Tell the Truth Monday- Wildcard Round Edition

[burgold]

I think people need to lay off Lattimore (not picking on you). He is a very good corner, but he's clearly not 100%. And even at 75% or whatever he is at the moment, he is the best corner on our roster by far. I like Sainristil, but he is still a rookie and it shows at times.

Give Lattimore the offseason to fully heal and I'll be fans are humming a different tune.

I think I was having Michael Irving flashbacks watching Evans. Irving pushed off on almost every play and was never called. Part of me thinks they ought to remove offensive pass interference from the books if they're never going to call it. Heck, they've already decided pick/rub plays are legal.

 

[heisenberg]

Worst thing was probably just sticking with Lattimore 1-on-1 against one of the worst 1-on-1 matchups in the league.

Im not sure how you can call it one of the worst 1 in 1 matchups in the league when historically lattimore has owned Evans.

 

[Henry]

Daniels is the man. He proved it again last night. He played brilliantly and came through in the clutch as he has done all season.

As for the defense, as much as we want to complain about them, they held Tampa to only 20 points, their 2nd lowest point total of the year (twice scored 7 and 2 other times scored 20). And the last time they scored this little, was a 20 point game against the 49ers in week 10. Tampa was unstoppable offensively down the stretch and this much maligned defense was able to do enough. Oh and Tampa punted twice and had the only turnover of the game. Again, defense making plays despite their deficiencies.

Dan Quinn, take the points early in the game. It’s always a smart move to get on the board early.

Terry McLaurin. No need for any further comment. The guy is amazing.

That's good point and I agree, but I'd also say this game was a perfect example of 'the best defense is a good offense.' Yes, the defense did ok, but it REALLY helped that our offense held onto the ball for nine more minutes than the Bucs did. All those non-punts? When we convert fourth downs we keep the ball out of Baker Mayfield's hands. There was definitely a method to Quinn's madness.

When we got the ball with four and half minutes to go after the Bucs tied it up I thought 'we totally have this.' Marching down the field and winning the game was exactly what I figured we'd do. With almost five minutes to go, the defense was done. It didn't even have to take the field again.

That's Daniels. The kid has ice in his veins.

 

[heisenberg]

I think I was having Michael Irving flashbacks watching Evans. Irving pushed off on almost every play and was never called. Part of me thinks they ought to remove offensive pass interference from the books if they're never going to call it. Heck, they've already decided pick/rub plays are legal.

The one that chapps my ass the most is illegal hands to the face.

Any player on offense or defense moves their hands up into the face of an opponent its an automatic flag, unless of course you're the ball carrier then you can grab the facemask rip pull and twist until the defenders head comes off with his helmet and it's just a great stiff arm.
For the love of all that is good and holy ill never understand that one.

 

[Boone]

The thought that dominated my mind when we got the ball at the end of the game was 'we can't possibly do it again, can we?'. I let thoughts of a sack/fumble, Jayden trying to fit one in there he shouldn't and a soul-crushing interception, the usual laundry list of disasters, creep into my head. It's just logic. You can't always pull it out. Sometimes no matter who is under center, or how much better your team is, bad things happen. Only, with this team, they aren't happening. We just find a way.

It really is a magical season. The question is, how much longer can the magic continue. 'Team of Destiny' is such a clich'e but there is definitely a whiff of that kind of thing going on with this squad.

 

[Neophyte]

What we are seeing with Quinn is what it looks like when a coach (and team) sell out to the idea of playing to win.

I think the vast majority of the NFL plays not to lose.

I feel certain that who Quinn is now has been shaped by a certain Super Bowl. My guess is that he wishes he had gone for it on 4th down a couple of times in that game.

Statisticians have been telling anyone who would listen that NFL teams punt far too often in situations where they should be going for it. Quinn appears to be on a quest to prove it, and they are correct so far.

Every team we play now has to prepare to defend for 4 downs nearly anywhere on the field.

And I like it.

 

[burgold]

It's not magic. It's executing the "winning moments."

 

[Knightingale]

Quinn has the exact attitude we need him to have. It's year 1 of a rebuild. We shouldn't be here. No one could've legitimately expected us to be relevant, much less making playoff noise.

As Rocky once said to a menacing Clubber Lang... 'Go for it'.

Dan Quinn is going for it. Our crazy 2024 magical mystery tour may end any time now, but when it does, it won't be because we didn't go for it.

I know what the response is. The way you win games is to take easy points when they are there. It's stupid to forego those chances over and over.

Normally you'd be right. But not this season. This team feeds on and is powered by 'Go for it'. Because what is most embodied in that strategy is 'I believe in my guys and am doubling down on that belief every chance I get'. And when your coaches believe, the players believe.

We will live (and maybe die any time now) by this strategy. But until then?

**** it. Go for it!

I think this is absolutely true.

And I think, personally, it's a really good thing.

If I consider the teams of the past 20 years, we have lacked identity for a long time. We weren't a running team. We weren't a passing team. We weren't a tough team. We weren't much of anything. The only identity we seemed to develop was a consistency to screw up or fold up when the spotlight got too bright.

This year FEELS different.

You can see that this is the state of mind that DQ has been drilling into this team since Day 1. It's almost like the offensive equivalent of the Defensive philosophy of 'Arrive Violently' . By consistently going for it on 4th down across the year and for consistently winning these close games at the close, the team has got into a mindset of 'anything is possible'. JD actually said in his podium interview that he wanted to go for the TD at the end of the game rather than the field goal because he believes that they'd get it.

I think the whole team believes that to be the case.

Even the clips of him on the bench as the FG doinked the upright...he was just cool calm and collected. Like "Yeah, of course it'll go in."

Personally, I really like this identity. I hope we keep it. I hope other teams start to fear us on 4th down (if they don't already!). I want other teams to not want us to have that last possession. Because they KNOW we're going to get those yards or get that final score to ice the game. I think we're already seeing some of that around the league. I think we're the team no one really wants to face. The one with the 'rookie' with ice in his veins that doesn't shrink from the big moments.

That motto that the team has now feels so apt. Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. This team knows NO fear and that's an identity born of these chances we take and the attitude of our coaching staff and our new QB.

Anything is possible. So yeah, F**k it! Go for it.

 

[Boone]

I know there was an extreme amount of angst in the chat room last night over repeatedly going for it. I understand it, it's not like it's irrational to want to try and add points to the board. But I think folks will enjoy the games more the rest of the way if we just embrace that this is how this team is going to play. You can't change it. And let's keep it real - the strategy is working and has gotten us to the 2nd round of the playoffs - who are we to question it? Embrace it and look forward to all those 4th down plays.

 

[iheartskins]

I'm extremely out of date on the team, the players, the coaches, etc. but the vibe that Daniels puts off is just completely different to really any QB that I remember seeing since the Old Days.

Winning on a FG that hits an upright? That's not really a WFT thing. That's what other teams had done to us - seemingly year after year.

Perhaps the decades of suffering under Snyder - not to make this about him - is finally lifting and the franchise is properly moving forward? Is the stink gone yet?

And first playoff win since 2005? Holy moly, I'll take it.

Feels like even with a loss to the Lions, it'll still all be cake.

The (long) march back to respectability is great to jump back in on.

Hope, though, is a dangerous thing. Forward though for now into the Lions' den.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

What we are seeing with Quinn is what it looks like when a coach (and team) sell out to the idea of playing to win.

I think the vast majority of the NFL plays not to lose.

I feel certain that who Quinn is now has been shaped by a certain Super Bowl. My guess is that he wishes he had gone for it on 4th down a couple of times in that game.

Statisticians have been telling anyone who would listen that NFL teams punt far too often in situations where they should be going for it. Quinn appears to be on a quest to prove it, and they are correct so far.

