Discussion Championships thread + poll

[Torn Mind]

Again, the 9ers swept the Rams and were in the Super Bowl two years ago. Calling them a Cinderella team is a joke.

Not the same team at all this year. Defense is worse; Saleh left, I don't even know who their corners are. They drafted Lance, indicated that Jimmy G was halfway out the door. There were mediocre.

 

[Captante]

Only a "fan" who hasn't actually watched very much football is all that surprised the 49'ers beat GB last week. (it was the 4th time in a row)

The Bengals winning their division and making the NFC AFC (lol) championship game was NOT widely expected anywhere. (heck their last post-season win of any kind was Jan 6th 1991!!)

 

[Muse]

Only a "fan" who hasn't actually watched very much football is all that surprised the 49'ers beat GB last week. (it was the 4th time in a row)

The Bengals winning their division and making the NFC championship game was NOT widely expected anywhere. (heck their last post-season win of any kind was Jan 6th 1991!!)

You're right. Nobody expected the Bengals to make the NFC championship game. In fact, it's still highly improbable.

 

[Torn Mind]

Only a "fan" who hasn't actually watched very much football is all that surprised the 49'ers beat GB last week. (it was the 4th time in a row)

The Bengals winning their division and making the NFC championship game was NOT widely expected anywhere. (heck their last post-season win of any kind was Jan 6th 1991!!)

Quoted for preservation.

 

[UNCjigga]

Chiefs

Niners for the spoiler (still no home team in a SuperBowl!!!)

 

[manly]

9ers rings this year would be greater than all the ones before. They were never the underdog they have been this year. OTOH, the Rams had a fire sale in their all out effort to do it now, getting Stafford, Miller and Beckham Jr. They have even resorted to refusing to sell tickets to people who live outside the L.A. metro area for Sunday's game so they can max out the home crowd advantage. But the 9ers are used to adversity this season and have risen to the occasion when necessary and in ways nobody could anticipate. You don't care all that much? OK.

You have a rather odd definition of fire sale.

With the way the NFL is these days what happened last year (or any other previous year) doesn't matter. What matters is how they are ranked this year, and by that metric SF is the underdog by far.

The Niners are winners of 9 of their last 11 games. Winning the Super Bowl is much about talent, but also about getting hot for the 4 playoff games. I don't understand why people keep saying stuff like the Niners are "underdogs by far." No they are not. They will be if they face the Chiefs. But even before they spanked the Cowboys, they were considered a legit playoff team.

The Niners are just 3.5 point dogs on the road. I anticipate the Rams will win, but I wouldn't bet on it and wouldn't be surprised at this point if the Niners advance to the SB.

Chiefs

Niners for the spoiler (still no home team in a SuperBowl!!!)

Not sure what hole you were hiding in, but the Bucs won the SB a year ago.

 

[BUTCH1]

Chiefs and Rams Super Bowl should be what happens....but San Fran knows how to play the Rams.

I luuuuuv Lord Burrow but the Chiefs are the Chiefs
Chiefs vs 9ers REMATCH.

Yea, the last few games are the 1st I've had a chance of seeing Burrow for a whole game and not just a highlight package, gotta love this kid, great arm, great job leading that team and tougher than a $4 dollar steak. Cincy just has to find a way to keep him upright though, 9 sacks in one game is horrific, I'd love to see them take down the Chiefs!. San Fran's defense impressed the heck out of me last week too, to go into snowy Green Bay and hold the pack to 10 measly points is no joke plus the match up against the Rams very well, let's all pray for the type of games we saw last weekend, been watching NFL for 40 years, never seen anything like it!.

 

[Torn Mind]

Yea, the last few games are the 1st I've had a chance of seeing Burrow for a whole game and not just a highlight package, gotta love this kid, great arm, great job leading that team and tougher than a $4 dollar steak. Cincy just has to find a way to keep him upright though, 9 sacks in one game is horrific, I'd love to see them take down the Chiefs!. San Fran's defense impressed the heck out of me last week too, to go into snowy Green Bay and hold the pack to 10 measly points is no joke plus the match up against the Rams very well, let's all pray for the type of games we saw last weekend, been watching NFL for 40 years, never seen anything like it!.

I think the game will be quite competitive and be a shootout, as KC has a opportunistic but not dominant D, and Mathieu's status remains in question. I don't think the Bengals are particularly terrified as they did win against earlier in the season. However, the Bengals are stretched thin on D and, well, the Chiefs are consistent on offense.

Cincy's kicker is also cool as a cucumber.

 

[Captante]

You're right. Nobody expected the Bengals to make the NFC championship game. In fact, it's still highly improbable.

Virtually impossible in fact!

Quoted for preservation.

