5 NFC + 5 AFC Burning Questions

[Lukester]

(by Zhou Wei)

NFC:
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1: Is Dallas' defense legit? It's hard to think that this is a defense that has just gotten lucky these last three weeks. Save a gimmicky touchdown in the first quarter against the Eagles last week and a late meaningless score in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys haven't allowed a truly meaningful touchdown in nearly five games. LB DeMarcus Ware looks like a man on a mission, and Dallas feels like a team that is going to continue to advance through the NFL playoff bracket no matter how much it hears it's going to ultimately falls on its face at some point.

2: Will Brett Favre's last pass as a Viking be as good as the last one he threw in Green Bay? It would seem like some sort of poetic justice, wouldn't it? Favre, whose last pass as a Green Bay Packer was intercepted at home in the NFC Championship Game in the snow against the Giants could be faced with a similar situation in one of these next two weeks. It seems awfully likely that Favre could struggle against this Dallas defense, and we all know that #4 has a history of chucking picks all over the place. The next question... Would he come back yet again next year?

3: Did the Green Bay game take everything out of the Cards, or are they poised for another run to the Super Bowl? Nobody gave Arizona a chance last week, as they went from short favorites to short underdogs by the time the game kicked off. Yet the Cards prevailed, somehow, some way to get into the second round of the playoffs. QB Kurt Warner could be playing in his final game in his illustrious, Hall of Fame type career, and he'd love nothing more than to extend that by a few weeks and lift one more Lombardi Trophy.

4: Was New Orleans' three-game slide down the stretch a sign of things to come? Ok, let's throw out that game at Carolina to end the season, because hardly anyone took that game seriously with the #1 seed already wrapped up. But yikes, was that three-game skid to end the regular season scary! New Orleans scored at least 24 points in each of its first 13 games. All were victories. Never more than 17 against Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Carolina. All losses. Considering the over/under is 57 against Arizona this weekend, there's a good chance that the Saints will reach that 17-point plateau with ease, but will it be enough against one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL?

5: Who's winning this conference? This is the burning question on everyone's mind in both the AFC and the NFC. It's really hard to back a New Orleans team that has looked just so badly coming into the postseason, just like it's hard to pick against Dallas for as well as it looks. But our pick is Minnesota, who is a short favorite this weekend at home against those Cowboys at home. It's difficult to play in that dome, and QB Tony Romo and the gang may find that out this weekend. #4 came back for another shot at the Super Bowl, and if he can get rid of Dallas this weekend, he'll be determined to get the job done and take his team to the Super Bowl regardless if that game is at home against Arizona or in the Superdome.

AFC:
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1: Can the Jets' defense stuff up the Chargers' potent offense? In a couple of words... Probably not. Now, let's give New York's 'D' a lot of credit here. The unit really crushed Cincinnati in back-to-back weeks, and it was the #1 defense by a country mile in the regular season. However, this team hasn't seen an offense like San Diego's since losing to New Orleans way back at the beginning of the season. QB Philip Rivers can throw darts all over the field and he won't back down under HC Rex Ryan's pressure. There's a reason that this team scored at least 20 points in every game it played this year.

2: Will it be "lights out" for QB Mark Sanchez? Props to the rook for coming up large against the Bengals last weekend, but this is a totally different team that he is facing this week. The Chargers will throw the kitchen sink at Sanchez, hoping to make him force poor throw after poor throw into the San Diego secondary. LB Shawne Merriman won't tolerate anything less than an outstanding effort from his 'D'. Don't be surprised if you see a lot of the "lights out" dance in New York's backfield.

3: The Ravens beat the Pats by throwing the ball just ten times. Will they be so lucky against the Colts? Let's give the Ravens this. They can run the football like it's nobody's business. Both RBs Ray Rice and Willis McGahee are on fire right now. The Colts ranked 25th in the NFL against the run this season, and that seems to be their Achilles heel, so to speak. Still, with HC Jim Caldwell essentially preparing for four full weeks, knowing full well that he was going to take on a team that was going to run the heck out of the football in all likelihood in his first playoff game, his team has to be ready for this NFL betting clash.

