ForceEight

Not so fast.

He's a pretty good doctor, too. I don't know how he still deals with Dr. House.

The same thing they've always called it. Illegal use of hands to the face.

Eh. I don't think it was a catch. But it couldn't possibly have been any closer.

No, they can't. Running backs and offensive linemen can be called for illegal hands to the face. Offensive linemen can't grab facemasks, but it's only illegal for a running back to do it in combination with a stiff arm. The stiff arm to the face by a back has always been a rule, but a point was made in the offseason to call it more often. As this article (http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/in-defense-of-the-stiff-arm/) quotes from the rulebook, “hands cannot be thrust forward above the frame to contact an opponent on the neck, face or head." A runningback can't stiff arm a defender in the facemask, but there's no facemasking rule itself that can be called against an offensive player.

I guess Jackson didn't have anything to drink today!

No, I agree. But I have a lot more respect for him both as a football guy and as a man than I do any of the others.

Oh well. I really wanted a rematch.

WOW!

I think Boomer is far and away the smartest man sitting at that table.

I don't want to think about it. I'll be equally as afraid of either team.

Yes, and yes. Whenever we lose because of the referees, we're told to that we should've just played better. Therefore, I have no interest in arguing about any of the calls or non-calls. Put simply: suck it.

Cardinals/Eagles in the NFC. Who in the hell would've thunk it.

That link doesn't work, but it doesn't matter. It's not a penalty for an offensive player (i.e. running back) to grab a defender's facemask...

I'll be going to San Diego!

I really don't know what you guys were watching. What you hear on television means absolutely nothing as to how loud it actually is. Considering Flacco's actions and the body language of folks in the stadium, it was incredibly loud (which someone who was actually there just attested to). We ran the ball 25 times and threw the ball 22 times, excluding rushes by Flacco. Ray Rice was in the game for just three snaps, and obviously wasn't healthy enough to play. Who, then, would you like all these screen and short passes to? I recall a few slants, all of which were covered well. Heap isn't often used for short yardage anymore. It just seems like you guys can't be satisfied. We're playing not to lose the game? Well, did we lose?

I don't mind Dierdorf. I'll take him any day over the possibility of having to listen (see: fall asleep) to Jim Nantz. While Simms at least makes it interesting, Nantz and Joe Buck are in a clear battle for the most tired and emotionless play-by-play announcers in sports.

Thank GOD I wasn't the only one who noticed this. I didn't mention anything because the rule that BA mentioned popped into my head, and I figured the ref was just mistaken. But why did he say it , and why wasn't it corrected? Regardless of the rule, I want to know why the referee said it, and why the outcome was different.

GO GIANTS!

I don't have any problem with the playcalling. Last week, Cameron continually went for the home run play. He tried it again this week, but not early in the game. It was cold, raining, and an early mistake would have buried us quite easily. You play to win the game, not play to gain 99 yards on each down. I'm happy that they continually worked on the inside run when it seemed as if it was going nowhere. We aren't yet built to get away from the run, and it was very smart that we didn't. Simply put, while Cameron is a creative playcaller, he knows what he's doing and who he's playing against. It wasn't the time to go for the jugular. I did hear what Deion said, and there's really not a lot of argument against it, especially if you watch the play during which he mentioned it. Lewis is by far the best of the bunch, but they have enormous problems keeping track of tailbacks who wander outside (Ray usually takes the tight end, and does so very well). Scott is an incredibly poor open-field tackler.

Sproles will absolutely destroy us if we play the Chargers next week. Don't doubt that for a second.

Considering that it's Clayton's speed--not hands--that is inhibiting him, I'd say that you're pretty wrong, buddy. I don't care about the depth chart right now, though.

I think I was crying there before the field goal.

Scott was atrocious tonight, actually. He can NOT tackle on the outside, even when in position.

As well they should be. That's not worth complaining about.