House Ancora

[Szaijan]

So, what do folks think of the playoffs this year? Here're my thoughts.

The NFC is little changed. More top heavy than the AFC, there are 3 or 4 teams that can claim to be the equal to the NFC's heavy hitters from last year, the Eagles and the Giants.

I do not have a clear favorite. The Vikings are clearly better than last year. the Cowboys seem more resolved and their D is peaking at the right time, for a change. The Saints looked like world beaters until the Cowboys smoked them, and I have no feel for what team we'll see come their first match-up. Of the other teams, only the Pack intrigues me. Their Dom Capers led 3-4 is very, very good. If they can get some semblance of protection and a running game from their OL, they match up well with any team in the league. To me, it feels like the Pack might surprise.

The AFC is a mess. The top three teams in last years playoffs were clearly better than any of the NFC teams, and were, IMO, clearly better than any team in the playoffs this year. Now, I have no confidence that the only two legit AFC playoff teams are as good as the NFC front runners. The Colts were very good all season, but sitting starters at the end has hurt them in the past and may do so again. Manning, like Breeze, gives his team a shot to win every time out against any opponent, but the Colts gave up their aura of invincibility (shaky as it was), and in any other year I would have expected that to be the end of them.

This year's San Diego team seems like the most complete AFC team. It is decidedly inferior to the team they fielded 2 years ago, and may not even be as good as last year's team. Still, it's the best the AFC has to offer. River's has evolved to being just a step behind Manning, Breeze, and Brady, but he has a better team around him than those three and has the best shot this year, IMO. Are they consistent enough to win two play-off games? Maybe, given the weak field arrayed against them and assuming they avoid playing the Colts. Can SD beat the NFC's best? I have my doubts.

The rest of the AFC playoff teams are simply sub-par. The Ravens O is more explosive than last year, but less reliable, and their D is a hollow shell of its past glory. Same for the Patriots. The Bengals are simply not playoff worthy as currently constituted. Palmer can't seem to wake up and throw the ball as well as in years past, so they're just one dimensional over-acheivers. I applaud their improvement this year, but that are AFCN champs by default. Maybe Palmer will remember old skills and prove me wrong, but I doubt it. The Jets are just too erratic and passing game too unreliable to have a shot.

I expect the AFC to come down to SD and the Indi, but frankly any team could make from the blah field of posers, because neither of the front runners is all that overpowering. I'll take the Chargers if forced to pick.

So, I guess I'm expecting Chilly to hold back the Vikes and the Pack to squeak in to face SD. Breeze or Manning could easily take over and vault NO or Indi into the big dance, but the way they ended the season seems likely to kill those teams. I almost always root for the AFC in the Superbowl, but this year I'll likely be pulling for any NFC entry led by Rogers, Favre, or Breeze.

At least we should get some new faces and it'll almost certainly be competitive.
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Ariande Stormrider, Spell Singer Bard, DDO
Nightfall, Tempest Ranger, DDO
Previously - Taim, Reyk, Saeryn, et. al.

[Pejhaar]

Yes, it will certainly be an interesting playoff year. I agree about the AFC, the only two I see doing anything is the Chargers or the Colts.

The NFC does get a bit trickier. I can see (with looking at how teams have played the last 4 weeks) either the Vikes, Cowboys, Pack, and possibly Saints making it to the big game. The Saints have been so inconsistent, though the talent is there. It is too bad the Pack and Vikes can't play in the NFC Championship, I think that would be the most entertaining game.

If the Pack make it to the NFC Championship game, I see them in the superbowl. I just can't see Dallas or the Saints beating them at that point.

If the Vikes make it to the NFC Championship I can see any of the 3 winning depending on who makes it, Vikes, Saints, or Dallas.
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[giffordsd]

local bias here but the chargers are playing good ball right now
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"Do or do not. There is no try"

[Morthanos]

Hard to argue with Szaijan's analysis, but I do disagree about a couple of points.

I don't think the Colts will be affected in the least by benching players, and to me it's much ado about nothing, past seasons not-with-standing. The only reason I care about a team going undefeated is so I never have to hear about the 72 Dolphins again--that was far from the best Superbowl team of all time, but we have to hear about them every year. Bleh.

I like the Vikings, but I don't trust Favre. As great as he is, it's my opinion his ego is too big a liability--also, Adrian Peterson has been quite sub par this year (for him). They may reach the Superbowl, but I don't think they are as good as the Colts or Chargers.

I still think the Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC; but McNabb has shown in years past he can get rattled, and the beating they took last week may have been good enough for two W's for the 'Boys. But if I had to bet, I'll take the Eagles. Romo is, in my opinion, not near as good as most of the other premier QB's in the league (Brady, Manning, Favre, Breeze, McNabb, and Rivers) and has less talent on offense.

