Wildcard Weekend: 2-2-1 (-0.70*)
- - I liked Cleveland all week and then went brain dead and dumped them at the last moment to get hammered on a teaser (Pitt -3 and Un 45), and I was only needing but didn't get a single point in the 4th quarter of Atl/GB to get a win instead of a push on a second teaser. Having had to absorb that in the first week just assures me that my postseason is one team deep.
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They were a prime suspect coming into the season, and IMHO the Philadelphia Eagles have shown that Super Bowl look. From the opening bell, the bigger the game was for them, the more likely it was going to be that my money would be on Philadelphia, until there was some convincing evidence to the contrary.
The opening game against Tennessee was a surprise when the Eagles lost their focus to start the second half of the game and squandered a nice lead. The final game against a desperate Giants team played out very much the way I expected with the exception of Akers missing a winning kick at the end. Other than that, my faith in the Eagles has been justified and profitably rewarded.
The Eagles are a better team since Donovan McNabb went down and they will be a better team now that he has returned. McNabb's return was always a no brainer for the Eagles in their push for what they are striving to achieve. Some timing will be less than immaculate with McNabb back in, but that has never been his strength - it's been about his ability to make plays and play big in big games, which is why I am so surprised to see about ten comments on McNabb struggling for every one I see that suggests he is going to lead his team with his customary flair. I don't think he is going to cost the Eagles anything.
Philadelphia is not unbeatable in this spot, and at first I thought the Falcons, especially with their 3-4 defense, might cause the Eagles some problems. I would lean to the Un38', but it's not the best bet in this game. The passive and listless Packers let the Falcons dictate every aspect of the game last week, but I expect nothing of the kind from their opponent this week. Dan Reeves as a coach has his moments. Philadelphia is the best coached team in the league and has been for several years - it's as simple as that.
In postseason games I don't put a lot of stock in technical trends generated during the regular season, but I believe the Eagles are 9-0 in prime time under Andy Reid (including 4-0 SU and ATS this year), while the Falcons are on the road against a playoff team for a third straight week.
Last year my postseason fortunes were tied to the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots and you can just about figure out how that went. This year it's just the Eagles that will sink my postseason or float my boat.
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Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson: "The biggest thing [is] we have to make sure we're not spectators on defense, as far as watching Michael Vick, and still play our game, an aggressive game."
Defensive end Hugh Douglas: "We're not playing one man. We're playing the Atlanta Falcons."
Quarterback Donovan McNabb: "According to everyone else, I'm not mobile or I'm not able to move anymore," McNabb said earlier this week. He smiled. "I'll just let people continue to think that. When the time comes, we'll showcase that a little."
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Elsewhere:
Pittsburgh and Tennessee are two old rivals that know each other well. Pittsburgh has taken on a new identity this season but has seemed to be living on borrowed time even before last week. On the other hand, Pittsburgh can stop the run, has big threats in the passing game and is most vulnerable to a team committed to a full fledged downfield passing attack, which means they draw a decent matchup in Tennessee. A good number of folks are sold on Tennessee a lot more than me, although I did expect a return to the playoffs after the decimating injuries in 2001. Most troubling to me is the fact that I have been miserable all season long at reading either of these teams on any given week. Give me Tennessee today as the team that is fresh and seems a little more physical on both sides of the ball, and is at least somewhat less prone to dumb little mistakes as well as big mistakes on both a weekly basis and in big games, but a convincing win by Pittsburgh is what I should now expect given the way these two teams have treated me this year.
Last year I though Oakland was dealt a strong hand when it found itself in a rematch the week after losing to the Jets. I think this year a veteran and disappointed Oakland team has upgraded itself a good deal and is probably deserving of the role of Super Bowl favorite, but I'm also pretty sure they didn't get such a sweet deal this time in drawing the Jets.
The Buffalo Bills of 1992/1993 offer an historic precedent for a hopeless looking team mounting a comeback that makes them look unstoppable and then riding the momentum it produces. This San Francisco team is not at that level but some of my notions of the 49ers being a soft team got left behind in the rubble of that game, at least in their eyes as they prepare for their next opponent. It's not like Tampa Bay looks like or plays like the most unbeatable team in the field.
