04/19/24
December 28, 2008
Eagles Make Playoffs in 44-6 Rout of Cowboys: Philadelphia Eagle fans received a late Christmas miracle with a blowout of the Dallas Cowboys and losses by playoff hopefuls (Thank you, Al Davis!)
A few playoff thoughts:
-- I feel bad for the Patriots, seeing as they are sitting at home at 11-5 while the San Diego Chargers are hosting a playoff game next week at 8-8. I'm not a big Patriots fan or anything, but that's just wrong.
-- I have no clue who will win the NFC. All of the teams have weaknesses even the Giants. Interestingly, the Vikings hold victories over all of the other division winners in the NFC (with the caveat about the Giants that dviking mentioned above).
-- Brett Favre didn't even wait for the playoffs to do his annual choke this year.
-- Miami, Atlanta and Baltimore won 9 games combined last year, and all three are in the playoffs this year. Good for them.
posted by TheQatarian at 07:45 AM on December 29, 2008
I just deleted a comment posted solely for the purpose of taunting fans of other teams. SportsFilter isn't that kind of sports site, folks. If all you have to contribute is that your team rocks and another team sucks, take it someplace else.
(Though I must say that after this game, my team sucks.)
posted by rcade at 09:11 AM on December 29, 2008
Well the Cowgirls have become a laughing stock of the NFL after what the Eagles did to them yesterday. Bigger of a laughingstock than Detroit.
Although the Texans came in 8 and 8 they are a better 8-8 than last year.
They need some defense help and they will be a lot better.
posted by polecat at 09:47 AM on December 29, 2008
Brett Favre didn't even wait for the playoffs to do his annual choke this year.
I sat near the TV, hoping for a miracle to get my Patriots into the playoffs. I watched him bungle another game. He didn't have his zip. He looked tired.
I'm sure a report will come out this week that he's got damage in his shoulder and it'll be why he choked all the way down to the last week. I have to wonder two things:
1) How long has the damage been there? A few months or a few years? Is this just going to be a convenient excuse for an over-the-hill quarterback with a legendary reputation not being held responsible for his play?
2) He's been noticeably worse in the second half of the season. If he's hurt, and he has been for a while, why is his consecutive game mark worth missing the playoffs over? Everyone's noticed that Brett doesn't look like Brett; why have no tests been done to prove his arm is shot? A streak like his is only impressive if it's not coming at the detriment of his team.
posted by dfleming at 10:28 AM on December 29, 2008
As a Giants fan, and Cowboy hater, all I can say is "Thank you Eagles". I now forgive you for knocking my Giants out of the playoffs (and putting yourselves into the playoffs) on the infamous Czonka - WHO NEVER FUMBLES - fumble. However, one sight that I'll never forget is Philly coach Dick Vermiel doubled over laughing on the sidelines as an Eagle picked up the fumble and ran it in for the winning TD. I doubt that even Sigmund Freud could get me to erase that memory.
posted by pullmyfinger at 10:29 AM on December 29, 2008
I feel bad for the Patriots, seeing as they are sitting at home at 11-5 while the San Diego Chargers are hosting a playoff game next week at 8-8. I'm not a big Patriots fan or anything, but that's just wrong.
It's kind of amazing that both of the Western divisions are so bad this year. However, I think that San Diego is much better than their record indicates. Too bad for them that they have to face Indy in round one of the playoffs. Me opinion is that Indy will win the AFC this year.
posted by NoMich at 10:32 AM on December 29, 2008
I feel bad for the Patriots, seeing as they are sitting at home at 11-5 while the San Diego Chargers are hosting a playoff game next week at 8-8. I'm not a big Patriots fan or anything, but that's just wrong.
Well, I'm a big Pats fan, and the simple truth is that they had their chances to win and didn't do it when they needed to. I admire what they did this year, particularly when so many people were projecting them to finish 8-8 after Brady got hurt (and not necessarily unreasonably so), but there were games when they got knocked around in a big way by teams that they could have beaten. They had it in their power to win a number of games that they lost, and if they had won just one of them, they'd be in the playoffs now. My only regret is that it's probably the end for Cassell in New England.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:14 AM on December 29, 2008
I've long been a Cowboys fan, but yesterday was the worst. I became so angry that I threw the jersey (Romo # 9) in the trash - where it belongs.
