# 2012 NFL Playoffs Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 4, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401 "2012-01-04T18:13:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/241 "2012-01-09T02:08:10Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I don’t know if he’s going bald, but he wears one of those extremely closely shaven beards that were in style about 15 years ago. (Think George Michael, et al.) You gotta have faaaaaaiiiith. You gotta have faaaaaith. You gotta have faith a’ faith a’ faith. You gotta have faith a faith a’ faith. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/242 "2012-01-09T02:12:17Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Has anybody seen Airman Doors lately, I’m kind of concerned. Maybe he was at the game. It’d take him a while to get home, especially with the bar-hopping and drowning his sorrows along the way. I am mildly bewilderd as to where the Steeler fans were during the game, either in this thread or in **Airman Door** ’s thread. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/243 "2012-01-09T02:13:38Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > You gotta have faaaaaaiiiith. You gotta have faaaaaith. You gotta have faith a’ faith a’ faith. You gotta have faith a faith a’ faith. Good point! I didn’t think of that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/244 "2012-01-09T02:13:53Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I am mildly bewilderd as to where the Steeler fans were during the game, either in this thread or in **Airman Door** ’s thread. Comforting themselves with carnal relations with their siblings is my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/245 "2012-01-09T02:15:06Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > I suppose I could guess, but what did Tebow say? Here you go. > **[NFL.com | Official Site of the National Football League](https://www.nfl.com/videos/)** > > The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/246 "2012-01-09T02:16:40Z")
Wait, I just got it: The Ten Completions For 3:16 This may be the best evidence yet for miracles. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/247 "2012-01-09T02:17:46Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Wait, I just got it: > > The Ten Completions > > For 3:16 > > This may be the best evidence yet for miracles. Stolen from Twitter, “and John told him to pull the trigger”. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/248 "2012-01-09T02:25:21Z")
Stolen from a browns board: > [@](#): > > Tebow 3:16 > > For God so loved the lowly Browns fans > that he gave them Tim Tebow’s performance against the Steelers > so that whomever believed in him > could laugh at all the Yinzers crying in their ridiculous yellow towels. Of course obviously god doesn’t love the browns. More like some sort of tiny bit of mercy on a leper sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/249 "2012-01-09T02:39:49Z")
Possibly the best image to describe what it was like watching that last play: [http://i.imgur.com/1nIww.gif](http://i.imgur.com/1nIww.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/250 "2012-01-09T02:45:40Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > I don’t like the new OT rules. changing thnigs is bad Oh well, as it turns out the Broncos made it a sudden death game. Holy crap, and that play coming from a quarterback who allegedly can’t throw to any of his receivers who allegedly can’t catch. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/251 "2012-01-09T03:04:06Z")
Bad weekend for wild card teams–all of them lost. Glad to see the Tebow heroics. He’s a good kid, and doesn’t deserve all the abuse he gets. Nest week–Saints @ 49ers, Giants @ Packers, Broncos @ Patriots, Texans @ Ravens. Great slate of games. I like the Saints chances against the 49ers. Shouldn’t be too cold out there, and I don’t think the 49ers have enough offense to outscore the Saints, even against a good defense. **GEAUX SAINTS!**. I’ll be a Giants fan against Green Bay. If that defense keeps Rodgers in check, maybe they can save my Saints from a trip to Lambeau in January. \*\* GEAUX GIANTS!\*\* I think the Patriots hold serve at home. They can score enough to keep Tebow out of reach for last second heroics. Lastly, I like Baltimore over Houston. I think the Texans have come a long way, but they’re overmatched in this one. ---
**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/252 "2012-01-09T03:17:06Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > It’s exactly like it has always been only the first team to receive the ball can’t win with a field goal. Which only reinforces the question- why change the rule for the playoffs? The NFL changes _one_ aspect of the rules. Why bother? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/253 "2012-01-09T03:30:43Z")
> [@coolbyrne](#): > > Which only reinforces the question- why change the rule for the playoffs? The NFL changes _one_ aspect of the rules. Why bother? Because Brett Favre missed a Superbowl when the Saints won the NFC Championship under the old rule. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/254 "2012-01-09T03:34:28Z")
About 60% of coin toss winners go on to win the game. The new rules would seem to try and lower that. From an entertainment prospective the NFL wanted to minimize overtimes that ended with two quick passes and a field goal on the first drive, without the others team’s offense having a chance with the ball. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/255 "2012-01-09T03:36:41Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Because Brett Favre missed a Superbowl when the Saints won the NFC Championship under the old rule. Brett Farve threw and interception, meaning that both teams had the ball. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/256 "2012-01-09T03:49:09Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Brett Farve threw and interception, meaning that both teams had the ball. Not in overtime, he didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/257 "2012-01-09T04:01:26Z")
So about the forward pass/early whistle/lateral/fumble thing. The reason you can’t change that is apparently you can’t review whether or not something is a fumble if it’s called on the field to be a forward pass. But… isn’t that exactly when they do when a defender gets a QB from behind as he’s about to throw the ball, and we’re trying to see if the ball was in his arm when it started going forward? What exactly was the issue there? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/258 "2012-01-09T04:03:49Z")
I think the problem was that the whistle blew early. The receiver dropped the pass (lateral), but the play was blown dead before there was a recovery by anyone. Since the play was whistled dead, the best the Broncos could have gotten on review was a fumble, but not a turnover - it could have backed the Steelers up two or three yards, but that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/259 "2012-01-09T04:05:06Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Brett Farve threw and interception, meaning that both teams had the ball. As I remember it, Favre threw the INT in regulation, Saints won the toss, and kicked the FG on their first possession. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/260 "2012-01-09T04:09:25Z")
I’ve seen them award a fumble after the whistle blew - one time [ridiculously egregiously against the browns like 5 seconds after the whistle blew.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13244529&postcount=132) Image links don’t work anymore and I don’t have the originals, but it was bizarre because the play was dead for like 5 seconds before anyone sort of ran over and casually scooped up the ball and they ruled it a fumble recovery. Anyway, I’ve seen plenty of less extreme examples of when a change of posession was awarded for a fumble recovery after the whistle blew. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401.md?page=14)