NFL Discussion - 2008-09 Playoffs

[Pegaritaville]

Only batted .500 in my picks for the first round of playoffs, but at least I got the Eagles-Vikes game right.

The Vikings' mistakes pretty much mirrored their whole season: Poor special teams, a shaky QB and a tendency to give up the big play. Glad to see Tarvaris Jackson reverting to his old ways. Finishing with a QB rating of 45.4 isn't going to help him secure the starting position next year.

Of all the teams, Baltimore impressed me the most. Their defense played a heckuva game, and Flacco played pretty well (especially for a rookie). I think they have a good shot at beating the Titans.

My predictions for the next round:

Ravens over the Titans
Steelers over the Chargers
Giants over the Eagles
Carolina over the Cardinals

 

[The Lady Eve]

As a Giants fan. the last team I wanted to play was the Eagles. These teams always play each other tough and the Giants won't have any cold weather edge like they would have had against Arizona. I'll be hoping for the best, but an Eagles victory wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Me too, Mallory.

 

[chrisspringob]

Weird factoid: Of the 8 remaining teams in contention, 6 of them are led by quarterbacks who've already played in at least one Super Bowl. I don't know the stats on past years, but I assume that this is pretty rare that there would be so many at this point:

Kurt Warner in SBs XXXIV and XXXVI
Kerry Collins in in SB XXXV
Jake Delhomme in SB XXXVIII
Donovan McNabb in SB XXXIX
Ben Roethlisberger in SB XL
Eli Manning in SB XLII

Only Rivers and Flacco have never played in a Super Bowl.

 

[archeryguy1701]

I guess I'm a Steelers fan this week. Go Steelers! Take the Chargers out!!!

 

[chrisspringob]

Oh, and here's another oddity: Parallels between the 2000-1 playoffs and the 2008-9 playoffs:

In both years, Tennessee was the #1 seed in the AFC, with a 13-3 record, while the NY Giants were the #1 seed in the NFC, with a 12-4 record. Kerry Collins was the QB for one of those teams in both years.

Miami and Minnesota also won their respective divisions in both years. Indy was a wildcard team who lost to their opponent 23-17 in overtime in the wildcard round in both years. In both years, Tennessee hosted Baltimore in the divisional round (after Baltimore defeated its wildcard round opponent by 18 points), while the Giants hosted the Eagles in the divisional round.

The Super Bowl was held in Tampa in both years.

 

[Ruaidhri]

As a Giants fan. the last team I wanted to play was the Eagles. These teams always play each other tough and the Giants won't have any cold weather edge like they would have had against Arizona. I'll be hoping for the best, but an Eagles victory wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Me too, Mallory.

And as an Eagles fan, I like this matchup. Jim Johnson with a third chance to devise a defense against a team? Bring it!

But no matter who wins, this game guarantees to entertain. Can't wait!

 

[Thurisaz]

Oh, and here's another oddity: Parallels between the 2000-1 playoffs and the 2008-9 playoffs:

In both years, Tennessee was the #1 seed in the AFC, with a 13-3 record, while the NY Giants were the #1 seed in the NFC, with a 12-4 record. Kerry Collins was the QB for one of those teams in both years. And the Ravens won the big one!

Miami and Minnesota also won their respective divisions in both years. Indy was a wildcard team who lost to their opponent 23-17 in overtime in the wildcard round in both years. In both years, Tennessee hosted Baltimore in the divisional round (after Baltimore defeated its wildcard round opponent by 18 points), while the Giants hosted the Eagles in the divisional round.

The Super Bowl was held in Tampa in both years.

Wow. You're making me feel better about this.

 

[Neroon]

Looks as if San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson will not be playing this weekend against the Steelers. I'm not sure if that's something to be concerned about or not, regardless of which team you're on. On the one hand, it'd mean more playing time for Sproles who is really making a name for himself. On the other hand, is he an every down kind of back? For Pittsburgh, LT is a load and a half even for a defense as good as the Steelers. But Sproles is so fast and nimble that I wonder if he might not give them even mroe trouble.

 

[Captain Craig]

I think LT's time in SD is drawing to a close. When his contract is up he may be gone. Its the second year in a row he has been injured at playoff time. Remember him sitting on the bench vs the Patriots last year in that AFC title game?

Talent + Injuries + Reccurance=Your Out

 

[Mr Light]

Curious as to who was the favored on this weekend's game I checked out this betting website for the point spread. Do these sound right? 'Cause looking at their records this season everyone of these seems wrong to me...

Ravens/Titans: Ravens by 3
Cardinals/Panthers: Cards by 10
Eagles/Giants: Eagles by 4
Chargers/Steelers: Chargers by 6

 

[Captain Craig]

Those sound like 'sucker' pics if I ever read them.

The Ravens are suddenly every commentators favorite team.
The Cardinals played like shit in every east coast game this year. 10pts thats the biggest sucker pic.
Chargers over Steelers by 6. No sir. If it were by 3 I'd call that a push but not 6.
The Eagles one isn't that bad I suppose.

 

[Neroon]

Those are indeed "interesting" lines. Especially the Chargers one, given that Tomlinson is probably out for the game. Sproles is great, but I'm not so sure he can handle it every down. Plus, it's in Pittsburgh where the forecast is decidedly UN-SanDiego like.

 

[chrisspringob]

Curious as to who was the favored on this weekend's game I checked out this betting website for the point spread. Do these sound right? 'Cause looking at their records this season everyone of these seems wrong to me...

