So, here we go. Round Two of the NFL playoffs. Last week is was all about the comeback and the cold. Had KC held on to win, it would have been a clean sweep for the away. The 49ers won in Frigid Green Bay, the Saints won in slightly chilly Philly, San Diego won in convincing fashion in Cincinnati, and Colts broke the streak by breaking Andy Reid’s heart.
Round Two brings about rematches of previous games. Famously, the depleted Niners lost at home to Carolina to validate their hot start. San Diego split home losses with Denver, Seattle famously beat the living shit out of Nawlins on Monday Night in the Speakerdome. only the New England and Indy have not faced each other yet this year.
Saturday
| New Orleans Saints (11-5) | 1:35PM Seattle 31 – NO 20 |
| Seattle Seahawks (13-3) |
| Indianapolis Colts (11-5) | 5:15PM Indy 28 – NE 27 (upset special) |
| New England Patriots (12-4) |
Sunday
| San Francisco 49ers (12-4) | 10:05PM SF 24 – Carolina 14 |
| Carolina Panthers (12-4) |
| San Diego Chargers (9-7) | 1:40PM SD 35 – Denver 17 (Upset 2) |
| Denver Broncos (13-3) |
Great match-ups across the board. You have 2 new-age QBs facing off in Cam and Kap, 2 undersized phenoms in battle-tested Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, Consummate pro Tom Brady vs the upstart pocket passer Andrew Luck, and 2 old pros in P Rivers and Peyton Manning.
All in all an excellent weekend to sit around and watch football.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
Beware the Ted Ginn. He’s quit shying from contact and he’s got something to prove to Harbaugh.
Smith, Olsen and Williams we’ll probably contain. Ginn’s the wild card, so to speak.
I spot them two TDs and a pair of FGs.
Three TDs for CK7 and company with an extra one for the D.
Niners 28 – 20.
Gotcha NF
If Ginn is the deciding factor then some other shit went seriously wrong.
Steve Smith doesn’t look to be very healthy, unless they are pulling a Walsh on us.
I think a turnover or a special teams play might decide it. He hasn’t had a big year on returns but Ginn is always dangerous with those… we might be aiming for our 3rd Super Bowl appearance in 3 years if he’d been in there in the Giants’ game for the NFC Championship….
I’m sure Allen Rossum would have done better than KW that fateful day.
Ted sure as hell kick started 2011 in grand fashion. Those returns ignited the fire.
I am going all in on this game, Niners 28 – Carolina 10. The Niner D stops Cam cold.
Ginn is the guy that flies a little under the radar but is better than the one year contracts he’s been getting, at least now that he doesn’t look for the sidelines first and quit his habit of avoiding contact above all. He’s an improved pass catcher and fast enough to kill you on screens and he’s looking at free agency.
He may not be a huge factor but he seems like he’s the guy in a good position to surprise in the playoffs.
Pass protect and give CK7 a chance at beating their secondary and it should go our way no matter what Ginn does.
Yeah our special teams are vastly improved from the sad sack collection that flopped in the SB. This game is the place to show it again and stuff Mr Ginn
27-20, Seattle over New Orleans
Seattle is not playing as well as earlier but I still think their defense roughs up the Saints
30-24, NE over Indy
Possibly in the rain, I think Indy shot their wad last week. Their D sucks. How did they manage to beat, SF, SEA, DEN, again? Well, that was the first half of the season.
23-20 (again), Niners
I was so stressed out last week I managed to pinch a nerve (while sitting on the coach watching the game) in my back that took me two days before I could lift my right arm again. It’s finally better, just in time to get all stressed out again. Actually, I don’t think this one comes down to the final play. We go ahead, they come back, they fall short.
38-28, Broncos over the Bolts
San Diego is the fun pick, but I get the feeling it won’t be close. I think Mr TD throws 4 and Moreno runs for one.
Ok Barley, compiling here. Posting later in the day (Saturday here)
Apropos of nothing, I have to admit I felt sorry for the Bangles, and their fans last week. I mean, I think they are as solid as they’ve been in a long time. Good defense, dangerous offense, except for…Dalton. I mean really, he pretty much single handedly blew it for them. What does the coach say in the locker after that. “You guys played your hearts out. I’m proud of you and you should be too. All except for you Dalton. You truly sucked.”
Random question Is Vance McD a bust? Well, he certainly is not in the AJ category. He gets on the field, regularly, has some key blocks. But as a pass catcher, route runner, his performance has been a disappointment. I have to admit I had MUCH higher expectations for him catching the ball coming out of college. I thought he’d be better at that and need help blocking. Looks to be the other way around. Not giving up on him by any stretch, and I don’t know how much GR has tried to work him into the receiving game, but there certainly seemed like there were periods this year where he could have, and he’s been missing.
