NFL Open Thread: Wildcard Playoffs
posted at 12:57 pm on January 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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It’s a good thing I didn’t put up a thread on the playoffs yesterday. I would have picked against both the Chargers and the Cardinals. The Bolts had built momentum for the playoffs, but I thought Peyton Manning would have beaten them in post-season mode. The Cardinals limped into the playoffs and Atlanta finished strong, but apparently Arizona just saved it up for the playoffs.
We have two more games today, and that should take my mind off the fact that Granddaughter #2 has remained obstinate about making her debut. We’re expecting her tomorrow at the latest, as the doctor says he’ll induce sometime Monday if nothing happens until then. Meanwhile, our visiting family has left town disappointed, and we’re recovering from a fun but exhausting week with company. With the temperature at 0 today, it looks like a good day to curl up in front of the TV for some playoff fun.
Here are my completely unreliable picks today, in which I predict no surprises:
- Baltimore at Miami — The Dolphins have had a Cinderella season, rebounding from a 1-15 debacle in 2007 to win the division this year. Baltimore got a wildcard bid. I’d love to see Baltimore get bounced from the playoffs and Miami extend its remarkable comeback … but it’s not going to happen. Ravens over the Fins, 27-10.
- Philadelphia at Minnesota — Both teams have been inconsistent this year. Which Vikings and Eagles will show up today? I’m loathe to pick the Vikes after so many disappointments, but they’ve been playing better of late and they’re playing in the Metrodome. Vikings 24-21 in OT.
What are your picks today?
Update: That’s the second time in a month I’ve been within a point of a final score — and in this case, only a blocked PAT attempt kept me from getting it perfect in the Baltimore-Miami game.
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Peterson seems to have that problem that handful of running backs have: … if you pop him early in the game, it knocks him off of his stride for at least a quarter …
joey24007 on January 5, 2009 at 11:01 AM
BWAAAHAHAHAHAHA
oakpack on January 5, 2009 at 4:19 PM
I think he may retire, but I’m not sure firing him is warranted, nor is it necessarily the best move unless Peyton is on board with the idea. The Colts are more of a system team most and the system is definitely Peyton and Dungy.
Harrison needs to go (they should have replaced him last year with a big bruising receiver — any chance they could kidnap Larry Fitzgerald?) and they need to start planning for the future by picking up a good young QB in the draft (one with a brain, not one of those kids who relies on his legs)… but, mostly, they need to work on their defense. I think they need to pick up a big linebacker, at the minimum.
Y-not on January 5, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Y-not on January 5, 2009 at 6:28 PM
No chance at Fitzgerald, but Boldin is out of Arizona after this year, and he’s probably the better overall receiver.
RightOFLeft on January 5, 2009 at 7:56 PM
I just read Peter King’s take on that he believes the ‘overtime format’ is flawed. I agree completely. Here’s why: two teams battle for 60 minutes exchanging possessions, causing turnovers, and taking advantage of better field position through penalties and the game in regulation still ends up in a tie. One team must win and the other team must lose. The overtime session will determine this. Currently the flip of a coin determines who gets the ball first. In addition the team that scores first wins the game. To give one team a clear advantage in overtime is a travesty since neither team was ‘qualified’ in regulation to win the game outright. With this in mind here are my proposals to change the overtime format:
1)make the winner have to score 6 points in OT to win the game (a TD or 2 FG); what this would do is prevent a cheap pass interference penalty deciding the game by one team kicking a field goal; it would make the team with the ball have to march the length of the field to win, but still motivate them to kick a field goal to get closer to winning-but more importantly would give the opponent the opportunity to have the ball (if you notice very few OT games are decided by a TD); in addition I would award 3 points for a safety in OT so that that the team that caused the safety would only need a FG to win the game.
2)another proposal is to go to the basketball format of a 7 minute OT where the team that scores the most points wins; with 3 timeouts and a 2 minute warning it would be rare where one team could monopolize the posssession of the ball.
3)on the coin flip go to a ‘hockey shootout’ concept of 3 players from each side calling the flip where if the visiting team is wrong on the flip then all the home team has to do is get its flip correct; if the visiting team is right then the visiting team must get its flip right to continue more flips and so on; at least one flip of a coin wouldn’t determine the season for one team or another.
4)Reward the team with the most TD’s in giving it the ball first; if tied then the fewest turnovers; if tied then the QB with the higher passer rating-at least give the ball to a team based on an accomplishment rather than by strict chance.
5)prevent teams from kicking a field goal to win the game if they do not get to the 15 yard line of the opposition; this would prevent a long field goal from winning the game
technopeasant on January 5, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Comment pages: « 1 [2]