Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community
Old 12-31-2018, 12:39 PM   #1
Sylvanfan
Appealing my suspension
 
Sylvanfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Just outside Enemy Lines
Exp:
Default 2019 NFL Playoff Thread

So it took until the final week to settle the teams and matchups, but they're now set.

On first glance the Wild Card match ups look like they should be good games to me.

Saturday 2:35 Mountain
#6 Indianapolis Colts (10-6) at #3 Houston Texans (11-5)


Two teams that are both relatively hot. Texans are 11-2 in their last 13 games after a 0-3 start, and the the Colts are the third team in the Superbowl era to start 1-5 and make the playoffs. Division rivals who spit the season series in a couple of 3 point games including Frank Reich's famous go for it on 4th down in OT which put the Texans in position to win the game with a Field goal as time expired. Both teams have talented QB's who were coming off injuries from last year and once their guys got healthy these teams starting winning a lot.

The Texans feature house hold names on defense in Watt, Clowney, Mathieu, but the Colts defense which is a lot less known was a very solid unit in the second half of the season lead by DROY candidate Darius Leonard. Colts also had hugely improved offensive line play this year...something Houston didn't. Texans hope to have Lamar Miller back to bolster their run game, but will be in tough for secondary receiving options with Fuller and Thomas both out.

It's a tough one to pick, but I have a tough time going against Andrew Luck. Colts win 27-24.

Saturday 6:15 Mountain
#5 Seattle Seahawks (10-6) at #4 Dallas Cowboys (10-6)


Another game that matches teams who have already played this season. Seattle beat Dallas early in the season at home, but a lot has changed with both teams since. After the last Legion of Boom member in Earl Thomas went down and with a record of 4-5, the Seahawks won 6 of their final 7 games to claim the top wild card spot. They have re-established themselves as a power run team that plays good solid defence with Bobby Wagner, Frank Clark, and a generally unheralded group that's replaced the big names from the last Seahawks teams that made the playoffs. Russel Wilson still makes plays when he has to.

Dallas started 1-4, made a controversial trade in which they parted with a first round pick for Amari Cooper, than since rallied to win 9 of their last 11 to finish 10-6 claiming the NFC East. Similar to Seattle the Cowboys have a good solid defence and use a power run game to control the clock on offence. Since the addition of Cooper the passing game has been much improved as has the play of Dak Prescott, which in turn has made the run game more effective.

I have to go with the proven Russel Wilson here, and take Seattle to win 20-17.

Sunday 11:05 AM Mountain
#5 Los Angeles Chargers at #4 Baltimore Ravens


Third rematch of the weekend, as these teams met only 2 weeks ago in Los Angeles. In that game the Ravens pretty much had to win to keep their season alive and were able to do so against a fat and sassy Chargers team who had just claimed a playoff birth, and still had a shot at the top seed. Baltimore played a tough game on defense and used their run game to win that match up. Again two teams coming in hot as the Chargers won 11 of their final 13 games and Baltimore has won 6 of 7 since installing Lamar Jackson as the starter. Baltimore's top ranked defence combined with a ball control offence is a trendy pick to represent the AFC in the Superbowl.

The Chargers shouldn't be overlooked though as they should have more healthy bodies on both sides of the ball than they've had all year with both running backs in the lineup to go with Joey Bosa on defence. Rivers took a lot of hits in the Thursday night win in KC, and again against the Ravens the following week, and was not very sharp yesterday throwing 2 picks and having his team turn the ball over 4 times. Is he finally starting to show the age of a guy of a 35 plus QB who isn't exactly mobile and has an odd throwing motion....or was this a case of trying to finish out the season?

This is the first time we see a team get a rematch against Lamar Jackson, and I think that's a key factor. It's hard to prepare for an outlier like him one time during the regular season. But give a NFL coaching staff 2 looks in 3 weeks, and they generally can devise a much better scheme.

I think the Chargers defence is ready this time and the offence is able to move the ball enough to pull off a 20-10 win on the road.

