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anyone watch/pay attention to NFL?? Got any predictions for wild card games coming up?
wanna go out on a limb and predict whose going to the super bowl?

Grudgingly, I picked the Colts. I think they really hurt their chances at it with the strategy they have emplyed in the last two games. Getting and staying in a rythym can have a big effect on the game. Choosing two lose two straight games going in I think has had a negative effect on them. I know the fans are pissed. They painted themselves into a corner where if they don't win they are going to lose a decent amount of fans over this. I know several season ticket holders that will not be buying season tickets again if they don't. It won't be "well they tried their best, maybe next year" if they don't win.

Apparently there has been enough of a blow up over this that the NFL is thinking of things to do to give incentives to play to win late in the season to avoid this.

For those who don't know, the Colts were heading to a perfect season at 14-0, locking up their conference, division, and home-field for the playoffs, then in the last two games just sent in the second string to keep the starters out and lost horribly. Winning didn't matter at this point so they didn't really even try to win. Which is a fair enough strategy but if you paid a minimum of $50 for nosebleed seats (not counting food or taking multiple people) to see the game, you don't want to see a half-assed effort, especially with such a streak going.

I used to watch it for the commercials, but even they've been totally lame the last couple of years.

Wild Card:

Patriots lose to Baltimore. Their defense has been mediocre at the best of times, and Welker is a loss which will allow more frequent double coverage on Moss. Also, Tom Brady has been playing with 3 broken ribs, and appeared to injure his hand against the Texans.

Cardinals lose to Packers. Green Bay has played well for the majority of the year, and the probable loss of Anquan Boldin will severely hamper the Cardinals ability to take advantage of a weak Green Bay secondary.

Eagles lose to Cowboys. This game will hinge on Tony Romo's ability to play a clean game. He's been doing that lately, so its a fair bet that he will continue. The obvious caveat of his past playoff performances not withstanding.

Jets lose to Cincinnati. Cincinnati sat their best offensive weapon (Benson) in the previous game, and will show up in a game which is actually meaningful (unlike the last one).

Super Bowl:

The obvious teams to watch are the Vikings, Colts, and Saints. My dark horse pick is probably the Packers, but I also think that if Baltimore gets its defense together they can take a run at it all.


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Ahtman wrote:...especially with such a streak going.

I think the league, as a whole, is a little skittish with respect to the undefeated run after what happened to the Pats.

some bold predictions here, i like it! going against the grain alittle bit. I admit in my predictions i dont knw much about AFC teams, all the teams i really pay attention to are NFC. I really think Dallas has a great shot, even though I am a SF49er fan and have been raised to hate the Cowboys.... i can't deny a teams ability though. They already stomped the Eagles, I think they can do it again in the WC. they already beat the Saints this year, I think Green Bay will take the Cards again, I don't think Green Bay will loose to the Vikings for a third time this year, and I am fairly confident that Dallas can beat Green bay for the Super Bowl.

Ehhh, the Saints have been falling apart lately. They lost to my Bucs after all. I think their momentum got de-railed big time and they're trying to find it again. I certainly wouldn't bet against them but I don't think they're a shoe in for the late playoffs or even Superbowl like I did four weeks ago.

I have to go with the Packers for one Superbowl team. As a Bays fan (Pack and Bucs) I'm legally required to. They've been playing very solid football and if they keep their crap together there's no reason they can't make it.

The Colts totally lost their momentum. One of Gruden's biggest sins in Tampa, and there were a lot, was quitting with two games to go in the regular season a while back. Two games to go, our division locked up but the top seed out of reach so he only plays the starters for a quarter in the last two games and finishes 9-7. Well guess what happens in the first game vs. the Giants? The starters played for a quarter and beat the tar out of the Giants. Sadly the game lasted four quarters and the starters were no where to be found for those. I am a big believer in momentum in regards to this sort of thing and with the Colts giving it up I wouldn't be shocked if they went home in the first game.

I loathe the Cowboys but I think they'll win at least their first game.

Tyyr wrote:Ehhh, the Saints have been falling apart lately. They lost to my Bucs after all. I think their momentum got de-railed big time and they're trying to find it again. I certainly wouldn't bet against them but I don't think they're a shoe in for the late playoffs or even Superbowl like I did four weeks ago.

