NFL Wild Card Week Thread

[kingfc22]

Sounds like Joe Webb may possibly be at QB today for the Vikings.

[mckerney]

And I'm actually a bit excited for the game tonight now!

[MIJB#19]

And I'm actually a bit excited for the game tonight now!When I heard the news on Webb, first thing I thought: mckerney is going to be pretty happy. ;)

[Matthean]

At least the Vikings are able to see something isn't working and trying to change. Unlike, you know, the Lions.

[stevew]

The thing not working is Ponder's elbow

[stevew]

I can't think of a reason I'd watch a Bengals/Texans game.

[Desnudo]

I can't think of a reason I'd watch a Bengals/Texans game.

So far the game is meeting that expectation

[rowech]

Thank you Matt Schaub!

[stevew]

Cincy has -8 passing yards midway thru the 2nd

[rowech]

Cincy has -8 passing yards midway thru the 2nd

Good. They were at -17.

[mckerney]

Good. They were at -17.

They still are at -17, it's Dalton that has -8.

[stevew]

I may not be accounting for yards lost on Sacks

[cougarfreak]

Please leave Skuta in.

[albionmoonlight]

Houston will not be able to get away with settling for field goals against New England or Denver.

[Abe Sargent]

This has been teh sloppiest playoff game i can recall with missed passes, and a few missed tackles of significance, and players running out of bounds two or three yards away from teh defender pressuring them to avoid the hit and another four or five yards, and more. What a joke this game has been.

[Matthean]

Houston will not be able to get away with settling for field goals against New England or Denver.

Neither Houston or Cincinnati wins next week.

[rowech]

Neither Houston or Cincinnati wins next week.

Will either of them win this week?

[BillJasper]

Ponder is inactive.

[TLK]

No Ponder....what the hell?

[whomario]

no matter how bad one thinks Ponder is, this can´t be good for the Vikings. Yeah he´s a flawed player but he´s played well enough not to cost them too often and is the player that this offense and staff has worked with for the whole season, now you suddenly have to insert a QB who hasn´t played all year. Someone about whome the best thing to say might be that he has shown some exciting skills as a runner ...

[cougarfreak]

Jesus, I thought Marvin Lewis finally got smart and took Tate off of special teams.

[Bigsmooth]

He can make all the crap throws Ponder can make. Everything is off bootleg and play action and Webb should bring an interesting element on the edge. That said, Ponder is clearly a better player and this game has the look of a blowout.

[rowech]

Jesus, I thought Marvin Lewis finally got smart and took Tate off of special teams.

I don't know where he got his rep. I like Marvin...I really do but they can't keep him after this. Everytime they make the playoffs they are no shows.

[mckerney]

Someone about whome the best thing to say might be that he has shown some exciting skills as a runner ...

I'd say the same thing is true for Ponder.

Webb may not give the Vikings much of a chance to win, but at least it's better than seeing Ponder out on the field again.

[mckerney]

Joe Webb will be the 1st QB in NFL history to start a postseason game after not attempting a single pass all season

[Logan]

I'm excited that Webb will get a shot tonight. Saw on Twitter that the line shifted from GB -7.5 to -10.5 with the news. I'd be tempted to take the points.

Jesus, I thought Marvin Lewis finally got smart and took Tate off of special teams.

I think the dumbest part of that play was how Tate didn't even just try to fall on the ball with a HOU defender a couple yards away. Instead, he picked it up on the run and took off when he wasn't going to gain more than a yard anyway. So dumb.

[frnk55]

And the crowd goes silent........

[stevew]

Being up by 6 points is one of the worst places to be as a sports fan. I'd almost rather be up by 3 so that the opposing coach has the option of settling for a FG to tie.

[Buccaneer]

Good. I didn't want the Colts or the Ravens coming to Foxboro.

[Abe Sargent]

How do you not lateral on that play hot dog?

[rowech]

Game was won by the Texans lines on both sides of the ball.

[cougarfreak]

Game was won by the Texans lines on both sides of the ball.

I thought the Bengals run blocking was very good. Houston's offensive game planning took Bengals pass rush out of the game.

[Racer]

Good. I didn't want the Colts or the Ravens coming to Foxboro.

Me neither. If the Colts are able to beat the Ravens tomorrow, I don't want to have to watch them probably get blown out next week (though they could get blown out by the Broncos too).

[Jas_lov]

NBC's pregame overhype of Joe Webb is ridiculous. How are the Packers possibly going to stop a guy who hasn't thrown a pass all year? But he can run past the line of scrimmage! The Vikings will have too many troubles stopping Rodgers, who is playing at home and finally has all 4 of his top WRs playing at the same time but nothing was mentioned about that.

[IlliniCub]

It's pretty hilarious...apparently not playing all year makes you a Hall of Famer

[Matthean]

Packers trying hard to make him one.

[bulletsponge]

whoa! i aint seen ponder try something that stupid before

[kingfc22]

That was nearly a disaster

[Abe Sargent]

Webb, what was that?

[mckerney]

Whoever is telling Vikings QBs to try to throw the ball away like that when they're being sacked needs to stop it.

[Radii]

Webb, what was that?

It was his best Brett Favre impression (or, if you want to go more negatively, his best Jake Delhomme)

[mckerney]

whoa! i aint seen ponder try something that stupid before

He did nearly the exact same thing last week on the play he got hurt.

[Lathum]

nice, first quarter over bet wins

[mckerney]

Awesome, we get two end of quarter breaks now. Couldn't you have just scored on the next okay from the one Green Bay?

[Abe Sargent]

It was his best Brett Favre impression (or, if you want to go more negatively, his best Jake Delhomme)

You k now, i was thinking the exact same thing when i saw it, i thought in my head, that's the wrong way to copy Favre!

