2008 Football Playoffs

[Oak Kitten]

Well, my New England Patriots got shut out of the playoffs despite an 11-5 record :( So who's left to duke it out?

Redjack's Steelers - what is the word on the QB?
Karensews Colts
Mixty's Chargers
I am rooting for the Baltimore Ravens since the Patriots are out.

The other two AFC teams are the Titans and the Dolphins.

On the NFC side we have:
DaveM's Vikings
Giants
Panthers
Cardinals
Falcons
Eagles

If the Ravens get bumped off early, I can root for the Steelers, after that I am indifferent. In the NFC, I like the Giants, Panthers and Eagles. The only two teams I ALWAYS root against are the Redskins (because of their obnoxious name and mascot) and the Cowboys (I have despised them since the 70's - why change now?)

Let the games begin . . .

Oak

[dragonlady]

How interesting Oak...did you never like to play cowboys and indians as a kid??? :D

In the AFC, I of course, as a Steelers fan, hate the Cowboys and always have...I haven't heard anything other than Ben got a concussion in the last game...I think they have a bye week this week so hopefully he has time to recover.

I like the Giants in the NFC but have been interested in how the Cards have been playing lately...

We shall see what we shall see...

-di

[Oak Kitten]

I haven't heard anything other than Ben got a concussion in the last game...I think they have a bye week this week so hopefully he has time to recover.

-di

I assume the "Ben" to whom you refer is Roethlisberger and not our Redjack - although if he viewed that video of Celine Dion singing "At Seventeen" he may very well have sustained a concussion - if it didn't throw him into a coma . . .

Oak

[dragonlady]

I assume the "Ben" to whom you refer is Roethlisberger and not our Redjack

Yes, my dear Dr. Oak...as much as I love Redjack...I don't imagine him down on the field with even Cleveland's defensive line running at him....;).

-di

[Marcia Drummergal]

I'm rooting for my (native) home town Miami Dolphins. I used to have season tickets in the days of Griese, Csonka, Warfield....yeah, ok...it was a LONG time ago.

I think it will probably be Pittsburgh if Big Ben recovers. On the NFC side, I think the Giants are gonna repeat.....

Marcia :cool:

[Oak Kitten]

Yes, my dear Dr. Oak...as much as I love Redjack...I don't imagine him down on the field with even Cleveland's defensive line running at him....;).

-di

I don't know, if Redjack was holding one of his famous briskets and had a defensive line of Rudies in front of him, no one could touch him! No guarantee that the Rudies wouldn't turn on their own QB however, after all, it's a Redjack brisket. . .

Oak

[Oak Kitten]

Correction. That should have been an offensive line of Rudies defending the brisket. How come when I hit the "edit" button these days, it doesn't work?

Anyway, I am derailing my own thread, how efficient of me - it was bound to turn into a food thread at some point anyway.

Oak

[hoops]

if i get to choose i'd like a steelers falcons game
or steelers eagles game...i've always liked the steelers. i love the dolfins too, but if i cheer for them they will lose. I'm sorry to hear about the pats since they are Tracy's fave. i'd also like to cheer for the giants, but i just can't since last year's mess...they may have deserved to win the superbowl, but they didn't deserve to be there. ( kinda like the yankees most of the time)
peace
hoops

[TwinLori]

Since my beloved Seattle Seahawks were eliminated from playoff contention early in the season (ugh 4-14), think I'd like to see a Manning (Peyton with the Indianapolis Colts) vs. Manning (Eli with the N.Y. Giants) Super Bowl matchup! They're both nice guys and it would be such a great storyline about sibling rivalry. If you're their parents, which son do you root for??? Both or Mom takes one son and Dad picks the other????

[DaveM]

The Vikings are very good at losing the first game of the playoffs, so....I'm just giving them a blue star for effort so far.

Mind, they are also to my knowledge the only NFL team to play in four Super Bowls and lose all of them. So, there's a sort of hope, I suppose.

[RedjackRyan]

I aint afraid of the cleve brownies.. feh.. a pox upon them i say.

Fortunately Cornfed Big Ben appears to have landed on his head, damage would be minimal considering his head already survived a motorcycle accident.. It would indeed appear made of granite.

I personally am hoping for a Steeler-Eagles matchup in the Bowl.. Almost as hated as Cleveland..

[Wildflower Fever]

The Vikings are very good at losing the first game of the playoffs, so....I'm just giving them a blue star for effort so far.

