NFL Playoffs 2014-15 Conference Championships

[uolj]

Well all four of the teams I was rooting for lost (or more accurately, the four I was rooting against won). So the NFL playoffs get a big ol' raspberry from me. Still, they march on anyway. This Sunday:

Green Bay @ Seattle
Sun, Jan. 18, 12:05 PM PST FOX

Indianapolis @ New England
Sun, Jan. 18, 3:40 PM PST CBS



Updated scores (last week in parentheses). This week will be worth 4 points. Super Bowl will be 8 points plus some bonus questions.
10(6) - kingsboi
9(6) - PurpleHaze
9(6) - Capt. Factorial
8(8) - pdxKingsFan
6(6) - Telemachus
6(4) - uolj
3(0) - LoungeLizard
2(2) - VF21

 

[Rockmeister]

I wish I would have participated the first week of playoffs. Oh well.

Since I am a Patriots fan, I want Green Bay to win because we lost to them and I want revenge.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I believe BB was saving something for a Super Bowl rematch in that first game. I'd love to see the rematch.

 

[VF21]

Green Bay and New England. I cannot and will not root for Seattle. I hate Seattle. I hate everything about Seattle. In fact, I think I may hate Seattle ALMOST as much as I hate LA and more than Texas.

 

[uolj]

Wow... surprised at how many people going for the underdogs. I really feel like Seattle and New England will win, but picked the other two for rooting interest and to try to gain points in the silly point game. But if every else picks the underdogs that doesn't work so good.

 

[VF21]

I didn't pick Green Bay for strategy in winning this game. I picked them because I am shallow and vindictive and carry a grudge.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Green Bay Pack-It-In'ers with perhaps the most epic collapse I've ever seen.

 

[Merdiesel]

What a choke job.

 

[itzcoatl]

GB what a bummer.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Made the right pick they just... jerks.

 

[VF21]

Green Bay Pack-It-In'ers with perhaps the most epic collapse I've ever seen.

I feel sorry for Packer fans. I think all Kings fans can feel their pain. And geez, do I hate Seattle. Best moment for me was finding out a whole lot of "fans" left when the score was 19-7, got to the parking lot and then tried to get back in when it became 19-14. I took way too much pleasure from the fact that not only were they not allowed to re-enter, there are tons of pictures of them outside the stadium watching the rest of the game on the outside monitors. So much for them saying "Hey, I was there and saw that game."

Yes, I'm petty and shallow and I'll take my solace wherever I can find it. Seattle sucks.

 

[VF21]

Green Bay and New England. I cannot and will not root for Seattle. I hate Seattle. I hate everything about Seattle. In fact, I think I may hate Seattle ALMOST as much as I hate LA and more than Texas.

On this day at this very moment, Seattle has taken over sole possession of the top slot on the list.

 

[captain bill]

Is Pete the best coach in the NFL right now? He's definitely making a case for it.

 

[kingsboi]

Colts got shook in their pants playing on this big stage game....what a terrible championship round. Let's hope this years Superbowl is more entertaining....playing football in Arizona on a February where the weather is probably going to be in the 70's with sunny skies? yes please...

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Is Pete the best coach in the NFL right now? He's definitely making a case for it.

No. The other guy is, and frankly it's not close.

 

[VF21]

I can honestly say I have zero interest in watching the Seahawks-Patriots. I'd sooner watch pine cones drop from the trees. If there is any justice in the universe, I'll be in the middle of a snow storm and won't be able to watch anyway.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I have a lot of interest.

 

[Rockmeister]

I have a lot of interest.

Me too.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Vegas odds initially favored New England by 1 - now it's being called pick 'em Super Bowl. See how line goes from here leading up to game in two weeks based on all the betting. O/U at 48.5

 

[captain bill]

No. The other guy is, and frankly it's not close.

It's close.

Bill has it on longevity, but in the time that the Pats have won 3 SB's, Pete won 1 SB + 2 CFB championships.

If Seattle wins he is the de facto heir to the title.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

It's close.

Bill has it on longevity, but in the time that the Pats have won 3 SB's, Pete won 1 SB + 2 CFB championships.

If Seattle wins he is the de facto heir to the title.

I disagree because long term success at the NFL level with the ridiculous cap rules is something that nobody has done at the level that BB has done thus far. Not to mention that BB has originated gameplans that have been widely copycatted around the league for going on 3 decades. The stuff he is doing right now with the eligibility of linemen is unheralded at the pro level.

Pete is right now at the point where the team has to start compensating his players for their performance the past 3 seasons. If he can withstand the cap decisions that will result and remain competitive the way the Patriots have over 15 years then I will be truly impressed.

 

[VF21]

I disagree because long term success at the NFL level with the ridiculous cap rules is something that nobody has done at the level that BB has done thus far. Not to mention that BB has originated gameplans that have been widely copycatted around the league for going on 3 decades. The stuff he is doing right now with the eligibility of linemen is unheralded at the pro level.

Pete is right now at the point where the team has to start compensating his players for their performance the past 3 seasons. If he can withstand the cap decisions that will result and remain competitive the way the Patriots have over 15 years then I will be truly impressed.

Wait until they have to pay Wilson real QB money. That will change a whole lot of things.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Wait until they have to pay Wilson real QB money. That will change a whole lot of things.

Exactly, I feel like he could be in the same spot Harbaugh was before you know.

It's no question that he can coach elite talent, but they really do have the best roster in the league right now.

And I know that it isn't probably fair to question another coach's integrity when comparing to BB, but Pete's cavalier adherence to NCAA regulations destroyed USC football in its wake. The "national" (NY based) media has had a grudge with BB since he spurned the Jets for NE and has done everything to bring him down, and Spygate had some pretty big repercussions including lost draft picks and yet they never skipped a beat.

I don't think you have to like BB but right now he is in Walsh and Lombardi territory.

 

[VF21]

Exactly, I feel like he could be in the same spot Harbaugh was before you know.

It's no question that he can coach elite talent, but they really do have the best roster in the league right now.

And I know that it isn't probably fair to question another coach's integrity when comparing to BB, but Pete's cavalier adherence to NCAA regulations destroyed USC football in its wake. The "national" (NY based) media has had a grudge with BB since he spurned the Jets for NE and has done everything to bring him down, and Spygate had some pretty big repercussions including lost draft picks and yet they never skipped a beat.

I don't think you have to like BB but right now he is in Walsh and Lombardi territory.

Yeah, right up until they found out about the SECOND apparent incident of blatant cheating.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Balls were tested by refs in room temperature, moved into outdoor temps of 40-50 degrees, maybe lower? Rechecked and air added at halftime. According to Mortensen's report. Is it not likely that if they were filled to the minimum level each time, the change in temperature as well as having 250lb players falling on them for a few hours would drop the PSI by 1-2 lbs? I don't test footballs for a living but I can say without a doubt that a sudden drop in temperature will alter my bicycle tire pressures quire dramatically (a lot more than 10%).

Pats dominated on the ground, so I am not sure what it even matters... but I'll take the lumps when they are dished out.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Just food for though... Aaron Rodgers prefers over inflated balls.

I really think this is a BB witch hunt, ESPN even did a myth busters today and found no conclusive competitive advantage.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...erinflated-footballs-likes-to-push-the-limit/

 

[VF21]

Well, it does appear the Ravens gave a heads up to the NFL about this after their loss to the Patriots.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Ravens? Report I read said the Ravens thought the balls were clean. The Colts didn't like the balls in their prior meeting, according to reports. And were likely planning this.

FWiW scientist appears to agree with my analysis that temp change could have been the culprit. My understanding is balls were tested in a room above 80 degrees.
http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...tory.html?s_campaign=bcom:socialflow:facebook

 

[VF21]

Ravens? Report I read said the Ravens thought the balls were clean. The Colts didn't like the balls in their prior meeting, according to reports. And were likely planning this.

FWiW scientist appears to agree with my analysis that temp change could have been the culprit. My understanding is balls were tested in a room above 80 degrees.
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/2015/01/21/how-the-patriots-could-have-cheated-without-letting-air-out-the-ball/Eocm5m29nIlh0HRBjFWsYO/story.html?s_campaign=bcom:socialflow:facebook

I can try and find the story again, but I'm almost positive someone from the Ravens made a call to the NFL after their playoff game.

I like the idea that this might be based on science and not someone letting the air out of the footballs.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Vegas sets odds on Belichick getting suspended.

http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/01/odds_on_bill_belichick_being_suspended_for_patriot.html