All About AMERICAN FOOTBALL

[Streetcar]

Colts over Ravens
Saints over Eagles
Bears over Seahawks
Pats over Chargers

Too bad my home team again did not make it. No more 49ers of the 80's i used to enjoy and watch every game. Those were the best years for them. Now i havent followed the NFL as much as I used to simply because we have a lousy team which i thought they were rebounding but nah....same thing again.

My picks - Baltimore, Saints, Seahawks and of course I love my own, San Diego Chargers good luck on your teams and pools.

[Big|nimZ]

Colts over Ravens
Saints over Eagles
Bears over Seahawks
Pats over Chargers

Oh a straight up! Colts over Ravens is something I have to think also you choosed Pats over Chargers!? Hell yeah.

[Namnori]

*Don't forget to make your separate straight up picks too.*

Here are the point spreads taken from Yahoo. They listed the point spreads from 10 popular sites. For each game, I used the most common point spread.
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Indianapolis Colts (+4)   @  Baltimore Ravens (-4)

Philadelphia Eagles (+5)  @  New Orleans Saints (-5)

Seattle Seahawks (+8.5)  @  Chicago Bears (-8.5)

New England Patriots (+5)  @  San Diego Chargers (-5)


So for your "money" picks, you are either getting or giving points... depending on which team you pick in each game.
Also remember to list how many "Chips" you will place on each game. Your best pick (one that you have most confidence in)... would have 4,000 chips placed on it.  Your second best would have 3,000 chips, your third 2,000, and the pick you have the least confidence in it... 1,000.

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Here are SAMPLE picks (with spreads and chips) using teams not in this year's playoffs:
Raiders (+9) over Broncos (2,000 chips)
Packers(- over Lions (1,000 chips)
Falcons (-4) over Redskins (4,000 chips)
Dolphins (+7) over Bengals (3,000 chips)

Sample results:
Broncos 21 Raiders 13 = Win (+2,000 chips)
Packers 17- Lions 10 = Loss (-1,000 chips)
Falcons 27 Redskins 14 = Win (+4,000 chips)
Bengals 34 Dolphins 21 = Loss (-3,000 chips)

Net results: 2 wins, 2 losses (+ 2,000 chips)
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*Don't forget to pick your straight up picks too (no point spread or chips).
Make sure you get all your picks posted before the coin toss of the first game. (you still have more than 2 full days).
I'll be posting 3 sets of picks again. MONEY (using point spreads above), MIND (straight up, no point spread... who I think will win the games), and HEART (who I want to win the games).

If this is all too much, then of course it's up to you. Just post who you think will win the games only. Picking with point spreads (and "chips") is just an added challenge for fun.

ThanX

[Namnori]

Divisional Championship weekend (this weekend) is generally perceived as the most exciting overall weekend of the year for fans of NFL football (maybe not for people that are fans of specific team only).
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I myself am a Raider's fan, but I love all football and will watch any and all games that I can. Once my team is eliminated, I don't forget about the season. I still enjoy it.... as a fan of NFL football (and football overall).

These are some of the reasons that why I think that Divisional Championship Weekend is the most exciting NFL weekend of the season overall for the "NFL" fan:

Regular Season Opening weekend is nice because it is a renewal, most fans somehow feel that their team has a chance at the championship (even if in reality their team sucks... like my Raiders this year.. and the last four years... heheh).

Wilcard Weekend is always fun cuz elimination games start, but the four teams with the best records all have the week off.

**In Divisional Championship Weekend there are four games with the final eight teams all playing. Plus all four of the visiting teams are always coming into these games off of a victory and needed extra confidence as they enter the domain of the top teams of the year. "Four" games all with the stakes really high, all jammed into one weekend. I'll be in an erratic sleep pattern cuz I'll be watching live here in the Phils (crazy start times... and not very good times (early a.m. to be drinking.

Conference Championship Weekend (next weekend ) is great also and involves the final 4 teams, but there are only two games. If your team is involved, it's about as exciting as it gets besides the Super Bowl), especially if you are at the game.... and your team wins. I have been in attendance for both good and bad for my team. I was in the stands in Oakland when the Raiders lost to the Ravens in the 2000 season AFC Championship game, the place was like a funeral home afterward, and everyone was appropriately dressed in black...heheh. Nobody gave way to each other when trying to squeeze all those vehicles out of the parking lot, horns honking in frustration. But I was also there when my Raiders beat the Titans in the 2002 season AFC Championship game.... Everyone was high-fiving and hugging, strangers acted like they were best friends or family.... and oh yeah, partying (well that always starts 4 hours before game time.. tailgating in the parking lot). It took a few hours for the police to clear the parking lot after that game though, nobody wanted to leave. 

