Rating the 2011 Playoffs
January 25th 2011 21:04
The 2011 postseason isn't quite finished, but with two long weeks to wait before Super Bowl XLV, we might as well have some fun at rating the best and worst thus far in the 2011 playoffs.
Most Impressive Team
It would be easy to crown the Packers with this one. They are in fact the first 6 seed to advance to the Super Bowl from the NFC. But, they were never really huge incredible underdogs. In fact they were picked many times by experts to win each week. I think the Jets run was very impressive. I don' think many teams could tackle a back to back week run of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The Jets were up to the challenge. And had they showed up to play in the first half to the Steelers game, they could have taken down three QB's with a combined 6 rings. They didn't make it to their ultimate goal, but it was an impressive run nonetheless.
Most Impressive Player
Aaron Rodgers. His numbers weren't incredibly flashy in the Packers win over the Eagles, where he only threw for 180 yards. But he managed the game perfectly, throwing for 3 td's and 0 interceptions. The following week, he had a performance that can be considered one of the best ever by a quarterback in a playoff game. He completed 31-36 passes for 366 yards and 3 td's, including 1 rushing. His NFC Championship game wasn't his best performance, but he did run for 1 score, and managed the game well enough to get his team to Dallas.
Most Disappointing Team
The Patriots. They had the best record in the NFL (14-2) and absolutely dismantled the Jets at home just a few weeks earlier. Yet when it came to crunch time, the Patriots failed to step up to the plate for the second consecutive year. They have now been one and done in their last two playoff appearances, both home games. The loss this year came to the hated Jets. The Jets trash talked them all week, makes this loss even more sour to Patriot fans.
Most Disappointing Player
Matt Cassel. The Chiefs had every reason to believe they could beat the Ravens and advance to the Divisional round of the playoffs. They had them at home, and their defense was at times this year, good enough to stop anybody. You can't expect your defense to slow down anybody when offensively you hold the ball for just 18:16. The quarterbacks job is too manage the game, and Matt Cassel never gave the Chiefs a chance. His final numbers, 9-18 70 yards 3 INT.
Best Coach
Mike Tomlin. Not only did he lead his team from a two score deficit against one of the league's most complete teams, Ravens, he also made a gutsy call on a third and six to seal a victory in the AFC Championship game. After the 2 minute warning, with the Steelers facing a third down he chose to throw the ball, taking a big risk in giving the Jets the ball back with the clock stopped. Yet he showed confidence in his quarterback and Big Ben did what he does best. The rest is history.
Best Play
B.J. Raji's 18 yard interception return. There is nothing more entertaining than a 300 pound player rumbling in for a touchdown. The way Raji did it may be most impressive. He dropped back into coverage and picks off a Caleb Hanie slant pass like he were a linebacker and scampered into the end zone like he's been there a million times before. Then came the most entertaining part, a celebration that made him look like a Hula Dancer.
It's been a hell of a postseason and a hell of a season in general. It'll be sad to see it come to an end.
Most Impressive Team
It would be easy to crown the Packers with this one. They are in fact the first 6 seed to advance to the Super Bowl from the NFC. But, they were never really huge incredible underdogs. In fact they were picked many times by experts to win each week. I think the Jets run was very impressive. I don' think many teams could tackle a back to back week run of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The Jets were up to the challenge. And had they showed up to play in the first half to the Steelers game, they could have taken down three QB's with a combined 6 rings. They didn't make it to their ultimate goal, but it was an impressive run nonetheless.
Most Impressive Player
Aaron Rodgers. His numbers weren't incredibly flashy in the Packers win over the Eagles, where he only threw for 180 yards. But he managed the game perfectly, throwing for 3 td's and 0 interceptions. The following week, he had a performance that can be considered one of the best ever by a quarterback in a playoff game. He completed 31-36 passes for 366 yards and 3 td's, including 1 rushing. His NFC Championship game wasn't his best performance, but he did run for 1 score, and managed the game well enough to get his team to Dallas.
Most Disappointing Team
The Patriots. They had the best record in the NFL (14-2) and absolutely dismantled the Jets at home just a few weeks earlier. Yet when it came to crunch time, the Patriots failed to step up to the plate for the second consecutive year. They have now been one and done in their last two playoff appearances, both home games. The loss this year came to the hated Jets. The Jets trash talked them all week, makes this loss even more sour to Patriot fans.
Most Disappointing Player
Matt Cassel. The Chiefs had every reason to believe they could beat the Ravens and advance to the Divisional round of the playoffs. They had them at home, and their defense was at times this year, good enough to stop anybody. You can't expect your defense to slow down anybody when offensively you hold the ball for just 18:16. The quarterbacks job is too manage the game, and Matt Cassel never gave the Chiefs a chance. His final numbers, 9-18 70 yards 3 INT.
Best Coach
Mike Tomlin. Not only did he lead his team from a two score deficit against one of the league's most complete teams, Ravens, he also made a gutsy call on a third and six to seal a victory in the AFC Championship game. After the 2 minute warning, with the Steelers facing a third down he chose to throw the ball, taking a big risk in giving the Jets the ball back with the clock stopped. Yet he showed confidence in his quarterback and Big Ben did what he does best. The rest is history.
Best Play
B.J. Raji's 18 yard interception return. There is nothing more entertaining than a 300 pound player rumbling in for a touchdown. The way Raji did it may be most impressive. He dropped back into coverage and picks off a Caleb Hanie slant pass like he were a linebacker and scampered into the end zone like he's been there a million times before. Then came the most entertaining part, a celebration that made him look like a Hula Dancer.
It's been a hell of a postseason and a hell of a season in general. It'll be sad to see it come to an end.
| 21 |
| Vote |
Comments (1)
Add Comments
