***Official AFC Championship Game Thread*** (2 Viewers)

[Balco]

If the Bolts manage to get a TD...do you go for 2 at this point in the game? I would because you could go in at the half tied.

No.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Almost 20 seconds off the clock after the booth review...WTF?

 

[Tau837]

If the Bolts manage to get a TD...do you go for 2 at this point in the game? I would because you could go in at the half tied.

No

 

[FreeBaGeL]

If SD could waste a little bit more time before snapping it, that'd be great. 30 seconds running off between plays is just too fast when you're trying to run a 2 minute drill.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

If the Bolts manage to get a TD...do you go for 2 at this point in the game? I would because you could go in at the half tied.

No.

Why?

 

[CrossEyed]

If the Bolts manage to get a TD...do you go for 2 at this point in the game? I would because you could go in at the half tied.

Way too early for that. Just ask Mike Tomlin.

 

[Loopdog]

horrendous clock management. Among the worst i've seen. ever.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Oh, and if you could catch some passes in bounds for no gain that'd help too. Gaining 1 yard and staying in bounds is just too much.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Bad Clock Management

 

[Doctor Detroit]

If the Bolts manage to get a TD...do you go for 2 at this point in the game? I would because you could go in at the half tied.

No

 

[Balco]

If the Bolts manage to get a TD...do you go for 2 at this point in the game? I would because you could go in at the half tied.

No.

Why?

Way, way too early. You don't get bonus points for being tied at the half. Take the sure thing at this point.

 

[Bubbles]

Bad Clock Management

 

[CrossEyed]

Not sure if I'd be running another play here. Pretty risky.

 

[Escape Goat]

I'd rather have Mickey Rivers Rooney Marrs at QB.

Fixed

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I think going for 2 here makes a lot of sense.

You know NE is going to score another TD or 2+...you are going to know going into halftime if you are tied or if you are going to have to kick an extra FG along the way or something if you are down 14-12...no advantage to be down to the Pats 14-12 or 14-13...doesn't matter now. Looks like FG #3

 

[Balco]

Bad Clock Management

What, you didn't like that .5 yard out to Darren Sproles?

 

[Balco]

I think going for 2 here makes a lot of sense. You know NE is going to score another TD or 2+...you are going to know going into halftime if you are tied or if you are going to have to kick an extra FG along the way or something if you are down 14-12...no advantage to be down to the Pats 14-12 or 14-13...doesn't matter now. Looks like FG #3

How do you know? You can't assume anything. You make the smart play and kick the XP in that situation.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

AD on press coverage at the top. Nice job.

 

[Balco]

Now I have seen it all. Kaeding kicks a 40 yard field goal in the playoffs.

 

[CrossEyed]

Still a ballgame.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Zero wind on those flags. Nice time to kick from 40.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I think going for 2 here makes a lot of sense. You know NE is going to score another TD or 2+...you are going to know going into halftime if you are tied or if you are going to have to kick an extra FG along the way or something if you are down 14-12...no advantage to be down to the Pats 14-12 or 14-13...doesn't matter now. Looks like FG #3

How do you know? You can't assume anything. You make the smart play and kick the XP in that situation.

In the late 3rd/early 4th I kick the extra point because I want to stretch the game out and I want my team to still be in it if they give up a TD so they could still tie with a TD and a 2 pt coversion...in the late 2nd I already know I have 2 more quarters to win the football game and i can overcome that gamble at halftime. I think the good out weighs the bad in going for 2 to make it 14-14 going into the half. I would rather know I can't make that 2 point conversion in the 2nd than late in the 4th.

 

[Tau837]

All in all, 14-9 entering the half, essentially without Tomlinson, has to give San Diego some confidence for the second half. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Kaeding is 3/3 on FGs, in the event that they need one later.

 

[Sundays Rule]

Bolts hanging in there. Most impressive

 

[CrossEyed]

I think going for 2 here makes a lot of sense. You know NE is going to score another TD or 2+...you are going to know going into halftime if you are tied or if you are going to have to kick an extra FG along the way or something if you are down 14-12...no advantage to be down to the Pats 14-12 or 14-13...doesn't matter now. Looks like FG #3

How do you know? You can't assume anything. You make the smart play and kick the XP in that situation.

In the late 3rd/early 4th I kick the extra point because I want to stretch the game out and I want my team to still be in it if they give up a TD so they could still tie with a TD and a 2 pt coversion...in the late 2nd I already know I have 2 more quarters to win the football game and i can overcome that gamble at halftime. I think the good out weighs the bad in going for 2 to make it 14-14 going into the half. I would rather know I can't make that 2 point conversion in the 2nd than late in the 4th.

Like I said, talk to Mike Tomlin about going for 2 before you have to.

 

[Balco]

All in all, 14-9 entering the half, essentially without Tomlinson, has to give San Diego some confidence for the second half. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Kaeding is 3/3 on FGs, in the event that they need one later.

The opening series of the 2nd half is absolutely huge for the Chargers. They need to stop the Pats. I don't think they overcome 21-9.

 

[Bill Lust]

Bolts hanging in there. Most impressive

...but not at all surprising.

