NFL Wildcard Weekend (the greatest annual weekend of football?)
 

Thought i'd get the weekend NFL thread started. I love this weekend, and with the bonus of the national championship game* tomorrow, it's one hell of a weekend of football.

I think the first game of the weekend might be the best, Titans @ Ravens. These two have produced some pretty heated games in the past, most noticeably in the 2000 season. I'm hoping they recapture some of that magic.

From an objective standpoint, I think the Cowboys-Panthers was the worst possible choice for the primtime game, as it should be the most boring and field-goal laden. Still, I'm looking forward to 4 good games.

I think Green Bay will be the only home team to make it through this weekend.

*well, sort of.

It should be good. Two shootouts, one fiercely contesed battle and one boring game that I couldn't care less about.

Actually the Cowboys-Panthers game at Texas Stadium earlier this season was pretty entertaining. I just hope the 'Boys show up offensively on the road.

GO PANTHERS!!!! :D

Yes, indeed... the Titans - Ravens game should be a good one.

Talk about smashmouth football! :)


Cowboys - Panthers should be good as well. I wonder what Parcells has cooked up for today?


Todd

This is exactly why I expect a Cowboys win. Parcells always upped the ante come playoff time, and I bet he has a nice trick play up his sleeve.

I'm still going with Carolina, but I also have that weird Parcells feeling one gets when he's in the playoffs. :)

I'm going:

Titans (in a close one)
Panthers (another close one, but Dallas just doesn't have enough talent, imo)


Todd

I too am surprised they didn't put the Titans/Ravens game in primetime instead. However, sometimes games that you think should be boring as hell end up being pretty good.

I'm just rooting AGAINST the Cowboys this year in the Playoffs ;-)

Darkiller,

You 49ers fanboy!!

GO PACKERS!!!

Titans
Colts
Panthers
Packers

Ok ok , its easy to pick the winners straight up, what about the lines?

Here are my picks... Take them for what their worth..

Tenn(-1) at Balt : Tennessee
Dallas (+3) at Carolina : Carolina
Broncos (+3) at Colts : Colts
Seahawks (+7.5) at Packers : Seahawks.

Just for the heck of it

Tennessee -1
Dallas +3
Colts -3
Packers -7.5

I'm cheering for my Panthers, bunch of my friends will be at the game, wish I could have joined them!

my thoughts:

Tennesee
Dallas
Denver
Green Bay

ahh...Sky or someone delete this dupe.

For Kodos and DK :

http://www.comedy-zone.net/pictures/...03/rudeboy.jpg

:D

Baltimore by 6
Dallas by 3
Indy by 7
Green Bay by 10

I'm routing fot the ViQueens this weekend, i have a good feeling about them ;)

Heck of a QB draw there by McNair!

Tenn(-1) at Balt : Tennessee
Dallas (+3) at Carolina : Carolina
Broncos (+3) at Colts : Broncos
Seahawks (+7.5) at Packers : Seahawks



Todd

Nice start by the Titans. They're certainly looking ready to play.

Hmm, Ravens are hanging around in this game. Is it me, or does every tipped pass go their way in the playoffs?

And I think it would only be right if Ray Lewis eventually kills Eddie George on the football field with a hit. The man has flat-out owned him.

As I sit here and watch this game, I feel the league should bestow some special honor on Parcells for taking Dallas to the playoffs with Quincy Carter at quarterback... the guy stinks.

I wish I could buy stock on things like "at some point in the playoffs, Mike Vanderjaagt will ruin the Colts season by missing a crucial kick in the dying second or in OT".

Seriously, you can see it coming, can't you? Probably in a game where Manning throws for 350 yards and 3 TDs.

I really wanted Dallas to win, this is the only time as an Eagles fan I wanted Dallas to win. The Eagles could've easily handled the Cowgirls at home but the Packers scare me. Green Bay almost beat the Eagles (at Lambeau) earlier this year. If not for Favre's bum thumb, they probably would. I guess I will root for the Seahawks tomorrow. If GB wins, Ahman Green and Favre will give the Eagles' Defense fits.

