MNF - Chiefs/Ravens
 

does no one care?

Chiefs are looking like their old self - good offense, suspect defense. This game would be over had they not let up a punt return for a TD.

Up 10 at the beginning of the 4th, I'm glad I bet on them. I thought the +6 was pretty ridiculous against a team with no offense.

2nd straight week I thought real hard about betting the MN game.
2nd straight week I didn't.
2nd straight week I would have won. :(

Okay, so you have 1st and 1, you're playing a horrible defense that is small up front, and you have a 220-lb running back. And you, fake the hand off to go for a short pass instead? Did someone actually once call Billick an offensive genius? The Ravens dodged a bullet when that interception was flagged away.

CR

Agreed. If ever a situation called for 4 straight runs, that was it.


I always wondered... when there is a penalty in the endzone, and a first and goal situation, why place the ball at the 1? They should place it as close as possible to the goal line. Just one of those things i've wondered about for too long.

So let me get this straight, as I find it hard to piece together Madden's ramblings.

If a return team fair catches a punt they can get a free kick on the next play? I'd never heard this rule before, pretty intriguing. What's the exact reasoning for this?

I think the rule only applies at the end of a half/game. I don't really know what the reasoning is, but it's my favorite rule. I think i've only seen it ever happen in an NFL game once though.

It's an odd sight because it's just the holder, kicker, and empty field.

RUN THE BALL, KC

I would love to abolish the two-minute warning.

How many more good games defensively do the Chiefs have to have before they quit being this laughing stock???

vs BAL: 234 Total Yards allowed (154 passing / 80 rushing)
vs Houston: 309 Total yards Allowed (233 passing / 76 rushing)

Wow... KC actually won a game ;).

I hate how they ramble about this all the time. I think it applies any time during the game, but you wouldnt want to use it except at the end of the half or game. Theoretically you could get a better attempt or a touchdown if you began a drive instead of free kicking it.

I have a question about a play from early in the game. There was a pass interference call on Chris McCallister, and Billick challenged whether the ball was tipped.

This confused the hell out of me, and Michaels and Madden didn't help at all when explaining it. Isn't Billick challenging the penalty call? Which isn't allowed? How can he challenge whether a ball was tipped?

'bout time.

Now we can get on with, as Trent Green put it, "the second half" of our season. :D

(Just hope we win some games in the third and fourth halves as well)

Because if the ball is tipped it's a free ball and anyone can go after it. Billick was saying that since it was tipped, McCallister could tackle Hall.

Ahh thanks. That cleared it up. :)

Yeah, I also thought that was an odd challenge. We may never know whether that challenge should have even been allowed...

I was expecting them to start panning the sidelines at the end of the game, looking for Jamal Lewis, not finding him. Next thing you know hes in Canada, leading one of the RoughRider teams to victory.

He was challenging whether or not the ball was tipped. If the ball is tipped, then you can't be called for pass interference or illegal contact. So, you can't challenge the penalty, but you could challenge whether or not the action on the field prevents that penalty from being called.

My #1 pick in fantasy football this year?

Ahhh yes... Priest Holmes. He did me proud today!


Todd

I had Jamal Lewis on my fantasy team and needed that TD to win for the week...how infuriating do you think that first first and goal call was to me? :)

In that league that I'm in, because of the results of the game, there were one point, two point, and three point winners.

Heh...there was personal angst in that moment for me as well, JAG. I have Lewis in at least two leagues (maybe three--I forget).

CR

There's only one Roughrider team now... ;)

Well, they have to do it at least once against a decent offensive team...

Maaaaaan, i prefered it when 25% of CFL teams were named RoughRiders.

Baltimore's entire offensive gameplan confused me. On their very first offensive play they do a nicely-called pitchout to Lewis (whilst the KC defense were clearly thinking a run up the middle) and he plows for 18 yards (the last five while running over a DB). On the evidence of this, I would have thought a lot more running was in order. Evidently not. Why? I can't wait for TMQ to have a field day with this one.

The free kick thing was interesting. I don't suppose anyone's interested in trawling through the NFL rulebook to find out what the real story is? :)

I'm not trying to parse "end of the half or game" to closely I hope, but the advantage is that you don't have to worry about anyone trying to block the kick, so you can presumably kick a longer FG than you could while constrained by getting the ball up above the arms of the defense. I don't know how many yards extra that translates to, but you could certainly make an argument that even with "some" time left you'd want to take the free kick.

As to "why" the rule is there...who the hell knows. It's also still legal to try a "drop kick" for goal, where you might line up in punt formation, and instead of a normal punt you let the ball hit the ground and then kick it. I don't know where they'd spot the ball if you don't make it through the uprights, but if it were only a touch back I'd think someone would try it once in a while.

/{end silly nfl rule discussion}

I remember a while back, Jim McMahon was practicing his drop-kick technique, "just in case."

The fact that these absurd rules still exist in the mysterious bowels of the NFL rules simultaneously annoys and amuses me.

I think these rules are remnants of football's evolution from rugby. Both the drop kick during live play, and the free kick after a 'fair catch' (called a mark in rugby) are allowed and actually used during rugby play.

They've still given up the most points in the NFL...that might have something to do with it. And, besides, the Ravens averaged 5 yards per play last night...they're second best performance of the season behind the game against Cincy...a team everybody has a good day against...except the Fish!!!!

Jamal Lewis didn't get into a groove last night until the 4th quarter and is the only reason why KC's D didn't look as foolish as it usually does. Why didn't he get into a groove until then?? Well, the KC offense did it's job...well, Holmes...and kept the ball all game. The KC D should be buying beers this week...that's for sure.

As soon as someone wins a playoff game with a free kick, the rule will be gone.

So, never is what you are saying?

What they should really do is require the person making the fair catch take the free kick.

here is the rule i think

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/faircatch

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/fairkick