Wildcard Weekend Game Thread

[Curtis Pride]

There's some NFL football games in play this weekend. So we need a game thread!
 
To kick us off, I've got Reading the Wildcard Numbers for pregame reading:
 

 
 
The Arizona Cardinals rose to the top of the NFC West early in the season, reaching a 9-1 record after Week 11. At that point, only one opponent had managed to rush for over 100 yards against the stout Cardinals defense: the Philadelphia Eagles. But, in Week 12 they traveled to Seattle to face the Seahawks, who rushed for 124 yards. The Cardinals then closed out the season losing four of their last six games, with adversaries rushing for more than 100 yards in five of the contests. Both their final opponents (Seattle and San Francisco) eclipsed the 200-yard mark on the ground.

 

 

[soxfan121]

Schofield has the game previews: 
#BALvsPIT: http://soshcentral.com/nfl/games/previews/2015/01/03/2015-nfl-playoffs-baltimore-at-pittsburgh-preview/
#ARZvsCAR: http://soshcentral.com/nfl/games/previews/2015/01/03/2015-nfl-playoffs-arizona-at-carolina-preview/
 
Zodda has the special teams previews: 
[SIZE=14.3999996185303px]#BALvsPIT: [/SIZE]http://soshcentral.com/nfl/games/previews/2015/01/03/2015-playoffs-ravens-at-steelers-special-teams-preview/
[SIZE=14.3999996185303px]#ARZvsCAR: [/SIZE]http://soshcentral.com/nfl/games/previews/2015/01/03/2014-15-nfl-playoffs-cardinals-at-panthers-special-teams-preview/

 

[EdRalphRomero]

Somebody convince me who to root for in the Ravens/Steelers game.  Pittsburgh probably seems the biggest threat (in the AFC) to the Pats, so seeing them knocked out with an injured Bell in the first round would be great.  On the other hand that brings Baltimore to town next weekend and Baltimore might be the second biggest threat to the Pats.  I realize I am probably under-rating Denver and Indy here.  Convince me please.

 

[RIrooter09]

Rooting for Pitt.  Baltimore can get pressure on Brady with Dumervil and Suggs off the edges, and I have nightmares about Flacco drawing PI with rainbow passes down the sidelines.

 

[The Tax Man]

I'm perfectly comfortable having the Indy/Cincy winner come to Foxboro.  I think Pitts chances to beat Denver are the best of the Pitt/Indy/Cincy choice, so I'm rooting for Pitt.  It seems to me that Indy then Pitt is the easiest path to Arizona.  

 

[dcmissle]

If Baltimore wins, a psychologist will be able to make his/her 2015 here in one week -- even at $10 a post.

I swore off this, friends, after rooting for the NYG at Packers in 2007, figuring the Pats had put up around 40 against the Giants a few weeks before and wanting no part of a Favre narrative. Foolish me.

 

[jasail]

Same here. I also think that Pitt has a better chance of knocking off Denver than Indy/Cincy. It's completely irrational but I just want to see Balt gone.

 
100% agree. Even though I don't think much of this Baltimore team overall, Ngata/Suggs/Doom are a tough threesome to deal with and Brandon Browner may have 500 penalty yards trying to cover Torey Smith on the deep ball. I'd rather take the Colts or a Marvin Lewis coached team in the divisional round and have the Steelers beat up the Donkeys.

 

[crystalline]

Rooting for Pitt.  Baltimore can get pressure on Brady with Dumervil and Suggs off the edges, and I have nightmares about Flacco drawing PI with rainbow passes down the sidelines.

And historically Belichick and Brady have figured out the LeBeau/Steelers defenses. Not taking anything away from LeBeau who has been at a high level for a very long time, but the Pats have matched up well with his defenses.

Searching for past records I found this gem from 2005 Pittsburgh papers:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=20050121&id=DXcyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SrUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3444,5120574
"Belichick gets genius label, LeBeau gets results"
"Belichick good, but not great"

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

That may be a 6-3 game if the punters and punt coverage teams are on.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

It'll be a surprise if Carolina doesn't win that game.  Lindley is that fucking bad, and the Carolina D is playing some good football.

 

[Al Zarilla]

I'm glad that we're getting that Lindley shit sandwich game over first. But, hey, maybe he'll surprise us all and complete a few passes. I could see AZ's defense holding down Carolina's offense long enough to give him a chance.

Asking myself why it's worth watching other than the fact it's playoff football and I came up with Cam Newton having some special skills. He didn't break off any long runs this year, but 539 yards rushing and a 5.2 yard average is really good. As a passer, he's erratic (or maybe he doesn't have great receivers, no more Steve Smith), but he came around in his last three games. Carolina's best defender is all pro Luke Kuechly. Big hitter, big CB Patrick Peterson is the Cardinals biggest name defender. Larry Fitz. Rain and scattered thunderstorms in the forecast for Charlotte might make it more interesting, but I agree this is one of the least interesting post season NFL games in a while. 

 

[soxfan121]

It'll be a surprise if Carolina doesn't win that game.  Lindley is that fucking bad, and the Carolina D is playing some good football.

 
Yep. The bit in CP's numbers piece about the AZ defense declining is just another reason to expect a Carolina blowout. 

 

[Curt S Loew]

Rooting for Baltimore.  I am more concerned about Pitt than Denver coming here for the AFCCG.  Yes, thinking ahead, but I am really not concerned about this Denver team and think PITT will knock them off.

