opinions appreciated guys!
eagles lead falcons 20-10 with 2 minutes left in 3rd as they have had to settle for 2 fgs and were lucky to get them as the falcons dropped a easy int, and mcnabb was able to recover that last fumble, with the wind at the falcons back in the 4th I still feel this game is looking very good for a falcon ats win but I do feel the eagles will win straight up!
eagles lead falcons 20-10 with 2 minutes left in 3rd as they have had to settle for 2 fgs and were lucky to get them as the falcons dropped a easy int, and mcnabb was able to recover that last fumble, with the wind at the falcons back in the 4th I still feel this game is looking very good for a falcon ats win but I do feel the eagles will win straight up!
Oldmans View Of The AFC Conference Championship
<HR style="COLOR: #fdde82" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Thought I would share my views on the AFC Conference Championship between New England and Pittsburgh. Rather then dwell on the statistical figures for each team which can be found in other threads in this forum, I would like to present some significant points that should be considered when deciding which side to play in this game. It has always been my position that the better you can visualize the way a game may be played, the better chance you have of being on the right side.
First let me begin by discussing the October 31st game between these two teams. As most of you know, the Steelers won that game 34-20 wherein they opened up a first quarter lead of 21-3 due in part to turnovers and then pounded the ball on the ground to maintain control. Perhaps what some may not know or have forgotten is that New England was coming off playing the undefeated New York Jets the prior week as both teams were 5-0 and the battle was for first place in the AFC East. It was a hard fought defensive battle that resulted in the Patriots prevailing 13-7. Meanwhile Pittsburgh was coming off a bye week following a game against Dallas and had two weeks to prepare for the Patriots arriving with a string of 21 consecutive wins. Futhermore, only 90 minutes before kick-off, RB Corey Dillon was declared out of the game with a sore quad muscle, plus key WR Deion Branch was out as well as starting RT Tom Ashworth. Their should be no doubt that the Patriot game planned for Dillon the entire week and the late scratch directly impacted not only the running game to the tune of a total of 5 yards, but the entire play calling. I submit this directly affected the offensive performance of the Patriots in that game, particularly the interceptions by Brady. Once significantly behind, the Steelers could use their ground attack to chew up time and yardage. Last, having a fresh Steeler team waiting in wake of the long undefeated Patriots coming off a tough divisional battle cannot be understated as well as the mild weather that allowed Big Ben to adequately find his receivers. But that was a regular season game with a different level of intensity.
Next I would like to discuss the subject of when teams meet for a second time. I mentioned above that the first meeting in the regular season had a different level of intensity. This is extremely important as when teams reach this level of play in a championship game, their level of play must rise to meet the level presented by their opponent, otherwise the game can become lopsided. Even more important are the adjustments that each team makes off the previous game. What follows is what I believe may occur. This game will be won by the team with the most between the ears, not just the physical skills. Since Pittsburgh had so much success running the ball in the first game and it has been their pattern since Roethlisberger has been starting not to ask too much from their young quarterback, believe they will try to do the same thing in this game. Also believe that HC Belichick knows this as well and will decide to put 7 or as many as 8 in tight to stop the run and force Big Ben to try and read the varying and confusing defensive schemes consistently enough to try and beat the Patriots. Belief here is that this time around, in weather conditions that forecast for light snow and temperatures in the 20's, the Steeler offense will sputter and be inconsistent both on the ground and in the air. Now, since Corey Dillon was out of the first game for the Patriots, with all of the discussion on this particular issue, expect that the Steelers will focus their attention on stopping Dillon, which they are certainly capable of doing for the most part. But, by doing so, believe that this may very well open up the passing game for the very experienced, but more importantly poised, Brady to do damage to the Steeler secondary.
