Divisional Weekend - Who's feeling the heat?
Who's under the most pressure / heat going into Divisional Weekend?
1. Rodgers / GB. As Yogi said "its getting late early!". 1 SB win but most important, most home playoff losses in his era. T
2. Rams. Have totally sold out. Winning at TB not easy.
3. Buffalo. Is this the team that destroyed the Pats or struggled against ATL?
4. Jimmy G. Last run in SF?
January 21st, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
Listening to the Classic Rock station on SiriusXM and Christine Stone (the "DJ") picked all the underdogs. That would be a wild weekend!
January 21st, 2022 at 12:47 PM ^
I could certainly go for that, but...
I think that all four home teams prevail. It almost was a home sweep in the prior round (with the exception of Dallas, of course, which I was PERFECTLY happy with!)
January 21st, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
Rooting hard for Bills- probably the best matchup of the four (I'd hear arguments for rams/bucs)
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
I'm absolutely thrilled that I was so damn wrong about the home teams -- at least so far!
But yeah, I'm rooting for Touchdown Tommy today.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^
The heat? It's pretty fucking cold outside.
Here all week folks. Tip your servers.
I'll throw myself out.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^
It's gotta be the cheeseheads. They seem ready to melt down about anything short of a super bowl victory
January 21st, 2022 at 3:05 PM ^
And should. They're the best team but don't always play like it
January 21st, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
Nobody's going to be feeling much heat in Green Bay or KC.
The starting times for these games are nuts—why is the earliest one starting at 3pm? Seems to me it would make more sense to start the cold weather games at noon or 1 and the southern venue games later in the afternoon.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
Brilliant having January night games in Buffalo and GB. Of course Tampa has the earliest start. Makes total sense by the NFL. You're correct, nobody will be feeling the heat or any extremities in KC or GB.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
The scheduling, there are a couple constraints:
(1) LAR/TBY has to be on Sunday, to maximize the time off for the Rams.
(2) There has to be a split of 1 AFC/NFC game each day. Per the TV contracts, CBS is guaranteed 2 games this weekend on separate days and they both have to be AFC games (CBS can get an NFC playoff game on wildcard weekend, as they did last week, but not on divisional weekend).
So, things sort of fall from there. SFO/GBY has to be Saturday. Even if it kicks at 4:30 ET it's still going to be cold and mostly dark. May as well put it in the time that it gets the most eyeballs. I'm admittedly surprised they didn't flip the Sunday games: Brady + the LA Market in Prime Time seems like it would pull an absolutely huge number.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:09 PM ^
That's exactly why they start late. The NFL loves the cold weather games. The fans in those cities don't care about the cold, especially GB. They feed off that stuff. Smart move by the NFL.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:48 AM ^
Don't forget that Buffalo also lost to Jacksonville. Yikes. But they seem to have gotten their sh...tuff straightened out just in time. I've got CIN/BUF, LA/GB this weekend, then BUF/GB with the Bills finally winning it all... Just because I made a +800 bet on them earlier this season. My non degenerate gambling self hopes for another one for TB12.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:49 AM ^
With how much Josh Allen signed for the heat is in Buffalo.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:49 AM ^
Aaron Rodgers as an individual is probably feeling the most heat but the Rams are probably feeling the most as an organization. They’ve leveraged everything they’ve got in terms of draft capital and cap space. If they can’t win it all soon, it’s gonna have been all for naught with a really ugly rebuild ahead.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
Stafford’ s back is only going to hold out for so long.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
My picks:
1. Green Bay big over SF - SF too banged up and weather is going to be COLD!
2. Rams in an upset over TB - Again, too many injuries on the TB offensive line to protect Tom
3. Bengals in an upset over the Titans - The worst 1 seed in NFL playoff history runs into the buzzsaw of Joe Buroughs.
4. Bills over Chiefs in a nailbiter - I think this one comes down to the last possession and Josh gets the job done for Bills-nation.
Which obviously means you should all bet the Niners, the Bucs, the Titans and Chiefs hard.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:02 PM ^
Bengals/Titans fascinates me. The Titans are not a sexy team, but they are just solid across the board. Vrabel is a helluva coach and it will be interesting to see how healthy Henry is. If he's close to 100% he could run all over the bengals' D.
