[Sadistyk]

Quote:
Dallas @ Carolina
The Cowboys’ win against Carolina in Week 12 was a sloppy, penalty thick nail-biter which could have gone either way easily. Since then, the Panthers have been taking it rather easy and are probably the most well-rested squad in the playoffs. This game will probably be a defensive shoving match. The Panthers have a tough and unpredictable running game capable of making big plays, but Dallas has the 3rd ranked rushing defense in the NFL, amazingly giving up only 68 rushing first downs this year, the lowest number in the NFL.
Special teams and turnovers will likely decide the game, so that puts Carolina at a slight advantage. Carolina returned a punt and a kickoff for TDs this year including Rod Smart’s 100 yard KR for a touchdown. On offense both teams put up mediocre numbers through the air ranking 17th and 18th in the NFL, but Dallas threw 21 interceptions, 5th highest in the NFL (tied w/Atlanta-Green Bay) and the 2nd most of any playoff team, while the Panthers intercepted 16 passes this year.
Prediction:
DAL  20
CAR  24

 

You know what's really sad...at the end of that game one of the announcers was praising the Cowboys on the great win.  In the background you could here Chris Collinsworth say "Yeah, great win when the officials give you 21 points."

[Chronicler]

Collinsworth loves to break it down. I like him, he knows his shit. He could be an outstanding coach. I've been really surprised this year with how the sports casters in general seem to be unafraid to give their opinion. I have heard quite a few people just rip the officiating whenever they didn't like the calls.  

[Sadistyk]

Quote:
Collinsworth loves to break it down. I like him, he knows his shit. He could be an outstanding coach. I've been really surprised this year with how the sports casters in general seem to be unafraid to give their opinion. I have heard quite a few people just rip the officiating whenever they didn't like the calls.  

You should hear the Panthers radio broadcasted games here...talk about not holding back.

Commentator #1:  "What the fuck are those dumbasses doing?  Calling 'that' a late hit?  The whistle hasn't even been blown to end the play yet."

Commentator #2:  "I got twenty bucks that says that jerk was paid off."

Commentator #3:  "Yep, it official...the 'Officials' are still hating Carolina.  Welcome to the 'Bad Call Cause We Hate The Panthers Fest 2003....four years and counting."  

[Chronicler]

Yeah that's pretty good. I often wonder about the logic of a referee calling a late hit when it is in fact the whistle that is late. When I played, we were coached to play through the whistle, even if the play is dead.

We watched some film of one of our games where something like this happened. There was a huge pile on the ball and the whistle was late, and out of the corner of the screen comes our fullback, who just absolutely pasted one of the corners from the other team. Dead ball, but mind you this happened before the whistle was blown. Coach gave the fullback a sticker for that one because it just showed outstanding discipline and mental presence on the field. Now this was only D II ball, but the ref never called anything, or said a word about it... they just made sure they didn't screw around at the end of a play like they did on that one.

I'm surprised at how the NFL refs seem totally beyond reproach. I mean they might not even change anything right then and there to keep coaches and players from thinking they can boss the refs around, but there should be some accountability to the NFL for horribly made calls like that.  

[Sadistyk]

That's why I miss 'Instant Replay'.  Now I'm not talking about that shitty red flag by the coach replay, the old school replay.  Sure, it made games last a little longer, but at least you know the calls would be more accurate.

[Sadistyk]

Quote:
Prediction:
DAL  20
CAR  24

Wow, that was actually a close prediction.  

Carolina 29
Dallas   10

But the best part is the Panthers had no penalties and no turnovers throughout the whole game.  That hasn't been done since Super Bowl X and it was the Steelers vs. Cowboys that year.

[Rafe]

Quote:
Commentator #3:  "Yep, it official...the 'Officials' are still hating Carolina.  Welcome to the 'Bad Call Cause We Hate The Panthers Fest 2003....four years and counting."  

You get no sympathy from me - I'm a Buffalo native.  After watching Vinnie Testapizza's phantom TD against the Seabags to knock the bills out of the playoffs in 96, to any and everyone trying to crawl up Don Shula's ass at every opportunity. . .

Two words for you, syd: "Homerun Throwback" - also known as "Forward Lateral."

