tenthreeleader Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 So who's watching the Har-Bowl over there? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 I'm watching it for the first time, I don't know how much I will actually watch given the time difference but I am looking forward to it. I know -nothing- about American Football, so it's going to be an interesting experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Would you like some schmaltz with that America ? Not kidding. The Sandy Hook Elementary School choir singing 'America, the land of the free' - I'm just a little bit uncomfortable with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 You're right. It's a bit much. And it's "America the Beautiful", by the way So is Alicia Keys taking 45 minutes to sing our national anthem, which is an English drinking song, after all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Apologies for my ignorance 10-3. And I thought Alicia was just singing about how beautiful she is, which would, in fact, be fair enough. At least I'm being paid to watch this, being on a night shift as I am. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 I always wondered why singers tend to always put so much into singing the American national anthem, it has always come across as so cheesy to me. I love how passionate and patriotic a lot of Americans are, but there has to be a line surely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 The song is powerful when it's sung simply. When you make it all flowery, it loses something. Artistry doesn't mean a thing to me. Just sing the damn song. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Apologies for my ignorance 10-3. And I thought Alicia was just singing about how beautiful she is, which would, in fact, be fair enough. At least I'm being paid to watch this, being on a night shift as I am. No ignorance, my friend. I couldn't hope to know England's national songs. Alicia looks good but geez. Just sing the song and get it over with Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 And I loved Baltimore's first drive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Nice stop on the 'niners first drive too. Ravens 7 -3 49'ers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Slowly getting the hang of it, my other half however is looking at me with glazed eyes when I try to tell her what I think is going on... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 So, Manx ... what do you think is going on? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 From what I can gather (and not just because of the scoreline) the 49'ers have been terrible. Their defence has been awful and the Ravens have taken advantage of that, also the 49'ers quarterback has made some pretty poor decisions. /shrug I am probably not seeing a lot of things, and in fact the 49'ers have been good and the Ravens have been terrible Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Here's what I'm seeing: 1) The Niners are having trouble establishing a ground game, which is problematic. They are running what is known as a 'read-option' on about 75 percent of their running plays, where the quarterback reads the flow of the defense at the snap and decides where and how the ball should be run. Vernon Davis is a difference maker though. The Ravens have to get him accounted for. Kaepernick's athleticism has been nullified so far. 2) The Ravens are doing a good job of attacking the Niners where they are weaker, which is when their defense is spread out. Sets with three or four receivers give San Francisco trouble -- including on their touchdown. Defensively the Ravens are bending but not breaking. The fumble recovery was huge and should lead to points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 That touchdown drive was the equivalent of open-heart surgery. Flacco looks very sharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 So much time and space for that second touchdown o_O Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I'm no expert either Manxie, but the way I'm seeing it, the 49ers are playing the more indisciplined football and are being punished for it. They are also not getting the breaks. On the other hand Joe Flacco is having a bit of an MVP day, hasn't made a bad call yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 So much time and space for that second touchdown o_O That's a good observation. Like real football that we love, American football is all about time and space. Inside the ten-yard line, giving up that much space to a receiver is a cardinal sin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I'm no expert either Manxie, but the way I'm seeing it, the 49ers are playing the more indisciplined football and are being punished for it. They are also not getting the breaks. On the other hand Joe Flacco is having a bit of an MVP day, hasn't made a bad call yet. Turnovers kill. The Niners fumble was a potenial 14-point swing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 That is not your typical Football stand off, I would -not- like to be in the middle of that (Also, what an awful pass that was.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Would I be right in saying Kapernick looks a little flustered out there ? there wasn't a 'niner within ten yards of that interceoption Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celtic_1967 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 cardinal sin. Reminded me of this (apologies for the change of subject) - Also NSFW or easily offended Catholics. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I think he's in trouble. He's the flavor of choice at the moment but the fact of the matter is that he was only 5-2 in the regular season. He had a huge post season especially against the Packers (which is good since they're the rivals of my Vikings and I detest them) but he has yet to earn his big-game spurs. He's got a huge gut check coming up. The Niners were actually farther behind in the NFC Championship against Atlanta but this game is completely different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Reminded me of this (apologies for the change of subject) Egad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 first bad choice from the ravens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Meanwhile, that fake field goal was utterly stupid. Get points on the board. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I admire the guts, but the thinking behind it seemed a little stupid to me. Didn't take them long to get possession back, though. 49'ers receiver didn't look like he wanted that ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I admire the guts too. What it lacked was common sense. The Ravens will get the second half kickoff and if they get a FG there and hold the Niners as they just did they have a shot for 20-3 or 24-3 at half. With the ball to start the second half another score would be very hard to overcome. Jacoby Jones is incredible. But with a FG there it would be 24-3 with the Ravens getting the second half kickoff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 What a pass and recovery that was, but again the 49'ers defence was -really- slow to react. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Again, a spread-out defense and a burner that goes deep and gets behind the safety. Flacco throws one of the best deep balls in the league so that was trouble from the moment the receiver made his cut. Meanwhile, the Ravens are about to pay for their decision not to settle for points before half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 A two-score game at half. If the Niners come out energized in the second half as you would expect they might, get a stop on Baltimore's first series and then score, they are more than in the ball game. 24-6 at half is a three-score game and is a lot different. Since I'm pulling for the Ravens, I am hoping the fake field goal doesn't hurt them in the ultimate way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I'll get the hang of it eventually, I think. If anything watching this has made me want to watch more, one of my friends has described the game as "chess with force." and I totally see where he is coming from, tactically it's fascinating. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 It is quite interesting. But unlike chess, the pieces can do different things depending on how they're aligned. The game can be vastly complicated and immensely simple at the same time. Glad you're enjoying. As for me, though, looking at the grass being greener on the other side, I see passion in real football that I don't see even in the NFL, and I see rivalries in Europe that the NFL could only dream of having. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Unfortunately I don't think I will make it to the 4am finish, and will have to rely on the BBC's re-run tomorrow. Having to set through Beyonce is making me want to call it a night to be honest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Yes, it'll be a late night over there. Beyonce is part of the half time show that is about half an hour too long. Give me the football. NOTE: Of course, when Jones runs the kickoff back 109 yards for a touchdown, it may all be academic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Well, that was a good start to the Second Half... Baltimore won't be ruing that fake now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 It's just gone from bad. To worse, for the 'niners Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manxie_Ash Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 It's not even close to being a contest at the moment, is it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Huge drive for the Niners. They need points. The second half is now all about clock management but at 28-6 it's still a three-score game. They aren't out of it but they need points starting right now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Only three scores with 2 point conversions though ! Meantime the lights are out, how will that affect the game's momentum I wonder ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 It should help the defenses, in theory. An extra twenty minutes to rest ought to help them. However, the Niners now have twenty minutes to call their third down play Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Only one of the touchdowns would need a two-point conversion. The goal is to get the game tied at least. Power outage should help the defenses. Extra rest. At least in theory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 It seems the momentum has changed somewhat...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Tell me how big those lost three points are now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 two touchdowns in two mins 21 seconds. 28-20 You're right, they are big. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Ravens need to be patient and go with what has worked. Don't get rattled. But the moral of the story: take the freaking points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 oh pooh........ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 That power outage clearly changed the game. It's such a game of momentum and the Ravens had the Niners back on their heels. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterfan2 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Big next set of downs to come at the start of the fourth quarter. Ravens need a TD to put it back to a two score game Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthreeleader Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Big stand for the Niners. It's nut-cutting time now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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