First, how 'bout Joe Concha absolutely pegging the first game score yesterday: Cards 30, Falcons 24? Nice job, Joe.
Second, anybody want to talk about the horrid officiating in the Bolts-Colts game? Almost started a fight in my house...how 'bout yours?
Below the fold, Joe returns to preview Wild Card Deux:
Pigskins and Politics Playoff Edition
Joe Concha
Saturday's games proved three things:
1) You don't need big-name teams or players to have a riveting game (Saturday's MVPs, for example, include Darren Sproles, Edgerrin James and whoever the punter on San Diego is who buried the Colts deep to set up the game-tying field goal).
2) Snow is not an automatic ratings-grabber. The networks love it, but all things being equal I'd rather see important games decided on their merits, and not some Leon Lett-like fumble in the snow.
3) The Chargers must finally, absolutely, positively, without hesitation, permanantly switch back to the powder blue uniforms. Fate is begging them to do it.
So without any of the aforementioned hesitation, let's get to our not-for-profit picks for Sunday after a disappointing 1-1 day yesterday.
Ravens at Dolphins: Probably the least anticipated matchup in the history of playoff games. One team loves to pound the ball, the other subscribes to the "death of a thousand cuts" theory of 7-yard dump passes and running the option.
Can't you just picture NBC and CBS trying to decide who gets the game?
NBC: "Take it."
CBS: "No, you take it."
NBC: "C'mon, give us a break. Zucker sucks so badly that we're forced to run Leno at 10 five nights a week!."
CBS: "How do you think we feel? Our entire success hinges on shows that start with C-S-I."
NBC: "But we're stuck with Chris Matthews now that he saw the light and won't be running for the Senate after realizing he isn't electable. He's here to give us a lifetime of mediocre ratings until he or Olbermann finally lose it and take the other one out on-air, Sopranos-style! We were even forced to give David Friggin' Shuster his own show!"
CBS: "Wow, that is bad. Ok, we'll take the game. Some people may actually enjoy a defensive battle."
NBC: "America will eat it up like reruns of "Joey".
CBS: (abruptly hangs up).
When picking Baltimore-Miami, the thinking is the same as as when I went against Matt Ryan yesterday: A rookie quarterback like Joe Flacco playing on the road in January has never made an investor in that club's fortunes happy.
Meanwhile, Chad Pennington continues to twist a knife into every Jet fans' stomach...
Dolphins 15
Ravens 13
Eagles at Vikings: Vikings have one of the smallest stadiums in the NFL, yet can't sell out a playoff game? They only have arguably the most exciting player in the game (Adrian Peterson), and haven't been to the playoffs in four years. Where's the appetite??
How hilarious would it be to live in some outpost of Minnesota with no ability to drive to a playoff game due to small things like blizzards or having to work the next day, and still not being able to even see a home playoff game on TV while stuck at home with the wife on a Sunday in 4 degree weather?
OK, it's not that funny...
For lack of a better idea, I'll take the team that doesn't have Andy Reid as its coach. Never in my lifetime did I even think I would be going with Tavaris Jackson in this spot, but the pleasure of seeing Eagles fans suffer once more is too good to pass up.
Eagles 20
Vikings 24
Enjoy Wild-Card Weekend everyone! The matchups outside of Colts-Bolts are horrific, but at least the games will be close. That's all we can ask for, yes?
Joe Concha is a weekly contributor to Newsbusters.org and couldn't be more estatic knowing that Tony Kornheiser will be nowhere near any of the aforementioned games. Email Joe at joeconcha@yahoo.com or use the ultra-friendly comments section below.
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yeah, them giving the ball
January 4, 2009 - 12:18 ET by botgyeah, them giving the ball to the Colts after the Colts fumble was bad.
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
Harry Reid
January 4, 2009 - 12:19 ET by jaywlThe more I see of Harry Reid the more I want him front and center talking his little head off. He spent the first 10 minutes of MTP digging a hole with blacks. He admitted and confirmed every slight to the supporters of black elected politicians in Illinois that he has been accused of making in the past week. He contradicted himself and came across as just a scheming, crass politico. Then! After stabbing himself over and over he told Gregory that there might be a way Burris will be seated after all! Not only have the Dems created and sustained a self made fiasco, but Reid now may seat a BLACK MAN after telling Blago to only appoint white women. What an idiot.
