Predict the winners of this weekends wildcard games.

I'll go with:

Seahawks
Jets
Colts
Packers

Rams - 24-13(my wildcard pick for wildcard weekend)
Packers - 35-24
Chargers - 27-9
Colts - 42-15

Rams
Packers
Jets
Colts

rams
packers
chargers
colts

Packers
Colts
Rams
Chargers
Should we have a contest???
One point for every correct guess and the tie-breaker is the closest to the total score of the Super Bowl.
Who wants to play??

Rams
Pack
Chargers
Colts

Rams
Packers
Jets
Colts

Same here Red

Seahawks
Packers
Chargers
Colts

Rams
Pack
Chargers
Colts

I'll put a Canadian quarter (in lieu of the U.S. currency I currently do not have) on that list! :thumb:

Here are Eric Allen's thought's on each of the games this weekend.

Minnesotta at Green Bay:

Mike Tice's effort this season was rewarded with a contract extension and I hope he enjoys it because I don't see the Vikings changing their colors. This team consistently plays poorly late in the season. This week their mission is to go into Green Bay and defeat the Packers and I don't see it happening. They are too reliant on their passing game and have multiple problems defensively. It's going to be exceptionally difficult for the Vikings to stop the Packers' running game.

Allen's prognosis: The Vikings defense hasn't come up with a big play all season and I don't see that changing as they lose in Green Bay.

St. Louis at Seattle:

This is the third time this season these two teams are going to hook up with the Rams having swept the Seahawks during the regular season. There are two ways to look at this game. One is that these are two professional football teams and it should be difficult to beat an NFL team three times in a season. That should give the Seattle faithful some hope. From a football standpoint, the Rams have more momentum because they beat two playoff teams in consecutive weeks to make the playoffs. They also seem to have found their speed offensively and are getting valuable assistance from backup running back Steven Jackson. Also, QB Marc Bulger seems to be playing with extra incentive as he rounds into playoff shape.

Eric Allen's prognosis: The Rams are playing well and will completely sweep the 'Hawks this season.

New York at San Diego:

It's easy to look at this game and make some parallels between both teams. Both look to establish the run and have excellent offensive lines. The one aspect the Jets must be worried about is their personnel. They have excellent players at every position, but it seems that the Chargers are just a little bit better at every position except for in the secondary. For instance, QB Chad Pennington has had a great season, but Chargers QB Drew Brees has been phenomenal. Also, while RB Curtis Martin is the leading rusher of the NFL, I'd still take Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson and we won't even talk about the tight end position.

Eric Allen's Prognosis: The Jets won't be able to handle the Chargers' balanced offensive attack that features Tomlinson, Brees and TE Antonio Gates.

Denver at Indy:

On paper, this looks like a great shootout, but in reality Denver has struggled lately. The Broncos haven't really built consistency on either side of the ball and that's going to cost them in this game. The Broncos will struggle to stop the Colts because their best cover man (Champ Bailey) isn't playing well. That doesn't bode well for the Broncos. The Colts have the most explosive offense in the league and opposing teams have to be able to keep up with them offensively.

Eric Allen's prognosis: The Colts are simply too explosive for the Broncos to be able to stop them. The Colts will win this game going away.

Darrell Jackson is looking pretty pathetic for Seattle right now.

I can't believe he dropped that ball that got caught for an interception. I gotta listen to Michael Irvin rip Todd Pinkston a new one every chance he gets, and Jackson pulls some crap like that. Unbelievable. I don't care which team wins, because come next week, they don't have a shot at winning here.

His head is not in the game at all.

I agree with that.

Looks like he was reading the Links while the defense was on the field. He just scored the touchdown to put the Hawks ahead. Talk about redeeming yourself...

Can't wait for the Jets game tonight. My son is wearing his Santana Moss jersey for the occasion.

LMAO! Did you see Martz after that TD? "That's my play!"

Mike Martz is a hell of a character. :)

I just heard "FIRE MIKE HOLMGREN!" from somewhere in the Pacific Northwest...

