# NFL Playoffs Wildcard weekend **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 4, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910 "2014-01-04T23:29:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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 5, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/81 "2014-01-05T22:31:36Z")
Tramon Williams went hunting for Kaepernicks at the end of that interception return. ---
**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 5, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/82 "2014-01-05T22:32:54Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > The packers o-line look like they are mad at their qb. Their rookie LT is being dominated. That’s never good for the team. But the DB’s and LB’s are covering so well that Rodgers has no one to throw to. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/83 "2014-01-05T22:42:34Z")
Finally some rhythm! Brian ---
**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 5, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/84 "2014-01-05T23:29:07Z")
Rodgers throws that ball further and it’s a TD. Still, after the miserable start to the game, it’s been better. Big stop by the defense to start the second half. Sure wish the Packers could have taken advantage there. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/85 "2014-01-05T23:51:03Z")
Another couple of football questions, this one regarding the punt by the 49ers at around 7:30 left in the 3rd. On the previous play, 3rd down and something, Kaepernick was sacked I think and on the 4th down, they are punting. They’re at about 52 yards (I think) and the announcers mentioned that they are out of field goal range. I know that a few weeks ago, some guy set a record of 64 yards for a field goal, so even if the kicker doesn’t think he can make it, why didn’t they try for a kick? In the NBA, the players will usually heave a ball 60, 70, 80, feet at the end of quarters because sometimes, they make that shot. Is there a rule that states when a team can go for a field goal? Also, this occurred to me as well, if a team went for the field goal and doesn’t make it, does it give any advantage to the opposing team as opposed to them punting it? Punting sends the ball down the field closer to the punting team’s endzone, so if they punt and they think they can stop the opposing team near that endzone, it makes sense to punt. If they kick a field goal from like, 60 yards away and miss, does the opposing team, instead of starting their drive down the field somewhere far from their endzone, get to start closer, at like the 50 yard line or something? I’m just wondering why so many times teams out “out of field goal range” when there is obviously a chance to hit it from far away, and why teams don’t usually go for an almost 100% score of 3 pts when they are at 1st down near the endzone 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 5, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/86 "2014-01-05T23:54:50Z")
WTF, something else weird just happened! Its 3:19 left in the 3rd, the 49ers just punted again. A bunch of 49er players followed the ball, chased it, then when it landed, kinda dove at the ball but didn’t try to catch it (at least they didn’t look like they tried to catch it). From the announcers, I got the impression that they were trying to knock the ball into the endzone. Why? And why didn’t any Packer players bother to catch the ball? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/87 "2014-01-05T23:56:27Z")
Missed FG are placed where the kick is attempted from. Punts from where the play ends, unless the ball goes in the end zone, in that case it goes on the 20. Yog, I gather you aren’t American? Otherwise, I am amazed you haven’t learned this by osmosis. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/88 "2014-01-05T23:58:08Z")
I’m American, not a fan of football though. I really only watch it during the Superbowl and I’m usually more interested in the commercials. I watched yesterday and today due to extenuating circumstances. Also I’m in Los Angeles, no football here ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/89 "2014-01-05T23:58:38Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Also, this occurred to me as well, if a team went for the field goal and doesn’t make it, does it give any advantage to the opposing team as opposed to them punting it? Punting sends the ball down the field closer to the punting team’s endzone, so if they punt and they think they can stop the opposing team near that endzone, it makes sense to punt. If they kick a field goal from like, 60 yards away and miss, does the opposing team, instead of starting their drive down the field somewhere far from their endzone, get to start closer, at like the 50 yard line or something? They get the ball at the point the kick was placed. That can be a huge swing in field position. For instance, a 64 yard attempt would be kicked from the 47. Assuming a touchback on the punt, that’s a 27 yard difference. ---
**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 5, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/90 "2014-01-05T23:59:37Z")
Loving the commitment to the running game, and the play of both Lacy and Starks. Not loving the Niners defense, which I was hoping would be sloggy and tired by this point of the game. The Packers defense, so far this second half, has really risen to the occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/91 "2014-01-06T00:00:34Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > WTF, something else weird just happened! Its 3:19 left in the 3rd, the 49ers just punted again. A bunch of 49er players followed the ball, chased it, then when it landed, kinda dove at the ball but didn’t try to catch it (at least they didn’t look like they tried to catch it). From the announcers, I got the impression that they were trying to knock the ball into the endzone. Why? And why didn’t any Packer players bother to catch the ball? If the punting team gets to the ball first, it is ruled down on the yard line that it is touched. So if the 49ers were able to control the ball near the goal line, but not IN the endzone, it would have been to their advantage. The Packers would have started their next possession deep in the own end. It’s not as easy to do as it may seem. If the ball goes into the endzone, the other team starts on their own 20 yard line. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/92 "2014-01-06T00:05:09Z")
That was a bullshit no-call on the holding by Evan Deitrich-Smith. I like when they left them play in the playoffs, but that was too much. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/93 "2014-01-06T00:05:41Z")
LOL at the announcers. “Look at that brilliant escape by Aaron Rodgers!” Facilitated only by the defensive lineman being peeled away in an obvious case of holding. ---
**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 6, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/94 "2014-01-06T00:10:12Z")
Yep, there was a hold, and I don’t care! Whooo! ---
**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 6, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/95 "2014-01-06T00:13:23Z")
The Packers are incredibly lucky that Kaepernick isn’t a better QB. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/96 "2014-01-06T00:16:36Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > The Packers are incredibly lucky that Kaepernick isn’t a better QB. But that was a heck of a throw. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/97 "2014-01-06T00:22:16Z")
It’s Shovel Pass Weekend! ---
**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 6, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/98 "2014-01-06T00:33:45Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > But that was a heck of a throw. The TD? It was incredible in that Morgan Burnett was late making the adjustment, not the read or the throw. K. has missed a ton of passes today. ---
**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 6, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/99 "2014-01-06T00:37:33Z")
This is a damn good game. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910/100 "2014-01-06T00:39:40Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > The TD? It was incredible in that Morgan Burnett was late making the adjustment, not the read or the throw. K. has missed a ton of passes today. Yes he has, but that was a good throw. Meanwhile, I feel like GB has missed some chances to put this away… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-wildcard-weekend/677910.md?page=6)