2009 NFL Playoffs

[luns101]

So the Wild Card week is over with the Ravens, Chargers, Eagles, and Cardinals emerging victorious.

Next week's schedule looks like this for Saturday:

Ravens @ Titans
Cardinals @ Panthers

...and like this for Sunday:

Eagles @ Giants
Chargers @ Steelers


So this thread is dedicated to the remainder of the 2009 Playoffs until we arrive at Super Bowl XLIII. Get in here and make your predictions before Iz Man discovers this thread and spams up the place with images of Rocky Bleier's mustache.

[knapper]

excellent thread, luns.

my predictions: panthers, ravens, eagles, chargers advance...

panthers and chargers in superbowl...

chargers win...

(by the way, my fiancee is a chargers fan. my bears are out.)

more realistic predictions are welcome...

[luns101]

I'm going to say that all the home teams win with the exception of the Ravens defeating the Titans. That's going to be my one upset pick for next week.

[spurgistan]

For some reason, I've been rolling with the Cards all year. So, I guess they're my gutsy upset pick.

[oVo]

I anticipate the homefield advantage to rear it's ugly head once more
and if there's a breakthrough... I expect it to be the Bolts.

But my gut feeling sez all the top seeds advance with Conference Championships
taking place two weeks from now in New York and Tennessee.

[SEAsportsfan]

Pittsburgh over San Diego
Baltimore over Tennessee
New York G Men over Philadelphia
Carolina over Arizona

[dhallmeyer]

Pittsburgh over San Diego
Tennessee over Baltimore
Carolina over Arizona
Philadelphia over New York

[Iz Man]

Well I was 3-1 this weekend with my picks...
Problem was I went with my heart over my brain with the Ratbirds @ the Fish....

I've been rooting for the Cards in the NFC ever since Ken Wis took over the reigns...he was my pick to replace Cowher in Pittsburgh. I see the Cards pulling an upset this weekend.

Here goes:

Arizona over Carolina: The Cards' passing game will be too much, plus its in a warm weather venue. 28-24 Cards

Philly over NYG: Once again, my heart over my brain. Being a former Syracuse season ticket holder, I've got to go with Donovan. The Philly "D" will put pressure on Eli, and if they can stop (or hinder) the Giants' running game, watch out. 20-17 Philly

Ratbirds over Tennessee: My brain over my heart on this one, even though a Tenn win means a road trip for the Steelers in the AFC Champ game. The Convicts' "D" will be too much for Tenn. Low scoring, but a win for those ugly world league uniforms....
13-7 Ratbirds

The 5-time Champion Steelers over the Chargers: Well DUH ! Phillip who? If the Chargers score in double digits, it'll be 10 points, and that's it. Harrison, Troy P. & co. will dominate the Chargers' offense. A healthy Willie Parker will get his 100+ yards and Big Ben (more wins in first 5 seasons than ANYONE prior) will keep it accurate as long as the O-Line steps it up. Look for Hines Ward to lay out another Linebacker. 24-10 STEELERS

Oh, this one's for Luns:

Magnum P.I. has nothin' on Rocky....

[luns101]

Anyone wanting to get an early start on their Christmas shopping for 2009 may be interested in setting the mood with this classic album...



If not, then I suggest these fan favorites:





Feel the Steeler Love!!

[Juan_Bottom]

I think everybody agrees that it would be an upset for the Titans to lose this week.

The Cardinals will be too much for the Panthers. Best 3rd quarter team in the NFL they are... But I don't see them in the super bowl after that meltdown they had last week. Even with all the momentum behind them from their home game this week. The Cardinals are probably the real wild card in this though.

The Chargers over the Steelers with it being running the ball taking center stage.

And I haven't really been following either the Eagles or Giants much this season.
So I'm just gonna have to say Giants.

[HapSmo19]

Superbowl: Cardinals 34, Ravens 17

Bet the farm on it.

[jbrettlip]

Here are my predictions...if you are smart, bet against these:

1) Cards over Panthers. Delhomme is a suspect QB, and their running attack will be negated like Atlanta's was in AZ.28-21

2) Ravens over Titans. This will be a low scorer. 14-7 or so.

3) Giants over Philly- 20-10 Philly is real goood at beating up bad teams, but not so good against good teams, late in the year.

4) Steelers over Chargers-24-13. SD's only TD will come on a special teams play.

And I will do you all one better, by inaccurately predicting the rest of the playoffs:

1 Giants steamroll Cards 42-10. Warner knocked into retirement in this one.
2 Steelers/Ravens bloodbath. The only winners here are the healthcare industry. 20-17 Steelers.

Giants 20-Steelers 7 Only because of the injuries from the AFC championship game. (I could see 3-4 players being at 70% after that one. Seriously the physical defensive struggles will take their toll on whoever the AFC sends. The Giants are the only team in the NFC that can match the 4 teams the AFC has left, hit for hit. And that is why they repeat.)

PS GO STEELERS!!

[Iz Man]

The Chargers over the Steelers with it being running the ball taking center stage.