Hi, I'm Mike Holmgren....anyone need a coach???

I thought it was a joke when as the game was ending, Joe Theisman and crew said that anybody that feels Holmgren should be fired, is crazy. :rolleyes:

My buddy wants Holmgren to come to Minnesota if he gets fired. I'm not too sure about that. Actually there aren't any coaches out there that really do anything for me. I still think the Vikings pull a shocker tomorrow and upset the Packers.

Oh yeah, that girl called me today and asked if I wanted to get together tomorrow, and I said sure, but you're going to have to watch the game. She asked what time it started and I told her 4:30. I told her she could come over later after the game was over, but if the Vikings lost then I probably wouldn't be in a very good mood. She made a little smart ass comment about there are certain things that I would quit watching the game for because I was a guy, and I told her to get in front of me during the game and shake her tush in my face and see what happens. "Get the hell out of my way!", that's what would happen. :D

My buddy wants Holmgren to come to Minnesota if he gets fired. I'm not too sure about that. Actually there aren't any coaches out there that really do anything for me. I still think the Vikings pull a shocker tomorrow and upset the Packers.
I'm a Dolphins fan (please be nice) and I would have taken Mike Holmgren down there over Wannstedt.

Brad Childress, whom is the offensive coordinator in Philly is going to get consideration from alot of clubs, and rightfully so. He wouldn't mix too well with Moss though, but Dante would love his offensive schemes. Art Shell is another guy that should be coaching in the NFL, and its a crime that he can't land a job.

Brad Childress, whom is the offensive coordinator in Philly is going to get consideration from alot of clubs, and rightfully so. He wouldn't mix too well with Moss though, but Dante would love his offensive schemes. Art Shell is another guy that should be coaching in the NFL, and its a crime that he can't land a job.

You think he would crack down on Moss a little bit? That's what we need, and I thought Tice would do that, but he has handled him with kid gloves just like Green did. If someone came in and cracked down on Moss and he didn't like it, Sayonora Bitch!

Haha, yea but the guy is one of the best in the NFL, and sells mucho ticket seats, so I don't see Red pushing Moss out the door over a coach. Brad in many ways is like Andy, and Reid just doesn't play that kinda stuff. I once watched him personally keep OL George Heggamin after practice, and make him do sprints, and push the tackling block up and down the field. George has been retired for about four years now. :)

I thought it was a joke when as the game was ending, Joe Theisman and crew said that anybody that feels Holmgren should be fired, is crazy. :rolleyes:


Ok I am crazy.

I would ask Theisman why should he stay? What does his 7 million dollar salary get us that a 1 million dolar coach wouldnt?

The Seahawks are no better with Holmgren then they were with Dennis Erickson or Tom FLorres. Actually I think the Hawks are in worse shape, he has chased so many pro bowl vetrans away from when he was GM it isnt funny. More than one of these ex-Seahawks have come on local sports radio and said this to be fact.

holmgren is done, i don't care wat anyone says. he has not accomplished anyting there. and alexander will not resign there.

Fuck Holmgren, he's a has been. The only reason why he even won a Super Bowl is Brett Favre. Let's get Chuck Knox back... Just kidding. Well, he is the last coach to win a playoff game for Seattle.

Jesus, when I picked San Diego to win this game, I totally forgot that Marty Chokenheimer is their head coach! I'm actually kind of surprised that he didn't start Doug Flutie at QB. ;)

Jesus, when I picked San Diego to win this game, I totally forgot that Marty Chokenheimer is their head coach! I'm actually kind of surprised that he didn't start Doug Flutie at QB. ;)

Ugh. That doink...what shit luck for the Chargers. One more to go, and I'm getting quite nervous... :eek:

LT knew where everyone was except for the umpire. Damn.

OT BABY!!!!!!! :D

Wow what a stupid penalty. :wtf:

game would have been over

Al Michaels said it well - if the Chargers win, it'll be a 30-hour plane ride for Barton. Whew...

Brees is going to throw in INT. Here it comes........

