2014 NFL Season Thread

[Unocal]

It's ironic that we get Carolina/Seattle a year after both were 1 seeds and we thought they'd play for the NFC Championship (I admittedly thought they were gonna beat the Niners last January). They are the NFC's top 2 seeds a year ago, and they meet up when one of them had 1 win in 2 months.

[BBTV]

Dallas versus Green Bay. Dallas returns to their House of Horrors against Green Bay in Lambeau. Only the second ever playoff matchup between the two there.

Dallas cannot afford the same slow start like they had against Detroit, otherwise they will not stand a chance.

And that's likely part of the reason they were going to advance regardless of how Detroit played.

[Rockstar Matt]

The most telling thing to me about that call yesterday is that the ONLY people really trying to weakly defend it with quips like "Wrll, there were bad calls both way!" Are Cowboys fans. Go figure

I was actually rooting for Dallas before yesterday. Not any more.

Then you haven't been paying attention. The Cowboys fans here acknowledged that call multiple times. I'll say it again, there was clearly a minimum of 2 instances where a flag should've been thrown. Not sure why it got picked up, but it did. That's a bad break for Detroit, no question.

What our argument has been is the idea that the picked up flag is the sole reason Dallas won. That's BS. The Lions had their shots and they missed. Period. That call happened with over 8 minutes left in the game, so let's not act like this happened with 20 seconds left on the clock.

Agreed completely.

I think the PI is debatable (also, if anyone watches the replay, notice how Pettigrew grabbed Hitchens face mask and pushed off), but what isn't debatable is that Hitchens clearly had a hand full of jersey as Pettigrew was crossing the field. There should have been a penalty for defensive holding without a doubt. If the Cowboys were in the Lions position, I'd absolutely be pissed off.

Did that non-call change the game? Yes, absolutely. Did that non-call give the win to Dallas? Not a chance.

There was still 8 minutes and change left. Caldwell could have gone for it on 4th-and-1 but elected to punt which backfired. The Lions could have stopped Dallas on that 4th-and-6, but they didn't. Levy didn't have to tackle Dunbar coming out of the backfield, but he did. On the most important offensive possession of the game for Dallas, 3rd and goal from the 8, Detroit couldn't get any pressure on Romo and he completed the GW TD. The Lions get the ball back with two minutes with an opportunity to win the game and they couldn't get it done.

Consider this: the Lions scored only THREE points in the second half and committed 3 turnovers. The Lions only have themselves to blame for putting themselves in a position where a penalty or a non-call on a penalty can change the game that drastically.

[FiddySicks]

Again, preaching to the Cowboys choir.

Like I said, good on Dallas for pulling out the win there at the end. Gotta give credit to Romo for staying poised considering the constant pressure he faced all day. But you're absolutely blind if you think the officiating in that game was fair.

[ninersdd]

Vinatieri gets drug tested after nailed a 53 yarder yesterday.

http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/01/05/indianapolis-colts-adam-vinatieri-drug-test

[2001mark]

8-0 road Cowboys v 8-0 home Packers... let's get nuts.

[Sport]

I know the team plays many Sunday nights and they have a national following, but up to this year, what have this crop of Dallas Cowboys even accomplished? They had that weird playoff game against Seattle and then went 8-8 a bunch of times. Why do they get any special treatment at all? The Dez Bryant non-call is especially bad.

Because they are the Cowboys...they are the one team that, regardless of record, is always on the radar; always matter.

They're the Steelers of Texas. They have fans everywhere for some reason. I know at least ten Cowboys fans either from Columbus or Cincinnati who have no connection to Dallas in any way other than they're a fan of the football team. Something about that team really grabbed people in the late 60's early 70's.

For that reason I feel like I'm constantly watching the Cowboys. They are always on my TV. When I was a kid they were my number one most hated team in sports. I actually rooted for Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX, which might explain why y'all lost that one, Steeler fans. Then Chan Gailey/Dave Campo induced mediocrity set in and I became indifferent towards them.

[Lee Noire]

Again, preaching to the Cowboys choir.

Like I said, good on Dallas for pulling out the win there at the end. Gotta give credit to Romo for staying poised considering the constant pressure he faced all day. But you're absolutely blind if you think the officiating in that game was fair.

I think you might need a vision check too my friend. I never said it was fair. I think the Lions have beef, but they also had moments to win they didn't capitalize on.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I know the team plays many Sunday nights and they have a national following, but up to this year, what have this crop of Dallas Cowboys even accomplished? They had that weird playoff game against Seattle and then went 8-8 a bunch of times. Why do they get any special treatment at all? The Dez Bryant non-call is especially bad.

Because they are the Cowboys...they are the one team that, regardless of record, is always on the radar; always matter.