Being able to run the ball is a must, yes.
The Chargers will not be able to do this against the #1 defense in the NFL. That means it will be up to Rivers to try and evade the Steelers' pass rush led by
NFL MVP James Harrison.
I see Troy Polamalu getting another pick to go along with the Steelers' 4+ sacks. Maybe another safety just like in the last game they played earlier in the season.
Plus L.T. has a hurt groin.
Plus the Chargers will be traveling across the country.
Plus its going to be cold.
Plus the 60,000 Terrible Towels will distract the entire San Diego offense.

Plus Jack Lambert says so......

...and I'm not going to disagree with Jack...

[Lucky Se7en]

Titans over Ravens: I'm going against my gut feeling which says the Ravens will win, they are on fire & players like Ed Reed know that this might be his only opportunity at a ring & Ray Lewis knows that this might be his best opportunity ever again for a ring. I think if the Titans have Albert Haynesworth & Vanden Bosh back at full health they should have an advantage, & I don't think Joe Flacco is capable of leading his team to AFC championship game this year. This might be the best game of the playoffs.
Cardinals over Panthers: Neither team has really impressed me, I'm just picking the Cardinals because they have the best receiving core & a veteran quarterback. The winner of this game isn't going to make it any further.
Giants over Eagles: The Giants are just all around a good football team & the Eagles aren't looking like they are going to be able to win. I doubt the Eagles will even have the lead any time after the 1st quarter.
Steelers over Chargers: The Chargers have officially become the hottest team & they are a very good team too. But the Steelers are a very good also, with LT shying away from the picture & an inferior defense, I know the Steelers will win.

[jbrettlip]

Lucky 7...I think Ray Lewis already has a ring.

[Brenttx]

Panthers over Cards
Eagles over Giants
Titans over Ravens
Steelers over Chargers

Panthers over Eagles
Titans over Steelers

Titans win Super Bowl over Panthers

[derfderf34]

I got Carolina, Philly, Baltimore and Pittsburgh goin on then i got Carolina and Baltimore for the Super Bowl and the champion will be the Panthers

[oVo]

Titans penalize themselves and turn the game over to the Ravens!
Rookie Coach and QB advance on the AFC side of the playoffs.

How the Ravens didn't get a flag for delay of game on that 3rd down play
is hard to figure. Definitely the longest SECOND of the year so far, as the
Cardinals just got a delay penalty with no pause at all from the referee.

33 unanswered points
and the Cards will play in their very first NFC Championship game.
can they make it to the Super Bowl?

[knapper]

i agree....that was a horrible call....ravens played damn well, though....props to them....

and the cardinals thrashed the panthers? that shoots my predictions to hell...

[jbrettlip]

Wow who would have guessed those outcomes today???? Oh, yeah, me on the first page....

and IzMan too.

[spurgistan]

Still sticking with the Buzzsaw, the Arizona Cardinals.

[oVo]

Homefield wasn't much advantage today, although much like the Sooners
the Titans will kick themselves when they look back on today...
and realise they had it right there and let it slip away.

[strike wolf]

I don't think that they'll have to look back on it to realize that they blew that game.

Oh and about the Sooners, let's say that they did get the 2 TDs when they were denied in the first half, than it's 28-24 Oklahoma and Florida has the ball well into Sooner territory and most likely would have scored making the final 31-28 Florida.

[luns101]

For some reason, I've been rolling with the Cards all year. So, I guess they're my gutsy upset pick.

Gutsy indeed and also correct. Could you let me in on who will win the World Series this year?

[Juan_Bottom]

Wow who would have guessed those outcomes today???? Oh, yeah, me on the first page....

and IzMan too.

You may have called it but I can't believe anyone would have actually thought the Titans would blow it like they did...

I was sure of the Cardinals too, but the game wasn't at all what I expected...
Still, they have been having a wonderous season.

Titans over Ravens: I'm going against my gut feeling which says the Ravens will win,

Tough luck!

Being able to run the ball is a must, yes.
The Chargers will not be able to do this against the #1 defense in the NFL. That means it will be up to Rivers to try and evade the Steelers' pass rush led by
NFL MVP James Harrison.

If any team can edge by the Steelers, I think that the Chargers can.
First, you've got Roethisberger(however you spell it) with a concussion.... yet starting? That has got to effect his game.
The Steelers also had a "bye" week too, and after their loss to the Titans I'm sure that bye can't be what they need to prepare mentally... especially since the Titans lost.
But! the Chargers had a playoff game last weekend to really get them in the mental mode for game time. Not only that, but you saw them play a pretty good DEFENSIVE game against the Colts.
And the Chargers are also on a pretty serious roll right now.
I still give this one to the Chargers. Not by a lot, because the Steelers are a good team. I'd wager that all the big point plays come in the third and fourth quarters. The biggest plays from the Chargers being running plays that break past. You'll see a few throw away I formations, but I think the Chargers will trump the Steelers.
Not that I am trying to glorify the Chargers or anything. Just defending my position.
I miss my Bears. :'(