2023 NFL Playoffs Thread

[Sylvanfan]

Fans of losing teams always think the refs screwed them. The Chiefs probably benefitted from calls going their way a bit. But you can also make a case that the Eagles were on the benefit side of calls in their game that let them set up a blow out. Although the Eagles were winning that game even if that first call wss made correctly and the refs don't throw flags.

Bengals talked crap like they were the Patriot dynasties coming into this game. I'm not too sad to see them lose, if they want to decry the officiating and NFL as oppressing them, they'll continue to be one of the few teams with 0 Superbowl wins. Reminded me of the Chiefs approach to Superbowl 55 save the coaches son being a criminal.

Likely doesn't matter much as the Eagles should win this by double digits pretty easily no matter who they play. The refs would need to help the Chiefs a lot to keep them in this game.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't know why the 49'er put in a their next QB after Purdy goes down and start calling play action passes when the Eagles just really didn't give two craps about the run and were pinning their ears back.

Of course they're going to bull rush the backup QB.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Fans of losing teams always think the refs screwed them. The Chiefs probably benefitted from calls going their way a bit. But you can also make a case that the Eagles were on the benefit side of calls in their game that let them set up a blow out. Although the Eagles were winning that game even if that first call wss made correctly and the refs don't throw flags.

Bengals talked crap like they were the Patriot dynasties coming into this game. I'm not too sad to see them lose, if they want to decry the officiating and NFL as oppressing them, they'll continue to be one of the few teams with 0 Superbowl wins. Reminded me of the Chiefs approach to Superbowl 55 save the coaches son being a criminal.

Likely doesn't matter much as the Eagles should win this by double digits pretty easily no matter who they play. The refs would need to help the Chiefs a lot to keep them in this game.

Two things can be true at the same time. The officiating was absolutely terrible and the Bengals were undisciplined.

[EldrickOnIce]

Not sure there are two teams I dislike more than the Bengals and the Chiefs - so fly eagles, fly
And yeah, the Bengals got the wrong end of officiating

[EldrickOnIce]

SI opinion piece suggesting the NFL should amend rules for unnecessary roughness to the same distinction as is for kickers. A five yard roughing penalty (like he says would have been the call on the Mahomes late hit) and unnecessary roughness where appropriate.

Something bothered me about the late-hit penalty on Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai in the AFC Championship Game. It wasn’t the ruling, which was correct, or the rule, which makes sense. It wasn’t that officials called the penalty at such a critical juncture of the game; the definition of a penalty shouldn’t change with two minutes left just because fans and media might be annoyed by its impact on the game.

No, what bothered me was the punishment.

Fifteen yards for that?

This, I think, is one of the fundamental problems with NFL officiating these days. Too frequently, the punishment does not fit the crime. Imagine a five-yard penalty in that situation. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes ran out of bounds at the Bengals’ 42, which would have meant a 60-yard field goal attempt if they tried it. After a five-yard penalty on Ossai, the Chiefs would have moved up to the 37, which would have meant a 55-yard field goal. That’s a significant difference, but not nearly as significant as Kansas City getting to try a 45-yarder, which is what happened.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/01/30/nf...penalty-change

[Senator Clay Davis]

Adding more judgement calls will only make it worse. Sucks they lost because of a dumb decision, but Mahomes had two feet on the white, this wasn't even remotely close. Adding review to penalties might be better, but this one wouldn't have changed.

[Erick Estrada]

I kind of feel pass interference should be a 15 yard penalty and not a spot foul for the simple fact that a 40 yard penalty based on a judgement call can lay a heavy hand on the outcome of a game.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I kind of feel pass interference should be a 15 yard penalty and not a spot foul for the simple fact that a 40 yard penalty based on a judgement call can lay a heavy hand on the outcome of a game.

That might lead to the 2001-2007 era Patriots who mugged every receiver they could.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Adding more judgement calls will only make it worse. Sucks they lost because of a dumb decision, but Mahomes had two feet on the white, this wasn't even remotely close. Adding review to penalties might be better, but this one wouldn't have changed.

So dumb...like the guy is purposely running out of bounds to stop the clock and go for a 55 yard FG. Even if you think he is a foot or two in bounds why push him there?

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I kind of feel pass interference should be a 15 yard penalty and not a spot foul for the simple fact that a 40 yard penalty based on a judgement call can lay a heavy hand on the outcome of a game.

