Poll: NFL 2018 Super Bowl Prediction

[Dawg52]

We don't complain about questionable calls because we were also on the favorable side of some in other games this season.

The Pats' defense couldn't stop the Eagles when they had numerous opportunities to do so.

I was surprised neither did squat on defense. Certainly a good SB but I'm old school and like 20-17 type games. With today's rules I guess higher scoring games will be the norm.

 

[scrabbler1]

This SB will go down as a classic. Not only because of the subplots bit of the pace. Didn't expect a shootout and track race.

Hate to talk refs, but they hosed the Pats on that on Philly TD that looked like the receiver obviously had his toe on the end zone backline.

The issue on that play was if the receiver had control of the ball when his first (left) foot came down before it stepped again and out of bounds in the end zone. I agree it wasn't a slam dunk on the replay, but it wasn't clear and convincing that didn't have control and have the call reversed.

 

[easysurfer]

The issue on that play was if the receiver had control of the ball when his first (left) foot came down before it stepped again and out of bounds in the end zone. I agree it wasn't a slam dunk on the replay, but it wasn't clear and convincing that didn't have control and have the call reversed.

I never saw the second foot in bounds at all but on the out of bounds line. So, regardless of control or not, I saw as incomplete.

 

[FIREmenow]

I never saw the second foot in bounds at all but on the out of bounds line. So, regardless of control or not, I saw as incomplete.

The decision was made on the two steps before that, not that one. The control question was on the very first step.

 

[pb4uski]

Congrats to the Eagles!

While it was an exciting game, I didn't think it was a great game... neither defense showed up... it was a bit of a joke.

I agreed with Colinsworth on that end line TD call.. it looked to me like the receiver momentarily lost control of the ball then regained it but from when he regained it only had one foot in ... but it certainly was a close call. The winning touchdown was not a close call at all clearly a catch and then a runner.

When the Eagles went for it on 4th and goal I said that was a bold call.... pulling off that trick play made it even bolder.

The only thing that is unknown is did Brady miss that 3rd down pass to him because he was too slow or because Amendola overthrew him?

 

[anethum]

The only thing that is unknown is did Brady miss that 3rd down pass to him because he was too slow or because Amendola overthrew him?

Neither reason. He couldn't hold on because the ball was fully inflated.

 

[harley]

The decision was made on the two steps before that, not that one. The control question was on the very first step.

I was rooting for the Eagles for the first time in my life. Even so, I've seen plays just like that one called or overturned to incomplete all season. Personally I think all the other calls like that were wrong, and this one was right. But the NFL really needs to figure out how to not base their calls on technology or eventually there won't be any human error or humanity in the game.

The only thing that is unknown is did Brady miss that 3rd down pass to him because he was too slow or because Amendola overthrew him?

Brady sort of looked like he was dogging it running out there. Once the ball was thrown he gave it a fair try, but running a little harder before the throw would have helped. But he certainly didn't have that softball lob like Foles did.

All in all, a fun game to watch no matter who won. Even DW watched the whole thing, and she knows as much about football as I do about...? Actually I think I know more about anything than she does about football. But she had fun too (good food and good company).

 

[REWahoo]

Brady sort of looked like he was dogging it running out there.

He looked like a guy with 40 year old legs trying to compete in a young man's game.

 

[harley]

He looked like a guy with 40 year old legs trying to compete in a young man's game.

Oooh, somebody sounds a little tetchy about that subject, eh? J/k, that's a good point.

Personally when I go hiking in the swamp with my buddy, I carry a walking stick. Not because I need it to hike, but so that if we are attacked by a gator or bear I can trip him when I run away. Because I can't outrun anybody anymore.

 

[Chuckanut]

There are often bad calls in a game. And I have no doubt if we went through the entire video of the game we can find some missed calls that helped the Pats. The true champions don't get themselves into a position where one bad call costs them the game. FWIW, the video review rule is probably better than no review at all, but it does remind us that everybody in the game, including the refs, are human beings. Just my 2¢.

P.S. What's the condition of the guy who got his head rung? That seemed to be a classic example of how to get one's brain messed up.

 

[Midpack]

It is so obvious that many in media have a Pats-bias, as this is what sells the news. CC is an embarrassment. I tried to turn off the sound, but was out-voted in the living room.

To each his own, I don't have a problem with CC usually, though he and Michaels went way overboard second guessing calls last night. Others have in other games too, some of the confusion is a few arcane rules, not really the fault of the officials. That last TD call was pretty silly - one rule if he's a runner and another if he's a receiver, HUH?

At least CC isn't motor-mouth-pat-myself-on-the-back Romo - he's the one I'd really like to mute. He was a loser QB, and now a loser announcer. YMMV

But I wish they'd never started showing all us armchair QB's video replays from every angle over and over with announcers confusing the issue as often as clarifying - they often disagree on the air! The officials and NY should see every angle, but the second guessers (incl myself) don't need to. But that cat is out of the bag now...

 

[Midpack]

Congrats to the Eagles!

While it was an exciting game, I didn't think it was a great game... neither defense showed up... it was a bit of a joke.

Lots of yards, but somehow pretty boring to me. One punt for a whole game? The Eagles had the better line on O and D. Even though there was lots of scoring, Brady was under way more pressure than Foles, and it showed IMO.

 

[Midpack]

He looked like a guy with 40 year old legs trying to compete in a young man's game.

