Divisional Round Discussion

[Daws1089]

Yea I mean, I guess I'm sort of trying to play SD, but I would hate to play them and hope for the cover but not win because i really don't think they win.


I feel like points will be hard to come by in the eagles game JML. maybe like a 17-14 game. I'll be looking into the first half under I think. Both teams will play the field position game and be the first to not mess up I think.


Also, I've seen people on here saying everyone is all over Baltimore. Where? The numbers I see have the action split almost dead even. I am worried about Flacco in that game. He really did nothing against Miami. I know he didn't have to because of the run and the score, but I think Collins is more capable of making a big play than Flacco is. Titans gets haynesworth back right?

Also, I think an 8 pt teaser with 3 teams would be good with over 40.5 in the carolina game, eagles +12, and either eagles under 49 or carolina -2.

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Some good points and reasoning for Pitt here. I'm having trouble backing Pitt's pffensive line against the front 7 of SD. Let's face it, Pitt's offensive line is average and we saw SD do some thing to Indy that really rattled Manning. I know Peyton had some rookies playing in front of him,but I can't help but think SD takes advantage of this o-line in this one and get to Ben.

Interesting that you point out SD's pass rush rattling Peyton (which I don't really disagree). But SD only had one sack, and Indy had 4 sacks on Rivers. I'm not sure SD's OLine is anything special either...and I see Pitt all over Rivers even more than SD all over Big Ben, as nobody can really disagree that the Steelers have the better pressure defense. That defense is crazy good at home...and I'm not sure SD's defense can repeat a good performance last week, this week on the road. JMO.

GL tho Daws! Really pulling for your Eagles! :thumbs:

[Daws1089]

Some good points and reasoning for Pitt here. I'm having trouble backing Pitt's pffensive line against the front 7 of SD. Let's face it, Pitt's offensive line is average and we saw SD do some thing to Indy that really rattled Manning. I know Peyton had some rookies playing in front of him,but I can't help but think SD takes advantage of this o-line in this one and get to Ben.

[FlyersFan]

Udog- i wouldn't exactly corronate the chargers D as having arrived or "come alive". They have given up 20+ points in 5 of L7 and one of those was the abysmal raiders at home (7 points)...then Indy with 17. They played an Indy team who has struggled to run the ball consistently all year long and it finally caught up with them. Pretty easy to look good when the other team is 1 dimensional. IND were dead last in YPC and 2nd to last in YPG. I don't think PIT is a 1 dimensional offense and it is going to be a different story when they have to try and get a pass rush and respect the run, IMO. I was NOT one of the people in here last week saying Indy was going to win in a romp. I thought it was going to be a great game and skipped a side play and made a play on the Under (posted). This week i really like PIT. They have the best defense in the NFL and i think they can win by 7 points. Thier defense is HEADS and SHOULDERS better than SDG and i think that is the difference. But that's just me. My favorite thing would be to tease PIT down to PK though and put it with probably CAR.

FYI, looks like boldin may not play for ARI this week due to a hammy (and if he does he certainly won't be 100 percent)

Here's the interesting thing with PHI and stopping the run. PHI gave up the 4th least YPG in the league this year and the 4th lowest YPC average. They gave up 219 yards to NYG in a first game loss but held them to 88 yards in the 2nd game (a win). To me, that is the story of who wins this game. But for anyone to be able to say which way that goes is pretty tough to impossible unless you have a crystal ball. It's really a tough game to cap IMO.

still looking and probably won't make any plays until friday.

[JoeyBallgame]

Division thoughts...

Looking at the lines the first thing that popped out to me was a nice two team 7 point teaser namely Carolina -2.5 Giants +3...its hard to think Philly will go into NY and win against the best team in the NFL and one that is very different from the banged up, tired victims of a ringer schedule in week 13 or whenever, but if they do, I like them to win by a FG or less...Carolina should bang out Arizona, who seems content with their one win from all the interviews, doesn't travel well, lost a top NFL reciever, and can't run the ball or play defense...so laying under 3 in the teaser makes the chances of a backdoor very small as well...