Ravens/Titans: Ravens by 3
Cardinals/Panthers: Cards by 10
Eagles/Giants: Eagles by 4
Chargers/Steelers: Chargers by 6

You're reading the point spreads wrong. You've got them all reversed. Titans are favored over Ravens by 3, not the other way around. Panthers are favored over Cardinals by 10, not the other way around, etc. All of the home teams are favored this weekend.

On websites that give the point spreads, like this one:

http://www.locksmithsportspicks.com/nfl-odds/

the team for which the point spread is given by a negative number is the favored team, while the positive number is the underdog. I know that may seem kind of backwards, but that's just the way they do it.

 

[Neroon]

Okay, that makes more sense. Though I'm not so sure I'd favor Tennessee over Baltimore right now.

 

[chrisspringob]

Okay, that makes more sense. Though I'm not so sure I'd favor Tennessee over Baltimore right now.

Tennessee is really hard to figure out. They seemed to be fading towards the end of the season. But then, in the final game that actually counted towards their playoff standings, they clobbered Pittsburgh by 17 points. Was that game just an aberration, or not?

Also, historically, the home teams tend to clean up in the divisional round. But in the last few years, that hasn't been the case. The last three years in a row, the home teams only went 2-2 each year in the divisional round.

 

[Captain Craig]

As a Titan fan, see look <-----Nashville, I objectively see the game as a push. It seems with few exceptions that Titans/Ravens games come down to 3pts. They did when we were divisional foes and the one earlier this year was as well. The only tide turner in the exceptions always seems to be turnovers. If one team gets one or more turnovers and gets any points out of it that is typically the decider more so than any other opponet would be.

In regards to out last meaningful game vs Pittsburgh it was a game we could feel good about. It showed that with Haynesworth and Vandenbosh out our defense was more than up to the task against a quality foe. Therefore despite the lack of conditioning and any endurance questions by them returning now after 3 weeks off we know the backups are indeed up to the task.

The QB rating for Flacco and Collins is nearly identical 80 something. Both Defenses are ranked in the top 5. All things being equal it should be a nail biting game. If a playoff score of 7-10 isn't your idea of fun I recommend you do something else for those 3hrs.

 

[Neroon]

I wouldn't mind seeing Tennessee make it to the Super Bowl for Jeff Fisher to get another chance at that ring. His teams don't ever "look pretty" but for the most part he keeps on winning. A Super Bowl win would be just the ticket to get him a bit more of the recognition he deserves.

 

[nevermore]

As a Titan fan, see look <-----Nashville, I objectively see the game as a push. It seems with few exceptions that Titans/Ravens games come down to 3pts. They did when we were divisional foes and the one earlier this year was as well. The only tide turner in the exceptions always seems to be turnovers. If one team gets one or more turnovers and gets any points out of it that is typically the decider more so than any other opponet would be.

I agree, it'll be all about the turnovers. I'm looking forward to this one, the Titans were one of my favorite teams to play back in the old AFC Central days. I kinda miss them...I love these smash-mouth blood-bath type games.

In regards to out last meaningful game vs Pittsburgh it was a game we could feel good about. It showed that with Haynesworth and Vandenbosh out our defense was more than up to the task against a quality foe. Therefore despite the lack of conditioning and any endurance questions by them returning now after 3 weeks off we know the backups are indeed up to the task.

Well, the Squeelers have no O-Line to speak of. And didn't Big Baby Ben get knocked the fuck out in the first quarter?

The QB rating for Flacco and Collins is nearly identical 80 something. Both Defenses are ranked in the top 5. All things being equal it should be a nail biting game. If a playoff score of 7-10 isn't your idea of fun I recommend you do something else for those 3hrs.

Pretty sure the Titans are the #7 defense overall and the Ravens are #2, though you guys do have a slight edge on points allowed, thanks almost exclusively to the effing Colts game.

 

[Neroon]

Is that the same "Big Baby Ben" that threw for over 200 yds and a TD and didn't get knocked out in a win over the Ravens - in Baltimore - last month?

BTW, you are right in that Tennessee has the #7 and Baltimore has the #2 defense.

Of course, Pittsburgh has the #1. Just sayin'. ===> according to NFL.com

 

[Captain Craig]

FL you'll like this one, I guess any Ravens fan might but she is the one I know is diehard.

Steve McNair(QB'd both teams for those who don't know) still has a residence in town and he is currently in town surprise, surprise. One of the local clubs and radio stations is teaming up to host a Ravens Rally to benefit the Ronald McDonald House...in Baltimore(we got one here to you know) and he is to be the MC/guest speaker. Speaking in favor of the Ravens(he QB'd them last those who don't know) and word got out you would have thought a terroist attack on the State Capital had been called in the way people responded in outrage.

Former Titans' quarterback Steve McNair, arguably the most popular player in team history, says he will host Friday night's Ravens rally in Nashville, the night before the Ravens take on the Titans in the second round of the AFC divisional playoffs.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore.
McNair told News 2 Thursday he would never cancel and disappoint the many children expecting to him to be there.
"This is a charity event I'm doing for the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore and that's it," he said. "It doesn't have anything to do with the Ravens or the Titans. I'm gonna be there because I'm not gonna disappoint these kids."

Ah, the old AFC Central those were good times, good times indeed.

I apoligize for having erred on some numbers , but hey they haven't moved much from when I last saw them.

See you in spirit on Saturday FL!