NFL American Football

[b_mcsweeney]

following the 49ers since the days of montana, what a legend. pretty bleak these days though, especially watching dorsey through int after int at the weekend. that niners skins game was ugly in fairness. wouldn't mind but there isn't a standout number 1 pick in the draft this year, so little enough advantage in winning our first top three pick since the sixties.

this season, you have to look at the big three steelers and pats in the afc and iggles in the nfc. they've looked to be a cut above everyone else. as long as TO is fit, philly should roll through the weak nfc. the afc's gonna be very interesting though. depending on who indy get in the first round, i'm not convinced their D is good enough to go beyond there. if they play a really solid defence who can hold manning to normal numbers even, they're likely to give up enough to lose the game. having been brutal for years, the chargers lack any sort of pedigree in the playoffs. who knows what they'll produce. on paper, none of that should matter anyway, as the steelers and pats have been a cut above the rest all season. but you'd have to have question marks over a rookie QB in the post season, and NE have spent their two super bowl seasons doing just enough, riding their luck, its not like they look unbeatable. i wouldn't mind seeing pittsburgh win it in the end, if only for the buses sake. i was convinced coming into the season that his career was over apart from being a short yardage, goal line type back. dunno where hes pulled his form over the last few weeks out of.

[Aberdonian Stu]

one of the most gruesome sights in sports is when LT sacked Joe Theismann(ending his career) and snapped his leg broken backward...right up there with the David Busst and Larrsen breaks...I'll try and find the clip.

No no no. Surely the far more gruessome sight was LT wrestling at Wrestlemania. I didn't see it and I don't want to either :D

[strangeirish]

How 'bout them Jags beating Greenbay. Anyone see the Jacksonville safety trying to take off the Greenbay receivers head. Vicious wallop! Turns out the guy is OK. Got feeling back in his legs in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

[Ruairi]

yeah -3 degrees i believe it was. watched the first half up until the point where the jags QB got injured, read the report today and it looked like a good game

[Real ale Madrid]

Stange weekend seeing the Jags beat the Packers and then to top it all The absolutely useless Miami Dolphins beat the Patriots 29-28 to really throw a spanner in the works. Not looking good for my Pats now starting to really feel the effect of some key injuries to the defence. its fairly wide open still mind you.

[Karlos]

Very surprised with the Patriots result. HAven't read the report yet but thought they'd win that win with ease. Watched the NY Giants - Steelers game on Sunday. Good game, Giants played above themselves and just couldn't take advantage. Christmas Period should be interesting

[Real ale Madrid]

Very surprised with the Patriots result. HAven't read the report yet but thought they'd win that win with ease. Watched the NY Giants - Steelers game on Sunday. Good game, Giants played above themselves and just couldn't take advantage. Christmas Period should be interesting

Yeah that Steelers / Giants game was a great game Eli Manning started to show a bit of potential - the number of good young quarterbacks in the NFL is starting to push the likes of Favre and Co. out of the spotlight. Vick, Rothlesburger, Manning and Leftwitch. That Leftwitch is a really tough fella - i remember his last game in college he played the entrie game with a broken ankle or something he just took snaps and didnt move around that much and just sprayed the passes around and still made a load of yards. Quality. i see Terrell Owens broke his leg and is out for the rest of the season that prediction about the Falcons could well come true now.

[Karlos]

Just read the report on the Pats - Dolphins game! Pats were 28-17 ahead with 2 minutes left to play. They really crumbled, Brady threw 4 interceptions in the game!

That's bad news on T.O. I was hoping that Atlanta would get a little bit of luck but obviously not like this. It's a real shame as him and McNabb have been awesome over the last few weeks. Have my fingers crossed though for Vick & Co.

[Karlos]

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/homeNewsDetail.jsp?id=20128

Just reading about the injury there to T.O. Appears he has damaged his deltoid ligament in his right ankle (whatever the hell that is! :confused: ) and that he will be out until Super Bowl Sunday. Could be an amazing story if the Eagles get there without him and then he returns to help them to glory - now I'm not sure if I'd like to see that more than the Falcons win - damn you emotions!! ;)

[Real ale Madrid]

Saw the highlights of the Phileadelphia game last night and after Tyrell went off McNabb threw two picks and generally did little throwing the ball. He had to rely on making two great rushing plays on third downs where he carried the ball himself to get the first down. 12-7 against the Cowboys hardly impressive but then again 13 wins IS impressive.

Very surprised with the patriots - firstly throwing the football with less then two minutes left - ridiculous - and then getting intercepted twice inside the last two minutes - almost unbelieveable. Huge game against the jets now on St. Stephens night. Pity i'll be too drunk to watch it might get the highlights the day after!!! Would hate to see New England lose again giving the Colts the chance to sneak into the second bye slot.

