Divisional Playoffs Prediction Thread

[Cartman 0]

I just cannot WAIT til 4:30PM EST Sunday...

 

If the Pats win, it will be because they played the Colts the way you need to play the Colts to beat them. Cover the recievers and let James run all over the place. Running the ball take much more time off the clock than passing obviously, and the less time the Colts offense takes to score the more chances they have to keep scoring throughout the game. Pats need to take away the quick scoring passing game from the Colts and be able to get multiple first downs when they are on offense with the run and the short passes.

 

No doubt in my mind that both offenses are going to get plenty of ball movement in this game, and the Colts will definitely rack up much more total yardage than the Patriots, but the Red Zone is the key here. The Pats are one of the best Red Zone defenses in the NFL. They are notorious for allowing teams to march up and down the field and rack up tons of yards, but the points are a whole different story. I'm sure there's a way to look up exact stats but i'm too lazy to bother right now, but I always seem to see the Pats get the big turnover in the red zone, if not then only allow a FG.

 

Either way it's going to be a big game.

 

If the Colts beat the Pats there is NO doubt in my mind that they win the Super Bowl and Manning finally gets over the hump of being a great QB that "cant win the big games". This weekend is as big of a game as you can get.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

The Patriots have only allowed 15 FG all year, the lowest total in the league, Also the Patriots have allowed only 9 rushing TD(T-5th) vs 18 receiving TD. So as Cartman stated, if the Pats can stop the Colts passing game then the Colts will need a way to score points in the RZ if they want to win this game.

[therealworldschampion 0]

I know this isn't playoff-related, but Ben Roethlisberger is going to donate his first playoff check of $18,000 to the tsunami relief effort as reported by the AP.

 

Steelers QB Gives $18,000 to Tsunami Aid

 

Tue Jan 11, 6:12 PM ET 

 

By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer

 

PITTSBURGH - Ben Roethlisberger has surprised his Pittsburgh Steelers (news)' teammates many times during his unbeaten rookie season. He did so again Tuesday, announcing he'll donate his first NFL playoff paycheck to the tsunami victims relief effort.

 

 

Even on a team that openly encourages its players to participate in charity activities and community events, Roethlisberger's $18,000 gesture before Saturday's Jets-Steelers game created a positive stir.

 

 

"Wow, I didn't even know that," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "Guys do a lot of different things in different ways that people don't always hear about, but that's great — that's for a great cause, definitely. That's a big tragedy, and I hope everyone will at least donate (something)."

 

 

Unlike the regular season, when each player earns a weekly share of his base salary, playoff salaries are determined by the league's collective bargaining agreement and each player is paid the same.

 

 

Roethlisberger, who is 13-0 as a rookie quarterback, hopes other NFL players will follow his lead.

 

 

"I'm going to donate my game check this week to the tsunami relief — and hopefully maybe (it will be) a challenge for other people to do that, too," Roethlisberger said.

 

 

Roethlisberger became motivated to act after numerous NBA players — including Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal and Bob Sura — donated $1,000 per point scored last weekend to the relief effort. The NBA players' union also donated $500,000, and the NBA will match the gift.

 

 

In the NFL, the Patriots made playoff tickets available to fans who donated at least $1,000 to efforts to aid the estimated 5 million tsunami victims.

 

 

"A game check isn't anything like some of the Yankees and some of those people who've donated a million dollars, but every little thing they can get can help," Roethlisberger said. "Hopefully, it's a challenge to other NFL players. We've seen the NBA players do it."

 

 

Roethlisberger, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has a base salary of $230,000, but also will collect $9 million in signing and roster bonuses by early next year and as much as $2.6 million in first-season performance bonuses.

 

 

Roethlisberger's gesture impressed Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who has talked all season about the rookie's maturity.

 

 

"That's a heck of a gesture on his part. That says a lot about the kid for him to do something like that," Cowher said. "I've said all along the kid's got a great perspective on things and that's another example of it."

 

 

No other Steelers players have said if they will match Roethlisberger's gesture, which was announced just before practice and may not yet be known to them.

[Only The Strong Survive 0]

Steelers, Falcons, Vikings, Patriots

[megaadvice 0]

Steelers 17-3 Jets

Rams 20-31 Falcons

Colts 41-24 Pats

Vikings 24-27 Eagles

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

The Colts will embarass the Patriots worse than the Dolphins did, The Steelers will win in a tight game, and time will catch up with the NFC underdogs.

[Cartman 0]

The Colts will embarass the Patriots worse than the Dolphins did

I wish we could make a bet on that.

 

If anything it's going to be a close game.

