AFC/NFC Championship Predictions

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 19, 2005, 12:21 pm

Philly and New England move unto the Superbowl.

First instinct was correct. It's funny how time goes by you begin to think the Pats can lose. What a team they are. No showboats just team players. Unreal.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 19, 2005, 12:32 pm

Falcons and Pats

Key to the NFC CHampionship to me:

For Eagles win:
Pass Protect McNabb
Force the Falcons into lots of passing situations, and in doing so put Vick in situations where he makes risky plays. he can become a high risk high reward player at times, which can favor the defense.

For Falcons to win:
Run effectively, get heat on McNabb
Get Physical with the weak Philly receivers. And i mean weak. Mentally and physically.

Falcons want to keep it close and look for a big play from special teams to maybe break it.

IF the game is tied or the Falcons have a lead in the 2nd half, I think the Eagles are going to have to face their demons in addition to the Falcons.

THe Eagles want to establish a 2 score lead by halftime to put pressure on the Falcons to look to pass first as well as to allow their defense to pin their ears back and attack Vick relentlessly.

The Rams and the Vikings were pretty comparable teams in many ways. High powered passing attacks, turf/dome teams, weak on defense, and identical records. The manner in which the Falcons dominated in every phase of the game compared to how Philly had to rely on a fluke score as well as a terrible coaching decision to fake that FG with the wrong personnel on the field (coach can call TOs) makes me feel good about the Falcons chances.

The Eagles are an awesome team, and it could be a great game, or the Eagles could certainly put a whoopin on Atlanta. BUt i dont think that is going to happen. But Atlanta's kicker sucks.

Falcons 24 Eagles 21

If Pitt can run on New England they win. They wont be able to pass on them. But i'll take Brady and Bellicheck over Roethlisburger and Cowher in a big game everytime.

New England 17 Pittsburgh 3

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » January 19, 2005, 12:51 pm

Falcons 27 Eagles 24

Patriots 20 Pittsburgh 24

I think a sloppy AFC game favors neither team...a sloppy NFC game favors the Eagles. The falcons favor speed and finesse type running...sloppy playing surface is very much against finesse.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 19, 2005, 12:57 pm

I think that is a misconception about the Falcons that they arent a physical running team. People think cause Vick is running all over the place that they dont pound it between the tackles.

The Falcons have 4 running plays. They have a 250lb running back who is very capable of pounding on some people.

The Falcons running game is based on the same blocking schemes that led to the Broncos' superbowl victories. Alex Gibbs who was the OL coach of the Broncos is their OL coach. And I think he is their highest paid coach

It is certainly a technique approach, not a be big fat and 350 pounds approach.

But remember the Falcons were the first team in 75 years to beat teh Packers at home in the playoffs in 2002. They are not a team that will be adversely effected by the weather.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » January 19, 2005, 1:03 pm

Falcons 35 Iggles 20

The Iggles can't stop anyone from running. Only by being in the weakest conference in the last decade has given them a chance to make the Super Bowl. No one in the NFC has a real running game that they have played. The Falcons will KILL them if they don't try to throw for some retarded reason.....lets remember that there IS a Mora involved.

Steelers 24 Patriots 13

Turning this game into a rushing contest will favor the Steelers heavily. Corey Dillon has not rushed for 100 yards against Pitt in his last 6 games against them. Taking away Brady with some bad weather will turn this game to Pitt in a big way. The one thing the Steelers need to do is remember ot punt the ball away from Troy Brown.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 19, 2005, 1:09 pm

Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:lets remember that there IS a Mora involved.

.

PLAYOFFS!!!

PLAYOFFS!!

Post by **Sylvus** » January 19, 2005, 1:53 pm

Voronwë wrote:
Kilmoll the Sexy wrote:lets remember that there IS a Mora involved.

.
PLAYOFFS!!!

PLAYOFFS!!

lol, that was such a great soundbyte

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » January 19, 2005, 2:31 pm

Eagles/Steelers.

Steelers because there has to be an upset

Eagles because

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.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » January 19, 2005, 2:39 pm

Go Lightning!

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » January 19, 2005, 4:02 pm

My predictions for this weekend and beyond-

Steelers 20, Patriots 13

Eagles 10, Falcons 24

Superblowout-

Steelers 17, Falcons 24

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » January 20, 2005, 8:21 am

Pittsburgh over New England, 21-20 (though I so hope to be wrong on this one)

Atlanta over Philly, 28-24

Fun Factoid:
The elder Jim Mora never won an NFL playoff game while the younger one is now 1 for 1. Interestingly enough, however, the elder one won the USFL championship (with the Philly/Baltimore Stars) 2 times after losing in the championship game the first year.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » January 20, 2005, 1:11 pm

Patriots/Falcons.

