The Waybach machine: NYF Giants at SF 49ers into rugby for fairies playoffs

To get myself in the mood for NFL playoffs, Bokolis found an old playoff game on YouTube.  In this game, the San Francisco 49ers, on their way to winning Super Bowl XIX, defeated the New York Giants 21-10.  While the Bill Belichick-led linebacker corps intercepted the legendary Joe Montana three times, and the 49ers did not score in the second half, the Giants' offense could not score a touchdown of its own.

Despite detesting the 49ers more than any other team, Bokolis loved watching games played at Candlestick park, especially playoff games, because the slow track made for some hitting.  While the Walsh 49ers were known for his revolutionary v2.1 of Paul Brown's offense, mis-labeled as the "west coast offense," it was when they had a suitably punishing defense that Walsh won his three super bowls.

In the moment, Bokolis could not appreciate, or even acknowledge, such a defense.  Even though the Giants had emerged from the dark ages, any Giants fan was already well-used to an offense pissing in the wind.  So, the Giants not getting anything done against the 49ers didn't make the latter seem like anything special.

The first drive ended in a 49ers touchdown, but left the Giants with what ifs.  A Montana pass deflected off of Roger Craig's hands and right to defensive back Bill Currier with room to run.  You can debate what would have happened, but Bokolis says Currier was gone.  Both running backs were in the pass pattern, and the only receiver, surely quicker than Currier, would've been blocked.  It would've been a matter of getting past the linemen.  Give me that play and let's see what would've happened.

Aside- The defensive backs have always been an issue on the Giants.

Dwight Clark then caught a 3rd down pass to extend the drive where he probably didn't get both feet in bounds.  On the next drive, Ronnie Lott intercepted a pass at midfield and was contacted while on the ground, but was allowed to get up and run to the Giants' 12.

It would take another two years for Phil Simms to blossom (at the super bowl played in the Rose Bowl {nudge nudge}, get it?).  Simms would often try to hang in there that little extra so that his receivers (who were never very good) would get open.  In this game, it seemed that he often waited too long, probably because his receivers couldn't get open.  It didn't get any better the next year in Chicago.

Now that Bokolis is good and ready- good and ready, yeah- fast forward to the playoffs.

TEXANS (-2.5) over Bills - In a battle of the teams that have rolled over so many times in the playoffs, Bokolis is not buying Buffalo and thinks it will go wrong for them.

Titans (+4.5) over PATRIOTS -  For a guy like Brady, Bokolis would typically have to see him fall to believe it.  But, with nothing other than Edelman around him, I've seen enough shitty play from Brady this season to believe that, short of Gronk showing up, the best he will do is pull out a close one that the other team has pissed away.

SAINTS (-7.5 -7 Sunday edit) over Vikings - Didn't the Saints cock this one up a few years ago?  They had better be playing to leave no doubt.

Seahawks (-1.5 PK Sunday edit) over EAGLES - Bokolis never quite trusts the Seahawks, as they make things harder than they should be, and have to resort to QB Wilson to pull some (jizz-stained?) magic out of Ciara's ass.  But, the Eagles have not done it against any team that is any good, QB Wentz hasn't done it with a full team, and won't have TE Ertz to help.  Ertz is solid and doesn't do stupid stuff on the field, which will be missed, even at home.

Sunday note- lines moved to Saints -7 and PK.  Winning back the hook in the Saints, especially since I would've bought it anyway, and simply needing the Seahawks to win are too much to ignore.