Official NFL playoff thread

[SSSnail]

Tonight on the news here in Houston, the media is saying that the better team lost the game on Sunday. Talk about some bullshit, that's seriously frustrating - the "better" team by their claims dropped 3 in a row at the end of the season to lose a bye week and then couldn't execute against Baltimore with turnover after turnover and poor play calling! Ugh, give credit when it's due - the Ravens beat them earlier in the season and then beat them again.

You do realize that Houston was playing with their 252354th string QB, right?

 

[RPD]

That was an awesome game, but I don't see it going down like that again (Willis was out that game, for one). Smith has improved tremendously over the last month.

SF's biggest problem seems to be an inability to establish an effective run game, which was actually working well for them earlier in the season.

Of the Raven game, SF had what 3 days to prep, plus 3 hour time zone difference to play them? I don't put a whole lot of stock into that game.

Giants are playing really good football right now. If thats how GB was going to play if SF went up to play them, I'd rather be on the road playing them :awe:.

It's going to be another great game in Candlestick.

GO NINERS

 

[Slew Foot]

Of the Raven game, SF had what 3 days to prep, plus 3 hour time zone difference to play them? I don't put a whole lot of stock into that game.

Giants are playing really good football right now. If thats how GB was going to play if SF went up to play them, I'd rather be on the road playing them :awe:.

It's going to be another great game in Candlestick.

GO NINERS

Plus they lost a TD on a completely bogus "clipping" call against Gore.

 

[dougp]

You do realize that Houston was playing with their 252354th string QB, right?

So? You do realize that the Texans have continued to play Kareem Jackson despite the fact he sucks, right? You do realize that the Texans continued to utilize Jacoby Jones as a punt returner / wide receiver after overpaying him a 3 year / $10.5mm deal, right? Except they let Derrick Mason go, why? Oh, because they couldn't integrate him into the system? Excellent coaching - I mean, when your RB is averaging the numbers on the ground he is against an excellent running defense, you go for a Hail Mary at the end of the game, right? Not run it and spike? Not run a screen out of bounds?

Regardless, the BETTER team won the game.

 

[SSSnail]

Just because teams win games, don't mean that they're better - see: Tebowmania.

TBH, Flacco played liked ass, I couldn't fathom how he won. Then, it dawned on me that the Houston team is not at their best.

 

[RPD]

Plus they lost a TD on a completely bogus "clipping" call against Gore.

Eh if I remember it right, he DID clip. Made me sad tho :'(

 

[dougp]

Just because teams win games, don't mean that they're better - see: Tebowmania.

TBH, Flacco played liked ass, I couldn't fathom how he won. Then, it dawned on me that the Houston team is not at their best.

Hmm, so you still want to argue the better team lost. What about the Giants vs. Packers? Yup, the Packers sure are the better team, right? I mean look at how well they did in the regular season! I mean, their defense wasn't playing at their best due to injury. Hell, we can venture into other sports! What about the Miami Heat vs. the Dallas Mavericks? Yah, I mean the Heat were insane with the amount of talent they had! They were the BEST team! I mean, it's not like the best team lost to them in the Eastern Conference Finals, you know - the Chicago Bulls, right? The #1 team in the NBA, ya know what I'm saying? Or hell, the best team in the Western Conference lost in the first round to the eighth seed - I mean, OBVIOUSLY the Spurs are the better team because they lost Manu and played a schedule that provided a slight benefit to the younger Grizzlies, no?

Your logic, and you, are stupid. The better team ALWAYS wins, that's why they're the winners. Execution is what makes you better - and how you carry yourself. I'll take Flacco's 14/27, 176 yard, 2 TD and no int game over Yates - and I'll take the execution of no penalties against the Ravens, along with forcing turnovers. I mean, that's not playing better - it's just being gifted, right? I mean, that Baltimore team was terrible, being the 2nd seed, earning a bye and staying undefeated at home. Earning their first home playoff win in over a decade, yah - home field advantage means nothing!

 

[SSSnail]

Wow, dougp, why so angry you fucking douchface? If a simple football argument brings out the douchy side of you, I'd imagine that you're just a horrible human being with nothing going for you in life, which explains the angry and hostile attitude.

You mad bro? Your team, is shit. And will get beat down next week.

Oh, and Flacco is still a failure.

Now go foam more at the mouth, and pop a vein on your forehead.

 

[dougp]

Wow, dougp, why so angry you fucking douchface? If a simple football argument brings out the douchy side of you, I'd imagine that you're just a horrible human being with nothing going for you in life, which explains the angry and hostile attitude.

You mad bro? Your team, is shit. And will get beat down next week.

Aww, you come out with personal attacks because you have no substance to your argument. It's simple, you have nothing. Face it - FYI, I'm a Cowboys fan - they haven't had shit since Week 17. How's about this one - I cheer for any AFC team that is NOT the Colts! So I win either way, and as long as the Niners take it, I win even more by not seeing an NFC East team in the Super Bowl!

