Stonecutter's 2005 NFL Playoff pool

[Stonecutter]

Ok, we did it last year, we're doing it again.

Case you forget, here's how it works.

You pick all 12 playoff teams, and assign them point values 1-12. Every time a team wins, you get the total number of points that you assigned them. So the 4 teams that you think are going to lose in the first weekend should be your 1,2,3,4 and then build from there. Remember, the 4 teams with byes can only possibly play 3 games (divisional round, champ. round and super bowl) whereas the wild card/3rd & 4th division winners get 4, so it might be to your advantage to list some of the teams playing in round one higher if you think they'll make it further.

Person with the most points at the end wins.

I'll submit my picks later in the week, picks will be accepted up until kickoff of the early game saturday, but it's never too early to start thinking about it.

[Joeiss]

Sounds fun! Steelers all the way!

[Stonecutter]

little help for you all

Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, January 8
4:30 p.m. on ABC -- St. Louis (8-8) at Seattle (9-7)
8 p.m. on ABC -- N.Y. Jets (10-6) at San Diego (12-4)

Sunday, January 9
1 p.m. on CBS -- Denver (10-6) at Indianapolis (12-4)
4:30 p.m. on FOX -- Minnesota (8-8) at Green Bay (10-6)



If you don't know who the other 4 teams in the playoffs are, this might not be the game for you, but, nevertheless, the follwing teams have byes and will play the next weekend.

New England
Pittsburgh
Atlanta
Philadelphia

[ZebraRampage]

Since four teams aren't playing the first week, do you even need list all 12 teams for the first round?

[deathgirl656]

not to sound stupid what teams are in the payoffs

[Bond]

1 – Minnesota Vikings
2 – New York Jets
3 – St. Louis Rams
4 – Denver Broncos
5 – Seattle Seahawks
6 – San Diego Chargers
7 – Atlanta Falcons
8 – Indianapolis Colts
9 – Pittsburgh Steelers
10 – Philadelphia Eagles
11 – New England Patriots
12 – Green Bay Packers

[Acebot44]

1 – Minnesota Vikings
2 – New York Jets
3 – St. Louis Rams
4 – Denver Broncos
5 – Seattle Seahawks
6 – Atlanta Falcons
7 – San Diego Chargers
8 – Green Bay Packers
9 – Indianapolis Colts
10 – Pittsburgh Steelers
11 – New England Patriots
12 – Philadelphia Eagles

I havent watched one whole football game this season so eh.....we'll see.

[ZebraRampage]

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. St. Louis Rams
3. New York Jets
4. Denver Broncos
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. Atlanta Falcons
7. Green Bay Packers
8. San Diego Chargers
9. Indianapolis Colts
10. New England Patriots
11. Pittsburgh Steelers
12. Philadelphia Eagles

Hmm..that looks all right.

[Jason1]

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. St. Louis Rams
3. Green Bay Fudge Packers
4. Denver Broncos
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. San Diego Chargers
7. Atlanta Falcons
8. N.Y. Jets
9. New England Patriots
10. Indianapolis Colts
11. Philadelphia Eagles
12. Pittsburgh Steelers

[Jason1]

12 – Green Bay Packers


:lol:

[KillerGremlin]

*sighs

This is hard, there are so many teams here that have average records, but are superb. Green Bay has so many 4th Quarter comebacks, it will be interesting to see what happens. I think Green Bay has the potential to take the NFC, but hell, the Eagles stand in their way. And Pittsburgh is going down, I think anyway. They are 15 and 1, due for a good loss.

Anyway....I never win these things, but here I go:

Minnesota (1)
Seattle (2)
Denver (3)
St. Louis (4)
New York Jets (5)
San Diego (6)
Atlanta (7)
Pittsburgh(8)
Indianapolis (9)
Philadelphia (10)
Green Bay (11)
New England (12)

[Bond]

The Green Bay Packers will win the Superbowl (this is the third straight year I have predicted this).

[KillerGremlin]

Yeah, I hear that. The Bears were supposed to win the last 19 superbowls.

[Stonecutter]

Since four teams aren't playing the first week, do you even need list all 12 teams for the first round?

You don't get to change your rankings from round to round.

Thought that was implied, sorry.

[ZebraRampage]

You don't get to change your rankings from round to round.

Thought that was implied, sorry.


Yeah, I figured it out. I didn't do this last year I don't think, so I just wasn't sure. It made sense when I figured it out though. Thanks. We're still waiting for your rankings and Stu's and Joeiss's as well. There have been more people who got involved with this in the past. I guess once the weekend comes they'll show.

[deathgirl656]

what teams do u guys think are going to go to the super bowl

[KillerGremlin]

New England and Green Bay or Philadelphia.

Just look at the teams that everyone gave 11 or 12 points too.......

[Jason1]

Pittsburgh, idiots.

[Typhoid]

49'ers.


:sneaky:

[KillerGremlin]

Pittsburgh, idiots.

We shall see, we shall see......

[ZebraRampage]

Is it me or has this been a pretty boring season? I suppose a lot of it had to do with the NFC being so horrible, but it wasn't really that exciting, and the playoffs race wasn't either.

[The Germanator]

1. Denver
2. St. Louis
3. Minnesota
4. New York
5. Seattle
6. Atlanta
7. San Diego
8. Indianapolis
9. Pittsburgh
10. Green Bay
11. New England
12. Philadelphia

[KillerGremlin]

Is it me or has this been a pretty boring season? I suppose a lot of it had to do with the NFC being so horrible, but it wasn't really that exciting, and the playoffs race wasn't either.

I'm going to disagree, and meet you halfway. Personally, I think there have been better seasons. But there have been a handfull of fun games to watch this season, and Monday Night always is interesting.

