# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/161 "2015-02-02T03:53:51Z")
Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory… ---
**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, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/162 "2015-02-02T04:01:20Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > the quick slant in traffic is a terribly risky choice. If you’ve got Gronk or Megatron or another big body or you’re Aaron Rodgers you can risk it, but here it’s a terrible option. Jump ball to Matthews or a naked boot with Willson in the back of the end zone, sure. Pick play in traffic? Yikes. > > And even that’s a stretch. Does anyone think the Pats are stopping Lynch 4 straight times? Maybe Wilson wanted to go for the down-the-middle TD pass after Brady threaded one on the Pats previous drive. It’s highly risky, but would have been glorious if it had worked I guess. The Seahawks got to the Super Bowl with a lot of risky plays, such as the TD pass to a newbie receiver against Green Bay, but sometimes you just have to go with the basic play. They may have rugby-scrummed Lynch 1 yard if nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/163 "2015-02-02T04:10:29Z")
If I’d seen that in a movie, I’d have said _that’s implausible; nobody would’ve made that call; whatever they paid the screenwriter, it was too much._ ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/164 "2015-02-02T04:11:02Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > as a 49er fan who recently saw his team lose the super bowl due to bad playcalling inside the 5 yard line… Ha ha ha seahawks lost. > > Since we just moved to washington, my wife wanted our new neighbors to be happy. Screw that, _i’m_ happy. I never thought i’d be happy with a fourth patriots win, but i’ll take a loss to shut these bandwagoners up however i can get it. That sums it nicely. Congrats Pats! And Brady’s fourth ring and third SB MVP! Same as his idol, Joe Montana. ---
**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, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/165 "2015-02-02T04:14:07Z")
> [@GreenElf](#): > > They may have rugby-scrummed Lynch 1 yard if nothing else. This, maybe with Wilson. Pats did it with Brady last week in the AFC CG. I understand you have a game plan and personnel groupings and match-ups, but if that’s the rationale Carroll and Bevell got out coached. Belicheck took away Lynch just by the guys he put on the field. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/166 "2015-02-02T04:14:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/167 "2015-02-02T04:15:17Z")
One thing that I noticed right away, but nobody’s pointed out (talking heads or whoever)-was that interference there? The defender hit the receiver a split second before the ball arrived-“incidental contact”? ---
**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, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/168 "2015-02-02T04:20:12Z")
> [@kevja](#): > > And Brady’s fourth ring and third SB MVP! Same as his idol, Joe Montana. Brady threw 2 picks and had quite a few other bad throws. I don’t think that was an MVP worthy performance. Not sure who else deserves it, Butler would have been a feel good candidate and no one would have complained. Maybe Edelman or Gronk. I get why Brady got it and when history looks back on this his numbers will look good, but right now in the moment Brady wasn’t special tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/169 "2015-02-02T04:20:57Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > One thing that I noticed right away, but nobody’s pointed out (talking heads or whoever)-was that interference there? The defender hit the receiver a split second before the ball arrived-“incidental contact”? I think he was making a play on the ball this its allowed as he is going for the ball? Also Wilson put it a little too far out there. ---
**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, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/170 "2015-02-02T04:21:02Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > This, maybe with Wilson. Pats did it with Brady last week in the AFC CG. > > I understand you have a game plan and personnel groupings and match-ups, but if that’s the rationale Carroll and Bevell got out coached. Belicheck took away Lynch just by the guys he put on the field. Yeah, it wasn’t a very good play-call but let’s not abandoned all logic. The Patriot’s defense on that play was designed to stop Lynch, so trying an alternative wasn’t so insane. But they still should have given it to Lynch on second down. ---
**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, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/171 "2015-02-02T04:21:30Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > One thing that I noticed right away, but nobody’s pointed out (talking heads or whoever)-was that interference there? The defender hit the receiver a split second before the ball arrived-“incidental contact”? Nope, not even close. The defensive player has a right to go for the ball. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/172 "2015-02-02T04:21:48Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > One thing that I noticed right away, but nobody’s pointed out (talking heads or whoever)-was that interference there? The defender hit the receiver a split second before the ball arrived-“incidental contact”? No, it’s ok for a defender to contact the receiver if he’s got position on him and going for the ball. That was just a good defensive play. ---
**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, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/173 "2015-02-02T04:22:43Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Brady threw 2 picks and had quite a few other bad throws. I don’t think that was an MVP worthy performance. Not sure who else deserves it, Butler would have been a feel good candidate and no one would have complained. Maybe Edelman or Gronk. I get why Brady got it and when history looks back on this his numbers will look good, but right now in the moment Brady wasn’t special tonight. He was 37 of 50, 328 and 4 td’s against that defense and with absolutely no running game. What? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/174 "2015-02-02T04:23:38Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Yeah, it wasn’t a very good play-call but let’s not abandoned all logic. The Patriot’s defense on that play was designed to stop Lynch, so trying an alternative wasn’t so insane. But they still should have given it to Lynch on second down. Based on Lynch’s ability to make yards even in situations like that I would call it insane. If he ran it 3 times and still didn’t make it I would have said “good play calls, just good D”. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/175 "2015-02-02T04:25:40Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > If I’d seen that in a movie, I’d have said _that’s implausible; nobody would’ve made that call; whatever they paid the screenwriter, it was too much._ Reminds me of when the Cowboys (of all people) pulled a North Dallas Forty and fumbled the FG hold. Then there’s That idiot Craig T. Nelson in “All the Right Moves” calling for a run in a driving rain and muddy conditions when he should have kneeled…and then he blamed Tom Cruise! ---
**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:** [February 2, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/176 "2015-02-02T04:26:11Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Brady threw 2 picks and had quite a few other bad throws. I don’t think that was an MVP worthy performance. Not sure who else deserves it, Butler would have been a feel good candidate and no one would have complained. Maybe Edelman or Gronk. I get why Brady got it and when history looks back on this his numbers will look good, but right now in the moment Brady wasn’t special tonight. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/177 "2015-02-02T04:31:36Z")
I had no real rooting interest but WOW, what a terrible play call. Lynch or Wilson should have been running that ball. If the Pats stop you, make 'em do it twice more. I’m with Colinsworth, I’ll never understand that one. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/178 "2015-02-02T04:33:57Z")
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.” ---
**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, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/179 "2015-02-02T04:37:43Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Yeah, it wasn’t a very good play-call but let’s not abandoned all logic. The Patriot’s defense on that play was designed to stop Lynch, so trying an alternative wasn’t so insane. But they still should have given it to Lynch on second down. 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. ---
**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, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426/180 "2015-02-02T04:39:00Z")
> [@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.” 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-21-super-bowl-xlix-game-time-thread/711426.md?page=10)