Playoff picks, open thread

by Ed Valentine on Jan 17, 2009 8:00 AM EST in News Comment 22 comments

It is Saturday, and the dvisional championship games will be played tomorrow to determine who will play in this year's Super Bowl.

Here are my choices.

NFC

Philadelphia (-3) at Arizona: I am taking the Eagles here. I hate doing it, but I think the Eagles are the better team.

AFC

Baltimore at Pittsburgh (-5.5): I have to believe the Steelers will win this game. I think 5.5 points is a lot, but I will go with Pittsburgh.

Use this as open thread. Drop in your picks for the games, then feel free to discuss anything you like.

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Comments

Off topic

but is everyone as stunned as I am that Gruden was fired? Eventually the Glazers are going to pay for their impatience, firing two great coaches (Dungy) back to back in their prime.

by potroast on Jan 17, 2009 9:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I'm stunned

But I have never been a Gruden fan. I have always thought he was overrated as a coach, and was especially bad at handling quarterbacks. But, still a stunner. No good reason for it.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 17, 2009 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a good coach. His workaholic mentality sets a good example to what NFL players need to do to succeed. Plus I like the intensity on the sideline. But I definitely agree in your assessment that he’s overrated as a QB guru.

by potroast on Jan 17, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Im going Cards v Steelers

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 17, 2009 9:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's what I'm going with

but mainly because I hate both the Eagles & Ravens.

by potroast on Jan 17, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

true story

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 17, 2009 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Cards by at least ten points.....

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 17, 2009 10:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

These games suck

Seriously, these games suck big time & not just beacuse the Giants are not playing. Last year NFC Championship: classic NFL franchises Giants vs Pack at Frozen Lambeu this year classic NFL loosers: midnight green Eagles w/ a tie playing 9-7 Cardinals in a stadium that looks like a toster. It just doesn’t have the juice as last year, even if your not a Giant fan. Steelers are the only worthwile team left & they better win. If it’s Ravens Eagles Super Bowl and I’m forced to root for the freaking Ravens I won’t watch it. I’ll just go to a Super Bowl party and get hammered and eat a lot. I can deal with the Giants not being in the final four but at least give me quality teams. Even Cardinals Ravens is awful, no seriously awful!

by Landeta on Jan 17, 2009 11:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think the Eagles are a better team,

but I’m taking the Cards because they can be explosive and I’ve always liked Warner (except for all the God stuff—he sounds like Bush.) The Eagles will blitz him fiercely. He stands in and takes the punishment so he could get knocked out of the game, fumble or throw ints.
The Steelers are the best team left. I’ve never gone for this stuff about how tough it is to beat the same team three times in the NFL. It’ll be a brutal game, a defensive war between two tough teams.

by blue gonz on Jan 17, 2009 12:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

these games suck?

I dont know how you can say that considering last years packers team wasnt great at all and they certainly wouldnt blow out this years cards team. the eagles are the 6th seed like the giants last year and theyre winning on the road and just beat last years super bowl team. Everyone knows favre gives you a solid 2 picks a game if not more. that game was completely predictable. nobody knows what will happen in this game there will be many more explosive plays and it will be alot more entertaining. if your talking about playing in the cold turn it on cbs its basically the same matchup as last year with alot better defenses.

by ABails8 on Jan 17, 2009 1:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I don’t think these games suck at all. All the teams are playing very well right now. It doesn’t matter if they played like crap 3/4 of the season.

by potroast on Jan 17, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

“that game (2007 NFC Championship Game) was completely predictable.”
the Giants beating the 13-3 Packers at frigid Lambeau Field was “completely predictable”? i wish i knew that last year. it would’ve saved me about $100 worth of beer and Rolaids.

“it (Sunday’s games) will be a lot more entertaining”
somehow i doubt watching the Cardinals and Eagles (two teams that haven’t won anything since the merger) in Arizona or a offense-impaired Steelers/Ravens matchup will be more enertaining than an overtime game between two of the NFL’s flagship franchises at one of professional sports’ most historic venues in sub-zero termperatures.

"it’s (Ravens/Steelers) basically same matchup as last year with a lot better defenses "
i’m not really sure that this year’s Pittsburgh or Baltimore teams would hold perhaps the greatest offense in NFL history to 14 points like the Giants did to the Patriots last year. overall, those defenses are outstanding but i don’t think i would take them over a fully healthy version of the ’07 Giants with that ridiculous pass rush.

i agree that Sunday’s games probably won’t suck, but that Giants/Packers game last year was a classic.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 17, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said

these games suck!

by Landeta on Jan 17, 2009 9:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My Picks

Eagles r better than the Cardinals, however, with a hurt westbrook, it really depends on how well McNabb will perform. The cards seems like a totally different team in the playoffs with good protection for Warner and decent pass rush. If for some reason the eagles cant dial up the pass rush, Kurt Warner can be dangerous giving the cards a good shot at winning. So i’ll go with the Cardinals but the first quarter of the game will really show the tempo of how the rest of the game will go. And i like steelers in the AFC game. And steelers will be superbowl champs giving them 6 total championships.

by Makaveli8751 on Jan 17, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

flagship

idk the nfl flagship historic team bs is just that bullshxt. who cares that the packers were in it. they had no chance there team was a joke. and giants d wasnt that great they were Very good but i mean if your gonna throw stats out there. the eagles havent allowed a td by a wr since thanksgiving, didnt give up a td to the super bowl champs and theyre statisticaly ranked 3 behind ravens and pitt. so i believe these defenses are in the same category as last years giants d if not better.

by ABails8 on Jan 17, 2009 4:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

umm

Packers were 13-3.

by cjmulrain on Jan 17, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bails

C’mon, why don’t you just go back to the Eagles site and enjoy the fact that you are still playing. Don’t come over here and trash the Giants, who did win last year. Have some class.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 17, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

.

im not trashing the giants at all. i was just saying these games arent terrible. i completely respect what the giants can do.

by ABails8 on Jan 17, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Steelers beat the Eagles in the All-Pennsylvania Bowl

Anyone remember when the runner ups had to play each other. It was before the birth of the SB. It was even more lame than the Pro Bowl.

by TerraByte on Jan 17, 2009 5:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Even better than that was

the Super Bowl runner up ( or was it the winner?) versus the college all stars. Remember that annual event from yesteryear? I’d like to see the the Super Bowl loser play the number 1 college team of the year. That might just be more fun than you think.

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 17, 2009 6:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs