Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[B]Best Weekend in Sports (Pt. 2)[/B]
[I]Jan. 7, 2009[/I]

[URL="http://www.theomfield.com/2009/01/best-weekend-in-sports-pt-1.html"][COLOR=#ffc20e]As I was saying[/COLOR][/URL], the NFL Divisional Playoffs provide the best weekend in sports. Every year I anticipate it, and every year the league delivers. 2008-09 looks to be no exception.

By the end of the weekend, even the hungriest NFL appetite will be sated.


*


[B]PHILADELPHIA at NY GIANTS[/B]
Sunday, Jan. 11, 1:00 pm EST

Ah, yes. The Meadowlands. January. The NFC East.

If you blur your eyes a little, you can almost see the irascible Buddy Ryan leading the likes of Ron Jaworski, Wilbert Montgomery, Reggie White, Randall Cunningham, Seth Joyner and a host of Eagles icons onto the windswept Meadowlands carpet to do battle with Big Tuna, Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor, Mark Bavaro, Leonard Marshall and a host of other names that start to roll of the tongue if you let them.

That the names this Sunday are Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Brian Dawkins, facing off against Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs and Justin Tuck, matters not. For those of us who have followed NFC East football for any length of time, this one is old school, classic Gang Green versus Big Blue. A throwback. A streetfight. And for any pure fan of the NFL game, a January treat ...

[I][URL="http://www.theomfield.com/2009/01/best-weekend-in-football-pt-2.html"][B][COLOR=#ffc20e]CLICK HERE[/COLOR][/B][/URL] to read more[/I]

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

And I've been anticipating this game for weeks now. If there is any team that can stop the Giants, it's the Eagles. And if there is one team I hate as much as Dallas it's the Giants.

I say Westbrook has a huge game 100+ yards. Also looking for Dawkins and co. to disrupt Elis plans of attack

Eagles 28 Super Bowl Pic
Giants 14

Look for Asante Samuel to be this weeks Ed Reed

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

^^ You might want to check the fine print of your Redskins fan card.

After Dallas, Philly is supposed to be the most hated team in the division.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

Panthers 21
Cards. 17

Steel. 17
Chargers 14

Ravens. 28
Titans. 24

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

Giants 20
Eagles 9

Titans 23
Ravens 17 (OT)

Cardinals 34
Panthers 13 (major upset)

Steelers 21
Chargers 14

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

Giants

Titans

Panthers

Steelers

I know, really imaginative but I think the upsets come next weekend. Stay tuned.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=Mattyk72;518498]^^ You might want to check the fine print of your Redskins fan card.

After Dallas, Philly is supposed to be the most hated team in the division.[/quote]

I know but living in NY as you know Im surrounded by Gmen.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

Cards 27 (upset)
Panthers 17

Chargers 20 (upset)
Steel Town 14 (Ben's injury plagues him the entire game.2-3 turn overs)

Titans 23
B-More 21

G-Men 31 Giants get back to form & open up a can of you know what on Philly!
Iggles 17 No freakin way I can ever cheer for MY most hated team! Hope Westbrook takes a dump and fumbles.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

I've got the Giants, Ravens, Chargers, and Panthers this week. Least confident about Giants-Eagles, but I mean, what's new? I couldn't decide between those teams back in August.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=44ever;518506]I know but living in NY as you know Im surrounded by Gmen.[/quote]

Yeah but still, I'd rather be surrounded by Giants fans than Eagles fans.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=Mattyk72;518516]Yeah but still, I'd rather be surrounded by Giants fans than Eagles fans.[/quote]

I can vouch for that. I live in Philly and the fans SUCK!

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=Mattyk72;518516]Yeah but still, I'd rather be surrounded by Giants fans than Eagles fans.[/quote]

gonna have to change my Uname to RedskinRebel

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

Philly over NYG - The NYG could easily win this game but I think Philly is rolling.

Carolina over AZ - If AZ wins this game its a bona-fide upset.

Pgh over SD - I cant see SD beating Pgh without LT. If SD does win in Pgh its definitely an upset but not as big as if AZ wins.

Balt over TN - TN could win this game but I think Balt's D is just too good and forces TN in to making a few mistakes that end up costing them the game.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=irish;518544]Philly over NYG - The NYG could easily win this game but I think Philly is rolling.

Carolina over AZ - If AZ wins this game its a bona-fide upset.

