Steelers @ Browns: This is one of two big upsets in the playoffs. On paper, the Steelers are the better team, but their arrogance in thinking they are a better team than they really are works against. Big Ben has had a good year but it is not enough to stop a team that has played with a lot of heart. This is a close game that comes down to the last minute of the 4th Quarter. Bowns win 17-14.
Jaguars @ Chargers: This game is over before it starts. No way the Chargers, despite winning their division is able to hold off the Jaguars. Jaguars breeze through this one winning 27-17.
NFC
Giants @ Buccaneers: The Giants barely squeak into the playoffs and are out in the first round. Not having Shockey really hurts the Giants offense really limiting Eli's Options. John Gruden and the rolling Buccaneers win in a 31-10 rout.
Vikings @ Seahawks: A classic pass vs rush game. When it comes down to it, the Seahawks are a more experienced team in the post season and that experience pays off with a close win. Seahawks 27-24 in OT
Divisional Round:
Browns @ Colts: The fairy tale is over for Romeo and the Browns are humbled by the Colts: 41-7.
Jaguars @ Patriots: The Jaguars are #1 in rushing plays and #2 in rushing yards but ranked 4th in rushing touchdowns. This is the kind of team that can beat the Patriots. Garrards' inexperience along with falling behind early makes the Jaguars play the game they can't play in weather they can't play it in. Patriots win 35-17.
NFC
Seahawks @ Packers: As good as the Seahawks looked late in the season, Packers send them home in for the season win: 31-24.
Buccaneers @ Cowboys: Combine Romo's bum thumb, his playoff inexperience and Jessica Simpson and you have the recipe for a meltdown. Barber fails to carry the offense and the Buccaneers get by in a very close game 13-10.
Championship Round
AFC:
Colts @ Patriots: Once again it comes down to this rivalry. Even though the Colts are heathier than during the regular season, they are tired after a tough game against the Jaguars the week before. Patriots come away with another close battle as Manning lets frustration and fatigue get the best of him. Patriots win 27-20.
NFC: Buccaneers @ Packers: In a game with as much heart as ability, the cold at Lambeau proves to be too much for the Buccaneers who should go home smiling for as well as they played at the end of the season. Old Man Favre shines again and earns one more trip to the Big Show..
Superbowl:
Patriots vs. Packers: Imagine the hype surrounding this game. The Packers led by the record breaking Favre in a season as improbable as it was spectacular playing the New England Patriots, led by the record breaking Brady and a team that has a chance to avenge their Super Bowl loss to the Packers in 1995-95 and go 19-0. This game blows the ratings off the charts as the most viewed program in history. This will be a game that EVERYONE watches, football fans or not. An offensive shootout. The Arizona conditions are ideal for the Patriots who hammer the Packers 44-27.
There you go, those are mine and just how I see them. Agree? Disagree? What are yours?
I agree, with everything except that the Browns Beat the Steelers. I also think that the Vik's will win the #6 wildcard seed. I predicted this on my blog, as well as the Cowboys and Pats meeting in the Superbowl. Good post.......t/c
yeah buccaneer's right, I think you got the NFC right on, vikings tho, not saints. AFC pats vs chargers and indy vs cleveland. Pats beat Indy @ Gillette and then Dallas in Arizona.
Last edited by maineiac man on December 11th at 10:13 AM.
Bracket is based on how I see the season ending, not how the teams are placed today, hence why it is defferent from the CBS one as well as others.
Keep in mind that unlike may other brackets, the NFL re-seed so the highest seed ALWAYS plays the LOWEST seed. Based on my seedings, the bracket is correct.
And I have the Pats, Colts, Cowboys and Packers all with 1st round byes? so I do not understand the comment on that.
Last edited by TORCH511 on December 11th at 10:15 AM.
Bucs87 - I hope you are right. Few people bring me to the brink of projectile vomiting than Eli Manning (heck, Eli or Peyton, but at least Peyton has skill)
Would love to see the Bucs make it further into the playoffs and will be chearing them on. Have to go with logic and not heart and say Giants get the better of them.
Huh? Steeler's arrogance? More like bad Cleveland defense is why Pittsburgh wins. 2 games vs. Browns, Pittsburgh has outgained Cleveland 766 yards to 384. The 2nd game was close because of Josh Cribbs two kickoff returns. Their 3rd TD was controversial at best with a replay overturn of Edwards catch at the side corner of the end zone. Cleveland with 2 first downs in the 2nd half. The Browns are a better team than they have been in 5 years, but they have not proven to be at Pittsburgh's level yet.
