That was an incredible weekend of football games. The NFL is an evil organization but man their product is so good, I can't quit it.
Also those were four epic nut punch losses.
Also those were four epic nut punch losses.
The 2003 and 2004 ALCSs might have something to say about that.Fell off the thread for the second game. Apologies for the likely redundancy. But that was the best divisional weekend I’ve ever seen.God, no wonder this is the most popular sport in America. At my core, I’ll always be a baseball guy. But this was impossible to top theater.
Kicking into the end zone barely qualifies as a blunder. I mean, I can easily envision a scenario where KC returns a squib kick to near the 40 with enough time for one play down the field like they one they executed. (That "mistake" is overblown; the mistakes were found in Buffalo's defense on the two plays after the kickoff.)Worse coaching mistake: Blitzing the corner covering Kupp or kicking into the end zone with 13 seconds left? Tough choice…
But that's kind of the point. The NFL has broadcast windows and wants the games to end as soon as possible when it gets to OT. If you just want more football maybe the games could be 6 periods instead of 4 quarters!If they play a full period under 4th quarter rules, then we could see teams make multiple stops! Or not!
Of course, for us. But I had no real dog in the fight for any of these games, except for rooting against Rodgers. And I was completely riveted to all of them. Would never be that way for any neutral baseball playoffs.The 2003 and 2004 ALCSs might have something to say about that.
That's what I am hoping for as well but I am partial to 1988.Nah the Bills and their HC are arrogant.
They won't learn anything from this loss and season that will make them go 14-3 or whatever. They will act like they have already won something and we should bow down to them.
You saw how McDermott reacted to underperforming this season, by throwing the rest of his staff under the bus. If not for a very easy end of the schedule they probably don't even make the playoffs. Hell have they probably miss the playoffs this year if they had to play the Cowboys and not the WFT.
I hate the Chiefs, but I am so happy the Bills lost.
Now let's see Cincy and SF take us back to 1982.
Airtime doesn't matter, clock doesn't start until the ball is touched. But, yes, they should have attempted to kick off inside the 10.I keep hearing it framed as squib vs end zone. To me the obvious move is kick it to ~5 yd line, aiming for maximum airtime. Chiefs have to run it back (ie can’t take a knee), and you’re guaranteed at least 4-5 seconds run off. With 13 seconds you have 2 plays to get in FG range. With 8-9 seconds you only have one. It’s such a no brainer
That's why I want some sort of auction for the right to get the ball first in OT (with the same rules after that):I seen some number-crunchers suggest that if the first team started at its own 15, winning probabilities would be roughly equal for both teams. That seems like the easiest solution that also takes out the kickoff, which is the most harmful type of game situation for player safety.
I totally agree with that. 100%.Of course, for us. But I had no real dog in the fight for any of these games, except for rooting against Rodgers. And I was completely riveted to all of them. Would never be that way for any neutral baseball playoffs.
I think 31 NFL coaches do that. Maybe 32 depending on how you want to interpret McDermott's "execution" quote.We all know what BB would have done in that instance: Bailey would have booted it onto the field of play and not into the end zone.
I get airtime doesn’t matter for clock, but it matters for coverage (what I was intending)Airtime doesn't matter, clock doesn't start until the ball is touched. But, yes, they should have attempted to kick off inside the 10.
Romo made a good point real time that the Bills were overplaying the sidelines when the Chiefs still had all 3 TOs thus had no reason to avoid the middle of the field.Kicking into the end zone barely qualifies as a blunder. I mean, I can easily envision a scenario where KC returns a squib kick to near the 40 with enough time for one play down the field like they one they executed. (That "mistake" is overblown; the mistakes were found in Buffalo's defense on the two plays after the kickoff.)
Yep.One of my first thoughts this morning after awakening was "13 fucking seconds". I'm a Pats fan living in New England. I can only imagine the hell that Bills fans are dealing with this morning.
There's a medium between a squib and a touchback. Most kickers can execute it.Kicking into the end zone barely qualifies as a blunder. I mean, I can easily envision a scenario where KC returns a squib kick to near the 40 with enough time for one play down the field like they one they executed. (That "mistake" is overblown; the mistakes were found in Buffalo's defense on the two plays after the kickoff.)
I can’t see this ever happening, but I like this idea a lot.That's why I want some sort of auction for the right to get the ball first in OT (with the same rules after that):
Do both teams yesterday want the ball, if they have to start at the 15? Inside their own 10? Even at their own one yard line, where one minor mistake will immediatly lose you the game?
