# Division Playoffs (NFL) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 16, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243 "2010-01-16T22:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/61 "2010-01-17T19:08:56Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > But there is every reason to employ the big hit tactic in an effort to separate the receiver from the ball at the moment the ball gets to the receiver. That was the only call I remember really bugging me, the “defenseless receiver” one. Not that the rule itself bothers me, just that particular application of it. Murderin’ Ray was doing exactly what a defender should do when defending the pass. 1. Not when he leads with his helmet, as I pointed out when you brought it up at the time. 2. And no, I disagree. Launching yourself as a missile to try and deliver a blow of maximum impact is not necessary. We played the game for decades without it, and could do so in the future without succumbing to being considered “pansies.” ETA: When looked at in slo-mo, he led with both shoulder and helmet, and didn’t seem to care which he used for contact. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/62 "2010-01-17T19:11:01Z")
I’m with DSYE on this one. Among the things I can do without in pro football are the over-emphasis on killing one another and trying to knock guys out of the game. That and the over-emphasis on trying to strip the ball instead of just tackling are my two biggest peeves. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/63 "2010-01-17T19:16:40Z")
Not happy with the pressure created by Minnesota’s D-line. Romo taking some heat. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/64 "2010-01-17T19:36:14Z")
I wish Chilly had been willing to let Favre try to run a two minute drill at the end of the half. It’s way too early to try to sit down on a 14 point lead. Pleased with the Vikings D-line. They’re really keeping the heat on Romo, the Boys are doubling Jared Allen, but that allowed Ray Edwards to get three sacks. The Purple O-line is still not doing a great job opening up holes for AP, but using the pass to spread out the defense will start buying him some running space eventually. That first long TD from Favre to Rice was a thing of beauty. Even though the Vikes have the lead, I don’t feel super comfortable yet. It still feels like a tight game, and that a big play or bad mistake could turn the momentum. That might just be normal, Vikings fan fatalism whispering in my ear, though. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/65 "2010-01-17T19:48:52Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I’m with DSYE on this one. Among the things I can do without in pro football are the over-emphasis on killing one another and trying to knock guys out of the game. That and the over-emphasis on trying to strip the ball instead of just tackling are my two biggest peeves. Yes, I agree. All too often I see receivers and running backs make first/touchdowns because some defensive player was more interested in trying to get the ball loose than simply grabbing the guy and taking him down. Similar peeve is the defensive player who tries to tackle by hitting, instead of wrapping up. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/66 "2010-01-17T19:53:54Z")
Is it just me, or should a quarterback simulating receipt of a shotgun snap be considered illegal proceedure? ETA: Susisham is not a rock-steady addition. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/67 "2010-01-17T19:55:49Z")
What we usually see now is a gradual realization by the favored team that they can get away with shit, and an escalation of unchecked holding and late hits. To be fair, the refs have mostly not called anything other than false starts, so if it wasn’t for the one BS taunting call I’d say they were staying out of it. Kind of weird to call that, then ignore the hit on Favre which was at least 3 seconds after he fired off the pass and after the play was whistled dead. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/68 "2010-01-17T19:56:50Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Is it just me, or should a quarterback simulating receipt of a shotgun snap be considered illegal proceedure? > > ETA: Susisham is not a rock-steady addition. I’m really fuzzy on the rules, but I am sure that any fake snap is a false start. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/69 "2010-01-17T20:14:02Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Wow, I never thought I would see the day, but the “most pathetic give-up-on-the-play attempt at a tackle by a Dallas Cornerback” award no longer belongs to Deion Sanders. Yeah, if you’re talking about that first Minnesota TD pass – I agree. All he had to do was just LOOK, and he could have easily knocked that pass down. And he didn’t even try to tackle after Rice caught it. Ugh… ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/70 "2010-01-17T20:14:34Z")
Joe Buck really sounded confused about the situation with the running into the kicker penalty. First of all, Minnesota wasn’t the team who had the option of accepting or declining it. 😃 Sometimes I think they just get too wrapped up in their own thoughts and don’t really try to figure out what’s going on on the field. ETA: ah, now someone clued him in on his stupidity. \ ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/71 "2010-01-17T20:15:04Z")
The Minnesota offensive line is looking like crap again. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/72 "2010-01-17T20:16:06Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Joe Buck really sounded confused about the situation with the running into the kicker penalty. First of all, Minnesota wasn’t the team who had the option of accepting or declining it. 😃 > > Sometimes I think they just get too wrapped up in their own thoughts and don’t really try to figure out what’s going on on the field. Joe Buck strikes me as a guy who doesn’t even like sports and is always trying to read a talking point off the teleprompter. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/73 "2010-01-17T20:42:24Z")
I amend my previous comment. By far the single most annoying thing about football right now is the flag begging gesture players make, usually receivers. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/74 "2010-01-17T21:07:19Z")
Heh, in real football, the same gesture happens all the time (only it’s that they want the referee to pull out a yellow card). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/75 "2010-01-17T21:07:54Z")
wow – 2 minutes left, ahead by 4 scores, let’s throw one more TD to run up the score. How classy… ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/76 "2010-01-17T21:11:19Z")
Well crap. I have no favoritism toward any of the team in the playoffs this year(other than a random scattering of haterage toward individuals. So I am just trying to enjoy some football… and so far 7 games in, and 6 of them have been crap as far as games go. Only one was any good at all and I was forced to miss it due to sudden onset starch induced non voluntary soporificism. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/77 "2010-01-17T21:11:22Z")
> [@Monstre](#): > > wow – 2 minutes left, ahead by 4 scores, let’s throw one more TD to run up the score. How classy. Stop 'em. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/78 "2010-01-17T21:11:24Z")
What are they supposed to do? Give Dallas the ball? I understand that Dallas had 11 men on the field who could have stopped that score if they didn’t want to see it happen. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/79 "2010-01-17T21:17:13Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > What are they supposed to do? Give Dallas the ball? I understand that Dallas had 11 men on the field who could have stopped that score if they didn’t want to see it happen. Run the ball, run off clock, since at this point that’s all it really takes to win. Especially when it’s a 4 score game already. Cowboys were in a similar situation against Philadelphia last week, and could have kicked another field goal, but it was at the point where all it took was just running every play to keep the clock running – that’s what they did. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243/80 "2010-01-17T21:17:42Z")
Anyway, the Vikings are contractually obliged (by the lyrics of the fight song) to run up the score. You’ll hear us yell for more! V-I-K-I-N-G-S, skol Vikings, let’s GOOOOOO!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/division-playoffs-nfl/525243.md?page=5)