NFL playoff thread

Who knows?

Just funny that I posted with the thought of commiserating regarding the ups-and-downs of fandom, and the fact that some losses stick with you. And Everyone's Favorite Steeler Dork just had to chime in with "Yeah!!! Bitches!!!! The team I happen to root for totally would have beaten the team you happen to root for!!!!!"

 

I think my favorite part of this weekend is exmediahack explaining away the Packers loss with the flu they may or may not have. That was awesome.

 

Winners win.

 

Calling him a dork is an insult to dorks everywhere.

 

That's what I was illustrating earlier.

Playoff defenses typically turn great QBs into average/good ones. That's why all those elite QBs threw or are throwing playoff picks at the same rate. You didn't realize it, of course, and posted Manning's "20/21" as some kind of blinding indictment, when, in fact, it was downright typical. Occasionally they'll throw in a spectacular game (Kaeperknck last night, Simms in SB, etc.), but more often than not everything is a struggle.

Even in Brady's heyday, he was more pedestrian than spectacular. In 3 of those first 9 playoff games he threw for less than 150 (150!) yards and only once surpassed 300 yards. But he did what was needed --- which wasn't all that much when his defense was allowing only 13, 17, 17, 14, 14, 29, 3, 27 and 21 points. It's truly amazing what a near-perfect playoff kicker can do for a QB's legacy.

 

And the team Manning was playing against had the better defense in every single one of those games. This is what I keep getting back to. Judging quarterbacks solely on wins and losses is lazy and inaccurate.

Take that Pittsburgh game, for example. Manning did bring the Colts back and he did have them in position for the tying field goal at the end of regulation. Apparently, it's his fault that Vanderjagt choked.

That very season offers a great example of how foolish it is to judge a quarterback only by the whether his team won or not., unless you actually think Ben Roethlisberger played well in Super Bowl XL.

 

Coming from an internet coward like Uncle Fester, I'll take this as a compliment.

 

Manning didn't inspire Vanderjagt to make the field goal.

 

That was my thought process during the game. I was pissed at Tuck Rule call because as a Steelers fan, I wanted no part of the Patriots and that Raiders team didn't impress me at all.

 

Seahawks are laying an egg.

 

I'm pretty sure I'm the only one here watching this game.

 

I believe the ultimate proof of the "it's the team, not just the quarterback" theorem is Matt Cassel. He was quarterback for the '08 Patriots who went 11-5. Since then, Cassel's, well, not done quite as well, either in terms of wins or individual performance. PS: Seahawks having a no-good, terrible, horrible, very bad day.