4: QB Peyton Manning: Can the MVP lead his troops to a second Super Bowl? It's hard to argue with a guy who threw for 4,500 yards in the regular season and romped to the MVP honours as well. Indy has the top passing game of any team left in the playoffs, averaging 281.6 yards per game, but we all know that Manning essentially threw for 4,500 yards in just 15 total games of action. He'll face off with a big time Baltimore defense that held him to just one TD against two picks when these two teams played each other in Week 11.

5: Who's winning this conference? It's the burning question that matters the most, and the answer is a difficult one. It's hard to see how either home team is getting beaten this weekend, though it feels like Indy is the team that could be upset if either it or San Diego is to go down. The Chargers have proven to be road worthy in postseasons of past, including winning in Indianapolis and ending Manning's season before. We'll go with the hot hand and take the Bolts and their 11-game winning streak to head to the Super Bowl.

[Sweetleaf22]

1.no
2.no
3.yes
4.no
5.NO

1.no
2.yes
3.??
4.no
5.SD



Burned um

[TCD619]

Looking too much into it lukester. Thats why i haven't watched ESPN today because dont wanna hear skip bayless, mark scherleth, merrill hodge and gay matthew berry talk about X factors. Let the game play out

[TheLink]

I'll play along.

NFC
1.) Yes I think they are legit. It doesn't mean that they can't be scored on and beaten. They are going to be tough to move the ball on especially if they are getting to the QB.

2.) Not likely. Don't see Favre throwing a pick six that cost the team the game. If the team loses find it unlikely it will be due to Favre meltdown.

3.) Don't think so. Defensively they have to play better if they have any shot. Offensively they should be able to move the ball on the Saints just a matter of stopping them.

4.) No. Porter is back which is a big boost to the secondary. Other key guys haven't played since the week 16. This team will be rested and have a fowdy home crowd.

5.) Winner of the Dallas/MN game will represent the NFC.

AFC
1.) No. Can't get over all the hype the Jets defense is getting. I realize they have won 5 of 6 but who have they beaten during this run.

2.) Think this is the end of the line this season for Sanchez. If the Jets fall behind and need to rely on Sanchez they have no chance.

3.) Flacco will have to throw the ball a lot more this week. Even if they run the ball successfully Manning and the Colts are going to score so they will need to keep up. Colts might be poor against the run but think will force Flacco to throw the ball early.

4.) If the Jets somehow beat the Chargers think Manning can get to a 2nd bowl. The Chargers have went into Indy and beat them before and think this Chargers offense is much better with emergence of Vincent Jackson.

5.) Chargers.

[rjb1816]

Originally Posted by TheLink

AFC
1.) No. Can't get over all the hype the Jets defense is getting. I realize they have won 5 of 6 but who have they beaten during this run.

absolutely nobody

[RanPicks]

Originally Posted by TCD619

dont wanna hear skip bayless,

can someone please shoot this d-bag!?!?!! dude probably held any type of ball in his life be it football, baseball or basketball... IDIOT!

[RanPicks]

Originally Posted by Sweetleaf22

1.no
2.no
3.yes
4.no
5.NO



Burned um

Obv Dallas hater...

[Lukester]

Originally Posted by TCD619

Looking too much into it lukester. Thats why i haven't watched ESPN today because dont wanna hear skip bayless, mark scherleth, merrill hodge and gay matthew berry talk about X factors. Let the game play out

You're right. My leans watering down or going the other way--lol.

Anyways,

just came back with one sports lottery parlay ticket: $25 to W $250:

AZ+5.5
BAL+6.5
DAL+1.5
SD-7.5

Will play AZ tomorrow morning on the ATS to W $100 and prob DAL as well but only on sunday morning.

That's all.

[huscroft6]

Sd 27-10

Gl Luke

[Lukester]

Originally Posted by huscroft6

Sd 27-10

Gl Luke

Yes, SD 24 or 27; NY 10 or 13

That's why I post some of my comments or pro cappers/analysts artcles to have CM members coment on it and may or may not adjust my pick(s) from there.

I would def play on the Jets if they were home.

Line at -7.5 is high but Rivers will win through the air.

I'll be cheering for the Jets tho. Love to see doggies win.

[huscroft6]

I hear ya, like to see the Dogs win, but being a Miami fan I HATE the Jets