His mobility is pretty awful. He can still throw usually (he missed a lot last night and some games during the season), reads defense as well if not better than most and he's doggedly competitive/never quits. But even though I'm a Pats fan, I wish he'd retire before he makes a fool of himself. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl, but I hope they don't keep putting him out there until he plays like Peyton Manning in his last year - the Broncos carried Manning that last year, even in the SB they won.

And with McDaniels and Patricia both leaving, I wonder what they'll be like next year. Does Brady want to break in a new OC?

 

[MRG]

I don't care for CC much, he should let the official's do their job. However I didn't have to listen to Joe Buck!

 

[easysurfer]

To each his own, I don't have a problem with CC usually, though he and Michaels went way overboard second guessing calls last night. Others have in other games too, some of the confusion is a few arcane rules, not really the fault of the officials. That last TD call was pretty silly - one rule if he's a runner and another if he's a receiver, HUH?

At least CC isn't motor-mouth-pat-myself-on-the-back Romo - he's the one I'd really like to mute. He was a loser QB, and now a loser announcer. YMMV

Of the color commentators, I think Aikman does the best of commentating by not going on too long (like CC can) or cheerleading (like Romo can). Aikman does a good job of not being biased but isn't afraid of being critical of players or refs too when appropriate.

 

[pb4uski]

I don't care for CC much, he should let the official's do their job. However I didn't have to listen to Joe Buck!

Or better yet, Chucky! There are two great things about Jon Gruden becoming the Raider's head coach... first and foremost... we don't have to listen to him do color on games.... he was just awful... and second, he will make the Raiders irrelevant for a few years until they are smart enough to can him.

 

[Dawg52]

I like the different styles of announcers. I was even ok with Howard Cosell even tho many hated him. He did look kind of like a rat though.

 

[Corporateburnout]

Neither reason. He couldn't hold on because the ball was fully inflated.

But he had no problem throwing that fully inflated ball for a SB record of 505 yards.......Just saying...

 

[Corporateburnout]

And with McDaniels and Patricia both leaving, I wonder what they'll be like next year. Does Brady want to break in a new OC?

He has no choice but to play for at least a couple of years. By expressing his desire to play until the age of 45 and requesting a contract extension the team traded away Jimmy G. He owes it to the Krafts, Belichick and all of Pats nation until they get a suitable replacement through the draft or via trade.

Also based on his MVP season and his performance this post season (the best statistically of his career) I see no reason why he can't play at a very good level for a couple of more years.

 

[easysurfer]

He has no choice but to play for at least a couple of years. By expressing his desire to play until the age of 45 and requesting a contract extension the team traded away Jimmy G. He owes it to the Krafts, Belichick and all of Pats nation until they get a suitable replacement through the draft or via trade.

Also based on his MVP season and his performance this post season (the best statistically of his career) I see no reason why he can't play at a very good level for a couple of more years.

Watched a bit of the pre-game interviews before the game. On one, the interviewer was asking Brady (probably assuming the Pats would win) if he was going to retire. I guess, kind of like Elway and ride off in the sunset.

At what point did folks decide he is old and ready to retire? Reminds me of when Favre was still putting up great numbers and folks whispering in his ear that he's old and should think about quitting.

 

[pb4uski]

Yeah, I was sitting with some fellow Pats fans watching one of the regular season games later in the season and Brady was definitely off the mark in passes in the first half and they were going on about that he was old and should retire.... I stared them down and asked if they were crazy... here the guy is leading the league in stats, at the time a potential MVP and he has a few bad throws and they are ready to get rid of him... crazy!

I'm sure that day will come sometime, but right now, even at 40 he is playing well.... his reading of defenses and audibles are among the best in the league and his passes still have a lot of zip... only issue is that he is really, really slow if he needs to run.

 

[bclover]

So my son convinced me to join the madness last night. I lasted all of 10 minutes.

 

[Midpack]

Yeah, I was sitting with some fellow Pats fans watching one of the regular season games later in the season and Brady was definitely off the mark in passes in the first half and they were going on about that he was old and should retire.... I stared them down and asked if they were crazy... here the guy is leading the league in stats, at the time a potential MVP and he has a few bad throws and they are ready to get rid of him... crazy!

I'm sure that day will come sometime, but right now, even at 40 he is playing well.... his reading of defenses and audibles are among the best in the league and his passes still have a lot of zip... only issue is that he is really, really slow if he needs to run.

Who knows. I just don't want to see him close out his career looking feeble like Peyton Manning in his last year, despite a SB win.

 

[redduck]

Brady is still Brady--he's still great. 505 yards passing, no interceptions. Those are Roethlisberger-type numbers (except for Brady's lack of interceptions). I don't see any reason that Brady should/would retire as per his play at quarterback. As a receiver, well, that's a completely different story--even though he was able to get some good separation. If the media drones didn't constantly ask about retirement, it probably wouldn't even be an issue.

Anybody know why the Pats Malcolm Butler didn't play? It seemed he was notified he wouldn't be playing while sitting on the bench right before the game.

It also seemed as if Belichick didn't out-coach Pederson.

 

[redduck]

Oh, one more thing...
For those of you who go into painful withdrawal after football season, I recommend watching LAST CHANCE U (streaming on Netflix). It's a documentary series (kind of like Hard Knocks) except it's about a powerhouse football team, East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Ms. (pop 697).