2011 NFL Playoffs Thread

[Rjcsjc62]

Hmmm, before this week I never had a negative opinion of Cutler, always just thought of him as a young up and comer, but never known him to be this big dick.

Then this week, its all over this thread, and I also heard a reference to his lack of character on both the Mike and Mike ESPN radio show, and again on the Jim Rome show.

Maybe I live under a rock, but I always thought he was OK.

Since we cant let this thread turn into the Bears v Packers thread I have a serious question about the Jets v Steelers game:

Both Mike Wallace and Hines Ward have a prop bet listed for over/under 3.5 receptions. Does anybody know which one will be on Revis Island on Sunday, I think whoever he is covering is easy money under 3.5 receptions.

[FlamingLonghorn]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...on-hines-ward/

Looks like Ward just like last time.

[flames_1987]

Considering Wallace's speed and his deep threat ability, it make sense to see Cromartie on him. I think that's a matchup that Pittsburgh could definitely attack, but only if Roethlisberger has time in the pocket.

[burn_baby_burn]

Ignoring the old guy at work while texting? Seems to pretty much be a normal guy in his early 20's.

[Pagal4321]

Good lord this thread has turned into quite the $hit show.....

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by Rjcsjc62

Hmmm, before this week I never had a negative opinion of Cutler, always just thought of him as a young up and comer, but never known him to be this big dick.

Then this week, its all over this thread, and I also heard a reference to his lack of character on both the Mike and Mike ESPN radio show, and again on the Jim Rome show.

Maybe I live under a rock, but I always thought he was OK.

Since we cant let this thread turn into the Bears v Packers thread I have a serious question about the Jets v Steelers game:

Both Mike Wallace and Hines Ward have a prop bet listed for over/under 3.5 receptions. Does anybody know which one will be on Revis Island on Sunday, I think whoever he is covering is easy money under 3.5 receptions.

NFL network was speaking about this earlier. They figure that Cromartie V Wallace via speed and size comparability while Ward will be on the island.

[transplant99]

Using tomorrows game time forecast, ESPN looked into the records of the respective QB's when such weather conditions exist.

Cold-weather QBs


Rodgers 7-3, 25 TD's, 5 INT's, 109.4 Rating

Cutler 4-4, 15 TD's, 9 INT's, 84.5 Rating

Good news.

[transplant99]

I know this may sound odd coming from a lifelong Packer fan, but I have been trying and trying to find a way to see how the Packers lose this weekend so I am not completely destroyed should it happen. The truth is...I cant. Nothing indicates that they should drop this game even though its a tough task to say the least. I have gone over just about every aspect I can think of to find an edge for the Bears that would have them coming out on top. Anything I am missing?

Quarterbacks: Obviously the focus of most media this week, I am not even convinced it comes down to this. If it does however, there is no question that Rodgers has a large edge over the enigmatic Cutler. Even in their loss earlier this year at Soldier field, Rodgers dissected the Bears secondary for 316 yards and a TD and ran for another. He was intercepted once as well. In the second game his stats were 229 yds passing with a TD and an INT.

So over the 2 games Rodgers line is 545 yds, 2 TD's, 2 INT's, 41 yds rushing and another TD in 2 games an average QB rating of 91.1. Cutler's line reads 409 yds 1 TD, 3 INT's, 45 yds rushing and no Td's and a QB rating of 63.0

Big edge, Packers.

Rushing. This one is a bit harder to quantify IMO. No question that Matt Forte is the best RB on either team. In the 2 games the teams faced each other this year Forte rushed for 120 yds on 26 carries. Both Jackson and Kuhn rushed for 31 yds in the 2 games for GB. Overall the Bears gained 187 yds rushing and the Packers 123. Now with James Starks sudden emergence at years end, that gap may be even closer. As far as receiving out of the backfield the Bears totalled 74 yds while the Pack gained 85 yds.

Slight edge, Bears

Receivers & TE's. This one isnt even close. For the Bears it was Davis with 63 yds, Olsen 93 yds, Hester 32 yds, Knox 94 yds, Bennett 21 yds and Clark with 12 yds. An Average of 157 yds oer game. For GB it was Jennings with 115 yds, Driver 102 yds, Nelson 59 yds, Jones 63 yds, Quarless with 5 yds, Lee with 1 yd and Finley with 115 yds. 230 yds a game average. Losing Finley obviously hurts when looking forward but the other TE's have taken up some of the slack of late and that gap is not as big even though Olsen is the best of that bunch, the Packers have the top 2 wide outs.

Big edge, Packers.

O-Line. Hard to quantify this position. The Packers are much better at pass protection and keeping Rodgers upright, while the Bears are a much better run blocking team. Here is how the NFL says the teams are doing in the playoffs. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/_/seasontype/2

Call it a push.

