NFL 2011 Divisional Playoff Round

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Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy?

Bengals 10 - Texans 31: The Phillips family reunion on the field was really a side bar to Houston's coming out party. First playoff game and win in franchise history (and no, the Oilers don't count anymore for the city). Now imagine how much more lopsided the score would have been if the team was healthy.

Lions 28 - Saints 45: The sequel to the regular season was pretty much the same as the original. Detroit's made strides this year, but they had the misfortune of running into New Orleans' offensive juggernaut. Drew Brees has more weapons than the 3rd Marine Division.

Falcons 2 - Giants 24: The knock against Matt Ryan and Atlanta was that they hadn't done anything in the playoffs. The knock continues. As for New York, Tom Coughlin's still safe. It's like he can't be killed or something.

Steelers 23 - Tebows 29: It's as if this is an AFC remake of last year's game between New Orleans and Seattle in the same postseason round. One team coming off a Super Bowl appearance, riddled with injuries and lack-luster play for the season. The other team being the division winner with the worst record in both conferences hosting a game they on paper shouldn't have a chance of winning. Throw in a shocking big play (though Marshawn Lynch had to break a few more tackles) and you have a shocking upset. I'll hold off on speaking about Denver until later, but as for Pittsburgh, the door's closing on them and closing fast. With Baltimore still on top and Cincinnati being an up-and-coming team, having the Steelers in the playoffs may not be a given anymore and the next time they are dominant, it could be a completely different team.

Divisional Round Pick 'Em: Hmmmmmm, you think one particular game may have thrown a monkey wrench into your picks? Let's see...

My record: 2-2

Your records:

Certis: 3-1
Fedaykin98: 3-1
Minase: 3-1*
Xeknos: 3-1*
Elliottx: 3-1
garion333: 3-1+
TempestBlayze: 3-1
bighoppa: 3-1
Psych: 3-1*
Secret Asian Man: 3-1
tboon: 3-1
thejustinbot: 3-1

Paleocon: 2-2
MilkmanDanimal: 2-2
Stele: 2-2
LeapingGnome: 2-2
Kush15: 2-2
boogle: 2-2
iaintgotnopants: 2-2
Gumbie: 2-2

oldmanscene24: 1-3
TheGameguru: 1-3+

Jayhawker: 0-4

* = These guys were the only ones with the cojones to pick the Broncos. Sadly, they got greedy in picking upsets.

+ = Unfortunately, I did say during the regular season that once you make your picks you're stuck with them. So, TheGameguru was stuck with the Bengals and garion333 with the Steelers. Sorry guys, but rules are rules.

Now, for the next round:

Saints vs. 49ers (Saturday, 4:30 ET, FOX): San Francisco has the advantage of the bye, the home field, and the defense. Did I merely say defense? I probably should have said Pro Bowl and All-Pro defense, plus special teams to boot. Throw out any talk about the weather; it feels more like summer during the afternoon around here than winter. Niners.

Broncos vs. Patriots (Saturday, 8:00 ET, CBS): I'm definitely harping on defense, of which New England has about zero which is a recipe for disaster when faced with one Timothy R. Tebow late in a game. Oh yeah, and Denver does have a defense however they did slack off and let Pittsbugh back into the game. But, the Patriots' offense is essentially the touchdown machine of the AFC that the Saints are in the NFC. Pats.

Texans vs. Ravens (Sunday, 1:00 ET, CBS): I'll quote but one stat here: 8-0. That's Baltimore's home record. Ravens.

Giants vs. Packers (Sunday, 4:30 ET, FOX): Same stat for Green Bay and while New York pushed the Packers to the brink, that was at their home. Go, Pack, go.

Enjoy the week, folks.

+ = Unfortunately, I did say during the regular season that once you make your picks you're stuck with them. So, TheGameguru was stuck with the Bengals and garion333 with the Steelers. Sorry guys, but rules are rules.

But you didn't say it during the playoffs. So there.

Rat Boy wrote:

Jayhawker: 0-4

Check. Wait for Jayhawker to make picks this week, then do the opposite.

Gah, I can't make my picks until I deal with the cognitive dissonance. Suffice it to say that I feel like a sh*thead any time I pick against my teams, including in NCAA tourney brackets.

I believe they can, but I think the odds are against it.

Yeah that is lame.. I changed mine almost instantly...booourns.

Rat Boy wrote:

Psych: 3-1*

* = These guys were the only ones with the cojones to pick the Broncos. Sadly, they got greedy in picking upsets.

Would now be a good time to mention that that was me screwing up my picks because of my phone? I mean, I guess I won't complain about accidentally getting one right, but I have been against Tebow from the beginning...

Anyway,

Niners.
Patriots.
Ravens.
The Pack.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Gah, I can't make my picks until I deal with the cognitive dissonance. Suffice it to say that I feel like a sh*thead any time I pick against my teams, including in NCAA tourney brackets.

I believe they can, but I think the odds are against it.

Yep. I'm picking the Niners this week no matter what. I'm so damn happy to be back in the playoffs.

The good thing about March Madness is ESPN/Yahoo let you do like 5-10 brackets each. So I can always put Louisville in one winning it all, just in case. And then be more realistic with my other brackets. Except for the years they should win it all, or at least make the final 4, like they should have recently.

Patriots
Ravens
Saints
Giants

TheGameguru wrote:

Yeah that is lame.. I changed mine almost instantly...booourns.

And I did mine to beat boogle. That should count.

Dude. Why am I not on the list? I realize I blew the call on the Cincy game and didn't think Pitt would crap the bed as bad as they did, but I'm still 2-2.

Saints at 49ers: Though nothing would warm my heart as much as the prospect of a Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh rematch in the Superbowl, the Saints are looking way too dangerous. Saints.

Broncos at Patriots: Tebow got a win because Pittsburgh apparently forgot how to play anything other than a goal line defense for an afternoon. Something tells me the Pats (with a week off and a healthy secondary) will not likely make the same error. Patriots

Texans at Ravens: Third string QB vs. a fearsome run defense that doesn't need to stack the box means that Yates will have a rough one. Playing at M&T will likely take away much of the no huddle effectiveness as well. Ravens.

Giants at Packers: Discount Double Check. Lots of Discount Double Check. Packers.

49ers
Patriots
Ravens
Packers

Stele wrote:
Rat Boy wrote:

Jayhawker: 0-4

Check. Wait for Jayhawker to make picks this week, then do the opposite. :D

Please do!

122 hours and 57 minutes till the start of the greatest weekend on the annual football calendar ...

Saints vs. 49ers: The Saints are the best team in the league right now on turf; I'll consider picking them at Green Bay next week. They're that good. Also, I hate myself for saying that.

Broncos vs. Patriots: Didn't this happen a few weeks ago? Now, if the Broncos can run-run-run, I think they have a shot, but the Patriots just score so many points that I can't see how the Broncos keep up. The Broncos have scored 30 points twice this year, the Patriots have done it 11 times.

Texans vs. Ravens: Flacco's been inconsistent enough this year that I'm not supremely confident in this one; if he makes some dumb throws against a good defense and Foster runs well on the other side, I can see the Texans winning it.

Giants vs. Packers: Sure, good pass rush for the Giants, but Rodgers gets rid of the ball quickly and there are usually enough receivers out that somebody is open.

PICKS SO NICE I HAD TO PICK THEM TWICE ALSO TEBOW SUCKS

Saints
Patriots
Ravens
Packers

Niners
Patriots
Ravens
Packers

Saints
Broncos (Yes, I'm insane, but Denver was running away with that game until they turned the ball over 3 times in the 2nd quarter.)
Ravens
Packers

Xeknos wrote:

Saints
Broncos (Yes, I'm insane, but Denver was running away with that game until they turned the ball over 3 times in the 2nd quarter.)
Ravens
Packers

Enix wrote:

122 hours and 57 minutes till the start of the greatest weekend on the annual football calendar ...

I disagree only on the grounds of putting Draft Weekend at #1.

But besides that, yes yes yes. The divisional round of the playoffs is the best.

Jayhawker wrote:

49ers
Patriots
Ravens
Packers

Stele wrote:
Rat Boy wrote:

Jayhawker: 0-4

Check. Wait for Jayhawker to make picks this week, then do the opposite. :D

Please do! :-)

Well you trapped me now. I already said I was picking the 49ers no matter what.

Call me Shotenheimer because I lose in the playoffs baby.

Saints vs. 49ers: Saints just look too good right now and the 49ers have let good teams score.

Broncos vs. Patriots: The Pats aren't immune to falling apart, but against Denver? The Jesus train stops here.

Texans vs. Ravens: That home team record is compelling.

Giants vs. Packers : Giants have a lot of momentum, but I think they're going to be tired and sleepy. Packers tuck them in.

Saints
Patsies
Texans
Giants- I think they can easily keep up with the points since the Packers dont exactly have a fantastic D and the Giants have many offensive weapons. The Gmens D are much healthier than they were in week 13 so I see them getting to Rodgers or putting pressure on him so he can't throw deep.

Go Giants!!!

Man, now that Tempest has picked the Texans I will not mind the next four times he kills me in BF3 a bit!

Saints vs. 49ers: I don't understand the 49ers and I don't think anyone else does either.

Broncos vs. Patriots: Haters gonna hate, Tebows gonna Tebow. My sister texted me on Sunday saying that Tebow looks like me. I replied that he throws like me.

Texans vs. Ravens: My Superbowl pick this year was Ravens vs Packers.

Giants vs. Packers: My Superbowl pick this year was Ravens vs Packers.

Elliottx wrote:

Saints vs. 49ers: I don't understand the 49ers and I don't think anyone else does either.

Broncos vs. Patriots: Haters gonna hate, Tebows gonna Tebow. My sister texted me on Sunday saying that Tebow looks like me. I replied that he throws like me.

Texans vs. Ravens: My Superbowl pick this year was Ravens vs Packers.

Giants vs. Packers: My Superbowl pick this year was Ravens vs Packers.

You throw like a girl?

Paleocon wrote:
Elliottx wrote:

Saints vs. 49ers: I don't understand the 49ers and I don't think anyone else does either.

Broncos vs. Patriots: Haters gonna hate, Tebows gonna Tebow. My sister texted me on Sunday saying that Tebow looks like me. I replied that he throws like me.

Texans vs. Ravens: My Superbowl pick this year was Ravens vs Packers.

Giants vs. Packers: My Superbowl pick this year was Ravens vs Packers.

You throw like a girl?

I'd say poorly but like a girl works too.

This week, I am going with...

Saints vs 49ers: Saints are on fire right now, and I dont think the 49ers offense can keep up.

Broncos vs Patriots: I voted Broncos last week and won. While Tebow isnt a passing machine, he plays well under pressure and the rest of the Broncos are firing on all cylinders. Dawkins should be back and as Xeknos stated, we were ripping the pats a new one until Dawkins was hurt. I think the Broncos will edge this one out.

Texans vs Ravens: Ravens haven't lost yet at home, and the Steelers are out of the race. I think this is the year they make the run. It was a nice story but the Texans time is up. Ravens are the better team on paper and they are hungry for a championship title.

Giants vs Packers: This will be the funnest game to watch. The G-men are a good team, but I dont think they quite have what it takes to beat the Pack at Lambeau. It will be a good game to watch, but I have to side with the Original Champions.

49ers
Pats
Ravens
Packers

I'm just picking who I want to win at this point.

49ers
Pats
Ravens
Giants

Saints (of course)
Broncos upset special. Stupid I know but I've been called stupid before so no biggie...
Texans team of destiny? Regardless they believe in themselves and I don't believe in Flacco
Packers setting up Saints/Packers rematch with a different outcome

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