Macca

It's hard to have it all in this league ... Belichick has got it figured though. Most of his players are expendable and they are often treated as straight-out commodities. It quite literally is all about the team - no prima donna's, no diva's, no big-heads. Gronk gets away with a little bit but his game-day face is ultra serious. However, Gronk being out means business as usual for New England. But here's the catch ... a team has to be great like the Pats with a QB like Brady in order for Belichick to then 'manage' the way he does - it's not like their system can just be copied. On top of all that, he's the master coach with a game plan that can be either new or change every week. An opposition team's coaching staff doesn't know what it's going to get. They are going to be hard to beat and Atlanta cannot afford any slip-ups. The Atlanta D-Line is going to have to find a way to get at Brady ... easier said than done of course.

Post Season Tipping Comp Leaderboard 9 - JV7 7 - Gorgoroth, Macca 6 - Clintosaurus 5 - DeeSpencer 3 points on offer next week Super Bowl Monday 10.30am Atlanta vs New England

Ryan was great but you had winners all over the field ... the Patriots will be much tougher opposition (especially from a defensive point of view) but you've got the weapons to win it. An evenly matched SB coming up although the Patriots obviously have an edge in experience ... it's all above the shoulders from here on in. Confidence is not an issue so you're every chance.

Congrats JV ... far too good and fully deserved victors. Good luck in the SB!

Yes, I concur JV... and that best team might be the team that has last use of the ball. It's been a great ride for both our teams but only 1 team will go on.

Broken ribs can take an age ... at least 4 weeks but more like 4 to 6. I've just learnt to never be too hopeful with these sorts of injuries. If we get through to the SB I'll see it as a bonus if Nelson suits up and is as involved in as many plays as usual. He might suit up and be involved in selected plays. That's more realistic. He'd almost certainly have to wear a back plate anyway ... and that can be restrictive for a WR. Besides all that, if we lose without him so be it. There are no excuses (apart from if Rodgers was out) ... and that would be a reason, not an excuse. .

In my opinion he won't play again this season ... but I'm a realist.

Packers 31 Atlanta 30 Steelers 24 Patriots 21 I have to pick the Packers but I'm concerned about how we're possibly going to limit Atlanta's scoring power ... although the same could be said in reverse with Rodgers and his WR's. I'd be surprised if it's not a high scoring game. And I reckon the Steelers can provide an upset ... they'll need to be at their best and hope that New England are off their game a trifle. The game should be a close one regardless.

Post Season Tipping Comp Leaderboard 7 - JV7, Macca 6 - Clintosaurus 5 - Gorgoroth, DeeSpencer Next week's games Monday 7.05am ...... Packers @ Falcons Monday 10.40am .... Steelers @ Patriots

I reckon the Pats/Steelers game is an even money bet ... same as the NFC Championship game although the odds makers will no doubt see it differently. ... Actually, I checked and it's Atlanta -3.5 and the Pats -5.5. Home teams normally get 3 points in evenly matched games but the Steelers will be right in it. It's too late to change it this year but we could in the future make the Championship games worth 2 points each in the post-season comp.

*Always gamble responsibly As for the Packers/Dallas game, I could only listen via tunein but that's as good as sports radio can get. It sounded like the game had everything and I'll watch the replay later. As it's turned out, one of JV7 or myself will have a team in the SB and that's a good result, all things considered.

Atlanta & Ryan far too good ... so it's either @ Dallas or vs the Packers. The Falcons will be confident of winning either way (after today's performance)

The KC/Steelers game has been moved to Sunday Night instead of it's earlier scheduled time slot of early Sunday arvo. New revised schedule ... Sunday 8.35am ..... Seattle @ Atlanta Sunday 12.15pm ... Houston @ New England Monday 8.40am .... Green Bay @ Dallas Monday 12.20pm .... Pittsburgh @ Kansas City

And you've hired Wade Phillips as your defensive coordinator. A good move. The Chargers moving whilst predicted still seems to be low-impact in my eyes (in terms of the San Diego fans losing their team) I guess private ownership governs these sorts of outcomes and the Americans are well used to it. As for the people of LA embracing the Chargers, who knows when that might happen? .

