it's already week 16...who do you see in the superbowl?

[jefhatfield]

will the rams go again?

how about the patriots?

and it has been a long time since kansas city was in a superbowl

the colts have done good this year and so has carolina, as well as some other teams

in my region of the world, my 49ers and raiders are ruled out for the playoffs this year and will have to hope for a better year next year

dallas and denver are old standbys and maybe not as likely as in some years past, but it would be interesting to see them make a run for it...though with all the combinations and permutations, i don't know if they are even a wild card possibility

many say that this is philadelphia's year to go all the way and looking at their record, they are a pretty good bet to make it to the big game this year

my prediction is philadelphia vs. kansas city with philadelphia barely winning a very close one but with kansas city getting more rushing yards and having a longer time of possession...philadelphia will still have goal line stands and stop kansas in the red zone and defend well against the pass and like most superbowls, it will come down to who has the better defense

philadelphia 24-21

[wdlove]

Now that the Patriots have a 13 - 2 record, they have a good chance at the SuperBowl. After the win yesterday against the Jets, it's there 11th straight win. They will also have home field advantage.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by wdlove
Now that the Patriots have a 13 - 2 record, they have a good chance at the SuperBowl. After the win yesterday against the Jets, it's there 11th straight win. They will also have home field advantage.

pats are great but i think in the afc, the chiefs are on a mission

it's been a long, long time for those guys over there in kansas city

but as far as boston goes, i wanted those red sox to go to the world series against the cubs...that would have been classic..but the red sox will continue to be a force in baseball with their top shelf lineup

[GroundLoop]

Pats over the rams in the suberbowl....philly won't beat st. louis in the dome...

It's a shame that the eagles lost to san fran today

Hickman (philly born and raised)

[Cursor]

Have some faith. I get pissed off at them from time to time. It is a shame that the Eagles lost today, but I still see a KC vs. Phila Superbowl. Think of it. Dick Vermiel vs. the Eagles-what a great hype for the big game. Even though it's been over 20 years since he's coached here, people still love him. But I won't say anymore-I don't want to jinx anything.

Eagles 20 - Kansas City 19.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Cursor
Have some faith. I get pissed off at them from time to time. It is a shame that the Eagles lost today, but I still see a KC vs. Phila Superbowl. Think of it. Dick Vermiel vs. the Eagles-what a great hype for the big game. Even though it's been over 20 years since he's coached here, people still love him. But I won't say anymore-I don't want to jinx anything.

Eagles 20 - Kansas City 19.

wow, you too!

philly against kc...he he...i am not alone in my prediction

but then again it's easy to pick two really strong teams like that and there are only a handful of teams as good as philly and kc

i can't believe my hapless niners beat the great eagles which shows that even a great team can have a bad day

flash...denver picked up the fifth playoff spot in the afc...so there is one more afc playoff spot left and that will either be the colts or the bengals who will also win the division along with get into the playoffs...next week will tell all for those two teams

the nfc has two spots left and only three teams...vikings, green bay or seattle who can take those spots and if seattle gets one of those spots, they will be a wildcard and not win a division since the rams already have the nfc west sewn up

next day...monday night football and green bay beat the raiders but that does not clinch them a spot yet so they will have to go another week not knowing because the vikings are also in the hunt in their division...but both could clinch the two last nfc playoff spots and the midwest can be very happy:D

[jefhatfield]

now philly clinched their division and a first round bye...not bad and it reinforces my belief that the eagles will be in the superbowl

and also tonight, my 49ers lost against their division rival seattle seahawks...and the seahawks are still alive in the playoff hunt and their destiny is now out of their hands as to their postseason hopes...tonight was a must win for seattle and they delivered and are alive for sure for at least one more day

in the afc, the patriots have home field advantage but somehow despite their better late season showing than the chiefs, i think the chiefs will somehow get through the afc postseason mix and be in the superbowl

but philly vs the patriots would not be a bad match either but i think philly would destroy them

[gwuMACaddict]

ravens, obviously ;)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by gwuMACaddict
ravens, obviously ;)

now they are an interesting team and did better than i thought they would:D

[Macpoops]

My Birds vs. the Pats. I'm not going to make a prediction on the game though. The pats are a tough sound team. The birds can be deadly if they bring their A game but without their former(now very public) secret weapon of Brian Westbrook things are starting to get hairy. I don't care who you are it's tough to win every home game including playoffs. That kind of stuff has been done since Miami went undefeated

[D0ct0rteeth]

Patriots vs Philidelphia

The Pats are a team.. the best "Team" in Sports.. I was in Boston when they won in 2001-2002.. it was awesome!!

