Playoff Weekend 2 - Predictions

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 14, 2005, 12:13 pm

Eagles - Vikings ------> Vikings

Jets - Steelers -------> Steelers

Rams - Falcons -------> Rams

Colts - Patriots --------> Colts

noel · Post by **noel** » January 14, 2005, 12:30 pm

Eagles - Vikings ------> Eagles

Jets - Steelers -------> Steelers

Rams - Falcons -------> Rams

Colts - Patriots --------> Colts

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » January 14, 2005, 12:44 pm

Eagles - Vikings ------> Eagles
Jets - Steelers ---------> Steelers
Rams - Falcons --------> Falcons
Colts - Patriots --------> Patriots
---------------------------------------
Patriots - Steelers ---> Steelers
Falcons - Eagles -----> Eagles
---------------------------------------
Eagles - Steelers -----> Steelers

I'll be rooting for a Pats/Eagles Superbowl though and it won't hurt my feelings if I'm wrong on my predictions.

Post by **Sylvus** » January 14, 2005, 1:07 pm

Peyton Manning is 0-6 in Foxborough, and he's going to be 0-7 after this weekend.

Tom Brady 4 Prez!

Vikings over Philly.

Steelers over New Jersey.

Falcons over Rams.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » January 14, 2005, 1:33 pm

Those bitches in New England better be praying for a fucking blizzard to hit and for Peyton to get frostbite in his throwing hand. Without divine intervention, the depleted Pats defense has no hope of even slowing down the Indy air attack. And you better believe that if they're stupid enough to throw nickles and dimes at him that Edge will blow up for 150+ yards.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 14, 2005, 2:16 pm

Saturday's games will be beat-downs.

Pittsburgh is going to really beat the shit out of the Jets.

And Mark Bulger is going to wish he lost to the Seahawks. The Falcons defensive line is going to absolutely terrorize Bulger. They did earlier this year. Patrick Kerney took Orlando Pace to school. One of their guards is playing with a torn up knee and couldnt even finish the Seattle game. The Falcons will get serious pressure without having to blitz (but they will blitz), allowing them to keep 7 men in coverage on 3-4 recievers because the Rams will have to keep a back or TE in to protect.

Sure Holt and Bruce (who has a tweaked groin) are stud receivers and the secondary is the vulnerable section of the Falcons defense. But here is the deal, the Rams CANNOT run on the Falcons. The Falcons led the NFL in sacks, and they will get 4+ Saturday night.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams simply will not be able to stop the run. The Falcons ran for like 260 yards on them earlier in the year and were 15-19 passing. So basically, the Rams can't stop them.

It is going to be a fucking beat down and anybody who thinks otherwise is smoking crack.

Sunday, i'm predicting 2 upsets.

AFC Championship will be Pittsburgh hosting the Colts
NFC Championship will be Atlanta hosting the VIkings.

And the Super Bowl will be the Madison Avenue Special. Manning v. Vick

nobody · Post by **nobody** » January 14, 2005, 2:37 pm

Eagles - Vikings ------> Panthers

Jets - Steelers -------> Steelers

Rams - Falcons -------> Panthers

Colts - Patriots --------> Panthers

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » January 14, 2005, 2:49 pm

masteen wrote:Those bitches in New England better be praying for a fucking blizzard to hit and for Peyton to get frostbite in his throwing hand. Without divine intervention, the depleted Pats defense has no hope of even slowing down the Indy air attack. And you better believe that if they're stupid enough to throw nickles and dimes at him that Edge will blow up for 150+ yards.

Heh, it's been pouring in Boston the last few days and Belichick didn't cover the field. It's going to be a muddy fucking mess out there.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... d=95745805

I'm going with Eagles, Jets, Falcons, and the Colts this week.

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » January 14, 2005, 9:29 pm

Eagles - Vikings ------> Eagles

Jets - Steelers -------> Steelers

Rams - Falcons -------> Rams

Colts - Patriots --------> Colts

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 15, 2005, 8:19 pm

For you clowns picking the rams

Rams 31st punt and kickoff coverage in the NFL

Falcons 1st punt return
Falcons 7th kickoff return (i think)

beyond leading the league in sacks and rushing, the Falcons are going to control field position, and own this game

Falcons 42 Rams 10

oh yeah, Rams allowed 74 more points than they scored this year

oh yeah, Rams turnover differential is NEGATIVE 24

yes pick a team who cant run, who turns it over, who has bad special teams and who cant stop the run

that sounds like playoff football to me!!

