# NFL Week 15 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 17, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529 "2010-12-17T17:27:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/101 "2010-12-20T17:20:00Z")
Yeah, that didn’t look like the D that shut down the Jets and Bears. They’re going to have to play a lot better if they’re going to beat the Steelers or whoever in the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/102 "2010-12-20T17:45:35Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > You’ve got to be kidding me. You really think Matt Flynn is better than Tom Bady? I know Packer fans are deluded but… He was yesterday, is my point.. And I’m not a Packer fanboy, so be careful pigeonholing me. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/103 "2010-12-20T17:54:06Z")
I see that this has been well-covered already, and Dio is being himself. At any rate, I thought it was clear that the Pats won largely due to the pick-6 and Connolly’s remarkable run back. Brady himself was relatively ineffective, which was surprising, given how dominant he’s been the last few weeks. I think the Pats bought the hype that the game would be a rout without Rodgers out of the game. That led to over confidence. Brady looked frustrated and rattled early on. Flynn performed admirably, and it’s a shame that he fell apart under the pressure of the two minute drill. Not entirely his fault, of course, and it’s a touch position to be in, especially since Rodgers though he was going to play, meaning Flynn probably didn’t get a lot of reps in with the team last week. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/104 "2010-12-20T18:36:22Z")
I disagree that Flynn was the better QB in the game. He was certainly the better QB in the first 3 quarters, though you have to consider the way the defenses were playing. But when the chips were down in the 4th Brady executed a picture perfect touchdown drive and Flynn bumbled his way to nothing (and remember he threw an INT that was called back on an unrelated hands to the face penalty). This isn’t to knock Flynn. He played really, really well given the situation he was thrust into, and I felt bad for the kid at the end. It wasn’t his fault someone completely blew a blocking assignment on the sack a couple plays earlier, and but for that there would have been a timeout left to use to set up a couple shots at the end zone. Still, at the end of the day he’s the QB and has to recognize that in the situation there’s no time to look to the sidelines for signals, just call a play, any play, and line up and throw the ball downfield. On another note, I’m sure Woodson is still kicking himself for not hanging onto that pick in the first quarter. Ruining the no interception streak would have been some small payback for tuck-gate. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/105 "2010-12-20T20:32:52Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > My thoughts on the Giants game… > > First and foremost: Fuck. > > That said, it’s not the end of the world – they’ll still make the playoffs, and hopefully they’ll get a chance to smack the smug out of the Scumbirds in January. > > Ironically, that win helped me immensely in my pool, as it gave a loss to my biggest divisional rival (and set up a pivotal Week 17 match between the two of us). > > Finally, there is one nice thing that comes out of Vick’s success – it was just a few short months ago that so many Eagles fans screamed and wailed about the horror of their team now having such a terrible person as their backup QB. Now they’re sporting his jersey and chanting “MVP”. Thanks for showing your hypocritical douche colors, folks – we all knew you had it in you. And this is a perfect example of how NY fans are and have always been the rudest, RUDEST people I have ever met. As for your ASSessment, I bought a Vick Jersey while Kolb was still our starting QB. I shall be as mature as you by ending this post with a well deserved PPBBBTH! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/106 "2010-12-20T21:34:45Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > And this is a perfect example of how NY fans are and have always been the rudest, RUDEST people I have ever met. Responding to a broad stereotype with one of your own isn’t going to help you make your point. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/107 "2010-12-20T21:46:40Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Responding to a broad stereotype with one of your own isn’t going to help you make your point. Just the kind of response I expect from someone in New Jersey. 😉 Any thoughts on the game tonight before the action begins? There’s been a lot of talk about how bad the field conditions are, I’m wondering if players will actually get injured tonight or if everthing will be just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/108 "2010-12-20T22:39:04Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > There’s been a lot of talk about how bad the field conditions are, I’m wondering if players will actually get injured tonight or if everthing will be just fine. Leaving aside the snow, which I keep seeing extremely varying predictions of, I predict sloppy play but no serious injuries that can be blamed on the field. Yes, it’ll be a return to frozen tundra days, but players have much better body protection these days. The winner will be the team that goes to [sneakers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1934_NFL_Championship_Game) first. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/109 "2010-12-20T22:43:47Z")
[We might see Favre tonight after all.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101220/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_vikings_favre) Please let it be so, I’d love for the Bears to have one last chance to give him a proper send-off. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/110 "2010-12-20T22:53:01Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Nobody is saying that Tom Brady is not a better quarterback than Matt Flynn. We are stating the obvious fact that Flyn had a better game than Brady did yesteray. Then why did he lose? Matt Flynn has never, for one second in his life, ever been better than Tom Brady, nor will he ever be. He had some pedstrian success last night with a simple game plan behind a good line, against a mostly disinterested defense. Their performances were pretty similar, but Brady didn’t throw any picks and won the game, We saw quite clearly who the better QB was in the 4th quarter when it mattered. ---
