NFL Pick 'em 2011: Week 19 - DIVISIONAL ROUND

[Dragon]

Saturday, Jan 14
NO @ SF
DEN @ NE


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU @ BAL
NYG @ GB

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Saturday, Jan 14
NO W @ SF - My heart says SF but my head says NO. If I get this one wrong I will not be disappointed
DEN @ NE W - Beating a hobbled PIT team is one thing, beating NE is quite another.


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU @ BAL W - BAL defense is going to eat Yates up and spit him out.
NYG @ GB W - GB just keeps rolling.

[Park Kraken]

Saturday, Jan 14
NO @ SF (W) (*Shrugs* going with homefield)
DEN (W) @ NE (Upset, anyone?)


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU @ BAL (W) (Again, going with homefield)
NYG @ GB (W) (Wouldn't be entirely shocked if the Giants pulled one out)

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[Jedi Master Carr]

W NO @ SF (I think the Saints might be playing the best right now)
DEN @ NE W (Foxboro is a tough place to play and NE will score 30-40 points. Tebow will not out-duel Brady)


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU @ BAL W (Baltimore is too good for Houston)
NYG @ GB W (I think the Packers have too much firepower for the Giants)

[Miranda Tarkin]

Saturday, Jan 14
NO @ SF (W)
DEN @ NE (W)


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU @ BAL (W)
NYG @ GB (W)

[Dragon]

No way I'm missing a stunning upset this week!

Of course, I might miss an obvious 49-0 drubbing.

Saturday, Jan 14
NO @ SF WIN - I'm counting on the 49ers to strike a blow for defense in this pass-happy postseason.
DEN WIN @ NE - Because some men aren't looking for anything rational. Some men just want to watch the world burn.


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU WIN @ BAL - Baltimore hasn't done so well with teams that are clearly worse than them this year.
NYG WIN @ GB - The Giants' pass rush is just the recipe to stop Aaron Rodgers behind an injured O-line.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I can't see 3 road teams winning. I still see the home teams either going 3-1 or 4-0. In the past, the home teams have dominated this round of the playoffs.

[Dragon]

Oh, I agree. I just decided to pick for teh lulz this week.

Though I could certainly see the 49ers and Giants winning if they catch some good breaks early on and are able to settle into a rhythm against those weak defenses. And I really hope somebody with a defense makes it to the Super Bowl, even if it has to be the Ravens. If we get the Patriots and Packers, it's just going to be an arena football game.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Oh, I agree. I just decided to pick for teh lulz this week.

Though I could certainly see the 49ers and Giants winning if they catch some good breaks early on and are able to settle into a rhythm against those weak defenses. And I really hope somebody with a defense makes it to the Super Bowl, even if it has to be the Ravens. If we get the Patriots and Packers, it's just going to be an arena football game.

LOL ok now I see. The Niners could win, but if they kick FGS and don't get TDs they will lose. You got to get in the end zone to beat the Saints. The Giants need to get a lot of pressure on Rodgers to win. As for defense well the Ravens are probably the only chance. The Niners offense is bad and I think they will have trouble keeping up with the Packers if they can even beat the Saints. I actually do see an offense SB with either the Packers/Saints playing the Pats. Regardless, I think the NFC will win its 3 straight SB. The NFC is just too good right now.

[Rutabaga]

Saturday, Jan 14
NO WIN @ SF
DEN @ NE WIN


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU @ BAL WIN
NYG @ GB WIN

I would prefer to see SF win, of course, but I also think that NO is just too strong right now. And I will also be tickled pink if I turn out to be wrong. Even if SF loses, I'm still super duper happy that they got this far and if Jim Harbaugh isn't named coach of the year, then something is really really wrong.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Saturday, Jan 14
(W) NO @ SF
DEN @ NE (W)


Sunday, Jan 15
HOU @ BAL (W)
NYG @ GB (W)

Though I wouldn't be surprised with a Giant (hah, get it!?) upset this week.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

No
Den
Bal
Gb

[jjwr]

On the road but want to get my picks in. Going with all 4 home teams

[Figrin D'an]

Saturday, Jan 14

NO (W) @ SF - I'm starting to think this game will be a little closer than many think, but the Saints will still get it done. Bottom line, the 49ers are not built for a shootout, and if they get behind and are forced to put the ball in the hands of Alex Smith, he'll eventually make mistakes that New Orleans will capitalize on.

