NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round

[Slayer 0]

If it's 1998 again, can I kill Jamal Anderson's mom?

Too early in '98 for that

[Slayer 0]

I just realized that this is Cowher's sixth AFC title game appearance since '94

[snuffbox 0]

Thats alot of Pro Bowls

 

Both games next week have the potential to be classics....which is something I dont remember much of from the entire '98 playoffs (except for the GB-SF robbery/amazing catch)

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

unfuckingbelievable.

[Slayer 0]

I just realized that this is Cowher's sixth AFC title game appearance since '94

Ironically, I believe this is Cowher's first AFC title game not at home.

[2GOLD 0]

Sean Salisbury freaking out about the Troy Polamalu interception overturn on ESPN was pretty funny. I've never seen a call like that. I was also shocked on that play where Faneca had a false start that the officials didn't notice, then 3 or 4 Colts jumped as a reaction and the referees said there was no penalty. It has to go one way or the other, it can't be neither.

 

So now I see after the game Peyton Manning throws a bunch of blame at his offensive line, and Vanderjagt decided to blame God apparently.

"It's extreme disbelief," Vanderjagt said. "From the Polamalu interception reversal to Jerome's fumble, everything seemed to be lined up in our favor. I guess the Lord forgot about the football team."

 

Idiot atheist kicker.

 

Oh come on, people thank the lord when they win I think it's awesome someone blames him for a change. That's the equal of saying, "That fucking Jesus! I went to church on Saturday for this?!?! The other team out prayed us god dammit!"

[snuffbox 0]

Archie Bunker Vanderjagt

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

As Banky said in the other thread, that's not nearly as bad as Manning blaming his offensive line for the loss after saying "You know, I want to be a good teammate..."

 

That's sort of like saying "I want to be a good American, but fuck the president, I hope we all get nuked, and France rocks!"

[alfdogg 0]

I didn't see the majority of the game because I was at work, but even the Colts' radio guys were complaining about how bad that overturn was, so I can only assume it was terrible.

[2GOLD 0]

Oh Peyton, you so crazy.

And maybe when you know the opponent is bringing seven when you have no backs in the backfield, you should I don't know audible to another play? His line handled the four man lines and the five man rushes, but they can't stop six or seven men while he holds the ball looking for a 15 yard deep pass.

[Red Baron 0]

I guess Screen passes aren't in the Indy playbook.

[jwpeer 0]

I just realized that this is Cowher's sixth AFC title game appearance since '94

Ironically, I believe this is Cowher's first AFC title game not at home.

 

 

Everyone here was talking about how much better we'll play now that the damn afc title game is an away game.

[Cuban Linx 0]

I have to leave for work right after the Polamalu Interception thinking the game's in the bag, and come home to find out it was overturned for imaginary reasons, Indy comes back to within 3, Bettis fumbles on the 2 yard line and Vanderjagt has a kick to send the game to OT that ends up closer to the goalposts in Pittsburgh than the ones he was aiming at. I miss all the fun.

[Slayer 0]

Out of curiousity what time does the game air in (eastern) Australia?

[alfdogg 0]

It's halftime in Australia right now

[Slayer 0]

Time for another Bored style fun-facts post:

 

This is the first time in the SB-era that all four coaches (Holmgren, Fox, Shanahan and Cowher) in the conference title game have a SB appearance as a head coach. Six times there have been three coaches, but never all four

 

Odd man out in parentheses:

 

1998: Shanahan, Reeves, Parcells (Green)

1993: Johnson, Levy, Seifert (Schottenheimer)

1984: Walsh, Shula, Noll (Ditka)

1983: Flores, Gibbs, Walsh (Knox)

1977: Landry, Grant, Madden (Miller)

1973: Shula, Grant, Landry (Madden)

[Special K 0]

If the Colts had won, I would've just shit. Not that I love the Steelers (injuring my boy. though unintentionally) Not that I hate the Colts (I love all their receivers and Edge, hmmm. who's left out?) Let's just say that's the worst review ever. EVER.

 

Go Hawks!

 

Cut that meat! Asshole.

 

As an addendum, who loves David Carr? I think he's pretty awesome. The ABUSE he's absorbed, guy acts like a stud. Just if they had a 2nd receiver, I think he'd be pretty good. It doesn't show in the stats but *sigh* in this ball of foot, you must have the heart of a lion and the hide... of an eliphant.

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle 0]

Out of curiousity what time does the game air in (eastern) Australia?

 

During Daylight Savings (now) the Early game starts at 5am, the late game at around 8.30am, the Sunday Night Game 12.30pm and Monday night at 1pm. I was so pissed that I slept through my alarm for the Colts/Steelers game. I woke up at 6.30am sat up, turned my phone alarm off and thought to put my head down for a second and I didn't get up untill nearly 10am, just before half time in the Bears/Panthers match. Luckily because the Colts/Steelers is on ESPN (For every network other then the FOX games, ESPN screens them over here because we don't have CBS & ABC) the replay is on now (Started at 9.30pm) so I can watch the wacky final quarter.

[The Man in Blak 0]

I guess Screen passes aren't in the Indy playbook.

 

Bingo. The Colts failed to adjust to the Steeler blitz through the entire game. A screen pass, a draw to James, a delay, anything to discourage crashing linebackers and safeties at the quarterback...and Indianapolis didn't do it.

