2015-16 NFC North/NFL thread

[LON]

It certainly wasn't this:



But how does Rodgers end up with a chinstrap on his nose if all the defender did was grab his shoulder?

[GGGG]

Here is what the rule states:

"ARTICLE 14. TWISTING, PULLING, OR TURNING THE FACEMASK. No player shall grasp and control, twist, turn, push, or pull the facemask of an opponent in any direction."

Did his thumb "turn" the facemask?  Well I guess.  Did it look worse than it was?  Yes.  Do I blame people for looking at the replay and saying it wasn't?  Nope.

[tower912]

I'M not angry about the call.  I expect borderline calls to go again at the lions.  Rogers sold it and in real time from where the officials were, it looked legit.  Not like the picked up flag against Dallas in the playoffs or the batted ball against Seattle.

[4everwarriors]

I don't think that facemask penalty was borderline at all. The defensive player had his hand there and gave it enough of a tug to make it pretty obvious, especially to a ref standing about 10 feet away. It was an easy, obvious call.

FWIW, I am agnostic on both the Packers and Lions. Couldn't care if either of them ever wins or loses a game (unless they are playing my Panthers).

Dude, when ya gonna start believin', hey?

[Benny B]

I suppose the jury is still out on whether God is a Packer fan or a Cowboys fan, but it's pretty obvious that he hates the fu@king Lions.

[MU B2002]

I'M not angry about the call.  I expect borderline calls to go again at the lions.  Rogers sold it and I. Real time from where the officials were, it looked legit.  Not like the picked up flag against Dallas in the playoffs or the batted ball against Seattle.

A coworker just asked me if I could remember the Lions being the beneficiary of a borderline call that swung a game to their favor.  I could not.


Any suggestions?

[GGGG]

BTW, I kind of like salty Mike McCarthy:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14287412/mike-mccarthy-green-bay-packers-makes-fail-mary-dig-least-our-guy-really-caught-ball

"I will just say this: At least our guy really caught the ball in this one," McCarthy said with a small smirk. "You can quote that."

[jsglow]

I don't think that facemask penalty was borderline at all. The defensive player had his hand there and gave it enough of a tug to make it pretty obvious, especially to a ref standing about 10 feet away. It was an easy, obvious call.

FWIW, I am agnostic on both the Packers and Lions. Couldn't care if either of them ever wins or loses a game (unless they are playing my Panthers).

It was borderline 82.  But in real time it appeared certain.  And there's no doubt that the defender at least brushed it.  Star QBs will almost always get that call as the league suffers terribly when they get hurt.  It was a foolish play and the defender immediately knew it.

[jsglow]

One more quick thing.  It was a brilliant throw that very few QBs in history could have made.  Now there's others who might get it that far, but not lofting it like a punt to give the receivers a realistic chance to catch it.  If we exclude 'precision' throws (super tight window, etc.) that might be the best long throw I have ever seen. It is exactly comparable, distance wise, to the Flutie Miracle (also launched from the 37) but was actually a much better throw because of the extreme loft with a greater chance at success once it left ARodg's hand.

[jesmu84]

I was expecting a hail Mary (as opposed to Caldwell) so I was surprised to see Calvin Johnson wasn't in there for defense. Would that have been the right play in that situation?

[Dish]

The right play in that situation is to rush at least 5 (I'd rush 6). You have to give a QB as little time as possible. Especially against an o-line that was literally down to their last guy, I would have brought the house, and taken my chances with man coverage on a half second opportunity to throw the ball.

[MerrittsMustache]

One more quick thing.  It was a brilliant throw that very few QBs in history could have made.  Now there's others who might get it that far, but not lofting it like a punt to give the receivers a realistic chance to catch it.  If we exclude 'precision' throws (super tight window, etc.) that might be the best long throw I have ever seen. It is exactly comparable, distance wise, to the Flutie Miracle (also launched from the 37) but was actually a much better throw because of the extreme loft with a greater chance at success once it left ARodg's hand.

I understand that Rodgers can do no wrong in the eyes of Packer fans, but let's not get carried away here. Between college football and the NFL, we see 2-3 similar plays every year.

[LON]

I understand that Rodgers can do no wrong in the eyes of Packer fans, but let's not get carried away here. Between college football and the NFL, we see 2-3 similar plays every year.

Plays?  Yes.  That throw?  No way.  Name 3 other guys in the league that can do that...reverse field, outrun pursuit, then absolutely uncork one like he did.  Cam Newton, most likely.  Cutler maybe?  Luck, he could get away, doubt he's got the arm to pull off the throw.

EDIT:  https://www.instagram.com/p/-23JkXJnKl/

[CTWarrior]

The right play in that situation is to rush at least 5 (I'd rush 6). You have to give a QB as little time as possible. Especially against an o-line that was literally down to their last guy, I would have brought the house, and taken my chances with man coverage on a half second opportunity to throw the ball.