[Lathum]

Clay Mathews gets the sack, lol, the Webb chucks it up again

[Danny]

This game is over

[Matthean]

And I'm actually a bit excited for the game tonight now!

Be careful of what you wish for.

[mckerney]

Be careful of what you wish for.

Still better than seeing Ponder out there.

[Matthean]

Still better than seeing Ponder out there.

Ponder's passing game might not go far, but it goes forward.

[Lathum]

Still better than seeing Ponder out there.

I admittedly haven't watched much Viking football, but from what I have seen Webb isn't a guy who would get them to 9 wins and the playoffs.

[Lathum]

Is it just me or does Pitbull look like the biggest douche in the world?

[IlliniCub]

So by NBC's pre game logic every play off team should start their 2nd or 3rd string qb in the playoffs

[Abe Sargent]

So by NBC's pre game logic every play off team should start their 2nd or 3rd string qb in the playoffs

True, they wrer talking more about how it would throw the GB defense than throw the Vikings offense.

[rowech]

I thought the Bengals run blocking was very good. Houston's offensive game planning took Bengals pass rush out of the game.

Agreed...pass blocking was horrible. Outcoached and outplayed. Amazing they were one non overthrown Dalton pass from likely taking the lead with 3 minutes left.

What a waste of a year. Six months wasted on the Reds and three additional months wasted on the Bengals.

[Jas_lov]

I wish McCarthy would stop that FB dive to Kuhn. Rodgers should be touching the ball more than Kuhn, I don't care if you're on the one inch line. Maybe they can stop em here and get the ball back. Webb won't do much in the 2 minute drill.

[Desnudo]

Does anyone else find it funny that the superstitious bud light commercial features the Raiders. Holding the labels out is working great guys!

[Matthean]

2-7 for 14 yards and two sacks for -16 yards. Ponder might be bad, but I think he could match Webb's 41 total yards of offense so far.

[Desnudo]

Minnesota can still cover the spread with a good 2nd half

[SnowMan]

Does anyone else find it funny that the superstitious bud light commercial features the Raiders. Holding the labels out is working great guys!


Isn't Janikowski s pro bowler again? It's totally working!

[Desnudo]

Webb throws a nice long ball if someone was in the vicinity

[Lathum]

lol at Collinsworth basically crushing all the Vikings fans who were screaming for Webb all year

[Matthean]

Webb throws a nice long ball if someone was in the same zip code

Fixed. :D

[Jas_lov]

They were talking about him like he was RG3 or Kapernick and he hadn't played all year. You can't run every play and match the Packers. GB gets the ball to start the 2nd half and can make this a blowout with one more good TD drive. Rodgers finally has his top 4 WRs back and at least Collinsworth pointed out how hard that will be for teams to stop.

[mckerney]

lol at Collinsworth basically crushing all the Vikings fans who were screaming for Webb all year

Mostly a matter of never wanting to see Ponder on the field for the Vikings never again. Hopefully the front office will finally wake up and do something about the QB position, something that hasn't happened in the play decade.

[kingfc22]

So who is Webb's backup tonight? He can't be any worse than what they are getting right now from Webb via the passing game.

[BillJasper]

Webb sucks. I bet the Vikings players are wishing Ponder was on the field at this point.

[sovereignstar v2]

So who is Webb's backup tonight? He can't be any worse than what they are getting right now from Webb via the passing game.

Darren Sharper???

[Scoobz0202]

So who is Webb's backup tonight? He can't be any worse than what they are getting right now from Webb via the passing game.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson

[stevew]

Is it just me or does Pitbull look like the biggest douche in the world?

As an "entertainer" I fucking hate him with the fire of 1000000 suns

[kingfc22]

McLeod Bethel-Thompson

Yea, they are screwed

[Danny]

McLeod Bethel-Thompson

There can be only one

[stevew]

Dola-
Pitbull and Flo Rida need to get on the same helicopter.

[MIJB#19]

GB at SF in the playoffs, that sounds like a 90's playoff game!

[Danny]

So pitbull can blow his whistle?

[Lathum]

McLeod Bethel-Thompson

Who?

I consider myself a pretty avid college fan and have never heard of this guy

[Danny]

And I hadn't either I thought the post was a joke at first

[mckerney]

Who?

I consider myself a pretty avid college fan and have never heard of this guy

He threw like 6 passes in his college career at Portland State or something.

[stevew]

McLeod Bethel-Thompson

Sounds like a for profit online school.

[mckerney]

College Stats

http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/players.asp?id=142360

[Desnudo]

McLeod Bethel-Thompson

Is that the famous woman studies professor?

[Matthean]

College Stats

http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/players.asp?id=142360

I think I'm offended that somebody is making NFL money with those being his college stats.

[Abe Sargent]

College Stats

http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/players.asp?id=142360

this guy is a pro athlete?



EDIT: I mean hey, you find players where you find players, but really?

[mckerney]

I think I'm offended that somebody is making NFL money with those being his college stats.

His senior season he only had 33 more yards than I did in mine.


And I had 2 fewer turnovers...

[Abe Sargent]

Today is the playoffs and these games SUCKED I want my money back. I don;t want to see the Vikings implode anymore than I want to see teh lsat man standing from the Ugly Bowl earlier today.

[sovereignstar v2]

Yeah, I bet you played Division I football.

[mckerney]

this guy is a pro athlete?



EDIT: I mean hey, you find players where you find players, but really?

Like I said, outside of getting Favre for a year the Vikings front office has ignored the QB position for the past decade.

[BillJasper]

Party's over for the Vikings.

[mckerney]

Yeah, I bet you played Division I football.

I didn't, but he still only gained 33 more yards...

[Danny]

He beat out sage rosenfels for the #3 job in preseason

[Jas_lov]

GB at SF in the playoffs, that sounds like a 90's playoff game!

