I'd take the Patriots over Denver easy. Patriots looked pretty solid on Saturday, Denver looked shaky until they scooped up that back-breaking fumble. The NFL got the match up it wanted. These tend to be the games Peyton shrinks (playoffs, v. Patriots).

I'd take Carolina over the Cardinals. The Panthers just have to remember to play in the 2nd half.

Either way, should be a good day of football next Sunday.

Tough loss for the Pack. It was closer than I thought it would be though.

It was an interesting Packers season, for sure, super up and down. Pretty impressive considering the Packers were still in it after losing their top FOUR wide receivers (Cobb, Montgomery, Adams, Nelson). Abberderis and Janis kept the season alive, and in pretty dramatic fashion. The defense was great through out most of the game, but couldn't stop Fitzgerald in OT. Tough to go out like that, but you just can't depend on hail marys every week. Only one team remains standing at the end, it's great to be able to watch this team battle this deep into the season.

Long snappers and kickers report in just a few months...

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

[Edited on 1/18/2016 by gondicar]

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

"useless"? Made the playoffs, beat a division winner and gave the soon-to-be super bowl champion Patriots a run for their money. I wouldn't call that useless...ask Sang or MacKenzie what useless is, there's your answer.

😛

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

"useless"? Made the playoffs, beat a division winner and gave the soon-to-be super bowl champion Patriots a run for their money. I wouldn't call that useless...ask Sang or MacKenzie what useless is, there's your answer.

😛

Totally. KC had a great year - 11 straight wins ain't bad and their first playoff win in what...20 years?

Remember, 31 out of 32 fan bases are going to be bummed by early February. The vast majority of good teams lose their last game every year.

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

"useless"? Made the playoffs, beat a division winner and gave the soon-to-be super bowl champion Patriots a run for their money. I wouldn't call that useless...ask Sang or MacKenzie what useless is, there's your answer.

😛

Now that the Royals are World Series champs and all, he's just trying to be more like us spoiled Boston fans. 😛

Of course, he still has a little catchin' up to do.

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

"useless"? Made the playoffs, beat a division winner and gave the soon-to-be super bowl champion Patriots a run for their money. I wouldn't call that useless...ask Sang or MacKenzie what useless is, there's your answer.

😛

Now that the Royals are World Series champs and all, he's just trying to be more like us spoiled Boston fans. 😛

Of course, he still has a little catchin' up to do.

a little, but hey, I remember back in the day and for many seasons, we stunk. Badly. Last 15 years or so is something to revel in and I'm going balls to the wall... 😛

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

"useless"? Made the playoffs, beat a division winner and gave the soon-to-be super bowl champion Patriots a run for their money. I wouldn't call that useless...ask Sang or MacKenzie what useless is, there's your answer.

😛

Now that the Royals are World Series champs and all, he's just trying to be more like us spoiled Boston fans. 😛

Of course, he still has a little catchin' up to do.

a little, but hey, I remember back in the day and for many seasons, we stunk. Badly. Last 15 years or so is something to revel in and I'm going balls to the wall... 😛

So true. Been a fan for as long as I can remember, and finally bought season tickets for 3 years after college until I moved to Maine. 1990-92. They won a TOTAL of 9 games combined over those three years (1-15, 6-10, 2-14). But we stuck it out and had a blast at the games anyway (one of my buddies who had tix with me knew the Pat's long snapper so we used to tailgate after the games with the players...seriously, they tailgated after games like fans did before games...drinking off a keg out of the trunk of someone's car with Steve Grogan was very cool...different world now). They've averaged more than 12 wins for the last 15 years. #spoiled

[Edited on 1/18/2016 by gondicar]

Panthers Vs Broncos

Panthers Win

[Edited on 1/18/2016 by gondicar]

Steven Jackson
NE Pat's 21 Carries 50 yards 2.4 avg

Jackson looks like he is wearing cement shoes.

Damn proud of my Steelers.
First team to play a playoff game without thier top reciever and rusher ( had 3rd string there).
Not to mention the multitude of Bens injuries.
And yet still stayed in the game.
On the road
Against the 1 seed.

I aint even mad.

Damn proud of my Steelers.
First team to play a playoff game without thier top reciever and rusher ( had 3rd string there).
Not to mention the multitude of Bens injuries.
And yet still stayed in the game.
On the road
Against the 1 seed.

I aint even mad.

They were driving to score and put some distance between them and the Broncos when they coughed up the ball, that was a back-breaker.

yeah...that fumble was a killer.

On this date, the last game played at the old Foxboro Stadium and perhaps the most amazing game I have ever seen...the Snow Bowl, also known as the tuck rule game.

Both lines moved from 3 to 3.5 already. Wonder if they will hit 4.

Both lines moved from 3 to 3.5 already. Wonder if they will hit 4.

