Eagles @ Patriots Official Game Thread - Super Bowl LII

Any chance the Browns make a run for Foles?

 

Any chance the Browns make a run for Foles?

Tammy threw for over 500 yards .... and lost. Boo Hoo

 

To be more clear (I did not word well in my post you responded to above), I think the correct calls were made in both instances (both philly td’s).....I am just surprised the refs did not help out the Patriots again tonight is all.

 

What’s worse than having to watch NE play in today’s SB?

Answer - that we’ll be watching them play in the SB again same time next year.

Boo Hoo

 

Yeah I don't think the Clements TD was incorrect called. He caught it awkwardly, but contrary to what Collinsworth was harping about, the ball didn't actually move until he moved it into his left arm to secure it. That's a catch. Even Jesse James thinks so.

Collinsworth exposed his Patriots fandom in this game

 

You really think Philly's D had a LOT to do with that win last night? Granted they got a crucial turnover at the end that allowed Philly to go up 8 late. However........the Pats NEVER punted in the game. Not once. The Pats rang up 613 yards of offense (a Super Bowl record for any team) and 33 points despite losing their best wideout early in the 2nd quarter. I'd say the Philly offense, Nick Foles, and Pederson's play calling had a LOT more to do with them winning the game. You can't simply think you're going to beat the Pats 20-17 on the backs of a great defense.

The Pats D hasn't been the same for a decade now. They've NEVER replaced their past play makers (Seymour, Bruschi, McGinest, Law, Harrison) with anyone that has played at that level consistently long term. They have a solid secondary, but up front on defense they are NOT what they used to be. Collins looked good for a couple years but was traded. Same with Chandler Jones. Hightower has had his moments, but also injury issues. Chung has been steady-Eddie for years, but he isn't a difference maker at safety like Harrison was. And none of their corners even now are as good or had rule changes made because of them like Ty Law did. You CAN play aggressive offense/keep away and try to outscore them......limit their possessions..............something the Chiefs, Panthers, and Dolphins did this season. The Texans, Steelers, and Jags came close, but faltered late. You HAVE TO SCORE 30+ if your defense is average or worse. You may need 30 even if your defense is good. You HAVE TO HAVE a QB that plays mostly mistake-free football and makes good reads the duration of the game. One that understands 3rd and 4th downs are crucial to the entire game, not just that drive. You can't help them with dumb penalties. And you need a little luck (like two close TD calls that go in your favor after review that might NOT HAVE at other points in the season).

The Eagles D-line runs 6-deep and received much praise all season, but it was their OFFENSE that won the game and took down the GOAT last night. Far better game plan to beat the Pats if you have the personnel. Eagles have a great OL despite losing Peters earlier this year, a good all around group of receivers with different strengths, two solid TEs, two solid lead backs and a very good rookie receiving back, and a backup QB that understands his role, trust the play calling, and is willing to take calculated risks at key moments.

 

I also don't think it should have been overturned EVEN IF they think he "lost control" of the ball momentarily before taking a 2nd step. The rule states that a "partial loss of control" DOES NOT MEAN loss of possession. And EVEN IF he did, I think his second foot that came down right on the edge of the line (very close) FIRST scraped the field as you see a bunch of field turf kick up BEFORE he plants his foot down squarely on the edge of the line. No different than scraping your toe first then having your heel hit the line........you're still in bounds. I think the bottom of his foot scrapes in bounds first.

And again................as should be the STANDARD for reviews..............if called a catch on the field of play................unless you have conclusive evidence that it should CLEARLY be overturned...........you let the call stand as called. If it's REALLY CLOSE and an argument can be made either way or infers subjective judgement and not definitive proof..............you should let the play stand as called.

I think they got it right BOTH TIMES last night, and I'm not just saying this because I'm a Steelers fan. I do think Ertz's was more conclusively a catch than James earlier this year because he took an additional step and leaped over a player in an attempt to cross the line. I also don't think coming down with BOTH HANDS on the football, you can clearly say he spiked it off the ground - and he therefore lost control.........I think he dropped it because of his momentum rolling over. I don't think he ever lost control until he rolled and during that time he regained possession without it hitting the ground. So EITHER way........its a catch. He was deemed a runner AND because it never hit the ground while not maintaining possession.

I still think James' should have stood also for TWO REASONS........1) I think he had it long enough after taking two steps, bringing it in to his chest, and then realizing how close he was to the goal line - stretching to break the plane............he should be deemed a runner at that point. And two...........the most important reason, as rightly stated by Tim Hasselback and others afterwards...............sure the ball moves when he hits the ground after stretching it over the goal line. But even with replay you can't CONCLUSIVELY say his right hand wasn't UNDER THE BALL as it moved. You can't say he lost COMPLETE control and it moved on the ground. Thus it should defer to the call on the field. To overturn any close call on replay as it was called on the field, there should be absolutely no doubt. THAT should be the standard.

And for my Steelers brethren claiming that could have been the difference at home field and not facing Jacksonville 2nd round - blah, blah, blah..........if we beat the Bears week-4, the loss to the Pats doesn't matter and we still have home field. Take care of business, beat the teams you should beat, and win convincingly vs the teams you should beat down. Yet another thing Pitt needs to improve upon (A LOT) before they will win another championship.

 

Big Ben will win the next three Super Bowls, defeating Brady in all three and tying him for 5 super bowl wins. Brady will then go down in history as not only the greatest QB who ever lived, but the biggest super bowl choker as well. This will never happen, of course, but I can at least dream it is possible.

Back to reality,..... I am looking forward to another three years of 2T’s shenanigans and hoping against hope that our offense can overcome another porous defense’s inability to stop anyone including the worst quarterbacks in the league.

 

I will continue to cheer for our beloveds but as long as Captain Tubby is there I have no expectations or hope that #7 is coming anytime soon hence it wont feel as bad when they are eliminated in the playoffs next season or worse don't even make the playoffs. You have been advised

 

Yes, it is going to be ugly like that. I say that as a matter of fact because I cannot even imagine it being any other way with 2T at the helm.

 

Thank you for this post, which is a great one. All true.

 

The NFL has a defense problem. NFL = NBA.

 

lol This whole hypothetical became impossible the second you said Ben beats Brady in the next three superbowls........unless Ben is going to the NFC this offseason

 

But don't worry or fear dearly beloved, if they don't make the playoffs they should still finish 8-8 or 9-7 so Tubby's supporters can hang their hats again on "he never had a losing season".
You have been advised.

 

Tubby is a good coach that makes too many boneheaded decisions. When he had a great defense those decisions were still boneheaded but they covered it up. I don't know if our team can overcome his decisions anymore. But there is too much talent on our team for us to miss the playoffs, just not enough intelligence in tubbies head to make rational decisions.

 

Sharp as a bowling ball that one is.

 

Extreme dream sequence..... perhaps I failed to mention the Pats move to the NFC in my dreams as well.

 

I THINK (but could be wrong, lol) he meant beating Brady EN ROUTE to winning all 3, but yeah.............ya never know.

 

When I go into fantasy mode, all rational thought gets suspended. Think of it as going into the same twilight zone in which 2T resides.

 

As an ex-bengal , it may have been more his steeler hatred and wanting another team to catch up to the Steelers in super bowl titles, but he did seem to lay it on heavy about the Patriots at every turn.