Saturday Playoffs Open Thread

You were right about the Bucs/Skins coming down to mistakes Rafael. So far the Bucs young guys have made two HUGE ones.

Man, I wish we had Mike Alstott or a player like him on our team. That guy is like a Sherman tank rolling through the line.

Sterling,

Yes he is. But he doesn’t block worth a damn. He’s a tailback. Notice you rarely see him and Cadillac Williams in the same backfield. For what it’s worth, Jimmy Johnson loved the guy too and thought about drafting him.

Washington and Gibbs winning makes me wanna puke….There are no words that can describe how much I hate the skins and the eagles. The giants don’t bother me as much.

LA starts in the pro bowl…Ronde Barber starts at CB…if that guy is better than Newman then I guess I could play Safety next to him….what a bunch of BS

ManTab:

If the Skins end up winning this game they better pray to the football gods that they go all the way this year. They have caught a LOT of breaks this year with opponents giving up KEY turnovers for scores, Moss and Burnell coming in and playing waaay better than anyone thought they could, and of course sweeping BOTH the Cowboys and Eagles in the same season. I guarantee they ain’t gonna repeat that feat again anytime soon.

They also don’t have a 1st round draft pick this year because they traded it away right before last year’s draft.

They better hope they win it all this year…because with the Cowboys and Giants coming on strong and an injury-free Philly at least as good as them, they aren’t even going to sniff the playoffs again for a LONG time!!

Rafael:

I don’t know much about Alstott’s blocking, but it sure would be nice to have someone with his frame and his game to bulldoze the ball over the goal line or to move the sticks on short yardage.

HAHAHAAHA!!!! I love listening to Theismann whining and crying about the unsportsmanlike penalty on Sean Taylor. The passion and outrage in his voice…where is it when other teams have questionable penalties go against them?

I am going to have to watch MNF on mute or in extremely crowded bars next year.

Hey Sterling, I plan on muting and pulling in the local broadcast off of NFL Field Pass on the computer. You can listen to either of the two teams home broadcasts.
Anything’s better than listening to Theismann bitching and complaining like a little girl. Paul Maguire gives me a headache too.

I’ve never, ever in all my years of having ears, I’ve never heard worse commentary by sports announcers. Joe Theisman may have yakked his way out of MNF on ESPN tonight. He is the absolute worst. It’s astonishing how poor he is at his job. He just pulled his pants down on national network TV on his professional assessment of the Sean Taylor penalty.
He’s a homer of unprecedented proportions. I can’t believe he didn’t apologize for saying what he said after the officials proved that he is just a braying ass.
The out of bounds penalty that followed was fairly close, not “5 yards out of bounds,” not “he was past the end of the white line.”
He is actually ruining the Skins’ implosion for me.

awwww….sacked and taken out of field goal range…..oops

Bucs moving down the field, need a TD right here.

I absolutely despise Theismann. It sounds bad to say…but I was happy when LT sacked him on MNF. I didn’t know how serious the injury was, I was just glad to see him go down hard. One of my favorite non-Cowboys game highlights.

You notice Theismann never condemned what Taylor did or pointed out how classless an individual Taylor is. No talk about what a troubled past year he has had, no talk about how the Great Joe Gibbs has failed to straighten him out, NOTHING!! Any other player that spit on an opponent and had his past would have had all their dirty laundry talked about for the next 5 minutes at least!!

I hope the Disney/ABC execs are taking note of his performance tonight. He should have to recuse himself of covering Redskins games with what a blatant homer he is.

I’m not pulling for the Bucs…just against the Skins…but what I would give to see a questionable, heartbreaking loss for the Skins. One where Theismann comes comletely uncorked and shows his ass. One that totally rips the heart out of every Redskins fan across the country.

One kind of like the last Bucs/Skins game!!

It’s not like they have to worry too much about who they are going to draft in the first round this year.

Is it me, or did he have possession with both feet down, before his elbow hit and the ball came loose?

I’m with you, hating the Redskins in this game because of Theismann makes me want them to lose this game even more.

I can’t believe the Redskins are going to win this game, they barely have 100 yards of offense for God’s sake.

Talk about giving a game away with turnovers. The Bucs can get the ball back if they stop ’em.

Yeah…at least the Redskins will set a very laughable record and have the dubious distinction of being the least productive offense of all time playoff history. Just shows how damn lucky they have been this year.

Hahaha…their punter just CHOKED!! Theismann makes me sick.

25 yards passing, unbelievable. If I had a lot of money to buy extra tv’s, I think I would have put a bullet in this one listening to Theismann today.

Simms has to learn to get his passes up, it’s not like Too Tall Jones is on the skins

Arrington is blown away in his interview – practically in tears because they reached that all-time high goal of winning a 1st round wild card game….jeez u would have thought it was a post superbowl win interview…

Dubious offensive production indeed, they won’t beat Seattle this way.

Is it me, or does Arrington not seem like the sharpest knife in the knife rack?

lol bush – yup i have to agree about arrington – but the scary thing is…i’m not so sure that it’s 100% stupidity rollin’ around up there in his noggin’ – there seems to be a touch of violent psychosis in that crazy-ass smile of his : )

I don’t want Arrington anywhere near the Cowboys team. He seems almost as flakey as Ricky Williams.

The Redskins better enjoy this all they can, because this game will be their high water mark for about the next decade. Words do not describe how much I loathe that team from the owner on down.

Luckily I purchase the History of the Dallas Cowboys DVD online earlier today and it should be here in time to watch next weekend instead of watching a game where I find myself wanting a team I dion’t like win against a team I truly hate. I’ll relive the glory days and think ahead to next season.

i’m kind of glad taht the skins made it through the this game, they will be DESTROYED by Seattle next week in an all time debacle that we’ll talk about for years.
I’m going to write a placid, sober email to ESPN about what I think of Theisman and his performance tonight. If he calls MNF from now on, I’ll never watch.

Rafael:

You were right all along about those turnovers…but if Sheppard tucks that TD catch away just a little tighter it is a tie game.

The Skins did NOT win that game…the Bucs LOST IT!!

joey2zs:

I’m going to do the same thing. I wonder what the Bucs fans thought of his performance today. Theismann is going to be worse for their ratings than Dennis Miller was.

Loozeeana, you’ve got to have a little bit of violent psychosis to play line backer..lol I played that position in high school and college, and hitting, hurting and lots of physical contact must be something you enjoy to play the postion.

As far as Arrington is concerned, I’m with Sterling, I don’t want him anywhere near the Cowboys, you don’t know how he’s going to act next. Big time flake in my opinion, Parcells would never stand for his lack of discipline.

Who are you guys rooting for in this next game Jags or Pats? I’m pulling for the Jaguars, I’m sick of the Patriots and the little kid with the hood they call the coach.

I believe the Patriots will win, but I’m hoping for a weird bounce of the ball somewhere along the way.

i’m with ya’ on rootin’ for the jags bush – tom brady on national TV whining about not getting any respect – gimme a break

i know the jags haven’t exactly had the toughest schedule in the league, and their offense leaves a lot to be desired, but man that defense plays smash mouth football – go jags i say

and yeah i guess you’re right about arrington, but every time i see him talk on TV for some reason it makes me wanna’ double-check that all the doors are locked

way to go UMPIRE : ) batted down brady’s pass

that jags defensive line is BLOWING up the O line of the Patriots …. hope they keep that up

Sterling,

That’s my point. The Redskins played from the baseline and waited for the Bucs to make all the unforced errors. It’s one way to win, but no one will ever associate “entertainment” with it.

Joey2zs,

Thankfully, that was the last ever grouping of Theismann, Patrick and Maguire.

The-worst-NFL-announcing-team-E-V-E-R!

Raf, you know that for a fact about this “announcing” team? If that’s true, MNF might be watchable next year.

Look at it this way. The skins may fall into the trap of thinking they are better than they really are during the off season.Happenned to us a couple of years ago. I dont think they sneak up on anybody next year. I dont think they hold up against seattle either.

Rafael:

The only time I ever associate the Redskins with entertainment is when the Cowboys are beating them.

I was just wondering if Theismann would be on in the Seattle game because I was hoping he’d offend fans in another NFL city before next season. Now that you mentioned it I am sure ABC will go with their A-Lineup of Michaels and Madden for whichever game they broadcast. Theismann, Patrick, & Maquire are way worse than Michaels (who is very good), Gifford, and Dierdorf. Bottom line is if you need a 3-man booth with 2 color commentators then neither of your color guys must be good enough to sustain it on their own. Give me the good old days of Summerall and Madden!!

