Let me be the first to say, yesterday's (Sunday's) playoff games were perhaps the most boring, uninteresting, non-competitive, shitty games I have ever witnessed. Not only because my two least favorite teams playing, or even that my two least favorite teams won, but mostly that the games were just awful to watch. I fell asleep literally 3 times during the games, and played Wii during the second half of the Ravens game. Honestly, this is the playoffs! I've been looking forward to these games for weeks, and this is what I'm repaid with? Chad Pennington showed his true colors, that's for sure. Anyway, none of us pancakers predicted the winning pairs in either the AFC or NFC. Shows how much we know...
Round 2
San Diego @ Pittsburgh - Funny story: I felt bad I was keeping my gf from going out all weekend so we went out Saturday night while I taped the Indy/San Deggo game. I managed to not look at the tv's while we were out to eat (at Fridays...lucky her), and when we got home around 11 or so, I asked her to check NBC to see if the game was still on or not. Well she did, and says "it's over, they are just interviewing some Chargers players so the game could have gone either way." Let's just say, we didn't get along for much of the remainder of the night. So I watched the game, trying to pretend like maybe they interview losing teams every once in a while, and with about 2 mins left, I thought that the Colts might actually win. BUT, they shot themselves in the foot with penalties, and lost a coin flip, season over. Point is, as disappointed as I was with knowing the Chargers won, I was also excited to know that the Steelers would not have to deal with the Colts. True both teams are hot and on winning streaks, but who do you trust on a cold, windy day on one of the worst football fields in history? Philip Rivers and Nate Kaeding, or Peyton Manning and Adam Vinatieri? Thought so. And I think it comes down to a last second, 40-50 yard field goal to tie it. Steelers 24-21
Baltimore @ Tennessee - Both teams are similar and have QB's you can't trust in a lie contest, so I'm going to go with the home team. Also, I'd take Chris Johnson over LaRon McClain any day. True story, as I was "watching" the Baltimore game yesterday, I was also watching another McClane on TBS. That's right, John McClane in Die Hard 3...Great Movie. Tennessee 17-13
Arizona @ Carolina - If you think about it, Carolina is built very similar to Atlanta. Average to above-average defenses, terrific running game, average quarterbacks, average receivers. But, Delhomme has more experience than Ryan, obviously, and Steve Smith is better than Roddy White. I don't think Arizona is good enough to win two games against better teams in a row. Carolina 34-24
Philadelphia @ New York - Last and definitely least, we have this stinker of a game. I am sick of watching the NFC East...I may not even watch this game. The Giants are limping into the playoffs while the Eagles are playing their best, albeit not that good, football all year. Still... New York 20-17
Very original right? Going with all of the top seeds to win. Let's see if any of us can do any better this week with picks...
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I watched the second half of the Chargers/Colts game and it was pretty good. I mean the Colts just collapsed, but still enjoyable to watch. The Chargers were my preseason pick to win the Super Bowl...
I listened to the Eagles/Vikings game while driving back to Pittsburgh. It was pretty dull, but helped me zone through a boring drive.
Pittsburgh VS. San Diego. I would like to say that pittsburgh wins this one in a blow out fashion with the usual under phrasing "stout defenses and great running games win championships! So Go Steelers!" The problem with that ostentacious phrasing, is it's completely false. Well half false. In an interview a few weeks ago Willie parker complained to the media that the steelers have gone away from steeler football, which was pounding the ball between the tackles and keeping the other teams offense off the field with proper ball control, and criticizing Tomlin with his new game method. Tomlin retorted with: "Everyday I come into work and walk down the halls and see 5 lombardi trophies. I don't see 5 rushing titles. It's about winning. Period." he then went on to say how it's a little discouraging to hear something like that from his star running back and then went on to compliment him while making parker seem like a child. At the time, I agreed with Tomlin and his assesment on how to manage the game and come out with the "W". Now, however, I have to lean in favor of Willie Parker. There is no winning the superbowl without a running game, and the steelers are without one right now. Atleast the strong one we used to have. Big Ben is overrated and our O-Line has to learn how to run block effectively. Despite all that, Steelers win on the shitty field at home in the miserable cold because our defense is the best in the best in the league. Just one more ugly victory please!
Steelers 13 Chargers 6
Tennessee VS. Baltimore
Either way this is going to a tough matchup for whoever gets to play the winning the following week. Rookie QB vs. Veteran QB who happens to be undefeated at home in the playoffs, and the Titans should have their entire defense in tact for the game. Tennessee also has the better running attack, probably the second best in the league behind the Giants.
Titans 24 Ravens 9
New York VS. Philadelphia
I agree with offord, i hate this game. But I'm curious to see what donovan shows up. If this game ends up in a blowout in favor for the Giants, I want to know how long until Donovan wants out of Philly. However, these teams have alternated winning at each others place this season, and i say the trend continues. I don't think we're going to see the same Eli we saw in the playoffs last year. That boat has sailed, he doesn't need to prove anything every again, he's a superbowl winning quarterback and always will be. Plus, the Eagles Defense looked really good on sunday.
