# NFL Week 17 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 29, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555 "2019-12-29T18:09:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [December 30, 2019, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/21 "2019-12-30T05:21:57Z")
Oh, my sweet Og, that was an amazing game. If football is a game of inches, this game is The Game of Inch. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2019, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/22 "2019-12-30T05:30:44Z")
I can’t think of a better way to gain the No. 1 seed than by having a sweep over the other two 13-3 teams. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/23 "2019-12-30T06:11:57Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Well, that was a great way to end the regular season. Hard to believe that the Saints, at 13-3, don’t get a first-round bye. I don’t remember another season with 3 3-loss teams in one conference. It’s absolute insanity. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/24 "2019-12-30T06:32:27Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Well, that was a great way to end the regular season. Hard to believe that the Saints, at 13-3, don’t get a first-round bye. I don’t remember another season with 3 3-loss teams in one conference. Sure was. While I’m disappointed that Seattle lost it didn’t exactly come as a surprise. I’m expecting the Saints to travel to Santa Clara for the N.F.C. championship game next month. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/25 "2019-12-30T16:19:25Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Oh, my sweet Og, that was an amazing game. If football is a game of inches, this game is The Game of Inch. I don’t have an interest in either team, but that was a fantastic contest. The two best games of the regular season were Seattle versus S.F. and S.F. versus Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/26 "2019-12-30T18:21:24Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > I don’t have an interest in either team, but that was a fantastic contest. > > The two best games of the regular season were Seattle versus S.F. and S.F. versus Seattle. Those were two great games, and I would add the Saints/Niners game to this list. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/27 "2019-12-30T18:42:44Z")
I foolishly didn’t stay up for the whole 49ers/Seahawks game - can anyone explain how the Seahawks took a delay of game penalty at the goal line? ETA: Obviously I know what a delay of game is. But how did they get to that point? Indecision on the play, confusion, too much celebration? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/28 "2019-12-30T18:55:52Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I foolishly didn’t stay up for the whole 49ers/Seahawks game - can anyone explain how the Seahawks took a delay of game penalty at the goal line? > > ETA: Obviously I know what a delay of game is. But how did they get to that point? Indecision on the play, confusion, too much celebration? I think they thought there was an injury timeout. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/29 "2019-12-30T19:07:45Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I foolishly didn’t stay up for the whole 49ers/Seahawks game - can anyone explain how the Seahawks took a delay of game penalty at the goal line? > > ETA: Obviously I know what a delay of game is. But how did they get to that point? Indecision on the play, confusion, too much celebration? They had a 4th and 10 at the SF 12 yard line with 42 seconds left and called their last timeout. They completed a pass to the one yard line for a first down, but it was inbounds and the clock kept running. They hustled up to the line and Wilson spiked the ball to stop the clock with 23 seconds left. It was then that they inexplicably failed to huddle up, call a play, and snap the ball. Instead, it looked to me like they thought that a timeout had been called, because they were nowhere close to snapping the ball when the play clock expired. Major screwup, IMO. And it probably cost them the game. ETA: They did have an offensive lineman injured on the 4th down pass. He limped to the line so they could spike the ball. It’s entirely possible, as\*\* enalzi\*\* suggested, that they thought there was an injury timeout. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/30 "2019-12-30T19:47:58Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I foolishly didn’t stay up for the whole 49ers/Seahawks game - can anyone explain how the Seahawks took a delay of game penalty at the goal line? > > ETA: Obviously I know what a delay of game is. But how did they get to that point? Indecision on the play, confusion, too much celebration? I heard Pete Carroll mention something about it last night but I didn’t quite catch what his explanation was. I know that in my local newspaper the person who graded the contest said that that mistake was inexcusable and I totally agree. Still, “hats off” to Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers. What a turnaround they’ve undergone. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/31 "2019-12-30T19:54:53Z")
Thanks all. So they didn’t rush to the line and just not get the snap off in time, they weren’t even close to snapping it? Damn. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/32 "2019-12-30T20:01:18Z")
