Superbowl thread!

[Brother None]

So the first weeks of the play-offs are done and left me thinking it'd have been more fun if the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers had made it into the playoffs.

But oh well...

A few thoughts on the matches;

Washington Tampa Bay 17-10
A struggle that was only tough on both teams because both teams really aren't that good. Yeah, yeah, I know, "what do you expect from the NFC" but that's not really fair. A defense game in the end, with Washington having the better defense. Bleargh.

Jacksonville New England 3-28
Shit. Looking like the Patriots of old again, I guess. Damn well needed to after a bad season. Let's not get excited, though, the Jags were pretty exhausted. Maybe if Lord Byron had been feeling better, but unlikely even then.

Carolina NY Giants 23-0
Did this match show the greatness of the Panthers? No. It showed that the Giants really weren't up to speed and not ready to play the play-offs. Eli may be a Manning, but he's not *the* Manning. Not by far.

Pittsburgh Cincinatti 31-17
I don't care what the experts say, Palmer's injury handed the match to the Steelers on a gold platter. Sure, they might've had it on a bronze or even silver platter before, but at least the Bengals had a fighting chance against the Steelers and the somewhat erratic Big Ben. I think Palmer's fall pulled Ben up, even though Kitna gave it a good try.

This week's matches!
Washington Redskins @ Seattle Seahawks
Home field advantage while at the top of their game? Shit. This game's being handed to the Seahawks like that. There's nothing stopping playmaker Hasselbeck or touchdownmachine Alexander from running all over any defense, including the Redskins.
Projected: Seattle Seahawks by 14 points

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Sure, the Broncos have the homefield advantage, but they're not capable of stopping the Pats now that they're at full speed. The monsterhead of Anderson and Bell constitutes a threat as the Pats are not really capable of stopping running games like theirs, but expect the advantage to be handed to the Pats curtesy to Brady. But it might still come down to a kicking match between Elam and Vinatieri, in which case I'd go with Elam.
Projected: New England Patriots by 7 points

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts
The 13-streak are still looking good, but they're looking worse every minute. Dungy's personal tragedy didn't help, but it should've been clear to everyone when the Chargers made short work of them that these are NOT the 74 Dolphins. They might not even be the '04 Patriots. But they're an extremely well-balanced team and the same can not be said of the Steelers, plus they're way more rested and prepared. Expect the Colts to win.
Projected: Indianapolis Colts by 10 points

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears
Two of the most defensive teams in the league. The Panthers aren't their '03 selves, though, and the Bears are fresh as ever. This is a matchup of defense against defense, but the points will come from big-play makers Mushim Muhammed and Steve Smith. And Steve is the better one of these. And let's not even start comparing Orton to Delhomme. But then again, Delhomme has not been in form lately and the Bears D might be able to stop Smith.
Projected: Chicago Bears by 3 points.

Future projections up for heavy revision:
The weakened Colts might not have what it takes to beat the Pats and Bears definitely can't take on the Seahawks. I'm looking forward to a Pats-Seahawks or Colts-Seahawks Superbowl. I'm rooting for the Seahawks.

PS: I'll remove contenders from the poll when they drop off for a weekly revote, if phpBB allows

 

[Ratty Sr.]

What the hell is wrong with you?

 

[Brother None]

What the hell is wrong with you?

What's wrong with you? Reading disorder? The subject of this thread was pretty clear.

Football threads always get polluted by Americans going in saying how much the sport sucks and that they don't know anything, American football threads always get polluted by Europeans going in saying how much the sport sucks and that they don't know anything.

Hence my friendly request not to post in this thread if you don't care about the subject.

Because that's what it is. A request. A request not to make me BAN YOU ASS.

 

[Ashmo]

Oooh! A mod/admin fight!

...

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

:: cheers ::

 

[Brother None]

Oooh! A mod/admin fight!

Ratty is not a mod here.

HAH!

 

[Ashmo]

Hm... okay.