I bet the Chargers' kicker is about to crap himself....

Wide Right

Holy Crap!!!!! He missed it!!!!

This has been a heckuva game, sports fans.

Watch, now Pennington's going to throw an INT. Here it comes......

:( hes a rookie, expected i guess

SON OF A BITCH :brickwall :brickwall :brickwall :brickwall :brickwall

jeez chargers

I bet a lot of money just changed hands.

J--E--T--S JETS, JETS, JETS!!!!!!!!!

I still think the Jets need to cut Barton, and let Abraham walk.

Bottom line. WE ADVANCE!!!!!!!!!!

The Jets got lucky Schottenscheister castrated his offense. Had he let them take their shots downfield this game would have ended 20 minutes sooner and the Chargers would be facing their certain doom next week in either Pittsburgh or New England. This is a choke of Yankee proportions. Brees, Gates, and Tomlinson were on a ROLL and ol' Marty shut 'em down. The end of that last series, that was the lousiest, lousiest playcalling I've seen in a LONG time.

A choke of Yankee proportions? Get real. The Jets had 7, count 'em, 7 2nd half defensive shutouts this year. Our defense is solid. The Chargers were down 10 going into the 4th quarter. The ONLY reason the Chargers got to OT was that Barton thought he was still a Raider and that cheap shots were expected. The Chargers got outplayed tonight. Period.

The penalty was pretty bad. I just think SD should have made them pay for that mistake - shackling the offense and forcing them to run three times was not the answer. Schottenheimer was on the field with the rest of the guys - hell, he got penalized for it. He knew it was raining. He knew the field was slippery. He knew he had a rookie kicker. He should have at least given Drew Brees the chance to run a few more real plays other than run right. Hell, if I were Brees, I would have audibled - the Jets D was on their heels during that drive. After that lousy playcalling, I'll give the Jets one thing - they damn straight deserved to win. Kudos to you guys, you guys called a better game, and I never expected Pennington to come out and put up the numbers he did. PHENOMENAL night for him. That will silence a lot of critics.

Now that the Chargers are out, I show no remorse in wanting to see Peyton Manning go the distance and win the big one to cap off this incredible season for him. It'd be icing on the cake.

Now I'm confused. Which mistake are you talking about? The Barton penalty that should have cost the Jets the game was the blatant elbow to Brees' helmet on 4th and goal with less than a minute to go.

The Chargers have a really good team. We don't get to see them on the East Coast. I know about LT2 (Lawrence Taylor is LT) and have heard about Antonio Gates. That nose tackle Jamal Williams is a stud. It certainly didn't hurt that the Chargers had some serious injury problems in the secondary.

As for Manning, I'm with the Sports Guy on ESPN.com Page 2 (I recommend EVERY VHLink sports fan read his column if you don't already. Funniest sportswriter EVER.) I want to see him win 1 game that means something. I just remember him laying a 41-0 egg in the playoffs to the Jets 2 years ago. Win a playoff game in hostile territory, Peyton. Then you earn the accolades.

Yes, I spoke of the Barton penalty. So, so stupid.

It's definitely time for Manning to win the big one.

As for Manning, I'm with the Sports Guy on ESPN.com Page 2 (I recommend EVERY VHLink sports fan read his column if you don't already. Funniest sportswriter EVER.) I want to see him win 1 game that means something. I just remember him laying a 41-0 egg in the playoffs to the Jets 2 years ago. Win a playoff game in hostile territory, Peyton. Then you earn the accolades.

I guess a 41-10 drubbing of the Broncos in last year's playoffs was a meaningless game? And the win in KC in the divisional round last year. I guess that's not hostile territory? I wasn't aware that they were the Kansas City Colts. Hmm.

Marty Schottenheimer is a freggin jink! :D :brickwall
I have a feeling Drew Bees won't be coming back next season.

