NFL Divisional Weekend thread

[HanSenSE]

Don't think I've ever seen a kicker wearing a number in the 90s.

 

[rtse11]

The Rams won anyway, but their 3rd down play was almost identical to the second DPI last night.
In my opinion.

 

[I Should Coco]

That might be the best overall defensive game the Bears played this season, but after a season of takeaways, they couldn’t come up with one.

Credit the Rams defense — time after time they stuffed third and short and fourth down plays.

Great effort and thrilling play at end for the Bears, but the Rams played better.

Let’s go Hawks!

 

[Bubbler]

 

[exmediahack]

Not at home.

I’ll never understand the “not at home” but. Chef, explain it to me like I’m 8.

I always believe if you have the less experienced, less consistent (or less deep) team, you go for 2 and the win. And, yes, momentum. I was screaming from the rooftops for McCarthy to go for 2 off Rodgers Hail Mary in Arizona. And they lost in OT.

 

[BTExpress]

Don't think I've ever seen a kicker wearing a number in the 90s.

NFL passed a rule in 2023 expanding the number availability for kickers and punters.

Back in the olden days you might see one because position players sometimes doubled as kickers (Defensive end Lou Michaels, No. 79, was the Colts' kicker in SB III. And performed as crappy as you would expect from a DE/kicker).

 

[Batman]

Don't think I've ever seen a kicker wearing a number in the 90s.

In the NFL or ever? I think Alabama has a tradition where its kickers wear No. 99. If it's not a tradition, then a lot of them have done it anyway.

 

[Chef2]

I’ll never understand the “not at home” but. Chef, explain it to me like I’m 8.

I always believe if you have the less experienced, less consistent (or less deep) team, you go for 2 and the win. And, yes, momentum. I was screaming from the rooftops for McCarthy to go for 2 off Rodgers Hail Mary in Arizona. And they lost in OT.

My .02…….
You’re on the road…..especially in the playoffs…..you’re more likely the underdog…..the pressure is on the home team. You’re more likely gonna have the gamblers mentality. Home team (for better or worse) is more conservative.

 

[Roscablo]

I’ll never understand the “not at home” but. Chef, explain it to me like I’m 8.

I always believe if you have the less experienced, less consistent (or less deep) team, you go for 2 and the win. And, yes, momentum. I was screaming from the rooftops for McCarthy to go for 2 off Rodgers Hail Mary in Arizona. And they lost in OT.

I don't think it is wise in the playoffs when you have full rules and each team is guaranteed the ball and if you lose you are done. But I am sure it will happen soon enough that a coach will try.

I mean, most go for it on fourth down every chance now. Side thought, if the Bears kick field goals instead of going for it all those times they probably win, right? The Broncos red zone field goals drive me nuts, not so much for not going for it on fourth, just not scoring when close, but damn if they haven't won several games with them this year, including yesterday.

 

[BTExpress]

In 2023 the NFL success rate on 2-point plays was 55%. It dropped to 41% in 2024.

Bears converted at a 57% clip this season and were successful on the last three they tried.

Sounds like a better play than OT to me.

 

[tapintoamerica]

In 2023 the NFL success rate on 2-point plays was 55%. It dropped to 41% in 2024.

Bears converted at a 57% clip this season and were successful on the last three they tried.

Sounds like a better play than OT to me.

Maybe so. But you've got to have a good play for that location. That defense had just stopped them from two-point conversion distance with three minutes left.
And OT (thankfully) isn't the abomination that OT used to be. Both teams really do get a fair shot. No need to pray for a favorable coin flip.

 

[QYFW]

Extra point was the right call. There wasn't a person on the Bears sideline who wasn't confident they would win in OT after that TD pass. Why chance it? Any criticism directed at Johnson should be focused on his repeated refusal to take easy points. That is what ultimately cost them the game.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Did some fun digging on @stathead.
This appears to be only the fourth playoff game in history in which the score was tied after the second, third and fourth quarters.
Others
12/25/1971: Dolphins won at Chiefs 27-24 in 2OT
1/24/2010: Saints beat visiting Vikings 31-28 in OT
1/12/2013: Ravens won at Broncos 38-35 in 2OT. This is the only game in NFL history in which the score was tied after the first, second, third, fourth and fifth periods.