Futhermore, it has always been my position that current form is more important then season long form. An example of that was last year as Carolina made it all the way to the Superbowl and covered the spread while losing the game. I bring this up as I believe last week's Divisional Round games tell a lot about the form that these two teams reached. Although some will disagree with me, the Steelers were very fortunate to win their game against the Jets. If not for two missed late possible game winning field goals by Jet kicker Brien, the Steelers would be at home. Some will point out that their defense only gave up 3 points as the other 14 points scored by the Jets were on a punt return and interception return, both for touchdowns. Let us not forget that it was the Steelers that took an early 10-0 lead in part on their touchdown following a turnover and short field. They gave up over 4 yards per carry on the ground to the Jets running backs Martin and Jordan as well as yielding yardage in the air to Pennington. Meanwhile, Big Ben often made incorrect decisions and threw the ball into coverage and was picked off as well as looking confused at times. How might he perform against the disguised defenses thrown at him by Belichick? The touchdowns scored by the Jets should not be considered as flukes or mistakes, they were the result of a breakdown in execution. This week the team the Steelers face will be well prepared, poised, experienced and will not beat themselves and the mere fact that they were beaten by the Steelers early in the year will cause them to be even more focused. Expect a very similar level of performance that they gave against the Colts. True, the Steelers will rally around the underdog role and seeming lack of respect by the oddsmakers, but when all is said and done, the players must be able to execute and there is a significant difference in key player experience between these two teams at this level.
Last, a brief mention of the line on this game. It is my belief that the line has topped out at 3 and on game day could very well move back towards a pick, although I think that is unlikely. However, it would not surprise me to see the line move back down to 1 or 1.5 before kick-off as the line is currently being shaded toward the Steelers and belief here is that many will choose to take the points. If you like the Steelers, then by all means take the current points. If you like the Patriots, wait as the line may move to give you a better number and even if you wish not to lay any points, the moneyline will improve as well. As for me, I plan on waiting as long as possible.
Finally, an important reminder. Because the end of football season is nearing, many will choose to wager far too much on this game, often times chasing losses for the season or just because the season is coming to an end. There are possible plays everyday, every week, every month, and every year. This is just one play and should be treated as such. Make your play within your means and enjoy the game and as always, best of luck to each of you.
Overall Unit Record YTD: (46-36.3)(+9.70) 3*(0-1)(-3.30) 2*(2-0)(+4.00) 1*(42-30-1)(+9.00)
Overall W/L Record YTD: (44-31-1) 58.67%
NFL Record YTD: (12-5)(+5.30)
NCAAF Record YTD: (32-26-1)(+4.40)
Unrated Play Record
Second Half: (2-1)
Live In Game: (2-1)
Teasers: (1-1)
Plays rated 1*-3*
Good Luck All.
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<HR style="COLOR: #fdde82" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Thought I would share my views on the AFC Conference Championship between New England and Pittsburgh. Rather then dwell on the statistical figures for each team which can be found in other threads in this forum, I would like to present some significant points that should be considered when deciding which side to play in this game. It has always been my position that the better you can visualize the way a game may be played, the better chance you have of being on the right side.
First let me begin by discussing the October 31st game between these two teams. As most of you know, the Steelers won that game 34-20 wherein they opened up a first quarter lead of 21-3 due in part to turnovers and then pounded the ball on the ground to maintain control. Perhaps what some may not know or have forgotten is that New England was coming off playing the undefeated New York Jets the prior week as both teams were 5-0 and the battle was for first place in the AFC East. It was a hard fought defensive battle that resulted in the Patriots prevailing 13-7. Meanwhile Pittsburgh was coming off a bye week following a game against Dallas and had two weeks to prepare for the Patriots arriving with a string of 21 consecutive wins. Futhermore, only 90 minutes before kick-off, RB Corey Dillon was declared out of the game with a sore quad muscle, plus key WR Deion Branch was out as well as starting RT Tom Ashworth. Their should be no doubt that the Patriot game planned for Dillon the entire week and the late scratch directly impacted not only the running game to the tune of a total of 5 yards, but the entire play calling. I submit this directly affected the offensive performance of the Patriots in that game, particularly the interceptions by Brady. Once significantly behind, the Steelers could use their ground attack to chew up time and yardage. Last, having a fresh Steeler team waiting in wake of the long undefeated Patriots coming off a tough divisional battle cannot be understated as well as the mild weather that allowed Big Ben to adequately find his receivers. But that was a regular season game with a different level of intensity.