[strangeirish]

Pat's losing to the Dolphins. What the F**k was T Brady thinking. Steelers must feel good now that they have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs secured. Jags need to win their last two and Steelers need to beat the Ravens, so the Jags can get in.

[steveh]

Vick only completed 11 of 28 against Carolina for 154 yds and 2 TDs. Although Atlanta are the no.1 rushing teamin the nfl, they are ranked 30 of 32 when it comes to passing. Vick has huge potential when he gets out of the pocket and the running lanes open up for him. He ran for 68 yds on sat nite and scored a TD in last few seconds of the 4th quarter to force the game into overtime but I don't think that as a passer he can hold a candle to the likes of Peyton Manning or Donovan Mc Nab. Still,he is great to watc, isn't he? Steelers or Pats this yr. Monday was a blip for Brady and Pittsburgh ain't gonna give up 2 many points.
Just read there that Vick has run for 889 yds, only 30 odd less than Warrick Dunn(the full time running back). That's a crazy stat for a QB

[strangeirish]

Love to watch Vick in action. Unbelievable athletic ability. His only knock is that he has trouble reading defenses, hence the huge rushing yards. Not a pocket passer and pulls the ball down to quickly. Of course they said the same about ex Eagles QB Randall Cunningham when he first started. He eventually matured into a fine QB.

[SaucyJack]

Love to watch Vick in action. Unbelievable athletic ability. His only knock is that he has trouble reading defenses, hence the huge rushing yards. Not a pocket passer and pulls the ball down to quickly. Of course they said the same about ex Eagles QB Randall Cunningham when he first started. He eventually matured into a fine QB.


also, at 6'1, he's undersized for a QB, fun to watch though.

[steveh]

also, at 6'1, he's undersized for a QB, fun to watch though.
Never thought I'd hear 6'1 as bein undersized :D

[Karlos]

Never thought I'd hear 6'1 as bein undersized :D


agreed, there may be a chance for me in the midget wrestling world after all... :D

[Metrostars]

Love to watch Vick in action. Unbelievable athletic ability. His only knock is that he has trouble reading defenses, hence the huge rushing yards. Not a pocket passer and pulls the ball down to quickly. Of course they said the same about ex Eagles QB Randall Cunningham when he first started. He eventually matured into a fine QB.

I read in a sports mag over here a while back he played soccer in high school and was really good. But he went to where the money and fame was. Pity.

[Karlos]

The Atlanta Falcons offered their star quarterback the ultimate show of respect with a 10-year contract.

"It is, man. It is," Vick said with a smile. "You know, making a commitment says a lot, not just to me, but to our team. It means a lot to me."

Vick told The Associated Press two hours before a scheduled news conference to announce the deal that his agent, Joel Segal, reached an agreement in principle with Falcons general manager Rich McKay after Atlanta's overtime victory over Carolina.

"I just went out and played my game and didn't worry about it," Vick said. "I just left in the hands of my agent and my attorneys (to) take it from there."

Vick's contract surpasses the deal Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning signed in March.

According to a league official who requested anonymity, Vick reached incentives in his original contract that would have allowed him to void the 2005 and 2006 seasons next month. Had he done so, the 24-year-old Vick would have become an unrestricted free agent on March 2.

Vick's new deal was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on its Web site.

"We've said on numerous occasions that this franchise is committed to bringing a world championship to the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, as well as to building a sustainable winning organization consistently in the hunt," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. "Today's contract extension for Michael, in our opinion, moves us closer to achieving those goals."

Vick, the No. 1 overall draft pick of 2001, has a 24-12-1 career record. He is 14-4 since returning from a broken ankle last year, and this season led the Falcons to just the third division title in franchise history.

Atlanta earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs following the win over Carolina and Green Bay's loss to Jacksonville. The Falcons (11-3) visit New Orleans on Sunday, but Vick missed his second straight practice because of an injured left shoulder.

Rookie Matt Schaub hasn't been told he will start, but the third-round pick from Virginia is prepared to do so. If he does play, Schaub won't try to play like Vick, who leads the NFL with 7.6 yards per carry.

Schaub, like many of his teammates, considers Vick to be a freak of nature.

"Yeah, pretty much," Schaub said. "I always thought he was watching him on TV, but seeing it up close every day is something else."

Vick, chosen to his second Pro Bowl, needs 80 yards to break the single-season record for rushing by a quarterback, set by Chicago's Bobby Douglass in 1972.

