NFL Divisional Playoffs

I am going to keep my picks short and sweet. Everything that needs to be said about these games has already been said, heard, criticized, and reworded. Should be a fun weekend of sitting, watching, eating, more sitting, yelling at the TV, yelling at family members for standing in front of the TV, more eating, occasional napping, and maybe some eating.

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Wild Card Weekend

There are four NFL playoff games this weekend. Two tomorrow. And two on Sunday. What makes these playoffs extra awesome is the fact that neither the Patriots nor the Cowboys are involved. Granted, when they are involved, it makes the playoffs more interesting. But I am more than happy to exclude them from this year’s festivities for a few less viewers.

It can be debated that four of the teams playing this weekend have no business playing in a postseason game. The Vikings, Eagles, Chargers, and Cardinals seemed to all make the playoffs by accident. But they are here, and we have to deal with it.

Colts at Chargers
I’ve stated it before, but no team in the playoffs got the shaft more than the Colts. They scratch and claw their way to a 12-4 record, only to be slotted to play the 8-8 Chargers in San Diego. Still makes for a good game though. The Chargers could be 0-16 and still give the Colts a tough game. They always do. Practically everytime these two teams come together, it comes down to a Vinatieri or Keading field goal attempt. I think I speak for everyone (except Patriot fans) when I say that I hope the Colts win. No team talks more shit than the Chargers. And they have won nothing. The AFC West don’t count as “something”.

Colts 31-21

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Falcons at Cardinals
I really wish I got to see more of the Falcons on television this year. I believe they had zero nationally televised games on their schedule. I guess that makes sense. Because NO ONE, including the schedule makers believed the Falcons had a chance to be competitive. New coach. Rookie quarterback. First year starting running back. Disenchanted fan base. Just a mess. Fast forward eighteen weeks, they’re in the first round of the playoffs. And have a very big chance of winning. The Cardinals clinched the NFC West about twelve weeks ago and played out the rest of the season hoping no one got injured. Thus, the 9-7 record. The Falcons REALLY fought for their playoff spot, and didn’t let up all season. However, and pardon me for sounding like a member of the “Sunday NFL Countdown” crew, but can Matt Ryan (a rookie QB) win (on the road), in the playoffs? I don’t think so. Kurt Warner, an experienced playoff veteran, playing at home, with Fitzgerald and Boldin will win.

Cardinals 34-17

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Ravens at Dolphins
I’m not one to go out on the proverbial limb. But, for this game, I will. I am guaranteeing a Baltimore win against the Dolphins on Sunday. And what does that guarantee mean? It means absolutely nothing. Just thought I’d tell you. Anyway, I say this because of two things. In Week 7, the Ravens destroyed the Dolphins and their “Wildcat” offense. Speaking of which, that offense seems tailor made for the Ravens defense. Tight and compact. And if there is going to be a rookie QB to win on the road in these playoffs, it’s Mr. Flacco. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and protects the ball well. Should be a good game nonetheless.

Ravens 21-10

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Eagles at Vikings
No idea where to go with this game. But maybe by the end of this paragraph, I would have come to a conclusion. Both teams are clearly on a high after winning huge Week 17 games. One more important than the other. The Eagles won essentially a playoff game against the Cowboys. They dominated on both sides of the ball and made Dallas look like a CFL team. The Vikings on the other hand barely beat the Giants third string players by a Ryan Longwell field goal. But the Eagles (9-6-1) cannot be trusted. I’ve never seen a more schizophrenic team in my life. That 1 at the end of their record should serve as an example. I’m going with the Vikings. That fan base needs it.

Vikings 24-17

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Did you enjoy that indepth analysis? I really did cover every angle. Ugh, what a terrible post. I’ll do better next time.