Let's find out and get the auction started!
And if Team A gets the ball at their 5 yard line, because they had the the lowest bid and end up winning with a TD, Team B better not complain, because they could have gone with a 4yd bid and gotten the ball for themselves.
You can still use a coin toss if both teams are willing to start at their 1yd line (which I assume won't happen too often), but otherwise both teams had their chance.
The guy in the foreground on the left wasn't getting ready to unleash the cork just yet.
We weren't paying as close attention to them back then, but the 2003 NLCS (Cubs collapse after Bartman game) and 2004 NLCS (Edmonds homer in the 12th sends the series to Game 7) were pretty great, too.The 2003 and 2004 ALCSs might have something to say about that.
Seriously. And it doesn’t help that your city is a frozen, post-industrial hell-scape. It’s a cruel, cruel game sometimes.One of my first thoughts this morning after awakening was "13 fucking seconds". I'm a Pats fan living in New England. I can only imagine the hell that Bills fans are dealing with this morning.
Let's also be really clear that when Hill or one of KC's other elite sprinters took one all the way back, the exact same media people would be absolutely killing McDermott for letting them return a kick, since obviously they would have had no chance to score with 13 seconds from the 25.I think 31 NFL coaches do that. Maybe 32 depending on how you want to interpret McDermott's "execution" quote.
That team just missed making it to the SB last year and has the right to feel that it was 0:13 away from being the favorite to win the SB headed into the AFC Championship this season. One of the big stories for next year will be how they respond.Off, man, I can't imagine being a Buffalo fan this morning. Absolutely gutted.
Yes, that's probably the optimal option. But my point about the kickoff not being a blunder is that you'd only ever view it as one if your defense totally screws up - it's a results-based judgement. No coach gets blamed for kicking deep if the defense does it's job. And it's also a case of focusing on the minor tactical point your brain can easily wrap itself around and ignoring the more complicated and much more important defensive scheme that non-coaches and non-experts like us can't easily process.There's a medium between a squib and a touchback. Most kickers can execute it.
Or, this.The touchback was a mistake but the defense is way more at fault....you just cannot give up chunk plays like that. Let them get 10-15 yards but you can't allow 19 and 25 on back to back plays. That's the ONLY way they would have a realistic chance at a FG. You double KElce and double Hill and stil have two deep to tackle any underneath stuff to the other WRs.
I agree with Romo that dropping 8 there is a lot better....and those safeties were too deep. That was more of a defense suited for defending a TD than a FG attempt.
Apologies to Sox fans, but I will vote for 1986, which included the best game of my lifetime in game 6 of the NLCS, but also all of the final three series were batshit insane memorable. Also I went to game 5 of the NLCS, by far the best game I have ever attended in person (Gooden vs. Ryan, they pitched 19 innings between them) only to be almost immediately forgotten by the game 6 classic the next day in Houston.We weren't paying as close attention to them back then, but the 2003 NLCS (Cubs collapse after Bartman game) and 2004 NLCS (Edmonds homer in the 12th sends the series to Game 7) were pretty great, too.
The best baseball playoffs may have been in 1972--all series went to the limit, and of the 17 games, 11 of them were decided by one run, including 6 out of the 7 World Series games, and all the series clinchers (Game 5 of the ALCS and NLCS, and Game 7 of the WS).
How is it a results based judgment when many were saying a kickoff short of the goal line was the right play beforehand?Yes, that's probably the optimal option. But my point about the kickoff not being a blunder is that you'd only ever view it as one if your defense totally screws up - it's a results-based judgement. No coach gets blamed for kicking deep if the defense does it's job. And it's also a case of focusing on the minor tactical point your brain can easily wrap itself around and ignoring the more complicated and much more important defensive scheme that non-coaches and non-experts like us can't easily process.
Or, this.
The guy who picks up the ball can just take a knee/fall down and not have any significant time come off the clock (maybe a second), and you're giving up yards of field position unless it's done perfectly. The ideal scenario is obviously to have something that lands at the 5-10, but that was not done for whatever reason.The squib basically reduces KC's chance to a hail mary/lateral play. They didn't have to kick it deep and keep it in play, just a dribbler up the middle that forces KC to recover and kill some time. Even if they give up 10-15 yards in field position compared to a touchback they essentially remove the 2-plays and in field goal rante possibility.