And the granddaddy of 'em all:
"No Goal."  

[TheHerald]

Quote:
Prediction:
SEA 20
GB 33

The Seahawks did even better then you predicted, but another close prediction for chronic ! Good job!

Actual Final (in Overtime!)
SEA 27
GB 33  

..and no,   ElmerFudd , I don't own a   cheesehead hat . I (mostly) wear my pride/loyalty on the inside (win OR lose).    

[Sadistyk]

LOL...the man who has hated the Panthers for years has just picked them to win the Super Bowl.  That man....Chris Collinsworth.

[sheber]

At this point I'd say you are the only two......

[Sadistyk]

Quote:
At this point I'd say you are the only two......  

Uh...I never said anything about picking them to win.  Although it would be nice considering the hell the team has went through the last few years.  

Of course the Colts look unstoppable right now and the Rams have a great team.  Then again...you can never look past Green Bay.  So many teams, only one can win.


Sadis"I just hope it's the Panthers this year"tyk

[Chronicler]

Quote:
Good job!
Actual Final (in Overtime!)
SEA 27
GB 33  

Thx. Wow I picked all four games. I'll do the predictions again for this week's games here in a day or two and see if my luck holds out. These divisional games are much more of a crap shoot though.

Notes:
TEN/BAL
J. Lewis - Rushing 14/35
Gameball: Eddie George - Rushing 25/88... Big UPS for putting Ray Lewis on his back.
Condolences: Ray Lewis - 16 tackles. He played his f^&*ing heart out. You cannot expect two men to win a football game for you though.

DAL/CAR
T. Sauerbrun - Punting  48.4 avg
Gameball: Steve Smith – Receiving 5/135; TD. Huge UPS for that circus catch in the end zone and the initial play from scrimmage which gave the team momentum.
Condolences: Bill Parcells – Had a decent game plan but fell behind too early to do any good. Dink and Dunk was a good idea because of Quincy Carter’s jitters, but it does not move the ball in the playoffs. I thought Quincy Carter was going to cry when he finally threw that pick. If Parcells has any clue he will keep this young man as his starter next year. I hate Jerry Jones.

DEN/IND
Denver’s Defense gave up 369 yards offense in the first half. I mention them rather than Manning here because they had seven guys around Harrison and not one had the presence of mind to make sure he was down… nobody picked up on the fact that there was no whistle? I blame Mike Shannahan for this loss. He had a complacent game plan and failed to connect with and motivate his players this week, and deserved to be destroyed by a team that was driven to win this football game.
Gameball: Peyton Manning – Passing 22/26 377 yds. He had the Denver defense on the end of a yo-yo string. I imagine they will be doing extra wind sprints this week… oh nevermind the season is over for them. UPS for moving the pocket and **77** the D to think about the running game during long passing downs.
Condolences: J. Plummer – I feel for this man because he has to deal with the arrogance of Shannahan. That $40 million contract might help it go down easier though. Watch out for this Denver offense next year.

SEA/GB
Wow. What a great game by both teams. The key here was the injury to Chad Brown. If he had played Ahman Green doesn’t even get 66 yards. Huge UPS to Al Harris for reading the now legendary final play of this game.
Gameball: Bubba Franks – Had the only receiving TD and is a key blocker on every down. This guy gets nowhere near the credit he deserves for bringing a constant balanced threat to the field every down he is in the game.
Gameball: The GB running back corps. Lead blocking was key on many 3rd, 4th and short situations.
Condolences: M. Hasselbeck – Threw the only turnover of the game and it ended the Seattle season. I knew this would be a thriller, but damn. He played one hell of a game. Had he made this mistake against another team it may not have costed so dearly. I don’t like what he said about Al Harris ‘cheating’ though. He read the play because he knows Hasselbeck due to the fact that he practiced against him in GB.  

[TrapJaw]

 

Quote:
  He read the play because he knows Hasselbeck due to the fact that he practiced against him in GB.

They never played on the Packers at the same time.  

[Chronicler]

Oh shit... I was thinking McKenzie. Sorry. Those two confuse me sometimes.

[sheber]

Heh. Its gotta be the shoes.....