2017 NFL Playoffs the road to Super Bowl LI

[Cheese]

Pats D dominated the vaunted Steelers attack...and prove once again they are the best coached team with the best QB.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

People can "haha stupid Cowboys" all they want, but I have little doubt they would have put up a more entertaining fight

Well the Cowboys would have had home field advantage so yes they probably would have put up a better fight.

I'm definitely looking forward to the Super Bowl and will be cheering hard for the Falcons to win their first.

[transplant99]

Will be interesting to see how much this line moves in 2 weeks...if at all and in what direction.

2/5 6:30 ET New England -3 Atlanta 58.5

I would be looking at the under on that number.

[habernac]

Just shy of 400 yards, not bad for an old guy. Terrific performance on both sides of the ball today, can't wait for Super Bowl Sunday!

[CedarMeter]

Man, that was some brutal Football to watch. Not even close.

[Sylvanfan]

Now we will see what the Patriots come up with to slow down Julio Jones.

Funny thing with New England. Find me another team with three white receivers in the NFL. With a healthy Gronk it would be pretty much 4 of their 6 primary pass catchers.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I would expect that Bellichick would rather take the run away from the Steelers, because frankly if Bell chews up the field and the clock it takes the Patriots offense off of the field.

Bell is interesting because he has a unique style of seeking the hole with the whole bouncing around thing, usually his style drives coaches crazy because they preach find the hole follow the block.

BB might be content with running a run blitz all after noon, trying to nullify the gaps and forcing him into the free linebacker who's job is to find work.

The danger of this strategy is it gives you limited pass options, you can either go man to man and hope and pray or say screw it stack the box attack the gaps leave a free flow linebacker and dare Pittsburgh to out throw a Brady offense.

I don't think I was far off except the Pats weren't super aggressive in terms of attacking the gaps, they were pretty passive in terms of watching the gaps but playing the lb'ers in close.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Now we will see what the Patriots come up with to slow down Julio Jones.

Funny thing with New England. Find me another team with three white receivers in the NFL. With a healthy Gronk it would be pretty much 4 of their 6 primary pass catchers.

It's been like that going back to Wes Welker. It just happens that white receivers have been the speedy guys to run their quick timing patterns, slants, screens, etc. You don't see many white receivers that are big vertical threats but the Patriots haven't had a big vertical offense since Randy Moss was playing.

If it wasn't for the two games last Sunday this would be the worst NFL playoffs in recent history. It's good I suppose that the best teams are winning their games but these games haven't been pretty. I feel for NFL defensive coordinators these days. It's just so hard to defend now as it doesn't seem to matter if it's the Falcons making big plays down the field or the Patriots running their short pass offense and having hundreds of yards after the catch. Personally I think the league went a bit too far as we haven't even been seeing many punts in these games as defenses don't seem to have any answers to well schemed offenses but I suppose offense sells.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Cheese

who said the Pats play boring ball? Was that Erik Estrada?

Yep. Short passes for over 200 YAC yards. Exciting stuff. I'm not debating their effectiveness but I'm pretty sure nobody but Patriots fans enjoyed this game.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Cowboys vs Packers game was the only game with any entertainment value in entire playoffs so far. Pretty brutal football all around the league.

[Senator Clay Davis]

And that game was only exciting because of one bad Aaron Rodgers throw. If he throws it down the field to Devante Adams instead of the sideline on that Q3 interception last week, Packers would have been up 3TDs and that probably turns into a laugher too. I feel pretty strongly we're in the post-apex of the NFL as a product. The peak was between 1999 and 2010 or so. Product has been getting worse the last few years, culminating in this season which has been pretty much awful from the beginning. Unless we see a lot of rules clawbacks, plus actually trying to speed up the game, it probably will only get worse.

