Divisional Round Discussion

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

It definitely has all the makings of a great game! :thumbs:

I gotta take the points...

[PhillyFan3]

While overall I would say Philly did an ok job vs the run, they still allowed 148 yds. The fact remains that they did allow a big td run, & that's AP's style anyway- stopped for minimal gains & then he busts a long one. I do agree AP was getting stopped at the line, but the Vikings had no threat of a pass game to keep the Eagles honest! Taylor was getting in some nice runs, & I think between Jacobs & Ward the Giants will be able to move the ball. First meeting between the two NYG had 219 total rushing yards. Second time Philly was in a nice revenge spot & shut down the run for the road win. To me it comes down to whether or not the Giants establish a solid run game. Right now I'm leaning towards them being able to run @ home. The loss vs Philly was the only home game where they were shut down on the ground- I think they redeem big time.

UD--- its alot easier to run the ball for 219 yards when you have someone like Plaxico Burress in the lineup, the guy kills the Eagles every time they play the Eagles, and thats not an understatement, he has been the MVP for the Giants every time they beat the Eagles, because the Eagles smaller corners have problems matching up with him, now you are telling me the Eagles are not going to load the box and run blitz all game long against NYG and go with the same mentality they had the 1st time at NY....The Eagles are going to make ELI beat them plain and simple, and I know I am a homer but whatever, I will take Samuel and Brown over Hixon and Toomer any day of the week.....I am just saying with Plax, it makes the Eagles have to worry about the pass and it opens up Jacobs and the run, I just think the Eagles are going to key on the run and force ELI to beat them

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Im thinking that Pitt -6 or -6.5 looks like its begging for Pitt money. Less than a TD off a bye week, to a team we all think (me included) has no business even being in the playoffs?

I'm not sure about that. I see alot of people stating that 6 points is way too much. I don't think the public consensus is that SD is a team that "has no business being in the playoffs". Not anymore anyway. We seem to be the minority. The SD love-in is officially back in flight, IMO. I see people talking momentum and streaks, and destiny with SD. I see GOY's on SD. I see people screaming value with SD. "how can a hot team like SD be getting 6 in the playoffs". If the books wanted Steelers money, they should have made it 3/4...cause they're not getting it with 6, from what I can see. In fact more money seems to be coming in on SD so far.

[JoeyBallgame]

Division thoughts...

Looking at the lines the first thing that popped out to me was a nice two team 7 point teaser namely Carolina -2.5 Giants +3...its hard to think Philly will go into NY and win against the best team in the NFL and one that is very different from the banged up, tired victims of a ringer schedule in week 13 or whenever, but if they do, I like them to win by a FG or less...Carolina should bang out Arizona, who seems content with their one win from all the interviews, doesn't travel well, lost a top NFL reciever, and can't run the ball or play defense...so laying under 3 in the teaser makes the chances of a backdoor very small as well...

I'm on the one seeds and laying the points...With some rest I feel like a return to form is coming for the Giants, and Philly will have a tough time limiting the power running attack...The giants have owned the Eagles for years now, and look for this trend to continue...as for Carolina, without Boldin, Warner will be running for his life all day IMO...Peppers and co roll, and the power running game pulls away in the end...

The other two games are far more tough to call for me...

This pitt team is a great team, but their offensive line is a far cry from their super bowl form, couple that with big ben questions, SDiego's previous performance in Pitt, and I'll take the points in what I feel is destined to be a mid-teens scoring game and a slugfest, don't think either offense will ever gain any traction in this matchup...if SD wins, has a punter ever been a playoff MVP? Haha, still havent crystallized this one yet, but leaning toward SD

I see no value in the Balt/Tn game at all...Looks like two teams that will bang their heads against the wall until someone makes a mistake and loses the game...that said, the only way to beat baltimore IMO is to stay committed to the run hold the ball and tire out that defense for a 4th quarter win...I will likely be on TN for this reason but may actually make it a non-play...this game looks really like a toss up to me any way you slice it...that said, the Under looks good, as it does for the SD game too...

BOL all.

