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Championship Week predictions

Metal Panda

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Well, last week's second round had a buncha surprises (I didn't see Indy winning or New England). So what have we in store this week?

New England vs. Indy:

New England runs the ball fairly well, but if they were wise, would not go the same route as the Bengals in their loss to Indy and try to become something they're not. Their bread and butter is still in the passing game.

I don't think Indy is going to suffocate the running game, but I think the Patriots wide receivers are so ordinary that the Indy pass defense will be relatively successful, and that Freeney will cause significant disruption. New England will be forced to keep drives alive with creative playcalling, and their running game, but will face a lot of failed 3rd down conversions, and likely kick more field goals than they wanted to.

I like Joseph Addai...and Rhodes. Rhodes tends to pick up tough yardage...Addai, well, he's no Edge yet, but he's busted off some nice runs. I think they will have success, even against New England's stout run defense.

And without Rodney Harrison, New England's improved but still-not-what-it- was-three-years-ago secondary will be picked apart by Manning, who is due for a great game this playoff series. He just has too many weapons.

Indianapolis 27, New England 17
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New Orleans at Chicago

This is the hardest one to pick this weekend for me.

To begin, Chicago's vaunted defense hasn't really had a good game in weeks. I was stunned at how easily they got picked apart last week. If this was the Bears circa week 5, this game would be a "no contest" in my book. But the offense has to pull more weight now, and while it is doing it, Grossman clearly is suffering from his lack of playing time the last four years. As Don Banks cleverly puts it, "Rex keeps both teams in the game at all times".

Now, what Chicago has going for them--Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Both should see significant carries against the weak SAints run D. I also think Chicago should try to focus more on the run and more on sustaining long drives rather than consistently going for the homerun ball. The Saints enjoy frenetic football and shootouts--look at last week. If the Saints offense is kept off of the field for long periods of time, their rhythm will be off. Not to mention the steady doses of running yards will open up the deep ball later on.

The Saints have the potential to pick the Bears defense apart. Lesser teams have done it with relative ease in past weeks, and Brees knows how to find open guys in the middle of the field, plus he protects the football. I expect to see the Saints throwing a lot early and often to keep the Bears on their heels, so that the run game will find success. If the Saints defense can contain the Bears offense, they will be able to play their game of quick moving offense.

However, the Saints have a penchant for giving up ridiculously huge plays. Grossman has a penchant for launching it deep. Somehow, even though I think if this game were played 10 times it might be an even split, I have to go with the home team in a squeaker in this one. I think Chicago's run game will give New Orleans fits and free Grossman up for one of his homerun balls late.

Chicago 20, New Orleans 17
 
Yea, I hate that.

And I think they're just picking the Colts because they think they couldn't possibly lose to the Patriots...again...in the playoffs.

But realistically, yes they can...hopefully Indy isn't falling victim to that mentality.

if Indy makes the super bowl this year though, this league is *** backwards. Last year's Colt team was far superior and look what happened.
 
Yea, I hate that.

And I think they're just picking the Colts because they think they couldn't possibly lose to the Patriots...again...in the playoffs.

But realistically, yes they can...hopefully Indy isn't falling victim to that mentality.

if Indy makes the super bowl this year though, this league is *** backwards. Last year's Colt team was far superior and look what happened.


One of the few smart things Irving said was "Refs don't be the story this time" or something simliar to that context. We all know what happened when the Pats were holding the Colts all day that one Championship game (I believe it was the championship).
 
Indianapolis 27
New England 17

Chicago 21
Saints 17

Peyton Manning should have a big day at home. Sooner or later you would think he could win the big game when it counts. Brady scares me though. I think the Bear's D will be the difference, and they should win unless Rex has one of his crappy games. :wink:
 
My opinion, the 3:00 game will only be telling us who the Ptriots will be playing in 2 weeks and the 2nd game is a lead pipe lock win for New England. We do not even have to watch, I am 100% positive that the Patriots will win this game. I can't see how any sane person who has watched football from 2001 until now could pick Indy with a straight face. In fact the most annyoing thing to me about the Patriots is how the national media always seems to build them up as the underdog so they can have an even bigger Patriots lovefest after they win. IMHO, the Patriots are the favorites anytime the trot onto the field during a playoff game. It's inevitable, the 2006 New England Patriots will be champions of the world again and again it will be deemed unbelievable, for some stupid reason.

I'LL BE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED IF INDY WINS THIS GAME. TO ME that would be the biggest upset we've seen in a log time.
 
My opinion, the 3:00 game will only be telling us who the Ptriots will be playing in 2 weeks and the 2nd game is a lead pipe lock win for New England. We do not even have to watch, I am 100% positive that the Patriots will win this game. I can't see how any sane person who has watched football from 2001 until now could pick Indy with a straight face. In fact the most annyoing thing to me about the Patriots is how the national media always seems to build them up as the underdog so they can have an even bigger Patriots lovefest after they win. IMHO, the Patriots are the favorites anytime the trot onto the field during a playoff game. It's inevitable, the 2006 New England Patriots will be champions of the world again and again it will be deemed unbelievable, for some stupid reason.

I'LL BE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED IF INDY WINS THIS GAME. TO ME that would be the biggest upset we've seen in a log time.

Well, I have to agree that the Pats whould be the favorite because they are clearly a great team this year and Brady and Bellichick in the playoffs just seem to be an unbeatable combination. However because the Colts are at home where they are much faster and the fact that their fans will be rabid to see the Colts knock off the Pats should be big. Also Manning not playing the cold of New England will help. I think this will be a classic game that will be like a double digit round blocking match that won't be won until the end, but I feel that the Patriot magic will prevail again, but I'll be hoping with all hope that it won't. I see the final score being 30-28 Pats, with this time Gradkowski making the winning field goal.

As for the Bears-Saints game I don't really care, because the NFC is the Junior Varsity of the NFL and they will just be the AFC's next victim this year. Of the two teams I feel the Saints are the better team, for one simple reason and that is Rex Grossman. Grossman didn't play great last week versus the Seahawks, which had multiple chances to win. Also I don't fear the Bears defense, and I think that Brees, Mcallister, and Bush will gash the Bears' defense and will win the game. Although it will be close, I say 24-17 Saints.
 
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