14 replies to this topic

[Dave]

I'd considered it a lock that the Jets were playing Kansas City in the first round, but I'm pretty happy with seeing the Colts. They've got a lot of injuries and aren't the same Colts the Jets lost to in last year's AFC Championship game.

I have no idea why the Giants are good one week but awful the next. But they didn't even make the playoffs, so who cares. Could say the same thing about the Eagles. Hot and cold.

If I had to pick, I'd go Bears v. Patriots in the Super Bowl. But, short of a Jets victory, I'm rooting for a Chiefs v. Falcons/Packers Super Bowl. I think the Chiefs have a brutal road with the Ravens, Steelers, Patriots as their likely opponents. That's got to be the toughest path. I think the Ravens match up well against the Chiefs, and I like them over the Steelers too. I'd give the Ravens the best chance to beat the Patriots.

I have a tough time rooting for Chicago because of the obnoxious pairing of Cutler and Martz. Bears will get New Orleans at home, which is a good break for them; they should get to the NFC Championship with little trouble.

[monogodo]

So you don't think Seattle will win?

Wouldn't that be a trip, if they were to make it all the way and win the Super Bowl? Their total record would be 11-9.

Edited by monogodo, 04 January 2011 - 08:36 PM.

[Dave]

Haha, they have to win the Super Bowl in order to have a winning record. I love how Pete Carrol isn't sure who's playing QB yet. Just let me play. It won't make a difference. (except to my future medical bills)

[Dave]

I'm rooting for the Jets, Chiefs, Packers and Seahawks (just because). But I think the winners will be Jets, Ravens, Packers and Saints. Of those four, I'm least certain about the Packers/Eagles game. (And, yes, I'm aware I'm picking all away teams.)

[monogodo]

The two teams I was rooting for yesterday won.

Watched all of Saints/Seahawks. Sean Payton did not look happy during the game.

Watched the first half and the last 50 seconds of Jets/Colts. Things didn't look good for the Jets going into Halftime. They obviously turned it around in the second half. Best thing I saw on Twitter after the game: "I swear I just saw Rex Ryan caress the right foot of Nick Folk."

Also, WTF is up with Rex Ryan's right eye? It looks like it's all yellow and bloodshot, like he's got gonoherpesyphlyaidsamydia or some shit.

[Dave]

Saints secondary was horrible. Seahawk receivers were getting behind them all day. I forgot that by being the division winner, the Seahawks retain their 4th seed. So if the Packers (WC) win, the Bears (2) get a break and will host the Seahawks and the Falcons (1) would host the Packers.

Sanchez played terribly and missed a lot of open receivers. The Jets went back to running the ball in the second half and ate up the clock. A game that comes down to Vinatieri vs Folk FGs will be an obvious Vinatieri win 4/5. It was slightly endearing yet somewhat terrifying that Folk's reaction to his 32-yarder to win the game is the first and loudest thing you can hear on the audio. 32-yarder, no wind, dude. Those have got to be gimmes.

No idea about Rex's eye. It does look messed up. Most of Ryan looks messed up. His Old Spice/George Steinbrenner turtleneck look doesn't help.

[Dave]

How bad were the Chiefs? So much for them. Even though Pittsburgh has the edge on Baltimore the last few years, I still like the Ravens' chances of getting to the AFC Championship Game. If they can get passed the Steelers, they are pretty solid against the Jets and Patriots. The last 7 AFC Championships have been split between the Colts, Steelers and Patriots. One down.

I want to see Jets v. Ravens, but if I'm fair, I'd pick Pats/Ravens.

Good job by the Packers keeping Vick contained. I thought the Packers' defense more than their offense won the game. I can't say I trust the Packers running game, but that's a recent invention and this was the first Packer game I've seen since the first half of the season.

Falcons/Packers seems like a pick 'em game. Edge to the Bears over Seattle. I don't think Hasselbeck is consistent enough. Even though you can say the same for Cutler, I think the Bears have a better running game and better defense.

[monogodo]

I find it interesting that only one home team won this past weekend, and that was arguably the worst team in the playoffs.

[monogodo]

The Packers embarrassed the Falcons Saturday.

Best tweet I saw about the game:

Quote

RT @CNN Another shocking bird kill confirmed, this time in the Atlanta area. 53 birds are dead in total. Dirty ones.

[Dave]

The Falcons looked awful. They tailed off during the last 4 games of the season and never got it going again. I haven't watched them much this season, but it looked like they had no idea what to do about the Packers' offense.