I have to go with the Packers for one Superbowl team. As a Bays fan (Pack and Bucs) I'm legally required to. They've been playing very solid football and if they keep their crap together there's no reason they can't make it.

The Colts totally lost their momentum. One of Gruden's biggest sins in Tampa, and there were a lot, was quitting with two games to go in the regular season a while back. Two games to go, our division locked up but the top seed out of reach so he only plays the starters for a quarter in the last two games and finishes 9-7. Well guess what happens in the first game vs. the Giants? The starters played for a quarter and beat the tar out of the Giants. Sadly the game lasted four quarters and the starters were no where to be found for those. I am a big believer in momentum in regards to this sort of thing and with the Colts giving it up I wouldn't be shocked if they went home in the first game.

I loathe the Cowboys but I think they'll win at least their first game.

its hard to deny somethings even though you hate hate hate a team. I hare the Patriots almost as much as I do Dallas..... but I knew they were going to go undfeated regular season as much I wish they hadn't. I am glad they lost that superbowl.

I'm still hoping The Saints can get their gak together,last 3 games have been very disapointing,but I still have "faith".
Over on the AFC I'm leaning towards New England vs San Dieago and Indianapolis vs New york,from there I'm favoring an Indianapolis vs New England Superbowl playoff,with Indianapolis going into the Superbowl.

My hopes.
New Orleans Saints Vs Indianapolis Colts Superbowl XLIV.....Saints win (hey,a guy can dream can't he?)

FITZZ wrote: I'm still hoping The Saints can get their gak together,last 3 games have been very disapointing,but I still have "faith".
Over on the AFC I'm leaning towards New England vs San Dieago and Indianapolis vs New york,from there I'm favoring an Indianapolis vs New England Superbowl playoff,with Indianapolis going into the Superbowl.

My hopes.
New Orleans Saints Vs Indianapolis Colts Superbowl XLIV.....Saints win (hey,a guy can dream can't he?)

if you asked me three or four weeks ago I would be totally on board with you, the last few weeks have been somewhat dissapointing for both Saints and Colts. And I still haven't heard the end of my wife "C-Boys beating the Saints"

Being from Mn I have to go with the Vikings. Vikings fan through the good and the bad.

As long as Favre stays healthy through the final 2 rounds (first round bye ftw) and our defense can stay healthy and do what they do best (create turnovers) I don't see any of our pre-Superbowl opponents besting us. We have arguably the best running back in football, the best qb, we are #2 in the league against the run, Jared Allen is the best defensive end we have and the Williams Wall would stop a runaway locomotive dead in it's tracks.

I have nothing to add to this thread, being a dirty limey, other than a reminder that calling what you call Football Football is like calling a Kitten a Large Hadron Collider.

It should be called Handegg.

Gwar! wrote:I have nothing to add to this thread, being a dirty limey, other than a reminder that calling what you call Football Football is like calling a Kitten a Large Hadron Collider.

It should be called Handegg.

While I Grudgingly admit you have a point "Monday Night HandEgg" will never draw in those advertising dollars,so it would never fly.
Also,I can't even begin to imagine Hank Williams .Jr singing "Are you ready for some Handegg!!!"....nope,wouldn't work at all.

Colonial Rugby.

Albatross wrote:Colonial Rugby.

Yeah,I could live with that.

As much as it pains me to say it, I'm putting the Pats in the Super Bowl. Here's the rationale.

-Chargers will Don't swear the bed, because that's what a Norv Turner team does.
-Colts will be karma's Don't swear
-Ravens are a very mediocre ball club with a mediocre defense...don't believe the press clippings.
-Bengals are only there because the Steelers and Ravens couldn't get out of their own way all season.
-Jets are only there because of scheduling flukes.

The Pats have the best coach and far and away one of the best two QBs in the AFC. Rivers doesn't belong in the conversation in the AFC. He's all empty numbers.

If it wasn't for that nonsense with pulling starters three quarters in, I woulda gone with the Colts. But no more.

The NFC is a little harder, and I think the eventually champ is coming from that bunch. Even though the #1 seed hasn't fared well in recent years, I'm going with the Saints, with (again, it pains me to say it) the Cowboys as the dark horse.

