# Week 5 NFL Discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 5, 2010, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106 "2010-10-05T10:14:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Roulette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8dc957/32.png) [@Roulette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roulette)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/141 "2010-10-11T17:36:41Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > > [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > > > Should [utl=“[NFL Football Highlights, Clips & Analysis | NFL.com](http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81b3cdeb/GameDay-Packers-vs-Redskins-highlights?module=HP_video)”]this (3:30 mark)) have been a penalty? > > > > It was an extrememly crucial play in the game. > > Fixed Link. > > [this (3:30 mark))](http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81b3cdeb/GameDay-Packers-vs-Redskins-highlights?module=HP_video) I thought the facemask actually hit Roger’s shoulder when i saw it live. On replay, it was closer than I thought. Last year I don’t think it gets flagged. This year, the focus is different and it probably would have if it had been seen. (by a competent set of refs) At the same time, that’s not even in the top 5 calls I thought should have been flagged. It’s easy to say it was a crucial moment, but at the same time, I saw Orakpo get held around his neck a half dozen times. I saw 3 or 4 PI calls that would have sustained redskins drives, one of which forced them to settle for a FG. I also saw the skins grab Mathews and hold on for dear life. And at least 1 or 2 times that redskins corners got there a bit early, that went un-noticed. As I said, that officiating crew was bad. They directly affected the course of the game. But it wasn’t just one play near the end. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/142 "2010-10-11T17:55:42Z")
> [@Roulette](#): > > > [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > > > Fixed Link. > > > > [this (3:30 mark))](http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81b3cdeb/GameDay-Packers-vs-Redskins-highlights?module=HP_video) > > I thought the facemask actually hit Roger’s shoulder when i saw it live. On replay, it was closer than I thought. Last year I don’t think it gets flagged. This year, the focus is different and it probably would have if it had been seen. (by a competent set of refs) > > At the same time, that’s not even in the top 5 calls I thought should have been flagged. It’s easy to say it was a crucial moment, but at the same time, I saw Orakpo get held around his neck a half dozen times. I saw 3 or 4 PI calls that would have sustained redskins drives, one of which forced them to settle for a FG. I also saw the skins grab Mathews and hold on for dear life. And at least 1 or 2 times that redskins corners got there a bit early, that went un-noticed. > > As I said, that officiating crew was bad. They directly affected the course of the game. But it wasn’t just one play near the end. I am not as concerned about the way the call may or may not have affected the game, the Packers played so meh I can’t really muster any outrage. What does bpother me is how dangerous the hit is and it resulted in a concussion. However, I agree there were bad calls all over the field and I am not complaining so much about the end result. ---
**Author:** ![Roulette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8dc957/32.png) [@Roulette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roulette)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/143 "2010-10-11T18:03:56Z")
The GB coach said that he thought it happened on the last play. Honestly, I think it may have happened earlier. That overtime hit wasn’t that hard, even in slow mo. But earlier, near the end of the 4th quarter, I thought he hit his head on the turf pretty hard when he got tackled. Aikman even commented that he looked woozy after he got up. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/144 "2010-10-11T20:36:49Z")
I finally got to see an Eagles game (I’ve been treated to four weeks of crappy Cardinals games) and that’s what I get? A crappy team struggling as hard as they did to hold on to a lead against an 0-4 team? Seriously? The Niners were melting down as badly as any team I’ve ever seen, and somehow the Eagles let them back into that game and make it close? How does that even happen? That game was embarrassing. I can’t see any way the Eagles end up better than 8-8. And that’s **if** Vick is actually as good as he has been the last few weeks (I’m, uh, skeptical). At least Dallas sucks. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/145 "2010-10-12T00:45:24Z")
The NFL are a bunch of puddles for delaying games for storms. They’d be fun to play a game in. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/146 "2010-10-12T00:58:38Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > The NFL are a bunch of puddles for delaying games for storms. They’d be fun to play a game in. It’s an excuse. Favre needed the delay to arrange more flattering lighting for his next round of “pictures” to send to sideline reporters. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/147 "2010-10-12T00:59:55Z")
It’s really the lightning that they’re delaying it for. That’s about the only thing short of a hurricane or a tornado that would delay an NFL football game. Too bad they have synthetic turf in that place. It would be fun to watch a game in the mud. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/148 "2010-10-12T01:02:11Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > > [@SenorBeef](#): > > > > The NFL are a bunch of puddles for delaying games for storms. They’d be fun to play a game in. > > It’s an excuse. Favre needed the delay to arrange more flattering lighting for his next round of “pictures” to send to sideline reporters. Hold on there, Mr. Prosecutor, can you prove that’s my clients’ cock in those pictures? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/149 "2010-10-12T01:17:03Z")
…lol Edit: The Moss to Favre pass I mean. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/150 "2010-10-12T01:19:49Z")
that was the greatest play I have ever seen why is it against the rules ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/151 "2010-10-12T01:20:35Z")
Moss was past the line of scrimmage when he threw it. ---
