# AFC and NFC Conference Championship Games NFL **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 17, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085 "2015-01-17T19:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/81 "2015-01-19T00:24:16Z")
Wow. It’s gonna be a dark night in Wisconsin. What a game. Sloppy as shit, weird play calling by Green Bay, but fun to watch. ---
**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 19, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/82 "2015-01-19T00:27:22Z")
That’s the first time I’ve seen a team win a championship game by kicking their _own_ asses for 58 minutes. Seahawker and proud of it, but I have to agree that somehow it just doesn’t seem “fair” that the Packers lost. Be that as it may… BWAAH, HA HA Haaa… ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/83 "2015-01-19T00:27:56Z")
OMFG, tomorrow’s [ProFootballMock.com](http://ProFootballMock.com) Quarterbacks on Facebook conversation is gonna be HILARIOUS. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/84 "2015-01-19T00:33:55Z")
Regardless, watching this game did not give me much confidence in the NFC’s chances in the Superbowl this year. Then again, there was the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl several years back, so anything can happen… ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/85 "2015-01-19T01:03:43Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > Why is the AFC game delayed? Was it because of OT in Seattle? Or is there another reason? It’s because of the OT - that’s the way it always works in the postseason. The NFL is smart enough to realize most fans will watch the end of the game on Fox before switching over to the CBS game, so they’ll wait until the first game ends before starting the second one. I assume there is some point where they will stop waiting and have both games on at the same time, but it’s probably something like 7:00 Eastern. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/86 "2015-01-19T01:53:18Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Isn’t the Seattle stadium supposed to be uper wooper loud? Maybe I just have the volume turned down because of the insipid commentators. It is loud. You can’t hear it on TV. But you can see it on the [Pacific Northwest Seismic Network](http://pnsn.org/seahawks). They haven’t updated for today’s game but you can see it from the last game with the Panthers. And had you been on the site during today’s game you could have seen [QuickShake live data streaming](http://pnsn.org/seahawks/quickshake). ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/87 "2015-01-19T01:56:13Z")
> [@Boogly](#): > > Why is the AFC game delayed? Was it because of OT in Seattle? Or is there another reason? > [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > It’s because of the OT - that’s the way it always works in the postseason. The NFL is smart enough to realize most fans will watch the end of the game on Fox before switching over to the CBS game, so they’ll wait until the first game ends before starting the second one. I assume there is some point where they will stop waiting and have both games on at the same time, but it’s probably something like 7:00 Eastern. The real question should have been, "Why is a West Coast game beginning before an East Coast game? Because Seattle owner Paul Allen persuaded the NFL for the Seahawks game to begin at Noon in honor of the [12th Man](http://www.seahawks.com/12th-Man/). ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/88 "2015-01-19T02:12:39Z")
Can somebody explain the illegal formation penalty that the Patriots just received? I understand the distinction between eligible and ineligible receivers but I thought that only applied to who could receive a pass and who can be downfield on a passing play. I don’t understand how eligible receivers interact with the offensive formation. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/89 "2015-01-19T02:13:27Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > The real question should have been, "Why is a West Coast game beginning before an East Coast game? > > Because Seattle owner Paul Allen persuaded the NFL for the Seahawks game to begin at Noon in honor of the [12th Man](http://www.seahawks.com/12th-Man/). No - it’s because the NFC and AFC alternate whose championship game starts first each year, since the late game counts for primetime ratings and the early one does not. Last year, Fox (NFC) had the late game, which was also in Seattle; this year, CBS (AFC) does, and Fox airs repeats of its shows (except for _Mulaney_, which is a new episode tonight as it is burning off the rest of its episodes before pulling it from the schedule) because it knows most people are watching the football game. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/90 "2015-01-19T02:15:38Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > I feel like either the Pats or the Colts will demolish Seattle. The Colts are getting pasted by New England, so it looks like the Super Bowl is set. ---
**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 19, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/91 "2015-01-19T02:17:26Z")
Well, at least we had _one_ exciting game today. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/92 "2015-01-19T02:22:42Z")
this rain is just crazy. the players must feel like they are playing in a fire hydrant. it is beyond deluge. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/93 "2015-01-19T02:25:39Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Can somebody explain the illegal formation penalty that the Patriots just received? I understand the distinction between eligible and ineligible receivers but I thought that only applied to who could receive a pass and who can be downfield on a passing play. I don’t understand how eligible receivers interact with the offensive formation. What, exactly, was the call? Did the Patriots have at least seven men on the line of scrimmage, which is required? Note that, unless they otherwise report as such to an official, players wearing numbers 50-79 (and 90-99, apparently) are ineligible receivers and must be on the line of scrimmage with at least one player also on the line on each side of him; the other numbers are eligible receivers, and cannot be in an ineligible receiver position. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/94 "2015-01-19T02:31:08Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > What, exactly, was the call? > > Did the Patriots have at least seven men on the line of scrimmage, which is required? > > Note that, unless they otherwise report as such to an official, players wearing numbers 50-79 (and 90-99, apparently) are ineligible receivers and must be on the line of scrimmage with at least one player also on the line on each side of him; the other numbers are eligible receivers, and cannot be in an ineligible receiver position. Patriot players #77 and #79 lined up as uncovered ends on the line, and as such were both eligible by their positions. However, only #79 (or vice versa) reported to the referee as an eligible receiver. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/95 "2015-01-19T02:32:17Z")
I think there was a discrepancy between the number of players who declared themselves ineligible receivers and those who were receivers. I think that 2 players said they were ineligible and only 1 said that he was an eligible receiver. eta: Or probably what MonkeyMensch said ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/96 "2015-01-19T02:38:00Z")
And some really impressive line-of-scrimmage play from the Patriots. I think, as do many, that strong offensive line play wins championships. This game is looking like an O-line clinic conducted by New England. ---
**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 19, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/97 "2015-01-19T02:40:41Z")
Looks like I’ll be rooting for the Pats in two weeks. At this point I just can’t dislike Brady and Belichick, they are just to damn good at their jobs. I don’t think the Seahawks performance today is any indication of how the Super Bowl will go, unless those injuries keep Seattle’s best guys on the sidelines. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/98 "2015-01-19T02:42:29Z")
> [@MonkeyMensch](#): > > Patriot players #77 and #79 lined up as uncovered ends on the line, and as such were both eligible by their positions. However, only #79 (or vice versa) reported to the referee as an eligible receiver. Thanks. So typically when an offense “goes heavy” and stacks the line on an obvious running down, do they typically have eligible tight ends at each end of the line or do linemen report eligible just as a formality? ---
**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 19, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/99 "2015-01-19T02:44:09Z")
Also, Blount is playing incredible. If that guy got his head right and took care of himself in between Sundays he’d be a pro bowler. The guy really turns it on when the spot lights are on. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085/100 "2015-01-19T02:52:22Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > this rain is just crazy. the players must feel like they are playing in a fire hydrant. it is beyond deluge. It’s not _quite_ as dramatic as it looks on TV, though it’s steady. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afc-and-nfc-conference-championship-games-nfl/710085.md?page=6)