The Energon Pub

First-Aid wrote:Very interesting playoff possibilities. I foresee the Falcons in the SB at this point. But at this point there is also a possibility of a rematch of Super Bowl XX...which kinda scares me, because I doubt the result will be the same. One thing is for sure: the Bears have exceeded and smashed all my expectations. I stand here corrected: I give full credit to Lovie Smith and that coaching staff for a taking a bunch of guys that would likely not start on any other team and crafting them into a playoff team...despite what Jerry Angelo gave them personnel-wise.

I foresee whomever faces the Patriots in the SB will be in serious trouble (they have been my second favorite team for years.. I need to pull out the old light blue Bledsoe jersey one day)..

Hope Saints and Packers make the playoffs.

Blurrz wrote:Hope Saints and Packers make the playoffs.

That would be nice. I am really impressed with the Pack this year.

And they made it! Who dat?

Blurrz wrote:And they made it! Who dat?

Yes indeed! Who dat!

Honestly, I was surprised by the Saints last night, and it was kind of a wake up call. To go into Atlanta and take care of the NFL's best team? I gues that's their way of saying "don't forget!"

However, I am officially picking Da Bears to go to the Super Bowl against the Jets. My other choices would be the Saints against the Ravens. Awesome offense vs. awesome defense. In case I'm wrong, I do hope for a rematch of Super Bowl XX, with the same results. Can you imagine Urlacher smashing through the line for a TD like The Fridge did?

Wow. WTG Saints...that was a fantastic game to watch. I really expected either a lopsided blowout or a shootout, but did NOT expect a defensive struggle the way it ended up. The Saints should start worrying people in the league again because if any offense can go toe to toe with Belicheat, it's them.

an L is an L. The only constant in the NFL is that anything can happen. Teams tend to put a little more in when their backs are to the wall. Gratz to the Saints, though i think they could've gone without that picture and left the dome like champs. Karma struck once this year with the Bucs, don't let it strike you, Saints.

I'm not giving up on the Falcons, like it seems some people are. It happens. Even the Pats and Saints lost games they were supposed to win. I think Atlanta can still go all the way. We've seen teams go that nobody expect to make it. Falcons will most likely beat the Panthers on Sunday to clinch #1 seed. But I think this is the perfect wakeup call for them because after Sunday, it becomes 'do' or 'die'.

Man, that Michael Turner fumble on the 1-yd. line REALLY hurt. A FG there would've had the game tied and a TD there would've had the game won!

The Falcons should be able to take care of Carolina next week and wrap things up. If not, well, I hate to say it...but if not, they don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

OK, playoffs are here!

AFC:

Jets vs. Colts
Ravens vs. Chiefs

NFC:

Saints vs. Seahawks
Packers vs. Eagles

Rodimus Prime wrote:OK, playoffs are here!

AFC:

Jets vs. Colts
Ravens vs. Chiefs

NFC:

Saints vs. Seahawks
Packers vs. Eagles

Colts over Jets: Colts seem to be getting healthy again, have picked up a run game from somewhere, and have Peyton Manning. Honestly, I think that's as far as Indy will get though.

Ravens over Chiefs: Defense wins championships and Baltimore's defense is just better. KC is the best story in the NFL this year, but they have been pretty erratic. Put Ed Reed on Dwayne Bowe and let the D-line do its job against the running game. I suspect this would be a good game to take the under on in Vegas.

Saints over Seahawks: Seattle doesn't even know what QB they are playing. THey have no run game, and the Saints may be one of the hotter teams in the NFL.

Packers over Eagles: As much as it pains me to say this being a Bears fan, this is a great matchup for Green Bay. 3-4 defense that can put pressure on the QB and is really good at contain as well. Vick had a great year, but seems to be coming back down to Earth as the rest of the league figures him out. In the end, take the over. Aaron Rodgers is just better and has a better corps of WRs. We could be seeing a third Bears-packers game this season...

