All About AMERICAN FOOTBALL

[Big|nimZ]

Alright cats and kitties, POST-SEASON! Wildcard weekend starts this coming Saturday 6th of January.

Kansas City Chiefs vs Indianapolis Colts

Eagles vs Giants

Hawks vs DA'Boys

New York Jets vs New England Patriots

Pick - Colts over Chiefs, Patriots over Jets, Hawks over da'boys, Eagles over Giants

[Namnori]

Last game of Raiders' dismal season, I stayed up on New Year's Eve for the 2 a.m. internet radio coverage. It wasn't too hard since I was up celebrating the New Year anyway.
About the game; that was hard to bear though, what else is new? Raiders lost and only scored 3 points, offense turned the ball over 3 times. Ended up with the most turnovers in the league this season. Defense played well enough and even had a goal line stand. Hopefully the defense can get some help from the offense next season and we can win a few more games. This season was a disaster.
Good news: 1. The season is over. 2. Because the Lions beat the Cowboys on Sunday, the Raiders have the overall first pick in the upcoming April draft. 3.  I don't have to wake up early anymore this year to listen to the games (but I will wake up early to "watch" this year's  playoff games), and you guys don't have to see my Raider updates every week.... at least until the draft....heheh. 4. I am still a Raider's fan and always will be. So enjoy it now while you can, we'll be back... someday...heheh.
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*Upcoming First Round Wildcard Playoffs: **Dates/times given are Philippine date/time.**

**Sunday Jan 7th, 5:30 a.m.** Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts.I don't think the Chiefs stand a chance against the Colts in Indianapolis. The Chiefs were lucky to get into the playoffs and the Colts were undefeated at home this season. Too many offensive weapons for the Colts and they have been waiting for a run at a Super Bowl for a few years now. Could this be their year, or will they choke in the playoffs again?
**Sunday Jan 7th, 9:00 a.m.** Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks. Both teams are limping into the playoffs with unimpressive wn/loss records in the final 1/4 of the regular season. I am hoping for a Cowboys victory and I think they have the firepower to pull it off if their defense doesn't give up as many points as they have been doing lately. Bill Parcells is not a happy man right now.

**Monday Jan 8th, 2:00 a.m.** New York Jets at New England Patriots. I would like to see the Jets beat the Patriots and I think they have a great chance if they don't have more than one turnover, and can force a turnover or two themselves from the Patriots. 3rd meeting of the year between long time division rivals. Can't wait to watch (hopefully it will be aired "live").
**Monday Jan 8th, 5:30 a.m.** New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles. Another fierce division rivalry that is definitely worth watching. I am rooting for the Giants over the Eagles, but the Eagles are playing very well right now. I think it wIll be tough for the Giants to win this 3rd meeting of the season betweent these two teams. Jeff Garcia is doing a great job of leading the Eagles, they were smart to sign him.

---I'm not sure if all of this week's wildcard playoff games will be shown "live" here in the Philippines, but I am hoping they will be. From the online tv guides and advertisements on ESPN (Sky Cable Channel 32) I have seen, Sunday's games should be on live. Not sure if Monday's games will be though. If not, I'll have to stay away from the internet until I can see the delayed broadcasts, because I don't like to watch sporting events when the outcome is already final.
Next week's Divisional Playoff games make for what is considered to always be the "Best weekend of the NFL season." This is because there are 4 playoff games that involve the final 8 teams. This week the Chargers, Ravens, Bears, and Saints will be enjoying the week off (they earned a "bye" because of their superior regular season win-loss records). Each of those teams will host a playoff game the following week against this week's wildcard game winners.

Enjoy, and I hope your favorite teams do well, especially if you have placed a bet....heheh. ThanX

[omad]

Namnori:

congrats for (Raider's) having the 1st draft pick this year... :mrgreen:

here's my pick this weekend:

1 Chiefs vs Colts Chiefs
2 Cowboys vs Seahawks Cowboys
3 Jets vs Patriots Patriots
4 Giants vs Eagles Eagles

so there you go guys.. see you monday night (tuesday morning Phil time) for the complete results.

