2009 NFL Playoffs

[OnWis97]

I agree with bluesky's first paragraph. What they should do there is run the ball. A field goal is just adding un-needed points. A kneel is giving changing the ball while taking one second only off the clock. You run the ball. If they stop you, well then they'll be tryin' to score, I guess. If you get a first down, great...then run it out. If you score, so be it. But throwing at the end zone in that situation is lame.

The other thing they could have done, if they really did not want just run it for two yards and put Dallas' offense on the field is throw a pass to the first down stick. Do that and get out of bounds and run the clock down on the next few snaps. The more I think about it the more I think that was the way to go.

As a Viking fan, I may be biased into softballing my reaction...I think it was lame, but not as bad as a national power not calling the dogs off in the 4th with a 60 point lead against a I-AA team. The talent gap is not that big in the NFL and the Cowboys are well-paid pros. I think Brooking's general point is right, but if someone tells me he looks like a baby, I won't argue.

[BlueSky]

Just one more point on the Vikes scoring so late. Consider this line from the 3rd quarter of the Saints-Cardinals game. Note the time remaining in the quarter:

4-6-ARI 38 (7:01) 5-B.Graham punts 45 yards to NO 17, Center-82-M.Leach. 25-R.Bush for 83 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

That made it 45-14, which was the final. So the Saints shut it down halfway through the 3rd quarter but the Vikes are shooting for the end zone with two minutes left?

[Saintsfan]

Just one more point on the Vikes scoring so late. Consider this line from the 3rd quarter of the Saints-Cardinals game. Note the time remaining in the quarter:

4-6-ARI 38 (7:01) 5-B.Graham punts 45 yards to NO 17, Center-82-M.Leach. 25-R.Bush for 83 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

That made it 45-14, which was the final. So the Saints shut it down halfway through the 3rd quarter but the Vikes are shooting for the end zone with two minutes left?

I wonder when a team goes into its shell, how much of that is the sporting option and how much of it is just a natural, we have won now, so we don't need to push our bodies so hard now kind of mentality? And a sense that they try things out, different plays, different players in different spots, that kind of thing?

I haven't seen too much of the Cardinals Saints game, did Brees stay in during the 4th Quarter?

[BlueSky]

Just one more point on the Vikes scoring so late. Consider this line from the 3rd quarter of the Saints-Cardinals game. Note the time remaining in the quarter:

4-6-ARI 38 (7:01) 5-B.Graham punts 45 yards to NO 17, Center-82-M.Leach. 25-R.Bush for 83 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

That made it 45-14, which was the final. So the Saints shut it down halfway through the 3rd quarter but the Vikes are shooting for the end zone with two minutes left?

I wonder when a team goes into its shell, how much of that is the sporting option and how much of it is just a natural, we have won now, so we don't need to push our bodies so hard now kind of mentality? And a sense that they try things out, different plays, different players in different spots, that kind of thing?

I haven't seen too much of the Cardinals Saints game, did Brees stay in during the 4th Quarter?

Yes, he played the whole game, which I would question as well except that they ran on nearly every play.

[Sport]

I'm going to enjoy this championship weekend. I wouldn't root against any of the remaining teams (unlike the Patriots or Steelers the last few years). So I'll just sit back, relax and enjoy the last of the NFL football we have left this year.

[FiddySicks]

I'm going to enjoy this championship weekend. I wouldn't root against any of the remaining teams (unlike the Patriots or Steelers the last few years). So I'll just sit back, relax and enjoy the last of the NFL football we have left this year.

Same way I feel. I was quite disappointed when the Chargers lost, but oh well. I've never seen (Hell, most people have never seen) the Jets in the Super Bowl so that'd be nice. Peyton is my favorite QB so I'd love to see him really cement his legacy with another Super bowl win. The Saints are the ultimate underdog, and the Vikings are similar to the Jets. So much nicer having some fresh blood in there rather than the Patriots, Steelers, Cowboys, Packers, ect.

[Jigga]

I'd be all for the Vikes if it wasn't for the insuing Favregeddon.

[Saintsfan]

I have to say I am not big on the Colts, but other than that, I have nothing huge against any of the teams, and can see a fairly neat storyline in any of the other three teams winning. (I might even be able to grudgingly admit that Peyton's career achievements deserve a second Superbowl!)

