Divisonal round breakdown

[BlindSite]

Divisional Round Breakdown

Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans
Congratulations to the rookie tandem of Harbaugh and Flacco, both are the first rookie’s at their respective position to win two consecutive playoff games.

Tennessee should never have lost this game, but their ill-disciplined, turnover laden play in the second half cost them a shot at the AFC title.

Their offense (Tennessee) was able to move the ball fairly methodically for most of the day, but the loss of key fumbles by White and Crumpler and an INT from Collins was enough for the Ravens to halt any kind of assault and turn their own possessions into valuable points.

Full credit has to go to the ageless wonder, Derrick Mason and Todd Heap managed an amazing circus catch to keep the Ravens fourth quarter drive rolling.

Realistically though it seems that on the day, the Titan’s luck just changed, a freak injury and some freak turnovers and that’s game in the playoffs.That being said the Ravens are clearly one hell of a force when they play on their game. Mistake free football is going to be key to getting into the superbowl. One thing is question though, the Ravens are this good with no real wide receivers and a rookie QB, just how good will they be in a few years down the track if they can keep that defense together with a mature Flacco and some young stud catching his passes?


Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers
First of all, I’d like to admit, openly and honestly that I was completely wrong about the Cardinals heading into this week. They played inspired, passionate, motivated, superior football and were easily the better team on the day. Kudos to Ken Whisenhunt and his coaching staff for having his team more than ready to do what seemed to be the impossible.

A lot of the result here had to do with the poor play calling of Jeff Davidson and the ridiculously stupid game plan in the secondary from Tim Lewis. At different times when Fitz made plays of more than 20 or 30 yards he was in zone coverage, working against a third or fourth string corner (there were some exceptions), but for the most part it wasn’t in man coverage.

Tim Lewis, you have a 54 million dollar cornerback, use him.

I have to ask myself what in the blue hell happened to Delhomme in the bye week. He’s always been a gunslinger, but in the playoffs he’s been accurate and effective. At 34, unable to effectively win games any more the Panthers might want to start looking toward a QB of the future sooner, rather than later. I hate knee jerk reactions as a fan, and I never make them, but enough’s enough. The team needs some consistency at QB. Panthers are useless with a bye week, I don’t know why, or how but the team seems to get complacent and cute and today they ran into a turbo charged buzz saw.

The Arizona Cardinals capitalized on every opportunity and the offense was aided by some terrible Carolina play. Facing the Eagles won’t be as easy in the championship game but this is a team that has a certain air of destiny to it and one I can definitely see going all the way.

Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants

To almost complete the set the third team with a bye in the playoffs and home field managed to lose. The Giants offense never seemed to get going against the Eagles as Manning was inaccurate and threw two interceptions. Like their NFC bye week brothers, the Giants defense came to play and for much of the contest kept both McNabb and Westbrook in check, but couldn’t overcome a lack of offensive ability.

The Eagles, who through McNabb were near perfect for much of the day, now have to travel to Arizona, where the NFC championship game will be on the line between two teams who finished the regular season with nine wins.

The Eagles are one of the few teams in the NFL seemingly designed to stop teams like the Cardinals, they possess a hard hitting, tight covering backfield and one of the most aggressive front sevens. If the Eagles can take one thing from the cardinals first two match ups, it’s that Blitzing is key to stopping their impressive passing game.


San Diego Chargers vs Pittsburgh Steelers
To be updated

[GB12]

Where's the homer corner?

[MetSox17]

Originally Posted by GB12

Where's the homer corner?

Here: tenchar

Originally Posted by BlindSite

They're a myriad of reasons why the Panthers likely won't win a superbowl, but Delhomme is NOT one of them. He's an amazing post season QB.

The Cards also do not have a run defense and their run game isn't good enough either. In fact I don't see the Cards getting past the first round of the playoffs.;)

[TitanHope]

Originally Posted by BlindSite

...and veteran safety Ed Reed who reminded us yet again, why you don’t throw a wild pass anywhere near him.

It was Samari Rolle who caught the gimme INT, not Ed Reed. In fact, the biggest play Ed Reed made yesterday was holding Chris Johnson up while another player broke his ankle...allegedly.

[RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES]

Originally Posted by TitanHope

It was Samari Rolle who caught the gimme INT, not Ed Reed. In fact, the biggest play Ed Reed made yesterday was holding Chris Johnson up while another player broke his ankle...allegedly.

so what if he did do that johnson needed to be stopped

[CashmoneyDrew]

Originally Posted by RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES

so what if he did do that johnson needed to be stopped

Johnson was stopped and the whistle was blown. It was obvious the true intent of the players in that play. To be honest the only other play I saw Reed make yesterday was a TD preventing tackle on Chris Johnson downfield.

[RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES]

Originally Posted by VoodooMonkey

Johnson was stopped and the whistle was blown. It was obvious the true intent of the players in that play. To be honest the only other play I saw Reed make yesterday was a TD preventing tackle on Chris Johnson downfield.

yea he was playing deep all game (don't know why you have no deep threat) and the titans were throwing underneath all game. but yea he stopped him on that play and screw it reed cant be the guy everygame. STOVER WAS THAT GAME

[MetSox17]

Watching Ed Reed yesterday made me think he's a little overrated. He's great in coverage, but he absolutely blew chunks in run support. Couldn't tackle worth a damn, took bad angles, and even when someone did get near him he just threw his arms out there trying to drag someone down instead of tackling.

