NFL Playoffs

[jmq]

What are the opening lines and over/unders?

[soxfan22]

Brady appears to have issues when you smack him around and put pressure on him. The Giants taught us that in the Super Bowl two years ago, right? The Ravens sacked him three times including the strip sack and chased or hit him on several other occasions. They also picked him off three times. The four turnovers led to 20 Ravens points. Ouch.
And why didn’t the Ravens challenge that muffed punt that was “recovered” by the Pats without clearly having possession as they fell out of bounds that gave the Pats 7 points? What was the Ravens guy upstairs watching?

Sour grapes? Partially. Rex Ryan came in talking a lot of smack, which never really goes over well. And then three weeks ago, he declared his team dead, not knowing that there was a slight chance they still had a shot. Of course, that shot could only come to fruition if two teams sent their practice squads on the field against the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets in weeks 16 and 17, and that's exactly what happened.

The sour grapes part comes in because my team won 11 games last year, and nobody laid down for anybody, and they didn't get in. Plus of course, I loathe the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets.

And JMQ, actually you are very wrong about Tom Brady. Any NFL "expert" will tell you that there is no tougher SOB playing QB in the NFL than Mr. Brady. There isn't a quarterback on the planet past or present who hasn't fared better when given time. That's Giants D-Line in the Super Bowl was one of the great D-Lines ever to play in a SB - oh and BTW, Brady drove his team down the field for the go ahead TD with 2 minutes and change on the clock.

The only QB I know of who gets better when pressured is Big Ben in Pittsburgh. He is absolutely lethal when he is forced to move and throw on the run, outside of the pocket.

[Boston Mike]

GO PITTSBURG!!!!!

Oooooooops, sorry Bev.

I hate to say it but there is something about those Jets.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

C'mon Sox. After the game, Brady went home and posted on his facebook status, "pink with lace."

[bevm]

"The only QB I know of who gets better when pressured is Big Ben in Pittsburgh. He is absolutely lethal when he is forced to move and throw on the run, outside of the pocket."

The one time Sox and I agree!!!

Hey Mike, your QB and mine will be watching the big game from their living rooms this year..

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

My vote goes to Warner. He doesn't leave the pocket to avoid pressure, he just gets rid of the ball so damn fast. That's the dilemma when game planning against him. If you sit back in coverage and don't bring pressure, he'll pick you apart. If you blitz, he'll find the hot read and get the ball out before the pressure hits.

Ask the Packers and their #2 rated defense.

[soxfan22]

My vote goes to Warner. He doesn't leave the pocket to avoid pressure, he just gets rid of the ball so damn fast. That's the dilemma when game planning against him. If you sit back in coverage and don't bring pressure, he'll pick you apart. If you blitz, he'll find the hot read and get the ball out before the pressure hits.

Ask the Packers and their #2 rated defense.

Your vote goes to Warner over whom? I also think Warner is a HOF'er, in fact I thought his leading the Cards to the Super Bowl last year all but assured his induction.

As for that #2 rated defense, I'd say that's a bit misleading. Of their 16 games played (not counting yesterday), the Pack beefed up that defensive ranking on the likes of:

Chicago Bears (twice)
St. Louis Rams
Detroit Lions (twice)
Cleveland Browns
Tampa Bay Bucs
SF 49ers
Seattle Seahawks

Nine of their games were played against teams that don't exactly conjure up images of the Greatest Show on Turf, let alone the 2007 Patriots.

At the beginning of the season, the Pack had the 3rd easiest strength of schedule. I don't necessarily put a ton of stock into those preseason SOS rankings due to the fact that there has been so much parity in the league over the past decade, that nobody can really tell for sure who will or won't be good the following season (other than teams like the Colts, Pats, Steelers, Eagles, and San Diego...those teams all seem to be in the playoffs every year).

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

The earlier discussion was about quarterbacks who make things happen when under pressure. I was just adding that I think Warner does as good a job at that as anyone in the league.

No arguments here...I agree that the Packers D was overrated.

[soxfan22]

The earlier discussion was about quarterbacks who make things happen when under pressure. I was just adding that I think Warner does as good a job at that as anyone in the league.

No arguments here...I agree that the Packers D was overrated.

Yeah, I agree on Warner. Love him, and can't believe he's contemplating not coming back next year.

I will assume Pete that you were also a fan of Dan Marino? They say he had the quickest release of all time...Do you think Warner's release compares?

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

I watched Marino growing up. In terms of release, it really is difficult to say whether he or Warner is faster. The point with Warner, though, is his decision making. In the face of the blitz, he's out to the hot read in the blink of an eye. I really think the arena football experience helped him in that regard.

[jmq]

Sox - not questioning Brady's toughness (we’ll never know how much he was really hurting this past weekend). Just reflecting the conventional wisdom down here i.e. knock him around hard early, have the pressure give him happy feet and/or change his release point, and he becomes mortal.
So, actually agreeing with you – if you give him ANY time, you are dead. He will be one of the top 5 QBs of all time by the time he is done.
(also FYI not a Jets fan – these playoffs are about who I am rooting against LOL)

Now, about the upcoming games. Had a chance to look up the spreads:

NEW ORLEANS by 7 over Arizona o/u 57

INDIANAPOLIS by 6½ over Baltimore Ravens o/u 44½

MINNESOTA VIKINGS by 2½ over Dallas Cowboys o/u 47

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS by 7½ New York Jets o/u 42½

The NO/AZ game has to have more than 57 pts scored, no?

I thought the spread would be lower on the Vikes/Boys game considering how hot Dallas is and how you never know which Favre will show up and I thought Indy would be favored by at least a full touchdown if not 7 ½.

Does SD have any kind of defense? I have no idea. Time of possession will be uber critical for the Jets to even have a chance.

[DELETED]

DELETED

[jmq]

SJ - The Bolts might actually come out throwing. Rivers is real good under pressure. Don’t be surprised if they go at Revis with Vincent Jackson who is 6-5 (as are their other wideouts) so Rivers will want to go high to avoid the Jets jumping the routes, and then go with fade routes in the red zone.
Although I just saw that GB CB Woodson got the D Player of the Year so Revis will be extra motivated. He had a GREAT season and was deserving of the award.

Plus you have the matchup headache presented by TE Antonio Gates. Its notable that two of the Jets’ losses hinged on plays from the other team’s tight end (against the Jags and Falcons) so the Chargers would be foolish not to try to go to Gates at least 5-6 times.
I don’t know if SD does screens well, but they can also work against an aggressive D.
Sounds like I'm making a case for them to use the pass to set up the run, and maybe I am.

I just hope its an entertaining game, and yes, the Jets will need turnovers to win and for Sanchez not to do anything stupid, which he can do in bunches.

[DELETED]

DELETED

[Boston Mike]

"The only QB I know of who gets better when pressured is Big Ben in Pittsburgh. He is absolutely lethal when he is forced to move and throw on the run, outside of the pocket."

The one time Sox and I agree!!!

Hey Mike, your QB and mine will be watching the big game from their living rooms this year..

If I was Tom Brady I know what I would be watching from my living room, and it sure won't be a game....cha ching

Drink watch left