I don't fault a team for loosing, happens every week. But, they showed no heart and I am through rooting for a so-so QB that shrugs off these things as "oh well". The whole team is awful. The quality of individuals is great, but they don't play as a team, certainly not as if there was any sense of urgency.
I have watched weekly to see if the coaching staff could correct some of these "ills", but they are contributing to the fall of the franchise. You have an "aw shucks" head coach that has lost the team, an OC that can't seem to devise a decent game plan, and the O-line can't protect the QB or open holes for the RB (yeah the tough guy that sits out for numerous games with a hurt toe???).
Go Colts....
posted by Mickster at 11:30 AM on December 29, 2008
Well the Cowgirls have become a laughing stock of the NFL after what the Eagles did to them yesterday. Bigger of a laughingstock than Detroit
Stop it! There's no way that my 'Boys are anywhere near comparable to the losingest team in NFL history. You're just being a hater!
I'm a huge COWBOYS fan but even I saw this one coming. This season has been one to forget. As soon as Romo got hurt, I knew we were in trouble. When the whole fiasco with T.O, Romo & Witten happened, I knew we were in trouble. When the 'Boys traded for Roy Williams, I loved the 'idea' of bringin in another weapon just like all us other Cowboys fans out there but as soon as the ball was not even going in Roy's direction, I knew we were in trouble.
Romo has used Witten as a safety net in the past but this season, he made Witten his #1 target and that made for some very bad news. Witten is one hell of a player and if his career continues the way is has been, he'll be a Hall of Fame Tight End. The only problem that I have with this is the simple fact that you cannot keep throwing to Witten like if he has no other options.
Owens is the deep threat and Williams the possession reciever, then you throw in Witten that should be used when we need a 1st down or to pick up yardage. The scheme was all wrong but I'm not entirely sold that it's the coaching. Maybe it's discipline that they're lacking and it could've been not having someone like Bill Parcells around to ensure that Romo wouldn't look back at his God-awful throws as "oh well, shit happens".
This makes me sick to my stomach for him to act so nonchalant when basically, this season meant nothing, at least to me!
The Eagles just plain whupped on my 'Boys and I'm not going to sugar coat it one bit. They came out with the fire & hunger that a REAL team needs to have. I wish the Eagles all the best of luck in the playoffs and maybe, just maybe...they'll be this years Giants.
posted by BornIcon at 12:15 PM on December 29, 2008
I am a Cowboy hater, and even I felt sorry for their fans yesterday. I tuned into the game to watch two old foes battle for supremecy; and was treated instead to one of the worst games of the year (unless of course you are an Eagles fan).
No heart and no fight= sad.
posted by Mtigger at 12:22 PM on December 29, 2008
The situation with the Patriots not making the playoffs at 11-5 while an 8-8 team is in tends to reinforce the case for expanding the post-season to 16 teams. Seed the division winners in each conference 1 through 4, based an record, and likewise seed the next 4 teams in each conference 5 through 8. Start the first round with 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc., and then make it highest seed vs lowest seed for the rest of the way. This eliminates the bye week for the 2 top seeds, but so what. The league could make up for it by eliminating one of the preseason snore fests.
l_b_b, I fully agree that the Patriots were one play away from winning 2 different games (Indianapolis and NY Jets), but had a critical breakdown in each. Blame it on a patched-up defense, too many injuries on offense, or what you will, but it happened. Give the team full marks for their effort this season, and let the off-season speculation begin.
posted by Howard_T at 12:28 PM on December 29, 2008
Jets fans can take solace in the fact that missing out on the playoffs means the draft pick going to the Packers is going to be a third rounder instead of the second rounder that would have been surrendered if the Jets had made the playoffs.
With respect to the Chargers, they are not truly an 8-8 team. They legitimately got robbed of one victory in Week 2 at Denver on a call that the league admits was wrong. So they should be a 9-7 team at worst. Should the rules be changed so that division winners are not automatically in at the expense of superior teams in other divisions? Perhaps, although I tend to think these things will be cyclical over time, with the weakest division in each conference rotating around a bit.
As opposed to expanding the playoffs to 8 teams per conference (16 overall) -- I'm not a big fan of half the teams getting into the playoffs (except in hockey, where this adds to the long slog and ultimate payoff of the playoffs) -- I would prefer to see the league go back to three divisions per conference (one of which would have to have 6 teams compared to 5 for the other two) with three wild cards. That makes the 8-8 division champ less likely and also makes it less likely that an 11-5 team such as this year's Patriots would miss out.
posted by holden at 01:06 PM on December 29, 2008
I think the Dallas meltdown goes beyond players and coaches, and the blame can be placed squarely on the organization's leadership (Jerry Jones).
