NFL Playoffs

[charliepanayi]

So the playoffs are finally here.

AFC:

New York Jets (#5) @ Cincinnati (#4)
Baltimore (#6) @ New England (#3)

First Round bye:
Indianapolis (#1)
San Diego (#2)

NFC:

Philadelphia (#6) @ Dallas (#3)
Green Bay (#5) @ Arizona (#4)

First Round bye:
New Orleans (#1)
Minnesota (#2)

Thoughts on who will triumph next week? Who'll go all the way? San Diego and Dallas seem to be getting some momentum going right now.

[Bunny]

I'm going with Colts - Vikings in the Super Bowl. Colts narrowly escaped a couple of games but they still managed to win and Manning is probably one of my favorite players in the game right now. They may have lost the last couple of games but that was from lack of Minnesota has been having a pretty good season and Favre is having his best so far.

Saints have done really well for themselves this season and I don't think it is a fluke by any means at all, I just don't think they have the raw power and talent to go all the way to the big game. San Diego is on a hot streak and they have a pretty good chance of doing so as well, but I won't pick them over the Colts for any reason this season. Rest of the teams I don't really think have that much of a shot.

Really, when it comes down to it, as long as Romo, Brady and McNabb stay out of the Super Bowl, I'm good. I just want to see Manning destroy Favre.

[Raistlin]

I'm currently just rooting for anyone-but-the-Patriots in the AFC. However, I will be endlessly amused if the Colts are stomped in the second round due to the "resting the starters" philosophy which ended in playoff losses in previous years. That being said, I think San Diego is the most likely to reach the Super Bowl.

As for the NFC, I'd like to see New Orleans make it; Brees is so entertaining to watch. If Favre can hold up, then Minnesota probably has the best shot, but that is a pretty big question mark at the moment.

First round predictions:

Cincinnati at home
Baltimore over NE
Dallas at home (though this may be a bit of a trap game after the big win)
Green Bay over AZ

[charliepanayi]

My predictions for this round:

New England
New York Jets
Dallas
Green Bay

[Tavrobel]

Dallas at home (though this may be a bit of a trap game after the big win)

The odds are favorable. Not only does everyone expect Dallas to romp, the Eagles might as well have stayed in Dallas for the week: I sure as hell don't want them to come back. A good old fashioned anger stew is just what the Eagles offense ordered.

Ohh, and it should also be pointed out that teams generally don't win three times in the same season against a team (though the Steelers come to mind as an exception). This has all of the makings of a trap.

[Del Murder]

Bengals
Patriots
Eagles
Packers

My dad put money on Green Bay at the start of the season and he makes like $3000 if they win it all, so I will root for them! Colts will probably win though.

[Raistlin]

The odds are favorable. Not only does everyone expect Dallas to romp, the Eagles might as well have stayed in Dallas for the week: I sure as hell don't want them to come back. A good old fashioned anger stew is just what the Eagles offense ordered.

Yeah, I actually almost put "Eagles" there instead, but it is really tough to determine what side of the bed they're going to wake up on at any given time, so I went with the home team.

[Tavrobel]

Yeah, I actually almost put "Eagles" there instead, but it is really tough to determine what side of the bed they're going to wake up on at any given time, so I went with the home team.

I meant that the odd for the game being a trap game were high, not that Dallas is doing better in Vegas. Not that I've checked the odds.

It seems more like the Eagles play down to the level of their competitors, rather than up (e.g., Raiders). I can admit that they didn't have a very difficult schedule, and for the most part, got put down by just about any of the good teams that we came across. I also find it ironic that the best NFC defense is currently being fielded by the Cowboys. Never in all of my years would I have expected that, ever.

[guffman]

this is gonna get rowdy, thats all i know! no predictions from this guy. I'm just gonna sit back and watch!

[CloudDragon]

First Round Picks:

AFC:

New York Jets (#5) @ <b>Cincinnati (#4)</b> - I'll be at the game, w00t!
Baltimore (#6) @ <b>New England</b> (#3) - I have a feeling this will be a damn good game

NFC:

<b>Philadelphia</b> (#6) @ Dallas (#3) - Philly's been an inconsistent team. They seem to turn it off and on. It appears to be off but I like this team and think they'll get revenge.