I’m with everyone else on the Jags. I’d like to see Del Rio and Campo get a win. I’m sick of hearing about what a genius Belichick and Brady are. If not for Veniteri being so money and that “tuck” call they wouldn’t have 3 rings. If I’m this sick of them, just imagine how fed up Parcells and Bledsoe are of hearing about them!!

Maguiere and Patrick are at least fired…….Patrick was bad back in the before cable of local networks covering ACC basketball. I cannot believe he picked up by espn.

Maybe Al Michaels will settle thiesman down. I just get tired of his condescending attitude….unlike Bradshaw and Aikman I don’t think Thiesman can laugh at himself.

The farther the Redskins get the worse their draft picks.

I ran into a Cowboys fan friend this morning he said he felt bad cuz he actually bet a neighbor and he took the skins. I said well that is the smarter bet on QB and RB and Ds are equal so its a push. But Brunell and Portis have more time in the league. Then I told him hey look at it this way……if you lose the bet you are happy cuz the skins lost….if you win you win money. Its a win win, most bets aren’t.

Right now as we are watching the playfoffs and Gibbs and Holmgrem and Belichek is preparing and particpating in them.

Bill Parcells is looking over the college class and making his list and checking it twice. HO HO HO…..Cowboys FANS one more big draft for the Tuna and the Boys are deep in the playoffs.

Jon,

That’s a perfect comparison with Bradshaw and Aikman. Although Aikman tries too hard not to be a homer sometimes. Theismann is to “high” on himself and his supposed knowledge, and lacks the ability to laugh at himself as you said.

I had to laugh when he said that Portis should be in there and that the Redskins weren’t doing the right thing by having him on the sideline. Like he knows better than Gibbs, a guy who’s won 3 Super Bowls. Histerical!

I personally would like to see the patriots win it again. I would love to see Peyton shaking his head goign crazy over another flop on the playoffs to Tom Brady (it’ just fun to watch).

bush,

I hated Terry on the field..(along with all those other Steelers from the 70s…)…he was a Cowboy Killer…..but I love him on Fox…..he also readily admits when he is wrong. Like his critiquie of Joe Gibbs early on over Brunell……when have we ever heard Theisman admit he was wrong. Living in VA i hear and see plenty of ex Redskins….and some are very classy like Darryl Green and Joe Gibbs…..but JT is the worst. If he were still playing for Gibbs….Joe would tell him to shut up and sit quietly on the bench!!!

Still Theisman is most known for LT breaking his leg in the most gruesome sports injury in sports…..oh yeah and maybe those TDs he tossed for da Raiders in a Super Bowl……LOL!!!

As far as Super Bowls….it ain’t my predicition……but watching Chicago Bears take on Peyton sure would be fun. Lovie vs Dungy…..and that D against Peyton……besides I never really ever hated the Bears or the Colts both been bad for so long…..Chicago is a fun city and besides it will put Cubs fans over the edge. Belichek beating Martz or Peyton is getting old……I am ready for somebody other than lil bill…….besides we need the Pats their next year so Big Bill can beat Lil Bill in the big one.

Dan Fouts should be back with the NFL he is much better than anybody ESPN or CBS have on staff. Phill Simms is tolerable. He was right on in the bowl games I heard him call. I think he got mixed up with Dennis Miller when the nixed him. Too bad Keith Jackson is getting too old, he still has it too.

Summerall and Madden were good….Madden giving Nate Newton a six legged turkey every other year……but if you want to learn football and get good analysis Aikman and Buck minus Collinsworthless is the best…….even my NYG friends admit Troy is good behind the mike.

Maguire and Patrick are both going back to do college games. Theismann will be doing the MNF games on ESPN, but they haven’t decided who he will be with. You would think that one of these days they would understand that the reason they haven’t ever gotten great ratings is because of that crew, and Theismann in particular. Everyone has cable or satellite now, so that’s not an excuse.

Heck, I’ve got a couple of friends who are lifelong Skins fans, and they can’t stand Theismann either. They don’t see his homerism, though.

Washington should be embarrased to win that game. They will get killed next week in Sea, I say by atleast 10. They passed for 25 yards, thats unheard of. And then Arrington acts like he won the Superbowl. LOL. He beat a team with a 1st year QB and 1st year RB. A team who handed them this game on a silver platter and they barely won it. And isnt this the same guy who ripped their organization last week? Typical Redskins.

