2014 NFL Playoffs - Conference Championships!

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 12:28 pm

Great games this weekend. Andrew Luck showed a lot of talent along with a propensity for mistakes. He's a lot of fun to watch.

NE over Denver - New England has the better defense and a more balanced offense. Denver's Pass D is just terrible and they looked surprisingly vulnerable against the Chargers, who I would have picked as the second worst team in the playoffs (after KC).

9ers over Seahawks - Big hiccup here is Kaepernick, I just have no faith in him. On the other hand, I'm not impressed by Wilson either. SF comes in on a mission and finds a way to pull it off.

Dodgers · Post by **Dodgers** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 9:51 pm

I'm not convinced both road teams can win this week. Think the Pats have a better chance than the Niners, but of course hope I'm wrong.

Tigers · Post by **Tigers** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:07 am

Seahawks over 9ers: Put the kids to bed early, as this is going to be a slug feast. Until Kraeperdink proves he won't melt, yet again, under the volume of the 12th Man. Hawks moving on.

Pats over Broncos: As much as I hate to say it, I think the Broncos are going to fall just short.

Mariners · Post by **Mariners** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:14 am

Mariners wrote:Seahawks over 9ers: Put the kids to bed early, as this is going to be a slug feast. Until Kraeperdink proves he won't melt, yet again, under the volume of the 12th Man. Hawks moving on.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:03 pm

I almost don't care who wins the NFC game. I don't think either team can or will beat NE or Denver in the SB. The only way I see the AFC representative losing in the SB is if it's cold and snowy and Manning does what Manning does in the cold and snow.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:22 pm

To that I say bring it on AFC, since the NFC had a winning record this year and the NFC West was 13-3 against the AFC! I wish I had some 49ers related bravado going into this game, but after what happened in the last matchup in Seattle the Seahawks get to talk, and the 49ers have to win this game in Seattle to be worthy of a championship. Should be fun, glad TO showed up at the Candlestick finale so we can say "Getcha popcorn ready" again. Kap is clearly a different quarterback when he has Crabtree to throw to, but this one like all 49ers games is going to come down to the battle in the trenches.

Pirates · Post by **Pirates** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:42 pm

Patriots have the best change of the upset this weekend, but personally I can't see any road team winning this weekend.

Athletics · Post by **Athletics** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:55 pm

49ers over the hawks, kap is going to be the x factor but he has 4 shiny toys to go which he didn't have in week 2. Going to be a knockout game and probably which team gets more than one TD drive wins.

Still taking Broncos over Pats even with the defensive injuries piling up for Denver.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:27 pm

Athletics wrote:...and the NFC West was 13-3 against the AFC!

Yup, 13-3 against the AFC... and exactly 0-0 against NE or Denver while Indy, who the Pats just whupped, took strong wins against SF and Seattle.

Seattle beat Jacksonville, Houston (in OT), and Tennessee.

So basically the NFC West beat up on what was arguably the weakest division in the NFL in inter-conference play. Very impressive. /s

On the other hand, the Broncos and Pats were 7-1 against the NFC and were a combined 2-1 against teams that made the playoffs.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:04 pm

The Broncos beat a Vick led Eagles team (to pretend that team has anything in common with the Foles experience at the end of the season is ridiculous), and the Pats win against the Saints came with an injured Jimmy Graham. Vernon Davis was hurt when the 49ers lost to the Colts, and it was the week of Aldon Smith's DUI, which distracted the hell out of the whole Bay Area, let alone the 49ers defense.

All I know is I'm going to have a very unpleasant Super Bowl if neither of the favorites lose, given my well known loathing of Manning and how insufferable Pete Carroll, Richard Sherman, et al will be if the Seahawks get one before the 49ers do.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:36 pm

Athletics wrote:The Broncos beat a Vick led Eagles team (to pretend that team has anything in common with the Foles experience at the end of the season is ridiculous), and the Pats win against the Saints came with an injured Jimmy Graham. Vernon Davis was hurt when the 49ers lost to the Colts, and it was the week of Aldon Smith's DUI, which distracted the hell out of the whole Bay Area, let alone the 49ers defense.

All I know is I'm going to have a very unpleasant Super Bowl if neither of the favorites lose, given my well known loathing of Manning and how insufferable Pete Carroll, Richard Sherman, et al will be if the Seahawks get one before the 49ers do.

I'll grant the change in Foles is significant, but sorry, the Eagles with Foles still wouldn't have beaten Manning. Period. That's just delusion. I hate Manning and I'd root for the Eagles over the Broncos any day, but that wasn't gonna happen.
As for Jimmy Graham, he didn't get injured until late in the 4th quarter after being embarrassed all day. If you want to play the injury "What if" game, Aqib Talib went out first. Not to mention the Pats were still figuring out who their running back was.

And none of that changes the fact that the Seahawks and 9ers beat up on 3 crappy AFC South teams and were taken to task by the Colts.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:48 pm

Fair enough, but the Eagles with Foles weren't beating the 49ers or the Seahawks either. Those Eagles just barely got by the peaking Cardinals, who went 1-3 against San Francisco and Seattle (and 9-3 against everyone else).

As previously mentioned, there was some shit going on when the Colts beat the 49ers that had nothing to do with the matchup, and the Colts needed a 4th quarter comeback to get by Seattle at home, that's not exactly "taking them to task".

Tigers · Post by **Tigers** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:12 pm

On the other hand, the Broncos and Pats were 7-1 against the NFC and were a combined 2-1 against teams that made the playoffs.

