2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Here's the open thread for discussing all of this weekend's divisional-round action. On Saturday, we've got Atlanta at Philadelphia followed by Tennessee at New England. On Sunday, we start with Jacksonville at Pittsburgh, then New Orleans at Minnesota.
275 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
If Minnesota wins and a meteorite strikes Foxboro, we could have the shittiest pair of QBs in Super Bowl history!
285 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Who are the current holders of that title?
I guess it's Dilfer-Collins from XXV followed by Flacco-Kaepernick followed by Plunkett-Jaworski.
After that, I there's pretty much a HoF QB on at least one of the offenses.
293 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Kaepernick was in the top 3 QBs for DVOA that year, and Flacco was 17th. One elite QB, one just slightly below average. No one's calling them HoFers, but it was hardly a weak matchup. Kaep had the best DVOA of anyone not named Brady or Manning
302 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Got to be Dilfer-Collins, right?
Maybe one of those Miami-Washington rock fights had a stinker
276 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
This was a funny way of describing Tomlin, et al:
(From Twitter)
Scott Lemieux @LemieuxLGM
Tomlin is a top 5 NFL coach for sure, but...that game looked like the Steelers coaching staff went to a breakfast with bottomless Bloody Marys at 6AM and were determined to get their money's worth.
1:44 PM - 14 Jan 2018
288 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
In terms of sustained success over the past decade or so ... you've got Belichick
Followed by in no particular order Carroll, Reid, McCarthy, Tomlin, John Harbaugh.
280 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Saints getting screwed by penalties.
281 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Does anyone want Floyd's non-catch to be a TD?
282 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
It's not enough for Aikman to be a monotone bozo, now Buck is oh so cleverly quoting the bud shit ads. I'm not really sure I want to watch football anymore
284 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Shit, the Vikings sureare good.
286 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Would've liked the Vikings to actually go for it there.
287 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
So glad to see the Vikings not stupidly calling a time out on that fourth down. Losing five yards at midfield before a punt is no big deal.
294 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
The commentary about Bortles being phenomenal is killing me. He completed 50% for 200 something yards. I get that the bar is low but come on.
297 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Yeah, he was great on the first drive and in the fourth quarter, but everyone is forgetting what happened in between. Also I think most NFL commenters can't comprehend the idea of a team scoring 45 without their QB playing incredibly, so Bortles just automatically gets tons of credit for that big point total.
299 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
I don't think it's even the point total. Just winning a game is enough I think.
305 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
The big thing he did is that he DID NOT give Pittsburgh an 18 yard TD drive with a pick.
That was the difference. He had a few nice runs and he made a few really big throws early and late.
Peyton Manning was not great in his last Super Bowl but he made less mistakes than The LVP of Super Bowl L.
304 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
NO has started moving the ball.
306 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Almost the entire quarter gone on just two drives.
308 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Pre-2017 Keenum has entered the building.
309 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Wow, Vikings fans have to be having PTSD about their previous playoff heartbreaks.
310 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Vikings, Chiefs, and Eagles fans know playoff failure well.
Bills fans may be coming out of Brady-induced cryo-sleep to remember the feeling as well.
313 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
As a Lions fan, I would be lucky to someday experience those types of “failures”
312 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
As bad as Keenum's desperation throw was for a QB... that coaching decision by Payton was worse. 3rd and 1 is not the time for High School Harry.
315 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
To be fair, it came within a foot of paying off big.
314 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Saints score to take the lead. Now which Keenum are we going to see?
316 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Thielen with a big catch
317 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
If they don't pick up this third down, the Vikings will be leaving a lot of time on the clock (assuming they make the kick).
318 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
That's a mildly clutch kick.
319 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
89 seconds and a TO is a looonnnngggggggg time
320 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Too much time left, even with one timeout I think the Saints chances are good.
321 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Forbath gives them the lead! Now can the defense hold.
322 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
This is way too much time for Brees
323 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
This game has certainly turned into a very good one. By far the best of the weekend.
329 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
4th-goal from the 2 with 1:00 left wasn't a good game?
333 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
OK, "by far" was too strong. I was thinking of the AFC games. Pats game wasn't close and I have no idea what happened in Pittsburgh, but that wasn't good football. The Eagles/Falcons game was close but for some reason it didn't inspire me. To be at the same level as this one, they needed the Falcons to score a TD with a minute left, and then the Eagles would have had a minute to get the lead back...
The ending today was written better. :)
334 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
And then that happened.
Blows Falcons/Eagles out of the water.
339 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Goddamn.
Even the Lions wouldn't have blown it like that.
347 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Please don’t tempt fate.
354 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
The Lions would have gotten the DPI, roughed the passer, and lost on a FG.
359 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
What do you think the Chargers could have done there?
363 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Intercept it and them fumble it back, of course. The flagship play of Chargers bingo.
336 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
With that final play, for sure
324 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
This almost feels inevitable for the Saints here.
325 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Minnesota should be bringing huge pressure. If you're going to give up a score, make it happen quickly enough that you can answer.
326 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Tons of time to go for a TD here.
327 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
With a third down stop here the Vikings could get the ball back with at least a bit of time, and some timeouts.
328 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Glad to see Saints don't just stop and try a long FG. So many coaches are too afraid of rare events like turnovers that they don't take the effort to dramatically increase FG %.
