Quote:I somewhat agree with you and certainly understand what you are saying. I am a fan of the game and try to follow the league as much as possible. While I have been watching NFL football for well over 40 years (I too became a fan at a very young age) I have had several "favorite" teams over the years. However, most of my life I didn't live in or near an NFL city. Heck, the state that I grew up in does not have a franchise (N.M.).
Once Jacksonville was awarded the franchise, it all changed. I now do have that one team that I'll always be a fan of. I get season tickets when I can, and even though I currently don't have season tickets anymore, I still go to as many games as I can when I am in town. I travel a lot for my job which is why I gave up being a season ticket holder a couple of years ago.
That being said, I think that the Cowboys certainly "won" the game with some help from the officiating. I can remember watching the game with my wife and commenting several times on the bad officiating, especially in the Cowboy's favor.
It was great that Jacksonville was awarded an expansion team after trying to get an NFL franchise since the 1970's. Especially, after how well the Jacksonville Bulls were supported in the USFL. In terms of fan support, no market supported the USFL better than Jacksonville. That's how I came to the conclusion Jacksonville deserved an NFL team. The fact that Jacksonville got an expansion team was ideal, instead of another market losing their team, history, and colors.
I'm very glad that people like you and so many others who I have gotten to know on the MB in close to 12 years have the opportunity to go to NFL games in Jacksonville. There's only 32 teams. The difference in markets that have an NFL franchise compared to not having one is like day vs. night. Even though the last 7 seasons didn't turn out as well as Jaguars fans have hoped, the most important thing from my perspective from the distance is Jacksonville has an NFL team. Supporting the team when you can like you do goes along way in increasing the chances of the Jaguars remaining in Jacksonville for the long haul.
Quote:Let it out D6, let it out.
This was a heartfelt post going all the way back to a young D6 at the tender age of 8.
I feel even worse for him know, because you just don't know how many more playoff opportunities your team will have.
Thanks, C'MON JAGS.
You are so right about the future not promising opportunties. Unfortunately, you know this as a Jaguars fan after the promise of the 2007 season looked like a step towards something even better. I thought the Jaguars had a very realistic chance at reaching the Super Bowl in 2008 but the FA acquistions and draft didn't turn out the way the team brass envisioned. On paper, that draft class looked real good. I thought the Jaguars had one of the best drafts that year, following the draft. One never knows how a season or a player will turn out. Injuries are often a major part of equation with a team's season and future.
As a Lions fan, I have gone through a 12 season, 8 season, and a 12 season playoff drought. With the most of the latter 12 seasons the worst period for any NFL team in the post WWII era. Next season could go either way for the Lions. This is a critical off-season, starting with whether Def. Coordinator Teryl Austin will be back or become an NFL HC ( 3 teams are interviewing him ). The Ndamukong Suh situation something that can impact the team greatly. On paper at this time, the schedule looks difficult to say the least. The lost opportunity from this past Sunday is something could sting that much more if the next season or two doesn't go well enough.
Interestingly, in the Rams potential move related thread, the' Music City Miracle' game was brought up. What jumps out for me is the Bills never recovered from that game, as they haven't been in the playoffs the last 15 seasons.
Quote:Sorry D6. Y'all got the raw end of the stick from the officials.
haveaseat, it sure feels like it.
While a win was far from guaranteed, it would have been much easier to accept the loss if the officiating didn't do something that appears to be historic.
Quote:Glad to hear you are still among us. Just keep telling yourself it's only a football game - it shouldn't control how you feel. (I know, I know).
Now, get along to your AA meeting (being a Lions fan and all I figure that's a given).
Being an addicted Lions fan is a powerful enough addiction. Throw alcohol into the mix and I probably wouldn't be here or anywhere in the physical world to respond.
Quote:Exactly.
It's a shame because the refs clearly screwed up on that call. As many have already indicated, it would have been better had they simply not thrown the flag. By doing so, then picking it up without any real discussion, they created this cloud over the end result of the game.
I still think Detroit should have gone for it on 4th and 1 after that call. At that point, why not?
The cloud over the end result is the number 1 issue.
The 4th and 1 decision was a difficult call. A case can certainly have been made for both options. Of course, it would have been a no brainer if it was known that Sam Martin would only have a 10 yard punt.
There are three major reasons why I believe Jim Caldwell elected to punt:
1 ). The Lions Right Side of the Offensive Line was playing with 3rd stringers from the depth chart early this season. RG Garrett Reynolds, who surprisingly played well after struggling in the 4th QTR of all of the other games he came in at RG or RT, was cut when the Lions went down to 53 players. He was re-signed after T Corey Hilliard suffered a season ending foot injury in the opening day MNF win over the Giants. Travis Swanson, the 2nd string RG started the game, after Larry Warford suffered a knee injury in Green Bay a week earlier. Swanson suffered a knee injury on the road against the Cowboys relatively early in the game. Cornelius Lucas, a 6' 9" athletic player who needs much more functional playing strength, became the starter because of season ending injuries to LaAdrian Waddle and the earlier injury to Hilliard. Lucas has plenty of promise but was an UDRFA.. Because of the Right side of the line situation, I think that influenced Jim Caldwell's confidence that the Lions can effective execute such a critical play. If Warford and Waddle were relatively healthy and playing, my gut feeling is Caldwell would have gone for it on 4th down. With a running play to Joique Bell the most likely call by Off. Coordinator Joe Lombardi.
2 ) The Lions Defense was the primary reason why the Lions were in the playoffs. The Lions ranked # 1 against the run, # 2 in least amount of total yards, and # 3 in least amount of points allowed in the regular season. Caldwell probably thought Martin would pin the Cowboys inside the 15 yard line, which was a realistic expectation. Then the Cowboys would have to go a much longer distance to score. Considering the Lions Defense got to Tony Romo a number of times in the game and the run Defense was better than the vast majority of teams performed vs. DeMarco Murray, it was reasonable to think the Lions Defense would be able to at least prevent a TD. The bad punt was obviously extremely costly.
3 ) Combined with the other factors, Rashean Mathis was ready to come back into the game after being sidelined most of the game with a quad injury. Mathis' injury cost the Lions a TD that cut the lead to 14-7. There were other players that probably wouldn't have happened if not for the injury. The early season injuries at Nickel CB, combined with Mathis injury, caught up to the Lions in this game. With Mathis back in the game, the Lions at least had the team's 3 best available options at CB in the spots the Lions wanted to use them at. Yet, the shorter field than expected because of the poor punt, went a long way in negating the more favorable CB situation than in most of the game. Granted, the Lions still needed to keep the Cowboys out of the end zone. However, that's much easier to do if the possession starts 25 or more yards further back than expected.
Quote:Found this on youtube.
http://youtu.be/CBYQDhbsXSQ
Great video!
I'm not someone who normally pays attention to halftime entertainment but this was a great show! I would be interested if anyone remembers that halftime show from a first hand account.
A memory for me from the video is seeing former Lions DE Robert Porcher against the Jaguars early in the 1995 pre-season at around the 9:08 mark.
Quote:Great video!
I'm not someone who normally pays attention to halftime entertainment but this was a great show! I would be interested if anyone remembers that halftime show from a first hand account.
A memory for me from the video is seeing former Lions DE Robert Porcher against the Jaguars early in the 1995 pre-season at around the 9:08 mark.
Ugh. When I see Robert Porcher and Jaguars in the same sentence, I think of Mark Brunell on crutches.
