NFL Thread

[The Josh]

I'm late, but I'll chime in to this. Well it actually ended up being a great game. That KR by Jacoby Jones ended up being HUGE for the Ravens coming out of halftime because it may have been interesting to see how the 49ers D played the Ravens offense before the blackout. The 49ers have consistently made fantastic adjustments at halftime throughout the playoffs, especially on defense. Sure, the blackout gets all of the credit, especially from people who dont watch any football aside from the Super Bowl and think they are experts, but the 49ers adjustments should not be understated.

Having said that, Chris Culliver and Donte Whitner are absolutely in the doghouse. What they hell were they thinking? They were undisciplined and unprepared and were the ones mostly responsible for all the big plays given up. After his hideous remarks about homosexuals in the locker room, Culliver missed just about every opportunity to redeem himself. 3rd down penalties, like the offsides that kept the Ravens first drive alive and the late one on Culliver were stupid mistakes on their part.

The 49ers always start off slow, and while the announcers repeatedly mentioned that it was the fifth straight game that the 49ers have fallen behind very early, it has actually been an issue for them all season long. Somehow, the 49ers have to avoid coming out flat in so many of their games because they tend to fall behind soon. They never seem to gel until the 2nd quarter or even worse halftime. It's amazing they have gotten this far...

Kaepernick definitely looked shaky in the beginning, especially the pass that got away from him that resulted in an INT and the double-clutching on a couple of occasions. But I thought he played masterfully in the 2nd half. I don't agree with the few people I have heard saying he needs to improve as a passer. He can get the job done and once again made very precise throws in the pocket, sending lasers to Crabtree, Davis and Walker. Great ball location. And he very well might return better next season, and if he does, that's very scary for opponents because he carried the 49ers back into the game.

Now, as far as the end goes...I think the refs completely screwed up the end of the game. Not just for the hold on Crabtree, which WAS catchable (imagine if Santonio Holmes was held on the play where he ade that grab against the Cardinals, how far out of bounds do you think that ball would have landed?). The only thing that makes me shrug it off is that Crabtree seemed to break out of the route too late so it would have taken a great leap had he not been held (and I feel he was trying to push off to get off the hold as well). But, Delanie Walker was also flat-out tackled on the play as well, which I thought was illegal but I guess not? And Ed Reed was offsides before that play, which wasn't called. I blame the 49ers for putting themselves into that situation, but the refs need to call the game one way. If you are going to call a flag on Culliver on 3rd down on the Ravens FG drive despite the fact that it had no bearing on the receivers ability to make that catch since the pass came so late, then they should call the hold on Crabtree. If you're going to "let them play", then fine I get the no-call, but the refs still had too much of an impact sadly.

Worse than all that, like you all have said, is the play-calling the 49ers had in the 4 down situation starting on Baltimore's seven yard line. Ngata is injured and the 49ers were running all over the Ravens. The pistol formation was averaging 8-yards a play. And you get all the way down there with a defense on their heels, and you go up the middle with James once, and then force the ball to Crabtree three straight times, when anybody who has watched a single game of the Kaepernick-led 49ers knows who the intended receiver is? Terrible. Had they stuck to their guns, the 49ers would have somehow found a way to turn that game into the greatest comeback SB win of all-time. Between the NFC championship last year and the way they lost this year, they seem to find excruciating ways to end their season. It will be interesting to see what Kaepernick does next season with this experience and a healthy WR core.

Congrats to the Ravens. I'm happy for Ed Reed, Torrie Smith, Ray Rice and John Harbaugh. I like them all. The second half was remarkable. Commercials sucked, but I did like the clydesdale one as well.

 

[Grenouille]

So was Shannon Sharpe outraged that Jim Harbaugh refused a CBS interview after the game like mean old Belichick?

 

[The Josh]

Did he? I never saw CBS try to interview him. If he did he needs to say a quick word and move on.

 

[Grenouille]

Did he? I never saw CBS try to interview him. If he did he needs to say a quick word and move on.

Yeah, it was reported that he turned down CBS which is his right. He's only contracted to do the media press conference. Really I don't know what great insight you'd get right after losing the SB, we know it sucks and I don't think Harbaugh needed to verbalize the feeling for the world right away.

