Macca

The only thing that can stop them is a defense like Denver's ... however, there are a lot of intangibles and there is also an element of luck. In a way it's a bit like Denver's offense vs Seattle's defense from 2 SB's past ... except Carolina's offense seems harder to stop with Newton being a running weapon as well as now being a very good pocket passer. And then there's the other offensive weapons which you've pointed out. In a nutshell I reckon Carolina's defense can stop Denver's offense but I'm not sure that Denver's defense can stop Carolina's offense. But in this sport, who knows? A fumble, an interception, a pick 6 or long yardage run-back can happen at any time. That's what makes the sport so fascinating to watch - every game has a number of unknowns that we know will happen but we don't know what they will be nor what the consequences will be. And then there's the experience of Peyton with Elway in the background ... for all their confidence, the Panthers might be overawed by the occasion. Carolina have opened up 3.5 point favourites. However, one could make a case for either team winning. Peyton won't want to be reminded of this bit from Super Bowl XLVIII

Watched both games in full ... Panthers very impressive and Arizona never got going. The Palmer interceptions didn't help but 3 of them came when I felt the game was over anyway. Carolina are going to be hard to stop but they're offense is going to be up against Denver's defense. Palmer wasn't very good but the difference maker was Newton - he was immense. Denver played very well (their defense was excellent) ... Peyton was at times good whilst at other times he looked quite vulnerable ... Brady wasn't protected well at all - under pressure for nearly the entire match. That missed 'point after' early in the game by the Pats ended up being very costly for New England - all through the game the scoreline reminded us of that missed conversion (they trailed by 8 points for a large part of the game) I suppose the SB winner will come down to which team can exploit their own advantage or indeed which team can stifle the oppositions strengths ... it might come down to Carolina's offense vs Denver's defense but there's a lot of other factors at play as well. Leaderboard in the tipping comp (post season) ... 3 points are on offer for correctly tipping the SB winner. 8 - JV7, Macca 6 - cowboy_from_hell 5 - Georgiou R.R. Martin, Gorgoroth

Patriots 20 Denver 17 Arizona 16 Carolina 24

Haven't caught up with all the post game stuff yet but that first half of Carolina's was quite impressive (especially against that Seattle defense) Broncos get over the Steelers but that fumble with 10 odd minutes to go was costly for Pittsburgh. It seems that we've seen a lot more fumbles by the RB's this year or am I just noticing it more? More so the ball being punched free rather than the usual situation where the ball spills free after contact. I reckon the best 4 teams have made it through but we are going to see a relatively new team in the SB with either the Panthers or the Cardinals to progress. The odds makers have both New England & Carolina as 3 point favourites. All 4 road teams won in week 1 of the playoffs whilst all 4 home teams won this weekend. Leaderboard in the tipping comp (post season) 7 - JV7, Macca 6 - cowboy_from_hell 4 - Georgiou R.R. Martin, Gorgoroth Next week's games (AEDT) Monday 7.05am New England @ Denver Monday 10.40am Arizona @ Carolina

I actually felt we should have been able to take advantage and win ... they (Arizona) didn't play a great game but we still only had scored 13 points up until that hail-mary play. Anyway, they go on and if they can play to their best, they can make it to the SB The big story from today is the Pats though - they look like they're getting back to their best form and Edelman, Gronkowski & Amendola will all be better for the run. They're going to be hard to stop.

Much like the 49ers/Ravens SB of a few years ago, pass interference wasn't really payed all game. At least we got some consistency ... GB didn't create enough chances to score TD's and that's why we lost. Arizona were marginally better but they were still better ... the Fitzgerald yards after reception was the killer blow. They got lucky with the tipped TD but you make your own luck I'm bloody annoyed but it's not like we deserved to win and somehow lost ... the Cardinals can play a lot better too and they'll need to do that against Carolina or Seattle. Anyway, whilst Rodgers is healthy, we're always going to be a threat ... obviously Nelson will be back but a team can never be too strong in the WR and TE position. Our offensive line needs improvement whilst our much-maligned defense can get better even though we were reasonably good at defense this season. Lacy needs a lot more fibre in his diet ... you can't be running out of steam in the one thing you are paid to do.

It was a 'Favre' type throw by Palmer (across his body) ... too good and we did well to take it to O/T. Fitzgerald was the difference ... MVP ... 176 yards receiving and we couldn't stop him. Janis was great for the Packers but it was one of those games that came down to whoever had the ball last ... that's how it felt to me. I don't mind losing to a great play (even though we should have had better coverage on Fitzgerald at that stage of the game) Made a game of it but fell short.

You've got to wonder how Fitzgerald got open but it's a great play by them

It's high farce out there ... unbelievable by Rodgers (again) He was just so off-balance yet found the right spot - freakish. Tosssers can't toss the coin.

I'm praying to Mary right now ... hail-mary's

We should just throw 'hail-mary's' all the time.

They are not going to call that ... they haven't called pass interference for most of the game.

That's a huge play ... average throw by Palmer

Lacy starts running out of steam early in his runs ... like 5 yards in! Good drive here by the Cardinals

It's fair to say I'm in combative mode Gorgo so you'll have to bear with me for a couple of hours Anyway, a few chinks in the Arizona game so we're a chance ... again, much will depend on whether the Packers WR's & TE's can get open ... if that happens, Green Bay can win.