And, I think it's even better this year beacuse everyone thinks that the "NFC Sucks." Well, that's halfway true. I mean, a lot of teams records DO NOT reflect their talent......hell, Green Bay went what, 1 and 4 at the beginning of the season?

There's one thing you can always count on in football, and that is having strange upsets, and unexpected happenings. I don't know who will win the NFC, but it will be interesting. I don't know who will win the AFC, but with the immense levels of talent, it's really going to be a few coin tosses, some luck, and a good day. Which is why I forecast a loss for Pittsburgh, they've had WAY to many close ones this season.

[Acebot44]

These are who I want to win, not who I think will win.

Pittsburgh
Green Bay
Indianapolis
San Diego
Atlanta
Seattle
Philadelphia
New York
Minnesota
St. Louis
Denver
New England

Always been a Pack, Charger, and Steeler fan.

[Typhoid]

Call me stupid?

1.Pittsburgh
2.Green Bay
3.Indianapolis
4.San Diego
5.Atlanta
6.New York
7.Minnesota
8.Seattle
9.Denver
10.St. Louis
11.Philadelphia
12.New England

[Stonecutter]

12 New England
11 Pittsburgh
10 Atlanta
9 Green Bay
8 Phily
7 Indy
6 San Diego
5 St Louis
4 Seattle
3 Denver
2 Jets
1 Minnesota

[Jason1]

Call me stupid?

1.Pittsburgh



Your stupid.

[Typhoid]

Hehehe.

I was wondering if anyone would notice...

If they lose....I will be the luckyest person ever...



Go 9'ers... :sneaky:

[Perfect Stu]

gotta go with Indy as the top team, esp since they WOULD have one more win than NE, Pitt, Philly if they go all the way

1 - Jets
2 - Vikings
3 - Seahawks
4 - Broncos
5 - Packers
6 - Rams
7 - Chargers
8 - Falcons
9 - Steelers
10 - Eagles
11 - Patriots
12 - Colts

btw, I believe I whooped complete arse last year ;)

[ZebraRampage]

There's one thing you can always count on in football, and that is having strange upsets, and unexpected happenings. I don't know who will win the NFC, but it will be interesting. I don't know who will win the AFC, but with the immense levels of talent, it's really going to be a few coin tosses, some luck, and a good day. Which is why I forecast a loss for Pittsburgh, they've had WAY to many close ones this season.

That is a good point. Sometimes you can never tell who's going to win the game, no matter who the teams are. I think that the biggest upset this year was Miami vs. New England.

[KillerGremlin]

Your stupid.

Are you inferring that Typhoid has some sort of "stupid?"

Irony is bliss today!

[Perfect Stu]

Your stupid.

You're stupid.

;)

[KillerGremlin]

Seattle has just been eliminated in a 27-20 lose to St. Louis.

Woot woot, I have a couple of points already.

[ZebraRampage]

Damn, the Chargers lost. I have no points yet. I knew the Jets weren't a horrible team, but I had hope in the Chargers. You never know until the game is over huh. Well at least both games were close.

[KillerGremlin]

I'm so mad. The jets have a history of sucking in the playoffs, and the damn chargers had a field goal right there.........

I cried after that one.

[ZebraRampage]

I'm so mad. The jets have a history of sucking in the playoffs, and the damn chargers had a field goal right there.........

I cried after that one.

It would have been nice to see the Chargers move on. They're one of those teams that I don't think I could ever hate because I never see any attitude from them.

[Perfect Stu]

wow, San Diego disappointed me. that field was soggy as hell, though...and it took Gates out of the game completely. big men cant cut like that when their momentum gets going when the ground slips underneith them

[Typhoid]

DAMN YOU SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!

[Stonecutter]

Wow, Typhoid and Acebot were the only ones who picked the Jets/Chargers game right.

Jason, you don't count because you still had the Chargers higher than 4.

[Bond]

Cut that meat! Cut that meat!

[Joeiss]

Cut that meat! Cut that meat!


:lol:

[ZebraRampage]

Cut that meat! Cut that meat!

Ha, that's a great commercial.

[Stonecutter]

Cut that meat! Cut that meat!

annnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddddd IT'S FULL!


*HONK!*

[Professor S]

Wow, Greenbay's defense SUCKS.

[KillerGremlin]

It doesn't help that the Vikings are pumped.....still, I won't put my money on Minnesota until Green Bay is down by 24 points.

[Bond]

Only one TD down now... Favre still has some magic left in him.

[KillerGremlin]

Don't kid yourself, Favre just might be the most explosive 4th quarter QB. If there's a team that can come back in the 4th, it's Green Bay. Although the Green Bay Packers have been giving away the game so far.....if they can avoid penatlies and interceptions, they will probably come back if not win.

[Bond]

I don't know, the defense really has to hold the Vikings scoreless until the end of the game, but we'll see.

Oh ****ing ****. I hate you Al Harris.

Randy Moss is a poor excuse for a human being.

[KillerGremlin]

Yeah.....no kidding. What an asshole.

Oh well, hopefully it motivates Favre to start connecting on those 40 yard bombs that he airs out every once in a while. The Packers need to stay in the air, the run game is turning up enough yards to counter the Viking's offense right now.

[GT News]

Yeah.....no kidding. What an asshole.

Oh well, hopefully it motivates Favre to start connecting on those 40 yard bombs that he airs out every once in a while. The Packers need to stay in the air, the run game is turning up enough yards to counter the Viking's offense right now.

I see.Would I kid you?Can't you be more polite.
Why do you hope for it motivates Favre to start connecting on those 40 yard bombs that he airs out every once in a whileAt this moment I have never heard about The Packers need to stay in the air the run game is turning up enough yards to counter the Viking's offense.

[KillerGremlin]

I see.Would I kid you?Can't you be more polite.
Why do you hope for it motivates Favre to start connecting on those 40 yard bombs that he airs out every once in a whileAt this moment I have never heard about The Packers need to stay in the air the run game is turning up enough yards to counter the Viking's offense.

