NFL Playoffs Discuss & Picks

[Xerol]

Originally posted by The Yankee

And a bad job by CBS today. After the Jets/Dolphins game in the early afternoon, even though Jim Nantz said people will watch either the Packer/Bronco game or the Raiders against...whoever it was, CBS went to INFOMERCIALS!!! My God, where's the game!? I only saw the tail end of the Packers 31-3 win and a highlight of the Viking last-second loss during the Playoff Postgame show at 7 PM. All I had to watch was a marathon Carolina-Giants game 37-24 to finish out the Fassel era. Enteraining, but I would have rather watched the Packer game. Horrible job by CBS this week!

Don't blame the network, blame the local station. We got the Denver game after the Browns/Bengals on WJZ in Baltimore. Some weeks they don't show the second game although Channel 9 in washington(which i can barely get, because i live in the northern suburbs of baltimore) still carried a 4pm game. After the two touchdowns in :08 by the packers today, i flipped over to fox to see the other game(because Packers-Broncos was obviously over) and they were showing some movie. Actually, I can't say I've ever seen both stations(CBS 13 and FOX 45) carry a total of four games in one week...

 

[ChrTh]

@The Yankee:

It's not CBS' fault, it's how the league broadcast rules work. I forget how the exact parameters work, but it has something to do with the networks being not allowed to air games versus the home team when its an away game. Since you have two home teams, you're more or less screwed--unless you're a huge Giants or Jets fan.

 

[The Yankee]

I know...but it's still dumb. I do remember earlier in the season actually watching games in the afternoon that didn't have a lousy NY team in it.

I could almost see a blackout rule for a team in its own city, even if I don't agree with it, but a blackout rule for a city 1,500 miles away? Just because the Giants are about to go 4-12? Silly, to say the least.

 

[Syterion]

Wild Card Weekend!!
AFC
Tennessee at Baltimore - Tough one, but I have to go with Tennessee. Their run defense(number one, I believe) can hopefully stop Jamal Lewis from taking over the game, then they can go against Baltimore's defense, and Tennessee has proven it can beat down good defenses.

Denver at Indianopolis - Also, tough, but I'm going with Denver, because of their solid pass defense, and Edgerrin James has a poor average. Clinton Portis(if well) will run all over their defense.

NFC
Seattle at Green Bay - Seattle is good, but on the road they are 2-6, and at Lambeau field they will not have it so easy. GB I think, will win by quite a lot, I believe. I think I heard somewhere that GB has lost one playoff game at home in franchise history. Last time GB faced Seattle, GB won 35-13.

Dallas at Carolina - Gotta go with Dallas, they won last time, and Carolina has been struggling against good teams lately.

 

[tjedge1]

Week 17 results:

11-5 China444
10-6 Syterion, Daniel Kahn, pawpaw
9-7 Darkness
8-8 Jonny11788
7-9 tjedge1

My picks for the playoffs:
Tennessee over Baltimore
Dallas over Carolina
Green Bay over Seattle
Denver over Indianapolis


updated first post standings, etc.

 

[Azale]

Originally posted by tjedge1


I understand your defense for Denver and I hate to say it as a semi-Cowboys fan that I retract my above remark. Carolina might give them a chance, but the way Quincy played this week was depressing.

As far as Kingsbury or Huard not being able to step in and win if Brady was hurt. I disagree. No one thought Brady would fill Bledsoe's shoes either, but he has and more. The coach makes this team win not the individuals. They are a team in every definition. The same as they were when they won their last Superbowl. That doesn't make them unstoppable, but it makes them hard to beat.

I do underestimate Portis maybe. The reason there are a lot of weapons is because of the o-line in Denver. What happened to Olindas Gary after he left Denver? I don't see him with 1200 yards a season when he plays somewhere else?

I'll give Denver this. They could beat Indy (because this team is coached by a guy who hasn't done well in big games with a QB who can't shake the big game choke rumor.) They could beat KC (who can't stop the run against any decent running team.) They could beat Baltimore (They only made the playoffs due to winning a lousy division.)
I won't admit that Denver is able to beat Tennessee or New England. Tennessee is the most talented team and the toughest, and New England is hard to beat because they really want it.

The Rams: Well that was not a good effort. I hope that isn't the way they plan to play in the playoffs.

Quincy did what he could. Hambrick ran for 30 yards, and Glenn fell on the final pass, which he wouldve caught. QC had to pass 47 times in a run oriented offense, and threw three picks. I wouldnt blame QC solely for the loss.

Your really making it seem like anybody can step in and succeed in NE. Which really lessens the impact of what Brady has done for them. 8-0 in overtime games? The anti-Manning? You make it seem like Ryan Leaf could win there.

Olandis Gary ran 1200 yards. Portis has run over 1600 yads his first two seasons, plus he comes out of Miami. Gary was a little overrated, but I dont think it Portis is.

Week 18 (Wild Card Weekend) Matchups
Tennessee at Baltimore *Upset!*
Dallas at Carolina
Seattle at Green Bay
Denver at Indianapolis

 

[china444]

I knew my saints would beat the Cowgirls.

You should hire some new WR's who can stand on their own two feet!

 

[Syterion]

Azale, which are you picking, Dallas or Carolina?

 

[Azale]

Originally posted by china444
I knew my saints would beat the Cowgirls.

You should hire some new WR's who can stand on their own two feet!

