National Football League

[The Hitch]

Atm I'm thinking the opposite of foxxy and alpe.

Pats hawks in 2 weeks.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Saw this a couple weeks ago in Times Square when visiting NYC:

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I also think these are some of the best match-ups we've seen in a while. Lots of stories, lots of anticipation. Most of the blogosphere is talking about Brady vs. Manning. But the SF-Sea game is really clash of the Titans to me.

I still see somewhat of a shootout between Denver and New England. I think the McGuffin is Brady vs. Manning. The real difference is that I think Manning will be able to throw on the Patriots defense, probably better than Brady will be able to throw on the Broncos defense (though Broncos best DB Chris Harris is out). And yes, the Pats will run, with some success. But if the game is a shootout like I expect, the Broncos have better receivers, and being at home, in perfect weather, do enough to win a 42-40 (or I said 42-34 before), type game. But a late Patriots run could win it. Only an idiot could count Brady out.

Seattle may have good news in that while Percy Harvin did not practice, his only injury appears to be concussion related. His hip is fine. Also, LB K.J. Wright was on the field yesterday after missing over a month. The 49ers appear to be in good shape at ever position. If this game were in SF, or a neutral site even, I'd pick San Francisco without much thought. They are on a serious roll, have more experience, better receivers without question (especially if Harvin is limited). But it's not in SF, it's in Seattle, and it could possibly be the loudest game ever played in NFL history (think about that for a moment). Jim Harbaugh was very casual about it, saying they were well prepared with hand signals and silent snap counts (which the Saints used effectively last week). But to play in such an arena of hostile noise has to be daunting. I still see a close, grinding 16-13 type game, where as I said before, if a team can get ahead by more than 8 points it could make a huge difference. The game could be decided by a late turnover, a missed field goal, even a great punt or dropped pass could be the key. Cool temps, but no real rain in Seattle means good football weather.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Only an idiot could count Brady out.

I do. Call me an idiot...
NE might win... behind randomness (speak turnovers other than desperation ones), a unstoppable run offense, or a PM disaster. But no way he´ll rule the game (I don´t count it "ruling" when he does something in a late drive vs a prevent-winning-defense like he did vs SL in 2001)... Even the best cook needs the ingredients. Brady don´t has (this year).

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Standings:
Merckx 7.5 (6/8)
Eshnar 7.5 (6/8)
Hitch 7.5 (6/8)
Alpe 6.0 (5/8)
Foxxy 5.5 (5/8)
Tri 4.5 (4/8)
Tore 3.0 (3/8)
on3 2.5 (2/5) skipped all games but SEA-NO last week
TomT 2.5 (2/4) no show last week
Leftover 2.0 (2/8)
Chew 0.0 (0/4) waived the white flag ... after going 0 for 4 in the WC round

 

[Tricycle Rider]

But it's not in SF, it's in Seattle, and it could possibly be the loudest game ever played in NFL history (think about that for a moment).

You better believe there will be lots of noise coming from the 'Hawk fans, even down here in Eugene we'll be making noise. (Plenty of Seahawk and Mariner fans down here, probably only because Oregon doesn't have its own pro football and/or pro baseball team.)

Jim Harbaugh was very casual about it...

This cracks me up because it makes me think of Jim Harbaugh's recent "Khakigate" - it cracks me up because I also buy my "strictly work", $8 khakis at Walmart. Not the pleated kind, though, I don't think they make the pleated kind for the ladies. Mine are just supposed to make my *** look smaller, I think.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...-pants-cost-8-at-walmart-a-mystery-is-solved/

 

[leftover pie]

4am start for me on Monday morning, really looking forward to both games, potentially a high scoring shootout in Denver, and a really tight tussle up in Seattle.

my picks:

Pats
Seahawks

 

[Merckx index]

4am start for me on Monday morning

Me, too, where I am now. But I need my sleep, and would rather miss the first half of the NE-DE game then get up at that hour. Just glad the 49er game starts later.

The WC round was very tough to pick. I don’t know anyone who got all four games right (though I’m sure many did, by random chance). The divisional games were much easier to pick, and many of us here got all four right. Now we have the championships, and these look tough to pick again IMO. These are my choices right now, but I reserve the right to change them before the games start. It's worth keeping in mind that the favorites have gone 6-2 so far this postseason.

SF @ SE. I hate to pick against either of these teams, and I think the winner will bring the SB back to the superior conference. A lot of people see the 49ers as better on a neutral field. Defensively, they are almost as good as SE, and offensively they should be better, with a better O-line, better receivers, and pretty much a wash at QB and RB.