God, why is this retarded tin can allowed to "contribute" to this forum? I'd pull the plug and do a victory dance on that stupid bot if I could.

[Bond]

Hey, I'm pretty optimistic on the Brewers this year.

[KillerGremlin]

That was horrible........because I only gave Minnesota 1 point! Oh well, it's one well earned point.

[Typhoid]

God, why is this retarded tin can allowed to "contribute" to this forum? I'd pull the plug and do a victory dance on that stupid bot if I could.



He is not a tin can.

That is a gross misconception assumed by most.

He is a tin can as much as Milk in a jug is made of plastic. As much as a baby bird is made of egg shell. He is not the computer, yet he is in it. Picture Tron if you will, now forget everything about Tron and picture a computer chip with memory in it.

He is not made of tin, nor any part of any can.

You cannot "pull the plug" on him, because doing so would just shut the computer off, you cannot "pull the plug" in the generalized human way, because he is not a living breathing creature.

And might I add:

F****** Seahawks.


Good Day.

[Bond]

Well, there is always next year.

[Stonecutter]

I knew the packers D, especially the secondary, was about as consistant as a loose turd. Still, I thought the Vikings were too dumb to win a playoff game. I expect them to get rolled by the Iggles next week.

[Perfect Stu]

GO COLTS

Broncos couldnt do squat on offense when it mattered
Dallas Clark made John Lynch look retarded
Reggie Wayne made the entire Denver defense his b*tch

I cant wait until next week

[ZebraRampage]

Damn..that was all so unexpected. Three wild card teams advance, and only one division winning team. I guess that makes it better though, it's not as predictable.

[Perfect Stu]

In Indianapolis:

RE-GGIE, RE-GGIE, RE-GGIE!!!

Reggie Miller, right? It is Indy...

NOPE

REGGIE WAYNE

http://mirror.colts.com/images/news_photos/gameday_dump/GE5K1378.jpg

10 catches, 221 yards, 2 TDs

[KillerGremlin]

I still can't believe that Green Bay lost, they had no fire in them on Sunday. Oh well, goes to show that Favre might be losing his fire. The Packers are starting to fall apart, as I predicted they eventually would.

I think the Lions might start taking over.....especially if Minnesota keeps having these half-assed seasons were they limp into the playoffs and then get their asses kicked by the division champs. Well.....maybe they will beat the Eagles. I DOUBT IT though.

[Perfect Stu]

hate to bring this up again, but the Favre vs. Manning debate has GOT to be over in anyone's eyes.

Bond said Favre was better
Stoney said he'd still take Favre over Manning for one game.

yeah

[Bond]

Until Manning wins a Superbowl there is still no comparison to be made.

[Perfect Stu]

Until Manning wins a Superbowl there is still no comparison to be made.

lol

Favre was better in 96

This Brett Fave has pissed away so many games, it's pathetic. He lost to a subpar team...hell, he gave them an extra 4 possessions.

I'm not anti-Favre...I think he's a great guy. And was one of the greatest QB's. But saying he's better than Peyton Manning at this time is just, well, pathetic, and shows that you're a fan of Green Bay and not of football.

[Bond]

Wait, I'm talking about overall, not this specific season. I thought that was understood?

[Stonecutter]

hate to bring this up again, but the Favre vs. Manning debate has GOT to be over in anyone's eyes.

Bond said Favre was better
Stoney said he'd still take Favre over Manning for one game.

yeah

When Manning beats the Pats in Foxboro in the cold and then goes and beats the winner of the Pittsburgh/Jets game then I'll take him for one game, until then, no. I'm not saying he can't ever do it but he hasn't done it yet and I don't think he will now.

[Perfect Stu]

When Manning beats the Pats in Foxboro in the cold and then goes and beats the winner of the Pittsburgh/Jets game then I'll take him for one game, until then, no. I'm not saying he can't ever do it but he hasn't done it yet and I don't think he will now.

you're telling me you think Favre would have a better chance at beating the Patriots next week rather than Manning?

you have GOT to be kidding me

and no Bond, we're talking here and now. how do you compare all time if one is 27 and the other, what, 34?

[KillerGremlin]

Manning has a great track record.......indoors......

[Stonecutter]

you're telling me you think Favre would have a better chance at beating the Patriots next week rather than Manning?

you have GOT to be kidding me

and no Bond, we're talking here and now. how do you compare all time if one is 27 and the other, what, 34?
Well not anymore, because before last weekend, I didn't think #4 was done, now I do. I think he's finished. My opinion Manning is and always has been that he can't win when it counts most, especially outdoors.

That's not a reflection on Manning being a better quarterback than he was 3 months ago when I made that statement for the first time, it's a reflection on Favre being much worse. I still don't want Manning quarterbacking my team in the playoffs.

So would I rather have Favre ok, no.

Would I rather have Brady, Culpepper, Pennington, Brady, Vick, Brady, Bulger a healthy McNair or Tom Brady. Yes.

You know.

I don't care if the Manning wins it all, or beats Pittsburgh. Just beat the Pats, outdoors, in the playoffs. I don't think he will, if he does, you won't hear another word from me on the matter other than you were right.

And I'm not saying it will never happen. I just don't think it will happen this year.

[Perfect Stu]

that's not a very bold statement. picking the favourites to win this weekend, to make it sound as though Manning isnt a good playoff QB?

oh well...just another person for the Colts to prove wrong


btw, does anyone care to update the scores in the pool?

[Professor S]

Would I rather have Brady, Culpepper, Pennington, Brady, Vick, Brady, Bulger a healthy McNair or Tom Brady. Yes.

Exactly where the hell do you get Vick from? What has he ever won? How many 300 yard games has he ever thrown? How many times this season has his team scored over 30 points?

