NFL Playoffs Thread

Paully D

Here's the schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 7
AFC: No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at No. 3 Houston Texans (10-6), 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
NFC: No. 6 Detroit Lions (10-6) at No. 3 New Orleans Saints (13-3), 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

Sunday, Jan. 8
NFC: No. 5 Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at New York Giants (9-7), 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
AFC: No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at No. 4 Denver Broncos (8-8), 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

In addition to wild-card games, the NFL also released the schedule for divisional games:

Saturday, Jan. 14
NFC: Highest remaining NFC seed at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers (13-3), 4:30 p.m, ET (FOX)
AFC: Lowest remaining AFC seed at No. 1 New England Patriots (13-3), 8 p.m. ET (CBS)

Sunday, Jan. 15
AFC: Highest remaining AFC seed at No. 2 Baltimore Ravens (12-4), 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
NFC: Lowest remaining NFC seed at No. 1 Green Bay Packers (15-1), 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

What do you all think will happen then?

Personally I can see the Texans, Saints, Falcons and Steelers winning their games.

If my calculations are correct then that would have Saints V Packers and Falcons V 49ers in the NFC. That would give a Packers V 49ers final in the NFC which the Packers will take IMO.

In the AFC that would leave Texans V Ravens and Patriots V Steelers. Ravens V Patriots final in the AFC which the Patriots will take ahead of my Ravens IMO

Super Bowl = Packers V Patriots

mikemac1

Wildcard weekend

Give me the Giants and the Steelers, Texans and Saints
I guess they would be favourites, the obvious picks anyway

Paully D wrote: »

. Ravens V Patriots final in the AFC which the Patriots will take ahead of my Ravens IMO

Forgotton this game already

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ5xIL6htpE

Pherekydes

Paully D wrote: »

If my calculations are correct then that would have Saints V Packers and Falcons V 49ers in the NFC.

Saints cannot play the Packers in the Divisional round.

Lionbacker

Pherekydes wrote: »

Saints cannot play the Packers in the Divisional round.

Yeah, it would be Falcons - Packers & 49ers - Saints.
However if the Lions won they would face the Packers!
Basically the no1 seed gets drawn against the lowest seed left after the wildcard round.

Paully D

Pherekydes wrote: »

Saints cannot play the Packers in the Divisional round.

Lionbacker wrote: »

Yeah, it would be Falcons - Packers & 49ers - Saints.
However if the Lions won they would face the Packers!
Basically the no1 seed gets drawn against the lowest seed left after the wildcard round.

I knew I'd make a balls of the possible match-ups :pac:

Either way the Packers are winning the NFC, IMO.

Le King

For me it will be Giants, Saints, Steelers and Texans out of the wildcards.

Whoever comes out of NY @ GB and NO @ SF will win it IMO.

Superbowl: GB and the Pats with GB winning by 2 or more scores.

I hope we get a surprise this year. I hope we get to GB and get revenge. Best of luck to all!

Paully D

Le King wrote: »

Best of luck to all, except the Steelers!

Agreed

steelcityblues

I'll go for Bengals and Steelers from the AFC.

Giants and Lions from NFC.

Stev_o

Le King wrote: »

For me it will be Giants, Saints, Steelers and Texans out of the wildcards.

Whoever comes out of NY @ GB and NO @ SF will win it IMO.

Superbowl: GB and the Pats with GB winning by 2 or more scores.

I hope we get a surprise this year. I hope we get to GB and get revenge. Best of luck to all!

matthew8

Please win, Denver or Houston, you would make me so happy.

Trippie

Steelers are going to get better as each week goes by imo. They should beat denver and I like them to see off the pats again and then face the ravens probably.

me-skywalker

Giants are the elephant in the room for me, havnt seen them mentioned much, they've been ticking along nicely and have the precedent of coming from a low seed to win it! Should they beat the Falcons they'll play the Packers and for me that drive in reg season by Rodgers was one of the best and most important of the season, my heart was in my mouth, without that it would've been the Giants that got the 1 and not the Chiefs.

jimjimjimmy

Gonna predict the whole playoffs here:

Wildcard: Saints win vs Lions, Giants win vs Falcons, Texans win vs Bengals and Steelers win @ Broncos.