Now, until you have something valuable to add to the conversation, go eat some fruit loops. I'd rather argue with ICF over who the better QB is between Tebow and Peyton than continue this discussion with you.

 

[SSSnail]

Aww, you come out with personal attacks because you have no substance to your argument. It's simple, you have nothing. Face it - FYI, I'm a Cowboys fan - they haven't had shit since Week 17. How's about this one - I cheer for any AFC team that is NOT the Colts! So I win either way, and as long as the Niners take it, I win even more by not seeing an NFC East team in the Super Bowl!

Now, until you have something valuable to add to the conversation, go eat some fruit loops. I'd rather argue with ICF over who the better QB is between Tebow and Peyton than continue this discussion with you.

NO! You're the douchebag that came out with personal attack first, it's what you are, and you can't help it. But, you're too fucking stupid to realize you personally attacked someone over a stupid football argument.

It's OK, your stupid team will be beat down next week, and you'll just gonna get angrier, and jump off a roof or something. Your personality has that tendency.

 

[JujuFish]

NO! You're the douchebag that came out with personal attack first, it's what you are, and you can't help it. But, you're too fucking stupid to realize you personally attacked someone over a stupid football argument.

It's OK, your stupid team will be beat down next week, and you'll just gonna get angrier, and jump off a roof or something. Your personality has that tendency.

Damn, could you be any more of a 12 year old?

 

[dougp]

NO! You're the douchebag that came out with personal attack first, it's what you are, and you can't help it. But, you're too fucking stupid to realize you personally attacked someone over a stupid football argument.

It's OK, your stupid team will be beat down next week, and you'll just gonna get angrier, and jump off a roof or something. Your personality has that tendency.

I called you out on a stupid statement. Give me a freaking reason to believe the Texans are the better team. You can't provide one - period. And FYI - I'm cheering for the Patriots and Niners. You better hope they win because you're cheering for them too. Though there is something intriguing about another Pats / Giants matchup. Wanna be friends and discuss this civilly? Then please give an argument.

 

[SSSnail]

I called you out on a stupid statement. Give me a freaking reason to believe the Texans are the better team. You can't provide one - period. And FYI - I'm cheering for the Patriots and Niners. You better hope they win because you're cheering for them too. Though there is something intriguing about another Pats / Giants matchup. Wanna be friends and discuss this civilly? Then please give an argument.

Hey man, as I've been for years on this forum, I've always been civil, and only react. I don't react too well to...well, you know. That is a fact.

I'm just stating that your statement of "the better team, wins" is not always accurate, and provided proof ala Broncos. There are many factors that can affect the outcome of a game, and good teams have bad days, this is known.

Let's say if we play the Broncos against the Patriots, I'm not saying that the Patriots will win 10 out of those 10 games. But, the probability of that happening is very high, versus the opposite.

While Broncos may squeak out a win, that doesn't mean that they are a better team than Patriots, even with that one win. And that's it, that's the argument.

You have to admit, Flacco wasn't playing good football. He wasn't mobile, he was incubating the ball until sacked, too many times on Sunday. And that's what Flacco usually does. When he completes a good pass, I think he pats himself on the back, and call it a day and that seemed to be the case on Sunday.

Houston was playing with a rookie under center on Sunday, and the Ravens D almost made him look like a rock star. I believe if that was Shaub throwing, the outcome might have been different.

 

[dougp]

Hey man, as I've been for years on this forum, I've always been civil, and only react. I don't react too well to...well, you know. That is a fact.

I'm just stating that your statement of "the better team, wins" is not always accurate, and provided proof ala Broncos. There are many factors that can affect the outcome of a game, and good teams have bad days, this is known.

Let's say if we play the Broncos against the Patriots, I'm not saying that the Patriots will win 10 out of those 10 games. But, the probability of that happening is very high, versus the opposite.

While Broncos may squeak out a win, that doesn't mean that they are a better team than Patriots, even with that one win. And that's it, that's the argument.

You have to admit, Flacco wasn't playing good football. He wasn't mobile, he was incubating the ball until sacked, too many times on Sunday. And that's what Flacco usually does. When he completes a good pass, I think he pats himself on the back, and call it a day and that seemed to be the case on Sunday.

Houston was playing with a rookie under center on Sunday, and the Ravens D almost made him look like a rock star. I believe if that was Shaub throwing, the outcome might have been different.

You have a lot of what-ifs there, not the what has happened in the past. Good defensive teams can pull off wins, look at the Niners, Chiefs & Seahawks last year - but like I said, the better team executes and gets the job done. Yates looked terrible, and the Texans had the chance to go to Delhomme or Garcia the last 3 games when Yates couldn't put up enough points to beat the Panthers, Colts or Jags the last 3 weeks of the season. Yates forced the ball to AJ too much and didn't utilize Daniels, Dressen, Casey or Tate as much as he should have. Yates makes the team worse than the Ravens - and the fumbles by Jones hurt as much as the 3 interceptions. Remember, there will always be exceptions to the rules - but I say 80% of the time, the Ravens win.

