Interestingly, Tomlin said he's sticking with Rudolph though Pickett has been cleared to play. Rudolph is playing exceptionally well & is 2-0 since taking over for Trubisky who was filling in for the injured Pickett. If Rudolph continues to play well & the Steelers make the playoffs - and win a playoff game - could be a QB controversy next year.
Eagles fans booing their team at home as well. Another team who seem to have lost their way albeit at the other end of the standings..............if they manage to win a playoff game I'd be surprised. Their defense is a mess, their pass rush has disappeared, their run defense is porous and their offense looks stagnant. Not a good formula for the post season.
Good win for TX. Strange game though.
I don't like the play call of bringing a non pass catcher cold off of the bench and throwing it to him on an important play like that. Yes, the throw could have been better, and yes it fooled TX a bit...but it didn't work.
The morning game was also strange. The weather was a part of that, but...
Alpe, I'm holding off on my rant about open facilities.
I don't like the play call of bringing a non pass catcher cold off of the bench and throwing it to him on an important play like that. Yes, the throw could have been better, and yes it fooled TX a bit...but it didn't work.
The morning game was also strange. The weather was a part of that, but...
Alpe, I'm holding off on my rant about open facilities.
- Mar 11, 2009
- 10,526
- 3,647
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Wentz vs. Darnold...
Rudolph wasn't pushing the ball downfield in the messy weather, but was a very effective 18-20. He's doing an outstanding job getting the ball out of his hands, and with accuracy.
One other comment on this game, while I've thought in the past Louis Riddick can go on too long, and sometimes talk about himself his past ("in my day..." a la Collinsworth), he did a very good job as the color commentary in this game. He pointed out a lot of things going on with both teams players, the plays they could call, and how the weather was affecting them. Dan Orlovsky wasn't even on the original list of commentators, and he too can have too much of an opinion at times, but he too did a very good job staying focused and clarifying plays. I'd like to hear more from this "alternate" crew in the future.
While not drafted in the same year, I imagine when they were coming into the league fans would have been salivating to see such a "marquee" match-up. LOL!
I wondered the same thing. Why on earth did they not just leave Taylor in there? He is good at receiving. Also, they had been somewhat effectively running him the entire drive. Leaving him in on a 4th and short would have given the Texans somewhat of a impression the Colts might run, making the chances of the play's success even more likely. Granted, it wasn't the best pass, but most players catch such a throw. Painful loss for the Colts. But great to see Houston and CJ in the playoffs, in his rookie year. Runaway ROY!
LOL. Yes, beauty of a game. Reminds me of the good ol' days. Well, sort of. Maybe. Kind of. Good win for the steel curtain. A lot of fight in the Raven's 2nd, 3rd stringers. Huntley looked tentative at times, certainly compared to last season, but it was the Steelers who had to win and did.
Rudolph wasn't pushing the ball downfield in the messy weather, but was a very effective 18-20. He's doing an outstanding job getting the ball out of his hands, and with accuracy.
One other comment on this game, while I've thought in the past Louis Riddick can go on too long, and sometimes talk about himself his past ("in my day..." a la Collinsworth), he did a very good job as the color commentary in this game. He pointed out a lot of things going on with both teams players, the plays they could call, and how the weather was affecting them. Dan Orlovsky wasn't even on the original list of commentators, and he too can have too much of an opinion at times, but he too did a very good job staying focused and clarifying plays. I'd like to hear more from this "alternate" crew in the future.
- Jun 19, 2009
- 4,071
- 1,400
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The Panthers in their last two home games already knocked off one other division contender and almost took the Packers to overtime. The odds makers give them about a 35% chance in this game. Even last week the Cards were about 15% against the Eagles. Maybe you should have everything you have on TB
Steelers game was just. Obviously the conditions had a lot to do with it. Steelers fans won't care.
Texans game was better. First throw by Stroud goes for a TD ! Taylor was great on the losing side. Demeco Ryans has to be in the running for coach of the year in his first season as a head coach. Stefanski at the Browns is the other obvious contender. McVay has also done a nice job turning around the Rams after a slow start.
Not many people picking Miami to beat the Bills it seems.
Texans game was better. First throw by Stroud goes for a TD ! Taylor was great on the losing side. Demeco Ryans has to be in the running for coach of the year in his first season as a head coach. Stefanski at the Browns is the other obvious contender. McVay has also done a nice job turning around the Rams after a slow start.
Not many people picking Miami to beat the Bills it seems.
He is one of those guys who sometimes makes me wonder why he's not a QB1 somewhere. He played a good QB2 to BR, and I believe he has a better than .500 record which is good in the role that he plays. He isn't a top 10 QB1, but then he has never really had the situation to be a top 10 QB1 either.
