OT 2026 NFL playoffs

[storrsroars]

Taking the FG would've made these last 26 seconds interesting.

 

[JwittersPAC]

Pats will beat the Seahawks

Of course since they have Maye who was tremendous in the game against the Broncos. That 9 yard drive he led was the best I have ever seen.

 

[RuffRuff]

That botched punt catch was the play of the game.

Nice win by the Seahawks.

Really was. Turning point.

 

[JwittersPAC]

Really was. Turning point.

Both games won by botched plays. Bronco QB bad play and Rams botched punt return,

 

[Kolumbo]

Taking the FG would've made these last 26 seconds interesting.

Taking the FG would have changed how the rest of the game played out but yes it still likely would have been a more interesting finish.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

This is crazy, captured by the moment, hyperbole.

He has the right team, just the wrong year. Super Bowl XX (1985 season, Jan-86 Super Bowl) holds the crown.

 

[Scoe]

If you were going for it on 4th why not try to run it with Kyren Williams so it’s puts you in a 4th and 2 situation or shorter, a shot gun draw to catch Seahawks off guard.

 

[mauconnfan]

For all the complaints about offense, the Patriots are now the only team in NFL history to face and beat three top 5 defenses in the playoffs. If they face and beat Seattle it will be four.

And each of those teams offenses were some of the worse ever seen in the playoffs. Congrats to Vrabel for making his defense even better come playoff time but man these were ugly. But no matter, they’re wins!

 

[Scoe]

Mcvay going for it on 4th down was probably the right call, let's just say it far less of an egregious decision than Sean Payton going for it with Stidham.

I probably would've kicked the fg myself, your losing so you have to take your chances, taking the fg and relying on your D to get a stop is also a risk. I would've ran the ball on 3rd and 5 with Karen Williams or a screen pass to set up a 4th and 2 or shorter.

 

[Deepster]

I think I mentioned it before in another thread. I'm just some couch potato who knows nothing about football, but I don't understand the widespread going for it on 4th down, especially giving up free pts with easy FGs that goes on today.

I'm sure there's math behind it, but you're up 7-0 (one score) with the chance to go up 2 scores. With that defense, at home, nevermind the weather reports.....why don't you force a 2nd year QB to put together 2 scoring drives against you? They had 11 total yds to that point. And maybe they fumble (Stevenson fumbles and Maye had lost a bunch recently) or Surtain gets a pick?

I don't know. And it's not Monday Morning QB because I screamed the same thing at the TV as it happened.

 

[RuffRuff]

I think I mentioned it before in another thread. I'm just some couch potato who knows nothing about football, but I don't understand the widespread going for it on 4th down, especially giving up free pts with easy FGs that goes on today.

I'm sure there's math behind it, but you're up 7-0 (one score) with the chance to go up 2 scores. With that defense, at home, nevermind the weather reports.....why don't you force a 2nd year QB to put together 2 scoring drives against you? They had 11 total yds to that point. And maybe they fumble (Stevenson fumbles and Maye had lost a bunch recently) or Surtain gets a pick?

I don't know. And it's not Monday Morning QB because I screamed the same thing at the TV as it happened.

In many cases analytics support, but situationally that was a clear case where taking the FG was the right move. All time poor decision there by Peyton. Very strong likelihood if they got that 3, they would have won. They could have literally run & punted for the rest of the game and had a chance to win it.

The entire game was predicated by 2-3 plays as there was a lot of nothing going on for much of it given the conditions.

1) That Peyton call to go for it
2) Stidham fumble
3) Blocked FG

There is a reasonable chance that if Stidham just throws it away normally, Pats would never have gotten a TD.

And that's kinda it. Very weird game. I guess you can add in the early Denver bomb on 3rd and 10 as the other meaningful play as a wild mistake by the Pats secondary.

 

[Scoe]

The nfl is so watered down now that if you had a 48 year old Tom Brady at QB and a 100 year old Marv Leavy as HC they could probably win a Super Bowl in this era.

 

[boba]

This Patriots team is maybe the worst team to ever make a Super Bowl, the worst I can remember but I can't stand Sean Payton's arrogant arse. Somebody had to make it out of a terrible AFC but good lord has New England been lucky on their way to SB.