On a side note a year ago I lived right across the river from the Titans' stadium. Watching the games from my place live was interesting as I could hear/see the TD fireworks a good 30 seconds prior to seeing it happen on TV. I also used to time my runs around the stadium during the games which was kinda cool.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:54 PM ^
I had a similar Titans experience my senior year at Vandy. They played at our stadium that season so when the Bears were in town, we just walked across the quad to the top of the parking garage for an unobstructed view.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
It's hard for me to imagine the sports gods allowing the Bengals to do anything other than lose in some comic-tragic fashion. I do acknowledge that Burrow is the real thing.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:12 PM ^
Niners are a bad matchup for the Packers so that one could get interesting especially if Trey Lance gets some run. Jimmy G will not win anything if the game is on his shoulders.
Hard not to like the Bills after watching them eviscerate New England.
Titans seem like a weak 1 seed but if Henry plays, and is effective, the whole dynamic changes.
I agree Tampa may be too banged up, especially on the o line, to win this game. It is going to be tough to protect Brady with the backups in.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
I hope you are right. My worry is that GB will play the Titans in the Super Bowl. That asshat Rodgers would get a cake walk to the title. You take Rodgers out of the NFC North and he isn't a quarter of the quarterback. Almost guaranteed four wins a year with the Lions and Bears. Split with the Vikings and yo are halfway to playoffs. It's no wonder they host until the NFC Championship every year. Go Niners!
January 21st, 2022 at 11:57 AM ^
derrick henry back for the titans? was reportedly in pads this week, game time decision on busted foot from 2 months ago. if he's in, that's a game changer.
watching josh allen and the bills last weekend, if he/they keep showing up like that they are going to win it all.
niners - injury issues. did they get bosa back? concussion protocol last week with a weird hit from his own teammate.
either team in the LA/TB game is not that strong but will at least have a QB that i can root for. neither are going to win the super bowl.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:38 PM ^
I want to agree with you about Tampa Bay, but every additional comment posted to the internet doubting Tom Brady just adds a little more power to his playoff voodoo magic. I think they're going to wipe the floor with LA, which is unfortunate, because I'd really like to see Stafford go far
January 21st, 2022 at 1:04 PM ^
When Stafford wins his first big game, he will win his first big game. Until he does, I would never doubt Brady.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:29 PM ^
You might want to check and see who's won 2 out of the last 3 times Brady has played against Stafford....Unless beating Tom Brady doesn't count as a "big" game. Also, for the love of everything, QB's don't win games. Teams do.
January 21st, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
7 of the last 10 years ......... 3 home teams have won on divisional round weekend and 1 road team has won. (the other 3 years: all 4 home teams won twice and only 2 home teams won once)
There's no guarantee that happens again, but it's how I tend to think about things when making predictions.
If I had to pick one road team this weekend: it would be the Bengals. They've finally won a playoff game, I think the dam may break for them completely and wouldn't be shocked if they made it all the way to the Super Bowl.
So. Cincinnati, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Kansas City. If that happens, we'll get an NFC Championship Game re-match and a very good AFC Title Game too (Cincy proved they can hang with KC just a few weeks ago).
January 21st, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
The Rams and GB are feeling the most heat as they are the most invested at this point. I'd really like to see GB get blasted.
Also, are the ads on this site horrendous right now for anyone else? I'm (on mobile) getting ones that you can't close and they block off like 40% of the screen..
January 21st, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
Take a screenshot and post in the Mod Sticky. Someone complained about this and Seth said he’d investigate but asked for screenshots, you can find that comment and reply.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
Rooting for Stafford. I don't follow the NFL close enough to know whether they can win it all, but I hope so.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
I think the Rams are good enough to win it all, but they have a very boom-or-bust feel to me. Stafford has had one of the best seasons of his career, but he's also thrown a lot of pick sixes along the way
January 21st, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
I’d like to see Stafford succeed but McVay seems douchy and fuck LA in general. And if they lose then the Lions 1st round pick that Rams traded to them will be earlier. Go TB, fuck GB too. But really just want to see good football such as LV/CIN & SF/DAL games last week. Hate one sided games, soooo boooring.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:18 PM ^
I look for Allen and the Bills to send 'lil pat and the cheifs to the golf course
January 21st, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
I wish someone would send me to a golf course
January 21st, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
I would love to see Patty and A-A-Ron able to make their stupid commercials earlier this year.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:26 PM ^
Tampa D is all back healthy and if you watched the game last week, totally dominated.
