# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/61 "2012-01-08T19:27:49Z")
I have no idea why the officials didn’t measure that late play by Nicks, nor why the Giants were OK with it. ---
**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 8, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/62 "2012-01-08T19:28:07Z")
A none too impressive end of the half. The Giants’s questionable play calling on third down (get the damn first down, you had the timeouts) leads to a punt, and the Ryan’s inexplicably not getting out of bounds and clock mismanagement (saving timeouts to take into halftime isn’t smart) mades these teams llok incompetent. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/63 "2012-01-08T19:30:50Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I have no idea why the officials didn’t measure that late play by Nicks, nor why the Giants were OK with it. Or why Ryan didn’t take a timeout after his three yard scramble. Lots of weirdness to end that half. Maybe both teams were afraid of the other and decided fuck it, let’s just end the half with a 5 point margin. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/64 "2012-01-08T19:57:17Z")
Well, they’re certainly calling this one down the line. :dubious: ---
**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 8, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/65 "2012-01-08T20:09:48Z")
Awful play call by the Falcons on that 4th down. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/66 "2012-01-08T20:12:09Z")
Agreed. And now they’ve really paid for it. Great run by Nicks, but some awful coverage and tackling. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/67 "2012-01-08T20:18:18Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > And Darren Sproles is fairly quick. I still can’t believe San Diego let him go. . ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/68 "2012-01-08T20:27:52Z")
Well, if the game wasn’t already over, it is now. Troy Aikman is starting to annoy me with his QB blinders. The Giants’ receivers have made some great catches today, and all he can talk about is Manning. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/69 "2012-01-08T20:37:45Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I still can’t believe San Diego let him go. > > . And Drew Brees. And Michael Turner. There’s a reason everyone is amazed A.J. Smith still has his job. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/70 "2012-01-08T20:57:56Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > And Drew Brees. And Michael Turner. Well, at least with Brees, there was an open question as to how well he’d be able to throw after a shoulder injury. With Turner, they clearly felt like they didn’t want to pay starting money to Tomlinson’s backup…but Tomlinson was 28 years old at the time, and it’s a calculated risk. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/71 "2012-01-08T21:02:40Z")
Big Blue, baby…and please, feel free to mock me for my calling then a mortal lock against the Packers next week. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/72 "2012-01-08T21:03:18Z")
Wow. I had to stop watching the game to go to work. It was still 2-7 at the time and Atlanta looked just fine. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/73 "2012-01-08T21:12:50Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Big Blue, baby…and please, feel free to mock me for my calling then a mortal lock against the Packers next week. I’ll mock you a little bit, but, as a Packer fan, I certainly think that what the Giants were able to do against the Falcons will make them a challenging opponent for the Packers. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/74 "2012-01-08T21:16:46Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Or why Ryan didn’t take a timeout after his three yard scramble. Can anyone explain how this could possibly have made any sense? Thirty-one seconds left in the half and you’ve got three timeouts left. Why not stop the clock? ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/75 "2012-01-08T21:24:46Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Well, at least with Brees, there was an open question as to how well he’d be able to throw after a shoulder injury. > > With Turner, they clearly felt like they didn’t want to pay starting money to Tomlinson’s backup…but Tomlinson was 28 years old at the time, and it’s a calculated risk. I understand, but we can all look back and know that the Chargers had 3 superstars (or at least 2) on their roster, and the Chargers decided to let them all go. At some point, it becomes obvious the GM is not assessing his roster talent well. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/76 "2012-01-08T21:46:44Z")
> [@Miltonyz](#): > > Not sure. My understanding of foward progress it that if a runner voluntarily retreats then foward progress does not apply. I think the difference in this instance was that Brees never physically retreated, he just tucked the ball. Technically, it should be as you suggest. But in the history of my watching football, that sort of lunge has always been spotted at however far the ball carrier’s arms reached. Just one of those unwritten rules, I guess. Steelers-Broncos is under way. GO, DONKEYS! ---
**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 8, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/77 "2012-01-08T21:53:15Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I understand, but we can all look back and know that the Chargers had 3 superstars (or at least 2) on their roster, and the Chargers decided to let them all go. At some point, it becomes obvious the GM is not assessing his roster talent well. You’re nuts. AJ Smith has done as good a job as can be expected regarding the RB position. He’s had Tomlinson, Sproles, Turner and Matthews. He drafted all those guys (maybe not Tomlinson, and I’m too lazy to look it up, but that’s not the point) and all have been pretty great. Matthews is still a work in progress, but he looks awfully good and I think most teams would prefer him over Sproles. Sproles isn’t a super star, he’s just in the perfect system for him and if Smith would have kept Sproles and let Matthews go (or not drafted him at all) the Chargers would be a much worse offense. He held onto Turner as long as could be reasonably expected as a backup. With Brees they probably shouldn’t have drafted Rivers in retrospect, but it’s not like they made the wrong choice at the time. Smith’s primary issue is in hiring Norv Turner and hiring a bunch of guys who are always hurt. Not in how he dealt with LT, Turner, Sproles and Brees. ---
**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 8, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/78 "2012-01-08T22:01:33Z")
Wow, damn, that was a foot or two off from a 95 yard TD. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/79 "2012-01-08T22:03:19Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Wow, damn, that was a foot or two off from a 95 yard TD. As usual. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401/80 "2012-01-08T22:15:40Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > You’re nuts. AJ Smith has done as good a job as can be expected regarding the RB position. He’s had Tomlinson, Sproles, Turner and Matthews. He drafted all those guys (maybe not Tomlinson, and I’m too lazy to look it up, but that’s not the point) and all have been pretty great. Matthews is still a work in progress, but he looks awfully good and I think most teams would prefer him over Sproles. Sproles isn’t a super star, he’s just in the perfect system for him and if Smith would have kept Sproles and let Matthews go (or not drafted him at all) the Chargers would be a much worse offense. > > He held onto Turner as long as could be reasonably expected as a backup. With Brees they probably shouldn’t have drafted Rivers in retrospect, but it’s not like they made the wrong choice at the time. Smith’s primary issue is in hiring Norv Turner and hiring a bunch of guys who are always hurt. Not in how he dealt with LT, Turner, Sproles and Brees. Matthews looks pretty good (when he’s not injured), but keep in mind he was taken with the 12th pick in 2010, and if the Chargers still had Turner, they could have used that pick for Earl Thomas or Jason Pierre-Paul, both of whom would have greatly helped their defense and who were drafted shortly after Matthews. I definitely agree that hiring Norv looks bad, but not as bad as continuing to leave him as head coach. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-nfl-playoffs-discussion-thread/608401.md?page=5)