Around the NFL: Playoff Picture
by Rexx on Dec 16, 2008 10:01 AM EST
15 comments
It's time to move on. I just can't stand to continue to whine and complain about the Ravens-Steelers game anymore. They beat us, face it and let's refocus our efforts on this coming Saturday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, once again on national TV. Both teams are still in the playoff hunt, Dallas sitting in the fifth seed in the NFC and Baltimore at the sixth seed in the AFC. This game is huge for both teams and takes on an added emotional angle as it closes out the history of Texas Stadium as the Cowboys prepare to move into their billion dollar digs next season. I hear that they will have $250,000 SIDELINE skyboxes available, only feet from the field! Wonder what it's like to have a pro football player come barreling into your seats, knocking over your champagne and caviar when you're trying to put a move on the closest cheerleader!?
Anyway, let's take a look at the current scenerios if the regular season has ended and the playoffs began today. In the NFC, the Vikings (3rd seed) would host the Buccaneers (6th seed) and the Cardinals (4th seed) would host the Cowboys (5th seed). I see the Vikings winning and although the Cards have already beaten the Cowboys this season in Arizona, I think the 'boys are the hotter team and predict them winning. That would then send Dallas to the New York Giants (#1 seed) and the Vikings to the Carolina Panthers (#2 seed). I realize that the Panthers play at the Giants this coming weekend in a game that could decide the #1 seed, but we're working on the assumption that the season ended today, so sorry that just doesn't apply. The Giants will beat the Cowboys at home in the rubber game of their season matches, while the Panthers should take care of business at home over the Vikings. That leaves Carolina to revisit the Giants for the NFC Championship. Funny thing is, with this scenerio I see the Giants repeating as NFC Champs. However, even hough I'm not supposed to go here, if the Panthers beat the Giants this weekend and end up with the #1 seed, then the playoff combinations change and while I still see these two teams meeting in the NFC Championship Game, if it is played in Carolina, then I'd take the Panthers at home. If Carolina can beat the Giants in the Meadowlands, then they can also beat them in Carolina. However, as I've said, we're going with the fact that the season ended today, not after this weekend. After this weekend, we can revisit the scenerios, as they will probably change, but for today's post, this is it. So, the New York Giants will once again represent the NFC in Super Bowl 43.
Over in the AFC the first round games have the Ravens (6th seed) at the NY Jets (3rd seed) and the Indianapolis Colts (5th seed) at the Denver Broncos (4th seed). As I've said all along, I still say that both Wild Card entries are better than the division champions they will be facing, so I stick with my prediction that the Ravens beat the Jets and the Colts defeat the Broncos. That would send the Ravens to Tennessee and the Colts to Pittsburgh. It's amazing that both conference's #1 and #2 seeds are playing each other in the #1 seeds home field this weekend, so things can certainly change with this scenerio as well as it can in the NFC. This is especially true with the logjam in the AFC East, as there are currently three teams with the same 9-5 record, as well as the 6th seeded Ravens. However, once again, this is based on the current standings and that is how we'll roll in this post. I see the Indianapolis Colts on a roll and therefore going into Heinz Field and upsetting the Steelers in their own crib. Unfortunately, I do not see the Ravens upsetting the Titans (so sorry, guys). While it's also interesting that the Titans and Colts will meet again this season, this scenerio has the season over so we don't get to see the outcome of that rematch. We'll see them meet in the AFC Championship Game in Tennessee, where the Titans have already beaten the Colts this season. However, the Colts have been as hot as any team in the NFL since earlier this season and they set up the dream game of Manning vs. Manning in Super Bowl 43.
I said it a few weeks ago and I still see it coming to fruition as the season winds down to the Big Game. You heard it here first and I'm repeating it, especially if it looks like our Ravens will have an insurmountable road to the summit.
Super Bowl 43: Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants
Let the debate begin!
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Do we control our own destiny?
I assume since we are the 6 seed now, if we win out and so do the teams in the east, we get the 6 seed in the 11-5 logjam? The Pats and the Dolphins both miss the playoffs at 11-5? Wow. That’s a crazy scenario, I can’t remember an 11-5 team not making the playoffs, yet this year there could be 2 in the same conference. Doubt it will happen though.
by pjb3 on Dec 16, 2008 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yes. Win out and we're in.
Kevbo: [to George Sherrill] George, you look a lot like Vin Diesel...
Flatbill: Let's get somethin' straight... Vin Diesel looks like me.
-From "The Making of Orioles Magic"
by dayzd toe on Dec 16, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Jets and Dolphins can't finish 11-5
They play each other next week and one of them will end up at least 10-6. The other probably takes the AFC East title and the remaining team (Pats) only gets in if they win out and we go 1-1.
Pats are home vs. Cardinals and then at Buffalo
Jets are at Seattle and home against Miami
Miami is at KC and at Jets
Miami has the toughest road and it’s it even more amazing than the Ravens, that they are in the hunt after last year’s 1-15 season. The Pats have to hope we lose in Dallas and they win out to edge us. If they split we’re in, unless we go 0-2. The Jets win out and they’re AFC East champs. If Dolphins and Pats win out, as well as us, Dolphins get AFC East title and we edge Pats on tie-breakers.