1985 Patriots went to the Super Bowl. That team was balanced, which is what made them good. Unfortunately they were uniformly mediocre on offense and defense and just pretty good on special teams. The 1985 Bears were of course the '85 Bears. I remember those teams.

 

[RuffRuff]

The nfl is so watered down now that if you had a 48 year old Tom Brady at QB and a 100 year old Marv Leavy as HC they could probably win a Super Bowl in this era.

You'd get many arguing very differently. There's just a lot of parity by design.

 

[Scoe]

1985 Patriots went to the Super Bowl. That team was balanced, which is what made them good. Unfortunately they were uniformly mediocre on offense and defense and just pretty good on special teams. The 1985 Bears were of course the '85 Bears. I remember those teams.

Bears lucked out a bit that they didn't have to face Marino in that Super Bowl, doubt the Dolphins win though they probably get destroyed in a rematch.

 

[HuskyHawk]

This Patriots team is maybe the worst team to ever make a Super Bowl, the worst I can remember but I can't stand Sean Payton's arrogant arse. Somebody had to make it out of a terrible AFC but good lord has New England been lucky on their way to SB.

This is just silly really. They had the third best PF/PA in the NFL at +170 behind Seattle and the Rams. They had a top 5 offense (#2 in EPA) and just about a top 5 defense, certainly it is when healthy with Gonzo and Williams. They are underdogs by 4.5 points, but the 2001 team was underdogs by 14. Meanwhile, the Giants teams that beat the Patriots were both far, far worse than this Patriots team. The 1990 Broncos lost to the 49ers by 45. The 1986 Patriots were a lot worse than this team. Tony Eason was QB.

This team isn't close to the worst to make it to the Superbowl.

 

[RuffRuff]

This is just silly really. They had the third best PF/PA in the NFL at +170 behind Seattle and the Rams. They had a top 5 offense (#2 in EPA) and just about a top 5 defense, certainly it is when healthy with Gonzo and Williams. They are underdogs by 4.5 points, but the 2001 team was underdogs by 14. Meanwhile, the Giants teams that beat the Patriots were both far, far worse than this Patriots team. The 1990 Broncos lost to the 49ers by 45. The 1986 Patriots were a lot worse than this team. Tony Eason was QB.

This team isn't close to the worst to make it to the Superbowl.

AFC teams were getting crushed by the NFC from 1985 to 1997.

 

[superjohn]

This is just silly really. They had the third best PF/PA in the NFL at +170 behind Seattle and the Rams. They had a top 5 offense (#2 in EPA) and just about a top 5 defense, certainly it is when healthy with Gonzo and Williams. They are underdogs by 4.5 points, but the 2001 team was underdogs by 14. Meanwhile, the Giants teams that beat the Patriots were both far, far worse than this Patriots team. The 1990 Broncos lost to the 49ers by 45. The 1986 Patriots were a lot worse than this team. Tony Eason was QB.

This team isn't close to the worst to make it to the Superbowl.

Again, they haven't played anyone. The regular season schedule was an absolute joke, historically weak. The AFC stinks and they've been playing against second stringers at key positions throughout the playoffs.

 

[HuskyHawk]

AFC teams were getting crushed by the NFC from 1985 to 1997.

I just find it funny how "didn't play anyone" is a narrative when they faced 3 very tough defenses in bad weather. It's like defense doesn't matter, only offense. Who did Seattle play? The Niners? The Pats would put up 40 on the Niners. The Rams played Carolina, the worst team in the playoffs by far, and barely pulled it out. Carolina was tied in a division where every single team was negative on PF/PA.

Seattle is the most complete team, clearly has been since October. But the next most complete team, offense and defense, all year, was the Patriots.

 

[RuffRuff]

I just find it funny how "didn't play anyone" is a narrative when they faced 3 very tough defenses in bad weather. It's like defense doesn't matter, only offense. Who did Seattle play? The Niners? The Pats would put up 40 on the Niners. The Rams played Carolina, the worst team in the playoffs by far, and barely pulled it out. Carolina was tied in a division where every single team was negative on PF/PA.