330 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
What a game! Vikings are a great team, but Brees is a Hall of Fame quarterback.
332 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Welp, one big pass play or two and Minnesota still has a shot. Or maybe just another chance for FG-related heartbreak.
335 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
That's fucking miraculous
345 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
The ghost of Brett Favre just possessed Case Keenum
Holy fuck balls.
337 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Marcus Williams, man. All he had to do was grab Diggs and tackle him. The game would have been over.
353 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Watch the replay. He was early. If he hit him, it was DPI, which I'm sure is what he was thinking.
In retrospect, yeah, he'd be better just decking him. But how heads-up was it of Diggs to see no one downfield and stay inbounds?
387 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
The correct response to being early to a play in front of you is to slow down - not to dive past the guy into the only other defender in the area.
358 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Remember, as of a few years ago, around 2/3 of NFL players are high on opiate pain pills every game. That's a double edged sword, it can help enhance performance, and it can take performance away.
Do I have any evidence to point to suggesting that's a factor? Not really, but any time I see a professional athlete whiff like that, I do wonder.
338 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
What have I just seen. I honestly felt almost dramatic tension on that play just because the game seemed completely, utterly over. WTH. An all-time crazy finish.
340 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Foles
Keenum
Bortles
and Brady
So much for Ryan, Brees, and Roethlisberger!
373 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
One of those 4 does not belong!
341 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Rahim Moore-level blunder. Hell, probably worse.
342 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Holy hell what a finish!!?? Best playoff game wver??
343 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
I don't get the "we must kick the extra point!"
What if the teams just don't want to? Can the Saints filibuster this result??
356 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
The line for this game was 5.5 so not kicking the PAT made it go from a Vikings win to a Saints win.
357 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
I was kind of hoping the saints wouldn't come back on the field. Is there anything that says they need to field any players?
344 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
As sloppy as the NFL is about following rules, the "we have to kick to finalize the game" is so stupid
Still this was the best day of football in who knows how many years
349 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
That was a great game. It's just too bad that the moment that will be remembered is a negative one, in that it was far more about one person's terrible failure than anybody doing anything right.
350 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Wow, I have no words. For Vikings fans, Does this cancel out the 1972 Hail Mary by Staubach?
388 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
It was 1975. December.
Does it cancel? Ask me in a week or three. For the moment, though, yeah.
351 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Give credit where credit is due. The Panthers made both of these teams great. They gave Ginn to the Saints and took Matt Kalil from the Vikings.
355 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Okay, so Williams clearly realized he was going to hit Diggs too early and ducked out of the way to avoid the spot foul and field goal try. Probably should've just blown him up and hoped for the Mike Pereira "interference isn't interference if you wait until the ball is almost to the receiver" interpretation from before the punt block.
360 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
I can't wait to hear Paul Allen's play by play call of this on KFAN. I bet it will be something like:
"HEEEEE'S LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!!!!"
361 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Wow, congrats Vikings fans!
362 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Just unbelievable. Sort of a Peyton Manning way to lose a playoff game, no? Poor Brees.
364 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Well now we know that Brees is just as bad at playing defense as Manning.
365 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
I imagine that somewhere Will is deliriously happy
369 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
That was just insane. I realize Williams was (had to be) worried about DPI, but you just can't take yourself out of the play like that.
MIN has to be favored over whoever comes out of the AFC.
370 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
So they get a free win in Philly just like Atlanta did?
374 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
I don’t see any scenario where the books don’t favour the Patriots in their 8th SB in 17 seasons.
381 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
The Vikings have been a better team all season, so I can't see why they wouldn't be favored (plus home field). The Eagles would be with Wentz, won't be without him.
383 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Pats are #1 in weighted DVOA. Have same record and better point differential than Vikings.
Not seeing the basis for "better team all season".
Pats are favored by 9 over Jax. If they make the Super Bowl they'll surely be favored by Vegas.
377 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Not only did he take himself out of the play, he took out the only other defender who had any chance at it.
384 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Textbook example of one of the bad things that can happen if you try to play football while staring at the ground.
378 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Well, it was just a bit more than 42 years ago that I was about 100 yards away from Drew Pearson making a great hidden push off on Nate Wright, as Krause was just a split second late in giving help, after Vikings dt Doug Sutherland, executing a great bull rush, was flat out tackled by the Cowboys guard. I was a kid, and didn't anticipate all the brutal playoff losses to come, so I thought that as bad as it could be. HA!
Yeah, this one makes up for '75, especially since that one was a divisional game as well. Still have some miles to go, but that was fun to watch.
379 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Looking ahead -
AFCCG: zzzzzzz. I'll bet there's CBS execs on suicide watch right now. How many people outside of NE and N. Fla are going to watch this one? Anyway, NE cruises past Jax and their overrated defense to another SB.
NFCCG: Nick Foles vs. Case Keenum. Just like everyone predicted, right? Defense should be the bigger story. I'll say Minny by a FG.
380 Re: 2018 Divisional Discussion Thread
Vikings will have a very hard time scoring on the road, against thst defense. I think HFA makes the difference. Eagles by fewer than 3, absent a heroic performance by the Vikings defense.
Comments
389 comments, Last at 16 Jan 2018, 11:07am