WC weekend: Who you got?

[Clayton]

Personally, I can't remember a MORE intriguing wild card matchup in quite some time.

I like all of the matchups, honestly. Nobody limped into the playoffs.

 

[The Derski]

I think it will be the type of game where they are dominating yards and TOP but Packers keep it close by being opportunistic. You know what I mean.

You know what's funny is if the Bears had won you would be saying something completely different.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I do think Shady will be the best player in the game but the Saints might have the next 4 best players. I have a hard time betting on Foles, Ertz, Cooper, Lane Johnson and all of these youngins against a veteran Saints team even if Ive seen Brees make some really errant throws on the road this year.

I'm not sold on PHI, but NO doesn't have a great pass rush without blitzing and NO is not good enough in the back 4 to blitz a lot...if the weather is bad Brees and the WRs are going to be a step slower than normal. If it's a good weather day I wouldn't be surprised at all if NO wins.

 

[pumpkinhead33793]

You just said you think the 49ers dominate but the Packers will keep it close...

You know what's funny is if the Bears had won you would be saying something completely different.

So would you...

 

[Destroydacre]

Colts 24-23
Bengals 30-10
Eagles 35-31
49ers 24-21

 

[UgOtBuCkEd21GoRe]

Chiefs 27 Colts 20- Too much Charles and no running game from Indy catches up with them

Bengals 34 Chargers 17- Andy to A.J. will be too much to handle. Rivers plays like last years Rivers

Saints 34 Eagles 27 Shady is contained enough. Graham is unstoppable. Brees experience takes them to the Clink

49ers 31 Packers 20 Gore has a big game and front 4 get enough pressure on Rodgers to force a couple mistakes

 

[Kold]

I like all of the matchups, honestly. Nobody limped into the playoffs.

I agree, it's like every matchup is pretty interesting in some sort of way. Usually we have 1-2 games on WC weekend that's just there and everybody just watches because it's football....but NOT this year, I like EVERY matchup

 

[CaptainStubing]

Anything can happen in January, but:

Cincy should win comfortably unless Dalton shits himself
The Eagles should run all over the Saints
The Colts should dominate the Chiefs, unless the 'bad' Colts team shows up
The 49ers are the better team and should win.

 

[Blaise Winter]

Niners are going to beat the Packers because the Niners always beat the Packers

Until last season the Packers were on a 13-1 streak vs. the Niners. That's a .929 winning percentage. So no, the Niners do not "always beat the Packers."

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Until last season the Packers were on a 13-1 streak vs. the Niners. That's a .929 winning percentage. So no, the Niners do not "always beat the Packers."

I am pretty sure he was being a bit sarcastic there with those predictions (atleast the reasoning)

 

[Clayton]

I am pretty sure he was being a bit sarcastic there with those predictions (atleast the reasoning)

Yeah, I was.

Really Im just going with the team that has a defense.

 

[ONEPANTHERSFAN]

I'll take


Colts over Chiefs - KC has not played well the last few weeks.
Eagles over Saints - Saints don't travel well and the cold weather in Philly will not help NO
Bengals over Chargers - Bengals at home.
49ers over Packers - SF travels is a team built to win on the road.

 

[Davis_Mike]

Chiefs
Eagles
Bengals
Niners

 

[bengaldoug]

Chiefs 24-20 .... Chiefs are rested and poised to make a surprising run.....Luck still needs more help...

Eagles 27-24 .... Saints just don't play as well on the road, and the Eagles running game prevails.....

Niners 27-20 .... Niners simply too well balanced, strong running game built for cold weather...

Bengals 30-20....of course a homer pick, but the Bengals are undefeated at home...bad Andy doesn't show up this week....

 

[Midnightangel]

Chiefs 24-20 .... Chiefs are rested and poised to make a surprising run.....Luck still needs more help...

Eagles 27-24 .... Saints just don't play as well on the road, and the Eagles running game prevails.....

Niners 27-20 .... Niners simply too well balanced, strong running game built for cold weather...

Bengals 30-20....of course a homer pick, but the Bengals are undefeated at home...bad Andy doesn't show up this week....

In a non-shit talking manner......the Bengals tend to be hit and miss. They're either really up and can kick anyone's ass or they beat themselves and there seems to be very little ground in between.

Their weakness seems to be Marvin's inability to adjust at halftime.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Colts 24-23
Bengals 30-10
Eagles 35-31
49ers 24-21

Not sure about the scores, but those are the teams I see winning.

 

[bengaldoug]

In a non-shit talking manner......the Bengals tend to be hit and miss. They're either really up and can kick anyone's ass or they beat themselves and there seems to be very little ground in between.

Their weakness seems to be Marvin's inability to adjust at halftime.

The old Marvin, I would agree. Since he got his new contract and Palmer left, he seems reborn. His coordinators are fine making adjustments, especially Zimmer with the defense. The erratic part is mostly the quarterback. Dalton can look great one day and terrible the next. They've been good enough defensively to overcome spotty quarterback play. And they are undefeated at home and have followed up four consecutive home wins scoring 40+ with 34 vs the tough defensive minded Ravens. I'm confident they'll play well this week at home and if they do win I expect them to give a good account of themselves in Foxboro next week. This is something I wouldn't have said last year or the year before, where their first round dismissals were exactly what I expected. The last three seasons have shown steady progress.

2011 -- 9-7 worst wildcard in the playoffs. All 7 regular season losses were vs playoff teams, with zero wins. They were lucky to be in the playoffs, and it showed when they were blown out at Houston.

2012 -- 10-6 but only 2-2 vs playoff teams with one of the wins against a Ravens team week 17 who were resting their starters.

2013 -- 11-5 division champs, 4-0 vs playoff teams including 3-0 vs division winners. They have overcome numerous injuries to the defense and oline with no dropoff in either area.

They are on an upward swing, and I think they'll prove it this playoff season.

But hey, I am a homer, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

In a non-shit talking manner......the Bengals tend to be hit and miss. They're either really up and can kick anyone's ass or they beat themselves and there seems to be very little ground in between.

Their weakness seems to be Marvin's inability to adjust at halftime.

CIN has been there and done that in term of getting to the playoffs now so they will be more loose this year I think...in watching the Bengals I've questioned playcalling at times and it's hard to trust Dalton on the road, but I think they handle SD.

They've had success vs BAL and PIT, but I think there would be more mental skeletons in the closet if they were playing PIT instead of SD.

 

[bengaldoug]

CIN has been there and done that in term of getting to the playoffs now so they will be more loose this year I think...in watching the Bengals I've questioned playcalling at times and it's hard to trust Dalton on the road, but I think they handle SD.

They've had success vs BAL and PIT, but I think there would be more mental skeletons in the closet if they were playing PIT instead of SD.

I agree about the mental skeletons if they were playing the Steelers. We'll never know the result because they are playing the Chargers, but last Sunday they banished a bunch of skeletons in dominating the Ravens. I also agree that Dalton's worst games have come on the road. Notable exceptions were at Detroit(which given how the Lions finished seems less impactful) and the second half at San Diego, where he bounced back from a poor first half to lead them to a solid road win. The thing I like most about Dalton is he seems to be able to overcome his mistakes, and keeps a level attitude no matter how things are going. This part of his game is new this year. No matter what, he keeps attacking, and the team scores more when aggressive. As far as the road goes, they are 3-5 but maybe 3-4 plays from 6-2.

 

[CaptainStubing]

it will be interesting to see if Dalton can get the monkey off his back and turn in a good playoff performance. Thus far, he hasn't exactly stepped up in january. if he does this time around, the bengals could do some damage. they are pretty damn good when Dalton is 'on'.