NFL Playoffs - Divisional Round

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Not a good start to the week for the Patriots. They need every healthy body they can get at this point. Will be interesting to see if it really happened at Gronk's house.

Report: Chandler Jones overdosed on pills | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/12/report-chandler-jones-overdosed-on-pills/)

[Kodos]

I'm sure Aaron Hernandez in involved.

[Thomkal]

Not a good start to the week for the Patriots. They need every healthy body they can get at this point. Will be interesting to see if it really happened at Gronk's house.

Report: Chandler Jones overdosed on pills | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/12/report-chandler-jones-overdosed-on-pills/)

Idiots. But hey if you want to weaken your team and give the Chiefs a better chance of winning, go right ahead :) I saw this morning on espn that Bill Billacheck has a black eye. Of course he was his usual communicative self about it. Any one hear anything about this?

[Logan]

Didn't Jones walk into a police station which prompted all this to start? Seems like that doesn't fit with a pill overdose.

[bhlloy]

Idiots. But hey if you want to weaken your team and give the Chiefs a better chance of winning, go right ahead :) I saw this morning on espn that Bill Billacheck has a black eye. Of course he was his usual communicative self about it. Any one hear anything about this?

I haven't heard anything but I like to think it was something to do with a married woman, given his history.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Didn't Jones walk into a police station which prompted all this to start? Seems like that doesn't fit with a pill overdose.

Police at his home confirmed drugs found there. Also, the audio presents that he was really confused.

What Happened With Chandler Jones? (http://deadspin.com/what-happened-with-chandler-jones-1752693677)

Glad he's apparently OK, but this team doesn't need distractions.

[albionmoonlight]

My uninformed predictions:

Panthers/Seahawks will be a coin flip.

Cards should have little trouble with Packers.

Broncos defense will feast on a Steelers offense without Brown and an injured Ben.

Pats/Chiefs seems like a no brainer. Brady > Smith. Belichick > Reid. But the Chiefs have gotten the least hype for a team on a double-digit winning streak that I can remember. You only win 10+ in a row in the NFL if you are are really really good. If I were betting, I'd take the Chiefs +5. Not sure if I would take them to win. Should be a better game than people think.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

My uninformed predictions:

Panthers/Seahawks will be a coin flip.

Cards should have little trouble with Packers.

Broncos defense will feast on a Steelers offense without Brown and an injured Ben.

Pats/Chiefs seems like a no brainer. Brady > Smith. Belichick > Reid. But the Chiefs have gotten the least hype for a team on a double-digit winning streak that I can remember. You only win 10+ in a row in the NFL if you are are really really good. If I were betting, I'd take the Chiefs +5. Not sure if I would take them to win. Should be a better game than people think.

The Chiefs have the best win percentage of the road teams over at fivethirtyeight.com. Carolina's by far the biggest win percentage.

Chiefs 49%/Pats 51%
Pitt 42%/Denver 58%
Seattle 45%/Arizona 55%
GB 34%/Carolina 66%

Strangely enough, KC currently has the best chance to win the Super Bowl out of the remaining AFC teams, trailing only Carolina and Arizona.

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2015-nfl-predictions/

[albionmoonlight]

The Chiefs have the best win percentage of the road teams over at fivethirtyeight.com. Carolina's by far the biggest win percentage.

Chiefs 49%/Pats 51%
Pitt 42%/Denver 58%
Seattle 45%/Arizona 55%
GB 34%/Carolina 66%

Strangely enough, KC currently has the best chance to win the Super Bowl out of the remaining AFC teams, trailing only Carolina and Arizona.

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2015-nfl-predictions/

you flipped Car/Ari

[digamma]

If I'm looking to bet this weekend, I'm looking at a carnival gamey bet of the Panthers in the first quarter. My guess is that line will be something like -1/2, and I like the Panthers being amped up in front of a home crowd combined with the Seahawks traveling through multiple time zones and back two weeks in a row.

[Kodos]

I think the Chiefs will beat the Pats.

[Butter]

Now that the Bengals fucked themselves out of the playoffs (a game for which I was relievedly on a plane and failed to witness), I would enjoy a Panthers / Chiefs Super Bowl. Pretty much the most boring one the media can imagine, I'd guess.

Hope the Panthers can drive a stake through the Seahawks, who seemed to have had several lives this year after starting 2-4 and having the Vikings bork that FG last week. Pete Carroll needs to ride his smarmy ass off into the sunset, and a loss here would help.

[QuikSand]

The 538 Elo stuff is generally fine, but it assumes that the teams playing now are appropriately represented by the teams playing during the games in the experience base. Major injuries are a real problem for that sort of model. I think they overweight the chances of Pittsburgh (who look to be hampered badly by new injuries not factored into their prior performances) and underweight the chances of New England (who look to be recovering from major injuries).

I don't see any serious value in the betting lines, myself. But heck, I almost got in on the Texans to win outright last week (glad I didn't).

[Arles]

Just a reminder for those thinking the Arizona-GB game will be a copy of the last one - Green Bay was without both starting tackles, their center and top 2 CBs by the 2nd quarter. For this game, the only real loss they have will be Adams - who has been having arguably the worst WR season in history this year:
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has targeted Adams 64 times this year, and Adams has caught just 32 of those passes. We've seen worse catch rates than that among higher-volume receivers, to be clear, but most of the wideouts who see that low of catch rates also have accumulated high yards per reception averages. In other words, they're deep ball threats -- their catch rates are lower because they're seeing lower percentage throws.

Adams isn't one of those deep ball guys, as he has a 10.1 yards per reception average right now. Since targets started being recorded back in 1992, per Pro Football Reference, only 17 wide receivers have averaged 11 or fewer yards per reception with a 50% (or worse) catch rate while seeing 60 or more targets in a season.

Davante Adams is one of those players.

And among this group of 17 -- remember, these are guys who have caught 50% or fewer of their targets while seeing 60 or more targets -- Adams' 10.1 yards per reception rate is fifth worst.

Predictably, this has translated to our advanced analytics. Since the turn of the century, 1,198 wide receivers have caught 30 or more passes, excluding this season. In terms of Reception NEP per target -- our per-target efficiency metric -- Davante Adams' current campaign would rank 1,186th within the group.

So, while I think Arizona is the better team, GB should be better equipped to deal with their pass rush and have more CB options for their speed.

[EagleFan]

Go Hawks!

[Travis]

I truly believe that Seattle's offense can put up some big numbers this week, especially with Carolina being short on bodies in the secondary.

That said, it'll be Cam vs the Seahawks D that will decide this one. I'm hoping they've tightening things up enough vs passes to the TE to make this a big win on the road, but I'm definitely not assuming that to be the case.

While last week was a super low scoring affair, I wouldn't be at all surprised if both teams put up 24+ points in this one. I'm hoping for a 35-17 type win, I'm expecting a 31-28 type game.

[Thomkal]

Just a reminder for those thinking the Arizona-GB game will be a copy of the last one - Green Bay was without both starting tackles, their center and top 2 CBs by the 2nd quarter. For this game, the only real loss they have will be Adams - who has been having arguably the worst WR season in history this year:


So, while I think Arizona is the better team, GB should be better equipped to deal with their pass rush and have more CB options for their speed.