If teams like the Giants or Philadelphia, have an obvious trouble maker and divisive personallity like TO or a Jeremy Shocky they get rid of them, Regardless of talent. Bill Parcells trades Miami's number one defensive player Jason Taylor because he is appearing too interested in his Hollywood career and not setting an example consistant with the image Parcells wants for the team. The Giants suspend their top receiver Burress for missing a team meeting, and with his latest screw up, you can bet he will never play another game for them, although don't be surprised if he winds up at Dallas or Oakland.
It seems to me some teams put team first and individuals second. Dallas on the other hand welcomes the TOs and Pacmans of the league, because they relish the spotlight and the drama. They hire a weak coach so the owner can maintain control and micro manage the team, which mean the players cannot respect the coach. The players mouth off on the sidelines, argue with the coach, point fingers at each other and take no personal responsibility for their own play. Imagine this happening on a Cowher, or Ditka coached team. Dallas spent a lot of time thinking how they were supposed to win, based on their roster, not how to play as a team.
Just what did Dallas expect with a prima donna filled team and the drama that goes with it? They folded like a house of cards. You could see them give up as soon as things went bad. Dallas will come back when they clean house and get their players to think more about how they play, then they do about what kind of dance they are going to do when they have the camera for a moment. Tony Romo may have had the chance to be a decent QB but his early success combined with the Americas Team bullshit has ruined him for good. Someone should have told him to win a few playoff games before acting like a star.
Really enjoyable to watch if you ask me. It proves a lot about what makes a good team. It is much more than the talent of their players. In the end, this season, team play exhibited by the Giants, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore, Carolina, Indianapolis, and Atlanta, is making the playoffs. The teams that focused on individuals like Green Bay and the Jets about Favre, or what the Jets did to Pennington, or the entire Dallas drama scene, just crashed and burned and get to watch the playoffs from home. Shockey, did nothing to help New Orleans for that matter nor did Jason Taylor help Washington. It seems it is the good decisions by top management that do or don't trickle down to winning.
posted by Atheist at 01:26 PM on December 29, 2008
Someone should have told him to win a few playoff games before acting like a star
Going out with Jessica Simpson automatically makes Romo out to be "acting like a star"?
Romo seems like one of the most down to earth people in the NFL even though he is the QB for the Cowboys. I can say without a shadow of doubt, that Romo has never acted like a star or demanded to be treated like a star. Sorry that I cannot say the same for T.O., he thrives with people treating him like a star.
posted by BornIcon at 01:44 PM on December 29, 2008
Don't forget that San Diego whupped up on the Patriots back in week 6 of this season. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
posted by NoMich at 01:53 PM on December 29, 2008
We were driving the PA and NJ turnpikes yesterday, listening to the game. Made the ride a lot more fun. We turned on the radio as it was 3-0, and didn't yet know that the winner would get the last NFC playoff spot. What a nice surprise after a long day of driving.
I agree that the NFC is wide open, and that the divisional/wild card situation needs to be tweaked. One day a 7-9 team will end up with a 4 seed (has it happened already?).
E!A!G!L!E!S! EAGLES!
posted by mbd1 at 02:49 PM on December 29, 2008
Don't forget that San Diego whupped up on the Patriots back in week 6 of this season. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Just throwing this out there, SD was 3-7 outside of their weak division. They
There's a lack of parity in the NFL right now; no talent in the west. I don't think anyone should be rewarded for being the best of a bad group of teams.
posted by dfleming at 05:00 PM on December 29, 2008
Someone should have told him to win a few playoff games before acting like a star.
That seems harsh to me. Aside from the vacation trip to Mexico during the playoffs a couple years ago, I can't recall anything Romo has done in his private life that could be questioned.
posted by rcade at 06:21 PM on December 29, 2008
I don't understand what happened to the Cowboys this year. The gap between how they played in wins and how they played in losses is huge. It seems to me that their passing game is too dependent on Marion Barber establishing the run. With the receivers they have and Romo at QB, they should be good enough to pass on anybody regardless of the ground game.
posted by rcade at 06:24 PM on December 29, 2008
Just throwing this out there, SD was 3-7 outside of their weak division.