Thoughts on Week 17 and the NFL Playoffs

• Let me preface this by saying that I hate the Patriots. I hate them. I hate them more than nuts in brownies. I hate the franchise. I hate their players. I hate their coaches. And of course, I hate their fans. Because nothing is worse in this country than a cocky New Englander. But that fact that they are not in the playoffs is ridiculous. I don’t need to go through why either. An 11-5 record should warrant a playoff spot. Especially since the 8-8 San Diego Chargers will be HOSTING a playoff game. Same with those 9-7 Arizona Cardinals. I think it’s time for the NFL to go to some kind of system where strength of schedule, rankings, point differential, and overall record are taken into account and some sort of decimal is generated thus determining the best teams in the league. Yeah, that’ll do.
• Speaking of those Chargers, the Colts got hosed. They have the same record as the New York Giants (12-4) and have to play a first round game AT San Diego. What. A. Joke. I can’t believe Norv Turner made the playoffs. He’s been on the hot seat so long, you can grill burgers off his ass. But he continues to skate by. He’s the same caliber coach as any of the head coaches fired this year. But Marty Schottenheimer’s talent keeps him winning.
• Mangini fired. It feels so good to type those words. Since I don’t want to talk about the past, I’ll think towards the future. And at this point, I’ll take any of the potential candidates for the Jets head coaching position. Schottenheimer, Cowher, Spagnuolo, Gilbride, Me, anyone. Anyone with a pulse. Because Mangini didn’t have one. I like some emotion with my coaches. The man looked catatonic after every play. I like to think it’s because he was confused about what was going on and still was learning the game of football. Anyway, he’s gone. It’s time to move forward.
• Ladies and Gentlemen, your Befeated 2008 Detroit Lions!
• Even though the Jets did not make the playoffs (which they wouldn’t have deserved anyway), there are four things I am happy about regarding Week 17. I am a Giants supporter and am happy that they have a first round bye and home field throughout the playoffs. They are clearly the best team in the NFC and could have a fairly easy road to the playoffs. We’ll see. Obviously I am happy that the Patriots didn’t make the playoffs. Their fans have had enough and no one deserves a crushing blow to their team than Bostonians. I couldn’t be happier for Chad Pennington. He showed to the Jets, the team that ran him out of town for Brett Favre, how good he really was. Admittedly, I wanted Favre and if it was at the expense of Pennington, I’d take it. But Chad rubbed it in our collective faces. Definition of bittersweet. And finally, a team I hate more than the Patriots, are the Cowboys. I hate them because all of the supposed “fans” they have. I live in New York. I know more Cowboys fans than I do Jet fans. Why? Why are they fans? They never lived in Texas. I bet they couldn’t point to Texas on a map. Yet nothing could get between them and their ‘Boys. It’s because their frontrunners. And nothing shuts a frontrunner up than 12 years without a playoff win. I hope they keep Romo for the next ten years. Overrated. He is “Favre: The Next Generation”.

I'm fired? Okay.

Anything else? Mr. Nosey…

Ken Griffey Jr. has 611 homeruns, 1772 RBIs, 2680 hits, 1612 runs, and played in 2521 games in his long career. The guy has been playing since the 80s. Anyone want to take a guess as to how many playoff games he has been a part of? 15. Just 15 games. He hasn’t been in the postseason in over a decade (‘97). Today, at 2:30 ET on TBS, we’ll get a chance to see one of the greatest players of his generation (Omit: Bonds) in the playoffs for probably the last time. Hes turning 39 in November and as his career stats indicate, he might be on his last hurrah. You could also tell that by his noodle armed throw to Pierzynski to save a run in that one game playoff against the Twins. 1996 Griffey would of put a hole in A.J. or would of just ran the ball in to nail the runner.

It's Never Iffy When It's Griffey

Lidge sent a shiver done the collective spine of the Phillie faithful yesterday by nearly blowing Cole Hamels’ gem in the ninth. We’re all just waiting for Lidge to give up some game tying homerun in the ninth and have like a Vietnam flashback to the 2004 NLCS. But for his sanity, and the Phillie fans, I hope at least they make it to the World Series. Mike Schmidt and the 1980 team are long gone. It’s time for something good to happen in Philly. The show can’t be the only thing going for it.

And the ball was never heard from again...

Ugh. What are Cubs fans thinking right now. This is their year. Just like every year. Most wins in the NL. They had the central wrapped up. The World Series was just a formality. In comes James Loney? Who? And the rest of the “We’re just happy to be here” Los Angeles Dodgers. As soon as Loney hit that ball, Wrigley Field made less noise than silence. You could hear the wind whipping around the field. It was PAINFUL. The Cubs didn’t even attempt to make it interesting after the grand slam. They saw the season flash before their eyes and e-mailed in the rest of the game. Can’t wait to see how Zambrano pitches tonight? For him, it boils down to two outcomes: 1. A 2-hit shoutout. 2. Finds a way to give up back-to-back grand slams and eats his glove on the mound.

The 1908 Cubs: You think any of these guys can still hit?