# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/121 "2014-01-20T01:14:12Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I do enjoy watching John Harbaugh hop up and down like an asshole every time a call goes against him. Jim. As a Ravens fan, I have to point this out - John yells and gets a ridiculously pained look on his face, but he at least keeps his feet on the ground. ---
**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 20, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/122 "2014-01-20T01:15:00Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I do enjoy watching John Harbaugh hop up and down like an asshole every time a call goes against him. If you’re talking about Jim’s reaction to the bullshit personal foul called on Carlos Rogers at the end of the half, any coach in the league would’ve been rightly pissed. Other than that, yeah, he gets worked up during games, but I like that better than indifferent stoicism. ---
**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 20, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/123 "2014-01-20T01:18:52Z")
One other halftime thought: I worry that the lack of offense in the game will put a ton of pressure on the officiating, which could lead to one bad call deciding who wins and who loses. We’ve already seen a bit of that in the first half, and I worry that the game will come down to a phantom PI, a questionable roughing the passer, or a unsportsmanlike conduct call. ---
**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 20, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/124 "2014-01-20T01:20:27Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > If you’re talking about Jim’s reaction to the bullshit personal foul called on Carlos Rogers at the end of the half, You mean the one where he clearly pushed a guy out of bounds after the play was over? The one that didn’t really effect the outcome? Yes, it was a ticky tack call. But you have to be completely oblivious to the world to not realize that these officials are going to make that call. That’s kinda the problem with having a bad reputation (_cough_ Donte Whitner _cough_). ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/125 "2014-01-20T01:20:38Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Why do you say _like_ an asshole? On the other hand, Pete Carroll is a douchebag as well, so the coaches pretty much cancel each other out on the asshole scale. I wish they would cancel each other out to the extent that we wouldn’t have to see them. And I’m glad to join you in the Joe Buck hatred, **leftfield6**. On the other hand, I hate him less than I hate Phil Simms. Wait, maybe it’s a tie. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/126 "2014-01-20T01:21:19Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Both the Seahawks and 49ers are better than the Broncos, but there is always Peyton. I realize the NFC is supposed to be a lot better, but watching this game it’s impossible for me to imagine how Seattle and SF are as good as Denver. Wilson, especially, LOOKS terrible. I know he isn’t but I’m watching the guy play the biggest game of his life and looking totally lost doing it, and trying to imagine how he won’t have the same problem in two weeks in New York in a game bigger still. ---
**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 20, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/127 "2014-01-20T01:26:02Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > You mean the one where he clearly pushed a guy out of bounds after the play was over? The one that didn’t really effect the outcome? > > Yes, it was a ticky tack call. But you have to be completely oblivious to the world to not realize that these officials are going to make that call. That’s kinda the problem with having a bad reputation (_cough_ Donte Whitner _cough_). Agree. That’s a penalty. No doubt about it. I also disagree with the rule that the penalty is enforced after the change of possession. It was a continuation of the play, IMHO, and should be considered as part of the play. But, alas, I know the rule is not written that way. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/128 "2014-01-20T01:28:49Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I realize the NFC is supposed to be a lot better, but watching this game it’s impossible for me to imagine how Seattle and SF are as good as Denver. Wilson, especially, LOOKS terrible. I know he isn’t but I’m watching the guy play the biggest game of his life and looking totally lost doing it, and trying to imagine how he won’t have the same problem in two weeks in New York in a game bigger still. I’ve noticed he seems to do the same thing that inexperienced \*Madden \*players do: as soon as there’s a little pressure, he decides to buy time by drifting (or running) straight backwards. He’s athletic enough to make it work sometimes, but in general it’s a terrible habit. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/129 "2014-01-20T01:49:06Z")
Another football question: Its about 4min left in the 3rd, Seahawks have the ball but they just committed some violation. Max Unger, on the replay, kinda flinched and caused the 49ers to rush in. That’s an offensive foul? You can’t flinch and fake out the other team?? Seems…I dunno, really stupid. Reminds me of the balk rule in baseball ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/130 "2014-01-20T02:00:12Z")
You can’t simulate the snap. BTW, the punt call the right call, NO way that’s a 15 yard penalty. ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/131 "2014-01-20T02:02:16Z")
Does Wilson not know the grounding rules or something? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/132 "2014-01-20T02:03:09Z")
I don’t know the grounding rule! Can you explain it? I have a hard time understanding that its ok to throw the ball away if you’re under pressure, but not if you run out of this “pocket” thing ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/133 "2014-01-20T02:04:49Z")
See, and that’s why you don’t run backwards to evade pressure. Terrible things can happen when you’re 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/134 "2014-01-20T02:04:54Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Does Wilson not know the grounding rules or something? He probably doesn’t realize how far back he’s running. If he hadn’t scrambled 15 yards backwards, that pass would have been well beyond the line of scrimmage. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/135 "2014-01-20T02:08:06Z")
I say we decline the penalty ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/136 "2014-01-20T02:09:01Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t know the grounding rule! Can you explain it? I have a hard time understanding that its ok to throw the ball away if you’re under pressure, but not if you run out of this “pocket” thing Go watch this 3 minute Youtube [clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8QTH_yLvR0) ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/137 "2014-01-20T02:10:19Z")
Am I wrong? Wasn’t there an intentional grounding not called because the QB was out of the pocket earlier? And then an intentional grounding called even though the QB was out of the pocket? I’m listening to this on the radio so I may have mis-heard. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/138 "2014-01-20T02:12:15Z")
To throw the ball away cleanly, the QB has to be outside of the pocket _and_ the ball has to go past the line of scrimmage. If both things happen, he’s in the clear. If they don’t, it’s a foul. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/139 "2014-01-20T02:22:21Z")
Oh, good god. Ouch. And pretty crazy if that’s really not renewable. ---
**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 20, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677/140 "2014-01-20T02:22:58Z")
How is that not reviewable?? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-championships/678677.md?page=8)