NFL Playoff Matchup Game 2009

uolj

uolj

Starter
#1
#1
NFL Playoff Matchup Game 2009 (Round 1 over)

We've done this a few times off and on, and this year I remembered before the first game, so lets do it again. The idea is to pick the winners of the NFL playoff games each week. A correct pick on wild card weekend gets you 1 point, 2 points for the divisional round, 4 points for a conference championship correct pick and 8 points for picking the Super Bowl winner. There will be bonus points and/or tiebreakers for the Super Bowl predictions.

No need to post the scores if you don't want to (but feel free to do so if you'd like). Only winners count for points in the game.

Things won't be too strict here but please post predictions before the games start and don't edit your post after the games start. Also, feel free to discuss the games and action here, too.

Wild Card Weekend (Round 1)
Divisional Round (Round 2)
 
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uolj

uolj

Starter
#2
#2
Wild Card Weekend (Round 1)

Correct winner prediction worth 1 point
(All times Pacific)


Atlanta at Arizona
Sat, Jan 3 @ 1:30 PM (NBC)

Indianapolis at San Diego
Sat, Jan 3 @ 5:00 PM (NBC)

Baltimore at Miami
Sun, Jan 4 @ 10:00 AM (CBS)

Philadelphia at Minnesota
Sun, Jan 4 @ 1:30 PM (FOX)
 
S

Superman

All-Star
#5
#5
Atlanta at Arizona
The Cards can't stop the Falcons running game, and the Falcons have been decent against the pass (not impressive, but not dreadful either). The Cardinals have given up 52 touchdowns on defense this year. Matt Ryan, even though he's a rookie, has had some impressive games on the road this year, and Glendale, AZ isn't exactly a tough place to visit.

Falcons over Cardinals, 33-24

Indianapolis at San Diego
The Chargers are next to last in passing defense, and the Colts love to throw the ball. SD is a misleading 8-8 team, and has the talent to beat anyone in the NFL, and they've bested the Colts three out of four times in the last four seasons, and twice in a row in the playoffs. This will probably be the game of the week, seeing how these are probably the two hottest teams in the League, but I think the Colts win on discipline and experience (Tony Dungy >>> Norv Turner; Indy is one of the least penalized teams in the NFL, and SD is one of the most penalized.)

Colts over Chargers, 31-28

Baltimore at Miami
Another close one here. The Ravens rookie QB, aptly nicknamed "Joe Cool", actually plays better on the road than at home, but hasn't experienced a hostile playoff crowd yet. Didn't face anything like it playing in the CAA at Delaware. Huge disadvantage for the Ravens. Add to it that the Dolphins don't turn the ball over, and I'm not sure the Ravens defense is going to be able to carry the team in this one. If they can keep the running game productive, they might be able to keep Flacco clean enough to make some plays, and they did beat the Dolphins in Miami earlier on this season. Still, I think the rookie's big season ends in the wild card round.

Dolphins over Ravens, 27-13

Philadelphia at Minnesota
Adrian Peterson might be the last truly great back the NFL ever sees, but I don't think he's going to be enough to make up for the Vikings inability to move the football in the passing game. Tarvaris Jackson against the aggressive Jim Johnson defense that held the Cowboys' offensive juggernaut to 6 points last week doesn't bode well for Minnesota's chances in this one, homefield be damned. I anticipate the Vikings QB making a few big mistakes in this one, costing his team the game.

Eagles over Vikings, 24-10
 
kingsnation

kingsnation

All-Star
#9
#9
Yeah, count me in here...

Falcons @ Cardinals.
-As much as I hate the idea of ARIZONA getting to the 2nd round. I just think the experience factor of Kurt Warner vs Matt Ryan is going to come into play. If it was in ATL, Falcons win easily - but it's not.

WINNER: CARDINALS.
-------

Colts @ Chargers.
-Two of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. The only reason SD is in is because the Broncos couldn't win once in December. That being said, they are playing very well, and in the NFL - all you need is a little confidence. I'm rooting for IND, but I think SD holds on in a close one.

