NFL 2009/10

The Cowboys were good last night - I watched most of it live and the last 10 minutes of game time this morning - and will be dangerous. I'm not drinking the Gatorade (don't like it!) on them but they were impressive. Currently watching the Ravens sticking it to the Patriots and thoroughly enjoying it. I've got a healthy respect for the Ravens. Dangerous thing to write...but I think you can stick a fork in the Pats because they're done.
Just hope I've not jinxed the Ravens

highlights of this weekends games are on bbc2 at 00:10am on tuesday

The playoffs are also live on 5 Live Sports Extra if anybody wants to listen.

cant wait too see the highlights tonight of the arizona-green bay game. the highest combined score in nfl playoff history. and also a big shock new england have gone out

Of course the patriots got knocked out I backed them to go all the way that usually alone is enough to guarantee they will fall at the first hurdle.
I'm glad Arizona won over all they deserved it but what a dreadful kick from their kicker he just choked.

I'm now backing the chargers to go all the way so be sure to bet on anyone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol

Great win for the Ravens.

Game won with the same formula that has served them so well for the last ten years. One word......

DEFENCE.

When you have a defence that is marshalled by probably the best middle linebacker to ever play the game (ooops, sorry Mike Singletary) alongside one of the most destructive defenders (Suggs) you have a recipe for a truly strong team and VERY difficult to beat, especially if they get their noses in front. "Ray Ray" (Lewis) is frankly just awesome, a cert hall of famer if ever there was one. Funny thing is, people alledgedly in the know say that he's lost a yard......What garbage. If anything he's now even more destructive than he was earlier in his career, he now reads the game better and if anything, snuffs out a threat even quicker than he used to.

This Ravens team is ominously similar to the one that won The Superbowl 10yrs ago. Scary linebackers then (Lewis/Boulware) and equally scary linebackers now (Lewis/Suggs) A top rated R/B 10yrs ago, (Jamal Lewis) and one every bit as good now (Ray Rice.) A Q/B ten years ago who was nothing particularly special, but stuck to the basic game plan and didn't throw the ball too much, thus negating stupid errors (Trent Dilfer.) And now, almost a carbon copy in Joe Flacco.

Also, the Ravens had to play every playoff game on the road in order to win Superbowl XXXV in 2001, and it's gonna need the same thing here.....Karma, anybody?

The Ravens gameplan is a simple one......Get in front and stay there. On offence they don't run complicated passing schemes, just hand it off to the running back and POUND IT. They mix that with the occasional long bomb, more in an attempt to keep the opposing defense honest than cause any major surprises. On defence, try to run it against the Ravens? Forget it. The corners will give up the odd long pass though, probably the only thing different from the 2001 winning team.

I'm probably alone in this prediction, but i take the Ravens to beat the Colts. Remember where you read it first.

(what'll probably happen now is that the Colts will stomp all over my team, and i'll look a right twit. Ah, well.....:

Colino,
While I can see where you're coming from with the Ravens now and 10 years ago but this isn't that defence. I think this has been a down year for defences - the Packers ranked highly as did my beloved Steelers - in terms of quality. The Ravens, Jets and Cowboys have got good defences but not sold on the Vikes or the other 4 teams left in it. Seems to me that this year is all about high powered offences who pass a lot. Don't get wrong, I'm a traditionalist who thinks you win through defence and power rushing (nothing wrong with three yards and a cloud of dust in my mind) when it's third and short. This year feels like a high powered offence year to me although the Ravens and the Jets are doing it the old school way.
I was pleased to watch the Ravens dismantle the Pats who couldn't stop the run - very sweet! Although I'm a Steelers fan I've got a lot of respect for the Ravens - Ozzie Newsome is a really good GM after being a great TE - I think the Colts will come through in the AFC but who knows? That's why they play the game! Looking forward to divisional round gamres already. Fingers crossed for your Ravens...I can actually enjoy the playoffs this year as I find it tough to watch the Steelers in the playoffs even when we win.

Hiya!!

In truth you're probably right, this 2010 Ravens defence is probably not at the same level as the 2000 version, but then, what defence is? There are also some subtle differences, such as a 3-4 defence now employed by the Ravens as compared to the 4-3 of yesteryear. Also the small matter of a couple of man-mountains in the shape of defensive linemen Adams and Siragusa, who made sure that Ray Lewis was hardly ever touched never mind blocked, which allowed him to completely run riot.

It's a much more explosive game recently and even without looking at any stats i'm certain that the ball is getting more "airtime" in the last year or two than in any other years previous. Like you i'm "Old School" in as much as i like my football played in the trenches in a more "down and dirty" style than it is now.

I'm just looking forward to the weekend!! The Colts are obviously huge favourites and rightly so, and if Manning starts to air it out with any sort of accuracy, no doubt we're in big trouble.

I'm just hoping that we can give him as much grief as we gave Brady.....

The Ravens were able to rattle Brady and he's not the QB he was before the injury plus jumping out to that lead was an enormous advantage. The Colts have been superb offensively, especially in terms of protecting Manning, so it will be a challenge for the Ravens to repeat that level of pressure. Although he was MVP I've seen Manning throw a few picks that he shouldn't have this season and if Ed Reed can get his hands on one...Pounding the rock to keep Manning of the field has got to be the strategy because the Colts can score quickly and I don't think the Ravens have got quick strike power.

Ray Lewis is a first ballot Hall of Famer who is still playing at a very high level but the secondary is suspect and that's not good when facing the Colts. Still the Ravens have got a shot - didn't approve of Bill Polian's decison to pull and then rest starters in the last two games, that wasn't Caldwell's call - and that's why they play 60 minutes.

Make predictions on Friday for the 4 games?

this is my prediction
The Chargers will destroy the jets
Vikings and Cowboys will go to the wire with Cowboys scraping through
Arizona will beat New Orleans through the class and veteran leadership of Warner, but it will be close
The colts and ravens will go all the way, some could say to close to call but going on the lines someone has to win and the fact adverse conditions wont come into play, Manning will lead the Colts to a close victory.