Could happen. When it comes to scrambling, Stafford's no Millroe. Of course, when it comes to throwing dimes, Milroes' no Stafford...yet.
I suspect Stafford will be operating under the relentless oppressive pressure of *The Dark Side* the whole game...and in his nightmares during his imminent off season.
Well, I sure hope everyone is right! This place is like a self help group pumping each other up on a penny stock. However, I know how I felt in 2013 and I was very confident and was not disappointed. So thank you everyone for all of this support. I need it. I'm an optimist with paranoid tendencies.
I was at MetLife. That first snap right below me (ok stories below me…). And Harvins return, felt like he was running straight at me (way way way lower than me). But that was one of the greatest games in my long life. But this from you SJ just still unbelievable “Wilson’s first touchdown came with a 29-point lead.). The dominance we had was awesome. With that. I’m worried this Sunday.
OOOweeeOOO! EGads! BeGaw! AwShucks! 25 and 13. Eeek.
Did anyone catch Big Cat admitting to taking advice from Rookie Grey Zabel? From an Offensive Line Player, no less! Dedicated a Sack to him, even. No wonder he garnered the Defensive Player of the Year Award. What a guy, A man's man... Wait! He DIDN'T get the DPOY? What bulsht is this? I couldn't care less what the League is doing with their beauty pageant awards... I'm talking about my first SSJoe Bro Award. That's what really matters. 12 years ago, I could feel the tension following Richard Sherman around like Pig Pen's dusty cloud whenever he came near our QB. It's an understatement to say the L.O.B. didn't like Russel Wilson. Hated the guy, IMO. They did do a good job hiding it from us, though. I do believe it is the origin of John Schneider's "Complimentary Football" concept we now operate with. So thanks for underlining how very important it has become. It's like Army giving Navy a big kiss (on the cheek). And thank you, JS, for rooting out exactly what changes needed to be made.
I heard that on the radio on my long drive home but I didn’t hear who said he took advice from Grey. That’s awesome. To have an old vet listen to the rookie, which makes a ton of sense, also shows how much desire and want is in some of these guys. And it’s 70 as 12 not individual!
I've heard the players (EJ?) say that by Game 6, nobody playing is still a Rookie. We are watching Our Guys set The Standard for playing this game today.
NFL officiating is like the amateur hour. JSN gets a head butt and no call. Lots of other things slip by. That game where the one guy ran into the other one and they called a personal foul. Surprised they called the tripping on the TD kickoff.
Off topic, but I got to get this off my chest......Sean McDermott was fired by the Bills today, in what I believe to be the winningest coach, by winning percentage, to ever be fired. His winning percentage was over .650. He won 2 out of every 3 games. Perpetually in the playoffs, many AFC East titles, double digit win seasons the past 6 years, and 11 or more wins the last 5 years. I get it's all about the Super Bowl, but how many games did the Bills win before he joined them? Never more than 9 in the 10 years prior. Never in the playoffs. You go from never being in the playoffs to ALWAYS being in the playoffs, but you fire that guy.
Can you think of any other coach that won that much and got canned? I can not. AND, they promote the GM. Did the Bills have a perfect roster? They, did, not. But all the blame goes to the H/C. He'll be unemployed for about 2 seconds. Who would want that job? 11-13 wins per year is not good enough. Being in the mix EVERY YEAR is not good enough.
Back to the Rams. The Rams put up 580 yards on our defence the last game, or some ridiculous number like that. Think anyone on our defence remembers that? Even more than usual, they will want to dominate that team. The fact that the Rams players were chuckling at us when they were up by 14 in the 4th quarter will also not be forgotten. FTR's. They a good coach and have players. We have a TEAM. I like us.
I am a bit bummed McDermott lost his job.... He is a good coach.
The closest coach I can think of is Marty Schottenheimer. His winning percentage over 21 seasons was .613. He was fired from the Chargers after leading them to the AFC Championship game and finished his time with the team with a .625 winning percentage.
Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers had a "mutual parting." however Harbaugh stated that was not the case, so that one is a bit murky. Harbaugh had a winning percentage of .753. with the Niners.
The thing with the NFL being a closed league is, if you do not win the superbowl you have ostensibly failed. It's not like football (soccer) leagues everywhere else in the world, where you don't have to win to be successful. There is no FA Cup, no pan-continental title, no relegation to avoid. In the NFL there is one singular prize, everything else is a loss. There is no financial prize to gain by being 5th over 20th over 32nd, the team is still making all the money it needs and more either way. The only thing that matters is the Ring.
This is why Pete, Bill, Mike and John hung around so long - they won the ring. It's why all other coaches, despite how successful they might be in Win% or Playoff appearances, get canned in at best half the time they had.
Sean got it rough, peaking just when Andy did with Pat. Shit outta luck there. But i'm sure he's not going to lose any nights sleep on his millions of millions of dollars earned. Or that he'll continue to earn. He'll be fine. And the Bills, they'll be fine. They'll make money. They won't win the Superbowl anytime soon (because we're going to dominate for years right?!) but i'm sure they'll be back.
I don't see this as a bad move for the Bills in all honesty. They needed something new, something fresh, to get over that hump. A few backwards steps are no bad thing if they then give you a run up.
What’s Holani’s status? Read conflicting things. Is he out for season or eligible to return? Pretty sure SSJ said he’s gone for the year, but…read otherwise. Again.
Eligible to return. “George Holani is “an option” to return from injured reserve this week ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Monday afternoon.”
I hate the Rams. They are my #32 NFL football team without hesitation. There's always someone on their team that I wish a lifetime of stumped toes for. I hate Puke-a (proper Samoan pronunciation and it means "fat and chubby"), I hated Aaron Donald, and as of this year, I've started to hate McVay. In the wildcard round I rooted for my home state Panthers like I'd been a hometown fan since they came into the league. I even ordered lamb at a restaurant, and I don't even like it -just for good luck. Yesterday I put tape over another hat and wrote "Bears" on it while I watched. That trick didn't work either.
I did not want them. And not because I think they will beat us, but because it actually feels like a possibility. And because of how sick I would feel if they were to. I cannot watch them play in what I consider to be our Super Bowl. I know how depressed I would be after the loss. I will never not want to see them lose, but especially against the Seahawks. And double especially in the championship game. The dark side cannot allow this to happen. We must crush them.
And I do worry a little about Sam Darnold against them. I realize we aren't going to make him air it out as part of the game plan, but they've been a tough matchup thus far in his career. I know that our defense is better -and we battered Stafford last time. But it was too close. Both of our matchups felt like Pete Carroll games. I felt like we'd do to Carolina, Green Bay or Chicago more or less what we just did to San Fran. The Rams are a different beast. I want to tell myself that they haven't been the same team lately, but I know they just have to get it together for one game. I am aware that I care far too much about the outcome of this football game.
But it will be SO sweet if we win -and stay healthy. And maybe that's the last ghost Sam needs to slay to prove it to the world. GO Seahawks. Please destroy this team, Seahawks! For my mental and cardiovascular health, go like you went on Saturday.
And worth mentioning, Field Gulls was wrecked by some dumb California law requiring my favorite writer there to cover the Rams if he wanted to continue his employment. Kenny can explain the details, but it was a blow after losing Danny Kelly to the Ringer. I know I shouldn't expect fan sites and their writers to be a permanent fixture in my life, but it doesn't change that what was a once great community with fantastic writers was eroding before my eyes. And then when SSJ went to Turf Show Times of all places, I wanted to throw up! And those idiots didn't even appreciate him.
But it’s gonna feel so good when we beat them again….and hopefully it will be a beat-down.
Since we last beat them (damn it feels good to say that), they’re almost struggling to beat teams that aren’t as good as them. The Hawks, on the other hand are peaking at the best time possible.
I feel your concerns. And you’re a better man than I with only starting to hate McVey this season. I’ve been on that train for several years now.
