# NFL Week 21 (Super Bowl XLIX game time thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 31, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426 "2015-01-31T14:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/181 "2015-02-02T04:42:16Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to come back from 10 points down against the best defense in the NFL isn’t special? I agree the picks were bad mistakes, but Brady threw 37 completions on 50 attempts against the Legion of Boom. That 3rd down offsides call against the Seahawks proved costly. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/182 "2015-02-02T04:46:27Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > He was 37 of 50, 328 and 4 td’s against that defense and with absolutely no running game. What? > [@Gorsnak](#): > > Two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to come back from 10 points down against the best defense in the NFL isn’t special? I agree the picks were bad mistakes, but Brady threw 37 completions on 50 attempts against the Legion of Boom. Like I said, I know what the numbers are and I know the rationale. After just watching that game (and having watched a lot of MVP QB performances in the last 30 years) I wasn’t left feeling like Brady played that great. Lots of dink and dunk with yards after contact. Some big glaring mistakes (red zone INT!) and more than a few bad misses. It’s not like someone else got robbed, so I’m not calling for a controversy here, but it’s probably justice that his MVP vehicle was a Chevy Colorado and not a Cadillac or Denali. > [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > At least Belichek didn’t LET them score this time. I was screaming, “You gotta give the defense a chance to make a big play.” Berman actually tried to make this point. He failed miserably because he’s befuddled and incomprehensible all the time, but he brought it up. Will be important to remember this next time that argument comes up in the future. Wonder if Simmons will mention it this week since this is one of his memes. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/183 "2015-02-02T04:55:07Z")
[I generally like Richard Sherman, but he deserves this for being a little too cocky this game.](http://s946.photobucket.com/user/laszlo8/media/Sherman.jpg.html) ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/184 "2015-02-02T04:59:33Z")
As a football fan, I’m thrilled at a fantastic game. As a Patriots fan, of course I’m thrilled at the victory. However, I would really appreciate it if one of these Patriots Superbowls would just be a goddamn blowout already. Every Patriots Superbowl this century has come down to the final drive. My blood pressure can’t take this any more. I will take a blowout loss over this kind of stress. (In hindsight, of course, I don’t mean that at all. But in the moment, man I could do with a nice stress-free game.) ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/185 "2015-02-02T05:09:05Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Like I said, I know what the numbers are and I know the rationale. After just watching that game (and having watched a lot of MVP QB performances in the last 30 years) I wasn’t left feeling like Brady played that great. Lots of dink and dunk with yards after contact. Some big glaring mistakes (red zone INT!) and more than a few bad misses. It’s not like someone else got robbed, so I’m not calling for a controversy here, but it’s probably justice that his MVP vehicle was a Chevy Colorado and not a Cadillac or Denali. Yeah, except he’s probably already given the thing away because his garage at home is full of European luxury vehicles that he purchased with the spare change in his couch cushions. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/186 "2015-02-02T05:09:32Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > [I generally like Richard Sherman, but he deserves this for being a little too cocky this game.](http://s946.photobucket.com/user/laszlo8/media/Sherman.jpg.html) His face when he saw that pick was just priceless. Great camera work. Brady’s reaction at the same time was the perfect contrast. Football’s fun. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/187 "2015-02-02T05:14:13Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > Yeah, except he’s probably already given the thing away because his garage at home is full of European luxury vehicles that he purchased with the spare change in his couch cushions. Yeah, based on the paps pictures he’s a Range Rover guy. That Colorado is probably going to Gisele’s sister’s boyfriend’s younger brother. That or the Boys and Girls Club of America which is far less funny. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/188 "2015-02-02T05:14:55Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > His face when he saw that pick was just priceless. Great camera work. Brady’s reaction at the same time was the perfect contrast. Football’s fun. Yesirree, bob. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/189 "2015-02-02T05:38:39Z")
