NFL Playoff Spin

[Runscott]

What a great NFL playoff weekend! And as a bonus, there seems to be a lot of spin and/or drama surrounding each of the four games. Curious what others' take is on all of this. Here's mine.

1. Carolina @ Denver - a recent article in the Tacoma paper has to be the worst spin yet: Carolina is a losing record division-winning team, playing the defending Super Bowl Champs. The spin is that this is just like what Seattle faced a few years back when they beat New Orleans in the first round. But that's where the resemblance ends - Seattle beat New Orleans at home, because Seattle was at home. Seattle is at home tomorrow as well. Also, that was a first round game while this one is second round;i.e-Carolina had their unlikely moment of playoff glory last week. It's all over now.

2. Dallas @ Green Bay - first Dallas trip to Lambeau for a playoff game since the 1967 Ice Bowl. Both teams played their last games against Detroit. Also, arguable the toughest 'last 2 games' path to a Super Bowl that any team has ever faced: on the road at Lambeau, then at Seattle (presumably). Still, I'm picking Dallas. Romo was 'off' last week and Rogers was 'on'. If that switches, which it's done this season with both qb's, Dallas should eek one out.

3. Baltimore @ New England - New England seems to have playoff issues with Baltimore. I'm bored with Tom Brady and his coach, who with a win this week would tie for the most playoff victories ever.

4. Indianapolis @ Denver - the 'revenge against my old team' factor is pretty much dead now, but the prospect of a repeat AFC Championship game against N.E. is intriguing, as is another shot at Seattle to prove that Elway made the right adjustments after last year. I would love to see another Seattle vs Denver SuperBowl, with similar results to last year. Only because it would make for some of the best off-season discussions ever.

[clydepepper]

For those of us with better bloodlines and taste, there's a great picture gallery of Pack fanatics on ESPN.com.

I admit to being worried about this Dallas game, but I do have confidence in the Lambeau Mojo!

The other games don't really matter.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

For those of us with better bloodlines and taste, there's a great picture gallery of Pack fanatics on ESPN.com.

I admit to being worried about this Dallas game, but I do have confidence in the Lambeau Mojo!

The other games don't really matter.

I'm such a die-hard Cowboys fan that I am finding it impossible to 'believe' they will lose this game, even though the better half of my brain says it will be nearly impossible to win at Lambeau. Of course, the same could have been said in 1967.

There are four huge games with strong favorites in each, yet I have a feeling there will be two upsets. It could be any two games. Tickets for the Carolina-Seattle game are CHEAP and getting cheaper. Very, very tempting to attend that one.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I'm such a die-hard Cowboys fan that I am finding it impossible to 'believe' they will lose this game, even though the better half of my brain says it will be nearly impossible to win at Lambeau. Of course, the same could have been said in 1967.

There are four huge games with strong favorites in each, yet I have a feeling there will be two upsets. It could be any two games. Tickets for the Carolina-Seattle game are CHEAP and getting cheaper. Very, very tempting to attend that one.

Didn't realize that your brain had a better half.

(Aren't they both okay?)

[Runscott]

My brain actually has 3 halves, but one of them is not in my head.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Runscott

My brain actually has 3 halves, but one of them is not in my head.

So you're saying you have a Hockey brain?

If Carolina wins, pigs will fly; dogs and cats will co-habitate, etc.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

So you're saying you have a Hockey brain?

If Carolina wins, pigs will fly; dogs and cats will co-habitate, etc.

I didn't pick Carolina, but I think they are most likely to upset after Baltimore. I would rank them as follows, but I picked Baltimore and Dallas, not Carolina. I have to hope my own teams win

1. Baltimore
2. Carolina
3. Dallas
4. Indianapolis

[bnorth]

I am just glad to see the Cowboys in the playoffs. Now hopefully they can stay undefeated on the road this year.

[clydepepper]

ESPN initially went after the possibility of Peyton Manning's terrible game vs. Indianapolis being the his last game - saying that he just no longer had the ability to make the necessary throws.

Today, we found out the truth, he played with a torn quad muscle, the graphic details of which gives me the 'shivers'.

While we hate to hear of someone so universally well respected suffering, we are relieved that we have not seen the last of the most cerebral quarterback ever.

Kudos to Phillip Rivers for setting the pain-threshold so high (played with torn ACL).

Oh, and Aaron was just Aaron, despite a partially torn calf muscle. GO PACK!

[Runscott]

That's good news in a way. I hate to think he's done after that terrible performance last night. It was really hard to understand, but on the other hand, it's still difficult to explain some of his choices - passing into blanketed coverage where if anyone was going to catch the ball, Indy had as good a chance as Denver. That's a mental issue, not physical.

[Jayworld]

Having been a Patriots fan since 1975, I'm glad they are back in the AFC championship. And having lived in the Dallas area all my life, I've rooted against the Cowboys faithfully since 1989; the day Jerry Jones purchased the team. I'm not a Cowboys hater, just a Jerry Jones "disliker..."

Go Pats!

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I didn't pick Carolina, but I think they are most likely to upset after Baltimore. I would rank them as follows, but I picked Baltimore and Dallas, not Carolina. I have to hope my own teams win

1. Baltimore
2. Carolina
3. Dallas
4. Indianapolis

50 points above Mendoza....very impressive Scott!

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Runscott

That's good news in a way. I hate to think he's done after that terrible performance last night. It was really hard to understand, but on the other hand, it's still difficult to explain some of his choices - passing into blanketed coverage where if anyone was going to catch the ball, Indy had as good a chance as Denver. That's a mental issue, not physical.

Actually, he used to complete that type of pass all the time, and we were amazed! Least we soon forget how good he has been.

Also, there were several dropped passes, but I attribute that to the receivers being used to catching full-speed passes not the change-ups that were so frequent on Sunday.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

50 points above Mendoza....very impressive Scott!

I think Frank got them all correct, so you know something went horribly wrong this weekend.