-Eagles will likely lose to the Cowboys right off the bat. Contrary to the saying, it's not hard to beat a team three times in a season. Eagles don't have enough D to hang with the big boys in the conference anyway, and you know McNabb and Reid will choke.
-The Pack is just ehh. Their defense is overrated, and although Rodgers has put up big numbers, I don't think he can trade punches with the Vikes or Saints.
-Vikes are a pretty good team, but Favre's gonna Don't swear the bed because that's what he's done since the mid-90s. Watch him have a meltdown and throw 3 INTs while the coaches forget to run Petersen. It's coming.
-I don't see why the Cards are any better than they were last year, and last year the NFC was much weaker. As much as I root for Fitzgerald (let's go Pitt!), he's not gonna catch 37 TDs in the playoffs like he did last year.
-With the annual December swoon a thing of the past, the Cowboys could be ready to actually win a playoff game or two for the first time in what, 15 years? I think they kinda have karma on their side this time, but I don't think they're as good as the Saints. I think people are forgetting how good the Saints were when they had something to play for.

So Saints over Pats. You heard it hear first.

I'll delete this post if I'm wrong, of course.

Edited by Waaagh_Gonads

wow. You know, Gorgon said everything I would have said. Everything...

Other than the Saints beating the Pats in the Superbowl! Edelman is good enough to draw some coverage off of Moss, and that evil genius Bellichik will come up with something.

gorgon wrote:Rivers doesn't belong in the conversation in the AFC. He's all empty numbers.

If a quarterback puts up good numbers, and your team continues to lose, then it isn't by fault of the quarterback.

Hopefully any team BUT the Colts.

I'm pulling for the Saints now as the Broncos have rather painfully crashed and burned, and I'm being nice.

Vikings win with favre throwing a hail mary pass in the last 3 seconds.

Many cars overturned in Minnesota later that night.

I predict Vikings by 14 in this years Superbowl. It won't be a walk over but a Superbowl win is a Superbowl win even by 1.

im not too much into the AFC, the only team i really like on that side are the Bengals, but thats cuz Ocho Cinco is Hilarious!!!

On the NFC front, Dallas will beat Phili (AGAIN), the Packers will beat Arz (AGAIN), Dallas has already beaten the Saints, so I have to take Dallas in that game. The Packers will NOT loose to Favre for a THIRD time this year, which leave Dallas v. Green Bay for the big bowl game, and I have to take Dallas in that game.




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FITZZ wrote:

Albatross wrote:Colonial Rugby.

Yeah,I could live with that.

alright we'll call it a draw, sorry to all my friends on the other side of the Pond, I forget my International manners sometimes.

Whose watching World Cup June 12th England vrs. USA?!?!? *I AM* I will taking the day off of work to watch that one lol!

McNabb will choke in the playoffs. He always does. You put the man under pressure (not meaning on the field) and he crumbles. He's a great quarterback but when things get important he just cannot deal with the pressure. The Cowboys are going to beat the Eagles, hell they've already done it twice.

Arizona's not a bad team, but they play in a crappy division. Sure they win the division but I mean its the NFC West for crying out loud. It's not "Who's best" in that division. It's who's screwed up the least. Their offense can be shut down and their defense isn't that strong. They're the next best thing to a bye for Green Bay.

hcordes wrote:im not too much into the AFC, the only team i really like on that side are the Bengals, but thats cuz Ocho Cinco is Hilarious!!!

On the NFC front, Dallas will beat Phili (AGAIN), the Packers will beat Arz (AGAIN), Dallas has already beaten the Saints, so I have to take Dallas in that game. The Packers will NOT loose to Favre for a THIRD time this year, which leave Dallas v. Green Bay for the big bowl game, and I have to take Dallas in that game.

I'm hoping you're right wrt to Dallas. I agree that they have an edge of Philly but going back into NO, it will be a hard game to be sure.

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FITZZ wrote:

Albatross wrote:Colonial Rugby.

Yeah,I could live with that.

alright we'll call it a draw, sorry to all my friends on the other side of the Pond, I forget my International manners sometimes.

Whose watching World Cup June 12th England vrs. USA?!?!? *I AM* I will taking the day off of work to watch that one lol!

I'll be watching, and not taking a day off work as June 12th is a Saturday.