I suspect you’d then see a precipitous drop in receiving yards as any pass deeper than 15 yards would be coached to tangle the guy up and take the 15. Getting beat deep? Kill him and take the yards.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I suspect you’d then see a precipitous drop in receiving yards as any pass deeper than 15 yards would be coached to tangle the guy up and take the 15. Getting beat deep? Kill him and take the yards.

Does this happen in college? Or do you think the pros would be more cynical? Maybe there could be an 'open path' foul that's more severe for obvious obstruction.

[Galakanokis]

Officiating wasn't great in either game by any means but it tends to skew to the sloppier of the teams and that was 100% The bengals. That makeshift O-Line was not able to hold up like they did in Buffalo so they were a hurried offense all game.

As bad as that late hit was it was not why the Bengals lost the game. Burrow was not sharp and that intentional grounding call was bad move by him. I thought he got away with one earlier and this time they called it. You can't leave a game like that in the refs hands.

I think the Eagles win the battle of the lines on both sides of the ball and that makes them pretty tough to beat. I don't Mahomes has faced a front 4 as good and as deep as the Eagles. Mahomes will really have to work some magic in the SuperBowl. I really hope the Chiefs can get healthy as well. Snead spent the night in the hospital and will be in concussion protocol when he is released. He is their best cover corner.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Does this happen in college? Or do you think the pros would be more cynical? Maybe there could be an 'open path' foul that's more severe for obvious obstruction.

College defense is so bad guys are usually so far open that you couldn't even tackle someone if you wanted. If nothing else I'd like to see illegal contact eliminated, holding only, and no automatic firsts for holding. That fact you can be facing third and 20 and get a five yard first down is ridiculous. Offense already has way too many advantages, they should lose that one.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Adding more judgement calls will only make it worse. Sucks they lost because of a dumb decision, but Mahomes had two feet on the white, this wasn't even remotely close. Adding review to penalties might be better, but this one wouldn't have changed.

Not sure how judgment calls could make it worse? Worse case is now, where anything from a light shove to almost taking a guys head off are penalized the same. Both NHL and NBA have similar judgement calls - which maybe doesn't help the argument though...

[Manhattanboy]

On the late Bengals punt people are pointing out two blocks from behind that went uncalled as well.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

College defense is so bad guys are usually so far open that you couldn't even tackle someone if you wanted. If nothing else I'd like to see illegal contact eliminated, holding only, and no automatic firsts for holding. That fact you can be facing third and 20 and get a five yard first down is ridiculous. Offense already has way too many advantages, they should lose that one.

That would be my lean too. Too many 5 yard defensive penalties are an Automatic first down. Call holding give the 5 yards and replay the down. Might see more of it on 3rd and 12 type of thing but I'd be okay with that.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Not sure how judgment calls could make it worse? Worse case is now, where anything from a light shove to almost taking a guys head off are penalized the same. Both NHL and NBA have similar judgement calls - which maybe doesn't help the argument though...

Well as you point out, they use judgment for roughing the kicker. Difference is, nobody gives a crap about kickers.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Not sure how judgment calls could make it worse? Worse case is now, where anything from a light shove to almost taking a guys head off are penalized the same. Both NHL and NBA have similar judgement calls - which maybe doesn't help the argument though...

It doesn't help the argument lol. But really why should that have been a 5 yard penalty, if such a thing existed? If the incident in question took place with 47 minutes left in the game, 15 yards on top of a play that already got a first down wouldn't cause any discussion about "let's change the rule". It just so happened at a moment it essentially ended one team's chances of winning. The standard is pretty clear at this point what gets unnecessary roughness, and that one was about as blatant as it gets. But if he has one or both feet in bounds when pushed? Having review there would be nice to overturn such a crucial call. But adding more layers of potential calls isn't going to end controversy.

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Well as you point out, they use judgment for roughing the kicker. Difference is, nobody gives a crap about kickers.

But it's actually closer to defined than judgement. Take out the plant leg, or wipe out the kicker without getting the ball, 15 yards. Everything else is 5 yards.

[SuperMatt18]

I'm sure its been mentioned but Kansas City are the first team ever to host 5 straight AFC Championship games...and just happens to be Mahomes first 5 years as a starter, and they made the Super Bowl in 3 of them.

I've said it before in this thread but the guy is actually underrated I think.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'm sure its been mentioned but Kansas City are the first team ever to host 5 straight AFC Championship games...and just happens to be Mahomes first 5 years as a starter, and they made the Super Bowl in 3 of them.

I've said it before in this thread but the guy is actually underrated I think.

Only if they win the Super Bowl. Otherwise he’s the guy who can’t get it done when it counts. Dynasty of one.