NFL Playoffs

[Cujo]

The National Football League is now set for postseason play. Here are your Wild Card Weekend match-ups:

American Football Conference

⁽⁵⁾Indianapolis Colts (12-4) at ⁽⁴⁾San Diego Chargers (8-8)

⁽⁶⁾Baltimore Ravens (11-5) at ⁽³⁾Miami Dolphins (11-5)

Bye: ⁽¹⁾Tennessee Titans (13-3) and ⁽²⁾Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

National Football Conference

⁽⁵⁾Atlanta Falcons (11-5) at ⁽⁴⁾Arizona Cardinals (9-7)

⁽⁶⁾Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) at ⁽³⁾Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

Bye: ⁽¹⁾New York Giants (12-4) and ⁽²⁾Carolina Panthers (12-4)

Predictions. Discuss. Etc.

[TBGKon]

Wild Card Weekend:

Dolphins beat Ravens

Colts beat Chargers

Vikings beat Eagles

Falcons beat Cardinals

Divisional Weekend:

Colts beat Titans

Dolphins beat Steelers

Panthers beat Vikings

Falcons beat Giants

Championship Weekend:

Colts beat Dolphins

Falcons beat Panthers

Super Bowl:

Colts beat Falcons

[TFoA]

Let's go Falcons.

Now that my initial partisanship is out of the way...This may be THE most wide open playoffs that we witness in a long time. I could honestly see any team going in and making some big moves. The matchup that catches my eye is Baltimore & Miami. Wow @ that game. Just last year, the Dolphins beat the Ravens for their first AND ONLY win of the season in Miami. Now, one year later, the same 2 teams are playing each other in the same city in the playoffs. Remarkable.

Colts vs. Chargers was penciled in as an AFC Championship game for most, and now it's a wildcard game. The Falcons and Cardinals playing in Arizona has to be one of the more unlikely playoff scenarios that you could ever dream of. (New Orleans vs. Detroit @ Ford Field being another. ) Philadelphia vs. Minnesota is going to be a perfect example of black-and-blue, smashmouth football. And that's just the Wildcard Division...we still have 4 of the toughest teams in the league having byes, and I'm not stretching that word of toughness...they could probably meet up in a Royal Rumble-type fight and it'd be fantastic.

So yeah, I can't wait. I know ESPN is probably going to hate on these playoffs because the Bretts, Patriots, and Cowboys all missed the boat, but I could care less. I can't wait to see how things shake out.

[nyk]

AFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Miami Dolphins def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (4) San Diego Chargers

NFC Wild Card Weekend

(6) Philadelphia Eagles def. (3) Minnesota Vikings

(5) Atlanta Falcons def. (4) Arizona Cardinals

AFC Divisional Weekend

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (1) Tennessee Titans

(2) Pittsburg Steelers def. (3) Miami Dolphins

NFC Divisional Weekend

(1) New York Giants def. (6) Philadelphia Eagles

(2) Carolina Panthers def. (5) Atlanta Falcons

AFC Championship

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (2) Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC Championship

(1) New York Giants def. (2) Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl XLIII

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (1) New York Giants

[mantleisthebest7]

This is going to be an odd playoffs. Meaning, its going to be tough to figure out which teams have it in them to win, seeing as most of these teams are inconsistent. However, i'll attempt to predict.

AFC WILD CARD

Indianapolis def. San Diego

Miami def. Baltimore

AFC DIVISIONAL

Indianapolis def. Pittsburgh

Tennessee def. Miami

AFC CONFERENCE FINAL

Tennessee def. Indianapolis

NFC WILD CARD

Atlanta def. Arizona

Minnesota def. Philadelphia

NFC DIVISIONAL

NY Giants def. Atlanta

Carolina def. Minnesota

NFC CONFERENCE FINAL

NY Giants def. Carolina

SUPER BOWL XLIII

NY Giants def. Tennessee

[NJTank]

AFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Miami Dolphins def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (4) San Diego Chargers

NFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Minnesota Vikings def. (6) Philadelphia Eagles

(5) Atlanta Falcons def. (4) Arizona Cardinals

AFC Divisional Weekend

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (1) Tennessee Titans

(2) Pittsburgh Steelers def. (3) Miami Dolphins

NFC Divisional Weekend

(1) New York Giants def. (5) Atlanta Falcons

(2) Carolina Panthers def. (3) Minnesota Vikings

AFC Championship

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (2) Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC Championship

(1) New York Giants def. (2) Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl XLIII

(1) New York Giants def. (5) Indianapolis Colts

[infrared41]

I know ESPN is probably going to hate on these playoffs because the Bretts, Patriots, and Cowboys all missed the boat.

