NFL Week #18 THE PLAYOFFS

[mrpackerguy]

Boy, I sure was down on my team after an embarrassment in Detroit. Funny, though, that loss at Detroit started a 4-0 run by the Lions and perhaps a return to, well let's start with mediocrity and then see what happens. But based on that major egg-laying, I was sure the Packers were toast. How wrong I was. 2 important wins, without 2 more starters, DE Cullen Jenkins and LB Frank Zombo. The Pro-bowlers came through. Woodson played out of his mind these last 2 games. Rodgers against the Giants, had what one talking head said statistically was the 11th best QB performance since 1993. Nick Collins sealed yesterday's win against a full strength Bears contingent playing at what looked like 95% on the last drive.

So, I'm somewhat surprised, but pleasantly.

Pack vs Eagles. Winnable. #1 should be containing Vick. Seems like the key is rattling his cage. Getting to him. Hitting him. Beating him up. Jenkins will be back hopefully. The way our front 3 is playing and our LBs, we should be able to get pressure. When we beat Philly in week #2 I think it was, it was against Kolb. This is a different Eagles team, but I don't think as strong as the Eagles teams that went to the NFC championship games with McNabb in the last 10 years. So I'm hoping we advance.

Pack 34
Eagles 31

[MJ5150]

Saints get the easiest first round playoff game ever.

-Mike

[Sundogue]

There is nothing I love more than a Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears slugfest.

Hats off to Lovie and the Bears for keeping the rivalry intact and not resting starters. I'd also like to thank him for the ill-timed time out.

Packers move into the playoffs!!! Anyone still think our defense can't do the job? Only Pittsburgh was better in points allowed. And what's up with this Walden dude? Did they clone Matthews or something? Wow, he comes out of nowhere and just dominates. Not just a backup filling in space, but dominating!

Yes, we have to contain Vick and thanks to the Vikings, we can see how to do it. I think we can beat Philly. Of course at this point I think we can beat anyone.

Packers 24
Philly 17

[Selta]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Saints get the easiest first round playoff game ever.

-Mike

Totally agree... hey, at least they can give some of their starters another week off, eh? This one will not even be worth watching. Wish I were going, though, since it is here.

Packs will go to Philly and win... should be interesting. Force turnovers like they've been doing, keep that O line going, and get to Vick. Oh, and lock down Jackson, if you can.

Indy over the Jets.. Jets don't even belong in the post-season, IMO. Indy will be the team to show them exactly why.

Baltimore won't have a whole lot of issues with KC.

Browns with a coach change now, too. See ya, Mangini!

I'll probably watch all the games except for NO @ Sea.

[pointbass]

Well, I have no dog in this hunt anymore, so I can sit back and not get stressed ....

Gotta believe that the Colts will take this, but the Jets have won some weird games this year. They have the strangest 11-5 record in the NFL, and however they got there it wasn't because they completely stink. The Colts have left me very unimpressed for the games I saw so I don't think it's a sure thing for them. Colts by less than a TD

Baltimore will easily run over Kansas City

Give me a break with the Saints game . If they lose this one they will be equal on my suck-o-meter with the Giants

Best game of the weekend between the Packers and the Eagles. If Green Bay paid attention to the last 4 Philly game films they will see how to disrupt the chaos that is this Eagle offense. Regular steady pressure on Vick and keep him from scurrying around, that will be the end of the Eagles for this year. I'd love to see them one and out ....

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I don't bother picking games, but I'm pulling for:

Steelers & Colts in the east

Pack and Falcons in the west

I like the Saints, but i just don't think they're "on" this year, much like the Colts.

The teams I have a healthy respect for even though i don't really like them: Patriots, Ravens, Eagles, Jets. The Jets are funny. Sometimes they look absolutely pathetic, other times like world beaters. I'd have to say that the Pats are the clear favorite at this point, but I'd love to see them fall.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I don't bother picking games, but I'm pulling for:

Steelers & Colts in the east

Pack and Falcons in the west

I like the Saints, but i just don't think they're "on" this year, much like the Colts.

The teams I have a healthy respect for even though i don't really like them: Patriots, Ravens, Eagles, Jets. The Jets are funny. Sometimes they look absolutely pathetic, other times like world beaters. I'd have to say that the Pats are the clear favorite at this point, but I'd love to see them fall.

I don't think we'll see the Saints or the Pats in this superbowl.

[JimB52]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Totally agree... hey, at least they can give some of their starters another week off, eh? This one will not even be worth watching. Wish I were going, though, since it is here.

Packs will go to Philly and win... should be interesting. Force turnovers like they've been doing, keep that O line going, and get to Vick. Oh, and lock down Jackson, if you can.

Indy over the Jets.. Jets don't even belong in the post-season, IMO. Indy will be the team to show them exactly why.