Pretty safe to say now that the Vikings are done so now we can talk about what will be the matchup of the week next week. I think GB-SF are the best teams in the NFC so the winner will probably be the NFC Champion. Rodgers looks on his game with Jennings, Cobb, Jordy, and Nelson finally back healthy. Unlike Webb, Kapernick can actually pass so the GB defense will have its hands full. I think it'll be a shootout.

[Logan]

I'm excited that Webb will get a shot tonight.

...for comedy.

Saw on Twitter that the line shifted from GB -7.5 to -10.5 with the news. I'd be tempted to take the points.

Thankfully I didn't.

[Lathum]

Pretty safe to say now that the Vikings are done so now we can talk about what will be the matchup of the week next week. I think GB-SF are the best teams in the NFC so the winner will probably be the NFC Champion. Rodgers looks on his game with Jennings, Cobb, Jordy, and Nelson finally back healthy. Unlike Webb, Kapernick can actually pass so the GB defense will have its hands full. I think it'll be a shootout.

I wouldn't get ahead of yourself, there is still time for Ryan Grant to fumble.

[BillJasper]

Webb will put up a couple hundred passing yards now against softer coverages and Vikings fans will use it as proof that he is better than Ponder and should be starting.

[Danny]

He only threw for 8 more touchdowns than I did and I didn't even have a football team at my school

[mckerney]

He beat out sage rosenfels for the #3 job in preseason

I think that was mostly Speilman not wanting there to be any kind of capable backup so there would be no choice but to keep Ponder in.

[kingfc22]

Somebody posted this on my fb feed:

Webb = BlackTebow

[mckerney]

Webb will put up a couple hundred passing yards now against softer coverages and Vikings fans will use it as proof that he is better than Ponder and should be starting.

No QB on this team should be starting.

[BillJasper]

No QB on this team should be starting.

Obviously there's something to Ponder. He starts and Peterson runs for over four hundred yards against the Packers, Webb starts and Peterson is bottled up all night long.

[Logan]

The second half ratings for this game are going to be atrocious. NBC is going to regret taking this over SEA-WAS.

[mckerney]

His senior season he only had 33 more yards than I did in mine.


And I had 2 fewer turnovers...

Ah, I take that back after realizing I was looking at the wrong stat column on my phone. Make that 156 more yards than me.

I'm still pretty close.

[mckerney]

Obviously there's something to Ponder. He starts and Peterson runs for over four hundred yards against the Packers, Webb starts and Peterson is bottled up all night long.

Yes, his ability to watch Peterson run is near miraculous.

[SackAttack]

Obviously there's something to Ponder. He starts and Peterson runs for over four hundred yards against the Packers, Webb starts and Peterson is bottled up all night long.

Might have to do with Woodson and Matthews both being back in the lineup.

The thing that I admire the hell out of with Peterson, though, he doesn't get stopped when the hole is plugged. He hits it full speed...and bounces off and keeps going in a different direction.

[Buccaneer]

Webb will put up a couple hundred passing yards now against softer coverages and Vikings fans will use it as proof that he is better than Ponder and should be starting.

It is astounding to me that anyone would want Webb playing QB.

[mckerney]

It is astounding to me that anyone would want Webb playing QB.

It's really been more about not wanting Ponder. Just think that as bad as Webb has played he already has more passing yards than Ponder had in 2 different games.

[BillJasper]

It's really been more about not wanting Ponder. Just think that as bad as Webb has played he already has more passing yards than Ponder had in 2 different games.

Vikings won ten games with a guy only in his second year. A guy who completed 62% of his passes with an 18/12 TD-INT ratio with no real receivers.

[Matthean]

Vikings won ten games with a guy only in his second year. A guy who completed 62% of his passes with an 18/12 TD-INT ratio with no real receivers.

One WR who got hurt. I'm curious to see what happens if they add to the offense, but the team needs a new #2 QB.

[britrock88]

There can be only one

Full name is McLeod John Balthazar Bethel-Thompson. And they call BenJarvus Green-Ellis "The Law Firm"...

[BillJasper]

Does Webb even have any idea where the ball is going when he releases it?

[mckerney]

Vikings won ten games with a guy only in his second year. A guy who completed 62% of his passes with an 18/12 TD-INT ratio with no real receivers.

A guy who faced 9 in the box and nearly every snap and still could barely complete a pass more than 3 yards downfield.

[jbergey22]

Does Webb even have any idea where the ball is going when he releases it?

Appears not! Good gameplan by the Packers.

Knowing Webb has no accuracy they are manning up on the outside and moving the safetys up.

This game was about Webb not being able to complete a pass.

[BillJasper]

A guy who faced 9 in the box and nearly every snap and still could barely complete a pass more than 3 yards downfield.

Well, he averaged six yards an attempt.

I haven't watched him all year, but I've seen him play a few times and he's a work-in-progress. But he's not so bad that I think the Vikings should abandon him after two years.

[jbergey22]

A guy who faced 9 in the box and nearly every snap and still could barely complete a pass more than 3 yards downfield.

LOL well this may be true other than 8 in the box and not 9 atleast he was able to move them. Webb is feared by no one.

[Buccaneer]

When was the last time the Packers made a first down? This is troublesome.

[mckerney]

Well, he averaged six yards an attempt.

And 58% of the teams receiving yards were after the catch, so yeah, about 3 yards.

Sure it's only his 2nd year, but he's shown none of the tools required to be a franchise QB.

[SackAttack]

When was the last time the Packers made a first down? This is troublesome.

The last several drives I've flipped over to watch have been 2 yard run, 2 yard run, incomplete pass, punt.

I don't think they're *trying* to move the chains right now. It's weird.

[EagleFan]

I hope tomorrow's games are better. Today was boring as hell.

[Abe Sargent]

Come on, complete the bomb to the end zone to sscrew over the gamblers!!!