- Doc

[Awimoway]

My Seahawks haven't got a prayer, and that's even assuming they make it to the playoffs. (Interesting Trivia Fact: You can tell a real Seahawks fan by their unflinching realism bordering on bitter, bitter pessimism. Any Seahawks fan who trash talks your team is either a., blotto or b., not really a Seahawks fan. ;) )

If Green Bay can even get in the playoffs (not likely), I think they'll make it to the big dance. All of a sudden, Favre is a man possessed. I'd rather see my fellow alum Andy Reid take the Eagles all the way, but they seem to find a way to choke every year in the playoffs. This really could be their year though.

In the AFC, it will be the Pats or maybe the Colts. I don't think Kansas City looks as good as they did earlier in the season.


But the great thing about the NFL is you never really know until they play the game.

[wdlove]

It certainly looks like the Patriots will be in the Superbowl. They have a good chance to win it all. Saturday they beat the Buffalo Bills 31 - 0, they are 14 - 2. They now have home field advantage in the playoffs. An interesting factoid this game was a mirror image of their 1st game of the season. So they had a lot to prove. It was Bills 31 - 0.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by wdlove
It certainly looks like the Patriots will be in the Superbowl. They have a good chance to win it all. Saturday they beat the Buffalo Bills 31 - 0, they are 14 - 2. They now have home field advantage in the playoffs. An interesting factoid this game was a mirror image of their 1st game of the season. So they had a lot to prove. It was Bills 31 - 0.

with all due respect i believe the boston red sox were the team that had the best chance to make boston proud...the pats have a great record but they will have to stop kansas city and i don't think that is very likely

and let's say they get past kc, then they have to get past philly most likely...it's too much for them to bear i think

and as far as green bay, farve has spirit but i don't think they have the depth either to take it all the way

and i would love to see gb or the pats, or the colts or the surprising carolina panthers, but at least the eagles have their name on the trophy and i think most people know it...it is philly beating philly which will have to happen for someone in the afc to take it home

i am glad that my niners beat the eagles, but most 49ers fans knew that was a fluke...a happy fluke though ;)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Awimoway
My Seahawks haven't got a prayer, and that's even assuming they make it to the playoffs.


my god, they made it to the playoffs which was the least likely playoff scenario left...he he

that would be a real scandal if seattle, now in the nfc, took home the superbowl trophy...unlikely more than anything i can imagine in this year, but it would be very fun

one year i remember when both the jaguars and panthers (then brand new) were both one game away each from being in the superbowl...that would have been the ultimate game of superbowl history...but it didn't happen

and in baseball, remember when a "canadian" team won back to back world series? too much ;)

[Awimoway]

Yeah, it doesn't help that my cold, hard, realist pick already was the Packers, which the Seahawks will be playing in the first round. But weird things can happen in the NFL. Who knows.

After all, look at the Minnesota/Arizona game today. What the heck was that?

[MrMacMan]

The Jets Vs. The Giants

27--21

Wait... Both NJ Teams Blew...

Damnit!


I think its The Chiefs vs The Eagles ...

The If the Chiefs can get their Defense to work... they will win.

[Gymnut]

My Niners will win it all. Wait, dammit they missed the playoffs. ;)

[krossfyter]

why the hell did the cowboys loose to the saints? i dont get it.... really.

if you cant beat and 7-8 (?) team at the end of your season and you are about to head to the playoffs you dont deserve to go to the superbowl.

i dont watch football much at all... but i used to back then. back when the cowboys actually had a team to contend with... during the aikman,emmit,irvin days.

its sad to see aikman as a commentator now and emmit with the cards.

jerry jones should of never gotten rid of jimmy johnson.


-- a bitter old cowboys fan

[pinto32]

Despite that loss to KC, the Eagles are on fire! Same goes for KC! I agree...this would be a great game....best Super Bowl since the Rams/Titans a few years ago.

We are all loyal Philly fans here in PA....and my uncle lives in KC.....if this comes true, I can only imagine the fun we will have (I am too young to have been a part of the baseball rivalry, but have heard some great stories of it).

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!!

[krossfyter]

i remember when the eagles sucked like the redskins do this year. teams change like seasons man.

its isnt worth keeping up with teams anymore especially with all the players hoping from team to team.

its hard to build a legacy team now i believe.


just my 2 cents... some of it may be true... i dont mean to piss anyone off... im just disilousioned with sports in general i guess.


boxing has my fancy at the moment... if anything i sports does that is.

