NFL Playoffs Thread (again with less Suh)

[biittner77]

Let's get to some MFng baseball now. I so wish we could all just skip the month of February. It sucks so hard.

 

Don't pitchers and catchers report in 2 weeks?

[Guest]

The games don't start until March:

[Sammys Boombox]

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--h3WL6cd9--/wi8src56el4lhgdd3jty.gif

 

Tonight's real champion.

 

"Go to Julliard for dance they said. You'll have a job within a year of graduating, they said."

Actual quote from a dancer I know today "I want to dance in the super bowl! Even if I'm a weird shark"

Conspiracy theories are out. Seattle didn't run the ball, because they didn't want Marshawn Lynch to get the MVP (would have been his 2nd TD, to go with 100+ rushing and a big 31 yard catch on that final drive). Him getting the MVP would mean he would be interviewed on live TV and embarass the franchise with his answer.

.

I hope this turns out to be true. Great way to blow a title.

 

That can't be true. Besides Lynch isn't showing any angst over the play call and it not being him.

 

At 30 seconds, Pete Carroll couldn't possibly calculate all of that in his head while calling the play of the season at the same [expletive] time. He felt the play was the best choice to win. Period.

 

Especially since he called his number on the play before and he got it to the 1.

[Guest]

people are acting like he called a flea-flicker at the 1 yard-line or something.

 

the level of meatballery surrounding the ending is ridiculous. the cb made a great break and closed about as quickly on the receiver as you can get, it was a fantastic play to win the game. there shouldn't be anything controversial about what happened, you can't run the ball on every down.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

people are acting like he called a flea-flicker at the 1 yard-line or something.

 

the level of meatballery surrounding the ending is ridiculous. the cb made a great break and closed about as quickly on the receiver as you can get, it was a fantastic play to win the game. there shouldn't be anything controversial about what happened, you can't run the ball on every down.

 

I'm about 90% with you. It was a little weird, but people are acting like it switched an auto-win to an auto-loss.

[dew1679666265]

I'm with both of you. Was it the optimal call? That's debatable. Would a run there have been a bad call? Not at all.

 

The Seahawks had 1 run play they could call and that's it. That play was not the final play of the game barring a score or turnover and they had to take that into account. If you run it on 2nd down, not only are you running into the teeth of the defense, but you're taking away any matchup advantage you might get on potential 3rd and 4th downs. You also have to consider that it took a less than stellar throw from Wilson, a less than stellar effort by Lockette to try to catch it and a great play by Butler to make the pick.

 

I have no problem whatsoever with the idea that they should have run the ball there. However, there's a perfectly legitimate argument as to why the pass was a good play call and, certainly, the hyperbolic claims that it was the "worst play call of all time" is just silly.

[Guest]

I'm with both of you. Was it the optimal call? That's debatable. Would a run there have been a bad call? Not at all.

 

The Seahawks had 1 run play they could call and that's it. That play was not the final play of the game barring a score or turnover and they had to take that into account. If you run it on 2nd down, not only are you running into the teeth of the defense, but you're taking away any matchup advantage you might get on potential 3rd and 4th downs. You also have to consider that it took a less than stellar throw from Wilson, a less than stellar effort by Lockette to try to catch it and a great play by Butler to make the pick.

 

I have no problem whatsoever with the idea that they should have run the ball there. However, there's a perfectly legitimate argument as to why the pass was a good play call and, certainly, the hyperbolic claims that it was the "worst play call of all time" is just silly.

 

They could have run whatever they wanted but they decided to let 40 seconds run off the clock after Lynch took the ball down to the 1 because they didn't want to leave New England too much time. Instead, they tried to get cute. You're losing the game. Get the touchdown and worry about the details later. If your defense can't prevent New England from scoring in 40 seconds, oh well. But they backed themselves into a corner by wasting all that time.

 

And they also wouldn't have had to worry about time had they actually been able to get a play off earlier in the drive (they called a timeout after an incomplete pass).

[Guest]

the biggest blunder was burning the second timeout with 1:06 left and the clock already stopped, but it's still pretty inexpicable that you wouldn't choose to run it again on 2nd down while you're still guaranteed the chance. it's extremely likely he gets in and you never even have to make the decision to throw it on 3rd or 4th

[dew1679666265]

I'm with both of you. Was it the optimal call? That's debatable. Would a run there have been a bad call? Not at all.

 

The Seahawks had 1 run play they could call and that's it. That play was not the final play of the game barring a score or turnover and they had to take that into account. If you run it on 2nd down, not only are you running into the teeth of the defense, but you're taking away any matchup advantage you might get on potential 3rd and 4th downs. You also have to consider that it took a less than stellar throw from Wilson, a less than stellar effort by Lockette to try to catch it and a great play by Butler to make the pick.

 

I have no problem whatsoever with the idea that they should have run the ball there. However, there's a perfectly legitimate argument as to why the pass was a good play call and, certainly, the hyperbolic claims that it was the "worst play call of all time" is just silly.

 

They could have run whatever they wanted but they decided to let 40 seconds run off the clock after Lynch took the ball down to the 1 because they didn't want to leave New England too much time. Instead, they tried to get cute. You're losing the game. Get the touchdown and worry about the details later. If your defense can't prevent New England from scoring in 40 seconds, oh well. But they backed themselves into a corner by wasting all that time.

 

And they also wouldn't have had to worry about time had they actually been able to get a play off earlier in the drive (they called a timeout after an incomplete pass).