**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 20, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/111 "2010-12-20T23:07:15Z")
I think this is a silly point to argue, but are you seriously contending that the team with the better QB wins 100% of the time? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/112 "2010-12-20T23:16:08Z")
Argh…not done typing yet… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/113 "2010-12-20T23:16:20Z")
No, I’m contending that the QB who wins the game is the better QB in that game. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/114 "2010-12-20T23:18:39Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I think this is a silly point to argue, but are you seriously contending that the team with the better QB wins 100% of the time? Do you listen to sports talk radio at all? You know that one guy, with a name like “South Side Nick” or “Joe from Oak Park”, who calls in all the time and the hosts let him on the air because it’s fun to laugh at a guy who makes so many stupid, easily disproven points? Dio. Or that guy at the bar who is 8 sheets to the wind and talks loudly to nobody in particular while you’re trying to watch the game. The guy who says “Effin’ refs, always handing the game to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (whoever he doesn’t like)” or “Being an NFL quarterback is pretty easy, hell I could do that.” Know him? Dio. Or your brother in law who doesn’t know a drawing room and a draw play, but insists that the guy who went to his alma mater is the best who ever played the game, yeah, even better than Montana or Unitas in their primes, and no amount of statistics, arguments, or analysis is going to change his mind? Dio. Get my point? ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/115 "2010-12-20T23:20:49Z")
> [@zoog](#): > > [We might see Favre tonight after all.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101220/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_vikings_favre) Please let it be so, I’d love for the Bears to have one last chance to give him a proper send-off. The Bears can clinch the division with a win tonight. Eliminating the Packers by beating Minnesota with Favre at QB would be delicious. Though the chance of winning is decreased with Favre playing. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/116 "2010-12-20T23:23:31Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Responding to a broad stereotype with one of your own isn’t going to help you make your point. Ah, it’s ok. _All_ Eagles fans do that, every time. So, we’ve had a day of contemplation on this. And after having to take a drive near Philly and listing to WIP sports talk radio, I gotta say – thems is some delusional mother fuckers there. Play like crap for 52 minutes? No problem – we’ll just score 28 points in under eight minutes! To hear them tell it, it’s like that was the game plan all along. Hey, they pulled off a miracle, and nothing but kudos to the Eagles for doing it. Every single card fell exactly into place, creating a perfect storm for them. But how the Philly media and fans can so blithely ignore their performance up to that point is astounding. They’ve already handed the team a first-round bye, completely forgetting their team’s performance for the majority of the game. I get it – this is a day for Ealges fans to be on a serious high. When you start to come back down though, you might want to remember that a lot more can hapen in 52 minutes than can in eight. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/117 "2010-12-20T23:27:29Z")
The Giants game reminded me a bit of the time the vikings beat the Eagles, 28-23, scoring all 28 points with [8:27 left to play.](http://articles.mcall.com/1985-12-02/sports/2496280_1_eagles-downs-stadium-clock) > [@](#): > > Viking Rally Shocks Eagles In 4th 28-23 > December 02, 1985|by COULT AUBREY, The Morning Call > > Yes, folks, there is something lower than a snake’s belly. The Philadelphia Eagles found it yesterday when they sunk to a heretofore unknown depth in Veterans Stadium. > > Totally in control of the Minnesota Vikings through the first 49 minutes, the Eagles collapsed like a house of cards in a windstorm and eventually lost 28-23 when quarterback Wade Wilson threw a 42-yard touchdown strike to Anthony Carter with only 1 minute and 11 seconds remaining. > > That was the Vikings’ fourth touchdown in the final 8:27 of play and left the Eagles flushed in humiliation and without a logical explanation for what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/118 "2010-12-20T23:31:38Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > No, I’m contending that the QB who wins the game is the better QB in that game. Even if the defense and special teams makes fantastic plays? I’m a huge Brady fan but he didn’t have a great game. Just let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/119 "2010-12-21T00:04:03Z")
Matt Flynn didn’t have a great game either and looked every bit like a backup at the end. Saying he was better than Tom Brady last night is more praise than he deserves. He just didn’t suck as bad everyone assumed. I think that’s largely because the Pats didn’t play like they were interested until the 4th quarter. It’s not like Flynn did anything special athletically. He completed some high percentage passes in a simplified, west coast gameplan and he got good protection. He only made a couple of really bad mistakes. Not bad, but I can’t agree that he was the best QB on the field in the quarter that mattered. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529/120 "2010-12-21T00:15:51Z")
ESPN has no picture in my area - just sound. Looks like I’ll be missing MNF. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-15/564529.md?page=7)