I vote for a copy of the first game, thank you :)

[PackerFanatic]

Just a reminder for those thinking the Arizona-GB game will be a copy of the last one - Green Bay was without both starting tackles, their center and top 2 CBs by the 2nd quarter. For this game, the only real loss they have will be Adams - who has been having arguably the worst WR season in history this year:


So, while I think Arizona is the better team, GB should be better equipped to deal with their pass rush and have more CB options for their speed.

Agreed here. I am hoping they can at least make a better game of it, even if I don't think they will necessarily win. The Packers finally showed something last week, if only to raise their fanbase's hopes to crush them that much harder this week :)

[Logan]

Didn't Jones walk into a police station which prompted all this to start? Seems like that doesn't fit with a pill overdose.

Synthetic MJ.

[digamma]

Spice is the variety of life.

[Logan]

Antonio Brown ruled out for Sunday. Even Elaine Benes would be impressed by his commitment to faking that concussion.

[Thomkal]

Antonio Brown ruled out for Sunday. Even Elaine Benes would be impressed by his commitment to faking that concussion.

I guess "Pacman" will apologize for his comments about Brown right? :) The question now is, will Big Ben join him on the sidelines? Can't believe the Steelers have much chance if he can't play too.

[Thomkal]

Synthetic MJ.

Cris Carter on Mike and Mike this morning wondered if the MJ was laced with something like PCP. Probably not the end of the story here. It would be nice if he was benched for a quarter or a half for his stupidity, but probably won't happen.

[Thomkal]

Let's go Beloved Cardinals! (and belatedly the Chiefs)

[whomario]

stupid ass fumble for the Chiefs there ... As much as i like Smith and root for him, don´t see him putting up big yards here, so this hurts a ton in that situation ...

[Radii]

This feels over.

[whomario]

What a play by Smith there !

[JPhillips]

That was a hell of a play by Smith.

[EagleFan]

They almost have to get in the end zone here.

[jeff061]

Apparently Edelman all by his lonesome can be enough to make or break the Pats offense. I knew he was key, but I still underestimated his importance. Pats entire offensive game plan reverts back to what it was early in the season when he's back.

[jeff061]

As for it being over, Pats defense is to trick or treat right now to declare that. As I type this td KC. Hopefully Brady can keep doing what he's been doing.

[Glengoyne]

Clearly an incomplete pass?

I don't think so. But I doubt it gets overturned.

[frnk55]

As for it being over, Pats defense is to trick or treat right now to declare that. As I type this td KC. Hopefully Brady can keep doing what he's been doing.
Of course Brady will continue. Pats never lose it seems.

[whomario]

This was a nice test of the football IQ for Patriot Fans at viewing parties and the stadium ;) (the overturned Interception)

[digamma]

Does KC realize they are down two scores with 2 minutes left?

[kingfc22]

Horrible clock management on this drive. They do realize this is a 14 point game?

[bhlloy]

Good to see Andy Reid didn't learn to manage the clock between Philly and Kansas City. They could quite easily have another minute thirty on the clock here and maybe a shot at tying it up

[Suicane75]

I'm going to fucking kidnap Andy Reid and fucking force him to learn time management if it's the last fucking thing I do on this earth.

[Logan]

Horrible clock management on this drive. They do realize this is a 14 point game?

When Andy Reid can surprise you with horrible clock management, something really bad is occurring.

[bhlloy]

This is laughably bad

[kingfc22]

A huddle? You've got to be kidding.

[Suicane75]

I'll bet you a 100 dollars they run it here, are stopped, and use a timeout.

[Carman Bulldog]

I can't normally stand the commentators but the complaints about the clock management are legit. The pacing has been painful.

[bhlloy]

I know it's harping a bit at this point, but this is a completely different game if Reid can manage the clock even a little bit. They absolutely would have been in a position to kick deep with a couple of timeouts and the 2 minute warning if he was even slightly competent

[kingfc22]

Saw a tweet mentioning they used 1:47 in clock after the long completion to the 1 yard line.

[sabotai]

KC should challenge the spot. Looked like he was stopped a half yard short to me. (Didn't watch the whole game. Did they have challenges left?)

[Suicane75]

I'm not saying it's wrong or right to onside kick it there. I'm sure arguments can be made either way. But you saved all 3 of your timeouts, and then gave up 25-30 yards of field position and also made it more likely that they'd be willing to throw the fucking ball in a position where they'd need to.

Edit: I guess they didn't have 3.

[whomario]

Patriots got away with one there ...

[digamma]

Can't challenge under two minutes.

[EagleFan]

That was unreal.

[sabotai]

Can't challenge under two minutes.

Yeah, forgot about that.

[Abe Sargent]

Good luck Cards!

[Draft Dodger]

I think my favorite part was Reid finally calling a timeout after the Pats kneel down.

[cuervo72]

I'm going to fucking kidnap Andy Reid and fucking force him to learn time management if it's the last fucking thing I do on this earth.

Teach it to Pederson instead k thx.

[Thomkal]

Hope that Pick-Six that got called back doesn't come back to bite the Cards-could have been the death blow otherwise. But good job holding them to three points.

[Thomkal]

7-6 at the half-Arizona's offense hasn't been on the field much. Have to think the Cobb injury can only help the Cards.

[TroyF]

Seriously? I mean, really?

How does anyone rule that a catch and even if you call it a catch, how do you say he wasn't touched on the way to the ground and let him run 30 yards?

Holy crap that was a terrible call.

[SnowMan]

Did the Seahawks break the Cards? Will Arians say they weren't trying again?

[TroyF]

Did the Seahawks break the Cards? Will Arians say they weren't trying again?

Tweak 3 plays in this game, and this isn't even close. (INT return, crack back block, INT in end zone)

I'm not saying you take those plays away or that the Packers aren't deserving leaders right now, but I don't think the Cardinals are broke by any stretch.

[Abe Sargent]

WOWWWWWWWWWW

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. What a crazy series of plays.

[bhlloy]

The refereeing in this game has been uneven at best

[TroyF]

Holy crap. 2 missed penalties, Cards have the ball. I'm guessing the Packers take their TO right away. You do that and it's 2 plays to the 2 minute warning. Figure another 45 seconds before Aaron gets the ball back. If the Cardinals hit the FG (I'm assuming they will not get a first down), Rodgers will have 1:15 left. Obviously, a first down and the game is over.

[TroyF]

oh good lord. . . are you kidding me?

[General Mike]

Bad clock management strikes again?

[TroyF]

Bad clock management strikes again?


well, you just gave Rodgers another 40 seconds to play with. If you miss the FG, you may have cost yourself the game in regulation. You hit the FG, you may have ensured OT. That was just terrible.

[EagleFan]

I get going for the win but when they have no timeouts left and are seriously missing their weapons you run every second off that clock that you can.

[sabotai]

Haven't watched the entire game, but Carson Palmer has not looked sharp at all. If you want to be aggressive and play to win, I get that. But with a QB who has been off as much as Palmer has, I don't see how you can trust his arm like that. Just take the 3 free points and let your defense keep GB out of the end zone for another minute to close this thing.

[EagleFan]

1:50 to get 86 yards is a major difference from 1:10 to go 86 yards.

[TroyF]

I get going for the win but when they have no timeouts left and are seriously missing their weapons you run every second off that clock that you can.


Exactly. It makes more sense to do something like that in college IMHO. Teams can drive up the field in 40 seconds due to the clock stopping every first down. The entire field opens up. With an above average defense in the NFL? You will gladly give a team 1:15 and 80 yards for a TD to tie it up. You'll take it all day, every day.

