NFL Playoffs?, Playoffs?!?!(that's not a catch, that's a catch)

[Valmy]

What the hell was that to end 1st half. Valmy your team sucks but is gonna end up in playoffs.

I will take what I can get

The Redskins are champs!

[Liep]

Mathieu also out for the season so my Arizona D will be worse too. I finally get to the final and then Ilose all the star players.

[Liep]

Mathieu also out for the season so my Arizona D will be worse too. I finally get to the final and then Ilose all the star players.

Okay, they're still very good.

[Liep]

1 interception, 9 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 touchdowns. Approved.

[alfred russel]

1 interception, 9 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 touchdowns. Approved.

I got double boned by this.

I'm in two workplace fantasy leagues--one with 10 people, the other with 12. I made it to the championship in both.

In one my team was really good, but I went against the Arizona defense--I have no chance now.

My other team is kind of shaky--but I started Carson Palmer. I would have gotten a big bonus had he made it to 300 yards, but of course they pulled him early. I am up by 9, but my opponent has two WRs to go, and I have a TE. So I probably lose.

[Admiral Yi]

Are you still auto-drafting Liep?

[jimmy olsen]

Uggh...to lose in overtime is bad enough, to lose beacuse of a Brownsesque brain fart during the coin flip is disgusting.

[sbr]

It wasn't a brain fart, they wanted to kick there was just confusion on whether they got to pick the direction they kicked.

[derspiess]

Yesterday afternoon was probably the most entertaining all year for the 1:00pm slot: 

-Steelers upset by the Ravens in a close game and are suddenly on the outside looking in as far as playoff spots are concerned.  They were considered one of the hotter, more dangerous teams in the NFL and everyone seemed to have them up way high in their power rankings.  Thank you Ravens for giving the Bungles the AFC North title.

-The scrappy Jets pull off an upset of New England based on a hilarious fuckup on the OT coin toss.  Anytime New England loses is a good day of football, and losing in such fashion just makes it that much better.  Plus the loss gives the Bengals a fighting chance at a #1 seed. Technically I think they control their own destiny, or at least they would were they not so cursed on MNF

-Panthers finally lose.  I like Cam Newton but I never quite thought Carolina was deserving of an undefeated season, playing a soft NFC schedule and all.

[alfred russel]

Obviously it didn't work out, but without crunching the numbers I suspect kicking was the right play. The way the game went, the odds either team would take the first drive and go down the field to score a TD was low--first crack at a FG to win is valuable, and had the Jets got a FG, I like the odds of Brady getting into FG range with 4 downs and Gostenkowski as the kicker.

[derspiess]

It's Brady though.  You put the ball in his hands and give him a chance to win it outright. 

[alfred russel]

It's Brady though.  You put the ball in his hands and give him a chance to win it outright.

The same Brady that led one TD drive the entire game, which was equal to the number of defensive touchdowns the team had?

The sentimental option would be that it is still Brady, and you want the ball in his hands. A more analytical might look at the offense vs. defense outcomes during the game and opt for another strategy. I think we know which option Belichick is inclined to choose, and to date it has worked out okay for him.

[Admiral Yi]

If the strategy is predicated on the Jet's not being able to score a FG whether they get the ball first or second, why not take the ball and score your FG first?

[derspiess]

It's Brady though.  You put the ball in his hands and give him a chance to win it outright.

The same Brady that led one TD drive the entire game, which was equal to the number of defensive touchdowns the team had?

The sentimental option would be that it is still Brady, and you want the ball in his hands. A more analytical might look at the offense vs. defense outcomes during the game and opt for another strategy. I think we know which option Belichick is inclined to choose, and to date it has worked out okay for him.

Still Brady.  I don't like him but he's clutch and can lead a game winning TD drive in his sleep.

[alfred russel]

If the strategy is predicated on the Jet's not being able to score a FG whether they get the ball first or second, why not take the ball and score your FG first?

Because if you get the ball first, you can only win the game with a touchdown. Starting with the second possession, a FG wins the game.

They changed the overtime format to this a year or two ago to diminish the advantage of winning the coin toss and taking the ball first.