Pick the NFC?

[mark]

If Green Bay doesn't get homefield advantage in the playoffs, are they history? Is the Philadelphia QB situation is gonna bite them sooner or later? NO beat some good teams but can they win 3 or 4 in a row against good teams to take home the trophy? San Fran is vulnerable on the road and at home, can the Garcia and Owens combo carry them the whole season and through the playoffs? Atlanta, with Micheal Vick at the helm, is anything possible? Tampa Bay, one awesome defense, but does they're offense have enough to carry them if there defense happens to faulter a bit?

The NFC championship is still very much up for grabs?

Whose your pick?

I'm a Green Bay fan so you know my vote. If they don't get homefield advantage are they history? The Falcons? Played a lot of good teams throughout the season and comes out of it a winning record. After Tampa Bay this weekend its Seattle, Detroit and Cleveland. I'm smelling at least 3 out of 4 coming out of those matchups.

[yleekiyote]

Well Mark, you know who I will vote for. I know Atlanta is the team this year, but just like Philly, if the team loses it's QB, will it still have enough weapons to carry them? Vick is a weapon himself, but he is leaving himself a target oneday, and they will take him out. I said this a few weeks ago, that Atlanta is a scary team right now, but they are not the complete package. In fact, I don't see a total packaged team right now. I guess that's why good teams can lose at anytime. My personal wish is to see us win the division, not the conference. If Green Bay goes down to losing a few more games, and atlanta to lose at least 2, we could have the conference, but not likely. Every team is banged up, it's who stands up and fights, will win the division & conference. Not too many people are laughing at the NFC South anymore.

Hey, none of us are experts at picking the winner of the Superbowl, we voice our opinions on gut feelings. Mine is the Saints. Not just because they are my home team. It's just time for them to get their 15 minutes of fame, they deserve. 35 years in the league, 3 playoff appearances, 1 playoff win, it's time.

[OU812]

PHILLY i think wont make it . green bay / saints / atlanta / 49ers /tampa . 5 of the strongest chances. first team to go will be ATLANTA. green bay in ways is a lot like the saints . you don't know what QB is going to show up. bret seems to have problems when it comes to playoff time................. saints 49ers for the nfc championship.

[yleekiyote]

Philly is the closest to a packaged team than all the rest. They have a balanced offense, and second place defense, behind the Bucs. Weather is not an issue for them, so they'll be strong where ever they end up. Mcnabb should be back in about a month. Probably wont run too much. He'll kill them through the air. Their offense is about as strong as ours, if you look at it, but their defense is stronger. I think our defense is coming around at the right time. They are working like a team again. I'll have to see how bad we kick the Raven's asses this weekend. Of course they don't have a offense, which is cool by us. Their defense is weak right now. Look for another Saints win

Final score : Saints 34 Ravens 13

[yleekiyote]

Well, while I was on the road to Houston, I was listening to the game on the radio. Sounds like the Saints put a whipping on the Ravens. I'm watching the Green Bay game right now, looks like the Vikings are going to sweep the Packers, and tie up the Saints with them. Atlanta lost, and Tampa holds the one game edge. So if Tampa loses at least a game, and comes down one game with us winning, we'll hold the playoffs. I'm hoping for Atlanta to lose at least 2 more games and Tampa to lose at least one for a tie with us.

It's coming down to a dog fight, eh Mark?

[OU812]

so far so good the ball is in our court.

[Doc]

Packers down late, people go to bed and then they bring in this guy named Favre(where'd he come from) and the Pack pulls one out. Pack still not playing well but have won the last two. I still feel that they will run the table, Niners this weekend are over rated, then Bills and Jets. They need help even if they win out. Eagles and the Bucs hold the edge. No ball in Saints court however as they need help too.

[OU812]

GIANTS OR REDSKINS LOOSE SAINTS WIN .......WERE IN

[Michael]

Well since my Seahawks have been out of the playoff hunt since what Week 1, right now I would have to say Tampa Bay unless they don't get home field advantage. Remember they don't play well in the cold or if they have to play the Saints (I use to be a seasont ticket holder for a couple of seasons during the John Mecham Jr. era). For some unknown reason the Bucs had problems with the Saints by letting them win from behind in overtime in Week 1 and then getting basically out played a couple weeks ago. I believe if Tampa wants to go to San Diego, their offense will need to strike fast and the defense create a short field for their offense. That would be at home and on the road.

