• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NFL Week #19 THE PLAYOFFS

#104
stratovani said:
I thought everyone here would enjoy reading this story, courtesy of the Cold Hard Football Facts. It backs up what I've been saying about playoff football being a game of mistakes, and the most critical being interceptions. Keep your mistakes to the bare minimum, and the chances are you'll advance. Don't, and you're done for.

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_3607_The_Almighty_CHFF_Interception_Ladder.html
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to insult your or anyone elses intelligence here, but this all sounds like common sense. The more interceptions you throw in a game, the more opportunities you're giving the other team to score against you. Hence why most teams that throw a lot of picks normally lose.

For personal reasons, I don't like this line in the article:

"It’s pretty sad when a team like Indy can muster just one touchdown and a puny 16 points at home in a dome, despite not a single turnover."

This is not giving the Jets defense a single ounce of credit where credit is do. With the exception of one bad play, the Jets defense dominated Indy's passing game. Nor does it take into account that Indy's rushing game was one of the worst in the league, 29th.
 
#105
Some of you guys are all excited for a potential "epic" battle between Chicago and Green Bay. If you want to see a real epic battle, tune in to the Pittsburgh/Baltimore game on Saturday. That there is a real down home rivalry folks.

-Mike
 
#106
cassanova said:
I'm not trying to insult your or anyone elses intelligence here, but this all sounds like common sense. The more interceptions you throw in a game, the more opportunities you're giving the other team to score against you. Hence why most teams that throw a lot of picks normally lose.

For personal reasons, I don't like this line in the article:

"It’s pretty sad when a team like Indy can muster just one touchdown and a puny 16 points at home in a dome, despite not a single turnover."

This is not giving the Jets defense a single ounce of credit where credit is do. With the exception of one bad play, the Jets defense dominated Indy's passing game. Nor does it take into account that Indy's rushing game was one of the worst in the league, 29th.
Click to expand...

I've got to agree with you on this one, cassanova. The Jets' defense was outstanding vs the Colts. But, with a 29th in the league rushing game, the Colts had become possibly the worst thing a playoff-caliber team can be - they had become one-dimensional. Makes the defense's job a lot easier when you don't have to worry about one aspect of offense, rushing in this case. Manning has been doing it with smoke and mirrors all season, and it caught up to him. In the end the better team won, and Caldwell's bad coaching caught up with the Colts.
 
#107
MJ5150 said:
Some of you guys are all excited for a potential "epic" battle between Chicago and Green Bay. If you want to see a real epic battle, tune in to the Pittsburgh/Baltimore game on Saturday. That there is a real down home rivalry folks.

-Mike
Click to expand...

No doubt about it, the Steelers-Ravens game is going to be the football equivalent of the Battle of Kursk in World War 2. Two heavily-armored opponents of equal talent and skill in a head-on collision at Heinz Field. Looking forward to it! It's going to be a bloodbath!

This Sunday's AFC games are going to be epic! :D
 
#108
New York Jets at New England – New England . Not much to say here really... I think the Jets Defense can possibly hold it down to keep the score low but I also don't think the Jets Offense can score enough despite that. Besides, New England is just playing too well and are almost untouchable at home.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh. I’ve been flip flopping on this one all week. I don’t know what the odds are but to me it’s a coin flip as I don’t know enough about either team to know for sure... So this really is just a guess with Pittsburgh, for me, having a slight edge due to higher statistics/ rankings in both offense and defense.

Green Bat at Atlanta – Atlanta . I want Green Bay to win this one but Atlanta has played well all year including going 7-1 at home. They seem to be well balanced and very disciplined. I just think it’s going to be too much for Green Bay to handle and Starks isn’t going to come out of nowhere this week as Atlanta is well aware of him now.

Seattle at Chicago – Seattle. Matt Hassleback has 10 career playoff starts. Jay Cutler has 0. Chicago’s offensive line has been playing much better but is still average at best. Hopefully, Chris Clemons and Raheem Brock will be coming from the edge to harass Cutler and combined with a few safety blitz’s, we should be able to rattle him, and a rattled Cutler is bad news for the Bears.

There is also pressure... Seattle has little to none while Chicago has a lot. Chicago's rich football history and playing at home puts a lot of pressure on Lovie, Cutler and Mike Martz to win against a 7-9 Seahawks team that some would argue shouldn't even be playing in the first place. When Chicago falls behind, the pressure is going to build and mistakes will happen.

