Is it wrong that since my fantasy season is over and my team in on a bye week that I really didn’t watch much of the wild card games this weekend? I had the games on today but I didn’t *watch* them...they were just background noise.

Is it wrong that since my fantasy season is over and my team in on a bye week that I really didn’t watch much of the wild card games this weekend? I had the games on today but I didn’t *watch* them...they were just background noise.

Nah, I would say that’s pretty typical.  I would say that there are football fans who will watch it anytime it is on because it is football.  And then there are football fans who only want to watch their team and aren’t concerned with watching other games that much.  You fall into the latter category.

And then there are those of us who couldn’t care less which professional athletes are playing for which team or which teams are actually playing, but will watch it if there is nothing else on (Fall Sunday mornings and Superbowls), but not enough to give a rat’s ass which side wins.

The same attitude I had when I was umpiring… Just because I don’t care which side wins doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the physical displays on the screen. At least until Law & Order comes back on…

I will usually tune in and out to non-Vikings football games during the regular and post-season. If the games are good I’ll watch for longer intervals.

I think it’s a good bet to say that most people are mainly just interested in watching their own teams play.
Sure, there are hardcore football fans out there who’ll watch any game. The proof of that is the very existence of arena football and the CFL.
(not to mention televised high school football..
I mean… really? That deserves air time? Really?)

I’m like most. I’ll watch the Giants games, and the occasional good match-up otherwise. (Redskins/Cowboys, etc.)
And, like most Americans, I’ve been watching every Pats game, with baited breath, waiting for the moment when Brady east some turf on forward momentum and loses possession to give the opposing team the game-winning TD, thereby ending their undefeated streak and shutting up every obnoxious New Englander in the country. (No offense, Jim & Donna ;) )

Of course, I’d even settle for seeing Wilfork trip his fat ass up and accidentally land on his own forearm, causing an involuntary muscle spasm to force his pointer and middle finger up through his facemask, resulting in both of his eyes being gouged from their sockets....

<ahem...>

Sorry ‘bout that.

Disclaimer: I’m a Chargers fan

The Titans did the exact same thing they did in the game against the Chargers a few weeks ago: Strong first half, weak second half. My theory is it’s the size of their lines (offensive and defensive lines, not the lines on the glass tables you pervs). Their linemen are massive even by NFL standards. The problem is, they tire disproportionately later in the game. When your offense has difficulty cranking out more than the occasional field goal, that’s not a winning formula against good teams.

I’d agree that the Colts will be a tough nut to crack, but I’m kind of surprised that people seem to be leaning so hard in their direction. San Diego has played them extremely tough the last few years. Peyton Manning is an excellent quarterback until you put some serious pressure on him. Knock him around a bit and he folds like a tent. The Chargers have historically been extremely good at knocking him around.

I also think the Patriots are very good but a long way from invincible. They’ve been playing some tight games against opponents that they should be blowing away if they were as hot as their reputation suggests. But at the end of the day, 16-0 is 16-0.

Regardless of who comes out of the AFC, they’re still better than any of the NFC teams that are left.

A final note on football in general: for all of the talk about teams not “playing 60 minutes,” the much larger problem in my mind is coaches not “coaching 60 minutes.” How often do we see coaches start running out the clock in the third quarter or early fourth quarter with a single digit lead and shocker the other team puts up some points and wins. When you dial down your team’s energy level and just start going through the motions, it’s very difficult to crank them back up if you need to rally later. One of the key things Belichick does right: he coaches 60 minutes (at least in the games I’ve seen). If it results in running up the score, then so be it.  This is the NFL, not some elementary school playground.

As a loyal reader and a member of the Indianapolis Colts staff, I have to say it hurts to hear Jim say that.  Go Colts! 

If we can get past the Bolts, I think we have a good chance.  The Patriots are pretty much what we were in ‘04 and ‘05.  Exceptional offense and questionable defense.  Although playing in Foxboro scares me.  I think the Pats will have a tougher time with Jacksonville than they are expecting.

As a Rabid Pats Fan I’ve really been enjoying this year. While I do think they’ll win it all and go 19-0, the 2 afc playoff games do scare me. 3 other teams that I think would beat any of the NFC teams.

bendparker - while the fans may think jacksonville is no threat, I think it’s safe to say the team won’t underestimate them. and If it’s Pats/Colts in the AFCCG I say 65/35 Pats as freeny won’t be playing. If Marvin can’t go i go 70/30. Colts/Bolts will be a good game tho, and good luck to you guys.

