Divisional Playoffs Weekend Thread

Peyton Manning

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Saturday 15th January
4:30pm ET / 9:30pm Irish Time
Sky Sports / Streams




Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons
Saturday 15th January
8:00pm ET / 1:00am Irish Time
Sky Sports / Streams




Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears
Sunday 16th January
1:00pm ET / 6:00pm Irish Time
Sky Sports / Streams




New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Sunday 16th January
4:300pm ET / 9:30pm Irish Time
Sky Sports / Streams

Frisbee

Steelers
Falcons
Bears
Tom Brady

Peyton Manning

Steelers -3
Packers +2.5
Seahawks +10
Patriots -8.5

Black Swan

Ravens
Packers
Seahawks :cool:
Patriots

mikedragon32

Frisbee wrote: »

Steelers
Falcons
Bears
Tom Brady

QFT

It's going to be yet another AFC Superbowl champ anyway. Steelers and Pats seem to have quite the dynasty between them in recent years.

Spongey1975

Pats
Ravens
BEARS
Packers :mad:

adrian522

Spongey1975 wrote: »

Pats
Ravens
BEARS
Packers :mad:

Pats (hopefully by 40+points to shut Rex up for a few months.
Steelers (probably 6-3 or something similar )

Bears (though I think it will be close enough)

Packers.. seem to be on a bit of a roll, but that game could go either way and is the one I'm most looking forward to...

davetherave

First time I've put up my guesses. Be gentle
I'm going with the four home teams here.

Sea @ Chi: Lighting won't strike twice for the hawks, and if it does then they are birds, hopefully they will get hit with the strike while Matt Forte shows them the business end of his 5.9 yards a carry. Could be setting ourselves up for a home game NFC championship as long as they Jay they Jay doesn't screw up.

The Atl-GB game:
Three options here
1)GB wins and then we hammer the bejasus out of them in the conference game.
2) Falcons win. (Probable )
3) They win, and we lose to them in the championship.

Greenbay have won two win-or-your-out games in a row, but the Falcons will beat them.

Jets-Pats:

My belief is that until the timer reads 4Q 00:00 and the scoreboard says that they have lost, then the patriots won't lose.

Ravens - Steelers:
The magic 8 ball says Pittsburgh. This will be a meaningless win, however as the winner will have to face NE in the next round.

Danger_dave1

I can't see the Falcons losing to GB in the Dome. My heart says the Jets to win and go on to the bowl, but my head say Patriots.

Whatever the outcome gonna be some quality games. The seahawks could win this game ! if they limit the bears turnovers this game could be very close. Another big game needed from Hasselback and Williams

49ers fan

Steelers
Packers
Bears
Pats

El Nino09

49ers fan wrote: »

Steelers
Packers
Bears
Pats

+ 1
You cant beat the playoffs

Pherekydes

Ravens @ Steelers: As hard fought a play-off game as you are likely to see, the Steelers have homefield advantage, and have few weaknesses with lots of experience. Steelers by a whisker.

Packers @ Falcons: Another hard fought game, with neither showing many weaknesses, bar the Packers' special teams. Very tight last time out, but the Packers sudden discovery of a running game may be enough to tip things in their favour. Packers by a whisker.

Seahawks @ Bears: Could be the snowbowl, with snow a possibility for Chicago on Sunday. Gametime temps could be 10 degrees lower than last week. Seattle may be emotionally flat and the Bears will be lying in wait, hoping to show October's loss to the 'Hawks was an aberration. Bears in a blowout.

Jets @ Patriots: We know what happened the last time out, but earlier in the season the Jets won by 14. It's not cut and dried, and the Patriots would do well to concentrate on the Jets, rather than Dallas. If the Jets can slow Brady and his receivers, and if Sanchez can have a big game, and if Tomlinson and Greene can run hard and if Folk doesn't miss any opportunities...Hmmm, a lot of ifs. Patriots by 2 ifs.

Black Swan

Pherekydes wrote: »

Seahawks @ Bears: Could be the snowbowl, with snow a possibility for Chicago on Sunday. Gametime temps could be 10 degrees lower than last week. Seattle may be emotionally flat and the Bears will be lying in wait, hoping to show October's loss to the 'Hawks was an aberration. Bears in a blowout.

I'm staying with your earlier long shot prediction:

Pherekydes wrote: »

Hilarious scenario: Seattle beats the Rams, hosts and beats the Saints, then shocks the Bears...

FreeOSCAR

Ravens
Falcons
Bears
Jets (Hopefully)

Dr.Slurm

Ravens
Falcons
Bears
Patriots

Hazys

Ravens (in a very close one)
Falcons (in a close one)
Seahawks (in a close one)
Patriots (i'm hoping for a complete and utter annihilation of the Jets way worse than 45-3, but it will be a close one)

UnitedIrishman

Got to love the games this weekend. Going to stick with the Packers against the Falcons despite the Falcons home record. GB stepped it up last week in a major way and I think the extra game against the Eagles will have done them the world of good.

