NFL Playoff Thread

Six teams in the NFL have finished 15-1 or 16-0 in the regular season. Two ('84 49ers and '85 Bears) won the Super Bowl.

Of the remaining four, two were knocked out by Tom Coughlin. That's a nice feather.

 

You can't even do it.

This behavior is extreme. You are utterly powerless.

 

It's a message board. The only thing we have the power to do is muck up threads with delusions such as your baseless conspiracy theories.

 

And you just went back and added more to your little snit.

And then you posted again.

I am worried for your sanity.

 

I wonder what this thread would be like if it stayed on topic but, hell, where's the fun in that?

While we're at it, let's talk about Obama's reelection chances ...

 

I really know better than to stick my nose into this, but, Herb, please stop. The conspiracy theory is ridiculous, and if you're doing this just to get OOP riled up, it has ceased to be entertaining and has moved into the realm of annoying, not to mention cluttering up the playoff thread.

Thank you.

 

This thread will be locked in 3, 2, 1 ....

 

What do people think of Tim Tebow and his religion?

 

Hmm...it's still here.

Better question. Does anybody think Joe Flacco can do enough to give the Ravens a shot in New England? I still think the way to beat the Patriots is to carve them up underneath, which I just don't see Flacco being consistent enough to do.

 

In my opinion, the game is going to come down to one thing and one thing only. If the Ravens can get pressure on Brady, they're going to win. If they don't, they're going to get crushed.

A lot of people were talking about the Pats' last three playoff game losses and the common theme in all three of those games was that Brady was mercilessly destroyed in the pocket and the Pats' offensive line, which had done so well prior to all three of those games, got beat in every way possible.

Pressure Brady, you force him to throw the ball quicker. That takes away his second and third reads, it takes away the long pass to guys like Branch/Gronk and it puts a lot of pressure on the Pats' running game to try to force opposing defenses out of their blitz every down philosophy.

I think the Pats' defense will do fine against Flacco and the Ravens offense but Baltimore is still going to score 14-21 points. You can't prevent that. But if Brady can't match that total because he's spending more time on the ground than upright, it's going to be long day for Pats fans (like me).

 

I think they can generate some pressure and maybe make a big play or two in the secondary, but they need to control the ball, too. And as good as Ray Rice is, that means Flacco taking advantage of the weaknesses underneath in New England's defense.

 

Funny you should ask! It turns out this is what really happened on Saturday: