Chargers
This is the most disappointing I've ever been with a Chargers' playoff game. This was one of, if not the most individually talented rosters the Chargers have ever put together and they were not even competitive. The history of this team, even when they've lucked into the playoffs has been to at least have a chance. Sure they've underachieved, especially during the Schottenheimer years, but to be totally non-competitive is another story.
The defense was run over, physically dominated. I know Tony Romo said they should go to man-to-man, but in reality what good would that have done when your front four is getting pushed 5-yards off the line of scrimmage. Then there is Desmond King, who I love as a player, but pointed out that he really didn't deserve the ranking that Pro Football gave him as the 2nd best defensive back in the NFL. King made big plays when the Chargers needed him to up until this game where he was completely destroyed by Julian Edelman. I think the only chance the defense had was to gamble. Put in the 7 DBs and go all out to stop the run. Put in the linebackers, stack the box, then send an all out blitz hoping Tom Brady changes the play to a pass. Would it have worked? Probably not against Brady, but the hope is that you get a big play or two out of it. If they give up chunk yards so be it, they weren't stopping the Pats anyway.
Just as disappointing if not more so, was the offense. They weren't facing an elite defense and they have enough play makers that someone should have been able to beat the coverage. Phillip Rivers just hasn't been the same since the week 15 game against the Ravens. After the week 14 win in KC, Rivers had thrown at least 2 TD passes in every game this season. He had 2 400+ games and thrown for at 250 yards in all but 3 games (one was the blowout of the Raiders, so he really didn't need to). Counting the Week 15 game against the Ravens, Rivers was under 200 yards in three straight going into New England and threw only 1 TD pass. He threw for 331 vs. the Pats, but it was almost completely gained during garbage time. I don't know if something was wrong with Rivers or he just hit the down hill slide toward ending his career. In the past Rivers had the ability to carry this team, but couldn't do anything against the Pats. The "amoeba" style defense is going to get the credit, but Rivers has been around long enough and with the receiver talent they have they should have been able to beat it enough times to stay in the game. Probably wouldn't have mattered since the defense wasn't even slowly the Pats' offense down, but they should have been able to at least put up a fight. Rivers even saw that defensive scheme a lot in practice since that's the style they played when John Pagano was the defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2016.
If they had least been in the game I would be looking forward to next season, but with the way they were just manhandled I'm wondering if, despite all the individual talent, that this isn't a good "team."
Wondering if Rivers can play an entire season as an effective NFL QB. Wondering if the coaching staff can take this team to the level it needs to play to win a Championship.
The Rest of Division Championship Weekend
I found it interesting that, in this era of pass happy, miss direction, motion offenses, the two "genius" coaches, the young phenom Sean McVay and old wizard Bill Belichick decided to line up in old school I-formation and run it down the opponents throats and use play-action passes.
Obviously, my prediction of neither the Chiefs nor Patriots making the Super Bowl isn't going to happen. One of them will be there. I still believe that one of the two things I predicted for these teams will happen. Either the Chiefs' defense will fail them or the Patriots won't be able to keep up talent wise despite the game plan.
I missed the best game of the weekend, Saints-Eagles, but I just couldn't watch any more football after the Chargers game. Didn't want to see an highlights and still don't. It's one game I rather just forget happened. I honestly don't know if I'm going to watch a game for the rest of the playoffs.
Into the Spider-Verse
So after the game that will no longer be mentioned, I wanted to just get out and forget so went to see Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse. I really didn't know what to expect, but sure didn't expect how intense it was for an Animated movie. Some of the scenes were pretty intense and even emotional. The story line, although really predictable, was still well performed. I really felt the animation was amazing and they threw in just about every style using the multi-verse as the basis behind the different looks. There was Japanese anime, old style comic book art and of course that modern style that over exaggerates features that you've seen in the previews. There was even Looney Toons style animation with the character Peter Porker/Spider-Ham. I also really liked how they portrayed the Antagonists, especially the Green Goblin, Scopion, and the total re-make of Doc Oc. The 40-year old Parker was also great and was very entertainingly (is that a real word?) voiced by Jake Johnson. Spider-Women was taken straight out of the comics/Ghost Spider, which is cool since it's the 2nd coolest looking spider costume baring the original. Although I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone, but if you like cool animation and/or anything Spidey, it's a must see and is a unique take on Superhero Movies.