And that is the best thing about this year's playoffs. We have some new blood. I can't remember the last time I was this interested in the NFL playoffs. The Dolphins and Falcons made the season for me. Great stories that didn't get nearly enough national coverage.

Who I think will win next week: Colts, Dolphins, Falcons, Eagles.

My rooting interests in order of preference:

1. Dolphins

2. Falcons

3. Chargers

4. Panthers

5. Giants

Screw the rest.

SB prediction: Panthers over Colts.

Great season.

[gingerbreadmann]

Matty Ryan. Still my man. GO FALCONS!

[Cujo]

After a quick second to think it over, here are my predictions....

AFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Miami Dolphins def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (4) San Diego Chargers

NFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Minnesota Vikings def. (6) Philadelphia Eagles

(5) Atlanta Falcons def. (4) Arizona Cardinals

AFC Divisional Weekend

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (2) Pittsburgh Steelers

(1) Tennessee Titans def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

NFC Divisional Weekend

(1) New York Giants def. (5) Atlanta Falcons

(2) Carolina Panthers def. (3) Minnesota Vikings

AFC Championship

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (1) Tennessee Titans

NFC Championship

(1) New York Giants def. (2) Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl XLIII

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (1) New York Giants - Peyton over Eli

[sharplcd]

I'm super excited, after a long stretch I finally get to see my Dolphins back in the playoffs. Next week against the Ravens won't be an easy task, especially since they already have beaten us once this season. Philadelphia making it into the playoffs is just remarkable, as going into this week, they needed quite a lot of help. The Chargers are another team that are hot at the right time, and got redemption from being cheated out of a win back in Week 2.

Wild Card:

(3) Miami def. (6) Ravens

(5) Colts def. (4) Chargers

(6) Eagles def. (3) Vikings

(5) Falcons def. (4) Cardinals

Divisional Round:

(2) Steelers def. (3) Miami <----sad to say

(5) Colts def. (1) Titans

(1) Giants def. (6) Eagles

(5) Falcons def. (2) Panthers

Conference Championship:

(5) Colts def. (2) Steelers

(1) Giants def. (5) Falcons

Super Bowl:

Colts def. Giants

Ps: Infrared, the moment you jumped on the Jets bandwagon, they began losing.

Please take the Dolphins off #1, and scoot every other team up a spot.

I'm just Kidding!

[sharplcd]

After a quick second to think it over, here are my predictions....

AFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Miami Dolphins def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (4) San Diego Chargers

NFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Minnesota Vikings def. (6) Philadelphia Eagles

(5) Atlanta Falcons def. (4) Arizona Cardinals

AFC Divisional Weekend

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (2) Pittsburgh Steelers

(1) Tennessee Titans def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

NFC Divisional Weekend

(1) New York Giants def. (5) Atlanta Falcons

(2) Carolina Panthers def. (3) Minnesota Vikings

AFC Championship

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (1) Tennessee Titans

NFC Championship

(1) New York Giants def. (2) Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl XLIII

(1) New York Giants def. (5) Indianapolis Colts

Sorry for the double post, but you have the Dolphins winning, and the Ravens moving on.

[JamieRose]

I'm not going into total detail, but I'm feeling a close game between the Titans and Falcons. I do believe that the Falcons will prevail. I'm pretty much rooting for Matt Ryan, and the Titans.

[Cujo]

After a quick second to think it over, here are my predictions....

AFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Miami Dolphins def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (4) San Diego Chargers

AFC Divisional Weekend

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (2) Pittsburgh Steelers

(1) Tennessee Titans def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

Sorry for the double post, but you have the Dolphins winning, and the Ravens moving on.

