AFC and NFC Championship game thread

Toe Nash

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I feel like Cinci made an adjustment or otherwise were more conscious of not biting on those spin moves he does. He just couldn't get outside because the edge guys didn't over-commit to going for the sack. I think he was hoping to make a play just like the one where he found Hill in the first half, which was remarkable. At the end of the day, I think he's a bit too in love with making the highlight reel play, and yesterday it bit him in the ass.
Yeah, they should have seen that CIN was dropping 8, realized they needed to go back to basics and try to scheme some guys open and throw quickly (particularly Kelce who can break tackles, or their fast guys with potential blockers). No flags were being thrown so run some rub routes and dare them to call OPI. The Bengals were clearly ready for the scramble drill. Particularly if that's what they did the last time? Seems like bad coaching, or being too hands-off with your star.
 

joe dokes

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I thought Romo was fine and that he wasn't necessarily saying what to do, he was trying to outline multiple thought processes. It might have gotten garbled but I thought that was his intent.
I think that is one of his excitablity-related faults. He usually has a small window to interject, and its often hard to tell whether he's making suggestions, running through the possibilities, or offering criticism/analysis.
 

NortheasternPJ

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I think that is one of his excitablity-related faults. He usually has a small window to interject, and its often hard to tell whether he's making suggestions, running through the possibilities, or offering criticism/analysis.
“small windows”? He never shuts up and is basically thinking out loud with verbal diarrhea.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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So what’s the conversation like to implement this vast conspiracy of a Chiefs loss? Does Goodell just text Mahomes at halftime and say ‘We need you to play poorly in the second half. K thx.’ Do the referees meet with Jimmy Hoffa and Arnold Rothstein in a bar the night before to discuss the second half collapse? How far up the chain at Nickelodeon does this go?
 

BaseballJones

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I am glad I am not the only one around here with that same opinion of Romo. He just doesn''t stop talking.
That's kind of his job though. In a TV broadcast, the PBP guy's job is really to set up the color commentator. In radio it's different. Romo's doing exactly what they want him to do, as it's designed for him.
 

tims4wins

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I'm still buzzing after that Bengals win. I think these Chiefs are my second-least favorite team ever (behind Manning Colts), so this is just delightful.
Feel the same. Today is a great day and so thankful I don’t have to deal with the Chiefs for the next two weeks (or beyond). It’s awesome to have a Super Bowl where it won’t bother me who wins. I’m not sure I have felt this way since… I dunno, ever? I always had someone to root against in the Super Bowl when the Pats weren’t playing. This year I’ll actually be rooting FOR the Bengals, but if they lose, whatever.
 

snowmanny

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I am glad I am not the only one around here with that same opinion of Romo. He just doesn''t stop talking.
At the end of close games he goes into another level of babbling. It’s insufferable. Plus he wouldn’t shut up about the Bengals should let the Chiefs score, or that the Chiefs should purposely get tackled at the one and then just go ahead and score on the next play. I mean it was all idiotic as actual events later demonstrated.

ED: pretty sure the Packers let the Broncos score the winning TD in that Super Bowl but that made more sense than it would have in this situation.
 

E5 Yaz

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That's kind of his job though. In a TV broadcast, the PBP guy's job is really to set up the color commentator.
There's a huge difference between Romo talking non-stop and Aikman's ability to analyze, make his comment and get out of the way. Dan Patrick had Sean Payton on his radio show last week and Payton was asking him about being analyst. Patrick said the analyst has 15 seconds to get in, make his point, and get out, so the PBP guy can set the next play. Romo talks so much, so fast and so unmodulated that even if he hits that 15-second mark, it's insufferable

Payton interview

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ost2TkC5_KA
 

54thMA

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Feel the same. Today is a great day and so thankful I don’t have to deal with the Chiefs for the next two weeks (or beyond). It’s awesome to have a Super Bowl where it won’t bother me who wins. I’m not sure I have felt this way since… I dunno, ever? I always had someone to root against in the Super Bowl when the Pats weren’t playing. This year I’ll actually be rooting FOR the Bengals, but if they lose, whatever.
Right there with you.

I literally do not care who wins; either team is fine with me.

Would be happy for Stafford and/or the Bengals/their fans, always sweet when you win the first one.
 

NortheasternPJ

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That's kind of his job though. In a TV broadcast, the PBP guy's job is really to set up the color commentator. In radio it's different. Romo's doing exactly what they want him to do, as it's designed for him.
Which is part of the problem. CBS is promoting his style, which is obnoxious. They're also seemingly have Nance ramp up his intensity to match it, which makes it awful. I know there was a large amount of people who loved Romo in the beginning, but not sure if they still do.

"CHASE IS ON THE CASE" - I've been waiting to say that all day Jim!
 

54thMA

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At the end of close games he goes into another level of babbling. It’s insufferable. Plus he wouldn’t shut up about the Bengals should let the Chiefs score, or that the Chiefs should purposely get tackled at the one and then just go ahead and score on the next play. I mean it was all idiotic as actual events later demonstrated.

