NFL Playoffs Pick 'Em Round 3

[Zetleft]

I reason I won't be watching has nothing to do with it being a good game or not.  It's just that I completly HATE both teams so damn much the only reason I'll even watch one of them play is to root for the other team.  This matchup has me completly torn... I simply can't answer who I hate more.

[Boogaleeboo]

I think I speak for a large portion of New England when I say:

I masturbate to your tears.

[Kenrick]

I'm not a big football fan or anything, but I enjoy watching it especially in the playoffs.  Can someone explain to me why Eagles vs. Pats is such a horrible Super Bowl matchup?

[Paelos]

I'm not a big football fan or anything, but I enjoy watching it especially in the playoffs.  Can someone explain to me why Eagles vs. Pats is such a horrible Super Bowl matchup?

It comes down to the redundancy of the same old thing in the playoffs. The Eagles, despite not making it to the show for the last few years, have always been involved in the NFC championship. The Pats are shooting to win 3 titles in 4 years. Think of it as the Yankees-Marlins matchup of a couple years ago in the World Series when they knocked out the Sox and the Cubbies to get there.

The Colts and the Steelers were much bigger media and fan favorites than the Pats. And the NFC just plain sucked no matter what this year.

[Dark Vengeance]

Bah. The Eagles were far and away the best team in the NFC this year, even without TO. Fuck Atlanta's record...they won a lot of games they shouldn't, lost to Detroit, and nearly lost to Arizona. And until TO got hurt, Philly wasn't just winning games, they were dominating them.

The Pats have proven to be far and away the best team in the AFC, especially after dismantling Indy and Pittsburgh in consecutive weeks. Brady and company have made a very strong case for themselves as the team of the decade, and it's not even half-over yet.

Now obviously everyone expects NE to trounce Philly, based on the idea that the NFC is just a weaker conference overall. But everyone overlooks that Eagle defense. 3 all pro DBs in one secondary...and it's not like Sheldon Brown is a slouch at CB either. Not to mention Trotter, kearse, and the rest.

I still think the Pats will win, but I think the Eagles will put up a good fight. They know just how hard they've worked to get there, and I doubt very much that they have any intentions of just laying down and dying against the Patriots.

It's the best team each conference has to offer....the matchup all the pre-season picks predicted...the game that experts have been expecting all year. If you think it's a bad matchup, you just don't like good fundamental football.

Bring the noise.
Cheers.............

[Paelos]

It's the best team each conference has to offer....the matchup all the pre-season picks predicted...the game that experts have been expecting all year. If you think it's a bad matchup, you just don't like good fundamental football.

I think it's a bad matchup because I don't like predictable, boring football. You did a good job there describing how much this matchup is exactly that.

[Dark Vengeance]

It's the best team each conference has to offer....the matchup all the pre-season picks predicted...the game that experts have been expecting all year. If you think it's a bad matchup, you just don't like good fundamental football.

I think it's a bad matchup because I don't like predictable, boring football. You did a good job there describing how much this matchup is exactly that.

Predictable boring football is the same flavor run by the following past Super Bowl champs:

New England (2003-04)
Tampa Bay (2002-03)
New England (2001-02)
Baltimore (2000-01)
Denver (1998-99)
Denver (1997-98)
Green Bay (1996-97)
Dallas (1995-96)
Dallas (1993-94)
Dallas (1992-93)
New York (1990-91)
New York (1986-87)
Chicago (1985-86)
Washington (1982-1983)
Dallas (1977-78)
Miami (1973-74)
Miami (1972-73)
Dallas (1971-72)
Baltimore Colts (1970-71)
Kansas City (1969-70)
Green Bay (1967-68)
Green Bay (1966-67)

That's 22 out of 38 Super Bowl champions that played the same flavor of football as Philly and New England.

Notable omissions include San Francisco, Pittsburgh, the St Louis Rams, 2 of the Redskins teams (Super Bowl 22 & 26 included that wide open passing game), each iteration of the Raiders (because when have the Raiders ever been boring?), and Broadway Joe's Jets.

Bear in mind that many of the teams on this list played exciting games in the Super Bowl, but were still fairly conservative offensively.

Bring the noise.
Cheers.............

[Paelos]

Your list is pretty pointless, and in the case of including the 92-93 Dallas team, incorrect. The point was the matchups, not just the victors. You need something that makes the fans crave to watch the two teams that transcends outside of just the regional hubbub. You need a story, a hero, a team that either deserves a shot at greatness or a massive underdog looking to overcome the odds.

Peyton Manning had a chance at doing that and failed. Rothlesburger had a chance at going to the show in his rookie season and failed. The Falcons had a chance to go to their first Superbowl in nearly a decade on the shoulders of one of the most prolific names in football and failed. Its not just about the football, the Super Bowl is bigger than that. And in this case I feel like this is the last matchup out of all the possible options this year that I would enjoy watching. I'm not alone in that thought.

