NFL Playoffs Outlook Discussion

[OleMissCub]

 

I can't see losing to Dallas. NO maybe...but really I think the NFC is the Bears' to lose.

 

I think it'll come down to Bears v. Saints. Earlier in the year I would have said the Bears would win no question. However, with the Bears defense looking the way it has been lately, I'm less and less sure of that. I don't know who will win. As a Saints fan, what worries me is playing in the cold weather of Chicago, however, they played very well against the Giants in the cold last weekend.

 

Regardless, whoever wins, Saints of Bears, is probably gonna get their ass handed to them by the Ravens or Chargers.

[goonys evil twin]

As a Saints fan, what worries me is playing in the cold weather of Chicago, however, they played very well against the Giants in the cold last weekend.

 

Wasn't it like 60 degrees? I was wearing shorts.

[OleMissCub]

As a Saints fan, what worries me is playing in the cold weather of Chicago, however, they played very well against the Giants in the cold last weekend.

 

Wasn't it like 60 degrees? I was wearing shorts.

 

Oh, come to think of it, maybe it was. I thought I remembered some of the guys wearing coats...probably thinking of another game. Brain fart.

[goonys evil twin]

As a Saints fan, what worries me is playing in the cold weather of Chicago, however, they played very well against the Giants in the cold last weekend.

 

Wasn't it like 60 degrees? I was wearing shorts.

 

Oh, come to think of it, maybe it was. I thought I remembered some of the guys wearing coats...probably thinking of another game. Brain fart.

 

Well, I was not actually at the Meadowlands. I wasn't far away, but temps can vary in the area, especially with the swamp winds. It was warm enough for shorts though, especially in the sun.

[rawaction]

I'm still nervous as hell about the Bears. 13-2 is very impressive, but the team's schedule this year was:

 

NFC North x2 (weak division)

NFC West (weak division)

AFC East (pretty good, accounts for the 2 losses)

NY Giants (overhyped)

Tampa Bay (suckfest)

 

I could easily see either Dallas or New Orleans taking the Bears out in the playoffs.

 

I can't see losing to Dallas. NO maybe...but really I think the NFC is the Bears' to lose.

 

Philly is the team that worries me the most in the NFC. QB who can run. A WR in Stallworth who can make yards after the catch. Blitzing D that can give Rex some trouble. Very good defensive backfield with 2 probowl caliber players. I do think the Bears LB's can shutdown Philly's 2 biggest threats, LJ Smith and Westbrook. And I think they can run against the Eagles. But it's the team I fear most.

 

I still think NO will be a 1-and-done team, especially since they will meet Dallas or Philly after the bye. If you pressure Romo, Dallas will lose.

[Banedon]

Philly is the team that worries me the most in the NFC. QB who can run. A WR in Stallworth who can make yards after the catch. Blitzing D that can give Rex some trouble. Very good defensive backfield with 2 probowl caliber players. I do think the Bears LB's can shutdown Philly's 2 biggest threats, LJ Smith and Westbrook. And I think they can run against the Eagles. But it's the team I fear most.

 

I still think NO will be a 1-and-done team, especially since they will meet Dallas or Philly after the bye. If you pressure Romo, Dallas will lose.

 

I'm not worried about Garcia running...seems like the Bears haven't really had much trouble with running QB's. They always seem to handle Vick pretty nicely. But despite this little run, I'm not as afraid of them as maybe I should be.

 

They're on a run like the Steelers had going into the playoffs last year.

[OleMissCub]

 

I still think NO will be a 1-and-done team, especially since they will meet Dallas or Philly after the bye. If you pressure Romo, Dallas will lose.

 

Why do you think that? They've already beaten the Eagles, who were 4-1 at the time and still had McNabb and they have also beaten the complete crap out of the Cowboys this season.

[USSoccer]

Philly is the team that worries me the most in the NFC. QB who can run. A WR in Stallworth who can make yards after the catch. Blitzing D that can give Rex some trouble. Very good defensive backfield with 2 probowl caliber players. I do think the Bears LB's can shutdown Philly's 2 biggest threats, LJ Smith and Westbrook. And I think they can run against the Eagles. But it's the team I fear most.

 

I still think NO will be a 1-and-done team, especially since they will meet Dallas or Philly after the bye. If you pressure Romo, Dallas will lose.

 

I'm not worried about Garcia running...seems like the Bears haven't really had much trouble with running QB's. They always seem to handle Vick pretty nicely. But yeah, I'm hoping Philly has a tough first round game.

 

The only team that can beat the Bears in the playoffs is the Bears. The NFC East teams suck. I don't care that Philly has won 4 straight; they aren't that good. Dallas and NY (2 of the 4 Philly wins, btw) also suck. Romo is very overrated, Owens hasn't been great and that defense isn't great either. NY is NY. Pressure Manning and you win.