Yeah, this is it. A regular kick coming down inside the 10 can be fair caught with no time off the clock but those extra 15-20 yds could've been the difference. Basically Buff did not trust their kicker to execute either a good squib or a short kick and they paid for it.The guy who picks up the ball can just take a knee/fall down and not have any significant time come off the clock (maybe a second), and you're giving up yards of field position unless it's done perfectly. The ideal scenario is obviously to have something that lands at the 5-10, but that was not done for whatever reason.
All series didn't go the limit, but the looming presence of Mike Scott in Game 7 made NLCS Game 6 seem like a Game 7. My younger brother has you beat though. He was at Game 6 of the WS, sitting near the Mets dugout thanks to the fact that he was dating the daughter of a guy who had season tickets there, and he's a Mets fan.Apologies to Sox fans, but I will vote for 1986, which included the best game of my lifetime in game 6 of the NLCS, but also all of the final three series were batshit insane memorable. Also I went to game 5 of the NLCS, by far the best game I have ever attended in person (Gooden vs. Ryan, they pitched 19 innings between them) only to be almost immediately forgotten by the game 6 classic the next day in Houston.
Or they trusted their defense more not to allow the Chiefs to go 40 yards in 13 seconds than they did their special teams to prevent a big return (possibly even a game-winning TD return).Yeah, this is it. A regular kick coming down inside the 10 can be fair caught with no time off the clock but those extra 15-20 yds could've been the difference. Basically Buff did not trust their kicker to execute either a good squib or a short kick and they paid for it.
I can't wait for Bass to get liquored up in the offseason and complain about it to the media.
And if a player kneels on the ball or fair catches it at the 10, great!All series didn't go the limit, but the looming presence of Mike Scott in Game 7 made NLCS Game 6 seem like a Game 7. My younger brother has you beat though. He was at Game 6 of the WS, sitting near the Mets dugout thanks to the fact that he was dating the daughter of a guy who had season tickets there, and he's a Mets fan.
To put this back on thread, the Bills should have made every effort to kick the ball in play, because while the smart move for any Chiefs player would have been for fall on it and leave as much time as possible for Mahomes to operate, the likelihood is pretty great that anyone fielding it might have panicked and tried some sort of return which would have peeled precious seconds off the clock. The Bills took that out of their hands when they kicked it into the end zone.
Right. We're talking about two choices that both should have given Buffalo a 98% or 99% chance of winning the game. It's about the (total lack of) execution, not the strategy.Or they trusted their defense more not to allow the Chiefs to go 40 yards in 13 seconds than they did their special teams to prevent a big return (possibly even a TD return).
I guess he really is done with football, because I can't imagine any coach wanting a guy like this on his team.He really is an ahole.
View: https://twitter.com/AB84/status/1485412838529196033?s=20
You know, he helped win Tom one SB, but he may have cost him two...He really is an ahole.
View: https://twitter.com/AB84/status/1485412838529196033?s=20
That picture reminds of the pics you see of people or places right before a tragedy happens. They have no clue that their world will be rocked in mere seconds...
I know HIll returned the last punt in regulation. I thought i heard them say he was back there on the kick-off as wellI didn't support kicking into the end zone in real time. I'd much rather the ball is in Pringle's or some other persons hands than Mahomes, Kelce's or Hill's.
That seems like the right thing on the first defensive play - like fouling the guy with the ball in basketball when you're up 3 late.I didn't support kicking into the end zone in real time. I'd much rather the ball is in Pringle's or some other persons hands than Mahomes, Kelce's or Hill's.
The more confounding thing to me is how there was no press on Kelce on the plays afterwards. I mean I'd have had a guy on him and Hill at the line and I'd have had them literally tackle them right then and there. Oh no, a five yard holding penalty? Happy to trade that for four seconds two or three times. Game over.
How come this isn't what these lifelong NFL coaches are doing?
You're a Sox fan. I'm sure you can relate at least a bit, no?Off, man, I can't imagine being a Buffalo fan this morning. Absolutely gutted.
It’s been discussed, they could call a 15 yard penalty with no clock run off.I didn't support kicking into the end zone in real time. I'd much rather the ball is in Pringle's or some other persons hands than Mahomes, Kelce's or Hill's.
The more confounding thing to me is how there was no press on Kelce on the plays afterwards. I mean I'd have had a guy on him and Hill at the line and I'd have had them literally tackle them right then and there. Oh no, a five yard holding penalty? Happy to trade that for four seconds two or three times. Game over.
How come this isn't what these lifelong NFL coaches are doing?