Colts over Jets: Colts seem to be getting healthy again, have picked up a run game from somewhere, and have Peyton Manning. Honestly, I think that's as far as Indy will get though.

I'm a bit biased as I am a Jets fan, so I'll say the game will be fairly even, with the Jets D keeping Peyton and the running game in check enough for their offense to get it done. The Colts offense might be a bit better than the Jets', but their defense isn't nearly as good.

Ravens over Chiefs: Defense wins championships and Baltimore's defense is just better. KC is the best story in the NFL this year, but they have been pretty erratic. Put Ed Reed on Dwayne Bowe and let the D-line do its job against the running game. I suspect this would be a good game to take the under on in Vegas.

Yeah, agreed there. The Ravens are going to handle both sides of the ball fairly well.

Saints over Seahawks: Seattle doesn't even know what QB they are playing. THey have no run game, and the Saints may be one of the hotter teams in the NFL.

I'd love to see the Saints play Da Bears again, but I think this will be the upset of the playoffs. The Seahawks will somehow pull one out, perhaps maybe a disaster will hit the Saints like Brees going down early or something.

Packers over Eagles: As much as it pains me to say this being a Bears fan, this is a great matchup for Green Bay. 3-4 defense that can put pressure on the QB and is really good at contain as well. Vick had a great year, but seems to be coming back down to Earth as the rest of the league figures him out. In the end, take the over. Aaron Rodgers is just better and has a better corps of WRs. We could be seeing a third Bears-packers game this season...

I hate Michael Vick, but I cannot deny talent. Vick is simply better than Rodgers. He can make a good situation out of average WRs, but Rodgers needs the good WRs to be able to get anywhere. I think this game will entirely depend on the defenses and whether they miss their assignments or not. I'm giving it to the Eagles by a field goal.

Ummmm...what just happened?

Did Seattle seriously just beat the Saints? Really? I mean...that really happened right?

Oh well...at least you Saints fans can rest easy knowing that Seattle WILL get theirs next Sunday on da frozen turf of beautiful Soldiers Field in Chicago...home of...

DAAAA BEARS.

Edit: Please note that I am assuming the Packers beat Philly tomorrow.

First-Aid wrote:Ummmm...what just happened?

I was right. Sort of.

Did Seattle seriously just beat the Saints? Really? I mean...that really happened right?

Oh well...at least you Saints fans can rest easy knowing that Seattle WILL get theirs next Sunday on da frozen turf of beautiful Soldiers Field in Chicago...home of...

DAAAA BEARS.

Edit: Please note that I am assuming the Packers beat Philly tomorrow.

Yeah, the Seahawks have theirs coming either way. But I think the Eagles will beat the Packers.

I really think Green bay will win...their defense is tough, finally healthy, and they play a 3-4 style. They are nearly as fast as the Bears D and the secondary can matchup well with the Eagles WRs. Remember, Charles Woodson is back there...

...I can't believe I am defending the Packers. If I were to put on my "What Would Ditka Do?" shirt I'd probably burst into flames.

I feel the same about rooting for that scumbag Vick. But like I said, talent is talent, regardless of what kind of despicable person he is. It'll be a great game for sure.

Now if only the Jets can pull one out tonight...

Yes, Jets win!!! I'm 2-0!

As for the opening question of this entire thread, the Madden curse caught up with Drew Brees.

It was plain and simple, the Seahawks wanted it more this year and the Saints stopped tackling and started trying to just strip the ball. They played sloppy and deserved to lose. They can go home, lick their wounds and contemplate on next season.

The Seahawks will lose soon and Pete C will be silenced.

The Jets beat the Colts, so two teams that were favored lost tonight.

I still have teams to pull for.

Patriots
Ravens
Steelers

Packers advance.

Road teams won three of the four playoff games this weekend. Weird.