Come on, Bren. Everyone can play schedule matchup games. Pat's played the NFC South........Got TB and New Orleans at home, but needed a last second TD in order to get the win. Beat up on poor Atlanta on the road, like everyone did this season and then got beat by Carolina in Carolina.

So against those common NFC opponents this season.

Pat's 3-1
Seattle 5-0 (including the win in Carolina and besting New Orleans twice).

Seattle almost got caught by TB in a trap game, but still pulled it out.

In the end, the regular season schedule-bation won't mean a thing. The four best teams are playing this weekend and whoever brings their best will meet in the SuperBowl. There will be plenty of time for talking shit regarding the AFC and NFC next week.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:23 pm

Athletics wrote:Fair enough, but the Eagles with Foles weren't beating the 49ers or the Seahawks either. Those Eagles just barely got by the peaking Cardinals, who went 1-3 against San Francisco and Seattle (and 9-3 against everyone else).

As previously mentioned, there was some shit going on when the Colts beat the 49ers that had nothing to do with the matchup, and the Colts needed a 4th quarter comeback to get by Seattle at home, that's not exactly "taking them to task".

Re: The 49ers. Every team can ALWAYS come up with an excuse. "X was injured. Y is going through a divorce. Yadda yadda yadda." They lost, period. You don't hear pats fans bitching about all the shit that went down with our team this year do you? You don't hear Broncos fans talking about Welker's concussions or any of their other injuries do you? Or the coach having freaking heart surgery? Or any of the Colts' problems this year?

The Colts needed a 4th quarter comeback against the Seahawks? You mean the Seahawks team that needed to go to OT to beat the two worst teams in the NFL, one of them at home? That oh-so-vaunted 12th man couldn't put together an 8-0 home record as it was and was perilously close to 6-2 with a loss to TB. Over. Rated.

The NFC West's "dominance" of the AFC you're crowing about comes from beating up on three teams in probably the worst division in the NFL, while SF and Seattle got beat by a team with awful offensive depth outside of Luck.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:27 pm

Mariners wrote:The four best teams are playing this weekend and whoever brings their best will meet in the SuperBowl. There will be plenty of time for talking shit regarding the AFC and NFC next week.

That I can completely agree with. There's no doubt in my mind the four best teams in the NFL are playing this weekend, which is a nice change from some years.

Brewers · Post by **Brewers** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:31 pm

Which is kind of amazing considering how god awful the Pats were the first month or two of the season.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:53 pm

Brewers wrote:Which is kind of amazing considering how god awful the Pats were the first month or two of the season.

I wouldn't say god-awful, I'd say they were inconsistent (which may be worse depending on your perspective). You never knew what team was going to show up, it was maddening.

Phillies · Post by **Phillies** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:00 pm

Brewers wrote:Which is kind of amazing considering how god awful the Pats were the first month or two of the season.

No Gronk. Fragile Danny couldn't stay on the field. No Vereen. Kenbrell stunk for the most part. Dobson was dropping more than catching. Ridley ineffective for the most part.

It's quite amazing how good they are now. Edelman has been ridiculous, and Amendola is contributing (with some pretty huge catches). Blount has been exactly what their offense needed; no turnovers, pound the ball. Just imagine them with a healthy Gronk. Even without him I think they beat the Broncos this weekend by a point or two. Either way I can't wait for this game.

For the other game, I keep telling trying to convince myself the Seahawks won't lose at home, but I think the 49ers are going to win this game. And I think it will be because of one QB outplaying the other.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:02 pm

I will also throw in that the 49ers are once again Lineal Champions, that's, well, that's not really worth anything but we'll take it!

Astros · Post by **Astros** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:19 pm

Russell Wilson is the new Roethlisberger. He 'Just Wins!!!!!" and coincidentally has an elite defense to mask his shitty play

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:22 pm

Athletics wrote:I will also throw in that the 49ers are once again Lineal Champions, that's, well, that's not really worth anything but we'll take it!

How do you figure? NM, found it.
And you're right, it's not worth anything.

Phillies · Post by **Phillies** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 4:23 pm

Cardinals wrote:Russell Wilson is the new Roethlisberger. He 'Just Wins!!!!!" and coincidentally has an elite defense to mask his shitty play

HEY YOU CAN"T JOIN IN UNTIL YOU PICK

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:46 pm

Fun Fact: The NFL record for most "one and done" (bounced in the first playoff game of the season) playoff seasons is 8. Can you guess who holds it?

Bonus point! Who has the second most and how many did they have?

Astros · Post by **Astros** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:58 pm

You realize that Peyton has had the lead with under a minute to go 4 times and his team has lost. Not his fault Colts special teams don't tackle Cromartie til midfield in 2010 or that Rahim Moore forgets how to play safety last year.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:07 am

Cardinals wrote:You realize that Peyton has had the lead with under a minute to go 4 times and his team has lost. Not his fault Colts special teams don't tackle Cromartie til midfield in 2010 or that Rahim Moore forgets how to play safety last year.

Uh huh. If I had a nickle for every time I heard a Peyton Manning loss blamed on everyone but Peyton Manning...

Obviously, Peyton Manning is the all-time record holder fore one-and-dones with eight.

What genuinely shocked me is that the second most one-and-dones is held by a many way tie of players including Steve Young, Joe Montana, Warren Moon and a few others. They all had four, only half as many as Manning. There's a reason Peyton Manning is viewed as a playoff choker. When you get bounced out of the playoffs on the first try 8 of 13 times and nobody else has ever done that more than 4 times, that's pretty terrible.