Showing posts with label NFL Playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL Playoffs. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2019
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Chargers vs. Broncos, the Rubber Match
Random thoughts about the AFC playoffs...
OLB Melvin Ingram wasn't expected to play this season after suffering a knee injury in preseason, but came back to practice in just over 6 months. Ingram played a week later against the Giants and I don't believe that it's a coincidence that the defense has improved since Ingram came back. With Ingram in the lineup the Chargers beat the Giants 37-17, then the Broncos 27-20, and then the Raiders 26-13 despite the offense turning the ball over 3 times. Next was the Chiefs game that the Chargers should have lost. For some reason the Chargers couldn't get their collective act together for that game. Inexcusable for what it meant...a spot in the playoff. Regardless, the Chargers didn't squander the gift and upset the Bengals 27-10.
The other reason for the resurgent defense is that DC John Pagano inserted a new scheme for the Giants game. Jon Gruden called it the "Amoeba Defense" during the Thursday Night Broncos win after studying the Giants game the week before. I won't pretend to understand the ins and outs of how it works, but if you watch the Chargers defense they only put one or two of the front seven in a 3-point stance. They shift in and out of a 3-4/4-3 defense by using the weak side linebacker as either the OLB in the 3-4 or DE in the 4-3...in effect changing the roles of the players up front. Ingram's interception in the 4th quarter against the Bengals was a result of a shift from the 3-4 to 4-3. Ingram is the strong side OLB and the primary pass rusher in the 3-4, but when the Chargers shifted to the 4-3, the defensive end becomes the primary outside pass rusher. Ingram stayed in coverage and jumped the short route by the TE.
Before I give you the idea that "the Amoeba Defense" is something new, it isn't. Teams like the Browns, Steelers, Falcons, Patriots, and Saints (and most likely many others) have ran similar schemes from time-to-time (I notice that it's a base 3-4 defense sort of thing...I've never seen a base 4-3 team run it).
Interesting to note that, along with the Broncos, the three teams left in the AFC playoffs are the teams that gave the Broncos their three loses during the season. Colts 39-33 in Week7, Patriots 34-31 in Week 12, and the Chargers 27-20 in Week 15. The Chargers were the only one to do it in Denver.
Interesting note #2, the Broncos and Chargers have never met in the Playoffs.
Interesting note #3, Phillip Rivers is a perfect 6-0 when he wears gloves.
Whatever the reasons, the Chargers have historically given Peyton Manning a hard time. The Chargers are 7-6 all time against Manning. He is 4-4 vs. the Chargers at home. Manning is 3-1 vs. the Chargers since becoming a Bronco, including the 35-24 win in Denver in 2012 when the Chargers were up 24-0 at halftime aided by a fumble and interception return for TDs in the 2nd half. The other games were close...30-23 in San Diego last season, 28-20 in San Diego earlier this year, and the Charger 27-20 upset in Denver last month. While playing for the Colts, the Chargers knocked him out of the playoffs in back to back years (28-24 in 2007 and 23-17 in overtime in 2008) in the only times Manning has faced the Chargers in the playoffs.
I'm hoping the Chargers can even up the record against Manning on Sunday and keep the perfect record during the playoffs. It's going to take a great game on both sides of the ball against a record setting QB that is having the best statistical year in NFL history.
OLB Melvin Ingram wasn't expected to play this season after suffering a knee injury in preseason, but came back to practice in just over 6 months. Ingram played a week later against the Giants and I don't believe that it's a coincidence that the defense has improved since Ingram came back. With Ingram in the lineup the Chargers beat the Giants 37-17, then the Broncos 27-20, and then the Raiders 26-13 despite the offense turning the ball over 3 times. Next was the Chiefs game that the Chargers should have lost. For some reason the Chargers couldn't get their collective act together for that game. Inexcusable for what it meant...a spot in the playoff. Regardless, the Chargers didn't squander the gift and upset the Bengals 27-10.