This myth that Vick is an elite player bugs the hell out of me, so let me set the record straight...

Michael Vick is below average

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/5448/

These numbers plus one playoff victory must add up to an elite NFL player :rolleyes: And don't even start in on his ability to run, because no running questerback has ever done anything in the playoffs. Ask Randall Cunningham.

[KillerGremlin]

The numbers show that Manning does much better indoors.

Dan Marino had great numbers too. How many superbowls did he win?

The Patriots are the favorite for this weeks game, but why is that? Is it because Manning threw for 450 yards against the Broncos last week or that Manning just won the MVP or that Manning just beat Marino's touchdown record?

We'll see how he handles under pressure in the cold.

[Perfect Stu]

a healthy McNair.

:lol:

[Bond]

and no Bond, we're talking here and now. how do you compare all time if one is 27 and the other, what, 34?
Well, then Peyton Manning is obviously currently a better QB than Brett Favre, but until Manning wins a Superbowl there is no comparison between him and Favre overall. And I would take Tom Brady over Manning anyday, but we'll see who wins this weekend.

[Stonecutter]

btw, does anyone care to update the scores in the pool?

I'm stuck on a computer that doesn't have excell for a week or so.

I'll get it done, don't worry.

[Stonecutter]

that's not a very bold statement. picking the favourites to win this weekend, to make it sound as though Manning isnt a good playoff QB?



*sigh* The ****....

He's not a bad playoff QB because he's going to lose this weekend, he's going to lose this weekend because he's a bad playoff QB. Great playoff QBs win the games that their teams aren't supposed to win, Payton hasn't done that yet, and he's lost a few games that he should have won (what was that 44-0 a few years back vs the Jet'?)

Mike Vick's done that once, and that's the only reason he was on my list, Strangler. I too think he's totally overrated (Not below average, but just overrated.)


These numbers plus one playoff victory must add up to an elite NFL player :rolleyes: And don't even start in on his ability to run, because no running questerback has ever done anything in the playoffs. Ask Randall Cunningham.

Randall Cunningham Career Rushing yards

17 Seasons 4928 Rushing Yards

Steve Young

15 Years 4239 (more than 5000 total yards, more than Randall in as many sesons if you count his USFL days)

Roger Staubach

10 years (8 w/ 14 game seasons) 2246

Elway

15 3407

Tarkenton

17 3674

All of those guys won superbowls except for Fran who made it to the big dance and lost. None fo them ran for as much as Randall but they all put up comparable rushing numbers.

Careful with those sweeping definitive generalizations.

[Stonecutter]

By the way

New England is -2.5 points

Normally the home team automatically gets 3

So what that essentially says is that Vegas like the Colts by half a point.

[ZebraRampage]

Wow, the Steelers and the Jets are tied 17-17 in the 4th quarter. If the Steelers lose then that will screw up many people's pools.

[KillerGremlin]

Edit: Ahhh, the Jets need to get the Field Goal!

So much suspense!

If they get this my prediction was somewhat right! The Steelers out of the play-offs one week early! Woot for me.

[KillerGremlin]

AHHHHHHHH HOLY SH*T!

He missed the field goal WIDE LEFT!

*Cries

[ZebraRampage]

Two missed field goals?! Ah that was crazy..

[The Germanator]

Reed nails it. Game over...Oh well, I did want the Jets just for the upset factor, but they couldn't do it.

[ZebraRampage]

That was unfortunate for the Jets..I was hoping they'd win. That was really close. At least it seems like it is possible to beat the Steelers.

[Typhoid]

*$#@%#^$&*!!!!

[ZebraRampage]

*$#@%#^$&*!!!!

Looks like your pool is screwed.

[Perfect Stu]

OH. MY. GOD.

F*CKING JETS

what a freaking joke...they win and the Colts win tomorrow, Colts host them in the AFC Championship. Roethlisrookie gave them every freaking chance the book to win the game and they just WOULDNT.

*shoots Chad Pennington*
*shoots Jets O-Coordinator*
*shoots Doug Brien*

you'll all a bunch of tools...the Jets defense should quit that team and find another one to play for, they dont deserve a defense like that...

[Stonecutter]

Roethlisrookie


Nail on the head.

Man was that a fun game, and this Rams/Birds is looking good too.

[Stonecutter]

Wow, Strangler.

Vick just shat on your theory there.

Wow.

I mean... just wow.

;)

[Jason1]

Roethlisrookie


Now I'll admit, for the first time in his 14 or whatever starts, he actually played like a rookie. But with his first playoff game off his back, I expect better results next week.

[KillerGremlin]

How the hell do you blow TWO opportunities like that? HOW HOW HOW HOW!

FORTUNE WAS SMILING ON THE JETS UNTIL THEY SENT OUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS!!!!!!!!!

*cries again

I swear, if the Steelers don't lose next week, I'm going on a rampage.

[Joeiss]

I was ****ting my pants on the second field goal attempt by the Jets, but I knew they weren't going to make the first one.

Roethlisbergr did play quite bad, but whatever. The Bus is phenominal, and Ward played well.

[Perfect Stu]

Now I'll admit, for the first time in his 14 or whatever starts, he actually played like a rookie. But with his first playoff game off his back, I expect better results next week.

Big Ben gets WAY too much credit. I want to hear more about Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith and less about this kid...

The Steelers is the ONLY TEAM that could have pulled off a victory with a QB performance like that...his defense, the Jets offense, the Jets kicker, and the football Gods bailed him out completely.

If Peyton Manning or Tom Brady play like today, their respective teams will lose by at least 21

[Perfect Stu]

Wow, Strangler.

Vick just shat on your theory there.

Wow.

I mean... just wow.

;)


The Falcons demoralized the Rams on the ground...did you see Dunn go untouched for 10, 20, 30 yard runs?

