NFL Pigskin Prognostication

[ChileMass]

Pats/San Diego - The NFL saves the best game for last. I see a tight low scoring physical 1st half, frustration/panic starts to set in for San Diego in the 2nd half and the pats blow it open 31-17 (inspite of LT having close to 200 all purpose yards and busting atleast 1 40+ yard run) Rivers dose them in with more INT's than LT has TD's

I like your thinking. The more I think about it, the more I think the Pats could win because of Brady's poise and experience in exactly these situations. But - I'm not going to just hand them the game. San Diego also has a very tough defense. I'll be amazed if the Pats win in a blowout, but they could still win relatively convincingly by 7 or so.

If they beat the Chargers, they will have a much tougher time beating Indy at home rather than Baltimore at home, so cheer for the Ravens (although I think the Colts will win). 2 tough road games, but the Pats have done it before. Question is - with Rodney Harrison out and the linebackers a few years older, can they still pull off the miracles on the road?

 

[jack97]

Two concerns with the Pats, whether Cain can play (establish) the edge in the 3-4 front. The bigger concern, defending medium and short passes up the middle, the bolts have a stud TE and LT can catch. Mangini had some sucess up the middle passing to the running back; Bruschi had a tough time covering and the safety looked late coming in. A healthy Harrison could easily cover the top and make a vicous hit but he is out. Mangini might have given the blue print on the weakness in the D. Schottenhiemer may be the biggest choke in the playoffs but he's not dumb.

 

[drjeff]

Two concerns with the Pats, whether Cain can play (establish) the edge in the 3-4 front. The bigger concern, defending medium and short passes up the middle, the bolts have a stud TE and LT can catch. Mangini had some sucess up the middle passing to the running back; Bruschi had a tough time covering and the safety looked late coming in. A healthy Harrison could easily cover the top and make a vicous hit but he is out. Mangini might have given the blue print on the weakness in the D. Schottenhiemer may be the biggest choke in the playoffs but he's not dumb.

I'm hoping that come late Sunday evening that the all the folks on ESPN will be debating was who did a worse job coaching in the playoffs, Schottenhiemer or Herm Edwards ;-) :dunce:

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Sea - Chi 10 - 24 (unless Sea pulls a miracle out of their hat this will be a blowout)
Ind - Bal 28 - 21
Phi - NO 14 - 28 (no contest, the eagles are sub-par at best, 2 penalties or not)
NE - SD too damn close to call, but what the hey.. 24 - 21 (then again, this could be a blowout for SD if NE def is shaky, but Wilfork is back and he's got some wheels :wink:

 

[JimG.]

I'm hoping that come late Sunday evening that the all the folks on ESPN will be debating was who did a worse job coaching in the playoffs, Schottenhiemer or Herm Edwards ;-) :dunce:

The best thing that Herm Edwards did for the NY Jets was quit and go to KC.

 

[smitty77]

I think the Pats will have their hands full. If they strike early and play ball control on offense, they'll be in good shape. They have to watch the outside, both on the ground and in the air. If they can foce LT inside he won't be as likely to rip off a big gain play. If he bounces outside and gets some vision, he'll be tough to bring down. Rivers will have his hands full trying to read Bill's ever changing schemes. It's been said "The Patriots like to take away the thing(s) you do best." If they can make Rivers throw the ball more than 5 yards, Asante Samuel may add a few more picks to his stat sheet.

I don't buy all the hype of SD defense. They had to come from way behind in a couple of games this year that they should have been in control of. Now the Pat's have never been known to slam the door shut on the other team, but I don't see them self-imploding either.

Pats win a close one: 30-27

I don't care about the rest. I'd like to see them play the Ravens next, but it's one week at a time from here.
Smitty

 

[Paul]

The best thing that Herm Edwards did for the NY Jets was quit and go to KC.

Herm...

 

[ChileMass]

Herm...

To my earlier quote about being an Eagles hater - I already didn't like them (growing up a Giants fan), but when Herm ran in Pisarcik's fumble for the TD in 1978, that was it. I could never cheer for the Iggles - ever - no matter how much I actually do like Donovan McNabb (a demi-god on any other team)..........

 

[Paul]

To my earlier quote about being an Eagles hater - I already didn't like them (growing up a Giants fan), but when Herm ran in Pisarcik's fumble for the TD in 1978, that was it. I could never cheer for the Iggles - ever - no matter how much I actually do like Donovan McNabb (a demi-god on any other team)..........

My exact feelings about Tiki. HATE the vagiants, but Tiki is really a hell of a guy as well as player. I'm really glad he's retiring so I can rid myself of the mixed emotions.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Well its Final, the Pats just keep finding a way, they have that special something other teams just dont,and they really didnt play all that well.. Hats off to them, should be realll fun next week, indy/ne again.

 

[ChileMass]

Chile the Swami goes 3-1 for the weekend, and I shoulda known the Pats would find a way. Belichick and Brady are something else. Vinatieri kicks 5 FGs for Indy, Grossman manages one big play vs Seattle - snore. The only other decent game was the fact that Philly stayed with NO for as long as they did. Jeff Garcia is one tough little midget. And the Pats-SD game was no classic, either, I have to admit. Brady played ugly until the 4th quarter, and LT didn't dazzle like expected. The Pats D gets big props for shutting down the Chargers' LBs, too.

