Wild Card Weekend Gamethread

[tims4wins]

DeMarco Murray OUT

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21959945/tennessee-titans-rule-rb-demarco-murray-knee-kansas-city-chiefs

If the Titans didn't already have an uphill climb, this makes it all that much more steep

Edit:

SATURDAY
4:20pm Titans @ Chiefs ESPN/ABC
8:15pm Falcons @ Rams NBC

SUNDAY
1:05pm Bills @ Jaguars CBS
4:40pm Panthers @ Saints FOX

 

[johnmd20]

Losing Murray isn't like losing McCoy, which would be catastrophic for the Bills.

This is still bad news for a woeful Titans team, of course. They need all the help they can get. KC is going to smoke them like salami.

 

[pokey_reese]

At least TEN has a good defense, and Murray was losing snaps all year to younger/better options. I'm honestly not sure that this isn't a positive for them, because it frees them from the temptation to make their highly paid star player a healthy scratch.

 

[NYCSox]

The one thing Steelers fans and Pats fans can agree on, albeit for different reasons, is for the Bills to pull off what would appear to be a major upset.

 

[tims4wins]

The one thing Steelers fans and Pats fans can agree on, albeit for different reasons, is for the Bills to pull off what would appear to be a major upset.

Would you really prefer to face KC over Jacksonville? I get that the Steelers have owned KC and got smoked by Jacksonville earlier this year, but I would think this sort of thing could work against the Steelers. As Ben put it, he wants to prove that game against Jacksonville was a fluke. Whereas KC has revenge on their mind from earlier this year, last year's playoff, etc.

It might actually be the best thing for the Patriots and Steelers to face teams that beat them earlier in the year. I doubt the Pats would lose to the Bills, but the letdown potential is there after a cumulative 60-19 beatdown during the regular season.

 

[NYCSox]

It's a fair point but all things being equal I think I'd prefer to face the softer defense. I don't expect Ben to have another miserable game against the Jags but the risk of an upset is higher in a lower scoring game.

 

[tims4wins]

It's a fair point but all things being equal I think I'd prefer to face the softer defense. I don't expect Ben to have another miserable game against the Jags but the risk of an upset is higher in a lower scoring game.

Yeah fair enough, the KC defense is pretty bad according to most metrics. Obviously I'd love the Pats chances against the Bills, that would be more of a mental / emotional challenge than a physical / talent one. Guessing we end up seeing the rematches though.

 

[tims4wins]

Losing Murray isn't like losing McCoy, which would be catastrophic for the Bills.

This is still bad news for a woeful Titans team, of course. They need all the help they can get. KC is going to smoke them like salami.

At least TEN has a good defense, and Murray was losing snaps all year to younger/better options. I'm honestly not sure that this isn't a positive for them, because it frees them from the temptation to make their highly paid star player a healthy scratch.

Good points on Murray. I forgot he had a torn MCL. He has had an underwhelming year (3.6 YPC), with really only 2 good games (11 for 66 vs. HOU, 14 for 115 vs. SEA). Averaged an even 3.0 YPC in all of the other games.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Good points on Murray. I forgot he had a torn MCL. He has had an underwhelming year (3.6 YPC), with really only 2 good games (11 for 66 vs. HOU, 14 for 115 vs. SEA). Averaged an even 3.0 YPC in all of the other games.

Yeah, he was awful this year. Henry had lots of dud games as well so I think their line is partly to blame as well as Mariota for being so bad that teams just stacked the box all game. This will likely be Henry’s backfield next year so might as well commence the changing of the guard now.

Ten’s passing game is so bad that if KC gets up to early 10-14 point lead, the game will effectively be over. Maybe old friend Logan Ryan can have a career day.

 

[Stanley Steamer]

I just learned that Greg Zuerlein is out for the season for the Rams, which is a big loss for their playoff hopes. His fill-in hasn't looked very solid.

 

[LogansDad]

Not really sure where else to put this, but Bills fans have proven this week that sports can be fun and lead to good things occasionally.

Both Andy Dalton and Tyler Boyd's charities have seen a ton of $17 donations from Buffalo fans, totaling over $100K.

 

[DJnVa]

NFL Network was talking about the Saints-Panthers game. They brought up the whole "tough to beat a team 3x" thing, which of course, it isn't, and one "expert" said so.

The other "expert former player" then said "Yeah, but to beat a division rival three times?"

My man, what other team would you be playing 3 times???

 

[johnmd20]

NFL Network was talking about the Saints-Panthers game. They brought up the whole "tough to beat a team 3x" thing, which of course, it isn't, and one "expert" said so.

The other "expert former player" then said "Yeah, but to beat a division rival three times?"

My man, what other team would you be playing 3 times???

A division non rival?

 

[DJnVa]

NFL “expert” on ESPN Radio—“Kelce does more for KC than Gronk does for NE.”

