NFL playoffs thread

[MWmetalhead]

Rex Ryan on ESPN was trash talking the Texans heavily for the past week or more. He likened a matchup with the Texans to a "first round bye" for the Chargers, inferring the game would be a cake walk for LAC.

Instead, the Texans (despite some mistakes early) dominated the Chargers, winning by a score of 32 to 12. The Chargers' only touchdown came in the 4th quarter after the game was effectively out of reach.

Herbert was an atrocious 14 of 32 passing with 4 INTs, although at least one of those picks was not his fault (his receiver tipped a perfectly thrown ball, which then landed in the hands of a rushing Houston defender).

[edj]

Tomlin needs to be fired. Punting on 4th and inches is pathetic. The defense fell apart.

[MWmetalhead]

This is the Steelers' fifth straight postseason appearance were they've been "one & done" (2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 and now the 2024 season; yes, I realize we are now in calendar year 2025 but this is still considered the 2024 season).

That said, the Ravens were heavily favored to win last night, last year the Steelers lost to an outstanding Bills team, and three years ago they lost to a Chiefs team that wound up winning the Super Bowl the following year.

I think the primary issue with the Steelers is they don't quite have the same level of personnel as BAL, BUF or KC.

Out of the years I mentioned above, the only loss that I'd call completely unacceptable is the 2020 loss in the postseason (played January 10, 2021) to the Cleveland Browns. A year ago, the Steelers QB situation was a mess, and in the 2021 season, Roethlisberger was running on fumes.

Tomlin makes stupid decisions at times and the Steelers haven't had postseason success in a while, but he's not going to be fired.

[moldyoldie]

On any given Sunday...or Saturday.....

[CurlyHoward]

This is the Steelers' fifth straight postseason appearance were they've been "one & done" (2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 and now the 2024 season; yes, I realize we are now in calendar year 2025 but this is still considered the 2024 season).

That said, the Ravens were heavily favored to win last night, last year the Steelers lost to an outstanding Bills team, and three years ago they lost to a Chiefs team that wound up winning the Super Bowl the following year.

I think the primary issue with the Steelers is they don't quite have the same level of personnel as BAL, BUF or KC.

Out of the years I mentioned above, the only loss that I'd call completely unacceptable is the 2020 loss in the postseason (played January 10, 2021) to the Cleveland Browns. A year ago, the Steelers QB situation was a mess, and in the 2021 season, Roethlisberger was running on fumes.

Tomlin makes stupid decisions at times and the Steelers haven't had postseason success in a while, but he's not going to be fired.

They don't have as much talent as the Texans or Chargers either, or probably even the Bengals and Dolphins who both missed the playoffs.

Just look at their QBs. They went from end stage Ben to Kenny Pick-It, then Wilson was intended to BACK UP Fields who the Steelers mistakenly thought they could salvage after the Bears moved on from him.

Besides, the Steelers value stability and don't make knee jerk changes. Noll and Cowher were both allowed to stay for multiple losing seasons, although in the end I believe Noll leaving was a "see what happened to Tom Landry? Say you're retiring so we don't have to do that" type of deal. But I don't think Tomlin is going anywhere unless he leaves voluntarily.

[edj]

Tomlin's not getting fired, but he should be. His coordinators, especially Arthur Smith, are a joke.

What happened to their run game?

Cincinnati has a juggernaut offense, but one of the worst defenses in the league. That is what killed them this season.

[MWmetalhead]

This is the Steelers' fifth straight postseason appearance were they've been "one & done" (2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 and now the 2024 season; yes, I realize we are now in calendar year 2025 but this is still considered the 2024 season).

That said, the Ravens were heavily favored to win last night, last year the Steelers lost to an outstanding Bills team, and three years ago they lost to a Chiefs team that wound up winning the Super Bowl the following year.

I think the primary issue with the Steelers is they don't quite have the same level of personnel as BAL, BUF or KC.

Out of the years I mentioned above, the only loss that I'd call completely unacceptable is the 2020 loss in the postseason (played January 10, 2021) to the Cleveland Browns. A year ago, the Steelers QB situation was a mess, and in the 2021 season, Roethlisberger was running on fumes.