Busted for copying and attempting to edit Tanker's picks.

But yeah, Baltimore over Miami next week.

[sharplcd]

After a quick second to think it over, here are my predictions....

AFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Miami Dolphins def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (4) San Diego Chargers

NFC Wild Card Weekend

(3) Minnesota Vikings def. (6) Philadelphia Eagles

(5) Atlanta Falcons def. (4) Arizona Cardinals

AFC Divisional Weekend

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (2) Pittsburgh Steelers

(1) Tennessee Titans def. (6) Baltimore Ravens

NFC Divisional Weekend

(1) New York Giants def. (5) Atlanta Falcons

(2) Carolina Panthers def. (3) Minnesota Vikings

AFC Championship

(5) Indianapolis Colts def. (1) Tennessee Titans

NFC Championship

(1) New York Giants def. (2) Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl XLIII

(1) New York Giants def. (5) Indianapolis Colts

Sorry for the double post, but you have the Dolphins winning, and the Ravens moving on.

Busted for copying and attempting to edit Tanker's picks.

But yeah, Baltimore over Miami next week.

C'mon man. You can show the dolphins some love.

[Cujo]

Baltimore over Miami next week.

C'mon man. You can show the dolphins some love.

No can do.

The Dolphins beat ONE playoff team this season -- the 8-8 San Diego Chargers.

[TFoA]

I know ESPN is probably going to hate on these playoffs because the Bretts, Patriots, and Cowboys all missed the boat.

And that is the best thing about this year's playoffs. We have some new blood. I can't remember the last time I was this interested in the NFL playoffs. The Dolphins and Falcons made the season for me. Great stories that didn't get nearly enough national coverage.

Especially the Dolphins. For that to be the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history IIRC, it's probably gotten little-to-no press, other than a little blurb every now and then. I think people are really taking the whole "Oh, Parcells is there. Everything he touches turns to gold because he's motha:censored: in Bill Parcells" thing a little bit for granted. They still had to have the players to get the job done. But I'm really happy that the Dolphins ended up making it in. Chad Pennington basically gave the bird to everybody in that division.

[JQK]

PLAYOFFS

============

2008

============

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

5. ATL

4. ARZ

6. PHI

3. MIN

============

3. MIN

2. CAR

5. ATL

1. NYG

============

2. CAR

1. NYG

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

5. IND

4. SDC

6. BAL

3. MIA

============

3. MIA

2. PIT

5. IND

1. TEN

============

5. IND

3. MIA

[NEW.ERA]

I have a feeling all the games this playoffs will be great and here are my predictions (I smell upsets in most of these)

Wild Card Games

NFC

#3 Minnesota over #6 Philadelphia

#5 Atlanta over #4 Arizona

AFC

#6 Baltimore over #3 Miami

#5 Indianapolis over #4 San Diego

Divisional Playoffs

NFC

#3 Minnesota over #1 NY Giants <---- the Loss of Plax will finally set

#2 Carolina over #5 Atlanta

AFC

#6 Baltimore over #1 Tennessee

#5 Indianapolis over #2 Pittsburgh

Conference Championships

NFC

#3 Minnesota over #2 Carolina

AFC

#5 Indianapolis over #6 Baltimore

Super Bowl XLIII

#3 Minnesota over #5 Indianapolis

[KevinMcD]

5/6 NFC teams have never won a Super Bowl, the Giants being the exception.

That seems like a very odd stat for these playoffs.

[HedleyLamarr]

Y'all are a lot more confident about the Falcons' chances in Arizona than I am. Sure, I think the Falcons can handle the Cardinals, but a couple things worry me:

1. The Cardinals tend to be tough to beat when they're at home almost every season. I'm sure that place will be hostile Saturday afternoon.

2. The Cardinals can fling the ball all over the place. The Falcons have been able to limit the big plays throughout the season, but they haven't played a team that has a talented QB and a pair of big-time receivers like the Cardinals have.

3. Ken Wisenhunt (a former Falcon, I believe) loves the trick plays. Trick plays tend to be huge momentum-swingers in the playoffs.