[Damaramu 0]

All I know is that the Eagles are winning and that's all there is to it. The Vikes offense will not be able to handle our defense and Kearse will be in Dante's face all day.

 

As for the other games I have the Falcons, Steelers and I refuse to make a pick for the Colts/Patriots game b/c I have no fucking clue. I'm just going to sit back enjoy it and not root for anyone.

[Cartman 0]

I agree with Dama(welcome back BTW). Philly will make quick work of the Vikes especially if Moss is unable to play or run hard. Philly has a much better defense.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

I have no fucking clue.

understatement of the century.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

By the way, I have been hearing stuff about the Colts making excuses for last year's loss to the Pats. Anyone clarify this for me?

[Guest Failed Mascot]

By the way, I have been hearing stuff about the Colts making excuses for last year's loss to the Pats. Anyone clarify this for me?

Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning complained that the CBs were allowed to play "too physical". To Manning's credit though he did come back and say "I just wish our guys would have done the same".

 

Dungy also complained about the condition of the field even though the NFL made them resod it only 3-4 weeks prior. Somebody should have told Tony that grass doesn't grow up here round this time of the year, so when it gets chewed up by spikes and shit...well...you gotta deal.

 

Basically Dungy just whined and cried and then went to the Competition Committee alongside Mike Martz and complained.

 

On an unrelated note Ty Law was out for most of the initial match-up this year between the Pats and Colts with a hamstring injury. The Pats still won.

[Sass 0]

Steelers

Rams

Pats

Vikings

 

The Steelers *backups* can field a decent team. Pennington and the Jets should win an SB down the line but not now. Especially now against this Steelers team. CP's been injured too much this season. Mike Martz will not let himself get embarassed by Atlanta again, especially not with all that's on the line. The Falcs and Rams game could be a classic. I think the Pats are still good enough to keep Peyton Manning on his toes and stop him from lighting their team up with TD's. This game looks like it could be close though. Also, I just don't see the Colts defense messing with Brady again as long as Belichek is at the healm. This guy probably already figured out what he did wrong against the Colts the last time they met up and has a whole new game plan ready for them. I don't think the Pats will need to batter the WR's this year in order to stop them. They look like they could hang with those guys. This game could be beautiful to watch.

 

And Smith/Bennett > Westbrook. I don't see the Eagles D being able to stop Randy Moss or the run.

[CanadianChris 0]

All I know is that the Eagles are winning and that's all there is to it. The Vikes offense will not be able to handle our defense and Kearse will be in Dante's face all day.

I can give you three reasons why the Vikings can win this game:

 

1) The Eagles starters are rusty, having not played in a month.

2) Relating to 1), losing TO hurts even more because the offense hasn't had a chance to sort out who will be the go-to guy and build confidence they can win without him.

3) If Moss is healthy, he could have a field day against the Eagles secondary.

 

The key for Philadelphia is to get out to a quick start. Minnesota can put up points in a hurry, and if Philly gets into a big hole they could get even tighter as the crowd gets on them.

 

I think Philly is the play here, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Minnesota win this game.

 

And who is this "our" you speak of?

[the pinjockey 0]

I don't think Moss is going to be that big of a factor, as they were able to keep him to small, underneath catches in the first meeting (I believe 8 catches, but only around 60 yards) and I see no reason for that to change as the defense is playing much better now.

[Brett Favre 0]

I'm not making predictions for the Jet/Steeler game, but what the Jets have going for them is Big Ben's inexperience in the playoffs, as well as not playing in about 3 weeks. Chad Pennington will have to throw downfield again in order to open up the defense for Curtis Martin and LaMont Jordan instead of the other way around. Jordan should play a big role in this game if given the chance; hopefully the Jets go back to the 3-4 spread with Jordan/Martin in the slot splitting with Wayne Chrebet to try and spread the ball around. Moss is going to be the deep threat, McCareins the inside threat, and Chrebet being back helps the 3rd down situation a bit.

 

On the defensive end, they must, must shake up Ben early in the game, sack him a few times, and get him rattled. If they stop the running a game, they would be in good position to win this game by making Ben throw more times than he would be expected to throw. John Abraham playing would be a huge plus as double teaming him would only help Ellis, Robertson, and Ferguson, as well as Thomas.

 

Hackett called a good game against the Chargers, hopefully he keeps being the opposite of conservative this time around once again.

[Damaramu 0]

And who is this "our" you speak of?

I refer to the teams that I'm a diehard fan of as "us" and "our" and if you have a problem with it then get the fuck over it and don't troll me. I came back to this board to start over and I don't need you guys trying to cause more trouble for me.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

I refer to the teams that I'm a diehard fan of as "us" and "our"

...