[QuikSand]

CIN wins + MIN wins next year... Is anyone taking the OVER 18 side there?

[Abe Sargent]

CIN wins + MIN wins next year... Is anyone taking the OVER 18 side there?

Too early to know for sure. Wait until post-draft.

[PackerFanatic]

I hope tomorrow's games are better. Today was boring as hell.

...unless you are a Packers or Texans fan. GO PACK GO!

[Jas_lov]

I hope tomorrow's games are better. Today was boring as hell.

I think the games are boring this week because they're sort of irrelevant. Seeds 1 and 2 in the AFC are vastly superior compared to 3-6. Texans are double digit dogs at NE. Baltimore/Indy aren't going to beat Manning in Denver. Vikings weren't going to do anything even with Ponder. Seattle is the only WC team that can do some damage and if they win tomorrow they get to matchup with the Falcons, the weakest of the top seeds. Better matchups next week in the NFC but the AFC really comes down to Manning vs Brady.

[Abe Sargent]

I think the games are boring this week because they're sort of irrelevant.



I don't. Who cares if the teams have a chance in Hell of making it to the Bowl - i just want good games. There are lots of good games in the first round, and I want something good and competitive and interesting. I don't want possibly Minnesota's worst game of the season and both the Texans and Bengals playing keep away from the endzone. The games themselves were boring, a priori, they don;t need a reason beyond that.

[jbergey22]

I don't. Who cares if the teams have a chance in Hell of making it to the Bowl - i just want good games. There are lots of good games in the first round, and I want something good and competitive and interesting. I don't want possibly Minnesota's worst game of the season and both the Texans and Bengals playing keep away from the endzone. The games themselves were boring, a priori, they don;t need a reason beyond that.

Too much Vikings hype from ESPN and NBC this week because of AD and how good last weeks game was. Had a feeling the Packers would come out and play like this. Too good of a team to have to listen all week about how AD was going to run for another 200 yards off of them and such. ESPN can be a teams worst enemy at times. Packers defense was fired up and that is exactly how they played.

[Desnudo]

CIN wins + MIN wins next year... Is anyone taking the OVER 18 side there?

I'd consider it. Both have pretty easy schedules at this point.

[mauchow]

Ponder still will get one or two more seasons to prove himself. Zero chance of the front office going another route already.

If you really would have rather seen Webb today than I question you as a Vikings fan because there was zero damn chance of winning that game once ponder was announced inactive. Everyone at the Vikings tailgate was not too thrilled about the announcement so I think you're in a small group of people that would rather see Webb over ponder in a fucking playoff game.

[MizzouRah]

Intentional Webbing..

http://media.lockerdome.com/uploads/3caf089859c45e5babdcf10021a3f9e5_large

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1959173/joewebbugh.gif

[Lathum]

I think the games are boring this week because they're sort of irrelevant. Seeds 1 and 2 in the AFC are vastly superior compared to 3-6. Texans are double digit dogs at NE. Baltimore/Indy aren't going to beat Manning in Denver. Vikings weren't going to do anything even with Ponder. Seattle is the only WC team that can do some damage and if they win tomorrow they get to matchup with the Falcons, the weakest of the top seeds. Better matchups next week in the NFC but the AFC really comes down to Manning vs Brady.

without doing the math seems to me a number of teams in recent years have won 3 games to get to the superbowl. It wouldn't shock me if Houston beat the Pats and an inspired Ravens team can make some noise as well. Denver has looked great but against inferior competition mostly and Manning isn't exactly a playoff wizard.

[mckerney]

Ponder still will get one or two more seasons to prove himself. Zero chance of the front office going another route already.

I don't get how this team can continually ignore the QB position when they're constantly

If you really would have rather seen Webb today than I question you as a Vikings fan because there was zero damn chance of winning that game once ponder was announced inactive. Everyone at the Vikings tailgate was not too thrilled about the announcement so I think you're in a small group of people that would rather see Webb over ponder in a fucking playoff game.

We weren't going to win anyway, not having to see Ponder out on the field made it worth it. Playing the guy who threw for 36 yards with 2 picks in the first 56 minutes last time the Vikings went to Green Bay wasn't going to change anything. I'd rather see anyone out there rather than the guy who's the biggest sign of the franchises unwillingness to do anything about finding an answer at QB.

[Matthean]

We weren't going to win anyway, not having to see Ponder out on the field made it worth it. Playing the guy who threw for 36 yards with 2 picks in the first 56 minutes last time the Vikings went to Green Bay wasn't going to change anything. I'd rather see anyone out there rather than the guy who's the biggest sign of the franchises unwillingness to do anything about finding an answer at QB.

Well, congrats on seeing one of the most abysmal QB performances for a playoff game ever to the point the NBC commentators during halftime where chuckling it up rather well in regards to Webb. I would think you would rather see Ponder out there failing and thus motivating the Vikings to do something versus watching that monstrosity happening and management knowing Ponder did rather well against the Packers the week before.

[mckerney]

Well, congrats on seeing one of the most abysmal QB performances for a playoff game ever to the point the NBC commentators during halftime where chuckling it up rather well in regards to Webb. I would think you would rather see Ponder out there failing and thus motivating the Vikings to do something versus watching that monstrosity happening and management knowing Ponder did rather well against the Packers the week before.

Nah, already seen enough games where the commentators were chuckling it up at half time in regards to Ponder. If the front office isn't already motivated to do something at the QB position there's no hope anything last night would have changed their minds.

[jbergey22]

His hatred for Ponder is clearly clouding his best judgement;)

[Lathum]

I had no idea McKerney used to date Samantha Steele, sucks she got away.

[spleen1015]

Bruce Arians was taken to the hospital this morning with some sort of illness. Clyde Christiansen is calling plays for the Colts today.

The Colts are fucked.

Lucky break for the Ravens.