 

[The Josh]

Got ya. I didn't watch any post game stuff. Wasn't feeling it. He should have made a short comment and moved on.

 

[karamazov80]

Jim Harbaugh is just a Bill Belichick wannabe.

 

[Centurion]

Well, it was a good run.
Despite the mistakes, I still enjoyed the SB. Down to the wire... that's just how I like the games I watch.

Congrats to the Ravens and their fans.
They earned it.

 

[Grenouille]

Jim Harbaugh is just a Bill Belichick wannabe.

If Bill is the hoodie, what will Harbaugh be called? He has the distinctive black sweatshirt, ball cap, and whistle w/marker look going.

 

[The Josh]

He reminds me of a lot of football coaches I've known. So I'd call him coach.

 

[GodzillaSpawn]

But unlike Bill, who actually comes across as an arrogant, snotty prick who always intends to say what he says, Jim Harbaugh just says random, elusive, head-scratching things. I'm not sure if he accidentally puts his foot in his mouth or he just likes to **** with everyone. Regardless, he never ceases to say things that get ripped apart by the media and the fans so I get it. I don't understand why CBS even cares. What more do you want both coaches to say after hard losses that they wouldn't say after the game to reporters anyway?

 

[Centurion]

I think he meant to have his middle finger up when he was doing this last night:

 

[BuffyGirl]

LOL...you should be writing Super Bowl commercials!

Too stressful and I'd probably just want all of my statues in it.

 

[karamazov80]

What more do you want both coaches to say after hard losses that they wouldn't say after the game to reporters anyway?

My guess is that the reporters/networks were hoping for one of these :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_N1OjGhIFc

 

[mfoga]

My guess is that the reporters/networks were hoping for one of these :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_N1OjGhIFc

Greatest post game interview EVER

 

[Grenouille]

The Jaguars unveiled their new logo today. Too bad it didn't incorporate Shad Khan's impressive mustache.

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

Looks good. Much improved.

 

[GodzillaSpawn]

Yeah, I DO like that logo.

And I know there is no way to say this without sounding like a ******** fanboy, but I'm genuinely shocked at some of the no-calls sunday night. And after rewatching clips from the game, I'm absolutely shocked more people aren't talking about how this play should have called back. If that's not holding, I don't know what is. Or that isn't a mugging on a football field I don't know what is.

https://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/thedeman87/49ersrobbedgif_zps402e0ac1.gif

I've played football for years, and realize there is always holding. But that is not only blatant, but it took the main defender completely out of the play to make the tackle or even close the lane and really ended up being the gamechanging play. If I wasn't rooting for the 49ers I'd still say this, because I hate to see refs have any impact on games, especially championships.

And the more I watch this play the more I'm convinced it should be a flag thrown. I don't have a problem with ANYTHING until Jimmy Smith holds Crabtree's jersey under his arm and holds it for a good 3 yards further into the endzone, and then Crabtree clearly is trying to push away even going as far as pushing his helmet. Five yard bump and even the hand fighting is A-okay, but that is normally a penalty, I'm sorry.

https://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/709/699/NoCall_original_original.gif?1359955740

And this is coming from the guy that has always acknowledged that Jerry Rice did fumble against the PAckers in the playoffs in '98 and that the 49ers were lucky to beat the Giants after the missed call from the refs after the botched-FG.

But 49ers, despite pretty much deserving to lose for that horrible first half, they were pretty much two-timed by the zebras and still. almost. won.

 

[mfoga]

Flacco's agent must be on crack.

https://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-nfl-highest-paid-quarterback-according-agent

 

[jimmie_dimmick]

To be fair, it is the agents job to get the best deal and hype their athletes.

Is Flacco the best or an "elite" QB? No. Is he in the top 10? Possibly. Top 15? Sure.

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

The Elite 1-5

1. Tom Brady
2. Payton Manning
3. Drew Brees
4. Aaron Rogers
5. Eli Manning

6. Matt Ryan (regrettably so)
7. Joe Flacco
8. Matt Schab
9. Ben Roethlisberger
10. Jay Cutler

I would put him up there. And I'm not inculding RGIII, Luck or Wilson because like Newton you don't know how much or if they will regress in their second seasons.