It looks like home field is going to go down to the wire.
God that game was a little more nailbiting than I like to have in my Packers games...a few things to talk about:
Brett Favre is my god...that off balance, side arm through on 3rd and 14...the man still blows my mind weekly.
The brawl at the end...it looked like some Vikings hopped off the bench at the end to knock down Packers on the field. If that ends up being the case, I sincerely hope all involved are fined.
Finally, I have to, grudgingly, admit that Tampa put in a hell of a performance against Atlanta. Hopefully, they return to the "late season choke" mode that they've had in years past.
10-3 NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS - Bring on the 'niners! Brett Favre = 4 time MVP!
Well, the schedule maker was pretty kind to the Bucs...they only have one cold weather matchup of the games they have left, but it's a doozy - the last ESPN game, Sunday the 29th AT Chicago, at NIGHT.
Hopefully, the Packers will win out, because I can't really see the Bucs losing to Detroit or Pittsburgh...and of course, they hold the tiebreaker since they (grr) beat the Pack during their only meeting this year. We still own the 49ers, right? After that, it's the Bills (home game) and the Jets, and pardon my NFC bias but those two shouldn't be too big a problem.
As for Philly, HOLY CRAP I had no idea they were 9-0 in the Conference. I'm hoping there's a loss in there between Washington and Dallas...because, again, I have no faith in Detroit to beat ANYBODY. ;-)
Of course, this would be a lot easier if Gilbert Brown's ankle would heal... (Hey, thanks, Mr. Obvious!)
The scuttlebutt up here in Titletown is that Gilbert Brown, Tyrone Williams, and Ahman Green will all be back next week in San Francisco. (I still say you put Mike McKenzie on Terrell Owens, though.)
The Pack will HAVE to win out to hold any hope of home-field advantage. Unfortunately, CRZ, I don't share your optimism about the Bucs-Bears game. Even in the cold of Champaign, IL, the Bears' offense will suck...especially against that damn Tampa Bay D. (Although a nice clip on Warren Sapp would feel real nice on that U of I turf, I bet.) Here's hoping the NFC East holds true to form...and the Philly 3rd-stringer gets his.
And welcome to the NFL, Robert Fergueson! Once again, another unheralded backup steps up for the Pack. Out-f'n-standing!
Ah, parity. Go Pack Go!
Star wipe, and...we're out. Thrillin' ain't easy. . . THE THRILL ACW-TV/Home Video Technical Director Emeritus...and A2NWO 4 Life!
Until the Eagles lose, all roads come through the Vet.
From the infamous Wrestleline SS interview:
DTD: If you were to make changes in WCW, if you were in charge and not Ric Flair, what would they be?
SS: I'd get rid of all the old guys, and push the talent that has waited to get the push. The things they are doing, it's back in the 1980s. It's just bad, man. Flair doesn't even deserve to be on the show. You've got to get rid of all the old guys. Like what Vince did, they started pushing guys. Nobody knew who The Rock was 2 years ago. He made The Rock. Now The Rock just did Saturday Night Live. You've got to start with the young talent, talent people can relate to. Who are we trying to relate to if we've got a 50 year old man out there? Are we trying to relate, so a 50 year people and above will go out and buy a f*cking little toy? That ain't gonna happen. It's a f*cking joke.
Once I start believing the Falcons hype, with Vick and a pretty great defense they lay a stinker like yesterday. TB looks like they could run the board the rest of the season). Pitt might give them trouble, but Pitt lost at home to the Texas Texans of all teams so I won't be holding out hope.
Damn 4 divisions, I just had to delete an entire paragraph stating how important the Packs v. 49ers is next week for the first round bye. Completely forgetting about the Eagles. They seem to have a pretty easy rest of the season as well.
But saying that GB vs. SF should be a great game next week. Those are two teams I really enjoy watching. It looks like it's battle for third but who knows someone slips up one of these 2 teams could slip into the bye week. I'm looking forward to this game, I don't think I'm going to get screwed by regional coverage. This games on 4est while ESPN is showing the excitement of Cardinals and The Rams. Who booked that! LOL
It's looking more and more that the 2 wild card teams are going to come out of the South, but I don't know who I'd rather face the Saints or ATL. They are both inconsistent but their QB's could really light it up at times.
Everyone just keep forgetting the Eagles. That way it will be much more comical reading the "EAGLES NFC CHAMPS - WTF?!" posts that will surely populate this board in a month or so...
