2016 NFL Playoffs

[Crabcake]

19 minutes ago, pnickle15 said:

Falcons win 35-31. Matt Ryan wins MVP (again). Patriots dynasty is over.

pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

[Dynasty]

Can we really even consider this all as one dynasty? Think, they won three of four Super Bowls in the early 2000's, that counts as one dynasty. But then they went on that ten year hiatus before winning the Super Bowl again. Normally a dynasty is at least three titles within five years. I'd argue that if they win this year (and maybe next year as well) that would be a separate dynasty.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

2 hours ago, Dolphins Dynasty said:

Can we really even consider this all as one dynasty? Think, they won three of four Super Bowls in the early 2000's, that counts as one dynasty. But then they went on that ten year hiatus before winning the Super Bowl again. Normally a dynasty is at least three titles within five years. I'd argue that if they win this year (and maybe next year as well) that would be a separate dynasty.

 

Same coach, same QB, same owner, same dumb uniforms. Dynasty.

[2001mark]

3 hours ago, Dolphins Dynasty said:

Can we really even consider this all as one dynasty? Think, they won three of four Super Bowls in the early 2000's, that counts as one dynasty. But then they went on that ten year hiatus before winning the Super Bowl again. Normally a dynasty is at least three titles within five years. I'd argue that if they win this year (and maybe next year as well) that would be a separate dynasty.

I think it's one dynasty.  

 

11.  They've played in eleven AFC Championship Games since 2001-02.  It's not just rings, this team doesn't vanish in between rings.

[Dynasty]

Good points; I was assuming dynasties were only associated with Championships (and consistent dominance), though New England definitely fills that slot.

[2001mark]

49 minutes ago, Dolphins Dynasty said:

Good points; I was assuming dynasties were only associated with Championships (and consistent dominance), though New England definitely fills that slot.

As a bias Patriots fan, I'll merely dig shallow here, yet their breadth of success nearly matches the Steelers & 49ers' 4 & 5 ring runs even if NE's 4th came so many years later.  When ppl ask me how many times Montana lost a SB game, I counter by comparing the final games of every season between he & Brady.  Brady has lost 2 SBs, Montana lost earlier to never see a fifth - those aren't byes when comparing 1 to 1.

[2001mark]

http://www.si.com/nfl/2017/02/01/roger-goodell-super-bowl-51-state-nfl-tv-ratings

 

Interesting piece, re. Rog, & tv ratings.  Cubs-Indians WS game 7 had a lower rating than Packers-Falcons 2 wks ago.  

 

[JayMac]

Just to the point about the NFL playoff/World Series TV ratings...we all know that NFL dwarfs every other sport in ratings and comparing NFL playoffs to a World Series game 7 is no different (even though the Cubs/Indians series was as compelling as it gets). The issue is that there is still less interest in the sport overall. I don't need numbers to see that. It is still wildly popular but we may have hit the plateau. The league has been over-saturated with coverage. Purely anecdotal statement but there were some Sundays in the fall where I did not watch one snap of NFL football.

[Brass]

OhmygodMarshallFaulkpleasegoaway

 

 

Here you go, Marshall. Or if you're not good at reading.

[JWhiz96]

1 hour ago, Brass said:

OhmygodMarshallFaulkpleasegoaway

 

 

Here you go, Marshall. Or if you're not good at reading.

Don't know about the Rams practice, but the Pats were proven to have filmed other teams' practices (notably the Jets). Spygate was proven, unlike (in some people's eyes) Deflategate. Neither one has much bearing on Sunday's game, though.

[Dynasty]

I'm not sure why people continue to bring that up. I get that there are many people that love to bash the Patriots, but all of those scandals are in the past; it's irrelevant now.

[BBTV]

I thought it was proven that they spied against the Eagles too.  I really don't care and don't blame them - i wisht the Eagles had thought of it.  

[BlueSky]

@Buc, how you doin'? I heard your cousin is running the Tampa Bay Storm now.

 

About the Super Bowl, everyone's predicting a shootout; maybe that will be the case. How crazy will it be if somebody wins 17-13? Stranger things have happened.

 

I also wonder how the Falcons will handle the pressure of the big stage. The Hedleys of the world will know I'm telling the truth here when I say Ryan has shown a tendency through the years to throw backbreaking picks (though the one against KC was the only one I know of this year); that Julio is a phenomenal player, but he will drop the ball and has had some inopportune fumbles; and that their defense has been great but they still have some rookies that Belichick may exploit. And finally, Freeman's agent is a knucklehead for making those contract comments during Super Bowl week. He's a great player but man, don't go out and lay an egg or put the ball on the ground in the red zone or something after your agent says stuff like that.

 

I would pick Atlanta to win against just about anybody but New England, but name an intangible that doesn't come down on the Patriots' side. One thing is certain: if Atlanta wins, they will have earned it. And who knows, with Shanahan presumably leaving, this may be their one shot.

[Brass]

4 hours ago, JWhiz96 said:

Don't know about the Rams practice, but the Pats were proven to have filmed other teams' practices (notably the Jets). Spygate was proven, unlike (in some people's eyes) Deflategate. Neither one has much bearing on Sunday's game, though.

 

Then read the rest of my point. Provided via text and video. And your point about the Jets and Spygate is irrelevant. Just because that happened it doesn't mean that it's ok to go around spreading a narrative about a claim that has been retracted.