Also going for Patriots to have a comfortable enough win against the Jets; Steelers to beat Ravens and the Bears to have enough to beat Seattle.

Dohnny Jepp

Ravens
packers
bears
prat-riots

patriot83

Steelers (Ravens offense has been spluttering the last while and no deep threat. Steelers can shut down Rice and then I would always take Roethliesberger and Wallace over Flacco and Boldin)

Falcons (coin-flip - Falcons are lethal at home, do not overlook Matty Ice's home record in the dome, but Packers if they get a similar output from Starks could easily do the business. Rodgers is a more capable QB, but it will be how well either team runs it will determine the game)

Bears (the Hawks are a great Cinderella story, but I don't see (notwithstanding them winning at Soldier Field in regular season) them repeating - not least I don't see Hasslebeck having two such great games in a row. Only thing that would swing it is if the Hawks can pile through the Bears OL and cause some turnovers)

Patriots (see the user name....kind of biased.....want this one so badly and by two TD's at least, esp with some cash on Pats (-8.0) at 10/11)

evil_seed

Saturday
Ravens @ Steelers
The stats for this one says it all. In the last 8(?) games each team has scored 67 points and the same amount of TD's & FG's. This one goes into overtime and I can't decide from there. But I have to pick my Ravens

Packers @ Falcons
The Pack have a lot of momentum going into this game, but I don't think it's enough to beat Matty Ice at the Geogia Dome where he is practically unbeatable. The Falcons have won their fair share of tight games this year and will do it again. Gonzales to catch the winning TD in the last seconds.
Pick: Falcons

Sunday
Seahawks @ Bears
After the Seahawks unbelievable win last weekend can they repeat? This might sound like wagon jumping here, but I think they can. They know what the Bears are about, having beaten them once already this season. And the Bears have Cutler who is liable to do anything from the sublime to the ridiculous. He is the reason the Bears lose this game and will turnover the ball too many times.
Pick: Seahawks

Jets @ Patriots
I don't think anything needs to be said about this as both teams, the Jets especially are saying enough. I see a repeat of the Pats winning but not by as much this time.
Pick: Patriots

fisgon

The smart money says...
Steelers
Falcons
Bears
Pats

But as long as I can remember the playoffs have not gone according to plan. There is always at least one upset.

I reckon the Patriots are due for rude awakening, at some stage. By rights the Jets shouldn't be within a TD of them, but they have a knack of winning playoff games on the road. If I was a Pats fan i would try to temper my confidence this week, could be a shock.

themont85

Ravens over Steelers. They are due a PO win over Pitt. They are very motivated this year to go the whole way. I think they might.

Packers over Falcons. Mainly because of their defense.

Bears over Seahawks. The Bears are a very different team in contrast to week 6. The offense has been getting balanced and better all year.

Pats over Jets. The only way the Jets win this is if Sanchez plays his best game ever IMO. He isn't accurate enough tbh.

FreeOSCAR

themont85 wrote: »

Pats over Jets. The only way the Jets win this is if Sanchez plays his best game ever IMO. He isn't accurate enough tbh.

Obviously beating the Patriots and Brady at Gillette is a huge ask but I do believe we can do it if we run the ball well and keep the TE's quiet.

Sanchez will need to obviously not give away too many turnovers but running the ball down their necks is where I see us having a chance.

Hillis ran for 184 yds a few months and when Greenbay went close they had like 100 yds rushing.

On the downside they can run the ball very well too

cruiserweight

Ravens
Packers
Bears
Patriots

I thought this was pretty funny from the NY Post

http://twitpic.com/3pv0c7

2smiggy

cruiserweight wrote: »

Ravens
Packers
Bears
Patriots

I thought this was pretty funny from the NY Post

http://twitpic.com/3pv0c7

haha , patriot death star !!

Hazys

I think the Jets have a decent shot against the Pats.

On offense, the Jets have to establish a strong running game early on as the pass game wont win it for them. If they can be dangerous in the running game it will open the play action pass for Sanchez, making his life a whole lot easier. More importantly if they can eat up the clock by running it, it keeps Brady off the field. So from the Pats perspective, stop the run (overcommit to stopping the run if you need to) and put the game in Sanchez's hands.

On defense, the Jets will look to try and confuse Brady at the line of scrimmage, by having players faking blitzs, coverage packages and a lot of movement, this worked for the Browns and most recently for the Packers. Mangini said in an interview this week that the motto for the week before they played Brady was "if you're not faking it to Tom, your not trying". Brady is excellant when he can read the defense and pick it apart before the play has even started. So the Patriots themsleves will need to establish the run to counter act and tame the random blitzing. A couple of 1st downs running will cut the Jets D's confidence down especailly in a very hostile crowd, then Brady can go back to being Brady.

Itssoeasy

Falcons

Bears

Pats

Ravens

2-2 in the playoffs so far.

themont85

Quick Question.

