# NFL 2021: Week Fifteen Minutes of Fame **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [December 16, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162 "2021-12-16T17:02:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/61 "2021-12-20T00:31:50Z")
Packers start bad, improve, and then almost give me a heart attack. Brian ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/62 "2021-12-20T00:33:33Z")
I Told them not to try for the 2 point. Maybe next time they’ll listen ---
**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:** [December 20, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/63 "2021-12-20T00:51:08Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Packers start bad, improve, and then almost give me a heart attack. Having to count on the special teams unit to recover that onside kick was a bit nerve-wracking. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/64 "2021-12-20T01:07:57Z")
3 weeks ago, Baltimore was on top of the AFC with an 8-3 record. Since then, the Ravens have lost their last 3 games by a total of 4 points (1, 2, 1). Both 1-point losses featured a late failed 2-point conversion attempt. If the playoffs started right now, Baltimore would not be in the mix. At 8-6, they probably need to win at least two of their last three games to get back in the playoffs. They have games against the Bengals, Rams, and Steelers. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/65 "2021-12-20T01:12:52Z")
My Colts dominated the Patriots through most of the game, taking a 20-0 lead, and then almost fucked themselves like they have on three separate occasions this year. If we could only hold onto leads, we’d be the best team in the league. But with two minutes left in the game, Jonathan Taylor busted one open for a rushing touchdown to put it out of reach. We’re now the #5 seed. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/66 "2021-12-20T04:11:16Z")
Not as surprising as the Lions win, but it looks like the Saints are about to shut out Tom Brady and the Bucs in Tampa Bay. TB is stlll on track for playoffs. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/67 "2021-12-20T04:12:30Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Not as surprising as the Lions win, but it looks like the Saints are about to shut out Tom Brady and the Bucs in Tampa Bay. The Saints’ defense is just throttling the Bucs; it’s really impressive. The Bucs are also down their top two WRs and RB, but even so, Tampa Bay just looks flat tonight. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/68 "2021-12-20T04:13:12Z")
The Ravens should have Lamar Jackson back next week, but it’s still going to be a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/69 "2021-12-20T04:20:33Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The Bucs are also down their top two WRs and RB Really? Collinsworth has only mentioned it about 50 times. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/70 "2021-12-20T05:24:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The Saints’ defense is just throttling the Bucs; it’s really impressive. A great game if you like punter battles - 17 punts total between the two teams. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2021, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/71 "2021-12-20T05:45:31Z")
This is bonkers to me… > My oldest daughter wasn’t even born yet the last time Brady was shut out. My teenaged daughter has not had a Brady shutout in her lifetime until today. That is crazy. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/72 "2021-12-20T13:22:31Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Packers start bad, improve, and then almost give me a heart attack. It was my wifes fault. When Green Bay was up by double digits she exclaimed “They’re going to win” 😱 I hold no religious faith. But I do believe in the Jinx. The Jinx will kick ya square in the ass almost every time! My son turned to her and said “Mum, will you shaddup!?!” Sure enough things went to shit quickly. Luckily Baltimore made an odd decision (based on the amount of time left on the clock) to go for two and the lead instead of gong for one and the tie. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/73 "2021-12-20T15:01:55Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > to go for two and the lead instead of gong for one and the tie. The saying “go for the win at home, tie on the road” isn’t meant to be a hard and immutable rule. ---
**Author:** ![Tierce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@Tierce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tierce)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/74 "2021-12-20T15:17:05Z")
TOBY: What do we call this, Ginger? GINGER: Tempting fate? TOBY: Tempting FATE! ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/75 "2021-12-20T15:23:13Z")
Harbaugh made the point after the game that he had a lot of players (easily double digits I think?) on COVID protocols and thought the best chance to win was not to drag it into OT but make a decisive play then and there. Can’t say he’s wrong about that. He had a bunch of practice squad guys on the roster and still made a competitive game out of it. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/76 "2021-12-20T15:26:13Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Luckily Baltimore made an odd decision (based on the amount of time left on the clock) to go for two and the lead instead of gong for one and the tie. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The saying “go for the win at home, tie on the road” isn’t meant to be a hard and immutable rule. Baltimore had driven 75 yards and 49 yards in their last two possessions for touchdowns. In the Packers’ last possession, the Ravens had held them to three and out. While I certainly didn’t disagree with the decision to go for two, I think Coach Harbaugh would have been justified in kicking the XP and playing for overtime. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/77 "2021-12-20T15:51:52Z")
The 2-point play certainly makes the games much more interesting from a strategy perspective. The Monday morning quarterbacks on ESPN blasted Harbaugh for his decision, but I think it was the right call - score the 2 pointer and then hold off the Packers for 42 seconds for the win. If Green Bay has any weakness, it’s in special teams, so even if they get within field goal range, it’s not a given. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/78 "2021-12-20T15:55:56Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I’m saying that what they were doing wasn’t working, but they kept doing it. It’s like when coaches say, “we had the right play called, just didn’t execute it.” Well, then it wasn’t the right call, was it? ---
**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:** [December 20, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/79 "2021-12-20T16:51:02Z")
No call is right if you can’t execute it. You can have great blueprints but if you build with shoddy materials that house is gonna fall. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162/80 "2021-12-20T17:21:29Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > but I think it was the right call In hind sight it was obviously not the right call as, I’m happy to say, it failed. But I’ve seen worse! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Sk0hKIVJDsg/maxresdefault.jpg "Aaron Rodgers Jeopardy! Guest Host Highlight | JEOPARDY!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk0hKIVJDsg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2021-week-fifteen-minutes-of-fame/956162.md?page=5)