Comments on: PFT’s Championship Game picks

By: chrisco716

chrisco716 — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 17:34:34 +0000

Every 3rd game this year the 49′ers seem to lack energy for some strange reason. Even when they try to play hard like the second St Louis game. Playing the early game in east coast time zone will cause additional lack of energy. Plus the 49′ers have to battle both a home team in a dome playing at high energy and the SI jinx. Look for 49′ers to start slowly, make mistakes, perhaps make a game of it late, but probably lose. Too much to overcome. Should be a Falcons/Pats Super Bowl with Pats winning big. A Pats/49′ers reprise SB would be much more interesting.

By: bullybirds

bullybirds — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 16:20:54 +0000

Two overlooked changes from last year to that Ravens team.

1) Caldwell calling the plays. Do not overlooked that he has faced the Patriots all those years when he was the QB coach for the Colts. Now he is turning Flacco loose as that was something Cam refused to do.

2) Dean Pees being a Patriot for 5 yrs and them running generally running the same system as when he left on offense. He knows the tendencies and was on the coaching staff for the Ravens last year when Brady put up a stinker.

Last year came down to missed opportunities. No such thing happens this year. See Ray Lewis’s locker room speech after last years lost. Good luck containing that.

By: all4patriots

all4patriots — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 14:21:15 +0000

41-21 Niners
48-17 Pats

two blowouts, unfortunately

By: theravens1

theravens1 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 16:44:23 +0000

I can’t wait to see all the bad calls tomorrow that will favor Brady!

By: marcshank

marcshank — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:13:35 +0000

Seems “time for the Patriots to return to the Superbowl.” Another learned prediction from Mr. MSM himself. Some think it’s actually ABOUT TIME the Ravens return there. And they will, with bells on.

By: portnoychunk

portnoychunk — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 02:15:32 +0000

I enjoy how much Ravens fans dislike Pats fans for being so obnoxious and arrogant. Clearly, they don’t read their own posts.

Yeah, sure your team is so slighted by the media…what with Ray Lewis being shoved down everyone’s throats for the past 4 weeks.

The Ravens won by 1…..at home….against a much weaker Patriots D……and could be slightly gassed after the long game against Denver last week It’s not outside the realm of possibility that some might favor the Pats. Doesn’t mean the Ravens can’t win (as a pats fan, I know the Ravens are good and could pull it out), but stop being such petulant children.

By: jimeejohnson

jimeejohnson — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:28:07 +0000

gyrfalcon says: “There is only one indisputable fact about these 4 teams right now.
Nobody wants to win a Superbowl in New Orleans, on the Saints home field, more than the Falcons do.”

That’s a great comment.

By: bond3940

bond3940 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:41:59 +0000

Yea, Kaepernick is/will be a good if not great quarterback…but can Atlanta get SOME respect…Ryan is good if not great and they have been winning all year…granted they some deficiencies, but so does every team….go FALCONS…

_____________________________

You said it…Ryan is good, he’s not great and that’s why he/Falcons don’t get respect.

Sure they’ve been winning all year but they only played a few teams that even had winning records, so it’s hard to jump on the bandwagon when they play teams that don’t pass the muster to begin with.

And their performance against the Seahawks just shows what we’re talking about. They choked and were a simple field goal from losing the game when they were three scores ahead at the half.

I don’t think they can do it…but we’ll see.

Not sure their quarterback will run as much…because there will be equal rest among the teams..Ryan is probably the better quarterback..San Francisco…team is a little better…should be a good game go FALCONS

By: jvibottomline

jvibottomline — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:46:45 +0000

Mike Nolan out coach Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman????? Hahahahahahahaha, NO CHANCE, Niners BIG!

By: kimbo71006

kimbo71006 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:48:37 +0000

_____________________________

You said it…Ryan is good, he’s not great and that’s why he/Falcons don’t get respect.

And their performance against the Seahawks just shows what we’re talking about. They choked and were a simple field goal from losing the game when they were three scores ahead at the half.

I don’t think they can do it…but we’ll see.

By: tigerlilac

tigerlilac — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:23:16 +0000

rockthered1286, you must be planning on making a fortune while watching the game in Vegas. That’s a 19.5 point cushion you are working.

By: bond3940

bond3940 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:03:46 +0000

By: misterplowthatnameagainismisterplow

misterplowthatnameagainismisterplow — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:37:31 +0000

This just in….Colin Kaepernick also walks on water.

SF defense is what got them this far and as a Falcons fan it’s their defense that scares me the most. If the Falcons score 30 they win.

By: tdonn

tdonn — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:36:37 +0000

I get that Raven fans believe their team can win…
I am a Pats fan and I wouldn’t rule out the possibility. It is ALWAYS a great game.

But, explain how you think a team that averages 36 pts per game is somehow going to be held to 21,24, etc by the Raven, at home…

By all means pick your team, but at least be realistic… Ravens score 35+, or they lose.

By: starderup

starderup — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:33:30 +0000

I can’t see either one of these games as blowouts.

By: richwizl

richwizl — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:48:11 +0000

Baltimore is not being ignored by the Pats, I can guarantee you that much. I expect it to be a back and forth game and hope my guys win, but I know the Ravens are seriously motivated and seriously good.

By: rockthered1286

rockthered1286 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:19:30 +0000

Baltimore is getting ignored. There is no mention of the fact that Suggs was not in the first game, but tons of recognition for Talib being a great addition to NE. There’s also no talk about Cameron’s vanilla O beating the Pats down in the first matchup, and how Caldwell has actually called better games since he took over as OC, leading me to believe he can handle the Pats subpar D. Also no mention about Joe as a starter under Caldwell. Last 3 games Joe has put up 900+ yds, 8 TD’s, 0 TO’s. 3TD’s and 331 yds against the #5D in the country (Denver). But by all means lets continue to pump up the media darling Pats since Brady and Billichump are the greatest duo on the earth…

Cannot wait to see the Ravens dethrone the Pats. Gonna be epic.