WINNER: CHARGERS.
-------

Eagles @ Vikings.
-Probably one of the most unpredictable games this weekend. The Vikings were very inconsistent with Tavaris Jackson at QB, but have one of the best backs in AP. The Eagles were also very inconsistent and got in due to the Cowboys sucking and the Bucs choking. If Westbrook plays, it will be very fun to see AP vs Westbrook. I think the Vikings defense on McNabb will be the difference. MIN wins perhaps on a late field goal.

WINNER: VIKINGS.
-------

Ravens @ Dolphins.
-Flacco vs Pennington. Two rookie coaches. Two great running games. Defenses. Joey Porter. Ray Lewis. Should be a great game. I just think the Ravens D is too good. Again, it will be interesting to see the experience of Pennington vs the youth of Flacco. But the Ravens running game might also be too good for MIA.

WINNER: RAVENS.
------

RECAP:
CARDINALS
CHARGERS
VIKINGS
RAVENS
 
uolj

uolj

Starter
#10
#10
The Cardinals - Falcons game and Colts - Chargers game are quite a contrast for the first day of the playoffs. Two of the worst teams to make it play in the first game and two of the best (or at least the hottest) play in the second.

I have a feeling I will be watching a lot more of the night game than the day game.
 
S

Superman

All-Star
#11
#11
I don't know how much of the Falcons you saw this season, but they weren't one of the worst teams to make it, not even in the NFC. I'd say the Eagles/Vikings game fits that category better.

And I'm not impressed with the Steelers, either. Great defense, but that offensive line is a big problem. And if Big Ben gets hurt at any point and they have to rely on Byron Leftwich, that's their season.
 
PurpleHaze

PurpleHaze

All-Star
#12
#12
Atlanta 34
Arizona 24

The Matt Ryan era begins, as the Kurt Warner era fades. Atlanta is clearly better than Arizona - so they should win, right?!

Indianapolis 30
San Diego 27

Payton Manning show why he's MVP again as Norv Turner frustrated again. LT banged up and other San Diego injuries hurt their hopes.

Baltimore 20
Miami 16

Joe Flacco cements rookie sensation status, behind a strong, incredible, terrifying D. "The Wildcat" gets a dose of reality as Pennington pressured - and I like Chad a lot.

Minnesota 16
Philadelphia 13

Minnesota very strong at home, Philly much less impressive on the road. Donovan McNabb rarely has two good games in a row anymore, but their dominate D keeps them in this one.

Bonus pick:

Florida Gators 48
Oklahoma Sooners 45
 
uolj

uolj

Starter
#14
#14
Nice first day. Nobody picked both correctly. :)

So an 8-8 team and a 9-7 team used home field advantage thanks to winning their division to beat a 12-4 team and an 11-5 team. I think in both cases the home field was the difference.

I'm wondering how much the home field affects today's games.
 
uolj

uolj

Starter
#16
#16
SacKings7 said:
I never saw this thread until now. Can I join in before next weekend?
Click to expand...
Of course! The more the merrier.

You can join at any time, even just to pick the Super Bowl winner.

People will only be getting 2-3 points this week anyway, and the Super Bowl pick by itself will be worth 8, so you shouldn't be too far behind. Besides, it's more for fun and discussion than to actually win anything.
 
kingsnation

kingsnation

All-Star
#17
#17
uolj said:
Nice first day. Nobody picked both correctly.
Click to expand...
kingsnation said:
Falcons @ Cardinals.
-As much as I hate the idea of ARIZONA getting to the 2nd round. I just think the experience factor of Kurt Warner vs Matt Ryan is going to come into play. If it was in ATL, Falcons win easily - but it's not.

WINNER: CARDINALS.
-------

Colts @ Chargers.
-Two of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. The only reason SD is in is because the Broncos couldn't win once in December. That being said, they are playing very well, and in the NFL - all you need is a little confidence. I'm rooting for IND, but I think SD holds on in a close one.

WINNER: CHARGERS.
Click to expand...
Ahem ;)
 
Andre87

Andre87

Bench
#19
#19
hard fought win by the Eagles, McNabb did a good job but that 1 play by B-West made the diference!
Anyways Giants Here We Come!!!!!
 
est.1999

est.1999

Starter
#22
#22
so can we make next weeks picks yet?

If so here goes mine:

Tennessee over Baltimore
Carolina ALL over Arizona
Pittsburgh over San Diego
*upset special* Philadelphia over New York
 
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