NFL Talk - 2010-11 Season

[gblews]

The difference here is, WTF difference did it make? It's not like the Broncos are playing for anything at this point, so why not take some chances and see what your rookie QB is made of? There's nothing macho about it. IF it ends in disaster, oh well.

You wrote, "And that's called playing not to lose...", so my assumption was that your suggestion that the Broncos throw on the down in question, was calculated to help them win the game rather than an exercise in finding out what their rookie quarterback could do under adverse conditions.

Further, my assumption was that despite the fact that the Broncos had been eliminated from the playoffs, they still wanted to beat the Raiders. If the Broncos really were only interested in finding out what Tebow could do in that situation then perhaps they should have let him throw it, but if they were trying to win the game -- and I just bet they were -- then they made the correct call.

 

[gblews]

And that's called playing not to lose. I didn't know Marty Schottenheimer posted here.

Yes, I know it sounds all macho and cool to ALWAYS go for the jugular, but in football there are times in individual games when making the percentage call is appropriate, thus the judicious use of the "punt" and the "field goal" -- and sometimes, the handoff to a running back while in your own end zone, playing a rookie quarterback in his first start on the road against one of the best front fours in the NFL.

There's a difference between going for the jugular and making the smart call. If you want to talk about "playing the percentages", running was not working, period.
It reached a point in that game where the run was pretty much guarenteed to fail, and where reaching the line of scrimmage was a successful run. Tebow, while not spectacular, wasn't really making that many mistakes and he only got sacked twice that day.

The "smart" call many times IS the percentage call.

Sometimes playing the percentages involves calling a play that you haven't been successful with up to that point in a given game. That is the reason you sometimes see coaches appearing to butt their heads against a stone wall again and again while sticking to their game plan. But that is another subject for a different thread.

Very few plays are "guaranteed to fail", as you write, if that play is properly executed. This is especially true of the play the Broncos called - the dive to the running back. That play had the lowest percentage downside and the highest upside when you consider that the quarterback was pretty much an unknown quantity in that situation. The fact that Tebow hadn't screwed it up, up to that point didn't suddenly change the upside and downside percentages presented by a handoff to the back as opposed to the downside/upside percentages presented by allowing Tebow to pass in that situation.

So many fans see a play like the one under discussion and scream and yell when it fails, but that is nothing compared to the screaming and yelling you'd have been doing if they'd called a pass play and Tebow had fumbled in the end zone or thrown an interception. Then the cry would have been, "why didn't we just play it safe and run it down there".

In most cases a handoff to the back is the safest call no matter the quarterback, that is why it is the play most often called when a team is on it's own 1. But when you have a rookie QB making his first start against a defense like the Raiders in that situation, there is no other call to be made IF you are trying to put yourself in position to win the game.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

That was a hilariously FUBARed game tonight.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Wha-at??? No, Dallas scored at the end. I went out to the convenience store because they scored. There was barely any time left. A field goal by Arizona should only have tied it. Did Dallas not make the extra point??

Oh, for fuck's sake.

 

[tomalak301]

Wha-at??? No, Dallas scored at the end. I went out to the convenience store because they scored. There was barely any time left. A field goal by Arizona should only have tied it. Did Dallas not make the extra point??

Oh, for fuck's sake.

Yeah the extra point was missed.

Didn't really watch the game, but hell of a win for the Cards and hell of a come back from Dallas.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Obviously not enough of a comeback in the end.

 

[Pegaritaville]

Wasn't expecting much of a game, but it turned out to be pretty entertaining. Helluva comeback by Arizona.

 

[1001001]

The Rams are still alive!!



No matter what the situation, I always enjoy it when they beat the Niners. A weird, ugly game, but I'll take it.

Now for the Clash of the Titans next week in Seattle....

 

[gh4chiefs]

Another game and another week in first place for the Chiefs in the AFC West. If I'm not mistaken, they have been in first place (or at least tied for first) since week 1. A couple of weeks ago, I was kind of bracing myself for that next loss and had even kind of made peace with it. But now, with 1 game to go, it's going to be a real heartbreaker if they drop that game to Oakland next week. If they play next week like they did in the first half today, it shouldn't be a problem.

Of course all of this is moot, if the Bengals can find a way to beat the Chargers today. (Yeah right, like that's gonna happen, although the Bengals were up by 7 last I looked.) I guess win or lose next week, it's been a hellava season for the Chiefs coming off a 4-12 season last year, and 2-14 the year before.

Going into the final week of the regular and both the Chiefs Rams are leading their divisions. Who in the hell would have ever dreamed that?

 

[BillJ]

I wonder if I'm the only one thinking Tony Sparano might be in trouble in South Florida?

 

[Trekker4747]

4th Quarter and the Bengals have a two-possession lead over SD. Looks good. Hell of a good game for the Chiefs! These last two games they've really rocked and rolled. Apparently Castle's appendix was really holding him back!

