Posts Tagged ‘NFL Playoffs’

5 Giant Keys To Victory In Green Bay

Posted: January 15, 2012 by Keith Stone in NFL
Tags: , , , ,
1

The Giants definitely have the ability to beat the Packers but in case they need a little help, here are five ways to make it out of the tundra with their Title dreams in tact.

1. Run, baby, run – It’s going to be cold and hard to throw the ball, so Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs need to run the ball effectively. The Giants offense always works better when it’s balanced. Bradshaw and especially Jacobs need to run straight ahead and get as many yards as possible so the Giants don’t get stuck in third-and-long situations. If the Giants get involved in a shootout, their chances of winning go down significantly. There’s simply no way to match Green Bay’s scoring possession-by-possession. Even if Bradshaw and Jacobs aren’t able to pick up large chunks of yardage, by being physical and pounding the Packers up front, it will soften them up for later in the game. The big hits hurt twice as much in the cold.

2. Get off to a good start – The Giants have had a tendency to start slow and play conservatively, as evidenced in last week’s game against the Falcons. They’re not going to be able to do that this time. With the emotion of their offensive coordinator’s son’s death, the Packers are probably going to come out SUPER SUPER fired up. The Giants can’t let them get into a groove. If the Packers take an early double-digit lead, it’s going to be really hard to come back on the road.

3. Control the big plays – The Packers are going to score points. We all know that. The trick is going to be stopping them from getting easy points. The Packers can’t score any touchdowns on busted coverages, sloppy tackling, or off turnovers. On the other hand, big plays from Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks have propelled the Giants in the past three games. If they can get one against Green Bay, it will go a long way to help their chances.

4. Don’t let Aaron Rodgers escape – With the reconstituted Hydra healthier than ever and coming after the Packers’ QB, Aaron Rodgers is going to be on the run at some point during the game. He killed the Giants in their regular season matchup with his legs. He can’t do it again. It is imperative that the Giants don’t allow the Packers second chances if the coverage is good and Rodgers scrambles for first downs. It’s going to be important to pressure Rodgers but the Giants can’t whiff on any sacks. The best way to stop the Packers’ explosive receivers is by going after the master of the Discount Double Check. Simply containing Rodgers in the pocket may be more effective than going for the sack. A 20-yard run is just as bad as a 20-yard pass.

5. Play like champions – Like Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VI, this is a Champion vs. Champion affair. A lesser team would be intimidated by Lambeau, but the Giants won here only four years ago. Many of the important players in that game are still around while new guys like Hakeem Nicks and Jason Pierre-Paul don’t appear to be fazed by the rising stakes. When you have unflappable veterans like Eli Manning and Justin Tuck at the helm, it’s hard to believe this team isn’t supremely confident. Remember, the Giants’ 2008 Title defense was derailed by the Plaxico Burress incident. After spending two years building back up, this is the best they’ve looked since then. This team has something left to prove. If they go out and play that way, they’ll win.

What In the Name of Al Capone Is Big Ben Wearing?

Posted: January 12, 2012 by Keith Stone in NFL
Tags: , , , , ,
0

After Sunday’s shocking playoff loss to the Broncos, Ben Roethlisberger showed up to his press conference dressed like a Dick Tracy character. As if he wasn’t douchey enough. Nothing says “I love raping drunk college girls” than a fly fedora. It’s a nice touch with the bloated face and unshaven beard. All that’s missing is a Human Breathalyzer T-shirt with an arrow pointing to his dick. You just lost a playoff game that you were a touchdown-favorite in, bro. Ditch the outfit. Or at least go with something a little more classy like the Eli Manning middle school photo day look.

WEEK 84 – Cold As Ice

Posted: January 8, 2012 by Keith Stone in NFL
Tags: , , , , ,
0


Giants 24, Falcons 2

For a while there it looked like it was going to be like a pissing contest between Chaz Bono and John Wayne Bobbitt. The Giants’ running game was non-existent and the Falcons were getting pressure nearly every time Eli stepped back. And then came the fourth-and-1. I understand why the Falcons went for it, but in a game like that, you don’t want to give the other team any momentum at all. Plus you figure it’s probably going to be low scoring. Why not take the points, especially after failing in a similar situation in a big spot against the Saints earlier in the season? Well, the Giants made the big play, and it was like the key in the ignition to the Divisional Round. Let’s face it: if the Falcons converted it, the Giants might be sitting at home right now. These playoff games can sometimes hinge on one or two big plays. The Giants just wanted it more.

The Giants looked great in the second half. It was by far their best sustained football of the year. I don’t know if the Falcons were overwhelmed or just wanted to go home, but I loved it. When the Giants are firing on all cylinders, they are so hard to beat. Jacobs was finally ripping off big plays. All the receivers were making plays. Cruz is covered? Oh yeah, we have another 1,000-yard guy who can take it to the house and dance. Roddy White and Julio Jones couldn’t get anything done. They can make all the 6-yard catches they want. And of course, the Hydra. That is the main reason for the defense’s success. When you have Tuck, Osi, and JPP coming at you, there’s not much time to figure out where to throw it. Once the Giants established a lead and the Falcons became more reliant on their passing game, it was all over. It’s going to be different next week, but with the team as healthy as they’ve been, you’d be an idiot to say they don’t have a shot.

ROUND 1 Picks: We Meet Again

Posted: January 7, 2012 by Keith Stone in NFL
Tags: , , ,
0

At the end of 17 weeks and 250 games, the standings of our little picks competition look like this:

Stone: 142-108 (56.8%)
Rory: 136-114 (54.4%)
Slumdeezy: 128-122 (51.2%)
Phanatic: 122-128 (48.8%)
DP Animal: 119-131 (47.6%)

With 52.38% representing the percentage of games a gambler needs to pick correctly in order to turn a profit, only Rory and myself have metaphorical money in our pockets. In fact, if you bet $100 on each of my picks, you would have made about $2,000. Hope you did, kids. On the other hand, if you bet $100 on each of Phanatic’s picks, then you took betting advice from a chick and I laugh in your face. With that said, I gratefully accepted the Title Belt. However, Rory demanded another shot at the crown, and fighting champion that I am, I’ve decided to give it to him. So now it’s a mano-a-mano, winner takes all, every cliche in the book, NY-NJ no holds barred, sudden death, playoff picks showdown. As Judge Mills Lane would say, “Let’s get it on!”

BENGALS AT TEXANS (-2.5)
Stone’s Take: I feel like these teams have had completely opposite seasons. The Texans started out hot and everyone had them as the top team in the AFC until Matt Schaub went out. Now they’re being written off when T.J. Yates hasn’t been awful and the Texans haven’t had anything to play for for a couple weeks. The Bengals, meanwhile, were given less of a chance than Danny DeVito winning the Boston Marathon. They proved the haters wrong with a strong D and a surprisingly competent Andy Dalton at QB, but still haven’t beaten anyone of note. Now, they’re barely underdogs for a road playoff game? Did I mention this is the first playoff game in the Texans’ history? I’m sure everyone and their mom is going to show up in Houston. Prediction: Texans 21, Bengals 9

Rory’s Take: Can you think of a more benign match-up?  It’s like a Wizards-Jazz game.  Does anybody have any particularly strong feelings about either of these franchises?  I hate to take the Texans here, but the line is just low enough for me.  Over 3 points, and it would’ve been the Bengals. Prediction: Texans 16, Bengals 13

LIONS AT SAINTS (-10.5)
Stone’s Take: The Saints have been blowing everybody out like they’re Jenna Haze. If the Lions, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999, get off to a slow start like the playoff neophytes they are, this game might get out of hand with a loud New Orleans crowd and a veteran Saints team that has lofty goals. The Lions’ secondary also doesn’t stop anybody from getting into the end zone, again like Jenna Haze. Prediction: Saints 41, Lions 20

Rory’s Take: I think all the games are going to be close this weekend.  This should be a fun, high scoring ordeal, but the Saints win. Prediction: Saints 38, Lions 32

FALCONS AT GIANTS (-2.5)
Stone’s Take: I could see this game going either way. I could see the Giants putting in a strong, dominant performance like they did against Tampa Bay in the Wild Card Round in 2007 or a weak, confused performance like they did against Carolina in the Wild Card Round in 2005. Why do the Giants love playing teams from the NFC South in the Wild Card Round? You know what the Falcons are bringing to the table. If the Giants can get one big play from Cruz, Nicks, or the running game, and the Three-Headed Hydra of Tuck, Osi, and JPP keep the heat on Matty Ice, the G-Men will pull it out. Prediction: Giants 24, Falcons 17

Rory’s Take: Like the Texans game, this line is just low enough for me to feel comfortable taking the Giants.  The only thing consistent about these two teams is their inconsistency. Prediction: Giants 28, Falcons 24

STEELERS (-8.5) AT BRONCOS
Stone’s Take: I would love to take Tebow. I really would. If he was going up against the Texans or the Bengals or even the Ravens, I probably would. But the Steelers are a battle-tested team. They’re not going to be intimidated by the crowd, by Tebow, or even God. In fact, Big Ben laughs in the face of God whether he’s riding his motorcycle at high speeds without a helmet or raping college girls. For an actual football reason, the Broncos defense has been banged up as well. Then again, if this game is close at the end… Prediction: Steelers 19, Broncos 10

Rory’s Take: Tebow?  Tebow.  He’s been on hiatus, but I have a feeling he’s got one more in him. Prediction: Broncos 17, Steelers 13

Newer Entries