N.f.l. 2012 (1 Viewer)
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sammy719
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I knew it was going to be a dog fight with Houston, hey they had the NFL second ranked defense (Ravens 3rd)...so didn't think we would be blowing anyone out, but glad we got the turnover battle, as far as New England Tom T won't have a cake walk like last nite, we'll be ready for the Pats, anyway this whole season has been a dog fight..the AFC North, a good Houston team so it's fitting the number 1 and 2 seeds to fight it out, let's go Ravens!!!!!!!!!!!...Sammy
mikemiller1955
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NYG is healthy and peaking at the right time...their defense is really strong now...
The defenses have come to the fore in the post-season, once again. Still a lot of scoring going on, but the Giants are playing good defense and we know the Ravens and 49er's have good defenses. The question that remains is whether Tom Terrific can overcome the Ravens defense and his own defense. He has done very well off-setting the Pats defense, so far. We shall see if he can continue on Sunday. The 49er's-Giants is going to be a good game, too. I'll be rooting for the Ravens. Let's go Defense! -- Al
Louis Badolato
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I had originally picked the Ravens to win it all. After seeing how poorly they played on defense as well as offense against Houston, I am picking the Patriots next week to win the AFC Championship game, and move on to play my Giants in the Superbowl.
jazzeum
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Great game (unless you're a cheesehead and I'm sure this is a bitter pill for them and their fans). However, this is not a complete upset because of the GB D. Not very good and you saw why today. On the other hand, Giants D is now pretty healthy. Also luck is on their side: all those dropped passes by GB and the hail mary (which told me this would probably be a Giant day).
jazzeum
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Congrats. I guess you're a believer now
. I agree about the Pats. However, beating the 49ers will not be easy. Should be a fun game. Facing the Giants would be Belichick's worst nightmare!
Louis Badolato
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The Giants got breaks from the Packers, who dropped 8 balls and lost three fumbles. On the other hand, the Refs (particularly Bill Leavy, who should never be allowed to ref in the playoffs again) did everything they could to throw the game to the Packers, directly resulting in 14 of the Packers 20 points (1. the fumble that everyone but the referee on replay knew was a fumble, including the other official who originally called it a fumble before being "overrulled" by another official, who changed the call, and the challenge, from 49ers fumble to down by contact during a commercial; and 2. the "blow to the head" roughing the passer call on 4th down after an incomplete pass, when the replay clearly showed Osi never came anywhere near Roger's head).
The Giants didn't get much pressure at all (2, maybe 3 sacks) but played well in the secondary and benefitted from the 8 drops. The Giants passing offense played amazing (Eli threw for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns) but the Giants didn't run the ball well at all.
The Giants will, however, as I indicated this morning, win the Superbowl. The Giants are playing too well on both sides of the ball not to beat the 49ers next week. I see the game being 24-10 or 27-14 Giants.
The Patriots will wax the Ravens next week, who demonstrated today that they are no longer a truly dominant defense. Flacco was abyssmal, and Rice couldn't run the ball at all. Patriots 35, Ravens 17.
Superbowl 42 redux will again be a Giants victory. As poorly as they played through much of the regular season, the Giants team that has come together since the win over the Jets is superior to the 2007 Giants team that beat the "perfect" Patriots, under the present rules. The 2011-2012 Giants have the best passing offense ever fielded by a Giants team, with Eli Manning the best ever Giant quarterback (sorry Phil and Y.A., but it is true), and Nicks, Cruz and Mannigham the best ever group of receivers the Giants have ever fielded (sorry Plax, Amani, Tyree and Smith). The offensive line and Eli's improved movement in the pocket make it nearly impossible to sack Eli more than once a game. The running game is not nearly as good, but under the new rules that doesn't matter. The pass rush is as good, and the secondary is playing almost as well.