 

I have no disagreement with any of that, but it doesn't change the situation they were actually in. Had things played out differently, running the ball might've been the unquestioned best move. But in the situation they were in, throwing the ball wasn't a bad call.

[dew1679666265]

the biggest blunder was burning the second timeout with 1:06 left and the clock already stopped, but it's still pretty inexpicable that you wouldn't choose to run it again on 2nd down while you're still guaranteed the chance. it's extremely likely he gets in and you never even have to make the decision to throw it on 3rd or 4th

 

It's likely he scores, but there's also a significant chance he doesn't. And if he doesnt, you blew your chance to be able to play matchups on 3rd down.

 

Again, I'm not saying the best call there wasn't a run. I'm just saying throwing the ball was perfectly defensible.

[OleMissCub]

Brady gave the Chevy Colorado truck he won for being MVP to Malcolm Butler. Very cool.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brady gave the Chevy Colorado truck he won for being MVP to Malcolm Butler. Very cool.

 

 

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 37m37 minutes ago

Super-Bowl MVP Tom Brady said on WEEI that he wants to give his MVP truck to Malcolm Butler.

 

 

Wants to. Gotta get those tax attorneys on this one before they do anything.

[Banedon]

Brady gave the Chevy Colorado truck he won for being MVP to Malcolm Butler. Very cool.

 

 

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 37m37 minutes ago

Super-Bowl MVP Tom Brady said on WEEI that he wants to give his MVP truck to Malcolm Butler.

 

 

Wants to. Gotta get those tax attorneys on this one before they do anything.

 

Bet he deflates the tires before he gives it over!

 

#NailedIt

[CubInOK]

Brady gave the Chevy Colorado truck he won for being MVP to Malcolm Butler. Very cool.

 

 

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 37m37 minutes ago

Super-Bowl MVP Tom Brady said on WEEI that he wants to give his MVP truck to Malcolm Butler.

 

 

Wants to. Gotta get those tax attorneys on this one before they do anything.

Butler won't have to pay a single dollar in taxes on the truck. Brady will.

[UMFan83]

Brady gave the Chevy Colorado truck he won for being MVP to Malcolm Butler. Very cool.

 

 

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 37m37 minutes ago

Super-Bowl MVP Tom Brady said on WEEI that he wants to give his MVP truck to Malcolm Butler.

 

 

Wants to. Gotta get those tax attorneys on this one before they do anything.

Butler won't have to pay a single dollar in taxes on the truck. Brady will.

 

Butler would have to pay a gift tax based on the value of the vehicle wouldn't he? Or at least the value of the vehicle beyond 10k or whatever the limit is. And given that Brady made it public knowledge, it's not something he can not report.

[Guest]

Brady gave the Chevy Colorado truck he won for being MVP to Malcolm Butler. Very cool.

 

 

Adam Schefter ‏@AdamSchefter 37m37 minutes ago

Super-Bowl MVP Tom Brady said on WEEI that he wants to give his MVP truck to Malcolm Butler.

 

 

Wants to. Gotta get those tax attorneys on this one before they do anything.

Butler won't have to pay a single dollar in taxes on the truck. Brady will.

 

Butler would have to pay a gift tax based on the value of the vehicle wouldn't he? Or at least the value of the vehicle beyond 10k or whatever the limit is. And given that Brady made it public knowledge, it's not something he can not report.

It's been a few years since a tax course, but:

 

The gift giver pays the tax (in excess of the gift allowance).

 

However if you won a car in some type of contest/raffle (or as Super Bowl MVP) you'd pay the tax as income.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

pretty sweet video of the pick, where you can see Butler break to the spot almost immediately after the snap and being in position to make the play by the time the ball actually leaves Wilson's hand.

[NonProfitCow]

I have no disagreement with any of that, but it doesn't change the situation they were actually in. Had things played out differently, running the ball might've been the unquestioned best move. But in the situation they were in, throwing the ball wasn't a bad call.

I can't buy that. If the run is stuffed, Pats are calling a timeout there.

[OleMissCub]

 

pretty sweet video of the pick, where you can see Butler break to the spot almost immediately after the snap and being in position to make the play by the time the ball actually leaves Wilson's hand.

 

Wow, he had to have known that exact route was coming.

[SouthSideRyan]

I have no disagreement with any of that, but it doesn't change the situation they were actually in. Had things played out differently, running the ball might've been the unquestioned best move. But in the situation they were in, throwing the ball wasn't a bad call.

I can't buy that. If the run is stuffed, Pats are calling a timeout there.

 

I thought they should've called one before the INT

[dew1679666265]

I have no disagreement with any of that, but it doesn't change the situation they were actually in. Had things played out differently, running the ball might've been the unquestioned best move. But in the situation they were in, throwing the ball wasn't a bad call.

I can't buy that. If the run is stuffed, Pats are calling a timeout there.

 

If they were going to call a timeout there, they would have done it after first down. How does it benefit the Pats to not call a timeout after first down, but then to call one after second down when the only thing that changed was that the Seahawks had 1 less play to score?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I can see the argument that letting the clock run and keeping the pressure on the offense is better than letting them have all the time in the world to choose plays and set formations.

[biittner77]

 

pretty sweet video of the pick, where you can see Butler break to the spot almost immediately after the snap and being in position to make the play by the time the ball actually leaves Wilson's hand.

 

One of the other videos that comes up on the link is titled Patriots win greatest super bowl in history. Where does this one actually rank?