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SATURDAY:
Philadelphia(-7') for 2.5*
Tennessee(-4) for 1*
Tease Philadelphia(-1') and San Francisco(+12) for 1*
GL
(Edited)
- - I liked Cleveland all week and then went brain dead and dumped them at the last moment to get hammered on a teaser (Pitt -3 and Un 45), and I was only needing but didn't get a single point in the 4th quarter of Atl/GB to get a win instead of a push on a second teaser. Having had to absorb that in the first week just assures me that my postseason is one team deep.
---------- ---------- ----------
They were a prime suspect coming into the season, and IMHO the Philadelphia Eagles have shown that Super Bowl look. From the opening bell, the bigger the game was for them, the more likely it was going to be that my money would be on Philadelphia, until there was some convincing evidence to the contrary.
The opening game against Tennessee was a surprise when the Eagles lost their focus to start the second half of the game and squandered a nice lead. The final game against a desperate Giants team played out very much the way I expected with the exception of Akers missing a winning kick at the end. Other than that, my faith in the Eagles has been justified and profitably rewarded.
The Eagles are a better team since Donovan McNabb went down and they will be a better team now that he has returned. McNabb's return was always a no brainer for the Eagles in their push for what they are striving to achieve. Some timing will be less than immaculate with McNabb back in, but that has never been his strength - it's been about his ability to make plays and play big in big games, which is why I am so surprised to see about ten comments on McNabb struggling for every one I see that suggests he is going to lead his team with his customary flair. I don't think he is going to cost the Eagles anything.
Philadelphia is not unbeatable in this spot, and at first I thought the Falcons, especially with their 3-4 defense, might cause the Eagles some problems. I would lean to the Un38', but it's not the best bet in this game. The passive and listless Packers let the Falcons dictate every aspect of the game last week, but I expect nothing of the kind from their opponent this week. Dan Reeves as a coach has his moments. Philadelphia is the best coached team in the league and has been for several years - it's as simple as that.
In postseason games I don't put a lot of stock in technical trends generated during the regular season, but I believe the Eagles are 9-0 in prime time under Andy Reid (including 4-0 SU and ATS this year), while the Falcons are on the road against a playoff team for a third straight week.
Last year my postseason fortunes were tied to the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots and you can just about figure out how that went. This year it's just the Eagles that will sink my postseason or float my boat.
---------- ---------- ----------
Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson: "The biggest thing [is] we have to make sure we're not spectators on defense, as far as watching Michael Vick, and still play our game, an aggressive game."
Defensive end Hugh Douglas: "We're not playing one man. We're playing the Atlanta Falcons."
Quarterback Donovan McNabb: "According to everyone else, I'm not mobile or I'm not able to move anymore," McNabb said earlier this week. He smiled. "I'll just let people continue to think that. When the time comes, we'll showcase that a little."
---------- ---------- ----------
Elsewhere:
Pittsburgh and Tennessee are two old rivals that know each other well. Pittsburgh has taken on a new identity this season but has seemed to be living on borrowed time even before last week. On the other hand, Pittsburgh can stop the run, has big threats in the passing game and is most vulnerable to a team committed to a full fledged downfield passing attack, which means they draw a decent matchup in Tennessee. A good number of folks are sold on Tennessee a lot more than me, although I did expect a return to the playoffs after the decimating injuries in 2001. Most troubling to me is the fact that I have been miserable all season long at reading either of these teams on any given week. Give me Tennessee today as the team that is fresh and seems a little more physical on both sides of the ball, and is at least somewhat less prone to dumb little mistakes as well as big mistakes on both a weekly basis and in big games, but a convincing win by Pittsburgh is what I should now expect given the way these two teams have treated me this year.
Last year I though Oakland was dealt a strong hand when it found itself in a rematch the week after losing to the Jets. I think this year a veteran and disappointed Oakland team has upgraded itself a good deal and is probably deserving of the role of Super Bowl favorite, but I'm also pretty sure they didn't get such a sweet deal this time in drawing the Jets.
The Buffalo Bills of 1992/1993 offer an historic precedent for a hopeless looking team mounting a comeback that makes them look unstoppable and then riding the momentum it produces. This San Francisco team is not at that level but some of my notions of the 49ers being a soft team got left behind in the rubble of that game, at least in their eyes as they prepare for their next opponent. It's not like Tampa Bay looks like or plays like the most unbeatable team in the field.
---------- ---------- ----------
SATURDAY:
Philadelphia(-7') for 2.5*
Tennessee(-4) for 1*
Tease Philadelphia(-1') and San Francisco(+12) for 1*
GL
(Edited)
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