NFL is lucky we're all hooked with gambling or fantasy, because without those the league would be in real, serious trouble, rather than the making $15 billion instead of $17 billion trouble. I also wouldn't mind seeing maybe a little contraction to 28 or even 24 teams. The NFL is not the NBA, the NBA is actually growing it's talent pool to the point expanding actually makes sense. The NFL talent pool is shrinking because of concussions leading to declining youth play, and because Timothy Mozgov can get $18 million per year, and you don't even know who Timothy Mozgov is. Only the top 1% of NFL players can make that money, whereas 40-50% of the NBA can. Wouldn't shock me to see the NBA pass the NFL in 20-30 years.

[GirlySports]

Sometimes games will be blowouts. I don't like making up rules to make games close. It's unfair to the better team.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

And that game was only exciting because of one bad Aaron Rodgers throw. If he throws it down the field to Devante Adams instead of the sideline on that Q3 interception last week, Packers would have been up 3TDs and that probably turns into a laugher too. I feel pretty strongly we're in the post-apex of the NFL as a product. The peak was between 1999 and 2010 or so. Product has been getting worse the last few years, culminating in this season which has been pretty much awful from the beginning. Unless we see a lot of rules clawbacks, plus actually trying to speed up the game, it probably will only get worse.

NFL is lucky we're all hooked with gambling or fantasy, because without those the league would be in real, serious trouble, rather than the making $15 billion instead of $17 billion trouble. I also wouldn't mind seeing maybe a little contraction to 28 or even 24 teams. The NFL is not the NBA, the NBA is actually growing it's talent pool to the point expanding actually makes sense. The NFL talent pool is shrinking because of concussions leading to declining youth play, and because Timothy Mozgov can get $18 million per year, and you don't even know who Timothy Mozgov is. Only the top 1% of NFL players can make that money, whereas 40-50% of the NBA can. Wouldn't shock me to see the NBA pass the NFL in 20-30 years.

They are on record that the NFL's goal is to reach $25 billion revenue.

Will definitely be interesting to see how it plays out over the next couple years.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Sometimes games will be blowouts. I don't like making up rules to make games close. It's unfair to the better team.

You're choosing to ignore the last 15 years of rule changes designed to increase offense (and by extension, interest in fantasy). NFL is a business first and foremost, not a sport. They made their choice, and in the long run it's made for a worse product. Game is too slow and too boring now.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

And that game was only exciting because of one bad Aaron Rodgers throw. If he throws it down the field to Devante Adams instead of the sideline on that Q3 interception last week, Packers would have been up 3TDs and that probably turns into a laugher too. I feel pretty strongly we're in the post-apex of the NFL as a product. The peak was between 1999 and 2010 or so. Product has been getting worse the last few years, culminating in this season which has been pretty much awful from the beginning. Unless we see a lot of rules clawbacks, plus actually trying to speed up the game, it probably will only get worse.

NFL is lucky we're all hooked with gambling or fantasy, because without those the league would be in real, serious trouble, rather than the making $15 billion instead of $17 billion trouble. I also wouldn't mind seeing maybe a little contraction to 28 or even 24 teams. The NFL is not the NBA, the NBA is actually growing it's talent pool to the point expanding actually makes sense. The NFL talent pool is shrinking because of concussions leading to declining youth play, and because Timothy Mozgov can get $18 million per year, and you don't even know who Timothy Mozgov is. Only the top 1% of NFL players can make that money, whereas 40-50% of the NBA can. Wouldn't shock me to see the NBA pass the NFL in 20-30 years.

What the heck are you talking about? How is the talent pool in the NBA growing? There is 3 teams that have a shot at the title, rest are all pretenders. Most teams don't have a legit star let alone a superstar. If you were to say the number of average players is increasing then yeah but talented players are down across he board in all sports.

Its a downward slide for all leagues in coming years.

The NFL used to have parity, it doesn't right now cuz there's only a handful of QBs who can win games.

Offences are way to conservative and boring. Where the heck the west cost offense? Air it out, Steelers/Falcons/Packers are fun to watch cuz they throw.

The shortest lifespan of any football position is the RB, they get beat the crap out of and in the history there's only a few guys who were fun to watch they ran the ball. Most guys are bruisers who run into the pile.

