Who Wins the Super Bowl?

[1step]

Last edited Sat Jan 3, 2015, 04:48 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm predicting Brady's Last Hurrah: Pats over Packers 27-21, with Tom retiring the next day.

[Archae]

1. Packers 55, Patriots 3.

PPBBLLTT!!!

[1step]

2. Hmmm

I seem to be detecting a tiny bit of ill-will toward New England.

[Skittles]

34. f*** New England

f*** the Packers too

[Initech]

36. +1

Fuck Bill Bilicheck.

[sharp_stick]

51. Its hard to be a Jets fan isn't it?

Don't worry you'll get over it in a few weeks just like every other year.

[Skittles]

52. f*** the Jets

[Fearless]

57. Come find us around election time and we'll talk.

[AngryAmish]

3. Pats can't win a Super Bowl without cheating.

Seattle. They have the most violent defense.

[1step]

5. Ouch!

Why must you hurt this simple Irish-American boy from Maine?

[jmowreader]

4. Seattle over New England by 21 points

Wild card round: Steelers beat Ravens, Colts beat Bengals, Cardinals beat Panthers, Lions beat Cowboys.

Divisional round: Patriots beat Steelers, Broncos beat Colts, Seahawks beat Cardinals, Lions beat Packers.

Conference round: Patriots beat Broncos, Seahawks beat Lions.

Super Bowl: Seahawks beat Patriots.

[JonLP24]

6. If both the Cardinals and Lions win

then the Lions would play the Seahawks and the Cardinals would play the Packers. Seahawks are a #1 seed so they would draw the #6 seed if they advance no matter who won the Cardinals/Panthers game.

[jmowreader]

7. You're right, thanks...

It may be Seahawks-Packers in the NFC championship...and Seattle already dealt a 20-point beating to Green Bay this season.

If the Seahawks face the Patriots in the Super Bowl, the press will treat it as the Corner Bowl...forget the Tom Brady-Russell Wilson matchup, the only two players who will get mentioned are Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman.

[Suich]

11. The Cardinals/Panther matchup,

is a tough one to call. The odds are with the Panthers but I have a real hard time picking a 7-8-1 team. OTOH, Ryan Lindley can't hit the broad side of a barn.



Go Seahawks!!!

[JonLP24]

13. I said in 2012 that Ryan Lindley was the worst QB I've seen receive so much playing time

I still feel the same way. Plus the Cardinals are playing in the Eastern time zone where they have .385 winning percentage.

the NFC South drew the AFC North & NFC North so the records don't tell the whole story and Seattle won a playoff game as a 7-9 team.

On edit - I'm a Cardinals fan.

[JonLP24]

28. LOL - Ryan Lindley throws an INT after the D puts them at the 8

I'd cry if I didn't laugh.

[lastlib]

29. Broncos-Colts could be anybody's horse-race..........

. .

( me)

[jmowreader]

30. Bad puns aside, I think you're right

Their records are very close - 12-4 Broncos, 11-5 Colts. I think it's going to come down to, who wants it more? The analysts are going to be no help; last year, the general consensus in analyst-land was the Broncos were supposed to just stomp the shit out of the Seahawks.

[JonLP24]

32. The stats help

Seattle led the league in YPPA differential last season now Denver is much better, especially on the defensive side of the ball (they were among the league's worst last year) -- http://mule.he.net/~budsport/pub/killer.php'

Brian Burke had the best probability models when 5th Down Blog still existed. He still has them but they are harder to follow. They weigh all the stats but the most heavily is offensive net/yards per pass attempt followed by defensive net/yards per pass attempt.

He is giving Denver a 72% chance to win against Indianapolis.
http://advancedfootballanalytics.com/index.php/home/tools/live-playoff-probabilities

[Zavulon]

8. Seahawks. And despite the AFC being unimpressive, there's something about the Patriots that makes me

believe they're ripe for an upset. I have a sneaking suspicion (and I can't believe I'm about to say this) that the winning team of Bengals/Colts is going to get past them and go to the Super Bowl.

In the NFC, Seattle will have an easy time getting to the Super Bowl and they'll wind up winning it just as easily.

