Official NFL playoff thread

Page 22 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
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.

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

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

just sayin'....

Are you guys the same idiots that see the Virgin Mary in a tortilla?
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,758
603
126
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.

I guess I must have missed something there because I thought they were a little closer than 67 yards. I think they're generally to conservative though, weren't there about 4 seconds left in the game at that point? Not only would Denver have had to block, they also would have to recover it and run it all the way in. And if it did go in Denver would have lost. I mean, its more likely to me that Ben would have thrown a game losing interception or lost a fumble earlier on the failed drive than Denver getting lucky on that field goal.

Maybe I just wanted to see a stupid field goal attempt for the lulz though.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
tteeeebbbooowwww ooohhhh oooohhh

was hilarious watching the nfl channel after the game.
 

manly

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
13,302
4,079
136
Yes, I KNOW Flynn is a free agent. That was my point. Will GB pony up enough to keep him satisfied for a couple more years as the back-up to Aaron Rodgers? I dunno. IIRC, you're right about Jordy Nelson. I'd hate to see him leave. Only time will tell whether GB wants him badly enough to pay him to stay.
Are you completely ignorant of the salary cap? GB's only chance to keep Flynn was if he had stunk in the Lions game. Now his stock is way up and no NFL team can afford to keep 2 QBs making starter's money. Even as well-managed as GB has been, they aren't going to literally gut the roster just to keep an insurance policy around. Honestly Flynn would have to be a fool to turn down a guaranteed $10M (the full contract value could be significantly higher) just because he loves carrying a clipboard in Green Bay.

Ben Roethlisberger may be a terrible person off the field, but he's easily above league average as a QB. It's an open guess right now what Flynn's career will be like. Not to mention as others already pointed out, you're delusional ignoring the Steelers mini-dynasty with the current QB.
 

a123456

Senior member
Oct 26, 2006
885
0
0
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.

It's more than that. Suisham has come up short before on some low 50s before so it lends itself to him just not being strong enough even in Denver. He's also really inaccurate but that's a completely separate issue. If a guy has the leg, I say let him go for it because then at least you don't have to worry about a runback. Like with Seabass, I wouldn't mind him trying it from 67 if he wanted to since he's proven he can nail it that far in-game.

The pre-game warmup of FGs is a decent indication of maximum, maximum possible distance in ideal conditions. So while it's low probability, at least you know Praeter can theoretically make it from 67 whereas Suisham has 0% because he's just not strong enough.

I realize that kickoffs are slightly different but the point is that some guys are way longer than other guys on kickoffs, which supports the stronger leg theory. Obviously, no one's going to nail a 75 because the situation is different.

And obviously anything ~57+ is only attempted on end of half/game situations because of the huge penalty for missing. If it was like other sports, where the other team gets the ball as a touchback on the miss or as a return ball if it's short, I think every team would attempt much longer field goals more often.
 

CaptnKirk

Lifer
Jul 25, 2002
10,053
0
71
Hey Saints, remember when you blitzed and blitzed and blitzed and blitzed during a meaningless preseason game to satisfy your ego trip to welcome the "new guy" to the big league?
Enjoy!

Well, lets . . woke up the 49r's Coach and team to the level that they were going to have to play,
exposing a potential weakness
to a coach (Harbaugh) who cared enough to make the changes to what could be 'Cleaned up'.
If that hadn't gone down like that, and the coach didn't know how to keep the team focused,
they wouldn't be where they're at now.

Can anyone guess what team has the best road record over the last 3 years?
2 wins better than Packers or Steelers?

Didn't think so.
 
Last edited:

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Can anyone guess what team has the best road record over the last 3 years?
2 wins better than Packers or Steelers?

Didn't think so.

I was trying to find the last time the Saints won a playoff game on the road. Got back to 2002 before I googled it and found that they had never won a playoff game on the road. :whiste:
 

Balt

Lifer
Mar 12, 2000
12,673
482
126
I'm hoping the Saints do better on the playoff road trip than they did last season. I really think, offensively speaking, that this is the best team they've ever had. Sproles is superior to Reggie Bush for the frequent dump off passes, and Jimmy Graham is still so fresh he doesn't fear getting KTFO'd in the middle of the field while catching some of Brees' passes on the slant.

Honestly I don't think San Fran has the offense w/ Alex Smith at the helm to keep up with New Orleans if we can put some points on the board. I hope I'm right.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,864
31,359
146
I'm hoping the Saints do better on the playoff road trip than they did last season. I really think, offensively speaking, that this is the best team they've ever had. Sproles is superior to Reggie Bush for the frequent dump off passes, and Jimmy Graham is still so fresh he doesn't fear getting KTFO'd in the middle of the field while catching some of Brees' passes on the slant.