Looks like it is going to work out for them.

[MrBug708]

Feel sick for the Packer fans

[kingfc22]

Arizona dodged a PI call right there

[EagleFan]

Yes, that was pass interference, but it needs to be a complete mugging to get called in that situation.

[Eaglesfan27]

WOW!

[kingfc22]

Wow.

[EagleFan]

That was really weird. Why not spike it there?

[kingfc22]

And a bonehead wow right after.

[TroyF]

That should have been PI. I think on 3rd down the previous series it could have been PI. Having said that, I think the Fitzgerald play should have been PI too. he cut him off and that isn't allowed. I'm tired of hearing how it wasn't catchable, with the height of Larry and a clear run at that ball, it would have been a possible to catch the ball.

The refs have not had a good fourth quarter here.

[EagleFan]

But the game would be over right now if the Cardinals just ran the ball on 2nd down.

[timmae]

The best refs money can buy eh?

[EagleFan]

The last couple minutes of this game have been rather bizarre.

[sabotai]

HOLY SHIT!

[EagleFan]

Are you freaking kidding me!

[Eaglesfan27]

WOW again! I don't believe that catch!

[kingfc22]

HOLY SHIT

[CU Tiger]

Holy shit

[TroyF]

The best refs money can buy eh?


I just don't see it. I think the refs have been pretty poor for both teams tonight. I don't think the Packers are the only ones who have been screwed.


Holy crap. WOW.

[General Mike]

LOL

[miami_fan]

What is the call?

[sabotai]

I don't see the ball ever touching the ground on any of the replays.

[bhlloy]

I just don't get rushing that many guys there. If you have enough guys in the endzone in the proper place it's easy to defend a Hail Mary. That just seems like another really bad idea and bad coaching

And again, the guys who are in the end zone are way too deep. What part of coaching this is difficult?

[JPhillips]

I can't imagine the refs would overturn that play on that evidence.

[timmae]

the refs have not been even close to decent. just awful. hopefully this is the last week for this crew.

what a play. wow.

[EagleFan]

I don't see the ball ever touching the ground on any of the replays.

Neither did I. Even when they say it was "punched out" I still don't see it hitting the ground, just moving to a different spot where he grabs it.

When he rolls it looks like his arm is under it, but no real good angle so far to tell.

[miami_fan]

Time for that boring extra point

[SirFozzie]

Dear NBC. HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU GO TO A COMMERCIAL???

[TroyF]

But the game would be over right now if the Cardinals just ran the ball on 2nd down.

B I N G O

That was one of the dumbest cases of clock management you will ever see.


This has been one of the most bizarre playoffs I have ever seen. Seattle, Pitt and GB should all be home right now. They are only alive due to the idiocy of the teams they played.

Simply shocking.

[sabotai]

"It didn't flip."

[Abe Sargent]

This game....

[NobodyHere]

I don't think I've ever seen a reflip on the coin toss

[timmae]

"it didn't flip"

edit: damn you sab... ;)

[JPhillips]

First failed flip I've seen.

[General Mike]

How does the coin not flip?

[EagleFan]

I just don't get rushing that many guys there. If you have enough guys in the endzone in the proper place it's easy to defend a Hail Mary. That just seems like another really bad idea and bad coaching

And again, the guys who are in the end zone are way too deep. What part of coaching this is difficult?

Yes. Especially since they were in Arizona territory, no matter how much the announcers are drooling over the throw. It wasn't a 60 yarder, they were inside the 40.

[Abe Sargent]

GOGOGOGOGOGO LARRY

[QuikSand]

what the hell is going on out there?

[TroyF]

OH MY FREAKING LORD

[kingfc22]

Oh my word. How do you not cover Fitzgerald

[EagleFan]

Um, of all the receivers not to cover?

[Vince, Pt. II]

Wow.

[QuikSand]

Unreal

[MrBug708]

They really wanted him to score

[EagleFan]

Now we just need a Seahawk victory tomorrow and then a replay of week 17 next week... :)

[cuervo72]

Somebody check on Thomkal.

[kingfc22]

That was fun. Hopefully one if not both games tomorrow can come close.

[Abe Sargent]

Congrats Cards!

[TroyF]

I vote we play the Super Bowl on a Saturday night. I have to see if it will get more strange than Pitt/Cincy and GB/Arizona.

[mauchow]

YAY, Facebook will not be insufferable for the rest of the post season.

#$%$# Vikings.....

sigh

[Radii]

Now we just need a Seahawk victory tomorrow and then a replay of week 17 next week... :)

No please!

[miami_fan]

Has Rodgers reached the status that would guarantee the OT rules are changed to ensure both teams gets at least one possession? Just trying to get a jump on the sports talk shows on Monday.

[EagleFan]

I vote we play the Super Bowl on a Saturday night. I have to see if it will get more strange than Pitt/Cincy and GB/Arizona.

+1

[SnowMan]

Somebody check on Thomkal.

His poor heart...

[PilotMan]

That was insane.

[Thomkal]

Somebody check on Thomkal.


I'm here...just barely. The Cards should thank god, their lucky rabbit foot, and their lucky stars tonight before they go to bed. They really tried to give that game to Green Bay. Thankfully Larry Fitzgerald took over in OT. Can't believe that shovel pass worked on the TD play. That 2nd Floyd TD off the tipped pass? Just crazy. I think they got some calls (or should I say no-calls?) to go their way too.

Congrats to Green Bay on a good season. I knew they would not go down without a fight, and with those hail marys (how you do let it happen twice?), you nearly delivered the knockout blow.

[kingfc22]

Has Rodgers reached the status that would guarantee the OT rules are changed to ensure both teams gets at least one possession? Just trying to get a jump on the sports talk shows on Monday.

No. The rules are fine

[cuervo72]

I'm here...just barely.

:)

[TroyF]

I'm here...just barely. The Cards should thank god, their lucky rabbit foot, and their lucky stars tonight before they go to bed. They really tried to give that game to Green Bay. Thankfully Larry Fitzgerald took over in OT. Can't believe that shovel pass worked on the TD play. That 2nd Floyd TD off the tipped pass? Just crazy. I think they got some calls (or should I say no-calls?) to go their way too.

Congrats to Green Bay on a good season. I knew they would not go down without a fight, and with those hail marys (how you do let it happen twice?), you nearly delivered the knockout blow.

If it makes you feel any better, I think the two cals tahtl GB can be truly pissed off at would be the 3rd down play where the WR was interfered with and the offensive PI on the Floyd tipped TD catch. The Fitzgerald catch drive ended up being an INT. The Non PI call was erased with a 50+ yard play right after.


I think there were plenty of calls that were either iffy or outright missed that went against Arizona too. GB might try to make this about the refs, but I really don't think it was. The story of this game for me was GB dominating the state of play in the first half and ending it trailing. That was something they could not afford to do.

[QuikSand]

No. The rules are fine

They may be fine on merit, but that's not what American sports are built on. The money is in excitement. And who (among the disinterested) doesn't want to see Rodgers and his band of hobo receivers get a chance to get the ball after the way that game ended. I'd be surprised if we don't see that debate flare up, for exactly that reason. If you watched the end of that game, you feel robbed there.

[TroyF]

Just one more thought after the games today: There NEEDS to be targeting calls in the NFL. Cheap shots to the neck/head area should result in an immediate ejection.