Marshawn Lynch should be a factor as well. Not that he's going to have a ton of yards, but he does lower his pads and comes at you. On what may be a slick Chicago surface, his running style should eventually take it's toll on a fantastic Bears defense toward the latter part of the game.

Chicago ’s special teams are fantastic but Seattle’s isn’t bad either and as important as they are for both teams, I think Seattle is going to surprise some.

Finally, my guess is that Chicago spent their week off preparing and studying film of the New Orleans Saints and it's only been Saturday since they've really looked at Seattle.
 
#111
bassman03 said:
Chicago/Green Bay is still the oldest and most legendary.
Click to expand...

Oldest they may be, but i'd say Cowboys/Redskins are more legendary at this point. As i pointed out in a previous week the two teams have never played a meaningful/post season game since the Super Bowl era began :hmm:

From an outsiders (non Chicago/GB resident) perspective GB/Chicago ranks below Cowboys/Redskins, Giants/Eagles, and Steelers/Ravens; coming in just ahead of the multiheaded AFC West rivalry. Of course i'd mention Pats/Colts and Pats/Jets but then i'd be biased :smug:
 
#112
MJ5150 said:
jp58, back on ignore. :D

-Mike
Click to expand...

Ha. I really can't pick a winner in that game. I've long hated the Ravens, even back to the days of Tony "The Goose," but I don't know how the Steelers will perform. Pitt has seemingly been on a tear, and then Mendenhall and Ward take a day off and you just have to scratch your head and wonder how the game ended up the way it did. It is pretty much a toss up with Rice and Mendy being some of the top young backs in the league, and with both teams having a solid QB and veteran WR core, it's hard to pick a side.
 
#113
After going 3-1 against the spread last week, here are my picks for this round of playoff games. Some very, very tough picks this week.

Ravens +3: This is the game I am most looking forward to this weekend. Should be everything that football is supposed to be.

Falcons -2.5: The birds are money at home and being overlooked by so many folks.

Seahawks +10: Unlike last week, I'm going to take the points. 10 is a bunch and The Bears are very hit/miss.

Patriots -8.5: I hate giving away this many points but I just can't shake the memory the last time these two teams played. NE is less prone to mistakes, and The Hoodie will not take his foot off of the gas if he has the lead.
 
#114
Even as a Pats fan, I got to agree with Mike - the Steelers / Ravens rivalry is good stuff. Both Pittsburgh and the Ravens have won Super Bowls within the last 30 years (sorry Jets fans), and they are the 2 most physical teams in the league to me. I really look forward to this one as well and I believe the Steelers will win (as much as I can't stand Ben or Ward). Not fully sold on Flacco as a "big time QB".

I see Troy P. and Harrison rising to the occasion.

So:

Steelers
Packers
Bears
Pats
 
#116
MJ5150 said:
Maybe so, but this isn't the 40's anymore. :)

-Mike
Click to expand...

You wouldn't know it watching the Steelers/Ravens game!!:)

All that's missing is the leather helmets and neckties on the refs!!

I swear, if the NFL went to pay-per view tomorrow (and they will sooner rather than later) I'd pay for the Pitt/Balt game.

Seriously, the venom on that rivalry makes me concerned about player health. Career-ending injuries, stuff like that.
 
#117
fo shizzle said:
...Seriously, the venom on that rivalry makes me concerned about player health. Career-ending injuries, stuff like that.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I am expecting some fines to be levied following that game. On the flip side of the coin, the players need to be very cognizant of possible suspensions, so that might keep them on their best behavior.
 
#118
fo shizzle said:
...I swear, if the NFL went to pay-per view tomorrow (and they will sooner rather than later) I'd pay for the Pitt/Balt game...
Click to expand...
I'd never watch football again if that happened. The greed from all parties is already palpable. I don't contribute a dime to the NFL, and haven't in a few years. I don't plan on that changing, as player and coach salaries continue to skyrocket.
 
#119
Eric Perry said:
I'd never watch football again if that happened. The greed from all parties is already palpable. I don't contribute a dime to the NFL, and haven't in a few years. I don't plan on that changing, as player and coach salaries continue to skyrocket.
Click to expand...

It would depend on the cost. If following my one team worked out to less money than buying a "package", I would do it, but that's pretty obvious.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back