[CleBrownsfan]

Hoping for a Colts win but if the Ravens win by 6.5 Ill be happy too ;)

[Suicane75]

Is this the Colts first playoff game in Baltimore since the move?

[Suicane75]

Intentional Webbing..

http://media.lockerdome.com/uploads/3caf089859c45e5babdcf10021a3f9e5_large


This looks like every game of Smear The Queer I ever played.

[spleen1015]

Is this the Colts first playoff game in Baltimore since the move?

No. Peyton has kicked their asses there a couple of times.

[cougarfreak]

Fumble recovered by Indiana!

[frnk55]

DOH!!!!

[Dutch]

Alright, since we have now validated that neither the Ravens or the Colts are going to make it to the Super Bowl, I'll check back in for the Redskins/Seahawks game. :)

[Desnudo]

Or tune in with 5 minutes left to watch Luck overcome 3 ints with a last minute drive

[Desnudo]

Flacco is not a very good qb

[TroyF]

without doing the math seems to me a number of teams in recent years have won 3 games to get to the superbowl. It wouldn't shock me if Houston beat the Pats and an inspired Ravens team can make some noise as well. Denver has looked great but against inferior competition mostly and Manning isn't exactly a playoff wizard.

I always love garbage like this. Peyton can't play in the playoffs. Yeah, he's not wizard. He's just the 10th rated QB in the history of the postseason. He's sandwiched right between Eli Manning and Tom Brady.

I agree with what you are trying to say, anything can and will happen in the NFL playoffs. A QB can drop back, have the refs miss two clear holding calls, throw the ball up to a guy who hasn't ever caught a pass and he can catch it on the side of his helmet leading to an upset in a Super Bowl. Obviously, I'm into hyperbole here, that was one of the most amazing QB plays I have ever seen. Simply sensational and clutch to get the ball out. But why, oh, why did that play mean anything? Yeah, the defense. And Bradshaw/Jacobs who didn't do anything special, but kept hitting holes and moving the chains keeping Brady off the field.

This is a team game and people who keep yapping about Peyton not being good in the playoffs always forget his running games and his defense. I hear about the two losses to the Chargers used as an example. Manning went 58-90 with 712 yards 4 TD - 2 INT and 1 sack taken in those two games. The Colts ran the ball for 108 yards on 40 carries in the two games. Manning was Manning, the same wizard he always is and has been. He didn't have the defense or help to get it done. (I'm not saying he couldn't have played a little better in any of the losses, but we can say that about any player, any game)

So, I get your point, I just don't get the wizardry comment. Lets face it, the NFL is a tough league and all of these teams earned their way here. A play here, a play there, an inspired performance here, an injury there can decide any of these football games. The best team won't always necessarily win these things.

Unless a QB completely implodes (Hello Joe Webb), it's likely not the fault of one guy.

[britrock88]

I had no idea McKerney used to date Samantha Steele, sucks she got away.

Damn it, I thought they were just dating, not hitched.

[kingfc22]

I'm just glad this game has been competitive and at least somewhat entertaining even with the low score.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Love this video. I was fortunate enough to attend a couple Ravens games during the time I lived out there for a couple years. I've seen a lot of great players at Arrowhead, but one of the best in-stadium moments I ever had was watching the starting lineups when Ray Lewis exited the tunnel. That place went bonkers. I've wanted to go back again to see Ray play again, but unfortunately will have to just enjoy my memories of the time I went to see him in 2006.

Ray Lewis’ final pre-game dance will fire you up | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/ray-lewis-final-pre-game-dance-fire-184529976--nfl.html)

[miami_fan]

His hatred for Ponder is clearly clouding his best judgement;)

I thought it was more a hatred for the Vikings front office specifically Rick Speilman. I get it. See the 2004 Dolphins.

[whomario]

wow, big turnover by Rice

[kingfc22]

Rice coughs it up again. I'd love to see this game get tied up.

[MIJB#19]

Ravens dodged one there.

[SackAttack]

Is the game on Fox? Because all I'm getting is a black screen.

[sabotai]

Is the game on Fox? Because all I'm getting is a black screen.

CBS. SEA-WAS games in on Fox later.

[SackAttack]

CBS. SEA-WAS games in on Fox later.

Crazy. The playoffs are split across three networks?

Thanks, btw.

[Desnudo]

Bad challenge

[SackAttack]

I dunno. The ground didn't cause the breakup. He had control until the Raven kneed him in the elbow, and that's the point at which the ball came out. He was already down by contact by then.

[Glengoyne]

I must not understand what constitutes a false start, because it seems like if a QB can be called for bobbing his head too vigorously to draw the defense then indy's hair bobbing center should be subject to the same.

[Desnudo]

I dunno. The ground didn't cause the breakup. He had control until the Raven kneed him in the elbow, and that's the point at which the ball came out. He was already down by contact by then.

Unlikely to be overturned and you lose a critical timeout

[SackAttack]

Not terribly surprised that he lost the challenge, mind. Just saying I can see where it could have been overturned.

[Desnudo]

Yeah there's just no value in it. They got nearly all the yards back with that luck run. Will be interesting to see if the lost TO comes back to haunt them.

[Glengoyne]

I dunno. The ground didn't cause the breakup. He had control until the Raven kneed him in the elbow, and that's the point at which the ball came out. He was already down by contact by then.


That was a catch before the NFL lost its soul and changed the definition of a catch.

[SackAttack]

Unlikely to be overturned and you lose a critical timeout

You're down 15 with under seven minutes to go, and you've done nothing against that defense today. It's only a critical timeout if you think you can score anyway. The difference in that play was 3rd down versus 1st down, and, what, 20+ yards? At that stage and at that score, that's a gamble I don't blame Pagano for taking.

[Desnudo]

The colts playcalling reminds me of the patriots. Empty backfield on 4-1? Brilliant!