Waaagh_Gonads wrote:Vikings win with favre throwing a hail mary pass in the last 3 seconds.

Many cars overturned in Minnesota later that night.

As a lifetime GB fan (I work near Green Bay), I can relate that Favre can easily throw it away in the last minute. The Dark Side of the Favre is that when he throws Ints, boy does he rack them up. The Viking tradition if imploding at season's end doesn't help, also.

I am content with Rodgers. As well as Favre (usually) played for the Pack, his days were drawing to an end. For all the Thompson hate, I supported during the entire soap opera. No 4 got the point where he thought he's one of the front staff. You can't jerk off the whole organization, especially with the draft coming up. He had ample opportunity to resume, but wouldn't commit. Rodgers is just starting and the future looks bright.

We'll see how the Cards play this week. I would have hated to shell out the bucks to go to a home game just to have them lay down (see Colts...) GB did score 14 vs their starters last week.

ZF-

I agree that Favre did not handle the situation with the Packers properly. Even with all he's done for that team it still doesn't give him the right to screw with them that much. He didn't wait until far too late to decide he wanted to come back and the team had moved on. They did right in not letting him have his way.

The thing with Farve is that he has good days and bad days, there is no in between with him. Anti-Christ or Messiah. You just pray that his good days line up right and take you through the playoffs.

I've been impressed with Rodgers. He came into a REALLY bad situation. He displaced the chosen one. Nothing less than excellence would be accepted. If he'd flubbed up GB would have crucified him and the entire organization for not taking Favre back.

Lucky for the Vikes than that Favre is not the only threat the team has, eh?

I give Dallas over Philly and Green Bay over Arizona. I think no matter who we get though we'll roll on to the championship game. Our first game off the bye is at home in Mn and we are 8-0 at home this year.

I predict NO vs Mn in the Championship game. We'll be playing at NO since we don't have home field advantage but it will be on astroturf and the Vikings love the artificial field so I give it to the Vikings over NO's by 10.

Fateweaver wrote:Lucky for the Vikes than that Favre is not the only threat the team has, eh?

I give Dallas over Philly and Green Bay over Arizona. I think no matter who we get though we'll roll on to the championship game. Our first game off the bye is at home in Mn and we are 8-0 at home this year.

I predict NO vs Mn in the Championship game. We'll be playing at NO since we don't have home field advantage but it will be on astroturf and the Vikings love the artificial field so I give it to the Vikings over NO's by 10.

I have to root for the underdogs... its kinda in my nature lol. just going by win-loss ratio isn't always the best, there is the human factor that people sometime forget. I guess the team that "shouldn't" be there fights harder to prove something than the team with the "better" record? maybe.... something like that?

Go Chiefs 2025!

Gwar! wrote:I have nothing to add to this thread, being a dirty limey, other than a reminder that calling what you call Football Football is like calling a Kitten a Large Hadron Collider.

It should be called Handegg.

I will say this real off topic thing; we call it football because unlike Canada or Australia we had a revolt against the Brits which involved bloodshedand an entire war. So we decided to go against anything British. So, we don't use the metric system, we call "football" "soccer", we drive on the right hand side of the road, our steering wheels are on the left hand side of the vehicle, "queer" has a different meaning in america as does; "cigarette", american pencils have erasers at the end and pencils in england do not. Also, we called our football, which was pointed out to us by Gwar that they indeed play with their hands, "football" just to tick off any brit that would even try to comprehend the new culture of our new nation.

But, back on topic:
I say the colts will make it, but I also believe the Packers will as well. My hope is that everything falls into place causing the packers to NOT play the vikings, although statistically they should win this time around. From what I've seen, the Packers have picked up a bit in terms of actually hitting the quarterback and Rodgers can run and knows how to throw on the run. They just need to keep Rodgers, Driver, Lee, Finlay, and their entire defense healthy. The other teams will just eliminate each other either by skill or fluke, but if the packers play the Saints, Vikings, or Colts before the super bowl, then the packers are not going to the superbowl.

We school the packers most of the time we play. Chicago seems to give the Vikings a good run but most of the time when the vikings beat the pack it's just like the pack aren't doing anything.

I'd like to go with Dallas to make the SB but they are in the same division as the Vikings (a conundrum as the Cowboys are my #2 team).