Get Your Conference Championship Weekend Picks Right here! HYPE!

[DaBeerz 88]

4/4 straight up picks boys, not that last weekend was extremely difficult to predict…fine I was 2 out of 4 if you bet against the spread, KC and Arizona didn’t cover, whatever, I’m still great, shut it. This is a lengthy rant that is chock full of goodness, so prepare yourselves for the epic-ness that follows.

 

That said, that Arizona Green Bay game was some seriously entertaining sh1t! I’ve never seen as crazy a finish as that in years! I knew Rodgers was gonna hit that hail-Mary! Then the OT coin flip thing. Then Palmer somehow hits Fitz uncovered in the open field and I’m all high off the Rodgers Hail-Mary then I’m yelling like “NOOOO!!! DON’T LET FITZ RUN FREEEEEEE IN THE OPEN FIELD!” 75 yards later they’re in scoring range. Shovel pass to Fitz for the TD to win. Wow. Damn, that’s some good football right there! Entertainin’ sh1zz, even if GB lost, least it was good.

 

Other games went about as expected. NE looks like a juggernaut with no glaring weaknesses (Reid seriously bro, can you learn to manage a game clock after like 20 seasons?). Carolina looked pretty dominant then went to sleep in the second half. Denver barely got out of that game alive, the Steelers might have won with a bunch of backups if not for an untimely fumble by their 3^rd string RB.

 

So back to predicting winners, I’m not even gonna think too hard about my picks this week…

 

NE (-3.0) @ DEN – This is being hyped as some sort of Brady vs. Manning bowl? Come on, Manning is all of a sudden going to become a clutch playoff QB against his nemesis? Am I hyped? No I am certainly not hyped after watching Manning derp his way to a lackluster win last week. He completed what, like 2 passes over 20 yards? Everything else was dink and dunk underneath. Manning’s passes were high, floaty and often off the mark. (Oh but he had 6 drops, so it’s not his fault!) He had 6 passes dropped because he was leading his receivers too much and too high.

 

Manning did not pass the eye test for me, I don’t care what the stat line says. Manning’s arm is running on like 10% juice, and 90% willpower, it’s getting painful to watch him throw 10 yard floaters that feel like they have a 5 second hang time. Maybe under perfectly optimal conditions (Good pocket, time, gets his body into the throw) he can throw a decent spiral, but a lot of the time they look like dead ducks floating out of there. Defense and Field goals aren’t enough firepower to beat the Pats. NE cover and win, Eventually, your QB actually has to make a play in the playoffs to win the game, and Manning just can’t do it. Sportswriters might not be willing to hang him out to dry out of respect, but I am, he’s done, I haven’t seen him look remotely like a good playoff QB in a season and a half, and yes, I’m a huge Manning homer saying that.

 

I predict we’ll be seeing a lot of Manning-face next week. You know the face...

 

Anyway…

 

Arizona @ Carolina (-3.0) – Arizona looked good on defense, but Palmer was off target on a lot of his throws, that’s a concern. In fact, Palmer looked really shaky to me, I think that finger is a big issue for him. The Panthers have a great defense, despite faltering a bit last week. I don’t think the cards have enough juice to get past Super-Cam at home. I think Carolina probably have the potential to bury Arizona, but then they have a good defense, so they may hang in there.

 

I’d be really surprised if we’re not looking at a Patriots vs. Panthers Superbowl rematch. Then we find out if Cam is for real in the big dance. GET FOCKING HYPE cuz Super-Dabbing-Newton-Cam dethrones dreams for Beli/Brady 5 time Superbowl era! Hype boys, serious Hype.

 

If this does turn out to be a Denver – Arizona Superbowl, I’ll be extremely surprised, I can guarantee you the league wants that Pats/Panthers matchup instead (Heisman top draft pick vs. 4 time Superbowl winner is way more marketable). Expect the refs to act accordingly to make this happen. J

 

 

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

I was running on fumes today, lacking any and all hype. Now after reading this I am overflowing with hype. WOOOOOOOOOH! Take that

[DaBeerz 88]

I was running on fumes today, lacking any and all hype. Now after reading this I am overflowing with hype. WOOOOOOOOOH! Take that

 

GET FOCKING HYPE!

[jerryskids 5,165]

Fun read. As a Cards fan I'll point out that they are also led by a #1 overall Heisman winner, and from a media perspective, Arians is much more interesting than Rivera.

[DaBeerz 88]

Fun read. As a Cards fan I'll point out that they are also led by a #1 overall Heisman winner, and from a media perspective, Arians is much more interesting than Rivera.

 

This is true, Palmer is a heisman winner and a #1 pick as well. They're hyping the Heisman angle between Newton and Palmer this weekend. That said, I like Palmer, but it is fair to say he hasn't really lived up to his draft pedigree yet, whereas Cam is having a stellar season. I just feel like the NFL really wants a dynamic gamebreaking QB like Cam in the superbowl. Personally I'm relatively indifferent between who wins the NFC, both are good teams, but I think the Panthers have a better chance to beat the Patriots if it comes down to that. All things being equal, I don't want to see the Pats win another Superbowl.

[weepaws 2,451]

Cardinals plus the three

 

Patriots laying the Three

[DaBeerz 88]

Cardinals plus the three

 

Patriots laying the Three

 

I would give the points in both matchups. I think Carolina learned from this week that Championship teams keep their opponents down and out.

 

Denver has done nothing to inspire me that they have the firepower to keep up with Brady & co.

[dain11279 926]

Cardinals plus the three

 

Patriots laying the Three

This.

 

I've been saying since the beginning of the playoffs that Arizona is the most complete team left. I stand by that.

[DaBeerz 88]

This.

 

I've been saying since the beginning of the playoffs that Arizona is the most complete team left. I stand by that.

 

I would have agreed with you before Palmer hurt his hand.

[stonewall 647]

This Zona/Panthers game is intriguing. I agree that Palmer has looked shaky, but I don't necessarily blame his finger. I believe that he has just faded coming down the stretch after a long season and a lot of hits.

 

In the end, the Panthers have the better QB and have homefield advantage. Both have capable defenses. However, I will take Fitz/Floyd/Brown/Nelson/DJ/Ellington over Ginn/Funchess/Brown/Crotchery/JStew/Artis-Payne anyday.

 

To me, this all comes down to how Palmer plays. If he gets rested and resembles the early-season Palmer (and not afraid to sling it), then Zona wins outright. If he is a copy of his last 6 or 7 games, then Panthers advance.

 

Denver needs a miracle. However, if they can get Hillman/CJ going to burn the clock, and get to Brady early and often....then it is theoretically possible. Remember: Pats don't have a run game.

[DaBeerz 88]

This Zona/Panthers game is intriguing. I agree that Palmer has looked shaky, but I don't necessarily blame his finger. I believe that he has just faded coming down the stretch after a long season and a lot of hits.

 

In the end, the Panthers have the better QB and have homefield advantage. Both have capable defenses. However, I will take Fitz/Floyd/Brown/Nelson/DJ/Ellington over Ginn/Funchess/Brown/Crotchery/JStew/Artis-Payne anyday.

 

To me, this all comes down to how Palmer plays. If he gets rested and resembles the early-season Palmer (and not afraid to sling it), then Zona wins outright. If he is a copy of his last 6 or 7 games, then Panthers advance.

 

Denver needs a miracle. However, if they can get Hillman/CJ going to burn the clock, and get to Brady early and often....then it is theoretically possible. Remember: Pats don't have a run game.

 

We agree, I too think this game comes down to QB play. Whichever QB plays better and is error free should win this.

 

I know you could say that about almost any game, but this one in particular they seem evenly matched.

[Fumbleweed 422]

Everyone is high on New England now, but they looked really bad vs. Miami in the season finale in a game that meant something. I'm not sold on them being able to go into Denver and move the ball the way they did at home vs. KC. I think they've got a great chance to advance.

 

Whoever wins from the AFC will have a tough Super Bowl road though, IMO. I think the NFL's best two teams all season long are playing each other in Charlotte this weekend.

[weepaws 2,451]

No matter the records the Dolphins always seem to give the Patriots a tough time .

[DaBeerz 88]

No matter the records the Dolphins always seem to give the Patriots a tough time .

 

Exactly I'm not too concerned about a late season rally by a division rival.

 

NE gets it done in the playoffs, we know this. Denver (manning in particular) don't always step up.

[weepaws 2,451]

Exactly I'm not too concerned about a late season rally by a division rival.

 

NE gets it done in the playoffs, we know this. Denver (manning in particular) don't always step up.

 

Right , I have a lot more trust in Brady and the Patriots winning this game than Manning pulling this one out .

[DaBeerz 88]

Right , I have a lot more trust in Brady and the Patriots winning this game than Manning pulling this one out .

 

For sure, I've seen Brady expose good defenses in the playoffs and win before. Manning, not so much. Manning with a noodle arm? Not happening. If the Pats can get up on that Denver defense at all (say 10 points) and force Denver to throw more and make Manning throw plays over 10 yards, then you're going to see Denver's true flaw, they have no deep threat. The Pats knew when the playoffs started the road to the superbowl goes through Denver, they've been game planning for this game for 3 weeks. Not saying they were overlooking KC, but they were probably 90% confident they were going to end up playing in Denver.

 

Unfortunately to me it feels like a 70-80% chance NE win this game. Manning throwing another 0TD, 0INT game isn't good enough, you know Brady will chuck some TD's. In recent years I have no confidence in Manning anymore, there is no way I'd put my money on him at this point in his career.

[giraldi02 470]

In all fairness, it's not like the Broncos went vertical that much against the Patriots in the first game. A lot of their offense was CJ Anderson and Ronnie Hillman making great cuts and getting solid holes to work with in the running game. The weather also created slick field conditions that benefitted their evasive running backs.

 

In the 1st half, I counted (link to shortened game) Osweiler having three passes travel in the air for more than 15 yards past the LOS. It was 14-7 at halftime. The Patriots benefitted early in that game because of the poor punting by Colquitt (First four punt attempts were an average of 39 yards) and the interception by Brock that Chandler Jones leapt up for. Both the scoring drives early started in Denver territory.

 

The 2nd half wasn't that much better for Brock's completion percentage on passes that traveled over 10 yards past the LOS. He was 3-for-10 up to the final drive of regulation. Then he had the big completions to DeMaryius and Sanders of over 20+ yards giving him a respectable 5/12.

 

The ultimate equalizer is the weather. It was in the first matchup. If it's nasty Sunday, this game will be closer than some on this thread are thinking. And honestly, I don't think the drop-off between CURRENT Peyton and THEN Brock is that big