NFL Wildcard Round Games
 

I thought since there wasn't a thread to talk about the Wildcard games coming up I would start it.

I'm scared.

The Chargers-Titans game is starting to look like the Titans won't even be fielding a full team with all the injuries. Vince Young reinjuries the quad and Haynesworth repulls his hammy against the Colts. Than they lose there Hback/TE Scaife who was the second leading reciever and Youngs favorite college target. Now they have lost the #1 reciever Roydell Williams with a broken ankle he recieved the other day in practice. On top of this there starting center and RG gaurd are banged up and questionable to play. Oh, yeah I almost forgot Lendale White has an injured knee:(.................
So, with the Chargers being almost completely healthy and at home everything points to an asswhooping. But, for some reason this one I think is going to be alot closer than anyone expects. One thing is for sure after seeing the game these two teams played earlier in the year they sure don't like each other. This will be a very physical and fun game to much I think.

We had a thread, but it died I guess. Here were my predictions:

My predictions:

Jacksonville 28 Pittsburgh 24

Seattle 31 Washington 21

San Diego 17 Tennessee 7

New York 24 Tampa Bay 20

3 favorites, 1 underdog. 2 home teams, 2 road teams. But I think all 4 favorites and all 4 home teams will win next week. Green Bay-Dallas and Indy-New England should be some great football and a ratings bonanza.

I see two possible outcomes - Chargers blowout and close Titans victory. Which one happens depends on which Phillip Rivers shows up. As a Chargers fan, I'm praying for Kerry Collins because the Bolts pass rush is really good, and he'll just be a sitting duck back there.

Chargers really should win easily, but this team has choked so many times in the playoffs, and Rivers just hasn't been good most weeks this year. I think the Titans D is good enough to somewhat contain LT, so a large part of it is going to fall on Rivers' shoulders. Gulp.

Pittsburgh will win by a moderate margin. They are very playoff experienced, and I think that JAX won't come out hungry enough, having read every pundit under the sun claim that they "are the team no one wants to face."

Seattle will beat Washington easily. Seattle has been good long enough that people forget how good they are. They are another team with a lot of playoff experience. I think that they win easily at home.

San Diego will beat Tennessee easily. San Diego is a very good team that seems to be peaking. Tennessee is injured. That said, this is the prediction of the four about which I am the least confident.

Tampa Bay will beat New York in a close game. Tampa Bay hasn't really played anyone all season. But Jeff Garcia is the kind of QB you want in the playoffs. Sneaky and keeps drives alive with his legs. New York left it all on the field against New England. When they look up in the 4th quarter of this game and see that they are down by 4 and Eli just threw an interception at the 50, the wheels will start to come off.

Garcia scares the crap out of me, the guy knows how to win.

I do think the Giants win as long as Jacobs has a good game and Eli limits his mistakes.

Yeah, he was just awesome in Cleveland and Detroit. I hate that Jeff Garcia.

"knows how to win"

now what exactly is that in football?

maybe it's vince young's plan to throw a ton of ints to facilitate wins.

Tennessee will win. The NFL wants the Patriots to play an easier team.

Agree. Being a Titans fan I am scared shitless to have Collins back there but it says a lot about this years V.Young that having the former player is probably the Titans best chance. This is mostly due to Young being banged up.

He also took an Eagles team headed way south and turned their season around. Made the Bucs a division champion and when he left the 49ers they went right in the crapper.

That Cleveland team was a mess and to use Detroit as an argument is laughable. Nobody wins in Detroit.

And that's why I am bitter and lash out blindly. They are all to blame, even Jeff "Poopy" Garcia.

Giants seem totally overrated to me. I can't see them winning.

Pitt beats Jax
Wash beats Seattle
SD beats what's left of Tenn
Tampa beats Eli

JAX 28, Pit 17
SEA 24, Wash 21
SD 41, Ten 10
TBY 31, Giants 20

I'm curious why you think that?

Most of their wins were against crappy opponents, they seemed to lose any time they faced someone decent. Plus the times I watched them I just wasn't impressed. Finally, I have pretty much zero confidence in Eli.

Don't get me wrong, I want them to win, I just don't think they will.

you

I am looking forward to watching Seatle the most this weekend. Seatle seams to be a team that everyone has forgotten and has all the weapons to go to the Superbowl.