Yup..:mad:

I'm an Eagles fan as much as the next guy, but If they have to play Green Bay, they have to play Green Bay. If the birds are to go to the Superbowl, I don't want them taking any shortcuts.

Don't get all nervous about the Packers. Their defense might be the worst out of all the playoff teams out there in the NFC.

Dola..

So far so good 2 for 2!

eddie plants ray lewis
 

Well, did EDDIE show up to work today for the Ravens or what?Did anyone see that straight arm by George to lewis near the end of game what a slamThe Ravens did well to hang in there but the Titans should never of let them stick around so long as they did.It should been over early if Tians had took advantage of their great field position especially early.But anyways the Tians O-Line played a hell of a game as well as there front seven on D just dominating the Ravens on run blocking.I hope they enjoy this game because I don't expect the same success next week not with as banged up as they are after this one.

I was looking for an indivudal player prop on this for tomorrows game, but it wasn't offered.

I do believe we'll see a Gary Anderson like finale to Vanderjagt's season.

I'm 2-2 as well! :)



Todd

Kind of a curious decision by the Ravens today. They got there by ridnig Lewis all the way but today he carried the ball just 14 times while they had Wright throw the ball 37 times. It's not like it was a blowout and they had to throw to get back in the game, it was tight the whole time.


Still waiting for Parcells to pull out that game altering surprise that many predicted. ;)

The only time they appeared to running their normal offense was on the game's final drive. Tennesee was just playing so well on 1st down that Baltimore was forced to throw a lot.



The game got out of hand by halftime... If it was close in the 4th, I'm sure we would have seen something nutty.

In retrospect, I feel like i should be committed to a mental instutution for thinking they could win this game with Qunicy Carter at quarterback.

Still, I don't have a dog in the fight here. From a pure viewing perspective I would rate the early game as a B/B+, and the late game as a C/C-.

I expect the Packers to roll tomorrow, and then see a real tight late game.

Quincy wasn't so terrible in the Cowboys-Panthers game. He wasn't Joe Montana either. He was average to mediocre. He makes some good throws and then makes some bonehead ones. There were more defensive breakdowns and offensive line breakdowns that led to the game getting out of hand than errors he made. Richie Anderson's fumble was very costly.

And mostly, the Panthers played an amazing game. I respect the heck out of a team that committs no penalties (except that off-setting offensive pass interference) and no turnovers...with that stat alone, it's easy to see why they won the game.

I love the playoffs...it's great to be guaranteed to watch 11 really good football games. Even if they're blowouts, you know you're watching the elite of the NFL this year for 11 games.

Thanks for a great and surprising season Cowboys.

Was hoping for snow in Green Bay, but it doesn't look like i'll get it.

Isn't Favre due for one of his typical 4+ INT games?

Packers looked a little stiff on the first drive, but things have settled down. Tight game so far.

great drop by Antonio Freeman before... jeez....

Good game so far. If I'm Hasslebeck, I'm going nuts right about now. This team can't hold on to the ball for the life of them. I haven't seen too many Seattle games live this year, but does Alexander always run with this little "power"? It seems like he can't stick with the play, he's always trying to make something out of nothing, and losing 4 yards in the process.

What a game swing. Robinson drops a TD and then the Packers turn around and score a TD.

Little room for error in the playoffs....


Todd

Nice catch by Hutchinson...

come on Pack!

I think that timeout by Seattle was a HUGE mistake.

It will only be a huge mistake if they can actually score.

Barnett gets burned again, then he obviously needs to whine about it.

51 seconds with 3 timeouts left is a little much to give to Favre.

make that 45 seconds after the kick return.

We're going to OT!

Pack vs. Philly should be a great game next week. A good matchup for the Packers.

Wow, the Colts started fast. James could have a huge game today.

3 for 3 so far, I'm offically starting a newsletter for $39.95 a month!

I wish to qualify any comments I make about this game by saying that I'm a Broncos fan. Hopefully, that won't cloud reality for me, but it should be noted.