The best champions go through the toughest teams. I firmly believe the Rams are the second best team this season. Their only problem is they’re playing the very best team this Sunday.
Rusty totally agree. Want to see the “progression” in our the rubber match. Whiners we were in RZ, oh so close week 1, but lost. Grew. Got new players to play spots (Drake took off, Ty, Nick being a force all over) we dominate whiners week 18 then demolished them this weekend. We play Rams. 4 TOs. Not great offense. And yet, a just a tad too far FG to win it. Then a month ago, second half massive comeback, beat them. Not dominate like Whiners but did it with all the offense contributing. How I want that final progress in the 3rd game. All 3 phases together this game.
I’m with you all the way Chuck. All last week I felt calm and confident. This week some butterflies are flittering. And now without Charbs! May the football gods be on our side and the team dominate again.
Off topic, but it is crazy what is going on with the head coaching firings. With McDemott leaving the Bills, Vrabel is now the longest tenured coach in the AFC East.
Now we have a 2nd year coach and a 1st year coach in the Conference Championship games for their respective conferences.
I wonder if we will see less long tenured coaches going forward?
Vrabel is not a traditional first year rookie head coach. He had 6 years with the Titans and won 2 divisional titles. I always thought his Titan teams played hard and it's not too surprising to me so see the success he is having in NE. If he had the NE roster in Tennessee, he would have had similar success I believe.
I figure that the deeper the postseason, the more that dumb money determines the spread. So I don’t give it much thought. Weren’t the Broncos favored by three?
Could happen. When it comes to scrambling, Stafford's no Millroe. Of course, when it comes to throwing dimes, Milroes' no Stafford...yet.
I suspect Stafford will be operating under the relentless oppressive pressure of *The Dark Side* the whole game...and in his nightmares during his imminent off season.
Well, I sure hope everyone is right! This place is like a self help group pumping each other up on a penny stock. However, I know how I felt in 2013 and I was very confident and was not disappointed. So thank you everyone for all of this support. I need it. I'm an optimist with paranoid tendencies.
I was at MetLife. That first snap right below me (ok stories below me…). And Harvins return, felt like he was running straight at me (way way way lower than me). But that was one of the greatest games in my long life. But this from you SJ just still unbelievable “Wilson’s first touchdown came with a 29-point lead.). The dominance we had was awesome. With that. I’m worried this Sunday.
OOOweeeOOO! EGads! BeGaw! AwShucks! 25 and 13. Eeek.
Did anyone catch Big Cat admitting to taking advice from Rookie Grey Zabel? From an Offensive Line Player, no less! Dedicated a Sack to him, even. No wonder he garnered the Defensive Player of the Year Award. What a guy, A man's man... Wait! He DIDN'T get the DPOY? What bulsht is this? I couldn't care less what the League is doing with their beauty pageant awards... I'm talking about my first SSJoe Bro Award. That's what really matters. 12 years ago, I could feel the tension following Richard Sherman around like Pig Pen's dusty cloud whenever he came near our QB. It's an understatement to say the L.O.B. didn't like Russel Wilson. Hated the guy, IMO. They did do a good job hiding it from us, though. I do believe it is the origin of John Schneider's "Complimentary Football" concept we now operate with. So thanks for underlining how very important it has become. It's like Army giving Navy a big kiss (on the cheek). And thank you, JS, for rooting out exactly what changes needed to be made.
I heard that on the radio on my long drive home but I didn’t hear who said he took advice from Grey. That’s awesome. To have an old vet listen to the rookie, which makes a ton of sense, also shows how much desire and want is in some of these guys. And it’s 70 as 12 not individual!
I've heard the players (EJ?) say that by Game 6, nobody playing is still a Rookie. We are watching Our Guys set The Standard for playing this game today.
I love stats and these were fantastic. Thanks SSJ!
Everyone, remember that our guys have played progressively better all year, and progressively better each matchup vs the 49ers AND FTRams.
Disappointed there were no Darth Vader or Dark Side memes in the article...
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
You will now experience the FULL power of the Dark Side!
