2021 Miscellaneous NFL News

[MrTPlush]

If you watch the overhead angle of the play, both the back judge and whatever the other dude is called are running (actually running) forward before the play ended. The ref who was supposed to spot the ball was in position when there was 4 seconds on the clock but he had to get through the cowboys line. He then had to take it from the center, spot it with the side judge, and place it. If ANYONE on the Cowboys knew that the ref had to spot, touch and place the ball, they'd have had 2-3 seconds to run another play.

 

Oddly the Packers/49ers game is a real good comp of a team doing one last play over the middle with no timeouts. Packers had 16 seconds, Cowboys had 14 seconds. Packers were downed with 11 seconds left, the Cowboys with 9 seconds left (Packers passed). Both plays went for about the same amount of yardage, I believe too. Yet the Packers were easily able to spike the ball with 3 seconds left and the Cowboys were a good 4-5 seconds worse.

 

Not sure the o line is at fault or them not handing the ball to the ref was a problem. The right thing to do is try to place it well yourselves and get set. The ref can just come and touch the ball at that point (that is what happened in the Packers game). The Cowboys placed it about 2 yards too far though and was enough to bother the ref, who then proceeded to move the ball....though he almost replaced it in the same spot. Really, a lot of it, simply comes down to a poor choice on the Cowboys/Prescott to run that play and blow any chance to win the game. Their QB simply had poor clock management and failed to just slide after 10 yards.

[OldHeidelberg]

I think I would rather play the niners than the Rams so things played out as well as we could reasonably hope. Avoiding playing both Tampa and Rams was why I liked the seeds before week 18 shook it up. Someone mentioned a couple of weeks ago beating Niners and Tampa to get in would be pretty cool if we can get it done.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I think it worked out exactly how I wanted once we couldn't draw Dallas in the 2nd round. Tampa and LA beat each other up, I think that's a good match-up. The Packers get a team they really should beat, while (me personally anyway) can hope someone disposes TB for us. Philly would have been a dream but I knew that wasn't happening.

 

Anything can happen though. I remember leaping from my seat when Romo threw a pick to the Giants to lose in 2007. "Yes, we get the Giants! We're going to the Super Bowl!"

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I think it worked out exactly how I wanted once we couldn't draw Dallas in the 2nd round. Tampa and LA beat each other up, I think that's a good match-up. The Packers get a team they really should beat, while (me personally anyway) can hope someone disposes TB for us. Philly would have been a dream but I knew that wasn't happening.

 

Anything can happen though. I remember leaping from my seat when Romo threw a pick to the Giants to lose in 2007. "Yes, we get the Giants! We're going to the Super Bowl!"

 

The Rams can certainly go down to Tampa and beat the Bucs. I'm honestly not sure which team I'd rather see the Packers face in the NFCC, though, should they beat the Niners. The Bucs have SO many injuries that they are a shadow personnel-wise of what they were last year. The Rams, however, are pretty healthy, and have a balanced offense that should be able to move the ball on the Bucs. Cam Akers looked electric for them last night, and needs to get the ball more.

 

The PTSD concerning Brady and the Bucs is so strong. I'd personally prefer the Rams take them out as well.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The biggest difference between how the Packers and Cowboys executed those plays is actually the choice to pass instead of run for ~10-15 yards. Calling a pass play gets the ball downfield a second or two quicker than a direct snap and run up the middle - plus the end of that play there's going to be an official running in from the sideline to spot the ball where just the receiver and DBs covering him are located, while the entire oline and QB are running up simultaneously to get reset and out of the official's way. Even with an incomplete pass, you'd then still have enough time to take a desperation shot to the end zone, so you'd still give yourself a chance to score with a 2nd play.

 

Running Dak in that spot forced the line and some receivers to all block upfield to the whistle before the 10 other offensive players had to get back to their positions and line up just as the official in the middle of the field was trying to hustle to the ball 20+ yards from where he was watching the play to spot it.

 

The other difference is GB just needed to set up for a FG and Dallas was trying to get into better position to try a last ditch pass play into the endzone - IMO Dallas would've been better served running to all-streak route plays to the endzone from the 41 instead of burning 10 seconds off the clock to gain ~15 yards and have only 1 shot at the endzone to win the game from the 25ish yard line.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The Rams beat up on a healthy Tampa squad early this season at home - personnelwise, they will give Brady problems because they have a front that can generate pressure without blitzing against Tampa's o-line and have enough talent in the secondary to play man coverage and avoid giving Brady a bunch of quick and easy throws into soft zones when they try going hurry up.

 

Offensively, the Rams are definitely balanced enough with both Kupp and OBJ plus a good ground game to move the ball on Tampa and score - I think the Rams are the better team, but for the sole reason of not having to worry about how a game with TB12 gets officiated in the secondary I'd rather face them in the NFCCG instead of Tampa.

[MrTPlush]

I think I would take my chances with the Bucs. I am taking the 44 year old QB and the lesser running game.

 

Though seeing three warm weather teams remaining is nice.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

We should beat either one however I have a lot of faith in Stafford throwing the ball to the wrong team in a catastrophic situation at least once. Brady did that 3 times last year but that is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Stafford. Just can't see that team beating the Packers.

 

It's one of those things where beating Tampa would feel the best, but losing to them would be the worst.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Jimmy G with a mild throwing shoulder sprain and continued issues with his thumb.....and he hasn't started a game below 40 degrees.

