at this point with brady and dalton hurt, manning struggling and steelers banged up at RB probably true. however, the AFC only needs to beat one of them so well let them duke it out until the superbowl.
as of today, every road team is the favorite in round 1 (skins opened up as -1 favs but I'm now seeing GB -1.5). I'm pretty sure that's never happened before so nick, get ready for some crazy **** about to happened because there is no way all 4 road favorites are winning. reminds me of the tebow steelers game or seattle vs NO before seattle was really good and they got in a 7-9 where everyone assumed those were locks. someone unexpected is going down, how would you guys rank these games if you were to do a confidence pool?
By no means is the Steelers game an easy one. They are a division opponent who started the year like 12-1. Dalton isn't why they were that good and McCarron isn't that bad. Would much rather have pulled the texans but we didnt, so were gonna go smash the Bungles in the jungle.
manning named the starter for the playoffs. I don't think this was too much of a surprise, even if they went with brock he would have been on such a short leash it wouldn't have made sense to even bring him out there.
haha this would be great if the steelers beat the bengals and then play the broncos just to give your season long prediction some real meaning. either you will be 100% right from day 1 about him being done, or he will end your teams season haha.
watched inside the nfl last night, pretty good and nick you will especially like this weeks steelers/bengals highlights since you probably don't remember much of the 4th quarter haha. phil simms son, chris simms (formerly of the bucs) also is on which is funny that phil is getting him a job in the media now, must be nice. with that said, after re-watching the highlights and seeing all the media coverage this week I realized 2 people really got off the hook easily this week from deserved criticism:
1. Jeremy hill. what is the RB's number 1 job when your team has the lead with 2 minutes to go? hold on to the damn ball! this was probably the biggest fumble in bengals history, less than 2 minutes away from basically winning their first playoff game in decades and then it all turned after that. but who is getting the blame in cincy? pacman/burfectt along with even marvin lewis for allowing those idiots to get out of control. imagine if a good coach like Lewis lost his job because of this, and it would all be different if Hill just didn't fumble.
2. steelers coaching staff. where else have you ever seen a coaching staff with MULTIPLE infractions of either being on the field when they shouldn't, or grabbing/pushing the other team? first it was mike munchick with a 15 yarder, then it was joey porter who was out at mid field picking a fight or antagonizing the bengals, and oh yeah, you have mike tomlin who has been heavily fined for almost tripping jacoby jones years ago. I remember the jets getting in trouble for when their special teams coach set up a wall or something, but he was 3-5 yards on his sideline, what the steelers coaching staff is doing is much worse, and oh by the way, this is the 3rd example. if this was the pats coaching staff doing this trust me there would be articles written that BB should be suspended, tomlin is getting off easily for his coaching staff being this out of control.
I get the porter thing but this is during a benglas injury earlier in the game. there are so many coaches/players on the field from the sideline that you cant even count them all. happens every time.
also, theres a pretty good video of what actually happened with porter that ill post when i get a sec to find it.
another good episode of inside the NFL last night. they showed the end of the cardinals game which was great obviously. I cant imagine any better sports high then winning a playoff game in OT like that. they also showed the coin flip. I was at the bar at this time so I had no idea this was even an issue, it was funny seeing carson palmer and cambells reaction the whole time haha, but that could have been real bad if the 2nd flip went to the packers.
they showed mike tomlin right before the steelers drive when it was 20-13 and he appeared to be dead set on going for 2 "when we tie this up" instead of going to OT. that would have been very interesting to say the least haha. the drive ended up in a 4th down sack, but it should have been a fumble and it would have been returned for a TD by von miller. that would have swung things with Vegas since the line was either -7 or -9 everywhere and that woulda made it 14. knowing how aggressive tomlin is, why did he chose to punt when they were at the 33 one drive? he does know he is in Denver right? a 50 yarder in Denver is not a difficult kick and if I remember correctly the punt ended up being a touchback, so way to get those extra 13 yards in field possession. doesn't make sense considering 15 minutes later he was willing to go for 2 and the win.
also, peyton mannings almost sack didn't go over so well with big ben obv. that play was BS, luckily it didn't result in a td or anything game changing like that but still.
after seeing the pats get about 1-2 yards per carry and them really struggle to find that 3rd down back once dion lewis went down, are you really telling me ray rice can't make this team better? hasn't enough time passed to allow him to get a job again? the corpse of Stephen Jackson isn't going to cut it, and eventually they are going to need some type of running game to win, probably in the super bowl. If there is 1 team in the league who can handle the extra media pressure of having rice on the team then this is it, they are really costing themselves by not giving him this shot, he would make them so much better.