At least don't have a few guys hanging around the 40 yard line doing nothing.  When was the last time you saw a Hail Mary where you only rushed three and the offense still had as many guys in the end zone as the defense?  That was brutal defense.

[jesmu84]

Plays?  Yes.  That throw?  No way.  Name 3 other guys in the league that can do that...reverse field, outrun pursuit, then absolutely uncork one like he did.  Cam Newton, most likely.  Cutler maybe?  Luck, he could get away, doubt he's got the arm to pull off the throw.

EDIT:  https://www.instagram.com/p/-23JkXJnKl/

I'm willing to be there's at least 10 starting NFL qbs who could throw the ball 65 yards at that height with a running start. Maybe I'm overestimating arm strength though.

[jsglow]

I understand that Rodgers can do no wrong in the eyes of Packer fans, but let's not get carried away here. Between college football and the NFL, we see 2-3 similar plays every year.

Please.  Point to specific nearly 70 yard Hail Mary throws into the endzone on the final play.  No run and catch.  No broken tackles.  Flutie in 1984 is routinely considered the best.  Rodgers throw last night was better.

Here's what was put together as the 'all-time' list.  There's a couple in the same league.  Most aren't.  They're either in the 50 yard range, involve a run and catch, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywcD94gqxQM

[LON]

I'm willing to be there's at least 10 starting NFL qbs who could throw the ball 65 yards at that height with a running start. Maybe I'm overestimating arm strength though.

The arm to make the throw?  I'll give you more than 3, not ready to say 10.  There definitely aren't 10 guys with the ability to escape like he did AND make the throw.  Which is what I originally said.  I'd bet on that.

[jesmu84]

The arm to make the throw?  I'll give you more than 3, not ready to say 10.  There definitely aren't 10 guys with the ability to escape like he did AND make the throw.  Which is what I originally said.  I'd bet on that.

Not knowing arm strengths...

Rodgers, Cutler, Newton, Winston, Mariotta, Taylor, Dalton, Roethlisberger, Rivers, Carr, Stafford, Bridgewater, Wilson, Kaepernick, RG3, Manziel, Manuel.

I feel confident those guys could all escape. Pending arm strength, most could throw the ball 65 yards at that height with a running start.

[jsglow]

Not knowing arm strengths...

Rodgers, Cutler, Newton, Winston, Mariotta, Taylor, Dalton, Roethlisberger, Rivers, Carr, Stafford, Bridgewater, Wilson, Kaepernick, RG3, Manziel, Manuel.

I feel confident those guys could all escape. Pending arm strength, most could throw the ball 65 yards at that height with a running start.

Theoretically could and actually have are two different things, my friend.

[Benny B]

Not knowing arm strengths...

Rodgers, Cutler, Newton, Winston, Mariotta, Taylor, Dalton, Roethlisberger, Rivers, Carr, Stafford, Bridgewater, Wilson, Kaepernick, RG3, Manziel, Manuel.

I feel confident those guys could all escape. Pending arm strength, most could throw the ball 65 yards at that height with a running start.

I'm sure every NFL QB can throw the ball at that height, but how many could land it in the end zone from 60 yards out?

Ever play slow pitch softball?  If you're only throwing the ball 4-5 feet over the batter's head, it's pretty easy for the average beer league pitcher to hit the plate once out of every 2-3 tries.  However, if one were to loft the ball 20 feet over the batter's head, that same average beer league pitcher hits the plate once out of every dozen tries, if he's lucky.

[jesmu84]

Theoretically could and actually have are two different things, my friend.

Well, my task was to find QBs with "the ability to escape and make that throw". So, "could" is perfectly acceptable.

[MerrittsMustache]

Plays?  Yes.  That throw?  No way.  Name 3 other guys in the league that can do that...reverse field, outrun pursuit, then absolutely uncork one like he did.  Cam Newton, most likely.  Cutler maybe?  Luck, he could get away, doubt he's got the arm to pull off the throw.

EDIT:  https://www.instagram.com/p/-23JkXJnKl/

It was a great play, no doubt, but a lot of current NFL QBs (both starters and back-ups) could make that throw.

I'm just happy that Rodgers couldn't complete an 8-yarder (in 4 tries) last Thursday night 

[tower912]

A coworker just asked me if I could remember the Lions being the beneficiary of a borderline call that swung a game to their favor.  I could not.


Any suggestions?

Well, there was Calvin Johnson's touchdown catch against the Bears..... no.   Wait.   Ummmm.   There probably are, but nobody remembers when something good happens to a 5-11 team. 

[rocket surgeon]

It certainly wasn't this:



But how does Rodgers end up with a chinstrap on his nose if all the defender did was grab his shoulder?

here's the million $$ question-if this were the canadian league, which i just found out, can review penalties-would this one have been reversed if the nfl had the same??

[rocket surgeon]

the easy answer id NO b/c it was the lions, but yes if we were playing the seahawks