With that said, the Colts started fast two weeks ago, too, although Plummer threw an interception that got the Colts going. I'm interested in seeing how the Colts play with a small lead this week.

When Portis and Griffiths got going, I expected them to score quickly as well, as I thought the Colts would be pretty vanilla against the run. But they held up much better than I expected.

I can't believe the Broncos didn't touch Harrison. Nobody touched him. My goodness.

Wow.

In yet another odd moment.....

This ain't college boys. Gotta hit the man.


Awesome... go Colts!

Manning is certainly eager to erase that big fat zero in his post-season win column.

Edit: wow. I have to admit, I didn't see how that touchdown happened. I did the same as the Broncos' linebackers, lost interest the moment he hit the ground.

Colts have looked very good defending the run so far as well. Portis has taken a couple solid hits, too.

Now, how will the Colts find a way to choke?

Who the hell told Mike Shanahan to make Reuben Droughns such a big part of the offense? Where's Mike Anderson?

Isn't Anderson suspended?

No, his suspension ended several games ago. He scored a touchdown against the Colts two weeks ago, and he was just on the field for punt coverage. I just don't understand why Droughns is getting so much playing time, particularly in obvious passing situations (although he's made a couple of decent catches so far).

Ah, I see. I just ain't paying attention to the commentary.

Game over. I can't watch this anymore.

Where was the coverage on that play?

You know, the funny thing about this is I wonder the same thing almost every time Harrison catches a pass, there never seems to be anyone within 10 yards of him. He has the ability to get wide open on just about every route he runs. Rice is the only other reciever that I've seen able to do the same.

To steal a word from a crazy old man I know, for some assholic reason, the safety decided to play IN the endzone when he was in cover 2. The corner let Harrison go, and Manning dropped the ball right between the corner and the safety. Why the hell was Sam Brandon in the end zone? If he's playing on the goal line, he could at least push Harrison out of bounds. Instead, he's three yards deep in the end zone, and Harrison walks in. It makes absolutely no sense, much like everything else Denver has done defensively so far.

Herd:
Good point, I see what you mean. That's probably what's called "finding the seams in the coverage". It's remarkable.

From the looks of things, if I continue to watch this, I'll find more things to complain about. What in the world is this pre-play shift that Denver's doing on almost every play? Line up Portis and Griffin outside, then bring one of them behind Plummer? Okay, I understand that the Broncos are short a receiver with McCaffrey out. I understand that Portis and Griffin make a double rushing threat. What I don't understand is that they're down 18 points, and they're trying to set up running plays to the outside when Rod Smith is the only wide receiver on the field who knows how to block.

Somebody get a body bag!

Heh, look at the Colts' special team... wasn't that a taunting penalty coming?

I missed it. Can you tell me what they did? The Colts special teamers are a little cocky considering they are special teamers...

Interception...

If Payton can put a TD on the board before the half, it will be officially over.

They did a dance that included some pointing at the Broncos. In my opinion, the Broncos have earned any taunting that may happen against them. I haven't seen the Broncos get thrashed like this since the Raiders did it to them last season on a Monday night (which also happened to be my birthday, which is why I remember it so well). This is horrible.

They did a little shimmy together before spreading out... not exactly dancing but almost.

Unless the Broncos sign Frank Reich at halftime, this one's over.

Actually..weren't you wrong on the Hawk's one? Since they lost by 6?

no. he only needed seattle to lose by less than 7.5 points. they covered the spread, he was right.

Hum.. The Titans one..they have to win by MORE then 1? I guess I dont understand the + ones.. :p

yeah.

you can list the same spread two different ways:

Packers -7
or
Seattle +7

If you bet on the Packers, they need to win by 7 for you to push (tie) or 8 for you to win your bet. I happened to bet on the Packers myself (in a 4 game parlay), and I lost.

If you bet on Seattle, you don't even need them to win. If they lose by 7, you push (tie). If they lose by 8, you lose. If they lose by 6 or do better, you win.

Actually, I was really on the fence playing this one. I ended up getting in at +8 , so I figured it was a steal.

Wow, I went 4-0 this weekend.. Anyone else?