NFL 2015
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="552558" data-time="1452811178"><p>Yeah I can see why Baalke made this call of Chip Kelly for the 49ers - this is his third and almost certainly last head-coach hire as General Manager - so he swung for the fences and went with the highest risk/highest reward option. Fair enough.<br>
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Will be interesting what happens to Kaepernick - rumour is that Kelly has been on trading for him in the past and would have gone after him if he had got a head coaching gig anywhere else. It makes sense that they would at least give the partnership a year to see if he can get it to work with Kap.</p></blockquote>Baalke Kelly and Kaepernick are at risk with a big opportunity to redeem themselves. Hopefully Chip's offense and Kap's skill set turn into something special, Baalke needs to restock because the cupboard is bare -
<p>After watching his work in Philly (1st season good, rest not so much) I don't know if the Chipper is a good or bad hire.</p>
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<p>POSITIVES:</p>
<p>- The offence will be fun to watch</p>
<p>- CKap fits his style much better than Foles, Sanchez or Bradford.</p>
<p>- Despite what the experts say, the 49ers have a solid, young defence which means Chip doesn't need to over-haul it too much.</p>
<p>- No longer a GM which means he won't be trying those Madden 16-type trades which only work in Madden (and not in real life).</p>
<p>- It means Jim Tomsula can go back to being a oil rig diver or whatever the fuck he did.</p>
<p>- His name is Chip. </p>
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<p>NEGATIVES:</p>
<p>- Didn't we just get rid of a coach who was seen as a hard taskmaster?</p>
<p>- His defences in Philly (and in college) were shit. Needs to hire a good defensive co-ordinator if this is to work.</p>
<p>- A lot of holes on all three units but most are on the offensive side of the ball. RB, WR, TE, OL all need upgrades which can't be done just in the draft</p>
<p>- The black players in Philly went to town on the Chipper which may go against the 49ers when trying to attract free agents (tbf some of those Philly players were just whiny punks like Shady McCoy).</p>
<p>- And the LA Rams will attract the best free agents imo for the next few seasons so the 49ers are still in the toughest division.</p> -
<p>Patriots going to the AFC championship game for the 5th year in a row.. Remarkable really, considering their run of injuries to key players..</p>
<p>With Big Ben hurt and Brown unavailable, it's pretty much a win to the Broncos..</p>
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<p>NFC is exciting cos all 4 teams could go to the Superbowl.. </p> -
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<p>Arguing over a coin flip.....</p>
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<p>Aaron Rogers shouldn't be disappointed, he still has one of the Olivias. Liking Arizona but it will come down to whether they can push past Seattle. The only way to beat the Pats is to shut down their passing game since they don't have a running game right now but teams seem to be struggling to do that. Maybe Denver can.</p> -
<p>The Panthers scored enough points in the 1st half to hold off the Seahawks 31-24.</p>
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<p>That was a great comeback from Seattle and showed why they've been to the last 2 Super Bowls. </p>
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<p>Carolina and Arizona haven't play eachother this season so the NFC Championship game will be interesting. </p> -
<p>Broncos through!</p>
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<p>Steelers looking best team for most of the game but couldn't get a decent buffer on the scoreboard. Broncos with one excellent set of plays took the lead and a field goal then sealed it.</p>
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<p>Would love it if they made the Superbowl this time as I will be in Denver on Superbowl Sunday which could be interesting to see.</p> -
<p>we're not dead yet motherfuckers!</p>
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<p>I'm happy with the final four teams - should be a cracker and no Seattle. Brady V Manning (for probably the last time), Cam V Carson. All good.</p>
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<p>Dunno who I'll back though.</p>
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<p>Be cool to see Peyton have a fairytale finish to his career but be even cooler to see Roger Goodell be forced to give Brady & Bill the trophy once more. Cam Newton was my MVP in the TSF fantasy football comp but the Arizona defence won me the TSF fantasy football final. </p>
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<p>Hmm, I'll go Arizona to win it all.</p> -
<p>Righto, finally caught up on watching playoff games - hard to find time with a young family and still needing to sleep. A few thoughts on the last couple of weekends below. I even avoid the NFL threads before i know the result (which is a pity as there are a few die hard fans hidden on the Fern)</p>
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<p><strong>Bengals Steelers (I know it's a week old, but hey)</strong></p>
<p>Man, what a grudge match. It's bloody great when (occasionally) players start looking like they really really hate the opposition and want to kill them. Amazing stuff, ugly scenes from the crowd and a massive implosion by Burdick and then Jones that cost their team the game. Still, the Bengals arguably won the battle, but lost the war.</p>
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<p><strong>Pats Chiefs</strong></p>
<p>by god Brady is clutch. This game for me demonstrated how wafer thin the margins are at the top level. Chiefs pushed them to numerous third and long that got converted but could easily have been derailed. Very, very impressive and they ran away with it in the end. KC just didn't bring enough, and dont' seem to be in a hurry, ever.</p>
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<p><strong>Cards Packers</strong></p>
<p>given how rubbish the Packers have been, I didn't prioritise watching this. Still have it on mysky to catch up over the next few days -sounds like one hell of a game.</p>
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<p><strong>Cam Newton vs Hawks</strong></p>
<p>wow. Just wow. 31-0 at half time against that defence? Insane. And a great comeback from pooing the bed in the first half.... still, I guess the Seahawks had their miracle last week with the missed field goal. Their new receiver Lockett looks the goods for a bloke from the third round of hte draft. Goes to show yet again that it's really hard to pick talent that can make it in the pros.</p>
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<p>Overall, I love knockout football. Roll on the last three games of the year, and looking forward to a tasty superbowl matchup. For me, anyone but the Patriots to win the damn thing please.</p> -
<p>I only take interest at playoffs stage and certainly don't know enough to warrant following a whole game. Because of that I probably haven't built an immunity to player behaviour. Why do they all seem to act like complete twats/Chris Ashton everytime they just do their job? Catch a ball or make a tackle and then leap around swinging arms like an orangutan? Man there are some overpaid over-egoed dickwads in this sport.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="553593" data-time="1453317707">
<div>For me, anyone but the Patriots to win the damn thing please.</div>
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<p>My sentiments as well! I'll be cheering for the NFC champ as neither team has won the Super Bowl before.</p>
