Very nice of the officials to reset the play clock for the Rams on that 2 point conversion.
Kudos to the Chiefs D...they waited all year to finally show up. The zebras were not kind to the Colts, and the "Dolts" hurt themselves with silly penalties and dropped passes, and what's up with Vinateri??? Mahomes is the real deal, and if the KC defense shows up again, then the Chiefs are real too.
Was surprised how poorly the Dallas D played, especially against the run. The Rams set a franchise record for rushing yards in a playoff game.
Today...
going with the chalk, at home.
The Chargers are the better team, but this is no ordinary #2 seed they are playing on the road. Just think the Pats will find a way to win. Rivers is prone to WTF games at times, and today he will have one of those.
Pats 31 Chargers 21
Home in the Dome!
The Eagles scare me. They are defending Super Bowl champs for a reason. Foles is 1,000X better than that over-rated Wentz. The Eagles play defense too. Still, it's time for Payton/Brees to earn all those accolades they get....even during three straight 7-9 seasons supporters were heaping praise on them...blah, blah, blah. I don't give a rat's azz about all of Brees' passing records, throwing for a gazillion yards and losing doesn't get it done for me. WIN games!
But the focus is today. The Saints offense has limped in averaging an anemic 19 pts a game in their last 6 games. The defense has stepped up and has carried this team. I think (hope) the D has a big game today! If not, the Saints will lose. I don't expect Brees and the O to have a break-out game, but do think they can do enough to get a W. The Eagles will employ the tactic I've been saying for 10+ years, force Brees out of the pocket, DO NOT let him step up. He is a below-average QB when forced out of the pocket. Ted Ginn being back will help a lot!
Saints 27 Eagles 17
Defense wins the day.
Dallas D-line and LB got dominated. I didn’t see that coming.
I think the Chargers can get pressure on Brady and will win if allowed to by the officials.
The Saints game will not be a repeat of the first meeting. The Eagles have good receivers and can be effective unless the Saints D line can apply pressure. Ultimately I think the Saints will get it done.
I'm hoping our second string RB from last year has a good day today. I don't hope the Saints lose, but losing big games is still closer to the norm than winning is.
Didn’t take long for a referee bailout for Brady. Results in 7 instead of 3.
Chargers trying to play zone defense against Brady. That’s a recipe for defeat. Will never work. And playing a bad zone is even worse.
The stupidity of coaches never ceases to amaze me.
Gonna have to play a lot better to beat the Rams.
Saints open as a 3.5 point favorite
Saints had to battle the zebras too. It's always that way. Saints went for 117 yards on that 3rd qtr drive. Davenport got tagged for roughing the QB when his hand barely grazed Foles' facemask, yet TWICE! Brees got clocked in the facemask, much worse, and no calls against the Eagles. I've always said, if the Saints got consistent fair treatment from the refs, we'd win 13+ games every year, and go to a lot of Super Bowls. If we got preferential treatment, like a couple of franchises seem to, we would win a lot of Super Bowls. As it is, the Saints have to be special, and a little lucky, to overcome the refs.
Brees is looking like a 40-yr-old QB. Has never had a strong arm, but he can't throw deep anymore. Five years ago the plays to Ginn and Hill would have been walk-in easy TDs. He's still very good as the medium-range throws though. Was surprised the Eagles didn't use a strong inside pass rush and force Brees out of the pocket. Teams are just asking to get smoked when they allow Brees to step up in the pocket. (yeah, the Eagles did have a good inside push some plays, but not consistently)
The defense did step up and win the day...after that dismal 1st Qtr. The results of a 3-week layoff, Saints were horrid early on. Kudos to the Eagles, they played like champions. The scuttlebutt after the game is Foles is gone, will be resigned just so Philly can trade him. Dumb. Hmmm...wonder if Payton/Loomis will try to get him?
If Rankins is out for the Rams game, that'll hurt big time. He's our best inside run stopper. Gonna be a tough, hard-fought, very close war! next Sunday.
Geaux Saints!
Rankins is done for 8-10 months.
Andrus Peat just about killed us.
Time is your friend. Impulse is your enemy. -John Bogle
Ugh!
As for Peat, well, he's a little slow with his feet and has to reach sometimes when he gets beat. But! at least one of his so-called holding penalties was bogus, as was Unger's.