The rest of MTP (except for the roundtable with its opportunities for Bush Bashing) was filled with more twisted idiocies from the mouth of Reid. I thought I would praise Gregory, but, in the end he saved me. He asked Reid about his comments on Pres. Bush being the worst President in history. Reid responded with statements accusing Bush of trying to destroy Social Security and Medicare. I thought Bush was the President that shepherded the expansion of Medicare to include prescription drug coverage. Whether or not one thinks that was a good thing, it certainly was not destroying Medicare, except in Reid's small head. He showed again what a small man he is.
slider down and away
January 4, 2009 - 12:40 ET by CatherwoodI think pitchers and catchers report Feb. 20.
Eagles
January 4, 2009 - 14:08 ET by BronxBomberJoe, I'm certainly not an Eagle fan , but their DEFENSE I feel gives them a good shot to win today and knock the Giants out of the playoffs next week...
I hope I'm wrong and you are right ...
LETS GO VIKINGS!!!
Eagles 17 Vikes 13
Ravens 14 Dolphins 10
We gotta find a new planet...
Wildcard weekend
January 4, 2009 - 13:35 ET by reasonsjesterFirst of all, this is coming from a Jets fan, so expect that I start strong and fade down the stretch.
How is it arguable that the Dolphins-Ravens is the worst game of the weekend? You totally overlooked the Chad Pennington story and glossed over the fact that Miami was 1-15 last year. It would be one of the most amazing turnarounds in history to watch them get all the way to the bowl. It would also rub salt in the wound of the Patriots, who won every game except one last year. That would show just how unpredictable and competitive the NFL is, and why it is the best sports league in the world.
Another thing that makes the claim that the Dolphins-Ravens game is the worst matchup untrue is because Atlanta versus Arizona is a complete yawner. Neither of these teams have a prayer against a top team like New York, and both of them are in weak divisions.
Next, like you said, the Minnesota game did not even sell out. That is because Minnesota fans know that even if they play well, they will find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
The Bolts-Colts matchup was the best of the weekend. That being said, those refs should have made the right call that it was a fumble before the half (they refused to show a fine close-up of the player with his knee above the ground and where the ball was, showing that it was a compelte rip). The ref should have also swallowed his whistle on the weak facemask call at the end of the game. He didn't grab the facemask, his hand was on it and he pushed down. Not enough to warrant a fifteen yard penalty.
Now for finishing weak. The Dallas Cowboys.
I didn't see the game but
January 4, 2009 - 16:55 ET by ahusserI have a lot of problems with some rules in the NFL (and college). It has created officiating by lawyers and committees. Between commercials and endless reviews the game is becoming slow as molasses and dominated by nit-picky rules. I don't even believe in the sanctity of the ground causing the fumble. You lose the ball you lose the ball tough. These repeating telescopic slo mo shots of knees touching as balls come out are becoming ridiculous. How many wonderful runs get called back because of nit picky flags. Play the damn game.
Change: When the winds of change blow hard enough, the most trivial of things can become deadly projectiles. From a Poster
The picks
January 4, 2009 - 13:41 ET by reasonsjesterForgot to do the picks.
Miami 20 Ravens 14
Philadephia 34, Vikings 27
Responsibility is the price of freedom. - Elbert Hubbard
Cards 30, Falcons 24? Nice
January 4, 2009 - 14:43 ET by R D HelmCards 30, Falcons 24? Nice job, Joe.
LOL, Yeah, rub it in, Noel.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -Because enough is enough.
Dave
January 4, 2009 - 15:19 ET by Noel SheppardDave,
Hey! I was pullin' for the Dirty Birds, bro! :-) ns
→ Great runback
January 4, 2009 - 15:11 ET by Cool ArrowMiami gives up an int for a TD.