Honestly I don't think San Fran has the offense w/ Alex Smith at the helm to keep up with New Orleans if we can put some points on the board. I hope I'm right.

The Saints are an amazingly potent offense, and I've always been a huge, huge fan of Sproles. Everything really came together this year for that offense.

I expect this to be a really good game, but the Niners offense is still too pathetic to do anything against the mediocre Saint's D.

Well, it wouldn't surprise me if the Niners win, I just don't see it happening. Should be a good game.

Remember that a truly pathetic Seattle team beat a very good Saints team last year. The Niners are far superior to those Seahawks...but this NO team is probably better than that which won the SB.
 
Last edited:

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
Go San Fran!!!
Go Broncos!!!
Go Texans!!!
Go Baltimore ... oh wait...

I just wanna see that ground an pound thing get a win this year. I realize that Brees is unbelievable, that Rodgers might be even better than Brady or Brees when all is said an done - the man is ridiculous.

But so many think that defense doesn't win championships any more, and that gets to me. I love the old school pounding of the rock. Running and demolishing. Ground and pound. I can't wait to see what happens with all these high power defenses versus high power offenses. San Fran is unbelievable in the middle. Willis is my hero.

Can they beat the Saints? I don't think so, but I'd love to see it happen.

Can the Broncos beat the Patriots? Prolly not, but their odds are better since they have the worst defense in the league against the pass and won't get past the AFC championship game any way. Do I think my team wins? I don't have a whole lotta "faith" but I still think we have a shot at it, and its because of our defense.

Can the Texans beat Baltimore? Whoever wins, I think its because of their defense. Ray Rice versus Arian Foster, who doesn't love that match up. Its ground and pound on this matchup baby. Rex Ryan would love this game even though he isn't in it. I think whoever wins, its because of the running game and the defense. WOoooOOoo.

NY versus Packers. I have to believe in Green Bay here. Too many weapons and their defense isn't nearly as bad as their stats say. Woodson? Come on the man is a god. Hawk and Mathews at LB? I love their sexy hair. Man what defensive prowess those guys have. Fabio embodied. THe problem is that the rest of that defense sux. Where as the Giants have so many pass rushers its amazing.

I want defense to win every game. Do I think they will? Prolly not. SF, Denver, NYG, and the toss up would be my preference. However, I think this year will provide a serious show and tell no offense versus defense.

Eli is good, but if the NYG win, it will be because of their defense and running game. Yates and Flacco are both not stellar, whoever wins will be because of their running game and defense.

Who knows what will happen. All I know is that this is fun stuff, can't wait to watch these games
 

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
Disclaimer: Drunk talk:

Bottom line? This is for my other favorite teams, not the Broncos. Wow, its like the Broncos have so many ties.

Gary Kubiak is a Bronco. Ask him, he will tell you. I love the man. I have an Arian Foster jersey, one of the few I have that isn't a Bronco jersey. He was the reason why the Broncos won our SB's as our offensive coordinator, I'm so glad he finally made the playoffs. Go Gary!!!

The Ravens? Well, Shannon Sharpe, the best TE of all time, went to Baltimore after winning two SB's with us, to win another one with them. Trevor Price, another HOF calibre defensive end that won super bowls with the Broncos and then went to the Ravens. I love both teams. I think I am really excited for this game. Namely because - if the Texans and Broncos win - I have tickets to see the game in Houston next weekend. Its weird because this is what I want to happen, and also that if it does happen, works in my favor two fold.

But if Baltimore wins and the Broncos win, I think I'm going to buy tickets and just go watch that game.

Regardless of what happens, not sure that it matters. NFC wins the SB this year.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I think there's strong possibility of upsets. Giants d looking good, same for sf.

I'll say all upsets except ravens over Houston. That's the easiest one.
 

dan4patriots

Senior member
May 6, 2011
294
0
0
SF 49ers Vs New Orleans Saints
Green Bay Packers vs New York Giants
New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos
Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens
 

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
1
0
The Saints are an amazingly potent offense, and I've always been a huge, huge fan of Sproles. Everything really came together this year for that offense.

I expect this to be a really good game, but the Niners offense is still too pathetic to do anything against the mediocre Saint's D.

Well, it wouldn't surprise me if the Niners win, I just don't see it happening. Should be a good game.

Remember that a truly pathetic Seattle team beat a very good Saints team last year. The Niners are far superior to those Seahawks...but this NO team is probably better than that which won the SB.

Well, the Saints dont do anywhere near as well away from home, and outside for that matter. I am sure everyone has heard that by now.

Add those together with the fact that the niners defense is amazing this year, I think the Saints will have trouble getting down the field (I hope they will have trouble that is.)