2008/09 NFL Playoff Thread

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by itcrossedtheline

i wonder how this loss affects mcnabb's future in philly?

He has never really won over the fans and this loss is not going to help (even though he played well)

He'll be back. This loss is on the defense. McNabb was lights out in the second half and was let down by his receivers yet again.

[browna]

Originally Posted by rubecube

He'll be back. This loss is on the defense. McNabb was lights out in the second half and was let down by his receivers yet again.

He still made some unforced errors in the second half, after a first half of repeated bad throws and not leading open receivers properly. Many of those were drive killers and would've put PHI in field position for probably at least field goals.

No PI on call there at the 2nd to last PHI drive?

PHI's defense probably gave up one touchdown too many in the first half, but McNabb should have had at least 6 points more in the first without those unforced errors.

ARI was one drive away from a complete meltdown.

Certianly a cinderella run this offseaon, with a good mix ok average play and other teams forcing things and shooting themselves in the foot and beating themselves. It'll come down to one game this season....but IMO they'll be lucky to make the playoffs next year.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by browna

He still made some unforced errors in the second half, after a first half of repeated bad throws and not leading open receivers properly. Many of those were drive killers and would've put PHI in field position for probably at least field goals.

Sure, but the receivers also ran poor routes and didn't do enough to get open on several plays. He was the only reason that the Eagles were still around in the 4th.

[moon]

Originally Posted by browna

Certianly a cinderella run this offseaon, with a good mix ok average play and other teams forcing things and shooting themselves in the foot and beating themselves. It'll come down to one game this season....but IMO they'll be lucky to make the playoffs next year.

Even if they are worse than the were this year, which I don't see happening consider how many young guys they have, they still play in the NFC West and are still miles ahead of any team in that division.

They will make the play-offs by default, if not own their own talent, next year thanks to the Seahawks, Rams and 49'ers.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by rubecube

He'll be back. This loss is on the defense. McNabb was lights out in the second half and was let down by his receivers yet again.

I should qualify this. This team is getting old on the offensive line and could use upgrades in the secondary (and of course WR). If some team comes along and offers a really sweet package of picks for McNabb then I could see the Eagles jumping all over it.

[rubecube]

Holy hell! Did anyone else just see that block by Sweed on Ivy? That was awesome.

[moon]

Why are the Ravens defenders allowed to block the refs and accidentally hit the ball to delay the refs resetting the ball on that play?

[Philly06Cup]

Congrats to the Arizona Cardinals.

Warner was great against the blitz, and Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the game today. The Eagles defense was great against the one-dimensional Giants and Vikes, but struggled greatly against the balanced Cards. The secondary was lit up.

Almost a great comeback.

They're a fun team to watch. I'll be cheering for the Cardinals.

[transplant99]

Holy hannah that is one frightening scene in Pittsburgh right now...the hit that Willis mcGahee just took is one that can literally kill someone.

Hope he is OK...and Pittsburgh has this thing in the bag as well.

[itcrossedtheline]

Glad to see Willis move his legs and arms...

two tough teams suprised this didn't happen sooner

[Displaced Flames fan]

The Cardinals are a great story and an exciting team, but they have zero chance of beating Pittsburgh.

Just sayin'.

[transplant99]

Never say Zero Dis....its one game and anything can happen.

That being said....no question they should win and will be heavy favorites, but I am most certainly pulling for the Cards....if there is one franchise in pro sports that has had to endure futility longer than them and their fans, I have no idea who its is. (Cubs at least have come close)....(and i would say the Canucks but theyve only been around 42 years )

[browna]

Originally Posted by moon

Even if they are worse than the were this year, which I don't see happening consider how many young guys they have, they still play in the NFC West and are still miles ahead of any team in that division.

They will make the play-offs by default, if not own their own talent, next year thanks to the Seahawks, Rams and 49'ers.

With a 1st place schedule next year, and the fact that they only beat 1 playoff team this past regular season going into the playoffs.

