Conference Championships: THE (?) media picks thread

[Uncle Rico]

I know we have a thread on Felger's "pick", so merge if desired, but that's more about one local guy being, well, a douche.

Looking around the interweb:

SI's Peter King sees Pats, Niners.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Baltimore wins. But I'm going New England.

NFL.com analysts: Out of 18, 14 pick Pats, 14 pick Niners.

NFL.com's Elliot Harrison has Pats 30-24, Niners 30-27

A big turnover or two in the first half can turn this into the Ravens' perfect scenario: get an easy score off a takeaway, run Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce 35 times and unleash the deep balls that Flacco delivers nicely off play action.

...

Offensively, I anticipate the Patriots will run the football. Counting the playoffs, the Baltimore defense has allowed 2,242 yards rushing this season. New England has scored the most rushing touchdowns this season. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will exercise the running option without slowing the game down. No catching of breath, Ray Lewis.

 

[SVN]

Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

It Is What It Is » Jerry Rice on M&M: Ravens will edge Patriots

 

[thenepatsrule]

Re: Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

Thats it , i am not going to watch the game now Since i already know the outcome now

 

[Bella*chick]

Re: Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

If the Ravens get the Superbowl with SF, I hope Jerry Rice realizes he's doomed the world to a crap game.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

He's still pissed about Welker, eh?

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

I started a thread a short time ago on media picks; consensus seems to be Patriots, though most who comment say they wouldn't be shocked if the Ravens pull it out.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/1000188-conference-championships-media-picks.html

 

[randomk1]

Re: Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

I find his comments about Welker more interesting.

Even with the numbers he puts up year after year you rarely see him ranked as a top 5 receiver.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Conference Championships: media picks

PFT joins in on the Niners-Pats parade.

Florio:

I’m tempted to pick the Ravens; it just feels like it’s time for them to get back to the Super Bowl, and I’d love to see a Harbaugh-vs.-Harbaugh battle for the NFL title. But it also feels like it’s time for the Patriots to get back to the Super Bowl and win it. With the Giants out of the mix, this could be the year to make that happen.

 

[CityOfChampions]

Re: Conference Championships: media picks

I'm so sick of hearing about it being the Raven's time or their destiny.

 

[jmt57]

I'm still getting a chuckle over last week's Sports Illustrated, where King's only correct pick was the Pats over Houston; he had Green Bay and Denver winning Sunday's games and advancing to the Super Bowl.

 

[jmt57]

Re: Conference Championships: media picks

I'm so sick of hearing about it being the Raven's time or their destiny.

In that case you will probably enjoy this column:

Why it's hard to believe in Ray Lewis - WEEI | Kirk Minihane

Maybe I'm just a born cynic, but can we just consider the arrogance of Ray Lewis for a moment? Maybe he's right and I'm wrong and there is a God (and I hope he is right), and maybe that God does believe in the impossible, but I suspect very highly that God decided to use a football game in Denver last Saturday to flex his miracle muscles, considerable as they may be. First, when it comes to the impossible, I'd rank the Ravens -- coming off an AFC title appearance last year -- going into Denver and beating Peyton Manning (now 9-11 in the postseason) in a playoff game somewhere behind the parting of the Red Sea. Nine-point underdogs or moving a massive body of water to create a path to freedom for the Israelites?

Second, am I to assume that Lewis believes that God wanted the Ravens to win, which would clearly mean He wanted the Broncos to lose? There's the true arrogance -- are you telling me there isn't a player or member of the Broncos organization who doesn't have as much faith in God as Lewis does? What does that message send to that person?​

 

[i82much]

Re: Conference Championships: media picks

In that case you will probably enjoy this column:

Why it's hard to believe in Ray Lewis - WEEI | Kirk Minihane

Maybe I'm just a born cynic, but can we just consider the arrogance of Ray Lewis for a moment? Maybe he's right and I'm wrong and there is a God (and I hope he is right), and maybe that God does believe in the impossible, but I suspect very highly that God decided to use a football game in Denver last Saturday to flex his miracle muscles, considerable as they may be. First, when it comes to the impossible, I'd rank the Ravens -- coming off an AFC title appearance last year -- going into Denver and beating Peyton Manning (now 9-11 in the postseason) in a playoff game somewhere behind the parting of the Red Sea. Nine-point underdogs or moving a massive body of water to create a path to freedom for the Israelites?

