# NFL Conference Championships **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 13, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677 "2014-01-13T17:35:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/261 "2014-01-21T08:30:41Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I guess I am too old school. Flip the football back to the ref and act like you’ve been there when you score and all that jazz. Did you notice what Marshawn Lynch did after his 40 yard TD run? A number of teammates surrounded him wanting to celebrate, but he waved them off and limited it to handshakes all around. That was pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/262 "2014-01-21T10:08:32Z")
> [@Dickerman](#): > > Did you notice what Marshawn Lynch did after his 40 yard TD run? A number of teammates surrounded him wanting to celebrate, but he waved them off and limited it to handshakes all around. That was pretty cool. I did like that. Although I wonder if it was that he was too gassed to celebrate. By the time he got to the end zone on that run, he was stumbling, bumbling, about to fall over any second. 😃 The 'Hawks did do that on another play later in the game though, so maybe its a “thing” for them. ---
**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, 2014, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/263 "2014-01-21T11:14:28Z")
Yeah, I dug the handshakes. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/264 "2014-01-21T14:43:38Z")
I just have to add some facts to the canard that Super Bowls suck: 2013: Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31 2012: New York Giants 21, New England 17 2011: Green Bay 31, Pittsburgh 25 2010: New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 17 2009: Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23 2008: New York Giants 17, New England 14 2007:Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17 2006: Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10 2005: New England 24, Philadelphia 21 2004: New England 32, Carolina 29 Out of the last ten Super Bowls, seven were decided by less than a touchdown and four of those by a field goal. Several of them rank among the most exciting ever played. We are absolutely in the golden age of competitive, thrilling Super Bowls. ---
**Author:** ![Bellhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Bellhorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bellhorn)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/265 "2014-01-21T15:21:23Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > … > > Out of the last ten Super Bowls, seven were decided by less than a touchdown and four of those by a field goal. Several of them rank among the most exciting ever played. We are absolutely in the golden age of competitive, thrilling Super Bowls. With the salary cap, it’s impossible to build a team with enough depth to replenish losses to injuries, or for a great team to retain it’s veterans from year to year. Look at the Pittsburgh Steelers during their SB wins in '75, '76, '79, '80. Can you imagine what their payroll would have been in the latter two years? “Mean” Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Mel Blount , Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/266 "2014-01-21T16:23:22Z")
I have one last thing to say about Richard Sherman, I get the excitement and all that, but the choke sign was classless and then I think if you are going to call out a player in public then you need to be prepared to tell people why and not leave it at, “He knows why”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/267 "2014-01-21T17:46:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I just have to add some facts to the canard that Super Bowls suck: > > 2013: Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31 > 2012: New York Giants 21, New England 17 > 2011: Green Bay 31, Pittsburgh 25 > 2010: New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 17 > 2009: Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23 > 2008: New York Giants 17, New England 14 > 2007:Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17 > 2006: Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10 > 2005: New England 24, Philadelphia 21 > 2004: New England 32, Carolina 29 > > Out of the last ten Super Bowls, seven were decided by less than a touchdown and four of those by a field goal. Several of them rank among the most exciting ever played. We are absolutely in the golden age of competitive, thrilling Super Bowls. Thank you for that information RickJay, but I sincerely believe that this super bowl will be a blow out by Denver over Seattle by as much as three (3) touchdowns. Broncos 44 Seahawks 23 Oh it will still be an exciting game I guarantee you that, but Denver is that good and Manning is that good to surpass all other quarterbacks for a long time to come. Bring it on Seasquawks … oh my did I spell that wrong lol ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/268 "2014-01-21T17:51:43Z")
The Beast and a really mobile QB will keep the S’hawks in the game, but I do think that the huge offense of the D’Bronks will trump the super power D. I think it will be close. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/269 "2014-01-21T18:07:16Z")
While it’s not quite as good as Seattle’s D, Denver’s defense is more than solid. Sure, they’re depleted by injury but shouldn’t be overlooked. I think Manning does better against Seattle’s D than Russell does against Denver’s D. I’m taking Denver by 10. ---
