Well, that was something. Ben basically sucked ass in the first half with the pick and fumble returned for a TD, they couldn't stop the Jags when they needed to (45 points to a Blake Bortles team? WTF?), they had two absolutely moronic fourth-and-short calls (a slow-developing run starting 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage and a play-action) and they still made it close enough to give me false hope before failing.

But the late game was entertaining, so that's something. I guess.

posted by BR1986FB

I was alive for that, along with the Immaculate Reception, but I didn't see either live (on TV). Saw the highlights after they happened..

I saw the Immaculate Reception live as well as the 1964 NFL title game when the Browns turned a scoreless game with the favored Unitas' Colts at halftime into a 27-0 rout with QB Frank Ryan utilizing weapons Jim Brown and Paul Warfield to distract the Colts defense to allow Gary Collins to gash them for 3 TD receptions and Lou Groza kicking 2 field goals.  Isolated camera was new then and each time Collins scored we were excited to see the replay find out how he got so open!  Inspired me and my brother to run one on one routes against each other with our dad throwing passes into narrow windows in our very tight area we had to play in.

posted by gut

I'm quite pissed.  Must have hit a nerve calling Ben a pussy for not running the QB sneak because I got banned on a Steeler board for it (I've said much  worse without  so much as a warning).

It's clear to a lot of people that Tomlin and Haley will never win a SB.  And the fear is if both are back, Ben won't be.  Yeah I wouldn't, either, if I were him

.BR will be back.  Tomlin has already won a SB.  They have not ran a sneak since 2014 and likely don't work on it....which I'm not sure how much ya need to work on it.   I agree tho he needs to have that in the book to actively use. He wasm17 of 18 on sneaks in his career.

He and Haley don't speak from what is reported and I expect he won't be back,

Bigger issuesis that defense.  S hazier is not com8ng back.  Even with him the defense was far from great I don't care what the numbers said.   

They need to go heavy on the defens.   Sign bell so he is there from day 1 so they can get home field.

posted by Ironman92

Oh I’d be good if the Vikings won it all..just don’t have any extra hope because they would be at home

I don't care if they win I just wanna see the home team make it.

I am not a patriots hater but I don't want them to win so they don't get to 6.

posted by thavoice

.BR will be back.  Tomlin has already won a SB.  They have not ran a sneak since 2014 and likely don't work on it....which I'm not sure how much ya need to work on it.   I agree tho he needs to have that in the book to actively use. He wasm17 of 18 on sneaks in his career.

 

He and Haley don't speak from what is reported and I expect he won't be back,

 

Bigger issuesis that defense.  S hazier is not com8ng back.  Even with him the defense was far from great I don't care what the numbers said.   

They need to go heavy on the defens.   Sign bell so he is there from day 1 so they can get home field.

 

Your fans are just as bad as Browns fans with their knee jerk shit on Tomlin. I think he's overrated as Hell but seems like every year they are calling for his head. Sirius XM, which has much better callers than the local stations, pretty much has a consensus (with callers) that Tomlin should go. I don't think you'll have to worry about Haley because his contract expires and I'd think they'd go in another direction.

posted by BR1986FB

Your fans are just as bad as Browns fans with their knee jerk shit on Tomlin. I think he's overrated as Hell but seems like every year they are calling for his head. Sirius XM, which has much better callers than the local stations, pretty much has a consensus (with callers) that Tomlin should go. I don't think you'll have to worry about Haley because his contract expires and I'd think they'd go in another direction.

I've never called for Tomlins head.  He is a players coach which to me translates to he is easy on discipline which appears to be true.   Yes, a lot of people call for his head which happens to almost every team very often.

I'm for keeping him as I believe he has done a good job.   He is no belicheck but who is?   

People ragged on Cowher for not being able to win the big one.   He lost at least 2 home AFC championship games....I was at both.   He got a pass as he won it all in his second to last year.    

Haley and BR have been at odds for years.  This yr reports they don't talk.

Villanueva had a great interview about going forward.   A lot needs to change, and think avout how lucky they were with so many last second wins.  