Next I would like to discuss the subject of when teams meet for a second time. I mentioned above that the first meeting in the regular season had a different level of intensity. This is extremely important as when teams reach this level of play in a championship game, their level of play must rise to meet the level presented by their opponent, otherwise the game can become lopsided. Even more important are the adjustments that each team makes off the previous game. What follows is what I believe may occur. This game will be won by the team with the most between the ears, not just the physical skills. Since Pittsburgh had so much success running the ball in the first game and it has been their pattern since Roethlisberger has been starting not to ask too much from their young quarterback, believe they will try to do the same thing in this game. Also believe that HC Belichick knows this as well and will decide to put 7 or as many as 8 in tight to stop the run and force Big Ben to try and read the varying and confusing defensive schemes consistently enough to try and beat the Patriots. Belief here is that this time around, in weather conditions that forecast for light snow and temperatures in the 20's, the Steeler offense will sputter and be inconsistent both on the ground and in the air. Now, since Corey Dillon was out of the first game for the Patriots, with all of the discussion on this particular issue, expect that the Steelers will focus their attention on stopping Dillon, which they are certainly capable of doing for the most part. But, by doing so, believe that this may very well open up the passing game for the very experienced, but more importantly poised, Brady to do damage to the Steeler secondary.
Futhermore, it has always been my position that current form is more important then season long form. An example of that was last year as Carolina made it all the way to the Superbowl and covered the spread while losing the game. I bring this up as I believe last week's Divisional Round games tell a lot about the form that these two teams reached. Although some will disagree with me, the Steelers were very fortunate to win their game against the Jets. If not for two missed late possible game winning field goals by Jet kicker Brien, the Steelers would be at home. Some will point out that their defense only gave up 3 points as the other 14 points scored by the Jets were on a punt return and interception return, both for touchdowns. Let us not forget that it was the Steelers that took an early 10-0 lead in part on their touchdown following a turnover and short field. They gave up over 4 yards per carry on the ground to the Jets running backs Martin and Jordan as well as yielding yardage in the air to Pennington. Meanwhile, Big Ben often made incorrect decisions and threw the ball into coverage and was picked off as well as looking confused at times. How might he perform against the disguised defenses thrown at him by Belichick? The touchdowns scored by the Jets should not be considered as flukes or mistakes, they were the result of a breakdown in execution. This week the team the Steelers face will be well prepared, poised, experienced and will not beat themselves and the mere fact that they were beaten by the Steelers early in the year will cause them to be even more focused. Expect a very similar level of performance that they gave against the Colts. True, the Steelers will rally around the underdog role and seeming lack of respect by the oddsmakers, but when all is said and done, the players must be able to execute and there is a significant difference in key player experience between these two teams at this level.
Last, a brief mention of the line on this game. It is my belief that the line has topped out at 3 and on game day could very well move back towards a pick, although I think that is unlikely. However, it would not surprise me to see the line move back down to 1 or 1.5 before kick-off as the line is currently being shaded toward the Steelers and belief here is that many will choose to take the points. If you like the Steelers, then by all means take the current points. If you like the Patriots, wait as the line may move to give you a better number and even if you wish not to lay any points, the moneyline will improve as well. As for me, I plan on waiting as long as possible.
Finally, an important reminder. Because the end of football season is nearing, many will choose to wager far too much on this game, often times chasing losses for the season or just because the season is coming to an end. There are possible plays everyday, every week, every month, and every year. This is just one play and should be treated as such. Make your play within your means and enjoy the game and as always, best of luck to each of you.
Overall Unit Record YTD: (46-36.3)(+9.70) 3*(0-1)(-3.30) 2*(2-0)(+4.00) 1*(42-30-1)(+9.00)
Overall W/L Record YTD: (44-31-1) 58.67%
NFL Record YTD: (12-5)(+5.30)
NCAAF Record YTD: (32-26-1)(+4.40)
Unrated Play Record
Second Half: (2-1)
Live In Game: (2-1)
Teasers: (1-1)
Plays rated 1*-3*
Good Luck All.
<!-- / message -->
This game will be won by the team with the most between the ears, not just the physical skills. You can buy back at <TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=1 width=650 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD noWrap>Sun 1/23</TD><TD noWrap>403</TD><TD noWrap>Patriot New England</TD><TD noWrap><INPUT language=javascript id=radiox onclick="return OnButtonClick()" type=radio value=S1_0 name=radiox>-2½ -115 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
at betjamaica.com
at betjamaica.com
<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt1>salient point by a master clairvoyant
"This game will be won by the team with the most between the ears, not just the physical skills. Since Pittsburgh had so much success running the ball in the first game and it has been their pattern since Roethlisberger has been starting not to ask too much from their young quarterback, believe they will try to do the same thing in this game. Also believe that HC Belichick knows this as well and will decide to put 7 or as many as 8 in tight to stop the run and force Big Ben to try and read the varying and confusing defensive schemes consistently enough to try and beat the Patriots."
much thanks ted, petre
<!-- / message --></TD></TR><TR><TD class=alt2>
</TD><TD class=alt1 align=right><!-- controls --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
"This game will be won by the team with the most between the ears, not just the physical skills. Since Pittsburgh had so much success running the ball in the first game and it has been their pattern since Roethlisberger has been starting not to ask too much from their young quarterback, believe they will try to do the same thing in this game. Also believe that HC Belichick knows this as well and will decide to put 7 or as many as 8 in tight to stop the run and force Big Ben to try and read the varying and confusing defensive schemes consistently enough to try and beat the Patriots."
much thanks ted, petre
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who do you like alan
<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 width="98%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle width=35>101</TD><TD width=185>New England Patriots</TD><TD align=right width=85 bgColor=#666666>-7 -105</TD><TD align=middle width=85 bgColor=#666666>47</TD><TD align=right width=45>-300</TD><TD align=right width=85>27 -115</TD><TD align=right width=85>-115</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width=35>102</TD><TD width=185>Philadelphia Eagles</TD><TD align=right width=85 bgColor=#666666> -115</TD><TD align=middle width=85 bgColor=#666666> </TD><TD align=right width=45>+220</TD><TD align=right width=85>-115</TD><TD align=right width=85>21 -115</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 width="98%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle width=35>101</TD><TD width=185>New England Patriots</TD><TD align=right width=85 bgColor=#666666>-7 -105</TD><TD align=middle width=85 bgColor=#666666>47</TD><TD align=right width=45>-300</TD><TD align=right width=85>27 -115</TD><TD align=right width=85>-115</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width=35>102</TD><TD width=185>Philadelphia Eagles</TD><TD align=right width=85 bgColor=#666666> -115</TD><TD align=middle width=85 bgColor=#666666> </TD><TD align=right width=45>+220</TD><TD align=right width=85>-115</TD><TD align=right width=85>21 -115</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Sherwood's picks and analysis for both playoff games
<HR style="COLOR: #fdde82" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->PHILADELPHIA –5 over Atlanta
Boy, that Michael Vick is exciting, isn’t he? The guy runs better than the majority of running backs in the league. He exploits any opening given to him and often creates his own. Despite being a quarterback, he finished 23rd in the NFL in rushing. If you’ve ever watched him throw a football, you’d know that he has a gun that most pivots can only hope for. Last week, Vick led his team to a 47-17 thumping of the Rams in a game where he ran for 142 yards. While Peyton Manning won the MVP for his incredible year, one could easily argue that Vick is as important to the Falcons as Manning is to the Colts. When considering who to take in this NFC final, it is impossible not to consider the talents of Vick and the current success of his Falcons. Unfortunately, that would be a