The Patriots have a dominant passing offense in a different way: their slot receiver Wes Welker and their two tight-ends Gronkowski and Hernandez are the best combination of 3 players at these positions I have ever seen. However, they lack a legitimate deep threat to stretch the defense, and can't run the ball either. The Patriots have a truly terrible defense, who will be unable to stop the Giants unless the Giants stop themselves. Result, Giants 35, Patriots 24.
I can't believe the Giants have turned it around like this, but they have. They are the hottest team in the NFL right now, and have been for the last 4 weeks. The Giants are this years 2010-2011 Packers. They just squeeked in, but got hot at the right time, and are going to go all the way. See you in Indy, George.
tdubel
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Louis,
Congrats and glad you are excited, you should be! Giants are pretty hot right now. The only bad thing is having to go again on the road, but if you are hot, you are hot!
As for AFC. I routed for the Ravens and it caused me more agnst than my Steelers do. They won and that's all that matters, but my goodness, they gave Houston the ball and chance to win twice in the last 3 min. The Offense is awful and if it was not for 2 HOFers in Reed and Lewis, they don't win today. Who knows what happens next week, but if they put forth that type of effort, Pats will win by 20.
Again, this is why they play the game so it should be a fun next week!
TD
Warrior
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Don't hold anything back Louis, tell us how you really feel..............
Anyway, before you book your plane and hotel reservations for Indy, there still is a game you need to win next week, and these aren't Brett Favre and the 2007 Packers, they're the 49er's, a much, much better team you'll be facing next week.
Also, check your stats as the Patriots, not the Giants, are the "hottest" team right now in the NFL, winners of nine strait and in 8 of those nine games, they scored at least 31 points, in the 9th game, they "only" scored 27, plus in the last two games, they've outscored their opponents 94-31.
As far as your point about Brady not being able to stretch the field, that was what did them in in the 2008 loss to the Giants, Brady kept waiting for Moss and his other deep threats to get open and the Giants sacked him to death.
This year, they are murdering teams with the hurry up offense and as you pointed out, Welker in the slot and their two all world tight ends.
I'm not looking past the Ravens next week; I'd suggest you do the same regarding the 49ers.
jazzeum
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As excited as you should be about the Giants making it this far, the 49ers defense is not the GB defense: SF finished 2nd in least points allowed per game and they were first in takeaway/giveaway differential. They are much, much better and the O line will have their hands full on handling Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and company. The 49ers have proven themselves to be a plucky team. There is a reason they are picked in this game.
If they make it to the SB there will be time enough to analyze the pros and cons of winning it and if they are a better team than 2007.
One game at a time :wink2:
If they make it to the SB there will be time enough to analyze the pros and cons of winning it and if they are a better team than 2007.
One game at a time :wink2:
Louis Badolato
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George and Brad,
If I were a player you would be absolutely correct, it would be disasterous for me to look past the 49ers, but the last time I checked, I don't strap on pads on Sunday, I just watch and scream at the TV.^&grin
As far as the 49ers are concerned, their defense just allowed 32 points to a team that does not play well outside. If the Giants try to win primarily by running the ball, you are correct, they will get stuffed, but the Giants will be able to pass on the 49ers. The Giants team that played the 49ers in week 9 did not have Ahmad Bradshaw, Osi Umeneuira, Prince Amakemura, Michael Bolle or a healthy Justin Tuck, and still only lost when Manningham (1) stopped running a route for no apparent reason allowing an interception which resulted in a touchdown when the Giants were leading 13-12 and (2) dropped a touchdown pass that would have tied the game with less than 30 seconds to play. The Giants have gotten far better since week 10, the then 9-0 49ers, with the exception of yesterday, have not played as well. Alex Smith looked terrific yesterday against a Saints defense that had to blitz to get pressure on him, leaving his receivers in one on one man coverage without safety help. Contrary to my earlier estimate, the Giants sacked Aaron Rogers 4 times today while almost never blitzing and dropping 7 in coverage on almost every play. In my opinion (and, as I stated just before the Giants vs. Jets game, all this talk means nothing, games or one on the field not in chat rooms) the Giants match up better against the 49ers than they did against the Packers.
The Patriots, as George pointed out, are a hot team, but how many teams who finished the season with winning records have they beaten this year? To my recollection, the answer is zero. They lost to the Giants in Foxboro before the Giants were hitting on all cylanders. They have wins over a pathetic Buffalo team, 2 wins over a more pathetic Miami team, two wins over an 8-8 Jets team, a win over a one dimensional 8-8 Broncos team (that they trounced again yesterday), an underachieving Chargers team, an 8-8 Raiders team, an 8-8 Cowboys team, an 8-8 Eagles team, a 5 win Chiefs team, the 2-14 Colts, and a 5 win Redskin team. In addition to the Giants, they lost to the Steelers and Buffalo. Their defense is the worst in the league. They have no running game. Despite all this, they still have a chance, because they have Brady, Welker, Gronkowski and Hernandez. I think, however, that the Patriots will have more difficulty scoring on the Giants defense as it is presently playing, than the Giants will have scoring on the Patriots defense as it is presently playing.
I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. Turnovers, bad calls, wierd special teams plays, missed or blocked kicks, missed tackles, a receiver or defensive back slipping and falling, and any of my predictions could go wrong. Would we even be having this discussion if in 2007 a ref had blown his whistle as Eli Manning tried to escape from a sack, immediately prior to heaving a ball to David Tyree? But I didn't expect the Giants to win 8 games this year, yet they just knocked off the 15-1 Packers in Lambeau (Eli is the first QB in the history of the league to win 2 playoff games in Lambeau) and are playing in the NFC Championship (against a 49ers team I also thought would go 8-8 and miss the playoffs - shows what I know) so pardon me if I act like a happy fan and crow a little. If they lose next week, I will admit I was wrong and move on. If they win, superbowl party at my house.^&grin
If I were a player you would be absolutely correct, it would be disasterous for me to look past the 49ers, but the last time I checked, I don't strap on pads on Sunday, I just watch and scream at the TV.^&grin
As far as the 49ers are concerned, their defense just allowed 32 points to a team that does not play well outside. If the Giants try to win primarily by running the ball, you are correct, they will get stuffed, but the Giants will be able to pass on the 49ers. The Giants team that played the 49ers in week 9 did not have Ahmad Bradshaw, Osi Umeneuira, Prince Amakemura, Michael Bolle or a healthy Justin Tuck, and still only lost when Manningham (1) stopped running a route for no apparent reason allowing an interception which resulted in a touchdown when the Giants were leading 13-12 and (2) dropped a touchdown pass that would have tied the game with less than 30 seconds to play. The Giants have gotten far better since week 10, the then 9-0 49ers, with the exception of yesterday, have not played as well. Alex Smith looked terrific yesterday against a Saints defense that had to blitz to get pressure on him, leaving his receivers in one on one man coverage without safety help. Contrary to my earlier estimate, the Giants sacked Aaron Rogers 4 times today while almost never blitzing and dropping 7 in coverage on almost every play. In my opinion (and, as I stated just before the Giants vs. Jets game, all this talk means nothing, games or one on the field not in chat rooms) the Giants match up better against the 49ers than they did against the Packers.
The Patriots, as George pointed out, are a hot team, but how many teams who finished the season with winning records have they beaten this year? To my recollection, the answer is zero. They lost to the Giants in Foxboro before the Giants were hitting on all cylanders. They have wins over a pathetic Buffalo team, 2 wins over a more pathetic Miami team, two wins over an 8-8 Jets team, a win over a one dimensional 8-8 Broncos team (that they trounced again yesterday), an underachieving Chargers team, an 8-8 Raiders team, an 8-8 Cowboys team, an 8-8 Eagles team, a 5 win Chiefs team, the 2-14 Colts, and a 5 win Redskin team. In addition to the Giants, they lost to the Steelers and Buffalo. Their defense is the worst in the league. They have no running game. Despite all this, they still have a chance, because they have Brady, Welker, Gronkowski and Hernandez. I think, however, that the Patriots will have more difficulty scoring on the Giants defense as it is presently playing, than the Giants will have scoring on the Patriots defense as it is presently playing.