Divisional: Saints win @ 49ers, Giants win @ Packers, Steelers win @ Patriots and Ravens win vs Texans.

Championship: Saints win vs Giants and Ravens win vs Steelers.

Super Bowl: Saints win.

UnitedIrishman

Have a feeling the Saints are going to win it outright.

Going for the Bengals (even though I backed the Texans at 25s earlier in the season E/W for a small stake and then watched their QB's go down like flies) and the Steelers (to win by a bucketload) and Saints and Falcons to win their ties.

Johnny_Fontane

jimjimjimmy wrote: »

Gonna predict the whole playoffs here:

Wildcard: Saints win vs Lions, Giants win vs Falcons, Texans win vs Bengals and Steelers win @ Broncos.

Divisional: Saints win @ 49ers, Giants win @ Packers, Steelers win @ Patriots and Ravens win vs Texans.

Championship: Saints win vs Giants and Ravens win vs Steelers.

Super Bowl: Saints win.

giants to win at the packers?

big call. Cant see it.

basillarkin

anyone fancy the lions +10.5

Pherekydes

me-skywalker wrote: »

Should they beat the Falcons they'll play the Packers...

If the Lions win, they'll play @ Green Bay.

Pherekydes

Wildcard: Saints, Giants, Bengals and Steelers.

Divisional: Saints, Packers, Patriots and Ravens.

Championship: Packers and Ravens win.

Super Bowl: Packers!

Next up: The Three-peat! (And a perfect season :pac:)

me-skywalker

Pherekydes wrote: »

If the Lions win, they'll play @ Green Bay.

Pherekydes wrote: »

Wildcard: Saints, Giants, Bengals and Steelers.

Divisional: Saints, Packers, Patriots and Ravens.

Championship: Packers and Ravens win.

Super Bowl: Packers!

Next up: The Three-peat! (And a perfect season :pac:)

Looks like we both cant see the Lions winning so

poldebruin

Wildcard
Lions @ Saints
Falcons @ Giants
Steelers @ Broncos
Bengals @ Texans

Divisional
Saints @ 49ers
Falcons @ Packers
Bengals @ Patriots
Steelers @ Ravens

Championship
Ravens @ Patriots
Saints @ Packers

Superbowl
Ravens v Saints

NTMK

Wildcard
Lions @ Saints
Falcons @ Giants
Steelers @ Broncos
Bengals @ Texans

Divisional
Saints @ 49ers
Giants @ Packers
Steelers @ Patriots
Texans @ Ravens

Championship
Ravens @ Patriots
49ers @ Packers*

Superbowl
Ravens v Packers

*Hopefully i'm wrong about this but i see packers winning

eagle eye

Well if you were looking at this from a perspective of whats happened in the past then the one team that stands out above all others are the 49ers. A good running game and great defense has proven to be the most valuable assets in postseason football.

I think they are right in the mix for it and while we look at and love the high powered offenses of the Patriots, Packers and Saints two of the big reasons the Packers(outside of McCarthy and Rodgers) won it last year was their excellent defense and solid running game both of which seem to have gone missing this year. I think its easier to rule a couple of teams out on the NFC side as the Giants don't look good enough on D, the Lions don't look good enough on D either and their running game leaves a lot to be desired and that leaves us with the above mentioned 49ers, the Packers, the Saints and the Falcons. The Falcons have the offense to trouble and the run D but the problem with them is they can't stop the pass and you are going nowhere against the Saints and/or Packers when thats the case.

The Patriots D is not good, giving up too many points and yards but they seem to be able to shut teams down for good parts of a game so if they can get that together then things are looking really good, but their running game is in very good shape. The Steelers running game is in bad shape but their D is still top notch. The Ravens have the running game and D to do it but they just seem to pull the loss out of winning situation when the chips are down. The Texans have to be considered with a superb running game and an excellent D but they need a QB. Denver are in the same situation as the Texans although they are not as strong. The Bengals are still a big danger to everybody in the AFC. I wouldn't rule anybody out at this stage.

davyjose

Pats to win it all IMO.

