Divisional Round - Chiefs at Patriots 1/16 4:35pm (CBS)

http://www.patspulpit.com/2016/1/11...-vs-chiefs-craig-wrolstad-assigned-as-referee



On Saturday, the New England Patriots will host the Kansas City Chiefs, as New England tries to advance to its fifth straight AFC Championship Game. While we do not yet know who will eventually be active and on the field for both teams, we now know who will watch those who face off this weekend.
According to Mike Reiss, Craig Wrolstead has been assigned as referee for the Patriots' first playoff game:


Craig Wrolstad has been assigned as referee for Patriots-Chiefs divisional-round game. In NFL since 2003. Promoted to referee in 2014.
Wrolstad has entered the NFL officiating stage in 2003 as a field judge. He worked 10 seasons in that position but prior to the 2014 season was promoted to referee. As referee, Wrolstad has worked 25 games so far calling 13.96 penalties per average game (6.52 on the home team, 7.44 on the visitors). Patriots vs Chiefs will be his first playoff game as a referee.

Even though he was part of nine New England games during his time as field judge, Wrolstad has never called a Patriots game as referee.

The complete officiating crew for Saturday's game looks as follows:

Referee: Craig Wrolstad (4)
Umpire: Roy Ellison (81)
Head Linesman: Phil McKinnely (110)
Line Judge: Rusty Baynes (59)
Field Judge: Boris Cheek (41)
Side Judge: Gary Cavaletto (60)
Back Judge: Shawn Hochuli (83)
Replay Official: Mike Wimmer
Replay Assistant: Greg Shields
Supervisor: Gary Slaughter




 
http://www.patspulpit.com/2016/1/11...-vs-chiefs-craig-wrolstad-assigned-as-referee



On Saturday, the New England Patriots will host the Kansas City Chiefs, as New England tries to advance to its fifth straight AFC Championship Game. While we do not yet know who will eventually be active and on the field for both teams, we now know who will watch those who face off this weekend.
According to Mike Reiss, Craig Wrolstead has been assigned as referee for the Patriots' first playoff game:


Craig Wrolstad has been assigned as referee for Patriots-Chiefs divisional-round game. In NFL since 2003. Promoted to referee in 2014.
Wrolstad has entered the NFL officiating stage in 2003 as a field judge. He worked 10 seasons in that position but prior to the 2014 season was promoted to referee. As referee, Wrolstad has worked 25 games so far calling 13.96 penalties per average game (6.52 on the home team, 7.44 on the visitors). Patriots vs Chiefs will be his first playoff game as a referee.

Even though he was part of nine New England games during his time as field judge, Wrolstad has never called a Patriots game as referee.

The complete officiating crew for Saturday's game looks as follows:

Referee: Craig Wrolstad (4)
Umpire: Roy Ellison (81)
Head Linesman: Phil McKinnely (110)
Line Judge: Rusty Baynes (59)
Field Judge: Boris Cheek (41)
Side Judge: Gary Cavaletto (60)
Back Judge: Shawn Hochuli (83)
Replay Official: Mike Wimmer
Replay Assistant: Greg Shields
Supervisor: Gary Slaughter





Everyone's gotta have a first time some time. Considering he's slightly shaded to the home team (although the crews are different in the playoffs, which is the DUMBEST thing the NFL does, in my opinion), I'm not concerned really.
 
"Sufficient"

A word that has never been used to describe Tom Brady.

I don't want "sufficient." I want a guy who isn't lucky to throw 20 TDs in a season.

Brady in 2001 was a game-manager. I'd go so far as to say the same through 2003. He certainly wasn't burning up the record books at that point. He was sufficient to win two SBs. Fast forward to today and he is the GOAT.
 
It's not only accurate, I invented it. I invented it for Matt Cassel several years ago, to expose him as the terrible QB he is.

So I just applied the same logic to Alex when he arrived.

Well, thank you for the research and for sharing. My brother does sports talk radio and specializes in the Pats and he was glad to get a juicy nugget like that.

I've seen opposing fans come and go on this site and can't recall a single one that both seems to know his shit and doesn't have a problem separating dispassionate logic from a desire to see his team kick ass. You, sir, are a piece of work. :clap:

Of course, given Smith's career track record I can see where you are coming from.