I will always remember him not backing down to Garrett after getting hit in the head with his own helmet.
- Aug 13, 2011
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- 12,106
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Dolphins just have too many injuries currently. Their only upside is Hill and it’s in Miami but Hill is beat up as well, plus everything with his home. Bills could also falter if Jags win the game making this a must win.
- Jun 19, 2009
- 4,071
- 1,400
- 18,680
They may at least have one of their best linemen (Hunt) and their defensive leader (Baker) back for this one after many weeks out
Jags faltered. Bills still wanna play for that 2 seed though, wouldn’t want to go to Arrowhead, even if the Chiefs aren’t as good this season.
And what about the Eagles? Yikes.
SEA with the win!
--They need to greatly improve their D for next season!
PHI...WTH! Can they slop the fall?!
--They need to greatly improve their D for next season!
PHI...WTH! Can they slop the fall?!
Wentz wins the Ginger Bowl !
Green Bay got the job done. Brutal way to go out for the Jags. Seattle win didn't matter nor did the Saints win
Eagles play the Buccs. Pick the winner with any confidence !
Green Bay/Cowboys could be a good game as will Rams/Detroit.
What does the banged up Miami have left ?
Green Bay got the job done. Brutal way to go out for the Jags. Seattle win didn't matter nor did the Saints win
Eagles play the Buccs. Pick the winner with any confidence !
Green Bay/Cowboys could be a good game as will Rams/Detroit.
What does the banged up Miami have left ?
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The Jags went out because they have a QB that is not living up to expectations. Injuries or not, he performed terrible in a game that he had several opportunities to connect on 3rd & 4th downs keeping drives alive. He overthrew a wide open Calvin Ridley that would have been a score, and then on 4th & goal at the 1 he can't even get the ball across for a potential game tying scoring drive.
#1 OAs have to do much better - particularly in their 3rd year of starting. He's not a rookie anymore & should be stepping into that leadership role winning more games by now. Though they finished with the identical record they had last year making the playoffs, 9-8 this year wasn't good enough because of the complete turnaround by Houston. Lawrence simply isn't winning enough games. The next Payton Manning is looking more like the next Jameis Winston Lol.
Pathetic Bronco game. Didn't watch much of it but saw enough at how bad the Broncos are. O'Connell outplayed Stidman, who looks more like a backup in his career potential. White torched the Bronco D for 125 yds. The Broncos rushed for less for 50 yds!
Here's the big question: Did the Raiders do enough under Pierce for him to be offered the HC job? I think so but I'm not Davis. Lol (we should know very soon I would think).
Close out the chapter on the 2023 season for the underachieving Broncos. What a disaster - you have SB winning/future HOF Wilson & SB winning coach Payton, and best you can do is finish 8-9 failing to make the playoffs. This is 8 consecutive seasons now that the Broncos has missed post-season! The Broncos have completely spiraled downhill since the glory days of Manning! A sad state of affairs in the Mile High City, and I can hardly wait for the clown show to start as the organization attempts to figure out what to do at QB. Lol
#1 OAs have to do much better - particularly in their 3rd year of starting. He's not a rookie anymore & should be stepping into that leadership role winning more games by now. Though they finished with the identical record they had last year making the playoffs, 9-8 this year wasn't good enough because of the complete turnaround by Houston. Lawrence simply isn't winning enough games. The next Payton Manning is looking more like the next Jameis Winston Lol.
Pathetic Bronco game. Didn't watch much of it but saw enough at how bad the Broncos are. O'Connell outplayed Stidman, who looks more like a backup in his career potential. White torched the Bronco D for 125 yds. The Broncos rushed for less for 50 yds!
Here's the big question: Did the Raiders do enough under Pierce for him to be offered the HC job? I think so but I'm not Davis. Lol (we should know very soon I would think).
Close out the chapter on the 2023 season for the underachieving Broncos. What a disaster - you have SB winning/future HOF Wilson & SB winning coach Payton, and best you can do is finish 8-9 failing to make the playoffs. This is 8 consecutive seasons now that the Broncos has missed post-season! The Broncos have completely spiraled downhill since the glory days of Manning! A sad state of affairs in the Mile High City, and I can hardly wait for the clown show to start as the organization attempts to figure out what to do at QB. Lol
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Seahawks will need to have major changes this off-season if they want to get out of mediocrity. They haven’t been past the divisional round since SB 49. Even if they won that SB to go back to back, those one and done or lose in the divisional round runs were so mediocre that perhaps Pete would have retired earlier or been fired/asked to resign. Pete is a good coach, 10/14 seasons in the playoffs, one SB title, going to another the following season, winning the division 5 times, the team had a nice run with him at the helm, but stagnation is a problem. The team is talented on both sides, yet they are not improving. He has one more year on his contract and an option for 2025. This is likely his last season. The only thing that would have convinced everyone (perhaps including himself) of staying for another season or two would have been another playoff berth and a playoff win. That loss last week was tough, but they really should have been in the playoffs, comfortably, with this roster. Showed glimpses, but not enough.