Every team we play now has to prepare to defend for 4 downs nearly anywhere on the field.

And I like it.

Yes, statisticians have been saying that a lot, in particular on short-yardage fourth downs. However, there is also situational football, and it DEFINITELY factors in.

The situation on our side is... Jayden. That is the situation. I don't think there is a fourth-and-four or less where DQ doesn't at least consider, should I go for it?

I don't dislike Kliff, I give him tons of credit even if it doesn't always sound that way. He deserves credit on these plays too; however, the reason I point to Jayden so much more is the amount of scrambling he has been forced to do. Again, Kliff probably prepares that too, spreads the defense, tells the team, this may happen, etc... but at the end of the day, there are a LOT of key plays where "we do NOT win if that doesn't happen" - and it's a "JD" play. It's a play maybe 2 or 3 dudes make in the league in that fashion. He's a rare talent.

I'm not saying DQ doesn't gamble without JD - I am just saying, I don't think we have the same success. It's cool that we have a backup with a strongly similar skillset though. Again, credit to Kliff on prep, and coaching staff for setting this up. I would bet their influence drove Adam to get Mariota.

 

[Knightingale]

I know there was an extreme amount of angst in the chat room last night over repeatedly going for it. I understand it, it's not like it's irrational to want to try and add points to the board. But I think folks will enjoy the games more the rest of the way if we just embrace that this is how this team is going to play. You can't change it. And let's keep it real - the strategy is working and has gotten us to the 2nd round of the playoffs - who are we to question it? Embrace it and look forward to all those 4th down plays.

LOL I think it's a Pavlovian response born from years of repeated futility.

Oddly, I was kind of opposite at the end. I think I said it in the chat, but I never doubted for a moment that JD would take us downfield to score. And when we got there and we were lining up the FG, in my head I was thinking 'Even if Gonzo misses this, JD will get them in OT." I also remember thinking 'Is this how it feels to be a Kansas City Chiefs fan? Having faith that Mahomes will do something magical?"

I think my brain is slowly turning the corner on this team now.

Now, that's not to say my heart-rate wasn't going crazy! LOL I'm still human afterall!

 

[Boone]

I think that's absolutely true. But we DO have Jayden and Quinn is fully aware of what that means. He is nearly unstoppable in 'must have' moments. So you have to push all of your chips to the center of the table.

 

[Boone]

LOL I think it's a Pavlovian response born from years of repeated futility.

Oddly, I was kind of opposite at the end. I think I said it in the chat, but I never doubted for a moment that JD would take us downfield to score. And when we got there and we were lining up the FG, in my head I was thinking 'Even if Gonzo misses this, JD will get them in OT." I also remember thinking 'Is this how it feels to be a Kansas City Chiefs fan? Having faith that Mahomes will do something magical?"

I think my brain is slowly turning the corner on this team now.

Now, that's not to say my heart-rate wasn't going crazy! LOL I'm still human afterall!

I definitely believe - rationally - that this team is different now and will be for a long time. It's not even PTSD at this point. It just defies logic and odds that we continue to take enormous risks at key moments and seemingly no matter what, they are working out for us. It's crazy.

 

[RandyHolt]

Besides being a stud on the field Terry is of high character off it, while sprinkling in a little fun at times.

 

[Wilber Marshall 58]

Daniels is the man. He proved it again last night. He played brilliantly and came through in the clutch as he has done all season.

As for the defense, as much as we want to complain about them, they held Tampa to only 20 points, their 2nd lowest point total of the year (twice scored 7 and 2 other times scored 20). And the last time they scored this little, was a 20 point game against the 49ers in week 10. Tampa was unstoppable offensively down the stretch and this much maligned defense was able to do enough. Oh and Tampa punted twice and had the only turnover of the game. Again, defense making plays despite their deficiencies.