<b>Green Bay</b> (#5) @ Arizona (#4) - Arizona doesn't have the flair they did last season. Picking Green Bay on the road but it won't be easy.

[Flying Arrow]

I say the Chargers have a very legit shot at going all the way. I'm also hoping that the Saints have managed to shake out of their slump. It'd be terrible seeing them go down in their first game, and after a bye week no less.

I'd like to see the Ravens get there, or even the Packers - but I know that won't happen.

For this week I'm picking:

Cincinnati > NYJ
New England > Baltimore (too bad, because I'm a fan of the Ravens)
Philly > Dallas
GB > Arizona (although we all know what happened last year)

[ljkkjlcm9]

Bengals showed nothing on purpose against the Jets, and they wanted to play the Jets again. It was purely planned, and I have every belief the Bengals will win.

Same with Cardinals vs. Green Bay. I think the Cardinals will pull this off just for that reason.

I'm a Patriots fan, my dad has had season tickets my entire life. Considering Brady has been playing with broken ribs and a broken finger and a sprained ankle and who knows what else for like 3 weeks, he has greatly impressed me. Even if they don't win, I don't see how anyone can actually talk crap about Tom Brady. Though, they haven't lost to the Ravens in like forever, plus it's their one guaranteed home game of the playoffs, so they're going to win.

Dallas vs Eagles.... Eagles honestly suck. How they keep getting as far and doing as well as they do is beyond me. But with the momentum Dallas has, I believe they'll win. Even though I am almost sure Romo will choke later on.

I think the Chargers are probably the best team right now going into the playoffs.

And I think the Colts are in a Lose-Lose situation. If they lose in the playoffs, everyone will wonder what good it did them resting Manning. And if they win the Superbowl, everyone will wonder if they could have gone undefeated.

The Saints have 0 momentum and are in trouble.

My picks go as follows for the entire thing... in what I deem realistic fashion

AFC:

New York Jets (#5) @ Cincinnati (#4)--> Cincinnati @ Colts (Definitely Colts)
Baltimore (#6) @ New England (#3)--- Patriots @ Chargers (toss-up, leaning to Chargers)
Either Pats or Chargers will beat Colts
Chargers slightly favored to win AFC, Pats 2nd, then Colts 3rd... in my mind

NFC:

Philadelphia (#6) @ Dallas (#3)---> Dallas @ Vikings
Green Bay (#5) @ Arizona (#4)---> Arizona @ Saints
Arizona vs Vikings
Vikings

Vikings Chargers (Pats hopeful) superbowl

THE JACKAL

[Bunny]

Even if they don't win, I don't see how anyone can actually talk crap about Tom Brady.

It probably has something to do with Belichick being a huge dick and Tom Brady having a complete air of superiority. He just seems like a tool. As a player, I think Brady is a good quarterback but from what I have read about his actions off the field, he just doesn't seem like a likable guy. The only reason I do not like the Patriots in the playoffs this year is I am tired of them being in the news constantly, whether under scrutiny or being praised for their performance.

[Raistlin]

I'm having a hard time not changing my prediction to the Eagles beating Dallas. Not only because it is a foreseeable comeback by a streaky team, but because another Romo playoff meltdown is not only foreseeable, but enjoyable to watch (yes, I thrive on the suffering of others, including their fans). Yet I don't think the Eagles can be depended on this year for anything.

EDIT: what Bunny said about Tom Brady, as well. The Patriots are the only team I actively dislike, and largely because of Belichick (though Tom Brady and now Randy Moss play their part as well).

[ljkkjlcm9]

Even if they don't win, I don't see how anyone can actually talk crap about Tom Brady.

It probably has something to do with Belichick being a huge dick and Tom Brady having a complete air of superiority. He just seems like a tool. As a player, I think Brady is a good quarterback but from what I have read about his actions off the field, he just doesn't seem like a likable guy. The only reason I do not like the Patriots in the playoffs this year is I am tired of them being in the news constantly, whether under scrutiny or being praised for their performance.

I hate the Colts for the same damn thing. They're talked about all the time, and Peyton Manning took years to become anything good. He sucked his first year, and Tom Brady won a superbowl his first year.