 

[Marten]

Watching Giants vs Packers (Only one live on Swedish TV). How do they not freeze to death on that field? Their hands should be ice lumps by now, one would think.

 

[gh4chiefs]

4th Quarter and the Bengals have a two-possession lead over SD. Looks good. Hell of a good game for the Chiefs! These last two games they've really rocked and rolled. Apparently Castle's appendix was really holding him back!

Holy shit, the Bengals have beaten the Chargers! Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you your 2010 AFC West Divisions Champs, the Kansas City Chiefs!

Holy shit!

 

[archeryguy1701]

Denver won!!! It's a Festivus miracle!!! By halftime, I was zoning out and contemplating leaving, and I'm glad I didn't. Tebow looked good. Not awesome, but he continues to be incredibly promising, and he's getting better. I'm glad they finally let him start making a wider variety of plays. I'm rooting for him more and more.

One minor complaint I had about Tebow was hesitation. It's obvious that someone during the week told him that he needs to run less and try to hang in the pocket, and there were several points, esp during the first half, where he was hesitant on his decision making. He wanted to run, and started a couple times, but it seemed like he couldn't decide if he should run or if he should find a receiver. He was better about that in the second half.I look forward to next season... hopefully we get everything in line.

 

[Trekker4747]

SD got fucking spanked! Was it that bad playing in some flurries?!

SWEET! The Chiefs make it to the post-season after a great game at home and San Diego, well, sucking!

And, honestly, beating Oakland next week at home shouldn't be too hard, now we just to prepare ourselves for the Chiefs not face-palming themselves in the post-season.

 

[gh4chiefs]

now we just to prepare ourselves for the Chiefs not face-palming themselves in the post-season.

Yeah, it kind of looks like we might get the Jets, and we might have a chance against them. I"m so damned excited about the Chiefs making the playoffs, I can't be too concerned about actually winning a playoff game.

 

[Trekker4747]

now we just to prepare ourselves for the Chiefs not face-palming themselves in the post-season.

Yeah, it kind of looks like we might get the Jets, and we might have a chance against them. I"m so damned excited about the Chiefs making the playoffs, I can't be too concerned about actually winning a playoff game.

It's what I've been saying, I just want a play-off game at this point I don't care about making it any further into them right now I just want a game in the play-offs. The Chiefs won't have home-field advantage will they? Because if they do that will certainly play into our favor.

But, yep, pretty exciting time right now to be a Chiefs fan and a Kansas Citian. GO CHIEFS!

(Just checked. Looks like KC does have home-field advantage against the Jets in the play-offs so that does very well to our favor.)

 

[archeryguy1701]

The Chiefs won't have home-field advantage will they? Because if they do that will certainly play into our favor.

But, yep, pretty exciting time right now to be a Chiefs fan and a Kansas Citian. GO CHIEFS!

Yep, because they won the division, they will get a home game the first week.

 

[Sheep]

I don't know what the New York Giants were playing, but that sure as fuck wasn't football. Hard to believe this is the same team that nearly literally pounded Jay Cutler into the ground earlier this season.

Speaking of the Bears, good to see them playing quality football and keeping the mistakes to a minimum at this point in the season. Yes, they've been supremely lucky at avoiding major injuries too but that's all part of the game. I give them a lot of credit for proving me wrong in thinking they wouldn't finish the season with more than 4-6 wins.

Good to see some things never change, like San Diego staying true to form with a massive choke at the end of the season (even if it was before the playoffs, unlike in previous years). Given that the Jets are living up to the claims of them being overrated and unable to win against anyone but weak scrub teams, if they play the Chiefs in the playoffs, the Chiefs have a real chance to beat them.

 

[gh4chiefs]

now we just to prepare ourselves for the Chiefs not face-palming themselves in the post-season.

Yeah, it kind of looks like we might get the Jets, and we might have a chance against them. I"m so damned excited about the Chiefs making the playoffs, I can't be too concerned about actually winning a playoff game.

It's what I've been saying, I just want a play-off game at this point I don't care about making it any further into them right now I just want a game in the play-offs. The Chiefs won't have home-field advantage will they? Because if they do that will certainly play into our favor.

But, yep, pretty exciting time right now to be a Chiefs fan and a Kansas Citian. GO CHIEFS!

(Just checked. Looks like KC does have home-field advantage against the Jets in the play-offs so that does very well to our favor.)

Yes, as you noted, as a Division winner they will host at least one playoff game. Should they win that game, then they will have to travel for the second round of the playoffs, should they win THAT game, it might be possible for them to host the AFC Championship game, but that would take some losses by several teams in the "other bracket." So even if the Chiefs somehow win their first playoff game, it's unlikely, although not impossible, that they will have another home playoff game.