NFL Playoffs - Wild Card Weekend

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:bouncer: :bouncer: :bouncer:

Last week 12 - 4
Final Season Record Overall 98 - 68 - 1

Playoffs - Wild Card
Giants Def. 49ers
Packers Def. Falcons
Jets Def. Colts
Steelers Def. Browns

[Austin]

Alright... Take em'

Packers over Falcons
Jets over Colts
Steelers over Browns
Giants over Niners

[onehung]

Packerz
Coltz
Steelerz
Ninerz

^Bet yer houzez ^

[JerseyThunder]

Packers
Jets
Giants
Browns

[Teenweek]

Packers
Jets
Giants
Browns

Ditto

[HollywoodJewMoses]

falcons
browns
jets
niners

[The Sleeper]

Giants
Packers
Colts
Browns

[x-file]

I think pittsburgh is definatley a choke team, they'll get to that big game and just implode. But against the Browns, in the first round, at home? I think they will be handled. And if they're not, I'll eat my hat. (40's reference) :banana:

[slackjaw]

Ok, I haven't been posting my predictions much this season, but since it is the playoffs, I might as well.

Game 1 Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets - Indy started off the season strongly, opening with a 4-1 record, but since then has been a very streaky team. When they get in sync the Colts offense is one of the most potent in the league. Peyton Manning has playoff experience (granted, all losses, but experience is experience) as well as having one of the best big play receivers in the game. Marvin Harrison is a game breaker capable of single handedly devastating a teams secondary. The RB position is a question as the Colts have been injury prone at tail back all season, but then again, what team hasn't? As potent as the offense can be, the defense, while much improved over last year's team, is very inconsistent. Tony Dungee needs another offseason or two to get his defence up to par with his standards. The Jets started this season off in a most horrible fashion, especially considering the hype they were getting before game 1. After week 5 most people had written the 1-4 Jets off, as rumors of Herman Edward's early demise slowly spread through the sports pages. In steps Chad Pennington with nothing to lose and all the experience in the world to gain and before you know it the Jets rattle off 8 wins in their last 11 games to win the division. What caused the turnaround may never be fully known, but you have to credit the coaching staff for bringing this team together and getting the job done. The Jets offense is still improving as Pennington becomes more comfortable with his teammates. The young QB shows all the sings of becoming a future star in the NFL, and with a young receiving core, along with veteran players like Chrebet and Martin this team can certainly put points on the board.... just ask the Packers. The difference in this game will be the Jets' defense. Playing at home, pumped up by the way they shut down Brett Favre and the thunderous crowd at the meadowlands, this defense will be out to leave a calling card. Provided they can limit Manning's ability to make big plays on audibles, the Jets should be able to win this game and remind the league just why they were a preseason favorite to reach the Superbowl. Jets 24 Colts 17

Game 2 Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers - Michael Vick vs Brett Favre, old vs new, yada yada. This game is probably the most "iffy" game of the weekend. Lambeau Field in January, Brett Favre undefeated in cold weather games at home, Hell the ghost of Vince Lombardi.... the stuff that legends and sleepless nights are made of. Fairy tales don't win football games, players and coaches do. Atlanta comes in as the biggest question mark this season. Flashes of brilliance from Vick can just as easily fade into gloomy mistakes. Green Bay is probably the least equipped team in the NFC playoffs to handle the pure playmaking ability of Vick, despite their opening week victory over the Falcons. If the Packers can't stop the big play it won't matter what their future Hall of Fame QB does, they will find themselves watching the rest of the postseason on TV. Atlanta may be the scariest team in the playoffs, and Vick may well become a legendary QB in time... but this is not the season. After the embarrassing defeat they suffered at the hands of the Jets last week, with home field throughout on the line, there is no way Green Bay comes out flat at home this week. The defense will keep the game close enough to allow Favre to do what he does best, make something happen from nothing. If ever a quarterback had the ability to literally "will" the ball into his receivers hands, it is Favre. I can't say that there will be a trip to the Conference finals, but Green bay should live to fight one more time. Green Bay 35 Atlanta 34

