2019 NFL Playoff Game Thread - Divisional Round

ifmanis5

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Arguably the best football weekend of the year is here.

Saturday:


Sunday:



Betting lines: https://www.oddsshark.com/nfl/odds

Injury reports: http://www.nfl.com/injuries

Ref assignments: http://www.footballzebras.com/2019/01/hussey-parry-torbert-and-cheffers-are-divisional-playoff-referees/


FWIW, the betting has been at record levels on all four road underdogs:
Sports Insights‏Verified account @SportsInsights
According to our Bet Labs database, never have all 4 underdogs during Divisional Round weekend received over 50% of spread bets. Currently, all 4 this weekend are getting the majority of tickets: 61% on #Chargers +4 57% on #Colts +5.5 57% on #Cowboys +7 55% on #Eagles +8
 

Al Zarilla

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When have the Patriots had the lowest point spread of the four divisional games favorites? Snow Bowl game, when they might have been dogs? Can't find any odds for that game.
 

TFisNEXT

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When have the Patriots had the lowest point spread of the four divisional games favorites? Snow Bowl game, when they might have been dogs? Can't find any odds for that game.
The oddsshark NFL database says the Patriots were 3 point favorites in the snow game against Oakland. I'm kind of surprised as I expected it to be near pick 'em.

The Patriots were actually underdogs in the 2004 divisional game against IND....the line was NE +1.0. Also played in the snow.
 

Al Zarilla

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The oddsshark NFL database says the Patriots were 3 point favorites in the snow game against Oakland. I'm kind of surprised as I expected it to be near pick 'em.

The Patriots were actually underdogs in the 2004 divisional game against IND....the line was NE +1.0. Also played in the snow.
Thanks for looking those up. The Raiders were faders late in the 2001 season, losing 3 of 4, while the Patriots won their last 6. Maybe that was it. In 2004, I guess people liked the Colts high flying offense over the Pats stingy defense. Also Peyton was on his way to his second MVP season; Tom had none yet. Still, Pats were 14-2 regular season vs. 12-4 for the Colts. Little did they know which QB was to become the GOAT.
 

djbayko

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I feel like I need one of those shirts. I’m sure the idea is that they keep updating it until they reach “4-0”, but if they lose this weekend it will become one of the all time greatest franchise jokes.

The other stupid thing about it is that, from a nerd perspective, they’re dividing the logo by 1 which which simply = horseshoe.
 

Commander Shears

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Reich has been telling the team that they just need to go 1-0 each week. This is kind of their playoff mantra and isn't a celebration of winning one game.
 

Kliq

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This is my favorite weekend in sports, should be a great slate of games.
 

Silverdude2167

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Reich has been telling the team that they just need to go 1-0 each week. This is kind of their playoff mantra and isn't a celebration of winning one game.
I understand it, but it is stupid from a marketing standpoint.

For a football team sure, and one that was in a big hole it makes sense just focus on today and don't worry about next week. Great, in the playoffs it makes less sense since every game is do or die.

But from a marketing standpoint for a team that raised a "we lost a game banner", and in the playoffs in general, not the smartest message. I sure hope the 6 seed is not looking past their next game.
 

Captaincoop

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Just for fun, possible Super Bowl matchups, from most interesting to least interesting:

1. Patriots-Cowboys

2. Chiefs-Cowboys

3. Chiefs-Rams

4. Chargers-Cowboys

5. Colts-Cowboys

6. Patriots-Saints

7. Chiefs-Saints

8. Patriots-Eagles

9. Chiefs-Eagles

10. Patriots-Rams

11. Chargers-Rams

12. Colts-Rams

13. Colts-Eagles

14. Chargers-Eagles

15. Colts-Saints
 

Granite Sox

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I understand it, but it is stupid from a marketing standpoint.

For a football team sure, and one that was in a big hole it makes sense just focus on today and don't worry about next week. Great, in the playoffs it makes less sense since every game is do or die.

But from a marketing standpoint for a team that raised a "we lost a game banner", and in the playoffs in general, not the smartest message. I sure hope the 6 seed is not looking past their next game.
I agree, but it's perfectly in keeping with the local fanbase... all professional sports marketing there (Pacers, Colts, Indianapolis Indians, Indy Eleven) is infused with a very high-schoolish "rah! rah!" naivete. I think it's a cultural homage to the state's high school basketball heritage and is a stark contrast to more gristled, cynical pro sports cities like we see in the Northeast and in certain other markets.
 

E5 Yaz

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Reich has been telling the team that they just need to go 1-0 each week. This is kind of their playoff mantra and isn't a celebration of winning one game.
So, his mantra is that "we just have to win this week"? Isn't that every coach's mantra before every game of the season?
 

SMU_Sox

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I completely disagree with your taste, @Captaincoop. That's the great thing about taste though, different strokes...