Baltimore won't have a whole lot of issues with KC.

Browns with a coach change now, too. See ya, Mangini!

I'll probably watch all the games except for NO @ Sea.

Three out of four road teams win in the playoffs?

[Bipslapper]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

I don't think we'll see the Saints or the Pats in this superbowl.

I presume you are joking?

One could say that the seeded teams like New Orleans (5 seed ) and Green Bay (6 seed !) are far better than Seattle (4 seed) and Chicago (frickin' 2 seed ).

NFL needs to look hard at how they seed teams. Your point about NE and NO not making the SB could certainly be true, but it is the minority view when it comes to the Pats. I think Green Bay is a real good candidate, Bears not so much.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by Bipslapper

I presume you are joking?

One could say that the seeded teams like New Orleans (5 seed ) and Green Bay (6 seed !) are far better than Seattle (4 seed) and Chicago (frickin' 2 seed ).

NFL needs to look hard at how they seed teams. Your point about NE and NO not making the SB could certainly be true, but it is the minority view when it comes to the Pats. I think Green Bay is a real good candidate, Bears not so much.

I don't see anyone knocking off the Pats...

...except for the Packers.

[jp58]

Originally Posted by Bipslapper

I presume you are joking?

One could say that the seeded teams like New Orleans (5 seed ) and Green Bay (6 seed !) are far better than Seattle (4 seed) and Chicago (frickin' 2 seed ).

NFL needs to look hard at how they seed teams. Your point about NE and NO not making the SB could certainly be true, but it is the minority view when it comes to the Pats. I think Green Bay is a real good candidate, Bears not so much.

Why? The teams that won their division deserve a home game for their efforts. That is especially true in the AFC.

Chicago won enough games to EARN a bye week, they weren't handed one. And as for which teams are better, that's why we play the games in the playoffs. I'd argue that because Green Bay made it in only by a tiebreaker that they are the least worthy team of hosting a playoff game.

[MJ5150]

The Eagles will take out the Packers.

New England has shown they too can not show up and get beat, so it is far from a given that they will be unquestionably successful. No, I am no joking.

-Mike

[Selta]

Originally Posted by JimB52

Three out of four road teams win in the playoffs?

Hey, just a guess from someone who only casually watches the game overall... I really only follow my own team closely, and even then, not near as much as most of you .
But yeah, those are my predictions... /shrug

Originally Posted by Bipslapper

I presume you are joking?

Nope, no joke. Chances are, especially since all the talking heads are picking at least the Pats to get there, that I'll be wrong.

[Adam Barkley]

Colts need to keep the fire from the last four games burning.

I think New England is going to be exposed in a big way. Defensive deficiencies can be glossed over when the offense is rolling. Will the offense keep up it's pace?

[MJ5150]

Hey look, abark is back. All you need now is your boy Kelly Lee and the Colt bandwagon is up and running.

-Mike

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by Adam Barkley

Colts need to keep the fire from the last four games burning.

I think New England is going to be exposed in a big way. Defensive deficiencies can be glossed over when the offense is rolling. Will the offense keep up it's pace?

Since I have no dog in the hunt, I'll be rooting for the Colts. Hopefully their speed can make up for a lot of size issues on the defensive end, if they go up against a good back they will be in a lot of trouble. The one thing the Colts always have going for them is Peyton Manning, and he's just too good for me to not see them advancing substantially.

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Hey look, abark is back. All you need now is your boy Kelly Lee and the Colt bandwagon is up and running.

-Mike

Don't worry Mike, I got it covered.

[Bipslapper]

Ok, the word "joking" is too strong. My post was intended to mainly point out the seeds this year. I know any team can lose on any day if they don't show up to play. But IMO GB is far better than Seattle & w/ a healthy Rogers, better than CHI. New Orleans should beat Seattle but as the home team, the Seahawks should only be a 14 point underdog

[Adam Barkley]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Hey look, abark is back. All you need now is your boy Kelly Lee and the Colt bandwagon is up and running.

-Mike

I'll admit I fell off in the threads, but I got my blood pressure spiked every Sunday.

I have to say this has been one of my favorites seasons because everything is so topsy-turvy.

[Jeff K]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

I don't think we'll see the Saints or the Pats in this superbowl.

Ray, I love ya', man. You're my home-town brother and a Steelers fan, but I'm wondering whether you've been smokin' a bit of that wacky tobacky. I think there is a very good chance that we could see the Pats AND the Saints in the Super Bowl.

I think the Falcons and the Pack have solid chances to get there as well in the NFC; but I wouldn't count the Saints out.

And barring a shocking letdown, I don't see anybody beating the Pats in Foxboro. I hope I'm wrong, but they (the Pats) look like a friggin' machine lately. But on the other hand, there's always that old adage, "On any given Sunday (or Saturday)".