[Namnori]

Well it's official. As expected, the Raiders have fired head coach Art Shell. Read more about my favorite team's woes: http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/OAK/9908560 I like Art Shell as a man an as a player, but as a head coach I wish he showed more emotion. As far as WR Jerry Porter goes, I hope the Raiders gets rid of him. He not only had problems with Art Shell, he also had some problems with ex-coach Jon Gruden. If Porter stays, and drops a few passes, the fans will be all over him and it won't be a good situation.

Namnori: congrats for (Raider's) having the 1st draft pick this year...  :mrgreen:

Nothing to be proud of, that's for sure. But the Raiders will accept the "charity" of getting the first pick with open arms..heheh... we need it. I say "we" because I have been a Raiders' fan for many years and have invested much time, money, and emotion... being a fan (short for the word fanatic) of this team. At least we might get someone who could make a difference in the near future (IF they make the right choice). I am hoping that the Raiders either draft running back Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma or one of the top QB's such as Brady Quinn from Notre Dame or Brian Brohm from Louisville (if he elects to enter the draft). I prefer that they pick Peterson though. A game breaking running back can take over a game, or at the very least, keep a defense honest (stop them from concentrating totally on the passing game). Maybe if they trade down a couple of picks, they can still get Peterson and get more picks overall. One thing for sure, the Raiders need to pick up a couple of veteran linemen through free agency or trade because their young line just isn't getting the job done. The last time the Raiders had a top draft choce (2nd overall pick in '04 draft), they chose an offensive lineman (Robert Gallery) and he hasn't lived up to the hype so far.

here's my pick this weekend:
1 Chiefs vs Colts                  Chiefs
2 Cowboys vs Seahawks       Cowboys
3 Jets vs Patriots                  Patriots
4 Giants vs Eagles                Eagles

Wow, that would be the biggest upset to me... if the Chiefs were to beat the Colts.

*The follwing pointspreads (odds) are current as of today:
Chiefs (+7) at Colts
Cowboys (+3) at Seahawks
Jets (+8.5) at Patriots
Giants (+7) at Eagles

--I can't believe that the Colts are only a 7 point favorite against the Chiefs. Must be because the Colts are vulnerable against the run (worst run defense in the NFL this season) and the Chiefs have one of the league's premier running back's in Larry Johnson (2nd most rushing yards in the NFL this season). However, the Chiefs were 18th best pass defense and the Colts ranked #2 in the league in passing yards I will put my money on the Colts though for a victory by a larger amount than 7 points. Plus as I stated in a previous post, the Colts are undefeated (8 wins, 0 Losses) at home this season. Kansas City is the only team in the playoffs with a losing road record. My prediction is for the Colts to win by more than 7 points, maybe much more. I'll pick the Colts minus 7 points anytime on this one. In fact I'll take that to the bank.
--I also don't think the Patriots should be a 8.5 point favorite over the Jets either. This must be because the Patriots are a tried and tested playoff team with a coach and a quarterback that have taken them to 3 Super Bowl victories. The Jets, in the meanwhile, have a rookie head coach and several rookies playing significant roles (including 2 starting on the offensive line). Still, I think that it should be a close game. Does anyone remember that the Jets won at the Patriots in November? Give me the Jets plus 8.5 points for sure.
--------The other two games are tougher picks for me.
--Two successful head coaches go head to head when the Cowboys play at the Seahawks. I feel the Cowboys have more offensive weapons. For that reason, and based on a hunch, I'll pick the Cowboys plus 3 points.
--I'd like to see the Giants defeat the Eagles, but it will be tough. Eli Manning has to have a really good game in order for the Giants to win. Jeff Garcia has the experience and has the Eagles have alot of momentum. I think I have to take the Eagles minus 7 points. I would be happily surprised if I were wrong and the Giants won though.
**In Summary:
My "money" picks with the point spread (who I would choose if betting on the games)
Colts (-7) over Chiefs   (This is my Top Pick this week)
Cowboys (+3) over Seahawks
Jets (+8.5) over Patriots   (This is my Second Best Pick this week)
Eagles (-7) over Giants

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Extras:

My "mind" picks without the point spread (not neccesarily what I want to happen) 
Colts over Chiefs
Cowboys over Seahawks
Patriots over Jets
Eagles over Giants

My "heart" picks without the point spread (what I want the outcomes to be)
Colts over Chiefs
Cowboys over Seahawks
Jets over Patriots
Giants over Eagles.