[Damaramu 0]

I refer to the teams that I'm a diehard fan of as "us" and "our"

...

Yeah you got a problem with that? Can you somehow prove that I'm not a fan of the Eagles? I didn't think so. So fuck off.

Like I said I came back to the board to start anew and I don't need you guys starting shit with me when I'm not doing anything but posting. So get over it.

[therealworldschampion 0]

I don't think I'll get between the Dama/FM lovefest so I'll respond to pinjockey's post:

 

I don't think Moss is going to be that big of a factor, as they were able to keep him to small, underneath catches in the first meeting (I believe 8 catches, but only around 60 yards) and I see no reason for that to change as the defense is playing much better now.

 

He's hobbled by that ankle too, and Sheppard is nowhere near as bad as Al Harris is. Remember that Tice will probably still call a shitload of passing plays and ignore the run as well.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

I just made a laughy face. Can't fault a man laughing at what I quoted.

 

It now appears that half the Colts starting D-line will be out Sunday. Everybody keeps harping about how the Pats defense is injured but last I checked the Colts gotta play that side of the ball too.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

As for Damaramu and FM, I don't give a flying fuck who started it. Knock it off.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Why I think the Eagles will win...

 

1) There has been so much talk about how they will be rusty that they will make sure that they won't be for this game. It will be the NFC Championship where the layoff will come into play. Just like when you come back from a lengthy vacation and go back to work. The first day back is easy. It is the second day that's difficult.

2) Moss is not healthy and Philly's secondary is much better than Green Bay's.

3) Philly might not know how well they will do without TO, but Minnesota won't either. I have more faith in the Philadelphia offense than I do the Minnesota defense.

 

Let's be honest. If Minnesota wins this game, it is 100% going to be on the back of Daunte Culpepper. He has to be dominant. Much like Manning against the Pats.

[therealworldschampion 0]

1) There has been so much talk about how they will be rusty that they will make sure that they won't be for this game. It will be the NFC Championship where the layoff will come into play. Just like when you come back from a lengthy vacation and go back to work. The first day back is easy. It is the second day that's difficult.

 

Agreed. Much like McNabb's injury in 2002. He looked decent in the 1st playoff game against Atlanta, then looked really off his game against Tampa in the championship game. This is where I think the weakness of the NFC comes into play as they won't have to face a great defense like Tampa's was in 2002 or Carolina's was in 2003.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Ya'll need to stop overestimating the rookie factor.

[KingPK 0]

I really don't think BenRo's rookie experience will really effect anything, since the guy is so well protected with that defense and running game. Numbers wise, he didn't have anything close to a Pro Bowl season, but he didn't screw up at the worst possible times, which needs to continue over the next 3 weeks.

 

But if a team contains Bettis/Staley, and the defense isn't up to snuff, I would worry about putting the game in Ben's hands, because he's never been in that kind of situation in the pros.

[iggymcfly 0]

I have no fucking clue.

understatement of the century.

I'm not a big enough dick to leave it there very long, but this is so funny that I have to put it in my sig.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

The Colts need to spread the field out dramatically, and run that Pats secondary until they want to puke.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Also, another interesting facet of that Pats team that people rarely talk about is their Linebackers. They are all capable of dropping back into coverage to help cover the underneath routes(where Brandon Stokely and Marvin Harrison come into play) and can pick off the ball as well as anybody else in the NFL. I think in order to get ahead, Manning needs to go deep to keep the secondary back, then start mixing in the run to keep the defense on their toes. Tedy Bruschi is the primary example of this as he can play against the run and just as easily drop back into coverage which creates havoc for the QB when it's mixed in with Belichik's schemes. Patriot LB's had 6 INT on the season with Bruschi having 3 of them.

 

If I were the Colts, I'd be working the deep routes and then just running the ball up the middle to work the LB's stamina. As they move down the field, slowly start working in the short passes but use routes where Peyton can get the ball out quickly so the LB and secondary don't have time to catch up to the WR/TE/RB and allow them to try and gain extra yards themselves.

[Damaramu 0]

I have no fucking clue.

understatement of the century.

I'm not a big enough dick to leave it there very long, but this is so funny that I have to put it in my sig.

Wow what the hell is up with you guys?

I came back to the board and I haven't started shit since I came back. I haven't even mentioned what got me banned in the first place. However now you guys are the ones following me around and starting shit and trying to cause a big flamewar. And I haven't done shit. So back off and leave me alone or else quit complaining about me whenever you talk about trolls b/c you guys are the ones starting all the trolling and flaming now.