Wild card weekend discussion thread

[Judge Jude]

The Texans-Bengals game was pretty unwatchable, but a gem compared to the Ponder-less, ponderous Vikings vs Packers. You get the feeling that dude Webb not only hadn't thrown a pass all season, he checked out mentally and physically by midseason. Will he join a list of QBs whose last start is in a playoff game? Most of the rest would be Hall of Fame types.

Meanwhile, more controversy re RG III and his injuries:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/redskins/2013/01/06/dr-james-andrews-disputes-coach-mike-shanahans-version-of-washington-redskins-quarterback-robert-griffin-iii-knee-injury/1811689/

[re Dec 9 injury vs Baltimore]

Shanahan said he let Griffin return with the blessing of James Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon, who was on the sideline.

Andrews, however, told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday that he never cleared Griffin to go back into the game, because he never even examined him.

"He didn't even let us look at him," Andrews said. "He came off the field, walked through the sidelines, circled back through the players, and took off back to the field. It wasn't our opinion.

"We didn't even get to touch him or talk to him. Scared the hell out of me."

[revo]

both those games were pretty awful. Let's face it, the Vikes were just happy to be there. Let's hope the two today are better.

[Judge Jude]

'turd in the punchbowl' alert:

basically a rehash of a decade-old column, but worthwhile in light of the deification of Ray Lewis. interesting comparison with Michael Vick, who actually served his time:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-mike-bianchi-ray-lewis-0106-20130105,0,1707256.column

"Lewis, his two good friends — Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting — and nine others sped away from the crime scene in a 40-foot Lincoln limousine. Lewis, Oakley and Sweeting were charged with the killings and cleared in a controversial court decision that still leaves many questions unanswered.

Why, when Lewis made an appearance at a sporting goods store the day before the Super Bowl, did his friends buy knives at the store?

Why did witnesses say the limo pulled over and someone dumped bloody clothes into a trash bin?

Why was the white suit Ray Lewis wore that night never found?

Why did the limo driver change his story mid-trial after originally testifying that Lewis told everyone to "just keep your mouth shut and don't say nothing"?

[Moonlight J]

I'm expecting to lose today

[revo]

Omigosh that was awful.......hopefully RGIII will be better for next season.

[hacko]

Omigosh that was awful.......hopefully RGIII will be better for next season.

They were nuts to even play him. Then they could have have corrected that mistake by taking him out a long time ago when he was noticeably ineffective because of the Injury

[jackmadden]

Omigosh that was awful.......hopefully RGIII will be better for next season.

I can't figure out why he was still in the game. I understand that it's the playoffs, but he's the future of the franchise and Kirk Cousins isn't Joe Webb.

[Erik]

That sound you heard was the collective groan of RG3 owners in keeper leagues.

[revo]

That sound you heard was the collective groan of RG3 owners in keeper leagues.

Well, if he was as badly hurt as many thought he was, he wouldn't have been walking around on the sidelines. I definitely thought he tore an ACL or MCL for sure, but I guess not.

[Moonlight J]

Fire Shanahan....dumbass

[Judge Jude]

Not defending Shanahan for in-game personnel there, but I'd be surprised if it affected 2013 season.

He does need a talking-to even re the game, though.

Yes, sucks when you led 14-0 with a healthier RG and you're at home, but this is just a start of your cycle and the backup has a couple of rabbits pulled already this year.....

[Roto Rooter]

From here on out RGIII will now be known as RGKnee

[nullnor]

that knee brace definitely saved his acl. i've done it, and im sure a lot of you guys have too. you just gotta push the ligament back in with your finger.

[dslaw]

Fire Shanahan....dumbass

+1. Changing the offense around for RGIII is the only good thing he has done in 3 years and then he screws that up by trying to get RGIII out of the league after one year. A healthy RGIII and not losing a starting guard would have helped yesterday. But hard to talk about injuries as the offense was pretty much injury free all year. Garcon out 6 games and RGIII out for 1. The Vikings have a better whine with injury than the Skins.

I was high on the Seahawks going into the playoffs but not so much now. The Skins offense isn't terrible like it used to be but 2 possessions, 2 TDs until the 1st knee injury makes me think the Hawks defense isn't as good as it was said to be.

[Judge Jude]

Actually TE Fred Davis had 800 yards in catches last year and went down for this season in October with an Achilles tendon. That was a key loss for the Redskins as well. I thought they were dead when Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker had season-ending injuries in mid-September; they also lost a bunch of secondary guys but it seems like it's easier to mix and match there in a pinch. Overall, they couldn't have asked for more out of the season, really.