NFL Championship Sunday

[OleMissCub]

Well, since this is (because it is the Saints) a once in a lifetime thing, I decided to bite the bullet and get tix for me and the girl. They were stupid expensive though :-(

 

But I'm super excited about getting to see it. Be fun to see Brett Favre and AP down there.

[UMFan83]

Well, since this is (because it is the Saints) a once in a lifetime thing, I decided to bite the bullet and get tix for me and the girl. They were stupid expensive though :-(

 

But I'm super excited about getting to see it. Be fun to see Brett Favre and AP down there.

 

Good call. I paid a crapload to go to the NFC Championship game in 06 (sorry) and I'll never regret being there while my team clinches a SB berth. Of course your experience may be different than mine if the result is different than mine. Assuming the Saints win, you will have an absolute blast.

[ELCABALLO45]

 

Jet fan gets arrested just for chanting Jets at the Charger game. Gotta love the Cops sometimes.

 

Also, gotta love the guy in the Merriman jersey getting his girl's number

[17 Seconds]

the girl was getting his number, presumably for some kind of help with the situation

[biittner77]

It would be fantastic if the Jets, who wouldn't even have made the playoffs if the Colts hadn't let them win, beat the Carlos Silva out of the Colts.

 

I was way off in my prediction. I had Dallas - Minnesota ending in a scoreless tie which then gets settled by Tony Romo and Brett Favre fighting to the death armed only with pieces of Jared Allen and Aaron Rogers.

 

I'd like to see the Saints win. On the other hand, if the Vikings win the superbowl Farve retires forever.

[Soul]

I think the Colts can take this, but I'm not underestimating that Jets D again. I hope that will be a good game, lower scoring, with Peyton frustrated and really needing to dig deep for yards. It will be really disappointing to watch if the Colts find a hole or two in that Jets D and rack up points. I don't want to see that. I've seen it a thousand times already -- what I want to see is Manning pushed and challenged.

 

But that Minny/NO game -- looking/hoping for more of a shootout down there in the lowlands. My biggest fear is looking at the Vikings on the road this year. They're pretty much pedestrian, even bad at times, when away from the Metrodome. I'm hoping the fact that the Superdome is very similar to the Metrodome will help equalize that a bit.

 

Looking for two good games, finally, in these playoffs.

 

Colts 20 Jets 13

 

Saints 34 Vikings 31

 

Colts/Saints in the Super Bowl. Very good game/matchup, and well worth the hype.

[biittner77]

None of the possible match ups are bad. Jets vs Saints would be the #1 offense vs the #1 defense. Manning vs. Favre, Manning vs. Brees are compelling matchups. As someone already said, Favre vs his former team will be a tedious storyline. Hopefully having the pro bowl during the off week will defuse that a little bit.

[OleMissCub]

Correct. If the Colts win, then regardless of the winner in the NFC, you'll have one of the best QB matchups ever in the Super Bowl. Some of the others: Elway vs. Favre, Elway vs. Montana, Tarkenton vs. Bradshaw

[jersey cubs fan]

Correct. If the Colts win, then regardless of the winner in the NFC, you'll have one of the best QB matchups ever in the Super Bowl. Some of the others: Elway vs. Favre, Elway vs. Montana, Tarkenton vs. Bradshaw

 

Brady played Warner. Nobody thought Brady was anything special at the time, as he was a first time starter, but he had a nice season, the first of several ever improving seasons until he peaked as a superstar. And it compares favorably with anything Terry Bradshaw ever did. Also, Marino played Montana, and Aikman played Kelly a couple times.

[biittner77]

I wonder if Warner vs Rothliesberger (sp) will ever make it into this discussion?

 

In terms of the game actually being good, Ken Anderson (Cincy) vs Montana would be one of the best QB match ups.

[SpongeWorthy]

Collins vs. Dilfer greatest Super Bowl QB match up of all time.

[Soul]

None of the possible match ups are bad. Jets vs Saints would be the #1 offense vs the #1 defense.

 

I'd rather not see that #1 offense vs. #1 defense matchup, because I have seen it before. I'd rather see offense on offense this time around, and it looks like a real possibility.

 

Out of the possibilities, I consider the Jets making it to the Super Bowl to be far and away the worst case scenario.