The KC/Steelers is a tough one and a Packers win will require another stellar performance from Rodgers - and who's to say he can't do it again. Falcons 27 - Seattle 22 Patriots 28 - Texans 13 Chiefs 21 - Steelers 20 Cowboys 24 - Packers 27

Post Season Tipping Comp Leaderboard 4 - Clintosaurus, JV7, Macca 3 - Gorgoroth, DeeSpencer Next week's games (AEDT) ... Sunday 8.35am ..... Seattle @ Atlanta (-4.5) Sunday 12.15pm ... Houston @ New England (-15.5) Monday 8.40am .... Green Bay @ Dallas (-3.5) Monday 12.20pm .... Pittsburgh @ Kansas City (-1.5)

It's all academic now but it was an over-confident call by McCarthy and not needed. Going for it is an artform ... only Belichick gets it right most of the time. But he's the master. Obviously ecstatic about the win though ... we should be able to cover for Nelson if he's done.

McCarthy never seems to know when to go for it and when not to go for it. He stuffed up big time in Seattle 2 years ago and now he's done it again. Leading 14 to 6 you punt from the GB 42 yard line and put the pressure on an (at times) shaky Eli. Edit: New York's only score in the 2nd half resulted from the above play. Footnote: All of GB's 38 points came with Nelson off on the sidelines. .

Seattle have been a bit better than I thought but Detroit have been very very average on offense. Oakland were even worse though and Houston weren't extended to any extent.

And there's nearly always at least 1 upset in both the first 2 weeks of the playoffs ... however, the Giants winning wouldn't be that much of a surprise. If either Miami or Detroit get up then that would surprise. I'm not changing my tips but Oakland winning against an average Houston team might happen. The line is only -3.5 in Houston's favour. Anyway, for those who don't have cable or the like, all the playoff games will be on 7mate.

A few speculative points ... The Giants worry me but Eli will need his defense to be supreme. Against that, Rodgers is in stellar form. It's the game of the weekend as long as New York can bring their A game and the Packers are totally switched on. Packers just. Atlanta are my pick to go through to the SB unless the Giants or Packers can stop them. I'm not sure on Dallas ... Prescott would be the first 'relied-upon-rookie-QB' to win through but if he does, kudos. If Seattle get past Detroit (as expected), I don't believe the Seahawks are good enough to win at the Falcons. New England should breeze through to the AFC Championship game but that may be to their detriment. Not playing an in-your-face tough game for a month is not ideal. KC or the Steelers may provide an upset in week 3 - especially Pittsburgh. But winning @ Foxborough ain't easy - anytime. So it's an Atlanta/New England SB for mine ... failing that it's the Pats vs the Packers (or Giants) for the big dance.

More 80's rock ...

Sun 8.30am .....(HOU -3) ..... Oakland 13 @ Houston 19 Sun 12.30pm .. (SEA -7)....... Detroit 17 @ Seattle 24 Mon 5.05am .... (PIT -9.5)..... Miami 10 @ Pittsburgh 21 Mon 8.40am .... (GB -4) ....... NY Giants 16 @ Green Bay 24

I watched the first few episodes of Narcos but couldn't get into it ET ... probably because I know the story a little too well. May revisit at a later date. Ditto for 'The Exorcist' Originality is key but not always ... watched the 1931 version of 'The Maltese Falcon' (not the famous 1941 version) and quite enjoyed it. The film was made in pre-code Hollywood so was more true to the book.

Finally got to the end of Westworld (season 1) ... absolute first rate. 'Quarry' was very good as well. Just started out on 'Humans' (season 2) and that's another good show (although the Swedish original version 'Äkta människor' is better) If you're looking for some light comedy, 'The Last Man on Earth' is good for a laugh. Here are some of the shows that I'm looking forward to this year (dates are approximate) Homeland (Jan 15) Baskets (Jan 19) Billions (Feb 19) House of Cards (Feb 24) Orphan Black (April) Silicon Valley (April) Mr Robot (June/July) Stranger Things (July) Fargo (????) Better Call Saul (????) Black Mirror (????) Quarry (????) Westworld (????) ... might be 2018