11/05/24
January 07, 2006
New England Edges Jacksonville: The Jacksonville Jaguars outpunted the New England Patriots in the AFC wild-card round Saturday, averaging 41.8 yards to 39.2 yards, but the other 15 statistical categories proved to be the deciding factor in a 28-3 drubbing that set a record for consecutive playoff wins by a team, coach and quarterback.
Rcade, I hope you lost a bundle on that game---how dare you predict a "stone -cold lock" against the Patriots!!! The Patriots looked like they were just working out, and they still kicked the shit out of the Jaguars. They may not make it past week, but I would not be surprosed to see the 3 peat happen---GO PATS!!!!!!
posted by jenny at 10:31 PM on January 07, 2006
A few observations: 1. I was right: The weather wasn't a factor. 2. Take away just four plays, and it's a 3-point Jaguars win. 3. I said Byron Leftwich would hit those big targets in the Jags receiving corps. I didn't say they'd actually catch any of the passes. 4. My analysis underestimated the importance of touchdowns on the outcome of a playoff game. 5. I absofreaking nailed the under. 6. The next pope will choose the name Belichick the I.
posted by rcade at 10:33 PM on January 07, 2006
make it past next week--sorry, I drank too much during the game
posted by jenny at 10:36 PM on January 07, 2006
and I'm glad I didn't follow your suggestion to rob my coke dealer or my grandma--they're both fuckin' nuts--I'd like to be around to catch the rest of the playoffs without the proverbial cap in my ass!
posted by jenny at 10:39 PM on January 07, 2006
I expect right about now, the Broncos are saying, "Oh, damn. Here we go," and the Colts are saying, "Oh, damn. Here we go again."
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:58 PM on January 07, 2006
I said Byron Leftwich would hit those big targets in the Jags receiving corps. I didn't say they'd actually catch any of the passes. That was kinda ridiculous, actually. Did the receiving corps dip their hands in flubber before the game?
posted by grum@work at 11:50 PM on January 07, 2006
Patriots Game Plan 1/7/2006: - national anthem - coin toss - win game with usual aplumb - act disinterested at post game press conference when asked who you will beat next week.
posted by gronir_ hitrops at 12:31 AM on January 08, 2006
As I mentioned earlier, a champion playing at home is tough. Pats at Denver or Indy? Dead meat. Hope you all enjoyed the fabulous run of the great New England Patriots Dynasty - for now they're done. It all comes to an end next week. Great job Belichick, great job Brady, great job McGinest. Thanks for the memories, now move over. Here's MY stone-cold lock. . . if the Pats play in Denver, Broncos will do them in by double digits, something close to 17. Don't worry, my last drug screen came out negative.
posted by babooze808 at 01:01 AM on January 08, 2006
Wow. Complete and utter dominace people. I was surprised it was such a lopsided score but wow. Watch out the Pats are reving up for the Three-Peat. All I know is that I got my TiVo running and recording every game, it's history in the making.
posted by ProSam at 01:03 AM on January 08, 2006
By the way, WHOEVER goes up to Denver next week is gonna take a BEATING - and I'm not even a Broncos fan.
posted by babooze808 at 01:04 AM on January 08, 2006
gronir_hitrops: Nice.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:18 AM on January 08, 2006
come on people the Patriots proved once again tonight that they blong where they are. The Colts and the Broncos should not under estimate the trick that the Patriots posess. The Colts have more to worry about when it comes to the playoffs because I do not see the Bengals defeating the Steelers. Besides it will be a lot sweeter to see the Patriots beat the Colts in the AFC Championship, in Indianapolis, than it would be to see it happen next week. For all of those who continuosly down the Patriots, I hope you like being wrong because nothing will stop them from coninuing to make history.
posted by triplexxxhhh at 02:39 AM on January 08, 2006
I think that the Patriots played well. But Jack Del Rio should be added to the coaches fired list. I am a Steelers fan. Why Del Pio made so many bad decisions, I don't know. But the outcome speaks for itself
posted by Claremore Rancher at 07:14 AM on January 08, 2006
I believe only two visiting QBs have ever won playoff games at Denver. I know that Mark Malone(Steelers) was one, but I can't think of who the other guy could be...?