[FlyersFan]

Udog- i wouldn't exactly corronate the chargers D as having arrived or "come alive". They have given up 20+ points in 5 of L7 and one of those was the abysmal raiders at home (7 points)...then Indy with 17. They played an Indy team who has struggled to run the ball consistently all year long and it finally caught up with them. Pretty easy to look good when the other team is 1 dimensional. IND were dead last in YPC and 2nd to last in YPG. I don't think PIT is a 1 dimensional offense and it is going to be a different story when they have to try and get a pass rush and respect the run, IMO. I was NOT one of the people in here last week saying Indy was going to win in a romp. I thought it was going to be a great game and skipped a side play and made a play on the Under (posted). This week i really like PIT. They have the best defense in the NFL and i think they can win by 7 points. Thier defense is HEADS and SHOULDERS better than SDG and i think that is the difference. But that's just me. My favorite thing would be to tease PIT down to PK though and put it with probably CAR.

FYI, looks like boldin may not play for ARI this week due to a hammy (and if he does he certainly won't be 100 percent)

Here's the interesting thing with PHI and stopping the run. PHI gave up the 4th least YPG in the league this year and the 4th lowest YPC average. They gave up 219 yards to NYG in a first game loss but held them to 88 yards in the 2nd game (a win). To me, that is the story of who wins this game. But for anyone to be able to say which way that goes is pretty tough to impossible unless you have a crystal ball. It's really a tough game to cap IMO.

still looking and probably won't make any plays until friday.

[Daws1089]

Some good points and reasoning for Pitt here. I'm having trouble backing Pitt's pffensive line against the front 7 of SD. Let's face it, Pitt's offensive line is average and we saw SD do some thing to Indy that really rattled Manning. I know Peyton had some rookies playing in front of him,but I can't help but think SD takes advantage of this o-line in this one and get to Ben.

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Some good points and reasoning for Pitt here. I'm having trouble backing Pitt's pffensive line against the front 7 of SD. Let's face it, Pitt's offensive line is average and we saw SD do some thing to Indy that really rattled Manning. I know Peyton had some rookies playing in front of him,but I can't help but think SD takes advantage of this o-line in this one and get to Ben.

Interesting that you point out SD's pass rush rattling Peyton (which I don't really disagree). But SD only had one sack, and Indy had 4 sacks on Rivers. I'm not sure SD's OLine is anything special either...and I see Pitt all over Rivers even more than SD all over Big Ben, as nobody can really disagree that the Steelers have the better pressure defense. That defense is crazy good at home...and I'm not sure SD's defense can repeat a good performance last week, this week on the road. JMO.

GL tho Daws! Really pulling for your Eagles! :thumbs:

[Daws1089]

Yea I mean, I guess I'm sort of trying to play SD, but I would hate to play them and hope for the cover but not win because i really don't think they win.


I feel like points will be hard to come by in the eagles game JML. maybe like a 17-14 game. I'll be looking into the first half under I think. Both teams will play the field position game and be the first to not mess up I think.


Also, I've seen people on here saying everyone is all over Baltimore. Where? The numbers I see have the action split almost dead even. I am worried about Flacco in that game. He really did nothing against Miami. I know he didn't have to because of the run and the score, but I think Collins is more capable of making a big play than Flacco is. Titans gets haynesworth back right?

Also, I think an 8 pt teaser with 3 teams would be good with over 40.5 in the carolina game, eagles +12, and either eagles under 49 or carolina -2.

[FlyersFan]

i really find it kind of amusing that SDG all of a sudden has a solid defense after holding a 1 dimensional colts team with an average O-line to 17 points. They were 25th in the league in total defense, 2nd to DEAD LAST in pass defense....they were middle of the pack in sacks.....im just not seeing it. And as i said last week i was not on the colts bandwagon. The funny part is that SDG has been able to generate ZERO pass rush all year long with their front 4.

also, i don't put a lot of creedence in the first matchup. PIT was on the last game of a tough string playing NYG, MNF game @WAS, then a home game with INDY........SDG was off of a bye and then a game versus one of the worst teams in football in the KC at home. Playoff atmosphere big difference, IMO. I wouldn't be surprised to see PIT defense score either in this one. Now i don't think that PIT is going to run away from SDG because they don't have the offense IMO to do so.......i can see PIT holding SDG out of the endzone and Kaeding isn't exactly mr. captain clutch in the playoffs either. But to cover 6 or less is a solid bet IMO.

but stranger things have happened. The one thing nobody is going to convince me of here is that SDG has a good defense.