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » January 15, 2005, 8:27 pm

Thank you Vor, lets see what all the falcons haters say after the game.

Waran · Post by **Waran** » January 16, 2005, 12:28 am

Let's see

Fuck you comes to mind

But in all honestly, our Special Teams do suck, our defense is letting everything go and Martz is retarded.

Good Luck against the Eagles, somehow I doubt the Falcons will get past them.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » January 16, 2005, 1:04 am

Well too late for me to pick Saturday's games but I would have picked Steelers and Falcons. Expected Steelers to win by more, Falcons to win by less.

Pats - Colts = Colts (even with Belichick trying to slow down the game)
Eagles - Vikings = Vikings

As for what to say about Falcons? Good team, if Vick ever learns to really throw he will be damn good. For now he is a glorified running back.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 16, 2005, 1:49 am

in the words of Little John

OHHHHH KKAAYYYY

stupid

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » January 16, 2005, 4:38 am

Without TO, Atlanta is the best team in the NFC.

Expect them to represent in the playoffs because in all honesty, what defense has really come against a player like Michael Vick in the AFC? The Chiefs? They are watching this game at home right now. This is the same guy that lead his team to a national championship as a redshirt sophmore. Don't forget it.

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » January 16, 2005, 7:09 am

Much props to Voro on the prediction.

Can you please tell me the scores for tomorrows games so I can get some bets in?

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 16, 2005, 10:57 am

Yeah. Great pick Voro. I didn't see that coming at all.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » January 16, 2005, 12:33 pm

Pittsburgh was lucky to move on. They are going to lose in the championship, again.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » January 16, 2005, 12:37 pm

Voronwë wrote:in the words of Little John

OHHHHH KKAAYYYY

stupid

Simple truth of it is that Vick has yet to become a reliable passing QB. He has a strong arm, but I would never want him to win game after game based on his arm. IF he ever becommes a GOOD passer he will be pretty much unstoppable, but that remains to be seen. For now he is pure talent, and that talent will go to waste because he will get hurt a lot due to his play style.

He is the most electrifying player in the NFL, but he has yet to live up to his potential.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 16, 2005, 2:47 pm

Sure he has a lot of work to do in the passing game no doubt.

I think that is fair. He is only 24 though, and he didnt even take any real hits last night while running for like 120 yards.

he has won games though with his arms on 2 minute drives. They won v. New Orleans on a drive with a minute left that was like 3 plays, all 3 long completions. I think actually every game the Falcons have had the ball and had the opportunity to tie or win in a 2 minute drive this year, Vick has led them to a TD.

Remember how Steve Young was at age 24? He was a terrible passer and a dangerous runner.

I certainly want to see Vick's passing numbers improve, but a huge part of that is the receivers are pretty mediocre. But hey when you are averaging 8.2 yards (like they did last night) per rushing attempt, no need to pass =).

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » January 16, 2005, 2:57 pm

Oh I have no doubt that he can improve. But there are some people (might not be on this board, but elsewhere for sure) who claims Vick already is the best QB in the league. And that is simply not true at this point in time. He has shown he can pass at times (and even to win games), but he has not shown it reliably yet. Keyword: Yet.

He is definitely the x-factor, but imagine that running ability with a reliable arm as well.. now THAT would be dangerous. Just imagine if Manning could run.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » January 16, 2005, 5:29 pm

Tyek wrote:Much props to Voro on the prediction.

Can you please tell me the scores for tomorrows games so I can get some bets in?

Hey I picked the Falcons before Voro on this thead! Voro did back up his prediction with a more detailed analisis though! : )

xZiBiT · Post by **xZiBiT** » January 16, 2005, 9:25 pm

I'm watching the Pats-Colts game, I believed the Pats would win in a shootout. All I can say is wow, Bruschi just recovered the Wayne fumble. With 6 mins left in the game, the Colts are being throttled. Looks like all those football analysts will be eating crow after this thorough domination by the Pats.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » January 16, 2005, 9:40 pm

They dominated but they (again) got good help from the refs. No surprise there though.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 16, 2005, 9:41 pm

Wow. I can't believe the Pats did it again to the Colts. Unreal.

nobody · Post by **nobody** » January 16, 2005, 10:33 pm

lmao, moss got spanked!