On top of that, Tom Brady refused to do commercials without other members of his team... while I can't watch anything sports related without seeing a Peyton Manning commercial. I hate Peyton Manning with a passion. Anyone who thinks Tom Brady and the Patriots are talked about more than the Colts and Manning are kidding themselves. When Tom Brady loses or gets injured, people celebrate. When Peyton Manning loses, he basically cries on the field and everyone feels sorry for him. I'm sorry but just no.

As for Belichick, he knows more about football than any other coach, and every other coach knows it. They hate him for it, but look what he's lost for football. You have to dedicate your life to it like he did to be at his level. People hate him for it, especially other coaches, but I don't envy the guy at all. He probably is one of the best coaches ever.

THE JACKAL

[Bunny]

Peyton Manning took years to become anything good

How do you figure this? I consider setting five NFL records in his rookie season while throwing almost 4,000 yards throughout (despite the high INT and the ending record of the team that season) a pretty good start. Considering the following year the Colts went 13-3 and have only had two losing seasons since Manning was named the starter, I don't necessary think that is "years to become anything good".

To each their own though. I'm not saying Brady is a horrible quarterback, quite the opposite in fact, I just don't like the way that the team is managed.

[ljkkjlcm9]

Peyton Manning took years to become anything good

How do you figure this? I consider setting five NFL records in his rookie season while throwing almost 4,000 yards throughout (despite the high INT and the ending record of the team that season) a pretty good start. Considering the following year the Colts went 13-3 and have only had two losing seasons since Manning was named the starter, I don't necessary think that is "years to become anything good".

To each their own though. I'm not saying Brady is a horrible quarterback, quite the opposite in fact, I just don't like the way that the team is managed.

He set five NFL ROOKIE records. They were not records in terms of the entire NFL. Rookie records are crap anyways, as are a lot of records.

The Colts tried to say something by benching their team the last 2 games... that all that really matters is the Superbowl. That was the statement. If you think the implications of that aren't true, you're just plain wrong. Everything is about the Superbowl, none of these other things even matter. That Patriots went undefeated but lost the Superbowl... what does it mean? Nothing. The only thing that matters in the end, is the Superbowl. That's why Dan Marino was really nothing special. They can say he was, but he really wasn't.

Manning started in 1998, took him til 2006 to win a Superbowl. Even Eli Manning won a Superbowl faster than he did.

I'm sorry but, I have always felt Peyton Manning was highly overrated (much better now). Good quarterback yes, but it took him YEARS not to choke in the big game. That's why Drew Bledsoe sucked, cause he would LOSE games for his team. That's what Peyton Manning use to do. That's what Donovan McNabb still does, that's what Tony Romo still does.

I mean the most Passing Yards this season was by Houston QB, they're not in the Playoffs. The most rushing yards this season was the Titans RB, they're not in the playoffs, Most Sacks Denver player, most Tackles San Fran player.... these numbers mean nothing.


PS: Some of these things that they throw out there in these games are absurd. The Ravens have never lost in December when it's below 50 degrees and they're winning by 14 in the third quarter at home and they have over 9 wins already that season.... I mean really, that's what some of this things they say actually ARE.

THE JACKAL

[charliepanayi]

I wonder if the Colts strategy from their final two games may backfire, it can mean you're left with a team that hasn't played together properly for almost a month come your first playoff game and the rustiness can occasionally be costly. Also I'm sure I read that the one Superbowl the Colts won in recent years was the one season when they didn't/couldn't rest any starters at the tail-end of the regular season. But they certainly have the ability to go all the way so we'll have to wait and see. Personally, I think it's a shame they didn't try and go for 16-0, the Patriots didn't lose to the Giants because they didn't rest anyone in the regular season! But if they win the Superbowl, it won't matter I guess.

And to be fair people weren't saying they thought Brady was a poor QB, they said they thought he was a tool.

[Raistlin]

That's why Dan Marino was really nothing special. They can say he was, but he really wasn't.

I suppose that makes sense if you've never actually watched football. You can say that about the team during Marino's career, but you can't say that about an individual player. The QB is just one player on a team, and you need a bunch more pieces to work well to win a Superbowl. Tom Brady did not "win" any Superbowls; he was part of a team that won it. The "look at the rings" argument to exclusively determine the ability of a player is ridiculous.


He set five NFL ROOKIE records. They were not records in terms of the entire NFL. Rookie records are crap anyways, as are a lot of records.

So a team winning a specific game is indicative of an individual player's ability, but actually looking at that player's stats is not? What sort of crazy moon logic is that?

