NFL

[DemonDave 1,089]

Superb game of football that one between Falcons and Hawks. Wow I thought that Seattle were about to pull off a miracle. A good onside kick saved the day for the

Falcs.

so its decided:
AFC Baltimore at New England

NFC San Fran at Atlanta

3 out of the 4 that were there at the same stage last year with Falcons taking the place of the Giants.

Cant wait!

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

The falcons can consider themselves a little bit lucky to have won. Their second half was very ordinary and if Seattle could have managed the clock better before half time they would of had a field goal before the half. Instead they had 0 points. 49ers take out Atlanta easily next week.

[Cards13 9,117]

The vaunted Seahawks D really struggled and was great to see Sherman get yapped at by Roddy White after White easily burned him on a touchdown to put Falcs up 20-0! Thought the 'Hawks D would be able to contain the Falcs while that fantastic Wilson/Beast Mode combo would set up the Seattle win. Unfortunatley the D didn't come to play and Wils/Beast only wound up after half time.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

There wasn't much beast mode today. Seattle had chances to score in the first half but couldn't. Wilson is a fighter though he never gave up. I can't see Atlanta getting close to the 49ers next week.

[Cards13 9,117]

There wasn't much beast mode today. Seattle had chances to score in the first half but couldn't. Wilson is a fighter though he never gave up. I can't see Atlanta getting close to the 49ers next week.

They didn't give him much chance on offence with no passing game, Atlanta stuffing 7 in the box ready for him or maybe he ran out of skittles!

[Macca 16,987]

Superb game of football that one between Falcons and Hawks. Wow I thought that Seattle were about to pull off a miracle. A good onside kick saved the day for the

Falcs.

so its decided:

AFC Baltimore at New England

NFC San Fran at Atlanta

3 out of the 4 that were there at the same stage last year with Falcons taking the place of the Giants.

Cant wait!

Yeah, the Atlanta/Seattle game was a beauty. Ryan was good at the death (I thought they were 'gone' to be honest) Seattle were brave in their comeback but getting behind 0 - 20 was too much to give up. A fair bit closer at half time and it's possibly a different story. The Falcons were very good in the 1st half but got the 'staggers' in the 2nd half.

If the 'Niners' bring yesterdays form to next week then you should win. Not sure that Atlanta's defence is all that crash hot and I can't wait to see the 'Kap' in action again. Talk of the town hey? Or the Nation!

As for the other game, the Patriots did what they often do when they're up and about - score heavily. Once it got to 38 - 13 early in the 4th quarter it was 'all she wrote' until .......... the Texans nearly recovered an onside kick after clawing their back to 28 - 38. Houston losing 3 of their last 4 regular season games helped kill their season. Hard to win in New England - Brady had another stellar game. He threw for 344 yards with 3 TD's and a QB rating of 115.

A 49ers / Patriots Super Bowl would be a 'box office' dream - hope we get it.

Next weeks games ... click on any team for further news and stats ...

MON, JAN 21

NFC Conference Championship

7.00 AM San Francisco at Atlanta

AFC Conference Championship

10.30 AM Baltimore at New England

and then ...

MON, FEB 4

10.30 AM Super Bowl

Edited January 14, 2013 by Macca

[pantaloons 2,019]

Unforgivable performance from Seattle today. Turning down two simple first half field goals cost them dearly. I know they were down badly, but on the road you need to put points on the board when they are gifted to you. Going for it on 4th and 1 on the 11 is one some would agree with, but in that situation I thought it was desperate. And whatever the heck happened at the end of the first half was an utter farce. Great game though, and a great weekend of football.

Can't see the Niners getting beaten. They've looked to me the team to beat since Week 1, and nothing has changed for me since then except the positive QB change. Pats to meet them in the SB.

[Macca 16,987]

Unforgivable performance from Seattle today. Turning down two simple first half field goals cost them dearly. I know they were down badly, but on the road you need to put points on the board when they are gifted to you. Going for it on 4th and 1 on the 11 is one some would agree with, but in that situation I thought it was desperate. And whatever the heck happened at the end of the first half was an utter farce. Great game though, and a great weekend of football.

Can't see the Niners getting beaten. They've looked to me the team to beat since Week 1, and nothing has changed for me since then except the positive QB change. Pats to meet them in the SB.

