their first 13 at home to begin the 2007-08 season. San Antonio is also 0-4 on the road.
DeJuan Blair added 14 points and rookie Kawhi Leonard had 12 for San Antonio.
"It was a good night for us," Duncan said. "We made some shots down the stretch for us, which was big. Tony's been great this season, especially in the fourth quarter for us."
Marcin Gortat had 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead Phoenix. Markieff Morris added 14 points, Jared Dudley had 12 points, and Shannon Brown had 10 as the Suns, beginning a five-game road trip, have lost four straight.
Suns veterans Steve Nash and Grant Hill returned after missing Friday's loss to New Jersey. Nash was out with a right quadriceps contusion and Hill missed the game with a right quadriceps tendon strain. Nash had 20 points and 10 assists, while Hill had just four points.
After the Suns closed what had been a 19-point game in the first half to five in the fourth quarter, San Antonio scored six straight, capped by Duncan's 17-foot jumper. to remain in control.
One spot that was consistent for much of the game was the Spurs' defense, which has been a sore spot for coach Gregg Popovich at times this season. San Antonio entered the game ranked ranked 26th in opponents' field goal percentage. Duncan sees things improving, though.
"It's progressing," Duncan said. "Yeah, it's progressing. It's been way too high for the first couple of games of the season here. It's been up and down. We're not at the consistency where we need to be at. All in all we're getting there. It's a work in progress. We know it's a long season. We use the season to get where we want to be. But defensively we have to be a lot better."
Phoenix's problems were easy to pinpoint: the second quarter, when San Antonio held the Suns to 6-of-23 shooting in building a 19-point lead.
"You just can't spot them 19, especially playing at home," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "It was an uphill battle from there. We gave ourselves an opportunity to make it interesting at the end but, you know, once again, we dug a hole and spent a whole lot of time trying to dig ourselves out of it."
Phoenix finished 38 of 91 from the field, while the Spurs hit 40 of 81 shots.
"We just didn't quit," Hill said. "We fought hard. The problem was we gave them a big lead. When you're down 19 against a good team, you spend so much energy trying to get back in the game. We fought hard, we're playing hard, we're not playing to our fullest potential. But we're certainly playing hard. There's never any quit."
NFL playoffs: New York Giants beat sloppy Green Bay Packers
The New York Giants took advantage of a sloppy performance by the Green Bay Packers to spring a major upset in the final game of the divisional playoffs with a 37-20 victory.
As seen in the other three games, an inability to avoid turnovers cost the Packers dear, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers throwing an interception and losing one of three fumbles on an error-strewn night.
The Giants' offence was praised during the run-up to the game, but their defence was equally hot on a wintry evening at Lambeau Field where the partisan home fans were largely silenced from the start.
After trading field goals, Giants' quarterback Eli Manning found Hakeem Nicks who raced into the endzone for a 66-yard touchdown.
Still, few gave the Giants much chance though. While they only sneaked into the playoffs at the last minute, the Packers cruised through the regular season seemingly with plenty to spare.
Courtesy of having one of the two best records in the NFC, the defending Super Bowl champions even had an extra week off to rest their aching limbs and prepare themselves tactically for the Giants.
But if anything the Packers seemed to have lost momentum and looked ring-rusty as the Giants soon announced their presence.
Sloppy defending during the final play of the first half resulted in Eli Manning's speculative Hail Mary pass being caught for a touchdown by Hakeem Nicks as the Giants went into the break with a 20-10 lead.
The Packers gave themselves hope with a field goal in the third quarter, but the Giants were simply too strong in the fourth with Mario Manningham (four-yard touchdown reception) and Brandon Jacobs (14-yard touchdown run) running up the score either side of a 16-yard touchdown catch by Donald Driver.
The Giants will now travel to San Francisco for the NFC Championship game on 22 January, knowing that a Super Bowl appearance against either New England or Baltimore is now tantalisingly within their grasp. The 49ers on Saturday edged New Orleans in one of the finest postseason games in NFL history.
Earlier, Baltimore secured an AFC Championship showdown against New England after their mean defence helped them to a 20-13 victory over Houston.
The Ravens fully capitalised on a pair of Texans turnovers to race into an early 17-3 lead, courtesy of Joe Flacco's touchdown passes to Kris Williams (one yard) and Anquan Boldin (10 yards).
The visiting Texans - their offence fighting to make themselves heard against a deafening Ravens crowd - fought back in the second quarter through a one-yard touchdown run from star running back Arian Foster.
Defences dominated the third quarter and were again on top at the start of the fourth until Billy Cundiff's 44-yard field goal opened Baltimore's lead to seven points.
There was enough time for the Texans to get a tying touchdown though, but their rookie quarterback TJ Yates's deep pass was snaffled by future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed.
It was Yates's third interception of the game, and Houston's fourth turnover, and ultimately those errors proved decisive.
The Ravens will now travel to New England, who thrashed Denver 45-10 in Saturday's other AFC divisional playoff game, with a place in the Super Bowl up for grabs.
Tyler Butterfield Wins In Argentina
Another big performance from Bermuda’s Tyler Butterfield saw him claim the win in yesterday’s [Jan.15] 2012 La Paz PATCO Triathlon Pan American Elite Men Championship in Argentina.
Butterfield topped an international field of competitors from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, United States, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guam, Columbia, Panama, Barbados and more to win the title.
He overcame a 46-second deficit out of the swim, broke away to a minute lead on the bike and then held fast against a blazing run by Canada’s Brent McMahon to take top honors in Argentina.
Butterfield’s 19:43 swim was 46-48 seconds slower than Canada’s Brent McMahon and Brian Lamar of the USA, an average of 30 seconds slower than a large pack that included Canada’s Kyle Jones, Jason Wilson of Barbardos, Ben Collins of the USA and Crisanto Grajales of Mexico.
Butterfield then slashed through the field with a race-best 57:52 bike that was between 90 seconds and 2 minutes faster than his toughest competitors.
After a slower-than-average 37 seconds T2 transition, Butterfield had a 1:08 advantage on the closest of the chase group – and 1:16 on McMahon, the most dangerous runner in the field. Butterfield kept a lid on the race with a 5th-best 34:52 10k run which surrendered just 44 seconds to McMahon.
When Butterfield hit the finish tape, his 1:53:36 time was 31 seconds better than runner-up McMahon and 54 seconds better than third place Kyle Jones of Canada.
Bermuda’s Flora Duffy was also in the field, and finished a strong 12th in the Women’s Elite Race. Duffy recorded an overall time of 2:13:35, she completed the Swim Course in 19:37, she then finished the 1:06:25 and then completed the Run Course clocking 45:23.
Lisa Blackburn Breaks Record…Twice
Bermudian swimmer Lisa Blackburn continues her record setting ways, breaking the Bermuda 200m Breaststroke record twice in a recent meet in Texas.
Competing in the preliminaries of Women’s 200m Breaststroke on Day One of the USA Swimming Grand Prix Series, Ms Blackburn broke the Bermuda National Record when she clocked 2:38.70. This broke her own record she set in 2011 during the Central American and Caribbean Championships in Puerto Rico.
Ms Blackburn’s time in the Final proceeded to break the record she just set, this time lowering the record to 2:38.40.