But then there is HFA:

You better believe there will be lots of noise coming from the 'Hawk fans, even down here in Eugene we'll probably be able to hear it…

The 49ers have a problem in the Clink. Even in Harbaugh’s first year, when the Hawks were 7-9, the Niners barely won there. I think that more than other teams the 49ers are affected by the noise, because even in quieter venues they have problems with snap counts and the like—I think they led the nfl in delay of game penalties--and the Clink just aggravates this.

OTOH, that 29-3 game early in this season was not as lopsided as the score would indicate. The game was close till the 4th quarter. Turnovers and penalties (some definitely resulting from the noise) did in the 49ers. They held SE to less than 300 yards, and were even in YPP. And of course, they didn’t have Crabtree. So like Alpe, I see a close, low-scoring game. As a Bay Area resident, I hope the Niners win, but if they can’t make the SB, I wouldn’t mind seeing SE there. They rival Cleveland as the hard luck capital of pro sports. They’ve never won a SB, and the Mariners have never even been in a WS. The Sonics, of course, got really good after they moved to OKC.

NE @ DE. I’m surprised that DE is such a heavy favorite, 6.5 pts is what I’ve seen. They do have a much better offense, on paper, but Belichick/Brady seem to have Manning’s number. They are 10-4 against him including two humiliating shutdowns in the postseason when Indy came in as an offensive juggernaut. The one time Manning played NE at home in the postseason he won, but even then, he had to stage a big comeback, and the game went right down to the wire.

But NE reminds me of the team they just beat, Indy. They have been inconsistent this year, beating some very good teams, but also losing to some mediocre teams, and barely beating some poor teams, with improbable finishes. And all four of their losses were on the road, though all were close. In fact, 12/16 games they played in the RS were decided by a TD or less, and 6 by a FG or less. So I expect this game to be close.

Interview with SE CB Richard Sherman, one of the most interesting, intelligent, outspoken and colorful players in the NFL.

How would you characterize the battles you have in San Francisco?

Richard Sherman: There is no love lost; there is no love found. That’s how I’d characterize it. It’s going to be intense. It’s going to be physical. I don’t know if there are going to be handshakes after this one.

In keeping with that spirit, Kevin Gilbride the Giants offensive coordinator said you guys had perfected the art of the defensive back field. Are you a perfect hold?

RS: I think we cover more than we hold. I think he’s a guy that’s a little bit bitter. His team didn’t score any points in that game, so you find a way to explain that to save your job.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The Sonics, of course, got really good after they moved to OKC.

Dude, you just didn't go there, did you?

Different sport, different thread, however.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

I'll pick this week just because, who cares right?

Seattle...and I hope they pound Kaperd!ck into the ground and wipe their feet on him before kissing their biceps.

Denver...just because Manning has to win every once in a while, right?...

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

The WC round was very tough to pick. I don’t know anyone who got all four games right (though I’m sure many did, by random chance).

It's worth keeping in mind that the favorites have gone 6-2 so far this postseason.

NE @ DE. I’m surprised that DE is such a heavy favorite, 6.5 pts is what I’ve seen.

None of us 11 here was 4/4 in the WC round. Actually the best were 2/4. Even Hitch couldn´t do better, who was the only one to pick the Chargers right.
The Div.-Round was different story. As you said most of us went 4/4. It´s said the games weren´t exciting and lack of surprises. But I loved it. Can´t remember the last post season that showed the worth of a regular season like this year. That´s how it´s meant to be. The football gods heared me. If it goes on like this, we´ll have a DEN win over SEA in the SB. I certainly could live with it, even tough all my bets would be down the toilet. Was waiting years for the best teams showing up in the SB.
Still rooting for the Broncos and fingers crossed.

Actually 6.5 is less than the standard for a PM favoured team at home in the post season (especially when the D of both teams are somewhat equal, but one O is light years ahead of the other one, the one w/o receivers). But since he lost all those heavy favoured games, it might be a good sign...

Denver...just because Manning has to win every once in a while, right?...

Yep. He is over due. If he leads his team to a SB win, he´ll be rightfully remembered as the best ever. His golden (and maybe) last chance to silence the critics forever (including me).

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

NE might win... behind randomness (speak turnovers other than desperation ones), a unstoppable run offense, or a PM disaster.