The other reason for the resurgent defense is that DC John Pagano inserted a new scheme for the Giants game. Jon Gruden called it the "Amoeba Defense" during the Thursday Night Broncos win after studying the Giants game the week before. I won't pretend to understand the ins and outs of how it works, but if you watch the Chargers defense they only put one or two of the front seven in a 3-point stance. They shift in and out of a 3-4/4-3 defense by using the weak side linebacker as either the OLB in the 3-4 or DE in the 4-3...in effect changing the roles of the players up front. Ingram's interception in the 4th quarter against the Bengals was a result of a shift from the 3-4 to 4-3. Ingram is the strong side OLB and the primary pass rusher in the 3-4, but when the Chargers shifted to the 4-3, the defensive end becomes the primary outside pass rusher. Ingram stayed in coverage and jumped the short route by the TE.
Before I give you the idea that "the Amoeba Defense" is something new, it isn't. Teams like the Browns, Steelers, Falcons, Patriots, and Saints (and most likely many others) have ran similar schemes from time-to-time (I notice that it's a base 3-4 defense sort of thing...I've never seen a base 4-3 team run it).
Interesting to note that, along with the Broncos, the three teams left in the AFC playoffs are the teams that gave the Broncos their three loses during the season. Colts 39-33 in Week7, Patriots 34-31 in Week 12, and the Chargers 27-20 in Week 15. The Chargers were the only one to do it in Denver.
Interesting note #2, the Broncos and Chargers have never met in the Playoffs.
Interesting note #3, Phillip Rivers is a perfect 6-0 when he wears gloves.
Whatever the reasons, the Chargers have historically given Peyton Manning a hard time. The Chargers are 7-6 all time against Manning. He is 4-4 vs. the Chargers at home. Manning is 3-1 vs. the Chargers since becoming a Bronco, including the 35-24 win in Denver in 2012 when the Chargers were up 24-0 at halftime aided by a fumble and interception return for TDs in the 2nd half. The other games were close...30-23 in San Diego last season, 28-20 in San Diego earlier this year, and the Charger 27-20 upset in Denver last month. While playing for the Colts, the Chargers knocked him out of the playoffs in back to back years (28-24 in 2007 and 23-17 in overtime in 2008) in the only times Manning has faced the Chargers in the playoffs.
I'm hoping the Chargers can even up the record against Manning on Sunday and keep the perfect record during the playoffs. It's going to take a great game on both sides of the ball against a record setting QB that is having the best statistical year in NFL history.
Monday, January 14, 2013
NFL Playoffs - Random Thoughts
As underwhelmed I was with the wild card round, this weekend made up for it....well, except for the Pats-Texans game which I had a feeling wasn't going to be much of game considering the performance of both teams going down the stretch. I was actually surprised the Texans beat the Bengals...and as said in my last NFL post, if Andy Dalton hits a wide open AJ Green with 2:57 left in the game, it would have been the Bengals facing the Pats. Instead the Pats blew out the Texans 41-28 and it wasn't as close as the 13-point margin would suggest.
The games got off to a heck of a start with the Ravens-Broncos game. I have to give the Ravens big time credit for tenacity. Talk about possible heart breaking plays. Ravens go down 7-0 before Peyton Manning even takes the field by giving up a 90-yd punt return. Then they tie the game at 21-21 just before the half, but give up a TD on the kick return to start the 3rd and then turn it over on their first possession of the 2nd half. The defense came up big in the 3rd, not letting the Broncos' offense score. Of course, we all know what happened in the 4th. Down 28-35, 3rd and 3, on their own 30 yard line, 41 seconds left. How the Broncos secondary let Jacoby Jones get that wide open deep...wow! Fans always like to criticize teams for playing the prevent, but if they were in a prevent, that play never happens. Instead the Broncos were in their base cover 2 and the safety misplayed it.
I know everyone is on John Fox (and to a lesser extent, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy) for Manning taking a knee at the end of the game with 31 seconds left...I was shocked to see that too, considering they had time outs left (all three I think). Just look at the end of the Falcons-Seahawks game. But doesn't Manning call his own plays? Don't all the sportscasters praise him for his ability to call the offense on the field? Even if Fox did say, "Go take a knee," wouldn't you think Manning would say, "We can win this in regulation" or something like that? Don't you think Fox would then say, "Go for it."
