NFL Predictions- Divisional Playoffs
I knew I was due for a pretty bad week, but what a stinker last week was. 1-3 ATS and only 2-2 SU. Lets hope for better results this week.
Saints(-3.5) over 49’ERS- I actually think San Francisco will give the Saints a good game here and shut down a good portion of the offense. If the 49’ers can actually muster a few TDs rather than settling for field goals they can win this game, but it is hard to imagine Alex Smith beating Drew Brees. Sants 28 49’ers 24
PATRIOTS(-13.5) over Broncos- Maybe the Broncos have another miracle in them but there is no other reason for them to even have a chance this week. Patriots 34 Broncos 19
Texans(+7.5) over RAVENS- Houston’s defense is playing extremely well and barring an offensive giveaway or two should be capable of keeping the game close. If Schaub was playing the Texans might win outright, but Baltimore will beat Yates. Ravens 23 Texans 20
PACKERS(-7.5) over Giants- New York has been on fire lately and completely dominated the Falcons last week. The Packers have to prove the high powered offense works in the cold as well, but I can’t throw out 14 games of mediocre play by NY and pick them here. Packers 36 Giants 24
As a rule, I tend to root for the underdogs, so yeah, "GO TEBOW AND THE BRONCOS!!!"
This should make up for my predicting the Jets' .500 season this year. LOL
It's just that I see little intangibles contrary to what the stats say. If robots played the game, there would be no mystery about who would win each game. There would be the occasional robot short circuiting, but otherwise, we would all know which team would win, week in and week out.
But, humans are playing these games, and things like attitude and emotions come into play here; things not easily measured by stats. I have a background in psychology, so I should probably devise an emotion scale or something equally absurd.
I've also considered the physical health of each team's players as well. TE John Gilmore and WR Lance Moore (uh oh!) are both out for the Saints, whereas all 49ers players are healthy. As for the Packers and Giants, other than Giants LB Mark Herzlich being out, both teams are listing their rosters as at least probable. The Packers' BJ Raji called out the Giants offensive line, so we'll see if that fuels the Giants on a 32 degree day in Green Bay (a warm day for that area this time of year).
I still think this rates better than my wife rooting for the Dolphins because she thinks their uniforms are pretty.....Geez!
As great as Gronkowski is, Aaron Hernandez is also very good and gets over shadowed. I'm not saying he's as good as Gronk, just that he is very good. On NFL films is a video of a team keeping a line backer on Gronk, who stays in to pass protect, while Aaron Hernandez goes out and makes a reception.
The Pats had a fantastic 2010 draft, getting both Gronk (2nd round) and Hernandez (3rd round).
How will anyone stop them?
Go NFC anyone!
PS Unless Belichek was going to let Brady go for the record (7TD) then pull him late 3rd quarter or in the 4th quarter. It was a needless risk to leave him in for the entire game.
If the chance of Brady getting hurt in the 4th quarter is 1 out of 100, and it happens, then Belichek is the one responsible.
Tebow looked awful, not shedding a tear.
Is it my imagination, or is the Pats defense greatly improving? They used to be ranked last in the league, but they sure didn't look like a last placed defense against the Broncos.
You're absolutely right. I simply do not understand why Brady was not pulled. 35 points is a really big cushion.
Their defense does look a lot better. It doesn't look bad. They started the year awful, and improved over time.
I will be happy with the Giants or 49ers winning the Super Bowl. I live in NJ, so I'm happy if the Giants win the SB. I think it was Rex who started the trash talking with them. I really like the 49ers defense.
The Giants passing game is deadly, but their running game is mediocre/poor.
The Jets need better talent evaluators so they can end up with some of the star or solid players, instead of the "Meh"/"Feh" ones.
When the team progresses toward that goal, everybody is happy, and personal differences tend to be obscured, but when the happy car runs off the road, the prima donnas don't get out and help push the car back on the road to finish the race. Instead, they cry to the press about what a lousy driver they had, and they act like they got ripped off signing with that team.
I think there would tend to be more loyalty among players drafted and groomed by the Jets.
I do want to see the players get their due, and I reckon free agency is a necessary evil, but it is an evil. It is counterproductive to anyone trying to build an "us against them" team mentality, and team loyalty is a big part of that. You simply don't go bad mouthin' family in public. That goes on behind closed doors, and it stays there.
I don't give a hoot if a receiver can catch the ball standing on his head, blindfolded. A true Super Bowl team (a serious one) is one whose players are bound together, and TRUST is the agent that binds them. Once a player betrays that trust, he becomes a liability to any serious Super Bowl run. The rest of the team will all know that he is only in it for himself, and that he doesn't really give a hoot about them.
With all of our knowledge and technology today in the 21st century, we still get rid of cancer by cutting it out.
At the end of the day, whenever we pay big bucks to acquire some other team's player, we must ask ourselves, "Why didn't that former team fight to retain him?"
The other thing to consider, too, is that the best coaches are teachers. Bill Parcells would take no name players, and he taught them how to play above average football. He TAUGHT them what they needed to know. It is an uphill battle, at best, to take a player who has already made a name for himself and tell him, "Well, this is how we do things here."
This is spot on.
Had Wilson been an average NFL starting CB, there would be no reason to keep Cro, allowing his money to be used for other purposes.
For example - with that extra $$$, maybe take a flyer on Matt Flynn .
I think talent evaluation is the most important skill an organization needs.
>>Bill Parcells would take no name players, and he taught them how to play above average football. He TAUGHT them what they needed to know
This may be true, be he also could spot the diamond in a ruff. Ducasse he could not help, while someone else he could.
I'm really surprised, though, regarding what you are saying about Kyle Wilson. Jeepers! I watched him make some plays whenever he was in the game, and I thought he was doing OK. I realize he is not on the same level as Revis nor Cromartie, but I figured he was young and learning. You're saying he is a disappointment to the coaching staff?