# NFL 2023-2024: Divisional Round **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 17, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226 "2024-01-17T14:33:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 21, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/41 "2024-01-21T02:07:47Z")
Packers started off strong in their first two drives but instead of 14 points walked away with only 3. If they don’t get it together here, this game may get away from them. ---
**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 21, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/42 "2024-01-21T02:07:54Z")
Huge point swing from the 49ers’ 4th down stand then the TD drive. ---
**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 21, 2024, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/43 "2024-01-21T03:22:43Z")
I’m too old for this shit. ---
**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 21, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/44 "2024-01-21T03:43:25Z")
I feel like the rain may be affecting the way Purdy releases the ball. He’s had a bunch that have been way off target. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/45 "2024-01-21T04:21:35Z")
Daaamn… that was something all right… right to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/46 "2024-01-21T04:22:31Z")
That was a great game! Fabulous game winning drive in the pouring rain. I used to live in San Francisco for a few years so I’ve got skin in that game too if that’s the horse finishes the race. Niner’s v Bills would be an acceptable Superbowl for me. ---
**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 21, 2024, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/47 "2024-01-21T04:24:27Z")
Oofa. A completely winnable game done in by dropped ints and Love’s innaccuracy. Still, a great season and a ton of hope for the future. Congrats Niners and @garygnu and all Niners fans. Now go win the Super Bowl. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/48 "2024-01-21T04:29:11Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Still, a great season and a ton of hope for the future. Yes, “youngest team” and all that – do what’s needed and there’s big things ahead for these Packers. ---
**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 21, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/49 "2024-01-21T04:37:26Z")
That felt like a Packers win all game to me. The rain made it feel like a home field disadvantage with how much it was messing with Purdy. Not long after my post above they highlighted him wiping his hand off _during a dropback._ Yikes. My picks are now 0-2 on the weekend. I’m feeling 0-4, so bet the Bucs and Chiefs tomorrow. ---
**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 21, 2024, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/50 "2024-01-21T04:39:48Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Still, a great season and a ton of hope for the future. Exactly so. It was a frustrating end to watch, but the fact that they were able to push the #1 seed to the very brink, after thumping the Cowboys, leaves a lot of promise for the future. ---
**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 21, 2024, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/51 "2024-01-21T05:13:46Z")
Dre Greenlaw was listed as questionable for this game, but damn if he didn’t practically beat Green Bay on his own. The Packers sure came with the right mentality and had a bunch of big plays. But the 49ers defense was able to limit the damage just enough for the offense to grind out points, despite so many inch-off miscues. It could easily have gone the other way. It did feel like it could have gotten out of control, but I figured out the 49ers played better if I paced back and forth in front of the couch and didn’t sit down. And is this 4th quarter go-ahead drive, needing a TD, in the rain, enough to satisfy Purdy critics? Of course not. ---
**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 21, 2024, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/52 "2024-01-21T05:21:50Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > And is this 4th quarter go-ahead drive, needing a TD, in the rain, enough to satisfy Purdy critics? Of course not. Definitely a nice feather in his cap regardless of the naysayers. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/53 "2024-01-21T05:55:21Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > It did feel like it could have gotten out of control, but I figured out the 49ers played better if I paced back and forth in front of the couch and didn’t sit down. Ha! I was at a sports bar for the 49ers game, and every time my buddy went to the washroom, the Niners did something good—scored or got a first down or something. He missed it, of course. When he was back on his barstool, Green Bay did something good. It got to the point where I suggested that he spend the rest of the game in the washroom. (He didn’t, but in the end, it didn’t matter.) ---
**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 21, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/54 "2024-01-21T14:02:03Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > It did feel like it could have gotten out of control, but I figured out the 49ers played better if I paced back and forth in front of the couch and didn’t sit down. ::Troy Aikman voice:: "Let’s go to the tape. You see, right here, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, @Hamlet goes into his bedroom, and comes out wearing Packer socks he got as a gift from the office holiday party. That’s not a call I would have made there, Joe. There clearly was not enough cosmic mojo built up in those socks. Heck, he didn’t even remember he had them until a couple weeks ago when his wife and him cleaned out their armoire. Costly mistake. But really it was @garygnu’s decision late in the fourth quarter to stay on his feet, and not sit down that gave the Niners the win" ::Joe Buck voice:: “Yes, Troy. But @Hamlet also didn’t sit down for almost the entire 4th quarter. What happened?” ::Troy Aikman voice:: “Pacing, Joe. The pacing in front of the couch made all the difference. See, here on the telescreen. @Hamlet is standing, just inches away from his big screen TV, as if his proximity to the screen will somehow help. But here, you can see @garygnu’s pacing is building up the fan magic that leads to the crucial late TD, and interception to give the Niners the win. A wily veteran move by @garygnu. Hopefully @Hamlet will incorporate the pacing in the future. But when the chips are down, it’s all about the details.” ---
**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 21, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/55 "2024-01-21T14:37:20Z")
Haha, nicely done. I’m back to (lightly) rooting for the Packers now that Rodgers is gone, so I’m sorry to see them lose, but they made it a great game. Just a couple little things falling the other way and they could have had it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/56 "2024-01-21T17:23:25Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > "Let’s go to the tape. You see, right here, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, @Hamlet goes into his bedroom, and comes out wearing Packer socks he got as a gift from the office holiday party. That’s not a call I would have made there, Joe. “The analytics do support it.” ---
**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 21, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/57 "2024-01-21T17:26:50Z")
Bravo! I get really restless and nervous for big games. A co-worker asked me Friday whether I prefer close, exciting games. No! I want my team to win blowouts. ---
**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 21, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/58 "2024-01-21T19:32:24Z")
In last week’s thread we had a discussion about going for it on 4th-and-1. The analytics say go for it from most anywhere on the field, and a chart which was posted said much the same thing. Well, yesterday, the Packers took the opening kickoff, marched down the field in a drive that consumed over 7 minutes, and kicked a field goal. Then, after holding the Niners and forcing a punt, they again marched down the field in a drive that lasted close to five minutes, and faced a 3rd-and-1 at the Niners 14 as the first quarter ended. A carry by the running back netted nothing, so it was then 4th-and-1 at the 14. They obviously went for it, and gained very little on a quarterback sneak. San Fran took possession (and the momentum) and methodically drove the field for the go-ahead touchdown. After that score, it was a back-and-forth affair, and the Niners came out on top, by 3 points. Hindsight of course is great, but I felt at the time (and told my son) that the Pack should take the 3 points. Those missed points certainly loomed large late in the game. So, did you agree with the decision to go for it? ---
**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:** [January 21, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/59 "2024-01-21T19:32:36Z")
If its two teams I neither hate nor love, I welcome a close game. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226/60 "2024-01-21T19:52:12Z")
I just read an article that said Anders Carlson has missed at least one kick in 10 of his last 12 games. Thank goodness he missed from 41, and that Jake Moody made it from 52. And yes on that early 4th and 1, I too thought they should get the 3 points instead trying for the 1st down. It was a sloppy game that the 49ers should have lost, but thankfully did not. From what I saw yesterday, and from their recent games, the Lombardi Trophy is Baltimore’s for the taking. But as the saying goes, that’s why they play the game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226.md?page=4)