Sunday 2:40 PM Mountain
#6 Philadelphia Eagles at #3 Chicago Bears


First game that pits two teams that didn't play yet this year. Defending Superbowl Champion Eagles have come back from the dead winning their last 3 games with Nick Foles starting to get into the playoffs. Partly thanks to the Bears who killed off the Vikings yesterday. Doug Pederson used to be the Chiefs Offensive Coordinator and took the head job in Philly and won a Superbowl. Matt Nagy took over from Pederson, is now coaching the up and coming Bears and looking to do the same.

Philly is pretty beat up on defence, but they beat the Rams in LA, a hot Texans team, and than went on the road and shut out the Red Skins. This all after a tough loss against Dallas. Things looked bleak after the Saints blew them out of the Superdome, but the Eagles didn't win the Superbowl by fluke, and have rallied back. Chicago is a team that has a ferocious defence lead by Kalil Mack, and an offence that can move the ball effectively at times.

The Eagles have last years experience to draw on, but I think they are running on fumes about now. Champions generally don't go down easily, and I think Bears might have some jitters...but Bears defence gets it done in a 13-10 game.

Today I think we get a New Orleans and New England Superbowl. Baltimore has been a trendy pick and if they can skirt by the Chargers, they could do some damage as they play New England as well as anyone in the AFC. The Rams and Saints both showed flaws down the stretch, but with home field I don't see those teams not making the NFC Championship game.
__________________
"Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Sylvanfan is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Sylvanfan For This Useful Post:
Old 01-01-2019, 05:34 PM   #2
Weitz
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Exp:
Default

Personally I’ve got a Seahawks v Chargers super bowl.

Not sure how convinced I am yet.
Weitz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2019, 06:25 PM   #3
Strange Brew
Franchise Player
 
Strange Brew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Exp:
Default

I will be pulling for Texans, Cowboys, Chargers and Bears.
Strange Brew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2019, 01:47 PM   #4
troutman
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
 
troutman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Winebar Kensington
Exp:
Default

I think the Ravens are one-dimensional on offence, and lucky to be in the playoffs. Browns let them off the hook with a big dropped pass and a missed FG, and the refs blew a big call (taking a CLE TD off the board).
__________________
https://www.mergenlaw.com/
http://cjsw.com/program/fossil-records/
twitter/instagram @troutman1966
troutman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2019, 04:24 PM   #5
FireGilbert
Franchise Player
 
FireGilbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Brisbane
Exp:
Default

Bold prediction: the NFC championship will be played in Seattle.
__________________
The masses of humanity have always had to surf.
FireGilbert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2019, 04:29 PM   #6
Johnny Makarov
Franchise Player
 
Johnny Makarov's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Exp:
Default

I effing hate Pete Carroll and his Seattle Canucks. So much, I'll be cheering for the Cowboys.... ugh.
__________________
Peter12 "I'm no Trump fan but he is smarter than most if not everyone in this thread. ”
Johnny Makarov is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Johnny Makarov For This Useful Post:
Old 01-02-2019, 04:30 PM   #7
transplant99
Fearmongerer
 
transplant99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
Exp:
Default

Quote:
NFL television ratings rose by 5 percent in 2018 compared with the 2017 season, according to figures released Wednesday by the league.

The uptick partially stemmed two years of ratings slides for the NFL, part of a decrease throughout the television industry. The average game in 2018 drew 15.8 million viewers, compared with 14.9 million in 2017. That number was 16.5 million for the 2016 season and 17.9 million in 2015.