mistake. Simply put, Atlanta is overmatched here. The lingering effects of that aforementioned win over St. Louis can easily influence your financial endorsement this week. The current 12-5 record of the Falcons may convince you that taking points here is a wise choice. It’s not. Atlanta is stepping up in company. A decent allowance horse running against a Grade One stakes winner, if you will. Playoffs and championships are about defense. If you don’t believe that, ask the Rams or the Colts or the Vikings. They all ranked in the top 10 in offense. They’ll all be watching from home. The Patriots, Steelers and Eagles all ranked in the top 10 in defense. The latter trio ranked one, two and three in fewest points allowed. The Eagles allowed a mere nine points more than the Steelers but would have been the league’s stingiest if they had not allowed 58 points in final two weeks of the regular season when they mailed in both games. Conversely, the Falcons ranked 14th in offense. It should be noted that the only team to ever win a Super Bowl when ranked worse than 10th defensively, were the 1983 Oakland Raiders. There will be those of you that will discount Philadelphia’s defensive ranking because they play in the weaker NFC. However, what does that say for the Falcons? Despite playing in the softer conference, they allowed more than 21 points per game, which again ranked them 14th in the league. That ranking is alarming when considering that Atlanta faced the three sub .500 teams in their division (Saints, Bucs and Panthers), twice each and also had the luxury of playing the doormat NFC West which includes the Niners, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks. In order to be successful, the Falcons must be able to run. If they can’t run, they certainly cannot make it up with a passing game that finished 29th in a league of 32. Despite Vick’s apparent assets, he only averaged 150 yards per game through the air this season. That’s a problem against this Eagles squad that, when healthy, can be a very stellar stop unit. With run-stoppers Hollis Thomas and Derrick Burgess back in the lineup and the strong set of linebackers that Philly employs, this could be a nightmarish day for Vick and the ground game. This is also not Vick's preferred surface as it won't be on a fast track inside a dome. Andy Reid and this version of the Eagles arrived around the same time as the new millennium. They have been in this spot every year since. However, with a confident Donovan McNabb, an experienced and prepared coaching staff and the far superior team this time around, the Eagles will finally be making the long-awaited trip to Jacksonville. Play: Philadelphia -5 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
<o></o>
New England –3 over PITTSBURGH
The betting public was drunk on Peyton Manning and the Colts last week as money kept pouring in on the prolific Indianapolis side. And just like most drunken stupors, there is a subsequent price to pay. Upon the Patriots defeating the high-flying Colts in a dominating fashion, New England opened as a small favorite and once again the public immediately started backing the sexier team. Once bitten, twice shy? We think not. Go for it because the Patriots will win this game. It’s not because they defeated the Colts last week. We expected that. It’s not because Pittsburgh is a phony and doesn’t belong like many of this year’s playoff teams. At 16-1 thus far, who could argue that? It’s not because the Steelers don’t have the personnel to win this game. They have skilled players at almost all key positions. The main reasons are the quarterbacks and the coaches. These two teams match-up fairly evenly in most aspects of the game. But at coaching and the key quarterback position, the Patriots layover this opponent. Bill Cowher has had some success. Moderate, in our opinion, but some success nonetheless. However, in money games, he’s been a dud. In four AFC title games, Cowher and the Steelers have emerged victorious just once. Bill Belichick, on the other hand, is a stud. He will ‘x’ and ‘o’ any opposing coach to death. He’s the mad scientist of football. Give him a game film and a clipboard and he’ll beat you. Give him a second shot at you, especially when you beat him the first time around and you are a sitting duck. Think not? Think again. Under Belichick, the Patriots are 13-0 when facing an opposing quarterback for the second time in a season. Coach Bill just held the Indianapolis Colts to three points. The same Colts team that put up 522 points this season, led by a quarterback that set a new NFL record with 49 touchdown passes. Three points! How 'mad' is this guy? When asked if his defense can play any better than they did last week, Belichick replied, “If we