Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[Sephiroth]

Yeah, but it's done now, man. Straight down the middle.

If I was a neutral, I'm sure I'd have enjoyed the game. As it is, I say meh.

But like I say, congrats. If I had to lose to anyone, I'm glad it's the Saints. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them, and it would be cool to see them win their first Super Bowl.

After the season you've had, you deserve it, IMO.


I'm off to sulk, now... and wonder why Favre didn't just run the ball and at least give us a chance to snatch it at the end of regulation. And wonder when will be the next time we'll get so close. In some ways, I hate losing in semi-finals even more than in finals.

I really hate sport, sometimes.

[Rothgar]

Interesting games. Lots of turnovers.

[Culhwch]

Gutwrenching loss if it had gone either way, both teams were more than deserving. It really seemed like the Vikes defense came to play today, and the game lived up to the expectations of a close one. I'll be interested to watch the replay.

It took long enough, but we're finally in the Superbowl! And this is of course the first one in years I'm going to miss watching live... That might be a good thing for my Saints, though!

I bet there's one hell of a party going on in New Orleans tonight...

[Winters_Sorrow]

Originally Posted by Ursa major

We now have our first Super Bowl contestant: the Colts, who won (by 30 points to 17) against the Jets.


(GRRM won't be happy; but I've got at least one point this weekend.)

That's another Stark dead. Damn you, Manning!

Absolute cracker of a game between the Saints & Vikings. I was most impressed by the Saints secondary. Jabari Greer and Harper basically double-teamed Sidney Rice and kept him virtually out of the game. Also they did a great job of stuffing the run (better than I expected to be honest). Mind you the Vikings must have put on their butterfingers gloves. People will blame Favre for the horror interception which cost them the FG chance, which is the 2nd straight time he's ended in the playoffs with an interception I think, but if Petersen hadn't fumbled (twice!) inside the Saints 10-yard line then the game would have been out of reach by then. The Saints did just enough to get through and that pass interference call was huge in OT.

Congrats though Cul

[reiver33]

Jets-Colts
Well, not the game I expected at all! The Colts threw everything into shutting down the Jets run game at the expense of pass coverage and basically dared Sanchez to throw - so he did, and scored! However, once Greene left the game the Jets run attack was done so the Colts could drop back into coverage more and that was that!

Vikings-Saints
Urgh! What did I say about Favre? If he hadn't tried to force that last pass there might have been a chance for a fieldgoal. Oh well!

My early pick for the Superbowl is the Saints, as they look the more accomplished offensive unit.

[Parson]

It is hard for a fan like myself to be unemotionally attached to a Vikings game. The Saints deserved to win because they were able to hang on to the ball more consistently. They only lost 1 fumble and had no interceptions while the Vikings lost (can I make myself write this?) 4 fumbles (they recovered two others of their own), plus they had two interceptions. What blew me away was that the Vikings had a chance, a good chance, to win until the very last play. If you would have told me before the game that the Vikings were going to lose the turn over battle by FIVE I would have said they lose by 3 touchdowns or more. But two of those turnovers were inside the red zone which means you don't score points, but your opponent likely doesn't score as well.

After watching both playoff games, I would have to say that the Saints have their hands full with the Colts. They will have to turn the Colts over or they will get beat, maybe badly. The Colts offense is better than the Vikings (a better passing game, less prone to fumbles, and a respectable running game) but their defense, though good, is not quite up to the Viking standard.

I will have to let my emotions settle (Picture the Parson walking up to the TV to shut it off and declaring that we were not watching any post game gloating) before I can make a pick. (Sigh!)

[jojajihisc]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I've been watching it. Yikes. Crazy interception thrown by Favre right at the death... if he'd just kept on running, he'd have gained enough yardage for the FG. Game would (most probably) be over.

Or throw the ball away. Give that kicker a chance at least. Longwell would have had a small chance of hitting from 55/56. Vikings looked like the better team, but hold on to the ball already.

[Culhwch]

I watched the game today on tape. I gotta say, I don't know that the Vikings were the better team by a whole lot - though I will concede they were probably the better team. The turnovers - the last pick was on Favre, but the first was good pressure and heads up play by Vilma. And the fumbles - besides the botched hand-off at the end of the first half I can't recall any that weren't forced by an aggressive Saints defense. And that's what New Orleans have been doing on defense all year - attacking the ball, causing turnovers, not necessarily stopping teams. Learn to hold onto the ball, Vikings. But as much as the Viking hurt their own chances, the Saints did a little of the same with eighty-odd yards of penalties. The Thomas PI call at the death was line-ball, but I don't think it was a gift. It was first-and-ten anyway, and I suspect Brees would have manufactured the yardage needed. I don't think the fact that Asher got called for the same two or so plays earlier helped - I suspect the officials were watching for it. It's a tense situation.

One of the guys I was most impressed with was our rookie punter and kick-off man, Thomas Morstead, and the coverage team. Morstead has been doing a great job all year, and he had a quiet but very efficient game yesterday, limiting the damage that Harvin may have been able to manufacture. The coverage team did a great job too on the couple of returns the Vikes managed to get. They've been leaky all year, but they really stood up against the Vikes.

Oh, and Garrett Hartley. Ice cold, dead centre. Would have hit it from ten yards further back. Will never have to buy himself another drink in New Orleans, I imagine.

[Wiglaf]

Originally Posted by Grimward

And sorry Wigs, the Chargers just went flat after that first touchdown. That, and Rivers spent the rest of the game getting mauled by the Jets D-Line. Even then, to miss 3 field goals when any one of them would tie has got to sting.....sympathies, definitely, although another great season on the whole.

I haven't posted for a week. After the game, I busted my head.
1st touchdown? Try 1st play; messing up the snap. Or 12mins possession and 105yds Chargers vs 2mins and 5 yds Jets by the last minute of the 1st quarter. Losing with 283 passing yds to 93. The Jets did not play well particularly in the first half; we just really sucked. The Chargers went out there and gave their fans the finger.
We lost because of 10 penalties for 87 yards. There is no excuse for losing only 6 yds less in penalties than the other team got in passing yds.
10 penalties for 87 yds vs a more reasonable 5 for 37 yds sealed our fate. Although a missed snap on the first play of the game and three missed fieldgoals certainly didn't help.
You all have no idea how enraged I am at those ___________.

[Grimward]

We could trade teams....I'm sure you'd find something to like about the Chargers when faced with the grim *cough cough cough* prospect of cheering for the 'Skins....?

Much like games that are "Not Fated to Be", all teams have games where they go Hive-Brain-Dead. Doesn't usually happen in the Play-Offs, of course.....still, it was a good season with a bad ending, Wigs. Hang in there...

[Culhwch]

Kurt Warner retires after 12 seasons in NFL - NFL - SI.com

I was going to say sad news, but I think bittersweet is probably a better term. One of the genuine good guys in the game, a great QB, and someone it was hard to root against.

But man, the Cards are screwed now.

[jojajihisc]

The anarchist in me wants to see an NFC West team go 7-9 or worse and make the playoffs. With Warner retiring, the Seahawks and 49ers where they're at and the Rams being the Rams next season might be the best chance.

[Grimward]

Which means it's probably also a good reason to give that NFC West slot to someone with a better record (say, 10-6) who otherwise wouldn't make it, Joja! Bad enough we have to see some really mediocre college teams in the Spaghetti Soup Bowl, or such; don't need that nonsense spilling over into the pros, too! 8-8 is bad enough!

Hope my counts are right; please double check!

Standings Update

Parson - 7
Ursa - 7
Rothgar - 6
Winter - 6
Pyan - 6
Reiver - 5
Grim - 5
Cul - 4
*Lady - 4
*Joja - 4
Wiglaf - 3
Weasel - 3
*J-Sun - 1

* Late Entry

And for the Super Bowl.....

reiver - Saints
grim - Colts (but it's still early)

[jojajihisc]

I actually don't have any problems with the way a team makes it to the playoffs in the NFL, but I do see your point Grimward.

Pick - Colts

[Cayal]

It's a bit of an invalid point seeing as the Cardinals made (and almost won) the Superbowl last year at 8 - 8 (or 9 - 7 can't remember).