NFL Playoff Picks

[barrysloate]

Rob- I'm rooting for the Jets, but San Diego is my pick to win the Superbowl. I know, you can crunch the numbers and say that they are not the best team, but the best team doesn't always win. I also agree Minnesota is better than Dallas on paper, but the Vikings always seem to find a way to lose the big one. But who knows.

And let's not forget how close Green Bay came to one of the great comebacks in playoff history. If Rodgers' pass on the first play in overtime is a yard or two shorter the game would have ended right there. It was a wacky game but very entertaining.

[HRBAKER]

[nolemmings]

I also agree Minnesota is better than Dallas on paper, but the Vikings always seem to find a way to lose the big one

Agreed, but this is not the big one. That would be next week, and it's why I have the Saints/Chargers in the Super Bowl.

As for the Cardinals, let's not forget that the game should never have seen overtime, if Rackers makes a gimme. By the way, did anyone else notice that the Cardinals faced only 5 third-down situations the entire game? Maybe others noticed it--I always pay close attention when it's third down to hope we can stop them or convert as the case may be. Here the monumentally pathetic Packer defense only forced five THIRD down plays. Can you imagine?--C'mon boys, let's hold him here on third and long, er third and short, er, second down. As badly as the redbirds played D, at least they forced some third and long and even fourth down conversions. By contrast, The Pack got absolutely carved up throughout the whole game. I honestly do not recall a more horrendous defensive showing. Pretenders for sure.

[barrysloate]

So Todd- what you are saying is this game isn't big enough for the Vikings to blow, we have to wait for an even bigger one so they can really fall flat on their face? I like that theory.

[nolemmings]

that's pretty much what I'm saying. They may not fall flat on their face. It may be a loss like what occurred on January 17, 1999--exactly eleven years from when they play Dallas (hmm, that gives me pause)--when they lost in overtime to the Falcons in the NFC championship. That was the best Vikings team of all time, 15-1 with Moss, CC, Robert Smith and a rejuvenated Randall Cunningham. A kicker who is literally perfect all regular and post-season misses an easy FG that would have punched the Vikes Super Bowl ticket and we lose, in no small part due to Denny Green's coaching idiocy, in overtime.

So yeah, I don't expect the Vikings to let me have any peace this year either.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

If Rodgers' pass on the first play in overtime is a yard or two shorter the game would have ended right there. It was a wacky game but very entertaining.

Or, if the ref calls the helmet to helmet hit on the second play of OT. That would have offset the holding penalty and left it second and 10, instead of third and 20.

Or, if the same ref had been watching the Face Mask penalty on this play. (Not sour grapes on my part. I wanted the Cards to win, and realize the ref's job was to watch the ball after the fumble.)

[barrysloate]

Todd- I remember that 1999 Vikings playoff loss all too well. If Anderson makes the field goal the Vikings lead by 10 and the game is over. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong.

Jim- I actually saw that face mask penalty but unfortunately the ref didn't.

[Jim VB]

The last play was very interesting, Barry. What Green Bay really needed was the call for a "Personal Foul, Hands to the QB's Helmet" penalty.

By the time Adams grabbed the face mask, the ball was out, and, I believe if the penalty occurs after the fumble it would still be Cards ball, just back 15 yards.

If that's the correct interpretation, I have no doubt the Cards were going to score anyway.

[Mikehealer]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Or, if the ref calls the helmet to helmet hit on the second play of OT. That would have offset the holding penalty and left it second and 10, instead of third and 20.

)

Just for accuracy the holding penalty made it 2nd and 20, it was 3rd and 5 when he fumbled.

[Jim VB]

Thank you.

By the way, based upon how poorly GB's defense was playing, and how well the Cards offense was playing, I just assumed they would have gone for it on 4th down. No sense punting!

[ChiefBenderForever]

Arizona
Baltimore
Minnesota
San Diego

[Abravefan11]

Arizona
Baltimore
Dallas
New York Jets

[Mikehealer]

Saints
colts
cowboys
chargers