NFL Divisional Round Thread: Another Step on the March to the Eagles-Titans Super Bowl

You weren't in my living room.

The officiating was bad. Smith-Schuster was held on the second fourth-and-1. The pull on the jersey was clear. Bryant was interfered with on the deep ball late, though that was a tougher call.

That said, the Steelers deserved this loss. The defense is horrible. They gave up five touchdowns to a bad Jaguars' offense. They made Bortles look like a decent quarterback. Most importantly, they couldn't get a stop in the fourth quarter, failing on two long touchdown drives with the game on the line.

The coaches deserve some blame as well. The Steelers weren't ready. I said all along resting the starters Week 17 was a mistake and I think today's ugly start proved me right. That was exactly what Jacksonville needed to win and the Pittsburgh coaching staff gave it to the Jags.

I'm waiting for the criticism of Roethlisberger to start. He talked about not understanding why the coaches won't call a quarterback sneak after the game, basically putting the blame on them. I didn't hear the whole interview, but given his history, I'm assuming he also took some blame on himself for the turnovers.

Roethlisberger also said he plans to be back next season. I don't know if this team can win a Super Bowl as it is currently constructed. That defense is just awful and they may be the dumbest team in the NFL, but that offense is a hell of a lot of fun to watch.

 

So far, Saints-Vikings is observing the rule of two playoff games on one day. If the early game is entertaining, the second is a snoozer and vice versa.

 

I can't really complain much about Brown, anyway. He was fantastic today, as he was all season, even though he really wasn't healthy.

I agree that they should have kicked after the grounding call. I've also come to agree with those who said the on-side kick was a mistake, but I can't really slam Tomlin for that one. In the moment, I thought it was the right call, too.

 

Someone did tell the Saints it was a 3:30 p.m. local kickoff, no?

 

That horn that they blow annoys the hell out of me.

I get blowing it after a touchdown; heck, even on a field goal. But every first down and big defensive stops are ridiculous.

 

7 straight years with a sub-par defense.
That's about right.

 

The onside kick was executed so horrendously it made it look like a worse coaching decision than it was. If Tomlin kicks away and the Jags get one first down, the Steelers lose anyway.

 

If the Vikings win, I think they'll be the first team to play for a spot in a Super Bowl that they will host. Can anyone confirm?

 

Yeah, Fox said early on that eight teams have made the playoffs as SB host, but the first seven were out by the divisional round.

 

The odds teams QB'd by Case Keenum and Nick Foles would be in the NFC Championship game?

Assuming the Vikes win:

Divisional championship game QBs:
Brady
Bortles
Foles
Keenum

Looking forward to Vikes-Eagles game.

 

Thanks. I'm guessing the secondary market ticket malaise in the NFL this season will soon improve.