New England should win although the Ravens could run them close and they might even pinch it. They match up alright and their last 3 meetings have been decided by a total of 7pts. Baltimore won the last encounter 31-30 (at home)

The war of words has already started with Ravens LB Brendan Ayanbadejo (that was hard to type) coming out with some 'choice' words about the Pats in this article .... Patriots approach a Gimmick

Can't imagine Colin Garland carrying on like this about the Hawthorn forward line (even if we did match up well with the Hawks!) It's certainly different in the States ...

"New England does some suspect stuff on offense. Can't really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot b4 a fight," Ayanbadejo tweeted.

"Are you watching the game pats vs texans?" Ayanbadejo tweeted. "If so you see the hurry snap offense catch em b4 they set up. It's a gimmick."

"You know the same organization that did spygate and cut a guy the day b4 the Super Bowl," he tweeted.

Don't hold back Brendan !

Edited January 14, 2013 by Macca

[pantaloons 2,019]

Ha! The hurry up offense works well for them. Very annoying when you've recorded the game and like to fast forward between plays though!!

[titan_uranus 25,020]

Ridiculous weekend of football.

Denver-Baltimore was an epic game. To give up those two big special team TDs but fightback to maintain level scores, on the road, with Denver off a bye, was huge. No idea why Denver took a knee at the end. Peyton was good, but three turnovers isn't good enough for a playoff. I felt all year they were pretenders, only beating two teams with winning records (Baltimore and Cincinnati) in their 13 wins. Still thought they'd have the Ravens' measure though.

SF - wow. Even I didn't think we could get it together like that. Kaepernick like that makes us a hot chance. Of course, it might not be like that on the road, but still, almost 200 rushing yards is insane.

Seattle-Atlanta was incredible. You always felt Seattle could do it if they got on a roll, and in the second half their offence was unstoppable. Atlanta couldn't get them off the field. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, though, they made some unforgivable errors. Mucking up on 4th down late in the 2nd, and then not getting a score from the final drive of the first half, were two massive mistakes. And when their defence needed just one block or one tackle, they let Matt Ryan drive the field for the game-winning FG. Mind you, Atlanta wasn't going to let Seattle make all the mistakes - that last kickoff was atrocious!

Houston-NE was...well...predictable.

Quite unbelievable that after such an even season with so many teams playing well, 3 of the final 4 teams this year are from last year. This year, though, despite being on the road and not home, I feel SF has a better chance to make the Superbowl. Atlanta doesn't scare me as much as Seattle does, I think we can take their defence and we have the personnel to stop their offence. Should be great. NE should beat Baltimore at home, but Baltimore at its best can pull it off. Still tipping NE-SF for the grand finale.

[Gorgoroth 12,971]

Don't underestimate the Ray lewis factor in the Ravens game.

[Macca 16,987]

Ridiculous weekend of football.

Denver-Baltimore was an epic game. To give up those two big special team TDs but fightback to maintain level scores, on the road, with Denver off a bye, was huge. No idea why Denver took a knee at the end. Peyton was good, but three turnovers isn't good enough for a playoff. I felt all year they were pretenders, only beating two teams with winning records (Baltimore and Cincinnati) in their 13 wins. Still thought they'd have the Ravens' measure though.

SF - wow. Even I didn't think we could get it together like that. Kaepernick like that makes us a hot chance. Of course, it might not be like that on the road, but still, almost 200 rushing yards is insane.

Seattle-Atlanta was incredible. You always felt Seattle could do it if they got on a roll, and in the second half their offence was unstoppable. Atlanta couldn't get them off the field. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, though, they made some unforgivable errors. Mucking up on 4th down late in the 2nd, and then not getting a score from the final drive of the first half, were two massive mistakes. And when their defence needed just one block or one tackle, they let Matt Ryan drive the field for the game-winning FG. Mind you, Atlanta wasn't going to let Seattle make all the mistakes - that last kickoff was atrocious!

Houston-NE was...well...predictable.

Quite unbelievable that after such an even season with so many teams playing well, 3 of the final 4 teams this year are from last year. This year, though, despite being on the road and not home, I feel SF has a better chance to make the Superbowl. Atlanta doesn't scare me as much as Seattle does, I think we can take their defence and we have the personnel to stop their offence. Should be great. NE should beat Baltimore at home, but Baltimore at its best can pull it off. Still tipping NE-SF for the grand finale.