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » January 16, 2005, 11:04 pm

Sorry Winnow, props on your pick too. I was just impressed with his score prediction.

xZiBiT · Post by **xZiBiT** » January 17, 2005, 12:01 am

I thought the refs did a pretty good job. I think they called it right down the middle. Sure there could have been a few more illegal contacts on both teams but they let them play and it was a great game. The things that did the Colts in were the turnovers and the Pats domination of the clock in the second half.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » January 17, 2005, 12:08 am

heh well.. you have to be a Pats fan to call that game "down the middle". It was not as bad as last year's, but still pretty bad.

And I'm not even a Colts fan!

xZiBiT · Post by **xZiBiT** » January 17, 2005, 1:08 am

Ummm. Not a Pats fan. Actually as hard as it is to believe, I'm a Lions fan. Lion's in 2006. I know its terrible but I'm a homer.

I only wanted the Pats to win cause Brady is the QB. I thought the reason the Pats would win because they are the 4th ranked offense and tied for 2nd rank defense in the league. Yes, the second ranked defense even with their injury plagued secondary. I mean come on, tonight they through in a free agent cornerback just signed this week who didnt play a single game this season and they still shut down the Colts'. They Colts' have no reason to cry this year because they were clearly outplayed on both sides of the ball.

I am curious as to why you think the Colts' got an unfair shake from the refs. Please, explain?

Badabidi · Post by **Badabidi** » January 17, 2005, 2:41 am

Id say there were several holding/facemasking/etc on the Patriots OL throughout the second half, it wasnt a miracle that Brady all of a sudden had a nice cushion of protection out of nowhere. Then you have stupid flags like the pass interference call on an uncatchable throw... Eitherway the Colts of today played like the Packers of last week (well minus the Brett interceptions), they deserved to lose.

xZiBiT · Post by **xZiBiT** » January 17, 2005, 3:22 am

Facemasks and holding in the trenches occur on just about every damned play. It doesn't matter which team it is its just amatter of if the refs want to control the game or not. Personally, I'm glad they kept their flags in their pocket unless the hold is blatant.

I agree the pass interference may not have been called correctly but illegal contact or holding should have been. Regardless, it would have been first down and was just a difference in field position. It doesn't matter that the ball was uncatchable, the DB's aren't allowed to grab much less grab and turn a WR at the hips past 5 yards. I know I watched the most penalized defensive backfield all damned season. Fricken Lions'. I've seen a lot less than that get called.

Refs called a damned good game by not getting involved unless it was blatant like the unsportmanlike late hit on the Pats'.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » January 17, 2005, 9:34 am

I found it quite ironic (and rather hillarious) that the Colts got called for some of those ticky-tack defensive backfield calls that they lobbied so hard for in the offseason. As for how the teams played, that second half was amazing, probably the best half of playoff football I have ever seen from the Pats - and I'm an old fart, so I've seen most of their playoff games.

BTW, regarding Vick, I think he's amazing - he reminds me of Bobby Orr. Philly could very easily go 4 for 4 next weekend.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » January 17, 2005, 7:13 pm

My picks last week were:

Patriots, because everyone picked the Colts and there's no fucking way that this team will let that slide
Falcons, because people were saying that Marc Bulger is a better player than Michael Vick and that's just wrong
Eagles, because they are significantly better than the Vikings at quarterback offensive line defensive line linebackers secondary and coaching and worse in no areas
Jets, because there has to be an upset and I considered the other three locks

Turns out I should have just stuck with the favorites.

This week it's going to be the Eagles and the Steelers.

The Eagles are the pick for a few reasons. First, like against the Vikings, they have better personnel. Second, Andy Reid is a much better coach than Jim Mora. Third, I'm an Eagles fan and can't bear the thought of them losing.

The Steelers are the pick because the flaws in the Patriots that everyone pointed out prior to the Colts game haven't just magically disappeared because they won. Now that they whipped the team everyone picked to beat them, there will be a massive reversal of sentiment as all the oh-so-smart commentators retreat into "how could anyone ever pick against them!" mode. Well, I'm picking against them because they're playing a 16 win team that beat the shit out of them earlier in the year and has something to prove after last week. Both teams like to play close games and I have no doubts that both defenses will play tough and make big plays later on in the game, but I like Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley, and that monstrous offensive line to push through the Pats at the end of the day.

All Pennsylvania Super Bowl.