Tom Brady: Greatest of All Time or Grestestest of All Time? ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/190 "2015-02-02T06:02:46Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Lots of dink and dunk with yards after contact. That’s not Brady’s fault, that was the game-plan’s fault. It was an excellent game-plan against Seattle and Brady executed it superbly. But I get what your saying. If he were such an MVP QB, they wouldn’t have needed that type of game-plan. [QUOTE=Dale Sams] At least Belichek didn’t LET them score this time. I was screaming, “You gotta give the defense a chance to make a big play.” [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Mince] The circumstances are different. In the Super Bowl against the Giants, a very short field goal would have won the game. A field goal would have done nothing tonight, so no way Belichik was even considering it. [/QUOTE] More precisely: The Giants had the ball at the Patriot 6-yard-line, down by 2 with little time left. They could have run the clock down to near 0 and kicked a field goal which, if you get the kick off, is a 98% prospect and a 95% prospect overall. Allowing the Giants to score and at least giving your offense a chance seemed better to Belichik than allowing the Giants better than a 90% chance to win the game. Tonight, of course, Seattle couldn’t have run the clock down and kicked a chip-shot field goal for the win, or even a tie. Since scoring a touchdown from the 5 yard line (or even the 1) is a lot more difficult than successfully kicking a 22-yard field goal, Belichik didn’t let them score. Note, I’m not necessarily claiming that allowing the Giants to score was the correct/best decision, I’m just speculating on Belichik’s reasoning. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2015, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/191 "2015-02-02T06:50:09Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Here’s the best Seahawks rationalization I can come up with. The Seahawks had 3 more downs, but only 1 time out and 25 seconds. They couldn’t have actually run the ball 3 straight times there, time would have run out. They need to stop the clock eventually so one of those 3 plays has to be a pass, best to do it when you have run personnel on defense. The Pats came out with a goal line look and the Seahawks had a QB who (prior to the CG) rarely throws INTs so 2nd down with man coverage looks like an opportunity. > > And to be fair, the play call almost worked. If Butler gets hung up on the pick or if he plays the man instead of the ball that’s probably a TD. Kearse was wide open for a split second and if Wilson sees the DB breaking and goes low or back shoulder that’s a TD. If Kearse bodies up and draws contact it’s at worst an incompletion. > > It was an absolutely incredible read and play by an undrafted rookie. 95 out of a 100 times that’s not picked. > > I think the worst part is not that Carroll called a pass, it’s that he called one that’s as risky as that and that Wilson threw the pass in the worst possible position. Correcting myself, it was Lockette not Kearse on the definitive play. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/192 "2015-02-02T07:06:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory… No shit Colibri. After seeing that incredible catch with 20 seconds left on the clock I was like, KA-Ching, KA-Ching, here comes next months rent, baby. And then… and then… Its true, being a Cubs fan _does_ prepare one for life. ---
**Author:** ![gus28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6de8d8/32.png) [@gus28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gus28)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/193 "2015-02-02T07:13:49Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Worst play call I’ve ever fucking seen in my life. > > It’s at the one and I’m saying “just give it to Lynch 3 times, there is no way he doesn’t get 1 yard on 3 tries, but whatever you do, do not run a pass play”. > > Absolutely horrible call. Exactly what I came here to say. Worst call I have ever seen in my fucking life. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/194 "2015-02-02T07:31:38Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Here’s the best Seahawks rationalization I can come up with. The Seahawks had 3 more downs, but only 1 time out and 25 seconds. They couldn’t have actually run the ball 3 straight times there, time would have run out. They need to stop the clock eventually so one of those 3 plays has to be a pass, best to do it when you have run personnel on defense. The Pats came out with a goal line look and the Seahawks had a QB who (prior to the CG) rarely throws INTs so 2nd down with man coverage looks like an opportunity. > > And to be fair, the play call almost worked. If Butler gets hung up on the pick or if he plays the man instead of the ball that’s probably a TD. Kearse was wide open for a split second and if Wilson sees the DB breaking and goes low or back shoulder that’s a TD. If Kearse bodies up and draws contact it’s at worst an incompletion. > > It was an absolutely incredible read and play by an undrafted rookie. 