tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post1678979550276040484..comments2023-10-31T06:31:41.395-04:00Comments on Bottom of the Barrel: Wild Card Weekend Picks (Redux)Bengoodfellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-91665135861691890362011-01-10T19:08:24.144-05:002011-01-10T19:08:24.144-05:00Rich,
What I'm most frustrated about is that ...Rich,<br /><br />What I'm most frustrated about is that I completely discounted what the Seattle home field could do in this situation. I figured New Orleans' talent was too much for home field to even play a role. Usually home field advantage comes into play when two quality teams play each other. At first, New Orleans proved me right. <br /><br />As you said, Seattle's ground effort was not strong. Despite Lynch's literal ground shaking run, he was less than impressive. It's just amusing that the New Orleans pass defense and Seattle pass offense, the one aspect of the game I and many others ignored, ended up being the difference maker.Dylanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02521399272029891606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-87613272236067001532011-01-10T13:04:17.820-05:002011-01-10T13:04:17.820-05:00eh, they kinda did. they spotted the Saints a 10 p...eh, they kinda did. they spotted the Saints a 10 point lead to open the game, and I really did think for a little that touchdown after the awful interception was going to open the floodgates. to their credit they calmed themselves down and answered right back and after the first Carlson TD I was pretty confident they could win the game. <br /><br />both you and J.S. mentioned the crowd noise factor, and the fans sounded fucking nuts. I've never heard the place louder (granted I was at neither game but just judging from watching it on TV) than the NFC Championship against Carolina in 2006 (sorry Ben) but that might have been the loudest it's gotten since then. not to go all Simmons-y, but after the widespread ridicule about the Hawks being the worst division champs ever and everyone pretty much guaranteeing a New Orleans victory, everyone out here got incredibly defensive and supportive of the team. a bunch of the bars I was at on Friday night (I live about 55-60 miles south of Seattle) were hanging Seahawks "WE BELIEVE" banners.<br /><br />and I don't care what anyone says. that Marshawn Lynch game clincher was one of the best postseason runs of all time. OF ALL TIME!!!!ivnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-10150621684323343042011-01-10T11:40:45.823-05:002011-01-10T11:40:45.823-05:00Ivn, I wasn't disagreeing with you. The Seahaw...Ivn, I wasn't disagreeing with you. The Seahawks gave up a ton of yards but they outscored the Saints. Not to sound like Joe Morgan but that's what it is all about. I think that's how you beat the Saints, make them nickel and dime down the field and stay in front of their receivers. The defense played good enough to win because the offense was so great. <br /><br />I do give the Seahawks credit for not allowing the Saints to jump all over them in the beginning too.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-86124594073092541292011-01-10T11:06:13.442-05:002011-01-10T11:06:13.442-05:00I was just trying to say that the stats were a lit...I was just trying to say that the stats were a little deceiving. I can't sit here and say that the Seahawks defense played a magnificent game, but I've seen them get fucking shredded this year by just about every decent quarterback it faced so I think they did a good enough job on Saturday. they forced the Saints to nickel and dime their way up the field, (mostly) eliminated the big play, and took the Saints out of their rhythm for chunks of the game. they did get some help--the Hawks' special teams didn't give New Orleans great field position, and more importantly Hasselbeck had a phenomenal game and Seattle's offense made all the big plays--but in the end the Saints threw the ball 60 times and only got about 400 yards out of it, which is really isn't all that good.ivnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-4570487012023547582011-01-10T08:43:19.132-05:002011-01-10T08:43:19.132-05:00Rich, I knew the Saints defense wasn't that go...Rich, I knew the Saints defense wasn't that good. I said it all last year and even though it was right a year later and in a small sample size of 1 game, I feel vindicated. I am kidding...kind of. <br /><br />As far as pressure on Brees goes, I didn't watch too much of the second half of the game, but I thought the best thing the Seahawks did was not allow the Saints to run the ball effectively. When they ran the ball they didn't gain too much yardage, so even though Brees was going to pass regardless it forced him to throw and the Seahawks didn't end up having to respect the pass much. I didn't see much of the 2nd half though.<br /><br />Ivn, if I am not wrong you are a Seahawks guy right? I thought they did a great job and it was shocking how little defense there seemed to be in that game. They got the stops when they needed them, that's right.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-7627607136835586662011-01-10T01:35:35.488-05:002011-01-10T01:35:35.488-05:00ivn,
I may be absolutely wrong about this since i...ivn,<br /><br />I may be absolutely wrong about this since it was the first game and my memory ain't so good, but there wasn't that much pressure on Brees. There were plays where they got to him and forced some bad passes, but throw 60 passes and you're bound to get some of those. Ditto for the "should've been a pick" passes. Eli throw 7 of those a game even if he's alone in the pocket.<br /><br />Like I said, it was obvious that NO was going to pass. Top two running backs hurt, playing from behind and having a great QB make that the easy assessment. With that in mind, there wasn't consistent pressure throughout the game. It's this consistent, unrelenting pressure that I feel Dylan was alluding to and it simply wasn't there.<br /><br />Seattle's defensive play (IMO) had less to do with the won than just how poorly NO's defense played.FormerPhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12837594679660975599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-80531677059090508822011-01-10T01:18:56.385-05:002011-01-10T01:18:56.385-05:00Seattle only got one sack but as Bill Belichick is...Seattle only got one sack but as Bill Belichick is fond of saying, sacks are the most overrated stat in the game. they harassed Brees into a lot of bad passes--there were about two or three that Seattle could have intercepted. they got the stops when they needed them.ivnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-4671900222719196772011-01-09T22:52:16.258-05:002011-01-09T22:52:16.258-05:00Dylan,
Nothing of what you said was really all th...Dylan,<br /><br />Nothing of what you said was really all that off. <br /><br />1. Seattle did keep the game close (largest lead was 14). It may seem odd to say they "kept the game close" considering they were winning the whole game (I think), but considering I'm sure you remember the Giants - Eagles debacle, a 14 (or 21 or 28) point lead against a really good offense is "keeping it close".<br /><br />2. Seattle really didn't keep the ball away from New Orleans. New Orleans ran 83 plays, Brees had 60 pass attempts. They didn't really "burn the clock" either. <br /><br />3. Seattle didn't get that much pressure (at least I wouldn't say they did). They got one sack in a game where they <i>knew</i> Brees was going to pass. A third string running back + a deficit + all-world QB = going to pass. They managed one sack. <br /><br />The only things you, and <i>everyone on the planet</i>, whiffed on was Lynch and how badly the Saints defense would play.<br /><br />And here's the thing: other than the 70ish yard TD rush... he wasn't <i>that</i> effective. Outside of that one rush he averaged 3.6 yards a carry. So, I wouldn't really say you whiffed on Lynch either. He benefited from the Saints defense suddenly tackling like a bad high school team.<br /><br />During the game, the one thing that kept coming up to me wasn't how great Seattle was playing, but how painful it was watching those two defenses play.FormerPhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12837594679660975599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-10133898760950620462011-01-09T10:35:25.555-05:002011-01-09T10:35:25.555-05:00I'm shocked the Seahawks won like they did. Ju...I'm shocked the Seahawks won like they did. Just amazed. <br /><br />I do have to say, I didn't expect Wayne to be taken out of the game like he was, but Manning really had no other guys to throw the ball to. Wayne wasn't open at all and the other guys couldn't get it done. <br /><br />J.S. I didn't see the Saints exhaustion. I thought they were still hot...I'm an idiot.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-39925506739915529922011-01-09T01:46:06.294-05:002011-01-09T01:46:06.294-05:00All I have to say is that I am ready and willing t...All I have to say is that I am ready and willing to accept all criticism on the Saints/Seahawks pick. I wish I could take back most of what I wrote, but alas I cannot.Dylanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02521399272029891606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-49521040573820634582011-01-09T00:33:53.727-05:002011-01-09T00:33:53.727-05:00This is real easy to say after the fact, but it se...This is real easy to say after the fact, but it seemed to me, honestly, like the Saints were exhausted all year. Brees had to do it all, the defense wasn't as explosive. This year seemed like a chore being hunted and I think making the playoffs took all their bullets.<br /><br />Nice pick on the Jets...it truly is amazing how much Revis can take a receiver out of the game. Manning had two guys to throw to all game and that was it.J.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07739810404427202914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102327997051254703.post-44355806551412594222011-01-08T21:45:24.983-05:002011-01-08T21:45:24.983-05:00I like my #5 point that essentially could have led...I like my #5 point that essentially could have led to a Seattle win prediction, but I didn't have the guts to believe they could do it. I think a lot of what I said in #5 is true, but I am still shocked the Seahawks won. I didn't see that coming.Bengoodfellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09401971573776672570noreply@blogger.com