I say to my dad "watch this...they'll run a 7 step drop back, look for a receiver, settle for a 10 yard run by Vick". He actually only gained 7 or 8 on the play, but who's counting? ;)

Anyone else think that the NFC West should be banished from football for the next couple years?

[Stonecutter]

I swear, if the Steelers don't lose next week, I'm going on a rampage.



I have never understood this logic.

Don't you want the Steelers to win it all, so you can say you were beaten by the best?

Whenever my team is in the playoffs I always root for the team that knocked us out to win it all, unless it's a team I really, really, really hate.

[ZebraRampage]

The Eagles are winning 21-7 at halftime. The Eagles probably could have scored at least 3 more points on that last play. They should have either passed it in the endzone, or just out of bounds. Anyway, there have been a lot of intense moments in this game, but the Eagles just seem to be doing a better job. Hopefully they'll come out for the win..afterall I am an Eagles fan. :D

Oh yeah, what about that LJ Smith fumble, Freddie Mitchell recovery in the endzone for the third TD for the Eagles? Wow, that was crazy!

[Stonecutter]

Oh yeah, what about that LJ Smith fumble, Freddie Mitchell recovery in the endzone for the third TD for the Eagles? Wow, that was crazy!


You will see that for YEARS on highlights.

And this is really interesting.

Mitchell's TD is probably going to get overturned and the Vikes will get it at the 20.


We shall see.

[ZebraRampage]

You will see that for YEARS on highlights.

And this is really interesting.

Mitchell's TD is probably going to get overturned and the Vikes will get it at the 20.


We shall see.

That was unfortunate..but the Vikings didn't convert on 4th down and the Eagles are back on the offensive. Too many turnovers by the Vikings. 4th down not converted, two interceptions, the fumble by Culpepper which didn't mean anything becuase the whistle was blown, but it was still a mistake. They also screwed up that field goal earlier. They made quite a lot of stupid mistakes. The only three problems I see with the Eagles is what happened at the end of the first half, what just happened to Mitchell, and the fact that the offense slacked off their first two possessions of the second half.

Ah pass interference on the Vikings, which brings it all the way down to the 8 yard line!

Okay, so now it's 24-7, which makes it a three possession game..phew..


Woohoo, 27-14 win! NFC Championship Game..*cringes*, Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Now time for the Patriots/Colts game..should be exciting. I'm glad to see the two best NFC teams going to the NFC Championship game, and the three best AFC teams are the ones that are left, so that's good as well.

[Bond]

I'm really liking this game between the Patriots and Colts, how about you, Stu? :)

[ZebraRampage]

Man, the Patriots are STRONG...but I bet if they win tonight that when they play the Steelers the game will be closer. The Colts are a dome team, the Steelers aren't. The Steelers have a more solid defense, and they can take the cold as well.

[Stonecutter]

Sweet Sweet Vindication.

[dropCGCF]

Falcons will win the Super Bowl.

[The Germanator]

Good 'ol reliable Peyton Manning. Can't play outside in the big game. No surprise here.

I like the Eagles to advance....Not sure yet on the Pittsburgh/New England match up.

[KillerGremlin]

Well, after yesterday's bastardly games, I'm happy too see that I'm 2 for 2 today.

The Vikings suck. They cannot string together a competent game of football. There is skill on that team, oh yes, but the skill is behind a wall of stupid errors and stupid calls. Oh well, maybe in like 14 years when someone competent takes over, the Vikings MIGHT put together a good season.

And hell yeah. I think I won some money. I'm one of the few people I know that said the Colts were doomed. The snow was a nice compliment, a compliment to the fact that Manning does better indoors! Zing!

Seriously though, I'm kind of nervous about next week. If the Steelers play like they did this week, they are screwed, but I don't know.

And how 'bout them Falcons? They have some fire in them yet, but McNabb isn't going to lie down as easy as St. Louis did. It'll be interesting to see what happens next week.

Either way, I call an AFC-Superbowl win.

[Stonecutter]

A great article from ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs04/columns/story?id=1968528



The Patriots are just better than the Colts

By Michael Smith
ESPN.com

FOXBORO, Mass. -- No, the better team does not always win. But when one team wins every time it plays another, it, obviously, is the better team. Period, point blank, end of ... well, not yet.

Why must we complicate this? For a week right up until kickoff, Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff between the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots and the supposed-heir-to-the-throne Colts was analyzed, scrutinized, debated, dissected, simulated, every aspect and every matchup examined in just about every way possible. And everyone, it turns out, had the wrong view of it. The details distorted the big picture.

The Patriots are just better.

The latest piece of evidence was a 20-3 dismantling. That's now six straight wins (including playoffs) for the Patriots over the Colts and seven out of eight dating to 2000, the beginning of the Bill Belichick era. There is rather a simple explanation for this, one that perhaps is overlooked for all the attention paid to Belichick's intelligence and creativity.

There is no curse, though you could go back to Peyton Manning's first year (1998) and find the Patriots' record against the Colts to be 10-2. But bad luck? Bull. New England's mastery over Indianapolis has nothing to do with a group of players being in the collective head of another. And it has little to do with the genius of Belichick getting the better of the game's most cerebral quarterback, Manning. Nor is it about Belichick's exotic defensive schemes, although the plan of attack he and his staff devised for the latest Colts conquest was hailed by Rodney Harrison as their best work in the two years he's been here. (While we're at it, props to coordinator Romeo Crennel, who looks like he'll finally be a head coach, defensive line coach Pepper Johnson, linebackers coach Dean Pees, and defensive backs coach Eric Mangini, who, after pulling this off with that secondary, should be somebody's coordinator next season.)

It's not the Patriots' style of play or where these teams play or under what meteorological conditions they play. It's who's playing. The Patriots' 53 are better than the Colts' 53.