Barley here’s a comment I made last thread at the tail end of a chat between Chuck and NF about Walsh, Harbaugh and Bengals founder Paul Brown: They deserve Dalton….
“. Paul Brown is supposed to have passed around a rumor that BW was an alcoholic to sabotage his HC interviews. Mentioned in book “Papa Bear” I beleive. Bill was obsessive and depressive but alcoholic? No evidence. But clearly Paul Brown was a man fully addicted to the number one addiction on planet earth = controlling others. Same for Halas and many others. PB damaged BW personally and careerwise for his own benefit there is no doubt in my mind. Bill ‘forgave’ Brown when he achieved his own great success, initially at the expense of the Bengals in out first SB win. What have the Bengals done since our second whipping of them in another SB triumph? Jack shit including drafting Dalton and losing to San Diego last weekend. I’d say the curse of Brown on his team for stabbing Walsh lives on (partially for our benefit, eh?)”
17-13 Niners over Carolina…
Shit! *I* was going to take 17-13. I’ll take 17-10 instead, I guess. Tough defensive game. One TD by Kappy running, one throwing. And he will have to run, and convert 3 or 4 critical first downs, for us to win.
Ginn? Can’t run with him. Better beat the shit out of him at the LOS instead.
Barley, I’m pretty sour on the V McD pick as well, but he’s got time to learn. The guy we could have had was (as Snarkk pointed out, numerous times) Keenan Allen. I liked him too, but Snarkk was definitely on board with him.
NEs banged up defensively, Denver will get burned on the back end, and Seattle is about as much a lock as can be believed.
And I sincerely hope your are right, Kevin.
Twin and Phil like the Saints over the Sqwaks, Chuck, shaman and Barley pick SEA to win.
Chuck, Phil and shaman like Indy over NE while Barley and Twin say NE wins
Chuck, Phil and Twin say SD and barley and shaman like da Bronks for the win.
(Phil goes with Saints (wishful thinking), Indy (roots fer underdog) SD (pure sentiment) as above.
So there ya go on the other playoff games this weekend. Niner calls to follow later. Get yer calls in you lazy prognosticators of the mighty pigskin!
Further comments from the first responders:
Chuck: Seattle 31 – NO 20, Indy 28 – NE 27 (upset special), SD 35 – Denver 17 (Upset 2)
Twinfan1: NO 24 Seattle 17. This one might be a hope, so we get one last playoff game at the ‘Stick. NE 28 Indy 13 SD 31 Denver 27
shaman138: 49ers will have to find a way to win in Seattle, as the Squawks will handle NO. Colts will stun the Brady Bunch, and the Manning donkeys take care of the SD Chokers.
barleyfreak: 27-20, Seattle over New Orleans. Seattle is not playing as well as earlier but I still think their defense roughs up the Saints.
30-24, NE over Indy. Possibly in the rain, I think Indy shot their wad last week. Their D sucks. How did they manage to beat, SF, SEA, DEN, again? Well, that was the first half of the season.
38-28, Broncos over the Bolts
San Diego is the fun pick, but I get the feeling it won’t be close. I think Mr TD throws 4 and Moreno runs for one.
Chuck says: 24-20 Niners… why do I think the 49ers will win? Mainly because when the 49ers played the Panthers, we nearly won the game despite missing many of our best players… and I think the Niners abandoned the run to ill effect. Anyhow, this looks to be another defensive struggle… Point being, points will be hard to come by, and turnovers can kill. Protect the ball. Contain Fig Newton, and force known fumbler DeAngelo Williams into a couple cough-ups and all should work out fine. 24-14 Niners.
Phil fan says: 24-20 Niners. Relax ladies we are winning the Super Bowl I repeat for the third time here. It has nothing to do with luck, the force, fate, the gods of the pigskin or alignment of the stars. Since beating the Seattle boys and hearing Justin Smith’s challenge to their MANLINESS our guys have been in playoff mode with a ‘lose and go home mentality’. Nothings changed in the past month except the emergence of Crabtree. We will not lose again this season. 16-4, 6th Lombardi in the bag. My prognostication Niners beat Panthers 24-20
twinfan1 says: SF 20 Carolina 10.
Irish Kevin says: I am going all in on this game, Niners 28 – Carolina 10. The Niner D stops Cam cold.
NJ49er says: 23-17 9ers. Offensively we should be far better than the first meeting.
Sure, it’ll be a Defensive challenge but, we held them to 10. WR Steve Smith was healthier then too. We had next to nothing to offer in the WR category for that one too.