Artmonkey - Yes - I’ve got to admit I’m pretty annoyed with Wilfork’s cheap shot. That type of crap has no place in the game. But not all we fans in NE are as obnoxious as you think. We’re just really enjoying ourselves. We know some day we’ll be eating crow - maybe someday soon, but till then we’re loving life (go C’s and Sox!)

Either way, I’m looking forward to all 4 matchups this weekend.
I think Dallas is very upset prone without TO, and other than that, The Colts/Bolts is the tightest matchup - that could be an upset. I don’t see the Hawks’ beating the Pack and the Pat’s I think will roll. Just my $.02

As a loyal reader and a member of the Indianapolis Colts staff, I have to say it hurts to hear Jim say that.  Go Colts!

Doh!  Hey, I give love to the Colts, just not when (and I guess *if* although it seems inevitable) they face the Pats.  :) And yeah, Jacksonville could be tough.  They are playing hard and have had time to watch the Pats make mistakes in the last month-and-a-half of the regular season.  Should be exciting.

Artmonkey & hamster; Yeah, Wilfork was a dick, and if the NFL doesn’t fine him, the team should.  That having been said, I think that for the most part, *Boston* Pats fans are as annoying as their reputations.  It’s the rest of New England that can keep it reasonable.

Crap, now all the Beantown readers will hate me.

Not all of us, Jim. Just the “foaming at the mouth” variety.

bendparker - while the fans may think jacksonville is no threat, I think it’s safe to say the team won’t underestimate them. and If it’s Pats/Colts in the AFCCG I say 65/35 Pats as freeny won’t be playing. If Marvin can’t go i go 70/30. Colts/Bolts will be a good game tho, and good luck to you guys.

Marvin should definitely be playing, which will make it a little more interesting.  Playing in Foxboro is terribly scary though.  I hope it comes down to the two of us, should be a great matchup.  Although I’m not looking forward to the frigid New England temps (it’s actually uncharacteristically warm in Indy right now).

Doh!  Hey, I give love to the Colts, just not when (and I guess *if* although it seems inevitable) they face the Pats.  :) And yeah, Jacksonville could be tough.  They are playing hard and have had time to watch the Pats make mistakes in the last month-and-a-half of the regular season.  Should be exciting.

It should be a good game either way, and pulling for the Bolts isn’t enough to make me abandon one of my favorite blogs.  We just need to get an early lead and force Philip Rivers into his questionable decisions.  If we allow LT to run the game, we’ll be in trouble.

I think you guys all got me wrong, actually.

I said I wanted to shut up all the obnoxious
Pats fans, not that all Pats fans are obnoxious.

But I gotta admit, Jim… at the risk of alienating the beantowners, it is predominately Bostonians that are the most notably obnoxious.

And now that they’ve got the NFL and MLB locked up,
they’re truly unbearable.

(Hrmm… there’s an interesting thing to note. My PC’s built-in dictionary underlines “MLB” as an error, but has no problem recognizing NFL. Yup, this is my computer, all right. heh.)

Oh, and I don’t care if Wilfork is banned, suspended, fined or given a stern talking to.
All I want to see is the same indifference from the league and the officials when he gets a post-play size-13 cleat on his throat…
Knowwhutah’msay’n?

(Hrmm… there’s an interesting thing to note. My PC’s built-in dictionary underlines “MLB” as an error, but has no problem recognizing NFL. Yup, this is my computer, all right. heh.)

My guess is that it would accept NBA as well.  NFL and NBA have been much more common than MLB has been in the long run. 

And speaking of NBA, can you imagine how unbearable they will be if the celtics manage to win the NBA as well?

can you imagine how unbearable they will be if the celtics manage to win the NBA as well?

I’ll personally have my asshole setting cranked up to eleven…

OK - all kidding aside - I love the fact that all my teams are doing so well right now and I know that someday, and maybe soon it’ll all come crashing down. I’ll have nothing to complain about when it does, but just remember that as much talking as we get to do now, you’ll all enjoy rubbing it in our noses when it all comes crashing down someday. And the fact that we talked so much shit now will only make you enjoy it more. I for one am due quite an ass whupping and when the time comes to take it, I’ll take it without complaint.

I for one am due quite an ass whupping and when the time comes to take it, I’ll take it without complaint.

Awww, c’mon, man… hearing you complain about the stomping is half the fun!!!