# NFL Wild Card Weekend **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 3, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882 "2015-01-03T20:53:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/41 "2015-01-05T02:16:38Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Sure, Gronk is a good tight end, but he doesn’t have the wild, untamed facial hair of Joe Namath. From the description, it sounds like he knows how to go up the middle. I worry about what must happen when he goes out of bounds, though. ---
**Author:** ![Miltonyz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Miltonyz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miltonyz)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/42 "2015-01-05T03:14:41Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Well Lions looked better than most expected.but another loss. ☹ I blame it on the pussy play on 4th and 1 with 6 minutes.:mad: Well… Lets go Red Wings, I guess. A lot of whining from friends and family about the refs, but while I think it was BS, we can’t blame a whole game on one shitty call. Seems like the defense couldn’t keep us in it like we needed them to. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/43 "2015-01-05T03:31:29Z")
So someone set me straight: is Andrew Luck really this super awesome brilliant first ballot HoFer that the media tells me he is? I can see the answer going any one of a number of ways, but I can’t tell where. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/44 "2015-01-05T03:39:36Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So someone set me straight: is Andrew Luck really this super awesome brilliant first ballot HoFer that the media tells me he is? I can see the answer going any one of a number of ways, but I can’t tell where. He’s a very good, and very young, QB. He’s gotten better every year in the league and is already a top 10 QB, despite just finishing his third year. No way is he a hall of famer right now, but he’s certainly on track to get there if he continues to improve. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/45 "2015-01-05T03:57:45Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Well Lions looked better than most expected.but another loss. ☹ I blame it on the pussy play on 4th and 1 with 6 minutes.:mad: Should we blame the vanilla pass rush in the second half, too? I turned it on at halftime and they were showing a montage of all the blitzes/zone blitzes that the Lions were running to sit Romo on his butt most of the half. I don’t think I saw a single pass rush in the second half with anything but the vanilla four (they did feint a blitz maybe twice, and I think one was on during a run play). Always good idea to go away from what’s working, and give a competent QB as much time as he wants… I mean, it’s the NFL, you can cover people for 15 seconds at a time, right? Not that the refereeing was exactly, um, the kind of thing you’d show off to demonstrate how well the NFL referees can ignore the home crowd. I particularly liked the replays of the defensive holding on the screen play towards the end, the view from behind the line of scrimmage. "Oh, yes you can clearly see the hold, Right there, just to left and behind the defensive end running at Romo with the offensive tackle’s arm around his throat from behind. " ---
**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:** [January 5, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/46 "2015-01-05T04:06:05Z")
At first I was miffed that Suh got to play this week pending his appeal, but now I’m happy that he worked his ass off and still lost. [Nelson Muntz] HA HA [/Nelson Muntz] As much as I like an underdog and want to root for the Lions, I just cannot when that asshole is still on the team. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/47 "2015-01-05T04:25:17Z")
Suh did nothing wrong. His feet were so cold and numb he couldn’t tell the difference between the ground and Aaron Rodgers’ leg. Nice to see the Panthers win but too many careless mistakes. Brenton Bersin is so bad at punt returns. Every time the whole year I get anxious when he’s about to catch one and he messed up big time this week. Those 2 turnovers and short fields were the only way the Cardinals were able to get any points. Panthers can beat the Seahawks if they play a good clean game without those errors. You can’t make so many mistakes against Seattle and still hope to win. Cam did a good job getting some long 3rd down runs but he really looked in pain and took big hits. He’s gotta be able to pass better. He made some inaccurate passes and missed big chances. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/48 "2015-01-05T04:31:16Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Suh did nothing wrong. His feet were so cold and numb he couldn’t tell the difference between the ground and Aaron Rodgers’ leg. My leg must be numb; I can’t tell if you’re pulling it. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/49 "2015-01-05T11:42:21Z")