 

[exmediahack]

Coaches can always kick the extra point, go to OT and be absolved of blame - whereas they go for 2, don’t get it and they spend 5 minutes answering that question and it plays in the news cycle.

That was a Bielema issue at Wisconsin. Always played for OT… and lost. Except for Cal Poly. They won that OT game.

My NFL OT rules are different but with the goal of a winner sooner.

No coin flip.

Road team gets to choose. Take the ball at their own 15 or home team takes the ball at the HT 15.

First score wins.

Done.

I really don’t care about the “fairness” of both teams touching the ball in OT. They had 60 minutes to each win the game.

I’ve also fixed basketball OT if anyone will listen.

First to four points in OT wins. Why the hell do we need five more minutes? Can’t tell me the fans wouldn’t be into a 4-point OT over a five-minute slog that takes 15 minutes where the deeper team wins anyway?

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Coaches can always kick the extra point, go to OT and be absolved of blame - whereas they go for 2, don’t get it and they spend 5 minutes answering that question and it plays in the news cycle.

That was a Bielema issue at Wisconsin. Always played for OT… and lost. Except for Cal Poly. They won that OT game.

My NFL OT rules are different but with the goal of a winner sooner.

No coin flip.

Road team gets to choose. Take the ball at their own 15 or home team takes the ball at the HT 15.

First score wins.

Done.

I really don’t care about the “fairness” of both teams touching the ball in OT. They had 60 minutes to each win the game.

I’ve also fixed basketball OT if anyone will listen.

First to four points in OT wins. Why the hell do we need five more minutes? Can’t tell me the fans wouldn’t be into a 4-point OT over a five-minute slog that takes 15 minutes where the deeper team wins anyway?

That basketball rule...you sir are a menace to society.

Honestly, I hated the rule where neither team was guaranteed a possession in overtime, but I can see saying both teams had 60 minutes to get it done in the regular season. In the playoffs, I want a 15-minute OT with both teams having possession. Biggest games of the year, give 'em both a shot.

Now let's fix that hockey monstrosity. Ten minutes, 5-on-5, if they're still tied, who gives a ****, ties were fine for 80 years. At least it would make the standings make sense again.

 

[BTExpress]

But you've got to have a good play for that location

Given that it is play that will decide a game, somewhere in their 18-hour days you'd think coaches would come up with one.

Why chance it?

Chance . . . what?

Going to OT gets you nothing more than coin flip odds anyway. The only differences are that 1. It takes longer, so it doesn't "feel" like a gamble; and 2. it absolves the coach from second guessing.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Don't think I've ever seen a kicker wearing a number in the 90s.

Not in the pros, but don't Georgia's kickers wear # 96 (or close), because of that PK dude with glasses, Blakenship or somebody? Didn't he wear it with the Colts too? Isn't Alabama's kicker in the 90s too?

Lou Groza wore #76, in the days when kickers were real football players.

 

[micropolitan guy]

The Rams won anyway, but their 3rd down play was almost identical to the second DPI last night.
In my opinion.

I don't think there was a DPI called in any of the three games after Bills-Broncos. Didn't watch every minute, but I can't remember an offensive holding today either.

And how about that Texans receiver called "down by contact" even though he didn't complete the catch to the ground because the ball got stripped?

It's the inconsistency that is maddening.

 

[micropolitan guy]

There's an independent league that has an unusual extra-inning format. The visiting team starts the 10th with a runner on 2nd. If he scores, game over, visitors win. If he doesn't, game over and the home team wins.

Or something very close to that.

 

[poindexter]

Surprised by the passive calls by the Rams.

Nope. McVay turns super super conservative late with a lead, and the other team gets the ball back with enough time every single time.