Pgh over SD - I cant see SD beating Pgh without LT. If SD does win in Pgh its definitely an upset but not as big as if AZ wins.

Balt over TN - TN could win this game but I think Balt's D is just too good and forces TN in to making a few mistakes that end up costing them the game.[/quote]

Hey Irish.....

If Arizona's defense plays like they did last w/e and they manage a decent ground game like they did to everyone's surprise....I don't see it being such a stretch for them to beat Carolina. Atlanta is VERY similar to Carolina in their approach. Especially the ground game. And the Cards took care of business against them. I dont know....maybe I'm unconsciously cheering for Arizona, as they haven't seen the post season for sooo long. Gotta like Kurt Warner's story too.

By the way....who needs LT when you have a mad dasher like Sproles!?? That was some performance last w/e! The question is....doubtful he can carve up the Steeler's like he did Indy.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=Takeuon;518572]Hey Irish.....

If Arizona's defense plays like they did last w/e and they manage a decent ground game like they did to everyone's surprise....I don't see it being such a stretch for them to beat Carolina. Atlanta is VERY similar to Carolina in their approach. Especially the ground game. And the Cards took care of business against them. I dont know....maybe I'm unconsciously cheering for Arizona, as they haven't seen the post season for sooo long. Gotta like Kurt Warner's story too.

By the way....who needs LT when you have a mad dasher like Sproles!?? That was some performance last w/e! The question is....doubtful he can carve up the Steeler's like he did Indy.[/quote]

Hey Takeuon...

AZ hasnt won a single game in the eastern time zone this season and their record out of their division is nothing to brag about. Its the playoffs and anything can happen but I doubt it in this game. BTW, I am kind of rooting for AZ too.

Indy's D isnt in the same league as Pgh and Pgh's turf is terrible. I dont see him running like that this week.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

it will be interesting to see if Sproles can get it done two weeks in a row with mounting competition.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=irish;518576]Hey Takeuon...

[B]AZ hasnt won a single game in the eastern time zone this season[/B] and their record out of their division is nothing to brag about. Its the playoffs and anything can happen but I doubt it in this game. BTW, I am kind of rooting for AZ too.

Indy's D isnt in the same league as Pgh and Pgh's turf is terrible. I dont see him running like that this week.[/quote]

Couple that with the fact that Carolina is rested coming off a bye and is 8-0 at home this year....

I'd like to see Arizona advance as well, but I highly doubt it happens.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

Giants - 23
Eagles - 16

Carolina - 34
Cards - 13

Steelers - 26
Chargers - 16

Titans - 20
Ravens - 13

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

I'm curious to take the Locker Room's temperature on the Norv comments/question.

Anyone venture that far into the piece?

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=-Om-;518600]I'm curious to take the Locker Room's temperature on the Norv comments/question.

Anyone venture that far into the piece?[/quote]

About whether or not the Chargers are winning in spite of him? If he's a good leader?

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=-Om-;518600]I'm curious to take the Locker Room's temperature on the Norv comments/question.

Anyone venture that far into the piece?[/quote]

I venture to say the voodoo doll is in hand and the "steel" rods are heating. Hope I'm wrong but I got the Steel 17-14.
Time to buy a new puppy Norv.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=SmootSmack;518604]About whether or not the Chargers are winning in spite of him? If he's a good leader?[/quote]
Exactly.

[quote]
So which is it? Are Turner’s Chargers a scrappy, resilient bunch who refused to quit at 4-8, rallied around their coach and stared failure down ... or a deeply talented bunch of underachievers, two years removed from 14-2, backing into the playoffs against all historic odds despite him?
[/quote]

I think it's a fair question, and I'm curious to see where others come down on it. From what I'm hearing in the mainstream media, most seem to think he gets credit. Me, I'm willing to give a [I]little[/I] benefit of the doubt, but end of the eday I'm still leaning the other way.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

IMO the credit goes to Norv. This team is very talented but at the end of the day Norv is making the calls. I don't think they could do it without him. I think what we seen was a equally talented HC make the nessesary adjustments mid season. And I applaud him for it.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=-Om-;518614]Exactly.



