The 2014-15 NFL Playoffs

ivanvamp

captain obvious
Jul 18, 2005
6,104
Man, it looks like a great slate of games.
 
Right now, in the NFC…..
 
1. Seattle
2. Green Bay
3. Dallas
4. Carolina
5. Arizona
6. Detroit
 
Detroit will play at Dallas.  That could be a phenomenal game.  Then Arizona plays at Carolina.  If I had to lay money on that game, I'd bet Carolina wins that one.  I see Dallas and Carolina advancing, which would set up:
 
Carolina at Seattle
Dallas at Green Bay
 
I would think Seattle would crush Carolina, but the Dallas-Green Bay matchup should be fantastic.
 
Right now, in the AFC...
 
1. New England
2. Denver
3. Cincy/Pitt
4. Indianapolis
5. Cincy/Pitt
6. Baltimore
 
Baltimore will play a brutal road game against intra-division rival Cincy or Pittsburgh.  Bloodbath awaits in that game.  And the loser of Pitt/Cincy travels to Indianapolis.  Two great games.  I think Baltimore would beat Cincy, but not Pittsburgh.  I think Pittsburgh would beat Indy, but Cincy would not.  Since Pittsburgh hosts Cincy tonight, I think they win, which would mean I think that the divisional round will end up being:  
 
Indianapolis at New England
Pittsburgh at Denver
 
NE would be heavily favored, but the Pitt-Den game could be a classic.
 
I am pumped for the playoffs!!!!
 

Tony C

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Apr 13, 2000
13,694
most important thing to me, from Reiss:
 
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots will host their divisional-round playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 10, the NFL announced. Kickoff will be at 4:35 p.m. ET.

The game will be broadcast on NBC.
 
 
love getting a Sat game and, hopefully, an extra day of rest...
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
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Jan 15, 2004
30,096
ivanvamp said:
Right now, in the AFC...
 
1. New England
2. Denver
3. Cincy/Pitt
4. Indianapolis
5. Cincy/Pitt
6. Baltimore
 
Baltimore will play a brutal road game against intra-division rival Cincy or Pittsburgh.  Bloodbath awaits in that game.  And the loser of Pitt/Cincy travels to Indianapolis.  Two great games.  I think Baltimore would beat Cincy, but not Pittsburgh.  I think Pittsburgh would beat Indy, but Cincy would not.  Since Pittsburgh hosts Cincy tonight, I think they win, which would mean I think that the divisional round will end up being:  
 
Indianapolis at New England
Pittsburgh at Denver
 
NE would be heavily favored, but the Pitt-Den game could be a classic.
 
I am pumped for the playoffs!!!!
This would be sweet. The two teams if prefer avoiding are Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
 

mostman

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Jun 3, 2003
18,738
Looking up the lines for the first time I see that I can get Arizona with 6.5. That seems backwards. What am I missing?
 

deanx0

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Dec 7, 2004
2,506
Orlando, FL
mostman said:
Looking up the lines for the first time I see that I can get Arizona with 6.5. That seems backwards. What am I missing?
 
I think it's a combination of the Arizona QB situation, the fact that they were 2-4 in their last 6 games, and one of those losses was by 11 in Atlanta, a team Carolina just smoked by 31 on the road.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Mar 26, 2005
30,482
Looking up the lines for the first time I see that I can get Arizona with 6.5. That seems backwards. What am I missing?
Apparently the Panthers really improved their secondary since October and especially when they turned to two rookies in the defensive backfield. In October, they were ranked something like 27th in total defense but they ended up in the top 10 (yes, the schedule didn't hurt either).

Also, they've gone back to using Cam Newton as a runner, which opens up their entire offense.

They can run the ball and they have a top 10 defense and if the Cardinals are forced to use Lindley, it's unlikely they are going to score much.
 

mascho

Kane is Able
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Nov 30, 2007
14,952
Silver Spring, Maryland
BigSoxFan said:
LeVeon Bell officially ruled out. Big Ben might throw 50 times tomorrow.
 
Maybe, but the big guys up front have been blocking so well lately that Archer and Harris will still have holes.
 
Baltimore might be tempted to blitz more, since Bell is great in blitz pickup, but that's a double-edged sword for the Ravens.
 
#PreviewSpoiler
 

ColonelMustard

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Oct 23, 2006
219
HomeRunBaker said:
This would be sweet. The two teams if prefer avoiding are Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
 
Hypothetically if Pittsburgh wins tomorrow, would we (Pats fan prospective) rather face Denver or Pitt?
 
It's a tough call but I rather face Denver given Manning's pedestrian (by his standards) last few weeks.  The loss of Bell is tough but Brown and Roethlisberger make a tough tandem.  That's why I'm rooting for a Baltimore victory tomorrow.  Given recent track playoff track record, facing Baltimore seems intimidating but they have been inconsistent week to week this season.
 
Edit: This also assumes Pittsburgh beats Denver.  It will be an epic game but I think Pitt prevails.
 

jsinger121

@jsinger121
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Jul 25, 2005
17,676
ColonelMustard said:
 
Hypothetically if Pittsburgh wins tomorrow, would we (Pats fan prospective) rather face Denver or Pitt?

 

It's a tough call but I rather face Denver given Manning's pedestrian (by his standards) last few weeks.  The loss of Bell is tough but Brown and Roethlisberger make a tough tandem.  That's why I'm rooting for a Baltimore victory tomorrow.  Given recent track playoff track record, facing Baltimore seems intimidating but they have been inconsistent week to week this season.

 

Edit: This also assumes Pittsburgh beats Denver.  It will be an epic game but I think Pitt prevails.
I'd rather Pittsburgh without Bell and a crappie defense. We have Revis for a reason. To match up with the likes of Antonio Brown.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
19,271
jsinger121 said:
I'd rather Pittsburgh without Bell and a crappie defense. We have Revis for a reason. To match up with the likes of Antonio Brown.
Except they may put Revis on Bryant and put browner on Brown with safety help.
 

Super Nomario

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Nov 5, 2000
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NortheasternPJ said:
Except they may put Revis on Bryant and put browner on Brown with safety help.
I don't think Brown's a good matchup for Browner even with safety help. Too quick, too good a route-runner. Browner's a great match for Bryant's size though.
 
EDIT: Pittsburgh doesn't really scare me. I think Belichick and Brady figured out LeBeau's Cover 3 a long time ago and they pick it apart without mercy. It's telling that in the one recent loss to the Steelers, Pittsburgh surprised the Pats by playing man-to-man instead of their typical D. If they do it again, the Pats will be better prepared, and I don't think they have the personnel at defensive back to do that again, anyway.