NFL 2012 Divisional Week Thread

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No disrespect whatsoever to *Legion*, but the games start tomorrow (!) and we need a day for pick'ems, so I will take up the mantle for this week. Just for this week, you hear me? I'm not as good at the football analysis, though.

Ravens at Broncos: I'll admit, I'm a little (okay, a lot) biased in this one. The Ravens have been talking all week about how things are going to be different this time. Yes, Ray Lewis is back, but the Ravens defense just isn't as effective against the run as they used to be. If Knowshon Moreno can get going early, this one might be over before it starts - not to mention playing on the road against a red-hot Broncos team coming off a week's rest, and, oh yeah, you're 5,280 feet in the air. Broncos.

Packers at 49ers: We know what we have in Aaron Rodgers in the postseason, but his offensive line is full of holes, allowing the second most sacks this year. We're not sure how Kapernick will react in a playoff game, but the 49ers come into the game with the third best defense in the league. These two teams met in the first week of the season, and the 49ers came away with the victory. I just don't see Aaron Rodgers getting much going here. 49ers.

Seahawks at Falcons: I'll admit, I'm largely picking the Seahawks because I want to see a Carroll - Harbaugh rematch in the NFC championship. Still, the Seahawks - Redskins game was the best of the bunch last week, and Matt Ryan has difficulty winning in the playoffs. That last part may not be a very good reason, but I'm going with my gut on this one.

Texans at Patriots: When these two teams met in Week 14, it was heralded as the last heavyweight game the Patriots had left to play, and nobody was sure which way this was going to go. The Texans, it turns out, were blown out 42-14. While the Texans may be wanting to prove that it won't happen again, they also struggled last week against the Bengals. Going up against Tom Brady with a week's rest? I think this game will be closer thanks to New England's soft secondary, but I'm picking the Patriots.

Last Week's Results:

McFinn: 4-0
TheGameguru: 4-0
Elliottx: 4-0
Kush15: 4-0
LeapingGnome: 4-0

Kaostheory: 3-1
Atras: 3-1
Stele: 3-1
Billt721: 3-1
Oldmanscene24: 3-1
Thejustinbot: 3-1
Certis: 3-1
Whispa: 3-1
Xeknos: 3-1
Garion333: 3-1
Sheared: 3-1
Fedaykin98: 3-1

MilkmanDanimal: 2-2
Boogle: 2-2
Lostlobster: 2-2
Fangblackbone: 2-2
Karmajay: 2-2
Peedmyself: 2-2
Tboon: 2-2
*Legion*:2-2

Jayhawker: 1-3

Iaintgotnopants: 0-4
Zaque: 0-4

No Entry:
Gumbie 0-4
Jasonofindy: 0-4
bighoppa: 0-4
mudbunny: 0-4
TempestBlayze: 0-4
sr_malo: 0-4
AnimeJ: 0-4
ukickmydog: 0-4

Season to date:

sheared: 58-29

Jayhawker: 56-31
Certis: 56-31
McFinn: 56-31

Xeknos: 55-32
Kush15: 55-32
LeapingGnome: 55-32

Elliottx: 54-33

*Legion*: 53-34
TheGameguru: 53-34

karmajay: 51-36
lostlobster: 51-36

tboon: 49-38

iaintgotnopants: 48-39
peedmyself: 48-39
thejustinbot: 48-39

Stele: 47-40

MilkmanDanimal: 46-41
kaostheory: 46-41
oldmanscene24: 46-41

Zaque: 45-42

Fedaykin98: 43-44

fangblackbone: 42-45
garion333: 42-45

Gumbie: 41-42
boogle: 41-46

Jasonofindy: 39-44
Atras: 39-48

bighoppa: 36-47
mudbunny: 36-47

TempestBlayze: 33-50
billt721: 33-54

sr_malo: 32-51

AnimeJ: 31-52

ukickmydog: 28-55

whispa: 12-75

I think this list is correct. If there are any problems, let me know.

Wow, I might actually make it back to .500 after an abysmal season of missed or poor picks. This must be how the Rams or Raiders feel every year.

I've decided that a reality-based lifestyle isn't as fun, so . . . wooo, regular season champion for picks! Bow to me!