Good wrap up. Like the later Pats/Ravens game, your match against the Falcons is fascinating on a whole lot of levels. Will Ryan have a big game? Likewise Kaepernick . It's in a dome so field goals could be important. Maybe it will be harder for Atlanta to figure out the 49ers game than vice-versa. Atlanta's defence is the weakness that stands out .

San Francisco are strong in all the important areas - if the 'Niners' bring their 'A' game then they'll be too strong . Jim Harbaugh is a very good coach who seems to be making all the right moves. I favour a 49ers win more than a Pats win (though the most likely match-up in the Super Bowl is the 49ers/N.England one.

Don't underestimate the Ray lewis factor in the Ravens game.

The Ravens win against Denver was a fair surprise to me and from all accounts, Baltimore are relishing the chance to take on the Patriots. They will do whatever they can to get at Brady and the New Englands offensive line will be tested. If Brady is protected well, then the Pats should win. Flacco's deep throws could be dangerous as well.

[Cards13 9,117]

College/NFL.... Notre Dame linebacker story over the past college season playing through heartbreak of his girlfriend and grand mother dying days apart, not quite true. The girlfriend never existed. Man some strange strange STRANGE people in the world, for all the sh!t MFC has been through thank fark it is nothing on this whopper!

http://deadspin.com/5976517/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbreaking-and-inspirational-story-of-the-college-football-season-is-a-hoax

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

College/NFL.... Notre Dame linebacker story over the past college season playing through heartbreak of his girlfriend and grand mother dying days apart, not quite true. The girlfriend never existed. Man some strange strange STRANGE people in the world, for all the sh!t MFC has been through thank fark it is nothing on this whopper!

http://deadspin.com/5976517/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbreaking-and-inspirational-story-of-the-college-football-season-is-a-hoax

Such a weird story. If he did make it all up he is a strange one that's for sure. He released a statement saying he had met the girl online and was duped. Very hard to believe.

[Cards13 9,117]

Such a weird story. If he did make it all up he is a strange one that's for sure. He released a statement saying he had met the girl online and was duped. Very hard to believe.

So strange! He may have been duped but he and Notre Dame both continued on with the story line after he notified ND of the duping.

[DemonDave 1,089]

Has anyone else seen this video thats done the rounds the last couple of days?
Bad lipreading interpretations of some NFL highlights, its hilarious....

[Cards13 9,117]

Has anyone else seen this video thats done the rounds the last couple of days?

Bad lipreading interpretations of some NFL highlights, its hilarious....

haha indeed a classic! "but I want cake now!"

[Macca 16,987]

Has anyone else seen this video thats done the rounds the last couple of days?

Bad lipreading interpretations of some NFL highlights, its hilarious....

Good work DD, funny as.

The links to the other 'Bad lip reading' videos are also well worth a look.

Edited January 19, 2013 by Macca

[Macca 16,987]

Here's Bill Simmons column this week from 'Grantland' ...

... That Championship Mailbag

Q: Tebow now has more playoff wins in the last 12 months than Peyton Manning. Never cross Tim Tebow and God.

Rocco, Wood Ridge, NJ

SG: Don't forget to add this to the "What the hell happened during that one Teeeeeeee-bowwwwwwwwwww season?" files so we can look back on it in amazement after he's won seven Grey Cups and finished his career as Canada's most popular athlete since Wayne Gretzky. Tim Tebow won an overtime home playoff game in Denver 12 months before Peyton Manning lost an overtime home playoff game in Denver. And he won it on an 80-yard touchdown pass. This happened. We were there.

Q: The Giants should trade for Peyton and start him in the regular season, then start Eli in the Playoffs. They'd win the next 4 Super Bowls.

James Crocker, Fort Collins

SG: And as nutty as this sounds, James Crocker's e-mail counts for something, too. Let's say the Patriots were protecting a hypothetical lead during the Belichick-Brady era, with a hypothetical Super Bowl on the line, and you gave me the choice of going against Eli or Peyton. Who would I want to play against if I wanted the Patriots to win the game? (Thinking.) I'd probably pick Eli just because Peyton's ceiling was always higher. But I had to think about it, and over everything else, that's why Peyton Manning's playoff résumé DOES matter. He just seemed a little too mortal a little too often in big moments right?