[pinto32]

I am all too familiar with the ups and downs of sports teams....thats why I and my fellow Eagles fans are trying to savor this as much as possible, as the Buddy Ryan and especially the Ray Rhoads days did not hold much hope for us......right now, Andy Reid is doing an amazing job, all while not suffering from a Vermeil-style burnout.....

(Phillies are looking good for 2004 :) )

[ooartist]

That's right. Why not? The Titans are a very strong team and they have a warrior or a QB. Same goes for the Packers.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by krossfyter
why the hell did the cowboys loose to the saints? i dont get it.... really.

if you cant beat and 7-8 (?) team at the end of your season and you are about to head to the playoffs you dont deserve to go to the superbowl.

i dont watch football much at all... but i used to back then. back when the cowboys actually had a team to contend with... during the aikman,emmit,irvin days.

its sad to see aikman as a commentator now and emmit with the cards.

jerry jones should of never gotten rid of jimmy johnson.


-- a bitter old cowboys fan

being a niner's fan, i have to admit the one team in the superbowl era that was stronger than san francisco was the cowboys...both have five rings, but the cowboys have won more division championships

though many don't care about the division championships, if you need to split hairs about which five ring winner is better, then that would be as good a criteria as any

this debate will rage on about the niners vs dallas for another decade unless dallas puts a lid on it and takes home their sixth superbowl in february...being a niners fan, i used to hate dallas, but after i have heard jimmy johnson the commentator and saw what kind of fighter emmit smith is, i have to really give that team a lot of credit...people like johnson and emmit smith are football legends

now if you want to look at the best team of all time, superbowl era and before, win loss record, and division championships, then neither team stacks up...the historical bests are green bay and cleveland

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by jefhatfield


now if you want to look at the best team of all time, superbowl era and before, win loss record, and division championships, then neither team stacks up...the historical bests are green bay and cleveland

but since a team like cleveland doesn't have a boatload of superbowl rings, people tend to forget how great they were in the days of old so many will debate against them *and don't forget they didn't do bad more recently in the superbowl era with qb kosar

now if you look at baseball, in the modern era and throughout it's very long history, there is no denying that the new york yankees are the greatest in baseball history...but some will reflect that they may be the most hated, but winning so many rings does not make you liked, especially if a lot of it was due to having more money than other teams and enticing other players from other teams to join the yankees...ruth, giambi, godzilla, jackson, clemens, coach billy martin, etc

but who can deny how amazing the result is on the field of play?

[Sayhey]

jeff,

I would remind you that the Niners are undefeated at 5-0 in the Superbowl. Dallas doesn't hold a candle to that!

But I'm with you on this year's teams - Eagles and Chiefs. If I'm forced to pick a winner I'd take Vermeil's Chiefs because of his experience in coaching in big games.

[QCassidy352]

eagles and chiefs?? the chiefs have lost 3 of 7 and will get destroyed by any quality running back, as has been shown in recent weeks. They have no run defense, and you can't surrender 190 yards rushing (their average per game over the six games before yesterday) and expect to keep winning against quality teams.

And the eagles are chokers. They've blown it the last two years with much the same team. And now with Westbrook out for what could be a long time...

[Macpoops]

Only once city can produce 3 time chokers...Philadelphia isn't the one. Buffalo on the other hand has proven it can produce such a team in the late 80s early 90s. This philly team is not as good as they were last year but philly has a habit of producing teams that win when they aren't supposed too. Personally despite all the injuries and all the odds stacking up against them, the more i like their chances...
There is still the outside chance that Westbrook could play too. Even if they are just puttin ghim in the game as a decoy he'd have an effect on the game just by giving the defense something to worry about. We'll see over the next week what the overall prognosis is, we know it's a torn tendon but he still might be able to play with a brace. It's a small chance but a chance none the less.

Jeff actually although Vermiel has been coaching for a much longer time then Reid they have more or less the same playoff experiance. Given Vermiel has 2 superbowls under his belt and that does say a whole lot. Him and Ried have just as much been a part of the big game NFL playoffs. Ried with the Packers during their great runs in the 90s and now with the Birds. Vermiel with the Birds in the late 70s early 90s and of course with the Rams. Yes, Vermiel has an advantage in the big games but it isn't as pronounced as one might think.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Sayhey
jeff,

I would remind you that the Niners are undefeated at 5-0 in the Superbowl. Dallas doesn't hold a candle to that!

