NFL Wildcard Saturday: Open Game Thread
by Chris Pokorny on Jan 9, 2010 2:00 PM EST
in General News
116 comments
There are three Week 17 re-matches being played in the opening round of the playoffs. Two of those games are today, and both games will be aired in NBC. If you would like to comment on either of the games, whether it be before, during, or after the game(s), please do so here. The brief previews are after the jump.
AFC Wildcard: New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4:30 PM) [See SB Nation Coverage Here]
The Bengals were destroyed last week by the Jets in New York. Although I give the Jets credit for a strong start to that game, the Bengals did not appear to care about the game. Just looking at their offensive formations, they didn't use any creativity (motions, shifts, developed routes, etc). The passing formations were bland, and Cedric Benson was not active.
Just about the only thing we did see last week was Chad Ochocinco challenge Darrelle Revis a few times. Revis won the battle every time, but Ochocinco also had a few drops. I can't wait to see the matchup again today, because Ochocinco has talked smack while Revis does not sweat for a second taking anyone one-on-one in tight coverage.
And then you have Braylon Edwards. I'm sure that quite a few Browns fans want the Jets to lose solely because they do not want to see Edwards advance to the next round of the playoffs. Browns fans want him to drop the game-winning touchdown pass -- I don't even want it to get to that point; I want the Bengals to be in full control of the game come the fourth quarter.
The Jets had a few schedule breaks to get into the playoffs, but they are there nonetheless. Mark Sanchez has had too many atrocious games this season that I can't imagine him looking like a superstar in the postseason. Bengals win by 10.
NFC Wildcard: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (8:00 PM) [See SB Nation Coverage Here]
When the Cowboys destroyed the Eagles last week, it was a completely different story than the AFC matchup above. The Eagles were playing to win. If Philadelphia would've won last week, they would've had the No. 2 seed and wouldn't even have had to worry about playing this week. Instead, they lost the division to the Cowboys and slipped to a wildcard spot. All of that came after the Eagles had been one of the NFL's hottest teams during the second half of the season.
The one advantage the Eagles might have picked up last week? They didn't give the Cowboys a look at backup QB Michael Vick. I've always been under the impression that one of the reasons teams who use the Wildcat/switching QB playbook don't run it more often is because they are saving their "best" plays out of the formation for the postseason. As far as I can recall, the Eagles are the first team who uses the formation in the modern NFL to actually make the postseason. He should be active for the game, and I'm expecting him and the Eagles to bounce back.
Despite a solid performance from Tony Romo, both teams will be back and forth in a shootout. The Cowboys have one huge weakness though, and it's on special teams. It's not that the holder will choke under pressure, it's that the kickers they've had just flat out suck. Eagles win by 3.
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Feel free to share your own predictions on today's games in this thread as well.
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I don’t care who wins, so long as Braylon drops everything thrown his way.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
Have 2 sets of teams ever met this way in the playoffs having just played each other the week before? This seems like an undesired outcome. I wonder if the league is going to investigate their scheduling after this.
Brownsyup
Wow. Does that make the list of top-5 Braylon drops?
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge..." C. Darwin
by Spidey on Jan 9, 2010 5:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I love the local Cincy radio coverage on these drops. “Thank you, Braylon!”
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
you guys rooting for the bengals? any afn north, ohio allegiance? i didnt plan on it, but i find myself rooting for the bengals
I’m rooting for the Jets but against Edwards. I’d rather see the Bengals win than Edwards catch the game winning TD.
"There is a small, but important difference between peeing in the pool and peeing into the pool." - Demitri Martin
Ahahahaha Edwards made my day. Just flew through his hands. What a loser.
by BuenosAires_Dawg on Jan 9, 2010 5:22 PM EST reply actions
Boy I wish we could have landed Shonn Greene in the draft.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
I haven’t caught the whole game, but he’s had at least a couple.
Current stats: 1 catch for -1 yards. Heh.
