Divisional Playoffs Prediction Thread

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

My predictions...

 

Philadelphia over Minnesota

 

Owens or no Owens, I just don't see how the league's 26th best defense can beat the league's second best.

 

Atlanta over St. Louis

 

The Rams are a remarkably mediocre team all around. Atlanta is the only NFC team outside Philadelphia that belongs.

 

New England over Indianapolis

 

This is as good a match-up as we could get in the playoffs. The weather and Indianapolis' relatively weak defense should make the difference.

 

Pittsburgh over NY Jets

 

NY's primary weapon is their rushing attack, and the Steelers kill the run. Pittsburgh's got a chance to rank among the greatest teams, and I think it will take more than the Jets to stop them.

[CanadianChris 0]

Pittsburgh over NY Jets

 

NY's primary weapon is their rushing attack, and the Steelers kill the run.

Same can be said for the Steelers. The Jets just shut the running game right down in the first meeting. I think it's going to come down to special teams and which QB is more poised.

[C Dubya 04 0]

I think that the Eagles will survive the Vikings, primarily due to Vikings mistakes. Something like 28 to 17, where it is a lot closer than an 11 point margin.

 

I've got no clue about the Atlanta/Rams game. The thing that I expect there is that one team will lose by poor play rather than a team winning by playing well.

 

Pittsburgh should be able to handle the Jets again in a tough physical match-up. I think that the Jets are probably pretty spent physically and emotionally right now after 2 straight overtime games.

 

I still think that NE will have Indy's number. Especially with the dirty trick of not covering the field for the whole week. Why people make a fuss about Randy Moss's backside and not about the Patriots using underhanded tactics to try and win a game, is beyond me.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I still think that NE will have Indy's number. Especially with the dirty trick of not covering the field for the whole week. Why people make a fuss about Randy Moss's backside and not about the Patriots using underhanded tactics to try and win a game, is beyond me.

You do what you need to do to win, especially in the playoffs. And uh...in case you forget, the Patriots are also playing on that field. It's not like the Patriots will be invincible, they could easy be slipping or falling at inopportune moments as well. If the NFL doesn't make issue of it though then why can't the Pats do that? I'm sure other teams would do the same tactic if they felt it would give them a better chance of winning. Sports isn't about being fair, it's about winning and when playoff time hits, winning is the number one goal.

[Cartman 0]

if by Underhanded dirty tactics you mean Home Field Advantage sure.

[C Dubya 04 0]

I still think that NE will have Indy's number.  Especially with the dirty trick of not covering the field for the whole week.  Why people make a fuss about Randy Moss's backside and not about the Patriots using underhanded tactics to try and win a game, is beyond me.

You do what you need to do to win, especially in the playoffs. And uh...in case you forget, the Patriots are also playing on that field. It's not like the Patriots will be invincible, they could easy be slipping or falling at inopportune moments as well. If the NFL doesn't make issue of it though then why can't the Pats do that? I'm sure other teams would do the same tactic if they felt it would give them a better chance of winning. Sports isn't about being fair, it's about winning and when playoff time hits, winning is the number one goal.

Sports is about winning fairly. Period.

 

And the argument that the Patriots are playing on the field holds no water either, why else would they specifically have done it? A slow turf makes it much harder for an offensive player to get separation. A fast turf makes it easier for a quick receiver to get separation, thus why teams like the Colts and the Rams fare better indoors.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

This weekend's forcast in Mass, Cold with freezing rain and flurries. It'll be close to 20 degrees at game time.

 

C-Dub, cry us all a river. "The Pats made it rain! They're cheaters! Boo-hoo-hoo"...shuddaaaaap.

[KingPK 0]

I hear that the Colts did not practice ONCE outside this week, because "the field was too wet." Call me crazy, but if you're going to a place that won't have the greatest field come Sunday, wouldn't you WANT to practice under the same conditions? At least for a day? Have the receivers and QBs work on their timing patterns at least, since if they are even off by a second, it's all screwed up.

 

But they at least left the door to their practice field open so that it could get a little chilly in there.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

 

Wave goodbye to:

 

The Patriots

The Jets

The Vikings

The Rams

 

Indeed.