Seattle is the most complete team, clearly has been since October. But the next most complete team, offense and defense, all year, was the Patriots.

Their defense has given up 26 pts in the playoffs, and no one can run the ball on them. That's the lowest number since the 2000 Ravens. They have an elite CB. Their offense averaged 30 pts a game during the regular season. The schedule helped, but you can't deny the results and general balance of the team.

They're 4.5pt dogs to the best team in the NFL, and I think they matchup well. Key will be Maye finding his old self, which I think he will in the good weather.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Again, they haven't played anyone. The regular season schedule was an absolute joke, historically weak. The AFC stinks and they've been playing against second stringers at key positions throughout the playoffs.

That's just nonsense. These are NFL teams. The Broncos had a schedule almost as bad and played much worse against it. Where were the 2nd stringers on the Chargers or Texans? The Patriots blew out that Carolina team the Rams struggled against. Blew out the Giants team that Denver beat by 1.

The NFC is all about offense. Seattle is the only truly good defense in the whole conference, the Eagles were decent.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Their defense has given up 26 pts in the playoffs, and no one can run the ball on them. That's the lowest number since the 2000 Ravens. They have an elite CB. Their offense averaged 30 pts a game during the regular season. The schedule helped, but you can't deny the results and general balance of the team.

They're 4.5pt dogs to the best team in the NFL, and I think they matchup well. Key will be Maye finding his old self, which I think he will in the good weather.

It's a completely different team with both Milton Williams and Gonzalez playing. Those two are both among our 3 best players. Only had both for a few games all season. The run defense has forced teams to abandon the run and become one dimensional. I think Maye will put up points in warm weather. Seattle D is very good but the pass rush isn't as good as Houston or Denver.

 

[RuffRuff]

It's a completely different team with both Milton Williams and Gonzalez playing. Those two are both among our 3 best players. Only had both for a few games all season. The run defense has forced teams to abandon the run and become one dimensional. I think Maye will put up points in warm weather. Seattle D is very good but the pass rush isn't as good as Houston or Denver.

100%. Williams and Barmore are a force of a DL vs the run. Let's not forget Marcus Jones is a very, very good CB too. If Gonzo can shut down JSN, this will be a very good game. This Pats team is underrated on talent. They aren't deep, but the are talented.

Maye will spread the ball around - he's got plus targets in Boutte, Henry, Diggs and Hollins. Have to have confidence that McD can scheme something to keep this one close.

 

[superjohn]

That's just nonsense. These are NFL teams. The Broncos had a schedule almost as bad and played much worse against it. Where were the 2nd stringers on the Chargers or Texans? The Patriots blew out that Carolina team the Rams struggled against. Blew out the Giants team that Denver beat by 1.

The NFC is all about offense. Seattle is the only truly good defense in the whole conference, the Eagles were decent.

You couldn't really dispute anything I said so you go with, "That's just nonsense. These are NFL teams."

I'll grant you the NFC didn't win the AFC head to head matchup by much, I'm going by more the eye test. There's no disputing the Patriots have been incredibly fortunate playing these teams who are injured at their key positions. There also is no disputing the Patriots had the easiest schedule in the league this season and a historically weak/easy schedule in the NFL.

 

[Deepster]

In many cases analytics support, but situationally that was a clear case where taking the FG was the right move. All time poor decision there by Peyton. Very strong likelihood if they got that 3, they would have won. They could have literally run & punted for the rest of the game and had a chance to win it.

The entire game was predicated by 2-3 plays as there was a lot of nothing going on for much of it given the conditions.

1) That Peyton call to go for it
2) Stidham fumble
3) Blocked FG

There is a reasonable chance that if Stidham just throws it away normally, Pats would never have gotten a TD.

And that's kinda it. Very weird game. I guess you can add in the early Denver bomb on 3rd and 10 as the other meaningful play as a wild mistake by the Pats secondary.

2) I still don't know that was a fumble. And I am not sure why they made the call on the field, then reversed it without any review.

Toss in the spot they gave Maye a first down on. The over the top camera showed that was questionable. Again, no review.

