NFL Wildcard Thread

[MizzouRah]

Stupid DVR, missed the OT!

Nice W for the Broncos though.. I really hope they can beat the Pats, that would make my year... and it's been lousy being a Rams fan.

[stevew]

I know he's a HOFer, and such, but i hope this is it for LeBeau. We've been out coached in so many games.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by stevew

I know he's a HOFer, and such, but i hope this is it for LeBeau. We've been out coached in so many games.

When they said his age I figured he has got to be close to calling it quits. I just can't imagine anybody near 80 being as sharp as they need to be for this kind of stuff. I think Simmons talked about 55 being the age head coaches start to go down.

[Danny]

Probably depends a lot on the person, some people are still super sharp into their 60's. I think once you get 70 that is definitely stretching it, both mentally and physically.

[bhlloy]

I definitely think the Steelers rolled in thinking they could play their usual defense and roll over Tebow pretty easily. Seems like they played right into his hands - a lot of blitzes that meant they didn't keep contain too well on occasion and very vanilla coverage allowing him to make easy reads and make some easier throws down the field. Probably time for LeBeau to go.

[Swaggs]

I know it is easy to jump on LeBeau and the Steelers' defense played poorly, but they were literally missing all three of their starting DL (Hampton and Keisel went out early and Smith has been out most of the season), played without Ryan Clark, and Polamalu and Woodley were both banged up.

They overcame all of that well enough to be in the game and Ben hadn't thrown a shitball of an interception that led to an easy FG and/or they hadn't blown that snap and lost a ton of yardage just before halftime, they likely would have been in position to win the game (and, conversely you can say the same about Denver's untimely TO, as well).

As poorly as the offense played in the first half (I'm pretty sure Ben must have gotten some kind of serious shot at halftime, because he looked a hell of a lot more mobile) and if you consider that the interception gave Denver a FG, the defense only gave up 20 points in regulation, which is not that bad of a game really, when you consider how many injuries they were dealing with.

Taylor played like crap and the entire team bit on the play action that ended the game, but I'm not sure you can blame a whole lot on LeBeau when you consider the poo-poo platter he was working with.

[Ksyrup]

That was fun. I was absolutely shocked the Steelers didn't even get a FG attempt with 1:45 left in regulation and 2 TOs. Thought for sure the game was lost. I don't think I heard Polomalu or Harrison's name called hardly at all the entire game.

It seemed like the OT pass was set up from the beginning of the game by running read option hand-off up the middle on 1st down every single damn drive. And then boom - safety up at the line, CB takes outside position, no one in the middle, Tebow makes a great throw, DT throws a stiff arm, and it's over.

[Matthean]

I partly assume a healthy Steelers team wins that one but that's the way it goes during this time of the season. Even if the goofiness continues with a win against the Pats, I can't imagine them beating the Ravens even if Flacco is involved.

And there's this.

Lions CB Aaron Berry to angry Lions fans: ‘Go back to being broke and miserable’ | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports

If I'm a Lions DB, I wouldn't be saying much right now.

[Ksyrup]

What's the record for most OT wins in a season? Cuz we've got 4. I don't imagine many teams have ever played 4 OT games in a season, much less won 4.

[Thomkal]

Cards had four this season setting the record

[Ksyrup]

Wow, really? Shows how little I follow the NFL these days, I guess.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Danny

When he has played well, his completion % isnt really fair. He throws away at least a few balls not wanting to risk a turnover and a couple drops really impact the numbers when throwing so few times. Actually watching the game, I can only think of one throw Tebow really missed and that was the 4th quarter over the middle to Thomas.

I remember one of the throws to Ball where Tebow scrambled left, had Ball breaking up the sideline, threw the ball, and Ball stopped in his tracks. The ball went just over Ball's jumping hands. If Ball had continued to run up the field like he was when Tebow threw, he would have caught the ball.

Not Tebow's fault at all, for one example. Also that was a fun paragraph to write.

[Ksyrup]

Thomas is good for 2-3 drops a game, too, usually. In fact, my 7-year old daughter loves throwing the football around, and she's taken to calling me '88' when I drop one. This morning, when I told her how the game ended, she said, "You mean 88 actually caught one?"

[Ksyrup]

SC_DougFarrar SC_DougFarrar
In the regular season, Tim Tebow threw a total of 15 passes when the Broncos had a lead. In the wild-card game, he threw 16.