Tomlin makes stupid decisions at times and the Steelers haven't had postseason success in a while, but he's not going to be fired.

They don't have as much talent as the Texans or Chargers either, or probably even the Bengals and Dolphins who both missed the playoffs.

Just look at their QBs. They went from end stage Ben to Kenny Pick-It, then Wilson was intended to BACK UP Fields who the Steelers mistakenly thought they could salvage after the Bears moved on from him.

Besides, the Steelers value stability and don't make knee jerk changes. Noll and Cowher were both allowed to stay for multiple losing seasons, although in the end I believe Noll leaving was a "see what happened to Tom Landry? Say you're retiring so we don't have to do that" type of deal. But I don't think Tomlin is going anywhere unless he leaves voluntarily.

The Steelers only gave up a 6th round draft pick, which conditionally converts to a 4th round pick, for Justin Fields.

Most folks were expecting the Steelers to win 8 to at most 10 regular season games this season.

[Mike]

Well they got the 10...only to then completely collapse once they did.

Last year, I remember the vibe more-or-less being that essentially, they were lucky to even get into the playoffs. Between that and - IIRC, they were pretty banged up by the time the playoffs started, making the defeat to the Bills a fait accompli.

Would you say - 2020, or any individual year notwithstanding, that it's the cumulative of one-and-dones that is truly what is completely unacceptable?

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

This is the Steelers' fifth straight postseason appearance were they've been "one & done" (2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 and now the 2024 season; yes, I realize we are now in calendar year 2025 but this is still considered the 2024 season).

That said, the Ravens were heavily favored to win last night, last year the Steelers lost to an outstanding Bills team, and three years ago they lost to a Chiefs team that wound up winning the Super Bowl the following year.

I think the primary issue with the Steelers is they don't quite have the same level of personnel as BAL, BUF or KC.

Out of the years I mentioned above, the only loss that I'd call completely unacceptable is the 2020 loss in the postseason (played January 10, 2021) to the Cleveland Browns. A year ago, the Steelers QB situation was a mess, and in the 2021 season, Roethlisberger was running on fumes.

Tomlin makes stupid decisions at times and the Steelers haven't had postseason success in a while, but he's not going to be fired.

They don't have as much talent as the Texans or Chargers either, or probably even the Bengals and Dolphins who both missed the playoffs.

Just look at their QBs. They went from end stage Ben to Kenny Pick-It, then Wilson was intended to BACK UP Fields who the Steelers mistakenly thought they could salvage after the Bears moved on from him.

Besides, the Steelers value stability and don't make knee jerk changes. Noll and Cowher were both allowed to stay for multiple losing seasons, although in the end I believe Noll leaving was a "see what happened to Tom Landry? Say you're retiring so we don't have to do that" type of deal. But I don't think Tomlin is going anywhere unless he leaves voluntarily.

It’s not Tomlin’s fault that the GM is a fool. Sussell Wilson and Fields are both a joke. Wilson won in the past based on his receiver corps.

[SD45]

Washington 23, Tampa Bay 20. A game winning doink.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

Washington scares me.

[MWmetalhead]

It will be Lions - Commanders next weekend!

Gonzalez was clearly anxious as he walked on field to attempt that walk-off field goal. He had an OCD thing going on. I thought "he's gonna crap the bed here". He was just a couple inches away from doing precisely that.

[bmw]

Of all Detroit's possible opponents, they get the one team they haven't played already this year.

Detroit still the clear favorite, but Washington is the one team I didn't want them to have to play. Plus if you've been watching the Lions for a while, then you might remember Detroit's unbelievable losing streak against Washington that spanned decades - something like 25 straight losses?

EDIT - the streak was 21 consecutive road losses spanning 74 years.

[MWmetalhead]

The Lions have won 7 of the last 10 regular season meetings against WAS.

I would rather face WAS in the divisional round than MIN.

I just noticed the Rams defeated the Vikings 20 to 10 when they faced each other in the regular season. So, tomorrow night's game could prove to be a damn good one.

[bmw]

Washington was also the team that beat Detroit in the early 90s that one year they went to the NFC title game. Lost by 31.

I know that long-ago history means almost nothing but this one just scares me a bit.