The Eagles could make it but a lot of things will need to fall into place like how effective will McNabb be when he starts again? The offense has been doing pretty good without him but they need him to keep the train moving. Their defense can get them a win but their offense cannot make mistakes on a short field in which they haven't yet. In other words no turnovers in their part of the field. The defense may be able to hold the opponents offense to three points but they do add up. I believe if the Eagles have at least a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter they will be hard to beat unless they beat themselves.

Atlanta could make some rumbles in the playoffs but having that tie against Pittsburgh could make them a Six Seed and Atlanta cannot rely all on Vick. Other players will need to begin to step up and that would be this week against Seattle Seahawks. I wonder if Vick will break the quarterback rushing yards this week?? Michael Vick cannot do everything on the field. Plus if he goes done so does the Falcons.

If Green Bay has home field through out the playoffs then they will the favorite. Keep in mind that Tampa Bay has the tie-breaker edge over Green Bay. The one thing that Green Bay needs to do is not turn the ball over but also create turnovers on a short field. If they are behind by about 14 points going into the fourth quarter and it is on the road. they will need some magic to pull out the victory.

Now if the Saints can have at least one home game in the dome they can go far but I don't think all the way to San Diego. The key will the next couple of weeks on how the offense responds without Brooks taking the snaps.

San Francisco looks good one week and win then look bad the next week and loose bad, then still look bad the next week and win. The last couple of weeks against the Seahawks and Cowboys they either had to hang on to win or comeback to win against two sub .500 teams. They could be playing to a sub .500 team level but a team cannot do that. You got to keep on applying pressure against them. If you let a team back into the game you are asking for a whole lot of trouble but also maybe some self doubt. And self doubt is not needed going into the playoffs.

Keep in mind if the Giants make it they can cause some discomfort for somebody.

I have some thougths on the Mike Holmgren situation in Seattle but I will post that this weekend.
__________________

[yleekiyote]

Good commentary Michael. My thoughts are similiar but stray towards a Saints win, and here's why.

Out of the 5 other teams in the playoffs, we've beaten 3 of them. The Pack once, the 9ers once, and Tampa twice. I think they make up the strong majority of the NFC. The Eagles can be great. Their defense is up there next to Tampa. Their offense is better than Tampa, in my book. But the Eagles are like the 9ers. They are inconsistent (like the Saints). I do believe that the Saints are finally coming together. Just look at the teams weve beaten. Tough matches, and yes, we did lose to Cleveland & Detriot, and Atlanta twice, but that was over confidence, and not sticking to a game plan.

Green Bay barely beat Minnesota, and now the league has apologized to the Vikings for some critical calls, like 9 of them, including the TD and the pass interference that gave them 1st and goal on the 1. The Packers are not a dominating force. Ahman Green is hurt, and Farve doesn't have many weapons, other than Driver. Their defense is weak and banged up.

Atlanta is riding on a high right now. Beating teams on the right week. Vick is a good QB. Reminds me of Montana, who could beat you with his feet and his arm. But Vick lacks maturity, and it's going to cost him one day. He's lucky that Tampa didn't send him home in a body bag. We didn't punish him like we should have. We needed to get to him like we did with the Redskins. There will be another time this year, I'm sure.

Tampa Bay is getting it together. Their offense is scoring and becoming less of a team with no direction. Gruden's plan was to pound the ball, but it is getting little help from Pittman and Alstott. Alstott is the key. He is a bruiser, and should be used late in the game, while the defense is ****ing wind. It seems that they are airing it out more and then finishing with the run. They might be able to turn the corner and create a nice thing, but they still need time.

And finally the Saints. What can I say that hasn't been said before. Their offense is top notch, just lacks consistency. Brooks needs to relax and get the ball to Horn and Stallworth. Duece needs 150 yards and 25 carries per game. Our offense has a way of running down the clock and making a long offensive possession. Our special teams is number 1 in the league. Lewis needs to line up as the 4th WR on key plays. With his speed, he can tear apart a secondary. Our defense is doing better the past 2 games, stopping the run and getting turnovers.

