Posted on 01/08/2018 2:55:36 PM PST by Impy
MY ATL/PHI and NOR/MIN picks were difficult. Those should have been posted with a “points” line to make the decision easier. I may yet change them before Saturday.
At first glance, with my spectacles off, it looked like the woman in the frame was Debbie Washerwoman-Schwarze!
I need more covfefe.
So pretend freereoublic is the nfl and we are the protesters and boycott this thread And freerepublic and go away.
NFC: #6 Atlanta [X] at #1 Philadelphia
AFC: #5 Tennessee [X] at #1 New England
AFC: #3 Jacksonville at #2 Pittsburgh [X]
NFC: #4 New Orleans at #2 Minnesota [X]
I LOVE IT! THANKS!.....................
Hey Impy - You need to fix Jags vs. Steelers -
I picked the Jags over the Steelers...
What’s an SJW? A self-righteous prig who thinks we should not be free to choose but should comply with their viewpoint because they think their personal opinion is “morally superior”.
Who are the SJWs on the Left? Pretty much all of them.
Who are the SJWs on the Right? Well FR certainly has some - they’re the anti-NFL folks who think it’s their duty to straighten the rest of us out.
Not all that have been turned off by the idiots in the NFL are SJWs and few, if any, of us on this thread endorse the unpatriotic attitude of the NFL and some of their idiot players. The SJWs are only those who think they are morally superior and need to straighten out the rest of us.
So it's OK to spread the product of an anti-American organization on FR, because you acknowledge that it's "unpatriotic"? Not sure how that makes sense.
You are unwilling to give up a minor pleasure, watching pro football, to support your country.
That’s your choice, and you’re free to make it. But don’t expect not to be called out on your weakness.
And the left appreciates your support in their attempt to destroy Masculinity
https://www.salon.com/2017/09/29/rush-limbaugh-nfl-protests-are-a-conspiracy-to-destroy-masculinity/
“I do believe that the left wants to cause great damage to the NFL,” Limbaugh said. “What does the NFL stand for? Masculinity, strength, toughness. So, what are they doing to it?”
He continued that the left is using NFL players to destroy the league because “they don’t like displays of patriotism, strength, rugged individualism.” He continued, “they think it’s about police brutality, they think it’s about righting social wrongs, and so forth. This is an attack on the NFL as an institution for shaking it down and lowering its profile and impact on American culture. We’re in the midst of a culture war. Everybody knows it.”
LOL - Your support of the left-wing America-hating NFL and their roster of thugs...is somehow support of Masculinity, apple pie, etc.
Nice try.
Right I support blm by watching football like you support left wing kooks by paying taxes. Perhaps the problem is some simpletons can’t differentiate between and individual and a business
Bend, old Cletus has a point. Why you bedding down with DWS?
People like you come across like self-righteous SJW’s. Nobody needs it.
Saturday, Jan 13, 2018 (All times Eastern)
NFC: #6 Atlanta at #1 Philadelphia 4:35pm NBC Sorry, Eagles fans. Nick Foles has shown the last several games that he just can't lead the Iggles offense like Carson Wentz did. I mean, at some point you have to score some points! And playoff games tend to revel a team's weaknesses, and Philadelphia's weakness is... Nick Foles! OTOH, the Black Birds are finally firing on all cylinders, on both sides of the ball, and they will therefore return to the NFC Championship game. FALCONS.
AFC: #5 Tennessee at #1 New England 8:15pm CBS The Titans... one, I think they used up all their mojo last week - see Mariota throwing and receiving a TD pass, on the same play! Two, Bill Belichick is not Andy Reid, and if things are slipping away late in the game he'll make the necessary moves to stop the bleeding, even if it means running the Statue of Liberty play. Three, I don't see the Titans being able to put up enough points to keep up with New England. That means, four.... Patriots.
Sunday, Jan 14, 2018
AFC: #3 Jacksonville at #2 Pittsburgh 1:05pm CBS Can the Jaguars repeat their performance from earlier in the season against the Steelers? Will they force Big Ben into another five INTs? Maybe they will but.... That offense? It's going to take more than 10 points to win this game ... Roethlisberger, Brown, Bell... Pittsburgh has some weapons for sure. So I just don't see the Jags being able to put up enough points to win this. Steelers.
NFC: #4 New Orleans at #2 Minnesota 4:40pm FOX This matchup.... I love Brees and the Saints. Downed the Panthers. Three times! The run game is awesome. On the other side... Case Keenum. Yeah, Case Keenum. And i'm not ready to jump on the Keenum Bandwagon. Not when comparing him to Brees, a guy with both tons of playoff experience and a championship in his pocket to boot. So sorry to destroy all that sentiment for the Vikings to be the first team to host the Super Bowl while playing in it, gotta go with New Orleans. Saints.
Good luck everyone!
Eagles take the Falcons...
)
Patriots shoot down the Titans...
Jags jump the Steelers...
Vikes whack the Saints...