95 out of a 100 times that’s not picked. > > I think the worst part is not that Carroll called a pass, it’s that he called one that’s as risky as that and that Wilson threw the pass in the worst possible position. Nice analysis, Omniscient. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/195 "2015-02-02T08:11:33Z")
Lady Luck was smiling down on the Seahawks up through the previous play which was quite miraculous. Whoever called that play must have felt that she’d be on their side on the final play to a magical season, not considering that the odds of Lynch running it in on two or three plays must have been at least 80%. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/196 "2015-02-02T08:19:53Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Tom Brady: > > Greatest of All Time or Grestestest of All Time? Nah, it’s still Montana. ---
**Author:** ![toast\_pakora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@toast\_pakora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toast_pakora)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/197 "2015-02-02T08:23:24Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > As a football fan, I’m thrilled at a fantastic game. > > As a Patriots fan, of course I’m thrilled at the victory. However, I would really appreciate it if one of these Patriots Superbowls would just be a goddamn blowout already. Every Patriots Superbowl this century has come down to the final drive. My blood pressure can’t take this any more. I will take a blowout loss over this kind of stress. > > (In hindsight, of course, I don’t mean that at all. But in the moment, man I could do with a nice stress-free game.) So much THIS. That was the longest 2 minutes of my life. Five hours later, I still don’t quite believe it. Texting my brother back in the States to buy me a t-shirt pronto. My last one is worn out. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/198 "2015-02-02T11:06:39Z")
Congratulations Patriots and their fans. Here’s hoping the Seahawks see someone else in Super Bowl 50! ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/199 "2015-02-02T11:32:56Z")
I tend to agree that Brady didn’t feel very MVP-y. Lots of numbers, but those felt to me more like…there’s a word for it, but I forget. A compiler? A collector? Little help? (I remember the term being used during the very brief “Is Curtis Martin a HoFer?” discussions.) Anyway, that’s what those numbers felt like to me. My gut feeling on who the MVP was going to be – not just who it should be, but who I thought it was actually going to be if the Pats won – was Edelman. And frankly it wasn’t even close, at least in my mind. I was surprised when I saw Brady get the honor. Regarding the early question about going out of bounds not stopping the clock, it was mostly answered but to clarify: There was around 2:20 left in the first half, Edelman or Amendola catches the ball in the flat, makes a great move juking the defender and turns upfield, running out of bounds perfectly just past the first down marker, clock stops at around 2:12 left. After a few seconds, they start going to commercial for the 2:00 warning. When the ball goes out of bounds, or the officials take a timeout (like for a measurement) the clock stops for ~15 seconds, then starts winding again with the play clock reset to 25 seconds instead of 40. The exception is the final 2:00 of the first half and final 5:00 of the fourth quarter, when running out of bounds stops the clock the same way an incompletion does. (This is part of overtime’s “same rules as the fourth quarter” deal.) This rule was instituted in the early 00s as a way to help speed up the game. Around the same time that a kicking penalty was changed so that you could choose to tack in on to the end of the kick instead of always having to re-kick. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/200 "2015-02-02T11:43:08Z")
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks for kicking the Patriots around like a deflated football for much of the second quarter, and keeping things close in the first. Well fought, much respect, never had any disrespect for this team. I will admit you guys had it in the bag… that one play call tho. Don’t matter. Don’t know what that scuffle was about at the end but nice to see the players shaking hands afterward. I know Butler stole the win away from the hawks there at the end, but hey, wins sometimes get decided based on one play. Alright, that’s all I have to say. No trash talking from me. Think it’s ridic anyone thought this would be a blowout by either team. I certainly didn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426.md?page=11)