The Official 2015/2016 NFL Thread

[elbacalao]

So the 1 and 2 seeds will face each other in both the NFC and AFC championship games. I wonder how many times that has happened since 2002.

 

[CocoLoco]

Three?

 

[Zerox]

So the 1 and 2 seeds will face each other in both the NFC and AFC championship games. I wonder how many times that has happened since 2002.

I wonder how many times three of the four QB's are over 35 years old.

Manning, 39
Brady, 38
Palmer, 36

There's hope for us geezers yet. arty

 

[Zerox]

Peyton Manning will turn 40 years old in two months. How does he play this brutal sport at such an old age?

Here's a story from Week 2 after the Broncos beat the Chiefs:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...-manning-defies-weakening-body-best-brain-nfl

It takes Manning 15 minutes to shed his suit of armor after a game.

He begins with his cleats, which he can barely untie without assistance. A Broncos equipment staffer helps peel them off his feet while he does a radio interview, because after nearly 25 years of football dating back to high school, it's a relief to not have to bend over that far. Next come his shoulder pads, which, when yanked over his head, generate a groan that is a mixture of suffering and sweet relief. Manning's pale arms and torso are covered in fresh scrapes and old bruises, some the color of strawberries, others a shade of eggplant.

His socks come off after several violent tugs, revealing toes that are twisted and bent into obtuse angles. When he removes a thick blue DonJoy knee brace from his stiff left leg, he twice pauses to grimace and gather himself before stripping it off and handing it to a staffer for safekeeping. As he slices away at the thick layers of athletic tape supporting his ankles, he looks like a surgeon operating on his own leg without anesthesia.

He drapes a towel over his shoulders, but the crooked pink scar on the back of his neck is still visible, evidence of the four neck surgeries he's had to repair a pinched nerve and herniated disks and to fuse his vertebrae. If this is what it feels like on a good night, only two games into his 18th year, try to imagine the bad ones.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Brady looks like he's having an easier time of it, must be the hair transplant.

Speaking of hair transplants, have any of you seen Brian Urlacher's new doo?

He shoulda stayed bald, he looked way more bad-ass.

 

[FXCLM5]

^ wow urlacher looks 50% of his size

i remember that guys shoulders were the size of his head, and i agree he looks like avg neighborhood bro, bald urlacher was 1 mean mfer

 

[CocoLoco]

Couple of observations from the tedious Steelers/Broncos game:
1) If the Broncos have any hope of advancing their receivers need to catch the passes that hit them in the hands.
2) You still need to put at minimum 300lb of man in front of James Harrison to block him...a 260lb TE isn't going to get the job done...neither will a 220lb RB.
3) If a QB falls to the ground for any reason they should be considered giving up. I understand the argument from both directions but if their tush hits the ground the play should be over. Not fair to the D to have it any other way.

 

[mikev]

Another fun fact: Vernon Davis only played one snap.

 

[CocoLoco]

Another fun fact: Vernon Davis only played one snap.

I didn't even think about him the entire game. In fact until you brought it up I hadn't thought about him.

 

[Zerox]

1) If the Broncos have any hope of advancing their receivers need to catch the passes that hit them in the hands.

Got a good friend from Denver and a huge Broncos fan, yesterday he was like "catch the ball assholes, it hit you right in the hands!"

Another fun fact: Vernon Davis only played one snap.

They were saving him for the Patriots, so Vern can bust out a two-TD game?

 

[Bay Arean]

Got a good friend from Denver and a huge Broncos fan, yesterday he was like "catch the ball assholes, it hit you right in the hands!"

It's so true. I thought Peyton was playing better yesterday than the playoff games last season. But man, they just kept droppin' em. I'm surprised they won for this reason.

As for earlier game:

I could swear I heard the collective splash of King Salmon croquettes being dropped into white wine glasses by all the authentic Go 'hawks fans, in horror of course. In fairness, they played admirably the second half.

But what an ass-whuppin in the first. Wow. Did not see that comin. Pete Carroll actually threw away his gum, caught on camera, after about the third touchdown. I enjoyed that.

The unforgettable thing about Cam Newton is that he actually makes the game look fun to be played. We got some worthy finishers this year....

 

[CocoLoco]

It's so true. I thought Peyton was playing better yesterday than the playoff games last season. But man, they just kept droppin' em. I'm surprised they won for this reason.

As for earlier game:

I could swear I heard the collective splash of King Salmon croquettes being dropped into white wine glasses by all the authentic Go 'hawks fans, in horror of course. In fairness, they played admirably the second half.

But what an ass-whuppin in the first. Wow. Did not see that comin. Pete Carroll actually threw away his gum, caught on camera, after about the third touchdown. I enjoyed that.

The unforgettable thing about Cam Newton is that he actually makes the game look fun to be played. We got some worthy finishers this year....

One of Cam's biggest assets is his emotion. It's also one of his biggest detriments.

