NFC Championship Game Thread: San Francisco at Atlanta (FOX, 3PM EST)

[95 Vol Alum]

Need a bad snap.

I'd consider taking a safety and a squib kick to kill it. But no coach would do that.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

Sure looks like Ryan to a blow to the head/facemask (like what was called against Atl earlier) on that hit that hurt his shoulder.

 

[GAVol]

Second week in a row that the Falcons have blown a big.

Thanks. We've all been under rocks.

 

[zero-sum]

Great game.
Congrats 49ers!
Jim Harbaugh two yrs removed from Stanford going to the big show.

 

[GAVol]

Sure looks like Ryan to a blow to the head/facemask (like what was called against Atl earlier) on that hit that hurt his shoulder.

No. I think it was completely clean.

 

[bleedorange0037]

I'd consider taking a safety and a squib kick to kill it. But no coach would do that.

Another page from my Madden/NCAA playbook. But you're right, no real life coach would probably try that.

 

[Vol423]

I'd consider taking a safety and a squib kick to kill it. But no coach would do that.

That would be nuts. Then a FG would beat you. As it was, the Falcons needed a TD.

 

[Vol423]

No. I think it was completely clean.

Agreed, but I think Matt Ryan likely has a separated shoulder.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

No. I think it was completely clean.

They keep showing it from behind, so it is tough to tell. Honestly, I didn't agree with the first call.

 

[Vol423]

Jim Harbaugh is a phenomenal football coach.

 

[GAVol]

They keep showing it from behind, so it is tough to tell. Honestly, I didn't agree with the first call.

The one they called on ATL was ridiculous but that's the risk you run with hands up around a QB.

 

[FalcoVol]

Well, we choked that one away.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

That would be nuts. Then a FG would beat you. As it was, the Falcons needed a TD.

There was 14 sec left. You could probably run the clock down to 7 sec with blocking. They'd have to kick the FG during the kickoff.

 

[GAVol]

There was 14 sec lseft. You could probably run the clock down to 7 sec with blocking. They'd have to kick the FG during the kickoff.

If the lead had been 6, I think taking a safety would have made sense.

 

[Vol423]

Congratulations to the Falcons for a terrific season. They are definitely building a strong team for the future. Gonzalez needs to continue playing. He is clearly still a dominant TE. If he retired now, he might be the most dominant player at his position during his last season of play (without suffering career ending injury) before retirement since Barry Sanders.

 

[bleedorange0037]

That would be nuts. Then a FG would beat you. As it was, the Falcons needed a TD.

With 10 seconds on the clock and no timeouts, a FG attempt wasn't on the table. The intentional safety strategy is best implemented with about 5-8 seconds on the clock so that the punter can just sprint towards the back of the end zone and once time expires he either falls down or steps out of the end zone to end the game. They were too close to the goal line and there was too much time left for it to work today.

 

[FalcoVol]

Damn that last turnover.

 

[Vol423]

If the lead had been 6, I think taking a safety would have made sense.

I agree, but certainly not with a 4-point lead.

 

[UTBasketball2]

I hope someone breaks Kaepernicks nose.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

Another page from my Madden/NCAA playbook. But you're right, no real life coach would probably try that.

I'm intrigued to see what Chip Kelly does in the NFL. He's one of the few coaches I think does things like that.

 

[TrueOrange]

There was 14 sec left. You could probably run the clock down to 7 sec with blocking. They'd have to kick the FG during the kickoff.

More like 10-11. They wouldn't have gotten 6 seconds run off on a play that was essentially "run a few yards backwards into the end zone and don't lose the ball"

 

[GAVol]

Damn that last turnover.

Damn the defense in the final 3 quarters. Other than ripping it out on the goal line, they fell apart.

 

[bleedorange0037]

I'm intrigued to see what Chip Kelly does in the NFL. He's one of the few coaches I think does things like that.

I'm still anxiously awaiting the first coach who trails by 8-10 points in the final minute and kicks a FG the moment his team gets into range rather than squandering all the time on the clock trying to get the TD first. I don't understand why real life coaches don't do that.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

More like 10-11. They wouldn't have gotten 6 seconds run off on a play that was essentially "run a few yards backwards into the end zone and don't lose the ball"

I'm not advocating. Just hypothesizing the possibility. Moot point.

 

[volstopfan14]

I'm still anxiously awaiting the first coach who trails by 8-10 points in the final minute and kicks a FG the moment his team gets into range rather than squandering all the time on the clock trying to get the TD first. I don't understand why real life coaches don't do that.

Yeah, I've always wondered why more coaches don't do this.