NFL playoff thread

Pats dodge an early bullet there.

 

Me.

 

As I think about it, I wonder if John Fox didn't think that Peyton Manning had the arm strength to get the ball down the field in as large chunks as he would have needed to there. I'm sure the cold didn't help Fox's estimation of Peyton's arm strength.

Not that I think John Fox made the right decision. But I wonder if that may have factored into his reasoning.

 

SF will probably be favored. But I wonder if part of Atlanta's trouble today was fear of choking in their first playoff game once again. Now that the Falcons got that monkey off their backs, they may play looser and smarter next week.

 

This whole "Payton has a weak arm" thing is getting ridiculous. His arm has never, ever had a Howitzer. He can make two 20-yard comebacks or in-cuts. He didn't throw a single ball all day where I thought "His arm is jello." Fox just got too conservative.

 

Old NFC West showdown for the Super Bowl.

Take the over, whatever it is.

 

Gronkowski out is a huge deal even if the Pats do survive. Woodhead out too, they said?

I think we're getting close to a Harbaugh Bowl.

 

This is a decent matchup for Houston. Schaub struggles against great pass rushes, which the Pats don't have. But they have to keep running the ball to keep Brady off the field.

 

Derp.

 

Manning may have never had a Marino or Warner-like Bazooka for an arm but, given that he is a statue with happy feet, Manning's only assets are his smarts and his arm.

I do think that Fox was busy either protecting a) Peyton or b) his own hide. Late in the game, the Broncos were having real trouble picking up 2 yards when they had 2nd/short or 3rd/short. Yet he still did it. Perhaps the offensive coaches saw Manning's velocity wasn't right or something was just off as the game went on and adjusted.

Of course, Fox and the coaches could have called the runs, assuming they would hang on and win. That way, if they lose, it's pinned on the defense. CYA strategy permeates major college football and the NFL. If the Ravens would have lost, I would be leading the chorus of "why didn't Harbaugh go for 2 against a rattled defense during the game-tying TD. No one Denver keeps it together after that."

With the exception of Rex Ryan, no NFL coach is going to humiliate his QB by admitting if he is having an off day. McCarthy did talk about Favre not playing well in the 2007 Giants-Packers NFC Championship Game in an NFL Network doc, even saying they weren't effective at quarterback and had to call different plays because of it.

 

Actually, if the Falcons were tight, they wouldn't have rolled to a 20-0 lead.

I thought going in the keys for Atlanta would be Turner and Mike Nolan's defensive plan. Turner came through like he went back in a time machine 5 years; Nolan's plan had no answer for Miller or virtually any route in the 20 yard range. Probably gave too much leeway to Wilson.

I think the Falcons can play with San Fran. Don't know if they'll win; but don't see a blowout either. Again, I think Turner and Nolan are going to be keys.

But, Wilson and the Seahawks, my gosh. Sure seems like the NFC is going to have to run through Seattle for the near term future.

 

Mike Nolan versus the 49ers for the Super Bowl. Man is that going to be great.