2015 NFL Playoff Pool

[Runscott]

[IMG][/IMG]

[quinnsryche]

Alice in Chains singer is excellent. Sounds like Layne Staley on the old stuff and pretty good himself on the newer stuff (and he's not a heroin addict).
Green Bay fans should be embarrassed by their team's play. Game should have been over in the first quarter. I can't stand the Seahawks but give them credit, they have more heart than that suckfest called the Packers.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

Green Bay fans should be embarrassed by their team's play.

I disagree. The Packers dominated the game for over three and a half quarters. The defense didn't give up any points until about 3 minutes left in the game. After that, everything went Seattle's way - the onside kick (that should have been recovered by GB), the 2 point conversion (I'm still shaking my head on that one) and then the coin toss - Seattle got all the lucky breaks within the last three minutes.

If the GB fans are to be embarrassed, it should be because of the coaching, not the players. GB had the ball 4th and Goal on the Seattle one yard line TWICE in the first quarter and they should have gone for it - especially on the road against Seattle. Instead, they elected for field goals. When GB got the 4th interception, they had great field position (GB 43 yard line). At that point, instead of playing to win, they were playing not to lose. Poor play calling - run, run, run, punt. They should have shoved the ball down Seattle's throat instead of playing it so conservatively.

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

I disagree. The Packers dominated the game for over three and a half quarters. The defense didn't give up any points until about 3 minutes left in the game. After that, everything went Seattle's way - the onside kick (that should have been recovered by GB), the 2 point conversion (I'm still shaking my head on that one) and then the coin toss - Seattle got all the lucky breaks within the last three minutes.

If the GB fans are to be embarrassed, it should be because of the coaching, not the players. GB had the ball 4th and Goal on the Seattle one yard line TWICE in the first quarter and they should have gone for it - especially on the road against Seattle. Instead, they elected for field goals. When GB got the 4th interception, they had great field position (GB 43 yard line). At that point, instead of playing to win, they were playing not to lose. Poor play calling - run, run, run, punt. They should have shoved the ball down Seattle's throat instead of playing it so conservatively.

I hear what you're saying, David...but that was a big time embarrassing loss by the Packers. I'm not saying fans should hide or anything, but that is an epic loss...blame the coaches, players, whoever you want, but that's unacceptable. Completely shut down the Seahawks for almost the whole game and all of a sudden they meltdown and give up an onside kick, a miracle two point conversion (which ultimately cost them the game) and eventually the td drive in overtime. Kudos to the Packers for being nine point underdogs and coming out and looking like the better team, but no excuse for losing after that start.

As far as the early decisions...kicking the fgs. I think they were the right calls. If you get a chance to put up points, you do so. You are facing the best goal line team in the NFL. If they run it again, they aren't getting in against that defense. So most likely they would have had to throw it...just low percentage imo. The Packers didn't lose because of those decisions, it was the meltdown in the last three minutes of the game that did them in. When the announcers started talking that it was four down territory on that first drive, I was in disbelief...this was the first drive of the game...get points when you can. Anyway...great game and the Super Bowl should be just as good!

[freakhappy]

Chris....that last pic is awesome! Thanks again Chris and Scott for sharing your experience with us

[BicycleSpokes]

David - I totally agree with you.

I am not a fan of either team, but for karma's sake, I was very happy to see Green Bay get bit in the arse after settling for FGs twice at the 1 yard line. That was pathetic, gutless, not to mention uninformed coaching, in my opinion. It has been convincingly shown that, on average, the decision to kick chip shot field goals costs teams significant points. Especially on the road in Seattle, you have got to go for the juggler when you have the chance! Kicking FGs from the 1 (especially early in the game!) is like staying on 12 in black jack with the dealer showing a strong hand. Sure, you will save yourself from busting once in a while, but it is mathematically the wrong move EVERY time!

Coaches are generally FAR too conservative regarding the decision to go for it on 4th down, from a mathematical/statistical perspective, both near the goal line and also around mid-field where the field position benefits of punting are limited. Emotion and/or fear too often gets in the way of making decisions that will give their team the best chance of winning. (I am a fan of Brian Burke, who has developed a very interesting "expected points" model, which is one way of showing this. Grantland's Bill Barnwell is also consistently a great read.) I expect the next 10 years will show a large shift towards more aggressive 4th down decisions as the benefits become more widely known and accepted. Presently, it seems like Belichick is one of the few coaches who consistently goes with the math in these decisions.

When I own an NFL team (which will be never), I hereby vow to immediately fire my coach from my owners's box if he ever dares to kick a FG from the 1 yard line in the 1st quarter!!!

[barrysloate]

New England
41 points

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by BicycleSpokes

Especially on the road in Seattle, you have got to go for the juggler when you have the chance!

Agreed - if there are no mimes around, go for the juggler...but kicking the field goals was smart.

[johnmh71]

New England 28-24