And may the Rams sense it, feel it, dread it and Sunday fully experience it.
I worry more about the Refs than I do about the Rams!
NFL officiating is like the amateur hour. JSN gets a head butt and no call. Lots of other things slip by. That game where the one guy ran into the other one and they called a personal foul. Surprised they called the tripping on the TD kickoff.
Off topic, but I got to get this off my chest......Sean McDermott was fired by the Bills today, in what I believe to be the winningest coach, by winning percentage, to ever be fired. His winning percentage was over .650. He won 2 out of every 3 games. Perpetually in the playoffs, many AFC East titles, double digit win seasons the past 6 years, and 11 or more wins the last 5 years. I get it's all about the Super Bowl, but how many games did the Bills win before he joined them? Never more than 9 in the 10 years prior. Never in the playoffs. You go from never being in the playoffs to ALWAYS being in the playoffs, but you fire that guy.
Can you think of any other coach that won that much and got canned? I can not. AND, they promote the GM. Did the Bills have a perfect roster? They, did, not. But all the blame goes to the H/C. He'll be unemployed for about 2 seconds. Who would want that job? 11-13 wins per year is not good enough. Being in the mix EVERY YEAR is not good enough.
Back to the Rams. The Rams put up 580 yards on our defence the last game, or some ridiculous number like that. Think anyone on our defence remembers that? Even more than usual, they will want to dominate that team. The fact that the Rams players were chuckling at us when they were up by 14 in the 4th quarter will also not be forgotten. FTR's. They a good coach and have players. We have a TEAM. I like us.
I am a bit bummed McDermott lost his job.... He is a good coach.
The closest coach I can think of is Marty Schottenheimer. His winning percentage over 21 seasons was .613. He was fired from the Chargers after leading them to the AFC Championship game and finished his time with the team with a .625 winning percentage.
Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers had a "mutual parting." however Harbaugh stated that was not the case, so that one is a bit murky. Harbaugh had a winning percentage of .753. with the Niners.
Hopefully somebody hires him over Kubiak.
The thing with the NFL being a closed league is, if you do not win the superbowl you have ostensibly failed. It's not like football (soccer) leagues everywhere else in the world, where you don't have to win to be successful. There is no FA Cup, no pan-continental title, no relegation to avoid. In the NFL there is one singular prize, everything else is a loss. There is no financial prize to gain by being 5th over 20th over 32nd, the team is still making all the money it needs and more either way. The only thing that matters is the Ring.
This is why Pete, Bill, Mike and John hung around so long - they won the ring. It's why all other coaches, despite how successful they might be in Win% or Playoff appearances, get canned in at best half the time they had.
Sean got it rough, peaking just when Andy did with Pat. Shit outta luck there. But i'm sure he's not going to lose any nights sleep on his millions of millions of dollars earned. Or that he'll continue to earn. He'll be fine. And the Bills, they'll be fine. They'll make money. They won't win the Superbowl anytime soon (because we're going to dominate for years right?!) but i'm sure they'll be back.
I don't see this as a bad move for the Bills in all honesty. They needed something new, something fresh, to get over that hump. A few backwards steps are no bad thing if they then give you a run up.
Love the numerology! 25 and 13.
Incredible write up! Let's just take it to the Rams and leave no doubt!
What’s Holani’s status? Read conflicting things. Is he out for season or eligible to return? Pretty sure SSJ said he’s gone for the year, but…read otherwise. Again.
Eligible to return. “George Holani is “an option” to return from injured reserve this week ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Monday afternoon.”
Holani went on ir late November and could return now that Charbs is hurt.
I hate the Rams. They are my #32 NFL football team without hesitation. There's always someone on their team that I wish a lifetime of stumped toes for. I hate Puke-a (proper Samoan pronunciation and it means "fat and chubby"), I hated Aaron Donald, and as of this year, I've started to hate McVay. In the wildcard round I rooted for my home state Panthers like I'd been a hometown fan since they came into the league. I even ordered lamb at a restaurant, and I don't even like it -just for good luck. Yesterday I put tape over another hat and wrote "Bears" on it while I watched. That trick didn't work either.
I did not want them. And not because I think they will beat us, but because it actually feels like a possibility. And because of how sick I would feel if they were to. I cannot watch them play in what I consider to be our Super Bowl. I know how depressed I would be after the loss. I will never not want to see them lose, but especially against the Seahawks. And double especially in the championship game. The dark side cannot allow this to happen. We must crush them.
And I do worry a little about Sam Darnold against them. I realize we aren't going to make him air it out as part of the game plan, but they've been a tough matchup thus far in his career. I know that our defense is better -and we battered Stafford last time. But it was too close. Both of our matchups felt like Pete Carroll games. I felt like we'd do to Carolina, Green Bay or Chicago more or less what we just did to San Fran. The Rams are a different beast. I want to tell myself that they haven't been the same team lately, but I know they just have to get it together for one game. I am aware that I care far too much about the outcome of this football game.
But it will be SO sweet if we win -and stay healthy. And maybe that's the last ghost Sam needs to slay to prove it to the world. GO Seahawks. Please destroy this team, Seahawks! For my mental and cardiovascular health, go like you went on Saturday.
And worth mentioning, Field Gulls was wrecked by some dumb California law requiring my favorite writer there to cover the Rams if he wanted to continue his employment. Kenny can explain the details, but it was a blow after losing Danny Kelly to the Ringer. I know I shouldn't expect fan sites and their writers to be a permanent fixture in my life, but it doesn't change that what was a once great community with fantastic writers was eroding before my eyes. And then when SSJ went to Turf Show Times of all places, I wanted to throw up! And those idiots didn't even appreciate him.
Maybe the coaches should have Bill Murray give a pre-game talk.
But it’s gonna feel so good when we beat them again….and hopefully it will be a beat-down.
Since we last beat them (damn it feels good to say that), they’re almost struggling to beat teams that aren’t as good as them. The Hawks, on the other hand are peaking at the best time possible.
I feel your concerns. And you’re a better man than I with only starting to hate McVey this season. I’ve been on that train for several years now.
The best champions go through the toughest teams. I firmly believe the Rams are the second best team this season. Their only problem is they’re playing the very best team this Sunday.
Always and forever…FTR!
And go Hawks!!!
Rusty totally agree. Want to see the “progression” in our the rubber match. Whiners we were in RZ, oh so close week 1, but lost. Grew. Got new players to play spots (Drake took off, Ty, Nick being a force all over) we dominate whiners week 18 then demolished them this weekend. We play Rams. 4 TOs. Not great offense. And yet, a just a tad too far FG to win it. Then a month ago, second half massive comeback, beat them. Not dominate like Whiners but did it with all the offense contributing. How I want that final progress in the 3rd game. All 3 phases together this game.
I’m with you all the way Chuck. All last week I felt calm and confident. This week some butterflies are flittering. And now without Charbs! May the football gods be on our side and the team dominate again.
FATE, good one Joe. We'll know more in a week.
The Bills fired their head coach. Seems like teams are looking for/expecting a MM type turnaround.
The betting line for Denver NE opened with Denver 4 then switched to NE 5.
Off topic, but it is crazy what is going on with the head coaching firings. With McDemott leaving the Bills, Vrabel is now the longest tenured coach in the AFC East.
Now we have a 2nd year coach and a 1st year coach in the Conference Championship games for their respective conferences.
I wonder if we will see less long tenured coaches going forward?
Vrabel is not a traditional first year rookie head coach. He had 6 years with the Titans and won 2 divisional titles. I always thought his Titan teams played hard and it's not too surprising to me so see the success he is having in NE. If he had the NE roster in Tennessee, he would have had similar success I believe.
Totally agree and I also feel McDermott will turn around a team quickly with the right support as well.
I figure that the deeper the postseason, the more that dumb money determines the spread. So I don’t give it much thought. Weren’t the Broncos favored by three?