2017 NFL Playoffs the road to Super Bowl LI

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dino7c

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

And if Carr doesn't get injured possibly only the Patriots are the only team to win more games than the Raiders. I agree with what you are saying in that the Raiders were one of the best teams in the league and people are talking about them like they are a trash team that lucked into a playoff spot which is more in line with the Texans. However I don't know if there's a single team in the playoffs that could survive having their 3rd string QB start his first career game. I don't expect the Raiders to win on Saturday so it's unfortunate that a great season has to end this way but not much you can do when you lose your franchise player.

[Sainters7]

I'm still sick over the Carr injury, can't imagine how actual Raider fans feel. You wait 14 years for the playoffs, and when you finally get back there, not only did you make it but you're one of the favourites. Then 2 weeks before it starts you lose your best player and fall into "dead team walking" status. Gut punch.

They were totally going to be my playoff team to get behind too, fun team to watch. Now it's probably the Chiefs, and I guess whoever plays the Falcons/Seahawks/Cowboys/Patriots. Way too many teams I dislike are Super Bowl contenders this year, blech..

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dino7c

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

Even as a Texans fan I agree with this sentiment. Carr was a great story and so are the Raiders. Would have liked to see what they could do in the playoffs, but even then a win against the Texans is not necessarily a guarantee as Texans should have won the game in Mexico.

I suspect Patriots are only team in the playoffs that could possibly still win a game with their third string QB.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I suppose I should have been a lot clearer that "worst playoff matchup ever" is entirely about it being Osweiler vs. Cook. The Texans outside QB are a very good team, and the Raiders, while not as good overall, are still a decent young squad even without Carr. But we know the NFL is a QB league, and we all know Brock is awful and Cook is a third string rookie for a reason. On paper it spells lots of incompletions and turnovers and poor offensive play having more to do with things than quality defense. I'm cool with quality defense leading a low scoring game. But poor QB play leading to a 10-6 game is tough to watch. I kinda look at the Texans-Bengals Christmas Eve game as a likely doppleganger for this one. That game was of course awful, but still came down to a kick at the end. So there's still a good chance the game Saturday will be dramatic, I just think it'll be because it's an offensive struggle that keeps it close.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Even as a Texans fan I agree with this sentiment. Carr was a great story and so are the Raiders. Would have liked to see what they could do in the playoffs, but even then a win against the Texans is not necessarily a guarantee as Texans should have won the game in Mexico.

I suspect Patriots are only team in the playoffs that could possibly still win a game with their third string QB.

The Bills smoked the Patriots with their 3rd string QB starting so while the Pats are juggernauts they aren't that good. Also I'm not 100% convinced the Pats could beat the Steelers or Chiefs with Garoppolo starting. Losing your starting QB is pretty well the most crippling injury you can have in professional sports.

[Senator Clay Davis]

If the Patriots still had Gronk I think they probably beat everyone with Garoppolo playing instead. Remember it's not like the Patriots run a deeply complex offense, it's a rhythm offense with short throws and running the ball. Garoppolo has the quick release, so he's a natural in it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Also lol at a Pittsburgh restaurant removing fish from their menu this week for the game against the Dolphins. Geniuses, they are not.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I suppose I should have been a lot clearer that "worst playoff matchup ever" is entirely about it being Osweiler vs. Cook. The Texans outside QB are a very good team, and the Raiders, while not as good overall, are still a decent young squad even without Carr. But we know the NFL is a QB league, and we all know Brock is awful and Cook is a third string rookie for a reason. On paper it spells lots of incompletions and turnovers and poor offensive play having more to do with things than quality defense. I'm cool with quality defense leading a low scoring game. But poor QB play leading to a 10-6 game is tough to watch. I kinda look at the Texans-Bengals Christmas Eve game as a likely doppleganger for this one. That game was of course awful, but still came down to a kick at the end. So there's still a good chance the game Saturday will be dramatic, I just think it'll be because it's an offensive struggle that keeps it close.