[Rasix]

Vick is a fraud.  11-24, 136 yards, and a pick won't ever beat a Super Bowl contender.  Until he learns to sit in a pocket and pass (and get a legitimate threat at WR),

Get used to disappointment.

[Shockeye]

Vick is a fraud.  11-24, 136 yards, and a pick won't ever beat a Super Bowl contender.  Until he learns to sit in a pocket and pass (and get a legitimate threat at WR),

How is that being a fraud? That's pretty much what Vick is as advertised. He doesn't throw. He doesn't sit in the pocket. He runs and makes plays and makes things exciting. At least, that's what the $100 million was for, right?

I see him as a less asstastic Jake "The Fake" Plummer.

[Rasix]

Yah, Plummer's really worked out well for Denver hasn't he?   Like Vick, he does just enough to beat mediocre teams.  And like Vick, when the game actually means something, when there's a decent defense playing him, he'll come up short.

Hey, maybe I'll be proven wrong someday and Vick will become something more akin to Culpepper. (if the Vikes had Atlanta's D and special teams, they'd be frightening)

[El Gallo]

This matchup is the best a football fan could hope for, given the woeful state of the NFC this season.  It is not the best matchup an entertainment fan could hope for, I guess.   IMO, the presence of any other NFC team in the SB would just degrade the event.  Like the time the AFC sent the Chargers a few years back.  It's nice to see the best teams get rewarded.  I'd rather just watch a good, well-played football game than 37 hours of interviews of Roethlisberger's mom, or Joe Buck stretching his throat to blow Vick as the greatest QB of all time every time he gains 2 yards, or a leave-your-defense-at-the-door 72-64 Colts-Vikings game.  But I am probably in the minority on that.

I will get to see a team submit its claim as one of the best teams in the history of the NFL.  I think that's a worthy story.

[Ardent]

One by one, I've given up on all professional sports for one reason or another. Football was my only holdout, and this year I could feel my interest leeching away to a thin trickle. They are all nothing more than a bunch of preening, egomaniacal mutants, and I have to endure 742 boner pill commercials per game.

New England 24 - Philly 14, then I'm never watching this bullshit again.

[Dark Vengeance]

Your list is pretty pointless, and in the case of including the 92-93 Dallas team, incorrect.

The Jimmy Johnson era Cowboys were all about conservative ball. Sure, Aikman could throw deep, but their offense was built on the foundation of Moose, Emmitt Smith, and an All-Pro offensive line (Erik Williams, Mark Stepnoski, Nate Newton, Larry Allen). And you'd be making a grave mistake to think that their defense wasn't one of the league's best at the time.

Strong running game, great line, stingy defense, a talented possession WR (Irvin), a TE and FB that became household names (Novacek and Johnston) and a pocket passer who didn't turn the ball over, ran play action effectively, and generally had the time to make his reads and find the open receiver.

Not exactly the run-and-shoot. Madden used to comment repeatedly that there was no mystery to the Cowboys offense....that they executed so well that opponents could know exactly what was coming, yet still be unable to stop it. Cmon, this team's 2nd half game plan consisted of "run Smith off-tackle, mix in play-action as needed".

The point was the matchups, not just the victors.

The flashy opponents in those games lost. That was kind of the point. Who cares about watching an "exciting" team like Buffalo if they can't get the job done?

You need something that makes the fans crave to watch the two teams that transcends outside of just the regional hubbub. You need a story, a hero, a team that either deserves a shot at greatness or a massive underdog looking to overcome the odds.

Well, you've got a talented team that has finally reached the Big Show after years of frustration, and now they are an underdog against the seemingly-bulletproof defending champs. Can they win a title before the window closes on their chances?

OTOH, Belichick is looking to break Lombardi's post-season record. Brady is undefeated in post-season play. The team is looking to cement their place in history as among the biggest dynasties of all-time.

Both are looking for a shot at greatness. It's the damn Super Bowl, and we have a matchup of the two teams over the past 4 years that have displayed consistency and excellence, finally in a position to square off head-to-head.

As for heroes...Reid, Belichick, Brady, Dillon, Bruschi, Harrison, McNabb, Westbrook, Kearse, Dawkins, Trotter, Sheppard...and TO if he can play.

Just because it's not a rookie starting at QB, or an offense on the field that plans on throwing it 50 yards downfield every other play doesn't make it boring in and of itself.

Bring the noise.
Cheers..............

[Rasix]

They are all nothing more than a bunch of preening, egomaniacal mutants, and I have to endure 742 boner pill commercials per game.

The Eagles run through an inflatable tunnel and gigantic helmet before the game. The tunnel is sponsored by Levitra, the erectile drug. Before the game, as it was being inflated in the southwest corner of the end zone, the comedy dean of NFL writers, Larry Weisman of USA Today, leaned over to me and said: "If it doesn't deflate in four hours, are you supposed to call your doctor?"

