The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

We've had some really exciting finishes in the Wild Card round, especially on Sunday.   Andy Reed has proven himself to be another Marty Schottenheimer- great regular season coach, lousy playoff coach.

I think that the NFL just doesn't have a lot of interesting stories right now, because of weird circumstances.

Eagles are exciting and new -- injured QB.
Jags are kinda interesting, but they can't move the ball, so they aren't all that exciting.  In fact, both AFC matchups look to be boring blowouts coming up.
Rams are interesting, but they're out.
Titans appear to be frauds that aren't very good.

A lot of these stories are already told -- Drew Brees, we've seen.  We know Patriots and Steelers.  But until these teams play, we're just kinda coasting to get there.

There was a couple cool moments.. Mariota to Mariota for the TD was fun!

Minnesota has a really good chance to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.  Standing in their immediate way are Sean Payton, Drew Brees, and the New Orleans Saints, the team that ended their last serious Super Bowl run in an overtime playoff game.

I consider that an interesting story.

Dolphins aren't in the playoffs...

and...

Kc lost so I'm over joyed about that.I have an un-natural visceral amount of hate for the Buffalo Bills,and really dislike the Jaguars (which might stem from a left over angst about Marino's final game :D ..Shrugs shoulders)..The Pats-Steelers in the AFC CC,and I don't care about the NFC at this moment.

"Playoffs? You want to talk about playoffs.  Playoffs. Are you kidding me Playoffs"

Jim Mara

^^^ Is that some sort of fusion between Jim Mora and Wellington Mara?

I guess the Bills mafia thing was kinda interesting.

I'm rooting for the Jags. I really hope their defense continues to play lights out and continues where they left off earlier in the year when they went in and smacked Pitt at home. Not sure Big Ben has another 5 INT gane in him but it would be a good time to duplicate that performance.

Let me know when the division championship is and I will care

I find it hard to root for the Jags.  I want to, but it's like Dolphins lite.  Their offense is so neutered that it's hard to get behind.

I was hoping the Rams would stick around, so I could watch them.  F the Pats and Steelers, though.  And the Titans are frauds.

Going into the playoffs I thought the favorite would come from one of four teams in the NFC - the Eagles, Vikings, Saints & Rams seemed to be the most balanced both sides of the ball. The AFC looked weak in comparison, still does to me somehow (because of the defenses of the Patriots & Steelers, offense of the Jags). Also, the most potentially interesting stories come from the NFC side.

Since the Wentz injury, the Vikings-Saints game has been the one I have been looking forward to most. The Saints defense is starting to look scary like they did in their Super Bowl run: people who often mock the idea that defense wins championships cite how statistically weak that group was, but during the (as we found out Bounty-driven) playoffs they were geniunely frightening, ending Kurt Warner's career and giving Brett Farve the worst beating I saw him take. Cam Newton was outstanding last weekend but it wasn't enough, and he took some big licks from Cameron Jordan & company. Carolina defensively sold out to stop the run after being burnt by it twice during the year, and Brees torched them through the air. On paper New Orleans seem to have the best balance and most talent, if they were at home this week I would pick them to go all the way. They still might...

The Vikings have a fantastic defense, solid run game, and potentially a home Superbowl. Case Keenum has been a surprise packet and would obviously be a big story: the way he plays reminds me of Jeff Hostetler in the lead up to XXV, although his background story could be portrayed in the media as comething closer to Ty Detmer. Speaking of which...

If there is one team with the coach giving the quarterback the very same instructions given to Ty Detmer of "just don't fuck up" it's the Jaguars. Most of Blake Bortles' pass attempts against the Bills were nothing short of abysmal: while traditionally championship teams run the ball and stop the run, a Quarterback who plays like that is a severe handicap that's almost impossible to overcome. There is an air of 1982 Dolphins & 2006 Bears about this team - fantastic defense, great running game, and an at best erratic Quarterback who could undo everything that's positive. I would love to see that defense giving Brady nightmares, but I don't think they will have the chance.