It should be played at Beaver Stadium in State College, PA. The Steelers and Eagles both have rabid fan bases. State College is almost exactly between the two cities, has the facilities to host massive events, and can seat nearly 110,000 people. The NFL should make 20,000 of the additional tickets available at the gate for 50 bucks a pop. Then they should set up projectors outside the stadium so fans who can't get tickets can still see the game if they show up. The entire state of Pennsylvania would migrate.

Fuck Jacksonville.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » January 17, 2005, 7:20 pm

Patriots will repeat. They just flat out crushed the Colts when everyone doubted them. I realize that the Steelers won the last time around, however, the way that the Pat's are playing, it will be hard to beat them now.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 17, 2005, 8:31 pm

Zamtuk wrote:Patriots will repeat. They just flat out crushed the Colts when everyone doubted them. I realize that the Steelers won the last time around, however, the way that the Pat's are playing, it will be hard to beat them now.

/nods

You are probably right. I would love to see Pitt beat the Pats, but prolly won't happen.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 18, 2005, 1:55 pm

I would be shocked if Pitt beats New England.

Pittsburgh has no business even practicing this week, but hey they won, so they get to advance.

If Roethlesburger couldnt pass against the Jets, he is in real deep shit against the Pats. But both teams have strong defenses, and it should be close. Pittsburgh's defense has to win the game for them if they want to punch that ticket to Jacksonville.

The NFC game could be a whoopin from the Eagles side, but I like the way the Falcons are playing, and i'm an unapologetic homer, so I say the Falcons will win!

2 years ago, the Falcons could have beaten the Eagles in the playoffs, and they are much better now. THe Eagles (without TO) are not. The Falcons averaged 8 yards per rushing attempt last week. And sure the Rams are bad defensively, about the same as the Vikings, but they are still NFL players.

The Eagles obviously have a great defense, and if they can keep the heat on Vick, he is prone to try to do too much, and mistakes can be made. Kearse though rushes from the wrong side to really terrorize Vick. Vick is most dangerous rolling to his left, and that is the opposite side of the field from The Freak.

It really boils down to 2 things in my view.

If the Eagles can stuff the Falcons run, they should win. (they wont stuff it)
If the Falcons can get substantial pressure on McNabb, they will keep the game close.

So if it is close, it could be special teams, it could be a crazy Vick play, it could be turnovers that turn the tide.

The Falcons are a weather proof team, so i am not worried about the 50% chance of snow and high of 28. But if the Eagles get an early lead, we are in trouble!

masteen · Post by **masteen** » January 18, 2005, 2:15 pm

The Steelers are not a passing team. The reason Ben is so good is because they run the ball 2/3 of the time. If the Pats can stop Duce and the Bus, they win. If either of them gets over 100 yards rushing, the Steelers will win.

Personally, I'm not so sure that the Pats undersized linebackers can stop a power rush like Cowher brings. I look for the Steel Curtain to shut down Dillon and Brady, and I also see Bruschi getting run over by the Bus in the 4th.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » January 18, 2005, 3:09 pm

The Jets game was so fucking reminiscent of the game that the Steelers played in the AFC Championship game in 2001. The Jets played the role of the Pats almsot perfectly. I was getting sick watching it.....the Steelers shutting the Patriots offense down, moving the ball just enough and putting up 17 points....the punt return for the TD, then another turnover for a TD....I had to turn the game off and go regroup and watch bits and pieces of it from there on out.

The one thing you have to ask yourself.....is the Patriots offense much better than the Jets? Corey Dillon vs Curtis Martin? The Pats receivers better than the Jets? Tom Brady a better passer than Pennington? The special teams (outside of the kickers) is a wash....both are dangerous.

The Jets have the better defense of the two right now....the Pats are very susceptible to the run against a team like Pitt. The Steelers played almost the exact same game against the Jets as they did the first time. If you look at it, Roethlisberger played better this time around against them. He made one huge mistake that cost them a TD....and if he had thrown that ball over the coverage it would have been a TD for Pitt. That one throw really changed the entire game. If Pitt scores on that possession, they pound pound pound the ball down the Jets throat and tire them out earlier than what they did.