Defense. Without getting into position by position stuff, I will just take everything as a whole between the 2 games against one another. Chicago gave up 663 (332 avg) yards and 35 1st downs, 27 pts but had 4 takeaways. GB gave up 503 yds (276 avg) 31 1st downs, 16 pts and had 3 takeaways.

Slight edge, GB

Special teams. This one isnt close either. Hester, Manning, Maynard and Gould are as good as it gets as a group when looking at those 4 positions.

Huge edge Bears.

Intangibles...the way the Packers have been rolling on offense and defense for most of the last month, I would like to give them the big edge here. That is somewhat negated however by the Bears being at home, though that seemingly has no effect on GB as of late. Chicago is 6-3 at home on the year while the Packers are 5-5 on the road. Both clubs are 4-2 in their last 6 games.

Slight advantage Packers.
　
　
Add it all together and i just dont see any other outcome than a Packer victory. Of course, and I once again go to the words of the indefatigible Chris Berman, "that's why they play the game".

GB 23 - Chicago 17.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I know this may sound odd coming from a lifelong Packer fan, but I have been trying and trying to find a way to see how the Packers lose this weekend so I am not completely destroyed should it happen. The truth is...I cant. Nothing indicates that they should drop this game even though its a tough task to say the least. I have gone over just about every aspect I can think of to find an edge for the Bears that would have them coming out on top. Anything I am missing?

Quarterbacks: Obviously the focus of most media this week, I am not even convinced it comes down to this. If it does however, there is no question that Rodgers has a large edge over the enigmatic Cutler. Even in their loss earlier this year at Soldier field, Rodgers dissected the Bears secondary for 316 yards and a TD and ran for another. He was intercepted once as well. In the second game his stats were 229 yds passing with a TD and an INT.

So over the 2 games Rodgers line is 545 yds, 2 TD's, 2 INT's, 41 yds rushing and another TD in 2 games an average QB rating of 91.1. Cutler's line reads 409 yds 1 TD, 3 INT's, 45 yds rushing and no Td's and a QB rating of 63.0

Big edge, Packers.

Rushing. This one is a bit harder to quantify IMO. No question that Matt Forte is the best RB on either team. In the 2 games the teams faced each other this year Forte rushed for 120 yds on 26 carries. Both Jackson and Kuhn rushed for 31 yds in the 2 games for GB. Overall the Bears gained 187 yds rushing and the Packers 123. Now with James Starks sudden emergence at years end, that gap may be even closer. As far as receiving out of the backfield the Bears totalled 74 yds while the Pack gained 85 yds.

Slight edge, Bears

Receivers & TE's. This one isnt even close. For the Bears it was Davis with 63 yds, Olsen 93 yds, Hester 32 yds, Knox 94 yds, Bennett 21 yds and Clark with 12 yds. An Average of 157 yds oer game. For GB it was Jennings with 115 yds, Driver 102 yds, Nelson 59 yds, Jones 63 yds, Quarless with 5 yds, Lee with 1 yd and Finley with 115 yds. 230 yds a game average. Losing Finley obviously hurts when looking forward but the other TE's have taken up some of the slack of late and that gap is not as big even though Olsen is the best of that bunch, the Packers have the top 2 wide outs.

Big edge, Packers.

O-Line. Hard to quantify this position. The Packers are much better at pass protection and keeping Rodgers upright, while the Bears are a much better run blocking team. Here is how the NFL says the teams are doing in the playoffs. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/_/seasontype/2

Call it a push.

Defense. Without getting into position by position stuff, I will just take everything as a whole between the 2 games against one another. Chicago gave up 663 (332 avg) yards and 35 1st downs, 27 pts but had 4 takeaways. GB gave up 503 yds (276 avg) 31 1st downs, 16 pts and had 3 takeaways.

Slight edge, GB

Special teams. This one isnt close either. Hester, Manning, Maynard and Gould are as good as it gets as a group when looking at those 4 positions.

Huge edge Bears.

Intangibles...the way the Packers have been rolling on offense and defense for most of the last month, I would like to give them the big edge here. That is somewhat negated however by the Bears being at home, though that seemingly has no effect on GB as of late. Chicago is 6-3 at home on the year while the Packers are 5-5 on the road. Both clubs are 4-2 in their last 6 games.

Slight advantage Packers.
　
　
Add it all together and i just dont see any other outcome than a Packer victory. Of course, and I once again go to the words of the indefatigible Chris Berman, "that's why they play the game".

GB 23 - Chicago 17.

The Head Official is the same guy from the 18 penalty game. So that could be a reason for the Pack to lose.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Sowa

The Head Official is the same guy from the 18 penalty game. So that could be a reason for the Pack to lose.