Second, am I to assume that Lewis believes that God wanted the Ravens to win, which would clearly mean He wanted the Broncos to lose? There's the true arrogance -- are you telling me there isn't a player or member of the Broncos organization who doesn't have as much faith in God as Lewis does? What does that message send to that person?​

He's God's linebacker bro.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Brian Burke (Advanced NFL Stats) predicts a San Fran - New England SB.


Conference Title Game Probabilities, and the Kaepernick Effect - NYTimes.com

Here are the game probabilities for the conference championships.



Pwin GAME Pwin

0.55 San Francisco at Atlanta 0.45



0.33 Baltimore at New England 0.67

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Re: Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

Probably a complete and balanced opinion that has nothing to do with Brady and a possible 4th SB win/6th appearace

Though, there are no garantees a 4th SB win if they get there.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: Jerry rice : Ravens will edge patriots

That guy was so damn good--his preparation and focus were off the charts. And he piled up those numbers before the rule changes.

 

[jmt57]

Apologies for the thread hijack... here are a couple other media picks:

He didn't list a score, but Jerry Rice picked the Ravens to win:
It Is What It Is » Jerry Rice on M&M: Ravens will edge Patriots


At CBS Sports 8 out of 9 took the Pats to win the game, but all nine took the Ravens to beat the spread. 7 of 9 have SF winning striaght up, and 6 of 9 9 have the 49ers winning by more than 4.5 points.
NFL Picks - Straight Up - Week 20 - CBSSports.com

Vinnie Iyer from The Sporting news has the Ravens winning 33-30, and SF winning 34-27:
NFL conference championship games picks: Big plays will put Raven, 49ers in big game - NFL - Sporting News

 

[Uncle Rico]

Baltimore Sun writers mostly favor Patriots (5 of 7). The writers who pick the Ravens don't really give much to support their pick ("Quarterback Joe Flacco and the offensive line are hot, and desire and the law of averages should put the Ravens over the top.")

 

[upstater1]

Gotta love Peter King.

He says that Brady has not played well the last couple of times against the Ravens.

28-40, 335 yds, 0 INTs = not playing well.

In Monday's post, he wrote that Manning played a good game: pick 6, game ending INT.

Brady = Bad
Manning = Good

 

[North Shore Pats Fan]

Gotta love Peter King.

He says that Brady has not played well the last couple of times against the Ravens.

28-40, 335 yds, 0 INTs = not playing well.

In Monday's post, he wrote that Manning played a good game: pick 6, game ending INT.

Brady = Bad
Manning = Good

ESPN had a nice write-up on the Brady vs Ravens history. Turns out that, while he doesn't play well against them, he is actually not the only one.

However, Brady’s QBR is still better than most against the Ravens. Brady ranks fourth of the 26 quarterbacks with at least 50 action plays against the Ravens since 2008. Only Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning have been better.

Examining Lewis' impact vs. Brady - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

So Brady's stats against the Ravens can't be quoted in a vacuum. It's not that they have his number, it's that their D is (or was) just THAT good against most opposing offenses.

 

[Kontradiction]

Gotta love Peter King.

He says that Brady has not played well the last couple of times against the Ravens.

28-40, 335 yds, 0 INTs = not playing well.

In Monday's post, he wrote that Manning played a good game: pick 6, game ending INT.

Brady = Bad
Manning = Good

Yes, but Brady had two INT's against the Ravens in the 2011 and even admitted that he sucked. He played much better in Week 3 but it's not like King doesn't have a point on that one.

EDIT: But I do agree that his going to bat for Manning is pretty ridiculous.