Running NFL Conference Championships Thread

Dude, go back and look at my original post -- it had nothing to do with statistics -- I said the Steelers defense might be better -- but yesterday's game did nothing to prove or disprove it because -- and I'll say it one more time - the caliber of offenses they were facing was not close.

And yes, the Steelers forced four turnovers -- three of them came in the final four minutes when the Ravens -- and their rookie quarterback -- were desperately trying to come back.

The pick by Polomalu was 100 percent on Flacco for staring down his receiver -- it was an easy play. The other pick to Tyrone Carter was desperation time throwing it up for grabs. The fumble was a great hit -- again when the steelers were in somewhat of a prevent and just teeing off on anyone who caught the ball in front of them.

The Ravens offense sucks and has been especially ineffective in the playoffs. Pittsburgh's defense was more effective because they played a worse offense and a far worse quarterback.

As for Big Ben -- he isn't pretty all the time in and he can drive you nuts with some of his decision making early in games but the guy is clutch and he makes big throws when the team absolutely needs them.

He is clearly one of the seven or eight best at his position in the game today.

 

No you are realists.

This is a down cycle in the NFL -- and I say that as an NFL fan -- and mostly because there just aren't enough good quarterbacks out there to make teams competitive -- and some of the teams with elite quarterbacks have too much money tied up in them and their receivers or linemen to have balanced rosters.

I mean, seriously, the Titans were the best team in the AFC -- my opinion, they beat the Steelers yesterday if the two played. It is just my opinion, there is no way to prove it so let's not spend the next three days arguing the point --- but they were the only team I thought had a chance to beat the Steelers because every other team in the field had at least one, if not more than one, fatal flaw.

In other words, the teams in this year's Super Bowl are genuine products of a mediocre league -- they are the two who survived and that's something to celebrate -- but I don't think either ranks among the top half of Super Bowl participants if even the top 75 percent.

 

I can agree with some of that post comparing the defenses yesterday, but not all.

There are plenty of defensive backs who would not have gotten to the ball Polamalu intercepted. Not every safety makes that read and has the athleticism to get to that ball. That was not an easy play.

Also, the Ravens were not "desperately trying to come back" at that point. They were down two points with the ball at around their 30-yard-line with about four minutes remaining. The only desperation on that play was the down and distance, which the Steelers created with the sack of Flacco on the previous play. They also pressured him on the interception.

Regarding the fumble, you had it right when you said it was a great hit. Clark was playing where he usually plays. That was a tremendous play by Clark, not just a function of the situation.

I'll give you the last one. That was pure desperation.

Regarding Roethlisberger, I agree with your description.

 

But at that down and distance and at that point on the field, if it ain't that late in the game, the Ravens are likely running the ball and punting which was what they did all season and in the playoffs -- and did so to protect Flacco -- so while they were only down 2 points, they were certainly in desperation mode.

I will agree that Polomalu made an athletic play -- but if he doesn't step in, that pass was still thrown into double coverage and was at the very least getting knocked down.

Flacco stared at his receiver the entire play -- and while some people are convinced this will change with experience, I wouldn't be so sure.

In fact, the road to quarterback hell is paved with guys who had certain bad habits that people were convinced would go away with experience and they never did.

See Stewart, Kordell.........(who I think happens to be a better quarterback than people in Pittsburgh give him credit for but who never really broke that habit of staring guys down)

 

Regarding your first point about Polamalu's interception, Flacco had made some throws down the field, so I think the use of the term desperation is a but much, but go for it if it makes you happy. What little success the Ravens had was through the air, which tells you just how little success they had last night.

Stewart's problem is he never really made much progress. He looked like he might put it all together in 1997, then regressed.

I think it is far too early to write off Flacco. Give him some time and another receiver and we'll see.

 

I'm not writing off Flacco, I just think he needs to be more than Trent Dilfer before I start drinking the Kool Aid about how great he is.

But that illustrates how desperate people are to find some good quarterbacks -- people have jumped on his bandwagon far before he has done anything to merit it.

 

Can someone explain to me why the hit on McGahee is a legal hit? The guy led with the helmet and almost killed himself and the ball carrier. No different then leading with the helmet against a WR, IMO.

 

How do you tackle someone and not lead with your helmet? Do we relegate the NFL to arm tackling?

 

They don't dominate the line of scrimmage on offense, at least like they used to. The sacks and the ground game back that up.

Also, Roethlisberger has led 18 game-winning drives now, including five this season (two against the Ravens). That's more than him simply being along for the ride. That's taking the wheel on occasion.

 

I also love the fact that Team X is leading 17-14 going into the fourth quarter and Team Y has the ball and is driving -- and scores to take a 21-17 lead and goes onto win the game -- this is considered a fourth-quarter comeback.

 

So John Elway's legendary status -- which is based heavily on his ability to lead comeback wins -- is purely overblown?

 

I don't agree with that -- but I do think that fourth-quarter comebacks are not all created equal.