This is why they will be back in the SB.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
That may be true re: Tampa's defense, but:
1) LA Offense >>> Philly Offense
2) The bigger problem for Tampa probably lies on the offensive side of the ball
Tristan Wirfs, Tampa's All-Pro LT, may be out on Sunday, and their starting center Ryan Jansen is probably less than 100%. Both got hurt against Philly last week, and it showed when Brady got sacked multiple times. Philadelphia has a good defense, but now you're asking either backups or hurt starters to go up against Aaron Donald and Von Miller? Guys who are among the best in the game at their respective positions and dominate against most everyone anyway? Good luck with that.
You also have to couple the fact that Chris Godwin and AB are gone, and Godwin was a ginormous part of their offense this season. Yes, they still have Gronk and Evans, and Tom Brady is Tom Brady, but there is a potentially devastating mismatch between Tampa's OL and LA's DL. The teams that beat Brady in the postseason are the ones with a dominant DL that can disrupt his entire gameplan, and LA can do that. Especially against a very hurt Tampa Bay OL.
Tampa can still win for sure, and being at home helps. But this game could be a big problem for them.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:27 PM ^
Amusing stat on reddit today- the Bills and Chiefs have met 4 times in the playoffs previously, all 4 times the winner went on to lose the Super Bowl. So congrats to the winner on making it I guess?
January 21st, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
That's a crazy stat, but it's time to break the streak! My dad is from Buffalo and I was rooting for them through the four straight SB losses (which coincided with my high school years unfortunately). This year they'll beat KC and win it all!!
January 21st, 2022 at 12:27 PM ^
I'm rooting for the Titans. My SIL's husband is a Bengals fan. For Christmas ine year, he printed and matted all the results from the Lions' 0-16 season. It's hanging up in my mancave area.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
I'm going
Green Bay..too good at home.
Rams...TB d line won't pressure Stafford without blitzing. Staff will hit some big ones.
Chiefs...Josh is hit or miss, he'll miss
Titans...Vrabel is too good of a coach to lose to a spotty Cinci team.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:34 PM ^
Tampa -- there's always the possibility that their 44-year old QB Whatshishname might decide to hang it up and make a career out of selling activewear after this year.
(just kidding: Tom's playing until he's 60)
January 21st, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
Feels like the Rams have the most heat on them with the money they spent on big pieces.
As far as rooting interests, I'm just hoping to see the Pack lose.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
I really would love to see Rodgers/GB crash and burn. This is a yearly sentiment during the playoffs of all Lions fans, myself included. Can SF win in the tundra?
Pulling for Stafford over TB. Love me some Brady but you know, enough is enough...
Bills are looking legit but I can't really stand the "Bills Mafia" fanbase. I'll go Chiefs in that one.
I'll also go Bengals over Titans but I like either team.
Let the schadenfreude commence!
January 21st, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
I picked all the home teams last weekend.
I'm taking all the road teams this weekend.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
are you telegraphing that you are going 'on the road' in the ukraine? come on vlady, you can tell us, we'll keep it a secret.
January 21st, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
My thoughts that are probably completely wrong:
Since this is a divisional playoff and not a conference championship, Green Bay should win. I know this isn't the Bengals of yore, but I'm too conditioned by, well, my whole life to believe in them until they show me otherwise - I wouldn't mind seeing them win since I don't loathe them like I do the Steelers and Ratbirds. I think Bills vs Chiefs could be a default Super Bowl - I kinda like both of those teams, too.
The Rams and Chargers are both indistinguishable to me - they're both blue and yellow wearing NFL teams in LA and will be perpetual second class citizens there behind the Lakers and Dodgers, even if they win the next fifteen Super Bowls
January 21st, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^
your post isn't the only one in this thread that is proof that BPONE and its evil variants have infected other fan bases.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:42 PM ^
Bengals
Playoff
Ordeal
Newly
Ended?
January 21st, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
Anybody but Packers/Chiefs. Ring #8 for TB12 at the end of the season would be OK, but for the love of God and/or spaghetti (the flying monsterous kind) please walk away after that, Tom.
January 21st, 2022 at 1:04 PM ^
I really hope KC loses to Buffalo. I cannot stand KC. I work with a bunch of KC transplants. Never heard a word about the Royals until they had a great 2 year run. Then they all were "always huge" Royals fans. Never heard a word about the Chiefs and then Mahomes shows up and they all were "always huge" Chiefs fans. Most fair weather fan base.
Also would love to see TB12 win another one.