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NFC Preview
Because the NFL is the sports league in the United States of
America, as a good American, you should care about the playoffs… er
something. Anyway, here’s some predictions and commentary for the NFC
games remaining. AFC and Super Bowl to come.
Seattle vs. Washington
Something about Seattle makes me nervous. They can’t possibly be as good as their record. Weak schedule? Yes. But Shaun Alexander – The Truth. Matt Hasselback is the 4th rated passer in the league. What makes that impressive is that his to receiver is Bobby Engram, who comes in at a whopping 35th in receiving yards, which is still an upgrade from last year. I think lack of talent at receiver helps Hasselback as it forces him to spread the ball around… that’s crap – if Santana Moss played for Seattle, they’re already in the Super Bowl, right? Instead, he plays for a team which managed 120 yards in a win. Things like that should not be allowed. Also, as hot as Washington is, their strength of schedule is nothing to crow about. They play in the NFC East– 2nd division toughest in the NFC (which makes it 3rd weakest in the NFL). This is a conference marked by wildly inconsistent teams. Seattle has a much better offense than Tampa. Really, Washington can’t win – Seattle
has to make mistakes and lose this game for Washington to advance. I don’t think it happens… as long as Hasselback doesn’t win the toss and proclaim victory before the opening kick.
Pick: Seattle 27, Washington 17
Carolina vs. Chicago
During the fourth quarter of Carolina/New York, Jason and I were bantering about whether a game could be won on a safety. We came to the conclusion and a blocked punt out of the back of the end zone to end the game is a feasible scenario. You think it’s crazy, but just watch the game this weekend. Has any other quarterback been rested for the playoffs after playing one and a half games? Which Carolina will show up? Does Jake Delhomme’s playoff experience count for anything? Can Carolina play in cold weather? Does it matter with the Bears defense? Will Rex Grossman suffer a career ending injury? Can Kyle Orton lead them to victory? Does it matter with Carolina’s defense? Is either team’s platoon of running backs better than the others? Carolina absolutely waxed New York and John Fox’s conservative style seems well suited to go against the Bears. I do think Jake Delhomme’s experience counts for something. (Although I’m secretly hoping for an Orton/Plummer Super Bowl because beards are awesome.)
Pick: Carolina 16, Bears 12
Alternate Pick: Bears 5, Carolina 3 (the game-winning safety scenario)
Carolina vs. Seattle
The thing I think most people don’t realize how tough a place Seattle is to play. Visiting teams hate it there. You have to travel the Pacific Northwest, your jet lagged, there’s an 800% chance of rain, and it’s so freakin’ loud. The crowd really plays a factor in Seattle home games. Fact: Seattle is 22-2 at home during the regular season over the last 3 years. (They are 1 game under .500 on the road over the same span.) Carolina is probably the best road team in football, but home field
means way more to Seattle than any other NFL team. They did lose a game there last year thanks to the old “All Hands” receiving core they had. Whether it’s Carolina or Chicago, Seattle has too much confidence and home field to deal with after getting by Washington.
Pick: Seattle 31, Carolina 20
*You know those “NBA 2K6, the Life” commercials where they had fictitious players who were awful and had to drop out of the league? You know the one where the point guard says, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”? Do you think they could make an NFL version, except instead of special effects, they could just piece together clips of Seahawks wide receivers from last year and get Koren Robinson to say, “You drop 100% of the passes Hasselback doesn’t throw to you.” Although, inexplicably, I’m talking about Pro Bowl return man Koren Robinson. There is no justice in this world.
Because the NFL is the sports league in the United States of
America, as a good American, you should care about the playoffs… er
something. Anyway, here’s some predictions and commentary for the NFC
games remaining. AFC and Super Bowl to come.
Seattle vs. Washington
Something about Seattle makes me nervous. They can’t possibly be as good as their record. Weak schedule? Yes. But Shaun Alexander – The Truth. Matt Hasselback is the 4th rated passer in the league. What makes that impressive is that his to receiver is Bobby Engram, who comes in at a whopping 35th in receiving yards, which is still an upgrade from last year. I think lack of talent at receiver helps Hasselback as it forces him to spread the ball around… that’s crap – if Santana Moss played for Seattle, they’re already in the Super Bowl, right? Instead, he plays for a team which managed 120 yards in a win. Things like that should not be allowed. Also, as hot as Washington is, their strength of schedule is nothing to crow about. They play in the NFC East– 2nd division toughest in the NFC (which makes it 3rd weakest in the NFL). This is a conference marked by wildly inconsistent teams. Seattle has a much better offense than Tampa. Really, Washington can’t win – Seattle
has to make mistakes and lose this game for Washington to advance. I don’t think it happens… as long as Hasselback doesn’t win the toss and proclaim victory before the opening kick.
Pick: Seattle 27, Washington 17
Carolina vs. Chicago
During the fourth quarter of Carolina/New York, Jason and I were bantering about whether a game could be won on a safety. We came to the conclusion and a blocked punt out of the back of the end zone to end the game is a feasible scenario. You think it’s crazy, but just watch the game this weekend. Has any other quarterback been rested for the playoffs after playing one and a half games? Which Carolina will show up? Does Jake Delhomme’s playoff experience count for anything? Can Carolina play in cold weather? Does it matter with the Bears defense? Will Rex Grossman suffer a career ending injury? Can Kyle Orton lead them to victory? Does it matter with Carolina’s defense? Is either team’s platoon of running backs better than the others? Carolina absolutely waxed New York and John Fox’s conservative style seems well suited to go against the Bears. I do think Jake Delhomme’s experience counts for something. (Although I’m secretly hoping for an Orton/Plummer Super Bowl because beards are awesome.)
Pick: Carolina 16, Bears 12
Alternate Pick: Bears 5, Carolina 3 (the game-winning safety scenario)
Carolina vs. Seattle
The thing I think most people don’t realize how tough a place Seattle is to play. Visiting teams hate it there. You have to travel the Pacific Northwest, your jet lagged, there’s an 800% chance of rain, and it’s so freakin’ loud. The crowd really plays a factor in Seattle home games. Fact: Seattle is 22-2 at home during the regular season over the last 3 years. (They are 1 game under .500 on the road over the same span.) Carolina is probably the best road team in football, but home field
means way more to Seattle than any other NFL team. They did lose a game there last year thanks to the old “All Hands” receiving core they had. Whether it’s Carolina or Chicago, Seattle has too much confidence and home field to deal with after getting by Washington.
Pick: Seattle 31, Carolina 20
*You know those “NBA 2K6, the Life” commercials where they had fictitious players who were awful and had to drop out of the league? You know the one where the point guard says, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”? Do you think they could make an NFL version, except instead of special effects, they could just piece together clips of Seahawks wide receivers from last year and get Koren Robinson to say, “You drop 100% of the passes Hasselback doesn’t throw to you.” Although, inexplicably, I’m talking about Pro Bowl return man Koren Robinson. There is no justice in this world.
posted by mike at 6:30 PM
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