DEN @ NE (W) - All the talk is about the influence of Tim Tebow and his will to win on his Broncos teammates. Something tells me that there's no way Tom Brady lets his team lose this game. He's tired of the recent playoff struggles at home, and will come out with something to prove. A motivated Brady will be too much for Denver to handle.


Sunday, Jan 15

HOU @ BAL (W) - Running games and defenses are both very good for these two, so they wash each other out. So, passing efficiency will be the difference. I really don't trust either of these two passers, but Flacco has at least won in the playoffs and has shown at times that he can make things happen. Yates is going to be overwhelmed.


NYG @ GB (W) - It's been amusing this week watching all the pundits talk up the Giants and say they have such a great shot to win this game, yet they lose their bluster when they are asked to actually pick the upset. I've seen a few pick the Giants, but their reasoning has been completely flawed (I'm looking at you, Marshall Faulk of the NFL Network). I think Green Bay is loving that despite going 15-1 and being the defending Super Bowl champs, they are getting little media love. All the talk has been about the Giants peaking at the right time, or how good New Orleans has looked. I think they come out on Sunday, make a statement that they are ready to defend their title and win by two touchdowns.

[Park Kraken]

Wow What a game. 4 lead changes in under the last 4 minutes, glad to see the 49'ers advancing over the Saints.

[Rutabaga]

So my prediction of a Saints-Packers Super Bowl rematch has proven to be wrong. And I have never ever been so happy to be so wrong.

What a freakin' game. And I loved seeing Vernon Davis sobbing as he hugged Jim Harbaugh.

:eee :dance :clap :eee

[Park Kraken]

Looks like the Bronco's have come up with a bum leg, and the Pats are putting them to sleep right now. From the way tempers are flaring I think we've seen the birth of a new rivalry.

[Figrin D'an]

It just amazes me what a different team New Orleans is away from the Superdome. San Fran played well on defense today, but the Saints had some major self-inflicted wounds yet again on the road.

Credit the Niners offense and Alex Smith for making plays in crunch time, on multiple drives in the 4th quarter. I wasn't sure he had it in him.

[Rutabaga]

Wow, I have to admit that I'm really surprised by what's happening at Lambeau Field. Time for the Niners to roll out the red carpet to welcome the Giants.

And yes, I am a total dork, last year's Super Bowl was the Packers and the Steelers, not the Packers and the Saints. I'm going to blame my boo-boo on the pain meds I've been taking for my bad back. :D :mischief :o O_o

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Packers looked really off. I think the bye week hurt them. I do wonder if the death of the OC's son effected the team at all. I think the SB will be Niners-Pats.

[Dragon]

Stunning performances by both the 49ers and the Giants to pull off a couple of significant upsets! Both offenses had some dry spells, but Alex Smith showed more verve from the quarterback position than I knew he was capable of while Vernon Davis just showed what a beast he is against man-to-man coverage. Meanwhile Eli Manning was clutch on key third downs despite heavy pressure from the Packers' D.

The Patriots probably had the easiest road to the conference championship in history, facing a choice between the Broncos or an entire Steelers lineup on crutches, but I think even in defeat the Texans deserve special mention. Their defense was superb against the Ravens, and as a team they far exceeded my expectations for their first foray into postseason action, especially with a rookie QB. If they can hold that core of players together, they'll be a legitimate threat next year. The Ravens, on the other hand, have developed a true downfield passing game with Torrey Smith and Lee Evans. This may well be the piece they've been missing from an otherwise solid team these last few seasons.

So, on to the tally!


Week 19 Tally

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


Total Tally

1. jjwr: 182-82

2. Kyran O'Hurn: 177-87
3. Rutabaga: 173-87
4. Yog: 172-92
5. Dragon: 170-94
5. Figrin D'an: 170-94
5. Miranda Tarkin: 170-94
8. Morgan Evanar: 169-95
8. Jedi Master Carr: 169-95
10. Park Kraken: 168-96
11. Nathanial K'cansce: 165-99
11. Ryan Pode: 165-99
13. Aurelias Kazaar: 160-104


Since there are only three games left, jjwr's five-game lead is enough to clinch first place, while Kyran's four-game lead over third guarantees him second place. Congratulations, guys!

[jjwr]

It seems Every year you get at least one top seed with a bye who comes out flat and loses to a road team who is on a roll. Pats did it last year to the Jets, gold knows the Colts have done it a few times. There is someting to keeping your guys in games and playing them cause they can look flat out bad after that break sometimes.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah you are right, and the Ravens came out flat but the Texans were just horrible. Too bad they had so many injuries , they could be a team to watch out for next year.