Playoffs begin

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 7:58 pm

Well, now that the four weakest teams have been eliminated, the REAL playoffs can begin. Having the four best teams in the NFL sitting at home watching TV has always made the first round feel more like a 'play-in' than real playoffs to me.
Looking at the AFC, I can't see the Colts or Pats having any trouble with the Chargers or Jaguars respectively. The Chargers had a tough time with the Titans, which tells me there's no way the Colts don't beat them.
Jacksonville meanwhile was a breath away from losing to Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger chewed up the Jags' secondary... only his sloppiness (resulting in picks) kept the Steelers from a victory. If Roethlisberger (with no running game at all) can carve up Jax like that, then Brady will make mincemeat of them.
In the NFC... I'm tempted to say "Who cares?" but I won't. The 'Boys should be an easy choice over the Giants, but the Cowboys looked like they had peaked too early come the end of the season and personally, I wouldn't trust Tony Ohno in a playoff situation. I don't think he has the stones of a winner. Granted the same could be said of Eli Manning but the G-men are hotter than the Cowgirls are. I think we see an early exit for Dallas.
I don't have any particular thoughts on Seattle v. Green bay aside from that I don't think there's any way Seattle wins this game. Brett Favre. 'Nuff said.

Athletics · Post by **Athletics** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:55 pm

I honestly beleive that San Diego will hand it to the Colts. I dont think they stand a chance in the playoffs with a hurt Harrison and no Freeney. I'll give my un-biased opinion about Jacksonville. They're a scary team. The Taylor/Drew combo out of the backfield should give the Pats linebackers a fit all day (we've all seen how they cant stop the run often). I think if Garrard is mistake free, they could take the Pats out. More likely though, I see Garrard throwing a few Asante's way and Welker/Moss having a big day. This team is too humble to let a 16-0 season be the end of it. They want it all.

I don't think any team from the NFC has a shot. They should just stop playing if a team like the Seahawks are putting up 30+ points on anyone. The AFC Championship game might as well be the Super Bowl. Both SD and IND have history with the Pats that can't be ignored and the game should make the highest TV ratings of the playoffs.

I have tickets to Saturdays game and the AFC Champ. game lined up too.

Athletics · Post by **Athletics** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:01 pm

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates was taken off the field on a cart after spraining a left toe late in the second quarter of Sunday's 17-6 wild-card victory over Tennessee

"He'll be questionable," San Diego coach Norv Turner said after the game of Gates' status for next Sunday against the Colts. "It might be better than that, it might not be that good."

Gates slipped after catching a short pass from Philip Rivers and was hit by tackle Tony Brown and linebacker David Thornton. He got up, tried to walk and then sat down to await team trainers.

"I took a hit," said Gates, who called the injury a dislocation. "At first, it didn't seem like a big deal. As I got up, it was weird. I tried to put pressure on it. We're searching for answers right now. I'm going to do everything I can to get back this week, but if not, we got guys in the locker room to get the job done."

If he misses time over a toe he should just retire. What a goddam pussy.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:21 pm

Honestly, I forgot Freeney was out. But I still don't see that as being enough to stop Indy from beating the Chargers. Ironic though that the Chargers get the chance to end the Colts' season after ending Freeney's.

Astros · Post by **Astros** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:45 pm

You ever had a broken toe Dave? I remember back in middle school, I made a similar comment about Deion Sanders. The next day I broke my little toe. I'll never call somone w/a broken toe a pussy again cause that hurts. I can remember crying when I was going to meet my ride to school because it hurt so much to walk.

Don't sleep on the Jags if Garrard has a good game. They are a very good team, built for poor weather. They're used to playing the elite of the NFL since they already had the Colts twice this year and almost beat them twice. If Garrard is mistake free, and the Pats D has a tendency to give up some big plays, I think the Jags can pull the upset. The Jags can keep the Pats offense off the field with their running game.

I don't know what to think about the Chargers. Their D worries me, as 3-4 schemes always give the Colts trouble. However, this game the Colts will be healthy, unlike the game in SD, so Brian Fletcher won't be Peyton's #2 option on passing plays. I think the D can stop their offense and Tomlinson was handled today pretty good, the Colts can do the same. If Gates is out, I really like the Colts chances.

Freeney's loss hasn't hurt as bad as you'd figure. I still don't understand why Simeon Rice was cut because when he was in the game, he made plays. Robert Mathis is still putting pressure on the QB, and our mix and match hodepodge line of rookies is holding up quite well. The defense is built to play sideline to sideline and that speed can contain the Chargers without Freeney.

