This weekend we have another football extravaganza. It gets much more interesting with the recent catastrophes put behind us. Cincinnati may not be moving on, but Vontaze Burfict left his imprint on the Steelers by laying out Big Ben, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s FG kicker Blair Walsh visited the 1st grades that sent him letters of support after his miss. I wonder what their parents would have told him.
But I digress.
Saturday, Jan. 16
AFC Div. Game 1: Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots, 1:35 p.m., CBS
NFC Div. Game 1: Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers, 5:15 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Jan. 17
NFC Div. Round Game 2: Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks, 10:05 a.m., FOX
AFC Div. Round Game 2: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos, 1:40 p.m., CBS
KC and NE. This is yet another shot for Young Sir Alex to put his stamp on another playoff run. He famously bootlegged his way to an epic win over the Saints, and score 41 points only to lose to the Colts a couple years ago. Would love to see Alex Squeak this one out.
KC 35 – NE 31
Cards and Packers? This will likely be the biggest snoozer as AZ crushes Aaron Rodgers and Co. Green Bay has been shakey all year, and this one is no different. AZ at home will not be denied.
AZ 41 – GB 17
Sunday’s fare includes Carolina vs Seattle. This one looks like the best matchup of the weekend. Seattle is on fire, but dodged a huge bullet in Minnesota last week. They likely come out very focussed. I think Carolina finally gets past someone in a low-scoring affair.
Carolina 20 – Sea 16
Pittsburgh and Denver? This one is a quandary. Pittsburgh is banged-up and battered after their epic confrontation in Cincy last week. Denver is coming off the triumphant return of Peyton Manning handing off the ball a few times to seal their last win, so this one is iffy depending on Big Ben’s status. I find it hard to think he’ll miss this. Another low scoring one though.
Pitts 21 – Denver 16
What do you guys think?
Forty Niners Forever 
Crazy shit here.
AZ lets two 50 yard plays happen in the last 45 seconds.
Unfuckingreal.
Holy shit!! This game is nuts.
Carson Palmer with his first playoff win.
Hope it’s the Cards and Panthers for the championship. Glad the Pack ate it today, can’t stand that team.
And, every once in awhile V still makes me laugh.
Now THAT was a great football game!
With the addition of Chip to the sideline, I’m thinking the QB situation changes.
Check QB Brandon Doughty from WKU, 6’3″/216 as a Mid RD option now?
This changes the potential to Draft a QB at 7 IMO.
Kaep could survive with Chip, which could have played a major factor in the decision to add Chip?
Pick 7 could now have improved the stock of DE DeForest Buckner from OR, as Chip isn’t shy about adding his Ducks.
NJ, I don’t see the decision to hire Chip having anything to do with Kappy. The front office made it abundantly clear that they didn’t want Kappy. Going as far as not wanting him on the sidelines,
But yes, Chip does change the thought process going forward. Since they did go with Chip, I think they should give Kappy another shot.
The Niners were desperate to hire someone with SOME cred regardless of all the other baggage. And it is an awful lot of baggage. This has the potential to blow up in their faces.
Say “Goodbye” to Kap is for the best. Let him get a fresh start somewhere.
Yeah get someone with cred the chip way.
Unless the team won’t play for Kelly I don’t see how it could get much worse than last year. If he’s an incompetent HC then that’s a different story. I am just glad they made a decision. We should get a pretty good clue to what’s happening with the coaching hires he does.
Given the escalating disaster of the past 2 seasons, I can’t see how the team wouldn’t want to play for Kelly. These guys are professionals and will approach the new staff as such, I’d guess with great energy and excitement. As much as Kelly is a hard ass, he also represents a way out of the doldrums the franchise is mired in. Football players are used to hard ass coaches. Kind of the nature of the beast.
14-0 PANTHERS!
I think it’s safe to say that Kaepernick’s situation was well discussed during Kelly’s interview, so if Kelly said he could or wanted to work with Kap, Kap comes back. If he indicated he wanted to go a different direction, that may well be the end of the Kap era in S.F. Without a contingency already in place (assuming Gabbert is not that contingency), I say Kap figures to stay for the season.
That’s my Sunday morning speculation, as Carolina needs only 4 PLAY TO SCORE A TD!
Meanwhile……..Tomsula is probably pumping iron in the gym happy as a lark. “Damn my grandkids are set for life!” Working for the Yorks has its benefits.
Now we are seeing just how good Russell Wilson is. He was never relied on to win games. Last weeks wing and a prayer pass is not the norm. Sacked 3 times already…where is his running abilities now. I never thought he was an elite QB. The Sea Hawks have always had an elite defense and an elite running back in Lynch. But never an elite QB.
He’s a game manager. LOL
He’s getting his ass kicked. If this holds up, going to work Tuesday is going to be a joy.
So, nobody likes this Paxton Lynch kid? He comes from a traditionally non-football school, but he’s helped turn that program around. He’s big, 6’7″ but runs amazingly well, and he has a cannon for an arm. Pull up a video on YouTube and watch him run. He practically sprints around the field. He’s not just fast but athletic as well.
With his size, arm and excellent mobility he might be a prototype guy for Kelly to mold into his offense.
Carolina laying a MAJOR ass-whipping on Seattle. I fucking love it. Russell Wilson looks like the undersized QB that he is. Getting POUNDED!
Kids at this game are scoring big time. 3 footballs for 3 kids after Panther TD’s. That’s how you make fans for life.
Who’s a better tight end in the NFL than Greg Olson?
Wow. Never seen Seattle get this beat at the point of attack. Amazing how a lack of pass pro makes a guy look like shit.
Lynch is such a wildcard. He’s all over the place. He could be great or a complete washout. This risk is very high.
Carolina did it right over the past several years.
Kawann Short and Lotulelei are a primo pair of Fat Men in the Middle.
Something I’m hoping Baalke addresses this Spring for us.
Protect the QB/Sack the QB.
Holy smokes, Chuck, what QB prospect wouldn’t fit that profile? Everyone’s touting Goff, but he’s not going to be there at #7 and he’s no guarantee anyway. None of them are. That and he can’t run well enough to fit Kelly’s high tempo offense.
Chuck the situation with Chip and Kaep comes down to accuracy IMO.
Kaep isn’t a good short/touch passer.
If Kelly can get him to find some touch, I think there’s an opportunity to salvage him.
What’s playing into the decision right now is, the injuries/surgeries involved and, the April 1 physical deadline.
Chip may have 1 season to work with him before having to make a long term decision?
If nothing else, Chip was probably the best choice for us for finding an Offense.
As for the sideline stuff, that had as much to do with risk management as anything else.
It’s all about the $$$ and passing the physical that will determine the decision involving his Contract.
Keep in mind one Hue Jackson in Cleveland too.
He made it known that they wanted Kaep in Oakland.
If Johnnie Goofball is jettisoned, Kaep could find a home with Hue.
Now, Cam Newton strikes me as a QB who is overrated and not an elite guy. With that stupid loopy, sidearm delivery and whiny attitude, he always seems like a guy ready to fold up shop. Like right now.
Carolina’s secondary is getting exposed for the crap they are right now. That Coleman dude has no business on the field. I know they’ve had some injuries, but they’re 3 yards behind every route in the second half. Why is Baldwin constantly running free in the secondary? Lockette too.
Watching a classic offensive and defensive melt down by the Panthers