Originally posted by CRZAs for Philly, HOLY CRAP I had no idea they were 9-0 in the Conference. I'm hoping there's a loss in there between Washington and Dallas...because, again, I have no faith in Detroit to beat ANYBODY.
We ain't got Detroit sadly, though home to the 'Skins should be a gimme. Last game of the season is on the road to the Giants and unless Mcnabb's back for that one I'm not overly optimistic.
Looks like our D's really stepping up though after being ripped apart by Manning. Hopefully they'll teach young Shockey to show a little more respect in future.
Originally posted by cranlsnFinally, I have to, grudgingly, admit that Tampa put in a hell of a performance against Atlanta. Hopefully, they return to the "late season choke" mode that they've had in years past.
When was this? The Bucs have started the year 3-4 each of the past three years and four of the last five and finished super hot in order to even qualify for the playoffs.
As for the schedules, the Bucs close out with two primetime games, Monday at home agaisnt Pitt and Sunday Night at Chicago. I really hope the Bucs haven't clicnched homefield by that point and then don't play all the starters all the way, because then if they lose because of that people will return to the stupid "sub-40 degrees" theory that has no relevance or substance. If anyone is going to beat Philly to give Tampa homefield, it will probably be Washington, though Dallas has shown flashes of good football at times. I just hope Feely comes back to Earth and makes some mistakes to cost them a game, because the Bucs should win out.
Washington beat the Eagles at Vets? Did you see the game in Week 2?
Its been a crazy old year but I cant see that happening. Our only problem should be with the Giants on the last day of the season, but I suppose if we can lose to the Jags anythings possible.
Congrats on beating the Falcons so convincingly though. I havent seen any of the game yet but you must have put on a hell of a show to beat them considering how good Atlantas looked lately.
With all that's been said, as much as I loathe GB, Donald Driver made a clutch/SWANK~! catch in the second half. Ball wasn't more than two inches off the ground. For fantasy's sake... sit Ahman Green. ;)
BucsFan, I didn't follow you there. Are you saying you don't want the starters in, but you want the second-string to win the game? Or do you already want homefield by then?
Originally posted by TheCowBucsFan, I didn't follow you there. Are you saying you don't want the starters in, but you want the second-string to win the game? Or do you already want homefield by then?
I think he was saying if they've already clinched then the Bucs would play back ups for the last 2 games which would be in the cold. They would thus probably lose, and some people would continue to go on about how they cant win when its below 40. If they havent clinched then they'll play starters and thus maybe win these games and remove that monkey from their backs.
Regardless of results next week though the Steelers games still gonna be meaningful barring total collapse from the Eagles and the Pack so he should get his wish
Originally posted by TheCowBucsFan, I didn't follow you there. Are you saying you don't want the starters in, but you want the second-string to win the game? Or do you already want homefield by then?
I think he was saying if they've already clinched then the Bucs would play back ups for the last 2 games which would be in the cold. They would thus probably lose, and some people would continue to go on about how they cant win when its below 40. If they havent clinched then they'll play starters and thus maybe win these games and remove that monkey from their backs.
Regardless of results next week though the Steelers games still gonna be meaningful barring total collapse from the Eagles and the Pack so he should get his wish
Yes. In the unlikely event that the Bucs have homefield wrapped up heading into Chicago to close the season (the only way it can happen is if the Bucs win their next two at Detroit and hosting Pittsburgh, Philly loses two of their next three and Green Bay loses once more), they would probably give the starters limited playing time and then the Bears may pull off the "upset," keeping the cold weather losing streak intact.
Originally posted by dMrWashington beat the Eagles at Vets? Did you see the game in Week 2?
Its been a crazy old year but I cant see that happening. Our only problem should be with the Giants on the last day of the season, but I suppose if we can lose to the Jags anythings possible.
Congrats on beating the Falcons so convincingly though. I havent seen any of the game yet but you must have put on a hell of a show to beat them considering how good Atlantas looked lately.
um, in the last, 8? 9? meetings between the Skins/Eagles, the visiting team has won...
DDP: Well, there's this little passage I got memorized, Diamond Dallas 25:17. Sort of fits this occasion:
"The path of the bookerman is beset on all sides by the inequities of the talented, and the tyranny of workrate freaks. Blessed is he, who in the name of tradition and sports entertainment carries the stiffs through the matches of Nitro, for he is truly the workrate's keeper, and the finder of lost quality. And I will lay the smack down upon thee with great vengeance and furious roid rage those who attempt to outwrestle and expose my brothers. And you will know my name as the Bookerman, when I lay my catchphrase upon thee!"