posted by gronir_ hitrops at 07:53 AM on January 08, 2006
I don't know what you can hang on Jack Del Rio from the loss, aside from the complaint that he shouldn't have abandoned the run so early. The Jags defense had the Patriots completely stymied until the third quarter, when Leftwich has shredded opponents for 1-2 scoring drives. Leftwich played well -- especially if his receivers had caught the ball -- so there shouldn't be a controversy over the QB decision. I think the key to the game was New England taking the first punt of the second half and going 12 plays, 81 yards, 7-minute touchdown. When you're playing a team that can patiently eat the clock and score a touchdown in the red zone, you can't counter with a Don Coryell offense that had seven drives of five plays or less. One question I had about the game, while it was still a game: In that drive, when Ben Watson fumbled at the 12 and Davis recovered for the Pats at the 3, why wasn't it moved back to the 12 on the Kenny Stabler fumble advancement rule? No Jags touched the ball between Watson and Davis.
posted by rcade at 08:22 AM on January 08, 2006
the pats defense sucked they had lefty surrounded and hogtied quite number of times and every time he still hit the bulls eye QUITE a lucky night for my team (the patriots) lets see how they handle the colts before any kudos
posted by FrankySP at 08:39 AM on January 08, 2006
The Pats are a very playoff tested team, and always seem to have the right attitude and gameplan to win. I would not underestimate them. While Denver and Indy both have excellent teams, they could be simply outcoached.
posted by kcfan4life at 08:47 AM on January 08, 2006
who the other guy could be...? Mark Brunell, 1996.
posted by yerfatma at 08:59 AM on January 08, 2006
Well, im a Patriot fan, even if Indy and Denver has the better team on paper, i think we all know, anything can happen, and you have to agree, the game plans that the coach comes up with for the Pats , are at times, AMAZING GO PATRIOTS!!!!
posted by jlimm1959 at 09:38 AM on January 08, 2006
rcade, on your fumble advancement question, I didn't get to watch the game so I don't know tge exact situation, but I believe the Stabler rule is only in effect on fourth down or within the two minute warning.
posted by texoma-slim at 09:58 AM on January 08, 2006
And to think this could have been a shut out. A couple of inches to the right and that kick would have been a clank off the pole.
posted by ProSam at 10:16 AM on January 08, 2006
I'll give props to rcade for a funny, and humility laced post. You are graceful in defeat, my Pantheonic friend... :) prosam: yeah, and he missed another attempt from 41, rather badly if I recall. That look on his face when the first one barely went through was priceless- he glanced over at the sideline and was probably thinking "Thank god that went through- I get to keep all my fingers!" Shitty day for that kicker, but not like anyone will remember that. He'd be pilloried if this had been a close one- we were only a dropped pass at the end of the first half, and those couple of inches on that FG, from this being a 35-0 game. For that matter, the Jags had a chance around the 6 minute mark to at least put another TD on the board, and the receiver couldn't hold on to it at the goal line. Maybe grum's right; perhaps Del Rio should have complained about excess flubber, and sternly intoned he was going to bring this up with the NFL.
posted by hincandenza at 10:32 AM on January 08, 2006
I believe only two visiting QBs have ever won playoff games at Denver. Yes, but you have to go back to 1998 to find a playoff game at Denver, so I'm not sure how much that statistic is worth. Go right ahead, Stone Cold Lockers. Come up with whatever juju you want -- Mile High Stadium, the phase of the moon, you name it. I expect the Pats are gonna handle the horses. They lost to the Broncos 28-20 on October 16, without Tedy Bruschi or some other key players who will be ready to play next weekend. We'll see what we'll see.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:58 AM on January 08, 2006
We'll see what we'll see. Now, back to you, Yogi.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:04 AM on January 08, 2006
They lost to the Broncos 28-20 on October 16, without Tedy Bruschi I missed the pre-game hype and had most of the game on mute, so I missed the reasoning: why wasn't Bruschi playing today?
