Fearless NFL Playoff Predictions

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The fans have been clamoring for SU to put out its fearless, NFL playoff predictions.  Well, the time has come.  A few thoughts:

  • There is a lot of parity among the playoff contenders this year.  New England is the closest thing to being the clear favorite but you have to figure the loss of Gronkowski will show up at some point.
  • As mentioned earlier in the week, many are expecting Green Bay to run the table but SU says not so fast.
  • Injuries to quarterbacks have really hurt Oakland and Miami.  SU feels especially badly for the Raiders who had a great season.  I thought they might make a run at the Pats but when you are starting your 3rd string QB and on top of it he comes from Michigan State, well that is a lot to overcome.
  • Aside from the Giants- Packers game this weekend, the others are not exactly must see TV.
  • Tony Romo is going to have a moment in this year’s  playoffs.

NFC

As predicted earlier in the week, the Giants are going to upset Green Bay 23 – 21 on Sunday.  I do feel that Eli plays his best in the playoffs and his experience and ability to call his own plays in large part makes a difference.  Can they run the table?  Why not?  My preference would be that they avoid Dallas as it’s hard to beat the same team 3 times in one year (although they did beat Washington 3 times in the 1986-87 run).  Atlanta can score at will but they also have a way of blowing close games late.  SU will take the homer pick and have the Giants in the Super Bowl due to the lack of that dominant team in the NFC.

AFC

The money pick is New England but SU is feeling the Steelers.  Ben Roethlisberger has a way of making plays and while their defense is suspect, they can put the points up on the board.

Super Bowl

The Giants over the Steelers in a tight game 21-20.  I will say that the winner of the Giants – Packers game on Sunday will win the Super Bowl.

Feel free to weigh in with your picks.  Put your pride on the line.

5 thoughts on “Fearless NFL Playoff Predictions”

  2. Woe Nellie. Let me clear my eyes and rub a few Q Tips in my ears. I certainly agree with your NFC prediction…. with either Big Blue or Green bay heading into the Super Bowl. As far as the Pats go, because all their games will be home games New England nation “Gods’ will be the 12th man helping them get to the Super Bowl. Belichek is hands down the greatest NFL Coach of all times when it comes to the X’s and O’s and play calling. It just doesn’t matter much who plays. They trade an all pro linebacker and still allow the fewest points against in the league. Yes, Gronkowski will be missed but their next tight end is still better than most, including any of the Giants tight ends.. The Pats also play as close to mistake free ball as it gets.

    Carr for Oakland should still get the MVP in my opinion for what he had done to get Oakland 12 wins. Too bad what happened to him.

    With my heart thinking i too have 23-21 Giants…. with Odell showing us why he is the scariest/best receiver in the game. Eli will find him once or twice for some big gains. But once again, to win the game their defense will need to play out of their minds against one of the greatest QB’s of all time. On paper, what a contest.

    PS I hear the Knicks may be talking with the Spags after the Giant’s season to help their defense out. Anybody please !!! 108 points against… It’s a victory if we hold teams under 30 points in any quarter.

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  3. I think SU has been drinking a little too much blue and white flavored Kool Aid. I don’t see it. I think the Giants were a bit of a paper tiger this year, and although their defense is good, I don’t see them beating that QB on that team right now. I don’t think the Pats are unbeatable, but I think it’s a weak field in the AFC, other than Pittsburgh, and I’m not sure they’re gonna beat KC. I don’t see Romo taking off his headset.

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  4. I would not be surprised if the Giants make the Super Bowl. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they lose on Sunday. They need to do two things. One is to establish a running game (which they’ve shown some signs of doing lately) and the other is to control Rodgers. The latter is a tall order but maybe the weather will help them out.

    For the AFC, I will keep picking the Patriots until they’re eliminated. This has been my rule for about 15 years. It’s right more than it’s wrong but it’s wrong enough to keep things interesting.

    Will SU be sharing its Hall of Fame ballot this year? I know you didn’t ask but here’s mine.

    1) Bonds
    2) Clemens
    3) I Rodriguez
    4) M Ramirez
    5) Sosa

    Obviously I don’t mind putting known steroid users in because I’m sure there already are steroid usesr in the Hall and I have no idea who did or didn’t use and have a pretty strong feeling that most players were using so lets just put them in based on performance. That said, these 5 are no-brainers. To me the test is going to the Hall of Fame with my kids and being able to answer the question: “What was it like to see _____ play?” You can answer the question for any of the above without skipping a beat. Moments, plays, games, seasons come to mind. These guys defined greatness in various ways. They all belong there.

    6) Hoffman
    7) Schilling

    I don’t think either one has to be there but they both meet my test above. Not many people have been among the top closers in baseball for more than a couple of seasons. And only 2 have done it for long careers. One is Hoffman and the other will be eligible in 2 years. Schilling was great in enough big games over a number of years to make up for career numbers that don’t necessarily look worthy. There would be more stories of greatness told in front of Schilling’s plaque than Bert Blyleven’s for example.

    If I had a ballot it would probably stop there. But I’d consider a few others. Vladimir Guerrero would be one but then I’d have to also include Jeff Bagwell (very similar stats) and Bagwell never felt like a Hall of Famer to me and I wish voters would leave out the borderline cases than put them in. There’s also Jorge Posada who I never expected to consider for this kind of thing but there are not many guys who sustain success at that position for that long. But I put him a step below Gary Carter who I already think is a borderline Hall of Famer so I’d leave him out.

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    1. I forgot one other. I’d put E Martinez in my last category too. He’s borderline statistically and was limited physically. But in his prime I felt he was just one of the most interesting hitters to watch. While the results were different I enjoyed watching him the way I would watch George Brett or Wade Boggs or Tony Gwynn. He didn’t necessarily have the gaudiest stats (although some years were pretty amazing) but when he was up at bat you got the sense that this was a guy who just understood hitting in a way that very few humans ever have.

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