I can't see the Pats scoring more than 20 points against the Steelers defense right now. If Pitt keeps the Pats from winning the special teams game by a large margin, they win 28-17.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 18, 2005, 3:37 pm

you are saying the JETS have a better defense than the Patriots, who just shut down Peyton Manning?

i dont know what the stats say, but whatever they say is wrong.

ask yourself this:

Which coach:
Cowher / Bellicheck

Wich QB:
Brady / Big Ben

2 huge advantages in the Pats favor, in my opinion. But you guys are right, if Pitt can run effectively, they will be in good shape.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » January 18, 2005, 3:50 pm

You also forgot to mention the most important thing when comparing the two teams on offense. The O-Line. Pats O-Line is hands down the better.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » January 18, 2005, 4:39 pm

the Jets were statistically the better defense between the Pats and Jets. They were within a few yards and points of each other in every category.

Here are the reasons why I think Pitt will win....

1) 221 yards rushing in the first game. That is before the Pats lost all their defensive players. The Pats are a little soft in the middle. They do not have mount Washington in the middle to clog it up like they did in 2001.

2)The Pats rushing defense showed a huge improvement late in the year....some say it was Belichek being a genius....I say it is because their schedule closed out with:

Chiefs (with Priest out)
Ravens (with Jamal out)
Browns
Bengals (who dropped 150 yards rushing on them)
Miami (MIAMI!)
Jets (who inexplicably rushed 18 times with the leading rusher in the NFL)

That is not exactly a murderer's row of rushing teams. Power teams have been able to move and score on the Patriots. The Bengals would have beaten them if Jon Kitna had nto come into their game and thrown picks to anyone who wanted them. 30+ rushing attempts by the Steelers in this game and they should win it.

3) This is the first time in a long time the Steelers have been home underdogs. Home underdogs makes me vary happy.

4) Kicking at Heinz field is treacherous. The only guy that has had success there for some reason is Jeff Reed.

5) Jerome Bettis. He has something to prove and if they can win it all he will retire. You don't think the Steelers are going to do anything they can for him?

6) New England has used up all of its good will from mankind when the Red Sox won the World Series. I am fairly certain that there was a deal made that gave them the world series in exchange for them not winning the Super Bowl.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 18, 2005, 5:02 pm

that is a good case Kilmoll.

i'm just happy Indy lost. They would've torch the falcons in the Super Bowl should that matchup had happened because the Falcons secondary is suspect.

Luckily not as suspect as persons like Todd Pinkston. Why didnt Minnesota bump that puss?

masteen · Post by **masteen** » January 18, 2005, 5:06 pm

Don't worry, Voro. The Steelers will torch them just fine

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » January 18, 2005, 5:12 pm

I'm a Steelers fan, but I'll try to do this unbiased:

The Pat's are favored, and should be. They are the defending champions, and are 'hot' right now.

My thoughts on all the talk of the steelers getting spanked, this and that, well, I look to the first matchup this year. Its easy for a patriots fan to brush that game off, but they had their starters for that game, minus Corey Dillon.

Corey Dillon will not be the difference if the pats are to win this game. If Curtis Martin can struggle so much against the steelers, how will cory dillon do much better? O-line? maybe, but I don't see him running more than 25 carries.

The Pat's O-line I don't think is the better unit. I would go with the Steelers O-line this year.

The Pat's scored 20 points against the 29th best defense in the NFL (yards per game). They will have to bring more against the Steelers who lead that catagory, and a few others as well, as the best defense in the NFL.

Both teams are infinitely better than their 2001 counterparts. New coaches on both sides (Steelers Defensive Coordinater, etc), etc, etc...So it is hard to take anything from that game, and relate it to this upcoming game.

Again, the Pat's are favored...no one likes the steelers, everyone wants Big Ben to fail (He did last weekend...but they keep wanting more failures from him.) To me personally...this steelers team reminds me of the 2001 Patriots, where no one ever picked them to win, no one wanted them to win, and they were never favored...well...they proved everyone wrong.

This Steelers team has been favored all year (after 5 weeks), everyone was on their collective dong, now, everyone wants the Pats to kill them, so they can say how horrible rookie quarterbacks are, and Ben failed, they want to ruin him for tv ratings or something. The only thing I can think of, is that these guys are all so fucken jealous of a successful youngster, when their whole careers were useless since they never sniffed this kind of success at a young age.

Anyways, all this talk is useless...this game will easily be better than the Super Bowl itself, regardless of who wins...

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » January 18, 2005, 5:28 pm

I'm sticking with my original predictions. 4-4 so far but this next round is more iffy.

I think the Steelers can pound the ball on the Patriots and win the game with 100-125 yards passing from Roethlesburger. I don't feel comfortable with this but as much as I like the Patriot defense and their resourcefulness, the Steelers are a veteran team and won't fold. I also like having the Bus and Staley available at the RB position.