P.S.: Or they might win behind another surprising stellar-defense-performance* like in 2001 (holding receivers, getting lucky with 3 picks but still give up 400 air yards).

(* Just kidding, you know it Alpe. KW took them apart against all odds of holding, turnovers, and cheating. Yet NE only won by 3, behind 144 "MVP-like-yards" by Brady. LOL about the voters.
TBH, I am still not over it a dozen years later. Another game like this against DEN i may not survive. The 2nd biggest obvious cheater game next to the infamous PIT-SEA game.)

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

P.S.: Or they might win behind...(* Just kidding, you know it Alpe. KW took them apart against all odds of holding, turnovers, and cheating. Yet NE only won by 3, behind 144 "MVP-like-yards" by Brady. LOL about the voters.
TBH, I am still not over it a dozen years later. Another game like this against DEN I may not survive. The 2nd biggest obvious cheater game next to the infamous PIT-SEA game.)

I'm still mad about the tuck rule game. Which means you should be upset about the Pitt-AZ superbowl (where the identical play happened to Kurt Warner, but wasn't called, among other penalties that went against Arizona).

Remember what I called Belicheck? A diabolical genius. I think he's both brilliant, and pushes the ethics and rules to their limits. But he's not the only one. Just the best at it.

Those same MVP voters equally loved Eli's epic performances against the Pats with his 2 MVP trophies.

As the posts tick by, I'm more and more confident of my pick of Denver over New England. I don't see Manning and the Broncos receivers consistently covered by the Pats defense, or the no-name Pats defensive line threatening Manning. On the flip side, I just don't see the Pats able to run over the Broncos the way they did Indy. And while Brady will exploit Denver's defensive weak, and aging secondary, Edleman and Amendola are good, but similar, and neither are deep threats. The Pats must get Blount and the RBs's into the Denver backfield and wear them out, especially in the 2nd half. This is possible. Remember, Blount is a load. A solid 252 pounds. He's built like a fullback, but runs like a halfback. But I don't think that's enough, and he doesn't play defense. Plus, perfect weather = perfect Manning.

The other game I am less confident about my pick. As I said, neutral site, or SF, I'll take the 49ers without question. But in Seattle, I'm just not sure. I see the Niners stuffing 8 men in the box and holding Lynch to a tough 70-80 yards. But can Wilson, and a questionable receiving core move the ball enough? Especially in the red zone? That's my general thinking. But the Niners are going to have a very hard time stringing drives together. They do have better receivers, but Kaep is sketchy. Brilliant at times, not the best decisions others. And Seattle's pass defense the best in the league. Plus with the game in Seattle...

Disagree with Foxxy on one thing though. I still think either NFC team beats either AFC team in the Superbowl.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Well, I thought about saying the usual or debating the usual. But you all pretty much covered most of that.

So I will toss this out there. Most people associate HFA and crowd noise to be an advantage for the home team. And that is probably a true statement. Or is it? Hawk MLB Bobby Wagner, the Seattle defensive caption who wears the communication headgear, says the noise at CLink is so loud that his D-coordinator can be screaming at the top of his lungs into the comms mic and he can't hear what he's saying. So the defense communicates by reading lips and using hand signals. The advantage to Seattle is their defense would be more accustomed to dealing with it than visiting teams. Interesting thought, but I still say the home team has some advantage.

Want a feel good moment? Check out this NBC national news video about a certain Seattle player who can't hear much of the crowd noise. NBC LINK

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I'm still mad about the tuck rule game. Which means you should be upset about the Pitt-AZ superbowl (where the identical play happened to Kurt Warner, but wasn't called, among other penalties that went against Arizona).

Havn´t forget that one either. As we annually bring up the matter, the T-3 post season cheater games are PIT-SEA, NE-SL, AZ-PIT. Unluckily one of the 5 greatest QBs who ever played the game was victim twice. He was so good he single-handedly led the Cards to the SB and picked the by-far-best-pass-D apart in that SB.

Those same MVP voters equally loved Eli's epic performances against the Pats with his 2 MVP trophies.

Yeah it became a joke since the public can also vote. AFIR it started in 2001.

Plus, perfect weather = perfect Manning.

But not so perfect in the playoffs. No matter how the weather is.
It´s all about him being (too) nervous or not. He does the same reads when stepping back, he´s seen all formations, he always finds the open receiver. The problem is the mechanics (when nervous). I can see no other explanation. Anyway, PM is due. I don´t know what new kind of defense formations they could throw at him to confuse him. He has seen and handle it all before. Basically it comes down if he under/off-target throws or not.