• Saints- post Katrina recovery for the city, and they have been an exciting and charasmatic team to watch all year.
  
• Vikings- the Favre storyline might get tiresome quite quickly, but they have a well balanced, young team, and the franchise probably deserves a Superbowl for all its success down the years!
  
• Jets- its a long time since Namath, and maybe, just maybe, for the second time in 3 years a New York team is peaking at just the right time. Also the Ryan family deserve a head coaching Superbowl win!
  

note- I have used the term 'deserve' a fair bit there, and do acknowledge that the only way to truly 'deserve' a Superbowl is to win one, but sometimes a team win something big and you are left feeling that maybe they haven't done enough of the hard yards yet and so you are left feeling a bit cold by the fact that they won. (The Marlins winning the World Series was such an occasion for me). For lots of reasons, it doesn't seem that that will be the case in the Superbowl this year.

[NJTank]

Im almost afraid to see what happens if the Jets win Sunday, my neighbor is a crazy Colts fan who hates the Jets because of Super Bowl III, and his relationship with WFAN. I think I will be wearing by celing if the Jets somehow win.

[Jigga]

Im almost afraid to see what happens if the Jets win Sunday, my neighbor is a crazy Colts fan who hates the Jets because of Super Bowl III, and his relationship with WFAN. I think I will be wearing by celing if the Jets somehow win.

Maybe he'll just kill himself and you won't have to worry about it.

[MDC]

Anyone but the vikings, please. Favre is just the icing on the cake. The division rivalry (bears fan here), the uniforms, the dome, bernard berrian, jared allen's annoying dance, the first down horn. i just want them to lose.

I would love to see the saints take it all, or the jets, just because ESPN doesnt know what to do when the superbowl winning quarterback isnt brady or manning

[TopCat]

I thought it was pretty classy how Brooking raced to the Vikes sideline and started giving Favre and Chilly the business, great way to let them know that running up the score is classless. I really don't see much wrong with running it or flinging the ball to the open receiver, but that's just me.

Vikes-Jets is the Super Bowl I'm hoping for, although a matchup between the QB of the '90s vs. the QB of the '00s wouldn't be bad either. And for once in my short life I hope to see one of my teams win a championship!

[jkrdevil]

I thought it was pretty classy how Brooking raced to the Vikes sideline and started giving Favre and Chilly the business, great way to let them know that running up the score is classless. I really don't see much wrong with running it or flinging the ball to the open receiver, but that's just me.

Vikes-Jets is the Super Bowl I'm hoping for, although a matchup between the QB of the '90s vs. the QB of the '00s wouldn't be bad either. And for once in my short life I hope to see one of my teams win a championship!

I wonder if the Giants had thrown for a TD with just over two minutes to go in that 41-0 blowout in the 2000 NFC championship if you would have the same reaction?

[infrared41]

Im almost afraid to see what happens if the Jets win Sunday, my neighbor is a crazy Colts fan who hates the Jets because of Super Bowl III, and his relationship with WFAN. I think I will be wearing by celing if the Jets somehow win.

Maybe he'll just kill himself and you won't have to worry about it.

Thanks Jigga. By the way, how did you know my keyboard was in need of a new coat of Pepsi.?

[infrared41]

I'm going to enjoy this championship weekend. I wouldn't root against any of the remaining teams (unlike the Patriots or Steelers the last few years). So I'll just sit back, relax and enjoy the last of the NFL football we have left this year.

Same here. A Super Bowl win by any of these teams wouldn't bother me a bit. Any championship weekend without New England, Pittsburgh, or Dallas, is a good one. That said, how many people think it's Indy's to lose at this point?

Anyway... In order of preference:

Jets

Saints

Vikings

Colts

[Sport]

Anyway... In order of preference:

Jets

Saints

Vikings

Colts

Good idea. Here's my list

1 Saints

2 Vikings

3 Colts

4 Jets

[MattF]

For me its

1. Saints

2. Colts

3. Vikings

4. Jets

[Cujo]

1. Jets

2. Jets

3. Jets

4. Jets

[Harmening]

1. Saints

2. Jets

3. Vikings

4. Colts

[Jigga]

1. Not the Vikings

2. Not the Vikings

3. Not the Vikings

4. Vikings, only if Favre somehow completely misses the SB. Like if he gets popped like Warner did after that pick.