Mind, they are also to my knowledge the only NFL team to play in four Super Bowls and lose all of them. So, there's a sort of hope, I suppose.

Not to completely defend my cursed Vikings, but there is one scenario to remember when it comes to their chances in big games. It always seems that when the media overhypes their chances of winning, they choke. However, when they are given no chance, they can surprise you. The problem is, they still don't have what it takes to go all the way, so I'd rather see the bleeding stopped early rather than watch them go "almost" all the way again.:( Here are my KEY game factors for the game against the Eagles:
PHILLY
-even though Philly looked great last week, they have been VERY inconsistent this season
-They will be playing in one of the loudest stadiums in the league (although the game remains to have sold out despite having a good sellout streak before this playoff game:confused: ) Is it the economy???
VIKINGS
-If Pat Williams is even 75% coming back from a broken shoulder three weeks ago, Bryan Westbrook will face the "Williams Wall" that you all simply MUST respect, I don't know that anyone has ever stopped the interior run game as well.
-Adrian Peterson must rush for 125+ yards with NO lost fumbles...
-Tarvaris Jackson (QB) must prove his recent improvement is not a fluke and show he can handle a playoff atmosphere. This is the #1 reason I feel we may lose.
But, PLEASE, be generous and wish us a little luck, we've never one the big one, and the fans deserve it.
GOOD LUCK!

[Oak Kitten]

PLEASE, be generous and wish us a little luck, we've never one the big one, and the fans deserve it.
GOOD LUCK!

WF,

I think we need to wish the Vikes a LOT of luck - a little won't break that perpetual choking streak. I attribute it to the curse of switching to a domed stadium. REAL football teams play in open stadiums in harsh climates - the Steelers, Bears, Bills, Jets, Giants, Patriots, Packers. . .

Oak

[DaveM]

Don't ever wish the Vikings luck or place high expectations on them....it's a sure-fire recipe for failure. Historically, the franchise has invariably played its worst when facing outright bad teams or being heavily favored to win.

Quite agree about the open-air stadium. I can recall seeing the Vikings at the Metropolitan Stadium c. 1973. The cold toughened the fans beyond belief and it was used by the team as well. Then-coach Bud Grant refused to allow the players to have heaters near the benches even during practice. They got used to it....but when the Dallas Cowboys flew up here and left their home-field warmth at home, the poor guys literally froze.

Denver has used its altitude to similar advantage.

At the risk of straying into ethnic territory, I recall visiting the city of Katowice, Poland in 1992. I HOPE the place has been cleaned up by now--it is more or less in the middle of nowhere, so during the Communist era it was thought to be a good place to put chemical plants, smelters, and the like, none of which had anything resembling emission controls. At the time of my visit, many of the locals' hair had turned green, fumes could be seen INSIDE buildings, and nearly a third of the children born in the area had birth defects. Though I was there less than an hour I was told not to wear a white shirt, since the air would stain it almost immediately.

However, Katowice had a huge stadium, and whenever Poland was hosting an international soccer match, that was where ALWAYS it was played. One of my travel guides said: "if the decaying industrial surroundings don't depress the visiting team into submission, the oxygen-free atmosphere of Katowice should take a few seconds off their pace". It was not an exaggeration.

[Oak Kitten]

DaveM,

Katowice was also the site of an infamous massacre of Polish POWs by the Soviet NKVD during World War II - more than 20,000 were killed. Talk about a place with a cursed history.

This concludes the depressing history portion of our program - except that there is nothing I can do about the history of the Minnesota Vikings.

Oak

[Oak Kitten]

Here is the line-up for the first round of playoffs this weekend, courtesy of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

The NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals (9-7) will get the slate started with a 4:30 p.m. (et) game on Saturday against the Atlanta Falcons (11-5). The Cardinals will be hosting their first playoff game since 1947, when they were based in Chicago. The Cardinals secured their first winning season since 1998, their last playoff appearance. It's just the second time since 1984 they've ended above .500. Atlanta, the fifth seed, is in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.


Indianapolis (12-4), the fifth-seeded team out of the AFC, will play at San Diego (8-8) on Saturday at 8 p.m. (et). The Chargers got into the playoffs by winning the final regular season game, pounding the Denver Broncos, 52-21, Sunday night to win the AFC West title, while the Colts are in the postseason for a seventh straight year. That extends the longest streak in the NFL.

