NFL

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

WTF! Get out of bounds you idiot!

[Macca 16,917]

Strange finish - that forward pass was way forward as well. The first play also had to be a throw to the sidelines - 26 seconds isn't a long time to play with.

Saints did well to get back into it but Seattle too good all the same.

[Macca 16,917]

14 - zip already.

That drive by the Pats was very impressive

Edit : ... and the Colts get one back - now 14-7

Edited January 12, 2014 by Macca

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

21-7, going to be high scoring I think.

[Macca 16,917]

Indi pick up a safety in bizarre circumstances ... 21-12 now

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

29-22

Been a good game so far, still can't get over that snap that led to the safety.

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

Blount has been impressive, most impressive.

[Macca 16,917]

43-22 in the Pats favour now. 11.12 minutes left in the game.

New England have run the ball for 184 yards - it's doubtful that the Colts would have prepared for that amount of running. Great bit of coaching by Belichick.

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

Blount now has 166

[Macca 16,917]

Blount ran for 189 yards with 24 carries for 2 TD's in week 17 too - against the Bills.

I guess we're just so accustomed to seeing Brady throw it a lot more.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

My wife asked me what I wanted to do today. I answered double header. She was perplexed at the thought and then not so happy when she found out what i meant.After watching the Seattle game it left me a little underwhelmed about the 'hawks. The saints couldn't put on any scoreboard pressure and being done for delay of game in crucial spots didn't help yet they were still in the game. The pats running game/strategy was brilliant. Brady needs the play action to give his not so great receivers a chance and it worked. Kap vs Cam I can't wait for that.

[Whispering_Jack 29,770]

Great. I have to get up at sparrows tomorrow and then drive back to Melbourne across the state line from Frankston to get to work.

Or perhaps just tape the game and watch later (which might be better because I can fast forward some of the parts).

[Macca 16,917]

The AFC Championship game will be played at 7.00am next Monday (AEDT) ... so it's New England @ Denver or San Diego @ New England.

The NFC Championship game will follow that game at 10.30am (AEDT) Carolina or San Francisco @ Seattle.

Here are the highlights and recaps from both of today's games ... Saints @ Seattle and Colts @ Patriots (the highlights may take a little while to load)

Edit: Caught the last bit of "NFL Primetime" - Troy Wingo highlighted how quite a few teams have been running the ball a lot during the playoffs. Especially from some teams who have traditionally thrown the ball a lot.

Edited January 12, 2014 by Macca

[Whispering_Jack 29,770]

Never in doubt and I knew that one of the clubs I support would be playing in a final against the Hawks in 2014.

Now for a win in that one and a double up in September

[Macca 16,917]

Reckon we ended up getting 2 ideal matchups in the 2 Championship games. Both games promise a lot

Next Monday ...

7.00am New England at Denver (ESPN & OneHD)

10.30am San Francisco at Seattle (ESPN & OneHD)

Points tally in the Playoff comp ...

5 - titan_uranus, DemonDave, Macca

2 - cowboy from hell, Gorgoroth, pantaloons, Strafford, the master,

Looks like a race in 3 although there are 3 points up for grabs for picking the Super Bowl winner.

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

I hate San Fran.

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

Been massive hype over Manning v Brady already, both teams have been running the ball more than throwing it.

Wonder if the thought of a cold/wet/snow Super Bowl may meant they decided to run it a bit more and it was so unusual for both teams to run it so often that it's been so effective?

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Been massive hype over Manning v Brady already, both teams have been running the ball more than throwing it.

Wonder if the thought of a cold/wet/snow Super Bowl may meant they decided to run it a bit more and it was so unusual for both teams to run it so often that it's been so effective?

Not sure about the weather but you are right. Saints/Hawks ran the rock a lot as well. All the talk will be Manning V Brady but someone else will pop up and win this game. Then all the credit will go to Manning or Brady. As much as Belichick reminds me of Mark Neeld he has done an amazing job with a not so talented list that then got injured. If they win he should get the credit.

[titan_uranus 24,970]

Can anyone explain was Colston was trying to do with that play for New Orleans? Surely he should have stepped out of bounds and given them one more play? In the end though the better team won.

Same goes for SF-Carolina, I think. Carolina's defence was pretty good all day but gave up some pretty needless penalties, whilst Cam got worse as the game went on. We're in pretty decent form right now, but I can't see us beating Seattle in Seattle.

As for the AFC, New England's running game is a force to be reckoned with. Brady was actually rather average vs Indy, but it didn't matter with Blount, Ridley and Vereen tearing it up on the ground. Very potent offence (imagine what it would be with Gronk too).

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

I think the niners got away with a lot, including the headbutt, the 12 guys in the huddle, you see the panthers D pointing it out and the ref looking but didn't call it and they score a TD.

Bolden needs to be spoken too by his coaches otherwise he will lose it and cost the niners big yards and a game.

[titan_uranus 24,970]

I think the niners got away with a lot, including the headbutt, the 12 guys in the huddle, you see the panthers D pointing it out and the ref looking but didn't call it and they score a TD.

Bolden needs to be spoken too by his coaches otherwise he will lose it and cost the niners big yards and a game.

The 12 men in the huddle non-call was terrible. It looked like the ref was looking right at the huddle at the time to see the 12th man run out! Definitely got lucky there.

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

I reckon Seattle were hoping for a panthers win.

I think San Fran are a really good chance this week.

[titan_uranus 24,970]

I think the niners got away with a lot, including the headbutt, the 12 guys in the huddle, you see the panthers D pointing it out and the ref looking but didn't call it and they score a TD.

The 12 men in the huddle non-call was terrible. It looked like the ref was looking right at the huddle at the time to see the 12th man run out! Definitely got lucky there.

Actually, looks like we're both wrong: http://www.footballzebras.com/2014/01/14/10138/

NFL rules are so complex, but apparently the referee was correct to not call the 12 in the huddle penalty. I think.

[Gorgoroth 12,920]

Right... Just a little more confusing...

[Macca 16,917]

Monday ...

7.00am New England at Denver (ESPN & OneHD) Forecast - a top of 15 celsius with 15 km winds (with a 0% chance of rain)

10.30am San Francisco at Seattle (ESPN & OneHD) Forecast - a top of 10 celcius with 10 km winds (with a 20% chance of rain)

The Pats/Broncos game can go either way but I'll go with the team that played better last week - New England. This game has a big chance of going down to the wire. If the Pats can get their running game going again, they'll be right in it at the finish. I'd like Peyton to get to another Super Bowl but Bill Belichick might prove the difference in the end.

New England 33 Denver 31

Reckon the 49ers have a decent chance but they'll need to get a couple of scores before half time in order to win the game ... with at least one of those scores being a TD. Kaepernick and Gore have to have good games and I think both of them can do it. Overcoming the noise factor is probably San Francisco's biggest obstacle - they may just have the right plan, this time around.

San Francisco 24 Seattle 22

The BS Report