2017 Wild Card Game Discussion
Here we go! Oakland at Houston, Detroit at Seattle, Miami at Pittsburgh, and New York at Green Bay. Discuss below!
Comments
126 comments, Last at 09 Jan 2017, 9:38am
#1 by MJK // Jan 06, 2017 - 1:33pm
Picks anyone?
Pittsburgh over Miami is my lock. (Duh)
I'm going to pick Houston to beat Oakland. It's a case of a team with a great defense, mediocre skill players, and a terrible QB at home versus a team with a good defense, great skill players, and a terrible QB on the road. I think the better defense and being at home (plus having had the whole season to get used to said terrible QB, instead of thrusting him into the fire after just a week or so) gives Houston a bigger edge than Oakland's better offensive skill players gives the Raiders.
I'm going to go with Seattle over Detroit. I actually think Detroit has a decent shot, but playing in Seattle is a tall order for a visitor, so I think home field gives the Hawks the edge.
As a Pats fan, I really hope Green Bay takes care of business over New York, but I need to pick one upset here, so I'll go with the Giants. Rodgers run the table magic runs out here.
#8 by RickD // Jan 07, 2017 - 5:53pm
I have the home teams winning, too. In order of confidence: Steelers, Seahawks, Texans, Packers.
It's a shame Raiders lost Carr. They could make a deep run if they had him, but without him it's hard to see them winning anything. Texans played them tight in Mexico City and that was when Raiders had Carr.
Dolphins had a nice run beating mediocre teams in a super-soft schedule but I don't see them beating a healthy Steelers team in Pittsburgh in the playoffs.
Seahawks should have enough to win a home game against a very flawed Lions team.
Packers-Giants is the matchup of the weekend. Either team could make a Super Bowl run though, ironically, I would like the Giants' odds a little better than the Packers' if they can win this game. They've shown they can beat Dallas. But Pack have HFA and I'll take them for one game with Rodgers, esp. since Giants have absolutely no hope of running the ball on offense. Beckham alone shouldn't be enough to win a playoff game.
#3 by CG43 // Jan 06, 2017 - 9:31pm
I'm really excited for these games. Even though the lines are big in PIT and SEA, I think they'll be close games because MIA will do everything they can to limit possessions and I just feel like something is rotten in Seattle. And NYG/GB seems like it'll be a banger.
As for OAK/HOU, I'm actually pretty excited to have a couple beers, take my dog for a walk at halftime, and not worry if I miss the first few series of the second half. I plan on using that game to ease into the playoffs like an old man lowering himself into a hot tub; but I'll be drunk, nude, and feeling the full force of the bubble-jets come 4:40 on Sunday.
#5 by joe football // Jan 07, 2017 - 3:51pm
It's chat or go home for all the marbles in FO football chat! We ditched the protocol-that-shall-not-be-named last year in favor of a shiny, disruptive new slack group. For people who are already in, just go to https://kotakuites.slack.com/messages/fo/details/. For anyone that wants to join a star-studded cast of their favorite FO posters for gameday chat, just email me at gamadict@gmail.com and you will receive an invite
#9 by RickD // Jan 07, 2017 - 5:55pm
Broncos and Ravens have to be grimacing watching this Raiders-Texans game. I would take either Baltimore or Denver over the winner of this game.
Nice throw by Osweiler there. If he can actually find the form he had in Denver at times last season, the Texans are suddenly a respectable team. But it's very hard to count on that.
#12 by Mountain Time … // Jan 07, 2017 - 6:01pm
The TV game-talkers keep trying to hype the Texans as having the best defense in the league (which will surely come back to bite them when it comes time to talk about what wins championships)
So I don't bother checking mainstream sports sites, but does anyone actually believe that?
#13 by Cythammer // Jan 07, 2017 - 6:12pm
I don't know what the Raiders have to lose by switching to McGloin. You're going to have to get some offense going to come back (especially since the Texans are actually doing pretty well on offense), and there's no sign that's going to happen with Cook.
#19 by Mountain Time … // Jan 07, 2017 - 7:55pm
Well McGloin would still have to play this (apparently) completely dominant Texans defense, which I'm told would embarrass fhe 2000 Ravens, 2002 Bucs, 13 Seahawks and 15 Broncos COMBINED! Funny how no one at this site had any idea the Toxins were so historically good. Right under our noses lol
#31 by BJR // Jan 08, 2017 - 9:09am
I guess the announcers had to come up with a way of selling this matchup, and they weren't going to do that by focusing on the QBs. It will be interesting to see how much hype the Texans defense receives next week when Tom Brady is going to work on them in Foxboro...
Just rotten for Oakland. I believe they would have had a good chance of winning this game with a healthy McGloin, but once they were down to their rookie 3rd stringer, starting his first ever game, there really was little point in showing up.
#32 by mehllageman56 // Jan 08, 2017 - 11:57am
Hopefully they will hype it a lot before and at the beginning of that game; it will make the announcing even funnier when Brady and Co. put up a fifty burger on Houston.
They're a good defense, but only 6th in DVOA, so yes, overrated.