Chuck I’m thinking the same way in terms of a possible final score. I’ll venture a final close to what you’re suggesting. 23-17 Niners
Nipper says: Niners 34 Panthers 31!
snarkk says: 17-13 Niners over Carolina…
Grumpy Guy says: 17-10 Niners. Shit! *I* was going to take 17-13. I’ll take 17-10 instead, I guess. Tough defensive game. One TD by Kappy running, one throwing. And he will have to run, and convert 3 or 4 critical first downs, for us to win. Ginn? Can’t run with him. Better beat the shit out of him at the LOS instead.
shaman138 says: SF 30, Charlotte Kittens 27. And the 49ers will have to find a way to win in Seattle, as the Squawks will handle NO. Colts will stun the Brady Bunch, and the Manning donkeys take care of the SD Chokers. And Nipper stays thirsty.
NoFear49er says: Niners 28 – 20. Beware the Ted Ginn. He’s quit shying from contact and he’s got something to prove to Harbaugh. Smith, Olsen and Williams we’ll probably contain. Ginn’s the wild card, so to speak. I spot them two TDs and a pair of FGs. Three TDs for CK7 and company with an extra one for the D. Niners 28 – 20.
BTW Chuck’s call is 24-14 not 24-20
I hope the Seahawks win tomorrow, too. I want the Niners to be the team that crushes their dream. And then our path to number six will have been earned through defeating the best teams in the league. Doesn’t matter in the big picture history I suppose but it would make me happier, and really, that’s what matters.
Yeah That would be sweet and add a much needed note of humility to the folks up north. Beating the Saints or losing to AZ is one thing, tasting the wrath of the 49ers would be a lot harder to swallow for the upstarts of the north. May it be so
Yeah, there’d be a certain amount of glee in winning up there. They talk dynasty and need to do something to earn that. Not regular season accolades.
Good point. The most they’ve done is get beat by Pittsburgh in the SB. Some dynasty.
Be careful what you wish for.
Pressed for time as I’m trying to help a neighbor move: SEA and NE are my selections today. Not that my pks amount to hill of beans or that anyone gives a flying fig, but there’s something about not wanting to be left out and felt excluded in the “prognostication party.” So there you have it.
Ok Del Mar yer in the big dance
OMG, that was awful..
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise and remove your caps for our National Anthem, performed today by a chick we found on streets of Seattle..”
Actually she’s a famous singer, old man.
I know that, sonny. A terrible famous singer.
I’ve got 4 TVs, on every one the game is being broadcast in Spanish. The commercials are in English. Anybody else getting this?
Oops- I think it’s Mediacom. They won’t even take calls from my area because the call volume is thru the roof.
Watching on internet- sound is in English and the text in French?
Shit Lynch scores
¡Mucha Mierda!
. Missed FG, fucked punt, fumble=Ballgame.
OK. Enough moving for one day. My ass is back where it belongs — glued to my computer chair watching some goddamn football.
Speaking of which…BEAST MODE has made an appearance. Fumbling in your own territory vs SEA in the playoffs is not the best way to go about things. Just another helpful hint from Del Mar.
I’m here to help and I aims to please. 😛
Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp!
2 posts on field gulls and they banned me. What a bunch of twits. I was fairly nice.
Like always?
As expected, Seattle is handling business so far. I’m 99% sure at this point the NFC Champ game will be 9ers at Seahawks. I’m more interesting in this evenings game…Colts will stun those Massholes, IMO.
Yep Seattle
Oh well. Oh, cool!
Yeah gonna be the Seahawks unless Saints play better
Self-proclaimed dynasties don’t kick crappy punts like that. That gives Breezy good field position and could potentially let them right back in this thing.
That’s all it was, “potential.”
No kidding. They flubbed that opportunity.
Shit come on Saints
Wilson had “faith” in that jump ball pass to Percy.
Seattle sure doesn’t look like a Summer Place today.
. Missed FG, fucked punt, terrible DB play, fumble=Ballgame.
Nawlins isn’t doing very much here.
The wind had something to do with that, shaman.
Looking like a dog fight next week in Seattle. Who will be there? Niners of course
Yup. And it will be a lot closer than the last two games there. I still don’t think SF can win it up there but we shall see…they gotta get by the Kitties first.
Great way to piss a game away–make a defensive stand in your own territory and then promptly give them first and goal with a dumb holding penalty. See ya next year, Saints.
Jesus Harvin is a pussy
The comma is a valuable tool 😉
Pussy, Jesus is a Harvin?
How dat?
I was kidding you, Athol.