 

[johnmd20]

Asking myself why it's worth watching other than the fact it's playoff football and I came up with Cam Newton having some special skills. He didn't break off any long runs this year, but 539 yards rushing and a 5.2 yard average is really good. As a passer, he's erratic (or maybe he doesn't have great receivers, no more Steve Smith), but he came around in his last three games. Carolina's best defender is all pro Luke Kuechly. Big hitter, big CB Patrick Peterson is the Cardinals biggest name defender. Larry Fitz. Rain and scattered thunderstorms in the forecast for Charlotte might make it more interesting, but I agree this is one of the least interesting post season NFL games in a while. 

 
Playoff football. That's the reason. And who knows, it could be a good game.

 

[kolbitr]

Rooting for Baltimore.  I am more concerned about Pitt than Denver coming here for the AFCCG.  Yes, thinking ahead, but I am really not concerned about this Denver team and think PITT will knock them off.

How is that sequence of events going to come about though?

 

[tims4wins]

Looks like rain in Pittsburgh. Favors Baltimore IMO with Bell out.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

I've always thought the biggest factor in rain or wet snow was that it slowed down the pass rush. That has to hurt the Ravens who are tied for 2nd in sacks, no?

 

[Papo The Snow Tiger]

It looks like the consensus is that Pat's fans should be rooting for the Steelers. I'll need to take a long shower after the game.

 

[Bellhorn]

 
Playoff football. That's the reason. And who knows, it could be a good game.

Exactly.  Plus, if the Arizona defense manages to keep them in the game, and Ryan Lindley somehow connects on a couple of unlikely throws to lead a game-winning drive, this has the makings of one of those games that will be talked about for years, a la Saints-Seahawks in 2010.

 

[soxfan121]

Exactly.  Plus, if the Arizona defense manages to keep them in the game, and Ryan Lindley somehow connects on a couple of unlikely throws to lead a game-winning drive, this has the makings of one of those games that will be talked about for years, a la Saints-Seahawks in 2010.

 
Really? People still talk about that?

 

[wibi]

 
Really? People still talk about that?

 
Beast Quake game?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDOBejlx7Us

 

[Bosoxen]

I think his point is that people talk about that play, but not the game itself. Besides the Saints losing to a 7-9 Seahawks, I couldn't tell you another single detail about that game.

 

[wibi]

I think his point is that people talk about that play, but not the game itself. Besides the Saints losing to a 7-9 Seahawks, I couldn't tell you another single detail about that game.

 
Ive got to disagree; short of last years Superbowl I couldnt tell you much about any single game.  Single plays sure but a single game is usually defined single plays which are memorable.

 

[dcmissle]

I've always thought the biggest factor in rain or wet snow was that it slowed down the pass rush. That has to hurt the Ravens who are tied for 2nd in sacks, no?

How does Ben throw in the rain? I don't know. But I recall hearing a couple of weeks back, from one of those retired QBs, that he hated nothing more than a driving rain.

 

[Curt S Loew]

How is that sequence of events going to come about though?

I don't want Pitt going to Denver and knocking off the Broncos.  I would rather play Denver.  As I said, thinking ahead. I thought that was clear.

 

[kolbitr]

I don't want Pitt going to Denver and knocking off the Broncos.  I would rather play Denver.  As I said, thinking ahead. I thought that was clear.

I see what you mean now...I missed a step in your thinking... :|

 

[Rico Guapo]

I know it's pouring in Carolina and all, but man there are a lot of empty seats today.

 

[Dan Murfman]

AJ Green out tomorrow.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000453334/article/aj-green-ruled-out-for-sundays-game-vs-colts

 

[Al Zarilla]

I know it's pouring in Carolina and all, but man there are a lot of empty seats today.

Keeping dry and they come pouring out just before the kickoff?

 

[Stitch01]

Zona gonna win outright.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Oh that's right, ESPN and we get Tirico and Gruden, although Gruden is OK by me

 

[NortheasternPJ]

It looks like the consensus is that Pat's fans should be rooting for the Steelers. I'll need to take a long shower after the game.

I'm rooting Ravens all the way.

I think. Ugh.

 

[ypioca]

Brian McKnight looks like an old uncle.

 

[Al Zarilla]

I'm rooting Ravens all the way.

I think. Ugh.

It's an old conundrum, isn't it? If you figure the Steelers are the better team and you therefore root for the Ravens to knock them out, then, when the Ravens start winning, you start switching over to "man, those Ravens are really tough". Can't be happy either way, unless one or the other is a particularly bad matchup for the Patriots down the road. Historically, that would be the Ravens. This year's teams, I don't know. I'll probably switch preferences 10 times during the game. 

 

[Fred in Lynn]

TE was held.

 

[BornToRun]

What an awful punt.

 

[johnmd20]

What an awful punt.

 
Terrible. Wet ball but still. Woeful.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

Ed Cockuli: King of the No-Penalty Penalty Flag

 

[Al Zarilla]

Ed Cockuli: King of the No-Penalty Penalty Flag

Is that a typo or a nickname?

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

No typo, I just enjoy referring to him as Cockuli.

 

[Luis Taint]

I want Kate Upton to lead me into battle

 

[Al Zarilla]

No typo, I just enjoy referring to him as Cockuli.

LOL

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

Robert Hughes hasn't paid his dues.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

The Butler is not doing it.

 

[Jnai]

Wtf is the Carolina punter doing?

 

[Silverdude2167]

I feel bad for Fitz. Has a receiver as good as him ever played with such a poor collection of QB's. Beyond a few years of Warner he has had crap throwing him the ball.

 

[Dogman]

Wtf is the Carolina punter doing?

 
 
No idea.  Is he doing something on the sidelines that deserves mention?

 

[johnmd20]

Wtf is the Carolina punter doing?

 
Sitting on the bench, watching the game?

 

[Jnai]

Sorry, cardinals punter obviously. He's been awful.

 

[Silverdude2167]

Is there a difference between defensive holding on a CB and Illegal contact on passing plays? Happens with 5 yards of the LOS?