NFL Discussion Forumtable

[Hawk 34 0]

I think the media and the radio shows are too quick to start with the Saints/Chargers declarations for the SB. Is it a sexy game? Yes. Does it have alot of interesting plot ready made for the media? Of course. Will it happen? I don't think so.

 

I have more confidence in New Orleans right now by virtue of playing a softer set of teams. They tore Dallas apart, Chicago is a Rex Grossman meltdown away from blowing it, Philly/NYG/Atlanta/Seattle don't look impressive enough. SD could run into a Baltimore team that as I'm sure Marvin will try to point out again after the first 1000 times this week, held them down, even though I don't personally think can do it again. Cincinnati can match them on the offense and the Bengals defense appears to be on track right now to prevent 42 points in one half. San Diego has Marty running the game and he's atrocious in post-season. I am always weary about NE but I feel secure that they'll be at home for the SB. I don't want to come off as a homer but Cincinnati looks pretty good with a offense that is firing and a defense that is focused and stopping teams.

 

I like New Orleans. They are a fun team with a great personality. They have a nice story but it's that story along with the Reggie Bush hype that'd make that period from the conference title game to kick-off almost unbearable. It'd be really annoying against San Diego with the connections.

 

After New Orleans/San Diego, the media has to love the idea of Cincinnati Vs New Orleans. Two high powered offenses, the NO story and the obvious story with Cincinnati. They'd spin it as if it were Good Vs Evil.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I thought San Diego would get there starting a few weeks back, and the touchdown cyborg that is Tomlinson hasn't done anything to dissuade me from that call. I say they win the AFC, but do it beating a pretty surprising team in the championship game, like the Bengals.

 

The Bears and the Saints are the smart picks in the NFC, but for some reason my gut is telling me that Seattle's gonna start a run as the new early-90s Bills and lose a few Super Bowls in a row.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

I want Chicago-Cincinnati ever so badly. The Bengals will not make it to Sunday night.

[Hawk 34 0]

I want Chicago-Cincinnati ever so badly. The Bengals will not make it to Sunday night.

 

ESPN would put their station dock at the county jail. By that night, it'll be Palmer and 85. Sorta like Smith and Aikman and the rest of the convicts 12 years ago.

[teke184 0]

I'm trying not to bandwagon the CNNSI people on this, so I'll give explanations.

 

 

 

New Orleans is the *current* smart bet in the NFC because Chicago's offense is inconsistent and they've shown they can minimize their weaknesses on defense.

 

 

Chicago's limited by Grossman. Unless the defense and Hester save his ass, they could get upset in the 2nd round.

 

Dallas couldn't beat New Orleans at home, so why could they beat them at the Superdome?

 

Seattle just lost to the Cardinals... their defense isn't gelling right now.

 

The Giants have issues with blowing clutch games. They'll be lucky to make the playoffs.

 

The Eagles can only go so far on Garcia's arm and with a wounded defense.

 

Etc. Etc. Etc.

 

 

It's more New Orleans by a matter of elimination than them being head and shoulders above everyone else.

 

If the Saints have to go to the Windy City to play in January, the Bears would have the advantage but it would still be a tough game.

 

 

 

San Diego is the top AFC contender right now, also by process of elimination.

 

They have a good offense and a defense that is passable. They also haven't gotten embarassed lately, despite coming close against the Raiders and others.

 

 

The Ravens have a great defense but up-and-down offense. They're not as bad off as Chicago because McNair has a lot of playoff experience, but they got shut down against the Bengals recently.

 

The Colts are DOA, as everyone and their grandmothers will bring the ground game on them.

 

The Pats are limited by Maroney's availability on the ground due to injuries as well as a poor receiving corps. The Dolphins showed how to shut them down completely, which other teams will take notes on in the upcoming weeks.

 

 

 

The best-playing team right now is the Titans, but going to the playoffs would require them winning out, the Bengals and Jags dropping a few games, and that their spot comes down to a tiebreaker with the Jags OR the Pats if the Pats lose the AFC East title to the Jets.

 

(They'd have the AFC South record over the Jags. They'd have a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Pats if they won out. They'd lose all other tiebreakers, though, as they've lost to the Jets and have a horrible AFC record.)

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Ravens/Giants II!

 

HAHAHA!

[Hawk 34 0]

Do we all agree that Seattle/Baltimore would probably be the worst of all the possible Superbowl showdowns?

[Guest Princess Leena]

No. That would be Denver/New Orleans. Battle for AMERICA'S TEAM.

[bob_barron 0]

My roomate would be happy.

 

The Saints lack the playoff experience though. I think that might hurt them.

 

And they have to make the playoffs first of course

[teke184 0]

BTW, here's what the Football Outsiders guys think via their use of the DVOA system.

 

http://www.mharrisdev.com/playoff_odds/

 

65% chance of Chicago for the NFC, 14% chance of New Orleans

 

41% chance of San Diego for the AFC, 32% chance of Baltimore

 

 

They say a 35% chance of Chicago winning, 22% chance of San Diego, 17% chance of Baltimore, and 5.6% chance of New Orleans.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Do we all agree that Seattle/Baltimore would probably be the worst of all the possible Superbowl showdowns?

 

Dallas/Indy would be sickening.

[bob_barron 0]

That's a game I'd really want to see.

[Slayer 0]

Do we all agree that Seattle/Baltimore would probably be the worst of all the possible Superbowl showdowns?