End of an era and time for ‘new blood.’
End of an era and time for ‘new blood.’
Considering how poorly the Eagles have played the last 5-6 weeks, I think the Bucs are favorites to win that game.
Detroit will be pumped to get a long awaited playoff win. It think the Rams will be tough, but the Lions will pull away.
Packers Cowboys could be interesting. Wouldn’t be too shocked if Packers win.
I’ll take the Bills over the Dolphins. They are probably very relieved to see the Jags implode, so they will play more relaxed.
- Jan 31, 2016
- 3,611
- 6,035
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SEA needs some new blood on D and the depth for a longer schedule. Probably the formula for every team.
I have to say I'd like to see how much inspiration will carry Love and GB in the playoffs. Green Bay fans deserve the best for their support.
- Jan 31, 2016
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Nothing would be sweeter than a Green Bay triumph in this very cold corner of Idaho. Too cold to ski!
- Aug 13, 2011
- 7,899
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Of course Bills still want the 2 seed but the point before the games started today was that the Bills are closer to implode if this was an all or nothing game. With Jags loss Bills aren’t going to Arrowhead even if they lose this game because they’d be the 7 seed. Dolphins or Steelers are going to Arrowhead.
- Jan 22, 2010
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- Jan 22, 2010
- 4,769
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Dolphins, leading the game 14-7 as I write, are in a lose-lose situation.
Beat the Bills and the reward is facing the Bills again.
Lose and they go to Kansas City and freeze to death.
Beat the Bills and the reward is facing the Bills again.
Lose and they go to Kansas City and freeze to death.
- Mar 11, 2009
- 10,526
- 3,647
- 28,180
Precisely. He made several bad throws. Not a couple, several. If he was that hurt he should not have even been playing.
Like I said, Stidham is "okay". He really is a career back-up. Not a bad thing, really. But I don't see any team signing him to be their #1 QB. Even after Denver cuts Wilson, they are going to look for another vet (or somehow get a high draft pick) to legitimately compete with Stiddy. At most, he could be their starter for a rebuilding season, while they recover from the horrifying cap hit and dead money they will be facing for the Wilson debacle.
Speaking of. There's a situation where the Raiders could sign Wilson. Wilson could take the veteran minimum of $2m a year, which would leave Denver completely on the hook for some $35m of his salary next season. Let that sink in for a moment. Actually, any team could sign Wilson this way. But a division rival would be the best way to stick it to the Broncos. Though I'm sure Wilson is going to want to go to a team that welcomes him as their starter (Not sure where that would be though).
He's a blatantly obvious choice. The team was noticeably better with him than McDaniels, and he's shown a keen interest in learning, and growing. And the players love the guy. But who knows what goes through Mark Davis brain? He could offer Pierce a 5 year deal tomorrow, or sit around a month then announce he's hiring Gruden back. Which would of course be a disaster setting the team back a decade.
Keep in mind, per Paul Allen's trust, at some point Jody Allen has to sell the team. Now, one could easily argue that dissolving a $20b trust into a sustainable charity will take many years, and that's true. And I'm sure the Seahawks are one of the biggest "jewels" in that crown. Jody can also argue to any critic that the Seahawks are a financially growing enterprise, well run under her guidance, so there is obviously no hurry to sell.
I bring this up because while she may be heavily relying on Chuck Arnold and John Schneider, starting an era of "new blood", a post-Pete Carroll team, has to be taken into consideration with any attempt to sell. Put another way, they are arguably at a very high premium today, and presuming Pete stays on another year, she could start talking offers now, with plans to sell in the 2025 off-season, when the new owner can bring in whomever they like. But if the entire Seahawk org feels pressured by that, or that it won't make financial sense, it benefits Jody to keep Arnold and Schneider, let them find a new coach, sign that person to a 4-6 year deal, then after that dust settles (2026? 2027?) start looking for buyers at that time.
I still believe Jeff Bezos is interested in buying the Seahawks, and coughing up a $5b check to the Paul Allen Trust for the team would be like you and me digging a couple $20 bills out of your wallet (well, maybe).