And speaking of Manning...you're Peyton Manning. It's overtime and the playoffs, the time when great players do great things. You get two chances to win a playoff game and you don't. In fact, you make a bad decision throwing back over the middle while scrambling and essentially cost your team the game. Wow, that's something Tony Romo would do, not Peyton Manning.
Who would have thought we would be talking about Colin Kaepernick having the great playoff performance and Peyton Manning being the goat.
Kaepernick started off his first ever playoff drive by throwing a pick-6, but man was he money after that! 186 yards, rushing, 263 passing, 4 TDs, and that 1 INT. That's a gaudy stat line and you probably already know that it's a NFL rushing record for QBs. Kap's performance made you forget the Packers were up 14-7 at the end of the 1st quarter and the score was tied 24-24 with 8:38 in the 3rd.
I wasn't impressed with Russell Wilson when I watched him play in the win over the Redskins, but he really got my attention in the 2nd half of the Falcons 31-28 win. Down 20-0 at half and not doing much on offense, the Seahawks came back to lead it 28-27 behind some inspired play by Wilson. Matt Ryan throwing a pick-6 and Atlanta's defense going into conservative mode way to early helped, but Wilson gets some props for the comeback.
Of course, you have to hand it to Matty Ice for living up to his nickname. 31 seconds, 2 time outs, and Ryan hits a 22 yarder to Harry Douglas and 19 yarder to Tony Gonzalez in consecutive plays to set up Matt Bryant to kick the 49 yard winning field goal. I don't know who felt worse watching that, the Seahawks' fans or the Broncos' fans. If you where a Seahawks AND Broncos fan you probably threw the remote through the TV screen and vowed never to watch another NFL game again.
Does that get the monkey off Ryan's back? I don't know, but it was big time clutch when the game seemed lost and all the positive emotion on the Seahawks side of the ball. That has to be good for something.
The games got off to a heck of a start with the Ravens-Broncos game. I have to give the Ravens big time credit for tenacity. Talk about possible heart breaking plays. Ravens go down 7-0 before Peyton Manning even takes the field by giving up a 90-yd punt return. Then they tie the game at 21-21 just before the half, but give up a TD on the kick return to start the 3rd and then turn it over on their first possession of the 2nd half. The defense came up big in the 3rd, not letting the Broncos' offense score. Of course, we all know what happened in the 4th. Down 28-35, 3rd and 3, on their own 30 yard line, 41 seconds left. How the Broncos secondary let Jacoby Jones get that wide open deep...wow! Fans always like to criticize teams for playing the prevent, but if they were in a prevent, that play never happens. Instead the Broncos were in their base cover 2 and the safety misplayed it.
I know everyone is on John Fox (and to a lesser extent, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy) for Manning taking a knee at the end of the game with 31 seconds left...I was shocked to see that too, considering they had time outs left (all three I think). Just look at the end of the Falcons-Seahawks game. But doesn't Manning call his own plays? Don't all the sportscasters praise him for his ability to call the offense on the field? Even if Fox did say, "Go take a knee," wouldn't you think Manning would say, "We can win this in regulation" or something like that? Don't you think Fox would then say, "Go for it."
And speaking of Manning...you're Peyton Manning. It's overtime and the playoffs, the time when great players do great things. You get two chances to win a playoff game and you don't. In fact, you make a bad decision throwing back over the middle while scrambling and essentially cost your team the game. Wow, that's something Tony Romo would do, not Peyton Manning.
Who would have thought we would be talking about Colin Kaepernick having the great playoff performance and Peyton Manning being the goat.
Kaepernick started off his first ever playoff drive by throwing a pick-6, but man was he money after that! 186 yards, rushing, 263 passing, 4 TDs, and that 1 INT. That's a gaudy stat line and you probably already know that it's a NFL rushing record for QBs. Kap's performance made you forget the Packers were up 14-7 at the end of the 1st quarter and the score was tied 24-24 with 8:38 in the 3rd.
I wasn't impressed with Russell Wilson when I watched him play in the win over the Redskins, but he really got my attention in the 2nd half of the Falcons 31-28 win. Down 20-0 at half and not doing much on offense, the Seahawks came back to lead it 28-27 behind some inspired play by Wilson. Matt Ryan throwing a pick-6 and Atlanta's defense going into conservative mode way to early helped, but Wilson gets some props for the comeback.
Of course, you have to hand it to Matty Ice for living up to his nickname. 31 seconds, 2 time outs, and Ryan hits a 22 yarder to Harry Douglas and 19 yarder to Tony Gonzalez in consecutive plays to set up Matt Bryant to kick the 49 yard winning field goal. I don't know who felt worse watching that, the Seahawks' fans or the Broncos' fans. If you where a Seahawks AND Broncos fan you probably threw the remote through the TV screen and vowed never to watch another NFL game again.
Does that get the monkey off Ryan's back? I don't know, but it was big time clutch when the game seemed lost and all the positive emotion on the Seahawks side of the ball. That has to be good for something.
Monday, January 7, 2013
NFL Playoffs: Random Thoughts
While the last two Super Bowl winners have come out of the Wild Card
round, I wasn't impressed with any of the winners this weekend, especially with the
Texans win over the Bengals (19-13) and the Seahawks win over the
Redskins (24-14).
The Texans could have easily loss. They struggled to get into the end zone and dodged a bullet late in the 4th quarter on the Bengals last possession. With 2:57 left and facing 3rd and 11, WR A.J. Green made a great move on the corner and had him beat down the sidelines and was wide open...but Dalton over threw him. Bengals went for it on 4th, but came up 3 yards short. The Texans should have put this game away earlier, getting into the Red Zone on 3 of the first 5 possessions. They settled for 3 field goals and Schaub was picked for a TD leaving the score 9-7 at halftime and the Bengals still in the game.
I was very underwhelmed by the performance of Russell Wilson in the Seahawks-Redskins game. There was some talk that Wilson should be in the Rookie of the Year discussions, but after what I saw I can't believe that was even brought up. I will confess that this was the first time I saw him play so it may have been playoff jitters or just a bad game, but if you're in the running for an award, the Playoffs should be your time to shine.
Wilson's stat line: 15-26, 187 yds, 1 TD, 0 Int., 8 rushes, 67 yds...but that doesn't tell the whole story. In two consecutive critical drives in the 3rd quarter trailing 13-14, Wilson missed two TDs that should have put the game away. First, one of the WRs (I think it was Tate) beat his man and had a good 10 yard cushion. Wilson had a good look at it as the pocket opened up in front of him giving him plenty of room to step up and make the easy throw. Instead, he took off. He did gain 28 yards, but it should have been 6 points. Later in the same drive, Baldwin caught the safety flat footed and easy ran right past him, Wilson over threw him so badly that Usain Bolt couldn't have got under that ball (Could a sprinter have a better name than Bolt?). The drive ended in a punt.
All I have to say is that the Seahawks were lucky that RGIII wasn't 100% and that he got hurt and played 3/4s of that game on one leg.
Meanwhile the Ravens took care of the Colts (24-9) and the Pack beat the Viks (24-10) in what looked liked impressive fashion on the scoreboard, but not so impressive when you look at it closer.
The Packers pretty much coasted to a win over the Viks. Tony Dungy in the pre-game show said that Joe Webb would give the Viks a better chance to win than Christian Ponder....he was big time wrong. Don't know if Ponder would have done better (you would have to assume so), but it was painfully obvious after his first few attempts at throwing down field that Webb wasn't going to complete anything deep unless the DBs completely missed an assignment. He finally did hit his last 3 passes deep, but that wasn't until the 4th quarter with the score 24-9. He finished, 11-30, 180 yards. Those last 3 passes combined for 103 yards. Do the math. Once the Packers went up 17-3 in the 2nd quarter, Adrian Peterson became a non-factor.
Ravens had the most impressive win, bouncing back from their late season defensive and offensive woes, keeping the Colts out of the end zone, and getting in the end zone themselves 3 times. If you watched the game though, it wasn't that impressive. Ray Rice had a decent game, but coughed it up twice. Joe Flacco made some bad throws, but got away with it and didn't get picked.
The defense, which seemingly was getting beat up by everybody, played well (probably inspired by Ray Lewis' retirement announcement). You would have thought I would have said, "played great" since they only allowed 3 FGs, but again if you watched the game you wouldn't say "played great." Andrew Luck had 288 yards passing; Reggie Wayne had 114 yards receiving, and Vick Ballard had 91 yards rushing. Watching that game you didn't think the Colts where getting blown out. Colts drive chart: 6 plays, 14, 6, 4, 10, 8, 6, 16, 7, 13, 8. Luck did have 2 turnovers (1 INT, 1 FUM), but it seemed like the Colts consistently moved the ball well. I guess I have to give the Ravens defense credit for bending, but not breaking.
