The Wildcard Weekend Thread

[smh810 0]

Heres my predictions for next week:

 

Seattle will wake up and beat St. Louis. The Seahawks can be really good when they want to be and the Rams are just so bad that I cant see them winning for a 3rd straight time. The Seahawks will take a big lead with the Rams making it interesting late in the game but this time Seattle will hang on.

 

The Chargers will not only beat the Jets they will blow them out. Chad Pennington sucks on the road right now and I dont see that changing against a pretty good Charger defense. Plus the Rams exposed holes in the Jets secondary *coughsDavidBarrettcoughs* Look for 35-14 esque romp here.

 

Indy and Denver will be an interesting game and maybe the best matchup of the week. I look for a fairly tight game but I dont trust Jake Plummer to win a playoff game on the road. He'll have at least 2 picks and the Colts will win 34-20

 

Green Bay will once again beat Minnesota. The Vikings choked once again today but still backed in the playoffs and while they may make it competitive I simply cannot picture them going into Lambeau and beating the Packers.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I'm surprised a lot of people here are giving the Chargers the benefit of the doubt against Jets considering Jets defeated Chargers earlier in the season IN San Diego.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

That was in week 2. Before the Chargers figured out what they were doing.

 

They have been soundly more consistant this season then the Jets.

[Richard 0]

That was week 2. Things change.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

That was in week 2. Before the Chargers figured out what they were doing.

 

They have been soundly more consistant this season then the Jets.

That may be so. I just feel they are setting the city up for a disappointment (and I know this since I live in San Diego), much like the Chicago Bears did in 2001 (when I lived there... maybe I'm a bad luck charm).

[Richard 0]

I'm just trying to stay positive.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

I predict:

 

- Packers def. Minnesota

- Rams def. Seahawks

 

- Chargers def. Jets

- Colts def. Broncos

 

Setting up

 

Philadelphia Eagles Vs. St. Louis Rams (Eagles win)

Green Bay Packers Vs. Atlanta Falcons (Falcons win)

 

Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Indianapolis Colts (Colts win)

New England Patriots Vs. San Diego Chargers (Pats win)

 

Eagles/Falcons and Colts/Pats

 

Eagles/Colts Super Bowl 39.

 

Colts win.

 

But I'd love the Birds to win, I'm sure you know.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Eagles/Colts Super Bowl 39.

 

Colts win.

 

But I'd love the Birds to win, I'm sure you know.

You really don't think the Eagles can defend the Colts' passing attack? They have decent corners and they got one of the best safeties in the NFL...

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

I think we're due for a legit upset in a Superbowl again(which was ??? Nameth? I mean legit upset, not Denver over Packers like some consider it a upset, i think a strong majority gave Elway a chance). So the NFC winning(any of them) would be it as long as it's over the 15-1 Steelers or 14-2 Defending Champion Patriots or even the amazing colt offense.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Slasher, EVERY time the McNabb Eagles team has played the Colts, its been *brutal*.

 

Only 2 times, but its been spread out, and like 44-15 and 40-8 or such, respectively.

[smh810 0]

Dont even try comparing the 2001 Bears to this years Chargers. The Chargers are a legitamately very good football team. The Bears were more of a .500 team but won 5 games they really had no business winning. Philly exposed them for the frauds that they were in the playoffs.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Slasher, EVERY time the McNabb Eagles team has played the Colts, its been *brutal*.

 

Only 2 times, but its been spread out, and like 44-15 and 40-8 or such, respectively.

Didn't the Eagles say though that Owens would be back in time for the Super Bowl should they make it that far?

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

The Bears of '01 won like 3 games in OT and about 3 others on the final play.

 

They rightfully got beat down by Philly.

 

Jordan's return that day overshadowed the game too, which was Hilarious.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

No, the Eagles did not say that.

 

Brave TO said "you'll have to straight jacket me to keep me out of the Super Bowl".

 

The doctors reluctantly said there's an outside chance. They did an experimental surgery for TO. A PLATE and 2 screws, as opposed to just one screw.

 

Grant Hill (who had the same doctor fuck up his foot) badmouthed the doctor and warned TO not to come back.

 

Most analysts doubt TO can come back and think it'd be foolish.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

Slasher, EVERY time the McNabb Eagles team has played the Colts, its been *brutal*.

