NFL Round 2.

[Sexy_Dave]

Guys were sayin that the Cards DB's are reading Delhomme....he is telegraphing. He must have some kind of tell.

Now if the Beagles can beat the Giants the Cards will be at home for the championship game and in the drivers seat for the Super Bowl....lmao

 

[ckupets04]

Guys were sayin that the Cards DB's are reading Delhomme....he is telegraphing. He must have some kind of tell.

Now if the Beagles can beat the Giants the Cards will be at home for the championship game and in the drivers seat for the Super Bowl....lmao

Cards secondary were definitely jumping the routes. On the play previous to the Roderick Hood pick (Delhomme's 5th of the evening), Rodgers-Cromartie jumped a route and almost had a pick on the previous play.

The thing that is impressing me with the Cards is that they are shutting down great ground games in consecutive weeks of Atlanta and Carolina respectively. They are also running the ball the past 2 weeks as well as they have all season. Dont get me wrong, they dont have an elite ground attack now but they are running the ball pretty decently in the playoffs. Also this defense, much like the Ravens defense has been creating more turnovers than a bakery this postseason. Honestly though, like Moose said during the telecast, pretty much all but one of the picks were Delhomme's fault. With the exception of the tip-drill pick by Rolle, all the other picks were very poor decisions by Delhomme. I have no idea what he was seeing out there, he was constantly throwing the ball into coverage. Give credit to the Cards DBs but I think the INTs were more a function of poor decisions by Delhomme as opposed to great plays by the Cards DBs. The crazy thing is that the Cards probably left a couple of turnovers on the table. There was one bomb to Steve Smith that Rodgers-Cromartie easily could have had , and another pass intended for Dwayne Jarret in the 4th Q that Rodgers-Cromartie easily could have had as well.

Wow, this Cards team is looking like a serious contender and it would be hard to bet against them if they get to play at home next week against Philly.

There goes my Superbowl Prediction. I had the Panthers winning the SB but the Cards proved me wrong.

You guys see Antrelle Rolle after his pick, he imitated Muhsin Muhammed (when he put the football through his legs like a basketball).

 

[ckupets04]

Guys were sayin that the Cards DB's are reading Delhomme....he is telegraphing. He must have some kind of tell.

Now if the Beagles can beat the Giants the Cards will be at home for the championship game and in the drivers seat for the Super Bowl....lmao

I dont know if they would be in the drivers seat to win it but they would have at least a very good chance of getting to the SB. I predicted earlier that I like the Ravens coming out of the AFC and the thing is if Arizona has to play both Philly and Baltimore to win the SB that will be a tough task because we know Jim Johnson and Rex Ryan will do a better job at attacking protection schemes than Atlanta and Carolina did. They will see a lot more blitzes against teams like Philly, Baltimore and Pittsburgh if they collide with any of these teams in the playoffs. Obvioiusly to play BAL or PITT they would have to get to the SB.

 

[Sexy_Dave]

Cards great play is starting at the Oline and Dline.Warner is getting great protection and they are running better now than all year. On the Defense they are getting great penetration and solid play at LB. DB's are reaping the rewards from rushed throws and disquised coverages. You are right about them having to play against attacking Def like philly et al you mentioned but still a great year for them regardless.

 

[ckupets04]

Cards great play is starting at the Oline and Dline.Warner is getting great protection and they are running better now than all year. On the Defense they are getting great penetration and solid play at LB. DB's are reaping the rewards from rushed throws and disquised coverages. You are right about them having to play against attacking Def like philly et al you mentioned but still a great year for them regardless.

I couldnt have said it better myself. The Cards D-line were definitely making a lot of plays in the Panthers backfield. Karlos Dansby is one of the more underrated linebackers in the league. And the secondary have been playing like ball hawks. And Warner is as good as any QB in the league when hes getting good pass-protection. Credit the tackles especially for negating John Abraham and Julius Peppers on consecutive weeks.

Larry Fitzgerald is just sick. How many times does this guy make catches in double coverage. Its to the point now where I'm not even impressed anymore when he makes those catches, I simply expect him to make those catches because he does it time and time again. Thats two weeks in a row now hes made difficult catches in double coverage. Any secondary that goes up against the Cards have to tackle well cause its the yards after the catch that kills you with the Cards.

