Your Unpopular Football Opinions

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

I thought the Packers would roll the Broncos going into SB 32. The Steelers had many dropped passes against Denver and I was confident that the Packers receivers would make those catches. But the Broncos had an exceptional defensive game plan, coupled with the fact that Holgrem was, IMHO, way too conservative at times. It is remarkable that the Packers had such a wide avg margin of victory because Holmgren started milking the clock halfway through the third quarter on a regular basis. It surprised me that he didn't exploit Denver's secondary down the middle more in SB 32, but Denver did an amazing job of putting pressure on Favre particularly with Atwater. Plus, they found a way to neutralize Gilbert Brown which previously very few teams had done. Leading in the the game there was tremendous hype about the Packers, and Denver did a super job of letting the Packers believe their own press. I remember Elway giving a television interview and saying something to the effect of that the Packers were a great team, probably impossible to beat, and we just have to see what happens. I thought, "does even Elway think they have a chance?" That, I believe in chatting with players afterward, that was one small aspect in a Broncos game plan that was nearly flawless - and carried out to a t.

Wow, uh, I don't think this opinion is shared by a lot of people.

For one, if the Steelers had several dropped passes against Denver, point them out to me because I don't remember. Also, in the regular season, the Broncos dropped several passes. If they hadn't, that game wouldn't have been in the confluence (shouldn't have been, anyway because that Steeler team should also have lost @NE, to Wash, and @Arz).

Also, those SB Packer teams (while not the worst SB winners ever) weren't as great as people think. Favre was good, but overrated. Levens and Bennett were meh as RB's, and they didn't have as good of an o-line as Denver's. Plus, while they had a good D-line, their LB's and CB's were trash (they should have drafted Bobby Taylor in 95 instead of Craig Newsome).

Was a long time ago. Maybe I'm not recalling everything correctly, but I do remember that was my thinking at the time. But there were some drops at crucial times. I specifically remembered this play to this day. Now, maybe that was an anomaly that day. Plus, IIRC, Steelers had a couple of missed opportunities. Int in the end zone, I think....

https://youtu.be/I87OZ3NktfI?si=3Xtly176dbQBZfPh&t=5778

[Brian wolf]

I get the opinions, but a team going to two consecutive SBs isn't overrated. Did the Packers take Denver for granted? I think so, but Denver still whipped them on both lines. Favre's turnovers were the difference.

[JuggernautJ]

The thing that Packers team did perhaps better than any team I've seen in my 40+ of watching the NFL was the ability to score touchdowns on their last possession of the first half and their first possession of the second half. Somebody mentioned a 21-point margin of victory, and that's where those came from. They may have had a 3 point lead halfway through the second quarter but early in the third it would be 17. It was incredible to watch it happen what seemed to be week in and week out.

Well described, GBTM.

I often refer to this among friends as the Bill Parcells Drive(s).
As I recall, Parcells was among the first to consistently choose to receive the second half kickoff to enable just such a strategy.
With his teams' (in)famous ability to play defense and ground down the clock he would (usually) ensure he had the last possession of the first half by methodically running the ball, eating up time and then score at the end of the period.
Then he'd come out in the second half and repeat the process... often taking up half of the third quarter to achieve back to back scores.

I don't know that he made halftime adjustments that enabled consistent scoring at the beginning of the second half or if it was just dogged determination.
But as a 49er fan I came to hate and dread those Parcells Giants and that particular strategy.

That idea that it was effective seems to be reflected in the fact that many (most?) coaches now seem to choose to get the second half kickoff and play to score last in the first half. Sometimes it drives me to distraction to see Kyle Shanahan forgo aggressive play calling just to ensure he has the ball and a chance to score (even if it is just a field goal) at the end of the first half.

[Citizen]

Also, those SB Packer teams (while not the worst SB winners ever) weren't as great as people think. Favre was good, but overrated. Levens and Bennett were meh as RB's, and they didn't have as good of an o-line as Denver's. Plus, while they had a good D-line, their LB's and CB's were trash (they should have drafted Bobby Taylor in 95 instead of Craig Newsome).