The Uninvited Guest

No New York Jets this year, I'm bleedin' gutted. Schotty's got to go man.

poldebruin

eagle eye wrote: »

Well if you were looking at this from a perspective of whats happened in the past then the one team that stands out above all others are the 49ers. A good running game and great defense has proven to be the most valuable assets in postseason football.

I think they are right in the mix for it and while we look at and love the high powered offenses of the Patriots, Packers and Saints two of the big reasons the Packers(outside of McCarthy and Rodgers) won it last year was their excellent defense and solid running game both of which seem to have gone missing this year. I think its easier to rule a couple of teams out on the NFC side as the Giants don't look good enough on D, the Lions don't look good enough on D either and their running game leaves a lot to be desired and that leaves us with the above mentioned 49ers, the Packers, the Saints and the Falcons. The Falcons have the offense to trouble and the run D but the problem with them is they can't stop the pass and you are going nowhere against the Saints and/or Packers when thats the case.

The Patriots D is not good, giving up too many points and yards but they seem to be able to shut teams down for good parts of a game so if they can get that together then things are looking really good, but their running game is in very good shape. The Steelers running game is in bad shape but their D is still top notch. The Ravens have the running game and D to do it but they just seem to pull the loss out of winning situation when the chips are down. The Texans have to be considered with a superb running game and an excellent D but they need a QB. Denver are in the same situation as the Texans although they are not as strong. The Bengals are still a big danger to everybody in the AFC. I wouldn't rule anybody out at this stage.

Nice analysis. I wouldn't be so reticent about ruling out a couple of teams though. The Texans have limped home with Yates and I can't see them getting past the divisional round. The Broncos have been figured out, so a WC exit for them. I don't fancy the Bengals either - I think they have achieved a lot just getting to the playoffs.

The NFC is a little different. I could see any of the teams that have qualified causing an upset. The Falcons and Giants certainly look to be the weakest though. I've not been able to buy into the 49ers all year. I don't trust them just yet and could see them losing in the Divisional round (can't remember what i predicted now!)

spank_inferno

jimjimjimmy wrote: »

Gonna predict the whole playoffs here:

Wildcard: Saints win vs Lions, Giants win vs Falcons, Texans win vs Bengals and Steelers win @ Broncos.

Divisional: Saints win @ 49ers, Giants win @ Packers, Steelers win @ Patriots and Ravens win vs Texans.

Championship: Saints win vs Giants and Ravens win vs Steelers.

Super Bowl: Saints win.

I remember seeing on "Americas Game" Michael Strahan bellowing to teammates about the cold being temporary.... in a game that GB should have won.
I agree that the Giants are a dark horse and to be feared.

I can't see past the Patriots in the AFC

me-skywalker

eagle eye wrote: »

Well if you were looking at this from a perspective of whats happened in the past then the one team that stands out above all others are the 49ers. A good running game and great defense has proven to be the most valuable assets in postseason football.

I think they are right in the mix for it and while we look at and love the high powered offenses of the Patriots, Packers and Saints two of the big reasons the Packers(outside of McCarthy and Rodgers) won it last year was their excellent defense and solid running game both of which seem to have gone missing this year...

Actually our regular season running game stats are quite similar to last season.
2011 Reg Season Rush
395 1558
2010 Red Season Rush
421 1606

Our running game only really got going in the post-season last year, we were all quite surprised at how many yards Stark was able to put up. Maybe this was due to that fact, the unexpected/surprise factor.
If it comes to a game against the Saints then I wouldnt worry too much about each running game as its going to be a shootout and in that case I can see us creating more turnovers than them.

jimjimjimmy

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

giants to win at the packers?

big call. Cant see it.