I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. Turnovers, bad calls, wierd special teams plays, missed or blocked kicks, missed tackles, a receiver or defensive back slipping and falling, and any of my predictions could go wrong. Would we even be having this discussion if in 2007 a ref had blown his whistle as Eli Manning tried to escape from a sack, immediately prior to heaving a ball to David Tyree? But I didn't expect the Giants to win 8 games this year, yet they just knocked off the 15-1 Packers in Lambeau (Eli is the first QB in the history of the league to win 2 playoff games in Lambeau) and are playing in the NFC Championship (against a 49ers team I also thought would go 8-8 and miss the playoffs - shows what I know) so pardon me if I act like a happy fan and crow a little. If they lose next week, I will admit I was wrong and move on. If they win, superbowl party at my house.^&grin
sammy719
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All of you that are pick'n the Pats in a blowout I hope you show up next Sunday nite to re-read what you wrote, again the Ravens played against the 2nd best D in the NFL today, we are 7-0 against playoff teams this year...hmmm how many big games did the Pats win??? not many because they didn't play alot of teams with winning records, and the Ravens will score against the pats 31st defense in the league, so I don't look at it Defense vs. offense, I look at the better balanced team on both sides..Ravens win in a close one...Sammy
Louis Badolato
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Oh, and by the way, Leavy and his crew made another horrendous call - a bad spot almost a full yard from where the Giant's running back was tackled which cost the Giants a first down with around 5 minutes left in the game, forcing a Giants punt.
Louis Badolato
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Sammy,
I had originally picked the Ravens to win the Superbowl before the playoffs started, but after the stinker of a performance against an undermanned Texans team today, I changed my pick. Rice couldn't run the ball, and got stuffed on third and one and fourth and one at the goal line, and a second and one, followed by the fullback getting stuffed on a third and less than a yard when you were trying to run out the clock. Without the rookie third string quarterback and punt returner's gift turnovers, Flacco put a total of 7 points on the board (the other 13 were all off turnovers). Even with all of that, the Ravens didn't clintch the game until a hail mary pass bounced off a Texan receiver's elbow (and was thus catchable). Houston ran the ball at will on your vaunted defense, and Ed Reed dropped two picks, before getting injured on the last play, possibly preventing and certainly hampering his performance next week in Foxboro. Unless the Ravens play worlds better next week, they will not get past Brady and the Patriots.
jazzeum
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I think Sammy raises some fair points about the Texans D Ravens O. However, we are in an offensive age right now and I don't think Flacco or their O is equipped to go toe to toe with Brady, as the Niners O was with Brees and company on Saturday.
However, the Texans ran all over the Ravens D, which was not expected. They were also playing with a rookie QB, who played creditably. Had Schaub been in there, Ravens would be watching the next game at home. I think age is starting to show and if they play like that on Sunday, they will get torched and Brady is on fire right now. The level of competition they beat might not be great but that is because the AFC stinks. Patriots are head and shoulders above everyone else in that conference.
However, the Texans ran all over the Ravens D, which was not expected. They were also playing with a rookie QB, who played creditably. Had Schaub been in there, Ravens would be watching the next game at home. I think age is starting to show and if they play like that on Sunday, they will get torched and Brady is on fire right now. The level of competition they beat might not be great but that is because the AFC stinks. Patriots are head and shoulders above everyone else in that conference.
Warrior
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If a ref had blown the whistle on that play as Eli was clearly in the grasp OR if a ref had thrown a flag on the two Giants O linemen who were mugging two Patriot D linemen, then no, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
But then again, if that play didn't happen, the announcers in every game since when a similar play happens wouldn't make reference to the play like they do everytime, now would they?