NFL Divisional Playoff Results SUN
FYI, since the NFL introduced its current playoff format in 1990, the team coming off a bye holds a 28-4 record SU and was a solid 21-10-1 ATS.
This week in the NFC, Soldiering On (CHI Bears) & The Saints Came Marching In (NO Saints), as both NFC home favorites won, but did not cover.
In the AFC, Peyton's Place (IND Colts) & the Patriot Act (NE Patriots), saw both road dogs winning outright.
Our picks, last week ATS 3-1, SU 3-1, this week ATS 2-2, SU 2-2, for the playoffs ATS 5-3, SU 5-3.
SEA 24@CHI(-9.5) 27: Our pick CHI -9.5 and to WIN
Da Bears offense has been erratic and turnover prone. It depends on which QB Grossman shows up, the real Rex or T-Rex?
Da Bear defense has taken a slide since DT Tommie Harris went down, allowing 100 more passing yds & 10 more pts per game.
Da Bears scraped by on a FG in OT as Bear charity gave 21pts away, turning what should have been a blowout into a nail biter.
2 TO's as T-Rex Grossman showed up, 1 fumble at CHI 26 led to 7 SEA pts, 1 int inside the SEA 10 yd line, taking away 7 CHI pts and 1 punt ret TD by Hester nullified by a penalty.
Da Bear defense got 3 sacks and 6 loss tackles, but in a repeat of the their last 4 games, gave up 306 yds, 251 passing, 127 rushing, 4.1ypc and 24 pts to a weak team.
Da Bear O line looked lackluster allowing 3 sacks & rushing for only 120yds and 3.5ypc while gaining 306 yds net, 179 passing.
Worse yet, CHI special teams gave up 166 yds on 6 kick returns. Something to muse, against a struggling Bear D, how will Reggie Bush and the Saints potent kick return teams & offense fare next week?
NE@SD(-5): Our pick SD -5 and to WIN.
If the Pats red zone D bends but doesn't break.... this game would be an epic battle which would go down to the wire and perhaps OT.
Four reasons why the Chargers short circuited and blew this game:
1. Abandoning a successful run game in the 2nd half. NE outrushed by SD 148 vs 51 yds. 1st HALF Bolts 20 att 96 yds, LT 14 att 79 yds, 5.6ypc. 2nd HALF Bolts 13 att 52 yds, LT 9 att 44 yds, 4.8 ypc.
2. Failure to capitalize on 3 NE ints as the NE D rose to the occasion. NE TO's: INT #1 at SD 32, result SD punt. INT #2 at NE 32, result SD punt. INT #3 later.
On critical 3rd downs after both int's, the Bolts attempted to pass the ball and the NE D got 2 of its 3 sacks for the day.
3. 4 TO's which resulted in 14 NE pts. SD TO #1. Drive killing fumble at NE 30, result NE FG. TO #2 muffed punt at SD 32, result NE FG. TO #3 drive killing int at NE 36, result NE punt. TO #4 later.
And most important of all, on a 4th down play, NE TO #3 an INT at SD 31, result SD TO #4 as the INT ret was fumbled right back to NE for a NE 1st down at the SD 36 yd line!!!
This single play which resulted in 8 NE pts and utimately lost the game, exemplifies poor coaching and player judgement.
Bolts DB McCree violated a cardinal football rule, NEVER intercept the ball downfield on a 4th down play.
You bat the ball down instead, rather than lose yardage downfield on the interception or risk a turnover on the return.
Its 4th down, you get the ball back at the original line of scrimmage anyway, dummy.
4. NE QB Brady's Montana-esque performance in the fading minutes of each half.
1st half: with 2:04 left, a TD drive, 11 plays, 72 yds, using 1:56.
2nd half: with 8:35 left, a TD drive, 11 plays, 63 yds, using 3:59.
(5 plays, 32 yds & 1:40 of this drive were after the 4th down INT ret which was fumbled back to NE)
2nd half: with 3:30 left, the winning FG drive, 8 plays, 72 yds, using 2:20.