The Baltimore Ravens (11-5), seeded sixth in the AFC, play at AFC East champion Miami (11-5) on Sunday at 1 p.m. (et),

and the final game on the slate will be at 4:30 p.m. (et) as the Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1), seeded sixth in the NFC, take on NFC North champion Minnesota (10-6).

[hoops]

my picks
falcons
colts
dolfins
eagles
don;t ask for scores...they don;t tell me
peace
hoops

[DaveM]

Perhaps if the Vikings played in Katowice....

I'd forgotten the NKVD atrocity there. My visit in 1992 was just after people realized the Russians weren't coming back and so the only memorials extant talked about nastiness done by the Nazis. Even places like concentration camps mainly featured information about the "anti-fascists" who had been "persecuted" there. About half of the museum at Auschwitz was under reconstruction as the Soviet version of history was being replaced by a less politically-correct (by Soviet standards, at least) version.

No matter what the memorial plaques say now, everyone should visit the place once. Ignore the prepared exhibits and just let the sensations of being there....the sights and sounds and smells and the many tricks being in a concentration camp even as a visitor play with the mind. You will come away changed. Shaken, almost certainly, but deeply and profoundly changed. I recall being anxious, trying not to let it sink in, and dancing my way down the railroad line to the gate while humming The Who's "Tommy's Holiday Camp". I was silent when I left, and walking bent over, strangely unable to stand straight for several hours afterwards.

And I am about as far off-topic as can be so will leave it at that. It was the most haunting experience of my life, squashing assumptions and opening spiritual doors I did not know existed before. They say "never forget". I know that I cannot.

[Orphan of the Road]

Redjack, you are a man after my own heart. Streagle Super Bowl!!!!

That's the way my pool is played anyway.

The Eagles beating the Cowgirls so handily in the last game was a nice present for me here in CowTown. The Chiefs wore no cologne this year ie they stank!!!

[Oak Kitten]

The Cardinals will go down in the first round - they don't even deserve to be in the playoffs. Although the Colts have a better record, I am pulling for the Chargers. Ravens over Dolphins - watch Ray Lewis - he is an amazing player. Eagles over Vikings - although I wouldn't mind seeing Minnesota advance - anything can happen. After all the the Pats went 16 - 0 and THEN lost the big one - the biggest choke in NFL history. So maybe the Vikes are finally due.

Oak

[Wildflower Fever]

The Cardinals will go down in the first round - they don't even deserve to be in the playoffs. Although the Colts have a better record, I am pulling for the Chargers. Ravens over Dolphins - watch Ray Lewis - he is an amazing player. Eagles over Vikings - although I wouldn't mind seeing Minnesota advance - anything can happen. After all the the Pats went 16 - 0 and THEN lost the big one - the biggest choke in NFL history. So maybe the Vikes are finally due.

Oak

I was thinking that just last year. 1998 was for so long a hard pill to swallow, with the Vikings going 15-1 and setting the NFL single season scoring record, then choking. I'm not sure which scenario is more embarrassing, losing in the NFC championship game at home, or missing the Super Bowl altogether. I was on a one year assignment job in Cleveland at the time, and following the game had to head off on a business trip to Cincinnatti during a blizzard. I turned on local radio in my car, and the first thing I heard was the DJ saying, "if you turn your ear to the west this evening, you'll hear a giant choking sound coming from Minneapolis." Since then, I believe Pittsburgh went 15-1 a few years ago and fell short, and now the Patriots at 16-0. Ironically, I believe the Pats also broke our single season scoring record, and don't forget, both of us had Randy Moss during our biggest choke.:eek:

[Oak Kitten]

Interesting observation about Randy Moss, WF. Maybe he's a witch.

Well I am surprised how well the Cardinals played today. I guess they picked the right time to wake up. They should have had another 9 points if the referees had called those two egregious penalties committed by Atlanta - a 2 point safety for pass interference in the end zone, and the second pass interference that would have set them up for a TD. The falcons just seemed to crumple early in the 2nd quarter.

Oak

[hoops]

ok i was wrong about the falcons, and the other game seems to be going into overtime
peace
hoops

[Oak Kitten]

ok i was wrong about the falcons, and the other game seems to be going into overtime
peace
hoops

Yep, the Chargers pulled out a win in overtime. Mixty must be happy. I am 1 for 2 so far . . .