[TroyF]

They may be fine on merit, but that's not what American sports are built on. The money is in excitement. And who (among the disinterested) doesn't want to see Rodgers and his band of hobo receivers get a chance to get the ball after the way that game ended. I'd be surprised if we don't see that debate flare up, for exactly that reason. If you watched the end of that game, you feel robbed there.


I always want to see both teams get the ball. I understand the rules and understand that you have to play defense too. But when it comes down to a coin flip, a flukish play can decide an otherwise terrific game. I would have loved to see Rodgers get another shot.

[Fonzie]

I'm a Packers fan. But having lived in both St. Louis (back in the day) and in Arizona, I have a very soft spot for the Cardinals. They're perhaps my second-favorite team, if only for sentimental reasons. While I was hoping for a Packers win I knew I'd be content to see the Cardinals advance. So when I gripe below it's coming from a place of being frustrated with two teams I'm fond of.

I saw it mentioned on Twitter that the Packers wide receiver depth chart on August 22nd looked like this:

Jordy Nelson
Randall Cobb
Davante Adams
Ty Montgomery

Shortly after this game began their WR depth chart looked like this:

James Jones
Jared Abbrederis
Jeff Janis
Nobody

Aaron Rodgers is magnificent, to be sure, but how do the Cardinals allow that WR group (featuring the Packers 5th, 6th, and 7th stringers) to get out of a 4th and 20 situation while protecting a lead late in the 4th quarter? The fact that they gave up the 1st down on that play is enough, in my mind, to disqualify them from the playoffs. Final score be damned, it's the principle of the thing. Then there's the fact that shortly thereafter THEY GAVE UP A FREAKING HAIL MARY TD AS TIME EXPIRED. Those things don't happen to teams with aspirations of winning the Super Bowl. It's kind of like the Packers' 4th-and-26 against Philly years ago. You lose on plays like that, you deserve to be escorted out of the playoffs. Period. That the Cardinals survived those failures somehow seems unjust.

Not that the Packers advancing would've been just. They had plenty to feel frustrated about as well. This outcome would've likely been much different if someone had bothered to attach Sam Shields' hands today. I get that Sam's not a wide receiver for a reason, and he was coming off a 4-week layoff due to a concussion, but OH MY GOODNESS he had two passes land right in his hands and he dropped them both. If memory serves, Arizona scored after each of those. Brutal. Oh, and by the way, what was the plan for #11 on that first play of OT? Leave him so wide open that Palmer would think he must be hallucinating and throw the ball away? Good gracious.

tl;dnr: Fonzie feels ambivalent about the outcome. Life otherwise goes on.

[Fonzie]

I always want to see both teams get the ball. I understand the rules and understand that you have to play defense too. But when it comes down to a coin flip, a flukish play can decide an otherwise terrific game. I would have loved to see Rodgers get another shot.

Agreed. What Rodgers was able to do with those "hobos" was perhaps one of the game's most compelling storylines. As a viewer I felt robbed that we didn't see them get a shot at continuing that magic in overtime. Instead we saw an instance of busted coverage effectively end the game. Very unsatisfying.

[miked]

I don't understand how these guys, with decades of experience, cannot manage the clock. Reid's management was terrible. That call to throw a 20 yard pass when the Packers were out of timeouts cost them the regulation win. It's just crazy.

[jbergey22]

I guess "Pacman" will apologize for his comments about Brown right? :) The question now is, will Big Ben join him on the sidelines? Can't believe the Steelers have much chance if he can't play too.

Antonio Brown ruled out for Sunday. Even Elaine Benes would be impressed by his commitment to faking that concussion.

In this case Pacman should get suspended for his insensitivity to the concussion issue. I am sure the last thing Brown would want right not is to be sitting a playoff game due to concussion. The NFL does not need a Pacman Jones.

[jbergey22]

I just don't see it. I think the refs have been pretty poor for both teams tonight. I don't think the Packers are the only ones who have been screwed.


Holy crap. WOW.

We need to look at this with perspective. The Packers and their fans are used to getting every call game in and game out. When a crew actually calls a game down the middle it is completely uncommon to a Packer or their fans. LOL! :lol:

[Thomkal]

If it makes you feel any better, I think the two cals tahtl GB can be truly pissed off at would be the 3rd down play where the WR was interfered with and the offensive PI on the Floyd tipped TD catch. The Fitzgerald catch drive ended up being an INT. The Non PI call was erased with a 50+ yard play right after.


I think there were plenty of calls that were either iffy or outright missed that went against Arizona too. GB might try to make this about the refs, but I really don't think it was. The story of this game for me was GB dominating the state of play in the first half and ending it trailing. That was something they could not afford to do.

Is that the one where the receiver looks like he was turned? I'm not so sure looking at the replay-it looked more a reaction to where the throw was and turning his body to catch it. To me at least, doesn't look like the CB was turning him. Again could have been called. I didn't look at the replays of the Floyd tipped catch looking for pass interference, so I guess it could have been there. But it wasn't :) I think GB missed Cobb despite the performance of the replacement. Hope they took a good look at him next season. They wore down a bit in the second half after dominating time of possession in the first half.

Just glad my beloved Cards came out on top at the end :)

[Thomkal]

I'm a Packers fan. But having lived in both St. Louis (back in the day) and in Arizona, I have a very soft spot for the Cardinals. They're perhaps my second-favorite team, if only for sentimental reasons. While I was hoping for a Packers win I knew I'd be content to see the Cardinals advance. So when I gripe below it's coming from a place of being frustrated with two teams I'm fond of.

I saw it mentioned on Twitter that the Packers wide receiver depth chart on August 22nd looked like this:

Jordy Nelson
Randall Cobb
Davante Adams
Ty Montgomery

Shortly after this game began their WR depth chart looked like this:

James Jones
Jared Abbrederis
Jeff Janis
Nobody

Aaron Rodgers is magnificent, to be sure, but how do the Cardinals allow that WR group (featuring the Packers 5th, 6th, and 7th stringers) to get out of a 4th and 20 situation while protecting a lead late in the 4th quarter? The fact that they gave up the 1st down on that play is enough, in my mind, to disqualify them from the playoffs. Final score be damned, it's the principle of the thing. Then there's the fact that shortly thereafter THEY GAVE UP A FREAKING HAIL MARY TD AS TIME EXPIRED. Those things don't happen to teams with aspirations of winning the Super Bowl. It's kind of like the Packers' 4th-and-26 against Philly years ago. You lose on plays like that, you deserve to be escorted out of the playoffs. Period. That the Cardinals survived those failures somehow seems unjust.

Not that the Packers advancing would've been just. They had plenty to feel frustrated about as well. This outcome would've likely been much different if someone had bothered to attach Sam Shields' hands today. I get that Sam's not a wide receiver for a reason, and he was coming off a 4-week layoff due to a concussion, but OH MY GOODNESS he had two passes land right in his hands and he dropped them both. If memory serves, Arizona scored after each of those. Brutal. Oh, and by the way, what was the plan for #11 on that first play of OT? Leave him so wide open that Palmer would think he must be hallucinating and throw the ball away? Good gracious.

tl;dnr: Fonzie feels ambivalent about the outcome. Life otherwise goes on.