[biittner77]

None of the possible match ups are bad. Jets vs Saints would be the #1 offense vs the #1 defense.

 

I'd rather not see that #1 offense vs. #1 defense matchup, because I have seen it before. I'd rather see offense on offense this time around, and it looks like a real possibility.

 

Out of the possibilities, I consider the Jets making it to the Super Bowl to be far and away the worst case scenario.

 

As a Bears fan, I don't want to see the Jets make it to the Superbowl since it would just reinforce the archaic "defense and run the football" mentality that the Bears have used since the dawn of time.

[Soul]

None of the possible match ups are bad. Jets vs Saints would be the #1 offense vs the #1 defense.

 

I'd rather not see that #1 offense vs. #1 defense matchup, because I have seen it before. I'd rather see offense on offense this time around, and it looks like a real possibility.

 

Out of the possibilities, I consider the Jets making it to the Super Bowl to be far and away the worst case scenario.

 

As a Bears fan, I don't want to see the Jets make it to the Superbowl since it would just reinforce the archaic "defense and run the football" mentality that the Bears have used since the dawn of time.

 

Jets/Vikings is my worst-of-all-worlds.

 

Colts/Saints would be the most exciting.

 

I'll watch in any case. But I won't watch Mike & Mike for a month if the Jets make it. I can barely handle it right now.

[dew1679666265]

None of the possible match ups are bad. Jets vs Saints would be the #1 offense vs the #1 defense.

 

I'd rather not see that #1 offense vs. #1 defense matchup, because I have seen it before. I'd rather see offense on offense this time around, and it looks like a real possibility.

 

Out of the possibilities, I consider the Jets making it to the Super Bowl to be far and away the worst case scenario.

 

As a Bears fan, I don't want to see the Jets make it to the Superbowl since it would just reinforce the archaic "defense and run the football" mentality that the Bears have used since the dawn of time.

 

The thing with the defense/run the ball mentality, is that the defense must be elite for that to work. Last year's Titans and this year's Jets are examples of that, but as you saw with the Titans this year, the defense dropped a bit and we went 8-8.

[Roast]

I'm really hoping for a Manning v. Brees/Favre match-up. I want nothing to do with the Jets in the Super Bowl.

[jersey cubs fan]

The thing with the defense/run the ball mentality, is that the defense must be elite for that to work. Last year's Titans and this year's Jets are examples of that, but as you saw with the Titans this year, the defense dropped a bit and we went 8-8.

 

I think there's two things.

 

As you say, it has to be an elite defense, not just very good, but also, it's no way to win consistently. You can put together a great year, maybe two, with a defense and run the ball mentality, but that's about it.

 

This is what I was most annoyed with Urlacher's statements earlier this year. He laments that they aren't a run the ball and win with defense team anymore, saying that it worked with Orton. The problem, of course, is it didn't work with Orton and they are no longer a very good defense, let alone elite. That was about a 1.5 year window closed abrubtly.

[dew1679666265]

The thing with the defense/run the ball mentality, is that the defense must be elite for that to work. Last year's Titans and this year's Jets are examples of that, but as you saw with the Titans this year, the defense dropped a bit and we went 8-8.

 

I think there's two things.

 

As you say, it has to be an elite defense, not just very good, but also, it's no way to win consistently. You can put together a great year, maybe two, with a defense and run the ball mentality, but that's about it.

 

This is what I was most annoyed with Urlacher's statements earlier this year. He laments that they aren't a run the ball and win with defense team anymore, saying that it worked with Orton. The problem, of course, is it didn't work with Orton and they are no longer a very good defense, let alone elite. That was about a 1.5 year window closed abrubtly.

 

You can win consistently with that mentality, but again, you have to have and keep the exact right personnel to make it work. The Titans had 11-13 wins in 4 of 5 seasons from 1999-2003 with largely that mentality. They did open up the offense some from 2002-2003, but still relied on a good defense. There's much less margin for error with that type of mentality, though,

 

The reason for the dropoff after 2003 was age and being some $40+ million over the salary cap.

[jersey cubs fan]

You can win consistently with that mentality, but again, you have to have and keep the exact right personnel to make it work. The Titans had 11-13 wins in 4 of 5 seasons from 1999-2003 with largely that mentality.