**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, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/270 "2014-01-21T19:16:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I just have to add some facts to the canard that Super Bowls suck: That canard wasn’t brought up. **FoieGrasIsEvil** explained that he wasn’t saying the Superbowls objectively sucked, but they have sucked for him personally because he didn’t give a shit about any of the teams participating. ---
**Author:** ![Bellhorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Bellhorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bellhorn)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/271 "2014-01-21T19:28:47Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > That canard wasn’t brought up. **FoieGrasIsEvil** explained that he wasn’t saying the Superbowls objectively sucked, but they have sucked for him personally because he didn’t give a shit about any of the teams participating. As a Greater Boston resident, I’ve gotten spoiled with the Patriots being in 5 SB’s in the new millennium. It’s a boring, overblown circus if you don’t have a rooting interest. The ads suck, only Tom Petty came close to being entertainment at half-time, and having 18 network analysts dissect every play is beyond excess. This year is different, because of Manning trying to build-up his playoff portfolio and the presence of Pete Carroll, who, I believe, got an undeserved bad rep during his 3 years as the Pats’ Head Coach. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/272 "2014-01-21T19:31:01Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > **FoieGrasIsEvil** explained that he wasn’t saying the Superbowls objectively sucked, but they have sucked for him personally because he didn’t give a shit about any of the teams participating. That’s petty and whiny, then. ETA: I mean complaining online about it is petty and whiny. It’s like being at a party and taking a dump in the middle of the room because you don’t like the hosts or other guests. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/273 "2014-01-21T20:05:43Z")
I really don’t see how the Broncos are going to blow out the Seahawks. The Broncos managed to score in the mid 20’s their last two games against far lesser defenses and don’t have a defense close to those (49ers, Saints) that held the Seahawks to 23 in their last two games. Manning will get significantly more pressure than he’s seen lately and his receivers will be covered better. Let’s hope Moreno is in good condition by then. Wilson will have significantly less pressure than he’s seen lately. Lynch (and Turbin) will have an easier time running and the receiving corps will likely improve with the return of Harvin. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/274 "2014-01-21T20:35:01Z")
It’s not so easy to compare point totals across games like that. The Broncos had only 8 possessions in each of their playoff games, including a kneeldown at the end of each game. Seattle had 11 in each of theirs, including kneeling at the end of the SF game. So while the point totals are close (Den 50 - Sea 46), the points per possession are not (3.6 - 2.2). Also, Denver had their games well in hand by the third quarter, so they were playing a lower risk strategy rather than trying to score as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/275 "2014-01-21T20:36:16Z")
Until we know what the weather will be, I think it us hard to say what might happen. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/276 "2014-01-21T20:42:34Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Until we know what the weather will be, I think it us hard to say what might happen. Except “Seahawks will win!” How and by how much remains to be seen. ---
**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, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/277 "2014-01-21T21:30:29Z")
The Seahawks might even win by a negative amount! ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/278 "2014-01-21T21:37:41Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Also, Denver had their games well in hand by the third quarter, so they were playing a lower risk strategy rather than trying to score as much as possible. Same as with the Seahawks-Saints game. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/279 "2014-01-21T23:06:24Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > ETA: I mean complaining online about it is petty and whiny. **It’s like being at a party and taking a dump in the middle of the room because you don’t like the hosts or other guests.** But they were all Steelers fans! ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/280 "2014-01-22T06:20:08Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > From what I read and saw, Sherman approached Crabtree after the play and tried to shake his hand, all sportsmanlike, and Crabtree got in his face, which ended with Sherman getting the “unsportsmanlike conduct/taunting” call. No wonder he was pissed. Actually, I believe it was this snide [whack on the ass](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja2BYAVnGw) that Crabtree was reacting to and that got Sherman flagged. I thought the flag was well-deserved, and I say this as a Cowboys fan who loathes the 49er’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677.md?page=15)