1279 replies to this topic

[Monkeydog]

Tomorrow seems more exciting.

 

Today's games seem like they could just end up being blow outs. 

[legacyme3]

And I'm totally ok with that if it happens (though I disagree)

 

I'm rooting for the Seahawks and the Colts (though I could care less who wins the Saints-Seahawks game).

 

Man, I hate the Patriots so much.

 

Only game tomorrow that really interests me is Panthers-49ers. Broncos/Chargers should be a blowout, and  I'll only half watch it probably.

 

I think today's are more interesting. You have the Seahawks who are probably the NFC SB favorites against the Saints, which, while a possible blowout, is ripe with that whole Popeye's storyline for the Saints. I want to see how it goes. Plus, once they beat the Eagles, they became ok in my book.

 

And then there's Colts-Pats. You have one magic QB against another. Have to wonder who will have more magic tonight.

[Monkeydog]

Why would the Broncos/Chargers be a blow out?

 

Chargers had almost as good as a conference record as Denver. And they already beat Denver at Mile High. The other game they lost at home but it was still close. Plus, historically, both Peyton and the Broncos are bad in the post season. Plus the Chargers certainly have the momentum to go in there and beat Denver. I really think it's ripe to be an upset.

 

Although Rivers also isn't his best during playoff runs, but I don't know. They seemed pretty solid against Cincinnati last week (although Andy Dalton sure did help them out).

 

I think Colts could either be awesome or boring as shit. The only reason they won last week was because all of the Chiefs got injured and they literally were on third string running back at the end of the game. I think Alex Smith is a good QB, honestly, but I also don't think he should be able to score so high against a team...especially since the receiving core for Kansas City is terrible. New England's offense just seems to get it done, and is better than what I would make of a Jamaal Charles-less KC offense. So I could see things going really badly for the Colts. Or not. KC objectively has a far better defense than NE, so that could help balance it out.

 

I have the same opinion with NO/SEA. It could be boring or awesome. Leaning on boring considering the game a few weeks ago. Same with SF/CAR. Although for some reason I don't trust either team, so I really think it could start off competitive and one team will pull away and it'll be boring. 

 

eh. I mean overall everything is a pretty good match up. I just don't have high hopes for anything being interesting.

[legacyme3]

I guess my rationale for Chargers/Broncos being boring and a blowout stems from three things.

 

1) Eye test - After watching last week's game, between them and the Bengals, I'm more of the opinion the Bengals handed them the game than anything else. It wasn't so much a good showing for the Chargers as it was an awful one for the Bengals.

 

2) Just how good the Broncos are - There's a reason many see them as the AFC Super Bowl favorites. I don't think the literal lowest seed is going to give the Broncos too much trouble. Only way I see the Chargers making it interesting is if Peyton implodes and the running game completely falls apart.

 

3) The fact record means basically nothing. Their Division record was 4-2. This includes a loss to the Raiders early, and a loss to the Broncos in Week 10, during a stretch in which the Broncos weren't honestly all that good. The Chargers 4 wins were against Kansas City (which was supremely overrated, and they only BARELY won out - 41-38 -, A flukey win against Denver, which I didn't take too seriously at the time and still don't, a convincing win over the Raiders at home, and another close potentially flukey win against the Chiefs, which I've already said were overrated, only difference is, this was at home.

 

Eliminate the games against Denver, and yeah, of course you'll have a good record in that division. The Raiders suck, and the Chiefs may have been the most overrated team in the NFL. The Broncos had more convincing wins against those teams as well. Plus again, this game is in Denver. The Broncos are 7-1 at home, the one loss coming in that one off to the Chargers, which I'm still not convinced meant anything. The Chargers are .500 on the road.

 

I dunno, looking at it on paper, in the playoffs, when the games mean the most, I'm not convinced this game won't be a blowout. It could well end up being a close game, but even then, I have to favor the Broncos. I don't see the Chargers-Broncos game being anything but a snore I'll only half watch.

 

EDIT - this Seahawks-Saints game was pretty fun. The weather affected play and that was evident, but there were some huge plays that made the game worth watching. And I'm pretty sure your NFC Champions will end up being the Seahawks for sure. 49ers could beat them, but overall, I think on a level playing field, the Seahawks are the better team.

 

Go Colts!

[legacyme3]

And today's games will draw to a close soon. Barring the best comeback in recent (maybe all of) NFL History, the Broncos will move on to hopefully beat the Patriots.

 

Today's games, were by and large, boring. There was one interesting half between the two games.

 

So yeah, I think Saturday's games were better. Can't wait for next week though.

 

49ers@Seahawks

Patriots@Broncos

 

One of these 4 will win the Super Bowl. Here's hoping it's anything but the Patriots.

 

EDIT - Broncos need to stop these 4th quarter collapses. They should survive this week, but you can't do that against the Patriots.

[Lackadaisy]

pats4evar

 

Oh, if only Gronkowski didn't get injured and Hernandez didn't get arrested. Anyways, I really hate to admit it, but the Broncos really have the slight edge in this game. Brady's having a somewhat average year, and Peyton's doing amazing. Also, Peyton's got that receiving core. Goddamn you two. Of course, there's the long history of Patriot comebacks, so we'll see how it goes.

 

 

And nobody cares about the NFC. ;n;

[legacyme3]

I care about the NFC. The NFC is the best league.

 

Also, I'd argue that this season, Brady is finally playing up to his talent level and being exposed as the not so elite QB everyone keeps calling him.

