Wild Card weekend w/major play on underdog plus Ravens Report

[Mr Rattler]

Arizona Cardinals +7 Major Play L
Maybe I am stubborn, but Carolina has NO business laying 7 points to anyone in a playoff game, especially to a team with a strong defense like Arizona. Carolina has a 4 game winning streak against 3 teams that mailed it in for the year (Browns, Bucs ans Saints) and then they did finish with an impressive win against an Atlanta team that was flat out exhausted.

This marks week #3 for QB Lindley, who cracked 300 yards against a real good 49er defense last week. He is getting better every week, but must lower the interceptions , and that was a major focus in practice this week.

Cards are 8-3 ATS as a dog this year. 3-1 when getting more than 4 points.
Also, Cards are 5-1 ATS when playing versus team with a losing record, which they happen to be playing today.

Panthers are 1-5-1 against teams with a winning record this year.

For some reason, the Panthers win 4 in a row against teams with a combined record of 22-42 and I am now hearing some analyst actually saying Carolina could go deep in the playoffs!

Take the most generous 7 points in what should be a very close game that I give Arizona an even shot to win.




*** Back by 5pm with the dreaded Ravens report****

 

[Mr Rattler]

Cards still a play for me down to 4, but not a major play.

 

[Mr Rattler]

Ravens Report - Wild Card Edition L

This is playoff meeting #4 in Pittsburgh between these 2 teams. The Steelers are 3-0 so far. The Ravens get Haloti Ngata back. The Steelers lose Le' Veon Bell. One huge addition and one huge subtraction. I don't think that will be enough for the Ravens.

Baltimore's offense has come to a screeching halt. They don't even start playing until sometime in the 3rd quarter. Injuries are playing a key role in this. Ravens left tackle, Eugene Monroe is out. Ricky Wagner is out. Ravens right guard, Michael Yanda may slide over and play RT. The Ravens have looked absolutely horrible in 11 of their past 12 offensive quarters, all against .500 or below teams. Justin Forsett looks worn out and tired. The other running back, Bernard Pierce, goes down like a rag doll. Steve Smith Sr has digressed as the season has gone on, no longer "running circles around these kids". He is looking his age. When Flacco has more than 3 seconds to throw, his receivers drop the ball. Jacoby Jones has been a complete non-factor this year.

Defensively, any opposing QB that can complete a pass over 10 yards has been able to move the ball at will. The Ravens have a very impressive front 7, but you need 11 guys to play defense. The list of players on the IR in the secondary alone for the Ravens is astounding.

The Steelers have shown signs of complete offensive dominance this year, scoring 124 points in a three game stretch from week 7 thru 9. Yet the Steelers found a way to lose to The Jets (4-12), The Bucs (2-14) and the Saints (7-9) at home. The other 13 games that the Steelers seemed to take seriously, they went 13-2. The defense looks terrible at times, but the offense just keeps on scoring.

This would be a tough match up for the Ravens at full strength. They are no where near that. The Ravens overcame some unbelievable adversity this year starting with the elevator MMA scene. Then the injury bug went viral on this team, especially in the secondary. Then Haloti pops some Chris Davis pills. Yet, somehow this team found a way to make the playoffs. Of course playing the NFC South 4 times doesn't hurt.

I congratulate the Ravens for making it this far, winning 10 games and working through all that adversity. The task is too tall tonight. I wish it weren't.


Pittsburgh -3 (BIG)

 

[LUNCH PAIL]

I KNOW YOU DON'T MIND BEING WRONG ON THAT ONE BUDDY...AS MUCH AS IT PAINS ME TO TYPE THIS, HATS OFF TO THE RAVENS FOR COMING TO PLAY AND PLAY HARD. THE DEFENSE WAS LIGHTS OUT AND THE OFFENSE PICKED A FINE TIME TO SHOW UP TONIGHT. STEELERS WERE OUT PLAYED AND COACHED....GL REST OF THE PLAYOFFS RATTLER :0008

 

[Mr Rattler]

I KNOW YOU DON'T MIND BEING WRONG ON THAT ONE BUDDY...AS MUCH AS IT PAINS ME TO TYPE THIS, HATS OFF TO THE RAVENS FOR COMING TO PLAY AND PLAY HARD. THE DEFENSE WAS LIGHTS OUT AND THE OFFENSE PICKED A FINE TIME TO SHOW UP TONIGHT. STEELERS WERE OUT PLAYED AND COACHED....GL REST OF THE PLAYOFFS RATTLER :0008

Where the Fawk was that Ravens' team all year? Joe Flacco must be hitting the phone booth before playoff games (superman reference). I'm excited as a fan. The team I saw last night can beat the Patriots next week.

I know one thing, I went from being......
RED HOT to ICE FAWKING COLD

 

[Mr Rattler]

Indy - 3.5 Win

If the Bengals do not fire Marvin Lewis after another one and done in the playoffs, then Bengals fans should just boycott the team.

I see the result being closer then their meeting Oct 19th (27-0 Indy).
No AJ Green today. Luck finds a way to take charge.... again

 

[Mr Rattler]

Dallas -6

Detroit has played 7 road games and 1 on a neutered site (London). Lions are 0-4 on the road vs teams that made the playoffs, losing all 4 games by 8 or more points. In those 4 games, the Lions scored 7,6,9 and 20 for an average of 10.5 points per game. The Lions did win the other 4 away games against "non-playoff teams".

Dallas only 4-4 at home this year while going 8-0 on the road. Cowboys 1-1 at home vs playoff teams.

Cowboys have scored 38 points or more in each of their last 4 games. Lions defense has allowed an average of 20 points per game on the road however that average goes up to 26 points given up per game vs playoff teams.

Dallas averaging only 24 points per game at home and giving up 21 points per game. However in their 3 games versus playoff teams this year, the Cowboys are averaging 30 points scored and 19 points given up per game.

By the numbers, Dallas plays some of their best ball against tough opponents (2-1), while the Lions have struggled greatly (1-4), especially on offense, against playoff teams.

The Cowboys have the mind set that they are a Super Bowl bound team. I believe Dallas is the much more powerful, complete team and win this game by DD.

 

[Four Corners]

Sounds logical. Detroit has not beaten a team above .500 on the road in along, long time.