 

[homonger]

I thought it was pretty clear that should have been a delay of game penalty on Baltimore. Is that even challengable? And Flacco did not step out of the end zone. It was close, but he was in.

How bad did Jake Delhomme play? 5 picks and a fumble. It's hard to believe this was the same Panther team we watched all year. Arizona played a perfect game.

I'm liking that the Ravens and the Cards making a run at it. Since I am a Giants fan, I'm hoping that order is restored and a higher seed actually wins a playoff game tomorrow. But it would be cool if the Ravens or the Cards made the Super Bowl.

 

[ckupets04]

I thought it was pretty clear that should have been a delay of game penalty on Baltimore. Is that even challengable? And Flacco did not step out of the end zone. It was close, but he was in.

How bad did Jake Delhomme play? 5 picks and a fumble. It's hard to believe this was the same Panther team we watched all year. Arizona played a perfect game.

I'm liking that the Ravens and the Cards making a run at it. Since I am a Giants fan, I'm hoping that order is restored and a higher seed actually wins a playoff game tomorrow. But it would be cool if the Ravens or the Cards made the Super Bowl.

I dont think the delay of game thing is challengeable.

 

[ckupets04]

Guys were sayin that the Cards DB's are reading Delhomme....he is telegraphing. He must have some kind of tell.

Now if the Beagles can beat the Giants the Cards will be at home for the championship game and in the drivers seat for the Super Bowl....lmao

I have to admit, I love that crew, might be my fav FOX crew. I'm not a huge Aikman/Buck fan who I'm assuming will be calling the Eagles/Giants game. I prefer Kenny Albert, Moose and Goose. Was it Kenny Albert doing the play by play tonight? Wasnt sure, I know it was Moose Daryl Johnson doing the color commentary and the Goose Tony Siragusa patrolling the sidelines. The banter that goes on during the game between Moose and Goose is always fun to listen to.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Well, the favourites handed the games to the 'dogs.

Tennessee (an average offence) moved the ball up and down the field but kept putting the ball on the ground in the red zone. On top of that, they took WAY too many unnecessary penalties - both are signs of poor discipline and that falls on the head coach. I like Jeff Fisher, but one has to ask what has he really done? One Super Bowl runner up and some of good-to-great teams that didn't go far in the playoffs. Baltimore's defence is great (even if the Titans did more than enough offensively to win this game) - hard hitting and mean, even without Terrell Suggs. However I think their lack of offence and just above average special teams will catch up with them at some point - simply put, they lack game breakers. (Well, other than Ed Reed, but he can't play on offence or return kicks on top of being the best free safety [and one of the top 5 defensive players in the game] in football... can he?!? LOL!)

I can't recall a decent quarterback like Jake Delhomme having that terrible a game in quite some time. He flat-out stunk. The offensive adjustments for the Panthers were terrible (the Cards may not have jumped the snap count this time, but they sure jumped a lot of pass routes) so the coach and offensive coordinator need to take some serious heat too. John Fox has been living off his Super Bowl appearance from five years ago for too long. Jeff Davidson appears to be in over his head, just like he did in Cleveland. I don't know Jim Skipper (Ass't Head Coach & Running Backs coach) but I know he's never been a coordinator and isn't on anyone's "hot list" as a head coaching candidate - never a good sign. He's done a great job with the Panthers' backfield, but how does that make him the #2 coach on the team? The question I have to ask is why did Carolina abandon its offensive bread-and-butter - the running game - so quickly?

Arizona is a good - but far from great - team that has caught a couple of opponents flat, had a few calls go their way and have upped their line play exponentially in the playoffs. Having watched this team a few times in the regular season, I can say with all honesty that I would never have guessed that this group of offensive and defensive lineman would be able to play at the level they've played at during the last two games.


PS - I can't stand Goose and think Moose is still sufferring from concussion/neck symptoms at times. Kenny Albert is pretty good, but he needs a much stronger colour guy to make up for his lack of football knowledge - Merril Hoge, Jaws or Collinsworth are the best at breaking a game down IMO.

 

[ckupets04]

Well, the favourites handed the games to the 'dogs.