 

[SSSnail]

Alright, answer this question - which is a better team - Broncos, or Steelers?

Things change, and some of them change for the better. In the case of the 49ers, the coach. That one change, made the 49ers a contender. The coach took pretty much the same personnel from previous years, and turned them into one of the most feared team this year. Wait until you see the next year

Same with Texans, they were the quiet and forgotten juggernaut out of AFC this year, until their QBs got hurt. They had a strong running game, good defense, and better than average offense. In contrast, the Ravens' offense isn't that great and coupled with an aging defense. I think your 80% win percentage is overly optimistic. I think at both teams peak this season, you'll be lucky to get a 40% win percentage.

The only what-if I mentioned was for illustration purposes, to show you probability of good teams against bad teams, and why the team with a win isn't always the better team. The better team is the team that can win over, and over, and over and over without unfortunate affects to one team (i.e. injuries). I think you have a bit of problem with comprehension. Not only that, you went on tangents that have nothing to do with what's being discussed. I never said anything about defensive

How's this, instead of always readied to call people stupid, or their ideas stupid, just read a bit and think about the issue, then reply?

 

[MotF Bane]

I vote Steelers as a better team. If Big Ben weren't crippled, I believe that would have been enough to tip the game in Pittsburgh's favor.

 

[darkewaffle]

Well the Packers lost and the Broncos lost, now I just want to see the Ravens lose the AFC championship and the Patriots lose the Super Bowl and I'll be pretty happy even if the Steelers ended disappointingly

 

[bignateyk]

I vote Steelers as a better team. If Big Ben weren't crippled, I believe that would have been enough to tip the game in Pittsburgh's favor.

Anyone who thinks a healthy Steelers team would have lost to Denver is delusional.

Almost half the starting defense was out, including the entire starting defensive line, the lead tackler at safety, and one of the best pash rushers in the league for half the game.

On offense the starting running back was out, the center (pretty much the only good player on the O-line to begin with), and Big Ben was practically crippled.

 

[MrChad]

Baltimore was the better team, but they nearly gave away that game on Sunday. I wasn't feeling great about that win initially, but Baltimore's been playing this way all year. They play "down" to teams they should be better than (see losses to Jacksonville and Tennessee) and they play "up" to good teams (see wins against Pittsburgh). If our defense can put pressure on Brady on Sunday than I think we can make a game of it.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Baltimore was the better team, but they nearly gave away that game on Sunday. I wasn't feeling great about that win initially, but Baltimore's been playing this way all year. They play "down" to teams they should be better than (see losses to Jacksonville and Tennessee) and they play "up" to good teams (see wins against Pittsburgh). If our defense can put pressure on Brady on Sunday than I think we can make a game of it.

They may have been the better team by the score but they were completely outplayed by the Texans.

 

[dougp]

They may have been the better team by the score but they were completely outplayed by the Texans.

The Ravens defense completely outplayed the Texans offense, and vice versa.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The Ravens defense completely outplayed the Texans offense, and vice versa.

Tell that to Foster and Johnson.

 

[gorcorps]

Anyone who thinks a healthy Steelers team would have lost to Denver is delusional.

Almost half the starting defense was out, including the entire starting defensive line, the lead tackler at safety, and one of the best pash rushers in the league for half the game.

On offense the starting running back was out, the center (pretty much the only good player on the O-line to begin with), and Big Ben was practically crippled.

meh... details

No wait, that's not the word I'm looking for... EXCUSES! Yeah that's it, excuses.

People forget that Denver wasn't healthy either. Our QB can't even throw a ball he's so crippled.

 

[dougp]

Tell that to Foster and Johnson.

Foster had a good game, and Johnson was targeted 11 times, and got the ball eight times - two of those misses were interceptions, and the other was in the hands of Reed but Johnson knocked it out. Maybe instead of forcing the ball to Johnson, Yates should have targeted Daniels, Dressen, Walter, Tate or Casey more. Then they would have outplayed the Baltimore defense. You can look at the stats all you want - and sure, the Texans moved the ball - but they couldn't finish. Call it whatever YOU want to, but the Texans O got outplayed when it mattered.

As I had a discussion with a Texans fan today at work - just because you have a better team/record before the game starts, or whatever happens in the future - at the end of the game, the better team walks away with the win.

 

[MotF Bane]

The Ravens defense completely outplayed the Texans offense, and vice versa.

Not really. T.J. Yates and Jacoby Jones combined for what, four turnovers, or was it five? Those two gave the Ravens the game. If Matt Schaub were playing, I believe it would have turned out differently.