Game 3 Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - Long time rivals meeting in the playoffs, this is what makes the NFL postseason so much fun. Pittsburgh is another team that has been streaky all season long. The key for them is to establish the run. Tommy Maddox was considered at one point in the season the leagues new Kurt Warner. One viscious injury later and he has lost much of his luster. A comeback story that may be cut off before the fairy tale ending, Maddox has tossed 6 INT's in his last 3 starts. If the Steelers can not get the running game going, the pressure on Maddox may become too much, and who can say if a mentally worn down Kordell Stewart can come in and get the job done? Fortunately for the Steelers, the Browns are a team that has not fully evolved yet, and may be very ripe for the picking. The Browns have only 3 wins against above .500 teams, and two of their losses came to the Steelers. An extremely emotional victory last week to ensure their trip to the postseason may have drained the proverbial tanks. Something to keep in mind, the Browns have not won 3 games in a row all season, and coming off two straight victories, the trip to Pittsburgh may be too much for this young team. Steelers 14 - Browns 10

Game 4 New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers - As powerful as the 49er offense can be, their defense is still very lacking. They may be able to rack up 30 or more points in this game, but against a stingy Giants defense that seems unlikely. Bottom line here is which Giants offense shows up? Without question the Giants are one of the hottest teams in the league coming into the wildcard weekend, but how long can they keep it up? A depleted receiver core has miraculously continued to play well week in and week out. Tiki Barber has avoided major injury all season to be the stabilizing force for this battered offense. Kerry Collins.... here lies the X factor. Of late his play has been exemplary, but throughout his career he has been inconsistent. How long can this coaching staff keep making something out of nothing? As mush as I hate to see New York win, I give them the best shot at an upset this week. I think they have one more solid game in them so I will go out on a limb and take the Giants to beat the Niners in the slop os San Fran. Giants 20 - San Fran 17



Edited By slackjaw on 1041644354

[PeterDragon]

I'll go with same winners as slackjaw, but different scores for GB/Atlanta

GB 28 ATL 14.
Atlanta doesn't know what it is like to play in the Frozen Tundra, and get screwed with the 8pm start.

I have a feeling Giants luck will run out, but I'll give them the nod anyway. Jints 28, 49ers 27

Jets always have dissapointed and made bonehead plays in their few playoffs, but I'll pretend that Pennington has made the difference. Jets short, quick passing will Neutralize Indy defensive speed.
Jets 31, Colts 23.

I'll take SlackJaw's Pitt/cleveland result of 14-10 Steelers - Browns will suffer from "Just happy to be here".

[JerseyThunder]

Jets short, quick passing will Neutralize Indy defensive speed.

Not as much as the field will.

[slackjaw]

No doubt, if this weather doeasn't miraculously turn into a very warm dry spell, that field will be pure and utter muck...... GREAT football field :-D

[JerseyThunder]

A depleted receiver core has miraculously continued to play well week in and week out.

I read today that dixon will be back for sunday's game. :thumbs-up:

[Paper Boy]

01/04/03 101 Colts(Indianapolis) +220 +6 Over 41
16:30 ET 102 Jets(NewYork) -280 -6 Under 41

01/04/03 103 Falcons(Atlanta) +230 +6.5 Over 40
20:00 ET 104 Packers(GreenBay) -300 -6.5 Under 40

01/05/03 105 Browns(Cleveland) +300 +8 Over 42
13:00 ET 106 Steelers(Pittsburgh) -400 -8 Under 42

01/05/03 107 Giants(NewYork) +135 +3 Over 40
16:30 ET 108 49ers(SanFrancisco) -155 -3 Under 40

these are the spreads for the games, as of whatever time is it now.
if i were the type of person that would bet on football games, which I am not, i would go with:

Colts getting 6 : I think it should be a close game. Normally, I would take the over in this game but if field conditions suck, it'll probably keep the score down.

Green Bay giving 6.5 : I don't see this one being close at all

Cleveland getting 8 : That's a big number to be getting against the steelers.

San Fran giving 3 : Giants suck. There's no way this game will be that close.

[FAST FREDDY]

Jets
Packers
Browns
Giants

mokey:

[HollywoodJewMoses]

perntz

[JerseyThunder]

San Fran giving 3 : Giants suck. There's no way this game will be that close.

Considering the niners only won by 3 the first time they met, that's a brilliant prediction.

[Suzie]

slack, an intelligent well-written post. Longest one I've ever gotten thru from start to finish. Too late for the Colts but I look forward to seeing the accuracy of the remainder.

[Teenweek]

the jets opened a can of whoop ass today. 34-0. Damn. :toast:

[Mad]

41-0 can of Ass raping on the Colts.