[Wounded Bear]

9. Seahawks...

[UTUSN]

10. ABC (= Anybody But the Cowboys) - I don't even know what I'm talking about n/t

[lovemydog]

17. Haha. You don't have to.

I hated that 'America's team' nonsense. Though I don't think they say that about the Cowboys any more.

No team is 'America's team.' If one was, there wouldn't be any other teams.

[flying rabbit]

12. Seahawks...

...or Packers.

[lovemydog]

14. Seahawks

Wild card round:
Steelers over Ravens
Colts over Bengals
Panthers over Cardinals
Lions over Cowboys

Divisional Round:
Steelers over Patriots
Colts over Broncos
Seahawks over Panthers
Packers over Lions

Conference round:
Colts over Steelers
Seahawks over Packers

Super Bowl: Seahawks over Colts

[JonLP24]

21. If the Lions advance

Then the Seahawks would play the Lions & Green Bay would play the Panthers.

[lovemydog]

22. Cool. Thanks.

[1step]

33. The Lions Didn't Advance

Thanks to the WORST fucking pick-up of a legitimate penalty flag I've ever seen!

[Initech]

37. I swear these playoffs are fixed!

The Lions and the Cardinals both should have won but the refs fucking gave it to the home teams on some really stupid ass bullshit calls. The media wants Patriots and Seahawks, I swear it feels like the refs are fixing it so that it will happen. Fuck that shit.

[JonLP24]

41. Really?

I'm a Cardinals fan but the only call I felt iffy was they missed the Panthers holding Michael Floyd's arm early in the second half.

Other than that, the game didn't come down to that and I've seen enough of Ryan Lindley to know they weren't going to win that game if they called it correctly. The (expletive) defense put the offense at the 8 which Lindley threw a pick right to them.

I know a lot are obsessing over the Lions call but it was still a 3-point game, the Cowboys scored 7 and converted a 4th & 6, among other things but you really feel the refs gave the game to the Panthers? Really?

[lovemydog]

45. Funny story.

The Washington Redskins once lost a title game to the NY Giants, something like 52-0. This was way back in the 1950's. After the game a reporter asked Otto Graham about a big play in the first half before the rout. Asked if the Redskins had scored, would it have have changed the game. Graham replied 'Yeah. We would have lost 52-7.'

[JonLP24]

46. Small bone to pick with that story

Otto Graham (career leader in yards per pass attempt) played for Cleveland Browns. You probably meant Y.A. Tittle. Funny story either way though

[lovemydog]

47. You are correct!

I gotta get this story straight. It's such a great one. Y.A. Tittle. Thanks. Cheers.

[lovemydog]

39. The Lions got screwed.

Worst call I've seen in a long time. Waiting so long to pick up the penalty flag. Picking it up on a legitimate pass interference call. They are only supposed to pick it up if there's clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. There wasn't! With only 2:30 left in a close playoff game. The tv analysts & veterans - none had ever seen anything like it.

That lousy no-good horrible call cost the Lions their first playoff win since 1992.

[JonLP24]

40. Penalties aren't reviewed

so I'm not sure where "clear and convincing" comes from other than instant replay.

This explains. I've seen a lot worse calls, including in the same game which went against the Cowboys in the first half (no flag was thrown for the Detroit player wrapping up and taking down the Cowboys punter, for instance)

Todd Archer (pool reporter): Can you talk about the decision to overturn the call and why you overturned the call?

Pete Morelli: The back judge threw his flag for defensive pass interference. We got other information from another official from a different angle that thought the contact was minimal and didn't warrant pass interference. He thought it was face-guarding.

Archer: Which official?

Morelli: The head linesman.

Archer: What did you see?

Morelli: It's not my responsibility. I'm a hundred miles away.

Archer: Face-guarding is not a foul?

Morelli: Face-guarding is not a foul. It is a penalty in college but not in professional football.

Archer: What is the process you go through after you announce the call? Should you have waited before you announced the call?

Morelli: Probably, yes. The information came and then the officials got together a little bit later, after it was given to me, the first information. It would have probably been smoother if we got together.

Archer: Do you remember this type of player happening before?

Morelli: No, not particularly.

Archer: So one more time on who the person was that had a better view?