Oak

[KarenSews2]

I've stated before that I am not a football fan, but it's still a shame that they lost to SD. Nice, though, that peyton has his 3rd MVP. He's a great guy.

[Wildflower Fever]

Interesting observation about Randy Moss, WF. Maybe he's a witch.Oak

I think that the sports "gods" just couldn't give the Boston area a trifecta at the expense of Minnesota sports fans.;) Don't forget, the season when David "Big Poppi" Ortiz was traded from the MN Twins to the Red Sox, their curse ended with a world series championship. Also, the Celtics drought since the Bird years ended last year when Kevin Garnett left the MN Timberwolves for Boston. Randy Moss was the fly in the ointment so to speak.:cool:

[dragonlady]

Miami sure isn't playing well....I guess Baltimore may win this game....20 to 3 in the middle of the third...

I'm already thinking about the Eagles game.

-di

[Marcia Drummergal]

Miami sure isn't playing well....I guess Baltimore may win this game....20 to 3 in the middle of the third...

I'm already thinking about the Eagles game.

-di

Typical. Another year with no "favorite team" to root for in the playoffs....

MAJOR SIGH......

Marcia :rolleyes:

[Wildflower Fever]

Another year, same old result...:( I want both the Vikings head coach and QB replaced ASAP...

[dragonlady]

Well, I got two right....the Cards and the Eagles....so the Steelers play someone next week but I haven't heard who yet....should be interesting.

-di

[Oak Kitten]

Another year, same old result...:( I want both the Vikings head coach and QB replaced ASAP...

My condolences, WF. So its Eagles v. Giants next week a northeast corridor rivalry. That should be a good game.

Oak

[dragonlady]

Looks like its the Chargers and the Steelers....Hmmmm...I think we beat them in the regular season.

-di

[Oak Kitten]

I successfully picked 3 out of 4 winners in the first round, which means absolutely nothing, but makes me feel good.

Next round:

Eagles v. Giants
Cardinals v. Panthers
Ravens v. Titans
Chargers v. Steelers

I like both the Eagles and the Giants, but I have traditionally rooted for NY, so they are my pick.

I still don't think the Cardinals deserve to be in the playoffs, so I pick the Panthers. Besides, I like their helmet logo better.

Ravens are my "hometown" team, so I pick them over the Titans, but Tennessee is a formidable opponent.

Steelers over Chargers on the basis of pure east of the Mississippi chauvinism.

Oak

[dragonlady]

Eagles v. Giants
Cardinals v. Panthers
Ravens v. Titans
Chargers v. Steelers

Giants will probably win though I'd like the Eagles to; Cardinals just cuz I'm from Arizona; Titans over the Ravens and of course the Steelers....

-di

[hoops]

so i got one out of four....that's bad
lemme see...this week i say
eagles
panthers
titans
steelers...
why? i want the eagles to win. i want the steelers to win. like like the panthers helmets. i like the colors of the titans uniforms
peace
hoops

[Mary6906]

Don't really care about football, but thought I'd add a little humor to the thread.... :D
-------------------------------------------

The Texas Highway Patrol is cracking down on speeders heading towards the city of Irving. For the first offense, they give you two Dallas Cowboys tickets. If you get stopped a second time, they make you use them.

Q. What do you call 47 millionaires sitting around a TV watching the
Super Bowl?
A. The Dallas Cowboys.

Q. What do the Cowboys and Billy Graham have in common?
A. They both can make 70,000 people stand up and yell 'Jesus Christ.'

Q. How do you keep a Cowboy out of your yard?
A. Put up a goal post.

Q. What do you call a Cowboy with a Super Bowl ring?
A. A thief.

Q. What's the difference between the Cowboys and a dollar Bill?
A. You can still get four quarters out of a dollar bill.

Q. How many Cowboys does it take to win a Super Bowl?
A. Nobody knows and we may never find out!

Q. What do the Cowboys and a possum have in common?
A. Both play dead at home and get killed on the road!

[trish55]

I think the New Orleans Saints should be in the playoffs because they have the best uniforms:D Seriously, the Patriots of last year didn't choke they lost to a better team for that one game. The Patriots are the best team of the decade, winning 3 superbowls..and the Vikings have won?