Don't you come in here brandishing facts and numbers at me, pally!
posted by NoMich at 06:34 PM on December 29, 2008
"1) How long has the damage been there? A few months or a few years? Is this just going to be a convenient excuse for an over-the-hill quarterback with a legendary reputation not being held responsible for his play?"
Favre played great in the Jets win over the titans in week 12. They were 8-3 at that point. If he was injured, it was in that game or the following week against Denver.
But my guess is that he's not injured. That's why there was no MRI or examination. I think he's playing his age and his body gave out on him after the game against the Titans. He seemed to do it in the NFC championship game last year. It appears GB knew what it was doing.
posted by cjets at 06:43 PM on December 29, 2008
He seemed to do it in the NFC championship game last year.
Oh, that game...please, don't get me started. Favre wasn't the only one suffering out there. If the Packers had just given their men-of-the-frozen-north thing a rest and dressed for the weather, like the Giants did, they probably would have won that game.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:19 PM on December 29, 2008
I can say without a shadow of doubt, that Romo has never acted like a star or demanded to be treated like a star.
Well, of course you can! Because you're with him 24 hours a day, right? Behind closed doors, at the training facility, at the doctor's office, when he's out eating dinner, when watching film; 24/7, the man is a Grade A Human Being, because you say so. And why should we take this any more seriously than any of the other unfounded junk you've said around here? Because you don't have a shadow of doubt. Well, hell, that does it for me. Saint Tony it is!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 09:13 AM on December 30, 2008
Don't you come in here brandishing facts and numbers at me, pally!
*puts away statistical sword, bloodthirst unquenched*
posted by dfleming at 12:08 PM on December 30, 2008
My only regret is that it's probably the end for Cassell in New England.
Sorry I can't find the link right away, but reports now are that Brady might need to undergo an additional surgery to clean up the scar tissue in his knee, and that it might cost him 2009. If there's even a slight chance of that happening, I think the Pats will hang on to their very talented "backup" for one more year, if possible.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:39 PM on December 30, 2008
myespn.go.com is one place they discuss the situation
posted by tahoemoj at 01:52 PM on December 30, 2008
If there's even a slight chance of that happening, I think the Pats will hang on to their very talented "backup" for one more year, if possible.
The (successful)* Patriots have made a point of not paying for things they don't need; they'd have to franchise Cassell and pay him a lot of money to sit on the bench. I think they'll deal him if they can and/or franchise him and then deal him, which might be tough.
* Successful not in the "nyah nyah" way but in contrast to the suckpod that was pre-Bellichek Patriot life.
posted by dfleming at 03:26 PM on December 30, 2008
"I think they'll deal him if they can and/or franchise him and then deal him, which might be tough."
That's what I've heard, that they will franchise him in a sign and trade deal, which is allowed under the NFL salary cap.
posted by cjets at 03:44 PM on December 30, 2008
"Sorry I can't find the link right away, but reports now are that Brady might need to undergo an additional surgery to clean up the scar tissue in his knee, and that it might cost him 2009."
That rumor was courtesy of Tom Curran of NBC Sports (see article here). Other sources say otherwise. I think the likely outcome of the Cassel/Brady situation is some footsie of the sort that cjets suggested.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:20 PM on December 30, 2008
In that case, y'want Ryan Fitzpatrick? Really cheap?
posted by tahoemoj at 05:44 PM on December 30, 2008
In that case, y'want Ryan Fitzpatrick? Really cheap?
No, and I don't want to trade my PB&J for your baloney sandwich either.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:00 PM on December 30, 2008
Spoilsport.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:41 PM on December 31, 2008
And why should we take this any more seriously than any of the other unfounded junk you've said around here?
If there's something you really want to say to me, my email address is right there and you're more than welcome to say what's on your mind. If not, keep your little comments to yourself because you come across as childish.
I could care less if you don't take what I have to say seriously. Either you can provided information claiming otherwise or you can move it along.
posted by BornIcon at 12:11 PM on January 02, 2009
As a Viking fan living in Dallas, I had to love the outcome of today's games.
First the Vikes took care of business, yes, it was mostly the Giant's second string, and then the Eagles embarrass the Cowboys.
Should be fun to watch the self-destruction of the boys in the media over the next couple of week. Jones has said that Phillips was in place, we'll see now that they're out of the playoffs.