I think sometimes the "bad" team wins. Call it fate, luck of the "gods" or whatever. Palmer was terrible last night-threw two bad INT and could have thrown two more. Not sure either of his deep threat receivers caught a pass. That 2nd Floyd TD off the tipped pass could have easily gone the other way. But was able to find a somehow very open Fitzgerald in OT, and that was the ball game. Palmer played scared, like he was trying not to lose, rather than try to win. Maybe now that he's got a playoff win, it will relax him a bit, and go back to his successful aggressive ways. The defense clearly misses Mathieu-no way should those young untested receivers should have that much success otherwise. (and kudos to both of them for coming up big)

[Thomkal]

In this case Pacman should get suspended for his insensitivity to the concussion issue. I am sure the last thing Brown would want right not is to be sitting a playoff game due to concussion. The NFL does not need a Pacman Jones.

But yet someone will be paying for him in free agency.

[jbergey22]

The Packers were vastly underrated. While yes they are playing with none of their top 4 WRs they have one of the top QBs in NFL history. With a top QB you are really in any playoff game despite the lack of talent at other key positions. A blowout in the regular season means absolutely nothing when it comes to postseason. The Vikings and Packers both proved this. The NFL is far too balanced to think a playoff team really is 30 points worse than any other team in the league. A blowout win actually improves the chances of the underdog because it gives them extra motivation while it gives the favorite overconfidence.

[Julio Riddols]

In this case Pacman should get suspended for his insensitivity to the concussion issue. I am sure the last thing Brown would want right not is to be sitting a playoff game due to concussion. The NFL does not need a Pacman Jones.

Well he did apologize.

[jeff061]

Found this kind of funny. Legit backup strategy or only necessary for Magoo?

https://www.facebook.com/CBSSports/photos/a.153360416772.117439.25902406772/10153633693896773/?type=3&theater

[jeff061]

Video without description. Basically it was with less than 2 minutes left and they didn't want Reid pulling the flag out.

Cris Collinsworth on Twitter: "Hope there are no close calls.
(https://twitter.com/CollinsworthNBC/status/688496507268419584)

[timmae]

Good point berg.. I think your sig needs to change though ;)

[timmae]

I believe any time a DB lunges and doesnt use their arms to wrap the tackle it should be a 15 yd penalty. These idiots who just throw a shoulder to make a "tackle" are ridiculous.

[Abe Sargent]

Good luck Panthers and Broncos!

[QuikSand]

So, a side note here.

Two years ago, thogh it seems liek longer, we were watching the AFC playoffs with total awe. The Peyton Offense in Denver was a remarkable juggernaut (seriously, if you don't remember how awesome they were, I'll wait while you go check).

Meanwhile, scrappy New England was dealing with some manner of weird injuries and so forth (I honestly don't recall the details) - but they managed to advance in the playoffs and face Denver. Denver was a heavy favorite, but at the time I felt like there was a really intriguing subcurrent there.

Peyton Manning had already put himself into the elite tier of all time QBs, but always had the knock that he didn't deliver mightily in the postseason. Brady was the golden boy who did, despite not having the gaudy stats by and large. At the time, most people had those two guys pegged very close to one another in that barroom GOAT conversation. A healthy two-way debate. I would have taken Manning's side at one barstool, personally.

In the 2013-14 playoffs, the fascinating under-appreciated story was actually about Brady. WHAT IF Brady, with seemingly nothing around him, somehow engineered an upset of the might Broncos and went on to win yet another title? With what he had around him, I think that would have been a monstrous upset, and a remarkable entry into that GOAT convration. Maybe enough to put him into the driver's seat and forever separate him from Manning.

But with TWO different quarterbacks playing for major GOAT credentials at the same time - that seemed like a great moment. And it was obscured a bit by the totally amazeballs season that Team Peyton had assembled, and how he was the one going after history (win with two teams, greatest QB season ever, etc).

...

Any, fast forward to now. Brady is not even the MVP, but has clearly emerged as the top gun here, and a now-healthy Patriots team looks to go back to back. We are again talking about another entry into the GOAT conversation, but it's all about Brady. And deservedly so, right? Thy win out here, and he probably becomes the top guy on the consensus list for now and for 25 years from now.

But...let's not overlook Manning now. The storyline here, deservedly so, has been that the team has excelled around him, an even despite him this year. He is not his old self, and their judgment to get him back into the lineup is even questionable, given his obvious limitations.

But we again have a crazy and delicious WHAT IF, don't we? WHAT IF Denver wins this week, and gets to play against the golden boy and the (surely) favored Patriots? And WHAT IF Peyton plays well and really contributes to a win? Not a 400 yard passing game, necessarily, but what if he is throwing precision passes and calling all his audibles, and makes a signature gritty/clutch play or two? And they go on to win it all with him playing well?

What, then? The biggest Manning detractors are the anti-clutch types. But a title here with him at the helm, almost regardless of how much he contributes, would have to help his legacy a ton (think John Elway, who suddenly became a talented game manager handing off to Terrell Davis and forever escaped a psychological near-tie with Jim Kelly in the GOAT conversation). But if Manning actually WINS one of these games with the big play at the end or somesuch... what then?

You don't get this a lot. We saw it with Federer and Nadal in tennis, perhaps. No other recent examples come right to mind for me. Two guys, already cemented as legends, simultaneously battling for their exact place in history among the very to echelon of their shared set.

Brady seemed to put it to be last year with a great comeback season and improbable title. Maning seems done. But how fascinating would it be to see the tables turned here?

I'm not calling it. Hardly anyone is. If anything, we see Von Miller with a sack-strip-fumble-six as the face of any sort of Denver title run this year. But
I'm just saying...this sort of thing doesn't even come together on paper very often. It's usually only in your backyard, when you're making shit up as you go.

[SnowMan]

Anyone else on directv getting the Spanish audio? I'm thinking this is better than Buck/Aikman.

[Buccaneer]

So ecstatic seeing my 2nd favorite player win it in overtime for the Cards. Saw it live and since my wife recorded both games for my son (he was at a debate tournament all day/evening), he and I stayed up until 2am watching both games. Since he did not know the results and what had happened, it was great to see his reactions.

[Radii]

Can't ask for a better start than that, especially for Stewart after being out for about a month.

[Thomkal]

wow game over?

[Radii]

wow game over?

nah, no way.

[bhlloy]

Seattle's line is unbelievably bad. I don't think they have a shot with that unit playing like this. It also looks like they are better with Lynch off the field on passing downs at least

[whomario]

Panthers look unstoppable

[MizzouRah]

Let's make this 21-0!

[digamma]

If I'm looking to bet this weekend, I'm looking at a carnival gamey bet of the Panthers in the first quarter. My guess is that line will be something like -1/2, and I like the Panthers being amped up in front of a home crowd combined with the Seahawks traveling through multiple time zones and back two weeks in a row.

Will accept gratuities.

[Easy Mac]

I guess Wilson didn't drink enough special water

[frnk55]

That little girl jumping up and down wide eyed is awesome.:):):)

[Atocep]

Seattle's line is unbelievably bad. I don't think they have a shot with that unit playing like this. It also looks like they are better with Lynch off the field on passing downs at least

Wilson, Rawls, and Lynch have made that line look better than it is all year too. The front office bet on Tom Cable being able to make that line serviceable and he was able to do so against weaker front 7s, but when facing teams like the Cardinals, Panthers, and Rams it becomes obvious just how bad that line is.

[Thomkal]

Fox must be hating this.

[Thomkal]

It's a shame the field appears to be so bad.