Something to ponder, next week, will the Pats be obliged through ineptitude and turnovers again by Peyton Manning & the Colts?
This week in the NFC, Soldiering On (CHI Bears) & The Saints Came Marching In (NO Saints), as both NFC home favorites won, but did not cover.
In the AFC, Peyton's Place (IND Colts) & the Patriot Act (NE Patriots), saw both road dogs winning outright.
Our picks, last week ATS 3-1, SU 3-1, this week ATS 2-2, SU 2-2, for the playoffs ATS 5-3, SU 5-3.
SEA 24@CHI(-9.5) 27: Our pick CHI -9.5 and to WIN
Da Bears offense has been erratic and turnover prone. It depends on which QB Grossman shows up, the real Rex or T-Rex?
Da Bear defense has taken a slide since DT Tommie Harris went down, allowing 100 more passing yds & 10 more pts per game.
Da Bears scraped by on a FG in OT as Bear charity gave 21pts away, turning what should have been a blowout into a nail biter.
2 TO's as T-Rex Grossman showed up, 1 fumble at CHI 26 led to 7 SEA pts, 1 int inside the SEA 10 yd line, taking away 7 CHI pts and 1 punt ret TD by Hester nullified by a penalty.
Da Bear defense got 3 sacks and 6 loss tackles, but in a repeat of the their last 4 games, gave up 306 yds, 251 passing, 127 rushing, 4.1ypc and 24 pts to a weak team.
Da Bear O line looked lackluster allowing 3 sacks & rushing for only 120yds and 3.5ypc while gaining 306 yds net, 179 passing.
Worse yet, CHI special teams gave up 166 yds on 6 kick returns. Something to muse, against a struggling Bear D, how will Reggie Bush and the Saints potent kick return teams & offense fare next week?
NE@SD(-5): Our pick SD -5 and to WIN.
If the Pats red zone D bends but doesn't break.... this game would be an epic battle which would go down to the wire and perhaps OT.
Four reasons why the Chargers short circuited and blew this game:
1. Abandoning a successful run game in the 2nd half. NE outrushed by SD 148 vs 51 yds. 1st HALF Bolts 20 att 96 yds, LT 14 att 79 yds, 5.6ypc. 2nd HALF Bolts 13 att 52 yds, LT 9 att 44 yds, 4.8 ypc.
2. Failure to capitalize on 3 NE ints as the NE D rose to the occasion. NE TO's: INT #1 at SD 32, result SD punt. INT #2 at NE 32, result SD punt. INT #3 later.
On critical 3rd downs after both int's, the Bolts attempted to pass the ball and the NE D got 2 of its 3 sacks for the day.
3. 4 TO's which resulted in 14 NE pts. SD TO #1. Drive killing fumble at NE 30, result NE FG. TO #2 muffed punt at SD 32, result NE FG. TO #3 drive killing int at NE 36, result NE punt. TO #4 later.
And most important of all, on a 4th down play, NE TO #3 an INT at SD 31, result SD TO #4 as the INT ret was fumbled right back to NE for a NE 1st down at the SD 36 yd line!!!
This single play which resulted in 8 NE pts and utimately lost the game, exemplifies poor coaching and player judgement.
Bolts DB McCree violated a cardinal football rule, NEVER intercept the ball downfield on a 4th down play.
You bat the ball down instead, rather than lose yardage downfield on the interception or risk a turnover on the return.
Its 4th down, you get the ball back at the original line of scrimmage anyway, dummy.
4. NE QB Brady's Montana-esque performance in the fading minutes of each half.
1st half: with 2:04 left, a TD drive, 11 plays, 72 yds, using 1:56.
2nd half: with 8:35 left, a TD drive, 11 plays, 63 yds, using 3:59.
(5 plays, 32 yds & 1:40 of this drive were after the 4th down INT ret which was fumbled back to NE)
2nd half: with 3:30 left, the winning FG drive, 8 plays, 72 yds, using 2:20.
Something to ponder, next week, will the Pats be obliged through ineptitude and turnovers again by Peyton Manning & the Colts?
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