Octopus Overlords

Wildcard weekend is upon us. Who do you like? Here are my picks:

Colts at Bills
Rams at Seahawks
Bucs at a Football Team

Ravens at Titans
Bears at Saints
Browns at Steelers

Rams
Bills
Brady

I think the Rams will win because.

Browns.

really not sure why we need another thread. the original would work no?

naednek wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:18 pm really not sure why we need another thread. the original would work no?

Somebody said we need a new thread every time somebody dies. However there is always:

The playoffs ended today. I'll see you all in the offseason thread.

So 4/6 in the first round (glad I was wrong on the Browns). Next up:

Rams at Packers
Ravens at Bills

Browns at Chiefs
Bucs at Saints

Still hoping for great things from my second favorite team.

Packers
Bills
Chiefs
Bucs

Rams
Bucs
Ravens
Chiefs

A note on Ravens/Bills. Last year, the Bills defense provided the template that the Titans used to eject the Ravens from the playoffs. The four best performers for the Bills defense that day aren’t on the team this year.

While the Bills offense is light years ahead this year, I don’t see how the Bills defense puts up any resistance to this kind of a rushing attack. I think the Bills can score...maybe 24? But I see the Ravens getting past 30 without too much trouble. The Bills defense really is trash without Star clogging up the middle.

Think the Rams defense is going to be able to stop/slow Rodgers? It could. Rodgers has had at least one bad game that I saw, and if he plays like he did in that one (SF) the Rams could win. Of course the big question is who is going to be the Rams QB right?

Browns.

Packers
Bills
Chiefs
Buccaneers

The Ravens struggled to score last week against a Titans defense that wasn't very good. And I think the Bills offense is better than the Titans offense, so seems like the Bills should have enough firepower to get it done.

Doesn't seem like the Browns are good enough to take the Chiefs.

Don't have as much thoughts on the NFC side, other than that the Packers seem very good, and I'd like Tom Brady to beat the Saints.

Lorini wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:29 am Think the Rams defense is going to be able to stop/slow Rodgers?

I sure hope so because they are my second favorite team this week. I really, really, really don't want to find myself in the predicament where my second favorite team becomes the winner of the TB/NO game. I'm already sick of Brady vs. Brees, the thought of the narrative continuing to either of them vs. Rodgers is absolutely nauseating.

Lorini wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:29 am Think the Rams defense is going to be able to stop/slow Rodgers? It could. Rodgers has had at least one bad game that I saw, and if he plays like he did in that one (SF) the Rams could win. Of course the big question is who is going to be the Rams QB right?

Just follow last year's 49ers defense game plan

Jeff V wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:47 am

Lorini wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:29 am Think the Rams defense is going to be able to stop/slow Rodgers?

I sure hope so because they are my second favorite team this week. I really, really, really don't want to find myself in the predicament where my second favorite team becomes the winner of the TB/NO game. I'm already sick of Brady vs. Brees, the thought of the narrative continuing to either of them vs. Rodgers is absolutely nauseating.

Same

My reasoning on my picks:
Rams got an unexpectedly big performance from their running back. I doubt that happens again, so I think they'll struggle.
The Ravens got an amazing performance from their QB, likewise I doubt he'll be able to duplicate that. He should do fine passing OR running but I don't think he'll do another 180yd 1 td passing 140yd 1td running game this week.
In contrast, the Chiefs and Bucs merely need more of the same from their players. Both Mahomes and Brady have proven they can consistently deliver in the playoffs.

Go Bills! (a.k.a. Panthers North)

WOW! 102 yard pick six!

A shame about Jackson. Huntley is looking good, though.

The Bills defense picked a helluva week for their best game of the season.

RunningMn9 wrote:The Bills defense picked a helluva week for their best game of the season.

And yet, the 102 yd pick six plus the two missed first half field goals... It was a tight, tough contest.

Pyperkub wrote:

RunningMn9 wrote:The Bills defense picked a helluva week for their best game of the season.

And yet, the 102 yd pick six plus the two missed first half field goals... It was a tight, tough contest.

It was tightbecause the Bills offense struggled too. Holding Jackson under 4 ypc is way better than I expected. Had the Bills not kept trying for the home run ball, I think that game would have been a blowout with how the defense was playing. Trying to go deep constantly, with that wind, was a mistake.

The first half was amazing in that, if I remember correctly, the Bills did not call a single run play. Allen scrambled once, but that was obviously not the intended play. I don’t know that I’ve seen that before.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:06 am A shame about Jackson. Huntley is looking good, though.

Was really happy for Huntley. Met him a couple times while her was here, and he’s a really good dude.

Thought he performed admirably in a really tough spot.

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 11:26 am The first half was amazing in that, if I remember correctly, the Bills did not call a single run play. Allen scrambled once, but that was obviously not the intended play. I don’t know that I’ve seen that before.

They had only one called run with Singletary. Allen scrambled once, and kneeled down once for three total carries. I believe that's the fewest ever in the first half of a playoff game. I don't recommend it.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 11:45 am

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:06 am A shame about Jackson. Huntley is looking good, though.

Was really happy for Huntley. Met him a couple times while her was here, and he’s a really good dude.

Thought he performed admirably in a really tough spot.

He did, and that was a brutal spot for a practice squad rookie QB to have to play. He missed the open TD, but that was probably for the same reason that Allen missed an open Diggs in the first half. A huge tailwind will make that ball sail, and it did.

Apparently the pandemic doesn’t exist in KC, judging by the size of the crowd.

Blatant helmet to helmet no-call. Browns get hosed.

The Browns got the ball back with a few minutes left in the game and a chance to win it by scoring a touchdown, they punted. That fumble/uncalled penalty wasn't what cost them the game.

gameoverman wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 7:10 pm The Browns got the ball back with a few minutes left in the game and a chance to win it by scoring a touchdown, they punted. That fumble/uncalled penalty wasn't what cost them the game.

Agreed, but a touchdown scored at that point instead of a touchback would have been a game changer.

I was shocked that they punted. Even if the Chiefs get a FG, it’s a one score game. The non-call certainly hurt them, but they had just about every advantage once Mahomes went out and couldn’t get it done.

If you're a Saints fan the good news is the Bucs needed an interception and a big return to score a touchdown. If you're a Bucs fan you can be happy it's tied at half time. Brady is pretty good at upping his game in the second half and that bodes well for the Bucs.

Well Brees laid an egg. Can't believe I have to root for the Packers to stop Brady.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 7:32 pm

gameoverman wrote: ↑Sun Jan 17, 2021 7:10 pm The Browns got the ball back with a few minutes left in the game and a chance to win it by scoring a touchdown, they punted. That fumble/uncalled penalty wasn't what cost them the game.

Agreed, but a touchdown scored at that point instead of a touchback would have been a game changer.

Would have been a different game. That said, they still had a chance at the end. I think losing the time out on the bad challenge and wasting the other one was as bad or worse than punting.

I just can't do it. As much as I loathe the Packers, I can't root for Brady under any circumstance.

Go KC.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 9:21 pm

Spoiler:

That's cool.

Predictions:

Bucs at Packers

Bills at Chiefs

Though I would love to see the Bills get to the SB, that Andy Reed is one smart sob.