[Blackadar]

I'll just say this.

Grumble, grumble, grumble SH$T M$%ERFU@#$#ING CAN'T F#@$#@ING BELIEVE THAT M%$%$FU#$!@#$!G SH#$@#!T COC#$!SUC@#R F#$#CK F!#@$#$ F@#!$ F^%$....

Thanks, I feel better. See you during the draft.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

So.. Denver thinks they can score a TD from 80 yards out. Interesting.

Originally Posted by TroyF

With the big play WR the Steelers have, I think Denver should have taken the ball. You talk abouit the rules favoring the kicking team, but all it takes is a missed tackle and you lose the game. The offense still has an advantage there.

Just thought these two posts needed to be dredged up again...

Also, can we get folks to shut up now about weak division winners hosting playoff games to dominant opponents? Two years in a row the "weak" division winner won the game, plus no one has ever explained how this would work: does an 11-5 division winner have to play on the road at a 12-4 wildcard team? I get that it looks bad when 12-4 plays on the road at 8-8, but with 4 divisions and unbalanced schedules I think the way the NFL does it is the only way you CAN do it.

[Butter]

3 Steeler fans in my Monday morning meeting.

My boss asked if anyone needed a moment before starting the meeting.

I said yes, and Tebowed. It was glorious.

[Ksyrup]

Ourand_SBJ John Ourand
Source: Tebow pulled in a 25.9 overnight, which would make it the best AFC Wildcard overnight since 1988.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

3 Steeler fans in my Monday morning meeting.

My boss asked if anyone needed a moment before starting the meeting.

I said yes, and Tebowed. It was glorious.

This is awesome.

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

3 Steeler fans in my Monday morning meeting.

My boss asked if anyone needed a moment before starting the meeting.

I said yes, and Tebowed. It was glorious.

I'm a huge Steeler fan and that's some funny shit. Well done.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Ourand_SBJ John Ourand
Source: Tebow pulled in a 25.9 overnight, which would make it the best AFC Wildcard overnight since 1988.

Yep.
Tebow Time! Steelers-Broncos Gives CBS Highest-Rated Wild Card Game in 24 Years - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers

But for real football fun, let's get in the time machine & go back to the 1988 game, Houston vs Seattle (also in OT)
1987–88 NFL playoffs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 50,519
Referee: Bob McElwee
TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Joe Namath

Oilers kicker Tony Zendejas won the game with a 42-yard field goal 8:05 into overtime. Although Houston outgained Seattle with 427 total offensive yards to 250, the game remained close until the very end. The Seahawks scored first on wide receiver Steve Largent's 20-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Dave Krieg. The Oilers then scored 13 unanswered points with two field goals by Zendejas and running back Mike Rozier's 1-yard rushing touchdown. However, Seattle tied the game in the third quarter after kicker Norm Johnson made his second field goal of the game. Later in the third period, Houston quarterback Warren Moon threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Willie Drewrey to give his team a 20-13 lead. With only 1:47 left in regulation, Krieg threw his second touchdown pass to Largent, a 12-yarder, to tie the game. Largent finished the game with 7 receptions for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Oilers kicker Tony Zendejas won the game with a 42-yard field goal 8:05 into overtime..

I didn't know Zendejas made any field goals in any year that wasn't 1991.

[sterlingice]

Warren Moon!

SI

[sterlingice]

I love some of the names on that wiki page: Bobby Hebert, backup QB Steve Young, Darrell Green, Najee Mustafaa, Jim McMahon and Walter Payton. Oh and that whole AFC Championship that year...

SI

[spleen1015]

I was really hoping Tebow would end that game with a pass, a pick 6 in OT just because I want him to go away. Now, I don't see that happening.

My problem is, he gets all of the attention and I think it is undeserved. He played well yesterday and was responsbile for the win, but he wasn't responsible for most of their wins this season and the Broncos needed a shit ton of luck in 2-3 of their come from behind wins that had nothing to do with Tebow. He still got all of the credit.

My wife usually only watches the Colts games with me so she doesn't really know much about Tebow and this season. She asked me yesterday if he was the only player on the Broncos because that's all the announcers talked about.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I love some of the names on that wiki page: Bobby Hebert, backup QB Steve Young, Darrell Green, Najee Mustafaa, Jim McMahon and Walter Payton. Oh and that whole AFC Championship that year...