#18 by RickD // Jan 07, 2017 - 7:28pm
Kicking off with 8 minutes to go down 13 points? NFL Coaches are, again, far too reluctant to use the onside kick. Any game plan predicated on getting a 3-and-out shouldn't care overly much on where that 3-and-out is. The "worst case" of not recovering an onside kick really isn't much worse than just kicking off. Late in the game, down by a lot, possession matters more than anything else.
#30 by JoeyHarringtonsPiano // Jan 07, 2017 - 10:55pm
I knew the Lions never had a chance between Stafford's finger injury and the MASH unit offensive line, but with the dropped passes and Boldin's dumb unsportsmanlike penalties, they really don't deserve to win anyway.
#22 by Anger...rising // Jan 07, 2017 - 9:18pm
Three of the Lions' first four possessions end with drops of what would have been drive-extending completions; the other on a too-cute play call on fourth and inches.
Detroit Lions playoff football, everybody.
#34 by Theo // Jan 08, 2017 - 1:26pm
If you're not going to cover Brown, you're in for a long game.
A great wait by him on the first screen, where the zone defense failed to tunnel Brown back inside. Great wait for the block to develop.
Then a poor angle by Rambo on the second pass.
#38 by Will Allen // Jan 08, 2017 - 2:02pm
When you yield 3 td drives of more than 80 yards in about the first 18 minutes, including one where it is just rushed down your throat, your effort can he reasonably questioned.
Nice to see Gase try jump start something, however
#104 by Tomlin_Is_Infallible // Jan 08, 2017 - 7:49pm
"Yeah, I'd prefer to be completely intoleramt of leading with the helmet.
"
he was injured by a hit that "led with the helmet" and used the helmet as a weapon.
(nevermind that forward motion in football by definition leads with the helmet)
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The standard is the standard!
#113 by Theo // Jan 08, 2017 - 8:09pm
ah so you're saying you think leading with the helmet should be an auto-ejection like in the NCAA rules.
I'm against that. It happens too many times that even a runner can't help but to have his head in front of his body - and this would mean an ejection.
#53 by dbostedo // Jan 08, 2017 - 3:15pm
"Shoulds" are cool. It's a comment section, not a news report. Feel free to editorialize.
Personally, I was thinking that high hits like Dupree's are probably going to be an ejection one of these days. Though on replay, he got Moore in the chin less than I thought he did initially, and he lead more with his facemask than I thought.
#45 by Mountain Time … // Jan 08, 2017 - 2:46pm
What the hell happened at the end of the half? The Dolphins completed a pass @ the 11 and Pitt was forced to use an injury timeout. Then my dad started yelling about some BS and suddenly it's halftime and Miami hadn't scored anything. WTH?
#114 by TimK // Jan 08, 2017 - 8:44pm
That was definitely one of those plays where the late career veteran move of just going down wrapping yourself around the ball owuld have made sense. Moore wasn't going to escape that rush all he could do was protect himself and the ball. Especially when already in scoring range just before the half.
Even if Moore wasn't concussed from the illegal hit it seemed to knock the stuffing out of him, looked to be worried about the next hit most of the game from then on. Not that I blame him, it is a sensible human reaction, but you can be shaken up without being concussed.
#46 by Mountain Time … // Jan 08, 2017 - 2:47pm
What the hell happened at the end of the half? The Dolphins completed a pass @ the 11 and Pitt was forced to use an injury timeout. Then my dad started yelling about some BS and suddenly it's halftime and Miami hadn't scored anything. WTH?
#52 by Theo // Jan 08, 2017 - 3:00pm
Simms wants the Dolphins to run more. To establish Ajayai etc, 'keep the defense honest' and all that...
Because 23 yards on 12 carries works so well.
The only thing the Dolphins can do is now play a short quick passing game because the Steelers are in a 2 high a lot and the O-line can't block for more than 2 seconds.
#57 by Theo // Jan 08, 2017 - 3:53pm
there's a difference between pulling and sharing carries. And you don't need to pull 11 guys at the time, but at least give guys a rest.
And yes, I would. It's a 3 score game. You're not going to lose by subbing in Vince Williams at Linebacker. Or DeAngelo Williams at runningback?
#70 by RickD // Jan 08, 2017 - 5:18pm
Apparently Roethlisberger was hurt on the last offensive play of the game for the Steelers.
(The interception, not the kneel-down.)
When the Steelers were up by 18 with 4:34 left.
Showed up for press conference with walking boot on his foot.
TOMLIN!!!!
#61 by dmstorm22 // Jan 08, 2017 - 4:12pm
Divisional Weekend is shaping up nicely. Three nice games on paper. And one laugher, scheduled nicely on Saturday Night. Can completely disregard that game and go out Saturday Night.
No need to stay in for a 45-10 game.
#64 by Tomlin_Is_Infallible // Jan 08, 2017 - 4:49pm
last week Floyd block on Lippett--- awesome ! highlight of year! patriot way!
this week Rogers (same) block on whoever it was-- dirty! flag! hines ward rule!
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The standard is the standard!
#83 by roguerouge // Jan 08, 2017 - 5:57pm
Yeah, I didn't see anything wrong with that hit until the replay showed helmet to helmet. The refs mis-labeled it.