Most of the time, Belichick will design a defensive game plan to take away what he thinks makes the opponents offense tick and as a consequence, sub-standard QBs have often had career games versus us. Kyle Boller and Matt Flynn know what I mean. Don't be too surprised if your whipping boy has a better day than you think he will. We win so often because we are willing to lose a few battles in order to win the war.

As Belichick is fond of repeating ad nauseum, it doesn't matter what you did last year or last week. The only thing that matters is making more plays than your opponents when it matters and I'll be surprised if this game doesn't come down to a play or two at the end even if Smith is a rag-armed, risk-averse ham n'egger.
 
Chiefs won a playoff game for the first time since Joe Montana was the QB. If I was a Chiefs fan. I would be excited about this season. It was a great turnaround . Starting 1-5 to winning 11 straight to make it to the divisional round. Strength of that Team has been that nasty pass rush.
 
Brady in 2001 was a game-manager. I'd go so far as to say the same through 2003. He certainly wasn't burning up the record books at that point. He was sufficient to win two SBs. Fast forward to today and he is the GOAT.

For the most part, you're right.

With few exceptions, he seemed to manage that screen-happy Charlie Weis offense and very gradually began expanding his role into more of a downfield guy. Every year it seemed like his arm strength improved along with his command. I don't think anybody that watched him in 2001 expected he would eventually be one of the hardest throwers in the league, but......he worked his ass off and shit changed.

It would be interesting to be able to compare his velocity then with Brady Prime. I can't think of anybody that developed a gun the way he did. Seems like most guys throw about as hard as they are ever going to the day they walk into the league. Maybe Drew Brees, but certainly not many.
 
Chiefs won a playoff game for the first time since Joe Montana was the QB. If I was a Chiefs fan. I would be excited about this season. It was a great turnaround . Starting 1-5 to winning 11 straight to make it to the divisional round. Strength of that Team has been that nasty pass rush.

And the majority are. Clay's desire to be right has overtaken his ability to enjoy a successful season. He WANTS Alex Smith to fail miserably. It's really sad.

This is not going to be easy. The odds are not in our favor and there is a very good chance we will lose Saturday. But...

This Chiefs team is like no other I've seen in a long time. Much like the 2015 World Champion Royals, this team just finds ways to win games. Our defense makes it possible for us win any game.

It should be a great game.
 
6.5 minute video of all of Brady's passes versus the Chiefs last year.

<iframe src="https://vid.me/e/seQw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no" height="480" width="854"></iframe>
 
And the majority are. Clay's desire to be right has overtaken his ability to enjoy a successful season. He WANTS Alex Smith to fail miserably. It's really sad.

This is not going to be easy. The odds are not in our favor and there is a very good chance we will lose Saturday. But...

This Chiefs team is like no other I've seen in a long time. Much like the 2015 World Champion Royals, this team just finds ways to win games. Our defense makes it possible for us win any game.

It should be a great game.


Do you know how many times we've heard this from opposing fan bases when they come in to play the Pats at the Razor?:shrug_n:

I think your defense is legit but your offense doesn't scare anyone. This years Pats defense is better than last years version and you all know how last year turned out. They're getting almost of all of their players back from injury and the offense will be back to old form, though it make take a quarter or 2 for them to get there.

And even if Maclin does play, how effective is he going to be with a bad wheel? My honest assessment of the game.............it will be close for 2, maybe 3 quarters but the Pats pull away and win by 2+ td's.
 
Do you know how many times we've heard this from opposing fan bases when they come in to play the Pats at the Razor?:shrug_n:

I think your defense is legit but your offense doesn't scare anyone. This years Pats defense is better than last years version and you all know how last year turned out. They're getting almost of all of their players back from injury and the offense will be back to old form, though it make take a quarter or 2 for them to get there.

And even if Maclin does play, how effective is he going to be with a bad wheel? My honest assessment of the game.............it will be close for 2, maybe 3 quarters but the Pats pull away and win by 2+ td's.

I don't think you're necessarily wrong, although I think you might be underrating their defense a bit, even though you say they're legit.

That said, Chiefs fans are SEVERELY underestimating a healthy Patriots defense, which was at a top-5 defense when all the pieces were in place. The only reason those four losses were even close were because of the defense, and that's when they were banged up.

I think the Patriots spend most of the first half trying shit out, you know, like they do - maybe run tempo on the first drive, trying to catch the Chiefs off-guard. Late Chiefs FG makes it 10-10 at the half, maybe?