I think the Saints will actually go deeper into the playoffs this year, then they did 2 years ago. We may not make it into the big game (we could), not saying we wont. The key is to get the bye week, and get rested up. We need the 3 teams in front of us to lose a game or two or three, for us to advance to the bye week. The 9ers are playing the Pack this week. The 9ers win, the pack drops a game, we hold the playoffs with a win. We will hold the tie breaker against the 9ers so, we win and host. Again with 2 weeks left, it's still to early to call. The Pack, and the Bucs have 3 tough matches ahead, the Bucs got to go to Chicago for their last game. The idea is to not have to play in the cold. If the Eagles and Pack do not win to host, their season may end sooner.

[Bob2]

Hey Mark,
As long as Brett Farve is kicking I will take Green Bay In the NFC. My damn Colts are gonna give a stroke one of these days ! But I guess its better than the 80s when we where 2-12 all the time, we were almost as bad as the Saints!!

[yleekiyote]

Bob2, I kinda resent that but hey, the pond is always prettier on the opposite side, right? We had Mora, you had Mora, he couldn't get it done. But before we had Mora, our team stunk. Ditka was the same. It all starts with a foundation. Like building a home. If you don't prepare the foundation, it will only turn to shit later. We finally got our first big break when Mora came with a talented GM, by the name of Jim Finks. He knew talent and went after it. To the likes of a great defense, our offense was struggling. Finks passed away, and no replacement was found. Ditka came and blew everything on Chumpzilla Williams. No QB, no WR, we were left with nothing. In walks our savior, GM Mueller. That guy is great. I would be surprised if a team like Cinncinati or Detriot does not pick him up in February. Haslett is a great coach, with just 3 years under his belt. To take a franchise as "Bad As The Saints", and make us contenders and not pretenders, shows something about this team.......it's time.

We are sooooo close to winning. But I don't want to be like Baltimore or Atlanta. Go to the big dance and fade away to oblivion. I want to be like the 80's 49ers, the 90's Broncos. Teams that were champions, well after their 15 minutes of fame. Plus, everyone likes to root for the underdog. The Saints and the Raiders in San Diego, which team would you hope for?

What's really funny, and some people will eventually see this is the word "Saints" is just that, a team in the NFL. People laugh at our past because it was horrible. It's the talent that makes up the team, not the laughable name. Let's say for an example that our team consisted of all the talent of every player, in the Pro Bowl. To the likes of McNabb or Farve as our QB, to Priest Holmes or Marshall Faulk our running backs, to Owens or Price as our WR. You would still laugh because, we are The Saints. Keep laughing out there, because nothing hurts more then to laugh at a team now, that just might whip your ass later.

[OU812]

OK IM ALL RIGHT NOW . WE NEED JUST ONE MORE WIN.

[mark]

IF GREEN BAY DOESN'T GET HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE THROUGHOUT, THEY'RE COOKED! WEERE JUST A .500 TEAM ON THE ROAD.

[yleekiyote]

I smell a victory in our beloved Saints this week. It seems that the Bengals would like to get a number one pick, in next years draft. The only need to lose their remaining 2 games to get the picks. So, whether the Saints can stop that explosive and powerful Cinncinati offense, remains to be seen. Should be an exciting game to watch. This is like a Super Bowl to us.

Next year, our team to beat is Minnesota. Twice they have *****ed us out of the playoffs. In 2000, they killed us and elimated us from the playoffs. This year, they beat us with a 2 point conversion with 5 seconds left, for a 32 to 31 win.

[mark]

Originally posted by yleekiyote
I smell a victory in our beloved Saints this week. It seems that the Bengals would like to get a number one pick, in next years draft. The only need to lose their remaining 2 games to get the picks. So, whether the Saints can stop that explosive and powerful Cinncinati offense, remains to be seen. Should be an exciting game to watch. This is like a Super Bowl to us.

Next year, our team to beat is Minnesota. Twice they have *****ed us out of the playoffs. In 2000, they killed us and elimated us from the playoffs. This year, they beat us with a 2 point conversion with 5 seconds left, for a 32 to 31 win.



If its any consolation, It was fun watching the locals here, GIANTS embarass the VIKINGS a couple of years ago in the playoffs like 44-0.

As a PACKER fan there is no team I hate worse the the VIKINGS!!!! So much that my dislike for Dallas doesn't even come close!
Moss and Culpepper can eat my ass!

[yleekiyote]

Ditto on the ass munching.

[Eddie S]

Yeah ***** the Vikings

[ZEBRAFREAK]

EAGLES!!!

[OU812]

sunday ill be fine at 3 pm