I'm taking the Eagles over the Falcons for the same "veteran" reasons. Vic will scramble for 80 yards and then fumble.

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » January 18, 2005, 5:51 pm

In another thread, I had originally picked Atlanta or the Steelers to win it all based on how Big Ben handled the playoff pressure. The jury is still out on Big Ben, but I stand by my original line of thought.

I firmly believe the Jets have a better D than the Pats. If you look at the first regular season Jets/Steelers game, the Jets also really gave the Steeler offense a difficult time just like last week. I just do not see the Pats D-Line winning the physical war against Pitsburg. The Pats are lucky it was such shitty weather last weekend; it helped cover up their banged up secondary. This week, their secondary won't even factor into the game because they are going to be getting the ball rammed up the gut all game. The Pats are good, but I don't think they are good enough to beat the Steelers under these conditions.

In the NFC, I can't believe how retarded the Vikings were. I guess they played themselves out against the Pack or something. They didn't even make a real effort at a running game, which with Philly's terrible run D, you have to wonder what the hell their gameplan was exactly. Atlanta will run, early and often. Atlanta's D will run the cover 2 all day, which will shut Philly down without TO in the mix. The only way the Eagles can win this game is if they force Vick to pass (not likely) and if they can match Atlanta's ground game (also not very likely).

My predictions for this weekend and beyond-

Steelers 20, Patriots 13

Eagles 10, Falcons 24

Superblowout-

Steelers 17, Falcons 24

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » January 18, 2005, 8:16 pm

GO PACKERS!

awwwww shit.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » January 18, 2005, 8:24 pm

Philly's Run D has been weak in the past but is much improved this year with the maturation of Michael Lewis, the addition of Jeremiah Trotter, and the overall health of the D-Line.

Michael Vick cannot pass on Philadelphia. Cannot. Even without TO, the Falcons receivers are worse than the Eagles. The Eagles will have their corners single cover the Falcons wideouts. Brian Dawkins will blanket Alge Crumpler. The rest of the Eagles can focus on Vick and the run game.

Running quarterbacks typically do poorly against the Eagles. Vick is not a typical running quarterback, and I'm sure he'll have some success, but there's a reason that Vicks best highlights feature teams like the Rams and the Vikings on defense. Warrick Dunn has never had success against the Eagles, as they are a speed defense who performs very well against speedy, shifty players. TJ Duckett is the Falcons back who would likely perform most effectively against the Eagles, but the Falcons offensive line is not well suited to Duckett's running style. With the passing game likely to be a nonfactor, the Eagles will key on the run and stop it.

I hope you fuckers enjoyed the Rams while you had them. Eagles by double digits.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » January 19, 2005, 1:49 am

I'm a Pats fan, but I too will try to be unbiased.

A 15 and 1, no, make that a 16 and 1 team, now, as a home underdog? The team that beat the other one handily in the regular season? Madness - the things Vegas will do to stimulate betting. Pittsburgh should be the favorite, in the 4-7ish range.

Regarding O-lines, the O-line of Pittsburgh is better IMHO. They are having a hell of a year. Fanaca (sp?) looks like a young Johh Hannah out there for crying out loud.

Roethlesburger has had a great rookie year, but he is hardly the reason Pittsburgh went 15-1 in the regular season. Credit should be given to a great defense, O-line, and very good receiving corps.

Big Ben has made his share of plays, though, and is great throwing on the run. Look for the Pats to cheat run, but overall try to keep Ben in the pocket and saturate the defensive backfield - they will want him to think more than react.

The Pats team that showed up earlier in the year will not be there this Sunday - but I doubt they will play even close to the insane level they had last weekend, either. Pittsburgh will be about the same as the Pats. Both teams will also hit like a ton of bricks. It's gonna be a close one, decided by a second half turn-over.

2001 means diddly, as do the previous game this year, NE's record in AFC championship games, Pittsburgh's record hosting them, and most of all, last week's games. Throw it all out. This will be a close, physical game, and both teams will bring their best. It should be great.

I predict Pittsburgh by 1, 21-20ish

As for Philly, I sort of see them finally getting over the hump, but Vick also seems to play really great in big games. Tough call, but Ill say Atlanta over Philly 28-24

VeeshanVault

Playoff Weekend 2 - Predictions

Playoff Weekend 2 - Predictions

Re: Playoff Weekend 2 - Predictions