SI

Are you talking about the Super Tecmo Bowl wiki?

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Stupid DVR, missed the OT!

You didn't miss much of the game...

[sterlingice]

Rizon, Perhaps that's where I see the similarities

SI

[bulletsponge]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I was really hoping Tebow would end that game with a pass, a pick 6 in OT just because I want him to go away. Now, I don't see that happening.

My problem is, he gets all of the attention and I think it is undeserved. He played well yesterday and was responsbile for the win, but he wasn't responsible for most of their wins this season and the Broncos needed a shit ton of luck in 2-3 of their come from behind wins that had nothing to do with Tebow. He still got all of the credit.

My wife usually only watches the Colts games with me so she doesn't really know much about Tebow and this season. She asked me yesterday if he was the only player on the Broncos because that's all the announcers talked about.

thats Favre that end the season with pick 6, not tebow. and dont blame tebow for the media love, those circle jerkers always ack like its a QB vs QB game. its not like Tebow is a media whore that tries to draw all the attention to himself

[TroyF]

Having some time to reflect on the game, something really stood out to me. The last time the Broncos played the Steelers in a playoff game, I wrote an article titled "The Pass that Ended the Plummer Era in Denver" At the end of the first half of that game, Plummer threw a horrific pass that was picked off. The rout was on and Shanny traded up and took Cutler. The following year, Plummer was done.

Today, I think we saw the opposite. I have a questions to ask here:

How many times can we say that a SINGLE play may have saved a players career?

I think we saw it happen yesterday. Broncos down 6-0. Second play of the second quarter. 3rd and 12 from the Denver 18 yard line. Tebow throws a perfect rainbow and hits Thomas for a 51 yard play. Two plays later, he throws a TD to Royal and the game has changed.

What happens if he airmails that throw? The Steelers get the ball in great field position. They likely go up 9-0 or 13-0. The crowd is out of it. The coaches tighten the gameplan even more to keep it close. And at halftime, Brady Quinn enters the game. Does Tebow win the job next year? Does he ever again have a chance at an everyday job in the NFL? (he'll be in the league for a long time no matter what, I'm talking about a starting QB role here)

I don't think he does. I think that's all Elway needs to slide him down the depth chart and move on. He hits the pass and everything changed. I'm still not sure if he'll be successful long term. I believed for a long time he was better than people thought, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some major doubts.

That said, I can't think of a singular play more important to a players career in any sport than that one on 3rd and 12.

Just my two cents.

[stevew]

I can't decide if this loss was worse than the Jaguars loss a few years ago. The sight of David Gerrard running 30 some yards past Tyrone Carter still haunts me. Much like the ill fated Ben draw that lost that game, the play calling here really kind of sucked. All we needed was like 15 more yards for a reasonable game winning FG. Ah well.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by TroyF

How many times can we say that a SINGLE play may have saved a players career?

I think you(like many others) are being a bit over dramatic in regards to Tebow. If you think that single play may have saved his career you must also think hes just not very good as a good player will find a way to come back from a poor performance and prove himself again. You might enjoy the Broncos season a bit more if you werent constantly worried about what people reactions to Tebow might be Worry about next season when it gets here. Plenty of time to debate Tebow in the offseason.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by stevew

I can't decide if this loss was worse than the Jaguars loss a few years ago. The sight of David Gerrard running 30 some yards past Tyrone Carter still haunts me. Much like the ill fated Ben draw that lost that game, the play calling here really kind of sucked. All we needed was like 15 more yards for a reasonable game winning FG. Ah well.

Steelers got a little pass happy IMO. Not sure if the lack of depth at RB scared them into a more aggressive gameplan but it seemed silly to not run the ball more than they did. 23 rushes for 156 yards.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

I think you(like many others) are being a bit over dramatic in regards to Tebow. If you think that single play may have saved his career you must also think hes just not very good as a good player will find a way to come back from a poor performance and prove himself again. You might enjoy the Broncos season a bit more if you werent constantly worried about what people reactions to Tebow might be Worry about next season when it gets here. Plenty of time to debate Tebow in the offseason.

I'm enjoying the hell out of the season. I thought we'd be lucky to win 4 games. Very lucky. I'm just making a point that if that pass doesn't get caught and Tebow gets yanked, I'm not sure he ever gets another job. If it's not Denver right now, how many teams are willing to turn their team over to Tebow? I can't see any. Maybe I'm wrong.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I'm enjoying the hell out of the season. I thought we'd be lucky to win 4 games. Very lucky. I'm just making a point that if that pass doesn't get caught and Tebow gets yanked, I'm not sure he ever gets another job. If it's not Denver right now, how many teams are willing to turn their team over to Tebow? I can't see any. Maybe I'm wrong.

I think he would have gotten the chance to start the season with the Broncos next year even if they had lost this game. The leash will be much longer with the playoff victory under his belt.

I am glad you are enjoying the season. I think a lot of casual fans are taking the Broncos on as their club right now because of how they play and of course Tebow.

A buddy of mine was in Michigan last week wearing a Florida Gators shirt(not because of Tebow) some guy ran him down as excited as can be and asked him if he was a Tebow fan. My buddy thought it was odd but my point is that Id guess he is getting a reaction like this all around.

[Ksyrup]

Win or lose that game, I think he was already all but guaranteed the starting position next year. And win or lose the Pats game, I think if by game 8 next year, he puts up a series of 45% completion games and the offense is scoring 12.5 points a game, but there's no "magic" victories, both the fans and the front office will forget about the Steelers game and he'll be on the bench.

Bottom line - he earned next year before they made the playoffs, and it would take more than just 2 playoff wins for him to cement himself as the starter for more than a year into the future.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by TroyF

If it's not Denver right now, how many teams are willing to turn their team over to Tebow? I can't see any. Maybe I'm wrong.

The Falcons should probably consider it.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

The Falcons should probably consider it.

Same with the Lions. Tebow has to be better than some of their cornerbacks and safeties.

[ISiddiqui]

Only if he can play offensive line (re: Falcons).

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Grover

Tebow 3:16? 316 yards passing, 31.6 yards per completion.

Does that mean that the Patriots are going to crucify him this weekend?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Only if he can play offensive line (re: Falcons).

Alas, the line ain't the only problem. If they can shed Mullarkey that'll help, but I'm not sold on Ryan as a winning post-season QB at all.

[ISiddiqui]

I dunno. People said the same thing about Peyton Manning.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Alas, the line ain't the only problem. If they can shed Mullarkey that'll help, but I'm not sold on Ryan as a winning post-season QB at all.

Watching that game yesterday, I think the coach is the problem. 4th and 1 and you go empty backfield?

[Logan]

Where do I sign to trade Alex Smith for Matt Ryan?

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by rowech

Watching that game yesterday, I think the coach is the problem. 4th and 1 and you go empty backfield?

He's always looked like Steve Martin to me. Apparently coaches like him too

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I dunno. People said the same thing about Peyton Manning.

{shrug} I was not among those people.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Win or lose that game, I think he was already all but guaranteed the starting position next year. And win or lose the Pats game, I think if by game 8 next year, he puts up a series of 45% completion games and the offense is scoring 12.5 points a game, but there's no "magic" victories, both the fans and the front office will forget about the Steelers game and he'll be on the bench.

Bottom line - he earned next year before they made the playoffs, and it would take more than just 2 playoff wins for him to cement himself as the starter for more than a year into the future.

See, I don't think so. I don't think they were or are sold on him as the long term solution. If he'd had another horrible game, I don't think he is the starter next year. he would have had the offseason, the competition in training camp, etc. . . but I don't think he would have opened the year as the number one.

I agree with the last part of your final paragraph. He needs to play better next year to keep his job. No matter if you or I was right, it's a given now. He's the #1 as next year opens. He'll have every chance to keep that job.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Logan

Where do I sign to trade Alex Smith for Matt Ryan?

I didn't say I was that crazy

[Rizon]

Body of Packers OC's son found in river today

Report: Body of Joe Philbin's son positively ID'd - CBSSports.com

[Suburban Rhythm]

Read this on another board but hadn't seen the image until now

Here is a pre-snap screen grab before the Denver Broncos game-winning TD pass by Tim Tebow against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Was this an illegal formation? In order to be legal, seven players must be on the line of scrimmage no more than one yard off of it. Was the player highlighted in red on the line as the seventh man? Or was he illegally lined up?

Tebow will confess this in confession and all will be absolved.