Yeah that's not an appealing QB match-up to say the least.

The Texans homer in me still thinks there's an outside chance Osweiler puts it together somehow.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Yeah that's not an appealing QB match-up to say the least.

The Texans homer in me still thinks there's an outside chance Osweiler puts it together somehow.

He should. He's playing a defense with a lame duck co-ordinator as Ken Norton Jr will likely be fired as early as next week.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Houston 17 Oakland 9
Seattle 27 Detroit 16

Pittsburgh 31 Miami 21
New York 27 Green Bay 24

[station]

Think it's going to be a bunch of relatively close low scoring games this weekend due to mediocre quarterback play and cold weather.

Oakland 19 Houston 16
Seattle 23 Detroit 13
Pittsburgh 24 Miami 19
Green Bay 20 New York 16

[Sylvanfan]

I'll go
Houston 17 Oakland 16
Seattle 24 Detroit 21
Pittsburgh 30 Miami 10
New York 19 Green Bay 17

[Jiggy_12]

Houston 17 Oakland 13
Seattle 19 detroit 10
Pittsburgh 27 Miami 18
Green Bay 24 New York 21

[transplant99]

Oakland 16 Houston 13
Seattle 31 Detroit 17
Pittsburgh 28 Miami 13
Green Bay 30 NY Giants 26

[ResAlien]

Houston 6 Oakland 3
Seattle 17 Detroit 27
Pittsburgh 30 Miami 17
Green Bay 16 NY Giants 21

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Bills smoked the Patriots with their 3rd string QB starting so while the Pats are juggernauts they aren't that good. Also I'm not 100% convinced the Pats could beat the Steelers or Chiefs with Garoppolo starting. Losing your starting QB is pretty well the most crippling injury you can have in professional sports.

I wouldn't say they smoked the Patriots that game. Especially since Jacoby was playing with a broken thumb. If Garoppolo started against the Steelers or Chiefs I bet the Pats are still favored to win. He played extremely well while Tom was suspended.

[Sainters7]

I hate trying to predict scores, so I'll just say:

Houston
Seattle
Pittsburgh
Green Bay

Yeah, really going out on a limb by taking all the home teams, I know..outside of New York, I just don't see any upset potential in any of these games...maybe Oakland, just because with 0 QBs in this game it makes it a bit of a toss-up

[Sylvanfan]

How many people have bet the under on the Raiders/Texas game?
Strikes me as a game where everything would indicate under.....and Vegas influences a higher scoring game.

[transplant99]

Final lines

1/7 4:35 ET At Houston -4 Oakland 37.5 -$205 +$175
1/7 8:15 ET At Seattle -8.5 Detroit 44 -$400 +$330
1/8 1:05 ET At Pittsburgh -11 Miami 46 -$625 +$450
1/8 4:40 ET At Green Bay -5 NY Giants 44.5 -$240 +$200

[transplant99]

Just for posterity i will post these odds as well

League MVP

Matt Ryan -$300 (1 to 3)
Aaron Rodgers +$350 (7 to 2)
Tom Brady +$500 (5 to 1)
Ezekiel Elliot +$7,500 (75 to 1)
Dak Prescott +$7,500 (75 to 1)
LeVeon Bell +$10,000 (100 to 1)
Derek Carr +$15,000 (150 to 1)


Super Bowl Champions

New England Patriots +$160 (8 to 5)
Dallas Cowboys +$375 (15 to 4)
Pittsburgh Steelers +$900 (9 to 1)
Atlanta Falcons +$950 (19 to 2)
Green Bay Packers +$950 (19 to 2)
Kansas City Chiefs +$1,000 (10 to 1)
Seattle Seahawks +$1,400 (14 to 1)
New York Giants +$1,800 (18 to 1)
Detroit Lions +$9,000 (90 to 1)
Houston Texans +$9,000 (90 to 1)
Miami Dolphins +$9,000 (90 to 1)
Oakland Raiders +$11,500 (115 to 1)