The ONLY reason the Chargers got to OT was that Barton thought he was still a Raider and that cheap shots were expected.
:funny:
as a raider fan, that had me rotflmao. i think i just woke everyone up in the house. its funny cuz its true :D

Marty Schottenheimer is a freggin jink! :D :brickwall
I have a feeling Drew Bees won't be coming back next season.
Tonight wasn't all his fault. I think he'll be back.

Tonight wasn't all his fault. I think he'll be back.

I don't know. I'd trade Brees. They'll get much more out of him, and Rivers showed some potential in the game that he played in.

Congrats to the Jets - didn't think they would win that one! Barton needs to be slapped!!!

Oh yeah, and GO PACKERS!

Wow, what a wild first half of Wildcard Weekend. Both games went down to the wire.

What a bonehead play by Barton. I would have benched him for the rest of the game.

I guess a 41-10 drubbing of the Broncos in last year's playoffs was a meaningless game? And the win in KC in the divisional round last year. I guess that's not hostile territory? I wasn't aware that they were the Kansas City Colts. Hmm.

I guess I stand corrected. :o

I think the packers are gonna lose
its 8:21 in the 4th quater and the score is
17-31 for minnesota
how can this be

Indy is the only home team that won this weekend.

How whacked out is that? Home-field DISADVANTAGE...

My predictions for next weeks games:
Colts, Steelers, Falcons, Vikings
Yes, the Vikings, Culpepper vs. Vick will be the ultimate showdown.

I am going with:
Steelers
Rams
Vikings
Colts
The Rams worry me. I don't know what it is, but I just have a feeling about this Saturday.

You guys do know that the Vikings are 10 point underdogs right? Maybe it's just me, but when did these guys become such a good team that they're just going to walk into Philly and win? These guys lost seven out of their last eleven games, and now people think these guys will beat Philadelphia? I just don't happen to think so. I respect their talent offensively, but that young defense is no match for all the weapons the Birds have, and that's even without Owens.

People forget that Philly won 13 games this year. "Oh, they don't have momentum because their starters haven't played in a month" the detractors cry. Listen stupidasses, Philly would have had a week off no matter what and that in itself would have ended any momentum they had. The Vikes are toast, end of story.

I'm a Vikes fan and was at the Vikes-Eagles game this year. I just hope it's a good game.The one thing I see is the Eagles have to win, the Vikes don't care. The media and the fans in the City of Brotherly Love will expect no less that a Super Bowl this year. Hell, I'd love to see an all PA. Super Bowl but that's why they play them.

People forget that Philly won 13 games this year. "Oh, they don't have momentum because their starters haven't played in a month" the detractors cry. Listen stupidasses, Philly would have had a week off no matter what and that in itself would have ended any momentum they had. The Vikes are toast, end of story.

Agreed.
http://espn.starwave.com/media/nfl/2005/0109/photo/g_mcnabb_sp.jpg

You gotta admit though, all the pressure IS on the Eagles. Nobody expects the Vikings to win.

I would be worried about that if we didn't have so many veterans on this football team. These guys know what it takes to win in January, they just haven't prooven they can win the game after this one. Under Reid though, I believe we're 3-1 in division playoff games, and I like Reid any day over that goof with the pencil in his ear. The pressure started on us once mini-camp began back in June and July, and carried over to the pre-season, into the regular season, so it's not like these guys haven't felt it. I'm sure they'll be well prepared, because they better be.

I flew in from houston to use my season seats to see chargers/jets, the best nfl game i have attended, except for the final score. I think the Jets are the better team but obviously very close and are not a good matchup for the chargers.

Unless something terrible happens I think the chargers are up and coming and this wont be a one year wonder type team. They should get an impact player at #12 in the draft from the giants and I would think some free agents would be interested to play for them now.

I think the SD media is making too much of the play calling at the end, all coaches get conservative in the playoffs and in that situation you can't blame them.

I disagree that SD would have gotten blown out by the Steelers, whose focus is the run.

My gut says that Brees is a winner and will be back, and I hope he will be.

Saw the atomic punks on friday night at canes. I have never seen rain like this past weekend in SD, unbelievable.