The other game I am less confident about my pick. As I said, neutral site, or SF, I'll take the 49ers without question. But in Seattle, I'm just not sure. I see the Niners stuffing 8 men in the box and holding Lynch to a tough 70-80 yards. But can Wilson, and a questionable receiving core move the ball enough? Especially in the red zone? That's my general thinking. But the Niners are going to have a very hard time stringing drives together. They do have better receivers, but Kaep is sketchy. Brilliant at times, not the best decisions others. And Seattle's pass defense the best in the league. Plus with the game in Seattle...

Disagree with Foxxy on one thing though. I still think either NFC team beats either AFC team in the Superbowl.

If Harbaugh comes out throwing the 49ers will win. I think Crab or Boldin should be able to get open sometimes vs Sherman´s man coverage. After all, he´s human. Deion Sanders was beaten, Revis was, so Sherman can be. If the OL can handle the rush, Kaep with his strong arm should be able to beat the 3 deep zone. Hopefully Harbaugh doesn´t get too excited with underneath stuff vs the zone. Kaep might get picked once or twice too much when staring at his first read.
Better Kaep throws long Ints in 50/50 man situations than those short pick-6-chance Ints when he´s confused by the zone(blitz).
My prediction:
Kaep goes like 18/34, 250, 2 Int = Win (thus attacking deep, occasionally picked off on long throws, which are like punts but also connecting on some important big plays),
Kaep goes like 23/34, 195, 1 Int = Loss (likely the Int returned for TD or at least long returned for a "short field" to set up SEA for important points in that tight game).
Hope for the best and Harbaugh doesn´t do a fraidy cat play-calling like Payton did before it was too late....

Didn´t say the AFC would win the SB. If DEN reaches it, they´ll win by circa 10. If NE gets in, it depends if they play SEA or SF...

 

[Merckx index]

I'm still mad about the tuck rule game.

True, but OTOH, old-timer Pats fans would see it as payback for what happened a quarter century earlier. When the Raiders played the Pats in the 1976 postseason, Oakland had a 13-1 regular season record, but their one loss was by blowout to the Pats. The Raiders struggled against them again, trailed late in the 4th quarter, and probably would have lost but for two very controversial calls/non-calls. The first one was a hold on Pats star TE Russ Francis, which wasn’t called, and allowed the Raiders to stop a Pats drive in Raiders territory. Francis, IIRC, had his nose broken in that game. That might have had something to do with the way the Raiders secondary played; one sportswriter nicknamed them "rotating zone terror". Then, when the Raiders got the ball back, a controversial roughing the passer call gave them a first down when they would have been faced with 4th and about 20. They went on to score the winning TD.

The Raiders’ luck continued in the championship game the following week against their long-time nemesis, Pittsburgh. The Steelers (a very hard-hitting defense that a few days before that game, took the unusual step of warning the Raiders against any dirty play by the secondary) lost both their starting RBs, Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, in their divisional win over Baltimore, and their offense just wasn’t the same.

Alpe mentioned before the ice bowl the Raiders played against Cleveland in 1980, on their way to their second SB. They had their share of luck that postseason, too. Sipe throwing a pass instead of just going for the game-winning FG. Then, in the championship against SD the following week, they scored a TD on a tipped pass, while one of SD’s all-pro receivers dropped a sure TD in the EZ.

one of the 5 greatest QBs who ever played the game

Foxxy, are you trolling us again?

I have great respect for Warner, but off the top of my head I can think of half a dozen QBs who are usually mentioned as among the best: Montana, Brady, Manning, Elway, Marino and Unitas. I won't even consider others that surely belong in any discussion that includes Warner, such as Rodgers, Brees, Favre, Young. And my knowledge only goes back a few decades.

So Warner is better than two of those first six? Which ones? You're a big Marino fan, so he stays on the list. I think you would keep Elway, because you worship a strong arm. You have a soft spot for Manning. I'm guessing you would rate Warner above Montana (noodle arm, anyone could win in Walsh's system) and Unitas? But you also have said that coaches don't make that much difference, they're mostly lucky. So was Montana just lucky to be with a lucky coach? What about Martz and Whisenhunt, were they lucky when Warner was with them?

Didn´t say the AFC would win the SB. If DEN reaches it, they´ll win by circa 10. If NE gets in, it depends if they play SEA or SF...

