2008/9 NFL Action

[WayneNYC]

OK - So now that the wildcard round is past, what's your thinking on the whole NFL playoff picture.  No disrespect meant, but I think Arizona is probably the weakest team to (1) make the playoff and (2) make it to the next round.  Who will win it all?  That's tough.  Of course I'd love to see my NY football Giants repeat, but I think The Giants, Steelers or Titans will win it all.  The Panthers, Ravens and Eagles also look strong, but I'm betting that they'll get eliminated. 

Giants - Defense is still pretty solid, but I'm sure we're weaker without Burress.

Eagles are just doing all the right things now and they could knock off anyone.

Ravens - Of course their defense is leaps and bounds over the others, but I'm still not sold on their offense.  This weekend, I think Miami was the more talented team, but they simply gave the game away.  With all the Dolphin turnovers, that game should've been a blowout, yet they still had a fighting chance in the fourth quarter.  I don't see the Titans rolling over like this and their passing game will make the Raven's D work hard.

This is a good year as there's a lot of talent in the playoffs this year and there's no clear winner.  It will be interesting.

[WES]

Well let's start with the defending superbowl champions.  They looked impressive most of the season but after the victory over the Redskins something weird happened.  They lost to the Cowboys, Eagles, nearly lost to the Panthers, and lost to the Vikings.  Even though they were probably resting some players, going in losing 3 of their last 4 isn't good.  Look what happened to the Cowboys last year---Teehee( that Terrell Owens press conference still cracks me up).

The Eagles.  Could they be pulling a Giants from last year.  This seems to be the thing with the Eagles every year.  Some castrophe happens in the middle of the season, but at the end they always seem to come back and either make the playoffs or get close to making it.  Can the offense get it going again this weekend, because the defense will be tested and to a point you can run on the Eagle defense.

The Cardinals.  Yea they are the weakest link, and probably the team that might be the surprise of these playoffs if they beat the Panthers.  With Boulden possibly out beating the Panthers with just Fitzgerald might be more difficult.

The Panthers.  They look pretty good, but their only problem might be Delhomme, if he is not on his game, they won't go further and would be upset by the Cardinals.

Now for the AFC

The Titans.  One dimensional offense that if, defenses cue in on the running game, that would mean that Kerry Collins would have to win the game.  One team tried that and it didn't work.  Well that team didn't have a defense that the Ravens has.

The Ravens.  In my opinion, probably one of the scariest defenses out there.  And what is worse or better if you are a Ravens' fan, the offense is getting pretty good also.

The Chargers.  Indianapolis is hoping that they never play the Chargers again and if history repeats itself, Pittsburgh will be hoping for that same thing.  The only thing that might cost them is if Tomlinson can't play.  I don't think that Rivers can withstand that Steeler defense for the whole game, we'll see.

The Steelers.  If Baltimore's defense wasn't scary enough, Pittsburgh's might be scarier.  The offense, in my opinion, it too inconsistent to be a real threat.  Not much of a running game, and Roethisberger has been up and down the whole year.

After this weekend the final four will be set.

[WayneNYC]

Well let's start with the defending superbowl champions.  They looked impressive most of the season but after the victory over the Redskins something weird happened.  They lost to the Cowboys, Eagles, nearly lost to the Panthers, and lost to the Vikings.  Even though they were probably resting some players, going in losing 3 of their last 4 isn't good.  Look what happened to the Cowboys last year---Teehee( that Terrell Owens press conference still cracks me up).

The Eagles.  Could they be pulling a Giants from last year.  This seems to be the thing with the Eagles every year.  Some castrophe happens in the middle of the season, but at the end they always seem to come back and either make the playoffs or get close to making it.  Can the offense get it going again this weekend, because the defense will be tested and to a point you can run on the Eagle defense.

The Cardinals.  Yea they are the weakest link, and probably the team that might be the surprise of these playoffs if they beat the Panthers.  With Boulden possibly out beating the Panthers with just Fitzgerald might be more difficult.

The Panthers.  They look pretty good, but their only problem might be Delhomme, if he is not on his game, they won't go further and would be upset by the Cardinals.

Now for the AFC

The Titans.  One dimensional offense that if, defenses cue in on the running game, that would mean that Kerry Collins would have to win the game.  One team tried that and it didn't work.  Well that team didn't have a defense that the Ravens has.

The Ravens.  In my opinion, probably one of the scariest defenses out there.  And what is worse or better if you are a Ravens' fan, the offense is getting pretty good also.

The Chargers.  Indianapolis is hoping that they never play the Chargers again and if history repeats itself, Pittsburgh will be hoping for that same thing.  The only thing that might cost them is if Tomlinson can't play.  I don't think that Rivers can withstand that Steeler defense for the whole game, we'll see.

The Steelers.  If Baltimore's defense wasn't scary enough, Pittsburgh's might be scarier.  The offense, in my opinion, it too inconsistent to be a real threat.  Not much of a running game, and Roethisberger has been up and down the whole year.

After this weekend the final four will be set.

I think there's more to it in the Giants recent losses.  I'll be the first to admit that they're weaker without Plaxico Burress.  However, in the Eagles game they were also without Brandon Jacobs who is almost a wrecking crew alone in the running game.  I think if Jacobs is truly healthy, the Eagles could get a taste of Earth, Wind and Fire.  Not saying that's enough because Westbrook is a force too.  In the game against the Vikings they rested a bunch of starters and Manning himself sat out the second half.  It's a loss, but I'm guessing they had already decided to concede that game in the name of being rested and healthy as possible.