Tennessee (an average offence) moved the ball up and down the field but kept putting the ball on the ground in the red zone. On top of that, they took WAY too many unnecessary penalties - both are signs of poor discipline and that falls on the head coach. I like Jeff Fisher, but one has to ask what has he really done? One Super Bowl runner up and some of good-to-great teams that didn't go far in the playoffs. Baltimore's defence is great (even if the Titans did more than enough offensively to win this game) - hard hitting and mean, even without Terrell Suggs. However I think their lack of offence and just above average special teams will catch up with them at some point - simply put, they lack game breakers. (Well, other than Ed Reed, but he can't play on offence or return kicks on top of being the best free safety [and one of the top 5 defensive players in the game] in football... can he?!? LOL!)

I can't recall a decent quarterback like Jake Delhomme having that terrible a game in quite some time. He flat-out stunk. The offensive adjustments for the Panthers were terrible (the Cards may not have jumped the snap count this time, but they sure jumped a lot of pass routes) so the coach and offensive coordinator need to take some serious heat too. John Fox has been living off his Super Bowl appearance from five years ago for too long. Jeff Davidson appears to be in over his head, just like he did in Cleveland. I don't know Jim Skipper (Ass't Head Coach & Running Backs coach) but I know he's never been a coordinator and isn't on anyone's "hot list" as a head coaching candidate - never a good sign. He's done a great job with the Panthers' backfield, but how does that make him the #2 coach on the team? The question I have to ask is why did Carolina abandon its offensive bread-and-butter - the running game - so quickly?

Arizona is a good - but far from great - team that has caught a couple of opponents flat, had a few calls go their way and have upped their line play exponentially in the playoffs. Having watched this team a few times in the regular season, I can say with all honesty that I would never have guessed that this group of offensive and defensive lineman would be able to play at the level they've played at during the last two games.


PS - I can't stand Goose and think Moose is still sufferring from concussion/neck symptoms at times. Kenny Albert is pretty good, but he needs a much stronger colour guy to make up for his lack of football knowledge - Merril Hoge, Jaws or Collinsworth are the best at breaking a game down IMO.

JAWS is my absolutely favorite. God I wouldnt even mind if the ESPN crew did every single NFL game (even though thats impossible). Tirico and Jaws are great and even though I hated Kornheiser at first I am starting to at least tolerate him. Kornheiser's football knowledge is very limited and he often makes silly comments in a game when a big play has just happened. I remember on a MNF game involving the Skins, Carlos Rodgers made a great pass-defense and the first words out of Tony's mouth were "do you see the color of Carlos Rodgers shoes!" instead of being impressed with a great play he was impressed with Carlos Rogers shoes. I tolerate Tony now only cause he is good for some comedy during the telecast.

I just like Goose cause he seems like a jovial guy on the sidelines. He is just joking around and stuff.

I have seen Arizona play in the reg season too and i never would have guessed that these lineman could play as well as they have but I have to give them credit. I think they are playing well. Like the guys on Sunday countdown always say, once is an accident, twice is a trend. This is 2 weeks in a row now that they have been playing well. The D-line is playing ball in the offensive backfield a lot. And its not just one guy, its all of them, Antonio Smith, Bertrand Berry, DArnell Dockett, Bryan Robinson, these guys are all playing well. I think Rodgers-Cromartie is an emerging star at cornerback. And where in the world did ARZ unearth this running game, they had zero ground game in the reg season and now they actually look like they at least have some assemblance of a running game with Edge and Hightower. How about that block by Terrell Smith on Julius Peppers last night!

 

[ckupets04]

captainfantastic, the one thing we do know is that the Cards will likely face more of a pass-rush in their upcoming game(s) then they have in the past 2. If we look at the remaining teams in the playoffs, a lot of the DCs like to bring pressure with more than just the front 4. And looking further to the SB if ARZ were to collide with say PITT, Dick Lebeau will be dialing up all sorts of exotic blitzes and zone blitzes that will definitely challenge the Cards protection schemes.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

captainfantastic, the one thing we do know is that the Cards will likely face more of a pass-rush in their upcoming game(s) then they have in the past 2. If we look at the remaining teams in the playoffs, a lot of the DCs like to bring pressure with more than just the front 4. And looking further to the SB if ARZ were to collide with say PITT, Dick Lebeau will be dialing up all sorts of exotic blitzes and zone blitzes that will definitely challenge the Cards protection schemes.

And Kurt Warner will eventually show his (recent) true colours and fumble the ball or throw picks...