Morelli: The better view was from the head linesman.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24935977/lions-cowboys-no-pi-call-pereira-disagrees-with-it-head-ref-explains-it

[lovemydog]

42. Thanks for the info. I respectfully disagree.

I believe there's no comparison between those two calls. The first one was toward the end of the first half. It was very close. I thought the Cowboys blocker kind of pushed the Lions defender into the kicker. And the contact between the Lions player and the Cowboys kicker was pretty minimal. I feel I saw the Lions defender trying to throw his arms up in the air so as not to rough him, as well. And the kick got off. Troy Aikman even said the Cowboys would have declined the penalty any way because the kick gave them the field position they preferred.

Second call. Fourth quarter. Game on the line. Lions have the lead. They get the first down. Then, something unprecedented. That no one has ever seen! Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Strahan, Howie Long. None had ever seen a ref pick up a flag after that long on a legitimate pass interference call, without a huddle, by a ref who didn't even see that play! The ref should only pick up the flag if he's absolutely positively certain it was the wrong. call. The head ref didn't even see the play! He goes on what the head linesman said? Call them all together. Find out who had the better view! Don't pick up the flag just because of what one ref said. The ref who made the original and proper call was the one closest to the play. He was standing right in front of the play. Don't overturn him without seeing the play, without a referee huddle, based on what the head linesman says.

The Cowboys played very well. I don't take anything away from them. Gutsy performance, tremendous comeback. They were on fire offensively in the fourth quarter.

But take away that unprecedented, horrendous, lousy call and I believe the Lions win the game.

Can you tell I was rooting for the Lions?

[JonLP24]

43. They picked up the flag after the conference

The ref said if they got together in the first place "It probably would've been smoother if we got together." They went based on the ref who felt the contact was minimal which I agree with.

[lovemydog]

44. In the commentary during the game, Troy Aikman,

Joe Buck and Mke Ferrieira all said at the time that it was pass interference. The receiver was reaching for the ball. That's what it looked like to me too.

I think most every referee in the NFL would agree with me that 1. It was indeed pass interference and 2. The pick-up of the flag was really bad.

Well, maybe a few on the ref team at the game might disagree. It'll be interesting to see if the NFL officially comments on it. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

Have a good evening.

[Enthusiast]

60. The Lions had all the momentum at that time.

I agree. Plus Jerry Jones and Chris Christie.

[lovemydog]

67. Yeah the Lions were driving downfield,

running up the score and running out the clock.

On reflection, I respect what Lions coach Caldwell said after the game. That he never blames a loss on one call.

Also classy of Tony Romo to say the Lions defense was the best one they faced all year. I credit the Cowboys for coming back strong and pulling out that victory.

Tough loss for the Lions, but life goes on. They have a lot to build on for next year.

[1step]

68. Stick to Your Guns, lmd

The pass interference call was legit. The Lions would have been in automatic field-goal range. Assuming no further touchdown, they'd have kicked it away to the Cowboys from their own 30 with a 23-17 lead, Dallas probably having to march a long way to score the winning TD.

I was actually rooting for the 'boys to come back and beat the Lions. But after I saw that the fix was in, I stopped watching. And I hope Dallas gets stomped into the tundra this weekend!

[lovemydog]

70. Oh, I know. It still hurts.

[Enthusiast]

71. Tony can say that (since no one stepped on his leg intentionally).

I kid.

Keith Olbermann had an entertaining piece on this controversy last night.

[lovemydog]

72. Haha!

I'll check out what Keith said tomorrow. I'm afraid if I checked now he'd get me so riled up I wouldn't fall asleep.

[1step]

48. The Cowboys are No Longer "America's Team"

Last edited Tue Jan 6, 2015, 11:24 PM - Edit history (1)

But the refs in this game apparently didn't get the memo. I hope not one of that crew gets to officiate another playoff game!

In fact, I'd like to see an investigation into the incident.

[Ramses]

15. Steelers

Dont count them out. The Steelers have a high power offense and a getting much better secondary. The defense is also respectable and capable of plays.

[lovemydog]

16. Yeah, in the AFC they could be the sleeper team.

They led the NFL in offense.

There's flaws in other AFC teams. Manning has gotten weaker, could be slightly injured. Pats are unpredictable - some games brilliant, other games not so much.

But the Steelers must get by the Ravens first, and that's rarely a cake walk.