Why are the Jets/Seahawks playing Sunday (giving them 8 days rest) whilst the Pack/Ravens are on Saturday (just 6 days rest)? I thought it might be seeding but the Ravens are higher than the Jets so that doesn't add up. Seems a bit unfair on the Pack/Ravens tbh. Must be the television companies but it makes it even harder for those two teams to compete away from home against teams with a bye week imo.

adrian522

Better have 6 days rest than 6 months...

In other words I don't know...I guess the times of the games are determined before they know which teams are in them, eg Atlanta play whoever the lowest seed is regardless of when they played their previous game.

SantryRed

Ravens, Packers, Bears and Patriots for me. But saying that, I wouldn't be that surprised if none of these teams go through!

minstrel_boy

Ravens
Packers
Bears
Jets

Steelers
Packers
Bears
Pats

Cant wait for Ravens/Steelers.

Craig Dowling

Steelers
Bears
Packers
Jets

Frisbee

Steelers (-3)
Falcons
Pats (-8)

Returns @ just over 5/1.

bruschi

themont85 wrote: »

Quick Question.

Why are the Jets/Seahawks playing Sunday (giving them 8 days rest) whilst the Pack/Ravens are on Saturday (just 6 days rest)? I thought it might be seeding but the Ravens are higher than the Jets so that doesn't add up. Seems a bit unfair on the Pack/Ravens tbh. Must be the television companies but it makes it even harder for those two teams to compete away from home against teams with a bye week imo.

it is the tv. all the home teams tonight had their game time allocated by tv, so it didnt matter who they were up against, they were playinig at that time. doesnt make it fair on the wild card winners alright.

Falcons, Steelers, Bears Patriots as well.

Redsoxfan

Steelers for me in the first game. Apparently Ray Rice was ill last night, and if he's not 100%, I just don't see how Baltimore will score enough to win.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

What time is the first game starting at?

eagle eye

Saturday
Ravens @ Steelers
The big difference between these teams is at quarterback. Flacco just doesn't do it for me, Big Ben is clutch. Steelers

Packers @ Falcons
Packers have a really talented young team and they are dangerous but I just can't see them winning in Atlanta against a very well balanced Atlanta team. Falcons

Sunday
Seahawks @ Bears
I'm going with my gut on this one. Some teams just match up against certain opponents and Seattle beat Chicago in Soldier Field already this year. No other reason for this pick. Seahawks

Jets @ Patriots
Jets are at their usual, mouthing off. They are good/bad at that depending on how you look at it. New England do their talking on the field though. I predict another good beating in Gillette for the Jets. Patriots

Peyton Manning

Steelers with a 1st and goal here, their O-line has been sensational this drive.

Edit: TD Mendenhall, despite Ed Reed's best efforts.

bamboozling

Good start Steelers. Tom what is the key to a good O line and what distinguishes an o line from a d linebacker? I'm fairly well on the basics at this stage after 2 months, I want to learn the subtle parts to the game and you seem like a very knowledgeable head.

Peyton Manning

bamboozling wrote: »

Good start Steelers. Tom what is the key to a good O line and what distinguishes an o line from a d linebacker? I'm fairly well on the basics at this stage after 2 months, I want to learn the subtle parts to the game and you seem like a very knowledgeable head.

I'll fire you a wee PM here on what I think makes a good O-line. Would be no harm to throw it open for discussion in this thread as in most cases when you get a good few different and contrasting opinions, you'll find the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle :pac:

bamboozling

Baltimore are 3rd and 15 in and around the middle of the field. Goes long, incomplete but pass interference called, a 33 yard penalty. Ravens rush for a touchdown after 7 straight passing plays.

Pegasusbridge

Impressive drive by the Ravens. Going to be a close one

cruiserweight

Touchdown Ravens, I am sure that will be reviewed

Edit: Looks like a fumble on the replay

amacachi

Didn't think I heard a whistle, I thought that was a fumble in the NFL?

amacachi

I imagine there'll be something of a bollocking dished out to the Steelers at some point in the not too distant future.

padraig_f

Ah come on, how can a professional football team allow that to happen?

El Horseboxo

I just don't get it. These guys are paid so much money you'd think they'd be well coached into getting down on a ball and make sure it's dead. You see it happen so many times.

Peyton Manning

El Horseboxo wrote: »

I just don't get it. These guys are paid so much money you'd think they'd be well coached into getting down on a ball and make sure it's dead. You see it happen so many times.

So true, especially in a play like that. I don't know if Ramon Foster (if that's who I think it was) had his back to the play and didn't see it develop or not, but you gotta drop on that ball when it's lying on the ground in front of you, regardless of what you think just happened and whistle or no whistle. Such a simple thing to do. Bonehead mistake.

Peyton Manning

Wow. Steelers are throwing this game away.

cruiserweight

Big turnover again, Ravens get the ball inside the Steelers twenty :eek: