2017 NFL Playoffs the road to Super Bowl LI

[burn_baby_burn]

Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans, Saturday Jan 7, 2:35 MST.

Detroit Lions @ Seattle Seahawks, Saturday Jan 7, 6:15 MST.

Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday Jan 8, 11:05 MST.

New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers, Sunday Jan 8, 2:40 MST.


Personally, I'm a little more excited than usual as the Chiefs earned a first round bye and I will be in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday January 15th.

[troutman]

I think all the home teams win, except for maybe GB. That one is a toss-up IMO.

[Spuds_Buckley]

Well, whomever wins this round of the AFC is bound to be cannon fodder for the following week.

I'd like to see all visiting teams win, but I think all home teams will prevail.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Most interesting thing about this weekend, besides NYG-GB, is whether Texans-Raiders ends up as the lowest rated playoff game ever. I think ultimately no, because the Raiders have a decent national following. But on paper this is one of the worst playoff games in NFL history. Mercifully they put it first so everyone can grab a Saturday afternoon nap before the night game.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Spuds_Buckley

Well, whomever wins this round of the AFC is bound to be cannon fodder for the following week.

I'd like to see all visiting teams win, but I think all home teams will prevail.

Pittsburgh would probably be a favorite against Kansas City in that game. But I think the AFC is pretty much a one and a half horse race between New England and Pittsburgh.

My straight up picks are:
Houston
Seattle
New York (only because I said so earlier in the year)
Pittsburgh

Although I think Detroit will cover the spread against the Seahawks.

Of the teams playing this week, only New York, Green Bay, or Pittsburgh have any chance in the next round. This will anger the `12's' but without Earl Thomas, I'd expect the Falcons to light them up.

I have the Giants and Patriots meeting up in the Super Bowl again, but Brady finally bettering Eli at this point in time.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Personally, I'm a little more excited than usual as the Chiefs earned a first round bye and I will be in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday January 15th.

That's awesome. Hopefully Cairo Santos doesn't channel his inner Lynn Elliot....and Tyreek Hill is able to take another 60+ yarder to the house.

It's very likely the Steelers coming to Arrowhead and they did bludgeon the Chiefs in week 4. But the Patriots were crushed in Arrowhead and won a Superbowl two years ago. So hopefully that game can be thrown out, and Miami can beat up the Steelers a bit like the Bengals did last year before they went into Denver.

[Spuds_Buckley]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

That's awesome. Hopefully Cairo Santos doesn't channel his inner Lynn Elliot....and Tyreek Hill is able to take another 60+ yarder to the house.

It's very likely the Steelers coming to Arrowhead and they did bludgeon the Chiefs in week 4. But the Patriots were crushed in Arrowhead and won a Superbowl two years ago. So hopefully that game can be thrown out, and Miami can beat up the Steelers a bit like the Bengals did last year before they went into Denver.

^ This is likely to happen with Suh playing on the opposing team.

I'd really like to see KC play the Pats for the AFC Championship. IMO if you can pressure Brady like Denver did last year, you have a chance to beat them. The Chiefs have the best pass rushers with the likes of Houston, Hali, and Dee Ford.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Pittsburgh would probably be a favorite against Kansas City in that game. But I think the AFC is pretty much a one and a half horse race between New England and Pittsburgh.

My straight up picks are:
Houston
Seattle
New York (only because I said so earlier in the year)
Pittsburgh

Although I think Detroit will cover the spread against the Seahawks.

Of the teams playing this week, only New York, Green Bay, or Pittsburgh have any chance in the next round. This will anger the `12's' but without Earl Thomas, I'd expect the Falcons to light them up.

I have the Giants and Patriots meeting up in the Super Bowl again, but Brady finally bettering Eli at this point in time.

that would be the craziest stat in the history of sport if Brady went 4-3 in Super Bowls losing all three to Eli Manning :P

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Most interesting thing about this weekend, besides NYG-GB, is whether Texans-Raiders ends up as the lowest rated playoff game ever. I think ultimately no, because the Raiders have a decent national following. But on paper this is one of the worst playoff games in NFL history. Mercifully they put it first so everyone can grab a Saturday afternoon nap before the night game.

Yeah the Oakland v Texans matchup is a stinker unless you are a fan of either team but not worst of all time bad. Raiders are a big story this year just too bad about QB. But there have been teams with worse records in the playoffs before. It's just the worst matchup this year.

[FireGilbert]

I think the Hawks, Steelers and Giants will win easily while the Texans/Raiders is a toss up .

Also, aren't the Texans and Raiders pretty good teams just with bad Quarterbacks? I guess TV ratings are somewhat dependent on big name QBs however.

[transplant99]

Alshon Jeffery guarantees the Bears will win the Superbowl next year.

Im not kidding.