[Shkspr]

It doesn't appear to be haunting them. Luck's accuracy, however...

[Desnudo]

Lots of colts drops today too

[bhlloy]

Pollard strikes again

[whomario]

his receivers really didn´t help Luck out much ... they sure didn´t catch (m)any tough ones tonight, to put it mildly.

With Luck i think you can point to his lack of accuracy and other things but i think i´d rather have a guy grow by being asked to do everything (and have his miscues) rather than being handled with kid gloves. Really think that the Colts never though they´d be in playoff contention and thus allways let Luck air it out
no matter the results, in hopes to speed his development as much as possible.

[Desnudo]

His receivers make a couple of catches and the game is closer. Don't think they win anyway, but the colts receivers sucked today.

[Scoobz0202]

Luck is going to be a damn fine QB for Indy for years to come. Give him something to work with, a decent offensive line.

[jbergey22]

Colts were much like the Vikings this year. Just happy to be in the playoffs.

Just thinking of this. The first 3 picks in the NFL draft last year all made the playoffs. NFL is easier to rebuild quickly than any other sport it would appear.

[SackAttack]

Colts were much like the Vikings this year. Just happy to be in the playoffs.

Just thinking of this. The first 3 picks in the NFL draft last year all made the playoffs. NFL is easier to rebuild quickly than any other sport it would appear.

Disagree. I think the fast reload in the NFL is a mirage. A good QB can cover a multitude of sins, but you've also got a "last place schedule" that can help a team that drafts a good QB high appear to bounce back. If the pieces aren't all in place, though, once they play a first or second place schedule the next season, they're going to fall right back down.

[Bigsmooth]

Hawks should dominate this game, IMO. Their D should suffocate the Skins and Beast Mode should do his thing. A lot of "shoulds" and a lot of talking heads on Seattle along with 30 years of Seattle sports history has me thinking RGIII will pull it out.

[Lathum]

Really pulling for the Seahawks today. After living 4.5 years in Seattle I have a lot of friends there who are huge fans. All you need to do is go to a home game there to realize their fans are legit. Would like to see them move on.

[SackAttack]

I guess Fox ain't broadcasting for me today.

[EagleFan]

What was the crwod booing for on the replays of that previous play? He clearly only had one foot down inbounds.

[Desnudo]

They were saying boo-urns

[MIJB#19]

I'm surprised the Seahawks are considered the favorites to win. The Redskins have won 7 straight after the bye week, two more than the Seahawks streak. I realize the Seahawks' losses all were by a single score, but Washington also lost by a single score in all but one of their losses. These teams are so similar, it seems like the textbook situation where you put the line at 2 or 3 points for the home team.

[kingfc22]

That doesn't look good.

Kirk Cousins get ready.

[Shkspr]

Cheating Seachicken pussies taking Pearson's advice.

[jbergey22]

Disagree. I think the fast reload in the NFL is a mirage. A good QB can cover a multitude of sins, but you've also got a "last place schedule" that can help a team that drafts a good QB high appear to bounce back. If the pieces aren't all in place, though, once they play a first or second place schedule the next season, they're going to fall right back down.

Think of the NBA and MLB before disagreeing. Teams in the NBA sit at the bottom for years. In MLB when was the last time a lot of teams even made the playoffs? In the NFL the Lions went from 0 wins to playoffs in 2 years. 3 of the worst teams in the NFL in 2011 all made the playoffs this year. Even the Raiders have hope for next year;)

[stevew]

Seahawks got lucky they stripped RG3 there. He had Garcon open by 35 yards I think.

[Shkspr]

Wilson needs to learn how to slide or get out of bounds. He'll get hurt running downfield like that.

[SackAttack]

Think of the NBA and MLB before disagreeing. Teams in the NBA sit at the bottom for years. In MLB when was the last time a lot of teams even made the playoffs? In the NFL the Lions went from 0 wins to playoffs in 2 years. 3 of the worst teams in the NFL in 2011 all made the playoffs this year. Even the Raiders have hope for next year;)

Right, but again...Matthew Stafford plus last place schedule.

Colts? Andrew Luck plus a last place schedule.

Redskins? RGIII plus a last place schedule.

Vikings? Ungodly year from AP plus a last place schedule.

What's the common factor for those four teams? The last place schedule. And three of those four took a QB at the top of the draft, while the fourth had an all-time year at a skill position.

The question re: rebuilding isn't "can a team make the postseason once?"

It's "can they sustain it?" That's where I disagree about it being faster to rebuild in the NFL. You can get there on a QB/RB and a last place schedule, but it's far harder to sustain it because there are so many more moving pieces.

[EagleFan]

Last place schedule doesn't mean much. It's 2 games.

[EagleFan]

dola: plus with free agency teams can turn around quickly.

[EagleFan]

Double dola: The Redskins last place games were the Vikings and the Rams and they were 1-1 in those game. It was RG3 regardless of schedule.

[EagleFan]

as for the Vikings, their last place schedule was the Redskins and the Buccaneers and they were 0-2 in those games. It was totally AD and nothing to do with schedule.

[Desnudo]

Whether your division is any good and the other conference division you play is the biggest schedule strength determiner. And that's pretty much blind luck.

[Desnudo]

This is already the best game of the weekend by a long ways

[EagleFan]

This is already the best game of the weekend by a long ways

+1

Now I hope the second half doesn't see one team score 3 touchdowns in the 3rd and lead to another boring ending.

[spleen1015]

Come on Skins. We need to take advantage of this turnover.

[stevew]

How is Ryan Howard the face of a nationwide ad campaign. He hit 14 homers last year. They also use Suh, which is funny.

[TroyF]

Right, but again...Matthew Stafford plus last place schedule.

Colts? Andrew Luck plus a last place schedule.

Redskins? RGIII plus a last place schedule.