Lou, I hate the skins too…but I don’t think it;ll be that easy for Seattle…Seattle is one of those teams that don’t impress me too much, their D is soft and they depend on Alexander too much. The skins D might be able to handle him pretty well…I’ll hate to see it, but Washignton might win that one too.

i just got back from vacation but i watched the game and all i saw was petitti holding little while he just sits there and little runs around him and gets a sack

i thought Al Michaels and Joe were the team for ESPN Monday Night Football. Madden rumored to be going to NBC for the Sunday night affair…….I think NBC wanted Michaels but he is under contract.

I know it is long after the fact, but something just hit me today about one of Gruden’s calls in that game yesterday. I wonder if people in Tampa are going to be complaining about it.

The Bucs had a 4th and 1 in Redskins territory with about 4 or 5 minutes left. They had just run Alstott on 3rd and a long 2. For some reason Gruden called a play-action pass on 4th and 1 instead of giving it to Alstott to blast through for a yard. I guess the thinking was he would catch the Redskins off-guard and they’d be able to get a huge play off a sleeping DB or to the TE over the middle.

I know the thinking behind doing this, and in certain situations it is a great play call. It is NOT a great play call when you have a 1st year starter at QB who gets rattled easily, a rookie TE, and against a very good defense who is going to be bringing everyone. It is especially not a good play call when you have one of the best short yardage running backs in the NFL in Mike Alstott…a banger who just beat the Skins in the game earlier this year with his short yardage runs.

Terrible call, and I have a lot of respect for Gruden usually. The Bucs might have still lost anyway…but I believe they would have had a better chance by running Alstott.

Sterling,

And nobody on the Redskins was fooled. Last night on “NFL Matchup” Merrill Hoge ran the play several times pointing out how poorly Simms and Alstott sold the fake.

What I noticed was that none of the Redskins defenders were even looking in the backfield to see if the play might be a run. They were chasing all the Bucs receivers.

That’s why they pay Gregg Williams the big money. He’s anticipating his opposite’s plays better than anybody else right now.

Rafael:

Absolutely, I wish I would have been at home last night to see that show, because I would like to see that play again. The one thing I noticed at the time was the way Simms looked so shaken when the pass rush came at him. Deer in the headlights.

My biggest problem was not just the execution, but the call. That’s a great call if your QB is Aikman, Montana, Elway, Young, or Favre. It’s a TERRIBLE call if you have a young guy who gets rattled easily and a rookie TE. It’s an even WORSE call when you have a guy like Alstott on your team!! Why make your O-Line backpedal into pass protection when you can slam them into the defense and make the defense have to protect that one yard? Alstott would have got that yardage!!

The Bucs left guard, Chris Colmer, was destroying people all game. When they needed a yard, they got it running Alstott behind him.

On third down, they ran right and gained about two feet. On fourth down, they throw. I’m with you, I don’t understand the call.

I think Hoge called it before he showed the poor fake. He said, “too many people were standing up.” I didn’t pay attention, but I’ll bet the Bucs tackles were in two point stances, giving away that it was a pass.

Maybe someone already said this but: We lost to the Giants and Redskins, for crying out loud!!!!! Both teams stunk in the playoffs. I only hope the Seahawks put the Redskins out for good next week. Manning played just as bad against the Cowboys in both games this year but soemhow managed to win the second game. I think that second game was the worst performance by opposing QBs I’ve ever seen.

Right on about how bad Theismann, Patrick and Maguire are. Thank God, were. I loved it in the first quarter when Gruden challenged Arrington’s fumble at the end of his INT return. It was clear as day he had fumbled at the end of the return but none of the three complete idiots in the booth were actually WATCHING the game so they all made complete fools of themselves questioning in their strident way why Gruden threw the flag. Eventually, a moment of silence, presumably while someone whispered the reason in Thiesmann’s ear, then he makes the pronouncement with gravitas, “Guys, I believe the reason Gruden threw the flag is because of the fumble at the end of the play.” More silence, then change of subject.

What unbelieveable incompetence. Is there seriously no one better who could do this job, with cue cards and producers and all of the support they get, then the bonehead Thiesmann?