2009 NFL Season Thread

[gingerbreadmann]

I wouldn't have done it, I wouldn't have the balls nor the mind to convince myself to do it, but I don't think the 4th & 2 was the worst call of the day and I can at least understand it. On 3rd down I was thinking that it was the game on the line on that play because Manning was unstoppable the last 2 drives. And I mean unstoppable. If you are of the state of mind that the number of yards doesn't matter one bit, that the Colts would score a touchdown one way or another, then why not take the risk and either win the game or save yourself some time by letting them score early. On that second point, I think the game was lost when Addai or Brown ran the ball on the second play after that and broke through to the 1. At that point, you have to pick him up and carry him into the endzone because there is still 1:20 left and you have Tom Brady in need of only a field goal. But no, they tackle him after everything meaningful had been gained already. Yeah, there is the possibility of a goal line stand, yada, yada, but I think we all knew it was a matter of time at that point, and it allowed the Colts to take it down to :13 seconds, effectively ending the game. I was so pissed when they tackled him on the 1, more pissed than after 4th down. (I, of course, think Faulk got it, but it was not nearly indisputable even if they had challenged.) The other key point: After the Wilhite interception on the Colts' 30 and the Patriots only being able to get a field goal, keeping it a two-possession game. That was putrid.

God, what a horrendous loss. Pitiful the way it ended. But on the plus side, we were in control all day and Brady is Brady again and I'm not afraid of any team after watching this game overall. There were some great, great things to come out of this, but unfortunately they are all forgotten because of the ending.

[Saintsfan]

Bill Belichek = Grady Little..... /rant

and I'm not even a Pats fan...lol...

Lol perhaps should be pointed out that the hoody has won 3 Superbowls!!

I think sometimes Bellichick operates in a very clever way. He knows those sort of regular season matches don't matter come playoff time, its getting into the playoffs that matter, and he is in a strong position to do that. He has an awesome post season record.

[rams80]

Bill Belichek = Grady Little..... /rant

and I'm not even a Pats fan...lol...

Lol perhaps should be pointed out that the hoody has won 3 Superbowls!!

I think sometimes Bellichick operates in a very clever way. He knows those sort of regular season matches don't matter come playoff time, its getting into the playoffs that matter, and he is in a strong position to do that. He has an awesome post season record.

Not in Indy; he's 0-1 there in the postseason. And this game more or less ensured that if he wants to get past the Colts, he'll have to do it in Indianapolis.

EDIT-However, it appears that going for it was the right call statistically.

That said, if you are going for it, question 1 is why didn't the Patriots run? and question 2 is, why was the defense not given instructions before heading out to the effect of "your mission is to ensure the Colts score in the next 15 seconds of game time. If it means escorting/carrying a guy into the End Zone, do it."?

[Sport]

This is the third time I've turned off a Colts game early thinking it was over only to wake up the next morning to a "they won?!!!!". The first one was that monday nighter against Tampa about 6 or 7 years ago, then against Houston last season, and then last night's game. Unbelievable.

I've already conceded home field advantage throughout to Indy, but I'm still hoping for that first round bye and second round home game for the Bengals and the Pats loss just put Cincinnati in the driver's seat for that.

[Brass]

If the Patriots converted that 4th and 2 into a 1st and 10, would people be saying all of this. No. Just because for once, his play didn't work. Should be lose his job or retire like so many have stated? Absolutely not. The man has brought three championships to New England this decade. He's fine in my book.

BTW, that was Belichick's first loss when leading by 13+ in the 4th quarter, either as a head coach or an assistant coach. This is his 35th NFL season coaching.

[BBTV]

He obviously felt no confidence in his defense, and figured that if they turned the ball over, via downs OR punt, Manning would score and the Colts would win. Of course, from the outside looking in, most of us would still say that we have to take a shot and give our defense an opportunity to make a stand, but he's much closer to the situation than us, and probably had a strong feeling that his D just wasn't up to it on that night. If this was the case, then he really had no choice but to go for it. Heck - if they still had a challenge, they may have gotten it and he'd be a genius right now. You normally would like to have the ball closer to mid field if you're going to go for a 4th down in that spot, but he knew that getting those two yards was the only chance his team had. If I'm a defensive player, I'm ticked, because my coach sold me out on national TV, but I still don't think it was a horrible decision.

[Jigga]

If I'm a defensive player, I'm ticked because we (yet again) got torched by a guy we used to own. Belichick's call was the right call to make. The offense just didn't execute the play well enough. Belichick didn't believe in his defense because Peyton Manning was on fire and he thought they would have scored if that possession had started at the Patsies 30, the Colts 30, or the Colts 1.

