NFL Discussion - 2008-09 Playoffs

[wew]

I'm in the Charlotte region and didn't quite understand how anyone could think that the Cardinals wouldn't play quite well. When they met earlier in the year, the Cardinal almost won.

In fact, Charlotte had a pretty miserable 3 down conversion rate for the entire season. I'm not suprised at the loss; of course all the moaning and complaining I'm going to hear is going to be unbearable.

 

[JM1776]

They did play with a lot of heart this year, especially in North Carolina. All credit to any team that goes 8-0 at home.

Oh, excuse me ... 8-1.

I'll stop now. That's more than enough graceless gloating.

[What I really wanted to see was a Rutgers-UNC rematch in a bowl game, but such was not to be. Instead, we got NC State. The Heels would have been in for a huge surprise in round two—as would any other team that beat RU this year.]

 

[Kolrad]

Congratulations Ravens; thanks for taking care of those Terrible Towel-stomping Titans. Now the Steelers need to take care of their end of the bargain, and we can have a whale of an AFC Championship!

I for one am shocked that the Cardinals are going to be playing in (and possibly even hosting) a championship game. I really didn't think a team with such a poor road record was going to beat a team that was undefeated in their stadium, but the Cards looked great! Kudos to Coach Whisenhunt!

 

[nevermore]

^^ Congrats on the win! Well done!

The Cardinals have now, officially, exceeded my expectations this season.

This whole game was frosting, to be frank—especially since they were deemed to have no chance by the pundits, and little more last week.

And this pretty much sums up my feelings about this season for the Ravens as well. At the beginning of the year, I was hoping for 8-8 and to see progressive improvement on the Offensive side of the ball. All expectations well exceeded, and at worst we'll get to play the Squeelers in a Conference championship. One hell of a rebuilding season.

Oh, and GO CHARGERS!!

 

[1001001]

They did play with a lot of heart this year, especially in North Carolina. All credit to any team that goes 8-0 at home.

Oh, excuse me ... 8-1.

I'll stop now. That's more than enough graceless gloating.

Are you kidding?

After a win like that, Cardinals fans deserve it.

What a great victory. I'm very happy for Kurt Warner.

 

[siskostemper]

The road ot the superbowl goes thru PITTSBURGH!!! Once we short circut the bolts we will then start the grill for the ravens.

 

[Pegaritaville]

I didn't give the Cardinals much of a chance, and I certainly wasn't expecting a blowout like that, but with Jake Delhomme at QB, I should have realized there was always the possibility of the Panthers imploding. I had Delhomme on several of my fantasy teams this year and dumped him- when he's off his game, he's really off his game.

 

[JM1776]

I didn't give the Cardinals much of a chance...

You and much of America.

... but with Jake Delhomme at QB, I should have realized there was always the possibility of the Panthers imploding.

Quite a few of the cognoscenti have speculated much of this was due to superlative prep work from Cardinals' players and staff—that they saw something in Delhomme's play that tipped them off as to his predilections and habits.

Frankly, he seemed far more interested in getting the mountain to Muhammand than the ball to Smith yesterday. Anyone else notice that? Was it simply the Cards' coverage schemes denying him any good looks at Little Stevie Wonder until it was too late?

Frankly, I'm beginning to think Whisenhunt is a freakin' genius.

 

[Scout101]

Call it what you will, but I'm enjoying watching the Giants and Eli completely botching their playoff game

 

[tomalak301]

NFC Championship game in the NFC West stadium. How awesome is that.

Totally unexpected, but awesome. Anything to go against all those naysayers out there that thought the West didn't deserve to have a team in the playoffs this year and the system should be changed. If you win your division, you deserve a shot in the playoffs. That's how it will always be.

 

[pork3]

Call it what you will, but I'm enjoying watching the Giants and Eli completely botching their playoff game

+1.
My wish has been fulfilled, neither the Colts or the Giants are reaching the superbowl.
Personally, I'd like to see either Philly or Baltimore win the big one.

-Jamman

 

[JM1776]

Personally, I'd like to see either Philly or Baltimore win the big one.

Get used to disappointment.

Kidding aside ... this game may well be decided early: If Philly goes in and hits Arizona in the mouth hard and often, the Cards may well start to believe that the game out East, meaningless as it really was to them, is a genuine reflection of the two squads' relative skills. The longer it's close, the more likely the Cardinals, with their vastly superior offensive weapons, find a way to win in the end.

And that's the way I see it.

 

[The Lady Eve]

Damn. Bummer for us Giants fans. As for John Carney, the Giants could have dug up Art Carney and used him to kick field goals. Couldn't have hurt. The Eagles just outplayed the Giants who were off to put it mildly - really thought the score would be closer. *shrugs* In any case, looking forward to next week's game between AZ & Philly.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Steelers vs Chargers turned out to be a surprisingly amusing game.

 

[nevermore]

Looks like we'll get a gladiatorial-level bloodbath for the AFC championship. Would certainly rather have faced the Chargers, but this is, admittedly, the more interesting match-up.

 

[siskostemper]

Looks like we'll get a gladiatorial-level bloodbath for the AFC championship. Would certainly rather have faced the Chargers, but this is, admittedly, the more interesting match-up.

" I look forward to it" Gul Dukat

An old school AFC central style bloodletting.

I would say good luck ravens but I wouldn't mean it

 

[nevermore]

^The fact that we got to beat the Titans to get there makes it even more delicious a prospect.

And Baby Ben better watch that delicate skull of his.

 

[siskostemper]

^The fact that we got to beat the Titans to get there makes it even more delicious a prospect.

And Baby Ben better watch that delicate skull of his.

Game on!!!

 

[chrisspringob]

Pittsburgh is now the favorite to win the Super Bowl, according to the online oddsmakers. Here's roughly the respective probabilities of the remaining four teams going all the way, as given by the oddsmakers, following today's games:

Pittsburgh 36%
Philadelphia 27%
Baltimore 21%
Arizona 17%

 

[Scout101]

would like to see Baltimore win it all. Honestly, just not a huge Steelers fan. Chargers would have resulted in a better draft pick for my Pats, but that's out, so hopefully Arizona plays in the Superbowl, at least. Arizona/Baltimore would at least be a different matchup.

Fun story with Flaco being a rookie, as well.