Ravens/Steelers was painful to watch. Steelers had no momentum in the first half, and all the momentum after the fumble in the 3rd quarter. As bad as the Ravens played for two quarters, they were still a missed catch away. Boldin's drop was rough. Houshmandzadeh's drop was even worse.

Taping the games now. Will watch later.

[Dave]

Pathetic showing from the Seahawks. Part of me wanted to root for the Bears. I like most of their players. But Cutler...that guy rubs me the wrong way. Employing the Cutler Interception Volatility Equation by which one puts finger to chin and announces, "He's due," I'm picking the Packers.

Very, very excited by the Jets win. This was their best playoff win in a long time. After intercepting Brady and then missing the FG, I thought the Jets were in serious trouble. There aren't going to be a lot of mistakes like that, and I thought the failure to put up any points from that play would have hurt more. In a weird way, Brad Smith being injured might have been the best thing for the Jets--that wildcat stuff isn't fooling anyone, and I think they're much more dangerous out of the pro set. Also not sure why there was so much praise of Sanchez (esp. by the guys at NFL Network). He was good and did what he needed to do, but he didn't have a great game by any stretch. He missed a lot of open receivers, etc. Weatherford, the Jets punter who was so good during the regular season, continues to be awful in the playoffs. Belichick made a couple of strange decisions, including the fake punt before the half. Score was 7-3 Jets and that botched fake led to another Jets TD: 14-3 at half. The Jets weren't moving the ball that well, and I thought being conservative was the better move there. I was also thinking whether Shonn Greene should have kneeled down the ball instead of scoring for 28-14. Kneeling would've eaten the clock and timeouts. Unlike the Westbrook play from a few years back (video in which Westbrook explains it was John Runyan's idea), I think you gotta take the points here. Big difference is that there was more time on the clock and Pats still had 2 timeouts. In the Westbrook play, Dallas had 0 timeouts and it was possible to prevent the Cowboys from touching the ball for the rest of the game.

The Steelers are very beatable. They have a patchwork offensive line (speaking of which, since when did NFL.com stop updating its team depth charts? They only do it during the regular season?).

Would I rather the Jets be less obnoxious in their off-field banter (or on-field Braylon Edwards backflips)? Yes, but considering their extended Super Bowl drought, I can't be stingy. Next week is their last week against someone less likable--Ben Roethlisburger

[monogodo]

I'd love to see a Packers/Jets Superbowl. If only to let Favre know that he shoulda stuck with either one of the teams instead of the Vikes.

Another reason I was rooting for the Seahawks was that I wanted all of Green Bay's opponents in the playoffs to be birds (Eagles, Falcons...). I guess I'll just have to settle for them all being animals. Also, had they played the Seahawks, and then the Jets in the Superbowl, they'd have played teams with flying mascots.

I've been drinking, btw.

[Dave]

monogodo, on 18 January 2011 - 04:24 AM, said:

Another reason I was rooting for the Seahawks was that I wanted all of Green Bay's opponents in the playoffs to be birds (Eagles, Falcons...).

You were rooting for the Ravens, weren't you.

Packers/Jets, all-green Super Bowl. The F.U. Favre Bowl.

I'm optimistic about Sunday, but still realistic. FGs are always dicey in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh D is good. Ah, I dunno. I just want to watch the game already.

[monogodo]

Actually, I kinda was hoping the Ravens would win for that very reason.

[Dave]

Will post something longer later, but argh. Just argh.

Edit: Crap. What a miserable first half. Miserable. Going from 10-0 to 24-0 in a flash was brutal to watch. The Jets failed in every aspect of the game. I have no idea why the Jets picked Sunday not to tackle. It was as if they exhausted themselves in the Patriot game. Weatherford (and actually most of the special teams play) continues to suck in the playoffs. My reservations about the Steelers patched together line proved insignificant. Damn. Pittsburgh really controlled both sides of the line.

Packers/Bears: what's to say? No way the Bears are winning that once Cutler comes out. I doubt Cutler would be getting so much scrutiny for his injury but for his previous poor attitude. In that light, I think the questions about his injury are fair (but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt--it's a vicious game). The Packers are weird because they look like world beaters one quarter, then sad sacks the next. 4th gear, neutral, 4th gear, neutral. I don't get it.

I'm picking the Packers to win the Super Bowl.

Edited by Dave, 25 January 2011 - 03:02 AM.