He's trying to make something happen without any real weapons. Without him, we would have been lucky to win 4 games for the season ... his targets are unable to create separation. And it's been that way since the first game of the year. I watch them every week

The Packers will need to do something - pronto. Pats far too accomplished

I didn't know about the tattoo ... if that is true it might seem funny to some, but it pours cold water on the " I fear needles" rot ... but, even armed with that knowledge (if it's true), many would still believe the spin about Zaharakis. I've already stated that I'd happily welcome back Melksham into the fold after he serves his time but here's the list of the 12 players (again) who were not issued with the infraction notices ... they were all on Essendon's list going into their 2012 season (when the injection program was in full swing) There is speculation that these 12 players did not sign the consent forms Currently listed Mark Baguley Courtenay Dempsey Jackson Merrett David Zaharakis Delisted Anthony Long, Lauchlan Dalgleish, Jason Winderlich, Elliott Kavanagh, Nick O'Brien, Michael Ross, Kyle Reimers Hal Hunter

And 12 players look like said NO ... so it's entirely plausable that 34 willingly "went along with things" and 12 decided not to. It's the other 12 players that were on Essendon's list at the time that many have conveniently put aside.

That's if we assume that the players had no idea of what they were injected with ... I've never assumed that and I'm baffled as to why most seem to assume that they didn't know what they were being injected with. I suppose if one is told something hundreds of times one might be inclined to believe that something.

I still think the Pats can win without Gronk but much might now be dependent on the coaching of Belichick ... if the KC d-line can get at Brady enough, they can win. They smashed him at KC 2 seasons back so it's quite achievable. That Seattle/Panthers is the pick of the games in my opinion ... Lynch being back brings the Seahawks right into it ... the Panthers have drawn the short straw of all the top seeds ... 15 & 1 and then out - straight off? As for Kelly/Kap & the 49ers ... he'll probably invigorate them off the bat but they'll need to bring in some weapons to be a threat for the playoffs (especially in that division) Hopefully he now realises that it's not all about game plans in the NFL - any team needs a number of top players to be a genuine threat.

I doubt that will happen with any of the 34 ... one breaking ranks can implicate the rest (although we now know the players signed consent forms allowing the club (the EFC) to administer the "supplements") Hunter broke ranks but he wasn't one of the 34 (and so far, he's out there on his own ... none of the other 12 players (who weren't charged) have taken any action - yet) No, they will all continue to proclaim their innocence no matter how much evidence comes to light. That's my take on it anyway - I may be wrong but some "pacts" can remain awfully strong. I also believe that many of the 34 genuinely believe that they are completely innocent. As for my take on things, I've stated those opinions on the other relevant threads. There's not too many busted drug cheats who have later admitted their wrong doing. Martin Vinnecombe is one and I suppose Armstrong is another (in Armstrong's case, I believe he had a motive in confessing - some his and some because he had little choice) Anyway, as you intimated dpositive, hopefully some good will come out of this almighty mess. Most times in life, a person deserves a 2nd chance (depending on the deed that is done of course) ... in this instance, Melksham will get another chance and I support that (even though I'm dead against PED use in sport) It should also be noted that our club recruited Melksham before the CAS hearing began (Nov 15) ... people's opinions on the verdict changed in the time frame from just before, during and after the hearing was finished. Not many were predicting a year out for the 34 back in October (when we recruited Melksham)

We were all way off with those divisional winner tips (typical) ... reckon Dallas & Indi may well have won their divisions if their QB's were healthy. The Eagles and Baltimore went backwards and the Chiefs nearly got there. I fluked Carolina although I've always thought Cam Newton could be a top player. Anyway, it looks like Big Ben might play with the aid of painkillers but he'll need to do well for Pittsburgh to have a chance - all the home teams are favoured by the odds makers but I reckon there will be at least one upset (have a guess which one?) Tips ... Sunday 8.35am Kansas City 19 @ New England 24 Sunday 12.15pm Green Bay 23 @ Arizona 22 Monday 5.05am Seattle 17 @ Carolina 21 Monday 8.40am Pittsburgh 19 @ Denver 22 Leaderboard in the tipping comp (post season) 4 - JV7, Macca 3 - cowboy_from_hell 1 - Georgiou R.R. Martin, Gorgoroth 0 - The usual suspects

Watched that Bills doco as well ... I've certainly changed my perspective on them because of what the doco contained. To sum up they were just an excellent team who just couldn't get over the final hurdle ... not chokers either. To keep coming back 4 years in a row actually takes great character ... and Kelly was a very good QB. I suppose their fans feel it though ... however, they've got nothing to be ashamed about in my opinion. Here's the doco again for those who haven't seen it ... Four Falls of Buffalo

Yeah, if Green Bay ever had to move states it wouldn't make any sort of sense to me at all. I'd probably still support them but it may or may not feel the same ... In your case the Rams have moved a few times but you may have only known them as a St Louis team. I've known and still know plenty of Fitzroy fans who are now full-on Brisbane fans ... I don't know many who didn't make the switch. Strangely enough, it's the older ones (at the time) who stuck and that may be because they understood the practicalities. I'm assuming everything else stays (logo, mascot, colours etc)