I don't see how the Steelers can compete with Willie Parker and both their starting offensive tackles injured. No running game and no offensive line will make for a very bad day for Big Ben.

I was trying to prok a fat chick till you all came along, fuck you all...

Jacksonville over Pittsburgh

-I really like Pittsburgh, but many of the key players are either hurt or out for this game and that worries me. Plus Jax beat Pitt this season.

Seattle over Washington

-tough to pick against the Redskins given what happened to them this year, but I think they are playing above their heads right now, and it has to catch up to them sometime. Travelling across the country to play a team they lost to in the playoffs last year doesn't help either. Having said that I would not be surprised if Washington won. Seattle played in a weak division, and hasn't looked too good themselves at times.

San Diego over Tennessee

-pick I feel most comfortable with. Tennessee may not have their best QB and have lost their top WR, and have to travel across the country. Even with a healthy Young and Williams I'd pick San Diego, but this seems the mostly likely to be a blowout to me of the four games.

Giants over Tampa Bay

-not sure I understand all the Buccaneer love. They played in a horrible division, and come into the playoffs losing three of their last four-to Houston, San Francisco, and Carolina. Not exactly the momentum you want coming into the playoffs. They lost big to Seattle and Indy early in the season, but to their credit, lost to Jax by a point and beat Washington and Tennessee. Giants certainly haven't played well at times this season, but seem to have come together in the last five weeks. I'm a bit worried they come out flat though after their good play against New England.

Just my opinions. They have a 50% chance to be wrong. :)

I think so, Albion. The Seahawks played one of the easiest schedules in the NFL this year, and did not fare well against the few quality teams they played. The Redskins played a much more difficult schedule, and - except for the blowout by the Patriots - played very well. The Skins are on a mission and are battle-tested; the Seahawks have been loafing lately. Seahawks win.

I don't really agree with most of this.

Like you said most of there losses were to decent teams. As for beiting crappy teams all they can do is play there schedule.

They play in the second hardest division where the last place team went 8-8. They had 6 wins in a row at one point which is impressive no matter who you are. They had solid road wins late in the season against Chicago and Buffalo and gave the Pats all they could handle.

Plus they had some major injury concerns this season.

I agree Eli is tough to trust in a big spot but they can run the ball, they have a solid defense and Burress gives them big play ability.

I also don't think anyone is really overrating them. It seems everyone is calling this game a pick em and saying the seahawks are the darkhorse in the NFC.

Dammit, I thought the Steelers were playing at 3pm... looks like 7pm now.

And the kiss of death, I pick the skins over the hawks.

Too many media guys I have heard seem to like Jacksonville. That makes me think Pittsbugh wins.

Predictions seem fun, so here it goes.

Pitt wins 20-13
Seattle wins 27-17 (hopefully Washington wins)
Tampa wins 23-17
San Diego wins 30-17

I guess I like the home teams.

:D

I'll bite

Seattle 31- 21
Jacksonville 28-10
NYG 34-28
SD 38-10

I hate you.



GO SKINS!

I think the Skins/Seahawks game could go either way. IMO it hinges on whether Collins can keep up his improbable play, which I sure hope he can.

Hasselback just missed a sure TD

ALEXANDER FUMBLES!

No he doesn't.

I certainly hope the review says otherwise.

OVERTURNED!

Face cleaver for 6, very nice!

PLACEMEIER BOOMED THAT ONE!

:D

PORTIS RUNS FOR A 6 YARD GAIN!

COLLINS FUMBLES! SEAHAWKS BALL!

I don't think the Skins are gonna win this challange

INCOMPLETE PASS!

WTF?!

How do you change the ruling on the field before a review?

wow, they change the ruling on the play

Without a review. It didn't make sense.

No he doesn't.

It was a fumble though, stupid refs.

Can you guys please stop quote jas_lov? I have him on ignore for a reason. :(

I don't think it was a fumble.

It at least appeared to be ruled a fumble on the field initially, and while a review may or may not have changed that, I'd really like to hear the reasoning behind the ruling on the field changing to an incomplete pass (with both teams reacting to it as a turnover and Gibbs having thrown the challenge flag). If it's reviewed and reversed, fine, but the ruling was changed into a situation where a challenge by Seattle is pointless, that's why I'm miffed about the situation.

does he have you on ignore?

Washington needs to get the running game going. 8 rushes for 12 yards is pathetic.