Chile's early AFC/NFC Championship Game predictions (subject to change as the week goes on):

Pats at Indy - The Pats have taken on much tougher defenses the past 2 weeks in the Jets and Chargers and won big and ugly, at home and on the road. Indy's offense is as good or possibly better than San Diego's, but their defense is significantly weaker, despite playing well for a few weeks recently. Indy gets a couple points for being at home and if Vinatieri kicks a walk-off FG to beat the Pats, I'm going to slit my wrists, but this space says Brady and the Pats very methodically run the ball, keep Peyton off the field and win a close, low-scoring game: Pats 24, Indy 17.

New Orleans at da Bears: The Bears have no shot against a real team that puts pressure on Rex Grossman, who will gag up his final hairball of the season next Sunday. Chicago fans everywhere wallow in their misery - again. The only real problem is that if the Saints win really big they could have huge mojo going into the Super Bowl and make life tough for the Pats. Chile sez: Saints 30, Bears 13.

 

[jack97]

Wow.... what a comeback in the 4th qtr. I got to give props to drjeff and Jim, they called it. And I was wrong, Marty was dumb; going for it on 4th and 11 (I can understand 4th & short) and the challenge (which wasn't close to a fumble) in the second half that cost him a time out. The bolts could have use the time out to get better field position on their last drive. Brady was great when he needed to be great. Belichick making adjustments on offense when the original game plan was not working. It looks like the coach got all aspect of the team peaked for the final weeks of the season.

 

[BoB]

beating the best team in the NFL...
beating them at home...
with only 1 player going to the pro bowl...
winning in spite of all the comments from that nattering nabob of negativism phil simms...

Mr. probowlmvpdemigod throwing a hissy fit at the end of the game...PRICELESS

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Sea - Chi 10 - 24 (unless Sea pulls a miracle out of their hat this will be a blowout)
Ind - Bal 28 - 21
Phi - NO 14 - 28 (no contest, the eagles are sub-par at best, 2 penalties or not)
NE - SD too damn close to call, but what the hey.. 24 - 21 (then again, this could be a blowout for SD if NE def is shaky, but Wilfork is back and he's got some wheels :wink:

Holy crap. I was right on every one, even getting the exact score on the Pats game. Granted I wasn't as accurate score wise on the other 3, but still, 4 outta 4 ain't bad ;-)

and yea, it hurts my shoulder to pat myself on the back so much

 

[drjeff]

Can't deny that the NFL's got the right formula for distributing players amongst the teams with 4 close, entertaining games this weekend.

Too bad there are just 3 NFL games left though this season, these games are just too good! Although now that "24" has started back up, atleast I'll have a little more entertaining TV to get me through a few more months!

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Seriously though SD was just plain dumb nevermind the useless challenge and waste of a timeout, U have the best player on the planet this year and u give him 8 touches in the 2nd half, and on that 1 drive he goes for 5yds on 1st down and doesnt see the ball again, if they just kept handing it off to him the game is over..

 

[drjeff]

Seriously though SD was just plain dumb nevermind the useless challenge and waste of a timeout, U have the best player on the planet this year and u give him 8 touches in the 2nd half, and on that 1 drive he goes for 5yds on 1st down and doesnt see the ball again, if they just kept handing it off to him the game is over..

It just brings to light the following question about the playoffs so far. Who's had the biggest coaching blunder (so far) in the playoffs, Herm Edwards or Marty Schottenhiemer?? :argue:

 

[jack97]

It just brings to light the following question about the playoffs so far. Who's had the biggest coaching blunder (so far) in the playoffs, Herm Edwards or Marty Schottenhiemer?? :argue:

4th and 11 and the challenge were definite brain f@rts.

You have to give credit to the Pats defense; the players and the coaches . They kept them in the game, prevented a blow out and held them to 7 points in the second half. Pats made adjustments after half time on both sides of the ball and SD could not respond. In my book, not major blunders, SD got outcoached because they could not adjust to the adjustment the pats made (if that makes any sense).

 

[JimG.]

Wow.... what a comeback in the 4th qtr. I got to give props to drjeff and Jim, they called it. And I was wrong, Marty was dumb; going for it on 4th and 11 (I can understand 4th & short) and the challenge (which wasn't close to a fumble) in the second half that cost him a time out. The bolts could have use the time out to get better field position on their last drive. Brady was great when he needed to be great. Belichick making adjustments on offense when the original game plan was not working. It looks like the coach got all aspect of the team peaked for the final weeks of the season.

And now we have the AFC title game everyone wanted anyway...Pats v Colts. It was almost difficult to watch Shottenheimer lose another playoff game. Brady and the Pats were not to be denied. Pats go to the Super Bowl.

The 2 NFC games were excellent...Bears v Saints for the NFC, Saints finally go to the big dance.

Pats beat Saints for NFL title.

 

[drjeff]

4th and 11 and the challenge were definite brain f@rts.

You have to give credit to the Pats defense; the players and the coaches . They kept them in the game, prevented a blow out and held them to 7 points in the second half. Pats made adjustments after half time on both sides of the ball and SD could not respond. In my book, not major blunders, SD got outcoached because they could not adjust to the adjustment the pats made (if that makes any sense).

You kind of wonder what Schottenhiemer was thinking only giving LT 8 touches of the ball in the 2nd half Especially when the Chargers went 3 and out with roughly minutes to 4 after LT had gained 6 yards on 1st down and then you come back with 2 pass plays Maybe Marty was looking across the field and seeing Brady + Belicheck and looking at the score and realizing that his attempts to win(Marty's) would be futile! Kind of the same look I expect Manning/Dungy to be having about 9PM on Sunday!