The Saints won't make the Superbowl; they won quite a few games against poor teams by the skin of their teeth and are not peaking at the right time.

I actually think the top of the AFC trumps the top of the NFC (Colts and Chargers, followed by Patriots), but the NFC is tougher top to bottom. I will be shocked if the AFC title game isn't Chargers/Colts. I would expect the Colts to win that game, since they'll be at home, but not by much.

There will be upsets in the NFC. I can see any of the teams making the Championship game, but if I had to pick, I'll take the Eagles at the Cards (yes the Cards). My basis for taking the Cards is pure bias--I simply love Kurt Warner on and off the field. But since the NFC is, in my opinion, so unpredictable, why not?

Give me the Colts and Eagles in the Superbowl, with the Colts winning it all.

[Szaijan]

I agree that 16-0 is meaningless, but losing games at the end of the season always runs the risk of not being able to recapture the edge that allowed you to win so many games in the first place. The Colts weren't so dominant they could throw away the momentum they had the way they did.

Belicheck, ironically, did it right. He got his stars on offense out and humming, and when he thought they might win and help a team he wanted out of the playoffs, he pulled Brady. There'll be no rust on the Pats O, and the Colts could as easily have lost a star WR in the first half, just like NE did.

Walsh used to do it the same way with the 49ers at the end of seasons: make the starters prove their dominance, then rest them once the other team was smashed. Of course no NFL team today is nearly so dominant.

It remains to be seen whether the Colts can turn it back on, but it was a bad decision, IMO, 16-0 not withstanding.
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Ariande Stormrider, Spell Singer Bard, DDO
Nightfall, Tempest Ranger, DDO
Previously - Taim, Reyk, Saeryn, et. al.

[Morthanos]

Well, bottom line is I was wrong about the Saints and Eagles. Still, the Vikings dominated the Saints in every category except turnovers and scoreboard (the two most important).

People are expecting a close Superbowl; I think the Colts will steadily build their lead and the game will not be in doubt by the end of the third quarter. The Colts defense is underated in my opinion, and the Saints defense is overrated. Still, I've been selling New Orleans short all season. So far, they've won whenever they needed to.

Cinderella's coach turns into a pumpkin on Superbowl Sunday...

[giffordsd]

peyton didnt look sharp vs balt at all previously. he lucked out on some questionable defensive pass interference. but he still is the best qb out there

but every game is its own beast.


on paper teams like new england tend to fold in the big game and upstyarts like the giants rise to the occassion

saints 24 colts 20
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"Do or do not. There is no try"

[Salvorah Balmuse]

I am thining Karma may have a lot to play in this one as well.

Now that the Saints have made it,
they will be digging deep inside and playing for something the Colts may not be able to overcome...

A first time Super Bowl ...

I would be surprised if this game is not very close and the Saints have a reason to play well beyond thair normal game capability.

5 pt spread is about right -
I say Saints by seven
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Geobe "The PeacePipe" Greyore
"Life is a Candle in the Wind-
Easily Blown Into Oblivion or
Fanned into a Raging Inferno!"

[Morthanos]

Congratulations to the Saints and those who picked them to win. I have been selling them short all season and they've proved me wrong almost every time.

Nice win...

[razier]

Wow what a finish.... most up here don't get in to the nfl so much. But this year has been spectacular. A group of us from work have our pub nights on Mondays with the occasional Sunday thrown in. (Hockey is a Friday/Saturday gig)
As a result we have seen some phenomenal NFL action. My fav being the Colts come- back versus the Patriots.
Now as you are all aware, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Montreal Alouettes had an amazing grey cup game (Canadian football league) But wowza the Superbowl was fantastic.

Onside kick to start the second half? - predict that:)

Blah I am rambling. Next year I am pulling out the #13 jersey and heading down to Seattle for the next Dolphins game. cheers

Raz

[giffordsd]

ya on side kick wow
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"Do or do not. There is no try"

[Salvorah Balmuse]

Definately one for the ages-
Now let Lombardi Gras begin!
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Geobe "The PeacePipe" Greyore
"Life is a Candle in the Wind-
Easily Blown Into Oblivion or
Fanned into a Raging Inferno!"

[Varg]

Uhm...I pick the Saints!

Next year go Redkins all the way, and Rvens for second best!

*One can wish*
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"Heaven offers nothing a mercenary soul can desire" - C.S. Lewis
2004 Queen's Medal of Distinguished Citizenship
2005 Medal of Bravery