 

Their 2019 NFCCG gameplan is definitely going to get dusted off - but this time they're going to have to throw more than 6 times. One thing that fails to get mentioned with cold weather games is how it impacts what I would term the athletic/quick hitter running game where schemes relying on speed just aren't as effective. End arounds, jet sweeps, misdirection, and designed cutback running plays just take a fraction longer to execute, and players aren't as explosive at 10 degrees on a cold track with even mildly questionable footing vs 70 degrees in perfect conditions. San Fran will need to make plays in the passing game, and I'd expect them to try more bubble screens to guys like Samuel along with trying to lean on Kittle to move the ball.

[PeaveyFury]

The NFL actually ended up here with 3 potentially great matchups, and the other should at least be interesting (Ten/Cincy). Seems like the projections have solidly shifted to a KC/GB Super Bowl at this point, which would be a lot of fun. But, two games left to get there, obviously.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The NFL actually ended up here with 3 potentially great matchups, and the other should at least be interesting (Ten/Cincy). Seems like the projections have solidly shifted to a KC/GB Super Bowl at this point, which would be a lot of fun. But, two games left to get there, obviously.

 

KC/Buffalo is going to be an awesome game

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The NFL actually ended up here with 3 potentially great matchups, and the other should at least be interesting (Ten/Cincy). Seems like the projections have solidly shifted to a KC/GB Super Bowl at this point, which would be a lot of fun. But, two games left to get there, obviously.

 

I think all four games next week are great matchups. Ten/Cincy has a lot of intrigue with Henry coming off of IR and playing for the first time in almost 3 months, along with how explosive the Cincy offense has been of late.

[stoutdude04]

I too am looking forward to all 4 games.

 

An aside note - I missed out on a solid chunk of change because Higbee dropped that pass at the end of the first half.

 

Then missed another solid chunk because Murray couldn't complete a few more short passes. That guy was terrible.

[Fear The Chorizo]

methinks the next time a quarterback from OU is touted as the consensus top overall pick, whoever holds that pick should think really hard about trading down

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm going with Buffalo out of the AFC. I didn't get to see them much this year but look at the games they lost. Almost all of them are extremely close games and their expected W-L is 13-4. The best scoring defense in the league and 3rd in points scored. They give me 2010 Packers vibes.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I'm going with Buffalo out of the AFC. I didn't get to see them much this year but look at the games they lost. Almost all of them are extremely close games and their expected W-L is 13-4. The best scoring defense in the league and 3rd in points scored. They give me 2010 Packers vibes.

 

Buffalo/KC is a true toss-up I think. That game is giving me 45-42 type vibes where each QB passes for 400 yards and 5 TDs.

[TURBO]

I think I would take my chances with the Bucs. I am taking the 44 year old QB and the lesser running game.

 

Though seeing three warm weather teams remaining is nice.

 

Careful what you wish for.

 

Tampa is a warm weather team, but their QB is not a warm weather QB.

 

TB12 will be ready for the challenge, and so will the rest of the team, assuming they get by LA, which I am not certain of.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I think I would take my chances with the Bucs. I am taking the 44 year old QB and the lesser running game.

 

Though seeing three warm weather teams remaining is nice.

 

Careful what you wish for.

 

Tampa is a warm weather team, but their QB is not a warm weather QB.

 

TB12 will be ready for the challenge, and so will the rest of the team, assuming they get by LA, which I am not certain of.

 

You like a matchup with the Packers better than one with the Rams? That "careful what you wish for" thing may be a two-way street.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Considering they have to beat LA to play the Packers, it makes sense for him wish for it.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Considering they have to beat LA to play the Packers, it makes sense for him wish for it.

 

LOL yeah, there is that.

[homer]

I want SF and TB simply to exorcise the playoff demons of the last two years. Bring it.

[CheezWizHed]

I want SF and TB simply to exorcise the playoff demons of the last two years. Bring it.

 

Truth!

 

Honestly, if you've lasted to the final 4 or final 2 in the NFC, it is going to be a difficult game and the Packers need to be at their best to win out. They don't get here if they are untalented and uncoached.

[Joseph Zarr]

methinks the next time a quarterback from OU is touted as the consensus top overall pick, whoever holds that pick should think really hard about trading down

 

I hear your logic and raise you:

 

This logic has a similar ring to the old 'Avoid all Tedford-coached QB's'.

 

For all the flops - and as you allude to, the OU qb legacy is currently suspect at best - there are those distinct chances of finding the Aaron Rodgers of the QB tree...who, oddly, also plummeted down draft boards.

 

Maybe, the refined approach is: NFL teams in need of a qb should keep their eyes peeled for the OU qb who falls in their laps?

 

[TURBO]

I think I would take my chances with the Bucs. I am taking the 44 year old QB and the lesser running game.

 

Though seeing three warm weather teams remaining is nice.

 

Careful what you wish for.

 

Tampa is a warm weather team, but their QB is not a warm weather QB.

 

TB12 will be ready for the challenge, and so will the rest of the team, assuming they get by LA, which I am not certain of.

 

You like a matchup with the Packers better than one with the Rams? That "careful what you wish for" thing may be a two-way street.

 

In order for us to get the the NFCCG, we have to beat the Rams, who I did not want to play. I was rooting for the AZ matchup, but obviously that wasn't going to happen. lol

 

It's not a sure thing the Packers get past the 9ers, even though most here think it's a gimme.

 

I'd much rather play the 9ers at Tampa for the NFCCG than go to Lambeau, but that hasn't been decided yet, and as I said earlier, the Bucs beating the Rams is going to be a tough task, even with the GOAT...

[nodakfan17]

I want SF and TB simply to exorcise the playoff demons of the last two years. Bring it.

I’ve sort of come around to that line of thought, as well.

 

No matter what, they have to beat 3 good teams in a row.