The overrated Favre led the league in TD passes three straight years. The meh Levens rushed for 1,435 yards in '97 and was one of the league's best pass-catching backs. Their trash secondary gave up the fewest passing yards in the NFL in '96 and had the second-most interceptions.

Yes, it's a miracle how such a collection of bums ever went to three straight conference championship games and won two of them.

[7DnBrnc53]

The overrated Favre led the league in TD passes three straight years. The meh Levens rushed for 1,435 yards in '97 and was one of the league's best pass-catching backs. Their trash secondary gave up the fewest passing yards in the NFL in '96 and had the second-most interceptions.

Yes, it's a miracle how such a collection of bums ever went to three straight conference championship games and won two of them.

Levens only ran for 1,000 yards one more time (1999). That year, he a 3.7 YPC average and a 73.9 YPG average (he ran for 1,034 yards in 279 carries). 1997 was his only Pro Bowl appearance.

Also, while Favre was a good QB, their corners (not the whole secondary) weren't that great. Also, by SB 32, Reggie White wasn't quite in his prime anymore, and neither was Santana Dotson.

[Brian wolf]

Haha ... Bryan will feel better once the Top 10 Giants list is released.

Getting back to the Flag Football In Olympics thread, here is an unpopular opinion ... The NFL will do away with tackle football by 2037 ...

[74_75_78_79_]

Yes, a strong division the Rams were in that '51 campaign. Perhaps a good point. But Browns still beat them in LA by 15 during the regular season. And if you are a juggernaut, no matter how tough the division, you should end up better than...8-4? Lions & Forty Niners split with Rams. But LA only played Bears once for some reason. Yes, late in season and at Chicago. Rams walloped them so I'll give them that.

I'm not 'debating' anything with this, but I found it interesting (and surprising). The Rams were favored by 7 over Cleveland in the 51 title game.

Rams favored by 7 in the '51 LCG? Never knew!

Nobody in here, including yourself, have ever downgraded the '51 Rams as I, sort-of, have. I say "sort-of" in that, no, not disrespecting them, but always pointing out their 8-4 mark and not-so-great defense; or, at least, when comparing it with their offense. A half-century precursor to the '99 Rams.

Now Vegas seeming to have "known best" after all by installing them a 7-point favorite, the exact margin of victory. Yes, the "tougher division" thing growing on me some more, I guess.

Maybe I was wrong in that "best Rams team ever" thread that I started by placing '45 at #1 "for their time". Maybe, maybe not. We'll see as time goes by. More respect for '51 to come at the very least.

I should get me that '51 Rams book!

[Brian wolf]

Actually, the 99' Rams defense was very good in Vermeil's last season there. It was terrible in Martz' first season in 2000, but that's also because the offense was either scoring too quickly, or turning the ball over, as the defense tried to protect leads.

[7DnBrnc53]

Getting back to the Flag Football In Olympics thread, here is an unpopular opinion ... The NFL will do away with tackle football by 2037 ...

They just might.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

The overrated Favre led the league in TD passes three straight years. The meh Levens rushed for 1,435 yards in '97 and was one of the league's best pass-catching backs. Their trash secondary gave up the fewest passing yards in the NFL in '96 and had the second-most interceptions.

Yes, it's a miracle how such a collection of bums ever went to three straight conference championship games and won two of them.

Levens only ran for 1,000 yards one more time (1999). That year, he a 3.7 YPC average and a 73.9 YPG average (he ran for 1,034 yards in 279 carries). 1997 was his only Pro Bowl appearance.

Also, while Favre was a good QB, their corners (not the whole secondary) weren't that great. Also, by SB 32, Reggie White wasn't quite in his prime anymore, and neither was Santana Dotson.

Dorsey Levens suffered a broken leg in 1998. Had an impressive comeback to get that 1,000 yards.