[whomario]

Whoa, now we are entering F-you territory

[frnk55]

wow game over?
Yes, now it is.

[Thomkal]

how about now radii?

[miami_fan]

Warm up the camera for the photo shoot!

[sabotai]

Geez, Carolina is curb stomping the fuck out of Seattle...

[MrBug708]

I'm hoping 51-0 happens. It won't happen to a more deserving asshat in Peter Carroll

[JonInMiddleGA]

Why oh why couldn't this actually be done by a team that was likable?

[sabotai]

Also..

Clay Matthews: NFL should 'go to college rules' in OT - NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000624071/article/clay-matthews-nfl-should-go-to-college-rules-in-ot)

I would fucking hate this.

[Radii]

how about now radii?

Panthers vs. Giants - Game Summary - December 20, 2015 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nfl/game?gameId=400791693)

I'll relax in the 4th quarter... maybe :P


This is amazing though!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Also..

Clay Matthews: NFL should 'go to college rules' in OT - NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000624071/article/clay-matthews-nfl-should-go-to-college-rules-in-ot)

I would fucking hate this.

+1

[Radii]

That was a great tackle on 4th down. I think I would ahve taken the points if I were Seattle there.

[stevew]

This Panthers team is the most likeable team left in the playoffs. Arizona isnt too bad either. The AFC is all evil

[Atocep]

That was a great tackle on 4th down. I think I would ahve taken the points if I were Seattle there.


I understand what Pete was thinking there but at this point Seattle needs to make sure they're getting something out of every drive they can. It's not like it was 4th and short and they're not going to come back by coming up empty handed on good drives.

[jbergey22]

I understand what Pete was thinking there but at this point Seattle needs to make sure they're getting something out of every drive they can. It's not like it was 4th and short and they're not going to come back by coming up empty handed on good drives.

Well they're not going to come back kicking field goals either. They put themselves into the position of having to go for it and make it to make a comeback.

[JonInMiddleGA]

This Panthers team is the most likeable team left in the playoffs. Arizona isnt too bad either.

I'd probably argue for Arizona in that pairing on that subject. And that might be more for the reason of having been given less reason to actively dislike them.

The AFC is all evil

Manning is pretty much the last prominent player in the league I genuinely give a damn about. And Eric Berry is the reason that I draw that distinction, he's rarely going to be the focal point of a game.

I've got nothing against Megatron particularly & wish him well but for whatever reason (despite playing for a favorite college team) I never felt the emotional connection to him that I have about those other two.

[Radii]

What the hell is that run with Lynch with no timeouts?

Seattle had a legit chance to get 2 field goals on the board in the final minutes and then to get the ball back to start the second half. Make it 31-13 on 3 straight scores, and you've got some people worrying.

Instead, this. Thanks, Pete.

[Atocep]

What the hell is that run with Lynch with no timeouts?

Seattle had a legit chance to get 2 field goals on the board in the final minutes and then to get the ball back to start the second half. Make it 31-13 on 3 straight scores, and you've got some people worrying.

Instead, this. Thanks, Pete.

Lynch ran 30 seconds off the clock by refusing to go down. Then Wilson goes over the middle with no timeouts.

It looks like Seattle is just ready to go back home at this point.

[EagleFan]

One play at a time... :)

(trying to stay positive)

[albionmoonlight]

I might start the drive to Charlotte now. If Seattle manages to come back, I will want to slap the smug smile off Pete Carroll's face myself.

[Alf]

WTF Carolina ?

[sabotai]

Uh-oh. UH-OH!

[EagleFan]

Time for the defense to make a play; maybe make this a game.

[Radii]

Ugh, very worried about Olsen.

[HeavyReign]

Sure could use that FG from the first half

[EagleFan]

That field goal is huge now. This could be on the verge of a one score game if they kicked it in the first half.

[EagleFan]

uh, yeah... what he said. :)

[Easy Mac]

They very clearly saw something from the first half with as much as they're going to kearse

[Easy Mac]

I won't say I called that one...

[Radii]

They very clearly saw something from the first half with as much as they're going to kearse

he's going against Carolina's #4 corner since they have two guys out for the year, and Carolina isn't getting pressure on Wilson consistently anymore.

[HeavyReign]

Same thing in Atlanta 3 years ago. Pete hates the FG down big but this team is so good at coming back you need to take the points.

[HeavyReign]

And also take a look at the first half of the last 3 10am Seahawks playoff games. Something like 0 to 57 in favor of the other team.

[EagleFan]

Another miracle would be nice.

[miami_fan]

Kinda cool to see the OLB on the hands team.

[Thomkal]

well turned out to be not so easy after all, but see ya in Carolina next week.

[Radii]

whew. Again, thanks Pete for your idiotic decisions to end the first half. Good game, Seahawks fans.

[HeavyReign]

Can actually say I think I'd prefer Carolina to win of the remaining options. For Seattle I can't question the team's heart. There's a reason they haven't been blown out in years. Need some better starts on the road though. Last 4 road games we got 0-14, 0-20, 0-9, 0-31. Today was the only time they didn't take the lead or win. Stupid FG. 0-16 start at home versus Green Bay too.

[miami_fan]

This Panthers team is the most likeable team left in the playoffs. Arizona isnt too bad either. The AFC is all evil

I am all in on the NFC teams.

[TroyF]

So, a side note here.

Two years ago, thogh it seems liek longer, we were watching the AFC playoffs with total awe. The Peyton Offense in Denver was a remarkable juggernaut (seriously, if you don't remember how awesome they were, I'll wait while you go check).

Meanwhile, scrappy New England was dealing with some manner of weird injuries and so forth (I honestly don't recall the details) - but they managed to advance in the playoffs and face Denver. Denver was a heavy favorite, but at the time I felt like there was a really intriguing subcurrent there.

Peyton Manning had already put himself into the elite tier of all time QBs, but always had the knock that he didn't deliver mightily in the postseason. Brady was the golden boy who did, despite not having the gaudy stats by and large. At the time, most people had those two guys pegged very close to one another in that barroom GOAT conversation. A healthy two-way debate. I would have taken Manning's side at one barstool, personally.

In the 2013-14 playoffs, the fascinating under-appreciated story was actually about Brady. WHAT IF Brady, with seemingly nothing around him, somehow engineered an upset of the might Broncos and went on to win yet another title? With what he had around him, I think that would have been a monstrous upset, and a remarkable entry into that GOAT convration. Maybe enough to put him into the driver's seat and forever separate him from Manning.

But with TWO different quarterbacks playing for major GOAT credentials at the same time - that seemed like a great moment. And it was obscured a bit by the totally amazeballs season that Team Peyton had assembled, and how he was the one going after history (win with two teams, greatest QB season ever, etc).

...

Any, fast forward to now. Brady is not even the MVP, but has clearly emerged as the top gun here, and a now-healthy Patriots team looks to go back to back. We are again talking about another entry into the GOAT conversation, but it's all about Brady. And deservedly so, right? Thy win out here, and he probably becomes the top guy on the consensus list for now and for 25 years from now.

But...let's not overlook Manning now. The storyline here, deservedly so, has been that the team has excelled around him, an even despite him this year. He is not his old self, and their judgment to get him back into the lineup is even questionable, given his obvious limitations.