 

58 minutes ago, BringBackTheVet said:

I thought it was proven that they spied against the Eagles too.  I really don't care and don't blame them - i wisht the Eagles had thought of it.  

 

There was speculation by "one former Eagles staffer" because the Patriots were prepared to play against the Eagles dime defense. Here's a link to the story.

 

In any event, I'm super pumped for Sunday's game. It should be great. I like the Falcons. Likable players and if the Patriots can't come away with a championship, then just (at the very least) let it be a fantastic football game. Good luck to the Falcons and their fans!

[HedleyLamarr]

30 minutes ago, BlueSky said:

About the Super Bowl, everyone's predicting a shootout; maybe that will be the case. How crazy will it be if somebody wins 17-13? Stranger things have happened.

 

I also wonder how the Falcons will handle the pressure of the big stage. The Hedleys of the world will know I'm telling the truth here when I say Ryan has shown a tendency through the years to throw backbreaking picks (though the one against KC was the only one I know of this year); that Julio is a phenomenal player, but he will drop the ball and has had some inopportune fumbles; and that their defense has been great but they still have some rookies that Belichick may exploit. And finally, Freeman's agent is a knucklehead for making those contract comments during Super Bowl week. He's a great player but man, don't go out and lay an egg or put the ball on the ground in the red zone or something after your agent says stuff like that.

 

I would pick Atlanta to win against just about anybody but New England, but name an intangible that doesn't come down on the Patriots' side. One thing is certain: if Atlanta wins, they will have earned it. And who knows, with Shanahan presumably leaving, this may be their one shot.

If the Falcons lose, it won't be because of "the big stage".  It can be argued that, to date, the Falcons have played their two best games when the lights have been the brightest.  And, heard some stat earlier in the week where the team that has "more Super Bowl experience" than the other has a losing record over the 49 games.

 

One thing that's just impossible to predict is turnovers.  As long as the offense stays clean, I see no reason why the Falcons shouldn't clear 30.  The Patriots have not played an offense anywhere near as potent as the Falcons this season (Pittsburgh may be the closest, but Roethlisberger wasn't that great this year and they lost Bell for most of the AFC-CG).  If the Patriots want to double Julio, the Falcons can still move the ball with Sanu, Gabriel, Freeman/Coleman, etc.  And, the Falcons shut out what many felt was the hottest, scariest QB in the playoffs in the first half of their last game.  They had Rodgers rattled.

[Brass]

Just now, HedleyLamarr said:

One thing that's just impossible to predict is turnovers.  As long as the offense stays clean, I see no reason why the Falcons shouldn't clear 30.  The Patriots have not played an offense anywhere near as potent as the Falcons this season (Pittsburgh may be the closest, but Roethlisberger wasn't that great this year and they lost Bell for most of the AFC-CG).  If the Patriots want to double Julio, the Falcons can still move the ball with Sanu, Gabriel, Freeman/Coleman, etc.  And, the Falcons shut out what many felt was the hottest, scariest QB in the playoffs in the first half of their last game.  They had Rodgers rattled.

 

Their offense is what scares me. They've scored on the opening drive in what? Eight straight games? That's damn good. They have a dynamic offense and I think guys like Gabriel, Sanu, Coleman will have big games for them.

[BlueSky]

23 hours ago, HedleyLamarr said:

If the Falcons lose, it won't be because of "the big stage".  It can be argued that, to date, the Falcons have played their two best games when the lights have been the brightest.  And, heard some stat earlier in the week where the team that has "more Super Bowl experience" than the other has a losing record over the 49 games.

 

One thing that's just impossible to predict is turnovers.  As long as the offense stays clean, I see no reason why the Falcons shouldn't clear 30.  The Patriots have not played an offense anywhere near as potent as the Falcons this season (Pittsburgh may be the closest, but Roethlisberger wasn't that great this year and they lost Bell for most of the AFC-CG).  If the Patriots want to double Julio, the Falcons can still move the ball with Sanu, Gabriel, Freeman/Coleman, etc.  And, the Falcons shut out what many felt was the hottest, scariest QB in the playoffs in the first half of their last game.  They had Rodgers rattled.

 

 Fair points, but come on…a playoff game in the Georgia Dome is not the Super Bowl. They have a lot of great weapons,  and Ryan has been superb this year, but if there's one constant that applies to every team and every game, it's that any quarterback becomes very average under pressure. If the Patriots can get a pass rush and and make Ryan hurry, he will make mistakes.  

 

Remember, the guy who has made an enormous difference for Atlanta is their center, Alex Mack. He'll likely play but he's hurt. 

 

In the end, all I want is to see a good game, and I think that's just about all but guaranteed.

 

 Hedley, just curious now that I may be on the other side - what was it like for you to watch the Saints go to the Super Bowl and win it?

[hbgoo1975]

I really don't think the Falcons will win, The team in white almost, ALWAYS wins the Super Bowl! The Patriots will win in a blowout anyway even though I can't stand them. Besides I'm not picking either team.

[Dynasty]

I just wanted to note that every Super Bowl the Patriots have played in, all have been decided by less than a TD. It's likely going to be a close game.

[FiddySicks]

21 hours ago, Dolphins Dynasty said:

I just wanted to note that every Super Bowl the Patriots have played in, all have been decided by less than a TD. It's likely going to be a close game.

 

The 85 Bears say hello. 

 

EDIT: Super Bowl 31 was a two score game as well.