On that non-pass-interference call, why did they throw the flag? It looked like all the contact was done by the offenses. Hand in the face mask, then pushing away. Did the referee really have it right? If a defense player doesn’t look back for the ball and the offensive player tries to go through the defensive player, it’s still defensive pass interference? (New to watching football, so sorry if this is a silly question that everyone knows the answer to, because, well, I’m proof that not everyone does. :D) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/50 "2015-01-05T12:04:25Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I think Arians spent a bit too much time reading his own publicity and the next man up strategy. I would have thought they could have worked out a Josh Freeman type once Palmer was out for the season. Lindley is horrible, and I’m really surprised they didn’t yank him and try Logan Thomas. More specifically, does the NFL have a deadline for trades and for free agent signings? At what point would the Cards no longer have been allowed to call up the Colts and offer a 3rd round draft pick for Matt Hassellbeck? Or to call up Rex Grossman and ask if he was in playing shape? Losing Carson Palmer was a HUGE blow, but the Cards still had an excellent chance of winning the NFC West, and MAYBE even the Super Bowl this year. With Hassellbeck at QB, I think they’d still be alive now. WAS that an option, or were the team’s hands tied? ---
**Author:** ![Hayden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/91b2a8/32.png) [@Hayden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayden)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/51 "2015-01-05T12:08:38Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > On that non-pass-interference call, why did they throw the flag? If a defensive back makes contact with a receiver and is clearly not attempting to make a play on the ball, he will almost always be penalized for pass interference. In this instance, the defensive back certainly was not making any play on the ball, and the flag was thrown because a referee thought there was contact before the ball arrived. They picked up the flag because the lineman who had the best view overruled the decision, saying that the contact was too minor to warrant a penalty. The facemask by the receiver should have been a penalty, technically, but it was not seen by the official. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/52 "2015-01-05T13:24:07Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > More specifically, does the NFL have a deadline for trades and for free agent signings? > > At what point would the Cards no longer have been allowed to call up the Colts and offer a 3rd round draft pick for Matt Hassellbeck? Or to call up Rex Grossman and ask if he was in playing shape? > > Losing Carson Palmer was a HUGE blow, but the Cards still had an excellent chance of winning the NFC West, and MAYBE even the Super Bowl this year. With Hassellbeck at QB, I think they’d still be alive now. > > WAS that an option, or were the team’s hands tied? There’s a trade deadline, around week 7 or so. The Cardinals could sign a Rex Grossman-type, not employed by another team, but they couldn’t trade for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/53 "2015-01-05T13:58:48Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > There’s a trade deadline, around week 7 or so. The Cardinals could sign a Rex Grossman-type, not employed by another team, but they couldn’t trade for anyone. Okay, thanks for clearing that up. There weren’t any really good free agents available, as far as I can see. A Rex Grossman (or someone of comparable stature) was about the best they could hope for, and that might not have been good enough. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/54 "2015-01-05T14:32:41Z")
Lions got stiffed by the refs, but were burned even more by their own coaches. In the second half, they played not to lose, which generally means disaster. A wimpy play on 3rd and 1, a cowardly punt on 4th down which netted what, 10 yards? Play to win, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/55 "2015-01-05T19:25:16Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Don’t be a jerk. If you think someone is being a jerk, report the post. Don’t call them out on it using that insult or resorted to jr modding. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/56 "2015-01-05T19:32:54Z")
Per MSN, Suh broke down after the Lions loss this weekend. Interesting. [http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/suh-breaks-down-after-lions-loss-to-cowboys/ar-BBhwy7n](http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/suh-breaks-down-after-lions-loss-to-cowboys/ar-BBhwy7n) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/57 "2015-01-05T22:26:27Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > If you think someone is being a jerk, report the post. Don’t call them out on it using that insult or resorted to jr modding. Not an insult as worded, IMHO, but point taken. :eek: 😉 As for Suh, that was … interesting… :dubious: On one of the football MBs I frequent, lots was being said about that PI flag take back. Consensus is the call vs non call could’ve gone either way, but the take back and Dez being on field was problematic. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/58 "2015-01-07T03:37:17Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Should we blame the vanilla pass rush in the second half, too? > I turned it on at halftime and they were showing a montage of all the blitzes/zone blitzes that the Lions were running to sit Romo on his butt most of the half. > I don’t think I saw a single pass rush in the second half with anything but the vanilla four (they did feint a blitz maybe twice, and I think one was on during a run play). Always good idea to go away from what’s working, and give a competent QB as much time as he wants… I mean, it’s the NFL, you can cover people for 15 seconds at a time, right? Probably because Romo burned a blitz with a 76-yard TD pass. After that, Detroit stopped blitzing. ---
**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:** [January 9, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-wild-card-weekend/708882/59 "2015-01-09T19:22:12Z")
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