You just have to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" 
Analysis to follow.
Offense vs. Defense Matchups and Analysis (all times Mountain)
Saturday, Jan 13, 2018
NFC: #11 Atlanta at #1 Philadelphia 2:35pm NBC
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#1 Philly Offense #3: 14 Pass 3 Run
#11 Atl Defense #8: 8 Pass 16 Run
#11 Atl Offense #15: 4 Pass 7 Run
#1 Philly Defense #4: 3 Pass 6 Run
Philly outranks Atlanta 1 to 11 in overall scoring strength as well as in offensive and defensive scoring. The Eagles are tied with N.E. as the best team in the NFL. Philly lost their starting QB, but their offensive strength is their #3 running game so the damage may be minimal. Philly should run well against Atlanta’s mediocre run defense. The BIG problem with Philly on offense could be what all teams, especially new teams, in the playoffs fall into: the team’s brain trust and offensive coordinator tend to get happy feet and feel they HAVE to pass a lot EVEN if, like the Eagles, the team’s best offensive weapon is the run. Philly’s pass attack is mediocre and Atlanta’s pass defense is solid. If Philly leans too much on the pass and ignores the strength of their running game, they may not score enough to win and may increase their turnovers by interception(s). Philly’s very tough #4 scoring defense which is #3 against the pass should slow Atlanta’s #4 passing game. Philly’s #6 run defense should slow Atlanta’s #7 run game. Winner: Eagles.
AFC: #16 Tennessee at #1 New England 6:15pm CBS
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#1 N.E. Offense #2: 3 Pass 11 Run
#16 Tenn Defense #17: 12 Pass 4 Run
#16 Tenn Offense #19: 18 Pass 14 Run
#1 N.E Defense #5: 25 Pass 30 Run
N.E. outranks Tenn 1 to 16 in overall scoring strength. N.E. is tied with the Eagles as the best team in the NFL. N.E.’s #2 scoring offense which is #3 in passing should fly past Tenn. However, N.E.’s defense presents an odd picture. Their scoring defense is a strong #5 but they have very weak yardage rankings against the run and the pass. Tenn scoring defense is mediocre but much stronger in yardage than N.E.’s offense in both the pass and the run. Overall Tenn outranks N.E. in yardage by a lot. When a team ranks higher in points but not yards, it can signal an impending upset. Watch out for this one. It may be closer than we would expect, maybe even one of those famous fourth quarter comebacks N.E. is famous for. Winner: N.E.
Sunday, Jan 14, 2018
AFC: #3 Jacksonville at #7 Pittsburgh 11:05am CBS
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#3 Jags Offense #5: 13 Pass 7 Run
#7 Steelers Defense #7: 19 Pass 27 Run
#7 Steelers Offense #8: 8 Pass 25 Run
#3 Jags Defense #2: 1 Pass 23 Run
The Jags outrank the Steelers 3 to 7 in overall scoring strength. The Jags strong offense has its best opportunities in the run against the Steelers’ very weak running defense. The problem with the Jags on offense could be what all teams, especially new teams, in the playoffs fall into: the team’s brain trust and offensive coordinator tend to get happy feet and feel they HAVE to pass a lot EVEN if, like the Jags, the team’s best offensive weapon is the run. The Steelers’ main weapon on offense, the pass, will be met by the Jags’ #2 scoring defense and #1 pass defense which should slow Roethlisberger and probably cause some turnovers. Winner: Jags.
NFC: #6 New Orleans at #5 Minnesota 2:40pm FOX
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#5 Vikes Offense #10: 11 Pass 22 Run
#6 Saints Defense #10: 16 Pass 27 Run
#6 Saints Offense #4: 1 Pass 1 Run
#5 Vikes Defense #1 1 Pass 5 Run
The Vikes outrank the Saints 5 to 6 in overall scoring strength. These are two teams that match up very well in strengths and it should be an entertaining game. The Vikes’ #10 scoring offense is matched by the Saints’ #10 scoring defense. However, the Vikes have the yardage edge in both passing and running so they should be able to move the ball somewhat. The best part of the game will be when the Saints have the ball. The Saints #4 scoring offense and #1 passing and #1 running offense will be challenged by the Vikes’ defense, #1 scoring, #1 against the pass, and #5 against the run. The Saints should probably run more than pass, but the Vikes’ best defense in the NFL should slow Drew Breese and Co. enough to win, but it will probably be very close. Winner: Vikes.
Thanks. I genuinely appreciate it when someone posts educated insight and analysis on these games.
Thanks. I do this for every round every year. I always keep a copy by me while I’m watching the games - they’re great to refer to during the games.
These should be some fun games this weekend. One thing I’ve noticed - playoff teams always feel they have to pass a lot even if their running game is the best strategy. Watch to see if that happens to Philly and/or the Jags.
Maybe there’ll be some chatter on this thread during the games. Hope so...
Pretty good there Imp!
I still have sworn off the nfl forever but your post was extremely well-done and made me smile.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.