NFL Playoffs 2014-15

[Roy H.]

I have a hard time seeing anybody beating the Pats.  The Seahawks just essentially lost at home, allowing the Packers to score six times.

This could be the reverse of last year's game.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I have a hard time seeing anybody beating the Pats.  The Seahawks just essentially lost at home, allowing the Packers to score six times.

This could be the reverse of last year's game.

Well, maybe I'm just naturally pessimistic when it comes to these kinds of things, but I can easily see the Pats losing to Seattle. The Seahawks were pretty bad today, shouldn't have even had a chance to win that game, but they made it, and because I dislike them so much, they'll probably win. Because that's how things usually go for me when it comes to title games in any sport—usually, the team I want to lose ends up winning.

A more rational reason for my pessimism: The last two times the Pats were in the Super Bowl, it was sort of the great Patriots offense against a great (Giants) defense ... and both times the defensive juggernaut won, making Brady & Co. look mediocre in the process. I see the same kind of setup here. And I can't imagine a worse team for the Pats to lose to than the constantly hyped, loud-mouthed, oh-so-cool-looking-in-their-neon-green Seahawks.

[RebusRankin]

Hate the Seahawks and Pete Caroll. Hope the Pats kick their behinds.

[kozlodoev]

This is so hilarious.

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/19/new-england-patriots-deflategate-bill-belichick-tom-brady

[Donoghus]

This is so hilarious.

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/19/new-england-patriots-deflategate-bill-belichick-tom-brady

Rosenberg's piece was definitely a hackjob on Belichick and the Pats.   Dennis & Callahan had him on their show this morning and they pretty much ripped the guy to shreds and debunked a lot of what Rosenberg wrote. 

National media have always has a field day with the Pats going back to the Spygate thing.  Lots of piling on and great tendency to blow things up.

Interestingly Reiss & others have brought to attention the Pats/Packers game back in November where during the telecast Nantz & Simms openly discussed Aaron Rodgers discussing "pushing the limit of how much air we can put in the football...even go over what they allow you to do.  See if the officials take air out of it."

Of course that story was never touched on by the national media at the time. 

Honestly, I have no idea if the Pats tinkered with it or not.  I will say that playing with a deflated football definitely helps in terms of throwing & catching the ball.  Not gonna lie, we've done it on our men's flag football team out here.  I know firsthand.    I also wouldn't be shocked if it was simply the weather that night playing an effect on the football.  Saw a few people discuss the climate conditions and air pressure and all that stuff. 

[kozlodoev]

There is also a pretty good breakdown of the hack job on CBS Boston:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/20/sports-illustrated-writer-takes-belichick-cheating-accusations-to-new-absurd-levels/

What I find ridiculous in this whole story is that the Colts discovered the conspiracy when they picked off Brady, but the officials who inspect the balls before the game and handle every ball after every snap didn't seem to have an issue throughout the game.

[Evantime34]

There is also a pretty good breakdown of the hack job on CBS Boston:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/20/sports-illustrated-writer-takes-belichick-cheating-accusations-to-new-absurd-levels/

What I find ridiculous in this whole story is that the Colts discovered the conspiracy when they picked off Brady, but the officials who inspect the balls before the game and handle every ball after every snap didn't seem to have an issue throughout the game.

This type of stuff really makes me mad. Everyone who isn't a Patriots fan claims their success is due to cheating, because they can't understand a team being this good for so long. As a pats fan having to consistently hear about it is annoying at best.

Not sure what a deflated football had to do with the Colts inability to stop the run, our receivers consistently getting open, the Colts receivers inability to get open and their inability to run the ball.

It all sounds like sour grapes to me.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

There is also a pretty good breakdown of the hack job on CBS Boston:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/20/sports-illustrated-writer-takes-belichick-cheating-accusations-to-new-absurd-levels/

What I find ridiculous in this whole story is that the Colts discovered the conspiracy when they picked off Brady, but the officials who inspect the balls before the game and handle every ball after every snap didn't seem to have an issue throughout the game.

This is one of my chief arguments. Wouldn't at least one of the officials notice? And if they noticed, wouldn't they say something?

Also, everyone who lives in cold climates knows that cold weather takes the air out of footballs, basketballs, etc.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

There is also a pretty good breakdown of the hack job on CBS Boston:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/20/sports-illustrated-writer-takes-belichick-cheating-accusations-to-new-absurd-levels/

What I find ridiculous in this whole story is that the Colts discovered the conspiracy when they picked off Brady, but the officials who inspect the balls before the game and handle every ball after every snap didn't seem to have an issue throughout the game.

This type of stuff really makes me mad. Everyone who isn't a Patriots fan claims their success is due to cheating, because they can't understand a team being this good for so long. As a pats fan having to consistently hear about it is annoying at best.

Not sure what a deflated football had to do with the Colts inability to stop the run, our receivers consistently getting open, the Colts receivers inability to get open and their inability to run the ball.

It all sounds like sour grapes to me.

Agree 100%.

[D.o.s.]

So it's safe to say we're all in for a Seahawks repeat, eh?

[kozlodoev]

So it's safe to say we're all in for a Seahawks repeat, eh?

https://vine.co/v/OjUVianuZdA

[Roy H.]

Also, everyone who lives in cold climates knows that cold weather takes the air out of footballs, basketballs, etc.

I think it depends on the facts.  Has anything been released in that regard?

If several of the Pats balls were deflated, but none of the Colts were, then that's suspicious.

If it's just one ball, I think the Pats are in the clear.

[kozlodoev]

Also, everyone who lives in cold climates knows that cold weather takes the air out of footballs, basketballs, etc.

I think it depends on the facts.  Has anything been released in that regard?

If several of the Pats balls were deflated, but none of the Colts were, then that's suspicious.

If it's just one ball, I think the Pats are in the clear.

Nothing yet. The league is supposedly "looking into it".

[Donoghus]

Also, everyone who lives in cold climates knows that cold weather takes the air out of footballs, basketballs, etc.

I think it depends on the facts.  Has anything been released in that regard?

If several of the Pats balls were deflated, but none of the Colts were, then that's suspicious.

If it's just one ball, I think the Pats are in the clear.

Nothing yet. The league is supposedly "looking into it".

My gut tells me that this whole thing ultimately goes nowhere.  Either there was nothing there in the first place or things can be chalked up to the weather (which would've affected both teams).

[D.o.s.]

Breaking: Andrew Luck inadvertently outed as monorchid after Deflation following loss.