Prediction: Pats get an early lead, keep it, and crush the Jags.
Hope it doesn't happen, but damn NE is too tough...
edit: great prediction - not
Hope it doesn't happen, but damn NE is too tough...
edit: great prediction - not
The National Football League-that was the week that was
- Thread starter AAAintheBeltway
- Start date
Yup!
I'm almost ready to change into a Browns fan. Almost.
Almost.SD Super Chargers?
Who'd a thunk it?
Go SD!
Who'd a thunk it?
Go SD!
OK, I said I was picking this weekend's games for fun only. What a disaster, one win, three losses, although not exactly unexpected.
I thought the best game of the four was the GB-Seattle matchup. Classic Lambeau weather, diriving snowstorm. If only the field had been frozen solid, but I guess they have ways to prevent that now. How many times will that clip of Favre, stumbling and making an insane underhanded toss in the blizzard get replayed over the years? You knew the Seahawks were toast then.
I thought NE looked awfully sloppy in getting by a Jacksonville squad that is knocking on the door of elite status. Garrard has quietly become one of the league's top QBs. Better buckle your chinstrap when the Jags come to town, they are BIG. Big O line, big D line, giant receivers, big QB, only the RBs are small. The Pats had the spread covered but gave it away with stupid defensive personal fouls, missed FG, and a horrifying drop by Wes Welker inside the Jags ten late in the fourth when a TD would have sealed the deal on the spread. Thanks for nothing, Pats.
SD has now won what, seven straight? They are so hot they can lose their QB and the league's best RB, and have the league's best TE hobbled and still win, on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs. Sheesh. Indy seemed a bit tentative, but the SD defense was just too physical for them. The Indy defense never had an answer to the Bolt's passing attack, then got pushed around by their run game late. Unfortunatley, Sd may have lost Rivers and LT for NE. Was yesterday Tony Dungy's last game at the helm for the Colts? Quite possibly. Class act all the way, win or lose.
I have never been a big Tom Coughlin fan. That whole drill sergeant routine struck me as a big ego trip and not the best way to motivate pros. I had doubts he would last out this season and thought it was a good bet he would lose the team. Could I have been any more wrong? The Giants are, gasp, a highly disciplined team that don't take silly penalties, don't turn the ball over and can play smashmouth or get into a shootout. I think the game that made their season was the loss to NE. They had nothing to play for and could have mailed it in. Instead they made the Pats earn their perfect season by going all out and playing what was probably their best game of the year. It seemed to give the Giants a load of confidence, even though they lost. That confidence saved them yesterday when the Cowboys gave them a lesson in smashmouth football at the end of the first half, driving the length of the field and taking 10 minutes off the clock. The Giants got the ball with only a little more than a minute on the clock and put it right back in the Cowboys' face by going down the field and scoring a TD. In the second half, they gradually wore down the Cowboys and the Giants defensive line began to dictate.
I thought the Cowboys were badly outcoached in the second half. They had no answer to the Giants' pressure. Romo seemed to lose his composure, although the problem really was with the line. Not a good ending for the Cowboys, who had not been at all impressive in their last few games. Guess it's not that easy to turn it on and off. Expect Romo to be excoriated in the press for the Cabo adventure. Similarly, expect pressure to fire Wade Phillips. Offensive coordiantor Jason Garrett was expected to be a hot commodity on the coaching circuit, and there was some speculation that Jerry Jones would fire Phillips and promote Garrett to prevent losing him. After yesterday maybe everyone will take a deep breath and reconsider.
I thought the best game of the four was the GB-Seattle matchup. Classic Lambeau weather, diriving snowstorm. If only the field had been frozen solid, but I guess they have ways to prevent that now. How many times will that clip of Favre, stumbling and making an insane underhanded toss in the blizzard get replayed over the years? You knew the Seahawks were toast then.
I thought NE looked awfully sloppy in getting by a Jacksonville squad that is knocking on the door of elite status. Garrard has quietly become one of the league's top QBs. Better buckle your chinstrap when the Jags come to town, they are BIG. Big O line, big D line, giant receivers, big QB, only the RBs are small. The Pats had the spread covered but gave it away with stupid defensive personal fouls, missed FG, and a horrifying drop by Wes Welker inside the Jags ten late in the fourth when a TD would have sealed the deal on the spread. Thanks for nothing, Pats.
SD has now won what, seven straight? They are so hot they can lose their QB and the league's best RB, and have the league's best TE hobbled and still win, on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs. Sheesh. Indy seemed a bit tentative, but the SD defense was just too physical for them. The Indy defense never had an answer to the Bolt's passing attack, then got pushed around by their run game late. Unfortunatley, Sd may have lost Rivers and LT for NE. Was yesterday Tony Dungy's last game at the helm for the Colts? Quite possibly. Class act all the way, win or lose.
I have never been a big Tom Coughlin fan. That whole drill sergeant routine struck me as a big ego trip and not the best way to motivate pros. I had doubts he would last out this season and thought it was a good bet he would lose the team. Could I have been any more wrong? The Giants are, gasp, a highly disciplined team that don't take silly penalties, don't turn the ball over and can play smashmouth or get into a shootout. I think the game that made their season was the loss to NE. They had nothing to play for and could have mailed it in. Instead they made the Pats earn their perfect season by going all out and playing what was probably their best game of the year. It seemed to give the Giants a load of confidence, even though they lost. That confidence saved them yesterday when the Cowboys gave them a lesson in smashmouth football at the end of the first half, driving the length of the field and taking 10 minutes off the clock. The Giants got the ball with only a little more than a minute on the clock and put it right back in the Cowboys' face by going down the field and scoring a TD. In the second half, they gradually wore down the Cowboys and the Giants defensive line began to dictate.
