# NFL 2020: Conference Championship Week **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 21, 2021, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093 "2021-01-21T13:50:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/61 "2021-01-25T00:18:20Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > KC looks like they might have more than 50% capacity tonight. Supposedly 17,000 tickets were sold. 25%. ---
**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 25, 2021, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/62 "2021-01-25T00:19:40Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It does, but as it is with veteran pitchers in baseball, it is so with veteran QBs in NFL that the truly good or great ones know how to win games even when they’ve lost some of the mustard on their fast ball. Statistically, Brady’s probably been in decline in terms of accuracy and consistency over the last 3 years, but he can still make the right plays - big plays - at the right time and manage ‘the game within the game.’ All true, but he had a mediocre second half today, including the three interceptions, at least two of which were picked off because they were high. The Packers only managed 6 points off of those three interceptions, in large part because Tampa Bay did a good job of shutting down Green Bay’s running game, making their offense more one-dimensional, and putting consistent pressure on Rodgers. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/63 "2021-01-25T00:23:16Z")
Brady got bailed out by the defense. Not only were the balls floated, but I think going deep wasn’t necessary in those situations. Brady would have been better off chewing up the clock with short passes. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/64 "2021-01-25T00:24:17Z")
Those weren’t bad INTs, though, and that’s what I mean about winning the game within the game with big plays, even if the stats aren’t impressive. I think the worst INT was the first one in which he clearly rushed the throw and overthrew his WR - that was a bad INT because it gave GB momentum and the ball with decent field position. The 2nd INT was really a catchable ball that went off the wide-out’s fingertips and the DB made a good play off the deflection. The third INT was rushed but I like that Brady took a shot downfield rather than risking a sack, and it was deep enough so that it was almost like a punt, putting GB on their own 25. Brady was aggressive, which I think made GB’s defense respect the passing game instead of being predictable. ---
**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 25, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/65 "2021-01-25T00:37:39Z")
I’ll just say this: the only reason that the Packers were even _ **in** _ the game in the second half was Brady’s interceptions. IMO, all three of those were bad passes – on the second one, even leaping in the air, Evans could only get his fingertips on it. Don’t get me wrong – without Brady, the Bucs wouldn’t be in the Super Bowl in two weeks, and probably wouldn’t have even made the playoffs. But, today, they won in spite of him not being great in the second half, which is, for the Bucs, a good thing, as they know that they can win without Brady having to carry them. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/66 "2021-01-25T00:39:50Z")
From Twitter: Tom Brady has played only one season with the Bucs, and it’s on age 43. He just became the Bucs all-time leader in playoff touchdowns. The Bucs were founded in 1976 ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/67 "2021-01-25T00:55:41Z")
They may have sold 17,000, but they clearly gave away a whole bunch more. There’s not a chance in hell that stadium is at 25% capacity! ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/68 "2021-01-25T00:55:43Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > The Bucs were founded in 1976 Interestingly, the same year Brady was conceived. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/69 "2021-01-25T01:00:14Z")
Brady also has as many NFC titles as Rodgers and Brees. ---
**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 25, 2021, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/70 "2021-01-25T01:06:44Z")
I was watching the NFCCG on a bit of a delay, so I wasn’t part of the peanut gallery, but I’ll just pop in to say that was a absolute delight to watch. Rodgers and the Pack coming up small in the playoffs once again is a salve for the soul. It’s almost like it wasn’t all Mike McCarthy’s fault. As predicted, Brady sucked hard in Lambeau and his WRs continue to be a bunch of golems, yet the Bucs defense and some boneheaded decisions by the Packers left the door open. Brady and Arians win another ugly playoff game. Awful game by Aaron Jones and Davante Adams was pretty pedestrian. Looking like it’s going to be Mahomes and the Chiefs in the SB, I predict they’ll be a 9 point favorite. ---
**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 25, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/71 "2021-01-25T01:42:30Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The third INT was rushed but I like that Brady took a shot downfield rather than risking a sack, and it was deep enough so that it was almost like a punt, putting GB on their own 25. Brady was aggressive, which I think made GB’s defense respect the passing game instead of being predictable. This one is weird. I totally get that he was throwing it up for grabs to avoid a sack, and that Brady clearly expected his WR to adjust and make a play on the ball or at least play some defense, but if any other QB throws that he’s getting trashed. I don’t know if Brady is being given too much credit, or if that’s just a smart aggressive play that veterans should make. If the latter, the receiver (forget which) totally blew it. And considering how the Bucs WRs have been out of sync with Brady pretty much all season and especially during the playoffs, I’m inclined to point the finger at them. All that said, Brady was really inaccurate which has been the major indicator of his decline and the Packers not taking advantage is a major indictment. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/72 "2021-01-25T01:51:54Z")
I don’t think the Bucs won because of Brady. I think they won because the rest of the team played great. And on the flip side I don’t think the Packers lost because of Rogers. I think they lost because the rest of the team played like crap. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/73 "2021-01-25T02:18:49Z")
I’m an Eagles fan. And just like our famed SB win, this game had the same thought line as back in that SB: We’ve got a great team, but they have BRADY! We’ve got a better defense, but they have BRADY!! 😃 He’s not playing his best, but the “-- big plays --” as Asahi mentioned, were phenomenal. You just can’t count him out. And yeah, GB defense blew and flew the coop on a couple plays. That long pass to end the first quarter by Brady to… Miller(?). The defender completely lost him and not because of some great move. ---
**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 25, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/74 "2021-01-25T02:26:28Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > The only thing more annoying than the loss is the announcers blowing smoke up the ass of a guy who threw three fucking interceptions. You’re right, what they should talking about is how the Packers have completely wasted Rodger’s career as he comes up small in the playoffs again. That’s the real story. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/75 "2021-01-25T02:31:27Z")
As a Chefs fan, I look forward to more field goal attempts by Buffalo. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/76 "2021-01-25T02:41:55Z")
It occurred to me that as a wild card team, the Buccaneers don’t get a postseason home game until the Super Bowl. I wonder when that particular set of circumstances will ever happen again. ---
**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 25, 2021, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/77 "2021-01-25T03:08:35Z")
I find it hilarious that the one year when the home team finally makes the Super Bowl is the year where there will be little to no fans in attendance. BTW, I’m pretty much a Chiefs hater at this point. I love Reid and Mahomes, but it seems like the rest of this roster is loaded with a bunch of shitheads. Fuck these assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/78 "2021-01-25T03:35:35Z")
Travis Kelce seems pretty cool too though. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/79 "2021-01-25T03:54:14Z")
Just to clarify a little, obviously, interceptions are bad in that they give up possessions, but as far as interceptions go, they weren’t disasters. They didn’t occur at critical junctures in the game. They weren’t pick sixes. Brady didn’t make a bad read on any of those. I was actually more concerned with the decision to throw it into the dirt when he could have easily made a 3rd down conversion. I’m not arguing that Brady had a masterpiece of a game or that the INTs were good, only that Brady managed the game well despite bad stats. I agree that the defense had more to do with their success than the offense but Brady and the offense made big plays when they had to. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093/80 "2021-01-25T03:57:12Z")
> [@NFL 2020: Divisional Round](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-divisional-round/930520/53): > > There’s absolutely zero chance that Brady beats Rodgers this week, as nauseous as that makes me. Welp. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-conference-championship-week/931093.md?page=5)