posted by grum@work at 11:14 AM on January 08, 2006
grum, he has a calf injury that he got in the next-to-last regular season game, I think. He probably could have played, but I guess Belichick figured he'd need him more down the road. Defense sure did a great job without him, but you could tell he didn't like being on the sidelines one bit.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 11:30 AM on January 08, 2006
Yep, Belichick said after the game Bruschi could have played but decided to keep him on the sidleine when the Jaguars went to the pass so early. Smart coaches always seem to make the right move and this one should prove prudent down the road.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 11:37 AM on January 08, 2006
Well....after reading all the posts, all I can say is....3 out of the last 4 Super Bowls wound up with the trophy in Foxboro. They are still the champs until someone beats them. C'mon...Denver? Jake Plummer should be selling pencils. And Peyton? Granted..he's a great quarterback, but anyone remember him winning "The Big One"? Let's go back to The National Championship when Tenessee should have won.......Hmmmm.
posted by h2omanz at 01:22 PM on January 08, 2006
rcade: 4. My analysis underestimated the importance of touchdowns on the outcome of a playoff game. This is the single funniest thing I have read this whole Football season. You, rcade, are awesome.
posted by Joey Michaels at 04:09 PM on January 08, 2006
This is the single funniest thing I have read this whole Football season. Ditto. Must be a side effect of writing all those computer how to books.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:19 PM on January 08, 2006
Lousy prediction - great headline.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 04:25 PM on January 08, 2006
I want to know why everyone and their momma have the colts as a lock for the super bowl? Only thing i know is that a great regular season and records dont get you in. Oh by the way Brady and Belichick haven't lost in the playoffs, in case people forgot already.
posted by chuy at 06:42 PM on January 08, 2006
Well, to be fair, past playoff records don't count for anything either, chuy -- everybody starts from zero. But clearly the Pats have a better recent record of stepping up in the big games. I'd say the AFC matchups over the next two weeks are gonna be a dogfight.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:44 PM on January 08, 2006
I wouldn't call the Colts a lock to win the Super Bowl, but considering that they beat New England handily in Foxborough six weeks ago, the odds look pretty good on a possible rematch in the AFC Championship game. Of all the potential pairings that remain in this year's playoffs, Colts/Patriots looks the most interesting.
posted by rcade at 07:18 PM on January 08, 2006
G'wan, rcade -- give us your next Stone Cold Jinx^H^H^H^HLock!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:37 PM on January 08, 2006
The Patriots did a fake field goal punt.
posted by kirkaracha at 08:09 AM on January 09, 2006
Belichick has not lost to the same team twice in one year. I know that all of the stats reflect past games, but that is a huge stat. The Pats are going into Denver and winning in a close one. That is my prediction. Jake Plummer has not been himself of old, but he might easily revert back to his old ways if the Patriots can stop the run. I am not saying that I don't want the Patriots to face Indy in the Championship Game, but I would like to see the Championship Game being played at Foxboro. The only way that this can be accomplished is with the Steelers beating Indy. I'm sorry Steelers Fans, but that is just not going to happen. The team might not look ahead to the next opponant, but I sure as heck can. I say bring on the Colts! I want to squash any belief that the Patriots are not the best team in football. I want to see the Pats go into Indy and I want the score to be something like 40 - 21. That would be sweet. (by the way, rcade that win that Indy had agains the Pats was during week 9, 9 weeks ago. Patriots are a completely different team now)
posted by grabofsky74 at 10:02 AM on January 09, 2006
I believe only two visiting QBs have ever won playoff games at Denver. Yes, but you have to go back to 1998 to find a playoff game at Denver, so I'm not sure how much that statistic is worth. Go right ahead, Stone Cold Lockers. Come up with whatever juju you want -- Mile High Stadium, the phase of the moon, you name it. I expect the Pats are gonna handle the horses. They lost to the Broncos 28-20 on October 16, without Tedy Bruschi or some other key players who will be ready to play next weekend. by lil_brown_bat at 10:58 AM CST on January 8 I think it has something to do with the altitude. Denver always does well at home(It is still a mile high even at a different stadium ), you always see guys on the opposing sideline sucking down oxygen. It might be psychological, but it is still a factor. Teddy Bruschi is not in great shape as per his injury. Brady has to lose a playoff game sometime. This one would be an acceptable defeat.17-13 Broncos! Plummer will rise up to his new pro bowl status. I say last guy to throw an INT loses!
posted by gronir_ hitrops at 09:41 PM on January 10, 2006
Nice.