NFL Open Thread: Conference Championships
posted at 11:16 am on January 18, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
A few weeks ago, if someone had asked me to pick the Final Four in the NFL, I would only have picked one correctly, and then mostly out of loyalty to the Steelers rather than any sense of conviction, especially after their loss to Tennessee in week 16. Today, though, all of the other favorites have left the playoffs, and the challenge for the two divisional champions left is to win at home — a challenge that has mostly been unmet this year.
Let’s start with Philadelphia at Arizona. The Cardinals appeared to run out of gas during the regular season, and took a beating from the Eagles on Thanksgiving that almost made Detroit look good. They’ve bounced back in the playoffs with impressive wins over Atlanta at home and Carolina on the road, knocking out the #2 seed while the Eagles dispatched the #1 seeded Giants. However, Donovan McNabb won’t play the worst game of his career as Jake Delhomme did last week for the Panthers. He’s been to the dance before, and he won’t give the game away to Arizona. It will be a close, high-scoring game — a shootout between McNabb and Kurt Warner, who’s also been to the dance a couple of times — but the Eagles will prevail, 35-31.
That brings us to Pittsburgh. The Steelers wound up with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs when the Ravens did what the Steelers couldn’t do in Week 16 and beat the Titans. However, the Steelers didn’t get beat up at all when they trounced the San Diego Chargers last week, while Baltimore barely survived that tough, emotional game against the Titans. They got an extra day of rest, but that won’t be enough against the refreshed Steelers lines and running backs. The Titans drove on the Ravens’ defense last week, and we can expect the Steelers to do the same, but score from the red zone more often than Tennessee did. I’ll pick the Steelers 24-14 at home, making the upcoming Super Bowl an all-Pennsylvania affair.
Blowback
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So mean…..
ROFLOL
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Awesome football game.
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 9:26 PM
if i can make it through this weeks Obamagasm i will be happy
——
go Steelers!
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Great defense, big plays, can you ask for any better?
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Pittsburgh should have run there.
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 9:29 PM
A Ravens win perhaps?
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 9:29 PM
3rd and one and they call that play??
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:29 PM
I’m not a fan of either team.
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 9:31 PM
A Ravens win is a win for all that is wrong with this world….
ask any Browns fan
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:31 PM
I hear you. I can appreciate a good game like this too but I got a dog in this fight.
Ooh, good play. More razzle dazzle!
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 9:33 PM
first holding call….hilarious
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:33 PM
OH really? Ask any Baltimore Colts fan where all their heritage is! You’ll lose this one without the help of instant replay.
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 9:35 PM
DUDE – how can you be so stupid….and in the end zone no less! Tomlin needs to bench that moron!
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Movies tomorrow. “Defiance”. See a real “historic” event.
What/where do you teach? Just got certified, looking for work.
YEAH RAVENS!!!
klickink.wordpress.com on January 18, 2009 at 9:37 PM
A TELEVISION in the bedroom! What luxury.
Do your parents know?
klickink.wordpress.com on January 18, 2009 at 9:39 PM
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 9:35 PM
The Browns moved to B more or did you not hear..what a joke…. ask a browns fan what they think of you guys… like the Raven you ate the dead flesh of what used to be the Browns…fool yourself into thinking that it is not the Browns all you want …but down deep you know .
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:40 PM
I’m hoping Jazz opened one eye to see the Ravens on the 1 yard line again. Imagine the exclamation he would give.
LOL
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 9:41 PM
I keep that close to the vest for job security reasons–I’m untenured junior faculty teaching in the liberal arts departments in a couple of state colleges/universities where conservatives are not welcome.
Rule Number One in job hunting: keep your conservative credentials on the QT unless you know where you’re interviewing is ok with it.
Rule Number Two in retaining your job: Keep your conservatism on the QT until you get tenure and you’re at the salary level you’re comfortable with.
Welcome to the open and tolerant world of academia.
Matt Helm on January 18, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Can you say evil incarnate—- Art Modell
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Great coaching…run the ball up the middle over and over for 2 yards a pop. /sarc
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Sorry, I cut and pasted the wrong quote. I was replying to
Matt Helm on January 18, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Dude, you need help. NOW!
Is there anyone that can offer an intervention?
IN the meantime…go away!
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Sounds like 1970s Miami Dolphin football… Czonka and Kiick with a bit of Mercury Morris
Matt Helm on January 18, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Suggs looks so injured . /sarc
B more played that story well
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Go Cardinals!
This is not football related but, if you are inclined, vote for Tammy Bruce’s radio show to be in Atlanta at 1160′s site survey:
http://www.newstalk1160.com/
ashleymatt on January 18, 2009 at 9:47 PM
just responding to your lunacy
i love idiots like you that think your stupidity will go unchecked. you get called on it with the truth than tell me to go away . hilarious.
you can dish it out but cannot take.typical ravens fan…all upset over supposed bad calls then not a word when it goes the other way
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:47 PM
You do realize (don’t you) that Indianapolis was not the Colts original home don’t you? You do realize (don’t you) that the circumstances surrounding the Colts move to Indy was the precursor to the Browns move out of Cleveland?????