In a Week 8 victory at Denver, Vick became the first player in league history to rush for 100 yards and pass for 250 in a single game.

[Metrostars]

Very sad news, one of my favourite players, Reggie White dead of a heart attack: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2004/12/26/ex_packers_lineman_reggie_white_dies_at_43?mode=PF

[Ruairi]

cracking game last night between the colts and the chargers. Peyton Manning broke the record of touchdown passes thrown in a season (49) with just seconds left on the clock. and then he orchestrated a two point conversionto force overtime!! what a legend!! didnt watch the jets and the pats but it didn't look all that great anyways

[SaucyJack]

Very sad news, one of my favourite players, Reggie White dead of a heart attack: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2004/12/26/ex_packers_lineman_reggie_white_dies_at_43?mode=PF


Awesome player, and seemed like a real nice guy, if not that well thought out;


"When you look at the black race, black people are very gifted in what we call worship and celebration. A lot of us like to dance, and if you go to black churches, you see people jumping up and down, because they really get into it. White people were blessed with the gift of structure and organization. You guys do a good job of building businesses and things of that nature and you know how to tap into money pretty much better than a lot of people do around the world. Hispanics are gifted in family structure. You can see a Hispanic person and they can put 20 or 30 people in one home. They were gifted in the family structure. When you look at the Asians, the Asian is very gifted in creation, creativity and inventions. If you go to Japan or any Asian country, they can turn a television into a watch. They're very creative. And you look at the Indians, they have been very gifted in the spirituality."

-Reggie White


that made me laugh the most

[Ruairi]

well the playoffs have started...

stayed up until 5 am to watch the jets beat the chargers in OT (well i didn;t stay up, I camehome and it was still on so i sat down to watch it)

tonight it's the broncos at the colts (fancy Payton manning to carry the colts through)

and i think the vikings will just shade the packers at lambeau... depends on which brett favre turns up for the cheeseheads...

[strangeirish]

Can't see the Packers losing to the perrenial chokers at Lambeau. Vikings don't dserve to be in the playoffs IMO. Colts should rip Denver a new one, hopefully!

Steelers to win it all. What do ye think?

[shedite]

Manning's gonna stroll up to Foxboro next week and beat the crap out of those Patriots. Colts for the superbowl!

[dancinpants]

Since I live in San Diego, I have to admit at being slightly ****ed at the Jets beating the Chargers, but hey, they were the underdogs and played the right game. Ye have feel sorry for the young rookie kicker Kaeding for the Chargers though he should have made that kick in over time but his nerves must've been wrecked, bein' a rookie like. Havin' watched the Colts Broncos game today, the Colts looked more than impressive - they pretty much score at will. But the Broncos have been crap this season and the result wasn't that much of a surprise. But if they come up against the Pats or Steelers - well thats a whole new ball game. But it has to be the Steelers for the SB, like I mean 15-1 for the season so far - can't see anyone touching them, including the Colts!!!

[Hibs4Ever]

Go Jets :d :d :d

[Ruairi]

Manning's gonna stroll up to Foxboro next week and beat the crap out of those Patriots. Colts for the superbowl!

Yup, that's who i'm rooting for. although i'd worry about their defence a bit. and if manning has a bad game they'll lose.

badly.

And my predictions yesterday were right, colts and vikings to win. although the vikings one was a bit of an upset.

[Ruairi]

Superbowl outright betting

Pittsburgh Steelers 7 - 4

Philadelphia Eagles 11 - 4

New England Patriots 11 - 4

Indianapolis Colts 9 - 2

Atlanta Falcons 12 - 1

St Louis Rams 20 - 1

Minnesota Vikings 28 - 1

NY Jets 33 - 1
----------------

colts at 9/2 might be worth a tenner

[Aberdonian Stu]

I reckon the Steelers will beat the Jets but am less certain about the Colts-Patriots. Reckon Patriots would win but would rather get Colts in the AFC championship game, even with Manning. Reckon the Steelers would choke again if they played Patriots.

[shedite]

Next weekend, Indianapolis V New England. Gonna be huge. Colts should have beaten them on the first day this season, and will also be looking for revenge after loosing last year in playoffs.

Predictions for next weekend (winners in bold)

Jets @ Pittsburgh
Rams @ Falcons
Vikings @ Philadelphia
Indianapolis @ New England

Only one that I'm a bit iffy is the Eagles. They have been dodgy since TO got injured. Can't see Pittsburgh loosing and the Rams and useless outdoors.

What do other people predict?

