***Official NFC Divisional Playoff Games Poll***

[jgcrawfish 232]

Starting early this week.

 

Philadelphia @ NY Giants

Arizona @ Carolina

 

vote and explain your choice, don't be shy, go on record!!!

[The Next Generation 10]

Eagles

Panthers

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

I'm taking the #6 Eagles over the #1 Giants in this weeks upset special. The Eagles are playing like their hair is on fire on D, and McNabb and Westy are playing well. The Giants have looked a bit listless of late, and I don't know if they can turn it back on in one week.

 

I'll call it 27-21, Eagles. Manning is driving late for the win, and throws a pick to an Eagles defense that has been in his face all day.

 

In the other game, I'll take the Panthers over the Cards, 24-10. Cards don't have the offensive balance, or the defense, to hang here.

[xenophobe 1]

The Giants have looked a bit listless of late, and I don't know if they can turn it back on in one week.

 

That's because they hadn't had any time off since September, and had an absolutly brutal 10 game stretch to close the season. That and the fact that in all of their final four games except Carolina, they were facing desperate teams yet had little at stake themselves.

 

I don't think there is any question they'll turn it on for the playoffs. They desperatly needed that bye week to recharge the batteries and have had a chance to tweak a few things schematically.

 

I'm cautiously optimistic about the Gianst this week.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

That's because they hadn't had any time off since September, and had an absolutly brutal 10 game stretch to close the season. That and the fact that in all of their final four games except Carolina, they were facing desperate teams yet had little at stake themselves.

 

I don't think there is any question they'll turn it on for the playoffs. They desperatly needed that bye week to recharge the batteries and have had a chance to tweak a few things schematically.

 

I'm cautiously optimistic about the Gianst this week.

 

I certainly am not discounting the Giants. They are a great, deep, well coached, experienced team. It wouldn't shock me to see them blow the Eagles out. But in the playoffs, I like the hot team. See Giants, 2007.

[49ers_suck 0]

seems like it's trendy to pick the eagles to upset the giants. i dont see it. i took both home teams.

[xenophobe 1]

I like the hot team. See Giants, 2007.

 

I hear you, but my question for you is, if that's your example for your preference, I ask, did you predict the Giants to win the SB entering the playoffs a year ago? If you did, you may be the only one.

 

The fact is, we redistribute the lable for who the "hot" team is from week to week. A couple weeks ago when Philly was in control of their own destiny and blew it when they lost to Washington, no one was calling them hot. Then they crushed a gutless Cowboy team who rolled over for them, and suddenly they are hot. Wasn't Indi the hot team a week ago entering the playoffs riding a 9 game winning streak? Perhaps, until they lost to SanDiego, who is, without dount, the hot team in the AFC at this point. That is...until they lose. Then its someone else.

 

I hear a lot of camparisons between Philly and the Giants of a year ago. But the fact is, the only meaningful comparison won't be true until they win the SB. The truth is, at this point they have a lot in common with a couple dozen teams who sneaked into the playoffs and won a wild card game.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

If that's your example for your preference, I ask, did you predict the Giants to win the SB entering the playoffs a year ago? If you did, you may be the only one.

 

The fact is, we redistribute the lable for who the "hot" team is from week to week. A couple weeks ago when Philly was in control of their own destiny and blew it when they lost to Washington, no one was calling them hot. Then they crushed a gutless Cowboy team who rolled over for them, and suddenly they are hot. Wasn't Indi the hot team a week ago entering the playoffs riding a 9 game winning streak? Perhaps, until they lost to SanDiego, who is, without dount, the hot team in the AFC at this point. That is...until they lose. Then its someone else.

 

No, I didn't have the Giants winning last year, although God knows I pulled for them against the Cowgirls, and the Pats both times.

 

And sure, "hot" is a subjective relative thing.

 

It just seems like a lot of times lately, you see a lowly seeded team (NYG last year, Pitt a couple years ago) catch fire and make a lot of noise. Obviously, as a Titans fan, I am rooting for the chalk myself.

[xenophobe 1]

It just seems like a lot of times lately, you see a lowly seeded team (NYG last year, Pitt a couple years ago) catch fire and make a lot of noise. Obviously, as a Titans fan, I am rooting for the chalk myself.

 

Well, Philly is without a doubt good enough to do just that, so that should be stated first and foremost. But the trouble with rationalizing things in that manner is that those examples are easy to see only because they stand out.

 

How many times have we seen teams sneak into the playoffs on a late push and win a wild card game, but fall shy of winning the SB? Probably a couple dozen, which would make that more the rule, and what the Giants did a year ago the exception. Since 1990, teams coming off a bye in the playoffs are 55-17. That's an impressive .76 winning percentage, so the facts don't exactly support the notion in favor of lower seeded teams getting hot.

[jgcrawfish 232]

+1 for the official thread here way before...

[Foghorn Leghorn 0]

Philadelphia @ NY Giants

 

Impressive win by the Eagles on the weekend (well, their defence was, anyway). Now they go against a much bigger and stronger beast - one who is coming into the playoffs at less than full steam. I think one of the key questions will be which Giants offence shows up - the one that shredded the vaunted Ravens defence, or the one that was merely pedestrian in the weeks following? The Eagles got away with some sketchy play-calling (pass vs. run) against the Vikings. They won't have that luxury this week, and must use Westbrook as much as possible. I think that, in the end, the Eagles won't be able to beat the Giants twice in one season at the Meadowlands. This should be the game of the week for football fans nonetheless.

 

NY Giants 24, Philly 21

 

 

Arizona @ Carolina

 

Kudos to Arizona for their victory over the trendy choice, the Falcons. However, I think this week a few factors are going against them:

 

1) Travelling to the East Coast - well documented problems

2) Carolina is very strong at home

3) Carolina's running game is more explosive than Atlanta's

4) How healthy will Boldin be?

 

I think the Panthers are the epitome of "team", and that will come out in spades on Saturday.

 

Carolina 31, Arizona 17

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,348]

I voted Philly and AZ.

 

Why? because I have them ranked higher then anyone else in our 1-12 pool

 

I gambled and put a 12 on philly, and an 8 on AZ. next highest has a 10 on philly and a 4 on AZ. So if those 2 win, I will be in really good shape.

[jgcrawfish 232]

Since the current playoff format was adopted in 1990, home teams in the divisional round are 55-17, a .764 winning percentage. Usually the reason the home teams are at home in the first place is because they are better than the wild-card teams. Equally important, in the divisional round the home teams have spent a bye week relaxing in hot tubs while their opponents were out being pounded.

 

just sayin...

[berven 0]

I was never a fan of Coughlin, with his "coat-and-tie-on the-airplane" style of coaching, but the man really showed me something last year. The shrewd decision to play his regulars in the finale set the stage for the Giants to plow through four road games to take the trophy. I believe he will have his ream ready again this year. Although they'll miss Burress's ability, Coughlin believes in the addition by subtraction rule. You do better without a whiny Barber. You can focus better without an out-of-control Burress. NYG 27 PHIL 10 as Westbrook's multiple ailments take their roll.

 

The Cardinals appear to be a team of Destiny. They win a lame division and force a better ATL team to come to Phoenix. They avoid the NY cold and win a trip to balmy Charlotte. I expect them to advance further. The Cards limit Williams/Stewart the way they controlled Turner, and Delhomme gets erratic at the wrong time. AZ 30 CAR 20

[cribdog 0]

I see a couple of blow-outs here. I think both home teams are much the better teams, have had a week off, and will be ready. I think they both win by double digits.

[Mr. Landry 29]

Philly and the Cards...

 

...because I'm pulling for the Giants and the Panthers.

 

 

 

I wanted the Colts, Falcons, Vikes and Dolphins to win last week.

 

 

 

And the Cowboys, Jets, Buccaneers and Broncos the week before that.

 

[jgcrawfish 232]

Philly is narrowing the gap, and the people think Carolina will roll. Get your prediction in...

[jgcrawfish 232]

Poll is closed, and it looks like just about EVERYBODY was wrong.