2025 NFL PLAYOFFS & SUPER BOWL 60 DISCUSSION

Any time you make a catch in the air, it has to survive you crashing on to the ground - that applies anywhere in the field. That means you have to land and hang on to it - down by contact doesn't apply in that case because he hadn't completed the catch yet so there was no possession to be down.

The simpler way to understand that is if there were no defender there, and he landed and the ball came out immediately as he was rolling over or landing (as it did in this case), it would have been ruled incomplete. I don't think there was much to review there - he never had the possession to be down by contact and the ball ended up, before hitting the ground, clearly in the hands of the defender.

The rule became famous with Calvin Johnson like 10 years ago when this wasn't a catch and people didn't understand why, but it's the same principle - and he had it much longer than yesterday's play. But he still didn't completely get down and keep clear possession:

I can't comment on that without seeing a specific play with a PI that wasn't called. I have no idea if there was PI that should have been called or just good defense until then. I'm not saying every call in the entire game was correct - I'm just talking about the ones that people were calling controversial. In both cases, the defender directly prevented the receiver from making the catch by grabbing him early. The whole "let them play and decide it on the field" really just means "let the defender have a distinct advantage at the end of the game by letting them do more than otherwise allowed". I never get why people don't want clear penalties to be called late, as though its better for the game.

 

Here's video of all 3 plays (unfortunately, a bunch of stuff seems randomly removed to copyright stuff - not sure how the rest survived, but whatever).

He walks you through the rules on the interception.

The first PI Call shows the defender grabbing one arm of the player before the ball arrives. Also points out that it only netted 2 yards vs the roughing-the-passer that would have occurred regardless.

The second PI Call also shows the defender grabbing an arm to prevent a catch.

None of them are controversial except in the first case, many people don't know the rule.

 

Hahaha. They deserve than burn. Two late season games against the Hawks, and Shanahan's offense? 9 total points. Ouch.

Those birds really might win it all, even if Darnold turns it over a few times. Their defense is just filthy.

 

Sewer Pipe, sub-arctic cold LOCK of today: ...

Spoiler

Take the Rams and the points. They'll beat the spread, as experience overcomes youth, both on the field and on the sideline.

PS -- I did not have a strong vibe for yesterday's games, BUT I told a friend while walking the dog, one hour before SF / SEA kickoff: "The only way the Niners can pull this out is by starting with something dramatic, like returning the opening kick for a TD!"

Um, wow.

 

I went to a Blackhawks game in Chicago several years ago and I think the guy who sang the Star Spangled Banner tonight in Soldier Field is the same guy.

It was electric!

 

patriots -5.5 against Denver.

This is completely idiotic. That defense is going to sack Maye 10 times.

Payton won’t be an idiot and try to throw 50 times. Denver is going to win. 20-13.

Rams close this out tonight.

Rams 27-20 over Seattle. Darnold throws 3 second half picks.

Rams over Denver 34-8.

 

What a play by the Bears in the last seconds. OMG!

 

Now THAT'S a QB who can make some throws

(unlike that goober Cole Stroud)

 

bears the team of destiny man.. how does this dude pull all this **** out if his ass?

that CJ/caleb picture will live in infamy.

 

Learn from those mistakes...You gonna be a heckuva player in this league.

 

caleb is a gamer.

 

All these playoff teams have Competent QBs except our very own Corky J. Stroud.

 

Just keep in mind the Rams have had a mountain's worth of special teams problems this year that did not go away when they fired their special teams coordinator.

EDIT: But they get it done this time.

The Bears losing doesn't hurt as much because Sean McVay has been my favorite coach in the NFL for a while.

I'll be rooting for the Rams/Seahawks winner in the Super Bowl.

 

im glad caleb lost. bears fans would have gone even crazier on CJ.

 

There are 31 other fanbases clowning CJ on social media right now, including us Texans fans.

 

nm

 

i dont care. bears is the one i care about most. that pictures makes us tied together forever.

 

Caleb one pick away from stroud territory

 

half of them didn’t make the playoffs lol. Bet other teams are envious of at least going to the playoffs and winning a game each year. Now the qb? That’s a whole different story

 

this can mean so many good and bad things.