Though I'm not terribly confident about how the Eagles/Falcons game will go yet.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » January 20, 2005, 1:24 pm

Eagles/Steelers

I'll have detailed analysis of why those teams should win following the games.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » January 20, 2005, 7:48 pm

I'm fucking FAR too much of a Steelers homer to pick that game rationally. I still have some of those glasses from McDonald's back in the original Steel Curtain heyday.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » January 21, 2005, 11:57 am

Pats win 20-6

Jets didn't even have their best pass rusher and Ben still played like shit. I'm betting the Pats will get on top early and force them to throw. Once they are forced to throw, I can see many turnovers occuring

Eagles win 27-14

I think it's supposed to be snowing pretty heavy on Sunday by me which means it will probably be snowing in Philly as well. Could be a factor

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 21, 2005, 12:14 pm

The snow could favor the Falcons since they are a better running team.

THough, the Eagles kicker is better than Jay Feely, so a sloppy weather game could key on missed field goals.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » January 21, 2005, 12:40 pm

Nobody else could stop the Steelers rushing game this season, not even the Pats earlier this year. Why all the sudden will they be able to now? I personally see Bruschi getting run over by the Bus in the 4th quarter. He's fast and strong, but the Bettis/Staley combo is a fucking LOAD to stop.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » January 21, 2005, 1:50 pm

The snow will just make Michael Vick easier to tackle.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 21, 2005, 3:22 pm

I'm changing my mind.....all Pennsylvania SuperBowl!!!

noel · Post by **noel** » January 21, 2005, 3:35 pm

Heart: Atlanta - New England

Head: Philly - New England

Quote: Everyone who knows me knows how I like to get down. - Michael Vick

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 21, 2005, 4:04 pm

Sueven wrote:The snow will just make Michael Vick easier to tackle.

It will slow him down some, but it will slow down his pursuers as well. The offensive player also knows when he is going to cut. Reacting on a slippery/icy surface is harder for the defender who does not know when the move is coming.

Ice/Snow is never a disadvantage to a running team. The Eagles are the only playoff team remaining that does not commit to run on offense. McNabb also throws a high ball. Windy, snowy conditions will hurt the Eagles air attack much more than it will hurt the Falcons running.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » January 21, 2005, 4:39 pm

McNabb throws a low ball. His biggest problem as a QB is bouncing passes in the dirt.

Additionally, windy, snowy conditions will treat the team who constantly plays and practices in windy, snowy conditions well. It will not benefit the dome team from Atlanta, regardless of who is a running team and who is a passing team.

And don't even start on beating the Packers in Lambeau. Have you watched the Packers at all since 1997?

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 21, 2005, 4:42 pm

Sueven wrote:McNabb throws a low ball. His biggest problem as a QB is bouncing passes in the dirt.

Yup.

Not sure what you are watching Voro to think he throws a high ball. The sole reason McNabb's numbers have gone way up this year is TO's ability to go down and get the balls McNabb throws.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » January 21, 2005, 5:51 pm

Well, McNabb can really air it out, and has done so a few times this season as his confidence in TO improved. But generally, his balls are pretty low and flat.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 21, 2005, 6:12 pm

i was just repeating what some sports talk clown said and passing it off as my own knowledge

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » January 21, 2005, 6:52 pm

It seems everyone at espn.com is on the "This is the Eagle's year" bandwagon. Fucking asshats I can't wait to see their columns monday morning retracting what they said.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » January 21, 2005, 7:06 pm

oh they'll just talk shit about the Eagles and not give credit to the Falcons for outplaying them. thats how northeast sportstalk/fishwrap personalities work.

but anyway, speaking of parroting things i hear from sports talk clowns:

Belicheck's Defense v. QB faced for first time ever 5-8

Belicheck's Defense v. same QB when they play a 2nd times in the same season. 13-0

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » January 21, 2005, 7:34 pm

previous rookie qb to win 14 in a row.....zero.

previous pittsburgh team to win 15 games....zero

previous 15-1 teams in the NFL since merger to go to super bowl....all of them.

something has to give...and Bellichek is NOT the ultimate or he would have found some way to beat that Miami Dolphin juggernaut earlier this year.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » January 22, 2005, 12:25 am

Belichick's playoff stats play a hell of a lot more important a role than a rookie qb walking into a terrific system for regular season games.