It wasn't about running up the score, like people think. It was apparently deception. The Falcons were expecting the Saints to take a knee, and instead, well, here's apparently what happened: The offense asked DA if Jamaal Williams could get a TD. He said no and told them to take a knee. The players ran the play for a TD anyway. Allen later said Smith had a right to be upset. “That’s not who we are, not what we’re about.”
- Mar 11, 2009
- 10,526
- 3,647
- 28,180
Early thoughts on playoffs.
Saturday:
CLE@HOU - By most measures the Browns should win this road game, but I'm not counting Houston out, at home. This game could grind.
MIA@KC - I don't see KC losing this game. Having it hover around 15 degrees and windy could even things out, but Miami relies as much on the pass as KC. And KC has a better defense. Miami needs a lead heading into 4Q, and to keep it.
Sunday:
PIT@BUF - Bills on enough of a roll, and playing at home will help. Pitt needs to be close, or winning late. Could be cold and some snow here, but not as cold as KC. Weather will not faze either team much at all.
GB@DAL - The Cowboys look great beating up on weak teams at home, but don't like it when other teams hit back. Can GB's defense hold? I'm pretty sure their offense will move the ball. If this game is close late, I like GB's chances.
LAR@DET - I actually think is going to be close. While Detroit should win, they can't think too far ahead to Dallas or SF, and the Rams D can be stiff, while their O can move the ball. I do think the Lions will be prepared and focused.
Monday:
PHI@TB - Who knows? Tampa should win this game, as they have much more positive energy, and the Eagles on in a freefall. But on paper it seems outlandish the Eagles would be one and done like this.
If "favorites" win, either Cleveland or Houston are likely to head to Baltimore. And in the NFC either Tampa or Philadelphia. Though if GB or LAR upset, they will play SF.
Saturday:
CLE@HOU - By most measures the Browns should win this road game, but I'm not counting Houston out, at home. This game could grind.
MIA@KC - I don't see KC losing this game. Having it hover around 15 degrees and windy could even things out, but Miami relies as much on the pass as KC. And KC has a better defense. Miami needs a lead heading into 4Q, and to keep it.
Sunday:
PIT@BUF - Bills on enough of a roll, and playing at home will help. Pitt needs to be close, or winning late. Could be cold and some snow here, but not as cold as KC. Weather will not faze either team much at all.
GB@DAL - The Cowboys look great beating up on weak teams at home, but don't like it when other teams hit back. Can GB's defense hold? I'm pretty sure their offense will move the ball. If this game is close late, I like GB's chances.
LAR@DET - I actually think is going to be close. While Detroit should win, they can't think too far ahead to Dallas or SF, and the Rams D can be stiff, while their O can move the ball. I do think the Lions will be prepared and focused.
Monday:
PHI@TB - Who knows? Tampa should win this game, as they have much more positive energy, and the Eagles on in a freefall. But on paper it seems outlandish the Eagles would be one and done like this.
If "favorites" win, either Cleveland or Houston are likely to head to Baltimore. And in the NFC either Tampa or Philadelphia. Though if GB or LAR upset, they will play SF.
One thing about Bills/Miami games, you know there will be multiple intercepts ! Just as I thought the momentum might be swinging to Miami, the Bills go the length of the field with a kick return. Bills settled down after that and Miami started to waver.
At 0-24 the Eagles started resting players, not surprised. Buccs should be happy to meet the current version of the Eagles but now they have to execute. I just can't see any miracle turnaround from the Eagles at this point but if the Buccs play bad, they are still in the game.. Think Rams/Detroit could be the game of the weekend. Texans/Browns could also be entertaining. Packers are not out of it against the Cowboys. Bills/Steelers depends more on the Bills who have had quite a few schizo games this season but the Steelers run game could test them, and Rudolph has been playing quite well.
At 0-24 the Eagles started resting players, not surprised. Buccs should be happy to meet the current version of the Eagles but now they have to execute. I just can't see any miracle turnaround from the Eagles at this point but if the Buccs play bad, they are still in the game.. Think Rams/Detroit could be the game of the weekend. Texans/Browns could also be entertaining. Packers are not out of it against the Cowboys. Bills/Steelers depends more on the Bills who have had quite a few schizo games this season but the Steelers run game could test them, and Rudolph has been playing quite well.
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- Aug 13, 2011
- 7,899
- 12,106
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What a complete meltdown for the Dolphins to lose the division with the lead they had. It’s going to be a cold night in Arrowhead with both teams RBs racking up the yards. I think Hardmen is going to have a big game being back and full part of the missing deep threat the Chiefs have lacked.
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