 

It's easy to be elite when your line doesn't suck, and you have some of the best receivers and tight ends in the game.

[Monkeydog]

What are you talking about? How does Brady suck? The Pats have one of the worst set of receivers/backs and the defense progressively got worse throughout the year, yet they still ended up as the second seed, in the running for first.

 

Either way, both games should be exciting next weekend.  But overall it's been a pretty predictable post season. It's not mind blowing that these four teams would end up in the championship games.

 

I think it'll end up being NE/SF for the super bowl. Denver really dropped the ball in the second half, and could have lost had the Chargers woken up quicker. SF just because it'd be interesting.

 

Either game could easily go either way though, honestly. 

[legacyme3]

Where did I say "Brady sucks"?

 

I just said he wasn't "elite". Huge difference between not elite and suck mate.

 

NE/SF would also be my least prefered matchup, so I really hope that doesn't happen. Most prefered being Seahawks/Broncos.

[SpazCat]

I went to a ton of highschool football games..... I was in the marching band. It's okay to be jealous.

 

(This is relevent due to the fact that it has football in it.)

[legacyme3]

I once threw a football in high school.

 

But actually, the football coach tried recruiting me to the team in my junior and senior year (because he knew I could run fast, and he'd seen me catch the ball during some pickup games he happened to be passing by). I told him I was flattered and all, but I was a cross country runner, and both seasons were happening at the same time. I mean, I may have been able to play two sports since football games tended to be on Wednesdays and Friday, and races tended to be on Saturdays and occasionally Friday... but I'd have run myself into the ground.

 

The coach was very sad but he understood.

 

It's always funny to think back on that time, that I could have played for the football team if I wanted to. Some people think playing for their high school football team is a dream come true, but I could pass it up because of my passion for running. Man, I wish that passion would return.

[SpazCat]

I did cross counrty all through middle school & 2 years into high school. Marching band conflicted with pretty much everything. I was tired out by Junior year so I dropped it. I did track in between, but cross country just felt nicer.

 

I prefer walking to running nowadays.

[legacyme3]

I never really ran much track myself, I loved cross country because of how free it felt, and how different courses could be. Tracks are too flat, with no scenery, and too much emphasis on competition. The Cross Country coach at the high school was also the Track coach, and he constantly asked why I didn't do outdoor and indoor track (because he wanted me to run the mile and 2 mile, given my fastest mile time was around 4:50). I constantly explained how I can't run if it isn't the right atmosphere. The Track atmosphere was too heavy. Cross Country's atmosphere was comfortable and pleasing. Plus it feels good to beat a hilly course, and run a 5k in under 18 minutes. Can't do that in track.

 

I haven't run much in years though. I graduated high school in 2010, and went to college that upcoming year, as a cross country recruit for a Division 3 school. I was the #2 runner year round, but I just didn't have the same passion for the sport anymore. It became more about performance than having a good time. And as cool as it is to perform, I always ran because it was a good time. I dropped it, and college shortly afterward. Running for becoming too serious, and college because of my financial situation. I may have stayed in college though, had I wanted to actually be there. The only reason I went was to continue my running career.

 

Which backfired. That was in the Fall/Winter of 2010. I ran 3 races last year, and they were the first I'd run in 3 years. I keep meaning to get back to it, but the fire is gone.

[Stars]

I enjoy running to an extent, but asthma kept me from doing much of anything like that in school. I did do a bit of track and field in 8th grade just for the sake of doing sports at least once, but it wasn't great. xp

My school didn't have a football team, but I went to all of the home basketball games. Pep band for the win, yo.

[legacyme3]

I went to a couple of basketball games myself. I'm a fan of basketball, and I'm actually pretty good at it.

 

The problem with basketball is that there are only 5 players on the court at once for a team. I know I was good enough to be maybe one of the 13-15 best players in the school, because I could shoot, but I also knew I wasn't one of the 5 best, and thus knew I'd ride the bench for 90% of the game.

 

I have better things to do with my free time than sit on a bench, like running, or improving my shot for pickup games of basketball.

 

And that's the story of how I never played basketball for my high school despite being 6'1" at the time, and being able to almost dunk by the end of my senior year.

[kspr]

i havent fenced in 3 years. your reminiscience makes me miss it

[panda]

I just started running again. I'm down to my weight right after high school. I went from barely being able to finish 2 miles to 10K now. My speed is also up to my high school best. Hopefully I can get to a marathon by the end of the year.

[kspr]

what do you runners eat to get into running shape? im guessing it's not peanut butter and microwaved cookie dough sandwiches

[panda]

Well, lots of protein is crucial. If you're running longer than 8K on a regular diet, you get the hunger pains and that hurts way more than muscle fatigue or heavy breathing. For protein I eat plenty of eggs, peanut butter sandwiches, chicken, greek yogurt, and protein bars. Note: it's pretty important to not run on a full stomach and to hydrate plenty beforehand. I like to drink lots of green tea and water before a run so I don't have to stop running to drink.

 

It depends on what you're starting from. If you're starting from running scratch just change your diet to healthy and build up to the higher protein as you start being able to run longer.

[Vicious Parker]

I spent a lot of time running last summer and fall, and I'm planning on getting back in to it soon. I know they're just lousy excuses, but switching from part time work to full time with open availability in retail, and then having a second child, kinda make it hard to find some decent time. I liked it, though. I liked it a lot. I also think it helped a lot with some of the anxiety issues I was having last year.

 

I wish there were some kind of... free treadmills initiative... or something.