play like we did against the Colts, we'll get killed. It'll be a lot worse than whatever it was out there the last time because Pittsburgh is not the Colts.” Crazy, huh? Yeah, like a fox. So now it’s Tom Brady and the plotting Belichick against Cowher and rookie Ben Roethlisberger. Ha! Let’s see…Roethlisberger has played one playoff game and needed overtime to win it. Tom Brady is 7-0 in playoff games, including two Super Bowls. Not to take anything away from Big Ben but the youngster has come down to earth and the league has caught up to him for the past month or so. In the past seven games, the Steelers have scored only nine offensive touchdowns compared to 17 field goals in the red zone. Not to mention Roethlisberger’s seven interceptions his past four games. Of course, the Steelers did defeat the Patriots earlier this year by a 34-20 count. However, that makes the Pats even hungrier this time and the circumstances of that game did not favor the Pats. New England had just come off a big game against the undefeated Jets while the Steelers entered that game off the bye. More importantly, Corey Dillon was injured and did not play in that one. With Dillon in the line-up, this is the most adept offence the Pats have had during this successful run. Are the Patriots the sexier and more public team? Perhaps, but not for the same reasons as recent public teams. They are not the underachieving Colts. They aren’t some one-year wonder. They don’t showboat and they don’t rest on their laurels. They’re a well-oiled machine that’ll be going to their third Super Bowl in four years. Play: New England –3 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).
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<HR style="COLOR: #fdde82" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->PHILADELPHIA –5 over Atlanta
Boy, that Michael Vick is exciting, isn’t he? The guy runs better than the majority of running backs in the league. He exploits any opening given to him and often creates his own. Despite being a quarterback, he finished 23rd in the NFL in rushing. If you’ve ever watched him throw a football, you’d know that he has a gun that most pivots can only hope for. Last week, Vick led his team to a 47-17 thumping of the Rams in a game where he ran for 142 yards. While Peyton Manning won the MVP for his incredible year, one could easily argue that Vick is as important to the Falcons as Manning is to the Colts. When considering who to take in this NFC final, it is impossible not to consider the talents of Vick and the current success of his Falcons. Unfortunately, that would be a mistake. Simply put, Atlanta is overmatched here. The lingering effects of that aforementioned win over St. Louis can easily influence your financial endorsement this week. The current 12-5 record of the Falcons may convince you that taking points here is a wise choice. It’s not. Atlanta is stepping up in company. A decent allowance horse running against a Grade One stakes winner, if you will. Playoffs and championships are about defense. If you don’t believe that, ask the Rams or the Colts or the Vikings. They all ranked in the top 10 in offense. They’ll all be watching from home. The Patriots, Steelers and Eagles all ranked in the top 10 in defense. The latter trio ranked one, two and three in fewest points allowed. The Eagles allowed a mere nine points more than the Steelers but would have been the league’s stingiest if they had not allowed 58 points in final two weeks of the regular season when they mailed in both games. Conversely, the Falcons ranked 14th in offense. It should be noted that the only team to ever win a Super Bowl when ranked worse than 10th defensively, were the 1983 Oakland Raiders. There will be those of you that will discount Philadelphia’s defensive ranking because they play in the weaker NFC. However, what does that say for the Falcons? Despite playing in the softer conference, they allowed more than 21 points per game, which again ranked them 14th in the league. That ranking is alarming when considering that Atlanta faced the three sub .500 teams in their division (Saints, Bucs and Panthers), twice each and also had the luxury of playing the doormat NFC West which includes the Niners, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks. In order to be successful, the Falcons must be able to run. If they can’t run, they certainly cannot make it up with a passing game that finished 29th in a league of 32. Despite Vick’s apparent assets, he only averaged 150 yards per game through the air this season. That’s a problem against this Eagles squad that, when healthy, can be a very stellar stop unit. With run-stoppers Hollis Thomas and Derrick Burgess back in the lineup and the strong set of linebackers that Philly employs, this could be a nightmarish day for Vick and the ground game. This is also not Vick's preferred surface as it won't be on a fast track inside a dome. Andy Reid and this version of the Eagles arrived around the same time as the new millennium. They have been in this spot every year since. However, with a confident Donovan McNabb, an experienced and prepared coaching staff and the far superior team this time around, the Eagles will finally be making the long-awaited trip to Jacksonville. Play: Philadelphia -5 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