I like Kurt (even though he's a bible thumper and I'm far from it) but his thumb injuries and inclination to hold the ball too long or force throws have caused him to turn the ball over far too often in the second half of his career.

 

[ckupets04]

And Kurt Warner will eventually show his (recent) true colours and fumble the ball or throw picks...

I like Kurt (even though he's a bible thumper and I'm far from it) but his thumb injuries and inclination to hold the ball too long or force throws have caused him to turn the ball over far too often in the second half of his career.

Warner is a good guy I would like to see him do well. While its true that he is turnover prone especially when there is pressure, he is as good as any QB in the league when he gets good pass-pro. I actually think this year he hasnt been as turnover prone as in past years. And I think in the games when he has gotten pressure he has gotten rid of the ball more quickly to combat the pressure.

Whats up with the Giants today, they couldnt finish drives, they were horrible in short yardage situations, Broderick Bunkley came up big for the Eagles on both those 4th and shorts, Eli was inaccurate with his passes , and they had missed fgs, turnovers. Eagles on the other hand were able to finish a couple of drives and were much better on 3rd downs than the Giants were. Eagles werent really moving the ball well at all until that final drive of the 1st half when for some reason the Giants went with a 3-man rush and dropped 8 into coverage. Ive never been a big fan of that type of defense. I say play the same defense you always play unless your up by 2 or more scores really late in a game.

 

[homonger]

The upsets continue as the Eagles dispensed of the G-Men rather handily. The Eagles were better in all phases of the game, end of story, and I don't really think of this as that much of an upset.

The Giants, proved, as I had suspected all season long, that they just really weren't that good. Even when they were 11-1, and a lot of talking heads were touting them as the "best team in football", I had my doubts.

At the end, they came up short on both sides of the ball. They couldn't score when they had to, and they couldn't stop Philly when they had to. Disappointing to me, as a Giants fan, but again, not at all unexpected.

 

[ricepower88]

Yes the Eagle win. I'm happy that both Mannings are out of the playoffs.
Giants are just an average team without Plexico!!

It doesn't matter who wins the Superbowl now.

 

[ckupets04]

Whats the over/under on how many all-purpose yards Sproles will have today? I dont think he'll have much yards on the ground, it will be tough sledding for him on the ground but against the Pittsburgh Blitz, I think he could be a major threat out of the backfield as a receiver on screen passes, also he will be key on STs in the return game. I say 200+ yards for Sproles. Sproles and Scifres could be the key to a Chargers Win. I like the Bolts in this one.

 

[ckupets04]

what an effort by Vincent Jackson laying out for that ball, initial replays suggest though that it wont hold up. Chargers need to have either short fields or explosive plays in the passing game in order to put points up, they cant have long 80 yard 12+ play drives thats just not gonna work against PITT, too many bad things can happen on drives like that, a penalty, sack, fumble, INT, etc. Norv Turner needs to start getting vertical on these guys when they dont have a short field they need some big plays.

 

[ckupets04]

Almost fitting that it should be PITT & BAL in the AFC Championship game. I did pick SD and was wrong on that prediction but it is fitting that its a PITT/BAL AFC Championship. Ray Lewis said on a recent NFL Network interview that next time they wont leave it in the hands of the officials. We all remember the controversial Santonio Holmes TD. I think BAL gets payback next week and advances to Tampa.

This is a dream for fans of defensive football. Fans of offensive football need not watch this game. Easily the two best safeties in the NFL in this game too with Reed and Polamalu. Some great linebacking corps as well. This is a game that could come down to special teams.

 

[shack]

Any early lines out yet for next week?

I'm guessing Pitt will be 3-4 point favs and Philly on the road will be favs by around 2-3.

 

[ckupets04]

not sure what the lines are but I like Baltimore to get redemption for the last game against PITT. Also, it is very very difficult when you have two evenly matched teams for one team to beat the other 3 times in the same season. Which is why I like BAL in this game. As for PHI/ARZ, I think that game has the potential to be a heck of a football game. The key in that game will be pass-protection for Arizona. Two great storylines either way.

This is why I love the NFL more than any other league. It just seems that at least in recent years anyone can win the postseason. In 05 you have the Steelers win the SB as a No. 6 seed. In 07, we have the G-Men winning the SB as a No. 6 seed. And now we have a #6 versus #4 in the NFC championship game and a #2 versus #6 in the AFC Championship.