[Raistlin]

Ok, so for anyone else watching this game: why are the announcers praising Lewis wasting his two challenges on two blatantly obvious calls in the first quarter? I think it was Theismann. God he's retarded.

[charliepanayi]

That's why they call them the Bungles huh. Those field goal attempts were horrific. Well done to the Jets, they've copped some unfair flak ('if the Colts and Bengals hadn't rested players they wouldn't be in the playoffs' etc) though it'll be very tough to go to San Diego or Indianapolis and win there.

[Raistlin]

The Bengals certainly returned to form this game after a good season. Carson Palmer looked terrible and Shayne Graham apparently can't hit the broad side of a barn.

[ljkkjlcm9]

meh, I don't think they stand a chance against either team. But I guess that's what football is about. Any team can win on any given day, regardless of anything.

THE JACKEL

[Raistlin]

Well the Eagles sucked it up again. McNabb was pretty terrible for most of the game. Did Vick end up with more passing yards? Probably not with garbage time (I stopped watching), but that would be funny.

Anyway, 50% on picks so far. :( Hopefully tomorrow's better.

[charliepanayi]

So...er...Baltimore 24-0 up and the first quarter not even over. Didn't see that coming.

[Raistlin]

That was an amazing first quarter to watch. Though unfortunately Baltimore had one major screwup to start off the second quarter, resulting in the Partiots's only points, but I can live with the halftime score.

Go Ravens!

[Flying Arrow]

3rd quarter in the Bal/NE match-up. I am loving this. Ravens looked a bit shaky near the end of the 2nd, though.

[Del Murder]

0-3 on my picks. :( COME ON PACK

[Raistlin]

It looks like I was the only one here to pick the Ravens. Suck on that, Patriots backers.

I predicted Green Bay to win, but I'm rooting for Arizona for the hell of it. Most people writing them off in the first round at home? Sounds a lot like last year, which was a highly entertaining run for them.

[charliepanayi]

Two non-existent defences = brilliant game between Green Bay and Arizona.

So next week it'll be:

NFC:
Dallas @ Minnesota
Arizona @ New Orleans

AFC:
New York Jets @ San Diego
Baltimore @ Indianapolis

Predictions? I'd take San Diego and Indianapolis in the AFC (though I'm starting to wonder about Baltimore), but I fancy two away wins in the NFC, Dallas and Arizona.

[Del Murder]

Cowboys
Saints
Chargers
Colts

0-4 last week. :(

[Bunny]

NFC:
Dallas @ Minnesota
Arizona @ New Orleans

AFC:
New York Jets @ San Diego
Baltimore @ Indianapolis

I want the Vikings to win but I think the Cowboys have been playing better football lately and have more of an edge. If Minnesota's defense can bring it then they will probably win. Saints over Arizona, because I completely undervalue the skill of the entire Cardinal's team and recognize that. I just like Brees that much.

From what clips I saw of the game yesterday, Baltimore's defense was unstoppable for most of the game. If they can bring that sort of pressure against the Colts, they stand a good chance of winning. That said, I think Manning flourishes under that kind of pressure and can probably overtake the Ravens by even a slim margin.

Cowboys over Minnesota
Saints over Cardinals
Chargers over Jets
Colts over Ravens

[Raistlin]

So history shows I should just take the opposite of what Del says. I predicted Green Bay but I was cheering on Arizona just for another chance at last year's run. I have no idea who to cheer for in their next matchup, because I like Brees, but another Cardinals run would be hilarious. Oh well, anyway, my predictions:

Minnesota over Dallas
New Orleans over Arizona
San Diego over NYJ
Baltimore over Indy

I'm going for another epic Indy playoff collapse after their starters having the past month or so off. Although that would manage to avoid their perennial late loss to San Diego, but Baltimore is a physical defensive team, and those are the ones that usually fluster the Colts.

I went with Minnesota over Dallas because of the rest and home field advantage. If Minnesota had played Dallas in the first round I might have gone the other way, but the rest should do Favre and their offense some good. And Romo has to collapse sometime, right?

I picked the Saints and San Diego just because they're fairly obvious picks, though I wouldn't be too surprised by another Arizona run of upsets. The Jets are the odd one out in this round.