Here's an idea, GET RID OF RUNNING THE FOOTBALL. Less collisions, more fun for the fans, more scoring, will develop QBs faster. RB's are athletic enough that they can become receivers. So you're not eliminating a job.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

You're choosing to ignore the last 15 years of rule changes designed to increase offense (and by extension, interest in fantasy). NFL is a business first and foremost, not a sport. They made their choice, and in the long run it's made for a worse product. Game is too slow and too boring now.

i don't know.. i mean the Packers missed a FG and fumbled on the 1. That's 10 points there there. Offense is increased equally. In fact there is now more offensive PI so it's not impossible to defend. 10 years ago you could watch football for an entire year and not see offensive PI.

Please don't have NHL officiating where refs try to even up calls.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I mean I don't wanna go into a long diatribe to prove the NBA is growing it's talent pool, but using the lack of competitive balance, when we're talking about a Patriots team in it's 7th Super Bowl since 2001, is pretty laughable. The NBA talent pool is growing because of Europe, nevermind once we start seeing the impact of the growth of the game in Asia. The NBA has the entire world to draw talent from, the NFL obviously has a whopping two countries with decent talent pools.

And again, why kill yourself physically and set yourself up for brain damage to make $5 million a year in the NFL, when you can be cut anytime and not get your contract....when you can be an NBA benchwarmer for $10 million+ a year, fully guaranteed? That is also going to cut into the NFL's future talent pool, to the benefit of the NBA. If you could choose which sport to invest in, when considering long term growth potential, you'd be a bit of a fool to choose the NFL.

And eliminating the running game would make the average NFL game 4 hours at a minimum, so that's a non-starter. Anything that makes the game longer is a non-starter.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean I don't wanna go into a long diatribe to prove the NBA is growing it's talent pool, but using the lack of competitive balance, when we're talking about a Patriots team in it's 7th Super Bowl since 2001, is pretty laughable. The NBA talent pool is growing because of Europe, nevermind once we start seeing the impact of the growth of the game in Asia. The NBA has the entire world to draw talent from, the NFL obviously has a whopping two countries with decent talent pools.

And again, why kill yourself physically and set yourself up for brain damage to make $5 million a year in the NFL, when you can be cut anytime and not get your contract....when you can be an NBA benchwarmer for $10 million+ a year, fully guaranteed? That is also going to cut into the NFL's future talent pool, to the benefit of the NBA. If you could choose which sport to invest in, when considering long term growth potential, you'd be a bit of a fool to choose the NFL.

And eliminating the running game would make the average NFL game 4 hours at a minimum, so that's a non-starter. Anything that makes the game longer is a non-starter.

The NBA is going to have the same 2 teams in the Finals for the 3rd year in a row.

Kind of ruins your point.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

i don't know.. i mean the Packers missed a FG and fumbled on the 1. That's 10 points there there. Offense is increased equally. In fact there is now more offensive PI so it's not impossible to defend. 10 years ago you could watch football for an entire year and not see offensive PI.

Please don't have NHL officiating where refs try to even up calls.

Every sport does make up calls, so that's not an NHL specific thing. But you could just do a couple things to help make the game better. Eliminate illegal contact, eliminate spot fouls for PI and make it a 15 yard penalty, eliminate automatic first downs for defensive holding (a 5 yard penalty on 3rd and 20 should not be an automatic first down).

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yep. Short passes for over 200 YAC yards. Exciting stuff. I'm not debating their effectiveness but I'm pretty sure nobody but Patriots fans enjoyed this game.

Brady and the pats have this type of pass game locked down for the past few seasons. Quick speedy guys running slants, crossing patterns under 5-10 yards, and brady hits them while their moving and in 3s or less from the snap. It's almost impossible to defend.

I have quit watching the pats (sour grapes phin fan here), but i'd be curious to see the number of throws by brady over 30 yards (NOT yac) thrown in the past few seasons vs the years prior (ie. when he had weapons like moss, etc, on the outside).