Vikings? Ungodly year from AP plus a last place schedule.

What's the common factor for those four teams? The last place schedule. And three of those four took a QB at the top of the draft, while the fourth had an all-time year at a skill position.

The question re: rebuilding isn't "can a team make the postseason once?"

It's "can they sustain it?" That's where I disagree about it being faster to rebuild in the NFL. You can get there on a QB/RB and a last place schedule, but it's far harder to sustain it because there are so many more moving pieces.

As others have said, last place schedule equals 2 games now. I do agree about the sustainability issue though. Because of the NFL schedule, it is highly likely a season is skewed because of a couple of results. There is a big difference versus getting into the playoffs one year and then actually making a run the next year.

We know there at least half of these playoff teams will not be here next year. Yet all of these teams either think they are on the upswing or will be in for years to come. The real test for the up and commers will be next year. Colts, Skins, Seahawks, Vikings. . . which teams are ere next yea?

[HeavyReign]

Seattle needed to score on one of those 3rd quarter drives. On the bright side the Washington defense has been on the field for most of the last 2 quarters.

[EagleFan]

Not often do you see a lead block by the QB 15 yards downfield.

[Lathum]

Not often do you see a lead block by the QB 15 yards downfield.

how can you not love Wilson, what a gamer.

[kingfc22]

Lynch with another good run.

Does Washington look at Cousins? RGIII has done nothing since he injured his leg right before they went up 14-0.

[Lathum]

I don't care who you are a fan of, if you don't love watching Russel Wilson play you arent a football fan.

[Matthean]

Unless there is some RGIII hi jinks, this one is over. Seattle has nearly doubled Washington's total yards.

[stevew]

This field is such shit. Green sand.

RG3 has to be less than 50% right now.

[TroyF]

Why on Earth does Washington seem to forget about every underneath receiver on third and long? Wilson has had a bunch of them today and the only thing he can do is dump it off to a back or TE. Repeatedly, the Skins have failed to cover these players and it's crushed them. Force the guy to throw into a tight window on third and long.

As for RG3, blame it on the injury or whatever, but he's simply missing WR all over the place. The guy hasn't thrown a close to accurate ball for three quarters now. He needs to get a grip in a hurry or the Skins are toast.

[kingfc22]

And ballgame.

[HeavyReign]

Oh man

[Jas_lov]

It's now over and RG3 is hurt. Shanahan should have stepped in and taken him out.

[Lathum]

uh oh

[mauchow]

Oh fuck that replay showed it pop out. Fuck me.

[Suicane75]

Mike Shannahan is an idiot.

[GrantDawg]

He may not be the same after that.

[kingfc22]

If this costs him time next season, heads should roll in Washington.

Cousins should have been in earlier after that 2nd score. Anytime after that score as RG3 has clearly not been anywhere close to 100%

[TroyF]

Game over. I can't believe Pete Carroll has won a road playoff game. Lucky for Hawks fans, he can't put them on probation before he leaves town.

[stevew]

He will be back fine next year. I'm guessing he partially tore an MCL earlier or something and that was just the ACL.

[AlexB]

He may not be the same after that.

The hope is he has as good a recovery as AP, but that is very much the exception :(

[Super Ugly]

:(

[rowech]

If this costs him time next season, heads should roll in Washington.

Cousins should have been in earlier after that 2nd score. Anytime after that score as RG3 has clearly not been anywhere close to 100%

On the bootleg where he hobbled the whole run it was clear he was done. To risk next year and more when a guy is clearly injured is just dumb.

[panerd]

What's the deal with that door? How far away are the locker rooms in DC? Why is Andrews wearing a Eedskins cap? Very odd.

[Lathum]

Kid should have been pulled from the game after he came up limp on that running play. Feel really bad for him, he is easy to root for, even as a Giants fan

[mauchow]

Absolutely horrible decision. If you've got a franchise player who has been limping like hell the whole game man up shanahan and get him out. He injures it further on a reaction play because a low snap. He was obviously a minor hit away from completely filucking it up like on the prior play he was sacked. Unreal. Great players career derailed because he probably told his coach he was fine. What player (aside from Ponder apparently) is going to volunarily take himself out? Aside from Cutler too.

[Suicane75]

What's the deal with that door? How far away are the locker rooms in DC? Why is Andrews wearing a Eedskins cap? Very odd.

From what they said earlier, I gather it's just a room and not the locker rooms.

[panerd]

Somehow FOFC has already determined it is more than a sprain. Maybe you play your star QB to try and make a Super Bowl run.

[Abe Sargent]

No way does Mike Tomlin pull Ben in that same situation he rides him the whole game, so the idea that a coach should pull someone who is limping and playing through an injury is a bit extreme.

[MIJB#19]

C'mon Cousins magic!

[TroyF]

What's the deal with that door? How far away are the locker rooms in DC? Why is Andrews wearing a Eedskins cap? Very odd.

Andrews is the team doctor. Nothing strange about the cap.

[panerd]

From what they said earlier, I gather it's just a room and not the locker rooms.

Just very unusual I don't think I have ever seen a room like that at a game.

[Lathum]

Would RG3 be on the sidelines if it was that bad?

[panerd]

Andrews is the team doctor. Nothing strange about the cap.

Didn't know that. Is he the baseball injury guy?

[AlexB]

In all fairness it can't be too bad if he's allowed to be standing and walking on it.

[Suicane75]

If you're the Skins here, do you quick the field goal as quick as you can and use your timeouts on defense?

[stevew]

I like how they keep highlighting the Seahawks roided up corners.

[MrBug708]

Should have been a flag

[Matthean]

Surprised Simmons isn't tweeting this game. I just checked to see what he was saying and he hasn't tweeted in 5 hours.

[panerd]

Surprised Simmons isn't tweeting this game. I just checked to see what he was saying and he hasn't tweeted in 5 hours.