 

Only 2 times, but its been spread out, and like 44-15 and 40-8 or such, respectively.

Didn't the Eagles say though that Owens would be back in time for the Super Bowl should they make it that far?

there is a *chance*. He'll be 50-65% by then. He might get in on a Play or two but he wont be playing.

 

Philly was just trying to keep the spirit of the city up...

 

T.O isn't going to play anyways; he pretty much said "not a chance". He wants and understandably so conserve his health for a future career.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Dont even try comparing the 2001 Bears to this years Chargers. The Chargers are a legitamately very good football team. The Bears were more of a .500 team but won 5 games they really had no business winning. Philly exposed them for the frauds that they were in the playoffs.

To be honest though, Chargers hasn't really won any games against good teams. They crumbled to Falcons, Jets, Colts, and the Broncos.

 

They won against the Raiders twice, Chiefs twice, Titans, Texans, Jaguars, Broncos once, Panthers, Saints, Bucs and some other team I forget who.

 

Any moderately decent team could run that record up against that field of opponents.

[Slayer 0]

I think we're due for a legit upset in a Superbowl again(which was ??? Nameth? I mean legit upset, not Denver over Packers like some consider it a upset, i think a strong majority gave Elway a chance).

I think Denver over Green Bay was a pretty legit upset. Denver was a wild card team that played close games against KC and Pittsburgh in the AFC playoffs and then had to face the defending SB champs.

 

Other notable upsets were Patriots over Rams in '01 and Giants over Bills in '91.

[Richard 0]

Browns

[therealworldschampion 0]

Slasher, EVERY time the McNabb Eagles team has played the Colts, its been *brutal*.

 

Only 2 times, but its been spread out, and like 44-15 and 40-8 or such, respectively.

 

I actually hope that out of the 3 power teams in the AFC that the Eagles get the Colts if the Eagles make it there, simply because of Manning's history in big games.

[Slayer 0]

And add me to the list of people who think the Jets will beat San Diego

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Giants over Bills in '91.

Great game. Giants forcing the Bills to retard their play down to the Giants' level with excellent ball control. Regardless I don't see why that's considered an upset. (Yes I know Bills only lost on a missed FG, but it's a loss well earned IMO).

[Slayer 0]

By the alternating year pattern (going back to '97) of good/bad Super Bowls, this year's SB will suck.

[smh810 0]

To be honest though, Chargers hasn't really won any games against good teams. They crumbled to Falcons, Jets, Colts, and the Broncos.

 

They won against the Raiders twice, Chiefs twice, Titans, Texans, Jaguars, Broncos once, Panthers, Saints, Bucs and some other team I forget who.

 

Any moderately decent team could run that record up against that field of opponents.

 

So what, they beat the teams they were supposed to beat and usually not in some fluke fashion. Thats what good teams do. Plus, I wouldnt dismiss Jacksonville, Denver and even Houston as a pushover. Those are solid teams that San Diego beat. They had Indy on the ropes in the 4th quarter before they blew it. Now granted, that shows an inability to close a game which will catch up to them in the playoffs and it keeps them from being a Super Bowl contender in my opinion. However, that wont affect them at all next week against the Jets.

[Slayer 0]

Giants over Bills in '91.

Great game. Giants forcing the Bills to retard their play down to the Giants' level with excellent ball control. Regardless I don't see why that's considered an upset. (Yes I know Bills only lost on a missed FG, but it's a loss well earned IMO).

The Bills were pretty favored over the Giants (don't remember the exact line though) because of their no-huddle offense and their coming off a shellacking of the Raiders in the AFC final, while the Giants hadn't exactly set the world on fire in their playoff run, beating two-time defending SB champ San Fransisco with 5 FGs and nothing else.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Like I said, I didn't consider it an upset. The Giants clearly outplayed Bills, and it showed, not in a form of a blowout, but in the form of making the Bills look lost and clueless on the field holding their dicks in their hands while the Giants dispelled the no-huddle offense with a great defense and time-consuming offense.

 

As for smh810, I sure hope you're right and that Chargers prove me wrong. I won't hold my breath though.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

I think we're due for a legit upset in a Superbowl again(which was ??? Nameth? I mean legit upset, not Denver over Packers like some consider it a upset, i think a strong majority gave Elway a chance).

