NFL 2006 Season

[Yoshi]

Fearless prediction: Whoever comes out of the NFC East will lose in the first round of the playoffs.

To whom though? You're falling into the same trap that I tend to. In the NFL in 2006, there are no great teams. Everyone is flawed, so prediction is a bitch. Hell, in at least two games yesterday, one team completely outplayed the other and lost. The talent gaps are so small that officiating and blind luck are often the decisive factors.

[Geo]

As much as I love Tuna, the decision to go for the 2-pt conversion attempt early in the game was stupid - and essentially cost the 'Boys the game. You're on the road, it's early in the game, take the PAT.

[Dipstick]

Yoshi makes a salient point about the officating -- the refs were doing an especially terrible job during the NE/Indy game. I guess it was fair though, as it just sucked all around. A short list:

• Colts get jobbed on a bullshit illegal contact call that costs them four points.
• The 'taunting' call on Troy Brown (Troy Brown? Are you serious??)
• A ref calling first down on Brady's QB sneak on a fourth and short before the ball was even spotted. (Pretty clear he didn't make it, too.)
• Mike Vrabel getting called on a fask mask penaty (that keeps a Colts drive alive) where he barely touched a Colts player on the shoulder; he was nowhere near anyone's fask mask.

Yuck. Frustrating game all around. I thought New England's play calling was really weird this game (making Brady's suck all that more frustating). Why the hell were they getting cute with fakes and screens and odd formations when Indy could not stop Dillon or Maroney at all? Just fucking pound the ball until you're blue in the face (which also has the side effect of keeping Manning on the bench). I also thought they were sending too many people at Manning constantly. There were getting pressure on him sending 3-4 people (he's still really good at throwing with pressure on him, but better that than giving his receivers time to get open), but they were not going to sack him much, and they could have used the extra man in coverage.

Arrgh.

[stormy]

Getting the pressure on Manning was how they beat them the last few years. It just seemed like this time he stayed cool and made the throws anyway. The NE secondary just blew so that really didn't help the game plan. I think the Pats losing Rodney Harrison was the turning point in the game.

[Thief Silver]

The Cowboys lost that one fair and square. Facemasking is one of those penalties like legwhips and crackbacks you call every time, it doesn't matter if the Superbowl's on the line. You can't fuck around with that stuff, and if the exact same scenario happens to the Giants on Sunday night I'll say the same thing.

Besides, if the 'boys O-line wasn't a 5-man matador squad they don't give up that safety, that kick doesn't get blocked, and they don't lose that game.

No, it should have been a 5 yard penalty, not 15. It was an incidental face mask, he did not actually grab it.

[Geo]

A ref calling first down on Brady's QB sneak on a fourth and short before the ball was even spotted. (Pretty clear he didn't make it, too.)

There were so many things wrong there, I don't know where to start.

[Yoshi]

As much as I love Tuna, the decision to go for the 2-pt conversion attempt early in the game was stupid - and essentially cost the 'Boys the game. You're on the road, it's early in the game, take the PAT.

I agree, but I'm still pinning the loss on Owens for dropping a sure TD.

[Geo]

Agreed.

I mentioned this yesterday while watching the game, the Cowboys had a 2005 Giants at Seattle-like meltdown, in terms of the amazing amount of penalties/penalized yardage and missed opportunities. They were the only team in Week 9 to win the turnover battle but lose the game.

[gamevet]

I agree, but I'm still pinning the loss on Owens for dropping a sure TD.

That was one of many blown opportunities for the Cowboys. 11 penalties for over 150 yards, is a real lack of discipline and it really killed one drive.

[gamevet]

Yoshi makes a salient point about the officating -- the refs were doing an especially terrible job during the NE/Indy game. I guess it was fair though, as it just sucked all around. A short list:

[list]
[*]The 'taunting' call on Troy Brown (Troy Brown? Are you serious??)

I believe that was called on Marvin Harrison.

[*]A ref calling first down on Brady's QB sneak on a fourth and short before the ball was even spotted. (Pretty clear he didn't make it, too.)

More frustrating, because the line judge that made the call wasn't even in a position to see where it was.

Yuck. Frustrating game all around. I thought New England's play calling was really weird this game (making Brady's suck all that more frustating). Why the hell were they getting cute with fakes and screens and odd formations when Indy could not stop Dillon or Maroney at all? Just fucking pound the ball until you're blue in the face (which also has the side effect of keeping Manning on the bench). I also thought they were sending too many people at Manning constantly. There were getting pressure on him sending 3-4 people (he's still really good at throwing with pressure on him, but better that than giving his receivers time to get open), but they were not going to sack him much, and they could have used the extra man in coverage.

Arrgh.

Denver killed themselves the same way. They had a first and 10 (15 yard line) and that drive had a ton of yardage gained on the run. What does Denver do? They run 3 pass plays and opt for a field goal. Manning takes the ball with 1:56 left and drives the team down for a winning field goal.