 

If it's been said already, then I'll just repeat it: these Colts are starting to look a lot like those early 90's Houston Oilers teams. Both the Oilers and these Colts have an uncanny knack for finding a way to lose games against teams on their level and this one was the worst of all. The Colts had everything lined up for them, with past playoff blunders presumably providing all the desire that they would have ever needed, but the Steelers made it seem as they were the only ones who came to the field hungry with a gameplan to win the game. Even with the Steelers running in high gear, the Colts were given countless opportunities to make something happen and they didn't.

 

It was a chokejob of the highest order, one that will do more damage to Peyton's legacy as a leader than any of the losses to New England. And, to compound matters, Manning managed to make himself and the Colts look even worse with his behavior on and off the field. He completely disrespected Dungy by waving the punt team off of the field and he disrespected his teammates by throwing them under the bus for "protection problems." Just disgusting.

 

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[nl5xsk1 0]

After watching yesterday's game, I find it even more laughable that people were suggesting that Dungy was the coach of the year.

 

Sending in the punt team on 4th & 2, while losing by 3 scores, is just bad coaching. You have a high power offense, and you're afraid of going for 3 measly yards? Manning was right in waiving the punt team back off the field. And then their apparant inability to scheme against the blitz was mind-numbing. They should have re-thought their offensive approach at the half and come out with a whole new look. Instead, they seemingly did NOTHING different in the second half. Pee-Wee football coaches make better halftime adjustments than Dungy & co. did.

 

And can someone tell me how Indy - at the end of the game - managed to have 2nd & 2 at a little past mid-field and still not have the presence of mind to just get the first down? Why was Manning throwing to the end-zone and then a 20 yard pattern when they only needed 2 measly yards? Just dump the ball off, get the handful of yards necessary to extend the drive ... if they were worried about wasting time-outs they could have spiked it and still had two plays to extend the drive or score. Instead it was two wasted plays and then a long-ass field goal attempt. (It's a moot point, since Vanderjagt shanked it so bad that the wasted plays or extra yards were irrelevant. It doesn't take away from Manning's poor decisions on those plays, though.)

[The Man in Blak 0]

After watching yesterday's game, I find it even more laughable that people were suggesting that Dungy was the coach of the year.

 

Sending in the punt team on 4th & 2, while losing by 3 scores, is just bad coaching. You have a high power offense, and you're afraid of going for 3 measly yards?

 

Yeah, that's a good point. I still don't like that Manning waived them off, but that was just another example of Dungy coaching "scared" in the playoffs. It's sad to say, with everything that he's gone through this season, but Dungy's in the same boat as Peyton when it comes to playoff ineptitude.

 

And I forgot to mention it, but good gawd, what happened to Charles Tillman? Do we have a pulse? Smith smoked him so bad that future generations of Tillmans will have tire tread marks up and down their back. The whole Tillman line is going to have to carry the burden of an ass-whooping of that magnitude. I didn't see all of the game, but it seemed like the rest of the defense played a fairly tight game, outside of that disastrous matchup.

[Black Lushus 0]

maybe Dungy can leave this team and the next guy can win a Superbowl there, he can make it his calling card: "Hire me, I can't win you a Superbowl, but I can make it so the next guy can!"

[Slayer 0]

Tony Dungy, the NFL's answer to Buck Showalter

[Guest Smues]

Thank you Carolina. Now I can root for all 4 remaining teams, I don't know if that's ever happened in any sport. I'm lucky to like both teams in a championship game. If I had to pick of the 4 I guess I'd say I want Carolina and Denver, because the Steelers not losing in the AFC title game wouldn't be right, and if Seattle makes the superbowl the band wagon around here will be awful.

[Black Lushus 0]

I'm leaning towards Carolina/Denver as well...I think Pittsburgh runs out of gas in Denver and Seattle just doesn't seem "for real" to me.

[The Man in Blak 0]

I can definitely be convinced of Carolina/Pittsburgh, which would be a great game, but I've got a feeling that Seattle is just going to be too tough for the Panthers, who won't have DeShaun Foster to keep the defense honest. The Panthers and Steve Smith can make it a shootout but, next week, they'll be looking across the field and Hasselbeck and Alexander, who are much more capable of striking back than the Bears.

 

As for the AFC, I just can't bring myself to put a vote of confidence for Jake Plummer yet. The Steelers traditionally do a good job of stopping the run, so it's going to be on Plummer's shoulders to carry the team and, though he had flashes against New England, he still freelances and forces way too much for my comfort. I'm going with Pittsburgh, but it's going to be close, maybe even OT-close.

 

Both games should be a lot of fun to watch.

[Red Baron 0]

If Seattle makes it to the Superbowl, I'm pretty positive ESPN won't be doing all these special features. I'm sure Sportscenter will cover hockey a bit more too if Seattle becomes the Superbowl Champs.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Since Pittsburgh was able to scheme well enough to stop Manning for 90% of that game, I'm presuming that they'll be able to scheme well enough to keep the Denver RB's and Plummer under control. (They could pretty much just emulate what New England did and have a good start at controlling the Broncos). As long as they don't turn the ball over the way NE did, they should be able to beat Denver.

 

Seattle & Carolina is a lot harder for me to figure out; both teams were very "Jeckyl and Hyde" this year, so it's hard to look back at the last 2 weeks and really have a good handle on either team.

 

I guess it's safe to add me to the Carolina/Pittsburgh prediction list, though.

[Red Baron 0]

The problem with Carolina is they revolve around Steve Smith. He's a hell of a receiver, but good coverage can contain him. Delhomme does not have the option of another receiver of Smith calibur.

 

Seattle has plenty of receivers to throw to making it near impossible for double man coverage.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

What was the really bad overturn that you guys are talking about? I missed a bit of the game.