It is indeed, they play in a similar climate to Green Bay, so the weather should hinder them the least of all the other NFC teams that have to go to Lambeau. Obviously not the only factor, I also think they are capable of competing in a shoot out with the Packers, I believe in Eli!

TheSpecialOne

Wildcard
Lions @ Saints
Falcons@ Giants
Steelers @ Broncos
Bengals@ Texans

Saints in the Dome usually means victory can't see that changing, Giants are on a roll have momentum and are a serious dark horse in my view. Blitzburgh are going to cause huge problems for Tebow and Denver need a miracle if they are to advance. The final game is a toss up but ill give the texas advantage as there at home, and also what top team have the bengals actually beaten this year. Some epic games await us!

mikemac1

Got to pay extra to NFL Gamepass for the playoffs, it's not cheap as it is

It sure is a quality service but when you consider mlb.tv can be got for under a hundred dollars, NFL Gamepass is about the triple the cost

Yeah I'll complain and then I'll pay anyway

Paully D

I see there's only a couple of us who are taking the Falcons to beat the Giants.

Pudsy33

Paully D wrote: »

I see there's only a couple of us who are taking the Falcons to beat the Giants.

I think the Falcons will do them, I've been more impressed with them this year.

Red Crow

I think we will beat the Falcons if we force Matt Ryan to throw and stop the run. Mularkey is pass happy when the Falcons are down and I just don't think he is a good play caller. It's also all about getting points up early for us.

If we can stop the run I think we win. Any game Ryan has been forced to throw 45 or more times Atlanta have lost this year.

matthew8

I think the Falcons will beat the Giants. Better running game and run defense. I think the Saints will beat the Lions, they're just too good. Steelers to beat the Broncos, can't see the Broncos socring much, and Texans to beat the Bengals, Houston D will be too much for Dalton and co. Then in the divisional round the Saints and Packers win in the NFC, and the Steelers and Ravens win in the AFC. Ravens beat Steelers, Saints beat Packers, and the Ravens will contain Brees and win it with a bit of Ray Rice magic.

UnitedIrishman

We seem to have more and more footballers posting here every day between Peyton, Eli and RGIII!

Danger_dave1

The Falcons @ Giants

I'd fancy the Falcons in this one. The Giants are far to inconsistent for my liking. In saying that if the giants stop the Falcons running game. I can't see Ryan winning the game with drop back passes.

Lions @ Saints

The Saints all day. Its gonna be a shoot out, should be a 10 point win for the Saints.

Steelers @ Bronco's

The Steelers are major favorites for this one but i don't understand why there automatic lock. The Steelers have only beaten 3 teams away from home by 8 points or more. With Big Ben carrying injuries and the offensive line has not protected ben that well this year. I can see Von Miller and Co causing Ben trouble.

If the Bronco's are down by one score in the 4th. Who knows what Tebow can conjure up!

Still a Steelers win tho

Bengals @ Texans

For me Texans to win this game. Dalton looks like he's done for the season. Doesn't look like he's got anything left. Bengals have benefited getting here with a soft schedule (besides playing the Steelers/Ravens twice) Think its a season to early for CinCin.

God Imagine if Schaub wasn't injured what Seed would have the Texans been ?

Red Crow

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

We seem to have more and more footballers posting here every day between Peyton, Eli and RGIII!

Cooper and Archie are here under aliases. Big Ben, however, got banned for sending sexually explicit messages to members on The Ladies Lounge :P

UnitedIrishman

As regards the matches at the weekend, here's my picks:

Bengals @ Texans: Fancy the Texans, but only just. In a low scoring game filled with turnovers I reckon 16-13 in favour of Houston.

Steelers @ Broncos: My head says Big Ben and co. wins this one doing handstands. Fox's offense seems to have been figured out of late and the Steelers are a tougher defence than most in the conference. There's something niggling in the back of my head that's saying a) the injuries/losses of the Steelers (Mendenhall and Clark) b) homefield advantage in Denver - that's leaving a window of opportunity open. Actually wait, go with first instincts - Steelers 26-10 Broncos.