Just like you knew Carney would make that PAT

And I knew theyd lose too, because it was a meaningless game. The cowboys are actually in the playoffs...


btw, im picking the Cowboys over the Panthers, kinda boldened both I see

 

[tjedge1]

Ok so Portis is better than Gary. My point was that even a nobody like Gary could run in Denver. Portis is good, but he gets too much credit. His O-line is what makes him a star, not just another good player.

Brady is a decent enough qb, and he is a great clutch player, but my point was that Belichick is the real leader of the team. It doesn't matter who plays for him, he can make players give their best. I wonder if he got that from Parcells or the other way around.

You're right about QC, but he did throw 2 picks before that and one was in the redzone. I never liked Hmabrick anyway, so he can take the majority of the blame as well.

 

[CellarDweller22]

Originally posted by Jonny11788
For your viewing (and picking) pleasure...

Week 18 (Wild Card Weekend) Matchups
Tennessee at Baltimore, Saturday 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Dallas at Carolina, Saturday 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Seattle at Green Bay, Sunday 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Denver at Indianapolis, Sunday 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS

First of all, I just have two words for all of you......

PRIEST HOLMES!

27 rushing touchdowns...... I don't care about the defense (which played VERY WELL vs Chicago, btw..... a team that won at Mile High.... the Chiefs D always plays better with the lead. Blame the OFFENSE for the massacre in Minnesota..... that and the absolutely RIDICULOUS call with the Minnesota player batting the ball from out of bounds, then the dude RECOVERING the "fumble" ALSO stepped out of bounds before recovering it. 7-7 instead of 14-0 makes a big psychological difference that early in a game).

Ok, now for the picks.

Game 1: Baltimore (and their 4,000 yard rusher, or whatever )

Game 2: Dallas (Parcells.... enough said)

Game 3: Green Bay (Favre.... enough said.... oh, AND Lambeau Field )

Game 4: Denver (Indy is the only team that makes KC's rush D look good.... )

Happy picking, all!

-- From The Cellar

 

[The Yankee]

Okay, if I had to pick...

Winners would be:
Titans over Ravens
Cowboys over Panthers
Packers over Seahawks
Broncos over Colts

I'm not quite sold that the Ravens can pull it out over Tennessee.

I'm not too fond of the Cowboys' talent level this year, but they're going up against a team that waned late in the season. I mean, the Panthers actually gave up 24 points to the Giants and had some sloppy special teams play. Cowboys win by default.

Even though Green Bay lost its first home playoff game last year to the Falcons, I think they will win here. Favre is riding high and so is Ahman Green. Green finished with almost 1900 yards this season and Favre led the league in touchdown passes again while peiople like Bubba Franks come up big in certain moments and improved this year. The early season struggles are gone. I doubt Holmgren ever thought he would face the Packers in the playoffs at Lambeau when he signed up for the Seahawks 4 years and a conference ago.

I'm still not confident that the Colts can win the big game. This is the same team that got pounded by the Jets last year. Portis and a rested Shannon Sharpe will have a field day against the Colts. I think Denver will win by two touchdowns.

 

[Syterion]

Everybody seems to be picking the same teams, except for Azale and CellarDweller.

Game 1: Baltimore (and their 4,000 yard rusher, or whatever )

You forget that Tennessee has the best rushing D in the league, and the 5th best offense in scoring. Not to mention IMO the best quaarterback in the NFL. Also, Baltimore's entire offense is Jamal Lewis. Tennessee won't be able to shut him down, but they will not let him win the game for the Ravens. And the Ravens have the WORST passing game in the NFL.

 

[CellarDweller22]

EDIT: Yikes! double post, even though I clicked EDIT! Sorry....

 

[CellarDweller22]

So.... what we are REALLY saying is.....

KC offense with Tennessee defense wins the Super Bowl! Enough said!

-- From The Cellar

P.S. Can we still lobby to use another team's defense?

 

[tjedge1]

Originally posted by CellarDweller22
So.... what we are REALLY saying is.....

KC offense with Tennessee defense wins the Super Bowl! Enough said!

-- From The Cellar

P.S. Can we still lobby to use another team's defense?

I would say that would be a tough team, especially since KC already has one of the best coaches in the league. Imagine, if he had a defense like that, what he could do.

 

[Azale]

Originally posted by Syterion
And the Ravens have the WORST passing game in the NFL.

No, the Bills do

 

[Daniel Khan]

Week 18 (Wild Card Weekend) Matchups
Tennessee at Baltimore*, Saturday 4:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Dallas* at Carolina, Saturday 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Seattle at Green Bay*, Sunday 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Denver at Indianapolis*, Sunday 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS

 

[gunning1]

Well, for the Rams, the offensive line broke down too much. It caused Bulger to fumble twice, get sacked about 4 times, hurried about 7, and he threw an interception. It might be about time to try Warner again.

Oh yeah, Bulger did get hurt too. A bruise on his elbow or something. The offensive line needs some help, but the defense also allowed 30 points. Bad mistakes all around caused that lose.

 

[Syterion]

The Rams wouldn't be stupid enough to change quarterbacks in the beginning of the playoffs. Remember that speech where the coach said, "yeah, but, yeah, but , yeah, but, Marc Bulger is our quarterback," repeatedly for about five minutes straight.

Daniel Khan, I'm interested why you think Indy will beat Denver.