4/5 of your top match-ups have the Cowboys for example. I am not sure what makes them a good match-up aside from that they are a nationally popular team. They have a good defense and running game.

Any of the 4 AFC teams would make for a good match-up to me. For the NFC I would prefer to see, as a fan of football, the Rams or the Saints. 6/8 teams though would make, to me, for a great game. That's a bit rare.
 

Captaincoop

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I approached it from a storyline/general casual fan interest point of view.

Anything involving the Colts or Chargers is going to be a dud from that angle. Cowboys back in the Super Bowl is a winner.

I probably underestimated the Eagles going for a repeat storyline. That's a big deal.
 

BigSoxFan

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America would absolutely melt down if it were a Pats/Cowboys SB. Would be interesting to see who the casual fan would prefer to see lose, especially since they already got their fill of a Pats loss last year.
 

Prodigal Sox

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I would think most non-biased fans would want to see Chiefs vs Saints/Rams (shootout potential) with second choice being Pats vs saints/Rams (root for NFC).

The potential outcome of Colts @ LA and Phi @ Dal next weekend is horrible. Talk about worst case scenario...
 

johnmd20

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Just for fun, possible Super Bowl matchups, from most interesting to least interesting:

1. Patriots-Cowboys

2. Chiefs-Cowboys

3. Chiefs-Rams

4. Chargers-Cowboys

5. Colts-Cowboys

6. Patriots-Saints

7. Chiefs-Saints

8. Patriots-Eagles

9. Chiefs-Eagles

10. Patriots-Rams

11. Chargers-Rams

12. Colts-Rams

13. Colts-Eagles

14. Chargers-Eagles

15. Colts-Saints
Chargers/Cowboys being ranked fourth is really the only glaring problem on this list. Patriots/Rams is also a little too low. And it has been addressed, but this list is insanely Cowboys heavy.
 

Red Averages

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I would say Drew Brees is pretty ecstatic about how things turned out and likely doesn't care at this point.
Ha! Very true. Not sure I would ever associate Brees with the Chargers. Looking at it, he actually spent almost 1/3 of his career there (5/18 seasons). I would have definitely taken the under on that.
 

Captaincoop

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Chargers/Cowboys being ranked fourth is really the only glaring problem on this list. Patriots/Rams is also a little too low. And it has been addressed, but this list is insanely Cowboys heavy.
Fair points. I just see the Cowboys as the Yankees or Celtics or Lakers - they're the brand name of the NFL and them being in the game makes it a bigger deal.

Does anyone disagree that the worst case game is Colts-Saints? That would be buzzkill city.
 

tims4wins

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Fair points. I just see the Cowboys as the Yankees or Celtics or Lakers - they're the brand name of the NFL and them being in the game makes it a bigger deal.

Does anyone disagree that the worst case game is Colts-Saints? That would be buzzkill city.
I completely disagree. Colts Saints would probably be a pretty good game. Two possible HoF QBs. Rematch of 2009. Personally I would hate to see the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, I think they are easily the most boring team of the 8 left. I’d rank their matchups the bottom 4 slots. If you are talking ratings different stories but in terms of quality of matchup I find the Cowboys very boring.
 

Super Nomario

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From the league eyeballs perspective, I think they have 7 good options out of 8 remaining teams, with the Chargers coming out of the AFC being by far the worst outcome. All the NFC teams will draw, and Chiefs / Patriots / Colts all have appeal.
 

Captaincoop

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From the league eyeballs perspective, I think they have 7 good options out of 8 remaining teams, with the Chargers coming out of the AFC being by far the worst outcome. All the NFC teams will draw, and Chiefs / Patriots / Colts all have appeal.
Colts and Chargers are both pretty bad.

If I'm the NFL I'm rooting hard for the Pats and Chiefs this weekend.
 

bunchabums

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Just for fun, possible Super Bowl matchups, from most interesting to least interesting:
Last three should feature the Chargers. No one cares about them outside of fans in San Diego who aren't bitter for them leaving. I live in LA and even the idea of an all LA game isn't very interesting to folks here.
 

Captaincoop

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Last three should feature the Chargers. No one cares about them outside of fans in San Diego who aren't bitter for them leaving. I live in LA and even the idea of an all LA game isn't very interesting to folks here.
Can you imagine the nightmare scenario it would be for the NFL to have Rams-Chargers?
 

Red Averages

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Today is a great day for football. If only it wasn't for the missed kick, we'd have Bears @ Rams tonight in a fantastic rematch game.

That said, it is 20 degrees in Boston (feels like 12), which means we can build a fire in the afternoon and strap in for 7 hours of football in front of a fire as it should be done. The cold also means we can plan ahead and start the slow cooker for the Pats game and Eagles elimination party tomorrow.
 

TFisNEXT

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The league def doesn't want the Colts in terms of ratings. Agree on the Chargers too. The NFC teams will all draw pretty well though the Saints might be the lowest...however, they are also the most explosive team.