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 5:38 PM EST up reply actions
i’m sure he’ll find a way to blame the Browns. Probably some Cleveland fans at the game taunting him or some BS.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
Or the lights, as he did earlier this year.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
I’m enjoying a bit of the Cincy Jungle game thread:
“when I saw it was 17 / my mind automatically said incompletion.”
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
Also:
“Braylon Edwards a Bengals fan maybe?”
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
Hell of a play by Revis. Who drafted that guy?
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
by woodsmeister on Jan 9, 2010 5:38 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Just dropping by to say…
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 9, 2010 5:44 PM EST reply actions 21 recs
Oh god, 20 recs, aha.
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 11, 2010 3:07 PM EST up reply actions
While I'm at it, (And since I'm a Bills fan)
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 9, 2010 6:18 PM EST reply actions 9 recs
Braylon’s greatest post-Brown hits….
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
All right, one more for your collections then I'm done
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 9, 2010 6:30 PM EST reply actions 9 recs
Heh. Thanks UZ. Braylon’s drops will never get old.
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
This has to be the funniest. With the camera in his face on prime-time and all.
Probably the only Cleveland Browns fan in all of Sydney, NSW.
Ah yeah. I remember then. MNF.
Tirico mentioned the Jets-Browns trade and then Gruden said “I like what the Jets got!”
Hey, I like Gruden, but I like what we got. Stuckey, Trusnik, 2 draft picks AND no Braylon Edwards.
Probably the only Cleveland Browns fan in all of Sydney, NSW.
Glad to be of service!
Wow, I think I’ve only posted at DBN 6 times now and 4 of them have been Rec’d! XD
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 9, 2010 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
Edwards now at 2 catches for 15 yards now. Money well spent by the Jets!
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 6:47 PM EST reply actions
And now we have a game once again.
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
But it didn’t last. G’night, Bengals.
by RelapsingDawgCatcher on Jan 9, 2010 9:24 PM EST up reply actions
Is Dustin Keller that good or is the Bengals defense that bad?
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
I would say that it is a combo.
That one play where he made that cut and got an extra 25 yards was awesome.
The one play where he was wide open was just really bad coverage and tackling.
by Bernie19Kosar on Jan 9, 2010 8:23 PM EST up reply actions
Why cowboys? So the eagles are sure to make some personnel changes?
"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren
by johnnyphoenix on Jan 9, 2010 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
The sooner the Eagles exit the playoffs, the sooner our new GM can get to work making something of those 11 picks.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
True true. and perhaps might be more amenable to some QB changes…
"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren
by johnnyphoenix on Jan 9, 2010 10:44 PM EST up reply actions
Hey- let’s get a QB coach, a capable OC, some veteran advice from our new Czar and give BQ (or even DA for the perverse) a chance before we change there.
Given a credible offense I still say BQ will succeed.
No quarter for the perverse. DA must go.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
For sure- the twin-QB situation is poisonous and stops the O getting any rhythm going (especially with their different styles).
But if another team came with a too-good-to-leave offer for Quinn, I’m not at all sure we thrown DA as well.
I wouldn’t be opposed to dumping them both in that case. Either way, DA must go.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Jan 10, 2010 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
I laughed at Sanchez’s “I just wanted to say that I completely disagree with Coach Carroll’s decision to return to the NFL.”
Yeah, that was hilarious.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Jan 10, 2010 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
Nah, I’m rooting for the Packers to make it.
I predicted at the beginning of the season Packers vs. Chargers.
It looks that way, doesn’t it.
Dawgs By Nature -- where Hitler, apparently, 'did some good things'.
by golanbatrac on Jan 10, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
It’s shocking really. (Based on their previous body of post-season work.) But now, they have a legitimate shot at beating the Vikings, then Saints… and probably the AFC Champs. Then again, they could blow it all in any of those games.
Funnest, most enjoyable part…. all it took was kicking T.O. to the curb. Nobody likes a douchebag.
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