NFL playoff thread: Wild-card week

[Mr. Sunshine]

I wonder how much (if ever) this actually happens ... but that would seem to have been a classic "don't show 'em anything" game for Arizona. The chances of Carolina losing to Tampa Bay were very low to begin with, and those chances were reduced to zero by halftime. It's tough to make a group of pros stand there and take it like that, but I just don't think the Cardinals played that one to the max.

I still like Seattle in any rematch -- which wouldn't be until the conference championship -- but I'm dismissing yesterday entirely.

I suppose. I think the Patriots may have done a little of that, too. All the pressure on Brady was not part of the game plan, but there were a number of series where they went very conservative -- as if they were content to just get the game over with and continue planning for the playoffs.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

A team with Brady is never an underdog, but the Pats haven't looked all that good since before Thanksgiving. I'd call their defense this year competent, but no more.

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

Weren't they among the league leaders in sacks? Generating pressure is the X factor for any defense, so I'd rate them a little better than competent.

 

[exmediahack]

Arizona shouldn't worry anyone after yesterday. Once they saw Carolina wasn't going to lose, they had nothing to play for.

Seattle was a good value pick going in as they had something to prove from Week 16 while Arizona was cruising.

 

[Rhody31]

Rules are rules.

You going to report this?

WTF are you talking about? I'd just love to read something by Deitsch or MMQB about how it all broke down. I don't think we've ever had a AFC-NFC breakdown like this.

Short week could be rough for both the Steelers and Bengals. Each has a key player who could have used the extra day to get healthy, though I think DeAngelo Williams is the one more likely to be limited or out due to injury. I believe McCarron was also banged up Sunday, but stayed in the game.

The benefit for your guys is they get an extra day or rest for the following week. I think that will be huge heading to Denver.

The scheduling is also rough for Seattle with the potential of playing back to back 10 am PST games. Obviously they could have won more and earned a better seed, but this schedule does them no favors.

Question from Twitter last night - besides a Super Bowl, when was the last time Michaels did a game that started before 8 EST?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Weren't they among the league leaders in sacks? Generating pressure is the X factor for any defense, so I'd rate them a little better than competent.

Those sacks are to some degree the work of the offense in the first half of the year and against weak sisters like the Titans. A defense with a 20 point or more second half lead ought to pile up sacks. The opponent is passing all the time. The pass rush was the best part of the defense. Competent is not criticism, it means "good enough to win if the offense does its job." But the Seahawks or Broncos they aren't.

 

[justgladtobehere]

When did Minnesota move to the Eastern Time Zone?

 

[Rhody31]

When did Minnesota move to the Eastern Time Zone?

Don't think anyone here said they did, but Seattle potentially playing back-to-back week at games that start at 10 a.m. PST isn't easy.

 

[BTExpress]

When did Minnesota move to the Eastern Time Zone?

Don't think anyone here said they did, but Seattle potentially playing back-to-back week at games that start at 10 a.m. PST isn't easy.

Someone must think Seattle-Minnesota game starts at 1 p.m. CST.

 

[murphyc]

Don't think anyone here said they did, but Seattle potentially playing back-to-back week at games that start at 10 a.m. PST isn't easy.

Didn't seem to bother the Seahawks when they had back-to-back road games starting at 10 a.m. PST last month.

 

[Gutter]

But that can't happen. They play at 11 a.m. PST this week ...

Minnesota is two hours ahead of Seattle, therefore 10 a.m. PST.

 

[Cosmo]

It's a 1 p.m. EST time start.

Therefore it's a noon CST start.

Therefore, it's a 10 a.m. PST start.

 

[BTExpress]

Minnesota is two hours ahead of Seattle, therefore 10 a.m. PST.

Edited to correct above.

Panthers game is already set for 1 p.m. on Jan. 17. So No. 6 seed Seahawks would definitely play there if they win.

 

[Gutter]

Today's 5th grade geography lesson:

Current local time in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Current local time in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

 

[swingline]

Well, I'm pretty sure they aren't flying in the night before the game, so the time difference shouldn't matter. But if the Seahawks lose and Wilson says it was because of the game's starting time, I will sit corrected.

 

[JackReacher]

And those flights have to be miserable and not relaxing at all. You know, working for a billion dollar company and all. Probably don't even get food and drinks on those awful cross country flights!

 

[Batman]

W
The scheduling is also rough for Seattle with the potential of playing back to back 10 am PST games. Obviously they could have won more and earned a better seed, but this schedule does them no favors.

Question from Twitter last night - besides a Super Bowl, when was the last time Michaels did a game that started before 8 EST?

The more you do it, the easier it gets though, right? Seems like the Carolina game would be easier to prepare for than this week.

As for Michaels, I think he and Colinsworth were joking about that at the end of the game last night. He might not even know.

 

[da man]

Well, I'm pretty sure they aren't flying in the night before the game, so the time difference shouldn't matter. But if the Seahawks lose and Wilson says it was because of the game's starting time, I will sit corrected.

I don't have it in front of me, but check the record for West Coast teams traveling east and playing that early game. I'm guessing it isn't very good.

 

[LongTimeListener]

 

[JackReacher]

Decent.