 

That doesn't really compare to the stretch of success that Indy, New England and Philly, and it helps that Tennessee had a pro bowl caliber QB on the roster.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I'm not going to be picky. I just want some good games out of the conference championships and the Super Bowl. I love the NFL playoffs but they haven't been very entertaining for a neutral fan this year. I have higher hopes for Sunday though.

[dew1679666265]

You can win consistently with that mentality, but again, you have to have and keep the exact right personnel to make it work. The Titans had 11-13 wins in 4 of 5 seasons from 1999-2003 with largely that mentality.

 

That doesn't really compare to the stretch of success that Indy, New England and Philly, and it helps that Tennessee had a pro bowl caliber QB on the roster.

 

Part of what made McNair a Pro Bowl caliber QB was the running game with Eddie George taking pressure off of him. He would not have done well early on and probably wouldn't have developed into the QB he did if we relied on the passing game from 1998-2001. The reliance did shift to passing a bit more from 2002-2003, but like I said, the focus was still on "winning with defense."

 

As for the stretch of success, the biggest difference between Indy/Philly/NE and Tennessee is handling of the salary cap. As I said, by 2004 we were something silly like $40-50 million over the salary cap and then $20-something over before 2005. We didn't handle the cap well, we were paying too much to guys who were cut in 2004-2005 (Rolle, Mason, Wycheck, Runyan, etc) and were playing with cheap vets and rookies. The dropoff had nothing to do with the style of play of the team, but with being massively over the cap.

[jersey cubs fan]

The dropoff had nothing to do with the style of play of the team, but with being massively over the cap.

 

Disagree. The style of play requires fielding a no weak link defense and a top not RB, and both of those things are very cap unfriendly. Defense requires crazy guys going 100% and throwing their bodies around. That leads to injuries and it leads to guys deteriorating quickly. QBs are protected. They get hit, but the great ones have very long careers that produce sustained success. RB's come and go, defenses are expensive to maintain, both of those things lead to cap problems that a franchise QB does not. It is precisely that mentality that leads to cap problems that you blame for the Titans decline.

[dew1679666265]

I will add that even if the mentality is to win with the running game and defense, it's still important to have a quarterback who can make plays and is better consistently than an Orton or a Dilfer. Much in the same way that it's very hard to consistently win if you only have a great passing attack and no running game at all. I realize that the Colts and Eagles have had virtually no running game for a while now, but most teams don't have Hall of Fame QBs leading their passing game.

 

There has to be some level of balance in the NFL if you're going to win consistently and don't have one of the greatest players in the history of the game playing for you.

[dew1679666265]

The dropoff had nothing to do with the style of play of the team, but with being massively over the cap.

 

Disagree. The style of play requires fielding a no weak link defense and a top not RB, and both of those things are very cap unfriendly. Defense requires crazy guys going 100% and throwing their bodies around. That leads to injuries and it leads to guys deteriorating quickly. QBs are protected. They get hit, but the great ones have very long careers that produce sustained success. RB's come and go, defenses are expensive to maintain, both of those things lead to cap problems that a franchise QB does not. It is precisely that mentality that leads to cap problems that you blame for the Titans decline.

 

It's not what we were paying the guys when they were there, it's that Floyd Reese got too reliant on veterans and massively backloaded contracts. To be able to pass the ball with the best teams in the league, you have to have a very highly paid QB and (generally) very high paid WRs as well. No successful, veteran filled team is cap friendly and that's what the Titans tried to build.

 

The Eagles, Patriots and Colts all have integrated young players into their team and, thus, have cheap production on their roster. The Titans didn't do this, not because it can't be done, but because it was easier to backload deals and rely on veterans who had been winning for us in the past. Thus far, Reinfeldt has done a better job of not signing long-term deals for veterans and, instead, developing young players. The Titans of the 90s and early 2000s didn't do that.

[Soul]

It's the number of moving parts that all need to be maintained in top form, and under the cap. That's what makes it hard to stay at that top defensive level for a long time.

 

QBs are protected in this league. Really good ones tend to have long careers. And it's just one player. You juggle the other parts around him, but he keeps you in contention for a long time almost by himself.

 

That's the theory anyway. I agree with it, although I still love to see fantastic defense.