NFL thread

[jameslofton29]

I still think the Colts are the team to beat, despite the stuff they've had to go through the last couple weeks.? I think the NFC is wide open.? I agree that the AFC will win the Superbowl.? I think the Colts, Pats, Bengals, or Broncos would handle anyone out of the NFC.

I think the only AFC team you listed that might beat the Bears is the pats. I know the Bengals beat them early in the season, but the Bears were really struggling on offense then. I dont know if you or the other guys here have been watching bears games, but that team is phenomenal. One thing thats different about them is they dont have to blitz very much, which makes them extremely dangerous, especially in a bears-colts matchup. Peyton is used to teams always trying to blitz him, and always changes his plays at the line. I think the Bears would frustrate him early, and they wouldnt recover from it. I could actually see the Bears shutting out the Colts in a Superbowl.

[Rob]

I can't argue about the Bears' D.  There the best defense we've seen since the Ravens in 2000.  However, I still think Brady or Manning would find a way to beat them.  Especially at an indoor neutral site.  At Soldier Field I'd probably give the Bears the edge on the Colts and maybe the Pats, but indoors Brady and Manning will probably be able to mount a passing game against them.  Should be a good game though.  I don't think the Bears are a team that can get blown out by anybody.

[sandman]

i watched the bears-packers game and the bears-steelers game. this D is very good. no where near as good as the ravens in 2000. the bears haven't played anybody good. and the two teams they played that are decent (bucs and panthers) aren't exactly offensive powerhouses.

they've played crappy teams all year....lions (2), packers (2), vikings, saints, niners, browns (loss).

and the packers are awful. one of the worst teams in the league. and they barely outplayed them. this bears team is slightly better than the bears team that made a run in 2000 and lost to the eagles at home.

i think any team from the nfc could make it to the SB. as much as i hate the giants, i think they are dangerous.

[jameslofton29]

 
Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

Predictions anyone? Here's mine:
Tampa Bay defeats Washington
New England defeats Jacksonville
N.Y. Giants defeat Carolina(this game could go either way)
Pittsburgh defeats Cincinnati
 Today had some notable news. Dick Vermeil retired, Mike Tice was fired, and we might have seen the last game of Brett Favre's career. Today might also have been the last regular season games of Jerome Bettis and Doug Flutie's careers.

[sandman]

great first round matchups. i'm looking forward to every game (which means most or all will be blowouts).

here's my picks:

bucs -2.5. although i was wrong in assuming they would not make the playoffs, i'm still not sold on the skins. and gruden may be the best coach in the league.

giants -3. carolina is inconsistent, and the giants are tough at home.

bengals +3. steelers have to be a bit worn...their last 3 or 4 games were essentially playoff games. and i think the home crowd will get the bengals going. i think they win outright.

jags +7. if i were a pats fan, i wouldn't have a good feeling about this game. nothing would surprise me in this one. not sure who i think will win, so i have to take the 7 points. the pats are playing well and are really tough at home, but they still are not the same team from years past.

[jameslofton29]

bengals +3. steelers have to be a bit worn...their last 3 or 4 games were essentially playoff games. and i think the home crowd will get the bengals going. i think they win outright.

Are you serious?? This is the final days of Jerome Bettis's career, and they will NOT allow themselves to be beat by the inexperienced and overrated Cincinatti Bengals.

[Drew]

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

I hope this weekend's winners are Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Cincinnati.

[Neemo]

Here's my picks

TB, NE, Pitt, Car

[Rob]

My picks:

Redskins, Panthers, Patriots, and Bengals.

[Cornell]

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

I hope this weekend's winners are Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Cincinnati.

I hope the complete opposite happens! 

[Drew]

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

I hope this weekend's winners are Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Cincinnati.

I hope the complete opposite happens! 

Grrrr......

[Cornell]

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

I hope this weekend's winners are Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Cincinnati.

I hope the complete opposite happens!?

Grrrr......

   I'm being quite serious too - not just bustin on ya. 

[Drew]

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

I hope this weekend's winners are Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Cincinnati.

I hope the complete opposite happens! 

Grrrr......

   I'm being quite serious too - not just bustin on ya. 

Well I do see the majority of my picks are in the South and your picks are in the North.

[sandman]

bengals +3. steelers have to be a bit worn...their last 3 or 4 games were essentially playoff games. and i think the home crowd will get the bengals going. i think they win outright.

Are you serious?? This is the final days of Jerome Bettis's career, and they will NOT allow themselves to be beat by the inexperienced and overrated Cincinatti Bengals.

i think this will be a close game. i'm not sold on big ben - he struggled in the playoffs last year. and lewis is a great coach. as long has the bengals can contain the run somewhat, i think they'll win.

i'm also looking at trends here.....home field is huge in the nfl playoffs. AND road favorites are only 2-6 in the playoffs since 1995 (1-6-1 ATS).

[Cornell]

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

I hope this weekend's winners are Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Cincinnati.

I hope the complete opposite happens!?

Grrrr......

 ? I'm being quite serious too - not just bustin on ya.?

Well I do see the majority of my picks are in the South and your picks are in the North.

I'm 2 for 2 so far! 

[sandman]

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 7
GAME TIME NETWORK
Washington at Tampa Bay 4:30 p.m. ABC
Jacksonville at New England 8:00 p.m. ABC
Sunday, Jan. 8
GAME TIME NETWORK
Carolina at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m. FOX
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:30 p.m. CBS

I hope this weekend's winners are Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Cincinnati.

I hope the complete opposite happens!?

Grrrr......

 ? I'm being quite serious too - not just bustin on ya.?

Well I do see the majority of my picks are in the South and your picks are in the North.

I'm 2 for 2 so far!?

nice job. 

i lost some $$ on the bucs, but i ended up winning it back on the pats. once i saw brady in pregame warmups at home, i realized how crazy i was for thinking they might lose.

i still love the giants today. and i'm sticking with my cincy pick as well.

yesterday's games were kinda boring. hopefully today's are better.

[D]

Giants got rolled


no way Cincy are beatin Pittsburgh


Carson Palmer in his first playoff game will not do good, Cincy has no D to speak of and Pittsburgh have the experience and the Defense and the running game.



I have Indy vs Carolina in the Superbowl, Indy winning it.

[The New Fiona Apple]

I'm just super excited that the Bears are in the playoffs.

[sandman]

kind of a boring opening weekend to the playoffs. hopefully week 2 is more exciting.

i was absolutely horrible at picking games this weekend. i should be banned from even giving my opinions.

but i will say this, the panthers are a nightmare of a matchup for the bears. they are only 3 point favorites (which is basically for home field - so oddsmakers are essentially saying these two teams are even).

[Cornell]

I was 3 for 4 this weekend.  I really wanted Giants to win, bit at least the Steelers held tough.  Is Bettis like a train?