Yeah McCauley is back, but the rest of the crew is different. Its "all-star" crews in the playoffs.

Edit: here is a pretty good article explaining it all.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/T...-Week-3-012111

[Sainters7]

Steelers
Bears

...though I'll be pulling for the Pack. Just gotta stay true to my pre-playoff NFC pick with the Bears.

[Cheerio]

Pack
Steelers

[transplant99]

Rachel Nicholls was just on Sportscenter and reported that tickets behind the Bears bench which normally sell for $199.00, are going for $7,000.00 this morning.

[transplant99]

A sports bar owner in Minnesota is showing his support for the Green Bay Packers in this weekend's game against the Chicago Bears in a very literal way -- by roasting a bear.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nf...ory?id=6049090

[FlamingLonghorn]

PACK and JETS... I don't think I've ever successfully picked a Super Bowl before the season began so I got to stick with it.

[flames_1987]

Packers remind me a lot of the Colts and Peyton Manning in the early 2000's..Manning's numbers were actually better then Rodgers if you can believe it, he got his first playoff win, they blew out Denver, beat KC and then everyone was picking them going into New England and win, including the oddsmakers.

I really like the Bears today. I don't think the Packers can run on the Bears and Rodgers is going to be slowed down like he was in Week 17.

Bears/Jets superbowl.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

Packers remind me a lot of the Colts and Peyton Manning in the early 2000's..Manning's numbers were actually better then Rodgers if you can believe it, he got his first playoff win, they blew out Denver, beat KC and then everyone was picking them going into New England and win, including the oddsmakers.

I really like the Bears today. I don't think the Packers can run on the Bears and Rodgers is going to be slowed down like he was in Week 17.

Bears/Jets superbowl.

Possible, but even then he threw for 220+ yds and a TD.

The one thing I cant envision is how the Bears are going to score. I mean in 2 games against the Packers this season they managed one TD and 3 FG's. Even if they put up 16 in one game today as opposed to 2, can the Bears keep the Packers under 17 with the way Rodgers and crew have been playing?

If Hester returns one for a TD then obviously everything changes. I just dont know why McCarthy would allow the Packers to kick to him much at all unless its a short, but high, kick to pin them back within the 20. Otherwise kick it 30 yds out of bounds and allow the defense to do what it has all season.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Possible, but even then he threw for 220+ yds and a TD.

The one thing I cant envision is how the Bears are going to score. I mean in 2 games against the Packers this season they managed one TD and 3 FG's. Even if they put up 16 in one game today as opposed to 2, can the Bears keep the Packers under 17 with the way Rodgers and crew have been playing?

If Hester returns one for a TD then obviously everything changes. I just dont know why McCarthy would allow the Packers to kick to him much at all unless its a short, but high, kick to pin them back within the 20. Otherwise kick it 30 yds out of bounds and allow the defense to do what it has all season.

I think we'd both agree the game favours the Bears much more if it's a low scoring, physical, grudge match type of game. Very much like the game in Week 17 but the Bears offense obviously will have to produce a lot more.

Now if Rodgers keeps up this streak and the Packers offense just rolls again, I will sounds pretty stupid saying this, even though letting the Packers into the playoffs in week 17 could be their demise, playing a team that late in the season when your going to get their best shot, isn't a bad thing. Jets vs Patriots. If I may make another reference to that Colts season, they got the Broncos a few weeks before the playoffs and the Broncos ran all over them and blew them out. The Broncos needed the game much more and the Colts got to see everything that team did up close, and pulling out all the stops as the win was more more crucial to them. Fast forward to the playoffs, and the Colts destroyed them in the 1st round. The Bears got to see the Packers give them their best shot and throw everything at them, since they needed that win. Granted the Bears played their starters the entire game, but I doubt they were throwing scheme after scheme onto the field to try and win it.

This could have less to do with the two teams playing today and more with just on my own theory and everyone picking the Packers. I would put a little more value on the Bears having home field and the Packers now playing their 3rd straight game on the road. Biggest key of the game for me, is how are the Packers going to be able to run the ball. Your not going to rush the ball for big numbers vs the Bears at home, but if you can at least create the threat of running the ball, and give Rogers more time in the pocket along with play action, it will go a long way.

[FlamingLonghorn]

A matchup to watch is Jason Taylor against not so good OT Jonathan Scott. Taylor knows this is possibly his last game and definitely his last crack at a Super Bowl. He's going to leave it all on the field for sure. Let's hope the Jets give him something the Fins never could.

[OILFAN #81]

I think both will be relatively close games.

NFC:

Green Bay 27, Chicago 20

AFC:

Pittsburgh 23, NY Jets 20

Wouldn't be surprised (especially in the AFC game) if it went either way. But I am going with a Green Bay vs Pittsburgh Superbowl.