2015 NFL Season-Now with Playoff Talk

[Gary]

Cardinals clinch a playoff berth. Clinch their division with a SeaChickens loss

[ninersdd]

Cardinals clinch a playoff berth. Clinch their division with a SeaChickens loss

Jimmy Clausen isn't gonna beat them this week, so the waiting will continue for another game. Still I'm so happy the Cards will win it since my Niners blow for the most part.

Bridgewater looked pretty good tonight, especially compared to the disaster last week. They probably should've kicked the FG on the 3rd down, although hindsight is always 20/20.

[OnWis97]

Cardinals clinch a playoff berth. Clinch their division with a SeaChickens loss

Jimmy Clausen isn't gonna beat them this week, so the waiting will continue for another game. Still I'm so happy the Cards will win it since my Niners blow for the most part.

Bridgewater looked pretty good tonight, especially compared to the disaster last week. They probably should've kicked the FG on the 3rd down, although hindsight is always 20/20.

Yes they should have. And why? Because Bridgewater's a bottom-5 starting QB in this league. And why? Because he holds the ball too long. On third down (and second too) every Viking fan was thinking about getting a FG for that reason.

[oldschoolvikings]

Cardinals clinch a playoff berth. Clinch their division with a SeaChickens loss

Jimmy Clausen isn't gonna beat them this week, so the waiting will continue for another game. Still I'm so happy the Cards will win it since my Niners blow for the most part.

Bridgewater looked pretty good tonight, especially compared to the disaster last week. They probably should've kicked the FG on the 3rd down, although hindsight is always 20/20.

Yes they should have. And why? Because Bridgewater's a bottom-5 starting QB in this league. And why? Because he holds the ball too long. On third down (and second too) every Viking fan was thinking about getting a FG for that reason.

You know, we had this discussion last week, and I had to kind of give you some leeway, because the Vikings, including Bridgewater played their worst game of year. But if you are seriously blaming this game on Bridgewater you either aren't paying attention, or you have an agenda against him.

He went 25/36 for a career-high 335 yards and a touchdown. He found 11 different receivers on a crazy amount of different throws. With Peterson gaining 60-some yards, Bridgewater was the sole reason, offensively, the Vikings even had a shot at the end. (And I'm pretty confidant that before the game, you didn't even see that coming.) And if you want to say he had the ball too long on the last play, I guess you can. But if you're watching the same play I was, I think you'd be smarter to credit Dwight Freeney with an amazing move, and blame the Vikings' O-line with yet another look-out block.

And attempt to kick a 49 yard field goal (with a kicker that's had some recent issues) on second down with 28 seconds left? Seriously? What NFL coach would do that? Let me answer that for you... none. If that's what "every Viking fan" wanted (not this one, for the record) than the Vikings' have some of the dumbest fans in existence.

Damn, fans are infuriating.

[NJTank]

Teddy Bridgewater the only QB with a Simon and Garfunkle song

[Crabcake]

I'll put my two cents into the ring...

If the Vikings didn't have Bridgewater, who would be their QB? Christian Ponder? If you gave every fanbase in the NFL the choice between Christian Ponder and Teddy Bridgewater, I'd be willing to bet a lot of money every single one would say Bridgewater.

[OnWis97]

Full disclosure, I watched very little of the game. I pretty much started on the Cards' final FG drive. So yeah, I posted out of ignorance of how the game went. But I am not really blaming the game on anyone...they went on the road against a better team...everything needed to go very well to win a game like that. Having a chance to send it in OT, though and getting to that spot on the field (thanks in large part to Teddy finding a couple of guys), it's frustrating to come out without even a FG attempt.

On the last play, I was thinking "just kick the field goal...Bridgewater's going to get sacked". It was risky. On the last play there were what, 13 seconds? Maybe he completes an 8-yard pass to the sideline. OK, that's an easier kick for Walsh (who I admit could use those 8 yards). But was anyone really surprised when he was swarmed, double-clutching, elbow low? OK, with 28 seconds on 2nd down at least there's time for a spike. With 13 seconds on third down, there was more bad than good that coulda come from that play. And it did.

I don't really have an agenda against Teddy...I liked what he showed as a rookie last year...maybe I am falling prey to the "fan impatience thing" but he's still throwing too many ints, still has a funny motion, and still holds the ball WAAAAAAAY too long. Maybe it's not time to give up on him...I'll have to trust Zim/staff/team on that one.

But the last play was predictable. I can credit the defense but that's the kinda thing that can happen on that and that's why I feel Zim shoulda just gone for the FG on 3rd down. I suppose it's a lot to ask of anyone that is not Brees/Brady/Rodgers to have gotten the ball out of there and incomplete on that play (but that's why it was time to do the FG). Lots of credit to a banged-up team going to Arizona on a short week...but this is not a team that's going to make a run from the Wild Card, which is now the ceiling. That's OK...if they do go to the playoffs, that's a great step in right direction...just disappointing that their one-game lead so quickly turned into a deficit.

I take back the "second down" part...but I suspect plenty of fans were thinking "just kick it" on 3rd down. Less time, no spiking option. I am probably harsh with the "bottom 5 thing" too. It's frustrating being a Vikings fan...I feel like they are legitimately a QB away from being a legit contender (but you could say that about several teams). Ugh...they tend to either be a QB away, have a great D but a so-so offense, or vice versa.

[OnWis97]

I'll put my two cents into the ring...

If the Vikings didn't have Bridgewater, who would be their QB? Christian Ponder? If you gave every fanbase in the NFL the choice between Christian Ponder and Teddy Bridgewater, I'd be willing to bet a lot of money every single one would say Bridgewater.

