Official NFL playoff thread

[SampSon]

Fantasy football is believing that Tim Tebow is much more than a feel good story.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

Actually Fantasy Football online is the only Superbowl action the Steelers going to see this season

 

[Terzo]

As for the Steelers history...yes, they've at least made ONE playoff game in MOST of recent years...but don't go past that often enough.

Since 2001, they have won a single playoff game to advance to the conference game twice (2001, 2004). They have won multiple playoff games three times, winning the Super Bowl in 2005 and 2008 and playing in the Super Bowl in 2010. In this time they've been to the playoffs eight times.

Three Super Bowl appearances and two Lombardis in the past decade isn't often enough? That's second only to the Patriots. If you consider "recent years" to be the past five years then they have a better showing than the Pats.

In short, quit being unreasonable.

 

[PingSpike]

So the Tebows game was certainly the best one I watched all weekend. I have a couple questions:

WTF did the steelers not attempt the long field goal at the end of regular time? The announcer said the chance of it being blocked and returned for a touch down was why it was a smart move...it that really that big of a concern?

Did anyone else see that quick cut to Ben blowing shot out of his nose? Disgusting. Well trolled camera man.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Did I just enter a thread of madness? Someone wants to pick up Matt Flynn in lieu of Big Ben? I'm going back to bed something can't be right here.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Since 2001, they have won a single playoff game to advance to the conference game twice (2001, 2004). They have won multiple playoff games three times, winning the Super Bowl in 2005 and 2008 and playing in the Super Bowl in 2010. In this time they've been to the playoffs eight times.

Three Super Bowl appearances and two Lombardis in the past decade isn't often enough? That's second only to the Patriots. If you consider "recent years" to be the past five years then they have a better showing than the Pats.

In short, quit being unreasonable.

Seriously. There are franchises that would kill to just make the playoffs.

 

[PingSpike]

That's true, but I think that ankle hurt Big Ben a lot more than he'll admit. He's a tough guy but he was taken out a lot due to not being able to move fast enough. He hobbled along and was able to throw when he had a pocket, but with pressure he got screwed.

I'm sure it was hurting but I recall seeing Ben scramble out and run for at least two maybe three first downs? Crippled Ben still looks faster than a healthy Tom Brady does when runs.

 

[Triumph]

As for the Steelers history...yes, they've at least made ONE playoff game in MOST of recent years...but don't go past that often enough.

I'm not really sure how you can say that. From wikipedia:
Most Super Bowl Wins (Six).
Most Trips to the Super Bowl (8 - tied with Dallas).
Most AFC Conference Championships won (8)
Most Conference Championship games played in
Second Most Division Titles

I understand if they're not winning enough for your satisfaction. I don't understand how you can say a team with the most Super Bowl rings, most Super Bowl appearances, and most Conference Championship game appearances, doesn't get through the playoffs "often enough." Considering no one else has done any better at the top 2 titles...

 

[Jeffg010]

BoomerD is the typical old guy Steeler fan that will never get past the glory days of 70's. You see these guys will never give anyone new a chance no matter how good they play. Their MO is to hate on quarterbacks no matter what even if they win superbowls. To say Big Ben should not be the Steelers quarterback retarted.

To really see this mentality just walk in to any bar in Pittsburgh and say the the current Steelers defense is better then the 70's defense and you will start a war with the all the old guys.

 

[bignateyk]

Well that was an embarassing performace by the Steelers D. If you had asked me before the game whether the Steelers would lose if they scored 23 points against Denver I would have said hell no.

Denver has an awesome D, so putting up 23 on them was pretty good.

It didn't help how badly injured the Steelers D was. The entire starting defensive line was out with injury (Smith, Hampton, Kiesel), which gave Tebow basically unlimited time to stand in the pocket. Woodley was out for half the game, and the leading tackler Clark was out all game.

I'll be rooting for Denver the rest of the way since they are going to go through New England, and then Baltimore probably, both teams I hate.

Ike Taylor should be ashamed of himself though after that performace.

 

[Capt Caveman]

So the Tebows game was certainly the best one I watched all weekend. I have a couple questions:

WTF did the steelers not attempt the long field goal at the end of regular time? The announcer said the chance of it being blocked and returned for a touch down was why it was a smart move...it that really that big of a concern?

Did anyone else see that quick cut to Ben blowing shot out of his nose? Disgusting. Well trolled camera man.

The FG would have been something like 67 yards, the longest in history and their kicker doesn't have that great of a leg.

The problem with the Squeelers was that they played undisciplined and never adjusted to the fact that the Tebow was throwing long while they had both of their safeties in the box.

 

[darkewaffle]

The FG would have been something like 67 yards, the longest in history and their kicker doesn't have that great of a leg.

The problem with the Squeelers was that they played undisciplined and never adjusted to the fact that the Tebow was throwing long while they had both of their safeties in the box.

Yea, I didn't mind the call. I mean 997/1000 he kicks it and misses from that distance. 2/1000 it's blocked and returned, 1/1000 it goes in. Chances are if they kick, nothing changes but I agree that I think the chance of a returned ball is greater than the chance of it going in at that distance.

And yea, if you can take away just one of any of those long balls, the game probably would have been a Steelers win. I hate to see them so hindered by injuries, but last night the Broncos weren't really posing that much of a threat aside from those 'chunk' plays and the Steelers just never seemed ready for them.

 

[zinfamous]

On the flip side, both years those representatives won in the wild card round.

Silence!

