2017 NFL Playoffs Wild Card Round

[FootballDad]

Might as well get this thread off to an early start. Some fairly intriguing matchups coming up this weekend.

Saturday:
Titans at Chiefs. I'll root for the Chiefs solely based on Smith vs. Mariota. Also hoping that Anthony Sherman continues his dominance in the ground game.

Falcons at Rams. Easy choice here. Go Rams! A constant display of Goff to Kupp would make my day.

Sunday:
Bills at Jagulars (pardon my Winnie the Pooh-ism). Would love to see the hated Blake Bortles light up the Bills and Tyrod "Idler Arm" "Tynod" Taylor set a playoff record for interceptions.

Panthers at Saints. I'm for the Panthers only because of Christian McCaffrey and Luke Kuechly. In a best-case scenario sCam Newton would go out with an injury (make it minor as I don't want to be labeled a rayciss hater!) and Derek Anderson comes in to lead Carolina to victory with McCaffrey dominant.

 

[Ambrose]

Might as well get this thread off to an early start. Some fairly intriguing matchups coming up this weekend.

Saturday:
Titans at Chiefs. I'll root for the Chiefs solely based on Smith vs. Mariota. Also hoping that Anthony Sherman continues his dominance in the ground game.

Falcons at Rams. Easy choice here. Go Rams! A constant display of Goff to Kupp would make my day.

Sunday:
Bills at Jagulars (pardon my Winnie the Pooh-ism). Would love to see the hated Blake Bortles light up the Bills and Tyrod "Idler Arm" "Tynod" Taylor set a playoff record for interceptions.

Panthers at Saints. I'm for the Panthers only because of Christian McCaffrey and Luke Kuechly. In a best-case scenario sCam Newton would go out with an injury (make it minor as I don't want to be labeled a rayciss hater!) and Derek Anderson comes in to lead Carolina to victory with McCaffrey dominant.

That Bills QB is a special case of stupid. I don't watch football games, only view highlights and lowlights, but every moment I've seen of him he has worked like a doofus as he believes he can outrun entire football teams. A running quarterback, white or black, will never succeed for any length of time; that method of play simply will not be successful. Buffalo is well coached says Bill Bellechik, so maybe that explains Buffalo has at least 9 games won this year. We can fully expect that the Bill's doofus to go on some mad-blind rushes, or mistake defenders for receivers and pass to his opponents, and give away the game; he is a specialist at collapsing under rush pressure.

 

[celticdb15]

Nice performance by Sherman as a power back! 14 carries for 40yds and a TD!

I pretty much agree with FootballDad but think New Orleans and Brees will outduel Scam and company.

 

[MrPoon]

Might as well get this thread off to an early start. Some fairly intriguing matchups coming up this weekend.

Saturday:
Titans at Chiefs. I'll root for the Chiefs solely based on Smith vs. Mariota. Also hoping that Anthony Sherman continues his dominance in the ground game.

Falcons at Rams. Easy choice here. Go Rams! A constant display of Goff to Kupp would make my day.

Sunday:
Bills at Jagulars (pardon my Winnie the Pooh-ism). Would love to see the hated Blake Bortles light up the Bills and Tyrod "Idler Arm" "Tynod" Taylor set a playoff record for interceptions.

Panthers at Saints. I'm for the Panthers only because of Christian McCaffrey and Luke Kuechly. In a best-case scenario sCam Newton would go out with an injury (make it minor as I don't want to be labeled a rayciss hater!) and Derek Anderson comes in to lead Carolina to victory with McCaffrey dominant.

I'm just praying Colin Jones makes a big impression. He deserves to start in this league.

 

[Don Wassall]

I'm just praying Colin Jones makes a big impression. He deserves to start in this league.

Agreed, he's the defensive back equivalent to Jeff Janis, but given that he's now 30 years old, his NFL clock is ticking down. He'll never start.

 

[MrPoon]

Agreed, he's the defensive back equivalent to Jeff Janis, but given that he's now 30 years old, his NFL clock is ticking down. He'll never start.

Stinks, what a waste. Thought he was younger.

 

[La France Blanche]

At least Janis is only 26. Hopefully he can sign with a team willing to give him some snaps instead of burying him as the #6 receiver. It's almost as if there's some unwritten rule that teams can't be the complete package when it comes to being white-friendly. The Packers had the whitest defense in the NFL this year but their offense turned coal dark.

The Vikings come closest to the complete package but that was a one-year thing that wasn't "meant to be," since no one expected Keenum to play so well. Look either for Bridgewater to be shoved back into the starting quarterback position, or, if they do decide to keep Keenum, for the defense and O-line to darken up considerably.

 

[Riggins44]

At least Janis is only 26. Hopefully he can sign with a team willing to give him some snaps instead of burying him as the #6 receiver. It's almost as if there's some unwritten rule that teams can't be the complete package when it comes to being white-friendly. The Packers had the whitest defense in the NFL this year but their offense turned coal dark.

The Vikings come closest to the complete package but that was a one-year thing that wasn't "meant to be," since no one expected Keenum to play so well. Look either for Bridgewater to be shoved back into the starting quarterback position, or, if they do decide to keep Keenum, for the defense and O-line to darken up considerably.

Really want the Vikings to win it all in their home stadium. Even more so than the Patriots. Very glad they have a first round bye and the Eagles are looking vulnerable.

 

[Extra Point]

Really want the Vikings to win it all in their home stadium. Even more so than the Patriots. Very glad they have a first round bye and the Eagles are looking vulnerable.

I'm rooting for the Vikings too. They appear to be the whitest team still standing. Harrison Smith is a star player at a position whites aren't supposed to play.

It would be a boost to our cause if they advance to the Super Bowl.

 

[Thrashen]

I'm hoping for a Patriots-Vikings or Patriots-Panthers Superbowl. In my opinion, the best way for that to happen would be as follows:

Wildcard Round
Buffalo defeats Jacksonville
Tennessee defeats Kansas City
LA defeats Atlanta
Carolina defeats New Orleans

Divisional Round
New England defeats Buffalo
Tennessee defeats Pittsburgh
LA defeats Philadelphia
Minnesota defeats Carolina

Conference Championship
New England defeats Tennessee
Minnesota defeats LA

In the AFC, I'm very happy that the Ravens missed the playoffs, as they've had great success against NE in the John Harbaugh era in the playoffs. The Chiefs are the only team that have any white players to root for besides NE, but the Pats have struggled against them in the past and I'd prefer to see them eliminated. Jacksonville has a great defense that could cause NE trouble, so an early exit for them would also be preferred.

In the NFC, we were very fortunate that Seattle failed to qualify, as their "magic" in pulling out playoff games is the stuff of legend. The Vikings, Rams and Panthers are three of the most white-friendly teams in the league. Atlanta and New Orleans don't have much to root for, but they're not Seattle/Raiders level Caste teams, either. The Eagles have Foles, 3 OL, Ertz, and Celek. I know the Rams are a CF favorite this season, but I must admit that I prefer Carolina. With their black WR, Byrd, placed on IR, the Panthers offense featured a white WR (Bersin), a white RB (McCaffrey), a white star TE (Olsen), and 3 white OL. Defensively, I saw Kuechly, Mayo, and Jones playing at the same time. It wouldn't hurt too badly to see a scenario in which the Vikings and Panthers play for the NFC title game. For this to happen, Atlanta would have to beat the Rams this weekend (and move on to play the Vikings) and the Panthers would need to beat the Saints and then play the Eagles.

 

[Shadowlight]

Well thought out Thrashen. For me the NFC is easy to sort. I have Carolina on top because I can't root against CM and Kuechly. I just can't. That said like most here I like the Vikings a heck of a lot and would love to see a Carolina-Vikings Championship game. Whoever wins that match up wouldn't be a disappointment. The Rams are a solid third choice.
I have ZERO use for the other teams. The Saints might have been OK but they lost every one of their key white players to injuries. Good grief. I cannot stand the Falcons and while I like Zach Ertz one terrific TE does not make a whole team so the Eagles are out as far as I am concerned.

The AFC is not as cut and dry. The Bills are an easy big no. The Titans are horrific with one caveat, WR Decker. If Decker is reduced to the afterthought that he has been for most of the season then no point in getting behind them for one second. If his role expands as it did somewhat later in the season it throws a wrinkle into the whole thing.

I have no use for the Jags despite LB Posluszny and a mobile QB but will be rooting for them to eliminate the Bills anyway.

That leaves the Chiefs, Pats and Steelers and on the surface my knee jerk reaction is to go with the Pats of course. And if Burkhead and WR Hogan are back into the swing of things they are the easy choice. But what if Hogan and Burkhead are not playing? This could be a problem. You are left with Amendola and Gronk with Cooks being the deep threat and "main" WR. Last year with Edelman, Hogan and Amendola it was a no brainer. And unlike last year they have zero white defensive starters. The point is for me a lot depends on the health of two key Pats. The Steelers have a player I can't stand in Antonio Brown but they have a down field TE threat now in McDonald and a budding edge player in Watt, who is coming off a terrific game and solid season. And the Chiefs have the S-TE-mobile QB trio along with another white D starter to make them I would say more palatable than the Steelers at the end of the day.

 

[La France Blanche]

The Eagles are the one NFC team I want to see eliminated as soon as possible. Without Wentz they really have no one worth rooting for. There's Ertz but he needs Wentz there to reach his full potential.

Terrible break with Wentz's injury. I hope he and Goff can develop a friendly, Brady vs. Manning style rivalry that will last for years to come.

 

[RTTAS]

I'm rooting for the Vikings too. They appear to be the whitest team still standing. Harrison Smith is a star player at a position whites aren't supposed to play.

It would be a boost to our cause if they advance to the Super Bowl.

And it’s not just Smith shining at DB - Andrew Sendejo just keeps getting better and better. Pro Football Focus rate him as the eleventh best safety in the league for 2017 - Smith of course being a clear #1. Sendejo has 80 tackles and 2 picks (coming against two #1 picks/bums in Newton and Winston) for the season.

 

[Extra Point]

And it’s not just Smith shining at DB - Andrew Sendejo just keeps getting better and better. Pro Football Focus rate him as the eleventh best safety in the league for 2017 - Smith of course being a clear #1. Sendejo has 80 tackles and 2 picks (coming against two #1 picks/bums in Newton and Winston) for the season.

Just shows what white players can do when given a chance.

 

[MrPoon]

And it’s not just Smith shining at DB - Andrew Sendejo just keeps getting better and better. Pro Football Focus rate him as the eleventh best safety in the league for 2017 - Smith of course being a clear #1. Sendejo has 80 tackles and 2 picks (coming against two #1 picks/bums in Newton and Winston) for the season.

Are the Vikings seriously the only team with two white d backs? With the terrible coverage in this league that is a disgrace!

 

[Westside]

Just shows what white players can do when given a chance.

Yeah like the safties Doug Plank and Gary Fenick of da Bears AKA the Hit Men, circa early 1980s. Legendary hitters.

 

[Don Wassall]

I'll be rooting for the Rams far more than the Panthers. Carolina astutely plugs in a few tremendous White players but starting with its franchise QB and head coach just doesn't give off a "white friendly" vibe to me. Whereas the Rams have clearly moved in a different direction this season, somewhat copying the Patriots' formula on offense. I'll always root big-time for CM, but Cooper Kupp has been the best rookie White WR in the NFL in a long time.

The Vikings, Rams and Patriots are the three teams I care about and want to see advance. The rest I just can't root for, only some individual players. But as always, even the most "White friendly" teams are black dominated, though the Vikings remind me of the Packers during their recent championship season, and the Rams under Mike Martz, what with their half-White starting lineup and nearly half White roster.

 

[referendum]

If in fact we could get a Pats vs Rams or Vikings superbowl that would be great, and then who would we be rooting for. If Jacksonville plays Pittsburgh, it will be hard to root against the Steelers ironically enough. Rams also have Cody Davis back from injury.
I was strongly rooting for the Ravens to get in the playoffs, in that they have started to use Campanaro more, have white tight ends, Woodhead and a white fullback, and of course Weddle. Also, had it not been for injury, I believe Urban would have been starting on the D-line.

 

[Leonardfan]

The Rams are the surprise team of the season. I saw Longacre went to IR and than they took Cody Davis off of IR which was a push. While watching the game last week I noticed they had rookie OLB Garrett Sickels out of PSU on the field. The Rams have done some great things on defense taking unheralded white players like Morgan Fox, Longacre, Davis and now Sickels. I wish Bryce Hager would get some more playing time but overall their defense is a good one.

 

[RTTAS]

The Rams are the surprise team of the season. I saw Longacre went to IR and than they took Cody Davis off of IR which was a push. While watching the game last week I noticed they had rookie OLB Garrett Sickels out of PSU on the field. The Rams have done some great things on defense taking unheralded white players like Morgan Fox, Longacre, Davis and now Sickels. I wish Bryce Hager would get some more playing time but overall their defense is a good one.

Hager did have four solo tackles and a forced fumble (that he recovered) on Hyde against the niners when given significant playing time - he was on the field for every defensive play of the game as the rams rested many players. He showed he has talent so hopefully the coaches look to play him more in the future.

 

[Upside]

ESPN crew already creating some phantom injury to excuse Mariota's incompetence.

Exact quote: 'Mariota as healthy as he has been all year' then a small pause, as others on the panel looked her way, then: 'heeee maaaay not be 100%' then complete change of subject....I guess Suze got her talking points mixed up.

 

[Don Wassall]

ESPN crew already creating some phantom injury to excuse Mariota's incompetence.

Exact quote: 'Mariota as healthy as he has been all year' then a small pause, as others on the panel looked her way, then: 'heeee maaaay not be 100%' then complete change of subject....I guess Suze got her talking points mixed up.

Mariota remains immune from criticism. Just 3,232 passing yards this year to go with only 13 TD passes and 15 interceptions. For his third season as a starter after being drafted so high that's really bad. He ran for a little over 300 yards but that hardly compensates for the terrible passing stats. I'm hoping he has a bad game today just to see if the announcers give him a pass. Apparently McDonough and Gruden are calling it, so Gruden's comments should be interesting to hear.

 

[Riggins44]

Mariota remains immune from criticism. Just 3,232 passing yards this year to go with only 13 TD passes and 15 interceptions. For his third season as a starter after being drafted so high that's really bad. He ran for a little over 300 yards but that hardly compensates for the terrible passing stats. I'm hoping he has a bad game today just to see if the announcers give him a pass. Apparently McDonough and Gruden are calling it, so Gruden's comments should be interesting to hear.

Chiefs-Titans on TV now. As Don said, Mariotta had 13 passing TDs on the season and 15 ints. What a terrible ratio.

Come on Chiefs...

 

[celticdb15]

2 drops for Hill so far.

 

[Claimjumper]

They just aired a commercial for the 2018 NFL draft and previewed what Mel Kiper Jr was doing to prepare. One of the things was no joke “calculating upside”