ABBSpread is still at 3.

I took the Patriots now before it goes to 7.

😛

even then, they'd cover... 😉

Broncos not selling tickets east of the Rockies.

Broncos not selling tickets east of the Rockies.

StubHub has them if you really want to go....just don't wait until Saturday to try to fly out of Boston, big storm coming.

[Edited on 1/20/2016 by gondicar]

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

"useless"? Made the playoffs, beat a division winner and gave the soon-to-be super bowl champion Patriots a run for their money. I wouldn't call that useless...ask Sang or MacKenzie what useless is, there's your answer.

😛

Totally. KC had a great year - 11 straight wins ain't bad and their first playoff win in what...20 years?

Remember, 31 out of 32 fan bases are going to be bummed by early February. The vast majority of good teams lose their last game every year.

Awwwww, a patronizing pat on the head from Patriot and Packer fans. You guys make me blush. :D:P

The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV on 1/11/70. I was born on 7/12/70.

So, a short review...

Since 1970, the Patriots have...
Played in 45 playoff games, going 28-17
Appeared in 7 Super Bowls, winning 4 of them

Since 1970, the Packers have...
Played in 32 playoff games, going 18-14
Appeared in 3 Super Bowls, winning 2 of them

Since 1970, the Chiefs have...
Played in the longest NFL game ever on 12/25/71, losing to the Dolphins
Didn't appear in another playoff game until 1986, losing to the Jets
Played in a total of 18 playoff games, going 4-14

Yeah.

The only season not useless to me at this point in my life is one where the Chiefs at least make an appearance in the Super Bowl. And, at this point in my life, I'm 100% convinced I'm in for a lifetime of useless seasons.

And, I'm not a Lions or Browns fan. They deserve more sympathy than I ever will.

Awwwww, a patronizing pat on the head from Patriot and Packer fans. You guys make me blush. :D:P

The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV on 1/11/70. I was born on 7/12/70.

So, a short review...

Since 1970, the Patriots have...
Played in 45 playoff games, going 28-17
Appeared in 7 Super Bowls, winning 4 of them

Since 1970, the Packers have...
Played in 32 playoff games, going 18-14
Appeared in 3 Super Bowls, winning 2 of them

Since 1970, the Chiefs have...
Played in the longest NFL game ever on 12/25/71, losing to the Dolphins
Didn't appear in another playoff game until 1986, losing to the Jets
Played in a total of 18 playoff games, going 4-14

Yeah.

The only season not useless to me at this point in my life is one where the Chiefs at least make an appearance in the Super Bowl. And, at this point in my life, I'm 100% convinced I'm in for a lifetime of useless seasons.

And, I'm not a Lions or Browns fan. They deserve more sympathy than I ever will.

Actually The Patriots have played in 8 Super Bowls with a 4-4 record (W: Rams, Panthers, Eagles, Seahawks L: Bears, Packers, Giants, Giants)

Wasn't trying to be patronizing, the Packers weren't exactly stellar in the 1970s and 80s, so I've come to appreciate whatever success they have had.

Anyways, all I was saying is that KC had to start somewhere and they had a great season this year. It just means they'll be better next season, every team has its day (well, except Jacksonville probably).

Don't worry, you can "patronize" this Brewers fan in the MLB thread this season. 1 pennant in 45 years for the Crew, while KC has 5 pennants, 2 Series, in the same period.

Another useless NFL season. Oh well. Go Blackhawks!

"useless"? Made the playoffs, beat a division winner and gave the soon-to-be super bowl champion Patriots a run for their money. I wouldn't call that useless...ask Sang or MacKenzie what useless is, there's your answer.

😛

Totally. KC had a great year - 11 straight wins ain't bad and their first playoff win in what...20 years?

Remember, 31 out of 32 fan bases are going to be bummed by early February. The vast majority of good teams lose their last game every year.

Awwwww, a patronizing pat on the head from Patriot and Packer fans. You guys make me blush. :D:P

The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV on 1/11/70. I was born on 7/12/70.

So, a short review...

Since 1970, the Patriots have...
Played in 45 playoff games, going 28-17
Appeared in 7 Super Bowls, winning 4 of them

Since 1970, the Packers have...
Played in 32 playoff games, going 18-14
Appeared in 3 Super Bowls, winning 2 of them

Since 1970, the Chiefs have...
Played in the longest NFL game ever on 12/25/71, losing to the Dolphins
Didn't appear in another playoff game until 1986, losing to the Jets
Played in a total of 18 playoff games, going 4-14

Yeah.

The only season not useless to me at this point in my life is one where the Chiefs at least make an appearance in the Super Bowl. And, at this point in my life, I'm 100% convinced I'm in for a lifetime of useless seasons.

And, I'm not a Lions or Browns fan. They deserve more sympathy than I ever will.

