NFL Playoffs - Divisional Round game thread

[tims4wins]

Not if you intend to throw short and use the running backs a ton in the passing game, which I expect them to do. Only way Brady throws less than 40 times today is if the Rams offense self destructs and Tampa builds a huge lead from the jump.

Yeah the Rams offense vs the Tampa defense is the real wild card today. We have seen Stafford throw some really bad, stupid passes this year. He led the league in INTs and had four pick-sixes. If he gives away points today that will make it much easier on the Bucs offense.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Yeah the Rams offense vs the Tampa defense is the real wild card today.

People have been focusing on Wirfs being out, but the Rams are without Whitworth who's probably still their best offensive lineman.

 

[snowmanny]

Those people voting for the 49ers in the poll also just picked the Braves for the World Series if anyone wants to get in in the action.

 

[scott bankheadcase]

Just read that the niners are the first team to block a punt and a field goal in the same playoff game since 1989.

 

[tims4wins]

Just read that the niners are the first team to block a punt and a field goal in the same playoff game since 1989.

Was wondering about that. Shades of the Pats having a blocked field goal TD and punt return TD in Pittsburgh in the 2001 AFCCG.

 

[BaseballJones]

You’re completely overlooking the off the field stuff, which has turned him off to a sizable portion of the NFL fan base. Look at all the dunking on him this morning by writers, fans on Twitter, etc. That never used to happen nearly as intensely as it is now.

Yes but do you think that will actually cost him anything? Like... sponsorship opportunities or anything like that?

 

[luckiestman]

View: https://twitter.com/PSchrags/status/1485327481406119937?s=20

 

[Ralphwiggum]

One thing about yesterday, watching those defenses ball out was really fun. BB is the greatest coach ever and you can’t argue with the bend not break philosophy in general. But man, watching teams get after the QB like that was fun.

 

[scott bankheadcase]

An underrated aspect of the niners win last night is also that the first rounder they gave up for lance in the upcoming draft is now going to be in the 30 range.

Lessens the sting a bit.

 

[curly2]

So close, but Eli is easily the most overrated Manning.

Won 2 SB on the strength of 2-3 great passes. And an uncalled in-the-grasp. A "Great" QB only because his team beat a truly great QB twice. Mediocre in every other game in his life...

I don't think Eli was overrated, because I don't think he was ever regarded as top-3 or possibly top-5 in the league at any time he was playing, with Brady, Peyton and Favre (and Roethlisberger and Brees in some circles) all regarded as better than him at the time of his first title, and Brady, Peyton and Rodgers (and again, possibly Brees and Roethlisberger) at the time of his second SB.

And in those Super Bowl years, Eli had 15 TDs vs. 2 INTs in the playoffs and went 5-0 on the road, so it wasn't 2-3 great passes.

 

[Euclis20]

I don't think Eli was overrated, because I don't think he was ever regarded as top-3 or possibly top-5 in the league at any time he was playing, with Brady, Peyton and Favre (and Roethlisberger and Brees in some circles) all regarded as better than him at the time of his first title, and Brady, Peyton and Rodgers (and again, possibly Brees and Roethlisberger) at the time of his second SB.

And in those Super Bowl years, Eli had 15 TDs vs. 2 INTs in the playoffs and went 5-0 on the road, so it wasn't 2-3 great passes.

Yeah, everybody pretty much acknowledges that Eli had two great playoff runs and was otherwise somewhere between average and pro-bowl level for the rest of his career, with his only great strength being his durability. There are 10 QBs with multiple super bowl wins, he's either the 9th or 10th best out of the group (Plunkett).

 

[Al Zarilla]

Manning's longevity compared to Montana is the easy deciding factor for me. He started 100 more games, 61.5% more starts than Montana. That's a ton.

Manning led the league in yardage 3x; Montana 0.
Manning led the league in TDs 4x; Montana 2x.
Manning led the league in passer rating 3x; Montana 2x.
Montana took more sacks for more yards despite starting 100 fewer games.

Crossing sports, Montana could be compared with Pedro or Sandy Koufax (more sensational in a shorter career). Peyton might be Steve Carlton or Jim Palmer. OK, apples and oranges, but I like Montana behind only Brady.