[iggymcfly 0]

The Jets at least have a chance to go to the Super Bowl. We all know for a fact that the Eagles will choke in the NFC Championship game.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Wave goodbye to:

 

The Patriots

The Jets

The Vikings

The Rams

but not your virginity. That won't be leaving any time soon.

[CanadianChris 0]

Don't disagree with me. That's flame baiting.

I bow to your greatness.

[C Dubya 04 0]

This weekend's forcast in Mass, Cold with freezing rain and flurries. It'll be close to 20 degrees at game time.

 

C-Dub, cry us all a river. "The Pats made it rain! They're cheaters! Boo-hoo-hoo"...shuddaaaaap.

I could care less if the Pats beat the Colts. And really, the field would have turned to shit anyways, so it's no biggy, I just don't think it was good sportsmanship.

 

 

And, saying the Jets have a chance to get to the Super Bowl is like saying half of this board has a chance to bang a really hot bitch tonight. Theoretically it could happen, but realistically, it won't.

 

This week the Eagles go back to making the rest of the NFC their little bitches. The end.

[Slayer 0]

This week the Eagles go back to making the rest of the NFC their little bitches.

They've set a great precedence, that's for sure

[KingPK 0]

This week the Eagles go back to making the rest of the NFC their little bitches. The end.

Well....until the title game, that is, since the Eagles let their opponents have a turn.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr...he_ok_from_nfl/

 

 

FOXBOROUGH -- Concerned about a potential quagmire at Gillette Stadium because of heavy rains Wednesday on the uncovered field, the NFL yesterday sent a representative to gauge the playing field.

 

"Our representative said there was no issue with the field," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. "He reported that the field was dry, the footing is excellent."

 

Aiello said the field was uncovered because the grounds crew painted it Wednesday. Although the Patriots are not obligated to cover the field until tomorrow in the case of inclement weather, Aiello said the Patriots have been very cooperative. The field was covered last night and Aiello said it would be covered tomorrow night.

 

The field had dried well, said Aiello, even though there was some precipitation yesterday. The warmer temperatures and windy conditions also helped. Puddles remained in some spots on the edges of the field. The state-of-the-art field has heating coils underneath the turf, which has also aided the process.

 

Last season, the Patriots were asked to re-sod the field before the playoffs.

 

The Patriots practiced outdoors yesterday to get used to playing in soggy, slower conditions.

 

== Yeah, that sounds like the Pats are definitely ruining the field so that the Colts can suck and because the Pats are a bunch of unfair bastards. Uh-huh...

[Matt Young 0]

I didn't post my picks here last week (although I went with the Packers, Rams, Colts, and Chargers) but I may as well copy and paste my hastily thrown together quick picks...

 

I waited all week and still couldn't make up my mind about who was going to win any of these 4 games. I still can't state who I believe will win with 100% confidence, but nonetheless, here are my choices:

 

Steelers 21, Jets 14: Part of me thinks that Big Ben will choke in his first playoff game, but I still can't see the ailing Jets beating them in Pittburgh. History is definitely on Pitt's side as well.

 

Eagles 28, Vikings 17: The Vikes only won last week because Brett Favre had a shitty game. The Eagles made the NFC title game the last few years without TO, and they will certainly be able to defeat a lowly 8-8 team to do it again this year. The Vikings may end up putting up a good fight, though.

 

Colts 35, Patriots 31: I know that NE has a habit of pulling it out on the rare occasions that people pick against them, but I just think that this is where their run ends. It'll be a very close game, but Indy will squeeze out a win.

 

Rams 31, Falcons 14: This will surprise people, but i think that the "lowly" rams will win by a couple scores. The Falcons haven't really played a challenging game together as a complete, cohesive unit for a good while now and the Rams are on a roll, winning their last 2 regular season games to make the playoffs and then beating a talented Seattle team for the 3rd time this year. Being so close to St. Louis, I've seen enough of this team over the years that I know what they're capable of. Sorry, Woody Paige... I love ya, but the Rams take this one in the big upset of the week.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Dear God in heaven let the Rams come to Philly next week, outdoors, on the road, with that offensive line and that defense.

 

It won't be 2001 : "We are playing a superior Rams team and lost."

 

It won't be 2002 : "We're playing a poorer yet excellent defensive team in Tampa and lost, god damn it."

 

It won't be 2003: "What the fuck happened, a hot Carolina team defensively stopped us cold."