[strangeirish]

Jets @ Pittsburgh
Rams @ Falcons
Vikings @ Philadelphia
Indianapolis @ New England

Just picking the Rams for an upset(Can't stand them) But it is a dome game and if Vick has a bad day........well, ya never know. That's why they play the game :)

[Karlos]

I'm sticking with my initial hunch of the Falcons for the super bowl this year - hope I'm right as I said it at the start of this thread and I'll look all knowlegable and all when I clearly know jack schitt!!! :D

[strangeirish]

I'll look all knowlegable and all when I clearly know jack schitt!!! :D
Same here ..... :)

[jofyisgod]

I'd love to see the Colts go all the way this year. I take it SKY are covering these games?

[Real ale Madrid]

Next weekend, Indianapolis V New England. Gonna be huge. Colts should have beaten them on the first day this season, and will also be looking for revenge after loosing last year in playoffs.

Predictions for next weekend (winners in bold)

Jets @ Pittsburgh
Rams @ Falcons
Vikings @ Philadelphia
Indianapolis @ New England

Only one that I'm a bit iffy is the Eagles. They have been dodgy since TO got injured. Can't see Pittsburgh loosing and the Rams and useless outdoors.

What do other people predict?

NFC Game Falcons v Eagles

AFC Patriots v Steelers

Cant believe that everybody is backing the Colts. New Engalnd to win another close game GO PATS!!!!!!!!!

[Ruairi]

preview of the weekend taken from skysports.com (http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1166235,00.html)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a wacky wild-card round, will things revert to the form book in this weekend's Divisional play-offs?

Despite a 9-31 record over the past decade for the away team in the opening round of the post-season and of course an inferior regular season record to their hosts, three of the four road teams prevailed for the first time in history last week.

Aided by a week's rest, the home teams also have a 31-9 record over the last ten years in the Divisional play-offs and the hosts Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New England combined for 15 more regular season wins than the visitors.

There is a 2/1 accumulator on victories for the Steelers, Falcons, Eagles and Patriots.

The New York Jets know they face an incredible challenge when they head to Pittsburgh on Saturday.

The 10-6 Jets backed into the play-offs but upset San Diego in overtime on the road last week in a game they should have settled in regulation had it not been for a missed field goal and an apoplectic personal foul by Eric Barton.

But the Steelers are in the middle of a 14-match winning run and became only the fourth team in NFL history to finish 15-1. The previous three have all reached at least the Conference Championship.

Bill Cowher's men were undefeated at Heinz Field this year and one of those victories came against the Jets when the League's number one defense stifled the men from the Big Apple in a 17-6 success.

Chad Pennington threw three interceptions in that game as he failed to withstand the Steelers' pass rush while the NFL rushing champion, Curtis Martin who is so integral to the Jets offense, was held to just 72 yards on 24 carries.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has yet to taste defeat as a starter after masterminding 13 wins in his rookie year and the return to full fitness of running backs Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis should allow Big Ben to keep it simple in a game of field position.

St Louis are the first team in history with a .500 record to reach the final eight and after winning in Seattle will be confident of another repeat in Atlanta.

Mike Martz can take a lot of positives into Georgia - the game is in a Dome, ideal for his speedy offense, he faces a Falcons pass defense ranked only 22nd in the League and his much-malgined run defense held the Seahawks to just 71 yards on the ground in the Wild Card.

However a video of the earlier meeting of the teams this season may provide a sharp wake-up as the Falcons crushed the Rams 34-17, gaining 242 yards on the ground in the process.

That was the first of seven home wins for the Birds and although Warrick Dunn and TJ Duckett provide an excellent one-two punch in the backfield it's the running threat of quarterback Michael Vick that makes the Atlanta offense dangerous.

But the key to this game could well lie in Atlanta's defense that led the league with 48 sacks and was tied for seventh with 19 interceptions.

The Rams are unable to pound the ball on the ground with Marshall Faulk's returns diminishing so the hosts will look to tee off on quarterback Mark Bulger and force the Rams, whose turnover ratio this season is a pathetic minus 24, into costly mistakes.

Few gave Minnesota a chance before their trip to Green Bay last week, even fewer are giving them hope ahead of their trip to clear NFC favourites Philadephia.

The Vikings had lost seven of their last 10 regular season games before shocking the fans at Lambeau and they must hope for a similar inspired performance when they visit the Eagles who won all seven of their home games before wheeling out the back-ups for their regular season finale with the Bengals.

Depending on your perspective, the Eagles could be exceptionally fresh or exceptionally sluggish as their key players, including quarterback Donovan McNabb, have not seen significant action for a month after home field advantage throughout the play-offs was sealed in mid-December.

But McNabb, who threw for 31 touchdowns this season - the third highest tally in the League, should be able to get back into the groove, despite the continued absence of key receiver Terrell Owens, against a pass defense rated as the fifth worst in the NFL.