I want to see the Eagles beat the Skins with Feeley just to stick it to Spurrier one more time.
From the infamous Wrestleline SS interview:
DTD: If you were to make changes in WCW, if you were in charge and not Ric Flair, what would they be?
SS: I'd get rid of all the old guys, and push the talent that has waited to get the push. The things they are doing, it's back in the 1980s. It's just bad, man. Flair doesn't even deserve to be on the show. You've got to get rid of all the old guys. Like what Vince did, they started pushing guys. Nobody knew who The Rock was 2 years ago. He made The Rock. Now The Rock just did Saturday Night Live. You've got to start with the young talent, talent people can relate to. Who are we trying to relate to if we've got a 50 year old man out there? Are we trying to relate, so a 50 year people and above will go out and buy a f*cking little toy? That ain't gonna happen. It's a f*cking joke.
Originally posted by cranlsnFinally, I have to, grudgingly, admit that Tampa put in a hell of a performance against Atlanta. Hopefully, they return to the "late season choke" mode that they've had in years past.
When was this? The Bucs have started the year 3-4 each of the past three years and four of the last five and finished super hot in order to even qualify for the playoffs.
OK...I'll meet you halfway. They aren't complete choke artists. Let's look at the past 5 years.
1997 Lost 2 of their last 4 to finish 10-6. Lost to Green Bay in the 2nd week of playoffs.
1998 This one I'll give you. They finished hot, winning 3 of their last 4 to go 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
1999 This was "their year". They won 3 of the last 4 to go 11-5, get a first round bye, only to lose to the Rams.
2000 In 2000, they again won 3 of the last 4, to go 10-6. They then lost in the 1st round of playoffs to Philadelphia.
2001 Last year, they dropped 2 of their last 4, not exactly "hot" but precisely what I'm hoping for this year. They finished 9-7 and again lost to Philadelphia in the first week of playoffs.
So...I guess the "late season chokes" that I'm referring to actually came in the post-season.
All ribbing aside, I don't see Tampa losing any...unless they do it to themselves.
10-3 NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS - Bring on the 'niners! Brett Favre = 4 time MVP!
1999: three of their last four" was actually "eight of their last nine".
2000: "3 of 4" was "7 of 9".
So they haven't won on the road in the playoffs...what team goes into Green Bay and Philly and wins on the road consistently, especially in December and January?
I can see the difference now...you're looking at the season as two halves...I look at it as four quarters. The last four games being the "finish".
As I said though...I don't see Tampa getting beaten in the remaining three. They might lose one...if they have home field sewed up for instance, but I don't see them getting beaten.
So...from one fan to another...good luck!
edit: If you stare at our counter-spinnng avatars too long you get woozy. :0
(edited by cranlsn on 10.12.02 1342) 10-3 NORTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS - Bring on the 'niners! Brett Favre = 4 time MVP!
Originally posted by TheBucsFan1999: three of their last four" was actually "eight of their last nine".
2000: "3 of 4" was "7 of 9".
So they haven't won on the road in the playoffs...what team goes into Green Bay and Philly and wins on the road consistently, especially in December and January?
Last night on ESPN they brought up a stat showing that 7 of the last 9 NFC Super Bowl representatives had home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
From the infamous Wrestleline SS interview:
DTD: If you were to make changes in WCW, if you were in charge and not Ric Flair, what would they be?
SS: I'd get rid of all the old guys, and push the talent that has waited to get the push. The things they are doing, it's back in the 1980s. It's just bad, man. Flair doesn't even deserve to be on the show. You've got to get rid of all the old guys. Like what Vince did, they started pushing guys. Nobody knew who The Rock was 2 years ago. He made The Rock. Now The Rock just did Saturday Night Live. You've got to start with the young talent, talent people can relate to. Who are we trying to relate to if we've got a 50 year old man out there? Are we trying to relate, so a 50 year people and above will go out and buy a f*cking little toy? That ain't gonna happen. It's a f*cking joke.
really hope the Bucs haven't clicnched homefield by that point and then don't play all the starters all the way, because then if they lose because of that people will return to the stupid "sub-40 degrees" theory that has no relevance or substance.
I think this has become a thing now. You are right, it really has no substance, but the media hypes it up so much that I think it really gets into the players' heads now and becomes a distraction.
That said, if they are ever going to break it, the game with the Bears will be a prime opportunity. The Bears are just playing horribly right now, and really shouldn't be able to present much of a challenge to the Bucs, as long as the Bucs are focused on the matter at hand.