7 votes

NFL playoffs discussion thread

This has undoubtedly been the most exciting stretch of football I've seen in my ~20 years of watching football. Anyone else watch the games these last few weeks?

8 comments

  1. nukeman
    Link
    I didn’t get a chance to watch, but I am very excited by the Bengals’ victory, and am looking forward to seeing them in the Super Bowl. I love a good underdog tale.

    I didn’t get a chance to watch, but I am very excited by the Bengals’ victory, and am looking forward to seeing them in the Super Bowl. I love a good underdog tale.

    4 votes
  2. [3]
    Lev
    Link
    I'm gutted by the Chiefs' defeat today at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. I wish I knew what was going on in Patrick Mahomes' head during the second half. After that Tyreek Hill goal-line...

    I'm gutted by the Chiefs' defeat today at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. I wish I knew what was going on in Patrick Mahomes' head during the second half. After that Tyreek Hill goal-line miscue, it was as if Mahomes completely lost confidence in himself to make good decisions and pull the trigger on difficult throws. Still, I've suffered far more gut-wrenching defeats during my Chiefs fandom than this one; at least this year I can find solace in that Kansas City 100% did not deserve a Super Bowl berth considering their poor play.

    I must admit that I missed this afternoon's second game entirely as the Chiefs game outcome drained away any interest I'll have in football for the rest of this season. I may still watch the Super Bowl, but unfortunately I really have no positive or negative feelings about either the Rams or the Bengals, so the passion isn't really there. As for the rest of the playoffs, last weekend's slate of games was seriously electrifying! I really thought that Tom Brady was going to the complete the comeback and add another bullet-point on his ironclad GOAT resume. Alas, it was not to be. I wish I could say that I've never been more stressed out as a Chiefs fan than during their match-up last week vs. the Buffalo Bills, but that would be a lie! All four games last weekend were awesome, although I was disappointed by the quality of football in the Super Wild Card round. And despite the craziness of these playoffs, I still suspect that the Week 18 Raiders-Chargers match will emerge alongside last week's Chiefs-Bills game as the most remembered game of the 2021 season. I don't think I've ever seen a finer instance of divisional spite!

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I barely watch any football, but just happened to catch most of that game since my father wanted to watch it at dinner time. During one of the final plays in the 4th, after Mahomes hesitated...

      it was as if Mahomes completely lost confidence in himself to make good decisions and pull the trigger on difficult throws.

      I barely watch any football, but just happened to catch most of that game since my father wanted to watch it at dinner time. During one of the final plays in the 4th, after Mahomes hesitated throwing for what seemed like an eternity, inevitably got sacked, and then fumbled the ball (almost ending in a turnover), I asked out loud "Why is he hesitating so damn much all of a sudden?" So even I, a complete football novice, noticed that too. It was really weird to see him gradually start hesitating more and more on every throw in the second half, and even totally freeze up in that final play.

      2 votes
      1. Lev
        Link Parent
        It reminded me of his play in last year's Super Bowl. In that game, he had a bit of an excuse, as his Offensive Line was full of below replacement-level players. This year, however, his OLine was...

        It reminded me of his play in last year's Super Bowl. In that game, he had a bit of an excuse, as his Offensive Line was full of below replacement-level players. This year, however, his OLine was completely stacked and he frequently had tons of time in the pocket. Despite his reputation as a gunslinger, Mahomes is actually a fairly risk-averse QB, in that he usually doesn't loose the deep ball unless his receiver is wide open. Maybe he got so deep into his own head during the second half that he just kept waiting and waiting for receiver to truly break free, which never occurred. Then, instead of making the tough through to a moderately well-covered receiver, he just took the sack instead. It was all just very sad to watch. It's not like the Bengals offense played particularly well at any point in the game. Oh well. In the words of my dispirited father, "it's just football."

        2 votes
  3. [3]
    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    Not related to the playoffs, because nothing about the team ever is related to the playoffs, but the Washington Football Team have officially announced their new name as the Washington Commanders....

    Not related to the playoffs, because nothing about the team ever is related to the playoffs, but the Washington Football Team have officially announced their new name as the Washington Commanders.

    Their colors will remain the same.

    The name will inevitably (already has) be shortened by fans and non-fans alike to Commies.

    Which makes sense as the team is in the nation's capital and their main color is a shade of red.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      an_angry_tiger
      Link Parent
      I know it was always meant to be temporary, but I still really prefer Washington Football Team over the generic sounding washington commanders.

      I know it was always meant to be temporary, but I still really prefer Washington Football Team over the generic sounding washington commanders.

      2 votes
  4. an_angry_tiger
    Link
    I am downright shocked that I bandwagoned the two best teams in the running (the Chiefs and Bills) both with very good excuses for cheering, and they both still lost to Garoppolo and god danged...

    I am downright shocked that I bandwagoned the two best teams in the running (the Chiefs and Bills) both with very good excuses for cheering, and they both still lost to Garoppolo and god danged Burrow.

    1 vote