**Author:** ![Phlint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c89c15/32.png) [@Phlint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlint)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/152 "2010-10-12T01:26:17Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Moss was past the line of scrimmage when he threw it. I just watched the replay, and Moss was a good 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage when he threw it. Plus, the ref called “ineligible downfield” (don’t listen to Jon Gruden, he’s an idiot). Which brings me to my question: Is it illegal for the quarterback to to cross the line of scrimmage and run a wide receiver route after handing the ball off? If so, shouldn’t the Vikings have known that and not drawn that play up in the first place? It didn’t look like a broken play to me, why would Favre have been so far ahead of the play if it weren’t planned? ETA: Nevermind, it was probably just a random lineman that went too far down the field. Not sure why I initially assumed it was on Favre. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/153 "2010-10-12T01:29:26Z")
Er yeah. That means linemen got past the line of scrimmage before the pass was made. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/154 "2010-10-12T01:40:03Z")
> [@Phlint](#): > > ETA: Nevermind, it was probably just a random lineman that went too far down the field. Not sure why I initially assumed it was on Favre. Probably because the on-screen penalty result that ESPN displayed said it was on Favre. ---
**Author:** ![Phlint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c89c15/32.png) [@Phlint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlint)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/155 "2010-10-12T01:42:47Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > > [@Phlint](#): > > > > ETA: Nevermind, it was probably just a random lineman that went too far down the field. Not sure why I initially assumed it was on Favre. > > Probably because the on-screen penalty result that ESPN displayed said it was on Favre. At least I had a reason to be confused then. That makes me feel a bit better, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/156 "2010-10-12T04:42:04Z")
They just said on the ESPN postgame report that Favre was an ineligible receiver because he took the ball under center. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/157 "2010-10-12T05:25:46Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > > [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > > > If Peyton hadn’t smoked them, albeit at home, I might agree with you. Then again, he’s done that to a lot of teams. FWIW, [Footballoutsiders](http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef) agrees with you that they’re the best D in the NFC. > > I was chalking the first 2 weeks up to getting the new system working. They seem to go through that with every new Def. Coordinator. Me too. As a remiinder to non-Giants fans, during the 2007 Superbowl season under first-year DC Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants defense got _smoked_ the first two weeks by the Cowboys and Packers (both avenged in those playoffs) letting up a combined 80 points in two games. > [@VarlosZ](#): > > Apparently the secondary isn’t quite as shaky as I’d feared (or the pass rush is just that effective). They get Kenny Phillips back, bring in Antrelle Rolle and Deon Grant to shore up the safety position, and both starting corners are healthy. Also remember that Corey Webster was a full-on shutdown corner in 2008, so it’s not like he’s not capable of being great. Going into this season, the secondary was their second strongest unit after defensive line. > [@Phlint](#): > > Is it illegal for the quarterback to to cross the line of scrimmage and run a wide receiver route after handing the ball off? If so, shouldn’t the Vikings have known that and not drawn that play up in the first place? Yes, and yes. The only guess I have is that the guy who drew up the play drew it up as shotgun to avoid the rule, which is that when you line up under center you’re ineligible to go downfield. (Another example of a shotgun/under center dichotomy is that you can’t spike the ball unless you’re under center. From shotgun it’s an intentional grounding penalty.) Anyway, so my guess is that the guy who drew up the play wasn’t the OC or HC, and didn’t bother to emphasize that you can’t run it from under center. And then Favre decided to run it under center maybe because he was worried about getting the shotgun snap in a rainstorm. Short of that, the Vikings are just that stupid. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/158 "2010-10-12T05:31:54Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The fact that this call happened to be during the final drive of the game only appears to make it more important. In actual fact, a fumble in the middle of the first quarter is just as big a deal as one at the end of the fourth. No, this bizarre claim is clearly untrue. Big plays obviously have a bigger impact later in the game when there is less time to recover from them. For a simple example, it is not the same to be down by, say, 9 points in the first quarter as it is to be down by 9 points in the final two minutes of the game. From a fantasy perspective your point is valid. In real football, the opposite is true. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2010, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/159 "2010-10-12T07:45:19Z")
It appears that Geritol has side effects involving color blindness. So does Icy Hot, I imagine. Or maybe Favre just likes the color green so he throws to that color. 😃 Ah, kidding. I like Favre. Jets were good too. Crazy game. Besides, the Vikes have a few tough games coming up. Forget that one and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106/160 "2010-10-12T13:52:30Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > No, this bizarre claim is clearly untrue. Big plays obviously have a bigger impact later in the game when there is less time to recover from them. For a simple example, it is not the same to be down by, say, 9 points in the first quarter as it is to be down by 9 points in the final two minutes of the game. Show me a play that results in 9 points for either team and I’ll concede the point. The fact is that a game in which you’re down by 9 in the first quarter has nothing to do with one in which you’re down by 9 in the fourth. Alternatively, it made no difference to San Diego that they gave up possession and a touchdown on that play, rather than in the fourth quarter; the effect on the scoreboard is the same. I will admit that it makes some difference if one is playing with a lead rather than from behind - but in this case, the Chargers were frantically trying to score _anyway._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-5-nfl-discussion/556106.md?page=9)