 

[AstroManLuca]

My predictions:

Bengals squeak out an ugly win over the Texans.
Lions lose to the Saints in a shootout (as often happens when the Saints are playing).
Giants dominate the Falcons, most overrated playoff team of the last few years.
Steelers beat the Tebows convincingly but probably only get one touchdown, lots of field goals. Tebow only accounts for maybe 150 yards combined.

Well, I called two of 'em. :\ Though I am not sad to be wrong about the Steelers/Broncos game. It's not so much that I like Denver as it is that I hate Pittsburgh.

And I really wanted to be wrong about the Saints/Lions but that's how it goes.

 

[Gibson486]

Well, I called two of 'em. :\ Though I am not sad to be wrong about the Steelers/Broncos game. It's not so much that I like Denver as it is that I hate Pittsburgh.

And I really wanted to be wrong about the Saints/Lions but that's how it goes.

Are you kidding me? No one expected Tebow to have that game. In fact, before the game, there was talk about Brady Quinn playing. If anything, this was a pretty big upset that only Bronco fans thought would happen..... So, do not be too hard on your self for that prediction

 

[Homerboy]

Tebow passed for 316yrds.
As in John 3:16

just sayin'....

 

[AstroManLuca]

Are you kidding me? No one expected Tebow to have that game. In fact, before the game, there was talk about Brady Quinn playing. If anything, this was a pretty big upset that only Bronco fans thought would happen..... So, do not be too hard on your self for that prediction

Nah, not being hard on myself for that one. Tebow has been defying odds left and right, going completely against both the old-school football minds and the new-school statistical analysis.

And the Texans are in a pretty good spot too, even if they lose their next game. Recording a playoff win with a third-stringer at QB is impressive and says a lot about the quality of their entire team. Could make T. J. Yates an attractive trade prospect for some teams. I mean, the guy has more playoff wins than Matt Ryan.

 

[mugs]

Yea, I didn't mind the call. I mean 997/1000 he kicks it and misses from that distance. 2/1000 it's blocked and returned, 1/1000 it goes in.

You don't even have to block it to return it. At that distance they'd have a guy in the end zone to return it if it's short.

 

[The_Dude8]

Nah, not being hard on myself for that one. Tebow has been defying odds left and right, going completely against both the old-school football minds and the new-school statistical analysis.

And the Texans are in a pretty good spot too, even if they lose their next game. Recording a playoff win with a third-stringer at QB is impressive and says a lot about the quality of their entire team. Could make T. J. Yates an attractive trade prospect for some teams. I mean, the guy has more playoff wins than Matt Ryan.

I think T.J will be a starter for houston after Schabb retires.

 

[spidey07]

Tebow passed for 316yrds.
As in John 3:16

just sayin'....

And averaged 31.6 per pass, last quarter/overtime drew a 31.6 rating.

Just sayin'....

http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...ictory-charge-draws-24-year-ratings-high.html

The Broncos’ win, which snapped a three-game losing streak, came as Tebow ran for one touchdown and passed for two others, including an 80-yarder to Demaryius Thomas that ended the game on the first play from scrimmage of the extra period, eliminating the six-time Super Bowl champion Steelers. The overtime drew a 31.6 television rating.

 

[a123456]

The FG would have been something like 67 yards, the longest in history and their kicker doesn't have that great of a leg.

The problem with the Squeelers was that they played undisciplined and never adjusted to the fact that the Tebow was throwing long while they had both of their safeties in the box.

I think the biggest problem is that Suisham simply doesn't have the leg to kick 67. His longest is 52. Denver doesn't help 15 yards extra.

If it was Praeter instead, I think I would have tried it as the coach. He actually has the leg and has done it before from that distance. He kicked a 59 in Denver that had the distance to go at least 66 easily and it was during a real game and didn't get blocked. In pre-game, he practices from 75 and during the kickoffs, you can see he makes it from 75.

 

[AstroManLuca]

And averaged 31.6 per pass

Technically it was only 31.6 per completion (316 yards, 10-21), but still.

Oh and the Steelers had a time of possession of 31:06.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I think the biggest problem is that Suisham simply doesn't have the leg to kick 67. His longest is 52. Denver doesn't help 15 yards extra.

If it was Praeter instead, I think I would have tried it as the coach. He actually has the leg and has done it before from that distance. He kicked a 59 in Denver that had the distance to go at least 66 easily and it was during a real game and didn't get blocked. In pre-game, he practices from 75 and during the kickoffs, you can see he makes it from 75.

Could just be sample bias. The coach doesn't call for Suisham to try longer field goal attempts so his career long isn't as high as it could be. Probably smart coaching anyway; long field goal attempts have diminishing returns since the probability of making it gets lower and lower while the opponent's starting field position in the event of a miss gets better and better. Also, Denver's offense is less potent than Pittsburgh's so they rely more on field goals and are more likely to try them.

As far as kickoffs, that's very different since with a kickoff, the kicker gets enough room to get up to speed before kicking. He only has a couple steps on a field goal try. The only way most kickers would be able to make a field goal that long would be as the result of a fair catch kick, which is exceedingly rare.

 

[Imported]

Little off topic.. but good lord at the SBL prices for "Club" level seats for the 49ers new stadium ($80k on the 50). They haven't announced the SBL pricing for the other seats yet, but I really hope they aren't as crazy. My seats are on the goal line so I have hope..

 

[gorcorps]

Tebow passed for 316yrds.
As in John 3:16

just sayin'....

Jesus also was "dead" for 3 days before rising again.

:awe: