Championship Games Open Thread

Your Super Bowl teams are playing today, we just don't know which

The last epic football Sunday of the year, yeah the Super Bowl is cool, teams fight harder in these games than the big day, hold onto your hats and pour a drink, it's Championship Sunday!

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 3:00pm ET, FOX

Consensus point spread: Bears plus 3.5
Curly R spread pick: Packers
Curly R straight up pick: Packers

Although this may not be the better game, it is the one to which I am more looking forward, the Packers have turned out to be a scrappy bunch of winners and at this point I cannot bet against them. The Bears are no slouches though, I just think the Packers have come to Chicago to win while the Bears are here to play a game. Bonus points for this game featuring the biggest poseur quarterback and the biggest wanker quarterback left in the playoffs. Double bonus points for the Division Championship rematch. Triple bonus points for both teams losing to the Redskins this year (oh I know you just dint).


New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers, 6:30pm ET, CBS

Consensus point spread: Steelers minus four
Curly R spread pick: Jets
Curly R straight up pick: Steelers

This is the better game, the Jets have an historic head of steam here and despite all the naysaying, my god I am so tired of hearing Tim Ryan attack any Moving the Chains callers that evince an appreciation of the competitive fire from which the Jets' trash talk comes, I love the cockiness. You talk shit, you go back it up and if you cannot, then you shrug and say I lost, see you next year. New York may be the better team here this week, the Steelers find ways to win, do not bet against them at home. Take a drink every time Jim Nantz or Phil Simms mentions Ben Roethlisberger's season opening suspension, and finish your drink if they mention the allegation was sexual assault.


The wife and I are heading over to watch the early game with friends, a married couple, they are united in puerile mutual frat love for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, but on the pro gridiron she roots straight Green Bay and he loves Da Bears. Indeed, marital vows will be tested today.


This is the Championship gameday open thread.



Composite image by me, NFL logos from here.

Sunday Division Playoffs Open Thread

Wouldn't it be hilarious if...

Two more football games today, in the traditional playoff timeslots, another great day of NFL playoffs.

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears, 1:00 pm ET, FOX

Consensus point spread: Bears minus ten
Curly R spread pick: Seahawks
Curly R straight up pick: Bears

The Bears have really come together as a team since the bad old days when the Redskins beat them on four DeAngelo Hall interceptions of Jay Cutler, in fact since that October game leading into the Chicago bye, the Bears only lost twice, once to the unstoppable Patriots and in the season closer against the Packers when Chicago's playoff seed was set and the team had nothing to play for. As for Seattle, the story comes down to this: All the football trolls of the world like me are desperately hoping to see a 9-9 team host the NFC Championship just to piss off those butthurt over a losing team getting into the playoffs.


New York Jets at New England Patriots, 4:30 pm ET, CBS

Consensus point spread: Patriots minus 9.5
Curly R spread pick: Patriots
Curly R straight up pick: Patriots

This is the heavyweight match of the weekend, and another Divisional playoff rubber match to boot. Jets players have been running their mouths, emulating head coach Rex Ryan, make no mistake I love the Jets' devil may care attitude when it comes to giving bulletin board material to the other team, the game would be much more enjoyable for fans if the players would talk a little more trash. The problem with this strategy is the Patriots are assassins and assassins cannot be reasoned with, cannot be intimidated and take no prisoners. I expect this game to look more like the Patriots 45-3 blowout from December than the Jets 28-14 September win.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



Composite image by me, NFL logos from here.

Saturday Division Playoffs Open Thread

Grudge match

Best football weekend of the year here kids, time to wallow.

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:30 pm ET, CBS

Consensus point spread: Steelers minus three
Curly R spread pick: Ravens
Curly R straight up pick: Ravens

Two teams that flat just do not get along, I love to see Division matchups in the playoffs, this is the third time these teams have met this year, with the road team winning each game. The Steelers, who many thought would be dead out of the gate missing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first quarter of the season on a suspension, look more like they do now than they did before, that receiver Mike Wallace would look pretty good in burgundy and gold. I just think Baltimore is peaking now and with Ray Rice and that defense Baltimore will overwhelm Pittsburgh.


Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons, 8:00 pm ET, FOX

Consensus point spread: Falcons minus one
Curly R spread pick: Packers
Curly R straight up pick: Packers

Time to put my pretend money where my real mouth is, I have seen the Packers play a lot this year and I have not seen the Falcons so much. The Packers are simply a team that is in every game, I heard a stat on Sirius NFL Radio this week, I have not confirmed it but it sounds plausible, the Packers have never been down in a game this season by more than seven points? Wow, even if that is not a real stat it sounds like these Packers, they are not a dominating team, they are simply well put together. As far as Atlanta goes, surprise me guise.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



Composite image by me, NFL logos from here.

Sunday Wildcard Playoffs Open Thread

Road trip!

Two great games last night, two more good ones today, in the traditional NFL playoff timeslots, belly up and let's watch some football!

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 pm ET, CBS

Consensus point spread: Chiefs plus three
Curly R spread pick: Ravens
Curly R straight up pick: Ravens

The Ravens are a serious Super Bowl contender, maybe the team with the best chance of getting past the Patriots, Todd Haley had his one year turnaround in Kansas City, driven entirely be bringing in Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, two guys that are much more football smarter than Todd, with Charlie's inexplicable departure to the University of Florida the Chiefs will sink back to a more comfortable 6-10 level, I think Baltimore wins this one in a walkover.


Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 pm ET, FOX

Consensus point spread: Eagles minus 2.5
Curly R spread pick: Packers
Curly R straight up pick: Packers

Thanks to my game partner lifetime Eagles fan, season ticket holder and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery, I will be attending this game in Philadelphia, as I write this he awaits me downstairs so we can hit the road. I will pick up the thread from Tim Ryan and pat Kirwan on Sirius NFL Radio Moving the Chains from Friday, I think the Packers are the more complete team, but if I am wrong on any game this weekend, it is this one. Oh, this is not my first Packers-Eagles playoff game, I was also at 4th and 26 in 2004.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



Composite image by me, NFL logos from here.

Saturday Wildcard Playoffs Open Thread

The good, the ugly and the bad

The playoffs are here kids, we got an afternoon tilt and an evening affair, pour a drink(s) and let's watch some football.

New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks, 4:30 pm ET, NBC

Consensus point spread: Seahawks plus ten
Curly R spread pick: Seahawks
Curly R straight up pick: Saints

The defending Super Bowl champion Saints must travel to play the first ever 7-9 playoff team, the Seahawks who are in head coach Jim Pete Carroll's first year, boy that guy hightailed it out of Southern Cal while the getting was good didn't he? For those butthurt football elitists that are arguing the playoff team with the better record should always host the game, stop and use your idiot brain, the current system IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO REWARD TEAMS FOR WINNING THE DIVISION. If you want to see the quote better unquote team host the game, then just do away with Divisions and let the teams all just compete as a Conference.


New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts, 8:00 pm ET, NBC

Consensus point spread: Colts minus 2.5
Curly R spread pick: Colts
Curly R straight up pick: Colts

I have seen the magical Peyton Manning this season, as in the game he played against the Redskins, and I have seen the human Peyton, as in the game he played against the Eagles. I think we will see the magical Peyton tomorrow. I love New York coach Rex Ryan's enthusiasm and bravado and how he seems to capture the essence of the Jets, meaning when he finally leaves town it will be in disgrace.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



Composite image by me, NFL logos from here.

Championship Games Open Thread

Super Bowl on the line

Two great games on Championship Sunday, this is the last time there will be two NFL games in the same day until the start of the 2010 season, enjoy watching the two berths into the Super Bowl determined.

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts, 3:00pm ET, CBS

Consensus line: Colts minus 8.5
Curly R spread pick: Colts
Curly R straight up pick: Colts

The kind of game football fans love, when the Colts pulled Peyton Manning and their starters with two games to go in the regular season, the Jets capitalized on it and came back to win, they have not lost since and so in a very real way the Colts are responsible for the Jets and all their confidence being here.

Still despite how the Jets have been able to win twice on the road and humble higher seeds, I see no way they can outlast the Colts. The Colts have won just about every way this season and they will find a way to win against the Jets, you simply cannot bet against Peyton Manning, he is better than any defense can be.


Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints, 6:40pm ET, FOX

Consensus line: Saints minus 3.5
Curly R spread pick: Saints
Curly R straight up pick: Saints

Another really hard game for me to call. If the same Saints team from last week shows up there is no way the Vikings can run with them, the Saints can move the ball at will and have too many weapons. Even if the Vikings get the same pass rush as last week I think volume wise there will simply be too many opportunities for Drew Brees to make a play downfield. Simply cannot pick against the home team here.

And you know Brett Favre is loving being the underdog here, all he wants to do is go out and throw the ball around, which is pretty much what they did last week, it is clear that Adrian Peterson or no Adrian Peterson, the Vikings are going to live or die in these playoffs on Brett's arm. Of the two games, this was the harder for me to pick.


Both of these are excellent games and I have no dog in either fight, all would make great stories, let's see some frigging football.


This is a championship gameday open thread.



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Sunday Division Playoffs Open Thread

It's a beeg juan

Update Monday 18 Jan by Ben: Man I love to see Tony Romo take a beating. And how can you not think the Colts-Jets game next week is going to be a great game?

Two more playoff games to sate your ravenous hunger for football, and in the traditional 1pm and 4pm time slots, I like the 4pm and 8pm deal for Saturdays, it would not work for me tonight as the only thing that trumps playoff football is on tonight: the two hour season eight premiere of 24.

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00pm ET, FOX

Consensus line: Vikings minus 2.5
Curly R spread pick: Vikings
Curly R straight up pick: Vikings

Such a narrow spread, inside the de rigeur three point home field advantage gimme, reflects linesmaker thinking that the Cowboys are the better team, and I think they are, they have shown over the past two weeks that they can hit you with too many weapons for you to keep up with, starting with three tailbacks that all could be legitimate starters on many teams. Tony Romo is looking old school in his ability to find open receivers and there was even a Roy Williams sighting last week.

This game though is all about Brett Favre. If he has a Brett Favre kind of game then the Vikings are just as loaded with weapons as the Cowboys. If Brett is out there loose and tossing the ball around like he did in the first seven or so weeks of the season, there is no way the Cowboys can win this on the road. The Cowboys have to hope that we see the old and frustrated Brett, DeMarcus Ware will have a lot to say about that. All that said I think the Vikings will win this game, but that is my heart talking more than my head, I am very invested in seeing Dallas end its Super bowl run right here and now.


New York Jets at San Diego Chargers, 4:40pm ET, CBS

Consensus line: Chargers minus 8.5
Curly R spread pick: Jets
Curly R straight up pick: Chargers

The Jets and rookie head coach Rex Ryan have a bravado I love, coach Ryan published his team's postseason schedule and it included the Super Bowl and a Canyon of Heroes parade through lower Manhattan, he said before the Jets beat the Bengals that New York was the better team and should have been favored and after that game said there was no reason the Jets should not be the favorite all the way on out. Their defensive performance and statistics may bear this out, if it is true that defense wins championships.

The Chargers though have something about them that I cannot put my finger on. Phillip Rivers has the quickest release in the game right now, but it looks incredibly awkward, like a shot put and it does not seem like the ball should go so far so quickly and so accurately. The Chargers and Norval Turner are rolling on an eleven game win streak, rock on Norval.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



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What Are You Doing to Support NFL Playoffs?

Whatever it is, it is not as much we're doing

A glorious playoff Sunday, fifty degrees Fahrenheit, still and no chance of rain, this is our playoffs configuration on Swarthmore, two propane patio heaters, a fire pit and Shed TV^TM, that is neighbor Bill on the left and neighbor Scott on the right. As I write this we have already added two more, neighbor Paul and neighbor Michael, Tony Almeida cannot be far behind.

Enjoy the game, this first one looks like a barn burner in the making.



Photo by me.

Saturday Division Playoffs Open Thread

Bring it on

What a glorious thing is playoff football, I will be glued to the toob from 4pm until midnight, we have two great games on tap for today.