I'm on the one seeds and laying the points...With some rest I feel like a return to form is coming for the Giants, and Philly will have a tough time limiting the power running attack...The giants have owned the Eagles for years now, and look for this trend to continue...as for Carolina, without Boldin, Warner will be running for his life all day IMO...Peppers and co roll, and the power running game pulls away in the end...

The other two games are far more tough to call for me...

This pitt team is a great team, but their offensive line is a far cry from their super bowl form, couple that with big ben questions, SDiego's previous performance in Pitt, and I'll take the points in what I feel is destined to be a mid-teens scoring game and a slugfest, don't think either offense will ever gain any traction in this matchup...if SD wins, has a punter ever been a playoff MVP? Haha, still havent crystallized this one yet, but leaning toward SD

I see no value in the Balt/Tn game at all...Looks like two teams that will bang their heads against the wall until someone makes a mistake and loses the game...that said, the only way to beat baltimore IMO is to stay committed to the run hold the ball and tire out that defense for a 4th quarter win...I will likely be on TN for this reason but may actually make it a non-play...this game looks really like a toss up to me any way you slice it...that said, the Under looks good, as it does for the SD game too...

BOL all.

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Im thinking that Pitt -6 or -6.5 looks like its begging for Pitt money. Less than a TD off a bye week, to a team we all think (me included) has no business even being in the playoffs?

I'm not sure about that. I see alot of people stating that 6 points is way too much. I don't think the public consensus is that SD is a team that "has no business being in the playoffs". Not anymore anyway. We seem to be the minority. The SD love-in is officially back in flight, IMO. I see people talking momentum and streaks, and destiny with SD. I see GOY's on SD. I see people screaming value with SD. "how can a hot team like SD be getting 6 in the playoffs". If the books wanted Steelers money, they should have made it 3/4...cause they're not getting it with 6, from what I can see. In fact more money seems to be coming in on SD so far.

[PhillyFan3]

While overall I would say Philly did an ok job vs the run, they still allowed 148 yds. The fact remains that they did allow a big td run, & that's AP's style anyway- stopped for minimal gains & then he busts a long one. I do agree AP was getting stopped at the line, but the Vikings had no threat of a pass game to keep the Eagles honest! Taylor was getting in some nice runs, & I think between Jacobs & Ward the Giants will be able to move the ball. First meeting between the two NYG had 219 total rushing yards. Second time Philly was in a nice revenge spot & shut down the run for the road win. To me it comes down to whether or not the Giants establish a solid run game. Right now I'm leaning towards them being able to run @ home. The loss vs Philly was the only home game where they were shut down on the ground- I think they redeem big time.

UD--- its alot easier to run the ball for 219 yards when you have someone like Plaxico Burress in the lineup, the guy kills the Eagles every time they play the Eagles, and thats not an understatement, he has been the MVP for the Giants every time they beat the Eagles, because the Eagles smaller corners have problems matching up with him, now you are telling me the Eagles are not going to load the box and run blitz all game long against NYG and go with the same mentality they had the 1st time at NY....The Eagles are going to make ELI beat them plain and simple, and I know I am a homer but whatever, I will take Samuel and Brown over Hixon and Toomer any day of the week.....I am just saying with Plax, it makes the Eagles have to worry about the pass and it opens up Jacobs and the run, I just think the Eagles are going to key on the run and force ELI to beat them

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

It definitely has all the makings of a great game! :thumbs:

I gotta take the points...

