American Football

[Aberstone]

Chiefs defense in bend, don't break mode. They're also taking away any throws outside.

Just need to feed Le'Veon the ball and let him weave his magic.

 

[Craig]

 

[Craig]

 

[Anon]

Feel awful for you Carel, that was some effort from the Cowboys and was really hoping you'd win. No consolation now but that team is primed to dominate going forward. Great kicks by Crosby and the catch at the end by Cook was exceptional also.

Yeah Dallas are primed for a while. Other than perhaps another WR or eventual Witten replacement, you'd think its a defence heavy draft in 2017, and with rookie contracts for Elliott and Prescott they've got a chance to be in the mix for years.

 

[Destruction]

That was a hard graft last night, KC did well stopping Bell in the second half and it wasn't pretty to watch. Big Ben is way off his peak at the mo, but job done ultimately.

 

[Anon]

Intrigued by Romo's trade value. Mid round pick at most I'd imagine, and what sort of contract would he bring across?

 

[kieran_vale]

I could see a third rounder initially maybe a second conditionally based on his availability as a rough guess. All comes down to how needy the buying team is though. Would guess from Dallas perspective sending him to Denver or maybe Houston or the Jets would be the preferable option as they'd be sending him out of conference.

 

[Anon]

Geronimo, Nelson and Adams all game-time decisions for Sunday. Even if they make it they'll be half fit, and so can't see us keeping pace with Atlanta - with Starks and Lacy out too it's the equivalent of an entire receiving and running core missing. Jared Cook has got to be the guy...

Gonna need Rodgers to perform beyond even his recent god-like levels.

---

For the other game, really would like to see the Steelers get there (sorry Kieran). I find it interesting that for all the mantra of 'defense wins championships', this is probably 4 of the best offenses with 4 of the elite QBs guiding them.

 

[kieran_vale]

I think we'll win, for all the talk about Pittsburgh and the killer bees the Pats have owned them for pretty much the whole Brady-Belichick era I don't see this being any different. Ignoring all the rubbish about bulletin board material courtesy of Antonio 'reporting live from the locker room' Brown outside of Bell and Brown all other areas we are as good if not better than them. Biggest mismatch is in the coaching, BB has also had extra time to prepare so there really is no excuse for the Pats not to win this game. If Pittsburgh are to win this then it's no secret BB will gameplan for them to beat us with Eli Rogers and Hayward-Bey etc. Will take Pats maybe just to cover the spread.

As for the other one am rooting for the Falcons though haven't really paid much attention to this one. Last ever game at the Georgia Dome I think Julio will put on a show.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

First Saturday with no football. Existence is an infinite sepulchral void on which no light will ever shine.

 

[RavenBish]

I find it interesting that for all the mantra of 'defense wins championships', this is probably 4 of the best offenses with 4 of the elite QBs guiding them.

Roethlisberger?! 'elite'?! When was the last time you watched him play?

 

[Aberstone]

I think we'll win, for all the talk about Pittsburgh and the killer bees the Pats have owned them for pretty much the whole Brady-Belichick era I don't see this being any different. Ignoring all the rubbish about bulletin board material courtesy of Antonio 'reporting live from the locker room' Brown outside of Bell and Brown all other areas we are as good if not better than them. Biggest mismatch is in the coaching, BB has also had extra time to prepare so there really is no excuse for the Pats not to win this game. If Pittsburgh are to win this then it's no secret BB will gameplan for them to beat us with Eli Rogers and Hayward-Bey etc. Will take Pats maybe just to cover the spread.

As for the other one am rooting for the Falcons though haven't really paid much attention to this one. Last ever game at the Georgia Dome I think Julio will put on a show.

Javon Hargrave's been a revelation this year but he's going to need to consistently get pressure on Brady through the middle if we have any hope of winning in Foxborough tomorrow. Ben's been way off since his injury in Miami, if ever there was a time that he can shake off the rustiness, tomorrow would be the time.... what I do like is that if LaDairius Green somehow recovers from concussion protocol, we have our own two headed monster at the Tight End position that could create some huge mismatches.

--------------------------------------------------------------

In other news, Ryan Grigson is out at Indy and Pat McAfee's laid into him on Twitter. Well worth reading his timeline if only for the karma tweet.

 

[Anon]

Roethlisberger?! 'elite'?! When was the last time you watched him play?

My memory and assessment stretches beyond the last 4/5 games. Though I guess it does depend on one's way of grouping.

Part of the 'next group' for me, but still one of the best QBs in the league despite recent performances. Anyhow, original point was that for all the mantras of defense, right now the best three QBs this season have made the conference games, along with a guy from the next group down.

 

[Ciderhead]

Packers Falcons - MVP decider? If I took my biased cap off I think Ryan might edge it just for consistently great performances throughout the season but the way Rodgers has almost single-handedly blown through teams these last few weeks getting us to this stage, if he takes us to the Superbowl it's hard to see how you could look past him.

As for the game, it will be a proper shootout. 60 points? 70? More, maybe. Agree with Jimbob though, think this might be a step too far for us. I'm glad this is the Championship game, got relatives that live in the outskirts of Atlanta and they're a great team to watch, if I had to pick anyone else I'd want to win if not the Packers it would be them.