Ravens at Broncos: The Broncos have been the most consistently good team for the latter half of the season. Plus, this helps give us PEYTON PEYTON PEYTON VS. {pause}

Packers at 49ers: "News reports indicate a man only known as *Legion* was seen sobbing on his knees, hands flung to the sky like that guy at the end of Platoon, screaming again and again, 'Colin, Colin, why hast thou forsaken me?'"

Texans at Patriots: We saw this not that long ago, and has anything really changed? Also, {unpause} BRADY BRADY BRADY OMG SPORTSCASTERGASMS ALL AROUND.

Seahawks at Falcons: I want the Falcons to lose, but some year they have to actually win a playoff game, right? Right?

I guess I have to continue going with what my bracket, though I almost feel like I am not as confident in the 49ers as I once was. Maybe seeing them play tomorrow night will ease my worries. I also realized that I only picked 2 road teams to win all post-season. So far it's working, but I can't remember the last time all 4 top seeds moved on to the Championship round........................

Ravens at Broncos
Packers at 49ers
Seahawks at Falcons
Texans at Patriots

The best football weekend of the year starts in about 30 hours. DO NOT BOTHER ME, WIFEY!

Ravens at Broncos
Packers at 49ers
Seahawks at Falcons
Texans at Patriots

Ravens at Broncos
Packers at 49ers
Texans at Patriots
Seahawks at Falcons

Broncos - Arguably the best team in football right now, playing at home against a team they embarassed on the road earlier in the year. That defense for the Ravens isn't what it was and the Broncos D is firing on all cylinders. Probably won't even be close.

49ers - All comes down to Justin Smith's health. If he's healthy enough to get away with some sneaky holds on the O-Line, Aldon Smith can return to being an elite pass rusher instead of just a pretty good one. 9ers won the first one in Green Bay by not turning it over, attacking the middle of the field and getting pressure on Rodgers while keeping him in the pocket. They do it again and they win. Stat of the week, Rodgers is 1-10 in games where his defense doesn't record a takeaway.

Patriots - Really?

Seahawks - Until the Falcons prove they can win in the playoffs, I can't back them. I do feel however if they win this one they have a great chance of winning next week as well, once they break the mental block on winning in the post season.

Ravens at Broncos:

Packers at 49ers:

Texans at Patriots:

Seahawks at Falcons:

Ravens at Broncos: Without home field advantage, I just don't think Flacco can keep up.

Packers at 49ers: REALLY tempted to take the Pack. There's something about the 49ers that gives me pause, but they're at home and they ain't no joke.

Seahawks at Falcons: Tough to beat Atlanta at home.

Texans at Patriots: As close to a homer pick a Canadian can have.

No disrespect whatsoever to *Legion*, but the games start tomorrow (!) and we need a day for pick'ems, so I will take up the mantle for this week. Just for this week, you hear me? I'm not as good at the football analysis, though.

I'd have more time for football analysis if someone else did the stupid pick'ems. Damn Rat Boy.

Re-posting for the weekend.

The quirky tales and controversy of Colin Kaepernick.

In case all of you didn't love him already, now you should. :p

*Legion* wrote:
No disrespect whatsoever to *Legion*, but the games start tomorrow (!) and we need a day for pick'ems, so I will take up the mantle for this week. Just for this week, you hear me? I'm not as good at the football analysis, though.

I'd have more time for football analysis if someone else did the stupid pick'ems. Damn Rat Boy.

If you want, I could run the pickems next year if you want to run the analytical side of things. Heck, maybe we'll just create a group in CBSSport.com or Yahoo.com and roll from there.

Certis wrote:

Texans at Patriots: As close to a homer pick a Canadian can have.

Hey now, the Bills occasionally play in Toronto. Never in January, but it's Ralph Wilson's international gift.

Kush15 wrote:

I guess I have to continue going with what my bracket...

Same here I guess, except for those damn SeaChickens who weren't supposed to make it this far. :p If I go 3-1 picking against them again, so be it. That just means they would be coming to Candlestick for an ass-kicking next week.

Ravens at Broncos
Packers at 49ers
Seahawks at Falcons
Texans at Patriots

S0LIDARITY wrote:
Certis wrote:

Texans at Patriots: As close to a homer pick a Canadian can have.