Moseby, you are correct and I even said that on paper the Steelers are a better team. I honestly thought they were going to match up better against the Patriots. The playoffs is where the steelers will miss having Cowher. I do not think Tomlin has proven himself and the Steelers have been running on the strenght of the players. They are a better team than their record suggests, but their coaching so far is suspect. Add to that the Steelers starting to thing that the game is a gimmie because on paper they are better and you have all the makings of an upset.
Just my point of view, was not meaning to devalue the Steelers, a team I always enjoy watching.
Steelers aren't losing at home to the Brownies so forget all the talk of re-seeding. Won't matter.
Jags could pose problems for the Patsies with their running game and conservative QB. NE usually waits for an opponent to make mistakes then kills them.
Giants are terrible. They won't win @TB. Bucs aren't great either though so who can tell.
Wouldn't count out Vikings @Sea. They went up there and smoked them recently, can't remember the year.
Above comment about all the chalk aside, it does appear like 4 teams are destined to be playing for 2 seats in XLII. The result in that game won't be 48-27, but it sure looks like the same team will win.
Yes slapNtickle they can. The NFL changed the rule sometime in the late 80s, early 90s when they expanded the playoff field. Pittsburgh has done it four times - vs. the Browns(1994,2002), Ravens(2001) and Bengals(2005). Last year the Eagles beat the Giants.
I'll tell ya, those are some pretty good matchups the way things stand right now. You're probably right about the NFC team in the Super Bowl, although I would much prefer to see Green Bay, but I believe Dallas is a far superior team to the Packers....
Halfbaked --- you are not halfbaked but a very smart individual....yes Cowboys will be there although AFC could be either the Pats or colts....I believe if the boys do in fact make it ....it will be a hell o####ame no matter who makes it...they will have their hands full.....I will not take anything from the Farv-a-nator...still has a hell of an arm...but his speed out of the pocket has slowed down a little too much....I will not count him completely out...not yet....good luck in the playoffs.
You all may think I'm crazy/smoking something good, but here's my predicted AFC North scenario:
Week 15--Cleveland beats Buffalo, Pittsburgh loses to Jacksonville. Pittsburgh and Cleveland are both 9-5.
Week 16--Pittsburgh is stunned by St. Louis while Cleveland wins at Cincinnati. Cleveland is 10-5 and Pittsburgh is at 9-6.
Week 17--Pittsburgh beats Baltimore and awaits the results of a surprisingly close game between Cleveland and San Francisco. Cleveland wins on a late Phil Dawson FG to clinch the AFC North title and finish 11-5 and with the #3 seed.
It will be interesting to see how the teams actually finish the season. I will be revising this in a couple of weeks and throughout the season and everyone can make fun of me for how bad the predictions are.
Please note, this has no bearing on who I actually WANT to win, just who I THINK will win. For instance, I would love to see the Packers make it to the big show and see a Favre-Brady matchup. I just don't think that will be the case, but I can always be wrong. That is the beauty of predictions, they are nothing more than wild #### guesses.
I've been reading for weeks where everyone is dumping on the Steelers about not having beaten anyone this year. Now the Browns are the darlings of the boards. Well, okay fine. Who has Cleveland beaten? Cincy, Baltimore - twice. Miami, St. Louis, Houston & Jets. Yes they beat Seattle in - OT at home. Pittsburgh shut out Seattle at home. Not to mention that the Steelers swept the Browns. Now someone is predicting Cleveland to make it to the AFC Championship? Ha, Ha, seriously? Look, they have been a great story this year and, if they can beat Buffalo (at home) and Cincy (on the road) will be a deserving playoff team. But do you really think they are going on the road in the playoffs and beating a very good team with that defense? Giving up 27 points / 385 yards a game. Sorry, you might hate the Steelers or like the Browns, but CLeveland isn't quite ready yet to make due in the tournament.
I think the browns will be the 6th seed and the jaguars 5th seed. SO the patriots will play the jagaurs cause they'll beat pittsburgh and san diego will beat the browns and play the colts. Then hopefully jax beats the patriots and the colts beat san diego. but i know the colts will have to play in foxboro for the afc championship agian. I am an afc man and dont have an opinion on the nfc. (the pats might lose to jax!!!!!!!!)
Another thing learn how the seating goes before you root on your favorite team cause if cleveland won they would play new england cause they are the lower seed and no way ever could they beat mannings team.
I would love to see Favre and pack take on the Patriots in SB 42 and win, that would seriously make me cry.... too bad it won't happen. The Packers season will end as it usually does; with a Favre interception. Granted he will probably play better against the Boyz in the NFC champ game but too bad he can't win in dallas- where the NFC championship will take place.