I think Denver over Green Bay was a pretty legit upset. Denver was a wild card team that played close games against KC and Pittsburgh in the AFC playoffs and then had to face the defending SB champs.

 

Other notable upsets were Patriots over Rams in '01 and Giants over Bills in '91.

how did I neglect to remember Pats/Rams? It was only 4 years ago.

 

I know the Packers were favored in the spread but I always thought in the back of my mind; Denver's winning this one.

 

I guess it was a case of "everyone WANTS this team to win but doesn't think they can"

 

I guess Green Bay playing the Denver role against Indy would be rather interesting to see this year...since it'd be a role reversal.

 

Grizzled past his prime underdog fan favorite future hofer(elway/favre) V.dominant qb in the PEAK of his career(Favre/manning

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I guess Green Bay playing the Denver role against Indy would be rather interesting to see this year...since it'd be a role reversal.

 

Grizzled past his prime underdog fan favorite future hofer(elway/favre) V.dominant qb in the PEAK of his career(Favre/manning

If the Packers were to meet the Colts in the Super Bowl, I'd root for Favre because god knows it's probably his last shot.

[teke184 0]

It will officially be the Broncos in Indi. I can't recall a time a team beat another team in the final week to make it into the playoffs, only to have to go to the opposing team's homefield the following week for said playoff game.

Rams at the Saints in 2000

[4hartthreat 0]

For the question of which quarterback is least expendable to his team, the answer is Vick and Brady. The Falcons are basically nothing without Vick and the Pats need Brady's calm and leadership to lead the team down the field to kick a game winning field goal.

 

As for playoff predictions, there are two locks as far as I'm concerned, one almost lock, and a toss up game.

 

Lock # 1 is Indy over Denver. Denver has NO shot and anyone who thinks otherwise is a Denver fan or just wacky. I don't even think this needs to be gone into.

 

Lock # 2 is San D over NYJ. Weeks ago I would have said this would be the best match-up of the weekend and anyone's game. But after the Chargers play over the last two weeks, holding Indy down for 3 quarters and really holding down a great Cheifs offense that has been scoring close to 40 points a game lately, and especially after seeing Chad's media meltdown and the way he's played since especially against the Rams with playoffs on the line, the Chargers should take this in a walk.

 

The almost lock is GB over Min. The Vikings didn't back into the playoffs, they slipped and rolled down a hill into them and the fact that they are in and the Saints (arguably the hottest team in the NFC) aren't is a real shame. Packers have been playing well and have beat the Vikings twice already. The only reason this isn't a sure lock is both games have been close, and of course the Vikes have an awful lot of offensive talent, they'll be damned if they know how to use it though.

 

So the toss up game is obviously St. Lou at Sea. Rams have beaten Seahawks twice already, but Hawks win the division anyway. I'm going with the Rams in this one because I think their offense is just too potent for the Hawks horribly struggling defense and mostly because Martz obviously hit his head and has decided to run Steven Jackson a lot.

 

Just quick picks for the rest of the way if these do come to pass:

 

AFC

Pats over Colts

Steelers over Chargers

 

NFC

double upsets Pack over Falcons

Rams over Eagles

 

then Pats over Steelers

Packers over Rams

 

SB

Pats over Pack

[Guest Failed Mascot]

First off I think we should give each game its own thread when the weekend does come. It'll be better that way.

 

As for my picks...well here ya go

 

Green Bay over Minn - Mike Tice stares blankly off into the distance as his team follows his lead of being stupid. Moss leaves the field with 3min left and down by 10. Mike Tice devotes off-season to learning how to tie his own shoes.

 

Rams over Seattle - Shaun Alexander scores 3 first half TDs and then gains all of 4 yards in the second half. Stephen Jackson and Torry Holt prove to be too much for Seattle's "defense". Mike Holmgren goes off to his Walrus Palace of Solitude afterwards.

 

San Diego over Jets - Chad Pennington injures himself during the coin toss and the Chargers go Play Action all over the Jets weak secondary. Herm Edwards declares a moral victory was won and is fired 2 weeks later.

 

Denver over Indi - INDI HAS NO DEFENSE. They didn't rest any of their starters on defense today in that loss. They suck that bad.

 

If I'm right that makes next week's match-ups

 

St. Louis at Philli

Green Bay at Atlanta

San Diego at New England

Denver at Pitts