In a way, this is a testament to the amazing run the Pats have been on for the last 15 years. If you told me in 2000 what was going to happen, I would never have believed it, and I doubt any Pats fan would have, they were perennial losers. If this had been written in 2000, the entry for the Pats would be...

Since 1970, the Patriots have...
Played in 15 playoff games, going 6-9
Appeared in 2 Super Bowls, winning 0 of them

But of course since 2001, the Patriots have...
Played in 30 playoff games, going 21-9
Appeared in 6 Super Bowls, winning 4 of them

In a way, this is a testament to the amazing run the Pats have been on for the last 15 years. If you told me in 2000 what was going to happen, I would never have believed it, and I doubt any Pats fan would have, they were perennial losers. If this had been written in 2000, the entry for the Pats would be...

Since 1970, the Patriots have...
Played in 15 playoff games, going 6-9
Appeared in 2 Super Bowls, winning 0 of them

But of course since 2001, the Patriots have...
Played in 30 playoff games, going 21-9
Appeared in 6 Super Bowls, winning 4 of them

Hate to admit it, but that is just freakin' amazing, especially in the free agent era.

Perspective is never very fun in sports but here are some NFL Championship stats that I decided I wanted to compile:

- Out of 32 franchises, only 15 have won Super Bowls* (47%)
- 4 teams have never appeared in a Super Bowl** (Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville). (13%)
*3 of those 15 teams previously won NFL Championships - Cleveland, Detroit, Arizona [Chicago] (56%)
**2 of those teams have previously won NFL Championships - (Cleveland, Detroit)

So that's about 50% +/- of franchises with no Super Bowl/NFL Championship,

Interesting to compare it with MLB, which isn't credited with the "parity" that the NFL is often praised for, though it has had a longer history:

- 22 of 30 teams (73%) have won a World Series
(Nat/Expos, Mariners, Rays, Rockies, Brewers, Astros, Padres, Rangers have not)
- only 2 franchises have never appeared in a World Series (Nationals/Expos, Mariners)..

Anyways, I've been procrastinating doing any work and decided to look all of that up to entertain myself.

In a way, this is a testament to the amazing run the Pats have been on for the last 15 years. If you told me in 2000 what was going to happen, I would never have believed it, and I doubt any Pats fan would have, they were perennial losers. If this had been written in 2000, the entry for the Pats would be...

Since 1970, the Patriots have...
Played in 15 playoff games, going 6-9
Appeared in 2 Super Bowls, winning 0 of them

But of course since 2001, the Patriots have...
Played in 30 playoff games, going 21-9
Appeared in 6 Super Bowls, winning 4 of them

Hate to admit it, but that is just freakin' amazing, especially in the free agent era.

Reminds me of how the Pittsburgh Steelers' fortunes all turned around at the same time with the merger and the hiring of Chuck Knoll. Prior to the merger, the Steelers were the joke of the NFL having played in and lost only 2 playoff games over decades. Since 1970 the Steelers are 6-2 in Super Bowls and have more post-season wins than any other team.

I mentioned this in the Golden State Warriors thread, but which team's current longevity is more amazing over the past 15 or so years - The Spurs or the Patriots?

Generally it's more difficult to keep a football team going for that long in today's era (having the same coach and system certainly help) but the Spurs haven't even had an "off" year in 18 seasons. The last time they won less than 50 games was a strike shortened season where they won the NBA Finals.

Meanwhile, the Patriots have only had two "off" seasons since 2001:

2002 where they went 9-7 and looked more like the underdog that surprised the mighty Rams, and nothing like a dynasty in the making.
2008 when Brady went down and they still went 11-5 and lost the tie breaker with the Dolphins.

starting to get pumped...

GO PATS !!!

starting to get pumped...

GO PATS !!!

On this date 22 years ago Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots. I'd say he's made good on his objective...the Patriots will play in their 11th conference championship game (5th straight) this weekend in his 22 years as owner in pursuit of championship #5.

Jackson looks like he is wearing cement shoes.

Yeah, I always liked him, hard runner. Too bad he is probably past his prime at this point, but might be able to help a little.

NE's passing game is they're running game with the short dink and dunk passes, so they dont have to worry about it to much.

Body habitus wise he(Jackson) always reminded me of Dickerson. I always loved watching him run. He dished out the punishment when he had the ball and you tried to bring him down.

Speaking of great backs, Emmet Smith is the all time rushing leader with 18,355. Gore,Peterson and Jacskon are the only active backs in that list of the top 20. Doubt they will catch him. 6,000-7,000 yards away.

In my life time, this guy is probably the best I have seen .

Video
http://www.chicagobears.com/tradition/walter-payton.html

[Edited on 1/22/2016 by jszfunk]

[Edited on 1/22/2016 by jszfunk]

How deflating. 😛