NFL Pick 'em 2011: Week 18 - WILD CARD ROUND

[Dragon]

Yep, we're continuing through the postseason. All rules are the same, so we're down to just eleven games left in the 2011 campaign!

Take note, the first two games are on Saturday.

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN @ HOU
DET @ NO


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG
PIT @ DEN

[Morgan Evanar]

Saturday, Jan 7
WIN CIN @ HOU - I don't think a banged up Texans can take the Bengals =/
DET @ NO WIN - Brees.


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG WIN
WIN PIT @ DEN

[Park Kraken]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN @ HOU (W) I think they can...
DET @ NO (W)


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL (W) @ NYG I'll go with a slight upset on this one...
PIT (W) @ DEN I'm predicting Tebow will be humbled in the eyes of the Lord. <!-- / message -->

[Dragon]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN WIN @ HOU
DET @ NO WIN


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG WIN
PIT WIN @ DEN


I think it's always exciting to see some new teams in the playoffs. Generally they don't make it too far, since postseason experience counts for a lot, but it's hard not to get caught up in it when a city is experiencing the playoff atmosphere for the first time in ages. I like both Houston and Cincinnati, so I'm really intrigued to see how that matchup pans out. Even though the Bengals were in the playoffs just two years ago, they're such a different team now that it's hard to give them a big edge in experience over the Texans. It's also not often you get to see two rookie QBs square off in the playoffs.

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN W @ HOU
DET @ NO W - Wouldn't totally surprise me if Detroit found a way, and by that I mean that DET might have 5% chance.


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL W @ NYG
PIT W @ DEN

[Rutabaga]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN WIN @ HOU
DET @ NO WIN


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG WIN
PIT WIN @ DEN

[Miranda Tarkin]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN @ HOU (W)
DET @ NO (W)


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL (W) @ NYG
PIT (W) @ DEN

[Yog]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN @ HOU (W)
DET @ NO (W)


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG (W)
PIT (W) @ DEN

[Jedi Master Carr]

Saturday, Jan 7
W CIN @ HOU
DET @ NO W


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG W
W PIT @ DEN

[Figrin D'an]

Saturday, Jan 7

CIN @ HOU (W) - The Bengals are capable of winning this, but Houston fans will be amped for their first playoff game since the the Oilers left town and will help their team to victory, despite their deficiencies.

DET @ NO (W) - This game will be closer than most think. If the Lions eliminate the dumb mistakes they had a few weeks ago, they have the firepower to score with the Saints. The Saints running game will be the difference.


Sunday, Jan 8

ATL (W) @ NYG - The Giants are getting a lot of media love lately. Lost in their late season push to win NFC East is the reality that this team was up and down all season, and was very inconsistent. Atlanta has the right formula to give the Giants problems (ie. running the ball on offense, playing Cover 2 to take away the deep pass on defense). Mild upset here.


PIT (W) @ DEN - Pittsburgh will have to go old-school to win this game with a hobbled Ben Roethlisberger. Run the ball, stop the run, generate turnovers. Even without Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers will be solid enough running the football to win, although it will be close enough to make Steelers fans a little nervous in the 4th quarter.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN W @ HOU
DET @ NO W


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG W
PIT @ DEN W

[Nathanial K'cansce]

I had lunch with a Steelers fan yesterday... she's already all sorts of nervous.

Saturday, Jan 7
(W) CIN @ HOU
DET @ NO (W)


Sunday, Jan 8
(W) ATL @ NYG
(W) PIT @ DEN

[jjwr]

Saturday, Jan 7
CIN (W) @ HOU
DET @ NO (W)


Sunday, Jan 8
ATL @ NYG (W)
PIT @ DEN (W)

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Lions were no match for the Saints, as the Saints blew them out in the second half. Houston won their first playoff game, it should be fun tomorrow. Now we know next week it will be Saints at Niners and Texans at Ravens. I like the Saints and Ravens right now.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

I really wanted to be able to play the Niners against Detroit's abysmal run defense. :(

[Jedi Master Carr]

If the Lions had won, they would have played the Packers. Still, the Niners would have gotten a better match-up with the Giants or Falcons.

[Park Kraken]

Watched the last three quarters+OT of the PIT/DEN game. That was a fun game to watch with the ups and downs. A lot of people might be saying "Okay you squeaked by PIT, prepare to be smashed by NE", but I think it'll be a fun matchup next weekend.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I can't see them beating NE. NE manhandled them last time in Denver. They will win again. The Pats are like the saints and will score 30-40 points.

[CMJ]

Did you see them beating Pittsburgh?

I don't see Denver winning next week either, but I think teams are too easily written off in the playoffs. There's a reason teams make it and/or advance. They're good.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I thought it was conceivable because the Steelers are so banged up right now. Ben could hardly move out there and they are missing several defensive players. I just think the Pats are way too good for them, especially with Brady healthy. I also think it looks the home teams are going to dominate this year in the playoffs.

[Dragon]

Well, I'm disappointed that the Steelers lost, but that really was a heroic effort by the Broncos. Unfortunately, much of Tebow's deep passing success came at the expense of Ike Taylor, who had just finished what may have been the best regular season of his career. You don't hear much about him because he doesn't catch interceptions, but what he typically does is shadow the opposition's best receiver and erase him from the stat sheet. The Steelers' victory over the Patriots had a lot to do with Taylor blanketing Wes Welker all game. For whatever reason, he just wasn't able to keep up with Demarius Thomas last night.

Well, now the Steelers have a chance to get healthy and hopefully hit the ground running next season. Looks like I'll be rooting for the Texans and Broncos next week.


Week 18 Tally

Aurelias Kazaar: 3-1
jjwr: 3-1
Yog: 3-1
Dragon: 2-2
Figrin D'an: 2-2
Jedi Master Carr: 2-2
Miranda Tarkin: 2-2
Morgan Evanar: 2-2
Park Kraken: 2-2
Rutabaga: 2-2
Kyran O'Hurn: 1-3
Nathanial K'cansce: 1-3
Ryan Pode: 0-4 (did not pick)


Total Tally

1. jjwr: 179-81

2. Kyran O'Hurn: 175-85
3. Rutabaga: 173-87
4. Yog: 172-88
5. Morgan Evanar: 169-91
6. Dragon: 168-92
6. Figrin D'an: 168-92
8. Jedi Master Carr: 167-93
8. Miranda Tarkin: 167-93
11. Park Kraken: 166-94
12. Ryan Pode: 165-95
13. Nathanial K'cansce: 161-97
13. Aurelias Kazaar: 159-101

[Jedi Master Carr]

I did question the Steelers game plan. Why didn't they copy the one the Chiefs did? They mostly went 8 in the box, while the Chiefs played safeties back to play for the big play. I was surprised how bad of a game Taylor had, he just seemed off.

[Dragon]

I've heard others ask the same questions, and I have to agree. The Steelers seemed to be daring Tebow to throw deep all game, and he obliged. And while Taylor did have a bad game, you can't pin the loss entirely on him. Man coverage has to be supported by the pass rush, and the few times they did get close to Tebow he threw wild, but for most of the game James Harrison and Lamar Woodley were invisible. Then once Hampton and Keisel went out, the defensive line was getting knocked back on every play. Regardless, you have to start giving Taylor more support once he starts getting beaten deep.