They're the Steelers of Texas. They have fans everywhere for some reason. I know at least ten Cowboys fans either from Columbus or Cincinnati who have no connection to Dallas in any way other than they're a fan of the football team. Something about that team really grabbed people in the late 60's early 70's.

For that reason I feel like I'm constantly watching the Cowboys. They are always on my TV. When I was a kid they were my number one most hated team in sports. I actually rooted for Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX, which might explain why y'all lost that one, Steeler fans. Then Chan Gailey/Dave Campo induced mediocrity set in and I became indifferent towards them.

The 90s Cowboys weren't especially likeable, but they did earn every bit of their reputation. They felt like a video game all-star team (if only because Emmitt Smith was essentially untouchable in Madden 94), and they played with swagger before that was a thing. They transitioned the NFL from the Joe Montana/Bills LOL eras to what the NFL would eventually become -- an entertainment-first product based more on stars than on-field play.

I get that they have a nationwide fanbase, but until this year, I didn't understand why anyone paying attention in 1996 would give a damn until now, or why Fox needs to send Joe Buck to Dallas every other week.

Anyway, one good thing about last night's game is this:

Yeesh.

[Lee Noire]

Is that Christie?

[goalieboy82]

Is that Christie?

yes it is.

[rams80]

Is that Christie?

yes it is.

Just a regular Joe. A man of the people.

[Rockstar Matt]

Anyway, one good thing about last night's game is this:

Yeesh.

Could you imagine being Jerry or Stephen Jones in that moment? You're trying to hug your dad/son but then you have this tub of love groping the both of you.

[HedleyLamarr]

Gotta give props to the stadium engineers for building that owner's box to support maximum weight capacity....

[Lights Out]

I'm with BBTV, I don't think games are literally fixed, but you'll never convince me that the officials don't sometimes call games to favor of one team over another.

I agree with this, but on the controversial call, there was OPI and DPI going on at the same time. I think this situation was mishandled by the refs, but I don't think they were trying to favor anyone.

[Lights Out]

The 90s Cowboys weren't especially likeable, but they did earn every bit of their reputation. They felt like a video game all-star team (if only because Emmitt Smith was essentially untouchable in Madden 94), and they played with swagger before that was a thing.

The Miami Hurricanes of the '80s would quibble with you there.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

The 90s Cowboys weren't especially likeable, but they did earn every bit of their reputation. They felt like a video game all-star team (if only because Emmitt Smith was essentially untouchable in Madden 94), and they played with swagger before that was a thing.

The Miami Hurricanes of the '80s would quibble with you there.

That's 30 for 30 revisionism.

[rainmaker17]

If the NFL favors Dallas so much why have the Cowboys been largely irrelevant playoff/Super Bowl-wise in nearly two decades? According to all the stupid memes floating around, Jerry Jones cuts checks to the refs. You can't have it both ways.

[rainmaker17]

The most telling thing to me about that call yesterday is that the ONLY people really trying to weakly defend it with quips like "Wrll, there were bad calls both way!" Are Cowboys fans. Go figure

I was actually rooting for Dallas before yesterday. Not any more.

So I should just blindly agree with everything you say? Weak. The refs didn't fumble twice in the final drive. The refs didn't shank a ten yard punt. The Lions had three minutes and two timeouts to WIN the game and they blew it. There were bad calls both ways, to say there weren't is absurd. We get it, no one likes the Cowboys. But to act like every time they have a meaningful victory they cheated, Jerry paid off the refs, the league is biased towards them etc. etc. is bullish#t. This isn't Spygate or the Tuck Rule….and it's stupid to try to turn it in to that.

[OnWis97]

If the NFL favors Dallas so much why have the Cowboys been largely irrelevant playoff/Super Bowl-wise in nearly two decades? According to all the stupid memes floating around, Jerry Jones cuts checks to the refs. You can't have it both ways.

Actually, I'd argue that you can. It's not nearly that black and white; better treatment does not = championship.

When Dallas was going 8-8, refs were not going to make them a Super Bowl team. It's kinda like people that suggest the Lakers never had preferential treatment because they've been bad for the last few years. I firmly believe the Lakers (particularly Kobe) get the benefit of the doubt against almost all teams/players. Someone literally asked me "then how come they don't win it all every year." Because the officials don't act like the 1972 Olympic officials every game. Giving the benefit of the doubt to certain teams/players does not guarantee they'll win. It just gives 'em a better chance.

I am not necessarily saying Dallas is constantly favored by the officials. But the fact that they have been mediocre for the last 15 years does not, in and of itself, mean they are treated like everyone else. Officials favoring players or teams simply hedges the bets; a slight edge from the refs is not going to win an average team a title.