[Del Murder]

The most obvious pick is San Diego. Norv Turner should be fired if they lose that game.

[Raistlin]

With the sole exception of Arizona's first play, New Orleans looks unstoppable. Three TDs in one quarter, and Brees's only incompletion is a throw-away. Ok, Arizona's defense is not exactly leading the league, but even their offense hasn't gotten anything started against New Orleans's D.

[Del Murder]

I changed the channel after Warner went down. I can't see them coming back.

[Raistlin]

Yeah, it wasn't even worth watching the second half.

Well I was feeling ok about my Baltimore pick for most of the half. Baltimore had put almost no pressure on Manning, but Indy had only managed 3 points. Until the two touchdowns in the last two minutes, anyway, which is probably it for Baltimore.

[Del Murder]

Baltimore is getting to Manning but they are pissing this away with things like fumbling an interception runback. Their offense hasn't done much so I can't see them getting 17+ in a quarter to win this one.

[Del Murder]

The announcers in this game really annoyed me.

'Hey that Reggie Wayne may do ok for himself.'
'That Ray Rice will be around for a long time.'
'Now Caldwell can put the Jets game to rest. Resting players worked.'

That last one really got to me. I like the Colts but I almost wished they lost because I HATE the idea of resting starters for whole or half games for the playoffs. These guys get paid to play. People pay a lot of money to go to these games to see stars like Manning, Wayne, etc. Winning the Super Bowl is not all there is to it or else teams that are eliminated from the playoffs wouldn't even field a team for their remaining games to get a better draft pick or not risk an injury that would hurt their team the next season. Sports are a form of entertainment, first and foremost. I just hate that rest your players mentality because it is selfish and unethical and I would wish that it backfires every time so that teams stop doing it.

[Raistlin]

'Hey that Reggie Wayne may do ok for himself.'
'That Ray Rice will be around for a long time.'

Haha, yeah, football announcers do have a tendency to not only state the obvious, but do it repetitively.


Winning the Super Bowl is not all there is to it or else teams that are eliminated from the playoffs wouldn't even field a team for their remaining games to get a better draft pick or not risk an injury that would hurt their team the next season. Sports are a form of entertainment, first and foremost. I just hate that rest your players mentality because it is selfish and unethical and I would wish that it backfires every time so that teams stop doing it.

I don't have any problem with coaches making a choice designed to give the team a better chance down the road. Do you have the same objection to starters sitting in a rout? My problem is that with resting starters for two weeks and then having an additional week off for a bye, there is foreseeable trouble for an offense-oriented team going up against a physical defense-oriented team. The Colts in fairly recent years are a prime example of that. It worked out well for them this time, but like you I was rooting for another failure.

[Del Murder]

I guess it's fine to put the backups in for a quarter if the game is well out of hand. I would have a problem doing that for an entire half (let alone entire games), outside some circumstance where you have some injury-prone superstar or something. I prefer though that they play hard the entire game. I hate that 'running up the score' bs. I loved when the Patriots kept throwing it when they were up by 4 TDs back in 07. This is a game of men, don't take it easy and don't hold back.

[Raistlin]

NFL announcers are almost universally terrible.

"At this point [on their own 2 yard line] the Cowboys are just trying to get one first down, to give their punter more room."

And then when there's a penalty called on the Vikings for running into the kicker, the announcers act like it was the VIKINGS's choice to decline it or not, and then spent most of the rest drive saying the Vikings made a bad choice because they were backed up a further 20 yards than on the first punt.

And now Romo just made a great pass right to a Vikings linebacker. Minnesota's pass rushing has been excellent so far.

[charliepanayi]

Get in there Minnesota :)

[Del Murder]

Another stinker. The games this weekend have been pretty lackluster.

[Raistlin]

Out of all the games likely to be within one possession at half time, the NYJ v. San Diego one was last on my list. Well, the Jets have sucked it up offensively, but the Chargers haven't done much either.

Also, how the hell was that Malcolm Floyd fumble an incomplete pass? It seemed obvious that he had possession.

[Raistlin]

Ahahahahahaha

Oh, San Diego. I predicted you to go further, but your epic collapse against a mediocre team that many had written off for the playoffs is amusing. Can we finally say goodbye to Norv Turner now?