Does the name Jim Irsay ring any bells Jamson?
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Pot – meet Kettle….
Baltimore Colts – Google it!
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 9:54 PM
I like Flacco but much like the One I have just about gagged on all the love they give him in the media….
nice pick Troy ….. love it!
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Go Troy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MoCoM on January 18, 2009 at 9:56 PM
First Superbowl I ever won a bet on was Super Bowl III between the Colts and the Jets. I bet a quarter on the Jets. A couple years later, I won on the Colts when I bet on them against the Cowboys.
Matt Helm on January 18, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Oh fudge.
Turn out the ights, the ‘arty’s over.
*Hick*
klickink.wordpress.com on January 18, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Which owner moved his team to b-more?– Art Modell
Which team was moved out of Cleveland…the Browns
this is like shooing fish in a barrel
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Defense wins championships, as they say.
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Oh dayammmmm I hate seeing players down like that….
Please God let them both get up!
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 9:59 PM
ouch
sweet
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Damn! I was going to right a missive responding to Jamson64 and then the Steelers score.
Damned Steelers. And with an Obamanite owner! That’s worse than Art Modell any day.
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 9:59 PM
80,000 cheering a guy getting knocked out.
classy, philly
klickink.wordpress.com on January 18, 2009 at 10:00 PM
YOU ASS!! I’m with LL on this one.
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Ouch, that was painful.
Gianni on January 18, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Baltimore Sun—
Hell even Modell did not want to go to the pit known as b=more.
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:02 PM
I think he might have been speaking of the jarring hit, not the injury. JMO.
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Man, that was horrible. I hope he is alright.
jencab on January 18, 2009 at 10:03 PM
10 9 8 7 6 5 ……
waiting for the dirty hit comments
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I think I can safely speak for Pittsburgh fans everywhere when I say this….
GET THE H*LL OFF OF OUR SIDE JAMSON!
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Johnny…. turnover baby…. sweet.
like you really care anyway
proven wrong as usual
did you see my quote from the Sun? scroll up a bit.
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Even the Steelers bench is concerned…..
It was a hard clean hit. However, you never cheer for an opponent to get injured. That is just classless.
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:05 PM
LL the sweet was for the turnover
i envision you as one of those wild haired female pittsburgh fans that weigh about 2 fitty and wear a xxxl Ben jersey.
keep assuming ..you know what they say
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:06 PM
when did i say anything about cheering an injury?
ASSuming only makes ya look like an ASS—
me bets a fairly large one
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Hope he’s OK.
Ed called the score, man that’s good!
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Stay classy, little man.
hillbillyjim on January 18, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Yeah I saw it idiot. Doesn’t prove a thing, except you don’t know jack. Now, stop your silliness and say a prayer for Willis McGahee.
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 10:09 PM
why pass there? run and eat clock
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Wrong again sweet cheeks but then again……
My jersey is not Rothlesberger – that’s the hubby’s. Mine (for today) is a #10.
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Passing gets more yards, on average. A good football decision, knowing the 2-minute warning was coming.
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Johnny say a prayer? hilarious…. i accidently have you the perfect out didn’t i.
now be all judgmental when you know i did not cheer on the injury . please quote me if i did.
now read the Sun quote i posted and enjoy…proven wrong again…
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:12 PM
so a xxxl 10 jersey lol
just playin
chill
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:13 PM
My prayers go out to Willis McGahee and his family. From what I heard on the tube, he’s feeling neck pains–I’m no doctor or health professional, but maybe that’s a hopeful sign? It means that he’s still got feeling there. He was also moving his arms which I’m taking as a hopeful sign.
Again, best wishes and hopes for a full and speedy recovery for McGahee.
Matt Helm on January 18, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Another hard hit. Man, I love good D.
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:15 PM
LL let me see if i got this right
irsay screws b-more
modell screws cleveland
= all good
got it
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Well I was about to argue that the receiver was pushed out of bounds but the replay showed the receiver’s left foot clearly on the line.
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Go back and read your post about assuming Jamson…
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:16 PM
careful now …you will be accused of rooting for injuries.
to be safe… say a prayer…. and all will be forgiven
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:17 PM
And that…as they say…is the end of that.
A good hard fought game and now it’s time to rev up for the Super Bowl.
Go Cards!
CHIRP CHIRP Steelers!
Matt Helm on January 18, 2009 at 10:17 PM
He was also moving his arms which I’m taking as a hopeful sign
Matt, movement is always a good sign. Neck injuries are extremely tough, as there is a lot going on in one area. It doesn’t necessarily rule anything out, but it makes a positive diagnosis more likely.
