2014 NFL Playoffs Thread

[habernac]

I'm just hoping the #### weather stays there. The dome team with have all sorts of issues with that.

[darklord700]

The Pats D line had been decimated by injuries and they can't stop the rush even when they were healthy. The Colts are probably a favorable matchup for the Pats.

[SuperMatt18]

Decent article from Bill Simmons that shows just how unpredictable the NFL playoffs have become over the last 7 seasons.

Really just the stats at the start are good. The actual picks and gambling rules are bad.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...suggestion-box

• In the last eight postseasons, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are 19-16 combined, with two Super Bowl titles.
• In the last eight postseasons, Mark Sanchez, Eli Manning, and Joe Flacco are 21-9 combined, with three Super Bowl titles.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Pats lost Spikes for the season with a knee injury today...Im afraid my boys will be in tough to beat the Colts this week. Thats a heavy hit along with Wilfork, Kelly and Mayo. Will need a bloody miracle to win. With Gronk and Vollmer out on O it could be a long day. Maybe the Colts Richardson finally gets to run for over 20 yards this week.

Well, good thing you have Tom "Bloody Miracle" Brady as your QB and leader.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Andrew Luck has a bigger bloody miracle comeback this year than Tom Brady...

[Displaced Flames fan]

Seahawks 34 Saints 28 in 8 OTs....I just can't pick this game. In the end, I think Seattle at home gets by the Saints barely.

Carolina 21 San Francisco 17 The 49ers have looked better in recent weeks, but I'm still not convinced that Kaepernick will be as effective against a top tier defence as he was in Green Bay this past weekend.

New England 30 Indianapolis 24 Brady comes from behind in the 4th quarter.

Denver 28 San Diego 20 - Chargers settle for FG's early and it costs them. They've played so well, except for the one game they HAD to win to get in. It's kind of funny.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Andrew Luck has a bigger bloody miracle comeback this year than Tom Brady...

Not sure what you're trying to say so I won't get too crazy in my response, but to compare Andrew Luck at home in year 2 to Tom Brady at home in year 15 or whatever it is isn't wise.

[darklord700]

The Pats have too many injuries to overcome. Their records made the team look better with all those late game wins closer to the end of the season. But the Colts don't look that good either and they were one KC catch away from being eliminated at home.

The Colts and the Pats are the two worse teams left in the playoff.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Seahawks 34 Saints 28 in 8 OTs....I just can't pick this game. In the end, I think Seattle at home gets by the Saints barely.

Carolina 21 San Francisco 17 The 49ers have looked better in recent weeks, but I'm still not convinced that Kaepernick will be as effective against a top tier defence as he was in Green Bay this past weekend.

New England 30 Indianapolis 24 Brady comes from behind in the 4th quarter.

For me that game comes down to the fact that I think San Francisco has a better arsenal of offensive weapons now the Crabtree is back in the fold than what Carolina does. Both defences are tough, but since the two teams last met, San Fran has Aldon Smith fully back in the fold on defence (he had just returned from suspension the first meeting), and Crabtree back on offence that it provides a pretty big boost to San Francisco.

The one thing about this game is that San Francisco is forced to travel a fair ways again, on a shortish week after playing a pretty tough game against Green Bay. These teams are close, so a slight bit of fatigue could certainly be the difference here. I know a lot of teams that play in the Wild Card week do tend to end up in the Superbowl, but I don't know how often it involves teams that had to make three consecutive road trips into different time zones.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'm saying Tom Brady hasn't pulled off that many "bloody miracles" in his career. Beyond the 24 point comeback this year, and the 31-3 rally last year against the 49ers (that they lost), he doesn't have a big history of massive comebacks.

Usually the Pats have a big lead. Rarely are they making huge comebacks.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by darklord700

The Pats have too many injuries to overcome. Their records made the team look better with all those late game wins closer to the end of the season. But the Colts don't look that good either and they were one KC catch away from being eliminated at home.

The Colts and the Pats are the two worse teams left in the playoff.

The Pats had some games that could have gone either way. If Amendola didn't drop a TD in Miami, NE would be the #1 seed in the AFC. Amazing if you consider all of the injuries. Bill is Coach of the Year, every year.

[Flabbibulin]

Hate to say it, but the Pats are not structured to be a good playoff team, mostly because of defense and the lack of a deep threat on offense. Their d made some improvements this year, and would have been even better had it not been for injuries.

They had playoff success 2 years ago, but that was thanks to a second bye week against the Tebow Broncos and an incredibly unlikey FG miss by the Ravens at the last second of AFC championship.

That said, they are masters at getting first downs. Because of the newbies though, they don't have the no huddle offense that was always their biggest asset.

[trackercowe]

Don't forget the win against the Browns this year. That was absolutely a miracle comeback. He only has 9 less 4th quarter comebacks in his career (31) than Peyton.

I don't like the Pats odds either based on their injury situation, but they did beat the Broncos and Saints already this year, and their loss to the Panthers was controversial. So at least they do have a track record of beating the best out there (they also hammered the Ravens and Steelers). Really the only loss they had to a "top" team was to Cincinnati back in week five when Brady played like crap. The Patriots often raise their game against higher competition, which could help them if they get past this week.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Pats had some games that could have gone either way. If Amendola didn't drop a TD in Miami, NE would be the #1 seed in the AFC. Amazing if you consider all of the injuries. Bill is Coach of the Year, every year.

Not to mention that crazy penalty that allowed the Jets to re-kick in OT and the strange non-call last second against the Panthers.

Still, the loss against the Dolphins was the biggest. I probably would have still liked the Broncos going into Foxborough, but don't see the Pats winning in Denver. Have to get there first anyway.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I'm saying Tom Brady hasn't pulled off that many "bloody miracles" in his career. Beyond the 24 point comeback this year, and the 31-3 rally last year against the 49ers (that they lost), he doesn't have a big history of massive comebacks.

Usually the Pats have a big lead. Rarely are they making huge comebacks.

I understand.

So if we use your statement as part of the conversation I must tell Cheese that a bloody miracle won't be necessary!

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Seahawks
Patriots
Panthers
Chargers

I can see all these teams winning but I can also see all these teams losing. Should be a great weekend of football

[Sylvanfan]

It's like when Eli Manning said don't draft me Chargers, he created some sort of bad energy for his entire family whenever they fact the Chargers. No doubt Peyton at times has had his struggles against them especially in the playoffs.

[Cheese]

New England Indianapolis - not picking score, but gut says Indy
Seattle 37 New Orleans 14 - Not even close
San Francisco 10 Carolina 14 - Last minute TD by Carolina
Denver 51 San Diego 21 - Chargers bubble bursts against a motivated Manning

[troutman]

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/wea...olorado/denver

Might be raining in Denver. Boston too:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/wea...husetts/boston

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Indy
Seabirds
Broncos
49ers