Patriots score on 2 straight drives in the third, and spend the rest of the evening playing vanilla keep-away. KC scores a GT touchdown to make it look closer, 24-17ish is what I'm thinking.

And you know what that means...

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THEY ALMOST LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111one~


---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

That said...there's something tugging at the back of my mind...if everyone is really up to speed and ready to go...

41-14?
 
Do you know how many times we've heard this from opposing fan bases when they come in to play the Pats at the Razor?:shrug_n:

I really don't care. It has no bearing on this game. If you think what I posted was predicting a win for the Chiefs, you're wrong. I'm just saying that this Chiefs team has shown resiliency all season, so IF we win, I will not be shocked whatsoever.
 
I really don't care. It has no bearing on this game. If you think what I posted was predicting a win for the Chiefs, you're wrong. I'm just saying that this Chiefs team has shown resiliency all season, so IF we win, I will not be shocked whatsoever.

I wouldn't either.

Most Patriots fans, if they are honest with themselves, are not sure what to expect out of this Patriots team. They looked unbeatable in the first 10 games, then the injuries started to mount, and they looked average to bad the last six.

The Chiefs are a great story this year. I believe the Pats will pull it together and win this one, but it would not shock me to see the Chiefs win.
 
I wouldn't either.

Most Patriots fans, if they are honest with themselves, are not sure what to expect out of this Patriots team. They looked unbeatable in the first 10 games, then the injuries started to mount, and they looked average to bad the last six.

The Chiefs are a great story this year. I believe the Pats will pull it together and win this one, but it would not shock me to see the Chiefs win.

Eh, on the contrary, I think I know what we're getting from the Patriots. A better, more fluid offense, which will be up against a stifling secondary. If that d-line is healthy enough, that could cause problems.

But you're going to see lots of Diet Vereen, Chandler will get an opportunity or two, and if they can break enough tendencies, I think they'll score, at least some.

I just don't see how Kansas City scores, all things being equal.
 
I'm trying hard to remember another Pats team that "limped" into the playoffs like this (ie poor W-L over last 6 games)...it's definitely a different scenario.
 
I don't think you're necessarily wrong, although I think you might be underrating their defense a bit, even though you say they're legit.

That said, Chiefs fans are SEVERELY underestimating a healthy Patriots defense, which was at a top-5 defense when all the pieces were in place. The only reason those four losses were even close were because of the defense, and that's when they were banged up.

I think the Patriots spend most of the first half trying shit out, you know, like they do - maybe run tempo on the first drive, trying to catch the Chiefs off-guard. Late Chiefs FG makes it 10-10 at the half, maybe?

Patriots score on 2 straight drives in the third, and spend the rest of the evening playing vanilla keep-away. KC scores a GT touchdown to make it look closer, 24-17ish is what I'm thinking.

And you know what that means...

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THEY ALMOST LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111one~


---------- Post added at 11:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 AM ----------

That said...there's something tugging at the back of my mind...if everyone is really up to speed and ready to go...

41-14?

We're on the same page.
 
I'm trying hard to remember another Pats team that "limped" into the playoffs like this (ie poor W-L over last 6 games)...it's definitely a different scenario.

The only lose that seriously pissed me off was the philly Game . Shit ST play. McDaniels trying to be cute with the play calling. I still believe bb went with vanilla game plan . While resting players against jets & dolphins .
 
The only lose that seriously pissed me off was the philly Game.
I agree, that pissed me off the most also. So unnecessary and not BB like as a team to hand a game to another team. Granted, they usually have at least 2 ridiculous losses a year though.
 
One thing I'm curious to see is if if the Pats win the toss and defer, as always, what they will do if they have a legit chance for a drive before the half.

Several times this year they have fiddled and diddled, unwilling to take any risk for a turnover and I question whether this was simple conservatism or simply waiting for the right time to unleash the hounds.

Barring the unforseen, we should be healthy enough to take a crack at whatever we want to take a crack at. We've double-dipped something like 15 times since 2007 meaning scoring to end the half and to open the 2nd half and I'd love to see the trend reversed as soon as possible.

Putting KC and Alex Smith in a hole as early as possible is likely part of the approach the staff is taking. Forcing him to throw a lot would be sort of a best-case scenario.
 
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