2011/12 AFC Playoffs Thread

[Deus Irae]

I think his backup is a better RB.

Steelers w/Mendenhall > Steelers w/o Mendenhall

 

[Mark12]

I'm very anxious to get this going! I remember last year I was really confident we were coming out of the AFC since we were on a roll. This year not so confident but very anxious.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

So, I assume we're all on the same page of Pittsburgh going into Denver and winning handily. Tebow Time is most likely finished for this year (and maybe forever).

Houston/Cinncinatti...do we get Andy Dalton in Foxboro? I haven't watched much of the Bengals this year, can we beat them?

Pitt is in trouble right now. Mendenhall is out next week, maybe longer. Ben is not nearly as effective. They won't have Ryan Clark next week @ Mile High due to his sickle cell condition. As poor as Denver has looked, they have a legit shot next week.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I think his backup is a better RB.

If Mendenhall holds onto the ball(which he has this year, just 1 fumble lost), he's a gamechanger and easily the better RB. This is a big loss for the Steelers

 

[Ring 6]

I'm very anxious to get this going! I remember last year I was really confident we were coming out of the AFC since we were on a roll. This year not so confident but very anxious.

We ended last season with an 8 game winning streak
We ended this season with an 8 game winning streak
Same roll

 

[jcdavey]

pitt is a horrible road team this season

it is the playoffs but this looks like a good draw for denver

 

[Ring 6]

pitt is a horrible road team this season

it is the playoffs but this looks like a good draw for denver

The problem is the worst offense in the NFL facing the best defense.

 

[E1Downey]

I'm very anxious to get this going! I remember last year I was really confident we were coming out of the AFC since we were on a roll. This year not so confident but very anxious.

Hehe I hear yah bud, I want the games to start right.........NOW!
Two weeks will feel like an eternity I'm sure, but it is obviously so valuable for a team to rest up and prepare.

 

[sevengables_2207]

In the Pitt/Denver game, it should be a low scoring affair and I expect Pitt to eek out a win similar to how they did earlier today. However, it is possible that Denver rekindles that "magic" during their 6-game win steak. Granted, they will have to have some breaks fall their way, but Pitt has not played great on the road as others here have pointed out, and they have key players banged up and/or injured who will either be held out or operating at less than full strength next weekend.

Cincy is a solid team from what I saw today. They gave Baltimore all they could handle and had a shot at the end. And like Cincy, the Texans can run the ball and play effective defense. Both teams are pretty evenly matched, but the Bengals have the advantage at QB, which could prove the deciding factor in the matchup.

I know some here consider Cincy the easy draw, but IMO there is no easy draw in a league where on any given Sunday, any team can go down. As we know, of course, this phenomenon is heightened in the postseason, where a team wins or go home till next preseason if they fail to execute better than their opponent.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Just saw on NBC we have the saturday night game in the divisional round. Anybody have a link to the rest of the schedule?? That's all I caught

 

[Ring 6]

In the Pitt/Denver game, it should be a low scoring affair and I expect Pitt to eek out a win similar to how they did earlier today. However, it is possible that Denver rekindles that "magic" during their 6-game win steak. Granted, they will have to have some breaks fall their way, but Pitt has not played great on the road as others here have pointed out, and they have key players banged up and/or injured who will either be held out or operating at less than full strength next weekend.

Cincy is a solid team from what I saw today. They gave Baltimore all they could handle and had a shot at the end. And like Cincy, the Texans can run the ball and play effective defense. Both teams are pretty evenly matched, but the Bengals have the advantage at QB, which could prove the deciding factor in the matchup.

I know some here consider Cincy the easy draw, but IMO there is no easy draw in a league where on any given Sunday, any team can go down. As we know, of course, this phenomenon is heightened in the postseason, where a team wins or go home till next preseason if they fail to execute better than their opponent.

Well of course there are easy draws, otherwise you would consider playing Cincy and Denver the same as Pitt and Baltimore.
But if the point you are trying to make is that no upset would be unthinkable, then yes.

 

[sevengables_2207]

Well of course there are easy draws, otherwise you would consider playing Cincy and Denver the same as Pitt and Baltimore.
But if the point you are trying to make is that no upset would be unthinkable, then yes.

I never wrote that all potential opponents are equally easy draws, merely that each playoff team is dangerous on any given Sunday. Be that as it may, I would feel a bit more confident if New England's opponent on the 14th is Cincy and less if it were Pitt.

 

[Ring 6]

I never wrote that all potential opponents are equally easy draws, merely that each playoff team is dangerous on any given Sunday. Be that as it may, I would feel a bit more confident if New England's opponent on the 14th is Cincy and less if it were Pitt.

Semantics I guess. If there are 3 potential opponents and 1 or 2 are weaker, I would consider getting them an easy draw. It sounds like you were interpreting it as easy draw means easy win.

 

[jcdavey]

The problem is the worst offense in the NFL facing the best defense.

pitt isnt the best d in the nfl

 

[Keyser Söze]

I wants Cinci. Tebow is setting the QB position back 50 years, no chance they beat Pitt.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I want the Pats to play Pittsburgh and then Baltimore. I'd love to see the Pats stay sharp by playing two very good defenses so they don't soften up when they get to the Super Bowl. Beat the best and you are the best I say. If they can't beat them at home than they don't deserve to go to the big game. Plain and simple.

I would almost compare that scenario match up to 03 when the Pats where able to face and beat the co mvps in back to back games. Very memorable and satisfying.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

Nah, I rather take the easy road to the SB. However, the Pats never had an easy road to the SB, so I don't expect it to start now.

 

[Haterproof]

I want the Pats to play Pittsburgh and then Baltimore. I'd love to see the Pats stay sharp by playing two very good defenses so they don't soften up when they get to the Super Bowl. Beat the best and you are the best I say. If they can't beat them at home than they don't deserve to go to the big game. Plain and simple.

I would almost compare that scenario match up to 03 when the Pats where able to face and beat the co mvps in back to back games. Very memorable and satisfying.

I don't mind playing either one of those teams. But if it's possible to avoid playing one them,I'll take it. I really want to see a 3rematch of the Steelers vs the Ravens. Let em kill each other with the winner coming to the Razor for the AFCCG.

 

[Seanzayyy]

The Bengals can definitely beat the Texans, and Pittsburgh shouldn't have much of a problem with Denver.

Assuming the above, out of the Steelers/Ravens brawl, I hope Pittsburgh hobbles into Foxborough. Seems like the better matchup. Not sure I want to see Ray Rice.

 

[Betterthanmost]

May already might have been said, but three AFC north teams making the playoffs is something.