Greetings, sports fans.

Its that time of year, that is, the best time, for football fans. The NFL Playoffs. It doesn't get much better than this, at least with your clothes on.

I'll begin with the AFC with NFC prognostications to appear later in this thread.

6 Baltimore at 3 Miami

Is it not comical that the Ravens are seeded 6th (and the Colts 5th) while the 8-8 Chargers are 4th? Not only comical but ludicrous. Not to mention that the
11-5 Pats aren't in. But that's another story. Miami's gadget running game goes nowhere against perhaps the best rush defense in the league, and Pennington's offense is reduced to passing. I think I can sense Suggs and Lewis licking their chops. Ravens in a cakewalk.

5 Indy at 4 San Diego

This could be a doozy as SD's offense is red hot at the right time. I'd love to see the Chargers pull this puppy out, buy Peyton Manning will pull yet another rabbit out of his helmet to win at the very end.

6 Baltimore at 1 Tennessee

Trench warfare at its best, in fact the same Divisional playoff game that occurred in 2000 when the Ravens shocked the Titans on the way to the Super Bowl. The Ravens' D was slightly better then (one of the best ever), allowing only 10 points a game, but the Ravens' offense is significantly better now. This will be a slugfest of goliath proportions, with the same results, though the game will be closer. This time, unfortunately for Titan fans, a Suggs helmet tap on Kerry Collins will not be roughing the passer, though.

5 Indy at 2 Pittsburgh

This will be one heck of a football game, with the Steelers exacting revenge from a home loss to Manning earlier this year. Big Ben will be just fine as long as he avoids his motorcycle during his week off. Pittsburgh's D will be too much for even Peyton to overcome, especially in the Ketchup Bottle's frozen tundra.

6 Balt at 2 Pittsburgh

the AFC championship game. My comments on this climactic battle will follow as the thread develops.

All-righty then.

Wrong about the Bolts, dead on about the Ravens. Watch out, Titans. History repeats itself.

Manning couldn't pull a turd out of a punchbowl. Hope his whiney brother does the same.

2/3 of the earth's surface is covered by water. The remaining 1/3 is covered by Ed Reed.

Due to the amazing popularity of this thread, as requested, here they come: the divisional round playoff pics. Updated AFC pick and freshly presented NFC.

Disclaimer: don't bet on football. Having said that these are lead pipe locks, sports fans.

One of the NFC games (Philly/ NY) will be great, while both AFC tussles will be absolute classics.

Worst first, and only less than top-notch affair: the Panthers will positively embarrass the woeful Cards, who travel poorly especially to anywhere that isn't 85 degrees, dry and sunny. Which Carolina won't be at night. While the Panthers aren't as good as people think, the Cards blew their wad against the Falcons. Panthers by at least 14 and take the over. This is a cakewalk.

Philly/ Giants. This will be one hell of a football game, but I think the Eagles little fantasy run ends here. Their last dose of reality came from the Ravens when McNabb was benched, since then he's pretty much walked on water. And they will hang tough for most of this one, but I think the Giants are going to grind this one out on the ground. They should put up 150-200 yards on the ground and win the time of possession. Giants by a touchdown - but go Eagles nevertheless. Westbrook is one of the overlooked great players in the game.


In the AFC, we have two monumental battles involving three teams with great defenses and one with a good defense. You're going to see smash mouth football at its best, especially in the Titans/ Ravens lidlifter on Saturday. Shame this game isn't in prime time while the Panthers debacle is, but that's another story.

In Nashville, there are echoes of 2000 everywhere. Titans were AFC's top seed then and now. Ravens did have one home playoff game in 2000, but traveled to TEN in the divisional round. And the results will be the same, even if the Ravens don't win as handily (by two touchdowns) as they did then.

Both teams will try to grind this puppy out on the ground, and neither will have much success through much of the game. Turnovers will be absolutely critical as will field position. I see the Ravens winning the turnover battle with one more turnover. Collins will be haunted by the two picks he threw (out of 7 for the year) against the Ravens in October and by the 4 he tossed in Super Bowl 35. He will make a game changing mistake in the 3rd or 4th quarter. Flacco won't be perfect, but he'll be good enough to be the first rookie quarterback to win his first TWO playoff games. Ravens to win outright in a slugfest for the ages.

San Diego would be a possible upset pick if LaDania Tomlinson were full strength against the Steelers, but he won't be and Sproles will find the sledding considerably tougher in the muck of Heinz field than in the bucolic surroundings in San Diego. Hell Antonio Gates won't even be full strength so you have a compromised offense against a rested #1 defense playing at home on a crap field in probably poor weather. It doesn't add up for the Bolts, but they will hang in there for more than a half. But unfortunately, the Steelers pull away at the end to win by 10 or more.