But I'm with you on this year's teams - Eagles and Chiefs. If I'm forced to pick a winner I'd take Vermeil's Chiefs because of his experience in coaching in big games.

even though sf has five rings and dallas has five rings, dallas also has 3 nfc championships on top of that, too and one more division championship than the niners

for one team to put the other one in second place in most people's minds, a superbowl must be won for a total of six rings

now if you want to say, "who had the best unbroken dynasty?"...then you can say the 1981-1999 niners were the best with five superbowls in 19 seasons with the likes of montana, rice, clark, solomon, rathman, young, craig, lott, sanders, haley, taylor etc...

chokers eventually become winners and the bucaneers, patriots, rams, and broncos (especially) can attest to that

[Jerry Spoon]

Two weeks ago I would have said Rams, but when they can't even beat Detroit and they go ahead and play Warner, I don't think they deserve to go now... so we'll probably see the Eagles. Who will they play? As long as it isn't KC, I won't care. I'll just be watching commercials.

[chibianh]

I'm biased towards the Broncos so I will say they'll represent the AFC. Here's why...

If you look at the top 3 seeds in the AFC (NE, KC, IND) and the games the Broncos played against them during the year, you'll see why. In the game against NE, the Broncos lost only by 4 points. They were plagued with injuries during this time and Plummer didn't play. Against the #2 seed, KC, the Broncos lost the first match by 1 pt against them, but blew them away the second time. And against the Colts, the Broncos' running game killed the Colts who only scored 1 offensive touchdown. That's why I think the Broncos have a very good chance at making the playoffs.

Now don't tell me that they sucked the last game against GB.. cuz they did. BUT, they sat out like 7 offensive starters to rest them. Albeit, this is the playoffs now.. NE, KC, IND won't be the same teams the Broncos will play, but the Broncos won't be the same team either. It'll be interesting to watch.. GO BRONCOS!

btw, I think the Eagles will rep the NFC.

[Over Achiever]

Originally posted by Awimoway
After all, look at the Minnesota/Arizona game today. What the heck was that?
It wasn't quite unexpected (the outcome, I called it actually), altho' the ending was quite disturbing.

But whats even more disturbing is this fact:

Even though the Vikings have beaten four playoff bound teams like Green Bay, Seattle, Denver, and Kansas City, they have lost to 4 teams with a record of 4-12, the Chargers, Raiders, Giants, and Cardinals. Losing to 4 teams with such a record makes St. Louis losing to Detriot seem like a mere upset fluke.

There's something consistently wrong going on with the Vikings, and that is why they are not in the playoffs. -_-

[zach]

I'm a huge packers fan, so I'm a bit biased, but I think they're going to the Super Bowl. Winning it, I don't know...

As for the AFC, I think the Colts are going to the Super Bowl and beating my beloved Packers.. :(

[Dstreelm]

i think that the eagles will make it to the superbowl, especially now that they have won homefield advantage. if it comes to an Eagles - Rams NFC championship game outdoors in philly, i really dont think that the rams can win. now the Partiots just seem like they are the team with all the momentum in the AFC, they finished the season with 12 straight wins and turned the tables on the Bills last week.

now as to who will win...i have to say the Eagles will. but im kinda biased cause im fron philly,I am however worried with the lossx of Carlos Emmons and Brian Westbrook, both key players for the Eagles.

i think we all can agree its gonna be a fun couple of weeks

[QCassidy352]

I think the broncos have a very good chance because there are so many teams weak against the run and Portis is so good.

"chokers eventually become winners and the bucaneers, patriots, rams, and broncos (especially) can attest to that"

They *can* eventually become winners. But take it from a Red Sox fan; sometimes chokers just keep choking.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Dstreelm


i think we all can agree its gonna be a fun couple of weeks

there will be dominant teams like the top four seeds and that will make it predictable

philly, rams, pats, and kc will mostly win their first games and if all four go to their respective conference championships, it won't surprise me at all

now if the top four seeds showed tremendous weaknesses and gaps in their play and there were a lot of injuries across the board, then i would say that we can face an interesting couple of weeks

right now, just look through this post...philly this, philly that, and i am also guilty of the philly predictions ;)

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by QCassidy352
I think the broncos have a very good chance because there are so many teams weak against the run and Portis is so good.

"chokers eventually become winners and the bucaneers, patriots, rams, and broncos (especially) can attest to that"

They *can* eventually become winners. But take it from a Red Sox fan; sometimes chokers just keep choking.

i don't feel that sorry for the red sox since they have five or six world series rings, though from way back and i think only the cardinals and the yankees have more rings in baseball history

it was kind of exciting to see the angels win since they had so many choke instances throughout their history and finally won their first ring...it must have been a huge relief for that usually unlucky team

[Awimoway]

All right here's my Week 1 breakdown:

NFC
Cowboys-Panthers: Cowboys
The Panthers are probably a better team, but Parcells is king of the postseason and Dallas beat them only a month ago.