No, you moron, he does not.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

I really enjoy Sean McDonough as a play by play man. Hope ESPN can give him a decent color man when Gruden leaves so he sticks around for awhile.

 

[johnmd20]

NFL “expert” on ESPN Radio—“Kelce does more for KC than Gronk does for NE.”

No, you moron, he does not.

You know, it's wouldn't be an insult to call Kelce an amazing TE without bringing Gronk into it. Because nobody does more than Gronk. This doesn't make Kelce useless or untalented.

Kelce is a stud and if Smith uses him today, KC will have an easy time of their game.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

let's play some fucking football

 

[Al Zarilla]

let's play some fucking football

Have to sing “Are you ready for some football” first.

Jesus Christ with the Native American chant. Fuck Kansas City.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

nice drop

 

[Brand Name]

Given Gruden to Oakland, very curious to see what specific insight/intell, if any, KC coaches gave to him about any of the three units. Can't have been much given it has future implications, right?

 

[staz]

Titans win, we can only play Titans or Bills next week.

Go Titans.

 

[Ale Xander]

Go butterhands

 

[Al Zarilla]

Spying on Alex Smith? Really?

 

[staz]

Weakest successful pair of jukes you will ever see right there

 

[Ale Xander]

in the useless stats department, Alex Smith had a higher COMP Pct than Tom .

 

[Brand Name]

Most 50+ yard TD passes since 1922: Blanda had 11 in 1961, Hadl had 10 in 1968. Cunningham had 8 in 1998. ALEX SMITH tied Randall this year, with 5 caught by Hill.

 

[jsinger121]

Good start for the Tennessee defense

 

[lambeau]

Dick LeBeau is 80 and BB 65 and he's going to sit on the beach--I don't think so.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Mariota is so fucking bad

 

[johnmd20]

Tennessee's offense is dynamic.

 

[bigsid05]

Mariota sucks

 

[pokey_reese]

How many punts in this game? O/U 10?

 

[McBride11]

Most 50+ yard TD passes since 1922: Blanda had 11 in 1961, Hadl had 10 in 1968. Cunningham had 8 in 1998. ALEX SMITH tied Randall this year, with 5 caught by Hill.

Were like 3 of those opening night vs the Pats??

Also this game is gonna brutal isnt it?

 

[Over Guapo Grande]

In the event that anyone is interested in some YouTube today

 

[johnmd20]

Were like 3 of those opening night vs the Pats??

Also this game is gonna brutal isnt it?

It could be close, so it has the potential to be a good game. It has to be better than the games last year.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Mariota is so fucking bad

Mariota sucks

We haven’t seen Tommy start off a game with a couple of bad passes? First one MMs hand was hit. But you may be right.

 

[Ale Xander]

Tyreek is going to get worn out.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Tyreek is going to get worn out.

or benched for drops

 

[johnmd20]

It could be close, so it has the potential to be a good game. It has to be better than the games last year.

Just to note, last year:

Texans beat the Raiders by 13, with Oakland having a QB (Connor Cook) who was as scared and as useless as a kid running from the boogey man.
Seattle blew out the Lions 26 to 6, featuring a game where nothing interesting happened, even tho it was a 4 point game in the 3rd quarter.
Pittsburgh blew out Miami, one of the worst playoff teams in history. Highlight was Miami's QB getting cheap shotted.
And, finally, GB walloped the Giants 38 to 13.

It was one of the weakest Wild Card slate in history. Every 4th quarter had a total of zero plays that had an impact on the game.

So I have some hopes this year will be better.

 

[pokey_reese]

Big plays. Only way KC works.

 

[staz]

21 backpedaled for 25 yards

 

[BigSoxFan]

We haven’t seen Tommy start off a game with a couple of bad passes? First one MMs hand was hit. But you may be right.

Have you watched him at all this year. He’s awful.

 

[Bowhemian]

Both these teams have pretty decent running games. Why all the passing so far?

 

[johnmd20]

Both these teams have pretty decent running games. Why all the passing so far?

Alex Smith led the league in QB rating. He's not useless.

 

[snowmanny]

21 backpedaled for 25 yards

Yeah wtf was that?

 

[Brand Name]

This zone is ASS by the Titans. Holy shit. Can't get jam, they have size mismatches not in their favor, and even basic plays like that are going to succeed.

 

[normstalls]

This Chiefs team seems pretty talented to me - I still don't understand that massive mid season slump

 

[Ale Xander]

this game's over

 

[Al Zarilla]

Have you watched him at all this year. He’s awful.

I heard of some injuries he had this year and was hoping he was healthy again. If he is awful though for whatever reason, might as well turn it off.

 

[jsinger121]

This zone is ASS by the Titans. Holy shit. Can't get jam, they have size mismatches not in their favor, and even basic plays like that are going to succeed.

It's the Pittsburgh zone blitz. Alex Smith should be able to carve this up with the weapons he has.