[hoops]

Trish, i agree that the Giants simply outplayed the pats last year, it was a lucky game for the giants and an unlucky one for the pats.
peace
hoops

[hoops]

ok so i'm one for 6. this is a new stratagy for me, i guess it should find a new one for next year...or not bet quite so much money...kidding
peace
hoops

[Wildflower Fever]

With all due respect, the Vikings team in '98 that went 15-1 were considered chokers. In that light, the Patriots going 16-0 and smashing many NFL records while playing a team with an embattled QB who looked early on like they wouldn't even make the playoffs, indeed choked. IMO, they choked and didn't receive the heimlich either.;)

[dragonlady]

Whith 4 minutes to go in the Steelers game...it looks like ai went 3 for 4 this week those pesky ravens....

So Cardinals vs. Eagles and Steelers vs. Ravens next week. We could still have that Eagles - Steelers Superbowl Redjack...

-di

[hoops]

that's who i want next week Eagles and Steelers. Cause i think they are good teams and they deserve it. and it breaks my heart that the cardinals beat the panthers. the panthers definitely had superiour uniforms and helmets...much more pleasing to the eye. ;)
peace
hoops

[dragonlady]

hoops,

you CRACK me up!!! But you are nonetheless correct...I however HATE the Steelers new home uniforms...those retro uniforms SUCK!

-di

[Orphan of the Road]

OK, before you get bombarded with all the booing Santa Claus stories (hey, he was skinny, drunk and the outfit was filthy) let me tell you another story about my Birds (adopted when I moved there from KC in 1973). One of the players had a daughter with luekemia. On the day the Vet opened with an Eagles game they passed the hat around the stadium to raise money for people who had kids at Children's Hospital. The folks in the stands gave over $20,000 that day. It was the foundation of what would be come The Ronald McDonald House.

And during WWII they combined the Eagles and Steelers clubs and called them the Steagles. Not a pretty sight.

A Keystone Super Bowl.

[RedjackRyan]

We could Di, but i'm not overly confident going up against Baltimore, that game is going to be extremely physical and Baltimore is oh so good at playing take-away.

[dragonlady]

Keep your chin up the Ben...Big Ben could actually come through two games in a row this season...the whole team seemed pretty darned motivated to actually catch the ball before running (read Santonio Holmes) and hold onto it when they ran with it (read any running back)...and Ben didn't throw not one INT (did he?)...just hope they play that well 7 days later....I'm crossing my fingers and toes....:D!!

-die hard Steeler fan dragonlady di

[RedjackRyan]

Thats very true, Di.. But San Deigo is Not Baltimore.


We can win against the hated Ravens, but we cannot afford to make mistakes, their strength is in capitalizing on other teams mistakes.

[Wildflower Fever]

I hate the inconsistencies of being a Vikings fan. They beat the Panthers this year, and a few weeks ago they DESTROYED the Arizona Cardinals on their home turf. Then, they lose a squeaker at home to Philly in the playoffs, while Arizona beats the tar out of Carolina on their home turf. Always so close, and yet so far...:(

[RedjackRyan]

I hear ya man, I really thought the Vikings were gonna win against Philly. Yinz is due a break and a superbowl shot.. long overdue. Maybe next year?

[Wildflower Fever]

Maybe next year?

That, my friend, is our yearly mantra...;)

[Oak Kitten]

3 of 4 again for me.

Well, the Cardinals continue to defy my dissin'. They are playing like men possessed. However, I am pulling for the Eagles to beat them.

Yay for the Ravens! Redjack is right that that will be one tough game. If Baltimore were to lose, I hope there will be a Pittsburgh - Philadelphia Superbowl. That would be cool. Philly has never won a superbowl, so I'd be inclined to root for the underdog, but the QB is kind of a twit.

Since I don't have any strong feelings about any of the remaining teams, I can enjoy the games. But as much as I love to watch football, which totally mystifies my husband - ten minutes after the game is over I have a hard time remembering who played. In fact, I had to backtrack to previous posts on this thread just to recall who played who this past weekend, even though I watched all the games.