Super Bowl Weekend is great, but it is only one game. However, if your favorite team is involved this will of course be the most exciting for you. The commercials are a riot, but I usually don't remember much about it all... cuz of the Super Bowl parties!! With this one, no matter the time, I will pop open a few alcoholic beverages.... heheh.
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Anyone else agree or disagree with these thoughts or have anything to add?

[EZRA]

........... me, I'm just hoping Favre plays one more season. He has proven that he can still compete ... even with a mediocre offensive line. He still has the arm.. and of course, the heart. I wish he decides to play 1 more season. I honestly admit that I shed a tear after the bears game last 31st.

[EZRA]

Namnori: both my Packers and Broncos almost got in the post season - ... almost

[Big|nimZ]

........... me, I'm just hoping Favre plays one more season. He has proven that he can still compete ... even with a mediocre offensive line. He still has the arm.. and of course, the heart. I wish he decides to play 1 more season. I honestly admit that I shed a tear after the bears game last 31st.

I don't think he should be coming back. I'm a Packer fan too. Favre already proved to everyone about his passion for the game and I don't see why he has to prove to someone more.

[EZRA]

Everyone knows his achievements...everyone knows he's a sure bet in Hall-of-Fame ... for me, it's just a matter of having the pleasure of watching him play for at least one more season. I love watching him play... the no-huddles, 2 minute drills, the bullet passes ... this is where he excels and it's sooo much fun to watch him outplay the defense (although it's been rare these past 2 seasons).

Agreed that it's time for him to throw in the towel.... his team hasn't given him enough support.. enough help for him to pull together the big plays (especially from that offensive line). Retiring would be the right move .. especially after winning against the Bears. There's just little to look forward to for next season with Favre gone.

[Namnori]

Point Spreads are posted, see my previous post above from: 11 January 11:30 am.

Most of this weeks games are tough to pick (especially when you include the point spreads). I've made up my mind 100 % on only one game so far.... time's ticking, must choose...
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@ EZRA & nimZ,
Although I am by no means a Packer fan, I can still appreciate and respect Brett Favre's play and attitude towards the game.
Brett Favre is my kind of player... he's tough as nails...(I love how he talks and even smiles at the player who just nailed him to the ground. I have even seen him helping that other player off the ground). Also seen him blocking on reverse plays (although I am sure the coaches cautioned him about that). He's loyal to his team, Green Bay is where he's stayed after being traded there by the Falcons after his rookie season (for the 17th overall draft choice). Oops! Gotta be the worst trade in Falcons history...the player the Falcons chose in that draft... ended up only playing 3 years as a special teams/backup player... Tsk tsk tsk. If Brett Favre doesn't return to the Packers, he won't go anywhere else (not "only" because he still has about 5 years of left on a 10 year contract..heheh). Only ULTRA SPECIAL players receive contracts of that length anyway. Plus, he is a God in Green Bay.
Brett Doesn't complain and he is enthusiastic, running downfield to high-five a receiver he just threw one of his many, many touchdown passes to, even though he may have just yelled at the same receiver just moments before for screwing up a pass pattern. He brings his emotions to the team and on the field. As far as I'm concerned...If you're not playing the game with your heart... then you're just playing around.
As far as his play, I awe at the way that he can get a good pass off from seemingly every angle (often when going down or in the grasp of a defensive player... you can be sure Brett doesn't like the "in the grasp" rule that was brought about to protect qb's, he really didn't need the help). I also admire the way that he carries out play-action fakes the way they should be... all the way through (often even fooling the t.v. cameramen, because they don't know which player has the ball).
If that's not enough for you, his cameo role in the movie "Something about Mary" was pretty funny too!!
When he does retire, it's a guarantee that green and yellow #4 jersey will deservedly be retired along with him, and they should already start creating his bust (statue) for his Hall of Fame enshrinement (which he will be voted in on the first ballot that he is eligible).  :mrgreen:  ThanX

[omad]

here's my straight up picks:

Ravens over Colts
Bears over Seahawks
Pats over Chargers
Saints over Eagles

in the three match-ups (1st 3 on the list), I chose Defense over Offense. the Colts, Seahawks and the Chargers are the elite of the ELITE in the NFL as far as offense goes. correct me if I'm wrong but I think the three teams belong to the top 5 in terms of offense statistically. defensive schemes employed by the Ravens and Bears would be exciting to watch IF they can find a way to stop Peyton's long touchdowns as well Alexander's rushing TD's. the Chargers, having too much talent on both sides of the ball, I know, would be a handful for the Pats but I still think the 3 time SB champs can find a way to stop Tomlinson, Gates and Rivers as well as block Merriman from getting to Brady. I think the Eagle's luck would come at a screeching halt when they meet the Saints.

my other picks (point spreads and chips) would come in shortly...

hey guys, I've got one question? where do we watch the games here in Cebu? can you name some bars where we can watch the games LIVE? thanks.