If there's bad weather in Green Bay, the Seahawks don't stand a chance unless defense and special teams gets them some TDs. If it is nice, the Seahawks can make a game of it but I still like the Pack.

I think Eli and the Giants take down Dallas. The Cowboys have been very, very lucky this year and are not a 13-3 team, more of a 10-6 team IMO. They've already peaked, the Giants line will be hitting Romo all game and unless Jason Witten can bail him out again, like he's done a lot this year, the Giants take them down

Athletics · Post by **Athletics** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:55 pm

I played football in highschool with a broken ankle for the last 3 games of my senior year (against medical advice, because i now consistenly twist that ankle on uneven surfaces). If a toe is more important than an ankle, he should sit out.

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:57 am

On a note similar to Aaron's, I had always wondered why people with "partial tears" took so long to recover...

I partially tore my calf on Friday night playing basketball, and I felt like I got shot in the leg - it was the worst pain I've ever felt...I can't even imagine what a full tear feels like. For the record, at the moment, my calf muscle is about 3" off-center and totally black and blue. Good times!

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:43 am

I was going to post, but you beat me too it...not to get off topic too much, but I also partially tore my calf playing football...

I did feel like a gun shot, and it was, to this day, the absolute worst pain ever. Especially if you had to up and down stairs.

Royals wrote:On a note similar to Aaron's, I had always wondered why people with "partial tears" took so long to recover...

I partially tore my calf on Friday night playing basketball, and I felt like I got shot in the leg - it was the worst pain I've ever felt...I can't even imagine what a full tear feels like. For the record, at the moment, my calf muscle is about 3" off-center and totally black and blue. Good times!

Brewers · Post by **Brewers** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:57 am

Bah - sissies and your partial tears...that's not real pain!

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:08 am

Angels wrote:I played football in highschool with a broken ankle for the last 3 games of my senior year (against medical advice, because i now consistenly twist that ankle on uneven surfaces). If a toe is more important than an ankle, he should sit out.

Seeing as how I imagine he'd like to have a career after this year, I imagine he's going to follow the medical advice.

Astros · Post by **Astros** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:13 am

I've finished a baseball game on an ankle that doctors later told me was as close to being broke as possible without being broke. The broken toe hurt worse

Athletics · Post by **Athletics** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 1:40 pm

RedSox wrote:
Angels wrote:I played football in highschool with a broken ankle for the last 3 games of my senior year (against medical advice, because i now consistenly twist that ankle on uneven surfaces). If a toe is more important than an ankle, he should sit out.
Seeing as how I imagine he'd like to have a career after this year, I imagine he's going to follow the medical advice.

A shot at a superbowl ring would be worth the pain and suffering I'd imagine.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:16 pm

All that being said.. of the picks I've made, i think Chargers/Colts is the best bet for an upset (an upset of my picks).

Yankees · Post by **Yankees** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:11 pm

Bah - sissies and your partial tears...that's not real pain! Razz

I have no clue how painful anything else must be - if a partial is that painful, I might have been crying on a full tear...

I've been playing sports and broke my finger, dislocated my finger, sprained my ankle multiple times, pulled my groin, and been in traction with my back for a day - but there is no scale I've pain I've been on that rivals what my calf felt like...

Brewers · Post by **Brewers** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:09 am

I guess it's different for everyone...a few years back I tore my calf playing soccer and didn't notice until after the game that something was wrong. I don't know when it happened but I definately played on through it. I only realized something was wrong after driving home and then not being able to walk normally or without pain.

I've broken both wrists (the left wrist twice), broken a pinkie on my shooting hand in basketball, tore the aforementioned calf, and tore my ACL....out of everything, the most painful part of all of it has been one of the rehab "exercises" for my knee. Getting extension back both before & after surgery is the most crucial part of knee surgery. Twice a week I get strapped into this bad larry - http://www.kneebourne.com/ - the first time I was put in it the physical therapist said with all seriousness "If you think you're going to pass out, let us know".

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:48 am

"bad larry"?

Brewers · Post by **Brewers** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:59 am

How have you not heard that expression before?

Mets · Post by **Mets** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 7:23 am

I don't see how you didn't notice a torn calf.

when I did it, I tried to jump, and didn't go anywhere....I physically had no use of that muscle.

Brewers · Post by **Brewers** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:59 am

I don't know either. I came off the field feeling fine. Sat down to take off my gear and it was a little tight. Drove home and could barely walk getting out of the car. I just know it didn't happen while I was driving or walking....best guess is maybe the compression of the socks helped...?