Hey now, the Bills occasionally play in Toronto. Never in January, but it's Ralph Wilson's international gift.

Wouldn't Seattle be closer to Canada than Boston?

Kush15 wrote:

If you want, I could run the pickems next year if you want to run the analytical side of things. Heck, maybe we'll just create a group in CBSSport.com or Yahoo.com and roll from there.

Remind me as we get into summer and we'll figure out a new plan of attack for next season's threads.

New Jags GM has earned one gold star in my book already: he closed the door on the idea of the team signing Tebow.

*Legion* wrote:
Kush15 wrote:

If you want, I could run the pickems next year if you want to run the analytical side of things. Heck, maybe we'll just create a group in CBSSport.com or Yahoo.com and roll from there.

Remind me as we get into summer and we'll figure out a new plan of attack for next season's threads.

I suggest whatever gets new threads started on Tues, Wed at the latest.

Those Thurs night games every week are annoying.

Stele wrote:
*Legion* wrote:
Kush15 wrote:

If you want, I could run the pickems next year if you want to run the analytical side of things. Heck, maybe we'll just create a group in CBSSport.com or Yahoo.com and roll from there.

Remind me as we get into summer and we'll figure out a new plan of attack for next season's threads.

I suggest whatever gets new threads started on Tues, Wed at the latest.

Those Thurs night games every week are annoying.

And also usually terrible.

Ravens at Broncos: The matchup here is VonMiller who likes to rush on the right side of the offense against Oher. Oher hasn't looked good at all in pass block set this year. Hopefully Caldwell leaves an RB or a TE there to not just chip block, but I doubt it.

Packers at 49ers: I sit next to a packers fan at work. I want to hear him whine.

Texans at Patriots: TOM BRADY!!!!! (Powered by Giselle Bunchen)

Seahawks at Falcons: Remember when I said I sat next to a packers fan?

*Legion* wrote:

New Jags GM has earned one gold star in my book already: he closed the door on the idea of the team signing Tebow.

I see it as more of a bargaining tactic, he's threatening to walk away from the bargaining table early.
While I know I'll get sick of Tebow trade rumors very soon, I would prefer those rumors not to be centered around my favorite bad team.

Ravens at Broncos - Broncos are the team to beat this year.
Packers at 49ers - 49ers haven't looked the same since Justin Smith went out with an injury. Packers are heating up and 49ers are cooling down. I'm happy with whichever team wins here though, both great teams.
Texans at Patriots - I don't bet against the Patriots in the playoffs, it is a price I pay for having them eventually lose.
Seahawks at Falcons - The 10am PST starting is just a brutal knee-capping that the league did to the Seahawks but even with that, their strengths line up with Atlanta's weaknesses. Will Atlanta have the playoff mental block or can they finally get it all together?

Ravens at Broncos: Manning has always dismantled the Ravens and Flacco isn't to be trusted. Still, I won't be able to watch the game so I'm picking the Ravens and hoping for the best.

Packers at 49ers: I don't trust the Packers OL. 49ers.

Texans at Patriots: Patriots at home.

Seahawks at Falcons: The Falcons have to win a playoff game at some point, but the Seahawks pass D will likely make it harder for the Falcons to throw the ball and bazillion times and I'm not high on their run game, at all. Seahawks on da road, again.

S0LIDARITY wrote:
*Legion* wrote:

New Jags GM has earned one gold star in my book already: he closed the door on the idea of the team signing Tebow.

I see it as more of a bargaining tactic, he's threatening to walk away from the bargaining table early.
While I know I'll get sick of Tebow trade rumors very soon, I would prefer those rumors not to be centered around my favorite bad team.

There is no bargaining table. No team in the NFL will trade anything for Tebow. He will be released, a free agent, and he will be fortunate if any NFL team is interested in acquiring him.

Broncos
Packers
Patriots
Seahawks

@*Legion*, I am doubtful that anyone will actually give something up for Tebow. I'm trying to will it to happen. I also vaguely recall Jim Kelly being a Tebow supporter, hopefully his opinion has changed.

Broncos
Packers
Patriots
Falcons

Denver
San Fran
NE
Seattle

Broncos
49ers
Patriots
Falcons

Broncos
49ers
Patriots
Falcons

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