the coin flip was funny but a non issue for me. feel awesome for carson and larry.
i wouldnt be surprised if they did go for 2 and its exactly because of the packers cards game. im really surprised the pack didnt go for 2. either tie it up and hope you can either win a 50/50 coin toss or make a stop then score yourself, or try to get 2 yards on one play. steelers are 73% on 2PT this season so Ill take those odds anyday, and surprised more teams dont.
he punted because the wind was so bad. simple enough. its on the punter not to kick the ball into the endzone on that play. if the toussant fumble wasnt the reason the steelers lost it was special teams poor result in field position, see below...
manning giving himself up then getting up and throwing the ball is absolute BS. so now any QB can dive on the ground to escape a sack, wait a second, then get up and throw for 40 yards? not many players get that call and manning would get it before anyone. it may not have resulted in points but field position was huge during that game and it was a VERY big play. the bar went nuts. total missed call, and a big one.
ray rice actually did get a job and just recently. he and priest holmes are co-RB coaches for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl this weekend! haha.
i disagree about the 2 point conversion. yes, the steelers might have a high % converting throughout the season, but that % isn't vs the broncos and their #1 overall D. plus even if it was true that they would convert 75% of the time, if the other 25% happened they are done and the season is over, that puts way too much pressure on 1 play. playing in OT doesn't mean you lose the game if you don't get the 50/50 coin flip. you really think if the steelers lost the coin toss manning is going to lead an 80 yard TD drive? I think they would have liked their chances once they got into OT, but who knows its a debate that unfortunately never had a chance to happen but would have been very interesting.
agree to disagree. with a team like the steelers or packers one play for 2 yards by the O is much better than relying on their lesser talented side of the ball to get them the ball back in OT.
obviously teams disagree with me for the most part but when youre a coach on as solid ground as tomlin or mccarthy I take that chance. too much can go wrong to not control your own destiny, even if that control is only one play, at least you have the ball in your best players hands. Im sure he would get killed if they missed but i wouldnt be pissed in the least.
I also dont get why teams dont get the ball back in OT even if the other team scores a TD. give both teams the ball and whoever is winning after those 2 possessions wins. if its still tied then it goes to sudden death but at least the team that lost the coin toss has a chance to tie or win with a 2 point conversion. the game was TIED which means both teams played equally, so why dont both teams get an equal chance in OT? makes no sense and I believe they only halfway solved the OT problem.
-- Edited by 6ixty on Wednesday 20th of January 2016 09:32:03 PM
so nick, after seeing the pats having to go for 2 with the game on the line at Denver, do you want to take back what you said about the steelers potential strategy to do the same thing? I'm pretty sure the pats would have been ecstatic to have to kick that XPT and go to OT and take their chances vs manning there, who in the 2nd half who couldn't move the ball at all, rather than everything be on the line for that 1 play.
-- Edited by MFisH on Wednesday 27th of January 2016 04:30:33 PM
different situation obviously but if the score was to be down by 1 itd be interesting to see what he did. although with the way their 4th down plays were going that day id also be surprised if they went for it. on the other hand brady was getting KILLED all day so maybe they would have to avoid a further beating in OT. tomlin was on record(ed audio device) saying he'd go for 2 so i dunno why you think im the only one in the world who would consider. i dont get paid to make that call like hes does but id have no problem with any team doing it, and id fully support the steelers doing it.
belicheck is getting a ton of heat for his decision making during the game. LT went off on pats fans on total access last night for crying about having 6 SB apparences, 4 wins and 10 AFCCG visits haha.
how are they different situations? both pats and steelers were playing AT Denver and the discussion we had was if the steelers were down by 1 should they kick the XPT and go to OT or try for 2 and win the game. Weeeelll, pats obviously needed to go for 2, but the situation was basically the exact same: either get the 2 point or game is over... and looked what happened. I still can't understand why you think going for 2 vs that defense is the better option esp since manning and that O did basically nothing vs either team in the 2nd half. you really scared of him in OT going 80 yards for the win first drive?
college teams who are huge underdogs go for 2 when the game is on the line. 2 equal NFL teams extend the game for as long as needed to win and don't try to force it if its not needed. imagine how badly BB would have gotten killed if he had the option of going for 1 instead of 2, same thing if not worse woulda happened to tomlin.