If you were a rat, I could call it a rat fight, but sadly you're not.

I guess I just ran out of puns.

...

Look! A meerkat!

 

[Ratty Sr.]

Um, I have nothing in particular against American football (in fact, I *watched* Superbowl once - hah!), but I want to know why *you* (Kharn, a Dutchie, a *European*) are starting a thread about it. No really, what's the catch? I'm losing sleep over it.

 

[Per]

Dudes, I am so fucking uninterested in this thread.

Vatted.

 

[[PCE]el_Prez]

I fucking loathe the patriots, but i think theyre gonna win.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

Anyone but the Colts. I'm so sick of Peyton Manning, reminds of the kid with the banjo in Deliverance.

 

[Murdoch]

Bwawa! Can I fight with you then Kharn?

I think that the Vikings are going to have another boat orgy and it'll be so much fun that whoever is representing the NFC North will step aside and let the 'Queens back into the playoffs.

 

[The Vault Dweller]

What the hell is wrong with you?

Ya I know.

I'm not so much surprised by Kharn liking sports as much as liking something overseas. Doesnt Europe have its own leagues and stuff?

Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller

 

[[PCE]el_Prez]

Bwawa! Can I fight with you then Kharn?

I think that the Vikings are going to have another boat orgy and it'll be so much fun that whoever is representing the NFC North will step aside and let the 'Queens back into the playoffs.

Nothing says NFL playofss like doing coke of hooker's titties.

 

[brandons1313]

Seahawks are going to beat the Redskins on Sat. They went into the bye week at the top of their game.

 

[Kan-Kerai]

If the Patriots were completely healthy it would be them all the way. They're disgustingly good when they don't have injury problems, but they're still one of the top teams in the league even when they have to dig down into the second and third string.

Anyway: Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl, with the Seahawks winning a hardfought battle 21-17.

 

[Roshambo]

Pittsburgh Cincinatti 31-17
I don't care what the experts say, Palmer's injury handed the match to the Steelers on a gold platter. Sure, they might've had it on a bronze or even silver platter before, but at least the Bengals had a fighting chance against the Steelers and the somewhat erratic Big Ben. I think Palmer's fall pulled Ben up, even though Kitna gave it a good try.

This was a pretty amusing game. Not only did the Bengals get pretty humiliated at how the Steelers did textbook plays that were just beautiful in execution, including several sweet running and multiple-passing plays, but the rest of the Bengals team just fell apart with the QB's injury.

 

[Brother None]

Glad to see the majority 'till now agrees with my Seattle prediction. For future reference; I also really hate the Patriots. The Colts less so.

This was a pretty amusing game. Not only did the Bengals get pretty humiliated at how the Steelers did textbook plays that were just beautiful in execution, including several sweet running and multiple-passing plays, but the rest of the Bengals team just fell apart with the QB's injury.

The problem is that there's no team that has a real QB backup plan. It's pathetic, really. Look at what happened to Philly when Donovan McNabb got taken out. Look at what happened to Green Bay just because Favre is too old. The Jags couldn't hold it together with Byron unhealthy or out, even though Garrard had both good veterans (Jimmy Smith, really) and promising rookies (Wilford and Jones) to work with, which even worked part of the time.

But the same goes for the leading teams. The Redskins, Bears and the Panthers have the advantage of having a good defence to rely on and can almost play on turn-overs (not on this level, though), but the Pats and Colts would drop like dead herrings if Brady clips his toenail the wrong way or a few strings snap on Peyton's banjo injuring his fingers. Seattle might be the only one with a little balance in there but the difference between Seneca Wallace and Matt Hasselbeck is very, very big. Still, all Wallace would have to do is watch Alexander run that ball.

GO ALEXANDER GO!

But seriously, look at the backups of those top three teams; Jim Sorgi, Seneca Wallace and Matt Cassel. Names sound familiar? No? They shouldn't. A bunch of 4th-to-7th round picks with with a game experience between 2 and 9. Sorgi looks like the best of the bunch, and that's sad.