10-3
January 4, 2009 - 15:12 ET by botg“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
Eagles
January 4, 2009 - 15:42 ET by KC MulvilleWhich Donovan McNabb will show up today? The efficient QB who stays within his limits, throws the ball so his receiver can catch it in stride, and allows a balanced offense? Or the prima donna who can't hit the broad side of a barn when it counts? See McNabb's first few passes. If they're low and away, or his receivers have to catch the ball behind them, the Eagles are in trouble.
Remember, though, the key to the Eagles' offense isn't McNabb, or even Brian Westbrook. It's the combination of both of them. Both of them need to be effective so that the defense can't focus on one or the other. If the Eagles turn one-dimensional, they're dead.
I don't know why the Vikings can't get a sellout. They have a good team. They don't have a QB, but they have a lot of talent elsewhere. Great line. All they need is a Joe Flacco-type sleeper next year (maybe the USC QB who shredded Penn State?), and they'll be a contender for a few years. But they have to get a new QB.
Post-game
January 4, 2009 - 21:08 ET by KC MulvilleAndy Reid kept running the ball. This game proves why that was a good idea. It didn't matter that the Eagles didn't make much yardage. The fact that the Vikings were forced to defend it was enough. That meant that the Vikings couldn't focus on McNabb alone, and that gave McNabb the elbow room to make solid plays. The running game helps the offense be a success, even if it isn't much of a success by itself. That's what Andy Reid has apparently learned.
In your face, Concha ...
What a Catch!!
January 4, 2009 - 16:24 ET by Cool ArrowI'm impressed.
Way to blow the PAT. Self-squishing fish.
DOH!
January 4, 2009 - 16:42 ET by botginterceptions,,,,,30yard loss on fumble,,,,not looking good for Miami
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
D-DOH!
January 4, 2009 - 16:45 ET by Cool ArrowNot after that run.
QB Draw
January 4, 2009 - 16:47 ET by botgends it
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
→ Quoth the Ravens
January 4, 2009 - 16:49 ET by Cool ArrowNevermore
Bloody
January 4, 2009 - 16:55 ET by Scuba DudeBloody birds.
Where's my shotgun?
→ That's better sport
January 4, 2009 - 16:57 ET by Cool ArrowBetter sport than shooting fish in a barrel, I suppose.
GRRRRRRRRRR
January 4, 2009 - 17:01 ET by Scuba DudeGRRRRRRRRRR
→ Sorry Dude
January 4, 2009 - 17:10 ET by Cool ArrowLast week it was the Cowboys.
The Dolphins were only slightly more impressive than the Boys.
Terrible game. Are we gonna
January 4, 2009 - 17:17 ET by Noel SheppardTerrible game.
Are we gonna see some football in the next one?
Thursday, Noel
January 4, 2009 - 17:21 ET by BlondeThursday.
GO GATORS!!!!
<edit> Is there any doubt whatsoever why I call Miami "the Olphins"?
Eagles by 15
January 4, 2009 - 17:22 ET by Cool ArrowI'd like to see a good game, but Philly looks strong.
Dallas Cowboys
January 4, 2009 - 22:34 ET by jefflebowskiNo doubt about it, the Cowboys were robbed!
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Noel
January 4, 2009 - 22:44 ET by botgnope ---- OSU will get romped
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
Go Chargers next
January 4, 2009 - 22:39 ET by bigtimerGo Chargers next week-end...Titans too!
Giants will win.
Gonna' be fun no matter what happens for me.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Go Titans, huh?
January 4, 2009 - 22:46 ET by km2002I'll just say what I said in 2001 when the Purple Birds won it all:
FORGET THE TITANS!
Purple Birds eh....we shall
January 4, 2009 - 22:52 ET by bigtimerPurple Birds eh....we shall see. ;-)
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
That's why they play the games on the field, bigtimer
January 5, 2009 - 14:23 ET by km2002You've probably noticed by now that the Titans are only three point favorites; that's bare home-field advantage. If we get a competent crew of zebras (not the guys who can't tell a head from a shoulder, like the group that reffed the last Ravens-Titans game), it oughta be a good one.