I haven't seen much of the Titans, really not sure what to make of them after the Kansas City meltdown in the wild card round that basically allowed them to be run over. Whatever they did wasn't impressive enough to convice me they will go further, I don't think Tennessee has the deep vertical game to worry the Patriots or Steelers.

The Steelers and Patriots are very close, powerful offenses, very suspect defenses (although the recent addition of Harrison should bolster the Patriots), especially against the pass. After being torched playing zone defense against Brady for years, Pittsburgh tried a little man on man coverage (like Miami did successfully the week before) and had some success, but it's basically against their nature. As much as I hate the idea, home field advantage should see the Patriots through to another title game.

Another idea I hate is Atlanta somehow making it back there. Under Matty Ice "Choke" Ryan they have the air about them of being potentially another Buffalo Bills of the '90s or Broncos of the '80s, getting progressively worse to the point people hate seeing them in the Superbowl. They got lucky against the Rams with turnovers and non-pass interference calls all game, hopefully it all ends this weekend against the Eagles.

I have a soft spot for Philadelphia because that's where Jay Ajayi was traded, and would love to see him get a ring for what he went through. No Wentz though is massive for this group, but if Foles can somehow produce a Hostetler-like playoffs performance, his story along with Ajayi's would make for great episode for Americas Game. Not sure it will happen though.

The Chiefs are the even bigger frauds.  Loaded with talent that underperforms

Speaking of frauds, Atlanta's luck has run out. Good - I don't what to see those bums back in the Superbowl after the way they massively choked last year.

Philadelphia could be in for a rough NFC Championship game though: Cris Collinsworth in the NBC broadcast noticed that Foles hands on the ball after the snap was a give away as to what they were going to do each play. One hand was a run, two hands was a pass, every single time. Expect their opponent's defense to key in on that and tee off on them all game.

What a wild way to finish the Divisional round!

The Jaguars defense and running game showed up against the erratic Steelers, and did enough to get that showdown with Brady. I expect they will find tougher going against the Patriots though, who will probably try and run through the middle as often as possible (as the Steelers should have) while their defense will sell out against the run and force Bortles to beat them in the air. Expect a few holding/pass interference penalties to be called on A.J. Bouye too, he aint gonna get away with what he did today when Brady's the quarterback. Speaking of which, seriously just how good is Antonio Brown? He was held by Bouye on both touchdowns, the second for a good 20-30 yards down the field with the guy not letting go of the back of his jersey; he virtually towed him all the way to the endzone and still beat him with the catch!

Will the Vikings luck hold all the way through to a home Superbowl? There was no way they should have won that game, that last play should have been shut down by Marcus Williams. One missed tackle, that and the illegal proceedure penalty that blanked out a Saints touchdown (which preceded Brees second interception), without those mental errors it would be the Saints advancing to the NFC Championship game. I think Keenum may well be given the same Ty Detmer instructions after that bonehead throw (his words) for the interception. Sendejo being knocked out for the majority of the second half was massive, it was after that moment when Brees really started picking the Vikings secondary apart and the Saints started scoring - the Vikings have to be praying he won't be out with concussion the rest of the campaign.

Ps. There will definitely be at least one ex-Dolphin in the Superbowl from the NFC side: either Dannell Ellerbe & Jay Ajayi from the Eagles, or OC Tony Sparano from the Vikings.

Choking on the big stage has become a new trend in the state of Georgia apparently.  And Saints fans are losing their shit, calling for Marcus Williams head and accusing him of throwing the game on purpose.  One fan ripped his 65 inch flat screen TV off the wall and flung it off a balcony

TVs have become so inexpensive that you can finds tons of videos of crybabies breaking tvs for internet fame.  It's rather unimpressive to me.

Congrats to Jacksonville. If they find a way to beat New England they will gain a ton of fans.

They'll take over the Bucs as my #2 team.  To be fair, it's a very distant #2

At this point I'd like to see the Vikings vs. Jags, but I would be alright with the Eagles also.

Just glad the Saints are out. That's all...