Hey Pete Carroll...step into our parlour. We're gonna show you just how much your offense sucks. I'd pick up an extra QB...I don't know how long Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie WHitehurst will survive with Julius Peppers up their asses. Setting up an epic NFC Championship game between the pack and Da Bears...

First-Aid wrote:Packers advance.

Road teams won three of the four playoff games this weekend. Weird.

Hey Pete Carroll...step into our parlour. We're gonna show you just how much your offense sucks. I'd pick up an extra QB...I don't know how long Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie WHitehurst will survive with Julius Peppers up their asses. Setting up an epic NFC Championship game between the pack and Da Bears...

Not so fast!

Honestly, The Packers could have blown the Eagles out. However, they didn't. So I'm not really worried about next weeks game.

The road for the pack is through Atlanta. Though beatable, the Falcons are dangerous at home.

I've got Atlanta vs. Chicago in the NFC championship.

NFC championship
Packers vs Bears

AFC championship
Patriots vs Steelers

Superbowl
Patriots vs Packers

SB champs Patriots

Roadbuster wrote:The road for the pack is through Atlanta. Though beatable, the Falcons are dangerous at home.

I've got Atlanta vs. Chicago in the NFC championship.

That is the most likely scenario. There is this though: right now the Packers are the hottest team in the NFL. In addition they have a huge variety of offensive weapons which- if yesterday's game was any indication- is going to be bolstered by a new, break-out RB. The one major thing the Pack lacked all season has been a run game. Also, the Packers defense is phenomenal...not quite Bears level, but they have a fantastic secondary and fast linebackers. The only concern is the run game: Michael Turner isn't going to be as easy to stop as McCoy was but Dom Capers is one of the best-if not THE best- defensive coordinator in the NFL. They effectively contained the super-speedy WRs of Philly and sacked Vick several times. Ryan isn't as mobile, but he is smarter than Vick. This should be a great game.

Of note is the fact that the Seahawks beat the Bears earlier this year. However, it was early in the season. Since the bye week, the Bears have been a completely different team offensively. I just don't see the Seahawks winning this. The Bears will advance, but who they will play is a toss up.

Pittsburgh vs Baltimore will be a hard hitting, violent, tight game as always. It's always fun to see those two teams go head to head as they really can't stand each other. I expect one ejection, but I think the Steelers will pull it out.

The Pats may be the best team in the NFC, but for some reason I'm getting upset vibes from their game against the Jets. I think Rex Ryan will have his guys so hyped up to play the Pats that they will be jumpin right out of their shoes. I'm actually considering this a "trap" game for the Pats. I expect them to win, but I am not putting an upset out of my mind. Just a hunch, nothing concrete. It all boils down to the Jets running game.

I think the Packers will give the Falcons a run for their money, but in the end Atlanta will win. And the only way Da Bears lose is if they become complacent and full of themselves.

NFC Championship: Bears vs. Falcons.

In the AFC, it's a lot tougher. I still think the Jets will show up the Patriots, and beat them in a close game like they did Indy. As for the Ravens and the squealers? Who the hell knows? But I'm rooting for the Ravens, because I can't stand Pittsburgh and I think Ray Lewis deserves another ring. But not if they have to face the Jets.

AFC Championship: Jets vs. Ravens.

I think the SB will be Jets vs. Bears, and that will be a real good game. Jets will finally win another one in 42 years, and ol' Joe Willie won't be the only hero in town.

OK, here we go.

Falcons-Packers is on!

I think a lot of people expect the Packers to win, but I think the Falcons will pull out a close game...

And then, the donnybrook of the playoffs so far, Steelers-Ravens. I hope the Ravens clean house in Pittsburgh.

Well, I was wrong...

Good for the Packers, though. I think the Falcons were a bit full of themselves, and the Packers are proving to be a damn good football team. Hopefully they'll face the Bears in the NFC title game.

...and the Ravens just disappointed me. I really thought they were the better team. Oh well, hopefully shitsburgh will lose to the Jets next weekend, if the Jets can back up their big mouths...