I can't wait for the games to start.... wish my team was a part of the playoffs though. Anyway, to me it's still exciting. For NFL playoff teams, one loss means "Better luck next year".  Wow, that's a long post...sorry....heheh. ThanX

[Big|nimZ]

Hahahaha bam 4-0 wildcard weekend!

[omad]

I'm 2-2..

[Big|nimZ]

man o man like last year! ^^

[Namnori]

My results:

2-2 on "money" picks (vs the point spread).
My Top pick of the Colts came through with flying colors. The Cowboys covered the spread but Romo will need therapy to get over that loss... the game was literally in his hands. I was looking really good after the first day at 2-0 (would've been a fun night out in Vegas after those 2 wins). The next day was not so good. Jets got crushed on the final scoreboard but I was actually slightly ahead (on the 8.5 point spread) late in the 4th quarter. However, 14 points in a 20 second span by the Patriots put that to rest. Eagles won but didn't cover. If they play the same way next week, they'll surely be on vacation the day afterwards.

3-1 on "mind" picks (no point spread -*the same way you guys picked*-). The Seahawks were extremely lucky. "I" should be 4-0. Tony Romo, wipe your hands... ooops, too late....heheh.

1-3 for my "heart" picks. What else is knew. Can't always get what you want.


***C'mon, for added fun and interest, make your picks "against the point spread" as well***. I'll post the point spreads later on this week (so we get the latest spreads) for the upcoming . Let's see how we would do Vegas style. Let's say everyone has 10,000 "chips" for this upcoming week's games. You have to place a wager of 4,000 on your best bet, 3,000 on your second bet, 2,000 on your 3rd, and 1,000 on your pick that you have the least confidence in. Let's see the total amount of chips you come up with after the game. Remember, it's a whole new ball of wax when you include the point spread.
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OT: I can't believe they showed the GMAC Bowl game here (Sky Cable) yesterday, but didn't show the BCS College National Championship game this morning. Florida crushed the favored Ohio State squad though so it wasn't a very competitive game, but I still would have liked to watch it. I followed it on the internet though. Ohio State returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown but only managed 7 points afterwards. Final score: Florida Gators: 41 Ohio State Buckeyes: 14.

[omad]

Namnori:

yeah we'll pick "against the points spread" as well. just post them so we can have our entry by friday at 12noon Phil time.

'til then...

[Namnori]

Sounds like fun, I'll look up the current point spread and post by that time. I'll then post my 3 sets (money, mind, heart) of picks by Friday night Midnight(Phil. time).

Should be exciting.

From what I see on clickthecity.com, all four games should be on live this time.
Here's the matchup's and schedule (Philipinne dates/times given):

Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, Jan 14th, 5:30 am, scheduled on Solar Sports-channel 33 of Sky Cable Cebu). Scheduled for 5am, but will be on at 5:30am.
Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints (Sunday, Jan 14th, 9:00 am, scheduled on ESPN-channel 32).

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears (Monday, Jan 15th, 2:00 am, scheduled on ESPN-channel 32).
New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers (Monday, Jan 15th, 5:30 am, scheduled on Solar Sports-channel 33). Sheduled for 5am, but won't be on until 5:30am.

**Disclaimer: This is the schedule that I made using the tv guide grid on www.clickthecity.com matched up to the actual playoff game times. This website has been accurate most of the year with their schedules, but sorry if it doesn't turn out to be that way this week. The guide doesn't describe which teams are playing and if it's live. However, when the schedule is matched up with the "actual" live times of the games, it looks like they should all be televised "live". If you don't believe me... do your own research...heheh. Just be sure to turn to both ESPN and Solar Sports at game time. Last weekend, the Cowboys vs. Seahawks game was on both channels "Live", although Solar Sports was about 10 seconds advanced and had a better picture quality... too bad for me I didn't find this out until late in the game.