That's today's NFL. If you don't have one of the top few, everything else needs to be perfect. Your point is right...Brdigewater's the best option. Ponder was a bust. T-Jack was a bust. I guess the jury's still out on Teddy. The Vikings, with this QB, are not a Super Bowl contender. But there is no way, short of going back in time and drafting Rodgers, that they could be. I hope I look even stupider in a year or two and Teddy is going to the Pro Bowl (or skipping it because of a bigger game). We'll see.

[Crabcake]

I'll put my two cents into the ring...

If the Vikings didn't have Bridgewater, who would be their QB? Christian Ponder? If you gave every fanbase in the NFL the choice between Christian Ponder and Teddy Bridgewater, I'd be willing to bet a lot of money every single one would say Bridgewater.

That's today's NFL. If you don't have one of the top few, everything else needs to be perfect. Your point is right...Brdigewater's the best option. Ponder was a bust. T-Jack was a bust. I guess the jury's still out on Teddy. The Vikings, with this QB, are not a Super Bowl contender. But there is no way, short of going back in time and drafting Rodgers, that they could be. I hope I look even stupider in a year or two and Teddy is going to the Pro Bowl (or skipping it because of a bigger game). We'll see.

Fair enough.

It's interesting, a lot of the commentary on Teddy reminds me of Flacco - jury's still out, holds onto the ball, etc. But, as you said, we'll see.

[oldschoolvikings]

Full disclosure, I watched very little of the game. I pretty much started on the Cards' final FG drive. So yeah, I posted out of ignorance of how the game went. But I am not really blaming the game on anyone...they went on the road against a better team...everything needed to go very well to win a game like that. Having a chance to send it in OT, though and getting to that spot on the field (thanks in large part to Teddy finding a couple of guys), it's frustrating to come out without even a FG attempt.

On the last play, I was thinking "just kick the field goal...Bridgewater's going to get sacked". It was risky. On the last play there were what, 13 seconds? Maybe he completes an 8-yard pass to the sideline. OK, that's an easier kick for Walsh (who I admit could use those 8 yards). But was anyone really surprised when he was swarmed, double-clutching, elbow low? OK, with 28 seconds on 2nd down at least there's time for a spike. With 13 seconds on third down, there was more bad than good that coulda come from that play. And it did.

See, I don't think that's what they were doing. Listening to Bridgewater's post-game comments, the play called for two receivers to reach the endzone, and two to cross the field 10 to 15 deep, heading for the sidelines. The read was, 1; look for a chance at the TD, 2; get a few more yards on a sideline throw, or 3; chuck it out of the back of the endzone. It was obvious that Teddy was trying to do the 3rd, when he got hit. The announcers said the ball on that play needs to be out in 3 seconds. Freeney got to him in 2.8. Yes, he should have felt the pressure and got rid of it sooner, but he didn't.

If there is "blame" to hand out, it's probably on Norv Turner. He hasn't done nearly enough to protect Bridgewater from his own injury depleted line IMO. Teddy needs more quick throws.

I think the coaches didn't think much of their chances going into overtime against what is, without question, one of the 2 or 3 best teams in the NFL... at home, no less. We always bitch about teams going conservative. Well, they took a shot, and now we're bitching about that. It's always the same... if something works, you're a genius, and if it doesn't, you're an idiot. Yea, sports!

[DG_ThenNowForever]

It took the better part of two years for the Bills to realize that they can just throw it up for Sammy Watkins and he'll generally catch it. He's been killing teams in double coverage the past three weeks; it's pretty exciting to watch.

[Cosmic]

It took the better part of two years for the Bills to realize that they can just throw it up for Sammy Watkins and he'll generally catch it. He's been killing teams in double coverage the past three weeks; it's pretty exciting to watch.

They'll forget by the second half.

[FiddySicks]

This Niners Browns matchup is about as brutal as it seems, and I'm stuck with it being the only game in my area right now

[BBTV]

So the booth can call for a replay to determine if a guy was down by contact, and even though the replay shows that the contact that put him down was a blatant face mask, they can't call the face mask but can hurt the other team by moving them back to the point where the guy was illegally taken down?

F the NFL and their stupid rules.

[BBTV]

LOL - now there's a catch out of bounds, one ref is running the clock, the other is stopping it, they have no idea what the rule is. They're incompetent. The one ref seriously didn't know that he should have stopped it. At least they eventually got it right.

[DCarp1231]

Chicago's RT holds on 95% of the plays but has yet to get a penalty for it. These referees are blind and uneducated...

[CS85]

Chicago's RT holds on 95% of the plays but has yet to get a penalty for it. These referees are blind and uneducated...

Kerrigan has destroyed Kyle Long. What game are you watching? If you're gonna piss and moan about anything it should be how your offense hasn't put up 80 points on an overachieving defense or that the WAS defense has given a mostly crappy offense 21 points.

Also Willie Young's been held every damn play himself, but hey, don't let me tell you how football works.

[MJWalker45]

This Niners Browns matchup is about as brutal as it seems, and I'm stuck with it being the only game in my area right now

As a Browns fan I'm glad they aren't the worst team on the field this week. Manziel made one big error so far but he's look good today for the most part. Special teams still can't block for crap though.

[FiddySicks]

The Niners just took a personal foul because they decided to get chippy after an overthrown pass on third and goal. God this team is so stupid. Way to "Win with class", you :censored:ing idiots.

[MJWalker45]

Boldin just bounced a tackler's head off the ground twice. It wasn't called though. I've been surprised to see the Browns run so well today. They've tripled their normal output.