Enjoy the games.

Anyone like to see an Eagles - Steelers, Superbowl? :scratch2:

Anyone like to see an Eagles - Steelers, Superbowl? :scratch2:


I would love to see the Eagles win the Superbowl just so that Philadelphia sports fans have no good reason to bitch for at least a week. Then they would move to the Sixers and Flyers

Steelers-Panthers Superbowl. Sorry , Panthers fans-24-17 Steelers.
It's my dream , I'll tell it like I want.

I hate to agree with Alaric, but the Steelers are the most likely team to win the Super Bowl. It is nearly impossible to beat them at home, especially in the muck as you'll witness on Sunday.

That said, a Ravens/ Steelers AFC Championship game would be one for the ages.

Bordeno, do you agree with Alaric in that my Panthers will be the Steelers' opponent in Tampa?

If the Eagles beat the Giants, yes. If the Giants win, I'm not sure. I would be shocked if the Cardinals don't fold early on Saturday night. That should be the only blowout of this weekend, like the Ravens game was last weekend.

Didn't see the Cardinals comin'! Damn.

That said, a Ravens/ Steelers AFC Championship game would be one for the ages.

Now looking likely. Yikes.

I would be shocked if the Cardinals don't fold early on Saturday night. That should be the only blowout of this weekend, like the Ravens game was last weekend.

You were right about one thing, it was a blowout. You have been shocked.

You were right about one thing, it was a blowout. You have been shocked.

And I'm wondering what the heck happened over the week in the Panthers locker room to cause them to play so horribly. What I was afraid of happening did happen: Jake tried to do everything himself when things got tough and they got away from the running game.

I'm seriously wanting Carolina to start looking for another QB, a draft pick that can be the future but most importantly, DOES NOT CHOKE when the chips are down, and let him start learning behind Delhomme next season. That's the main problem we have with Delhomme. When things get dicey and defenses really start clamping down, he starts trying to force it and make things happen and throws picks left and right.

I think the biggest problem the Panthers had was the Cardinal's defense that played last week showed up in Charlotte. As a Steelers fan , I'm really ticked off at Dan Rooney not giving the head coaching job to Obi Wan Whisenhunt. I believe Master Ken has the potential to be one of the finest coaches the NFL has ever seen. He took the Cardinals to the NFC Championship game. It's enough to make me question Newton and Einstein!
Steelers/Eagles Superbowl , anyone?

:ntwrthy:

Steelers/Eagles Superbowl , anyone?

:ntwrthy:[/QUOTE]

YES !!!!!

Yeah , and McNabb's Eagles worry me....

I think the biggest problem the Panthers had was the Cardinal's defense that played last week showed up in Charlotte.
:ntwrthy:
I see the biggest improvement in the offensive line. It's incredible how much time Warner has been getting. He also stayed healthy all year.
I hope Russ Grimm stays for another year.

As someone who has followed this team for years, I see the biggest improvement in the offensive line. It's incredible how much time Warner has been getting. He also stayed healthy all year.
I hope Russ Grimm stays for another year.

Yeah , I'm so PO'ed at the Rooneys for not nailing that pair I can't see straight. You have to give credit to that defense for standing tall against the Panthers. What a team.

Yeah , I'm so PO'ed at the Rooneys for not nailing that pair I can't see straight. You have to give credit to that defense for standing tall against the Panthers. What a team.
Oh...without a doubt. The only thing is the defense has been up & down, but the offensive line has never played worth a darn until now. Even the run blocking is working.

You were right about one thing, it was a blowout. You have been shocked.

Indeed I have, and a perfect example of why I don't gamble on football. But I sure watch it, what a thrill for Cards fans.

Any given Sunday....or, in this case, Saturday..

ESPN is giving them Ammo every week.Before the Atlanta game,one of their "experts" broke down the playoff teams into three catagories...and the Cardinals by themselves in a fourth,calling them "the worst team to ever make the playoffs".
Then theyy win at Atlanta,and ESPN starts pulling out the stats-Cards have lost like 18 of their last 20 on the road.They lost to Carolina earlier in the year,they have no defense against the run,blah blah blah.
Now just an hour ago on ESPN.COM,the headlines of one of the columns reads "Cards have no shot against Philly."
The Cards play their best ball at home,and thats where they will be on Sunday.I think its gonna be closer than the "experts" predict.
Jimmy

Is was heartwarming to see the Cards make the big game. Once a sad sack franchise now can hold its head high. Warner,Fitzgerald et al deserve all the credit they are getting. I don't see them beating the more experienced Steelers but give them a turnover or 2 and who knows. The Cards score TD's not FG's so falling behind them is fatal.

Mike