Wildcard Round (Other Teams)

[beanfigger]

Best month of the sports year. Let's discuss.

NFC

Detroit @ Dallas

This is the most intriguing "other teams" matchup to me. I want to know if one or both of these teams is for real and a legit threat to make it to Arizona in February. The Lions have held on all year, and their defense is serious. Surprisingly, their offense is sporadic and spotty. We all know what that talent is capable of, though. If it all starts clicking, watch out. Dallas, on the other hand, seems to have put it all together for the stretch run. If they blow Detroit away at home, they might just become a minor favorite in that conference in my eyes.

Arizona @ Carolina

How lucky can one team be? 0-6-1 for a dismal stretch during the season, still make the playoffs because of an historically bad division where the other teams tucked in their tails and skunked away, and now they get a home game against a struggling team without a QB. I like the Panthers, but I kind of think Arizona has to win here to restore any sense of fairness in the league. Carolina deserves nothing after this season. Imagine what might have been this year for the Cardinals if Palmer stayed healthy and efficient like he was the first half of the year.

AFC

Cincinatti @ Indianapolis

I almost feel as though these two teams would have lost to any other AFC playoff teams this week, though we have seen both of them step up from time to time and come away with big wins. They are both capable, but very flawed. I wouldn't be surprised to see Dalton get his first playoff win here against the quietly slumping and sloppy Colts, but we know from last year that you can never count out Luck and Indy to dig deep and pull out a victory when least expected.

[JO_75]

The Playoffs are officially here! With the Patriots, Broncos, Seahawks and Packers all on a bye this week, it's time to figure out who they will be facing. It all starts with the fifth seeded Arizona Cardinals playing against the red hot Carolina Panthers, winners of four straight to end the season at 4:35p.m on ESPN.

 

Cardinals @ Panthers: Ryan Lindley will once again see the start at QB. The Panthers seem to have put it together at the right time, and with Arizona's offense struggling it may be an early exit for Bruce Arians and co. 

 

Bengals @ Colts: This is a regular season matchup where the Colts shutout the Bengals 27-0 back in October. The Colts are a team that have proven they can be beat, meanwhile the Bengals have had no playoff wins under Andy Dalton. 

 

Lions @ Cowboys: The Cowboys are back in the playoffs, and they are hosting a home playoff game. Which may not be a good thing as they are just 4-4 at home compared to 8-0 on the road. For the Cowboys, they will have to face a tough Lions D, who will have Suh this weekend.

 

The winner of the Cardinals/Panthers will be watching this closely as it will determine where they go in the divisional round. If the 6th seeded Lions win, they go to Seattle while the Panthers/Cardinals go to Green Bay. If the Cowboys win, then they go to Green Bay, and the winner of Panthers/Cardinals goes to Seattle.

 

 

[Mt. Crushmore]

Two threads!

[beanfigger]

Guess I'm supposed to wait for you to start these. My bad. I did beat you by seven minutes, though.

[Moderator 3]

Merged. Unfortunately the software keeps the earliest timestamp and author.

[JO_75]

Guess I'm supposed to wait for you to start these. My bad. I did beat you by seven minutes, though.

 

No not really, I just happen to make them before anyone else does lol. By the time I was writing out mine and finishing it, you must have posted it. Before I started a new topic, I checked the thread, didn't see this topic posted yet and started to make it. 

[ravensdan]

Most interesting matchups

Dallas Oline v Detroit Dline

Vontae Davis v AJ Green if he plays

Riverboat Ron v Arians and Bowles.

[K-Dog]

Cardinals

Indy

Lions.

[Pats]

Colts
Boys
Panthers

[uhhhh]

Lions

Cardinals

Indy

[52520Andrew]

Panthers Cowboys Indy

[JO_75]

Panthers, Cowboys and Colts.  Just have to wonder how much longer Mike Brown will be satisfied with just making the playoffs and being one and done each year. Wonder if the Bengals will have a surprise opening on Monday if they lose again.

[beanfigger]

Looks we have disagreement in two games, but unanimous agreement about the Colts. I'm not so sure about them, but it is more difficult for me to have any faith in the Daltons.

[Mt. Crushmore]

Panthers, Colts, and Cowboys

[beanfigger]

The way the Lions have played this year, it is set up for a Romo choke-job, but I have a feeling they'll pull it out anyway. Not like Stafford is any more clutch in big road games (0-16 career outside of Detroit against teams that finish above .500),

[Mt. Crushmore]

Not Wild Card news, but I can't think of another place for this:

 

The Chargers are moving RT D.J. Fluker to G next season.

[52520Andrew]

With 45 votes at DE, Watt is first team all pro. That is great and all but what I find funny is that he is technically second team all pro at DT with 5 votes. Either way, he is unanimous.

[Gordo52]

Colts

Cowboys

Cardinals

[allblackraven]

ARI

BAL

CIN

DAL

[beanfigger]

With 45 votes at DE, Watt is first team all pro. That is great and all but what I find funny is that he is technically second team all pro at DT with 5 votes. Either way, he is unanimous.

Same situation with Justin Smith a few years ago. What stinks more is that Levy missed out on first team All-Pro altogether because his votes were split between positions.

[cobrajet]

Colts because Green looks to be ruled out, but I will be rooting for the Bengals (because of Irsay). However, I don't think Marvin Lewis is a good enough coach to win a playoff game. Dallas will handle Detroit. Arizona's defense will finally step up this week against Carolina in a very close low scoring game.

[ravensdan]

Looks we have disagreement in two games, but unanimous agreement about the Colts. I'm not so sure about them, but it is more difficult for me to have any faith in the Daltons.

I'm starting to lean toward the Bengals. The colts really only have superior talents in Luck, Hilton and Davis on defense. Is that really enough? Even if Dalton lays an egg I could see This Bengals line destroying the Colts up from and Hill wearing them out. you also have Bernard with a good matchup in the pass game. Look what they did against Denver.

[beanfigger]

I'm starting to lean toward the Bengals. The colts really only have superior talents in Luck, Hilton and Davis on defense. Is that really enough? Even if Dalton lays an egg I could see This Bengals line destroying the Colts up from and Hill wearing them out. you also have Bernard with a good matchup in the pass game. Look what they did against Denver.

Over/under 4 combined interceptions in that game?

[52520Andrew]

Over/under 4 combined interceptions in that game?

I would take over on that one lol, not putting anything on it so no wagering mods just a guess here

[arnie_uk]

Over/under 4 combined interceptions in that game?

could be 6 with these two guys at QB

[Inqui]

I just really want to see the Bengals go one and done for a fourth time in a row. No matter what happens in Pittsburgh, that would improve my week dramatically (like watching them melt against the Chargers helped not making the playoffs last season).

 

Otherwise, I've got the Cardinals and Lions winning.

[Mt. Crushmore]

A.J. Green has been ruled out for the Bengals.

[LiveFreeorDieARaven]

could be 6 with these two guys at QB

Cam-1

Lindley-5

[Mt. Crushmore]

Time for some playoff football!

[Inqui]

Cam-1

Lindley-5

It was for the Colts and Bengals. Not that I'd expect a QB masterclass from this Cardinals-Panthers game, mind.