 

[RavenBish]

My memory and assessment stretches beyond the last 4/5 games. Though I guess it does depend on one's way of grouping.

Part of the 'next group' for me, but still one of the best QBs in the league despite recent performances. Anyhow, original point was that for all the mantras of defense, right now the best three QBs this season have made the conference games, along with a guy from the next group down.

I didn't mean 4/5 games as 'recent', I was thinking more in years - I am of course setting him up to have a massive game now but he's been steadily declining for years and isn't even a top 10 QB at this point in his career. I don't think that's even a controversial opinion either.

not debating the point about QBs either, it's not even a debate at this point as to how important they are - I saw some pundit dude (can't remember which one) say that a good offense will always overcome a good defense in today's NFL and this season has been a season for rather unremarkable defenses. Denver are lock down against the pass but couldn't stop the run - Texans sans Watt and the Giants were the two best defenses in the NFL regular season but no-one's going to be writing about those two groups in 5-10 years.

Put me down for Rodgers as MVP too regardless of Sunday's result.

 

[Renegade]

Roethlisberger has easily been a top 5-10 quarterback the few seasons prior to this one. When he wasn't injured, I thought he was experiencing a career renaissance of sorts, but not sure how much of that is down to his supporting talent. Before this season I would have considered him elite, he has had a poor season by his standards. In a one off playoff game, I'd probably only take Brady, Rodgers and Wilson over him.

Agree on Rodgers. The NFL MVP award should really factor in the playoffs...if the award was extended a few weeks I think he would have been a shoe in. As it is, I think Matt Ryan will take it. Can't really complain too much who wins it between Rodgers, Ryan and Brady.

 

[Anon]

Re: Grigson.

I guess this all starts with Irsay, but the timing is just so counter productive. Not only are they 2 or 3 weeks behind everyone else in terms of staff for next season, a new GM might not fancy Pagano. Then there's the new GMs draft and the refining of scouting reports pre draft.

Seems like such a mess, if Grigson aint the guy then why not just cull him a few weeks ago?

 

[Destruction]

Patriot fan been arrested for setting off the fire alarm at the Steelers hotel which forced a fire evacuation for everyone at 3am.

 

[kieran_vale]

Patriot fan been arrested for setting off the fire alarm at the Steelers hotel which forced a fire evacuation for everyone at 3am.

Steelers should consider themselves lucky it's only the one night. When we won the Super Bowl against Seattle a couple of years back every night while the team was in Phoenix the fire alarm was getting set off.

Looks like it will be between Floyd and Amendola who sits this one. Would imagine it will be Amendola who gets the nod as he can contribute on special teams. At least Hogan is fully healthy, he has been a revelation this year. Against KC last week there were a couple of times that Hill got open down field but Smith was not able to find him, Hogan gives us that option and Brady should have more joy getting it to him.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

GOOD ANTHEM

 

[kieran_vale]

This will be one of them games where both teams will march on each other but if you're a defensive coordinator how on earth can you gameplan for this Falcons Offense? Run or pass they are just simply brilliant.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Oh so NOW you miss a field goal.

 

[kieran_vale]

I'm not sure of the rule on this but given they've given the fumble as a touchback the Falcons seemed to recover at the 1 and took it back into the end zone shouldn't that have been a safety?

 

[Anon]

I'm not sure of the rule on this but given they've given the fumble as a touchback the Falcons seemed to recover at the 1 and took it back into the end zone shouldn't that have been a safety?

That was my understanding unless they deemed it recovered in the TD zone?

Leaving ten points, or at least 6, on the field and already it's looking ominous. Rodgers has been able to move it and we would have level or close to without simple mistakes. I dont mind the Falcons beating us but at least make them do it rather than handing it over.

 

[Ciderhead]

May need access to Martino's gif collection soon

 

[kieran_vale]

That was my understanding unless they deemed it recovered in the TD zone?

Leaving ten points, or at least 6, on the field and already it's looking ominous. Rodgers has been able to move it and we would have level or close to without simple mistakes. I dont mind the Falcons beating us but at least make them do it rather than handing it over.

As daft as it sounds Jimbob based on how its gone so far now Green Bay made that stop you have a great chance getting back into this game as you get the ball first second half as well.

Falcons on course for 500 yards offense in this game, frightening.

 

[Anon]

As daft as it sounds Jimbob based on how its gone so far now Green Bay made that stop you have a great chance getting back into this game as you get the ball first second half as well.

Falcons on course for 500 yards offense in this game, frightening.

Surely another Hail Rodgers is upcoming. Its a part of our regular offensive scheme.

A shake of the head from Taylor aint good. Just losing so many players. Now we have Don Barclay in, who i dislike almost as much as Marshall Newhouse...

 

[kieran_vale]

Well he tried it. Was worth a go anyway. Basically ended up where the punt probably would anyway.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

How did he not pick that.....!

 

[Anon]

Hyde possibly done too. Who the hell is Marvin Evans...

Has been a great ride but too many missing players.