Bal-34
NE-24

By: itsfootballbaby

itsfootballbaby — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:33:33 +0000

In a long awaited duel of the 2008 first round QB draft the Super Bowl will be….Falcons v Ravens. But then, what the heck do I know?

By: myosin10

myosin10 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:12:04 +0000

I really want a Haurbaugh bowl! Although I think SF will have a better chance of beating NE. I don’t like all the disrespect toward Atlanta, these guys are the number 1 seed! I hate when the media crowns a team before they play , hope SF stays humble and plays hard!

By: pattyarbuccholz

pattyarbuccholz — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:08:16 +0000

Well you must be amazing at quarterback because Peyton Manning couldn’t put up 300 yds or 4tds against it, and he had 3 turnovers…

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He was saying Brady will do that to the Ravens D, not him. And Brady IS an amazing QB and is better than Peyton, so he could be right.

By: bunkerhillbob

bunkerhillbob — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:53:46 +0000

The Ravens are a veteran, hard-nosed team that I have great respect for; they are seldom out of any game when healthy. The Pats have been the cream of the crop in the AFC for a decade or more, so something has to give. Pats have the statistical edge on Defense and Offense, lost by a hair in Baltimore this season, but can get even playing at home this Sunday. Brady can orchestrate sustained drives, while Joe goes for the home run a lot. I’m taking Patriots 34-27.
The Niners have a great team, for sure, but Atlanta is pretty loaded, too, and playing at home, so I expect a close game. I’d love to see the Pats get a rematch with SF in NOLA, so I’m saying Niners 38-31.

By: pattyarbuccholz

pattyarbuccholz — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:46:35 +0000

And by 6 OTs, I mean 6 quarters. 6 OTs would be pretty sweet though.

By: tonyarnold2

tonyarnold2 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:40:09 +0000

“steelersownyou says:
Jan 17, 2013 11:17 AM
Brady gonna put 50 pts up on that terrible Ratbird D. Their secondary is awful. I could throw for 300 tds and 4 td’s against it. Steelers woulda been the only team to compete with the pats. #1 defense overall. #1 against the pass and #2 agai.st the run. Brady doesn’t fear that 22nd ranked defense! Of the ratbirds. Who would?”

Well you must be amazing at quarterback because Peyton Manning couldn’t put up 300 yds or 4tds against it, and he had 3 turnovers…

By: pattyarbuccholz

pattyarbuccholz — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:35:32 +0000

Not sure why this year will be any different for Pats-Ravens. Pats are playing at home, Ravens have been travelling back and forth across the country, just played a 6 OT time in high altitude, they’re D is old and not 100%. I’m just not sure how they can stop the no-huddle.

Pats 42, Ravens 20. And no, I’m not gonna say “mark it down” or “guaranteed”, because unlike some of you (Ravens fans in particular), I understand that I have no idea what’s going to heppen.

By: pattyarbuccholz

pattyarbuccholz — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:24:13 +0000

A 10 point win for the Pats MSD? How do hacks like you even have a job that allows you to publicly pick NFL games.

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The spread is 9.5 some places. How is that a strange prediction? i think they win by 14 myself.

By: 1oldpro

1oldpro — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:52:53 +0000

New England vs San Fran probably is the television audiences dream game. But Atlanta and the Ravens are two really good teams. This will be a dream Sunday for me. I like all four of these teams

By: ravensrooster94

ravensrooster94 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:44:07 +0000

You guys are picking against the Ravens for the 3rd week in a row. And for the 3rd week in a row you will be wrong.

Lovin’ it in Bmore

By: bmorefalcon

bmorefalcon — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:41:27 +0000

There is only one indisputable fact about these 4 teams right now.

Nobody wants to win a Superbowl in New Orleans, on the Saints home field, more than the Falcons do.

By: tmar1961

tmar1961 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:37:16 +0000

@psilenttype
You need to factor in all the facts before just throwing out information out of context. The defense is at 100% and the most important piece is there. 49ers will roll on the falcons.
—————————————————————

Doesnt seem like you factored in any facts about the Falcons. They DID put up 30 points against the #1 scoring D in the NFL (15ppg by seattle). Falcons moved up and down the field in the first half against what “experts” claimed was best secondary and up 27-7 the Falcons started playing a “soft” defense, NOT making excuses just stating facts, and it allowed Seattle to comeback; ALSO a fact: Matt Ryan, you know the qb that chokes in the playoffs, with 25 seconds on the clock moved the Falcons down where they DID SCORE the winning FG with 8 seconds left on clock.

Last fact for you, Falcons are 4-1 vs mobile QBs this year and that includes Vick, RG3, Cam(x2),and R. Wilson.

Falcons just seem to find a way to win.
SF 21 Atl 31

By: sportsguybayarea

sportsguybayarea — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:32:29 +0000

Hate him or love him, Jim harbaugh is an amazing coach who’s a master at game plannning. Last week the packers weren’t prepared for the niners read option offense. Of course they knew it was part of kaep’s game but they didn’t expect it to be a huge part of their offense. Now that everyone saw how great it worked and how kaep runs, harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg roman will back off a little on the read option. There will be more play action pass and quick slant passes in the game plan vs the falcons. The falcons defenders will be lost out there. Expect a few bombs of the play action to randy moss, Crabtree and Vernon Davis.