As far as I can see, DE has not played against an elite defense yet this year. I think they would be doing well to score 20-24 points on either of those teams, and given how weak DE's defense is, I can't see them holding either team to 10-14 points.

Also remember, both SE and SF have a defense, run-oriented style that favors them if the weather is very cold and/or snowy at the SB. In bad weather conditions, too, the score and the margin of victory will be lower. But we have to see how all that plays out.

Who do you think would and would not beat NE? SE and SF have very similar styles of play.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Foxxy, are you trolling us again?

I have great respect for Warner, but off the top of my head I can think of half a dozen QBs who are usually mentioned as among the best: Montana, Brady, Manning, Elway, Marino and Unitas. I won't even consider others that surely belong in any discussion that includes Warner, such as Rodgers, Brees, Favre, Young. And my knowledge only goes back a few decades.

So Warner is better than two of those first six? Which ones? You're a big Marino fan, so he stays on the list. I think you would keep Elway, because you worship a strong arm. You have a soft spot for Manning. I'm guessing you would rate Warner above Montana (noodle arm, anyone could win in Walsh's system) and Unitas? But you also have said that coaches don't make that much difference, they're mostly lucky. So was Montana just lucky to be with a lucky coach? What about Martz and Whisenhunt, were they lucky when Warner was with them?



As far as I can see, DE has not played against an elite defense yet this year. I think they would be doing well to score 20-24 points on either of those teams, and given how weak DE's defense is, I can't see them holding either team to 10-14 points.

Also remember, both SE and SF have a defense, run-oriented style that favors them if the weather is very cold and/or snowy at the SB. In bad weather conditions, too, the score and the margin of victory will be lower. But we have to see how all that plays out.

Who do you think would and would not beat NE? SE and SF have very similar styles of play.

Unluckily it seems our/my "old" T-5 list for active and retired QBs was/is deleted in this thread. If it´s still there, may someone can help out, b/c I liked it, even tough I got much flak for it.
Marino, Elway, Warner, Fouts, Unitas are surely in my T-5, PM will get into it once he is retired and if he matches his RS success with PS success (speak: win it all this year with at least solid performances, b/c I don´t see more chances in future seasons).
About KW: I thought he was a system QB until he shattered the little siz in direct comparison at the NYG. Then, as Leinart most recently said, KW took the average Cards to the SB ("single handedly" i´d say), not Whisenhunt. It doesn´t need rocket science to fully agree with that. Without KW, but still with Whisenhunt the Cards got back to their long known anonymity from before. Only a chosen few QBs were able to carry a team. The ones I mentioned and then some.
So yes, KW above Montana. Young had the same quality play at SF. No difference between them two. Only we know that butter arm Young was a big bust in TB and with the LA Express (except one game). So we know how great the talent around the QBs in SF was. I havn´t changed my mind about Montana: A system QB with the great Rice and Taylor who turned 5 yard slants into 80 yds touchdowns on an awesome rate. But that all doesn´t mean that I think he is not a good QB, he just don´t belong into my top lists.

I don´t wanna talk too much about Denvers future now. Because the football gods will see this. First they have to beat NE... I am pretty nervous, b/c normally the teams I strongly root for don´t do well in the end (speak: teams that belong to win the SB b/c they showed that they were the best during the RS). You guys even witnessed that the last few years.

But we can talk NE future now.
If they reach the SB and meet SEA, they have zilch chance. Nada. Amendola, Edelman and whatever TE vs Sherman and Thomas? Uuh...
OTOH, they could have a tight clash with the 49ers and prevail. SFs pass defense efficiency gap to SEA is greater than to the 22nd ranked NFL team! That shows how great SEA pass D is this year. So after all, I think Beli-Cheat could win with another master plan vs SF, but nothing will help vs SEA with the receivers he has left.

Edit:

So was Montana just lucky to be with a lucky coach?

Funny. It didn´t got to me in the first sight. I love it.
Walsh had a great innovative system that was years ahead of his competitors. So he´s a great coach. But as we all know, a system only works to perfection with the best players* (so it´s sure some great coaches are hidden in anonymity since they don´t posses the "player material"). Now the "luck thing" comes in: The draft. Either he got lucky, or his scouts are the greatest that ever lived. I prefer the former, of course.
Once he got the core of players, he was safe. No free agency could disrupt the roster. That´s when the Montana "luck thing" gets into: W/o the great blocking, the system and the great WRs, he´s not going to have a big career. And the non free agency made sure nobody could "steal" his best players away....
OTOH it´s amazing how Beli-Cheat survives all those obstacles of free agency, and fields winning season after winning season. He is the best ever. No doubt.