AFC seems pretty wide open this year. NFC it looks to me like Seahawks or Packers.

[lovemydog]

19. Seahawks over Colts 26-10

[Tobin S.]

20. I am a Bengals fan, so I'm hoping it will be them.

But the way things are going with them in the playoffs in the recent past, I have serious doubts that they'll make it past the wild card game. They just seem to be able to put together a team that is a little better than average every year, but nothing outstanding. Then they get pounded in the first round of the playoffs. I hope they buck the trend this year.

I think Seattle and New England are more realistic choices.

[1step]

25. Winner and Score?

(You kinda left that out.)

[Tobin S.]

26. Seattle over New England 23-20

Tom Brady drives the Pats on a potential game-winning drive or a possible tie to send it into overtime only to be intercepted in the closing minute before getting into field goal range.

Is that specific enough for you?

[1step]

27. Haha!

Yes. Thank you.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

23. My prediction is...

...NBC. At $150,000/second of ad time it's not even a guess.

[lovemydog]

24. That certainly gets an honorable mention.

Stanley Kubrick used to watch the Super Bowl just for the ads. Production-wise it's the most spent per minute.

Happy new year!

[hunter]

31. Who's playing?

Okay, I confess, U.S.A. football is not on my personal radar.

I used to pay attention to these things, watched many an enjoyable Super Bowl with friends and family.

But my television machine is dead.

I've isolated myself from that world, I've little idea what's going on there.

I read all my news, but not usually the sports sections.

[krispos42]

38. That's still being determined.

The Super Bowl is scheduled for February 1st, and the playoffs will be finished on January 18th. So once the playoffs are done, we'll know who's in the Super Bowl.

Currently, there are 8 teams in contention: Indianapolis, Denver, Baltimore, New England, Dallas, Green Bay, Carolina, and Seattle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_NFL_playoffs

[Algernon Moncrieff]

35. It depends whether Warren or Clinton gets the nomination

Green Bay

[davidpdx]

49. I'm going to hedge a bit

and say either Denver or New England against GB. I think Seattle is going to lose in the NFC championship to GB.

[a kennedy]

50. Seattle to lose against GB.....music to my ears baby.

I'm saying Green Bay wins in a close one over the Baltimore, yes, I said the Baltimore Ravens, 31 to 28 . GO PACK GO.

[davidpdx]

54. Not a GB fan, but I'd rather see Seattle lose

I don't think Baltimore has it in them to make it to the SB this year. Though if that was the match up it would be a good one.

[fizzgig]

53. depends on whether denver has to go through foxborough

but i'm not looking further than the colts. denver has not looked all that hot lately.

yeah, i'm rooting for baltimore next weekend.

[davidpdx]

55. True, going through Foxborough would be hell

I think that's going to be what happens.

[fizzgig]

62. i don't know that denver can win there

and the pats usually give them fits.

[Fearless]

58. I'd love to see Manning play in the cold

Should be fun. Maybe it'll sleet.

[fizzgig]

63. manning hasn't looked great for weeks

i really wonder what's going on there.

[Fearless]

66. I suspect it's his shoulder/back tightening up

He did have surgery a number of years ago and that was one of the concerns when coming to the Bronco's in the first place. It may be that it is now catching up with him.

[fizzgig]

69. something is definitely wrong

i'm hoping the bye week did everyone some good and they come out with veins in their teeth this weekend.

[Fearless]

56. Patriots with a well rested Brady and Gronk.

Superbowl Rematch with Green Bay.

Pats win 30-27.

Brady will not retire the next day, he's paid well and doing well. Although Manning might retiring judging by his effectiveness down the stretch. We'll see.

[bigwillq]

59. I hope Green Bay

My team (NY Giants) is not in the playoffs, so no real horse in the race, but I am rooting for Green Bay.

[locks]

61. Sorry

but our Peyton plays everyday in 0 weather; never count him out.

[Earth_First]

64. NBC

To the tune of several hundred million...

[rurallib]

65. them and the advertisers

because there is absolutely NOTHING scheduled against it the super-duper bowl becomes the only thing on TV that night.

I usually have a few DVDs or recordings lined up for that night.
Why? Because every fucking play will be talked about over and over and over ad nauseam for months....................