Gotcha Artois
He makes Darren McFadden look like a stud. Man up, dude.
Really
Zebras tried to put it out of reach but only three there. Good stop for NO D and maybe that’s the end for Harvin today.
The English came back but the Saints are playing like Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
They taste like honey?
Suddenly Saints realize this aint Phillys D
The Saints couldn’t score against Phyllis Diller today.
But could they score with her?
Ewww
You’d hit that.
This Seawaddle “dynasty” looks very beatable right now.
so much for the “Seattle gets every call” theory. That WAS a fumble.
why the hell Petey didn’t challenge is beyond me. Who’s up in their booth, Paarag?
How ’bout a FG to salvage NO pride?
Saints still have a life, barely
If the Niners win, they’d better learn hand signals going into Seattle. Two slow first downs and this baby is over.
Yeah Saints O not up to it in SEA
Lynch, too strong, too fast and too many moves on that run. NEXT!
Too hard to root for the 1980 rams?
Rod Perry was just too short.
Nobody on the edge to stop him. 140 yds for Lynch on ground = he’ll never get on Niners
Ok NF we’re going to Seattle after CAR tomorrow
Hey. Fun
Regardless, Wilson looked less
Woo hoo,!
Wilson looked less than spectacular today.
They’re not unstoppable in that thunderdome they play in. Meanwhile, Go Colts!
What a dick! Colson is a fool.
Wow. Moronic doesn’t doesn’t t come close to describing that play
They had 8 seconds!!!!
I’m thinking Colson is getting his ass kicked right now.
Now it’s time for Indy to knock off the NE Cheatriots.
Shit.
Think the Colts are going to make it on the field too?
I’m not even sure if their plane landed in Boston yet.
Fuck, looks like Indy wasn’t ready for this dance…
Not a bit. Luck and the passing game are just getting hammered.
As I say that…first down.
Hell ya
Dan Dierdorf was advocating that the NE punter should have tried to keep the ball in play inside of his own 3 yd line. Why give up 2 pts on a safety when ya can give ’em 7?
Mook
At least the MC will have a great punch line at your retirement dinner.
Well he did try to salvage the end of his career with an awkward “well, maybe not.”
I’m neither a DD fan, nor detractor. But for a guy who played 13 yrs in the NFL and followed that up with a nearly 30 yr broadcasting career not to know the correct play in that situation was embarrassing. Hell. I felt embarrassed for him.
That jumbo formation is money . . . . Not.
Whose?
Indy just ran it on the 2.
Two TEs = Jumbo?
I got it, the second and goal play. Yeah, they stuffed it with better leverage. The same way we get beat on it.
Playing into the defense doesn’t work a lot of the time.
They only get eleven. If they stack the gaps you can always fake the handoff and roll out on an option. But if you are going to run inside your blockers can’t let the D line get under them. Did you happen to see the Pats TD just now?
4 NE TDs tonight, and not one by our future president of the United States.
Tom’s already using his power and authority to delegate distribution.
What’s not to love about the man?
That was two helluva back-to-back throws by Luck to answer.
Andrew would make one great VEEP.
How do they keep getting behind the coverage?
Good question. The D tonight is a blueprint straight outta Bob Sutton’s KC defense last wk vs these same horses.
Got to dig Luck.
I said it somewhere that NE would kill ’em in the air.
PI continues to be an unexplainable mystery to referees everywhere.
Oy vey. Great run defense by the Colts…or, you know, not.
Not. 4 TDs by Blount. Pats keep giving ’em up in the air
Wow. So much for the defense.
Haven’t seen any yet by either team
Logan Mankings with the pulling block of the year. He helped Moses part the Red Sea for L. Blount on that long TD scamper. Nicely done.
Well, six rushing TDs is just embarrassing for Greg Manusky’s bunch.
Well, last week I was o-2 on Saturday, and 2-0 on Sunday. 1-1 today.
Luck’s got to get 3 In a hurry.
Down by 21 and you have just 4th and ONE on your 30 and you punt?
Cancer or no cancer, Chuck Pagano should be fired post haste.
Yep bad call
Was it 4th and one?
Yes think so
Dierdorf made a nice little comeback with his Clydesdale remark.
Better for Dan to ride off into the sunset on a horse. Then to be remembered as the guy who wanted to eschew the safety for a touchdown. But of course.
Seattle sure got their monies worth from Pussy Harvin haven’t they?
Fleeced on the Trade and then tea-bagged on the production return.
Saint’s lit his A$$ up.
Another example of a guy getting paid then mailing it in.
NO certainly got their shots in on him.
Another under-the-table bounty?
New thread is up.