But we again have a crazy and delicious WHAT IF, don't we? WHAT IF Denver wins this week, and gets to play against the golden boy and the (surely) favored Patriots? And WHAT IF Peyton plays well and really contributes to a win? Not a 400 yard passing game, necessarily, but what if he is throwing precision passes and calling all his audibles, and makes a signature gritty/clutch play or two? And they go on to win it all with him playing well?

What, then? The biggest Manning detractors are the anti-clutch types. But a title here with him at the helm, almost regardless of how much he contributes, would have to help his legacy a ton (think John Elway, who suddenly became a talented game manager handing off to Terrell Davis and forever escaped a psychological near-tie with Jim Kelly in the GOAT conversation). But if Manning actually WINS one of these games with the big play at the end or somesuch... what then?

You don't get this a lot. We saw it with Federer and Nadal in tennis, perhaps. No other recent examples come right to mind for me. Two guys, already cemented as legends, simultaneously battling for their exact place in history among the very to echelon of their shared set.

Brady seemed to put it to be last year with a great comeback season and improbable title. Maning seems done. But how fascinating would it be to see the tables turned here?

I'm not calling it. Hardly anyone is. If anything, we see Von Miller with a sack-strip-fumble-six as the face of any sort of Denver title run this year. But
I'm just saying...this sort of thing doesn't even come together on paper very often. It's usually only in your backyard, when you're making shit up as you go.

Great, great post QS.

I'll just add that:

Assuming that game happens, for once during this "rivalry" Manning will feel like the disrespected player. Brady gets uses people disrespecting him to fuel his RAGE. If the story all week is NE being favored and everyone kicking the corpse of Manning?

How many times did the Patriots have a superior defense to the Colts and used it to turn the game ugly and win it? That's what Denver would attempt to do against the Patriots.

If it comes about, it will be fascinating to see.

[stevew]

Is anyone else's game in Spanish?

[RedKingGold]

Is anyone else's game in Spanish?

Nope, I have Phil Simms but would happily switch with you.

[stevew]

Good point

[TroyF]

3rd and 2. Denver has made statements all week about wanting to run the football.

So run it. Don't resort to trickery. Call an actual running play. Really stupid call there.

[JPhillips]

I really don't understand what the rule is for leading with the crown.

[Carman Bulldog]

I really don't understand what the rule is for leading with the crown.

Not sure I really understand pass interference anymore the way Talib wrapped his arms around Bryant in the end zone well before the ball got there.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Going to be really irritated if Pittsburgh wins and the Chiefs let the opportunity slip away to host an AFC title game.

[Thomkal]

19 yards is the biggest pass play for Manning so far-I thought Big Ben was the QB with the injured shoulder

[whomario]

19 yards is the biggest pass play for Manning so far-I thought Big Ben was the QB with the injured shoulder

To be fair, the Steelers long plays are all after the catch. In the air, both have struggled with accuracy and i don´t think its a stretch that the wind played a part so far (seems to be letting up now).

I think both QBs are doing fine, Bens receivers do a better job with it.

[cthomer5000]

Whether or not he "gave himself up" can't be challenge-able... can it?

[stevew]

Bullshit call. If someone smacks Peyton on the ground its a personal foul

[cthomer5000]

Slick by Tomlin to slow things down when Manning was telling guys to get to the line of scrimmage, BTW. He probably knew it wasn't reviewable when he threw the flag.

[stevew]

Geez, we need a punt returner

[stevew]

The fuck is that rule

[NobodyHere]

Now that is a BS rule

[Eaglesfan27]

That should be spotted at the 1 even if the rule says it would be a touchback if recovered in the endzone.

[cthomer5000]

Seems weird to be able to muff a punt, then basically benefit by jumping on it in your own endzone.

[stevew]

We're really YAC'ing them today

[kingfc22]

We're really YAC'ing them today

You would think they would adjust the defense to stop the underneath pass that has occurred consistently this game

[stevew]

Really bad fumble

[kingfc22]

Looked like a nice flop to draw that holding call

[Glengoyne]

That should be spotted at the 1 even if the rule says it would be a touchback if recovered in the endzone.


I think they should have challenged that he was down by contact at the one before he slid to the end zone.

Edit boy that was stuck in the ipad for a bit

[stevew]

This field is really garbage today

[Carman Bulldog]

That non-PI call in the end zone is looking huge now.

[Galaril]

This field is really garbage today

The field is in great shape.

[Galaril]

That non-PI call in the end zone is looking huge now.

That was not PI in the end zone sorry to say but get you are a Pats fan so sure😊

[stevew]

The field is in great shape.

If your neighbor had grass like that you'd be calling the HOA.

[NobodyHere]

Why wasn't that a fumble?

[stevew]

Forward progress stopped I guess.

[Galaril]

If your neighbor had grass like that you'd be calling the HOA.

Haha yeah I see what you mean color wise but you get we live in a semi arid desert region with little rain so that is common but they could have used the sprinklers more sure. The field is dry and very intact.

[Carman Bulldog]

That was not PI in the end zone sorry to say but get you are a Pats fan so sure😊

Sorry, you must have me confused with someone else. I was hoping for a Chiefs-Cards final before the weekend. Now I'm rooting for the Cards. I don't own a single piece of merchandise and live in the centre of Canada and have no allegiance. Also, I'm not sure if a Pats fan would rather face the Steelers of Broncos so that comment is really moot.

Regarding the actual play, watch the replay and tell me how the CB can have both arms wrapped around the WR before the ball even gets there and it not be a penalty.

[stevew]

Good game.

[Galaril]

Sorry, you must have me confused with someone else. I was hoping for a Chiefs-Cards final before the weekend. Now I'm rooting for the Cards. I don't own a single piece of merchandise and live in the centre of Canada and have no allegiance. Also, I'm not sure if a Pats fan would rather face the Steelers of Broncos so that comment is really moot.

Regarding the actual play, watch the replay and tell me how the CB can have both arms wrapped around the WR before the ball even gets there and it not be a penalty.

The play was close. I watched the play a number of times and the ball got there when his hands wrapped him up.

Pats wanted the Steelers without Brown, injured QB and get to play in Foxboro.

[Galaril]

Good game.

Great game and tons of props to the Steelers, clean hard played game and with the injuries Pittsburgh played with tons of heart.

[Carman Bulldog]

Four one score games and this weekend continues to be one of my favourites every year. All four road teams last week and all four home teams this week.

If the Chiefs could have pulled it off, we also would have had four former first overall picks as the four starting QB's. I believe that would have been the first time ever. As it is, we have three 1st's and a 199.

[BishopMVP]

Pats wanted the Steelers without Brown, injured QB and get to play in Foxboro.That's the only part I care about... would've rather faced the Broncos at Foxboro than travel to Pittsburgh (plus Big Ben looked no more banged up than he normally does and AB was probably likely to play next week, though we'll never know for sure). Oh well, should've beaten the Dolphins... now I just need to completely tune out every radio host and ESPN for 6.75 days!

[Abe Sargent]

I'll be rooting for either NFC team to win the Super Bowl.

[Galaril]

That's the only part I care about... would've rather faced the Broncos at Foxboro than travel to Pittsburgh (plus Big Ben looked no more banged up than he normally does and AB was probably likely to play next week, though we'll never know for sure). Oh well, should've beaten the Dolphins... now I just need to completely tune out every radio host and ESPN for 6.75 days!

I expect an ass whipping at the hands of your Pats next weekend. You guys are going to be like a 5 or 6 point favorite even in Denver . Weather is supposed to be 50 degrees sunny and light wind too.