 

[flapgreen]

Definitely not a Rivers fan but that was impressive.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Very effective and deliberate leg whip.

Announcers must be on the take too. When I saw it I thought it was obvious and flagrant. Figured I should check here to see if anyone else saw it.Looked he was deliberately going for the leg with a kick/trip. I rewound it several times and watched it over and over in full speed. Geesh, he even follows through with the kick after contact. If that isn't an obvious flag I don't know what is.

Looked like Marco Ruas against Paul Varlens.

Sorry. No clue who you're talking about. Not sure if you're trying to agree with me or just trying to mock me.Stuff like this takes away from a glory of a dominant Patriots team that I expect to roll to a title. Even if they flagged that play I would still expect NE to win.

I agree with you. (FYI. Marco Ruas was/is a Brazilian MMA fighter. Back in the early days of the UFC he fought this giant guy named Paul Varelans who was like 6'8". Ruas kicked the the ever loving crap out of his legs all fight long. Eventually Varelans couldn't even stand up. )

 

[hammerva]

I don't know. Even though they are technically still in the game; it sure doesn't feel that way.

 

[Ghost Rider]

If I am a Chargers fan, I am very happy right now. No Tomlinson, Rivers and Gates are both hobbled, and you are only down 5 on the road to the supposed greatest team ever? You gotta be happy with that.

 

[flapgreen]

Bolts hanging in there. Most impressive

...but not at all surprising.

At this point, I don't find it surprising. A couples weeks ago, I'd have a different opinion.

 

[Bogart]

Bolts hanging in there. Most impressive

Agreed, just when all signs pointed to a NE blowout, they stand in there, and have to be motivated by where they are at.More Spiroles in the 2nd half would be nice.

 

[Bill Lust]

I don't know. Even though they are technically still in the game; it sure doesn't feel that way.

The margin of error will obviously get smaller as the game goes on, but it is a five point game. That is one play.

 

[Balco]

Bolts hanging in there. Most impressive

...but not at all surprising.

Agreed. They have played great football their last 8 games. Having the Jamaal Williams/Luis Castillo/Igor Olshansky trio healthy has a lot to do with that, I think. They are doing a great job in there today. Now if the Chargers D Coordinator just had a clue and decided to rush 5 at a time, they would be better off. Just look at the Pats D on the last drive. They rushed 6 players, forcing Rivers to make a very quick check down to Darren Sproles. Result? 1/2 yard gain. You rush 3 like the Chargers did on the Pats 2nd touchdown, you let Brady count to 20, and look at his 5th oprion, Jabar Gaffney for an easy td.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Michael Turner looks very slow to me.

 

[Bri]

Bad Clock Management

From the time that play ended, to the review of the ground causing a fumble, to the next snap, it was a full play clock. What a waste there

 

[Bri]

Michael Turner looks very slow to me.

me too, but he always does to me. Must be his style of runnin'

 

[Bill Lust]

The Chargers are doing a good job in not letting Brady find a rhythm. The Pats offense looked like it was in a fog for most of the first half.

 

[Gottabesweet]

Michael Turner looks very slow to me.

Was thinking the same thing. Turner the Burner? everytime I see him he looks like Lendale White. The only long TD run I seen him have was a few years ago to ruin the Colts undefeated season.

 

[Bri]

I don't know. Even though they are technically still in the game; it sure doesn't feel that way.

The margin of error will obviously get smaller as the game goes on, but it is a five point game. That is one play.

Pats receive to start the 2nd so that drive should prove real important momentum wise

 

[cstu]

All in all, 14-9 entering the half, essentially without Tomlinson, has to give San Diego some confidence for the second half. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Kaeding is 3/3 on FGs, in the event that they need one later.

All I wanted was for the Chargers to keep it within a score and hope to pull it out late.

 

[Bri]

The Chargers are doing a good job in not letting Brady find a rhythm. The Pats offense looked like it was in a fog for most of the first half.

I think they're resigned to letting Faulk get whatever he can and worrying about the rest. BB needs to keep going to that well, if so

 

[Bill Lust]

I like Cowher, but it's funny how a guy known for his conservative game management in the playoffs is now saying that he would bench Rivers for Volek. He must be loving that comfy chair in the CBS studio.

 

[Sundays Rule]

That would be awesome if Volek came in and beat the Pats.

 

[nerangers]

saw this on boston.com about how the fans are at the game

On a side note, the home fans have not done much to create a true home-field advantage in this one.

Do you think it is just too cold for them to get into it?

 

[CrossEyed]

Gotta laugh at Marino's cell phone ringing...twice.

 

[Bill Lust]

saw this on boston.com about how the fans are at the game

On a side note, the home fans have not done much to create a true home-field advantage in this one.

Do you think it is just too cold for them to get into it?

I am not a fan of Gillette. The crowd is definitely not the most raucous in the league, but it is a poorly designed stadium in terms of capturing crowd noise and routing it to the field.

 

[CrossEyed]

Good NFL Network commercial with Montana.

 

[Sundays Rule]

Definitely not a Rivers fan but that was impressive.

Rivers has made a believer out of me btw last week and today. Dont watch many Chargers games but he can play and is pretty damn tough.