[TitanHope]

Originally Posted by R/W/O

so what if he did do that johnson needed to be stopped

You're joking, right bud?

[RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES]

Ed reed isnt the best tackler and no one says he is and he didnt have such a good game so hes over-rated??? hmmmm that is funny because just last game and the game before that he had 2picks 1 for a td i dont think hes over-rated i just think he didnt have such a good game yesterday.

and yes i was joking i do not believe that my team would intentionally hurt a guy. Our defense has to much pride to have to stop a guy by injuring him

[MetSox17]

Originally Posted by RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES

Ed reed isnt the best tackler and no one says he is and he didnt have such a good game so hes over-rated??? hmmmm that is funny because just last game and the game before that he had 2picks 1 for a td i dont think hes over-rated i just think he didnt have such a good game yesterday.

and yes i was joking i do not believe that my team would intentionally hurt a guy. Our defense has to much pride to have to stop a guy by injuring him

I conceded that he was great in pass coverage, but that doesn't necessarily make him an amazing safety, either. I know he has a bum shoulder, but he's borderline Roy Williams-esque out there on running plays.

[GB12]

Ed Reed is the best safety in the league.

[JeffSamardzijaIRISH]

Originally Posted by RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES

Ed reed isnt the best tackler and no one says he is and he didnt have such a good game so hes over-rated??? hmmmm that is funny because just last game and the game before that he had 2picks 1 for a td i dont think hes over-rated i just think he didnt have such a good game yesterday.

and yes i was joking i do not believe that my team would intentionally hurt a guy. Our defense has to much pride to have to stop a guy by injuring him

Dude, use some grammar or punctuation or something!

[MetSox17]

Originally Posted by GB12

Ed Reed is the best safety in the league.

I think i like Polamalu a little bit more. Not being a factor in the rush defense is pretty big.

[BigDawg819]

Originally Posted by MetSox17

I conceded that he was great in pass coverage, but that doesn't necessarily make him an amazing safety, either. I know he has a bum shoulder, but he's borderline Roy Williams-esque out there on running plays.

You forget or may not know that Reed is playing hurt with possible career threatening neck injuries so yeah he's a little hesitant to bang heads at the line of scrimmage.

[MetSox17]

Originally Posted by BigDawg819

You forget or may not know that Reed is playing hurt with possible career threatening neck injuries so yeah he's a little hesitant to bang heads at the line of scrimmage.

Yeah, i acknowledged the bum shoulder earlier, but are you sure it's a career threatening injury? Would he really be playing if it was REALLY career threatening?

But even then, besides the poor tackling, the angles he was taking at some running plays were just way off. Made some pretty bad reads. It really stood out because whenever there was a run for some decent yardage, Reed was somewhere in there missing a tackle.

[iBoldin]

Originally Posted by RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES

Ed reed isnt the best tackler and no one says he is and he didnt have such a good game so hes over-rated??? hmmmm that is funny because just last game and the game before that he had 2picks 1 for a td i dont think hes over-rated i just think he didnt have such a good game yesterday.

and yes i was joking i do not believe that my team would intentionally hurt a guy. Our defense has to much pride to have to stop a guy by injuring him

How did you get 1200 posts in a matter of a few weeks?

[bam bam]

Originally Posted by MetSox17

Watching Ed Reed yesterday made me think he's a little overrated. He's great in coverage, but he absolutely blew chunks in run support. Couldn't tackle worth a damn, took bad angles, and even when someone did get near him he just threw his arms out there trying to drag someone down instead of tackling.

He has a nerve problem in his neck and has been playing at 70% all year. He cant deliver the big hits like he used to.

[Shane P. Hallam]

I'm glad the team that beat Carolina is a team of dynasty who may go and win it all, lol.

[RAVENS/WIZARDS/ORIOLES]

Originally Posted by iBoldin

How did you get 1200 posts in a matter of a few weeks?

i am attached to my laptop

[bearfan]

I dont understand why the Panthers didnt run the ball more than they did. I understand they got down at the beginning, but they should have just been running all night long when they have running backs like they do.

[critesy]

Originally Posted by bam bam

He has a nerve problem in his neck and has been playing at 70% all year. He cant deliver the big hits like he used to.

he delivered big hits ?

[OzTitan]

I think the best way to summarize the Titans is their luck simply ran out. During the regular season, those fumbles probably bounce out of bounds, Rolle drops the pick, Bironas hits the 51 yarder with ease and Johnson ends up with 150+ on the ground as he was well on pace to doing.

Absolutely nothing went their way against the Ravens, not even the blatant delay of game penalty missed by the ref on the eventual game winning drive on 3rd and 2. Pretty big deal when 3rd and 7 is a much more obvious pass down and the Ravens were not doing that well on 3rd down conversions.

And it only came down to a late kick regardless. I don't want to dismiss the Ravens as they played mistake free and won because of that, but they must be feeling pretty lucky today. But that's fine, because you definitely need a bit of it to go all the way.

[BlindSite]

That was a very blatant penalty, I remember watching it and yelling flag, flag flag before they got the snap off and I was amazed to see nothing happen.

[bam bam]

Originally Posted by critesy

he delivered big hits ?

A) Not really that funny
B) Yes.