NFL - Are you Ready For Some Football?! - Wild Card Round!

[Tuberski]

I'm a people pleaser.

ACK!

[SlowwHand]

Nice avatar.

[Grandpa Troll]

Congrats Ben

[snoopy369]

The Chargers definitely remembered to show up today. I think Sproles/Hester will be a great combination in the future, assuming the Bolts remember to get an offensive line.

[Ming]

May want to check your numbers:
At age 40, Flutie played a single game for the Chargers. At age 39, he took the team to a 5-11 record. In 2003 (age 41), he played 7 games for a 4-12 Chargers team. And in 2004, he only played 2 games (and started only 1 of those 2) for the 12-4 Chargers.

There is reality... and then there is "Ben Land"... Thanks Imran.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I hate to rain on your parade, Imran, but Arizona didn't get where they are by being crappy. The Falcons did well this year, considering that they had the same allegedly terrible receivers that Vick had.

Well, Arizona finished the year 9-7, which isn't all that great. And Roddy White was never crappy (he just hadn't hit his 3rd year yet). Jenkins, however, was and still is crappy. Ryan makes him look far better than he is (then again, he caught less balls than he did last season, though at a good deal more yards) and he still isn't great.

[Ming]

Face it... Ryan had the jitters, and made some silly mistakes. The future is bright for Atlanta. Even you have to be thrilled at how well they did this year. They will be a strong team in the future, and this year just gave them some valuable experience that will probably pay off next year. It was a good season for them after all the crap.
Congrats!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Future does seem to be bright, but still somethings to be worried about. Turner had a Hell of a lot of carries this year, especially compared to his previous years, so I'm worried about him breaking down.

That, and of course, the Falcons franchise has never had back to back winning seasons. Hopefully they can reverse that next season.

[Ming]

They have the pieces in place. QB... Young, and learning. A great kid with tons of potential. They have a solid running back and some quality receivers. I think you will have back to back winning seasons with no problem. It's just a matter of how good they can be. They were a good surprise this year. There will be more to come.

[Ben Kenobi]

Benland had the Bolts favoured by one.

Finally a winning record! 9-8!

Bring on the Steelers!

I'm so happy they won again.

[Ben Kenobi]

Chargers won basically without Tomlinson. I wonder WTF that means?

It means LT is banged up again.

Just for once I'd like to see him run over teams in the postseason.

Steelers game will be difficult. We face an ever better passing D with Polumalu, and will have to figure out how to solve their Run D for enough yardage. The benefit will be that their O doesn't scare anybody. 14 points might be enough for a win.

I'd expect to see another game with the Running back by committee approach, 5-10 carries for LT, 10-15 for Sproles and another 5 or so for Bennett, who was a pleasant surprise. 50+ yards should be enough with maybe 200 yards passing for Rivers.

It will be interesting to see how well the Steelers defend without 8 in the box as they have always had against LT. I see them repeating the Indy coverage and doing the exact same thing by double teaming Jackson and challenging us to run against their D.

Here are my thoughts.

1. QB -- Chargers
2. RB -- Chargers
3. WR -- Chargers
4. OL -- Chargers

1. DL -- Pittsburgh
2. LB -- Pittsburgh
3. DB -- Pittsburgh

Special teams -- Chargers.

[-Jrabbit]

So Ben, what's your fearless prediction for the betting line?
And for the outcome?

[Ben Kenobi]

Against the Steelers in their own stadium?

Depends if Roethlisberger is active.

If it's Roethlisberger is in it will be Steelers -2

If he's not it will be Chargers -3.

Again, it's going to be a fg either way.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Mike Smith edges Tony Sparano (by 1 vote!) for Coach of the Year

[Lord Avalon]

'ey, you don' wanna give Tony agita.