Minnesota always have quick-strike potential with Daunte Culpepper, coming off a career-best 39 TD passes, and enigmatic superstar receiver Randy Moss fresh from his two touchdown display in Green Bay.

But Culpepper was sacked four times in the Eagles' 27-16 win in September and with a potent pass-rush that racked up 47 sacks and with three All-Pros in the secondary, it's hard to see the Eagles not making a fourth consecutive trip to the NFC Championship game.

The schedule may well have saved the best for last as Peyton Manning and the potent Indianapolis offense visit defending Super Bowl champions New England.

Manning has set NFL season records for touchdowns with 49 and for passer rating this season and inspired his team to 49 points in last week's wild-card victory over Denver, the sixth time in 11 games the Colts had broken the 40 point barrier.

And his three receivers Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley, each of whom had at least 10 TDs this season, should be able to find spaces against a Patriots defense missing both its' starting cornerbacks and also possibly tackle Richard Seymour, the key to the inside pass rush.

But and it's a big but - Manning's is 0-6 at Foxboro in his career and has seen his team commit seven turnovers in their last two visits, a 24-14 defeat in last season's AFC Championship game and a 27-24 in this year's curtain raiser.

The Patriots normally just find a way to win. They have won six consecutive play-off games and 19 in a row in Massachusetts.

Quarterback Tom Brady has a 100% record in the post-season and he will hope that Corey Dillon, who ran for a franchise-record 1635 yards this season, can consistently move the chains against a run defense ranked only 24th in the NFL, to open up potential big plays from play-action passes.

[Real ale Madrid]

so much for the Colts

[Karlos]

Good to see the Falcons still making it look like I know something about NFL.... :D !!

Although I do believe the superbowl winners will come from the AFC this year again by the looks of it but am definetly supporting the Falcons this year!

[Ruairi]

yeah they were pretty poor last night... not so much that they were poor, more the Pats defence was red hot....

[Real ale Madrid]

yeah they were pretty poor last night... not so much that they were poor, more the Pats defence was red hot....

Defense AND offence was red hot 9 differnet recievers and over 150 yards on the ground and they kept hold of the ball 3 times as much as the colts. Manning may be the MVP but it was clear to see who the better QB was last night. Sets up a perfect set of Championship games with the four best teams with the best records left.

[Aberdonian Stu]

My fears of the Steelers choking, again, look well founded. Needed OT to beat the Jets.

[strangeirish]

Eagles and the Pats it is here in sunny Jacksonville. Anyone want to predict the score.

Eagles 35 Pats 28 in an upset ;)

[shedite]

The Eagles need TO back badly. And not just a half fit TO, they need him fully fit. The Pats defence will be able to contain Westbrook, they defo need another output. Can't see them upsetting any other way.

Although, all my predictions have been wrong for the playoffs so far :rolleyes:

[Aberdonian Stu]

My forecast of doom came true, reckon Pats will go on to claim the Superbowl (which is actually a good thing, just wish they hadn't beaten Steelers on the way).

[Karlos]

Bit of a silly question this, but does anywhere here on the gorgous island of Ireland do a Super Bowl Party night?? Went to one in london a couple of years back. great craic. Otherwise, It's me and a few bottles of miller and a bag of nacho's come Sunday night!

[shedite]

I'd love a superbowl party. Doubt any pubs will be open though. Last week some pub turned off the TV when the steelers were 4th and goal. :rolleyes: Basically 40 seconds later and people would have known the outcome!

I'll be watchin it in my house anyway. Sucks!

[Danny]

Been in Capt America's on grafton st for the last 4 superbowls.
great night, loadsa beer and hot dogs and stuff.
U dont have to eat there either just a 5er in (i think) and you can stand/sit at the bar and watch the game
Also heard that Buskers & The Portobello are doing some stuff this year

[strangeirish]

What did ye all think? SuperBowl or SuperBore. Thought it was Ok myself. Dissapointed with the Eagles coaching. Some strange decisions in the last four minutes. McNabb did not play his best game nor did their running game. Pat's deserved it in the end. Halftime show rocked the house.

[Ruairi]

It was alright, mcnabb poor, wasnt the most exiciting game in the world. that and i hate the pats for some reason (stupid fcuking dynasty).

have to admit paul mccartney singing hey jude with the fireworks and all that was the highlight of the night... except for pauls "we love you superbowl" sh!te...

[strangeirish]

have to admit paul mccartney singing hey jude with the fireworks and all that was the highlight of the night... except for pauls "we love you superbowl" sh!te...

I think he forgot what city he was in :D