To a portion of the frustrated fan base, Jeffery's comment -- "I guarantee you we'll win the Super Bowl next year" -- felt ill-timed. The Bears had just finished the worst season in franchise history and missed the playoffs for the ninth time in 10 years.

Im curious who the SB winning QB is supposed to be....cause it sure as hell aint any of the guys they have now.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...bowl-guarantee

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Of the teams playing this week, only New York, Green Bay, or Pittsburgh have any chance in the next round. This will anger the `12's' but without Earl Thomas, I'd expect the Falcons to light them up.

I'm a Hawks fan but no chance they win on the road. It has been a very inconstant season and they were lucky to be in such a bad division.

Originally Posted by GirlySports

that would be the craziest stat in the history of sport if Brady went 4-3 in Super Bowls losing all three to Eli Manning :P

The crazier stat would be Eli Manning going 3-0 in Super Bowls winning all three against Brady.

[burn_baby_burn]

I really don't think you can judge a game before it happens. Yeah, Oakland and Houston don't look like world beaters. But the great thing about NFL Football, hell sports in general, is that it can be unpredictable. How many hyped up matchups end up being snoozers?

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

That's awesome. Hopefully Cairo Santos doesn't channel his inner Lynn Elliot....and Tyreek Hill is able to take another 60+ yarder to the house.

It's very likely the Steelers coming to Arrowhead and they did bludgeon the Chiefs in week 4. But the Patriots were crushed in Arrowhead and won a Superbowl two years ago. So hopefully that game can be thrown out, and Miami can beat up the Steelers a bit like the Bengals did last year before they went into Denver.

We know as long time Chiefs fans that nothing is ever in the bag. At the very least the BBQ at Joe's will be awesome!

[station]

Rooting for New York and/or Seattle this week as the highest seed of those or Green Bay will face Atlanta next week and I want no part of the Packers right now. I think they're the only team in the NFC that can keep up with the Falcons offense and Rodgers always seems to light us up.

[burn_baby_burn]

Are we going to see the traditional Falcons that light it up during the regular season earning a bye, only to get their butt kicked at home?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Are we going to see the traditional Falcons that light it up during the regular season earning a bye, only to get their butt kicked at home?

The last time they were the number 1 seed (Tony Gonzalez final season) they did manage to beat Seattle despite blowing a big second half lead, and mounted a pretty good comeback against the 49'ers.

I think this years team is better as the offence is as good and maybe better with the run game and line that they have to go with Ryan and Julio Jones. Their defence is a bit like Dallas where maybe it's not a renowned group of players, but they have a couple good rookies and Vic Beasley starting to hit his stride.

The NFC is pretty open. Really I think any of Dallas, Atlanta, Green Bay or the the Giants could be in the Superbowl. On any day any of these teams is capable of beating the other.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Yeah the Oakland v Texans matchup is a stinker unless you are a fan of either team but not worst of all time bad. Raiders are a big story this year just too bad about QB. But there have been teams with worse records in the playoffs before. It's just the worst matchup this year.

Oakland is 12-4 tied for the 3rd best record in the NFL...obviously there have been worse records

Houston doesn't deserve a home game

this would be a cake walk for Oakland except the fact they have to start their 3rd stringer who has never started an NFL game

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Oakland is 12-4 tied for the 3rd best record in the NFL...obviously there have been worse records

Houston doesn't deserve a home game

this would be a cake walk for Oakland except the fact they have to start their 3rd stringer who has never started an NFL game

The game between the two teams in Mexico City wasn't exactly a cake walk. Oakland had to come from behind to win that night with Derek Carr, and the Texans had two officiating gaffes go against them. One of which cost them a touch down, and the other which cost them a first down.

As much as many dismiss the Texans at time due to their woeful QB's (myself included), they do generally find ways to be pretty competitive. Even without JJ Watt, their defence has been pretty good this year. Houston has a good team in every aspect except that they can't seem to find a guy who can even consistently be a game manager at QB. Brian Hoyer gave it to them for a short stretch last year, but they have struggled to find a singular guy to do that since Matt Schwabb fell apart.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The game between the two teams in Mexico City wasn't exactly a cake walk. Oakland had to come from behind to win that night with Derek Carr, and the Texans had two officiating gaffes go against them. One of which cost them a touch down, and the other which cost them a first down.

As much as many dismiss the Texans at time due to their woeful QB's (myself included), they do generally find ways to be pretty competitive. Even without JJ Watt, their defence has been pretty good this year. Houston has a good team in every aspect except that they can't seem to find a guy who can even consistently be a game manager at QB. Brian Hoyer gave it to them for a short stretch last year, but they have struggled to find a singular guy to do that since Matt Schwabb fell apart.

Two teams in the entire NFL won more games than the Raiders this year

TWO, as a fan its really unfortunate they are playing a wild card game on the road with their third string quarterback and people are talking like they snuck into the playoffs or something.

9-7 team has home field against a 12-4 team...its nothing against Houston it just doesn't seem right