Falcons @ Giants: Really like the Falcons here for god knows what reason. I know they're on the road and Matt Ryan on the road is a different Matt Ryan in the Georgia Dome. But I just think that they'll prevail in a shootout. Both secondary's are open for business. In the ground game Turner should do more damage than Bradshaw/Jacobs and open it up for the Falcons. Falcons 34-28 Giants.

Lions @ Saints: I'd fancy to the Lions to put up a bigger performance than when they last faced the Saints but New Orleans are just too strong on offense to not get it done. Saints 30-26.

matthew8

UnitedIrishman wrote: »

As regards the matches at the weekend, here's my picks:

Bengals @ Texans: Fancy the Texans, but only just. In a low scoring game filled with turnovers I reckon 16-13 in favour of Houston.

Steelers @ Broncos: My head says Big Ben and co. wins this one doing handstands. Fox's offense seems to have been figured out of late and the Steelers are a tougher defence than most in the conference. There's something niggling in the back of my head that's saying a) the injuries/losses of the Steelers (Mendenhall and Clark) b) homefield advantage in Denver - that's leaving a window of opportunity open. Actually wait, go with first instincts - Steelers 26-10 Broncos.

Falcons @ Giants: Really like the Falcons here for god knows what reason. I know they're on the road and Matt Ryan on the road is a different Matt Ryan in the Georgia Dome. But I just think that they'll prevail in a shootout. Both secondary's are open for business. In the ground game Turner should do more damage than Bradshaw/Jacobs and open it up for the Falcons. Falcons 32-28 Giants.

Lions @ Saints: I'd fancy to the Lions to put up a bigger performance than when they last faced the Saints but New Orleans are just too strong on offense to not get it done. Saints 30-25.

Hate to be picky about your predictions but 25 and 32 are rare scores in the NFL. Otherwise they're about what I'd say.

UnitedIrishman

matthew8 wrote: »

Hate to be picky about your predictions but 25 and 32 are rare scores in the NFL. Otherwise they're about what I'd say.

Fair point actually.Must change that up.

Paully D

Really looking forward to watching some American Football tonight. Even though I posted the schedule earlier in the week I had forgotten there were any games on today

Are any of these playoff games being covered by Sky Sports or similar in the UK or Ireland?

If not, there'll be plenty of streams here anyway nearer the time:

http://www.vipbox.tv/sports/american-football.html

adrian522

Sky usually have all of the playoff games...

My thoughts on these games

Cin @ Hou

I think this is a really tough one to call, a healthy texans probably wins this with a bit to spare but they are knocked up and have lost a few game son the bounce. I thought they did ok against the Titans last week and with home field and this being their first ever game I'm taking the texans to win a close one.

Det @ NO

Surely has to be NO for the win. They are almost unbeatable in the dome and should have too much for the lions. I don't expect a blowout, the lions probably have the offence to keep with the saints long enough to keep it interesting but on defence they have looked terrible and I think the saints will pull away in the 4th.

As a 49ers fan I expect the Saints to win, I started off the week hoping for a Lions win but the more I think about it the more I think we would be better off welcoming the saints to candlestick as I think our defense has a chance of at least slowing down Brees and co and if we can get our ground game going we'll be in with a chance. I'd be more worried about trying to turn the Giants over a second time.

ATL @ NYG:

I'm probably more looking forward to this game than any of the others. I think there is a big game in ATL and there will need to be. The giants have looked great at times this year but have also looked very poor at times.

It's a really tough one to call but if the falcons get the ball moving on the ground I think they have a real chance.. Falcons to win by 3.

PIT @ Den:

The broncos offense has been terrible lately and if they don't be a little more aggressive with their play calling they can't possibly put up a total to beat the steelers. Te steeers defense is top notch and I don't see Denver putting up more than 20 points, even with a less than fully fit Ben the steelers should have too much for the Broncos.

Itssoeasy

Picks for the weekend are bengals, giants, steelers, siants.

