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If the Broncos were in the division with Arizona, San Francisco, and Seattle, we can pretty well guess their great stats wouldn't be so great.
Doubtful. The NFC is where the real powerhouse is today in the NFL. Put any of the final four NFC teams up against the Broncos or the Pats, each one of them would win statistically if you did simulations.
Doubtful. The NFC is where the real powerhouse is today in the NFL. Put any of the final four NFC teams up against the Broncos or the Pats, each one of them would win statistically if you did simulations.
And those simulations would be crap. They wouldn't predict the actual humiliating outcome. Sometimes the urge to "ask the computer" is too strong. For sure, don't bet your house on what a computer tells you. At very least place a bet that says the computer is wrong.
Could the Saints enter the conversation?
Saints came within 8 points whereas the 49ers came within 6 points of the Seahawks.
Saints offense had 409 yards versus Seattle and 49ers got 308 total yards.
As far as defense goes - Seahawks had 308 yards against 49ers (yes, exact same yards as 49ers)
Seahawks offense only produced 277 yards against the Saints.
Could the Saints enter the conversation?
Saints came within 8 points whereas the 49ers came within 6 points of the Seahawks.
Saints offense had 409 yards versus Seattle and 49ers got 308 total yards.
As far as defense goes - Seahawks had 308 yards against 49ers (yes, exact same yards as 49ers)
Seahawks offense only produced 277 yards against the Saints.
Well, let's be fair. The difference between New Orleans and Denver is that the Saints got a second crack at them in the playoffs. They did no better in Seattle in the regular season meeting than what we saw from Denver in the Super Bowl. The Broncos will make the trip to CenturyLink next year and I expect a very tightly contested game, just as the Saints were able to give the Hawks once they knew what they were up against.
Seeing them play in Seattle is going to be worth a watch. They could come with a different army. Then all they have to do is call audibles in a stadium where audibles are the most difficult.
The main difference in the Saints/Seahawks playoff game was how well the Saints defense played
The early portion of the game was a nightmare as far as weather, so that helped curb the passing attack of both teams - NO was more effective in the running game than the first time as well
Don't be fooled by selective stats though ......... Seattle was up 16-0 in that game before giving the ball back to the Saints with 2:38 left in the 3rd ... they picked up 2 large chunk passes and cut the lead in half to 16-8 a couple minutes into the 4th ... .both teams exchanged a drive without points .... they held seattle, then got the ball back and missed a FG .... Then Seattle buried them with a TD to go up 23-8 with 2:40 left
Seattle then played it safe on and gave up a long TD drive that ate up most of the clock .... that was a good 85 yards of nothing important gained right there .......... then they had an 8 yard pass after getting the onside kick and it looks like they gave Brees credit for the 13 yard pass to colston - if so that's over 100 of their yards that were of no consequence
That game never really felt in doubt - although it was closer
Just like the SB ..... Manning completed something like 70% of his passes, while setting a SB record for completions and Thomas set the SB record for receptions - that historic offense must have been cookin', huh?
The main difference in the Saints/Seahawks playoff game was how well the Saints defense played
The early portion of the game was a nightmare as far as weather, so that helped curb the passing attack of both teams - NO was more effective in the running game than the first time as well
Don't be fooled by selective stats though ......... Seattle was up 16-0 in that game before giving the ball back to the Saints with 2:38 left in the 3rd ... they picked up 2 large chunk passes and cut the lead in half to 16-8 a couple minutes into the 4th ... .both teams exchanged a drive without points .... they held seattle, then got the ball back and missed a FG .... Then Seattle buried them with a TD to go up 23-8 with 2:40 left
Seattle then played it safe on and gave up a long TD drive that ate up most of the clock .... that was a good 85 yards of nothing important gained right there .......... then they had an 8 yard pass after getting the onside kick and it looks like they gave Brees credit for the 13 yard pass to colston - if so that's over 100 of their yards that were of no consequence
That game never really felt in doubt - although it was closer
Just like the SB ..... Manning completed something like 70% of his passes, while setting a SB record for completions and Thomas set the SB record for receptions - that historic offense must have been cookin', huh?
This is what is called "situational football". The very sort of thing that Dallas repeatedly couldn't do. So nice to see someone actually do what any coaching 101 book would say to do.
Just like the SB ..... Manning completed something like 70% of his passes, while setting a SB record for completions and Thomas set the SB record for receptions - that historic offense must have been cookin', huh?
Denver was actually able to move the ball. It was the turnovers that killed them. Those were not freak turnovers, Seattle made their own breaks and created the turnovers, except for the safety.
I'm just making the point that without those turnovers that killed drives, it would have been a different game.
Seattle really didn't shut down the Denver offense. But they came up with the great neutralizer....turnovers. Which is to their credit. But still, they didn't shutdown the offense. Denver was able to to move the ball.
That's why I believe the 85 Bears and the 2000 Ravens had better defenses. The 2000 Ravens went 5 games without their offense scoring a TD, and they still won. They totally shutdown offenses, even in the playoffs and SB. The only SB where a defense kept the opposing offense to 0 points.
Denver was actually able to move the ball. It was the turnovers that killed them. Those were not freak turnovers, Seattle made their own breaks and created the turnovers, except for the safety.
I'm just making the point that without those turnovers that killed drives, it would have been a different game.
Seattle really didn't shut down the Denver offense. But they came up with the great neutralizer....turnovers. Which is to their credit. But still, they didn't shutdown the offense. Denver was able to to move the ball.
That's why I believe the 85 Bears and the 2000 Ravens had better defenses. The 2000 Ravens went 5 games without their offense scoring a TD, and they still won. They totally shutdown offenses, even in the playoffs and SB. The only SB where a defense kept the opposing offense to 0 points.
You do realize it was 8-0 in that game before Denver ran their 6th offensive play, right?
Denver ran 1 play, lost 13 yards and gave up 2 points (although in fairness the Seattle D had little to do with this)
Seattle scores
When Denver gets the ball back they run 3 plays for 8 yards
Seattle scores
Denver runs 2 plays that got them 2 yards and then threw an Int
Seattle scores
At that point the first quarter is done - Seattle is up 15-0 and excluding the punt Denver had ran 7 plays for -3 yards
That is shutting out their offense ........ they took the life out of them that first quarter - they beat them up physically, they pressured Manning more than he's ever faced in the playoffs with Denver
From there Seattle just needed to keep the game in front of them and keep the clock moving - the long drive Denver had in the first half was 15 plays for 49 yards that resulted in the Smith int return ... they never came close to scoring on that drive and payed the physical cost for everyone of those 15 plays ..... Seattle isn't a team where if you need 5 you throw for 3 and run for 2 - they will plant you at 3 more often than not ........ If you throw it at them enough they'll pick it off, which is exactly what happened ....... This is how it's been all year
Denver picked up 141 of its 306 yards after the game was 36-0
They had 1 drive over 50 yards (the TD drive when it was 36-0) and twice failed to pick up the 10 yards on 4 plays resulting in a turnover on downs
Denver had 94 yards on 5 first half drives ..... by the time they touched the ball for the first time in the 2nd half it was 29-0 and the party was on for Seattle
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