Sports

[gardenman]

Just two games this week. We'll start with the NFC matchup. The Rams go to New Orleans for the NFC title and the right to play in the Super Bowl. Not a great matchup for the Rams. In the NFL the head coach and quarterback have direct communication until the play clock is at fifteen seconds. Sean McVay likes to have his offense line up very early and then fake a snap so he can see what the defense is doing. He'll then give the real play to Jared Goff, who will communicate it to the offensive players, and then they'll snap the ball. That "communicate it to the offensive players" is going to be a problem in the Super Dome. That place is so loud that players can't hear the guy alongside of them, let alone the QB. The Rams will have to adjust to that. McVay will likely have to make the calls blindly and hope the defense is doing what he wants. 

The Saints are beatable however. They're not playing their best football right now. Neither are the Rams though. Both teams are down a bit from their best at this point. I think the Rams are playing a bit better than the Saints, but that's at home where McVay can adjust his calls before the snap. I'll probably pick the Saints in this one, simply because of the noise issues that home crowd will create for the Rams. On neutral turf, I think the Rams would probably win.

The Patriots go to KC for the AFC championship game. KC is amazing in their first 20-30 scripted plays. Andy Reid scripts out those first 20-30 plays and the Chiefs score a lot on those plays. It's when they go off the script that the Chiefs struggle for some reason. Mahomes is a magician at QB and he's got a talented cast around him. He's also got a serious home field advantage. But, the Patriots are playing nearly perfect football right now. They're arguably the hottest team, playing the best, in the playoff field. Tom Brady doesn't really care about the noise level or the rowdiness of the fans. He's just a surgeon out there cutting apart defenses. I'd love to see the Chiefs finally get Andy Reid a Super Bowl victory, and I'll be pulling for the Chiefs, but my gut says the Patriots get the win. They're just playing too well right now. Now, that can all change, but watching them dismantle the Chargers makes me think they'll be in Super Bowl 53 and likely win that also.

It should be a fun Sunday of football. At this point I think the two old guys (Brees and Brady) will be facing off in the Super Bowl. The two young guns (Mahomes and Goff) will likely have to wait another year.

[willomenia]

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@gardenman wrote:

Just two games this week. We'll start with the NFC matchup. The Rams go to New Orleans for the NFC title and the right to play in the Super Bowl. Not a great matchup for the Rams. In the NFL the head coach and quarterback have direct communication until the play clock is at fifteen seconds. Sean McVay likes to have his offense line up very early and then fake a snap so he can see what the defense is doing. He'll then give the real play to Jared Goff, who will communicate it to the offensive players, and then they'll snap the ball. That "communicate it to the offensive players" is going to be a problem in the Super Dome. That place is so loud that players can't hear the guy alongside of them, let alone the QB. The Rams will have to adjust to that. McVay will likely have to make the calls blindly and hope the defense is doing what he wants. 

The Saints are beatable however. They're not playing their best football right now. Neither are the Rams though. Both teams are down a bit from their best at this point. I think the Rams are playing a bit better than the Saints, but that's at home where McVay can adjust his calls before the snap. I'll probably pick the Saints in this one, simply because of the noise issues that home crowd will create for the Rams. On neutral turf, I think the Rams would probably win.

The Patriots go to KC for the AFC championship game. KC is amazing in their first 20-30 scripted plays. Andy Reid scripts out those first 20-30 plays and the Chiefs score a lot on those plays. It's when they go off the script that the Chiefs struggle for some reason. Mahomes is a magician at QB and he's got a talented cast around him. He's also got a serious home field advantage. But, the Patriots are playing nearly perfect football right now. They're arguably the hottest team, playing the best, in the playoff field. Tom Brady doesn't really care about the noise level or the rowdiness of the fans. He's just a surgeon out there cutting apart defenses. I'd love to see the Chiefs finally get Andy Reid a Super Bowl victory, and I'll be pulling for the Chiefs, but my gut says the Patriots get the win. They're just playing too well right now. Now, that can all change, but watching them dismantle the Chargers makes me think they'll be in Super Bowl 53 and likely win that also.

It should be a fun Sunday of football. At this point I think the two old guys (Brees and Brady) will be facing off in the Super Bowl. The two young guns (Mahomes and Goff) will likely have to wait another year.