 

The NFC West teams are bad as well. Only New Orleans has the offensive personnel to beat the Bears, and they aren't that consistent, either. Get them in January on the lake, and they won't be as dynamic.

[OleMissCub]

 

The NFC West teams are bad as well. Only New Orleans has the offensive personnel to beat the Bears, and they aren't that consistent, either. Get them in January on the lake, and they won't be as dynamic.

 

New Orleans not only has the no.1 offense in the NFL, but the no.1 pass offense as well. The Bears are ranked ninth in the league in pass defense, and are getting progressively worse. Rattay threw for 250+ with 3td's and then Kitna threw for 280+ with 3td's in the Bears last two games.

 

Our offense is ranked higher than your defense, and our defense is ranked higher than your offense.

 

The cold weather is what scares the crap out of me.

[Banedon]

 

The NFC West teams are bad as well. Only New Orleans has the offensive personnel to beat the Bears, and they aren't that consistent, either. Get them in January on the lake, and they won't be as dynamic.

 

New Orleans not only has the no.1 offense in the NFL, but the no.1 pass offense as well. The Bears are ranked ninth in the league in pass defense, and are getting progressively worse. Rattay threw for 250+ with 3td's and then Kitna threw for 280+ with 3td's in the Bears last two games.

 

Our offense is ranked higher than your defense, and our defense is ranked higher than your offense.

 

The cold weather is what scares the crap out of me.

 

Hester was player corner in both of those games, which he won't be doing in the playoffs (please God). Having Vasher and Tillman both playing will be HUGE.

[David]

Philly is the team that worries me the most in the NFC. QB who can run. A WR in Stallworth who can make yards after the catch. Blitzing D that can give Rex some trouble. Very good defensive backfield with 2 probowl caliber players. I do think the Bears LB's can shutdown Philly's 2 biggest threats, LJ Smith and Westbrook. And I think they can run against the Eagles. But it's the team I fear most.

 

 

Yup. If the Bears draw Philly, they should go away from the pass. Philly's run defense is weak and, as you said, their pass rush and, to some extent, secondary are cause for concern on our end. Gash the Eagles with a heavy dose of CB/TJ. Obviously, pass on passing downs and throw a few play actions in. Just limit the passing game a little bit (sort of like in the Jets game) and ask Rex to have a solid, mistake-free game.

Edited December 26, 2006 by David

[rawaction]

 

I still think NO will be a 1-and-done team, especially since they will meet Dallas or Philly after the bye. If you pressure Romo, Dallas will lose.

 

Why do you think that? They've already beaten the Eagles, who were 4-1 at the time and still had McNabb and they have also beaten the complete crap out of the Cowboys this season.

 

The Saints got Dallas' worst game of the season. Granted, a lot of that was the Saints doing, but they won't play that poorly again (especially after the crap they laid last night). The Eagles game was close, despite the fact that the Saints got up 17-3. The Eagles became one-dimensional and were playing from behind all game.

[rawaction]

 

The NFC West teams are bad as well. Only New Orleans has the offensive personnel to beat the Bears, and they aren't that consistent, either. Get them in January on the lake, and they won't be as dynamic.

 

New Orleans not only has the no.1 offense in the NFL, but the no.1 pass offense as well. The Bears are ranked ninth in the league in pass defense, and are getting progressively worse. Rattay threw for 250+ with 3td's and then Kitna threw for 280+ with 3td's in the Bears last two games.

 

Our offense is ranked higher than your defense, and our defense is ranked higher than your offense.

 

The cold weather is what scares the crap out of me.

 

Hester was player corner in both of those games, which he won't be doing in the playoffs (please God). Having Vasher and Tillman both playing will be HUGE.

 

You have to take into consideration that not only were the Bears missing a starting CB each of the last 3 weeks, but they are a good run D playing against a teams that can't run at all. Both were playing from behind also. Of course, the pass numbers were gonna be inconsistent the last few weeks.

[OleMissCub]

 

I still think NO will be a 1-and-done team, especially since they will meet Dallas or Philly after the bye. If you pressure Romo, Dallas will lose.

 

Why do you think that? They've already beaten the Eagles, who were 4-1 at the time and still had McNabb and they have also beaten the complete crap out of the Cowboys this season.

 

The Saints got Dallas' worst game of the season. Granted, a lot of that was the Saints doing, but they won't play that poorly again (especially after the crap they laid last night). The Eagles game was close, despite the fact that the Saints got up 17-3. The Eagles became one-dimensional and were playing from behind all game.

 

Granted, Parcells is going to be highly pissed off and want revenge for being showed up by his student, but at this point with the way the Cowboys are playing as a team, I'm wondering if his staff is even capable of handling whatever it is Parcells wants them to do.