Not a Dr., a military medic – FWIW.
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:17 PM
LL
i obviously was joking— were you?
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Game over.
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:17 PM
MVP candidates???? Polamolu?
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:18 PM
All right the home team is happy. FIL (may he RIP is watching from heaven and smiling!)
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Cards have not seen a Steelers defense yet this year.
I would have said the same if it was b-more as well
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:21 PM
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way … I was only off by a point in my prediction. Again. I’m starting creep myself out, here.
Ed Morrissey on January 18, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Big Ben should be the MVP of this game, if they give one out. Great game, no mistakes. If not Ben, then Polamalu.
Ed Morrissey on January 18, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Ed, you called it. What do you think for the Super Bowl? I’m thinking Pittsburg, by 7. Call it 24-17.
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Polamalu or Holmes maybe. Hubby thinks Rothlesberger will get it.
I vote for the defense!
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Ed, don’t you know your own Steelers better than that? You missed the score by a whole point!
michaelo on January 18, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Don’t get too cocky! You have a track record to live down!
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:24 PM
I voted for Fred Thompson.
jgapinoy on January 18, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Just how did he do that? They have their colors, memories, trophies and all the other stuff the Browns collected over the years. Again, where is all the Colts stuff? You seem to ignore that little fact, don’t you.
But that’s okay. You know sooo much don’t you. Maybe I should check on with you about other stuff.
Ah hell! You’re not worth the time…
Good Luck to the Pitsburgh Steelers in Tampa.
Good night all!!
JohnnyD on January 18, 2009 at 10:25 PM
No one has given the Cards a chance in their last two games either.
jgapinoy on January 18, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I think the Steelers can handle the Cardinals, but I’m not making any predictions until Super Bowl Sunday.
I’ll be surprised if the Super Bowl is anywhere near as competitive as today’s games, though.
Ed Morrissey on January 18, 2009 at 10:28 PM
I’m a big fan of the Cards, and especially of Warner. I lived in St. Louis when he played there, and was awed.
Still, PB has been here before, and from what the players say things are different in the SuperBowl. Experience matters a lot.
For that reason, I give it to PB by a TD. Only that much, because I believe Warner will elevate the team around him, but that it won’t be enough to overcome the defense I just saw.
Bigurn on January 18, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Big Ben “The Lord is good!”
Que the haters….
LL
Lady Logician on January 18, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Well, that sinks it. Steelers will win the Super Bowl. Gotta’ let the black coach win in the “Historic” year of the Black American.
The NFL will see to it.
klickink.wordpress.com on January 18, 2009 at 10:31 PM
you are truly ignorant
run along like the pussy you are
ask a brown fan what they think if i am off base
maybe it has something to do with the years they went without football…the ignorance is amazing
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Second look at Big Ben?
Oh yeah, the primaries are over….
,
*shuffles off*
hillbillyjim on January 18, 2009 at 10:32 PM
klick—
dang hilarious
wouldn’t have to do with the steelers #1 defense now would it?
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:33 PM
If the Cardinals win the Super Bowl it will be a sure sign that the Apocalypse is indeed upon us. I guess it’s only fitting that the most inept franchise in NFL history makes the Super Bowl in a year when a die-hard socialist is elected President. Hells bells.
Percy_Peabody on January 18, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Interesting that Browns fans tell me they are rooting for the Steelers because of that screwing they received.
I guess that matters not.
B more don’t care they got their team.
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Percy….. hilarious
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:39 PM
That was very classy and thoughtful of Ben to thank our troops overseas. I think he may have pushed me into the Steelers camp for the Superbowl.
Yossarian on January 18, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Yossa Ben is a class act.
sometimes not the smartest tool in the shed —but classy.
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Hmm, then maybe my Syracuse Orange will win the national championship in football this coming year? Yes, I said I root for Syracuse. Cue the laugh track.
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Kapitan
sorry to here that
of course you could be a buckeye fan like me and get your butt kicked every big game or bowl
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I guess so. I still can’t believe we beat Notre Dame.
Kapitan on January 18, 2009 at 10:50 PM
i enjoy ND losses. thank you
kind of weird how bad teams do that sometimes
ask USC about Stanford
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:51 PM
I am thankful that the lousy roughing the punter call did not seem to play a role in the Steelers game.
The b-more fans would have been on that for months.
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:53 PM
congrats ed. I think Pittsburgh now will win it all
ousoonerfan15 on January 18, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Here we go Steelers, here we go! Next stop, Tampa!!
Zorro on January 18, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Zorro…. you know it
Jamson64 on January 18, 2009 at 10:58 PM
I think that is very unfair to Mike Tomlin. He’s a lunchbucket kind of guy. He puts on no airs and has earned the respect of a lot of people in the football business.
Throw brickbats when warranted. That was a cheap shot. Mike Tomlin has done his job. Period.
MoCoM on January 18, 2009 at 10:58 PM
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