 

[Zerox]

Also, Mike Tomlin managed the clock beautifully and gave the Steelers a real shot at a comeback. Andy Reid had terrible clock management, which took away any chance for the Chiefs to rally. Two similiar situations with two different strategies.

 

[CocoLoco]

Conf Champ predictions:

Denver - provided their receivers catch the damn ball; their defense is the real deal and the only time Manning has ever been able to beat Brady is when he has a great defense to back him up.

'Zona - this one's a bit more tricky and will depend on which side of Cam plays the majority of the game. I'm thinking he struggles early (fumble and/or pick) and takes himself out of the game mentally leaving the way open for Palmer to get just enough done for the win.

SB:

While Denver's D is the real deal it's an AFC real deal. Their front will not be able to handle 'Zona's O line. The Card's back-end is suspect with the Honeybadger out but the front-end applies just enough pressure on Manning to keep him from completely picking them apart. Tight game. 'Zona wins by less than 7 and Manning announces retirement the following week (being the gentleman he is he doesn't want to take any attention away from the SB winners). Total points will be less than 44.

 

[elbacalao]

Couple of observations from the tedious Steelers/Broncos game:
1) If the Broncos have any hope of advancing their receivers need to catch the passes that hit them in the hands.
2) You still need to put at minimum 300lb of man in front of James Harrison to block him...a 260lb TE isn't going to get the job done...neither will a 220lb RB.
3) If a QB falls to the ground for any reason they should be considered giving up. I understand the argument from both directions but if their tush hits the ground the play should be over. Not fair to the D to have it any other way.

1) True dat

2) harrison can apply pressure. thats all he can do though. Useless as a linebacker in all other facets.

3) completely disagree. Any offensive player should be able to fall to the ground untouched in an attempt to avoid a tackle and still be able to get back up and move the ball forward. No touch, no tackle.

 

[Bay Arean]

He had every right to get up and run. I thought it was heads up play on his part.

 

[CocoLoco]

1) True dat

2) harrison can apply pressure. thats all he can do though. Useless as a linebacker in all other facets.

3) completely disagree. Any offensive player should be able to fall to the ground untouched in an attempt to avoid a tackle and still be able to get back up and move the ball forward. No touch, no tackle.

Harrison owned the TE from the Broncos on the off-tackle/sweep play that ran to the right. TE tried hook block to seal the end and Harrison just put his left forarm out and shoved the dude out of the way. You still have to have at least 300lb of meat in front of Harrison to block him either passing or running.

I understand the argument. With all the rules currently on the books to protect QB it's too hard for a D player to distinguish between giving up or simply falling down. What would have happened had Harrison been coming free and landed on Manning on that play? My guess is he would have been flagged for unnecessary roughness. Any other player on the field and it's fair game but not the QB, therefore, what you cite should be handled differently for them.

 

[Bay Arean]

Harrison owned the TE from the Broncos on the off-tackle/sweep play that ran to the right. TE tried hook block to seal the end and Harrison just put his left forarm out and shoved the dude out of the way. You still have to have at least 300lb of meat in front of Harrison to block him either passing or running.

I understand the argument. With all the rules currently on the books to protect QB it's too hard for a D player to distinguish between giving up or simply falling down. What would have happened had Harrison been coming free and landed on Manning on that play? My guess is he would have been flagged for unnecessary roughness. Any other player on the field and it's fair game but not the QB, therefore, what you cite should be handled differently for them.

All he had to do was touch him. We have seen plenty of times, especially on special teams, when the opposing player just touches their back or whatever.

 

[CocoLoco]

All he had to do was touch him. We have seen plenty of times, especially on special teams, when the opposing player just touches their back or whatever.

But it's different for QB. They get protection at all times until they are no longer considered to be in a passing posture. Again, if a D player had jumped on him thru the natural course of rushing I am almost certain there would have been a flag for hitting a defenseless player or roughing the QB. What is the QB posture when they are sitting on the ground? Are they considered RB or QB at that point. Too many scenarios that either penalize the D or get a QB injured. Best to have a straight forward rules change stating that if the QB goes down in the pocket, regardless of contact, the play is over.

P.S. I believe it was the correct call. Just thinking the rules need to change to make it crystal clear.

 

[Bay Arean]

But it's different for QB. They get protection at all times until they are no longer considered to be in a passing posture. Again, if a D player had jumped on him thru the natural course of rushing I am almost certain there would have been a flag for hitting a defenseless player or roughing the QB. What is the QB posture when they are sitting on the ground? Are they considered RB or QB at that point. Too many scenarios that either penalize the D or get a QB injured. Best to have a straight forward rules change stating that if the QB goes down in the pocket, regardless of contact, the play is over.

P.S. I believe it was the correct call. Just thinking the rules need to change to make it crystal clear.

Yeah, and, bottom line, it was a pretty unusual moment....not sure if it will start being a featured tactic!