Eagles 31 Giants 17
Carolina VS. Arizona
Two superbowl experienced QB's. 2 Superbowl tested coaches. 1 heavily tested playoff running back. Edgerrin James. Is it a coincidence, he starts saying he wants out of Arizona and then starts to see the ball more over the last 2 weeks? Or, was it Whisenhunts plan all along to keep the legs of a 30 year old, future hall of fame running back fresh when he is needed the most? I doubt Whisenhunt is an Edgerrin James sycophant, yet I can't help and wonder ::cough "genius"::? Plus, I'm a little biased because I have no carolina players on my fantasy roster and I do have Edge.
Arizona 38 Carolina 28
Edge: 140 APY, 2 TD's (1 rush, 1 rec), 10 points for me!
Kern...I agree with you about the running game, but Parker needs to realize something. He is not playing the same as he was a year ago. He is not healthy and he is not hitting his holes at the right time.
The line can sufficiently run block, they have more issues trying to pass block. I would like to see them pound the run, but only if it gets some positive yardage, not 1.9-2.4 YPC...
Unfortunately, the more we allow Ben to pass, the more likely he is to be picked off. It seems like once he gets past about 20-25 pass attempts, balls start getting picked a lot easier.
Actually, I have to disagree almost 100%. More like 90%. Yes, Parker was hurt when he made those comments, but he is now as close to healthy as any NFL running back normally is going into the playoffs. He looked close to his old self in the last game of the season. He had that spring in his step, and it looked as though he was seeing the holes the line was providing. I more than 100% disagree with your assessment of the line focusing on pass blocking. The steelers O-Line actually gives a very favorable amount of time for any normal pocket passing quarterback to be succesful. You will hear it time and again from the announcers during the game how well the steelers pass block and the sack numbers they have given up this year as misleading. Ben himself admits that his line is one of the best in the game and more than half of the sacks they give up are his fault. Yes, this line is not as good as it has been in the past, but our line was unbelieveable in the past. Over the last 3 seasons we have lost 3 former pro bowl linemen to free agency, injury, or lack of confidence. A future head coach and one of the best O-Line coaches the NFL has seen in a while in Russ Grim, and have over payed for lineman who have undertaker like size but also who have not performed and have actually been demoted from a starting role a countless amount of times. Ben holds onto the ball on average 2-3 seconds longer than any NFL QB. 3 seconds! That's the equivalent of a lifetime in doggie years for the NFL. Any QB that receives that amount of time should be putting up Peyton Manning-esque numbers. Ben can afford to take that extra time and the extra hit because he is a huge guy. I think he looks forward to not having enough time to throw just so he can shrug someone off to try to make a play and add a little more renown to his legacy. But when it comes to getting time in the pocket, in Bens case, the more time he receives in the pocket the more likely he seems to get sacked or throw that mind-crippling "What the F was that?" interception.
You have to hand it to him though. The guy wins. I stand by my prediction and my reasonings. Willie Parker will have to be the catalyst for this playoff push if we are going to be successful, and part of that responsibility is going to fall on the O-Line's rush blocking not pass blocking and we have to keep the game out of Ben's hands. He's the greatest QB in the history of the NFL when it comes to game management, but when it comes to pure QB talent, he's as overrated as they come. If he had the size of Drew Brees, he'd be flipping burgers at mcdonalds for a living instead of flipping linebackers smaller than himself.
Did you use the phrase "greatest QB in the history of the NFL" and "ben" in the same sentence? Hmm...I'll assume you have cabin fever.
And I'll have to see a stat to prove Ben has more time than the average QB to believe it. I'm sure someone has a stat for that...
You guys are all fools.
Giants are throwin' up no less than 48 points.
In the first half.
Yep, "greatest QB in NFL history" at managing a game, which is kind of an oxymoron for the position, so it's not really a huge compliment.
Gideon's right, but 48 is an understatement for the giants...for the first quarter.
...and what is the definition of cabin fever? Is it a fever you just happen to get in a cabin, or does it pertain to some kind of hallucinogen side effect?
Well you COULD get cabin fever in a cabin, ala Homer and Mr. Burns. But really it can be used for any situation where being cooped up somewhere long enough has caused some sort of mental disturbance, usually in a negative way.
So you are going to base your argument on what announcers say and what Ben says in the post game? Obviously he is not going to throw his line under a bus.
And lets not get too excited about Parker finding his step against the Browns...if he can get 70 yards against the Chargers, i'll be happy.
prediction for steelers and chargers game:
Willie Parker: 120 yds, 1 Td
LT: not going to play
"the little engine that could" sproles: 120 APY, no scores
Big Ben: 198 yds, o TD, 2 ints, 2 fumbles, 1 fumble lost, 4 sacks, 1 more concussion, and a partridge in a pear tree
Fines:
Hines Ward: $15,000 dollars unsportsman like conduct after breaking a corners collar bone
James Harrison: $10,000 roughing the passer
Mike Tomlin: $5,000 criticizing the referees
1 steelers victory: priceless
Glad to see people see what i've been saying about big ben for about 3-4 years now, it all runs together at my age. he is overrated.
and, for the record, that "greatest of all time" comment is humorous, kind of like the comparisons of tim tebow to steve young.
that's a great point about the O-line. it seems pretty spot on from what i've seen with the team. i think i'm going to take the following teams as winners...
giants, panthers, chargers, ravens.
i think that the giants win if they focus on running the football. kern is right, you let eli be the focus, and, well, he isn't that good.
the super bowl i want to see is the giants/chargers. then i want philip rivers and the chargers to beat eli. honestly, i can't stand that guy and his stupid 30 year-old harry potter haircut.
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