 

The Eagles, on the other hand, are a scary team. They are getting hot right when they need to, and Garcia is playing like a man on fire.

 

But it would completely foolish to discount the Saints. 1st ranked offense in the NFL and tenth ranked defense, which is improving every week, giving up an average of 12.2 ppg over their last 5 games.

[DivineBovine]

After the Bears slowed down after their amazing start, so many NFC teams have been crowned as contenders in the NFC. The Giants, the Cowboys, the Saints, now the Eagles. Their faults and bad games seem to be ignored.

 

The Bears have gotten a tough rap in the media since they slowed down from their hot start. Everyone seems to talk about their weaknesses. Rex, the run defense, etc. But bottom line, they have the best record in the NFC by a lot.

 

The playoffs should be interesting, but I like the Bears by a longshot to make the superbowl. The media is pretty annoying. Every time the Bears win now, they point out all the faults. Rex was panned after the win over the Detroit game. Hey, didn't they win? Did he throw any picks?

 

Rex is now as underrated as Tony Romo is overrated- how come Romo can have crappy games and people ignore them? The defense still can perform, although losing Harris hurts. But still, objectively speaking, they are the best in the NFC, maybe even the NFL.

 

The Cowboys are overrated. The Giants are not a threat given their defensive injuries. The Eagles are looking good now, but the Bears have been performing all year.

 

The Saints are probably the strongest contender, but I'd still take the Bears.

[mhuber92211]

I know that the Seahawks are stinking up the joint, but they put up a pretty good showing vs the best team in the NFL. stupid 30 seconds.

 

Anywho, I think that they are just on fumes and coasting. I would doubt that they lose at home in the playoffs and are guranteed a home game now. So likely they beat Dallas (VERY Plausible) and move on to face the Bears in all liklihood assuming that Philly beats NY or GB.

 

I would imagine that a different team shows up against the Bears. We would likely have a better line assembled and have Alexander back. The defense would not give up in the 2nd half. If you remember, the Seahawks were actually in the game in the 3rd quarter but seemed to give up in the middle.

 

That would leave a Seattle/Saints NFC Championship matchup. In the dome, the Seahawks will be able to match the team speed of the Saints but they will be hard pressed to stop the run.

[rawaction]

I know that the Seahawks are stinking up the joint, but they put up a pretty good showing vs the best team in the NFL. stupid 30 seconds.

 

Anywho, I think that they are just on fumes and coasting. I would doubt that they lose at home in the playoffs and are guranteed a home game now. So likely they beat Dallas (VERY Plausible) and move on to face the Bears in all liklihood assuming that Philly beats NY or GB.

 

I would imagine that a different team shows up against the Bears. We would likely have a better line assembled and have Alexander back. The defense would not give up in the 2nd half. If you remember, the Seahawks were actually in the game in the 3rd quarter but seemed to give up in the middle.

 

That would leave a Seattle/Saints NFC Championship matchup. In the dome, the Seahawks will be able to match the team speed of the Saints but they will be hard pressed to stop the run.

 

Ok. What about a 20-6 halftime score and an opening drive TD by the Bears to start the 3rd quarter says that the Seahawks were in that game?

 

I'm not disputing that the Bears aren't likely to beat Seattle as bad as 37-6 if they played again, but Seattle was never in that game, and has to be a longshot, at best at this point, to beat the Bears.

[Derwood]

is there any scenario in which a 7-9 NFC team can get the last wildcard spot?

[Derwood]

nevermind, yes, there is. NYG could get in at 7-9 if just about every other contending team also lost.

[Derwood]

according to first post in thread:

 

NY Giants: Clinch playoff spot with a win OR ALL THE FOLLOWING: a loss AND a Green Bay loss AND an Atlanta loss AND a Carolina loss AND a St. Louis loss.

[TruffleShuffle]

Philly is the team that worries me the most in the NFC. QB who can run. A WR in Stallworth who can make yards after the catch. Blitzing D that can give Rex some trouble. Very good defensive backfield with 2 probowl caliber players.

 

Don't forget coaching. The Eagles have one of the two or three best coaching staffs in the league. Andy Reid is a great offensive coach, and actually handing over the play-calling duties to Marty Morningweg (hold your laughter) has made the offense better. Jim Johnson is a great defensive coordinator as well.

 

In the defensive backfield, Sheldon Brown should've made the Pro Bowl in 2004 over Lito, but whoever did the choosing messed up.

 

I do think the Bears LB's can shutdown Philly's 2 biggest threats, LJ Smith and Westbrook.

 

LJ Smith possibly, but not Westbrook. There isn't a LB in the league that can cover him one-on-one. A safety who's good at pass coverage could handle Westbrook one-on-one.