[TroyF]

Well, that's Denver.

Steelers moved the ball better than I expected, but Denver was simply set up to not allow the over the top TD's they had a few weeks ago. I am not saying I liked the strategy, but that was clearly the strategy right from the start. Don't blitz a lot, play deep zones and force the Steelers to drive down the field while Denver just wanted to avoid turnovers and stick with the run.

Take out the Denver drops and the game would probably have been over or changed much earlier. While the Steelers moved the ball with some big plays (underneath routes that went for big yardage mostly), they didn't move the ball at any other point. 2-14 on third and fourth downs.

On the PI in the end zone, I watched that play 15 times on slow mo rewind and I'll be damned if I can give an opinion on it. Overall, I thought the refs did a pretty good job in this one. I also liked the fact there wasn't any real cheap shots out there. The Broncos were still VERY angry about the cheap shot the Steelers linemena took last month. (he should have been suspended by the way, one of the cheapest shots I've seen this year) The Steelers were pissed off about the "bounty" Denver put on him. (all Denver said publicly is that they would hit him between the whistles) Either way, based off of the idiocy we've seen the last few weeks it is good everyone acted appropriately.

Next week is going to be interesting. Usually, Beli tries to ugly it up to slow down Manning. Now the Broncos will be trying to ugly it up to slow down Brady. I'm hoping for a blizzard with 75 mile an hour winds. If it comes down the running game, I think Denver will be better than the Patriots. But getting spread out and Brady making his quick reads? Nope, nope, nope. Find a way to slow the pace, have long drives and pressure Brady into a few mistakes. That's the way Denver can win this game. (I will be cheering for Denver, but would give the Patriots a 65 to 70 percent shot of winning this game. Maybe more.)

[Buccaneer]

That's the only part I care about... would've rather faced the Broncos at Foxboro than travel to Pittsburgh (plus Big Ben looked no more banged up than he normally does and AB was probably likely to play next week, though we'll never know for sure). Oh well, should've beaten the Dolphins... now I just need to completely tune out every radio host and ESPN for 6.75 days!

+1

All game long, I kept think whether to have the Pats play at home vs. Steelers thinking that Brown would be back or play on the road vs. Broncos. Couldn't decide which was the lesser of two evils.

[jeff061]

Pats didn't deserve home field. Looking forward to another Brady/Manning game.

[Carman Bulldog]

The play was close. I watched the play a number of times and the ball got there when his hands wrapped him up.

We might be talking about different plays. This (https://mobile.twitter.com/bill_nusser/status/688870871797215232/photo/1) is the one in the 3rd quarter I was referencing. The hug only got worse after this point as the ball got closer. I don't even think Phil Seeems mentioned it at all. Clearly looked like PI to me live and on all the replays.

[Kodos]

Not an impressive win, but the Broncos live to fight another day.

[Thomkal]

I think Denver has the better chance of beating New England, so glad they won, but I'm already sick of the Manning vs Brady pre-game hype.

[jbergey22]

I expect an ass whipping at the hands of your Pats next weekend. You guys are going to be like a 5 or 6 point favorite even in Denver . Weather is supposed to be 50 degrees sunny and light wind too.

Pats -3 Total 44

[TroyF]

For the hell of it, lets play the fan game:

Patriots fan:

We'll win because we are finally healthy and we are playing against a corpse. The Denver offense hasn't been good all year and it isn't going to start next week. Our WR are solid and Denver will have a difficult time slowing down this team with a healthy Gronk and Edelman. The Broncos have been playing with fire all year long and it will backfire on them next week.

Broncos fan:

The Patriots have not been as dominant as people seem to think for most of this season. They are a very good team, but everyone who reaches this point is. They were not a historic team even before their injuries. Brady has never had a lot of success in Denver. His two wins are over Danny Kannel and Tim Tebow. The Denver defense is the single best unit that will be on the field on Sunday. The Broncos will keep things close and there is no reason to think they can't pull one out.

Carolina fan:

We are 16-1. Period. The offense is great, the defense is great and we are at home where we have won 11 straight games. We have the MVP of the league and the pass rush to put Palmer on his back. Speaking of Palmer, did you see how weak he was against GB? We'll make him pay for every one of those mistakes. We don't have WR? Who did the Packers have? The same Packers who torched that defense for a majority of the game?

Cardinals fan:

If it weren't for a miracle play, we win that game in regulation and we didn't even play close to our best. We know that if we get down, the Panthers are prone to sleepwalking through full halves of football and will let us back in the game. Palmer was poor, but he got through it. We went 7-1 on the road. We played about as poorly as we can and still won the game. We won't play that poorly again. Pederson will take out Ginn by himself and force the Panthers to beat us with Olsen and the running game. That may work when Russell Wilson is throwing INT's inside the 20 yard line, it won't work so well when you have to drive 80 yards each time you get the ball.

[Ryche]

I expect an ass whipping at the hands of your Pats next weekend. You guys are going to be like a 5 or 6 point favorite even in Denver . Weather is supposed to be 50 degrees sunny and light wind too.

My one point of hopefulness next weekend is that I think the Steelers offensive line is much better than the Patriots. They should get pressure on Brady and I don't think they will have much luck running the ball.

[jeff061]

With Edelman in the line up they get the ball out consistently in 1 to 2 seconds. Mitigates any pass rush. That's how they did it early in the season and yesterday. They barely even bother to run.

Denver will need to disrupt the short timing routes. If they can do that they will likely pressure consistently rushing just 4. Pats offensive line has been truly awful all year. They were just able to mask it the first half of the season.

[Galaril]

My one point of hopefulness next weekend is that I think the Steelers offensive line is much better than the Patriots. They should get pressure on Brady and I don't think they will have much luck running the ball.

Just read that Chris Harris played most of the game hurt and only third downs mostly and is likely the nickel or dime back again next week with Roby, Talib being the starting backers and Bolden may be lost with a torn ACL so they are going to have a hard time controlling the Pats passing game.

[TroyF]

With Edelman in the line up they get the ball out consistently in 1 to 2 seconds. Mitigates any pass rush. That's how they did it early in the season and yesterday. They barely even bother to run.

Denver will need to disrupt the short timing routes. If they can do that they will likely pressure consistently rushing just 4. Pats offensive line has been truly awful all year. They were just able to mask it the first half of the season.

The Patriots make it really hard to do that. I think what Denver has to do is one from the Patriots playbook.You aren't going to stop the catches, but what you can do is pound them after the catch it. Don't miss tackles. Cover the living hell out of the short routes and force Brady to throw it either into tight coverage or deep. He's 20 of 60 on any pass over 21 yards down field this year. Take the chance.


The Patriots have zero running game and that isn't fixed by having all the WR back. They can only beat you one way now.

I'll state one last thing Denver MUST do if they are going to win. Forget Ware/Miller on the edge. I don't give a damn about that. If Denver want to beat Brady, they need to get pressure up the middle.

This game is going to be decided by turnovers and long plays IMO. The offenses are both incredibly flawed. I favor the Pats in this one, but I can easily see a scenario where Denver uglies up the game, controls TOP and eeks out an ugly win.

[cartman]

So, wild card weekend all of the road teams won, and this past weekend all of the home teams won. First time since the 2004 season that all of the 1 and 2 seeds will meet in the conference championship games.

[PilotMan]

Go Cards.