Probably some meaningless NBA game on tv. :-)

[Suicane75]

Somehow FOFC has already determined it is more than a sprain. Maybe you play your star QB to try and make a Super Bowl run.

Whatever the injury is, he clearly couldn't run on it or plant on it.

[HeavyReign]

I think when a player goes down in pain unable to go after the ball its natural to assume the worst. The replay looked bad too.

[Scoobz0202]

You can walk on a torn ACL

[RedKingGold]

Seahawks are for reals.

[TroyF]

So next week looks set:

Baltimore at Denver
Houston at New England

Seattle at Atlanta
Green Bay at San Fran

[TroyF]

Seahawks are for reals.

I just don't see it. On the road, they are very average. They played a one legged QB for three quarters before they took over. They are a very good team and at home I think they beat any team in these playoffs 6 out of 10 times. I don't believe this team goes into Atlanta next week and wins. I could be wrong and will be here admitting it if it happens.

[Matthean]

I just don't see it. On the road, they are very average. They played a one legged QB for three quarters before they took over. They are a very good team and at home I think they beat any team in these playoffs 6 out of 10 times. I don't believe this team goes into Atlanta next week and wins. I could be wrong and will be here admitting it if it happens.

+1. Atlanta will be interesting. Let's not forget they have to travel from DC to Seattle and then to Atlanta while Atlanta has been resting. I won't say Atlanta wins by default, but I'm still wait and see on the Seattle hype.

The one benefit of Seattle winning is it gets us on step closer to Carroll vs. Harbaugh.

[SackAttack]

dola: plus with free agency teams can turn around quickly.

Eh. Free agency is available to every sport, but it's more restricted in the NFL thanks to the franchise and transition tags, IMO.

As others have said, last place schedule equals 2 games now. I do agree about the sustainability issue though. Because of the NFL schedule, it is highly likely a season is skewed because of a couple of results. There is a big difference versus getting into the playoffs one year and then actually making a run the next year.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that every team that plays a last place schedule is going to be primed to just pop right back up into the playoffs the next year. What I'm saying is that the common thread between the three non-Viking teams is that they had a top draft pick and used it well, plus had a slight break on the schedule. Two games isn't much, but in terms of "making the playoffs as a one-off," it doesn't take THAT much. If you're improved enough at quarterback to be in the mix, an extra game or two can put you over the top to make the playoffs in any given season.

That's not the same as being a Super Bowl contender, and as I pointed out and TroyF agreed with, sustainability is still the question. You can't really call it 'faster rebuilding' unless the teams in question sustain it. THAT'S my central point, not whether 2 games against last-place teams from the previous season is the end-all, be-all.

I think the games can make a difference in the context of a last-place-to-playoffs turnaround, but the larger question is still...sustainability. Can Minnesota build off of this? Can Indianapolis? Washington's in the playoffs for the first time in a decade; if RGIII comes back as good or better next year from his apparent injury, can they continue to contend in the division? That's the question. If those three teams continue to make the playoffs going forward, then, yeah. I'll concede jbergey's point.

If they yo-yo back down (and as a West Brom fan, I'm familiar with the concept!), then...it's not rebuilding. It's the vagaries of the NFL.

[Suicane75]

I don't know what more Seattle can do to prove how good they are.

[cougarfreak]

So next week looks set:

Baltimore at Denver
Houston at New England

Seattle at Atlanta
Green Bay at San Fran

Should be 4 good games. If I'm Houston, I run the hell out of Arian Foster next week. I hope Denver crushes Baltimore, and I think they will. I think Atlanta and Green Bay win.

[jbergey22]

The two NFC games should be special especially Green Bay and San Fran. Id expect the Pats and Broncs to handle business fairly easily.

[RedKingGold]

I just don't see it. On the road, they are very average. They played a one legged QB for three quarters before they took over. They are a very good team and at home I think they beat any team in these playoffs 6 out of 10 times. I don't believe this team goes into Atlanta next week and wins. I could be wrong and will be here admitting it if it happens.

They dominated Washington for three quarters today, if it weren't for that fumble on the goal-line, the score would've been even more lopsided.

They're the most complete team in the league right now, as much as I hate to say it. If there is a weakness, it seems Wilson has trouble reading blitzes. If Atlanta scouts properly, they should bring some odd man rushes and throw Wilson off his game.

[RedKingGold]

Chris Clemons could also be a HUGE loss for Seattle. That's as big of an injury as Justin Smith for the 49ers.

[Jas_lov]

Two AFC Home teams win easily next week setting up Brady vs Manning. Two NFC Road teams win in close games next week setting up Seattle vs GB rematch. GB and SF are the best teams in the NFC so it's a shame they have to play this early but the winner will be favored in the NFC Championship regardless of who they play.

[MizzouRah]

I just don't see it. On the road, they are very average. They played a one legged QB for three quarters before they took over. They are a very good team and at home I think they beat any team in these playoffs 6 out of 10 times. I don't believe this team goes into Atlanta next week and wins. I could be wrong and will be here admitting it if it happens.

I don't like Seattle one bit, but they get the least recognition of any team in the NFL.

I could definitely see them beating Atlanta.

[Matthean]

I don't know what more Seattle can do to prove how good they are.

Start winning road games against the big boys when it counts.

[Matthean]

I don't like Seattle one bit, but they get the least recognition of any team in the NFL.

I could definitely see them beating Atlanta.

They get as much recognition as they have deserved. I can see then beating Atlanta as well, but Atlanta is a lot like Houston.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I could definitely see them beating Atlanta.

It's the playoffs ... pretty much any team in the league has a shot at beating Atlanta, all they gotta do is get to the game.

[MizzouRah]

They get as much recognition as they have deserved. I can see then beating Atlanta as well, but Atlanta is a lot like Houston.

I would agree with you there.