[DemonDave 1,089]

Superbowl here we come, yeah!

Not a great start in todays game, Ryan was hitting White, Jones and Fernandez with ease,

our secondary wasnt coping at all well despite the fact their offense revolves around these

3 almost 90% of the time.

Great comeback, we didnt see much running from the QB today, but Gore and James made

some good rushing plays.

Ahmad Brooks the standout on defence, two bat downs and the big hit to Ryan that hurt his left

shoulder near the end.

Now for the second game, will we see a Harbaugh-Bowl on Feb 4?

[Whispering_Jack 30,233]

Superbowl here we come, yeah!

Not a great start in todays game, Ryan was hitting White, Jones and Fernandez with ease,

our secondary wasnt coping at all well despite the fact their offense revolves around these

3 almost 90% of the time.

Great comeback, we didnt see much running from the QB today, but Gore and James made

some good rushing plays.

Ahmad Brooks the standout on defence, two bat downs and the big hit to Ryan that hurt his left

shoulder near the end.

Now for the second game, will we see a Harbaugh-Bowl on Feb 4?

Yes ... I've been waiting a long time for this - what a comeback!

[Cards13 9,117]

All over again for the Pats this time before the final hurdle. Ravens played a better game on both sides of the ball. Boldin has been huge in the finals (who was being really well covered by Talib before he got injured). Flacco was again on the money especially in the 2nd half.

49's look the good to take it out with a great balance on O and D that looks a step above the Ravens but who knows Ravens may ride the scumbag Lewis' god-bothering blathering to the title.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Cards13

[Macca 16,987]

All over again for the Pats this time before the final hurdle. Ravens played a better game on both sides of the ball. Boldin has been huge in the finals (who was being really well covered by Talib before he got injured). Flacco was again on the money especially in the 2nd half.

49's look the good to take it out with a great balance on O and D that looks a step above the Ravens but who knows Ravens may ride the scumbag Lewis' god-bothering blathering to the title.

Nothing went right for the Patriots but the Ravens were far too good. Only 1 TD pass for Brady whilst Flacco was very good (again). Baltimore have come good at the right time and are healthy. Makes for a terrific Super Bowl match-up with the 'Niners'.

Congratulations to the 49ers for getting through and quite a few on this thread will be more than happy right now - good luck to you blokes and Ladies.

That 'fumble' by Ryan was costly. Missed a certain field goal opportunity (at least) because of that blunder. There is no thought that he fumbled on purpose of course (though the AFL's dynamic duo may be studying the tape in due course!)

We haven't got the dream Super Bowl match up (49ers/Pats) but we have got the Brother vs Brother Bowl. You don't reckon the Yanks will be playin' that story up?

Harbaugh Bowl - bring it on !

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

How big was that hit on Ridley? It was funny seeing Flacco run with the ball. He and Brady should have a running race for charity with Darren Lehman. Hard to believe that nearly 3/4 through the season the raven fired their Offensive Coordinator. They looked lost at times this season. But form at the right times means everything. Not shocked Atlanta lost. They had a very good team lining up against them but the question needs to be asked. 1-4 is the record they own in recent playoffs. Do changes need to be made?

Macca is spot on it is the Harbaugh bowl. It and Ray Lewis will be the be all and end all of attention for 2 weeks. Maybe the Kap gets a mention somewhere.

[Cards13 9,117]

Nothing went right for the Patriots but the Ravens were far too good. Only 1 TD pass for Brady whilst Flacco was very good (again). Baltimore have come good at the right time and are healthy. Makes for a terrific Super Bowl match-up with the 'Niners'.

Congratulations to the 49ers for getting through and quite a few on this thread will be more than happy right now - good luck to you blokes and Ladies.

That 'fumble' by Ryan was costly. Missed a certain field goal opportunity (at least) because of that blunder. There is no thought that he fumbled on purpose of course (though the AFL's dynamic duo may be studying the tape in due course!)

We haven't got the dream Super Bowl match up (49ers/Pats) but we have got the Brother vs Brother Bowl. You don't reckon the Yanks will be playin' that story up?

Harbaugh Bowl - bring it on !

They made there own luck or lack of Mac, how many trips the the Ravens red zone? How many dropped balls, Weeellkkkkaaahhhh!

Here is hoping the SB is a good tight game, will be rooting for 9ers for sho!