Your playoff predictions are not only ball-less, but also obvious. This reminds me of how my fiance' would fill out the bracket (I like this color and mascot and this seed is better than that seed, esc...)
Problem 1 - You said:
"Saints/Vikings @ Seahawks: Not sure who earns the bottom seed in the NFC, does not matter, Seahawks are coming alive at the right time and their strong offense dominates. Closer game is the Vikings make it 28-17, against the Saints no content, 31-10."
First off, the Saints BEAT the Seahawks in Seattle (while we were 0-4). We made fools of you in that game.
Secondly, what are you talking about "the Seahawks are coming alive at the right time and their offense dominates"??? They just lost to a HORRIBLE, NAMELESS Carolina Panthers!!! The Panthers have only beat the 49ers this year at home until your beloved Seahawks came to town. If your team's offense is so dominating, how can you not outscore the QB-less Panthers???
Problem #2 - how are the Steelers arrogant?
Problem #3 - when has Eli ever shown he can play in a critical game? the Giants are lucky if they even squeeze in the playoffs. Who is Eli gonna throw to without his 2 best receivers injured?
...come on guys, let's put some intelligence and research into our posts. Good conversation though.
Last edited by andrewbrownbagger on December 19th at 6:11 AM.
I can understand your frustrated with your Saints team. A lot of so called experts put you in the superbowl this year. Talk about a hell of a disappointing season, your team is almost as overrated as the Ravens.
I don't know why your being such a hater for the Seahawks, but whatever. Not like the saints are going to do anything in the postseason (if they even get there)
I updated the bracket to reflect week 15 and changed the predictions. Believe me, if I knew it all I would be betting (and making a fortune) rather than blogging.
Wow, if the Cowboys lose that would be hilarious. That means the Cowboys would not have won a post season game in like forever. When did they last win one? like 1998?
I'm not a cowboys hater or anything, they are one of the teams I am neutral on. I think Romo has potential, he's got a good mind for the game, however it needs a little development. He's got good pocket presence, good timing and a good line to protect him.
But what the Cowboys REALLY did not need right now was TO stirring the pot, For Romo to hurt his thumb (small injury with big implications) and to have this rediculous Jessica Simpson press.
I can totally see the Cowboys losing a game, the Packers finishing out and the Cowboys losing home field to the Packers should it get that far.
But the Bucs are rolling right now and I seriously question the Cowboys getting that far.
You make a good argument but seriously, if the cowboys don't make it to the big show at the end of the season, when can they? Its now or never. They have tied there best start ever in franchise history.
Now that I think of it I kind of agree with you in a very sad way. Publicity in Dallas may destroy them. I'm curious how they will end the rest of the season. will they end on a good note or implode?
The Bucs have great potential, I was shocked when the Eagles got rid of Garcia in the off season after he took over that offense and took them all the way to divisional. Garcia has more heart and determination than anyone i've seen on the football field this year besides maybe Favre. Its no wonder John Gruden is in love with him.
bullish151 - we have a rule in my house. If you are going to do that with my Mom, then you have to wrap the urn in a ziplock bag so you don't get the ashes everywhere.
And not sure what your fantasy with deceased cremated mothers is, but I am positive that it has nothing to do with the NFL playoffs.
I agree with your AFC predictions, but if Green Bay has to play in Dallas, I think it'll be Dallas and New England. Plus, I think the Vikings could beat Seattle in the first round.
Colts have been utilyzing their backup quads alot and still coming up with the win, Why aren't the Pats, Cowboys or Packers doing this if their teams are so much all that?!
Pats vs Jaguars - You have the Jags, a southern team playing in the cold of New England. Garrard is by no means proven in the post season against a team that is WELL proven in the post season. Edge to the Patriots on that one. Does not mean they will win, but they are the better team with coaches/players who HAVE gotten it done in the post season.
And I still think Dallas is doing all the WRONG things heading into the post season. They are going to need two really strong games to finish out the season. Packers have the momentum right now and you have Romo, who blew chunks in the post season last year, against Favre who is a veteran can can get the job done.
35 year old Bostonian and long time Boston sports fan.
Served 9 years in the US Army as an Airborne Pathfinder. Currently employed as a Graphic Artist for a medium sized specialty printing company.
MBUA Baseball Umpire and also a Little League coach. Besides being obsessed with Football and Baseball, I am a fanatical NASCAR and PBR fan. For some reason I also find Curling absolutly fascinating.