I see this going 1 of 2 ways.   A SB appearance or an all out dumpster fire.  It could go either way

I'm sick of seeing Pittsburgh play down to competition and always coming out flat when it matters.

All the talent in the world and this shit happens. Every. Fucking. Year. That's on coaching 100%. 

I'm indifferent with Haley. His has some awlful calls at times, but he also has a hand in the offensive power that now defines the team. As for Tomlin. I wouldn't care if he got canned, but replace him with who? 

I think he'll ride it out as long as Ben does. They'll both be gone and it will be a total overhaul.

posted by thavoice

I've never called for Tomlins head.  He is a players coach which to me translates to he is easy on discipline which appears to be true.   Yes, a lot of people call for his head which happens to almost every team very often.

I'm for keeping him as I believe he has done a good job.   He is no belicheck but who is?   

People ragged on Cowher for not being able to win the big one.   He lost at least 2 home AFC championship games....I was at both.   He got a pass as he won it all in his second to last year.    

Haley and BR have been at odds for years.  This yr reports they don't talk.

Villanueva had a great interview about going forward.   A lot needs to change, and think avout how lucky they were with so many last second wins.  

 

I see this going 1 of 2 ways.   A SB appearance or an all out dumpster fire.  It could go either way

Oh, I wasn't implying you were calling for Tomlin's head. Seems like a lot of people think he rode Cowher's coat tails to a Lombari. Still know people who follow Pittsburgh much more than I do that think they'd have 2-3 more rings if Cowher were still there.

posted by BR1986FB

Oh, I wasn't implying you were calling for Tomlin's head. Seems like a lot of people think he rode Cowher's coat tails to a Lombari. Still know people who follow Pittsburgh much more than I do that think they'd have 2-3 more rings if Cowher were still there

People, fans are idiots.  

Just look at the Browns threads every season.  

No coach comes to mind whom I woild replace Tomlin with. At this point a HC change won't get a title.

Even a change at OC........man I'm not sure installing a new scheme is going to get them a title.  Takes time to learn it.   BR and Haley need to co exist and be professionals but I think that may be impossible.  

The window is almos4 closed

posted by thavoice

People, fans are idiots.  

Just look at the Browns threads every season.  

No coach comes to mind whom I woild replace Tomlin with. At this point a HC change won't get a title.

Even a change at OC........man I'm not sure installing a new scheme is going to get them a title.  Takes time to learn it.   BR and Haley need to co exist and be professionals but I think that may be impossible.  

 

The window is almos4 closed

I think I'd be looking at Keith Butler before Haley. I've heard Haley's bad but when your defense gives up 38 points to a Blake Bortle's offense, you've got issues on that side of the ball. No reason with that offense, Hell ANY offense, putting up 42 points only to lose.

posted by BR1986FB

I think I'd be looking at Keith Butler before Haley. I've heard Haley's bad but when your defense gives up 38 points to a Blake Bortle's offense, you've got issues on that side of the ball. No reason with that offense, Hell ANY offense, putting up 42 points only to lose.

Agreed.  He is getting a pass because Shazier went down.   Depth on that side is nonexistent.    Need Watt to be a top notch rusher and need to draft and sign heavy on that side.   Defense has always needed blitzes to put pressure on which is a staple of the 3 4.   When the OLB s aren't a beast it relies heavily on big blitzes which can be exploited.   Short, quick passes always was an issue as well as defending a good TE.  If they can fix the defense and don't just implode onnoffense they have 1 more shot.

posted by thavoice

Agreed.  He is getting a pass because Shazier went down.   Depth on that side is nonexistent.    Need Watt to be a top notch rusher and need to draft and sign heavy on that side.   Defense has always needed blitzes to put pressure on which is a staple of the 3 4.   When the OLB s aren't a beast it relies heavily on big blitzes which can be exploited.   Short, quick passes always was an issue as well as defending a good TE.  If they can fix the defense and don't just implode onnoffense they have 1 more shot.

 

I was chuckling this morning because the one caller (on Sirius) that wanted Tomlin fired was, in part, because of the release of Harrison and how he was needed for the pass rush.

posted by BR1986FB

I was chuckling this morning because the one caller (on Sirius) that wanted Tomlin fired was, in part, because of the release of Harrison and how he was needed for the pass rush.

Whole Harrison thing perplexes me.  Yes, his talent has eroded.   He says he repeatedly asked for reps in practice and wouldn't get any.  But then again he admits to acting like a little bitch so I could see coaches not wanting to give reps.   I usually side on the authority and coaches but I'm not sure on this one.

I did not like the onside outside of 2 minutes when a FG takes the game away from you.  True, you need to stop em either way so I'm not against an onside at that point but when 1 forst down leads to a FG and 10 pts down.,..,no.   Kick it deep and try and hold em

posted by thavoice

 

 

I did not like the onside outside of 2 minutes when a FG takes the game away from you.  True, you need to stop em either way so I'm not against an onside at that point but when 1 forst down leads to a FG and 10 pts down.,..,no.   Kick it deep and try and hold em

This was the right call. Sounds like the special teams coordinator had a long kick planned, Tomlin changed it to an onside kick and the ST Coordinator had to scramble to get the right personnel out there. Heard Tomlin's thought process was "we can't stop them so we need the ball." I agree with you though. Kick it long, use your two timeouts before the 2 minute warning and get the ball back.

posted by BR1986FB

This was the right call. Sounds like the special teams coordinator had a long kick planned, Tomlin changed it to an onside kick and the ST Coordinator had to scramble to get the right personnel out there. Heard Tomlin's thought process was "we can't stop them so we need the ball." I agree with you though. Kick it long, use your two timeouts before the 2 minute warning and get the ball back.

True.  They  weren't stopping them but the onside is so low percentage of a play and with that much time. ....Kick it.  You then get some leeway....can even give up a first down or a Chunk 

This game did not hinge on that or just one play or call.   You cannot give up 45 and have a chance.  You cannot go down 21, twice, and have a chance.   You cannot give up that many third and long and have a chance.  BR wants to blame Haley for not sneaking......but on the second 4th and 1 he had in think Shuster short for a first down.  

posted by thavoice

True.  They  weren't stopping them but the onside is so low percentage of a play and with that much time. ....Kick it.  You then get some leeway....can even give up a first down or a Chunk 

 

 

Heard a stat that 13% or 17% of onside kick attempts in the 4th quarter had been converted successfully and Pittsburgh hadn't done it since 2006 or 2007.

Vikings over Eagles

Jaguars over Patriots. Calling my shot on this one. Jags out physical New England and start the "end of a dynasty/Tom Brady has started the decline" talk in the NFL.

Jags/Vikes Super Bowl

Patriots/ Vikes - Probably wrong

Pats Vikes. Can’t at all see jags or eagles winning. 

posted by SportsAndLady

Pats Vikes. Can’t at all see jags or eagles winning. 

Same here. I am rooting for a Jags/Vikings Super Bowl though. As a Cowboys fan I absolutely don't want the Eagles to even have a chance at finally winning one. 

Rooting for Jags/Vikes, expecting Pats/Vikes. 

posted by justincredible

Rooting for Jags/Vikes, expecting Pats/Vikes. 

This sums it up for me.  Although I wouldn't be mad if the Patriots won. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.  

Wound ultimately like to see Zimmer win it to stick it to Mike Brown and M assrvin Lewis.

I got 3 of 4 right last weekend, but lost the Steelers as my pick to win the Superbowl.  Now I'll pick Minn to win the SB instead of losing it as I had originally picked, although I think the Eagles could very realisticly knock them off.  Both games this weekend should be very interesting.  Looking forward to the AFC and how inexperienced confidence vs seasoned smartness works out.  I'll pick NE and if they prevail, it should be the same story in the SB.  Even though I'm picking NE, how the game goes may cause me to root for the Jags!

I don’t know who is going to win.

Pats 31

Jags 13

Vikings 24

Eagls 21

I92 rejoice, Haley gone from Pittsburgh