2018 NFL Playoffs

[JWL]

My preseason prediction of a Saints-Patriots Super Bowl just wasn't good enough. A terrible non-call made sure it did not happen.

My favorite team has still never appeared in a Super Bowl in my lifetime, but that team's division rivals have combined for 16 of the 35 AFC spots since I have been watching the Super Bowl.

What fun.

[Reaser]

My preseason prediction of a Saints-Patriots Super Bowl just wasn't good enough. A terrible non-call made sure it did not happen.

My favorite team has still never appeared in a Super Bowl in my lifetime, but that team's division rivals have combined for 16 of the 35 AFC spots since I have been watching the Super Bowl.

What fun.

To add to the "fun" ... something I thought of when thinking about the Patriots making three straight Super Bowl appearances, the Dolphins and Bills (4x) are the only other teams to do that. All AFC East. At least the 71-73 Dolphins weren't in your lifetime. That's a positive. Also, history is telling us the next time a team makes 3 or more consecutive Super Bowl appearances it'll be the Jets turn.

[JohnH19]

Two great games. I loved the NFL today...for the first time all season.
I don't much like the Saints for various reasons - none of which are Drew Brees related - but they got screwed by that non-call. Even so, I threw up in my mouth a little when Sean Payton said that they need to increase replay reviews.
The Patriots are simply incredible. Their ruthless precision no matter who is plugged into the lineup reminds me of the Lombardi Packers. Rex Burkhead was Chuck Mercein today. It's kind of cool that they will again play the team that they upset in SB 36 to start this dynastic snowball rolling downhill.

[JWL]

The Patriots are simply incredible. Their ruthless precision no matter who is plugged into the lineup reminds me of the Lombardi Packers. Rex Burkhead was Chuck Mercein today. It's kind of cool that they will again play the team that they upset in SB 36 to start this dynastic snowball rolling downhill.

A side item that is incredible is that in a so-called copycat league, we do not see many or any teams copying the Patriots in terms of professionalism. There have not been many over-the-top end zone celebrations from this team. Logan Ryan grabbed his junk one time while crossing the goal line but I can't think of anything else.

We probably cannot get on the Eagles too much since they won a Super Bowl but the Vikings are a team that has left themselves open for slamming since they are one of the teams that has a handful of players who practice dance routines. Maybe they are doing this post-practice and it doesn't really mean anything. The Patriots seem to have natural celebrations in the end zone whereas the teams that try to put on a show are not as successful. It seems like the Patriots decided spending time on this type of thing is a waste of time. The lack of dancing is clearly not the #1 key as to their success, of course, but maybe this is a small sliver of the extra edge this team has over the other 31 teams.

[sheajets]

Patriots will win this game. The script has already been written. They will get their calls, they will get their miracles (how am I able to predict NE Patriot miracles but not lottery number miracles?) and they won't make any big mistakes.

But there is a part of me that things McVay can go toe to toe with Belichick and out-duel him. LA going into the Super Dome and not letting that game get away from them early in that cacophony of noise was very impressive. The Chiefs are a 1 dimensional team. The Rams are a complete team with a head coach who would never do something as stupid as win the coin toss and defer to NE at the start of the game. When that happened you knew Andy was not in the right frame of mind that game.

Wade Phillips, Aaron Donald, Suh. Gurley. The Chiefs didn't have a back like Gurley for NE to have to pay attention too. I feel weirdly optimistic about the Rams but am still expecting the worst

[Rupert Patrick]

Patriots will win this game. The script has already been written. They will get their calls, they will get their miracles (how am I able to predict NE Patriot miracles but not lottery number miracles?) and they won't make any big mistakes.

But there is a part of me that things McVay can go toe to toe with Belichick and out-duel him. LA going into the Super Dome and not letting that game get away from them early in that cacophony of noise was very impressive. The Chiefs are a 1 dimensional team. The Rams are a complete team with a head coach who would never do something as stupid as win the coin toss and defer to NE at the start of the game. When that happened you knew Andy was not in the right frame of mind that game.

With this being the 50th anniversary of Joe Willie's Super Bowl, I've been thinking McVay might have a better chance of winning this game by taking a page from Namath's Super Bowl III playbook, via ball control, by not going for the big passes, but letting his running game loose on the Pats and blitzing on every down to force Brady out of his comfort zone. With Anderson and Gurley, the Rams could literally chew up the clock on the ground, and perhaps Goff should focus on screens and passes to the tight end instead of the deeper routes. Keeping Brady on the sidelines would disrupt his timing and keep him cold, and I think the line play will decide this game, not the quarterbacks. Belichick isn't expecting McVay to come out and play Bill Parcells football, but I think he has the tools to do it, and I think he could catch the Master off guard with it.

[BD Sullivan]

With this being the 50th anniversary of Joe Willie's Super Bowl, I've been thinking McVay might have a better chance of winning this game by taking a page from Namath's Super Bowl III playbook, via ball control, by not going for the big passes, but letting his running game loose on the Pats and blitzing on every down to force Brady out of his comfort zone. With Anderson and Gurley, the Rams could literally chew up the clock on the ground, and perhaps Goff should focus on screens and passes to the tight end instead of the deeper routes. Keeping Brady on the sidelines would disrupt his timing and keep him cold, and I think the line play will decide this game, not the quarterbacks. Belichick isn't expecting McVay to come out and play Bill Parcells football, but I think he has the tools to do it, and I think he could catch the Master off guard with it.

Does that mean that Brady will miss a frantically-waving Edelman in the end zone?

[sheajets]

With this being the 50th anniversary of Joe Willie's Super Bowl, I've been thinking McVay might have a better chance of winning this game by taking a page from Namath's Super Bowl III playbook, via ball control, by not going for the big passes, but letting his running game loose on the Pats and blitzing on every down to force Brady out of his comfort zone. With Anderson and Gurley, the Rams could literally chew up the clock on the ground, and perhaps Goff should focus on screens and passes to the tight end instead of the deeper routes. Keeping Brady on the sidelines would disrupt his timing and keep him cold, and I think the line play will decide this game, not the quarterbacks. Belichick isn't expecting McVay to come out and play Bill Parcells football, but I think he has the tools to do it, and I think he could catch the Master off guard with it.

Does that mean that Brady will miss a frantically-waving Edelman in the end zone?

He blended into the band supposedly

That play gets a bit overrated anyway. Morrall still has to make the throw. Orr still has to catch the ball and score. Just because a guy is wide open doesn't automatically mean TD. Two more steps have to occur

[JuggernautJ]

....the Rams could literally chew up the clock....

Now that I'd (literally) pay money to see...

[sheajets]

There will definitely be some chicanery in this game. Trick plays that teams have been saving for some time and will unveil at the Super Bowl. I just wonder who will hit first regarding the haymaker "Philly Special" type moment. Bill Walsh always said...be the first guy to land that punch. If you connect it sends the other team reeling