 

[Scoe]

I said before I like the Pats chances better against the Seahawks than the Rams and I will stand by that. I feel that the Seahawks haven’t faced any adversity and they will get too loud and too high. Already the Seahawks are running their mouths, McDonald already talking smack saying Sam Darnold shut a lot of people up, true but you have to win the Super Bowl now to truly shut people up. The way McDonald spoke in a robotic macho man WWE style voice at the podium rubbed me the wrong way.

The Super Bowl pre game and half time are long I feel the Seahawks will get too high and lose their energy. I feel the Pats keep it close and feel it out and conserve their energy for the 2nd half.

 

[RuffRuff]

2) I still don't know that was a fumble. And I am not sure why they made the call on the field, then reversed it without any review.

Toss in the spot they gave Maye a first down on. The over the top camera showed that was questionable. Again, no review.

The spot was really hard to overturn given the bodies piled. Maye has not been good at the sneak all year, that I will say. Henry got a poor spot on the play before that which I'm surprised Vrabel didn't review as it looked like he got the FD.

The fumble - I don't think it was a backwards pass as much as it was a fumble. I'm not sure how you qualify a push pass in terms of arm action but a Patriots players got his hand on the ball as it was still in Stidham's hands. It should have been a fumble and a defensive TD if called right.

 

[Deepster]

The spot was really hard to overturn given the bodies piled. Maye has not been good at the sneak all year, that I will say. Henry got a poor spot on the play before that which I'm surprised Vrabel didn't review as it looked like he got the FD.

The fumble - I don't think it was a backwards pass as much as it was a fumble. I'm not sure how you qualify a push pass in terms of arm action but a Patriots players got his hand on the ball as it was still in Stidham's hands. It should have been a fumble and a defensive TD if called right.

I think it, very easily, could have been an incomplete forward pass. At least reviewable as such. He clearly pushed the ball forward in an attempt to advance the ball the the player nearest him.

Eh, just another bamboo splint under my toenails.

 

[HuskyHawk]

You couldn't really dispute anything I said so you go with, "That's just nonsense. These are NFL teams."

I'll grant you the NFC didn't win the AFC head to head matchup by much, I'm going by more the eye test. There's no disputing the Patriots have been incredibly fortunate playing these teams who are injured at their key positions. There also is no disputing the Patriots had the easiest schedule in the league this season and a historically weak/easy schedule in the NFL.

I'm simply saying it doesn't matter. If you play bad teams and blow them out, what does that mean? Denver's schedule was almost as easy, and they were much worse against it (+90 vs +170). It tells you nothing. What injuries at key positions aside from Nix? Houston wasn't injured, Chargers missing OL, but they were for several weeks, it wasn't a new injury. Denver actually faced multiple backups all year. Chiefs 3rd stringer, Colts after Jones went down. I think they faced 7-8 backup QBs. Where's the narrative there?

The "eye test" is simply "who has the more attractive offense". That's it. It discounts defense and even the running game. Patriots scored the 3rd most points in the league, and while some of those teams were "bad" they didn't necessarily have bad defenses. The Browns defense is better than San Francisco's. So is the Saints.

So who exactly is good? Seattle, sure. The Rams, yes. Aside from those two is there a team better than Houston or Denver? No.

 

[RuffRuff]

I'm simply saying it doesn't matter. If you play bad teams and blow them out, what does that mean? Denver's schedule was almost as easy, and they were much worse against it (+90 vs +170). It tells you nothing. What injuries at key positions aside from Nix? Houston wasn't injured, Chargers missing OL, but they were for several weeks, it wasn't a new injury. Denver actually faced multiple backups all year. Chiefs 3rd stringer, Colts after Jones went down. I think they faced 7-8 backup QBs. Where's the narrative there?

The "eye test" is simply "who has the more attractive offense". That's it. It discounts defense and even the running game. Patriots scored the 3rd most points in the league, and while some of those teams were "bad" they didn't necessarily have bad defenses. The Browns defense is better than San Francisco's. So is the Saints.

So who exactly is good? Seattle, sure. The Rams, yes. Aside from those two is there a team better than Houston or Denver? No.

Reality is that there weren't that many great teams this year period. Seattle was the most complete, but it's their first time with this group and it's still Sam Darnold. With KC coming back to earth, parity is real.