(* As another example, just take the mid 80s Bears; w/o the great drafts, the 46 defense isn´t going to work, and Butter Ball never makes it to HC... All those blitzes would have led to disaster with average players. Just have a look at the 1991 ATL-WAS game. That shows what happens when the coach is sending 5 or more average players each play.)

 

[Eshnar]

I'll go for Patriots and Seahawks ftw tonight.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

True, but OTOH, old-timer Pats fans would see it as payback for what happened a quarter century earlier.

Yes, I know, the "Ben Dreith" play. That was a bad call against the Pats that saved the Raiders then. No doubt. Here's the play.

And you left out the Pete Banazak - Dave Casper kicking and tossing the ball 50 yards down field to beat the Chargers. I don't have the games in front of me, but there was an AFC playoff game in there where many felt the Chargers were screwed by bad officiating as well. Years later Dan Fouts laughed saying the Raiders did what they always do: cheat.

That (and Al Davis thumbing his nose at Pete Rozell and the NFL) is what I think lead to the Raiders being the most penalized team in the NFL over the last 20 years, and the tuck rule call, and several Raiders not being in the HOF that should, etc. They bent the rules and had some luck go their way in the 70's (Red Right 88 versus the Browns), and they have since paid for it.

I was just stating that in Superbowl 43, the tuck rule should have been called on the next to last play. Had it been, considering Warner had been red hot in the 4th quarter in finding Boldin and Fitzgerald...

I don't know where Manning belongs, but even if he doesn't win today, I think he'll end up in the top 5 all time QBs. He changed the game a little the way he plays, it's like having a coach on the field the way he runs the offense with his audibles and defensive reads. Both Drew Brees and Tom Brady play this way as well, but not to the extent of Manning, who adopted it and adapted sooner. The only other QB I can say changed the game as much is Unitas.

I personally think Joe Namath belongs close behind the others. An incredible arm with perfect throwing motion, a leader, and he played on weak teams, often when injured. Plus won a huge Superbowl upset.

 

[The Hitch]

I'm sticking with Seahawks and Patriots but a persuasive case can be made for all 4 teams. Both away teams are looking more solid than the home teams at the moment but Seahawks at home, the way they demolished everyone who went there, just can't take the 49ers at century link.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I personally think Joe Namath belongs close behind the others. An incredible arm with perfect throwing motion, a leader, and he played on weak teams, often when injured. Plus won a huge Superbowl upset.

Geez. Forgot to mention him. I guess I had him in my T-5 last time around. You know where the posts are?
But whom I left out?
So I expand my T-5 to T-6...

1 hour to go for going, another 1 to wait for the kickoff. Am getting more nervous, but the beers help.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I'm sticking with my picks. Denver and SF. But I will say if the Pats establish the run and play action, they can win in the 4th Q. I will also be very nervous if the Broncos are behind late and Manning has to bring them back. But I don't see that happening. I just see a better overall performance be Denver.

The other game I'm really a toss up on. I'm almost more confident in a 16-13 score in a grinding game than picking a winner!

Agree with Merckx. I don't know how either AFC team puts up many points against SF, or especially Seattle. Especially in the cold. But I don't see NE or De's defense n stopping either SF or Seattle often enough.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

I'm sticking with my picks. Denver and SF. But I will say if the Pats establish the run and play action, they can win in the 4th Q. I will also be very nervous if the Broncos are behind late and Manning has to bring them back. But I don't see that happening. I just see a better overall performance be Denver.

The other game I'm really a toss up on. I'm almost more confident in a 16-13 score in a grinding game than picking a winner!

Agree with Merckx. I don't know how either AFC team puts up many points against SF, or especially Seattle. Especially in the cold. But I don't see NE or De's defense n stopping either SF or Seattle often enough.

NE weren't able to stop the Panthers that well, and as Foxy pointed out, we were like 20th in the NFL. But, if it's NE, the answer to how they stop either SF or Seattle is Bill Belichick...he is a minion of the forces of evil, and therefore always has a shot.

 

[ToreBear]

I think Denver and SF win.

SF-SE is difficult. But even with home field advantage, I have my doubts about the Seattle offense vs. SF defense.

 

[The Hitch]

Jesus Christ, its 18 c in Denver. In the middle of January at 2000 altitude. For us that's the average daily temperature for midsummer.

The US has a strange climate.