 

[Tayl]

Re: NFL playoff thread - Uninterested folk STAY OUT

Washington Redskins @ Seattle Seahawks
Home field advantage while at the top of their game? Shit. This game's being handed to the Seahawks like that. There's nothing stopping playmaker Hasselbeck or touchdownmachine Alexander from running all over any defense, including the Redskins.
Projected: Seattle Seahawks by 14 points

I agree. I don't think the Skins defense will be able to stop the Seahawks. The Seahawks offense is much better than the TB offense was. Simms is no Hasselbeck. Not yet, anyways.

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Sure, the Broncos have the homefield advantage, but they're not capable of stopping the Pats now that they're at full speed. The monsterhead of Anderson and Bell constitutes a threat as the Pats are not really capable of stopping running games like theirs, but expect the advantage to be handed to the Pats curtesy to Brady. But it might still come down to a kicking match between Elam and Vinatieri, in which case I'd go with Elam.
Projected: New England Patriots by 7 points

I don't understand why everyone hates the Pats so much. They are the ideal football team. They are smart and well coached and they play team ball. I just don't understand why people hate winners so much. I really like them, even though I'm not a lifelong fan. I like seeing teams play the way they are supposed to and not relying on one player to carry them.

Anyways, I agree that the Pats will take it. Although if it comes down to Elam vs Vinatieri, I would chose Vinatieri in a heartbeat. That guy is Mr. Clutch. It always comes through, no matter what. Elam is good but Vinatieri is one of the best.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts
The 13-streak are still looking good, but they're looking worse every minute. Dungy's personal tragedy didn't help, but it should've been clear to everyone when the Chargers made short work of them that these are NOT the 74 Dolphins. They might not even be the '04 Patriots. But they're an extremely well-balanced team and the same can not be said of the Steelers, plus they're way more rested and prepared. Expect the Colts to win.
Projected: Indianapolis Colts by 10 points

I think the Colts will strike early and demoralize the Steelers. I don't think Big Ben can deal with the pressure of coming back from a deficit. If it ever gets too lopsided then I don't think he can pull a Brady and bring them back. I agree with your prediction.

Carolina Panthers @ Chicago Bears
Two of the most defensive teams in the league. The Panthers aren't their '03 selves, though, and the Bears are fresh as ever. This is a matchup of defense against defense, but the points will come from big-play makers Mushim Muhammed and Steve Smith. And Steve is the better one of these. And let's not even start comparing Orton to Delhomme. But then again, Delhomme has not been in form lately and the Bears D might be able to stop Smith.
Projected: Chicago Bears by 3 points.

I'm pretty sure Grossman is starting in Orton's place. I can't seem to find a definitive link to show this but I remember hearing it on the news a few days ago. Grossman is much better than Orton. I think with at least the threat of Grossman going deep it will open the run game for Jones. That's a big factor. With Orton in you don't get that. I think the Bears will squeek by.

 

[[PCE]el_Prez]

I don't understand why everyone hates the Pats so much. They are the ideal football team. They are smart and well coached and they play team ball. I just don't understand why people hate winners so much. I really like them, even though I'm not a lifelong fan. I like seeing teams play the way they are supposed to and not relying on one player to carry them.

there are 2 generalized reasons the pats are hated.
1 - people hate dynasties. When one team continues to win championship it takes away the excitement of the game.
2 - people like to root for the underdog. If a team is a dynasty, than they can't be the underdog

Also it's not that people 'HATE' the pats, were just sick of seeing them win. I do respect the football that the pats play, unselfish team oriented ball - however nothing would make me happieir than someone giving Brady the biggest concusion in history and vinetari going 0-5 from the field.

 

[Cimmerian Nights]

Pats are 3pt underdogs for tomorrow's game.
I wouldn't really lump them in with the dynasties of the past. Sure they win a lot, but they never blow teams out by any means. And when they lose, they lose UGLY (KC, SD, Denver, Indy,).