I wouldn't bet on the Ravens, Seahawks, or Texans getting past the next round, let alone making it to the Super Bowl and the juries' still out on the Packers.
The Texans could have easily loss. They struggled to get into the end zone and dodged a bullet late in the 4th quarter on the Bengals last possession. With 2:57 left and facing 3rd and 11, WR A.J. Green made a great move on the corner and had him beat down the sidelines and was wide open...but Dalton over threw him. Bengals went for it on 4th, but came up 3 yards short. The Texans should have put this game away earlier, getting into the Red Zone on 3 of the first 5 possessions. They settled for 3 field goals and Schaub was picked for a TD leaving the score 9-7 at halftime and the Bengals still in the game.
I was very underwhelmed by the performance of Russell Wilson in the Seahawks-Redskins game. There was some talk that Wilson should be in the Rookie of the Year discussions, but after what I saw I can't believe that was even brought up. I will confess that this was the first time I saw him play so it may have been playoff jitters or just a bad game, but if you're in the running for an award, the Playoffs should be your time to shine.
Wilson's stat line: 15-26, 187 yds, 1 TD, 0 Int., 8 rushes, 67 yds...but that doesn't tell the whole story. In two consecutive critical drives in the 3rd quarter trailing 13-14, Wilson missed two TDs that should have put the game away. First, one of the WRs (I think it was Tate) beat his man and had a good 10 yard cushion. Wilson had a good look at it as the pocket opened up in front of him giving him plenty of room to step up and make the easy throw. Instead, he took off. He did gain 28 yards, but it should have been 6 points. Later in the same drive, Baldwin caught the safety flat footed and easy ran right past him, Wilson over threw him so badly that Usain Bolt couldn't have got under that ball (Could a sprinter have a better name than Bolt?). The drive ended in a punt.
All I have to say is that the Seahawks were lucky that RGIII wasn't 100% and that he got hurt and played 3/4s of that game on one leg.
Meanwhile the Ravens took care of the Colts (24-9) and the Pack beat the Viks (24-10) in what looked liked impressive fashion on the scoreboard, but not so impressive when you look at it closer.
The Packers pretty much coasted to a win over the Viks. Tony Dungy in the pre-game show said that Joe Webb would give the Viks a better chance to win than Christian Ponder....he was big time wrong. Don't know if Ponder would have done better (you would have to assume so), but it was painfully obvious after his first few attempts at throwing down field that Webb wasn't going to complete anything deep unless the DBs completely missed an assignment. He finally did hit his last 3 passes deep, but that wasn't until the 4th quarter with the score 24-9. He finished, 11-30, 180 yards. Those last 3 passes combined for 103 yards. Do the math. Once the Packers went up 17-3 in the 2nd quarter, Adrian Peterson became a non-factor.
Ravens had the most impressive win, bouncing back from their late season defensive and offensive woes, keeping the Colts out of the end zone, and getting in the end zone themselves 3 times. If you watched the game though, it wasn't that impressive. Ray Rice had a decent game, but coughed it up twice. Joe Flacco made some bad throws, but got away with it and didn't get picked.
The defense, which seemingly was getting beat up by everybody, played well (probably inspired by Ray Lewis' retirement announcement). You would have thought I would have said, "played great" since they only allowed 3 FGs, but again if you watched the game you wouldn't say "played great." Andrew Luck had 288 yards passing; Reggie Wayne had 114 yards receiving, and Vick Ballard had 91 yards rushing. Watching that game you didn't think the Colts where getting blown out. Colts drive chart: 6 plays, 14, 6, 4, 10, 8, 6, 16, 7, 13, 8. Luck did have 2 turnovers (1 INT, 1 FUM), but it seemed like the Colts consistently moved the ball well. I guess I have to give the Ravens defense credit for bending, but not breaking.
I wouldn't bet on the Ravens, Seahawks, or Texans getting past the next round, let alone making it to the Super Bowl and the juries' still out on the Packers.
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