"My job is not to pull weeds"

Quote of the year. The guy knows how to fucking win, unlike any of the other asshats in this little bracket

Tyek · Post by **Tyek** » January 24, 2005, 12:36 am

Cowher really killed the Steelers. He had momentum in the late third early forth. The Steelers are on the 4 and he calls a pass play on second down. You spend the first quarter going run run pass punt, then when you have a chance to let your run game shine you pass? If he was going to go for it on 4th down then maybe, but not when time is precious and you have the fans back in the game. You run Bettis up the middle 4 times, there is little chance they could stop that. I thought it was an absolute horrible series of calls.
Big Ben made mistakes and the Steelers outdid every expectation I had, but you see again why Cowher is known as a big game choker.

Midnyte_Ragebringer · January 24, 2005, 1:07 am

Voronwë wrote:oh they'll just talk shit about the Eagles and not give credit to the Falcons for outplaying them.

The Falcons outplayed who? LOL

They don't even have a Quarterback and it showed today. They outplayed the 8-8 Rams. ahh bidip bidip bidip That's All Folks!

Pittsburgh Comp Att Yds Pct Y/A Sack YdsL TD Int
B. Roethlisberger 14 24 226 58.3 9.4 1 1 2 3

Atlanta Comp Att Yds Pct Y/A Sack YdsL TD Int
M. Vick 11 24 136 45.8 5.7 4 33 0 1

Vick has been in the league how long? It's in the numbers. Vick Blows!

Both QBacks lost. But, one is a rookie who is actually a QUARTERBACK, not a glorified Wide Receiver.

Voro, talk the Falcons into trading Vick and gettig a real quarterback and maybe you will see Superbowl champs in Atlanta.

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » January 24, 2005, 1:27 am

If the falcons had a go-to receiver (and if you say P. Price I'll just die of laughter) it would have been a game. If falcons trade up and get Mike Williams or Braylon Edwards, look out.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » January 24, 2005, 1:43 am

Wont change the fact that Vick is so unreliable when it comes to passing that it isn't even funny. He is still a running back that can throw, he has not evolved into a quarterback that can run.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » January 24, 2005, 4:34 am

I think Michael Vick is definitely a championship-level quarterback. Remember how terrible the Falcons were last year. The change that you get out of a full season of Vick and a competent coaching staff is incredible.

Also, Vick's stats are often pretty uninspiring even when he plays great games, because in his best games, he doesn't throw many passes or gain a lot of yards, but he completes a high percentage and runs well.

If the team around him improves to the point where attention has to be paid to players besides Vick, then things will open up for him. Vick is the kind of guy who can totally blow a game or totally dominate a game against any team, good or bad. If his team is good enough to insulate itself from his bad games, he could easily put together a playoff hot streak and win a super bowl at some point.

miir · Post by **miir** » January 24, 2005, 10:38 am

Shanter wrote:It seems everyone at espn.com is on the "This is the Eagle's year" bandwagon. Fucking asshats I can't wait to see their columns monday morning retracting what they said.

*cough*

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » January 24, 2005, 11:46 am

Sueven wrote:I think Michael Vick is definitely a championship-level quarterback. Remember how terrible the Falcons were last year. The change that you get out of a full season of Vick and a competent coaching staff is incredible.

Also, Vick's stats are often pretty uninspiring even when he plays great games, because in his best games, he doesn't throw many passes or gain a lot of yards, but he completes a high percentage and runs well.

If the team around him improves to the point where attention has to be paid to players besides Vick, then things will open up for him. Vick is the kind of guy who can totally blow a game or totally dominate a game against any team, good or bad. If his team is good enough to insulate itself from his bad games, he could easily put together a playoff hot streak and win a super bowl at some point.

I agree 100%. He plays well enough to win a championship and certainly brings a lot to the table once he gets the snap. No he's not particularly accurate, but he's accurate enough. He can certainly inspire his team well enough. I just got the sense that they would never take the Eagles because I just thought as an entire team, they were heads and shoulders above anyone else in the NFC. It's as if everyone forgot how good Kearse and Trotter were or something.

McNabb took the game over. It's almost as if people forget he was the best running qb before Vick came into the league.

I really want to see a pic of Mora throwing down his receiver box than stomping on it

Shanter · Post by **Shanter** » January 24, 2005, 12:05 pm

Well I'll give Philly some credit, they came out and played to win. It would have been a little closer if Mathis had started at CB instead of a rookie, but regardless they played good football.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » January 24, 2005, 1:01 pm

Winnow wrote: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.

I overestimated the Steelers. Mostly Big Ben's ability to contribute without throwing picks.

I got my Pats/Eagles matchup though so all is good!

masteen · Post by **masteen** » January 24, 2005, 4:49 pm

New England's defense played a hell of a game, and their offense took the opportunities they gave them. The Steeler's O-line got dominated, there is no other way to look at it.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » January 25, 2005, 9:17 am

I've never been happier to be wrong.