 

And I think they can run against the Eagles. But it's the team I fear most.

 

This probably is true, but the Eagles run defense has been much better the past two weeks against some pretty good rushing teams (Giants and Cowboys). That is where the Eagles are most vulnerable, but Jim Johnson has been calling more run blitzes and committing more guys to stopping the run and blitzing the QB. Earlier in the year they couldn't do this because due to injuries, the dime back was starting and the default nickel back was a complete scrub.

 

I don't think the Eagles will win the NFC. But I wrote them off too quickly. They're doing the same thing they did with A.J. Feeley, winning with a quarterback who knows the system and can run it efficiently. The offensive line is just as good, if not better, than the teams that were going to the NFC championship game every year, and the WRs are actually better. The secondary is just as good, as is the defensive line, although the LBs are worse. If the Eagles play like they did against Dallas, they'll be hard to beat.

[bhogg]

I'm a lifelong Jet fan and I'm shocked. . . shocked. . . SHOCKED!

 

They have the talent of your basic pop warner team (on offense any way). . . defense is coming around. . . . but still, they are terrible.

 

9 wins? 9 friggin wins?

[Andy]

I'm going to be working Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, so I won't be able to keep track of Carolina's playoff fate (needing a Giants loss Sat night followed by a Packers loss and a win on Sunday). Praying for a miracle.

[mhuber92211]

I know that the Seahawks are stinking up the joint, but they put up a pretty good showing vs the best team in the NFL. stupid 30 seconds.

 

Anywho, I think that they are just on fumes and coasting. I would doubt that they lose at home in the playoffs and are guranteed a home game now. So likely they beat Dallas (VERY Plausible) and move on to face the Bears in all liklihood assuming that Philly beats NY or GB.

 

I would imagine that a different team shows up against the Bears. We would likely have a better line assembled and have Alexander back. The defense would not give up in the 2nd half. If you remember, the Seahawks were actually in the game in the 3rd quarter but seemed to give up in the middle.

 

That would leave a Seattle/Saints NFC Championship matchup. In the dome, the Seahawks will be able to match the team speed of the Saints but they will be hard pressed to stop the run.

 

Ok. What about a 20-6 halftime score and an opening drive TD by the Bears to start the 3rd quarter says that the Seahawks were in that game?

 

I'm not disputing that the Bears aren't likely to beat Seattle as bad as 37-6 if they played again, but Seattle was never in that game, and has to be a longshot, at best at this point, to beat the Bears.

 

A 2 TD lead is not much with another half to go. IIRC the Bears had just scored on the way to the locker room too. Also the TD in the 3rd qtr is when i indicated that the seahawks gave up

[Soul]

I know that the Seahawks are stinking up the joint, but they put up a pretty good showing vs the best team in the NFL. stupid 30 seconds.

 

Anywho, I think that they are just on fumes and coasting. I would doubt that they lose at home in the playoffs and are guranteed a home game now. So likely they beat Dallas (VERY Plausible) and move on to face the Bears in all liklihood assuming that Philly beats NY or GB.

 

I would imagine that a different team shows up against the Bears. We would likely have a better line assembled and have Alexander back. The defense would not give up in the 2nd half. If you remember, the Seahawks were actually in the game in the 3rd quarter but seemed to give up in the middle.

 

That would leave a Seattle/Saints NFC Championship matchup. In the dome, the Seahawks will be able to match the team speed of the Saints but they will be hard pressed to stop the run.

 

Ok. What about a 20-6 halftime score and an opening drive TD by the Bears to start the 3rd quarter says that the Seahawks were in that game?

 

I'm not disputing that the Bears aren't likely to beat Seattle as bad as 37-6 if they played again, but Seattle was never in that game, and has to be a longshot, at best at this point, to beat the Bears.

 

Agreed. Hubes, are you sure you are remembering the same game? Seriously---that one was a blowout pretty early. Seattle was never in it. Rex seemed to just keep slashing them with long passes-----all day long. I know they had a couple drives, but the only one that was meaningful was the first drive of the game. I do remember a long pass opportunity that was just badly overthrown by Hasselbeck. But that would have only brought Seattle to within a couple scores----and it was desperation under heavy pressure anyhow (Bears were putting great pressure on back then).

 

There's just no way in hell Seattle comes to Chicago in the blistering cold and actually *beats* the Bears. Alexander or not. It's not their MO. They play great at home. But get them out of their element and that team often begins to resemble a top 10 draft team, not the NFC champs.

 

This is the same team that got embarrassed by Arizona and SF and are on a 3 game bender at the end of the year. I'd have a tough time feeling comfortable with them beating their wild card opponent in the first round @ home, much less coming all the way to Chicago and beating the Bears.