[Underdog88]

While overall I would say Philly did an ok job vs the run, they still allowed 148 yds. The fact remains that they did allow a big td run, & that's AP's style anyway- stopped for minimal gains & then he busts a long one. I do agree AP was getting stopped at the line, but the Vikings had no threat of a pass game to keep the Eagles honest! Taylor was getting in some nice runs, & I think between Jacobs & Ward the Giants will be able to move the ball. First meeting between the two NYG had 219 total rushing yards. Second time Philly was in a nice revenge spot & shut down the run for the road win. To me it comes down to whether or not the Giants establish a solid run game. Right now I'm leaning towards them being able to run @ home. The loss vs Philly was the only home game where they were shut down on the ground- I think they redeem big time.

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Minny was able to run the ball, & IMO if Philly let's NY run for 148+, they won't win the game.

I thought Philly did a great job against the run actually. This was supposed to be AP's big day, and if you take away that ONE 40 TD run, he was held to 43 yards on 19 carries. I think Minny was expecting more ALOT more from him, and I think Philly was more than happy with their run defence yesterday. Watching the game, it seemed to me AP was getting stuffed at the line all night. Yeah...Taylor had 48 decent yards, but I don't think Minny was planning on riding average days by him to the SB. Philly shut down AP, IMO...and that was a huge part of the win.

I agree...that game should be great!


Agree with the Zona/Carolina angle....might be looking at a Panthers/Over teaser myself...

GL UD :thumbs:

[Underdog88]

My initial thoughts


SD@Pitt- I won't be laying pts with Pitt here, that's for sure. SD proved they could come into Pitt & hang (11-10 very tough loss, so a little revenge angle cooking too). 6.5 to me looks like "Pitt just has to win by a touch?". I see this as a fg game either way. SD's D looks like they have come alive, the question is can they do it on the road? For the record, LT out makes no difference to me, as Sproles has proven he is more than capable...


Ravens@Titans- Baltimore has been great to me this season, so it will be tough to play against them. However, the entire free world saw them dominate the Dolphins yesterday, & had they squeeked by in a close one, this line would be Tenn-4.5 imo. Titans still aren't getting any respect. The Dolphins couldn't protect the ball vs the Ravens D, & could generate absolutely no run game. 5 turnovers went the Ravens way, don't see the Titans doing the same thing. Flacco was 9-23 for 135 yards, & really got nothing going in the second half, despite the ground game getting over 150. He has another game like that, & the Titans win by 10+. The Titans were outplayed earlier in the season @Balty, but still managed a 3 pt win....


Thnking about an over play in the Carolina game. May throw them in a teaser because I don't see them losing su to Zona. Have to look into that one further.

Really not sure what to think in the Giants/Philly game, but it should be great. One thing I know is that Philly isn't facing Tavaris Jackson this time. Minny was able to run the ball, & IMO if Philly let's NY run for 148+, they won't win the game. Tough to go against a team that appears to have all the momentum going into this one though....

[Daws1089]

Im thinking that Pitt -6 or -6.5 looks like its begging for Pitt money. Less than a TD off a bye week, to a team we all think (me included) has no business even being in the playoffs? I was thinking to myself during the colts/chargers game. What if SD just starts playing like they did last year and continue to step up and keeping playing good football. Because let's face it, they have won 5 in a row. Yea they beat **** teams, but the Colts aren't ****ty although aren't as good as I had thought. The Chargers could win this game even without LT and have a great revenge angle.

[Daws1089]

Im thinking that Pitt -6 or -6.5 looks like its begging for Pitt money. Less than a TD off a bye week, to a team we all think (me included) has no business even being in the playoffs? I was thinking to myself during the colts/chargers game. What if SD just starts playing like they did last year and continue to step up and keeping playing good football. Because let's face it, they have won 5 in a row. Yea they beat **** teams, but the Colts aren't ****ty although aren't as good as I had thought. The Chargers could win this game even without LT and have a great revenge angle.

[homedawg]

I'm getting..... pitt -5 @ -124
Why do people spend money on juice? You gotta pay to bet, and if you lose, you pay more? F'k that! I look for even or +$$$$! :beer2:

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

I assume the Titans D-Linemen and Centre are back this week?