Oak

[hoops]

Tracy got to see how i am when i watch football...much different than baseball cause that game is frustratingly slow and dull. I'm not even a football fan. i'll watch it, i have teams i like more than others, but if i never saw another game, i wouldn't even notice. but when i do watch...well picture the guys who go shirtless to single digit temp stadiums with their bodies painted in team colors, their heads shaved or worse, with the team logo shaved into their skulls. the ones who wait on line for 8 hours to get a mediocre seat that they have paid hundreds of dollars for with all the high fives, chest bumps, and special team handshakes included. I start quoting stats that i have no idea how i know and yelling at coaches and offensive coordinators and defensive tackles cause i don't understand how they could possibly be so stupid as to let that last play happen, i mean are they for REAL??? I don't even play the game and i could run a better pattern than that! give me $40,000 a year and i could catch that stinking beautiful pass!! it's not a pretty picture, i get invested, really invested in the game and cannot look away for a moment, should i possibly miss the most beautiful play that i've been waiting for the stupid QB to call for three hours now! Lynn Swann could have done that blindfolded with one leg broken and a groin pull! whew. anyway...i hope i don't blow an important artery, have a stroke, or have an emotion induced asthma attack. 3 games left in the season, if as bird wins, i'll shoot my tv.
peace
hoops

[dragonlady]

Pittsburgh vs. Arizona...in the Superbowl! Whodathunk it???? Go Steelers!!!

Though I grew up not a stone's throw from the Cardinals stadium is located...it wasn't there when I was there but that's a techinicality...:p.

-di

[TwinLori]

Though the Arizona Cardinals are a hated division rival here in the NFC West (aka "NFC Worst"), I'm going with the old QB since Kurt Warner is a genuinely good guy. Now, if their young gun, Matt Leinert, were the starting QB, I'd definitely be cheering on Pittsburgh. Maybe I'm still holding a grudge from SuperBowl 40 (sorry, forget how to do the Roman numerals) when the Steelers (er, "Stealers" = referees) beat the Seattle Seahawks. Besides, Pittsburgh has won at least 4 SuperBowls in the past with Terry Bradshaw, so it's not as if the town hasn't had a winner before! Let Phoenix celebrate for a change!

[Oak Kitten]

Both my picks crashed and burned yesterday, but at least the Eagles did if only briefly, pull ahead to make it seem like a game. The Ravens were awful - so many blown opportunities and stupid penalties.

As for the superbowl, don't really have a dog in this fight, but I think it would be cool for the Cardinals to win the big one as they never had before, and they are playing phenomenally.

Oak

[Peanut]

Geez. Both of my teams lost yesterday also. Bummer. I will definitely be rooting for Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl though. I'm from St. Louis so I have a soft place in my heart for the Cardinals since they played in St. Louis for many years before going to Arizona. They had some phenomenal players over the years but never could make it to the big game.

However, I was also in St. Louis during the Kurt Warner St. Louis Rams days. He did help the Rams win one Super Bowl and took them to another where they lost to my beloved Patriots. However after listening to many, many interviews with him over the years, I quickly found out he's a far right wing Evangelical who loves to spew his beliefs publicly while insulting (perhaps unknowingly, but still...) people of other faiths. He and his wife were involved in many charitable acts in St. Louis, but only when there were plenty of cameras around to catch the action. I just really, really don't care for the guy and can't root for him. Go Steelers!

Rachel

[quietworld]

I'm thrilled that the Eagles lost. This is mandatory Giant loyalty thinking. As for the Superbowl, Kurt Warner (former Giants QB) has the poise born of experience but the Steeler are soooo powerful. Emotionally, Arizona; Cash on cash, the Steelers. Note: Agree that Warner's Evanganical posture is affront.

[Wildflower Fever]

Though the Arizona Cardinals are a hated division rival here in the NFC West (aka "NFC Worst"), I'm going with the old QB since Kurt Warner is a genuinely good guy. Now, if their young gun, Matt Leinert, were the starting QB, I'd definitely be cheering on Pittsburgh. Maybe I'm still holding a grudge from SuperBowl 40 (sorry, forget how to do the Roman numerals) when the Steelers (er, "Stealers" = referees) beat the Seattle Seahawks. Besides, Pittsburgh has won at least 4 SuperBowls in the past with Terry Bradshaw, so it's not as if the town hasn't had a winner before! Let Phoenix celebrate for a change!