Before that penalty, I was thinking Shanahan blew the game by not going for it on 4th and 1 on their last possession. Seattle has been getting in the endzone every drive in the 4th quarter, and SF has been running well. I’ll take a good chance at extending the drive and at least burning some more time off the clock against the risk of giving Seattle a short field. But that was just a questionable call on Shanahan’s part. Carroll somehow not being prepared with a play truly did blow the game. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/33 "2019-12-30T20:02:59Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Thanks all. So they didn’t rush to the line and just not get the snap off in time, they weren’t even close to snapping it? Damn. According to [Pete Carroll](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/seahawks-pete-carroll-explains-delay-game-penalty-late-49ers-loss), it was a play-calling/substitution issue. > [@](#): > > “Yeah, we were in no backs the play before,” Carroll told reporters. “And we called the personnel and just didn’t get it communicated with the backs, and we were just late. We were late getting in there, and we just didn’t get it done. > > “We didn’t function playing, sometimes you can relax like that’s a timeout, on the sideline, it felt like that’s what happened. We didn’t get the substitution done properly, and we were late, and there wasn’t enough time to get the play off.” ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/34 "2019-12-30T20:09:42Z")
At least he admits it was a plain mental mistake, but he still deflects responsibility in typical Pete Carroll fashion. It didn’t just “happen”. YOU did it, and it’s your job to NOT do that. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/35 "2019-12-30T20:16:26Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > At least he admits it was a plain mental mistake, but he still deflects responsibility in typical Pete Carroll fashion. It didn’t just “happen”. YOU did it, and it’s your job to NOT do that. (Too late for edit). After further reading, I see he did explicitly take responsibility for the screw up. But I still can’t stand the guy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/36 "2019-12-30T20:29:31Z")
So it was 2nd down, 23 seconds left, with no timeouts, and were trying to get the backs - presumably Lynch - onto the field? So they’d be able to get off one play, and if Lynch didn’t score, they’d be lucky to get off a second play with a few seconds left. That doesn’t make any sense either. I know Carroll’s still smarting from his last SB appearance, but yeah, try the pass plays to the back of the end zone first, then run it on 4th down if neither of those connects. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/37 "2019-12-30T21:23:55Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > (Too late for edit). After further reading, I see he did explicitly take responsibility for the screw up. But I still can’t stand the guy. 🙂 He takes responsibility for stuff all the time, I’m guessing you must dislike him because he has whomped on teams you root for. 🙂 Personally seeing Beast Mode get a touchdown made the whole game worth it. I leaped out of my chair at that. As badly depleted as Seattle is, I thought they had no chance, but damn that game was crazy close. Inches from a win in the last seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/38 "2019-12-30T21:52:16Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > So it was 2nd down, 23 seconds left, with no timeouts, and were trying to get the backs - presumably Lynch - onto the field? So they’d be able to get off one play, and if Lynch didn’t score, they’d be lucky to get off a second play with a few seconds left. That doesn’t make any sense either. I know Carroll’s still smarting from his last SB appearance, but yeah, try the pass plays to the back of the end zone first, then run it on 4th down if neither of those connects. Backs are also used for flexible pass blocking (more time) and receiving out of the backfield (more options). And a goal-line run from the one is very fast to reset from. Even if it took 15 seconds off the clock, that’s enough time left for two pass plays, assuming the first is incomplete. The delay of game? Absolutely self-harm. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/39 "2019-12-30T22:11:33Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > He takes responsibility for stuff all the time, I’m guessing you must dislike him because he has whomped on teams you root for. 🙂 Nah, I’ve disliked him since his USC days. I think he’s a whiner and a cheater (how many times has he been penalized for off-season practice violations?). I like the Seahawks (especially Lynch) and will be rooting for them over Philly next week. I just don’t like their coach. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555/40 "2019-12-30T22:27:38Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > Wow - I cannot believe that N.E. lost to Miami. Good thing I don’t bet 'cause I would’ve lost a LOT of money on THAT result. I’m proud to say I called this (only one in my picks league to get it right). NE whooped up on a slew of terrible teams at the beginning of the season so they looked strong due to their schedule. They have been pretty terrible against good teams, and pretty even with mediocre teams. Miami had some momentum, and I guessed they’d play at least mediocre, and NE would be overconfident based on their generally being used to winning and their earlier whooping of Miami. I wish I could have watched that one. Seattle/SF was a great game. I wonder how much the delay was related to Carroll specifically wanting Lynch in there, and Lynch being I don’t want to say rusty, but just not fully integrated yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-17/845555.md?page=3)