Dallas/Indy would be sickening.

Mike Vanderjagt versus his form...

 

Nevermind

[Hawk 34 0]

Do we all agree that Seattle/Baltimore would probably be the worst of all the possible Superbowl showdowns?

 

Dallas/Indy would be sickening.

 

I hadn't thought about that since like most people, I'm already ruling out Indy (which probably means they end up in Miami) but the idea of a double whammy of ROMOMANIA and "Peyton's Gonna Choke" (Say this in the "Joe's Gonna Kill You" tone and it'd be a fantastic chant for SD or Baltimore, which ever team Indy falls apart against) combined with Parcells grumpy attitude, Dungy's monotone happiness with the likely backstory of his son's death, TO will go TO in some way and I'd put good money on a nameless Colt linesman getting busted for cocaine the night before.

 

Seattle/Baltimore would just be a game of "Will Ray Lewis Please Kill Someone?" and it'd just be a bad game.

[naiwf 0]

Chargers/Giants. Eli Manning vs Philip Rivers. Yeah, even I can't get through this one with a straight face.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

Edwin, the Eagles were the new Bills to an extent, so that frees up the Seahawks to never sully another Super Bowl again.

 

By the way, I'm more worried about Chicago's defense than offense now. If they have to shift to a running game for those January home games, they have three quality running backs at their disposal. But look at how depleted the defense is! Tommie Harris and Mike Brown are out for the year. Todd Johnson and Nathan Vasher are out right now. The Rams looked 1999ish against the vaunted Bears D. A 99-yard TD drive? Inexcusable.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I don't know. Saints looks beatable, but then again, only Chargers looks unstoppable and they can be beaten too.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I don't know. Saints looks beatable, but then again, only Chargers looks unstoppable and they can be beaten too.

 

Ravens beat em both!

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

No using the transitive property in the NFL, for the last goddamned time, you goon.

[Hawk 34 0]

I'm fearing Ravens/Bears for the SB on the basis of Czech Vs Marvin here.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Ravens lost to Carolina, Denver and Cincinnati, none that are probably serious playoff threats. So does that mean Baltimore isn't a serious playoff threat too? We shall see. And no this isn't transitive property, Czech.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

No using the transitive property in the NFL, for the last goddamned time, you goon.

Granted there are several teams that have 2 wins over playoff bound teams (Pats/Bengals/Denver come to mind quickly)but the Ravens have beaten the two supposedly hottest teams in their respective conferences right now. The Saints win was arguably the impressive of the two because they went into New Orleans and dominated them completely for 3 quarters and it wasnt that long ago (end of october). The Ravens could probably beat the Bears too..and I wouldnt mind seeing that SB matchup, but odds are it wouldnt be a good game.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Cincy isn't a serious playoff threat? They'll make it there, and they have the streak and talent to do something.

[Hawk 34 0]

Cincinnati BEAT Baltimore, New Orleans, Carolina, and before the defense got figured out after the injuries and suspensions, they put alot of points against San Diego.

 

They are on a hot streak with Palmer on his game as if he was never hurt, the defense has been stopping teams big time (held score happy NO down with 16, shut out Cleveland, bitch slapped Baltimore before they scored in garbage time, kept Oakland down) and Johnson is showing why he is the top WR in the game today.

 

Are they going to reach the SB? Who knows but making a statement such "not being playoff threats" despite beating playoff teams and having the offense and defense rolling at the right time is a foolish thing to say.

[Guest "Go, Mordecai!"]

Hey Choken, the Chargers might not make the playoffs. Snort.

[Guest Princess Leena]

His name is Hawk 34, and it would be appreciated if you'd stop trolling, multiple account.

 

The Bengals still have a tough road to make the playoffs, though. They likely have to win 2 of 3. Which means a win @IND or @DEN.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Hey Choken, the Chargers might not make the playoffs. Snort.

 

That was entirely possible a couple weeks ago when I said it before Denver and KC decided that they didnt want to go to the playoffs this year after playing so well to start the season.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Cincy has to overcome the police to be taken seriously as a playoff threat. If they're all still suited up by January, I'll take them seriously, but anything can happen between now and then.

[Guest Legalise Drugs and Murder]

The shameless homer that I am, I can't in good conscience pick anyone but Chicago to win it all.

 

Prior to the season, I called Jacksonville winning the whole works as a wildcard, so I guess I'll stick with that.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I think a lot of people are underestimating the Patriots.

 

They've only allowed opponents to score more than 20 points in 3 games this season.

 

They lost to Denver 17-7, Indianapolis 27-20, and Miami 21-0. Outside of the Miami game, they still kept themselves into it by at least two touchdowns. They beat Cincinnati 38-13, Minnesota 31-7, and Chicago 17-13 when the Bears were still seen as a juggernaut.

 

The Patriots D ranks 8th in yards allowed, 3rd in rushing, 14th in passing, and 3rd in points allowed. While their offense has been a bit stagnant, they are still hovering around the 10th spot in the category of yards (total, rushing, and passing) and points scored. The fact that their defense has still been solid despite losing 5 defensive backs (including Harrison here) and 3 linebackers to IR is amazing.

 

Brady's turnover abilities have been vastly overrated (It seems almost all of them came off juggled/tipped balls by the receivers). They also signed S Gus Scott back to their practice squad and he could have an impact for the secondary. Right now, both Wilfork and Watson could miss a couple weeks but should be healthy by the time the playoffs roll around.