ED: pretty sure the Packers let the Broncos score the winning TD in that Super Bowl but that made more sense than it would have in this situation.
"At the end of close games he goes into another level of babbling"................this is hysterical.

And also true.

Right before the kick by the Bengals, he bursts out "I'm so nervous!!".......................

Such an imbecile.
 

Marciano490

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I liked Romo’s joke about his playoff fumble, but I cringed when he asked if Nantz heard it and the repeated it again. Was super awkward.
 
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Al Zarilla

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Romo is so right in predicting plays and telling us what the penalty will be kinds of things that I'm willing to give him a pass for talking too much or being goofy. In fact, those too things are pretty minor to me. Aikman probably talks more that Romo, but I like him too. For example, Romo's play predictions in overtime in the 2018 (January 2019) AFCCG vs KC were so spot on it was breathtaking. Never saw anything before or since close to it. Romo, Collinsworth and Aikman are all on the 16th floor and all other color men are in the lobby.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Romo is so right in predicting plays and telling us what the penalty will be kinds of things that I'm willing to give him a pass for talking too much or being goofy. In fact, those too things are pretty minor to me. Aikman probably talks more that Romo, but I like him too. For example, Romo's play predictions in overtime in the 2018 (January 2019) AFCCG vs KC were so spot on it was breathtaking. Never saw anything before or since close to it. Romo, Collinsworth and Aikman are all on the 16th floor and all other color men are in the lobby.
Yeah, I dunno. I think plenty of color guys can do this, too, because if you know a team’s tendencies it’s not rocket science for savvy football observers but they don’t because, I suspect, you can easily be wrong/look bad and basic stylistic preference. To the former point, someone did a study of Romo’s predictions a year or two ago, and he was correct about 2/3 of the time.

It kind of reminds me of how gobsmacked people were when at a presser Sean McVay rattled off short scouting reports of some players on another team, as if it was an exceptional display of acumen that other head coaches didn’t possess.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Romo is so right in predicting plays and telling us what the penalty will be kinds of things that I'm willing to give him a pass for talking too much or being goofy. In fact, those too things are pretty minor to me. Aikman probably talks more that Romo, but I like him too. For example, Romo's play predictions in overtime in the 2018 (January 2019) AFCCG vs KC were so spot on it was breathtaking. Never saw anything before or since close to it. Romo, Collinsworth and Aikman are all on the 16th floor and all other color men are in the lobby.
The fact you’re citing a game 3 years ago is part of my point. He did do the whole predicting plays early on for a bit and he doesn’t it anymore well. He’s more willing to throw educated guesses out there and be right 50-60% of the time.

There’s so many times where it’s “definitely a run here Jim!!!” Followed by a play action pass or a “Jim here they come on the blitz!!!” Followed by the D dropping back into coverage.
 

Dotrat

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I don't mind Romo as much as others but, like his predecessor, he seems to be falling increasingly into schtick more than doing analysis. For all the enormous differences in style he had with Romo, Sims started out as a pretty incisive commentator. By his second or third year with Nantz, however, he began dumbing it down and/or beginning every sentence with, "When we talked to Bill Belichick last night..." only to offer something banal, like "he told us this Colts offense has a lot of weapons." I wonder if the producers at CBS pressure the color commentators to focus on what the network people think plays best, which has the gradual effect of making the commentary insipid. (Part of Romo's problem is also Nantz--he's incapable of playing off Romo in a way that works. To be fair, though, I despise Nantz--he's the worst.)
 

luckiestman

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I still like Romo. I like Aikman more but I never have and never will like Joe Buck. Wish we could get bizarro world matchups. Al and Troy for a game would be fun.
 

RG33

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I'm still buzzing after that Bengals win. I think these Chiefs are my second-least favorite team ever (behind Manning Colts), so this is just delightful.
Seriously. I don’t remember the last time I was this excited about another team losing — I mean, even last year, I was more focused on the amazing TB12 story part of things versus Mahomes losing to the GOAT. I hated all of the “The Next GOAT” stuff that Mahomes got so early — and love that he has been knocked down like 3 rungs now over the last 13 months. I can’t stand the team, the fans, the owners, and all the love for Andy Reid who has won one Superbowl, been a terrible Dad, and signed scumbag after scumbag, but someone, miraculously, is a good wholesome Christian fellow because he looks like Wilford Brimley . . . .and, well, you know.
 

tims4wins

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Seriously. I don’t remember the last time I was this excited about another team losing — I mean, even last year, I was more focused on the amazing TB12 story part of things versus Mahomes losing to the GOAT. I hated all of the “The Next GOAT” stuff that Mahomes got so early — and love that he has been knocked down like 3 rungs now over the last 13 months. I can’t stand the team, the fans, the owners, and all the love for Andy Reid who has won one Superbowl, been a terrible Dad, and signed scumbag after scumbag, but someone, miraculously, is a good wholesome Christian fellow because he looks like Wilford Brimley . . . .and, well, you know.
Denver in Super Bowl 48. The most enjoyable start to finish Super Bowl of all time.
 

Toe Nash

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I'm surprised at the Aikman love, he seems like he's had too many concussions to me. He'll make good observations, but it's hard to follow what he's trying to say sometimes and it bums me out.

Romo is not as refreshing as he was at first and had a few cringe moments recently, but he seems to genuinely have fun and doesn't usually say anything dumb which puts him in the 80th percentile automatically. I think he's allowed Nantz to show some personality as well (seems like a tough job). Worlds better than Simms who was just horrible.
 

Deathofthebambino

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LOL at Chiefs fans.

I want to go on that site and post "Fuck you idiots There's no conspiracy. The Bengals doubled Kelce and Hill in the 2nd half, kept a spy on Mahomes so he couldn't scramble and he shit down his leg. That's it. That's the recipe for stopping your GOAT."
 

McBride11

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LOL at Chiefs fans.

I want to go on that site and post "Fuck you idiots There's no conspiracy. The Bengals doubled Kelce and Hill in the 2nd half, kept a spy on Mahomes so he couldn't scramble and he shit down his leg. That's it. That's the recipe for stopping your GOAT."

Have you seen the ‘Mixon fumble controversy’?

He is clearly touched by 1 and possibly 2 kc players. Beyond that, he is giving himself up.

But there is a lottt of twitter and even kc newspapers playing this one out

View: https://twitter.com/jakewagarb/status/1487947424714960905?s=21
 

Dollar

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Yeah even if no defender touched him, that's the definition of 'giving oneself up'. It would be one thing if the ball squirted out while he was on the ground, but he literally gets up and voluntarily drops the ball.
 

YTF

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CaptainLaddie

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Seriously. I don’t remember the last time I was this excited about another team losing — I mean, even last year, I was more focused on the amazing TB12 story part of things versus Mahomes losing to the GOAT. I hated all of the “The Next GOAT” stuff that Mahomes got so early — and love that he has been knocked down like 3 rungs now over the last 13 months. I can’t stand the team, the fans, the owners, and all the love for Andy Reid who has won one Superbowl, been a terrible Dad, and signed scumbag after scumbag, but someone, miraculously, is a good wholesome Christian fellow because he looks like Wilford Brimley . . . .and, well, you know.
As pointed out below, the 43-8 Scoragami Super Bowl was an UNREAL amount of "HOLY FUCK THIS RULES". Last year's Super Bowl was very close to that. But this is easily the non-Super Bowl winner for me, both as a Pats fan and personally (an old former friend of mine who turned out to be a massive scumbag is a HUGE Chiefs fan and I'm sure today was terrible for him).
 

Pandemonium67

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Very good calls here. Manning chasing after the first snap that went sailing over his head was gold, and it just got worse from there -- that was the best SB loss. But yesterday's KC fiasco was the best championship loss, especially because they had to really fuck up to lose it, and they did exactly that. I was totally jacked watching that game.
 

Euclis20

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LOL at Chiefs fans.

I want to go on that site and post "Fuck you idiots There's no conspiracy. The Bengals doubled Kelce and Hill in the 2nd half, kept a spy on Mahomes so he couldn't scramble and he shit down his leg. That's it. That's the recipe for stopping your GOAT."
That's the recipe for stopping any passing attack in the league. The obvious answer to a defense dropping 8 back in coverage is to run the ball right at them, you'll pick up yards in chunks. Having an excellent receiving option at TE should make this strategy even easier, you can run it down their throats without removing your best receivers. The Chiefs' 2 RBs (McKinnon and CEH) averaged 5.6 yards per carry, which is about what you'd expect against a defense sitting back on it's heels the way Cincinnati was in the 2nd half. The problem was that KC (either the coaches or Mahomes, or both) just decided not to pound them with the run in the 2nd half, calling only 8 rushes (with RBs) on the final 8 drives of the game. Those 8 rushes yielded 37 yards (4.6 yards per carry), so it's not like it wasn't working. Meanwhile until their long drive at the end of regulation, Mahomes had exactly 0 net yards in the 2nd half.

Sometimes we'll see an excellent offense stopped cold, and we'll wonder how it happened. This isn't one of those times.
 

loshjott

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Very good calls here. Manning chasing after the first snap that went sailing over his head was gold, and it just got worse from there -- that was the best SB loss. But yesterday's KC fiasco was the best championship loss, especially because they had to really fuck up to lose it, and they did exactly that. I was totally jacked watching that game.
For me nothing can beat Saints winning on Peyton’s pick six.
 

Silverdude2167

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Watching this QB School breakdown, what happened to Mahomes?
The two sacks at the end of the game should have been touchdowns, it's not like the defense had his first couple of reads covered.

These are so much worse than Brady missing Gronk for the 2pt try against Denver. Brady had no time if what he saw presnap wasn't there, here Mahomes has all day and wasn't getting consistently hit over the course of the game.