"I still can't understand why you think going for 2 vs that defense is the better option esp since manning and that O did basically nothing vs either team in the 2nd half. you really scared of him in OT going 80 yards for the win first drive?"
yet you and danny were giving me **** because i didnt think manning has played well other than the first half of the game? which is it? hes done so youre not afraid of him going 80 yards or hes still PFM so you dont want to see him in OT? pats werent exactly moving the ball either so score from 2 yards out or risk brady getting smashed 2 seconds after the snap like he was all game and that stud D forcing another turn over?
as for your question they are different because the pats had to go for 2 where the steelers would have won with a 2 pt conversion. so, theres no relation really and we have no idea what belicheck would have done in tomlins situation. denver knew it was coming since pats had no choice so obviously it was harder to score.
how is this any different than the SD game where tomlin could have kicked the FG to tie but instead ran Bell from 2 yards out for the TD with no TO and no time left? its the exact same thing! the decision is an opinion not a fact, which is why tomlin (and I) look like we have a different opinion that you.
it happened in the SD game and its going to happen sooner or later with a 2 pt conversion.
first you changed the topic from going for 2 at the end of the game to is peyton manning still good. I'll answer that question later. but no **** these scenarios are not LITERALLY the exact same thing, but lets break it down for you since I don't think you are understanding:
Scenario 1. Team A is playing AT Denver. Team A is down by 1 with very little time left. Team A decides that going for 2 is a better option than kicking an extra point vs the best defense in football. If they get it, they win, if they don't they lose.
Scenario 2: Team B is playing AT Denver. Team B is down by 2 with very little time left. Team B decides that going for 2 is a better option than kicking an extra point vs the best defense in football. If they get it, they tie, if they don't they lose. Team B did not get it and Team B lost.
scenario 1 was obviously a hypothetical, but based off what Team A's coach was caught saying on inside the NFL, this scenario was very close to happening. in scenario 2, we know what happened and we saw how difficult it is to score with the game on the line. do you see how these scenarios are very similar now?
and with that said, do you still think the steelers have a better 2 point option while down to their 3/4th string RB, along with no AB? if you do, that's a different story, but if you want to compare this to the chargers who have a much worse defense than Denver, much worst home field advantage, and the only player who touched the ball that play (bell) wasn't on the field this game, then lets just agree to disagree.
to answer your peyton manning diss, I never once said he is a top 5 qb this season, but I also never said all year long the dude is done and should retire, because guess what, he just led his team to the super bowl. I think he falls somewhere in the middle, where is he no longer able to carry a team on his back and lead his team to victory every week, but he is obviously capable of managing a game and winning big game after big game. do I trust him to lead an 80 yard comeback vs a top tier D with the game on the line? no, not really. but would I be surprised if did pull it off and lead his team to victory? no, I wouldn't because he is still peyton manning and he still knows what it takes to win a game like this, unlike a playoff rookie in brock osweiller where we have no idea how he would have reacted in a high pressure situation time after time.
you were right when it comes to fantasy, but in real life just admit you were wrong, peyton had a little left in the tank and knew what it would take to lead his team to victory and the super bowl and he did it. what else do u need from him?
were going around in circles here. we'll never know what bill belicheck would have done if a 2 pt conversion would have won it and if you think one good half of football on an entire season means a player is still in his prime then i guess we cant agree. he didnt lead his team to **** the three 4th down stops and a 2 point conversion attempt led them to the superbowl, not to mention the fact he told belicheck this was his last rodeo.
I'm pretty confident after getting stopped twice on 4th and short in the 4th quarter and finally scoring with 12 seconds left on a jump ball, BB was not going to then go out and risk the game on another short yardage play when an extra point was on the table. and that was my whole point from last week, it would be a dumb decision to do that against that D on the road, and then what do you know the following week we get to see it happen live and you saw the results. that was my whole point, and after seeing what happen in the pats game if you still think the steelers better move was to try the same thing in that situation then I guess you're much more of a risk taker than I am.
as for peyton, while his stats weren't great, he went 7-2 in the regular season, plus came in the 2nd half vs the chargers and helped lead his team to victory so call it 8-2 which helped them secure the 1 seed. he then won 2 playoff teams vs the best 2 afc teams, so yeah I think going 10-2 is pretty impressive even if he did have more "help" than in past seasons. I guess if you want to say the defense led them there and he doesn't deserve any credit for this then should we not count big bens first super bowl win as well? I'm pretty sure statistically he has the worst numbers of any winning qb in super bowl history in that seattle game (eye emoji)