[Del Murder]

I went 2-2, which is better than 0-4, but I did make this gem of a prediction:

The most obvious pick is San Diego. Norv Turner should be fired if they lose that game.
And he should. He is a crappy head coach. He was crappy with Oakland and he's crappy here. Just because you take a good team to the playoffs doesn't make you a good coach. Hell I could coach the Chargers to a playoff berth in that division.

For next week I pick the Saints and Colts. I think the Colts will rout NYJ, but Vikings-Saints should be something to watch.

I bet there has been some backlash for that last TD in the Minnesota game, but I loved it. Never stop playing hard.

[Raistlin]

Oh yeah, my next week predictions: the Colts are the easy pick (though I will be cheering for the Jets like crazy; I just don't expect to be cheering more than 10-15 minutes). I am really torn between the Saints and Vikings, though. On one hand, if the Vikings played like they did today, they will win. Brees is the heart and soul of that team, and if he gets 6 or 7 or 28 sacks or whatever number Romo was put down for, I don't see the Saints offense keeping up (Dallas was the team that finally beat them, and they have some of the top pass-rushing linemen). On the other hand, the Vikings defense won't have a week's rest and most importantly neither will Favre, who is like 70.

I am really up in the air. I think I'll say Minnesota for now, just because I'll be rooting for New Orleans, so at least I'll have that consolation if I'm right.

[charliepanayi]

Well done to the Jets, San Diego gave away some absurd penalties (kicking the challenge flag, what is he thinking?!). And their poor field goal kicker will probably have to walk around San Diego with a paper bag on his head for a while.

Not sure the Jets can get past the Colts but it would be funny if they did considering that it's the Colts who gave them a free pass into the playoffs with their resting players. People here are writing them off already, but then we all did the same before their last two games!

[ljkkjlcm9]

The only team left that I want to win is the Saints. As a patriots fan, both AFC teams are rivals of ours, and I'm sick of Brett Favre, though maybe winning the superbowl this year would make him retire for good.

THE JACKEL

[Jowy]

<img src=http://jomann.org/blog/uploaded_images/slowpoke-pokemon-721079.gif>

That Ben Roethlisberger's gonna get Pittsburgh a 7th trophy!

[charliepanayi]

OK, Colts and Saints to win tomorrow. Probably.

[Raistlin]

So when the QB hands off for a run then just stands there, and then gets wailed on a full 2-3 seconds later by a defender blitzing from the opposite direction... that's a penalty, right? Right?

[charliepanayi]

Damn I wanted the Jets to win :(

[Del Murder]

So when the QB hands off for a run then just stands there, and then gets wailed on a full 2-3 seconds later by a defender blitzing from the opposite direction... that's a penalty, right? Right?
Yeah that was weird.

Jets kept it close for most of the game, but Indy is the better team.

[Raistlin]

I was at first amused by the Rex Ryan apoplexy, but then they showed the reply and my mouth hung open. There was no one around either, so it was especially blatant. Too bad I really like Reggie Wayne, because I'm starting to dislike the Colts.

Indy is definitely the better team, though. But a Jets win would have scored so high not only as an upset but as divine justice (the Jets only got into the playoffs because Indy rested up week 16) that I had to root for it.

[eestlinc]

thank god the Jets lost. My sports year would be off to a horrible start if I had to watch the Jets in the Superbowl and then move to NY and listen to obnoxious Jets fans blab on about it forever.

[Raistlin]

This game is turning very ugly with all the turnovers. Peterson especially has apparently decided that Steve Slaton is his role model.

EDIT: Also, why the hell did Sean Payton decide to challenge that spot? I didn't see anything that would warrant reversal, and that's his last challenge.

[Raistlin]

Go Saints! That was a bull:bou::bou::bou::bou: pass interference call on the last drive, but I'm happy the Saints won anyway. Go kick some Indy ass!

[ljkkjlcm9]

Favre's last throw for the Packers was an interception, to the Giants, that went on for an upset win over the Patriots.

Now, possibly Favre's last throw for the Vikings, is an interception, to the Saints, who will probably be slight underdogs in this Superbowl... lol

GO SAINTS!

THE JACKEL

[charliepanayi]

Nice game there, can't believe Minnesota botched the chance at a field goal attempt at the end of normal time. But then considering how many times they gave up the ball it was a miracle they took it to OT at all I guess.

[NorthernChaosGod]

My Vikings. :(