></o>New England –3 over PITTSBURGH
The betting public was drunk on Peyton Manning and the Colts last week as money kept pouring in on the prolific Indianapolis side. And just like most drunken stupors, there is a subsequent price to pay. Upon the Patriots defeating the high-flying Colts in a dominating fashion, New England opened as a small favorite and once again the public immediately started backing the sexier team. Once bitten, twice shy? We think not. Go for it because the Patriots will win this game. It’s not because they defeated the Colts last week. We expected that. It’s not because Pittsburgh is a phony and doesn’t belong like many of this year’s playoff teams. At 16-1 thus far, who could argue that? It’s not because the Steelers don’t have the personnel to win this game. They have skilled players at almost all key positions. The main reasons are the quarterbacks and the coaches. These two teams match-up fairly evenly in most aspects of the game. But at coaching and the key quarterback position, the Patriots layover this opponent. Bill Cowher has had some success. Moderate, in our opinion, but some success nonetheless. However, in money games, he’s been a dud. In four AFC title games, Cowher and the Steelers have emerged victorious just once. Bill Belichick, on the other hand, is a stud. He will ‘x’ and ‘o’ any opposing coach to death. He’s the mad scientist of football. Give him a game film and a clipboard and he’ll beat you. Give him a second shot at you, especially when you beat him the first time around and you are a sitting duck. Think not? Think again. Under Belichick, the Patriots are 13-0 when facing an opposing quarterback for the second time in a season. Coach Bill just held the Indianapolis Colts to three points. The same Colts team that put up 522 points this season, led by a quarterback that set a new NFL record with 49 touchdown passes. Three points! How 'mad' is this guy? When asked if his defense can play any better than they did last week, Belichick replied, “If we play like we did against the Colts, we'll get killed. It'll be a lot worse than whatever it was out there the last time because Pittsburgh is not the Colts.” Crazy, huh? Yeah, like a fox. So now it’s Tom Brady and the plotting Belichick against Cowher and rookie Ben Roethlisberger. Ha! Let’s see…Roethlisberger has played one playoff game and needed overtime to win it. Tom Brady is 7-0 in playoff games, including two Super Bowls. Not to take anything away from Big Ben but the youngster has come down to earth and the league has caught up to him for the past month or so. In the past seven games, the Steelers have scored only nine offensive touchdowns compared to 17 field goals in the red zone. Not to mention Roethlisberger’s seven interceptions his past four games. Of course, the Steelers did defeat the Patriots earlier this year by a 34-20 count. However, that makes the Pats even hungrier this time and the circumstances of that game did not favor the Pats. New England had just come off a big game against the undefeated Jets while the Steelers entered that game off the bye. More importantly, Corey Dillon was injured and did not play in that one. With Dillon in the line-up, this is the most adept offence the Pats have had during this successful run. Are the Patriots the sexier and more public team? Perhaps, but not for the same reasons as recent public teams. They are not the underachieving Colts. They aren’t some one-year wonder. They don’t showboat and they don’t rest on their laurels. They’re a well-oiled machine that’ll be going to their third Super Bowl in four years. Play: New England –3 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).
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-$19880 as newengland again proves they are the best! petre I am glad you take humor in rubbing it in on a man that lost his a$$ tonight! you are a classless scumbag and thats all I can say!
$4200 the last steeler td cost me after they lose me the game, they win the 2nd half on a meaningless piece of shat td!
$4200 the last steeler td cost me after they lose me the game, they win the 2nd half on a meaningless piece of shat td!