There's this revolutionary theory women refer to when the light goes off about guys whom they like who don't show interest it's called, "He's just not that into you." So simple. Likewise, New England is just better. There's no mystery to it. Six in a row, four here and two at the RCA Dome? That's beyond a trend. These teams, as presently constituted, could play on gravel and the Patriots would beat them. There's been no proof to the contrary.

"I'm trying to think of what excuses they're saying in their locker room right now," Tedy Bruschi (two fumble recoveries) said afterward. "What rules do they want to change now? Maybe it'll be, 'We can't play a game if it snows.' I don't know. I was just tired of it. I was tired of hearing this and that, talking about the last game and how we didn't win the game, they lost the game by giving the ball away. Last time I checked, turnovers are when defenses take it away. And we just took it away again today. To hold that offense to three points, I mean, their players are great. I respect what Peyton Manning did this year. I respect those players. Sometimes you've just got to be quiet and play football."

And the Patriots have a better collection of players. There should be no further debate: Tom Brady is a better quarterback than Manning, no qualifiers necessary. If they were to go mano a mano in the Quarterback Challenge, my money would be on Manning, the prototypical passer. But in a competition that matters, Brady's the guy. He's 6-0 against Manning, 7-0 as a starter in the playoffs (including two wins against the Colts), and has two Super Bowl MVPs. Manning hasn't been to a Super Bowl yet. Regardless of which quarterback has the better defense and the better coach and yada yada yada, you are what your record says you are, and Brady's record versus Manning says Brady's the better quarterback.

If there were a backyard game of touch football, where the quarterback gets a "10 Mississippi" count to throw, I'd take Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley against Randall Gay, Asante Samuel and Troy Brown any day. But with Willie McGinest, Roman Phifer, and Mike Vrabel rerouting the Colts' slot receivers and jamming their tight ends, and Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson helping over the top, New England's corners, even without Ty Law, are better than Indy's receivers. At least they were Sunday. Harrison, by the way: five catches, 44 yards.

"I can understand why people were doubting us," Rodney Harrison said. "All you could hear was Ty Law the whole week. We won a lot of games without Ty Law [now 9-1]."

Maybe Dallas Clark and Marcus Pollard are better receiving tight ends than the Patriots' Daniel Graham. All I know is Clark dropped a handful of balls and Pollard caught just one, while Graham caught the one he was supposed to and, with his blocking, was a key component of a ground game that grinded out 210 yards. He was the better tight end Sunday.

If you're starting a team and picking a running back, you'd probably want Edgerrin James over Corey Dillon. But today there isn't anyone the Patriots would want other than Dillon after he put up 144 on the Colts. We already knew the Patriots had the better defense. They certainly looked like they also have the better O-line, too, and they had the better runner Sunday, with James managing just 39 yards.

It's like they say, coaches coach and players play. Belichick and his staff might just be a tad bit smarter than Tony Dungy and his, but this is the NFL, not Madden NFL 2005. Matchups between Belichick and Manning often are referred to as chess matches, but the Patriot players aren't just a bunch of inanimate objects, wooden pieces, or even puppets. They're good players. The coaches' game plans usually are good. They work together to make one another look good.

Wilson lays a hit on Stokely to force an incompletion. Brown reaches around Stokely to knock down a pass. Vrabel strips Manning. McGinest hustles out to the flat to get a hand on the ball. Bruschi takes the ball away from Dominic Rhodes. Wilson gets his hands on a ball in the end zone to force the Colts to settle for a field goal before halftime. McGinest crashes down the line to tackle James for a 1-yard loss. Harrison comes flying out of the secondary to take down James behind the line of scrimmage. Harrison forces a Wayne fumble that Bruschi recovers. Harrison picks one off in the end zone in the final moments -- the Colts don't score a touchdown.

It goes on and on. The Patriots' defense was missing All-Pro defensive linemen Richard Seymour yet, by the way they played, they didn't even miss him.

"You gotta have talent to play in any scheme," McGinest said. "We've got great guys that scheme and get the game plan for us, but you've got to have those players to go in there and make those plays. You've got to have players to knock the ball out. You've got to have players to make the interceptions, get sacks, tackles for losses, to two-gap, to stop the run. No scheme or anything can do that alone. You've got to have the players in your system to do that."

"If you're not making the plays," added Harrison (team-high 11 tackles), "if you're not forcing fumbles, the scheme's not going to matter. I think our coaches do a wonderful job of knowing their strengths and weaknesses and putting us in a position so we can go out there and make plays. Yet, we still have to go out there and make the plays."

The Patriots had scoring drives of 16 (field goal), 15 (touchdown), and 14 (touchdown) plays that took 9:07, 8:16, and 7:24 off the clock, respectively. There was an unstoppable offense in this game, and it belonged to New England.

"We're never going to put up big numbers, but I think what we do as good as any team in the league is, when we need to, we answer the bell," said left tackle Matt Light. "We're a pretty good situational football team, and I think that's the difference. That's why we win games."

Meanwhile, the Patriots' defense threw every coverage look imaginable at Manning, some old and some new, and dissuaded him from challenging their depleted secondary deep. The longest completion for the league's leader in yards per attempt: 18 yards. In contrast to their offense, the Patriots believe the Colts to be incapable of consistently putting together long, methodical touchdown drives against their defense. The Colts' most productive possession of the day was an 11-play, 72-yard march before the half, but New England kept them out of the end zone, in part, by using a defense Dungy made famous in Tampa Bay -- the "Tampa Two," with safeties playing the deep half and a linebacker manning the deep middle.

The league's limitations on contact be damned, the Patriots' corners didn't let the outside receivers get free release into the secondary. The linebackers made sure Manning's middle reads weren't there as available as they were in the first meeting this year.

"We tried to go after them," Dungy contended. "It's not like we said, 'Oh, OK, we're not going to try to go get them.' They did a good job and outplayed us with the guys that played."