Clear enough?
Rexx
by Rexx on Dec 16, 2008 1:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ah, didn't realize Jets and Dolphins play each other
Yeah, looks like we just need to take care of business and we’re in.
by pjb3 on Dec 16, 2008 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
we can’t come out flat on the road like we did in Indy/NY. time to get mentally strong. the ravens already have my playoff money now lets make them spend it! i think the Broncos would beat Indy at Denver in the first round under Rexxxxx’s scenario. I think our road through the Jets and Tennessee is the best case. We’ve beaten them in big games and they will be just as nervous. The Jets don’t worry me at all. Tennessee is now dealing with major injuries and we’ll see how they respond. At this very moment it looks pretty damn good. I think the Pitt. game instilled a lot of pride in this team/city. For us to fight like that with the player/coach turnover we’ve had is awesome. We grew even more Sunday and this Saturday we get it all right! how’s that for optimism. One X Rex better get it right for 4 quarters this time!
by raven on Dec 16, 2008 4:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Tennessee should be fine
Remember that the first playoff game for the Titans is almost four weeks away, since they have two more regular season games and then a first round bye before they play. So both Haynesworth and Van der Bosch should be okay unless their injuries are more severe than reported. However, that is enough for them to lose against the Steelers this weekend and with it the #1 seed. That would mean that ifwhen we make the playoffs and beat the #3 seed, we would go to Pittsburgh, not Tennessee. Even though I think we’d have a better chance against the Titans, I’d love another shot at the Steelers!
Rexx
by Rexx on Dec 16, 2008 7:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Owens and Romo not in Pro-Bowl LOL : )
the tribe has spoken. the Ravens send 5 (more than Tenn and Pitt) and maybe 6 when someone comes to their senses and gets Ngata on the plain.
Owens flies to hawaii to complain and misses team meeting and is benched for first 1/2 of Raven game. Romo cheats on him while he’s off the field..Jessica storms out of the sardine can of a stadium. would you be suprised? Ravens win 23-17. Defense scores 3 TD’s and a safety.
by raven on Dec 16, 2008 8:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think
The Ravens will beat Tenn if we get the chance to play them. I also think indy will sufer deafeat by the steelers setting up a 3rd rematch.
FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Benji5203 on Dec 16, 2008 9:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
friggin’ awesome if that happens..we just need to get joe on target. after watching the game again/slow mo (lots of time on my hands) he really stunk it up. we had many td opportunities and he flat out missed. we really did own that game. even worse watching it a second time-don’t do that.
by raven on Dec 17, 2008 12:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
You can't blame Joe
When he’s put in the position of having to throw on obvious passing downs, it plays right into the Steelers’ hands. While neither Harrison nor Woodley recorded a sack, it was mostly due to our unbalanced heavy line with extra tackles. That kept our number of receivers going out to a minimum and gave them maximum protection. We needed to throw more on first and second down insterad of sticking to the conservative runs on the first two downs and then passing on third and long WAY TOO OFTEN!!!
Rexx
by Rexx on Dec 17, 2008 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
maybe but joe missed many easy throws with time…he panicked with the dump off to McGAhee (who of course dropped it although he would have been stuck immediately-pointless pass actually)..Even at the end of the game he threw short with Mason streaking behind both DBs. Why we had both receivers sitting on each other and making the Safety’s job that much easier is beyond me. It was third down and Joe didn’t have to wing it yet. He missed Mason WIDE OPEN BY 10 YARDS when he again panicked and bounced the ball off the uprights…i could go on for an hour…he missed Mason in the corner on the deep ball. he threw short to Mason in the end zone another time… he was absolutely terrible in this game. he had plenty of time. his worse accuracy game of the year.
by raven on Dec 17, 2008 11:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
We beat the Steelers with Troy Smith : ) maybe not have a better season but I honestly think Troy would have beaten the Steelers with is added dimension. I am not even considering a flip at QB so calm down..just think Troy has better chance against Pitt. Why not use QB’s like pitchers..sometimes you throw a lefty sometimes a righty depending on the opposing lineup. sometimes you throw Wakefield sometimes you start Beckett. With our unique situation of having a Heisman Trophy winner on the sidelines are our egos to fragile to sub qb’s? I would have different QB’s for different downs. I’m before my time I know.
by raven on Dec 17, 2008 11:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not so far fetched
Different QB’s for different downs/distance. Makes total sense, as that is why I’m upset we didn’t see Troy Smith in the Wildcat/Suggs package the past two games. Of course, we’d line up and then call time out, but that’s another issue.
Rexx
by Rexx on Dec 17, 2008 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
maybe we can make 78 an eligible receiver and and run the Suggs Cat O at the same time..how many TO’s would it take to get that one straight?
by raven on Dec 18, 2008 7:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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