Somehow I doubt that particular typo is going to qualify me for a "self-pwnage of the year" nomination but I do admire your enthusiasm! (its only funny to a hard-core NFL fan)

 

[digiram]

Am I really gonna bet on 9ers and bengals?

 

[Captante]

Am I really gonna bet on 9ers and bengals?

7.5 points I'd consider taking the Bengals.... and then I'd bet KC anyway.

SF and 3.5 is a very reasonable proposition.

 

[Torn Mind]

Virtually impossible in fact!




Somehow I doubt a typo is going to qualify me for a "self-pwnage of the year" nomination but I do admire your enthusiasm!

Well, that was the year the Giants won the Super Bowl against the Bills...
The heart and soul of NYJ versus its rectum and anus.

 

[Captante]

Well, that was the year the Giants won the Super Bowl against the Bills...
The heart and soul of NYJ versus its rectum and anus.

90/91 was the least satisfying of the Giants four Super Bowl victories but that was still one heck of an exciting game. (back in the day a LOT of SB's ended up being "Super-bore" blowouts)

 

[Muse]

Quoted for preservation.

A worthy tactic at Anandtech forums, particularly for PM's (I speak from experience).

 

[Muse]

You have a rather odd definition of fire sale.

I didn't define anything. I didn't pay attention but IIRC they traded a lot to get those guys... high draft picks included. That's what I meant by fire sale, which isn't exactly specificity.

 

[Muse]

The Niners are winners of 9 of their last 11 games. Winning the Super Bowl is much about talent, but also about getting hot for the 4 playoff games. I don't understand why people keep saying stuff like the Niners are "underdogs by far." No they are not. They will be if they face the Chiefs. But even before they spanked the Cowboys, they were considered a legit playoff team. The Niners are just 3.5 point dogs on the road. I anticipate the Rams will win, but I wouldn't bet on it and wouldn't be surprised at this point if the Niners advance to the SB. Not sure what hole you were hiding in, but the Bucs won the SB a year ago.

9ers were 3 and 5 after 8. They were underdogs to even make the playoffs. Once having made the playoffs, yes, they look like they belong.

The Niners are thought to have a decent chance to win Sunday if for no other reason that they beat the Rams the last 6 times they played! I do NOT anticipate them losing. Or winning.

Jimmy G in his post game interview Sunday obviously thinks this is their year. He didn't predict any victories, he just noted that they are finding a way to win and nobody knows how they will do it, they just do. It would not surprise me if they win their next two games. Or if they don't.

My least favorite team remaining is the Chiefs, hands down. By that I don't mean I think they'll lose, I just don't want them to win. In fact I don't like watching them play (particularly at Arrowhead), but I will.

 

[olds]

49ers vs Bengals v3.

 

[Muse]

49ers vs Bengals v3.

That would be my hope to see in the SB this year.

 

[Torn Mind]

1/25/2022 - Daniel Jeremiah - The Jim Rome Show

NFL Draft guru talks playoffs.

omny.fm

 

[Torn Mind]

A Gridiron Heights recap of how we got here.

Remember to watch it normal speed and then frame-by-frame for Easter Eggs.

 

[pete6032]

Get Stafford a ring so he can ride off into retirement with Brady. Rodgers to the Broncos and Cousins to some AFC team. NFC will have no QBs left.

A big question is how bad are the injuries on the 49ers? Last week's game was very physical in the cold weather.

 

[dank69]

You have a rather odd definition of fire sale.


The Niners are winners of 9 of their last 11 games. Winning the Super Bowl is much about talent, but also about getting hot for the 4 playoff games. I don't understand why people keep saying stuff like the Niners are "underdogs by far." No they are not. They will be if they face the Chiefs. But even before they spanked the Cowboys, they were considered a legit playoff team.

The Niners are just 3.5 point dogs on the road. I anticipate the Rams will win, but I wouldn't bet on it and wouldn't be surprised at this point if the Niners advance to the SB.


Not sure what hole you were hiding in, but the Bucs won the SB a year ago.

Look at the QB situation. The other 3 teams have absolute rock stars at QB. The Niners barely beat the Rams to get in, and only because the Rams made a lot of mistakes. The Cowboys have sucked for ages and only get in because the rest of the NFCE is a dumpster fire. Even the Iggles only got in because with the exception of NFCW the entire NFC is a dumpster fire. Aaron Rodges IMO, which I admit is worthless, has always been overrated, and I don't think he's ever been at his best in the cold. The Niners are stumbling their way along, barely eking out wins. All 3 remaining QBs will carve up their shitty secondary. I don't know the stats but I have to guess that the Niners are the worst at defending 3rd and long from what I've seen. They depend way too much on their defensive line.

 

[manly]

I didn't define anything. I didn't pay attention but IIRC they traded a lot to get those guys... high draft picks included. That's what I meant by fire sale, which isn't exactly specificity.