I thought the Cowboys were badly outcoached in the second half. They had no answer to the Giants' pressure. Romo seemed to lose his composure, although the problem really was with the line. Not a good ending for the Cowboys, who had not been at all impressive in their last few games. Guess it's not that easy to turn it on and off. Expect Romo to be excoriated in the press for the Cabo adventure. Similarly, expect pressure to fire Wade Phillips. Offensive coordiantor Jason Garrett was expected to be a hot commodity on the coaching circuit, and there was some speculation that Jerry Jones would fire Phillips and promote Garrett to prevent losing him. After yesterday maybe everyone will take a deep breath and reconsider.
T. Romo seemed a little distracted. Wonder why?
I haven't been watching the Jags this year, but they looked solid as hell! I only hope the Super Bowl is as good a game.
Game plan for San Diego
Since I absolutely detest the Patriots, I'm gonna help Norvy out here a bit.
This is the first thing to stick out:
Vrabel 32
Seau 38
Brewski 34
A. Thomas 30
AVG age: 33.5
They have to cover these guys out of the backfield, slot or ends:
A. Gates 27
D. Sproles 24
LT 28
Manumaleuna 28
AVG. age: 26.75 --------> DIFF: 6.75 yrs.
I'm gonna make those linebackers work.
No huddle for the majority of the game, making this a game of attrition. Sweeps (do they even call it that anymore?), shallow middle routes crossing patterns, reverses, anything that makes these geezers have to go sideline to sideline. They read very quickly, slight misdirectional screens might help. It's imperative that the Chargers convert at least a decent ratio of 3rd downs otherwise, obviously, this won't work. LT needs to be healthy enough.
As every team in the league found out, Tom Brady IS the best and will eat you for lunch then kick your dog if you give him time to throw the ball. You just can't hope for him to have an off day.
San Diego is #5 in sacks and #1 in interceptions this year. Merriman and Phillips need to buzz Brady's tower. Somebody, anybody, needs to get at him. Chances will have to be taken, passes will be caught...but tackles after the catch must be made. I would sell out on this point. Not mindlessly mind you, but, I'd rather die a quick death than be picked on senseless as the Jags witnessed.
Easier said than done. Patriots have a stellar O-line.
MISTAKES
New England doesn't make any. San Diego can't make any.
Sports is all about matchups, and in my opinion these two teams matchup well, except Rivers is throwing a big 'ole monkey wrench into the mix. As much as I can't stand that whiney bastard, SD definitely needs him.
EDIT: Let's not forget about Rodney Harrison, just another NE player who just dials it up a bit further around playoffs. What a stud,,, and he was a Charger.
Since I absolutely detest the Patriots, I'm gonna help Norvy out here a bit.
This is the first thing to stick out:
Vrabel 32
Seau 38
Brewski 34
A. Thomas 30
AVG age: 33.5
They have to cover these guys out of the backfield, slot or ends:
A. Gates 27
D. Sproles 24
LT 28
Manumaleuna 28
AVG. age: 26.75 --------> DIFF: 6.75 yrs.
I'm gonna make those linebackers work.
No huddle for the majority of the game, making this a game of attrition. Sweeps (do they even call it that anymore?), shallow middle routes crossing patterns, reverses, anything that makes these geezers have to go sideline to sideline. They read very quickly, slight misdirectional screens might help. It's imperative that the Chargers convert at least a decent ratio of 3rd downs otherwise, obviously, this won't work. LT needs to be healthy enough.
As every team in the league found out, Tom Brady IS the best and will eat you for lunch then kick your dog if you give him time to throw the ball. You just can't hope for him to have an off day.
San Diego is #5 in sacks and #1 in interceptions this year. Merriman and Phillips need to buzz Brady's tower. Somebody, anybody, needs to get at him. Chances will have to be taken, passes will be caught...but tackles after the catch must be made. I would sell out on this point. Not mindlessly mind you, but, I'd rather die a quick death than be picked on senseless as the Jags witnessed.
Easier said than done. Patriots have a stellar O-line.
MISTAKES
New England doesn't make any. San Diego can't make any.
Sports is all about matchups, and in my opinion these two teams matchup well, except Rivers is throwing a big 'ole monkey wrench into the mix. As much as I can't stand that whiney bastard, SD definitely needs him.
EDIT: Let's not forget about Rodney Harrison, just another NE player who just dials it up a bit further around playoffs. What a stud,,, and he was a Charger.
i want NE vs GB in Superbowl. now that's a game! 
It will be interesting to see what kind of game plan Norv turner comes up with. They had success against both the titans and Colts throwing the ball downfield to their 6-5 receiver jackson. He is pretty much impossible for a DB to cover. The other wideout Chris Chambers, a midseason gift from the Dolphins, is also a tough cover. Of course Gates is also huge and a tough matchup.
The Bolts defensive front is one of the league's most imposing. No one seems to be able to pressure Brady. I think the one way to stop the Pats' offense is to hit Brady, but teams that have tried to blitz him have paid big time.
My initial take on this game is that the Chargers are not as good a football team as the Jags, who lost by 11 and should have lost by a lot more if the Pats had been focused. But the Chargers do pose a different threat offensively, as they are better at throwing the ball down the field, plus they have a great running game. Of course, injuries will be a huge factor. If LT and Rivers can't go, it's a different ballgame.