The Empire Strikes Back: Luke....could....go....all....the....way!!

Scayde · Post by **Scayde** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:36 pm

I'm going with the Panthers...I don't know enough about either team to call the score, but I am feeling like they have the want to that will put them over the top.

Tybaltus · Post by **Tybaltus** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 4:15 pm

Its really scary here in New England (Boston Area)

EVERYONE is picking the Patriots to win, and win BIG. Ive heard as high as 28-7.

To compare local frenzy vs the general public or general fans (you guys), it really is two different worlds.

Im surprised more people are picking the Panthers over the Patriots, but...damn, this is a really even game...OH gosh, I cant wait!

A couple comments on posts/responses...

By Thug
This is why I say Panthers over the over rated pat's with a big win, two scores at least. The panther's running game is just going to control the clock, give Brady a lot less time to be active on the field. Also the Panthers play hard, real hard. I think Mcnabb is tougher than mr. bradypants. So I can see Brady getting hit a little too hard.

OK, what makes this matchup interesting is that the Pats run defense is the best of the league, and Im not saying that because Im a Pats fan. They absolutely shut down the Dolphins run attack, and the Dolphins are maybe one step below the Panthers rush attack, so I dont think the answer is to just run the ball. In order for the Panthers to win, theyve got to go to Muhammed and Smith by way of Delhomme, which certainly can be done. Lets give these guys their due credit.

Panthers play hard, no doubt about it. But New England plays hard too. I think if I were to compare the two, Panthers are a bit more smash mouth, and Patriots are a bit more technical. But both can bust a gut.

by HLD
If wer're picking scores, I'm taking the Patriots 16-13.

Thats a good pick (heh its really close to mine!) But traditionally, when two teams like this collide, I wouldnt set your mind to chugging beer whenever someone hits the endzone.

By BS
BTW, Panther are 7-0 in games this season decided by 3 points or less.

Now theres an interesting statistic...hrm...still, they have lost games in overtime (of course they allowed the TD instead of the fieldgoal.

Also another statistic, those teams that went 5-4 over their last 9 games in the regular season have traditionally gotten thwacked in the Superbowl, and no team to have gone 5-4 in the last 9 regular season games has ever won the superbowl. (Last team to make it with that record to the superbowl: '94 Chargers) Carolina went 5-4 in their last 9 regular season games.
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This is not the 2001 Superbowl. The Patriots are not the Rams of 2001. The biggest difference was that the Rams went into the game overconfident, but the Patriots, I can tell you, are not overconfident--though many of their fans are)
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My favorite quote of these off weeks was when Jake Delhomme said he wanted to be like Tom Brady. In response Brady said something like, "He wants to be me? Who wants to be a slow immobile Quarterback? Heck, I want to be Michael Vick!"

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Idioteque · Post by **Idioteque** » Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:27 pm

Patriots 27 Panthers 17

As a Chargers fan my season was over long ago. I hope they trade down from #1 and grab Larry Fitzgerald and extra picks.

Tybaltus · Post by **Tybaltus** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 5:10 pm

Originally posted by Idioteque
As a Chargers fan my season was over long ago. I hope they trade down from #1 and grab Larry Fitzgerald and extra picks.

If Fitzgerald is allowed to be in the draft. Hes a great player and has got a great attitude. Certainly a breath of fresh air in the WR position. So, I certainly agree with you there.

But I dont know whether San Diego's first agenda will be WR. I was figuring theyd be one of the teams begging for a QB. I mean Manning, Roethlisberger, and Rivers are all excellent QBs, and will all be picked early.

Wait...I should really save up my draft energy for AFTER the superbowl

Idioteque · Post by **Idioteque** » Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:50 pm

Originally posted by Tybaltus
If Fitzgerald is allowed to be in the draft. Hes a great player and has got a great attitude. Certainly a breath of fresh air in the WR position. So, I certainly agree with you there.

He was cleared for the draft a few weeks ago. He's only a sophomore but it was technically 3 years since he played in high school.

I still like Brees but he hasn't been given a fair chance. His first year as a starter his so called go to guy was Curtis Conway who dropped half the passes that came his way. Boston was an improvement this year but he started the year with suspensions and injuries so they never really clicked. Plus the Chargers had a banged up line all season and had to start untested undrafted lineman. No matter how good Tomlinson makes them look

they're still below average.

RandomThug · Post by **RandomThug** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:14 pm

Ok Ok Ok

So Champ Baily for Portis.

Opinions? Questions? Gripes?

I believe the redskins will be a much different team this year, MUCH different. With the Leadership of Gibbs the years of Brunell and the power and speed of LaVarr, Coles, Portis, Canidate, Smoot, Ramsy... I mean wow.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 5:27 pm

You can stop at Gibbs, RT, the Redskins will be a dangerous bunch next year. I think they still need a QB though. Brunell isn't bad, but he won't play 16 games. Maybe Gibbs can find the rock Mark Rypien crawled under.

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 7:11 pm

If all else fails, Doug Williams is in Tampa.

If the Super Bowl were in April, the Redskins would have won the last three.

Is Portis a reliable 1,300 yard back or a product of the Denver system that chews guys up and spits them out? Will Brunell develop the same chemistry with Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner that he had with Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell? Can Fred Smoot step into the #1 CB role vacated by Champ Bailey?

How will Joe Gibbs do with his old nemesis (Bill Parcells), his hold nemesis's protege (Tom Coughlin) and the most successful of Mike Holmgren's guys (Andy Reid) in the same division?

There are lots of questions for your guys, RandomThug, and the road to the playoffs (for right now) isn't through Washington.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 9:13 pm

Ramsey will be a top line starting QB sometime in the future. Likely he'll wind up starting at least half the games this year if he stays due to injury if nothing else.

I think Portis is what the Skins think they are getting. Gibbs imported RB's all the way to three rings in the 80's and 90's. Bailey was gonna be gone regardless of the deal getting done or not, so in actuallity, the skins got portis for a player they weren't going to have in the line-up anyway next year, and a 2nd round pick. And Candidate is likely gone, and good riddance.
I ain't too sure about Smoot though, but it doesn't matter unless Washington beefs up the pass rush anyway. They could have NE's secondary and still get beat all day with their defensive line.

My early take on the division is the Giants leading. Dallas still has holes to fill, Philly still is a one man show that's getting worse on defense each year as they lose people.

One last skins jab.....Gibbs won three championships to Parcells 2 in the same amount of years in the league together.

More interesting, how the hell do these players forget to file their free agency forms?

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 9:19 pm

News flash - 49ers implode. It is going to be a loooong year I fear

Idioteque · Post by **Idioteque** » Wed Mar 03, 2004 11:39 pm

I don't like Portis cuz he bumper Tomlinson from the pro bowl. Tomlinson led the league in yards! The Broncos know Quentin Griffin can get 1300 yards so they get the best corner in the league for nothing. The Redskins need Portis tho so its not bad but he seems fragile.

So who will the Chargers get? Eli Manning, Jeff Garcia, Jon Kitna... I'd rather they pick up Kitna and draft Fitzgerald to play across from Boston. If they do pick up a FA Qb they will probably trade down for multiple picks tho.