 

It will be 2004. And if MIKE MARTZ and *THAT* Ram team comes to Philly and beats the Eagles, I don't know what I'd do. I might actually self-implode.

[KingPK 0]

With Mathis all but out now, I guess we all can agree that Dwight Freeney's going to be the best chance for the Colts' D-line to get any pressure on the QB, right? Well, I was curious and decided to look up his stats this season, seeing how he fares outside the RCA Dome, since many people say he's slowed down on natural grass. Luckily, NFL.com did all the work for me:

 

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/313800/splits/2004

 

It's really interesting to see that, of his league leading 16 sacks, only THREE came in an honest-to-goodness outdoor stadium (he had 3 at Reliant Stadium, which has a retractable dome, but has natural grass, so it's up to you if you want to add it to the outdoor stadiums. And Houston was 2nd in sacks allowed, so EVERYONE hits Carr.) One sack was at Gillette in the opener, one in Tennessee, and one in Chicago, while he had TEN sacks at home. And of his four forced fumbles, only one came outdoors (at Chicago), while he had two at home and one in Detroit.

 

I don't know if this will make a hell of a lot of difference Sunday, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

It will be 2004. And if MIKE MARTZ and *THAT* Ram team comes to Philly and beats the Eagles, I don't know what I'd do. I might actually self-implode.

Not to mention that the Rams finished 8-8 this year.

[KingPK 0]

If the NFC title game ends up being a battle of 8-8 teams (which there is a chance it will be), you won't be the only one imploding.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Ok I got a question that relates to the playoffs. I didn't know where to put it so I'll stick it in here.

 

Let's say we have The Patriots and Jets.

 

The Patriots lose a game at the Jets.

The Jets lose a game at the Patriots.

Neither team loses another game all season.

Who wins the division?

Strength of victory would then be the tiebreaker. This is the exact thing that would have happened with the Vikings and Pack last year, had Minnesota won the Arizona game.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

(big ass thing on Freeney)

Supposedly they're going to move him to the right side to work against Gorin. If that happens then I expect Daniel G. to be helping out all day and then going over the middle for a short pass if nothing down the field is open.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

my picks

 

Vikes-Eagles : The Vikings are bad, period. And if you hadn't heard the Eagles are pretty good. If you think anyone who plays the Vikings has question marks on offense, you are very mistaken.

 

Rams-Falcons: I don't like the Falcons, at all. Vick could be great or horrible, thier backs are overrated, thier recievers are the drizzling shits, the only thing I like about them is the pass rush. Do the Rams have a chance against them in a dome? Absolutly.

 

Pats-Colts : There's not a lot more you can say about this one. The Pats corners are out, of course, but they also have the "home grounds crew advantage". The Colts are scary, but with the Pats history of rolling them, I have to go with New England untill the Colts prove me wrong.

 

Jets-Steelers: Ugh. If you ever wondered why Pennington never throws 50 passes a game, you're about to find out. This should be the one clear ass raping of the weekend. (Unless Kobe needs surgery, of course)

[Mole 0]

Jets-Steelers: Steelers

Rams-Falcons: Rams

Pats-Colts: Pats

Vikes-Eagles: Vikes

 

This Super Bowl looks like it won't be all that good.

[4hartthreat 0]

Jets at Steelers- I think the Steelers are just too much for the Jets, but I wouldn't be shocked by a Jet win.

 

Rams at Falcons- I was leaning towards Rams earlier in the week but now I go Falcons in a close one.

 

Vikings at Eagles- Moss has somehow rallied the troops with all of his bullshit antics and the Eagles haven't played a meaningful snap since they lost T.O. so I say Vikings pull of the upset here.

 

Colts at Patriots- The Colts just can't win in NE and while I think they've done enough this year to give hope to their fans about finally getting it done I just don't see it happening so I am going with a Pats win.

[Vern Gagne 0]

If the NFC title game ends up being a battle of 8-8 teams (which there is a chance it will be), you won't be the only one imploding.

At least the game would be high scoring.

[Guest Vitamin X]

There's a lot of people picking the Vikes for the upset here. That's kind of interesting.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Yeah. There relying too much on last week's game and not enough on how horseshit and underachieving the Vikings were the last 10 games of the year.

[MrRant 0]

Steelers 24, Jets 14