Of the top 50 telecasts since the start of the 2018 season, 46 were NFL games.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...5-percent-2017
__________________
transplant99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2019, 01:32 PM   #8
KelVarnsen
Franchise Player
 
KelVarnsen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Apartment 5A
Exp:
Default

Texans' DeAndre Hopkins dedicates game to Jazmine Barnes

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...?sf205329722=1
KelVarnsen is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to KelVarnsen For This Useful Post:
Old 01-03-2019, 02:52 PM   #9
TheIronMaiden
Franchise Player
 
TheIronMaiden's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATCO Field, Section 201
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Strange Brew View Post
I will be pulling for Texans, Cowboys, Chargers and Bears.
I too will be cheering for all the teams I put money on.
TheIronMaiden is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to TheIronMaiden For This Useful Post:
Old 01-03-2019, 05:37 PM   #10
Sainters7
Franchise Player
 
Sainters7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: back in the 403
Exp:
Default

Seahawks, Bears, Ravens, Colts...that final one was the hardest for me, could see it going either way.

Should be an interesting playoffs, I can see any of the 6 AFC teams in the Super Bowl.
Sainters7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2019, 07:13 PM   #11
Cheese
Franchise Player
 
Cheese's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
Exp:
Default

Indy, Chicago, Seahawks and Chargers.
Cheese is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 10:39 AM   #12
Senator Clay Davis
Franchise Player
 
Senator Clay Davis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maryland State House, Annapolis
Exp:
Default

Texans 30 Colts 27 (OT)
Seahawks 27 Cowboys 14
Chargers 30 Ravens 21
Bears 20 Eagles 9
__________________
"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
Senator Clay Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 11:14 AM   #13
MoneyGuy
Franchise Player
 
MoneyGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov View Post
I effing hate Pete Carroll and his Seattle Canucks. So much, I'll be cheering for the Cowboys.... ugh.
ABS, anybody but Seattle.
MoneyGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 12:40 PM   #14
Senator Clay Davis
Franchise Player
 
Senator Clay Davis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Maryland State House, Annapolis
Exp:
Default

It's amazing to me that people don't seem to remember how much worse Cowboys fans are than Seahawks. I suppose the Cowboys irrelevance for the last 20 years does that, but yeah, far, far worse than Seahawks fans. That said, go Cowboys tonight to lock in that 6 year Garrett and Prescott extensions.
__________________
"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
Senator Clay Davis is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Senator Clay Davis For This Useful Post:
Old 01-05-2019, 12:59 PM   #15
Nadal Fan
Franchise Player
 
Nadal Fan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Exp:
Default

As a Titans fan the Colts Texans match up is torture for me but I'll go with the Texans I guess.
Nadal Fan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 02:54 PM   #16
calgarygeologist
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Exp:
Default

Might be too early to give the game to Indy but it looks like this is going to be a blowout. I really expected Houston to make this game close, I even picked them to win. They look severely outmatched thus far.
calgarygeologist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 02:58 PM   #17
Sainters7
Franchise Player
 
Sainters7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: back in the 403
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis View Post
It's amazing to me that people don't seem to remember how much worse Cowboys fans are than Seahawks. I suppose the Cowboys irrelevance for the last 20 years does that, but yeah, far, far worse than Seahawks fans. That said, go Cowboys tonight to lock in that 6 year Garrett and Prescott extensions.
I think it just has more to do with our proximity to Seattle. Their fans are EVERYwhere in Calgary. That and we get force-fed their games, even back in the day when they were lousy. Missing out on much better matchups for Seahawks/Cardinals, so annoying.

Feeling good about my Colts pick so far, they're moving it at will

Last edited by Sainters7; 01-05-2019 at 03:00 PM.
Sainters7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 03:01 PM   #18
Erick Estrada
Franchise Player
 
Erick Estrada's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Fernando Valley
Exp:
Default

Boy is that Colts offensive line ever good. They manhandled Watt and Clowney on the first two drives.
Erick Estrada is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 03:03 PM   #19
PostandIn
First Line Centre
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Exp:
Default

This thing is going to get out of control for the Texans pretty quickly.
PostandIn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2019, 03:12 PM   #20
calgarygeologist
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Exp:
Default

Game over.
calgarygeologist is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:31 AM.

Calgary Flames
2023-24




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright Calgarypuck 2021