# NFL Week 14 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 7, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159 "2008-12-07T20:15:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/21 "2008-12-08T22:17:05Z")
As a Rams fan, at this point I am just appreciating the Lions and Bengals. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/22 "2008-12-08T22:48:30Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Goddamn mother fucking Packers. > > Just when I think they can’t find new ways to break my heart, this time they go from what I thought was an impressive, heartfelt win to a catastrophic loss within’ 5 minutes. With the game tied, they showed great heart and gumption by driving from their own 16 to the Texans 22 with 3 minutes left in the game. All they fucking had to fucking do was run some fucking clock and fucking kick the fucking field goal for the fucking win. But did that happen? > > No fucking way. A 9 yard run is nullified by a holding penalty on our backup RT (costly injuries again). Then a fucking sack takes us out of field goal range. And then a piss poor 3 yard gain that leaves us no choice but to punt. > > But, by some miracle, our brand spanking new punter does something great and pins the Texans on their own 3 yard line with 1:49 left on the clock. Content to run the clock, they call a running play, so the Packers use their time out. > > Then it all falls apart. A screen to the fullback goes for 22 yards, another dump off goes for another 17, another pass for 27, and the Texans kick the winning field goal with no time left. > > Fuck you, Packers defense. Collapsing like this for the third straight game is inexcusable. > > Fuckity, fuckity, fuck fuck fuck. Amen. And I was there to witness it firsthand while freezing my nuts off. At least my Ravens are looking good… ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/23 "2008-12-08T22:57:17Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I was rooting for them yesterday. > > At least you’ll get good draft picks. > > (I don’t hate _you_.) _spins party favor_ Woo. Can I get an equal amount of triumph to the amount of suck that we’re currently getting? ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/24 "2008-12-09T03:06:48Z")
> [@Osip](#): > > Is it just me or does the steeler’s O-line need a lot of work? > > Yippie yahoo! Cardnials are in the playoffs. > Osip To be fair, the O-line has been slightly improving. Big Ben’s habit of holding onto the ball long enough for the other team’s entire defense to take a shot at him doesn’t help. But damn, does the Steelers D rule or what? ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/25 "2008-12-09T03:40:26Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > To be fair, the O-line has been slightly improving. Big Ben’s habit of holding onto the ball long enough for the other team’s entire defense to take a shot at him doesn’t help. But damn, does the Steelers D rule or what? The Steelers D is amazing to watch. Their LB corp is the most impressive part. I think the O-line misses Grimm. I am glad as hell he is in Arizona turning average talent into a pass blocking machine. If he gets some talent to work with a run blocking O-line too the Cards could be on a long term up swing!! ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/26 "2008-12-09T05:19:37Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Delhomme, on the other hand, seems affected by _everything_ lately. He needs to step up tonight for the Panthers to win. Turns out you can have pretty bad QB play and still dominate a game. I guess that 300 yards of rushing helps. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/27 "2008-12-09T05:20:14Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > As far as the weather goes, playing in Green Bay last week should help us a little. Steve Smith went to Utah and isn’t really affected by the cold. Delhomme, on the other hand, seems affected by _everything_ lately. He needs to step up tonight for the Panthers to win. Or, he could throw two picks, then watch DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart make our defense look like the Lions. :eek: We got whipped in that game almost as badly as we put a whipping on your boys earlier in the season… figures that _this_ one was on in primetime. ETA: Simulpost! ---