To acquire All-Pro talent, the Rams had to give up 3 draft picks and Jared Goff. You can keep calling that a fire sale, but that's not what it is. Instead, the Rams went all-in on this Super Bowl. There is no next year or year after, it's now or bust.

I'm not a Chiefs fan and never have been, but watching Patrick Mahomes play is an absolute delight. He reminds me of Michael Jordan in his prime, the level of creativity and artistry is unmatched by other elite QBs. There are other QBs that can do what Mahomes does, but nobody who combines many high end skills like he does. Granted, he has elite weapons to throw the ball to which helps a lot. He's only 26 years old.

Frankly unless you're a divisional rival (Broncos or Raiders), if you don't like watching Mahomes play, I question whether you even like football in 2022. I don't know how anyone who watched the Game of the Year can say with a straight face they don't like watching the Chiefs play.

Look at the QB situation. The other 3 teams have absolute rock stars at QB. The Niners barely beat the Rams to get in, and only because the Rams made a lot of mistakes. The Cowboys have sucked for ages and only get in because the rest of the NFCE is a dumpster fire. Even the Iggles only got in because with the exception of NFCW the entire NFC is a dumpster fire. Aaron Rodges IMO, which I admit is worthless, has always been overrated, and I don't think he's ever been at his best in the cold. The Niners are stumbling their way along, barely eking out wins. All 3 remaining QBs will carve up their shitty secondary. I don't know the stats but I have to guess that the Niners are the worst at defending 3rd and long from what I've seen. They depend way too much on their defensive line.

What do 3 teams that went one-and-done in the playoffs have to do with the Niners? Why didn't you bring up the Steelers as well?

IIRC the Niners are one of the few teams among the final eight that have a top 10 ranked offense and defense. Everyone knows Jimmy G isn't an elite QB, but that's not what their offense is built upon. Saying stuff like they are huge underdogs when the spread is just 3.5 points on the road simply is not true. Sadly, half the fans at SoFi Stadium will be rooting for the visitors, I shit you not. If the game is competitive, the Rams will again have to use a silent count like they did in week 18.

Will the 49ers beat the Rams again for the umpteenth straight time? Maybe not, but it's silly at this point to even suggest they don't belong.

Finally, style points matter a whole lot less in the playoffs. Nobody cares how good you looked because as long as you win, you get to keep playing.

 

[Torn Mind]

Fire sale is usually in reference to a team disposing of current, often beloved stars who are past their prime for future assets. The team has realized there is a ceiling to their current performance that will not result in a championship. The Washington Capitals of Bondra, Gonchar, etc were traded away for futures, the fielded team finished low in the standings, and they won the lottery to get Ovechkin.

Rams are actually mortgaging the future or going "all-in", more like the Los Angeles Kings in the past when they grabbed Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, and then Gaborik in later years.

 

[dank69]

To acquire All-Pro talent, the Rams had to give up 3 draft picks and Jared Goff. You can keep calling that a fire sale, but that's not what it is. Instead, the Rams went all-in on this Super Bowl. There is no next year or year after, it's now or bust.

I'm not a Chiefs fan and never have been, but watching Patrick Mahomes play is an absolute delight. He reminds me of Michael Jordan in his prime, the level of creativity and artistry is unmatched by other elite QBs. There are other QBs that can do what Mahomes does, but nobody who combines many high end skills like he does. Granted, he has elite weapons to throw the ball to which helps a lot. He's only 26 years old.

Frankly unless you're a divisional rival (Broncos or Raiders), if you don't like watching Mahomes play, I question whether you even like football in 2022. I don't know how anyone who watched the Game of the Year can say with a straight face they don't like watching the Chiefs play.


What do 3 teams that went one-and-done in the playoffs have to do with the Niners? Why didn't you bring up the Steelers as well?

IIRC the Niners are one of the few teams among the final eight that have a top 10 ranked offense and defense. Everyone knows Jimmy G isn't an elite QB, but that's not what their offense is built upon. Saying stuff like they are huge underdogs when the spread is just 3.5 points on the road simply is not true. Sadly, half the fans at SoFi Stadium will be rooting for the visitors, I shit you not. If the game is competitive, the Rams will again have to use a silent count like they did in week 18.

Will the 49ers beat the Rams again for the umpteenth straight time? Maybe not, but it's silly at this point to even suggest they don't belong.

Finally, style points matter a whole lot less in the playoffs. Nobody cares how good you looked because as long as you win, you get to keep playing.

I'm not saying they're huge underdogs to the Rams. I'm saying they are the biggest underdogs to win the Super Bowl of the final eight. I think only 2 or 3 playoff teams this year were bigger underdogs to win the SB.