Mr. Guappa

Brady Quinn has reportedly being getting half the first team reps in Broncos practice this week. It will be interesting to see if they have a few packages designed for him or if they pull Tebow if he looks poor again.

If nothing else, it's a smart move by Fox because it gives the Steelers something else to plan for.

eom 89

first time poster,hav bn reading these nfl threads for months,great banter with peyton manning,cam newton,tallaght outlaw etc. love the nfl,really lukn 4ward 2 2nyt and 2mros games.

fond of a bet and hav dun the 2 following accums 4 weekend.

bengals +4, cant c texans winning by much,may well go to ot,fancy newton and aj green 2 mak enuf big plays.

saints -10.5 , shootout, 2 v gud qbs. just fancy the saints 2 pull away in 4th quarter,provided megatron is kept reasonably quiet!

giants -3 , cud go idr way,id rather hav eli than matt ryan in a close game in 4th qtr and dats wat iv gone wit. Dodgiest ov the 4 i tink,esp after tucks comments during the week!

steelers -8 , tebow has been figured out. End of story. dick le beau has bn around 2 long 2 allow tebowtime!


dont usualy do over/under points bu sed id giv it a crack

bengals/texans under 39 - 2nd v 7th ranked defence.
saints/lions over 59 - saints score so much in the dome
giants/falcons over 47.5 - both explosive offences
steelers/broncos unde 34 - cant c broncos scoring over 10,there d is gud tho so wont b blowout imo.

il prob b v wrong! wot do ye tink?

eom 89

meant dalton in previous post!

mikemac1

eom 89 wrote: »

great banter with peyton manning,cam newton

Yes, great banter between those two

Morrisseeee

^^ agh what's that language (text speak) :eek::pac:

My picks for the weekend:
Cin @ Hou : this is a hard one to call, I like Cin, but Hou have a good D, I'm going with Cin because I think their QB will get it done!

Det @ NO: NO is the obvious choice, I'm going with them on a 45-35 scorefest !

ATL @ NYG: Another hard one to call, Atl are steady, NYG are like the Irish weather, but I'm going with NYG as I think they have momentum after last week

PIT @ Den: PIT are big favourites and rightly so, Den have been poor this last 3 weeks, on form everything points to a Pit win but............as a Den fan, I'm looking for every possible scrap of evidence that we can beat them, one is injuries to key players on their side, we have injuries also, but their O will hardly survive without Mendenhall and if Ben gets injured. Our D is good enough to stop them if this happens & may even put a few points on the board. Tebow has been very poor this last 2 weeks, but I'm hoping he can up his performance to the level he had against the Steelers in the 2010 pre-season game.

human 19

mikemac1 wrote: »

Got to pay extra to NFL Gamepass for the playoffs, it's not cheap as it is

It sure is a quality service but when you consider mlb.tv can be got for under a hundred dollars, NFL Gamepass is about the triple the cost

Yeah I'll complain and then I'll pay anyway

Did you sign up for the season, or sign up for the palyoffs last year? I did and love the fact that I can watch the late games the next Day, and can also have NFL network around the clock. Bummer though that we weren't given a discounted option for the regular season+playoffs. Those who only signed up for the regular season late got an option of including the play-offs included.Rather unfair in my opinion , but I will be mailing them before next season to suggest a full season+ play-offs package.

Regarding the Giants vs falcons, a lot of it will depend on which Giants team (morale-wise) shows up for the game...the Cowboys Giants from last week or the Redskin Giants from 3 weeks ago.

irish_man

Even though it would be premature for the Saints to bow out, I'd love to see Megatron and Stafford for another week. If they add another talented WR in the off season their passing offence will take some stopping next year.

padraig_f

My wildcard weekend parlays:
Texans -3.5 vs. Bengals
Lions +10.5 @ Saints
Falcons ML @ Giants
Broncos +9 vs. Steelers
@ 14/1

Bengals @ Texans UNDER 38
Lions @ Saints UNDER 59.5
Steelers @ Broncos OVER 33.5
@ 5/1

Lions @ Saints is the biggest projected total in NFL playoff history.