My biggest  concern is the *only* person  who has consistently been able to game plan against BB is the exe vp of jag

Peyton Manning did pretty good gameplanning against Belichick.

Peyton had some  wins but he is sub 400 vs BB.  TC is the only one to beat BB/Brady consistently

There is an enormous difference in sample size between the two.

But for the record: Mike Shanahan is 5-3 against Belichick (5-2 with DEN, 0-1 with WSH).  So...

Rematch of XXXIX. 

Complete list of players to play in both games:

Tom Brady

Don't forget these Patriots! (http://dailysnark.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1200-500x333.jpg)

Haha.  But I checked, there is no overlap in the officiating crews.

It was nice to see the ref run up and congratulate Tom Brady right after the game ended.

I'm convinced the NFL is fixed.

I don't understand this at all.

How did the officials impact the AFC championship game?

Tenshot, CF, could you explain what calls were missed that lead you to believe the NFL is fixed?

I broke my resolution, which of course I now regret.

The pass interference call against Jacksonville was correct.

Making contact with a receiver without playing the ball is pass interference.

The reason that game was so close was because Rob Gronkowski got injured.

Seriously, I don't understand where you people have this idea that NFL is rigged for the Patriots.

What does happen is teams get intimated against them, and make stupid mistakes, because of the pressure associated with beating them.

It was a joke D4L. Lots of conspiracy theories out there including refs being a little too cozy with the Pats but Jax lost the game by going conservative and abandoning the play action in the 4th quarter. They counted on their defense to hold and that wasn't enough.

It's nerves that affect teams when they have a lead against the Patriots.

The Patriots defense turns into the 1985 Bears defense

Super Bowl against the Seahawks:  Seahawks hold a ten point lead

What does the Patriot defense do?

4 and out

3 and out

3 and out

Then the game clinching interception

The next year against the Broncos:  Broncos hold an 8 point lead

3 and out

3 and out

The Patriots drive down the field and almost tie the game. 

Super Bowl against the Falcons.  Falcons hold a 25 point lead

3 and out after the onside kick

force a turnover after the field goal

Then, they force the Falcons out of field goal range.

It happened against Jacksonville yesterday, too.

I will be definiely hoping that against the odds the underdogs defeat the evil empire in the Superbowl.

I also hope that the whole team runs out of the tunnel wearing the dog masks, it would be the funniest scene in Superbowl history! Unfortunately I suspect the NFL won't allow it.

(https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/703/42/26_8042703.jpg)

Belichicks true genius is his ability to make in game adjustments. If plan A isn't working have a plan b, plan c plan d and plan e.  So the defense that wasn't working in the first quarter will be different and often more effective later in the game.

I'd much rather seen the Vikings in the Superbowl,than the Eagles...(reason being-The Vikings not been there in a long time)

As a fan of an AFCE team that's not the Patriots, it was just another pretty typical win for them over Jax.  They punt when their supposed to punt, don't make egregious penalties that hurt themselves (or at least the refs don't call them on it), and they score right before halftime (as they have done 16 out of 18 games this season, per broadcaster).  Right before the half I really thought Jax had a chance, up 14-3, driving for another TD (or at worst a FG).  Then it happens, no score by JAX, punt to NE, Brady goes down the field scores a TD to make it 14-10.  Then with still almost a minute left Jax kneels on it to go to the locker room, NO ATTEMPT to even get into FG range.  Brady just drove them down field and scored in only 1.07, yet no attempt by Jax!  I knew it was over then.

The only way to have a chance to beat Brady is to harass him early and often, like the Dolphins have done in Miami.

At least one player will get a ring two years in a row.  If it is the Patriots it will be quite a few.  But one of my favorite players - Chris Long - was a Patriot last year and is an Eagle this year.

Chris Long was a one year merc that showed up for a ring and left, doesn't even count in my book.

Chris Long donated his entire 2017 salary to charity. I'm pulling for him!!

Plus he's the instigator of the dog mask craze. What's not to like about the guy?

(https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/714/2018/01/23231240/AP_18022105483984-1024x822.jpg)