As for Roethlisberger's injury, I don't get why he doesn't just throw it away at that point. He's a veteran. He's got to show a lick of common sense.
#66 by DEW // Jan 08, 2017 - 5:00pm
It's like the Giants receivers have all morphed into Ted Ginn: wide open time and again, coin flip if they can actually catch the football right in their hands. Four drops in ten pass plays so far, two each for Beckham and Shepard, including one touchdown each.
#99 by DisplacedPackerFan // Jan 08, 2017 - 7:14pm
So to GB's credit they have been playing more zone in the second half. There have still been some wide open options, but not as many, and it's not just drops on those that have saved the Packers still, it's been bad throws too. Bad throws in part because of the pressure. So I'm counting that as a good defensive adjustment. They are still lucky that the Giants haven't scored more, they've still been outplayed to the start of the 4th quarter, but it's not as bad as that first half that was a ton of luck for the Packers.
#72 by DEW // Jan 08, 2017 - 5:22pm
McAdoo coaching like it's 1973 and he expects the final score to be 10-7 or something. First he chooses to punt instead of going for it or trying a FG (or, heck, trying to draw the defense offsides with a hard count) on 4th-and-5 on the GB 35. Then he kicks the two-inch FG on 4th-and-3, and then he tries three straight runs on 1st-and-15, 2nd-and-12, and 3rd-and-11 in a game where his receivers have been getting open at will.
I mean, it's not that any of those decisions are indefensible in and of themselves, but that kind of aggressive conservatism seems to be ignoring the fact that (a) he's playing Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau, and (b) his team is actually playing really, really well on both sides of the field. He's playing to not lose in a game where he has a chance to get out and win. The best way to prevent Rodgers from pulling his trademark fourth-quarter magic is to be up three scores with 4:00 left.
#85 by DisplacedPackerFan // Jan 08, 2017 - 6:01pm
Yeah McAdoo's play calling feels very familiar, feels a lot like McCarthy 4th quarter play calling. As a Packers fan I'm quite happy to see it because this should be a 24 - 7 Giants lead, and a 7 - 6 Packers lead....
#90 by DEW // Jan 08, 2017 - 6:12pm
Being firmly in control of the game at this point. Other than GB's special teams and offensive line playing genuinely well (even Rodgers's sacks have all been of the "oh, I've been back here for five seconds; maybe I need to throw the pass" variety), they've been outplayed all over the place, and yet McAdoo is coaching like he's terrified of making a Big Dramatic Mistake.
#96 by Anon Ymous // Jan 08, 2017 - 6:55pm
Example #24,368 why Mike McCarthy needs a gameday coaching assistant. Going for 4th was an unnecessary risk and going with such a stupid play call only compounded the idiocy. The Giants were trying to give the game away, don't fight it just let them.
#109 by DisplacedPackerFan // Jan 08, 2017 - 8:05pm
To be fair, they don't really have defensive back-ups anymore. Nearly everyone who isn't injured rotates in on various packages. But I suppose you could have kept Matthews or Peppers off the field more. I think Fackrell, Brice, and Hawkins are about the only ones who don't play semi regularly. They have 15 players that have played more than 42% of the defensive snaps this year (2 more that have been on for more than 25%). Yes injuries were a factor in that but there is a lot of rotation in the front seven and there aren't any healthy back end to rotate anymore.
#112 by justanothersteve // Jan 08, 2017 - 8:09pm
A tale of two halves. The first half, Giants outplay Packers yet down 14-6 at half. Packers outplay Giants in second half and run away with game. I can't help but wonder if that Hail Mary just demoralized the Giants going into the second half.
#120 by NYMike // Jan 08, 2017 - 11:21pm
Remember that it was 14-13 after the failed 4-and-1 attempt, and the Giant's quick strike. It was the Packers response to that, a quick 3-play drive down the field to extend the lead to 21-13 that was the true turning point in the game.
#115 by oaktoon // Jan 08, 2017 - 9:24pm
Rodgers is closing in on 300 attempts without an INT-- and now has 22TDs/0 INTs in his last 8 games-- certainly starting to approach the greatest single-season run in modern NFL history. (and I realize Ryan and Brady have been awul good in that same stretch, but they didn't have the win or else pressure and that separates Rodgers' achievement a bit) 4.5 pts Dallas favored makes sense-- presuming Nelson has cracked ribs and is out, that probably added a point. I have no crystal ball powers-- would never have thought they would win the last 7-- but one thing seems clear: Prescott will have to be more than a game manager because Dallas probably needs 30+ points to beat Rodgers, Nelson or no Nelson... Montgomery is not a real RB, btw, and that 4th and 1 showed it-- I think Michael will get a lot more snaps Sunday regardless of how badly Montgomery is hurt (and he did return)
#123 by mehllageman56 // Jan 09, 2017 - 1:54am
Glad Rogers and co. put up 38 on the Giants; I was getting sick of the hype about that defense. It wasn't like Lawrence Taylor was walking through that door. No, strike that, I meant Jadveon Clowney... until about midnight eastern time Saturday night.