I think it's a fair question, and I'm curious to see where others come down on it. From what I'm hearing in the mainstream media, most seem to think he gets credit. Me, I'm willing to give a [I]little[/I] benefit of the doubt, but end of the eday I'm still leaning the other way.[/quote]

I mean I've been pretty vocal, I think, about this in the past. I was around Norv a lot during his last three seasons as head coach of the Redskins. And he's a smart X and Os guy (and he doesn't really have the patience for those, particularly QBs who aren't, so I suspect Rivers is a pretty smart dude), but a leader? Definitely not while he was here. He's someone players tended to want to play well for because they feel sorry for him sometimes. He didn't inspire people, he didn't command respect, he can keep a good team from completely falling apart but can he make a good team great? I don't think so.

I mean good for him that he's doing well but if you swap let's say Herman Edwards and Norv Turner I'm not sure that the Chiefs and Chargers records would be all that different.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

giants......ravens.......steelers.........panthers.....

giants vs panthers . rematch.....ravens vs steelers .... for for their respective conference championships.....

my out on the limb superbowl pick is
panthers vs steelers..........panthers winning the superbowl....

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

NYG vs. Philly - I think this game is a toss up. The Iggle D played great last weekend, but it was against an average at best offense in Minny; I think they will have their hands full with the Giants' offense. On the other hand, Philly's offense played OK (not great) against a very good defense, and I think the Giants' D is not as good as Minny's. So an Iggles win will depend on their offense, otherwise I think the Giants have this one.

Panthers over Arizona - Carolina still has a really good defense, and their offense should be able to keep up.

Ravens over Tenn. - This game will depend on how two average/mediocre offenses can play against elite defenses. The Ravens' D has been dominating and winning games in the past couple of games, so my nod is to them.

Steelers over SD - This could be a close game, but I can see a better Steeler offense and a superb defense pulling the win.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

My winners for this coming weekend:

Ravens
Panthers
Chargers
Eagles

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

Baltimore 20-17 Tennessee
Arizona 17-30 Carolina
San Diego 16-23 Pittsburgh
Philadelphia 20-21 NY Giants

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=SmootSmack;518502]Giants 20
Eagles 9

Titans 23
Ravens 17 (OT)

Cardinals 34
Panthers 13 (major upset)

Steelers 21
Chargers 14[/quote]

I was really close with my Cardinals prediction...rooting for them now with the Titans out. That Titans-Ravens game was great, really got to admire the Ravens organization for what they've accomplished

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=SmootSmack;518502]Giants 20
Eagles 9

Titans 23
Ravens 17 (OT)

Cardinals 34
Panthers 13 (major upset)

Steelers 21
Chargers 14[/quote]

Nice call Smoot!!!!!!
I was also impresssed with Sfredkins last week with calling out Sproles

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=SmootSmack;518502]Giants 20
Eagles 9

Titans 23
Ravens 17 (OT)

[B]Cardinals 34[/B]
[B]Panthers 13 (major upset)[/B]

Steelers 21
Chargers 14[/quote]

Wow. There probably aren't too many people in the entire country (outside of Arizona, anyway) who predicted a Cardinal's blowout, especially within one point of the exact score. Well done sir. The flux capacitor uses 1.21 jigawatts of electricity, but you already knew that.:)

I also agree with your Pitt and NYG predictions.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

As much as I love football, and I promise I love football I will disagree that this is not the best weekend in sports. The best weekend in sports is when the NCAA college basketball tourney rolls around in March. Since Im late on the predictions Ill take the Giants and the Chargers in todays matchups.

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=44ever;518497]And I've been anticipating this game for weeks now. If there is any team that can stop the Giants, it's the Eagles. And if there is one team I hate as much as Dallas it's the Giants.

I say Westbrook has a huge game 100+ yards. Also looking for Dawkins and co. to disrupt Elis plans of attack

Eagles 28 Super Bowl Pic
Giants 14

Look for Asante Samuel to be this weeks Ed Reed[/quote]

Called this one nice!

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=44ever;519612]Called this one nice![/quote]

Nice. I was close on the score, off on the winner

Re: Divisional Playoff Predictions (Best Weekend in Sports)
 

[quote=irish;518576]Hey Takeuon...

AZ hasnt won a single game in the eastern time zone this season and their record out of their division is nothing to brag about. Its the playoffs and anything can happen but I doubt it in this game. BTW, I am kind of rooting for AZ too.

Indy's D isnt in the same league as Pgh and Pgh's turf is terrible. I dont see him running like that this week.[/quote]


Well Irish! They did it! Good stuff man. Can see it them taking out Philly too!