Dungy understood the difference between the teams. "We came up here with very high expectations and ran into a better team today," he said. "They outplayed us, and they've beaten us four times in a row now [since Dungy became coach in 2002], all kind of different games."

Said Colts defensive end Raheem Brock: "We played good enough to lose. All they do is execute. That's it."

It comes down to how well the Patriots do what they're told to do. It's personnel as much as it a person(s) devising schemes. Henceforth, now, and forever, let it never be said again that they are a team devoid of stars. Prima donnas, yes, but they have star players. And better players than Indianapolis has.

The question now is, can they be better than the Steelers next Sunday?

Michael Smith is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[Perfect Stu]

the Patriots are just the better team.

I dont see how Manning even played all that poorly...he didnt throw an INT, his receivers dropped a handful of passes, and it just seemd like EVERY DAMN PLAY, the Patriots found a way to take away his options for just long enough.

As soon as I heard about the winter storm, I knew inside that we were doomed.

Oh well...the better team won. At least I'm not a Packers fan...

[Joeiss]

Manning did throw an INT.

[Perfect Stu]

Manning did throw an INT.

well, in garbage time. it was meaningless

[Typhoid]

well, in garbage time. it was meaningless


An interception is an interception, it doesnt matter when it is.

Thats like saying a sack isnt a sack because its in garbage time, or a TD isnt a TD because its in garbage time.

Time isnt an excuse.

[Jason1]

Um, are we ever going to see who is in the lead in the playoff pool?

[ZebraRampage]

Um, are we ever going to see who is in the lead in the playoff pool?

Are you only questioning that because you're in the lead? Though I don't know who is in the lead or not. I'm curious as well though.

[Joeiss]

An interception is an interception, it doesnt matter when it is.

Thats like saying a sack isnt a sack because its in garbage time, or a TD isnt a TD because its in garbage time.

Time isnt an excuse.

agreeed

[Perfect Stu]

what?

alright fine.

he made an INT. that is a fact. did the INT cost the Colts the game in ANY sense whatsoever? not a chance...

my POINT of my post was that somehow, The Patriots took everything away from the Colts offense. The only two MISTAKES I saw on offense were the fumbles by Rhodes and Wayne, and the handful of dropped passes. Other than that...the Patriots just seemed to blanket everything. It was baffling...they're just too damn good, and they have our number, especially at home.

[ZebraRampage]

The points are just based off whatever rank you gave the team. And you only get points for the teams who win, right?

[Stonecutter]

Um, are we ever going to see who is in the lead in the playoff pool?
Working on it now.

[Stonecutter]

Bond
1+2+3+7+8+9+10+11
51

Acebot
1+2+3+6+9+10+11+12
54

Saxy/ZR
1+2+3+6+9+10+11+12
54

Jason1
1+2+7+8+9+10+11+12
60

Killer Gremlin
1+4+5+7+8+9+10+12
56

Germey
2+3+4+6+8+9+11+12
55

Typhoid
1+3+5+6+7+10+11+12
55

Stonecutter
1+2+5+7+8+10+11+12
56

Stu
1+2+6+8+9+10+11+12
59

[ZebraRampage]

Yeah, sorry about the username change. Those few upsets the first week screwed everyone over, so basically we're all still close.

[KillerGremlin]

I'd be doing a hell of a lot better if those damn packers didn't suck.....

[Jason1]

Wow...I honestly had no clue I was in the lead. I was just very curious...

Its very close though...

[Perfect Stu]

my teams 8-9-10-11 are left.....plus my 12 team at least got one win.

that's pretty damn good :D

[Joeiss]

I cannot wait for tomorrow's games. I have full confidence that the Steelers will beat the Patriots.

[Stonecutter]

I cannot wait for tomorrow's games. I have full confidence that the Steelers will beat the Patriots.

I have full confidence you're going to be very disapointed come about 8:45 CST tomorrow.

[ZebraRampage]

There's so much snow here, I don't know how Atlanta is going to do. They're a dome team afterall. I can't wait for tomorrow.

[Joeiss]

I have full confidence you're going to be very disapointed come about 8:45 CST tomorrow.


We'll see.

[KillerGremlin]

Atlanta is garbage. Vick is one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. Yeah, he's a good running back, but having a running back that can occassionaly complete a pass isn't going to win you playoff games.

Now I just hope that the Patriots can win.

[The Germanator]

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!

Man, we've been waiting four years for this, and it finally happened. Way to go birds. See ya in Jacksonville buddies.

[ZebraRampage]

HA YES!!! THEY'RE FINALLY GOING!!!!!! I can't wait!! I don't really have much else to say lol..

[Perfect Stu]

Vick just got "hosed and exposed"

When it comes down to it, a quarterback has to THROW THE BALL. McNabb has learned to pass first...and only run when there is no passing option.

You're going to face defenses that are willing and able to stack 9 men in the box and stop a potent running game...and to go all the way, you gotta be able to pick that secondary apart.

New England wins over Philly to capture their 3rd SB in 4 years. A true dynasty, as much as I wish it wasnt.

[KillerGremlin]

It's 10 nothing already......that's still a small gap, but the momentum is definately in New England's favor.

[The Germanator]

WOW...Harrison goes for 87 yards...Sorry Pittsburgh, I know it's not even half-time, but New England is looking GOOD....Which I don't like being a Philly fan heading into the Super Bowl.

[KillerGremlin]

McNabb has the black god of blackness on his side. That's gotta count for something!

[dropCGCF]

Falcons will win the Super Bowl.


Whoops.

[Stonecutter]

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I ****ING HATE INSTANT REPLAY!

[Typhoid]

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I ****ING HATE INSTANT REPLAY!


Gra Indeed.

[Stonecutter]

And the Pats have just laid a 41 point BEATDOWN on the steel curtain.

