(as an aside, whenever I happen to mouse over one of these threads, my hand reflexively twitches towards the “nuke spam” button until I see that it was posted by a regular)
What?
Spammers often post titles like this that consist of just links to streaming video.
Agreed – if the Packers aren’t a possibility, I love seeing a team that hasn’t won in a long time (if ever) get a chance. So, anyone but the Pats, for me. 
Yeah, we are very used to that. But thanks for the reminder, I’d set my alarm for the wrong time. It’s 4 AM not 5 AM.
It was actually NO 24 MN 29 – the Vikes took a knee on the 2pt conversion. For spectators, it made no diff, but for gamblers, the closing line was Minnesota -5.5, which means that bets on the Saints paid off. For a fan, line-betting on the black-and-gold, it must have been a bittersweet consolation prize.
I can’t decide whom to root for, other than “anyone but the Patriots”. It’s not because I hate the team so much (after all, they regularly whip the hated Stealers, so that was always good) but a desire for another, or rather, an “unlikely” team to win it this time.
Being a Bengals fan (and footsore and morose for the team retaining Marvin Lewis and not hiring Mike Zimmer for the HC job here) I will root for Zimmer and the Vikes in the NFC. I will also root for the Jags, but (even though I said this about their chances of beating the Stealers in the AFC divisional round) I just don’t think they can pull it off against the Patriots.
Ultimately my vote goes SKOL for Case Keenum, the erstwhile perrenial backup and the Vikings. Mike Zimmer is the fucking man. I love that guy.
Didn’t the Vikings kick the PAT?
They did not. Apparently the rules require a conversion, even at 0:00 when it makes no difference whatsoever. They would have been happy to leave the field and celebrate, but they had to do the play. So they lined up for 2 and took a knee, so that NO could not score any defensive points (which would have been 2, so it could not have mattered anyway).
Thanks. The final score then was 29-24.
Agree, to line up for the point(s) after, in that situation, is stupid. I hope the Rules Committee fixes that.
I doubt that they will. It would be like “fixing” the fumble->touchback rule that seems to make some viewers very unhappy but for which there is no other sensible alternative.
You see, in the regular season, points can matter even if they do not affect the W/L posting. Total points scored is like the 37th* tiebreaker for wildcards and seeding, so most teams will go for the PAT (or take a knee if a turn-around score could change the outcome). The fact that it does not matter in the playoffs would mean they would have to add one more edge-case rule. Because, you know, officials are morons who cannot decide on sensible situational exceptions.
*hyperbowl
Cool.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL??!!??
I looked up and compiled when teams first appeared in a Super Bowl, by NFL season (somebody check my work):
Never: Jaguars Lions Browns* Texans
2008: Cardinals
2005: Seahawks
2003: Panthers
2002: Buccaneers
2000: Ravens (Browns*)
1999: Titans (Oilers)
1998: Falcons
1994: Chargers
1990: Bills
1986: Giants
1985: Bears Patriots (XX)
1981: 49ers Bengals (XVI)
1980: Eagles
1979: Rams
1977: Broncos
1973: Steelers
1972: Redskins
1971: Dolphins
1970: Cowboys
1969: Vikings
1968: Jets Colts (III)
1967: Raiders
1966: Packers Chiefs (I)
Will 2017 be for the Jaguars? Will the hard-luck Vikings (currently 0-4) win their first Super Bowl? What about the 0-2 Eagles?
G O E A G L E S !!!
The Eagles can and will win this one. I love the Vikings this year too. Got a lot of friends that root for Vikings. (I call them the Purple People.) They have an incredible team. But I think they used up their miracle too soon. If the Vikes win, I’ll be rooting for them all the way in the SB.
The Jaguars are going to win. How? Not sure. But I just have this feeling that Coughlin will be more of a defense guy than a VP of football operations today. That and I just can’t deal with another dream team coming into the SB, struggling with injuries, outstanding record to only be beaten by Brady and crew. :mad:
The PRO is killing the Pats so far. Go Jags.
Here come the refs to the pats rescue per usual.
It’s already clear that, with or without Gronk, the Jags have the personnel to defeat New England. It’s just a question of whether or not they have the poise not to make critical mistakes and whether Marrone’s coaching staff can counter the inevitable coaching adjustments that Belichick will make in the 3rd quarter. The Jags remind me of a younger, possibly more athletic version of the 2012 Ravens. They probably have more raw talent than the Ravens did, but the Ravens had experience. Will the Jags win or will the moment be too great? We shall see.
As for Gronk, he’s important but the Pats can still win without him. It’s Brady who’s the critical piece. If the Jags can rough Brady up or possibly nail him with a blind side hit, it would be the 1990 NFC title game all over again.
No shit. That PI call was a travesty and gifted the Patriots their TD. When both guys are putting their hands on each other like that, and it’s questionable as to whether the pass was even catchable, you don’t throw that flag. Utter rubbish.
They said the pats scored before the half in 14 out of18 games. I bet half of those were set up by their patented Brady chucks it and PI is called play.
Huge turnover on a nice play by Myles Jack. Pats defense playing much better. Fun game!
The moment was too great.