I'm not a Pittsburgh hater, but I'm still a little sore about the Vikings losing one of their 4 Super Bowls to them in the 70's. That said, I know what you mean about the Seattle/Pittsburgh game. That was one of the NFL moments where a small part of me wondered if it wasn't just a little bit rigged. There were 2 HUGE questionable calls (I think a Pittsburgh TD where they were short, and a offensive pass interference call that cost Seattle a TD). That year Jerome Bettis was retiring, and the Super Bowl was in Detroit, his hometown. The NFL loves it's ratings, and I'm not sure how many are aware that the officials are linked by earpiece to a "central command station." Ever notice how long it takes to make some calls, and how many calls are suspiciously late? Conspiracy theorist out...:rolleyes:

[Bat]

My suspicious nature rears its ugly head at some games, too, WFF...I hate to think that some are playing their guts out while some others are on the take, so to speak...but sometimes it's impossible to believe some of the stuff that goes on, whether it is terrible officiating or simple goofs by the players that shouldn't have happened, muffed catches, unnecessary fouls, etc.
Marcia swears up and down that it couldn't happen...I wish I could be so trusting. :confused:

That said, the Steelers are one tough team, and I'll pick them over the Cards any day...we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?:D

[Wildflower Fever]

My suspicious nature rears its ugly head at some games, too, WFF...I hate to think that some are playing their guts out while some others are on the take, so to speak...but sometimes it's impossible to believe some of the stuff that goes on, whether it is terrible officiating or simple goofs by the players that shouldn't have happened, muffed catches, unnecessary fouls, etc.
Marcia swears up and down that it couldn't happen...I wish I could be so trusting. :confused:

That said, the Steelers are one tough team, and I'll pick them over the Cards any day...we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?:D

I know, and I hate to be a conspiracy theorist. I did however watch a special on HBO once that showed the central command center that surveys all NFL games as they take place. The head officials and the booth review crews are able to communicate with them. And believe it or not, they do at times offer input on how to make certain calls and/or handle instant replay reviews. I don't think the NFL would ever be stupid enough to completely throw games, but I wonder if at times they wouldn't like to give one team or another a little "edge" if it appeased their ratings hopes and story lines for the media. Let's say maybe one team was favored to win and is losing, and would be great for the upcoming weeks playoff ratings, and so maybe they just throw in a little extra holding call here or there. As for players, I think we've already seen that they will do anything.:rolleyes: I don't have any interest in either team, but I think I'll root for Pittsburgh because of Mike Tomlin (loved him when he was the Vikings def. cooridinator). I can't stand Kurt Warner of Arizona because he's one of those players that is convinced that God cares enough about football that he blessed him to have a good game.:rolleyes: I've never seen him in an interview where he didn't claim God was the reason that they won. Yet, after declaring himself such a good christian, he heads over to the bench and screams at his coach...I don't believe in God, but respect those that do, and I think guys like him give religion a bad name.

[hoops]

couldn't take the second half of the Philly game, so we took a nap to be ready for the steelers game...and what a game it was. LETS GO STEELERS! i don't know if i can wait two weeks to see this game.
peace
hoops

[RedjackRyan]

Pittsburgh's going to the SuperBowl ..Here we go





Win or lose in the superbowl, the Steelers denied Baltimore..and that is all that matters :)

[dragonlady]

Right on Ben!!!

-di

[hoops]

Steelers put baltimore away closed the door and nailed it shut. Baltimore will probabl need to take the first three weeks off next season, just to build up their strength again
peace
hoops

[Marcia Drummergal]

If what *they* say is true, then the Steelers defense should beat the Cardinals offense. It will be interesting.....

Marcia :)

[RedjackRyan]

A man in Topeka , Kansas decided to write a book
about Churches around the
country. He started by flying to San Francisco and
started working east from there.

Going to a very large church, he began taking
photographs and making notes.
He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall
and was intrigued with a sign, which read "Calls: $10,000 a minute."

Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor
answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if
he pays the price he can talk directly to God.

The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way.
As he continued to visit churches in Seattle , Dallas , St. Louis ,
Chicago, Milwaukee , and around the United States , he found more phones, with the
same sign, and the sam e answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Pennsylvania . Upon entering a Church in Pittsburgh, he saw the usual golden telephone.
But THIS time, the sign read "Calls: $0.35 cents."

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, "Father Jones, I have been in
cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden
telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to
God, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only
$0.35 cents a call. Why?

The priest, smiling benignly, replied : "Son, you're
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania now, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers-5 times Super Bowl Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 vibrant rivers meeting at the Point of the most beautiful downtown area around, the city with the best hospitals, neighborhoods and friendliest people in the world!
You're in God's Country....

It's a local call."

AMEN

[hoops]

Redjack..very good!
peace
hoops