[FlyersFan]

daws- i would love to see your PHI win that game.....especially after PHI fan **** all over donovan and andy reid this year as they always do. If they can hold the NYG running game in check they win IMO. And Burress as someone pointed out being out is a big edge for PHI because you can single cover any other NYG receiver which leaves more guys to stack the box.

[FlyersFan]

First meeting between the two NYG had 219 total rushing yards. Second time Philly was in a nice revenge spot & shut down the run for the road win. To me it comes down to whether or not the Giants establish a solid run game. Right now I'm leaning towards them being able to run @ home. The loss vs Philly was the only home game where they were shut down on the ground- I think they redeem big time.

lol...somehow missed your post before i posted about the same thing verbatim....sorry...lol..didn't mean to steal your thunder....:beerbang:

[FlyersFan]

i also concur with the Udog master on the BAL game. I can't go against Jeff Fisher and the Titans. I will almost certainly be on them this week.

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

also, i don't put a lot of creedence in the first matchup. PIT was on the last game of a tough string playing NYG, MNF game @WAS, then a home game with INDY........SDG was off of a bye and then a game versus one of the worst teams in football in the KC at home. Playoff atmosphere big difference, IMO. I wouldn't be surprised to see PIT defense score either in this one. Now i don't think that PIT is going to run away from SDG because they don't have the offense IMO to do so.......i can see PIT holding SDG out of the endzone and Kaeding isn't exactly mr. captain clutch in the playoffs either. But to cover 6 or less is a solid bet IMO.
.

I've seen alot of people around the net referring back to that 11-10 road cover by SD in Pitt this year. But that's bull****, IMO. Remember, that actually "should" have been a Pittsburgh cover, if not for that blown call (reversal) on a late Polamalu TD. AND, It was a horribly reffed game overall ...unbelievably giving the Steelers 115 penalty yards to the Chargers 5 (a 13-1 difference in calls!) huh? ALSO...on top of the penalties, the Steelers STILL outgained SD by a wide margin in that game, by 192 yards, and dominated the clock. Rivers had a terrible game against the Steelers D. A close cover was a mirage, IMO, and I can't believe SD backers are actually using that as a positive capping point, just by seeing the final score. It won't be that close in this kind of spot...a road playoff game, with the Steelers rested and ready to cause serious **** on defence.

[FlyersFan]

I've seen alot of people around the net referring back to that 11-10 road cover by SD in Pitt this year. But that's bull****, IMO. Remember, that actually "should" have been a Pittsburgh cover, if not for that blown call (reversal) on a late Polamalu TD. AND, It was a horribly reffed game overall ...unbelievably giving the Steelers 115 penalty yards to the Chargers 5 (a 13-1 difference in calls!) huh? ALSO...on top of the penalties, the Steelers STILL outgained SD by a wide margin in that game, by 192 yards, and dominated the clock. Rivers had a terrible game against the Steelers D. A close cover was a mirage, IMO, and I can't believe SD backers are actually using that as a positive capping point, just by seeing the final score. It won't be that close in this kind of spot...a road playoff game, with the Steelers rested and ready to cause serious **** on defence.

i agree completely. as i said, you're not going to convince me that if the PIT defense plays the way it has all year that SDG is going to hang in this ball game.

[RamPride]

Yea I mean, I guess I'm sort of trying to play SD, but I would hate to play them and hope for the cover but not win because i really don't think they win.


I feel like points will be hard to come by in the eagles game JML. maybe like a 17-14 game. I'll be looking into the first half under I think. Both teams will play the field position game and be the first to not mess up I think.


Also, I've seen people on here saying everyone is all over Baltimore. Where? The numbers I see have the action split almost dead even. I am worried about Flacco in that game. He really did nothing against Miami. I know he didn't have to because of the run and the score, but I think Collins is more capable of making a big play than Flacco is. Titans gets haynesworth back right?

Also, I think an 8 pt teaser with 3 teams would be good with over 40.5 in the carolina game, eagles +12, and either eagles under 49 or carolina -2.

Don't think Baltimore can score on Tennessee, and feel as if the titans play well..I couldn't agree more..I'll take kerry collins over joe flacco anyday especially at home...3 is tough, but I'll take the Titans giving the pts at home after a long rest!! like it a lot daws!