[Boogaleeboo]

They are all nothing more than a bunch of preening, egomaniacal mutants

I'm sorry whatever team you like got the shit kicked out of it, but could you point me to one instance this year of the Patriots preening or self-fellating themselves.

Just once.

[HaemishM]

The Eagles are hardly a "by-the-book" football team. They run somewhere around 40% of the time, at best. Most of the time, they don't even bother establishing a running game. They are a pass it pass it pass it, here's a run, ok let's pass it ten more times offense. They are hardly "traditional" football. Until Dillon came to the Pats, the Pats were the same way.

Now, I was hoping to see the Colts or the Steelers in the Super Bowl, and anybody but the goddamn Eagles (thanks to TO's presence on the sidelines), but I would not say the matchup will be boring.

And the Eagles... yeah, they got no shot. With TO healthy, they MAY have had a shot. Now... not a chance in hell. Belicheck and the Pats are just that good. What they did yesterday, they did against the number one fucking defense in the NFL. Only 7 of those 41 points were defensive points. The rest... that was offense.

[Ardent]

They are all nothing more than a bunch of preening, egomaniacal mutants

I'm sorry whatever team you like got the shit kicked out of it, but could you point me to one instance this year of the Patriots preening or self-fellating themselves.

Just once.

Actually, I'm a Patriots fan.

And if you don't see every single team in the NFL filled with players that jump around like they just cured cancer after practically every play, then you either have your eyes closed or else you're actually watching the senior cricket tour.

EDIT: This is my final word on this topic, as it's already boring me. As I'm sure it's boring you.

There is a very obvious difference between celebrating an achievement as a team, such as high fiving or hugging ... and conducting a personal display such as flexing your muscles, doing an idiotic dance, or taunting, all of which are meant to tell the world, "This is all about me, motherfuckers." T.O. takes this fucktardery to titanic levels, but there are plenty of others who seek to evict him from his idiotic throne.

Just tired of it, that's all.

[Strazos]

And if you don't see every single team in the NFL filled with players that jump around like they just cured cancer after practically every play, then you either have your eyes closed or else you're actually watching the senior cricket tour.

I dunno i fyou have ever played organized sports...but it's called Emotion. Hell, if you watched the Olympics this past summer, even the fencers, FENCERS, cheer for themselves when they do something well. It's not a big deal really.

Btw, I realize that's mostly directed to TO on the Eagles' side, but oh well. I've liked the guy way back since he was on the 49'ers, and like he says....if you don't wanna see his stuff, keep him out of the end zone....or change the channel in your case.

PS: Owens was jumping around like a maniac yesterday....I'd put down hard money on him playing in a reserve role, at the very least.

[SirBruce]

I had a dream last night that I was watching the news and they reported that the Patriots had won the Superbowl against the Eagles in a shootout, 42-35.  And I felt weird because I wondered how I had missed the game.

Anyway, that's my prediction.

Bruce

[Margalis]

Eh...it's entertainment. I don't give a shit what these guys do to celebrate, and I think stuff like Moss "mooning" people is all in good fun. As long as they aren't yelling "YOU FUCKING SUCK!" to the other team I really couldn't care.

Every drama needs guys you love and guys you love to hate. It would be pretty boring if every guy was like Barry Sanders and just threw the ball to the official when they scored.

[Murgos]

It would be pretty boring if every guy was like Barry Sanders and just threw the ball to the official when they scored.

I disagree.  I could care less about the celebration.  If they never showed another one on TV I don't think I'd notice and yet I would still be watching football whenever it was on.

[Windurst]

The Patriots kinda remind me of this year's CFL Grey Cup Champs, The Toronto Argos.

[Strazos]

Weren't you already warned against posting pointless nonesense, Windurst? Anyway...

I disagree. I could care less about the celebration. If they never showed another one on TV I don't think I'd notice and yet I would still be watching football whenever it was on.

Again, it's called emotion. If people get all kinds of excited in rec leagues, etc., imagine what it's like accomplishing something in widely-televised games. Having any kind of audience can really change the feel of a game. I could tell ya a story, but no one wants to hear it.

[Signe]

I'm living in Eagle territory but I'm cheering for the Patriots.  I have very good reason, too.  A short time ago, my grocery order was delivered.  I had ordered, in typical Superbowl Sunday enthusiasm, special little Eagles sundaes made by Turkey Hill Dairy.  They were on sale for 10/$10.  The packaging said, "Vanilla Ice Cream, Peanuts, Fudge".  They neglected to mention the little peanut-butter filled chocolate covered footballs.  Bah!  

If my heart wrenching story doesn't change the minds of you die-hard Eagle fans then I weep for your cold, dead hearts.

[Paelos]

I remember when candy used to ruin my day.


Oh wait, that never happened.