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints, 4:30pm ET, FOX

Consensus line: Saints -7
Curly R spread pick: Cardinals
Curly R straight up pick: Cardinals

You cannot do much better as a quarterback than Kurt Warners 154.7 quarterback rating last week in the epic slugfest against the Packers. Will Kurt continue the magical run or will he stumble? Either way this game figures to feature a lot of passing and short possessions, potentially a three and a half hour game or longer.

I think the Saints will look less like Who Dey and more like What Dat, Drew Brees will be running for his life and the Cardinals win in another high scoring game. I heard a statistic on Sirius NFL Radio this week, Kurt Warner is 8-2 lifetime in the postseason in domes, with his only two losses coming in the New Orleans Superdome. Third time is the charm for Kurt.


Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts, 8:15pm ET, CBS

Consensus line: Colts -6.5
Curly R spread pick: Ravens
Curly R straight up pick: Colts

Our first split pick of the playoff season, the Ravens did a number on the Patriots last week, finally revealing them for the collection of individuals they are, Baltimore is going to have to play at the very top of its game to beat the Colts today, the Ravens have an excellent running game and the Colts are soft against the run.

But then there is Peyton Manning. Peyton and the Colts showed in the regular season that they can win every which way, in a blowout, in a close game, coming from behind and with the running game. I think when all is said and done it is a very close game and the Colts have a solution for the Ravens.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



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Your Redskins Connection to Last Night's Record Setting Playoff Game

Barn burner

Last night we witnessed the highest scoring postseason game in NFL history as the Cardinals held off the Packers in Arizona 51-45, the total of 96 points surpasses the total of 95 in the Eagles 58-37 victory over the Lions on 30 December 1995.

After putting my two year old to bed I headed over to neighbor Bill's to watch the end of the game, I arrived at his house with about twelve minutes remaining in regulation... and still witnessed another four touchdowns. It was truly amazing... unless you are Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers or Arizona defensive coordinator Billy Davis.

There is a Redskins connection to this game. Although this game was the highest scoring game in NFL postseason history, it was not the highest scoring game in NFL history, in fact it was not even in the top four.

No, the highest scoring game in NFL history was won by your Washington Redskins, 72-41 over the New York Giants on 27 November 1966, a total of 113 points, the game was played in DC Stadium, the venue later to be known as RKF Stadium.

Sonny Jurgenson was a modest 10 for 16 for 145 yards and three touchdowns, future Hall of Famer Charley Taylor caught six of those passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns, future Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell had two carries for 54 yards and a touchdown, rookie safety and future Redskins Ring of Famer Brig Owens had two defensive touchdowns, a 62 yard fumble recovery and a 60 yard interception return.

Those 1966 Redskins ended the season 7-7 and last in the NFL East, it was the closest the Redskins had come to a winning season in eleven years, they would have to wait another three seasons to experience a winning record, when Vince Lombardi came to town.



Sonny Jurgenson: from here via here.

Sunday Wildcard Playoffs Open Thread

Rematch redux

Update by Ben Sunday 11pm: Once again I was wrong about both games, that drops me to 0-4 and 0-8 for the weekend, everyone loves to see the Patriots take a beating and if there is are local deal for free pizza toppings for every Cardinals or Packers touchdown, there are going to be some heavy pizzas delivered today.

Sunday playoff football in the traditional 1pm and 4pm ET slots, a good way to cap a weekend and ensure my Monday is not miserable, sit back and enjoy two more rematch playoff games.

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, 1:00 pm ET, CBS

Consensus line: NE -3.5
Curly R spread pick: Patriots
Curly R straight up pick: Patriots

A more distant rematch, the Ravens and Patriots met in week four, the Patriots came away with a 27-21 win. The Ravens are not quite themselves on offense or defense this season, still a team to be reckoned with and Ray Lewis and that defense can still get a helmet up in Tom Brady's giblet.

The big question for the Patriots is how the team will deal with the loss of Wes Welker, who tore his ACL and MCL in the season finale, Wes was New England's leading receiver by get this, forty catches more than number two, Wes went down with 123 catches, he is most certainly Tom Brady's relief valve and occupies the role tight ends play on many other teams. They are still a threat anywhere and everywhere, I look for them to get Ben Watson more involved with Randy Moss being sort of a decoy.


Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals, 4:40pm ET, FOX

Consensus line: ARZ -2
Curly R spread pick: Packers
Curly R straight up pick: Packers

Like yesterday's games, a direct rematch, this game was played in the same place last week with the Packers rolling 33-7, in that game both playoff seeds were set and the Cardinals kept it close to the vest. As a result of the seedings and final week, we have a situation this game where a team with eleven wins comes to play a team with ten wins. I have read variously over the past couple of weeks of a movement, tied to fake concern about landed teams sitting their starters at the end of the season, that playoff seeds should maybe be tied to final record period and not division title seeding slash wild card seeding. In this model Arizona would be traveling to Green Bay because even though the Cardinals won the NFC West and the Packers did not win the NFC North, the Packer had the better record, thus giving teams fewer cushy scenarios in which they could sit players.

Well that is all bullshit, we separate the teams into divisions for a reason, that is the central competitive conceit of the NFL, winning your division should always place you in the playoffs ahead of teams that did not. I think the playoff seedings and structure are just fine the way they are, the solution to the fake problem of teams sitting players at the end of the season, which is a marketing and revenue issue not a competition or safety issue, is more competitive divisions. AL that said, the Cardinals play better on the road than at home,


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



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Saturday Wildcard Playoffs Open Thread

Rematch!

Update by Ben, Sunday 9am: Boy was I wrong about both of these games, the Jets backed up Rex Ryan's trash talking, I would expect the Bengals kicker to face some competition in camp next season, if he makes it that long. In the other game, a strange combination of the Cowboys looking stronger than I expected with the Eagles looking weaker than I expected. Dallas just has too many weapons on offense, the Cowboys are neighbor Bill's pick for the Super Bowl, which would just kill me.

Saturday playoff football, pour a drink and make yourselves at home, we got two great games today, both are rematches of week seventeen action.

New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals, 4:30pm ET, NBC

Consensus point spread: CIN -2.5
Curly R spread pick: Bengals
Curly R straight up picks: Bengals

This game was played last week in New York, a game the Jets won 37-0, the Bengals were seeded and had nothing to play for and it showed. I have a soft spot for the Bengals, they have long suffering and passionate fans, a great stadium I got to see up close and personal last season, the team and its fans are going through the loss of 26 year old receiver Chris Henry who died on 17 December 2009 from injuries suffered from a fall, or possibly a leap, from the back of a moving pickup truck.

As for the Jets, after starting 3-0 the Jets and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez who was coveted by Redskins owner Dan Snyder, went into a 1-6 tailspin, Mark was benched for one game, the team recovered with a 5-1 streak to end the season and qualify for the playoffs.


Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, 8:00pm ET, NBC

Consensus point spread: DAL -3.5
Curly R spread pick: Eagles
Curly R straight up pick: Eagles

This game was played last week in the same place with the Cowboys beating the tar out of the Eagles 24-0, the Eagles were listless and managed no pressure on quarterback Tony Romo, the NFC Beast division title and a home game were on the line so I have no idea why Philadelphia was unable to get it up. I have no fear though, even though the Eagles are on the road, the team is 7-0 in their opening playoff game, they have never been eliminated in their first playoff game since Andy Reid took over.

The Cowboys, well they are built for disappointment, Jerral W. Jones has said he has no desire to make a change at head coach, he has said he really wants to see that desire validated with a playoff win, which would be Dallas' first since 1996. Personally I think Jerral W. Jones is looking for a reason to move on from Wade Phillips and has his eye on hiring Mike Shanahan should Mike choose to return to the sidelines in 2010.

OOPS.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



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Too Many for One Hand

I guess pot does make you smarter

In what must have been a top five if not the best ever Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 at the last second to win Super Bowl 43 and secure their sixth league championship. No NFL team had six Super Bowl trophies before Sunday.

This game featured an opponent left for dead as the Steelers built a 20-7 first half lead over the Cardinals, punctuated by James Harrison's 100 yard interception return for a touchdown as the half expired, it was the longest play in Super Bowl history.

