12/21/24
January 11, 2016
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I have 0 idea what to expect from KC v. New England. As a Pats fan it feels like a lot of it comes down to how the Patriots' offensive line plays.
posted by yerfatma at 09:50 AM on January 11, 2016
Yeah, it could easily be a blowout either way or go to infinite overtime.
posted by Etrigan at 10:12 AM on January 11, 2016
The DeSean Jackson failure to score against Green Bay when he had the angle to the pylon early on was a game changer IMO. That and the missed PAT. If those plays had been converted, GB would have been down 16-0. Including an early safety, which can be a big emotional factor. And GB wouldn't have been bolstered by their goal line stand after the Jackson fail which held Wash. to 3 pts.
GB may have eventually prevailed regardless because of their experience, but they probably would have called a different game on offense to get back into the contest. Lacy and Starks might not have gotten the chance to become factors.
Hard to decide on the KC - NE game until the Pats final pre-game roster report appears.
Alex Smith has done well in the KC late season run, but I picture the Pats coming up with ways to torment him on D.
When Tony Dungy brought the Colts to NE for playoff games in the early 2000's, they looked lost as soon as the game script got washed overboard. Andy Reid doesn't have that problem. He knows how to endure when things get messed up.
posted by beaverboard at 11:47 AM on January 11, 2016
"We for sure came last by a long shot," Humphries said Saturday on the drive to Montreal for a later flight to Park City, Utah. "We knew that was going to happen. We're competing with dudes who individually are anywhere from 100 to 120 kilos. As girls, we're not even close to that."
Not even close in weight and not even close in speed. Humphries crossed the line 4.77 seconds behind race winner Maximilian Arndt of Germany, who finished in 1 minute, 49.70 seconds Four seconds is an eternity in bobsled, where the difference between gold and silver is usually mere hundredths of a second.
......
For Humphries and her crew, the whole point of the exercise was to train for an exhibition race at next month's world championships in Igls, Austria. She wants to continue the push for the event's inclusion on the roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Men can compete for Olympic medals in both the two-man and four-man races. Women have only shot at the Olympic podium in the two-man competition. Gender parity is the ultimate goal.
"This is a learning process for us and all other women in the world," said Humphries, who made history last year alongside American Elana Meyers Taylor by piloting a four-man sled pushed by three guys. "We showed that it's possible, that we can do it on one of the hardest tracks in the world.
"We deserve the opportunity to be able to do two-man and four-man. We want it."
posted by rumple at 12:21 PM on January 11, 2016
That Desean Jackson play was bizarre. He made no attempt to switch hands with the ball to get it closer to the pylon. It's like he thought his feet needed to cross, not the ball.
You can't let Aaron Rogers get on a roll. Once he did, it was an entirely different game.
posted by rcade at 01:00 PM on January 11, 2016
I can't think of any reason why there isn't a 4-man female bobsled competition in the Olympics. For some reason, I just assumed that if there was a 2-man female bobsled medal to be won, that there was a 4-man one as well.
posted by grum@work at 01:08 PM on January 11, 2016
That Desean Jackson play was bizarre.
Let's be honest about this. If there was only one player in all of the NFL that you figured would screw up making sure the ball crossed the goal line, it's Jackson.
posted by grum@work at 01:17 PM on January 11, 2016
Andy Reid doesn't have that problem. He knows how to endure when things get messed up.
If by endure, you mean standing around looking confused and throwing challenge flags on calls that have no chance of being overturned, I agree.
posted by holden at 02:01 PM on January 11, 2016
throwing challenge flags on calls that have no chance of being overturned, I agree.
Speaking of that, the Minnesota attempt to challenge the spot of the ball early in 2nd quarter was both a terrible challenge (replays seemed pretty conclusive it was a first down for Seattle plus the minuscule chance of winning the challenge made the expected value so low) and a clear way to signal to your team, "I am nervous as hell and scared we can't win." Coaches should employ a staffer just to stand behind them for the first half saying, "Don't do that."
posted by yerfatma at 03:06 PM on January 11, 2016
Coaches should employ a staffer just to stand behind them for the first half saying, "Don't do that."
I've totally forgotten which coach or even which game, but the commentators noted at some point over the weekend that one of the coaches had a designated assistant who was essentially the Challenge Caller -- when something looked close, the head coach would just glance over at that guy, who presumably was focused on the broadcast feed and could give him a quick Yes or No. Seems like a thing that will expand, if it hasn't already.
posted by Etrigan at 04:15 PM on January 11, 2016
the Minnesota attempt to challenge the spot of the ball early in 2nd quarter
I kind of figured it could only be a ploy to halt any momentum Seattle was gaining and to make the the Seattle offense stand around in the freezing cold during the review.
But I agree, there was no chance the call is overturned.
posted by cixelsyd at 06:15 PM on January 11, 2016
one of the coaches had a designated assistant who was essentially the Challenge Caller
Definitely seen teams with that. I like the Belichick approach: he has the flag in his sock so it forces him to take a couple of extra seconds to think about throwing it. In a sport where most of the head coaches are passionate, "Tackle 'em all and let God sort it out" types, a little reflection goes a long way.
posted by yerfatma at 11:51 AM on January 12, 2016
BB tried to convince Andy Reid to put his challenge flag in his sock. Andy told him that nothing of importance will be located south of his laminated gameday Ponderosa specials menu.
posted by beaverboard at 01:32 PM on January 12, 2016
This was a letdown of a playoff weekend. The late drama in Cincinnati and Minnesota followed games that were dull the preceding three quarters, Kansas City won a laugher and Green Bay had Washington in control after spotting them 11 points.
Looking at next week, I think Kansas City at New England might be the best chance for a postseason classic. The Chiefs are on an epic roll and Belichick will have the Patriots prepared.