Folks, this isn't ****ing rocket science.

You have a team with the best defense in the NFL
And the best coaching staff
And a damn good running back

And people bet against them?

WTF?

[dropCGCF]

Please cover the spread.

[KillerGremlin]

As I've said several times before, the Steelers, namely Ben, have had WAY to many close games this year. They have potential, yes, but right now they are a team in developement (see Colts), and I'm going to go out on a limb and call their season a bit of a fluke.

Oh well.

[ZebraRampage]

Vick just got "hosed and exposed"

When it comes down to it, a quarterback has to THROW THE BALL. McNabb has learned to pass first...and only run when there is no passing option.

You're going to face defenses that are willing and able to stack 9 men in the box and stop a potent running game...and to go all the way, you gotta be able to pick that secondary apart.

New England wins over Philly to capture their 3rd SB in 4 years. A true dynasty, as much as I wish it wasnt.

I hate to say it as well, but you're right about New England, and that's what I've been saying since I saw what they did to the Colts. They're tough..and they have it down. They know how to win, and they do it as a complete team. I hope the Eagles do fairly well, if not win, but I won't expect them to be the favored team.

[Joeiss]

Good game. New England played great, good for them!

They should have inserted Maddox for the second half! haha.

[Jason1]

And the Pats have just laid a 41 point BEATDOWN on the steel curtain.


You have a team with the best defense in the NFL




Okay first off comparing the current Steelers Defense to the "Steel Curtain" of the 70's is a sick sick joke.

Secondly, Patriots best defense in the NFL? Certaintly not statistically.......that went to Pittsburgh this year.

But god I hate the Patriots. They're becoming the Yankees of the NFL. Shame, I dont see them losing in 2 weeks.

[ZebraRampage]

Okay first off comparing the current Steelers Defense to the "Steel Curtain" of the 70's is a sick sick joke.

Secondly, Patriots best defense in the NFL? Certaintly not statistically.......that went to Pittsburgh this year.

But god I hate the Patriots. They're becoming the Yankees of the NFL. Shame, I dont see them losing in 2 weeks.

At least you'll know they lost to the best team. Don't forget, Big Ben was a rookie this year, and he had a great year. The Steelers were 6-10 last year as well. I'm willing to bet that they did better than they were expecting to. There's always next year..but I guess I'm just used to saying that..and dealing with it.

[Stonecutter]

Okay first off comparing the current Steelers Defense to the "Steel Curtain" of the 70's is a sick sick joke.

Secondly, Patriots best defense in the NFL? Certaintly not statistically.......that went to Pittsburgh this year.

But god I hate the Patriots. They're becoming the Yankees of the NFL. Shame, I dont see them losing in 2 weeks.

LOL

Ok, so who has the best defense in the NFL then?

Cause it ain't Pittsburgh that's for sure.

and how the hell are the pats the Yankees? the Yankees BUY championships, and they've failed at that for the past 4 years because they don't play team baseball.

The pats are the ultimate "team" and they play with the same salary cap as everyone else.

I'm not even a Patriots fan, but I'm enjoying this, first the colts dopes, now the Pittsburgh dopes.

You'd have to give me 17 points to bet Philly in the Superbowl. I'm not saying new england will win by 17, I'm not even saying they'll definatly win, (though I think they will) but I am saying you'd have to give me 17 points to put money on them.

Even then I still might not.

[Perfect Stu]

that's another 21 points for my team.

WOOOOO!

[Perfect Stu]

I'm really liking this game between the Patriots and Colts, how about you, Stu? :)

http://www.extremeskins.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=banghaha&file=index

[Typhoid]

"Ninjas stole my gameplan."

I want an asshat. :(

HAHAHAHAHA!



:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Stonecutter]

http://www.extremeskins.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=banghaha&file=index
I saw that on another forum, that's so great.

Too bad it's viking-centric.

Just like John Madden!

LOL!

[Perfect Stu]

Dont forget John Madden's patented T-Shirt: "Brett makes me sweat"

[Perfect Stu]

so, uh.....who won?

[Stonecutter]

so, uh.....who won?


lol, sorry, I've been busy, I'll take care of it now.

[Stonecutter]

Bond
1+2+3+7+8+9+10+11+11+11+10
83

Acebot
1+2+3+6+9+10+11+12+11+11+12
88

Saxy/ZR
1+2+3+6+9+10+11+12+10+10+12
86

Jason1
1+2+7+8+9+10+11+12+9+9+11
89

Killer Gremlin
1+4+5+7+8+9+10+12+12+12+10
90

Germey
2+3+4+6+8+9+11+12+11+11+12
89

Typhoid
1+3+5+6+7+10+11+12+12+12+11
89

Stonecutter
1+2+5+7+8+10+11+12+12+12+8
88

Stu
1+2+6+8+9+10+11+12+11+11+10
91

91 Stu
90 Killer Gremlin
89 Jason 1/Germy/Typhoid
88 Stonecutter/Acebot
86 ZR
83 Bond (Punishment from a higher power for being a packer backer no doubt)

[KillerGremlin]

2nd....sweet. I would have done had the Packers won. Oh well, that's the fun of football.

[Perfect Stu]

OOOOH YEAH, BABY

BACK TO BACK CHAMPION

I hate to gloat, but....wait....no I dont....

My football knowledge is greater than thou's...:beat: :guitar:

[Stonecutter]

OOOOH YEAH, BABY

BACK TO BACK CHAMPION

I hate to gloat, but....wait....no I dont....

My football knowledge is greater than thou's...:beat: :guitar:
Yeah well.


The Colts still got their asses beat.

[Perfect Stu]

Yeah well.


The Colts still got their asses beat.

by the latest dynasty.

I've come to terms with it, now...the Patriots are the best franchise in sports. the day we beat them...that's something I look forward to.

it is inevitible