 

[Euclis20]

It'd kind of be like arguing that Koufax is the greatest pitcher of all time. Montana is buoyed by the 4 titles and 4 for 4 Super Bowl wins, and like you said playing good to great in those games. But I agree that Young's emergence has hurt his case, and he just didn't play enough to be in those GOAT conversations. Imagine if Jimmy took over for Brady in like 2014 and won a title and multiple MVPs and Brady left, played a couple more years, didn't win another title. He'd be looked at very very differently.

100%. No one would treat Brady like the GOAT if that happened.

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

Playoff Lenny is back

 

[mikeot]

Lenny carrying the load in the early going!

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth calling a game starting at 3 p.m. in bright sunshine just feels wrong.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth calling a game starting at 3 p.m. in bright sunshine just feels wrong.

Keith Jackson (RIP) is the voice of bright sunshine.

 

[johnmd20]

Bad ending to that drive. And not a great punt.

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

Having Kupp return punts just seems so needlessly risky

 

[heavyde050]

Bad ending to that drive. And not a great punt.

Yeah, Gronk probably could have caught that. Would have been tough, but hit him in the hands.

 

[heavyde050]

Playoff Lenny is back

Yeah, he looks good.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Yeah, Gronk probably could have caught that. Would have been tough, but hit him in the hands.

Hey Tom, take a couple mph off the fastball. The guy can still fire it with the best.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Every time I see the name "Noteboom", I think the last letter is a typo.

 

[heavyde050]

Hey Tom, take a couple mph off the fastball. The guy can still fire it with the best.

Yeah, it was not an easy catch, but could have been made.

 

[johnmd20]

Yeah, it was not an easy catch, but could have been made.

I want to see the Miller replay, just to see how close it was.

 

[The Social Chair]

This is really tough match-up for the Bucs. Without a TB pass rush the Rams are going to put up a lot points and that could make the Bucs offense more one dimensional.

 

[heavyde050]

I want to see the Miller replay, just to see how close it was.

I was talking about the Gronk one, but yeah, I would have wanted to see a replay on the Miller one as well.

 

[Ale Xander]

Rams got 2 Badgers on the line

if they get good OdB and good Stafford they can score a lot

 

[heavyde050]

This is really tough match-up for the Bucs. Without a TB pass rush the Rams are going to put up a lot points and that could make the Bucs offense more one dimensional.

Yeah, but if the officials call the obvious holds, the Bucs should have a chance.

 

[Ale Xander]

Can’t do that though

 

[E5 Yaz]

This is too easy

 

[BigSoxFan]

Rams look really good so far

 

[johnmd20]

Clinical.

 

[heavyde050]

Well, if the Bucs' defensive players are just going to slip and fall, it is going to be a long day.

 

[Al Zarilla]

They don't want to have orgasms over Stafford's sidearm throw because it's not Mahomes?

 

[The Social Chair]

Yeah, but if the officials call the obvious holds, the Bucs should have a chance.

There have been no holds. The TB lines are getting pushed around.

 

[DJnVa]

If Mahomes had thrown a ball sidearm like Stafford did on first and 20 and the announcers would still be talking about how ridiculous it is.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Stafford went to UGA. Maybe it's the Dawgs' year, both college and pro?

 

[DJnVa]

They don't want to have orgasms over Stafford's sidearm throw because it's not Mahomes?

If Mahomes had thrown a ball sidearm like Stafford did on first and 20 and the announcers would still be talking about how ridiculous it is.

HAHAHA

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I’m still in shock that some people here think OBJ isn’t that good

 

[heavyde050]

There have been no holds. The TB lines are getting pushed around.

I thought they called a hold and made it 1st and 20. My mistake.

 

[johnmd20]

Gotta pick that off.

 

[heavyde050]

That is the Stafford that the Bucs need. That should have been intercepted.

 

[Ale Xander]

Stafford went to UGA. Maybe it's the Dawgs' year, both college and pro?

Sony Michel approves of this post

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

Tyler Higbee is the jackrabbit according to Al.

 

[johnmd20]

That 3rd down play was horrendous.

lol.

 

[E5 Yaz]

I thought they called a hold and made it 1st and 20. My mistake.

They did

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

That fade on third down was criminally negligent.

 

[Ale Xander]

Semisquander

 

[Mystic Merlin]

If that’s what Stafford’s execution is gonna be like in a tight field, the Rams better score on some shot plays.