I agree that the Eagles could easily be the Giants of 2008.  They have some seroius momentum, but if they eliminated the Giants and made it to the Super Bowl, I'd bet the Steelers, Chargers or Titans would be waiting.  If this scenario played out... my money is on the AFC.

In the AFC I think the Ravens is done.  I like Flacco and I think he has awesome instincts to be so young, and though they're scoring more points, their offense is not all that powerful.

[Perry]

The Ravens game was great today although they got away with a big one when the refs didn't call a delay of game penalty in the 4th.

I can't believe Arizona is kicking the Panther's tail like they are.

[WayneNYC]

Agreed.  I can't believe the refs missed that one.  Some for Arizona and Carolina.  Delhomme just couldn't get it together and neither could the rest of the team.  The Panthers looked really good when marched down the field to score the first TD, but then it was over from there.  I was very wrong about today's games.  Got my fingers crossed for tomorrow.

[rideonrulez]

Well I'm a HAPPY Ravens fan thats for sure! The surprise was Cardinals crushing the Panthers! Now I hope the Eagles win (sorry Wayne) today and the Steelers. So my results I hope will be for the Championship is:

AFC: Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles vs Arizona Cardinals

In the end I want Ravens vs Eagles in the Superbowl!!

Let's see if my predictions turn out right.

[Perry]

Ravens/Eagles or Ravens/Cardinals:  That game would really be for the birds!! LOL

I have a coworker that's from Philly but she has season tickets to the Cardinals and is really going to have to choose carefully who she roots for if the Cards and Eagles are in the NFC Championship.

Giants not looking too good.  But I love this game, it's just like the Ravens/Titans game yesterday.

I would love for the Chargers to win.  I don't like the Steelers at all, never have.

[WayneNYC]

Well I'm a HAPPY Ravens fan thats for sure! The surprise was Cardinals crushing the Panthers! Now I hope the Eagles win (sorry Wayne) today and the Steelers.

No problem.  As a New Yorker I'm very much used to everyone either hating New York City, New York sports teams or both.  The part I found funny is all of the people at work jumping on the Ravens bandwagon.

I'm no Steelers fan, but I'm hoping they send the Raven's home.  They blow my predictions after the refs blew that call against the Ravens.

[coneyraven]

RAVENS RULE!!!

HAPPY FESTIVUS!!!

BALTIMORE STYLE

[WayneNYC]

OK - Games over and Super Bowl XLIII teams decided.  After going 0 for 4 last week in my picks (and desired results), I've bounced back and was predicted both winners of the conference championship.  The fact that I wanted the Eagles and Ravens to lose was a nice bonus.  For the big dance, I'm thinking the Steelers have the best shot, but I'm not at all counting out the Cards.  In fact I'd like to see the Cardinals win the Super Bowl.

[Perry]

It will definitely be an interesting Super Bowl to watch.  I'd like to see Arizona win too, but I think they may be in over their heads at this point.

Nevertheless, it will be fun to watch it on my birthday.  This is the second time it's been on Feb. 1 since they added the second off week between the last playoff game and the Super Bowl while still having the bye weeks.  It used to be that they'd have the two weeks off, but no bye and the game would have been next weekend.  I think the format changed for a few years where they had the bye during the regular season, but then one week off. 

[rideonrulez]

In the end I want Ravens vs Eagles in the Superbowl!!

Let's see if my predictions turn out right.

Well both my wishes are gone. So I guess I got to root for the Steelers in this case. I hope McGahee is ok because he took a REAL HARD HIT yesterday.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

It will definitely be an interesting Super Bowl to watch.  I'd like to see Arizona win too, but I think they may be in over their heads at this point.

Nevertheless, it will be fun to watch it on my birthday.  This is the second time it's been on Feb. 1 since they added the second off week between the last playoff game and the Super Bowl while still having the bye weeks.  It used to be that they'd have the two weeks off, but no bye and the game would have been next weekend.  I think the format changed for a few years where they had the bye during the regular season, but then one week off. 

There is a Wikipedia article that explains all the changes in that regard somewhere, I've read it.  The current format of byes during the season and prior to the Super Bowl started in 2004 IIRC and was the result of 9/11 on scheduling, when there was no extra week between the conference finals and Super Bowl, which made fitting everything in difficult.  Now, they can lose a week of the season and not need to reschedule the Super Bowl the way they did after 9/11.

I think I've said it before, but football is not the sport I follow.  I guess I have some allegience to Baltimore since it is close to DC, but I'm not really all that interested in who wins or who plays.  I would have guessed that Pittsburgh and Philadephia would be the Super Bowl teams, so I guess one pick was right.  My guess is Pittsburgh wins it all, but again, I'll probably just watch the game and see it as a social event to hang out with friends more than anything else.

[WES]

I am not going to say it is going to be a lock for the Steelers to win superbowl #6, because everytime the Cardinals are counted out in these playoffs, they find a way to pull games out.

With that said I am picking the Steelers to win their sixth superbowl.

Edgerin James might want to rethink getting out of Arizona after this year, because if the Cardinals don't win and he leaves it could happen to him again where he leaves a team and they win the superbowl like the Colts did when he left.

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Go move to Texas then LOL

Seriously, why are there so many Dallas fans in DC?

When you think of DALLAS, think of the name of the t/a there
Dallas Area Regional Transit

or. .
Dallas Aint Real Team