Dan Quinn, take the points early in the game. It’s always a smart move to get on the board early.

Terry McLaurin. No need for any further comment. The guy is amazing.

Dan Quinn, take the points early in the game. It’s always a smart move to get on the board early.

Don't know what their analytics were thinking.

The way the Bucs were firing off the ball, they should NOT have gone for it.

You don't want to give the Bucs a short field.

Again, BRob is not BRob. He shouldn't have had that many carries. Their best pounder is CRod and they made him inactive.
BRob's vision and acceleration into the holes are. just not there.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I know there was an extreme amount of angst in the chat room last night over repeatedly going for it. I understand it, it's not like it's irrational to want to try and add points to the board. But I think folks will enjoy the games more the rest of the way if we just embrace that this is how this team is going to play. You can't change it. And let's keep it real - the strategy is working and has gotten us to the 2nd round of the playoffs - who are we to question it? Embrace it and look forward to all those 4th down plays.

I’m all for going for it. I think it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on a defense. In fact, I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the other teams kicker come out. I’ve loved the way Quinn has gone for it all year. There are a few instances where he should have kicked but didn’t. Some worked out, some didn’t. My personal view on it has always been what kind of momentum do you have. Are you moving forward or are you stalled/moving backwards. The two failed 4th downs last night, one was stalled (0 yards on 3rd and 2) and the other they were going backwards (1st and goal at the 1 to 4th and goal at the 3). To me as a fan, that’s when I think kicks are the right call. But I also understand my job is not on the line when I make that call, so Quinn has to decide as it’s his responsibility.

Two things I’ll say about those failed attempts.

The first is, Quinn is fully committed to this philosophy. And I’m all for that. If you are going to go for it, then go for it. People criticize Dan Campbell for the same thing and he has done it to his detriment at times as well. But he’s all in and his team knows it. Quinn has that same philosophy but maybe toned back a bit. But I love that he wants to keep the pressure on the opposing D.

The other thing is that after both failed 4th downs, the defense stepped up and got the ball back. The first was a punt by TB. The second was the fumble recovered by Wagner. That is the defense and the team stepping up for your coach and for your offense. And that is something that is invaluable in team sports.

 

[RandyHolt]

Wagner's revenge for getting trucked by Baker was pouncing on that fumble... we'll take that all day and game day Sundays

 

[AngryChuckT]

I was talking to my 13 year old son this morning. I said: “I remember you were smirking on the last drive of the night. You knew we were gonna win didn’t you?” He said “yep. We have JD5, Dad.”

The coming years are going to be fun.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I love Quinn’s aggressiveness, or willingness to follow the analytics if you prefer. And I definitely like the mindset that we’re playing with house money, so go all out, and Quinn’s intention to try to reduce the Buc’s chances at winning the TOP battle.

I disagreed with the goal-to-go 4th down attempt though. Part of what makes us so good on 4th is Daniels’ ability to run, and that becomes a whole lot trickier with a condensed field, particularly against this Bucs D. Each team probably had 2 possessions remaining at that point. We take the FG, are down by 1, and can still come back and tie it with a td and 2 pt conversion if the Bucs score a td, can tie it with a td if they score 2 FGs, we can win it with a FG if we stop them twice, etc.

Anyway, I’ll add that I assume part of the 4th down mindset may be due to not having a ton of faith in our kicker, but a chip shot is a different story.

Of course, if you manage to stop TB (after not converting), you’re probably getting the ball with great field position. I didn’t have a ton of faith in our D getting that done, but they were doing a good job limiting the Bucs.
So whatever, it worked out, and I trust DQ and Jayden, and if it doesn’t work at times, so be it.

To be clear, I wasn’t mad about that one attempt, just thought it may not have been the wiser option. Btw, that non-call for DPI was total BS. It was IMO far more egregious than Lattimore’s in the end zone as I thought Lattimore didn’t impede Evans nearly as much.