Brass, the result always dictates the reaction. Win and everything is fine. Lose and everything is terrible. Point blank, the Patsies outplayed the Colts for 58 mminutes. I would be surprised if the Patriots didn't knock off the Colts if they play again. The Patsies are fine (two game lead in a suck ass division), Brady is fine, Belichick is fine. Dude made the right call...but I'm glad the poor execution made him eat it. When they showed his face after they blew that game, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. That press conference was wonderful, too.

No, I'm not a Patriots hater. Belichick is great, I just like to see smug, know-it-all coaches eat it every once in a while. For The Hoodie and Hoodie, Jr. both have to eat it on the same day to my favorite player and favorite team, respectively...

It's the happy, happy, joy, joy song!

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Happy, happy, joy, joy

Happy, happy, joy, joy, joy!

[Coast2CoastAM2006]

just as i suspected, the temperature dropped in Dallas, apparantly so did the play of the team. Couldn't the seasonably warm weather stuck around for at least a few more months, say, february. I really don't enjoy winter collapses, so yeah, texas do me a favor AND STAY HOT through the winter months.

[IceCap]

It wasn't the call that I thought was a poor move, it was the wasting of that final timeout before the 4th down play. Had they not wasted it they would have been able to challenge the spot of the ball, and who knows? They might have gotten it. In the end though the Pats wasted an unnecessary timeout and screwed themselves out of a chance to get the 1st down.

[VandyDelphia Mike]

Allow me to also thank the Hoodie for keeping me alive in my suicide pool. Took the Saints then had to take the Colts in the roadblock game...I think those 2 games combined took a few years off the back end of my life.

I suspect we may be in the same pool. I at least had the Vikings available to me yesterday. But I had to sweat out the Saints the week prior. Fortunately, Carolina could not pull off the upset then.

The Colts coming back reaffirmed my faith in football, which had been doubted earlier in the day with the lesson on how not to coach given in San Diego. Leave it to Andy Reid to get upstaged once again by the Hoodie - even his failures can't measure up to Belichick's. I was just happy to hear the Fox crew of Brennaman and Billick give some actual criticism of the Eagle coaching, since the national commentators are usually unflinching in their defense of Reid.

Down 14-0 in the second and facing fourth and goal at the 1, who kicks a field goal?

[WJMorris3]

The Jets should be ashamed at themselves for NOT committing numerous penalties there at the end, forcing the referees to award a touchdown to the Jaguars.

[tBBP]

Well...we might now know who that suprise team is that wants to sign Larry Johnson.

*SPOILER ALERT* It's the Bengals, apparently for the prorated league minimum.

Shmart move, if this goes down.

[JayJaxon]

I hope the trend of USC and New England losing in the same week continues.

[Brass]

General reaction is this: People seem more happy that the Patriots lost, rather than that their own team won.

That's quite sad.

[IceCap]

I was pulling for the Pats actually. I'm not a fan of either them or the Colts, so all things considered I was pulling for NE to end Indy's unbeaten season.

Though I'll say this again. When your favourite team is one of the best teams in any league, people will be happy to see them fail. That's just how it works. Deal with it.

[Sport]

General reaction is this: People seem more happy that the Patriots lost, rather than that their own team won.

That's quite sad.

1. I don't think that's true. I think people are generally happy when the Patriots lose because of recent history, but if you gave them a choice between watching their favorite team win or watching the Patriots lose almost everyone in here would pick the former over the latter.

2. You've been fortunate enough to see three Patriots super bowl victories this decade. In exchange for that you have to deal with people hating them. Ask Cowboys fans of the 90's or 49ers fans of the 80's or Steelers fans from whenever. It's only natural that you don't get to enjoy the heights of NFL success without experiencing some backlash.

[Jigga]

General reaction is this: People seem more happy that the Patriots lost, rather than that their own team won.

That's quite sad.

What's sad is that you're taking it so personally. There are people out there that take pleasure when any team loses. I'm sure it's even happened to you before. No need to get all butt sore over it though, it happens.

Plus, it's not just that the team loses, it's also that all those insufferable fans have to turn it down a few decibels today. That's certainly worth rooting for!

[Cujo]

General reaction is this: People seem more happy that the Patriots lost, rather than that their own team won.

That's quite sad.

Of course the world is a happier place following a Patriots loss! Where the hell were you following Super Bowl 42??

[rams80]

General reaction is this: People seem more happy that the Patriots lost, rather than that their own team won.

That's quite sad.

But my team also lost....

[Brass]

What's sad is that you're taking it so personally. There are people out there that take pleasure when any team loses. I'm sure it's even happened to you before. No need to get all butt sore over it though, it happens.

Plus, it's not just that the team loses, it's also that all those insufferable fans have to turn it down a few decibels today. That's certainly worth rooting for!

I'm not "butt sore" over any of this, I was just stating a fact. Don't get butt sore over it.