But Arizona would not go quietly, Larry Fitzgerald scored two fourth quarter touchdowns as the Cardinals mounted the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to take the lead 23-20 with under three minutes to play.

On the ensuing drive with the game on the line Ben Roethlisberger drove the Steelers 78 yards on eight plays including four catches by Super Bowl MVP and pot smoker Santonio Holmes, the final play a six yard falling out of bounds corner route Santonio caught between three Cardinals defenders for a touchdown.

It was a great game, conflatulations to the Steelers.



Santonio Holmes catching the game winning touchdown of Super Bowl 43 behind Cardinals cornerback Aaron Francisco: James Borchuck / AP Photo from here.

Super Bowl Sunday Open Thread

It all comes down to this

Post game update: well that was a heck of a game, results below, for the postseason, seven games, Curly R was 5-2 against the spread, 5-2 straight up. What will this degenerate gambler do until next season?

Super Bowl Sunday is here, get your snacks and your jersey, it is the last opportunity to wear it without committing a fashion faux pas, the Cardinals and Steelers are about to get it on.

Redskins fans know about these teams, Washington played them both this season, beating the Cardinals and losing to the Steelers. For those that were interested in what was happening then and what happened next, here are both previews (Cardinals / Steelers) and both gamewraps (Cardinals / Steelers). I attended the Cardinals game with my good friend Mark Newgent of Redskins Examiner and posted up game journals on the experience here and here. Those Cardinals fans leaving the building as the fourth quarter wound down got the last laugh on us after all.

Last game, last picks, and here they are:

6:00 PM ET, NBC
PIT (-6.5) @ ARZ
Spread pick: Cardinals
Straight up: Cardinals

Yes I think Arizona is going to win this Super Bowl. Pittsburgh is a formidable team on all sides of the ball, I think the Cardinals have a hot hand, are not intimidated, have been underdogs in all three playoff games and rolled up thirty on every opponent on the way here.

Results: Cardinals spread / Steelers straight up. This game had it all, a team left for dead, the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, the longest play in Super Bowl history and a last second play to win it all. Conflatulations Pittsburgh, you have got yourselves a hell of a team.

Let the game offseason begin.


This is a Super Bowl Sunday open thread.



Cardinals and Steelers logos from here.

Championship Games Open Thread

This one is for almost all the marbles

Post game update: again, three out of four, that makes Curly R nine out of twelve in the past six games. Cardinals and Steelers, Let there be Super Bowl!

Update, noon: Big Daddy Redskin in comments reminded me of a very simple and obvious fact about this game and that is that the Redskins owned the two teams in the NFC Championship Game, going a combined 3-0 against them, I happened to attend all three of these games and they were all enjoyable, the best one was the second Eagles game when the Redskins could only manage ten points and still won. Against teh AFC teams, both of which the Redskins also played, not so much, going 0-2.

Rejoice sports fans, the joy of Championship Weekend is here, temper it with the impending sense of doom that the 2008 NFL season is almost over. Kick back, watch some football and let me know your picks, so far in picking the last four games straight up and against the spread Curly R is six for eight.

3:00 pm ET FOX
PHI (-3.5) @ ARZ
Spread pick: Cardinals
Straight up: Cardinals

Of course I can never publicly back the Eagles. That said I actually think the Cardinals might win this game, no one has given them a shot down this whole stretch, what is different today?

Results: Cardinals spread / Cardinals straight up. Sad lil Eagles fans.


6:30 PM ET CBS
BAL @ PIT (-6)
Spread pick: Ravens
Straight up: Steelers

The Ravens have come a long way and played seventeen straight weeks of football, today will be the eighteenth. Despite the ferocity of the defense and the canny play of Joe Flacco, Baltimore missing Terrell Suggs and Samari Rolle will put the Ravens at too large a disadvantage. But this will be no blow out.

Results: Steelers spread / Steelers straight up. Did Willis McGahee get the number of that truck?


Yes it means I am calling for a Cardinals-Steelers Super Bowl. Let the games begin.


This is a playoff gameday open thread.



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