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go patriots!

[Renata22]

Good game yesterday.

GO SAINTS!!

[redwingsgal]

Well, I was really hoping Rivers v Brees in the Superbowl, but since I am wrong (again) I am going Brees v Mahomes!!!

I do like Brady (a Michigan man), but I think Andy Reid will pull off the win!

Good Luck to all the remaining teams!!

[cancun08]

GO PATS!!

[Spurt]

Rams vs Saints--Pretty evenly matched teams.  Rams really took control of their game.....Saints locked it up with an interception toward closing minutes of the game, Eagles almost pulled it off...Rams look to be the better team, but going with home field advantage of the Super Dome and picking the Saints

Patriots vs Chiefs-- Patriots are relishing role of being made to be the underdog and how everyone is jumping on the Patrick "The Wonder Kid" Mahomes band wagon..... But don't ya think Beli will have a special defensive plan in place along with a battle tested playoff team....Now one reason the Chiefs beat the Chargers was the Chiefs defense finally showed up...although only 2 sacks were put on the stat sheet, the Chiefs pressured Rivers all day....they are playing at home....but Patriots have some special luck on their side and I have a feeling it will be the Patriots once again in the Super Bowl!

BTW ....does anyone else think it was a bit unclassy with the win securely in hand, why Beli would challenge that ref call late in the game?????  Just a tad tacky if you ask me....

[cancun08]

@dmod nj

I can be mistaken here, but didn't you say at one point that you were a big John Bon Jovi fan?  I'm sure that you missed it, because he's such a Pats fan he was in the Patriots owners box during yesterday's game singing along to Livin' On A Prayer that they were blasting throughout the stadium.

Lol......face palm coming up????  

[Spurt]

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@cancun08 wrote:

@dmod nj

I can be mistaken here, but didn't you say at one point that you were a big John Bon Jovi fan?  I'm sure that you missed it, because he's such a Pats fan he was in the Patriots owners box during yesterday's game singing along to Livin' On A Prayer that they were blasting throughout the stadium.

Lol......face palm coming up????  

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@cancun08

I saw an interview one time where Jon Bon Jovi was invited to the team's practice...and how Beli was a rocknroll concert goer in the off season.....

[cancun08]

@Spurt

Lol......poor @dmod nj is gonna fuh-lip!!!

[Spurt]

@teganslaw brought up an interesting comment....she said Collingsworth annoyed her....

Question for everyone: ( @teganslaw @gardenman @redwingsgal @sunshine45 

 @ccassaday @Renata22 @willomenia @Greeneyedlady21 @AuntG and anyone I may have missed....

What National NFL Broadcasting Analyst or Team annoys you?

What National NFL Broadcasting Analyst or Team is your favorite?

For WORST my choice is Charles Davis---how he became part of the number #2 team I'll never know ---he's a Mr. Cliche, Captain Obvious.....and his mouth is constantly going....in the Eagles/Saints game in the first half Eagles up .....we get this "brillant" analysis.....Eagles really have the Saints rattled.....and on a call....looks like this will be ruled a first down for the Saints ----WRONG! ruled a 4th down and Eagles got the ball...and when #18 WR Keith Kirkwood was shown limping off the field for the Saints....and no word nor a report from the sideline reporter on his status because Charles was busy running his mouth and talking about things we already knew.....and he's like this on every game....and he's been on a lot this season on games our area was shown....  

What has happened to teams at Fox???????

For BEST my choice is Tony Romo/Jim Nantz--yes a Redskin fan picking Romo....a sure sign of the apocalypse. But Tony gives insights we fans haven't heard before. His comments are a refreshing change from cliches.Jim Nantz does a great job...good pairing....A pleasure to listen too....

It appears I'm not alone in my thoughts---

Davis sounds like he's explaining the game to 5 year olds. I muted them after the third play in the Seahawks/Panthers game yesterday.

TOTALLY AGREE. My problem with Davis is that he NEVER shuts up. Never. Not every single play demands wall to wall, tackle to snap commentary. But I think this guy gets paid by the word. He loves to hear himself talk. I actually refuse to watch games he broadcasts.

Your thoughts?