The ain reason they were able to back in to win the division was the Seahawks, and thier injury woes which started week 1 of the preseason with an injury to Hasselbeck, then week 1+2 of the regular season losing top 3 receiviers. By the end of the season, 5 non starters on the o line. Next year, even if not back to an upper team in the NFC, SEA won't be as injured/bad as they were this past year and will be a bigger factor....or can the Rams or 49'ers be as bad. The Cardinals go 4-2 in the division this year, they may not have made the playoffs, even in that ultra weak division this year.

Sure, this success may have bouyed the team to a point which they may ride into next year, but this year they backed into the playoffs by some SEA bad luck.
Long story short, ARI didn't fly under the radar in the regular season this year and fool any good teams in the regular season. Next year with a tougher schedule and a target on their back, it will be just as tough. SEA will be at or near .500 next year and the divisional games will dictate the divison winner next year.

[Machiavelli]

Well, I couldn't care less about either team. Boring matchup.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Never say Zero Dis....its one game and anything can happen.

That being said....no question they should win and will be heavy favorites, but I am most certainly pulling for the Cards....if there is one franchise in pro sports that has had to endure futility longer than them and their fans, I have no idea who its is. (Cubs at least have come close)....(and i would say the Canucks but theyve only been around 42 years )

I hear ya.

I like the Cardinals, but I've always been a closet Steelers fan so I can't root for them.

If there is one player in the NFL I'd love to have on the Broncos it's Troy Polamalu. Such a great football player.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Well, I couldn't care less about either team. Boring matchup.

I remember saying the same thing after watching the Giants edge out the Packers last year in the NFC Championship. I thought Pack/Pats would be gold, and Giants/Pats would be an uninteresting bloodbath. I'm actually really interested to see the Warner/Fitzgerald connection take on the #1 D in the NFL. I think the Steelers will cruise to an unprecedented 6th Super Bowl though.

[wittynickname]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Well, I couldn't care less about either team. Boring matchup.

It's always amusing to see this in relation to the Steelers. I've spent my life listening to people telling stories of where they were when the Immaculate Reception took place. While I love hockey, and it is my passion--most of this city is absolutely insane for football. Even if I hadn't caught the end of the game (there was hockey on Center Ice!), I'd have known the Steelers won, because even in my quiet neighborhood, horns were blaring, pans were being banged, people were hooting and hollering, it always amuses me.

I can't say anything, I spent a week in a haze of "OH MY GOD THE PENGUINS ARE GOING TO THE CUP FINAL" last May.

[Housley4Prez]

Been a masochistic Cardinals fan since they drafted Jake Plummer. I never thought I'd see this all come together.

That said, nobody thought they could beat the Falcons. No one thought it possible for them to defeat the Panthers. Nor could you find a credible sports writer that would pick'em over the Eagles...

But here they are, on their way to the big dance. Now, I'm used to crazy Super Bowl blowouts, but don't count on it this year. The Cardinals are for real.

They say Edgerrin James before the end of the season, which opens him up to being healthy all the way through the playoffs. Warner is accurate as he's ever been. And then there's Larry the Legend.

Fitzgerald has already obliterated Jerry Rice's single-postseason receiving record, and there's still another game to go. He makes the uncatchable, catchable.

Though some of you think this game will be boring, you can't tell me that the Polamalu vs Fitzgerald matchup won't make things interesting.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Well, I couldn't care less about either team. Boring matchup.

What an odd thing to say.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

The Cardinals are a great story and an exciting team, but they have zero chance of beating Pittsburgh.

Just sayin'.

Hasn't everyone been saying that the past few weeks?

I don't see how you watch can watch Arizona handle Philadelphia and then say they have no chance against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh may have a great defense, but Philly's was third in the league and the Cards dropped 32 points on them, most off on long sustained drives. Philly has a hell of a lot more going for them on offense too.

If Baltimore and their pathetic offense can hang around and be one drive away from the Super Bowl against the Steelers it's completely ridiculous to say the Cardinals have no chance.