**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:** [December 9, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/28 "2008-12-09T12:46:02Z")
Wow. What a game. The final score doesn’t do justice to how competitive it was. Williams and Stewart eventually wore down the TB defense and looked incredible late in the game. Jake threw 2 picks (1 wasn’t all his fault) but he did enough to balance the run. It wasn’t until the blocked extra point try that we felt it was over. The crowd was great, and it wasn’t even \*that \* cold… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/29 "2008-12-09T14:08:53Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Wow. What a game. The final score doesn’t do justice to how competitive it was. Williams and Stewart eventually wore down the TB defense and looked incredible late in the game. Jake threw 2 picks (1 wasn’t all his fault) but he did enough to balance the run. It wasn’t until the blocked extra point try that we felt it was over. The crowd was great, and it wasn’t even \*that \* cold… My sole consolation is that all the people I’ve been telling about Antonio Bryant all year will finally stop looking at me like I’m crazy. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/30 "2008-12-09T14:10:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > My sole consolation is that all the people I’ve been telling about Antonio Bryant all year will finally stop looking at me like I’m crazy. Yeah, especially that one-handed TD catch. That was pretty amazing. He’s on my Fantasy team (but I didn’t play him last night.) ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/31 "2008-12-09T14:18:29Z")
Pitt grad. Too bad he and Larry Fitz didn’t have the chance to play together. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/32 "2008-12-09T17:19:09Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Yeah, especially that one-handed TD catch. That was pretty amazing. He’s on my Fantasy team (but I didn’t play him last night.) I’ll be eyeballing him this offseason if the Bears are in the market and Boldin is unavailable. ---
**Author:** ![timbicile59](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@timbicile59](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timbicile59)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/33 "2008-12-09T23:16:51Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I hate you all. I hate football. > > Fuckin’ Lions. Well, at least we can raise the bar for sucking. I want them to lose em all. So i can buy a jersey with the name Owen and the number 16 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/34 "2008-12-10T00:40:06Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’ll be eyeballing him this offseason if the Bears are in the market and Boldin is unavailable. There’s zero chance the Bucs let him walk. Michael Clayton will be a free agent, and obviously there’s no reason to bother re-signing him unless he’ll play for special teams money. Galloway looks pretty much done, so he’ll be gone. If Bryant is allowed to leave, our projected starters next season would be Ike Hilliard and Maurice Stovall, with Dexter Jackson - he of the negative punt return average - as the slot guy. Plus, we have $30 million in cap space right now- there’s absolutely no reason not to give Bryant $10 million of it at the end of the season, and pay him $2 million a year in salary for the next 3-4 years. There are some equally good guys out there right now who probably won’t get re-signed by their clubs- Shaun McDonald and Lance Moore, for example. Plus, T.O. and T.J. Houshmanzadeh are currently unsigned for next year… ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/35 "2008-12-10T11:21:33Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > The only problem is that I’m quickly losing confidence in TT’s drafting in the first round. While I said at the time (and I’m glad I seem to be proven right) that Rodgers was a fantastic pick at 24, but since then, it looks like our first rounders are not what I would like. Hawk isn’t the 5th best player and hasn’t been a stud and Harrell has the smell of a bust. So getting a higher draft pick isn’t much of a consolation. Gotta disagree with you, Hawk would be a monster if he didn’t spend his season wiping the backsides of DE’s like Montgomery, he’s playing damage control. Center LB isn’t really his position either. > [@Hamlet](#): > > Of course, looking at it rationally, it’s still too early to tell. I, for one, did not see the decline in Clifton and Tauscher’s play, the lack of emergence by any of the youngsters on the O Line, the continued injury and suckitude of Harrell, and the lack of playmaking ability by the linebackers coming. Injuries did really hurt this team, and I still have faith in TT and McCarthy, but damn it is frustrating watching a team simply fall apart on defense, especially when they win the turnover battle. > > To sum up (and repeat myself) fuckity, fuckity, fuck fuck fuck. In the words of a good friend and faithful Packer fan, “PUT LUMPKIN IN!” ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/36 "2008-12-12T03:27:01Z")
Just saw a stat on the [NFL.com](http://NFL.com) companion broadcast to Thursday night’s game. The Browns are tied for 2nd in most takeaways (turnovers) in the league. It’s amazing that you can do that and still be a terrible team. I recall reading some stats some game earlier in the year where we lost 2 games where we forced 7 or 8 turnovers between them and how rare that is. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159/37 "2008-12-12T05:29:53Z")
On the flip side of that, if Denver does not intercept another pass this year they will tie the record for fewest interceptions in a 16-game season and still make the playoffs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-14/476159.md?page=1)