Seahawks-Packers: Packers
The Packers are the hottest team coming into the postseason. On the other hand, Favre really is washed up.

AFC
Titans-Ravens: Titans
I feel most iffy about the Titans-Ravens game. Should be a close one. The Ravens five-in-a-row win record againt the Titans is interesting but ultimately meaningless. The Titans are the better team this year.

Broncos-Colts: Colts
It's time for Manning to step up, and I think he will. I don't care if Denver did beat them last week. The postseason is different and there's no way Denver is going to make it very far anyway. I don't see them getting out of week 1.

[QCassidy352]

I beg to differ. :)

Cowboys - Panthers: Panthers
The 'boys just aren't that good. Parcells has worked a lot of magic this year, but the Panthers just have more talent. Should be a good game though.

Seahawks - Packers: Packers
By far the easiest to pick. Packers at home + Seahawks on the road = disaster for 'hawks. But you have to be kidding about Farve being washed up. His game last monday night was one of the most impressive performances by a quarterback I've ever seen. And Green will run all over the 'hawks.

Titans - Ravens: Ravens
By far the hardest to pick. But the Ravens are physical and punishing, both offensively and defensively. The titans are already reeling from injuries and the Ravens will physically dominate them - Jamal on offense and everyone on defense. Though McNair will make it an awfully good game (gets my MVP vote, btw).

Broncos - Colts: Broncos
The only reason the Broncos lost so many is that Plummer was out and the backup played like a high school QB. Two weeks ago, the Broncos dismantled the Colts *without* Portis. With him back, the Colts defense will be helpless. The Colts are undersized, can't stop the run, and Manning always chokes in the postseason.

[QCassidy352]

jef, it's not about "feeling sorry" for the red sox. I'm talking about teams that find ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The will to lose. The Oakland A's have it. The Red Sox (though it breaks my heart to say it) have it. The Cubs have it. And the Eagles, the past few years, have it.

I'm not talking about fate, or curses, or any of that nonsense. This same eagles team, more or less, has been here twice before and choked. And I think it's gonna happen again.

Not to mention the fact that they, like several other playoff teams, are very very bad against the run. The difference is that so far, the birds have managed to prevent those yards from turning in to too many points. But that's not gonna happen forever. You give up that many yards on the ground, it *will* come back to bite you. And of the NFC playoff teams, the Rams, the Panthers, and the Packers all have backs that could potentially absolutely shred the eagles.

[Awimoway]

Wow. You do beg to differ. Well, it'll be fun to see what happens. The only reply/defense I'll make is about Favre. He is washed up (I think he should have announced his retirement a couple weeks ago, when he did the opposite), and has been so for at least a couple years now. Last week's performance notwithstanding, which obviously had something to do with his father's death, the question is how long this new fire will burn, or, to put it another way, how long it will be until the real Packers show up. Even this last Sunday, the great performance came more from Green and the defense, not so much from Favre.

[MrMacMan]

Cowboys - Panthers: Panthers
'Cause 'America's Team Needs a lose'

Seahawks - Packers: Packers
Because I have no idea how the seahawks got in the playoffs. :p

Titans - Ravens: Titans
They got it Goiingg onn This Season. Prepare for a Roast. Raven anyone? ;)

Broncos - Colts: Colts
(As Much as I hate them) I think they are going to step it up this game.

--MrMacMan

[krossfyter]

good thoughts jeff.


i also used to resent the niners... but ive grown out of that.


who would u say the team of the 90's was?


i dont think the boys will win thier next game... like someone on here recently said... they are good but they arent good enough. barely good enough to get into the playoffs and that doesnt make a superbowl team. i hope im wrong but lets be realistic.

i do however think that the cowboys will be stronger next season.

you can count on that.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by krossfyter
good thoughts jeff.


i also used to resent the niners... but ive grown out of that.


who would u say the team of the 90's was?


i dont think the boys will win thier next game... like someone on here recently said... they are good but they arent good enough. barely good enough to get into the playoffs and that doesnt make a superbowl team. i hope im wrong but lets be realistic.

i do however think that the cowboys will be stronger next season.

you can count on that.

the team of the 90s was the cowboys, hands down with three superbowls

i think it's possible for the cowboys to win in the first week of playoffs, but beyond that is anyone's guess

[Awimoway]

Originally posted by Awimoway
All right here's my Week 1 breakdown:

NFC
Cowboys-Panthers: Cowboys
Seahawks-Packers: Packers

AFC
Titans-Ravens: Titans
Broncos-Colts: Colts

Well... 3/4 ain't bad. :)