NFL Playoffs; How would you like it to shake out?
- Thread starter Devizier
- Start date
Based on where the playoff line sits today, ranked in order of best/worst scenario:
AFC
Cleveland
Jacksonville
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Meteor destroys the earth
Miami
Kansas City
NFC
Detroit
Rams
San Francisco
Tampa Bay
Meteor
Green Bay
Philly
Dallas
AFC
Cleveland
Jacksonville
Buffalo
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Meteor destroys the earth
Miami
Kansas City
NFC
Detroit
Rams
San Francisco
Tampa Bay
Meteor
Green Bay
Philly
Dallas
I'm on team Cleveland/Detroit.
I will probably stop watching games when or if both of those teams are gone, but I'll be all-in while they are still alive. I lived for three years near Cleveland and for one year near Detroit so I have some fondness for the suffering in both areas.
I'll look forward to the super bowl week man-on-the-street interviews from, IDK, somewhere between Sandusky and Toledo where we'll get to see divided families on the fault line between the regions of the two perennial losers.
I will probably stop watching games when or if both of those teams are gone, but I'll be all-in while they are still alive. I lived for three years near Cleveland and for one year near Detroit so I have some fondness for the suffering in both areas.
I'll look forward to the super bowl week man-on-the-street interviews from, IDK, somewhere between Sandusky and Toledo where we'll get to see divided families on the fault line between the regions of the two perennial losers.
I'd like to see the Lions win.
Then maybe the Browns.
But I don't want to see them against each other in the SB.
I suspect we get SF-Balt.
Then maybe the Browns.
But I don't want to see them against each other in the SB.
I suspect we get SF-Balt.
1 more reason to hate Baltimore:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ravens-to-honor-ray-rice-as-legend-of-the-game-during-week-17-matchup-with-dolphins/
Also, let's not forget their role in deflategate.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ravens-to-honor-ray-rice-as-legend-of-the-game-during-week-17-matchup-with-dolphins/
Also, let's not forget their role in deflategate.
I'm not seeing a gambling thread here so if this should go somewhere else I apologize in advance.
Can someone chime in on Cleveland's odds of winning it all? They're currently at +3000, which seems like an incredible value. The defense is elite. Flacco, who is a seasoned postseason veteran quarterback, has had the offense humming, and picked apart an elite Jets defense last week without his best receiver. They've shown this year that they can beat the Ravens. Obviously they shouldn't be the favorite by any stretch, but I can't see many reasons why they wouldn't have a legit shot to go all the way if a couple of things break right.
Can someone chime in on Cleveland's odds of winning it all? They're currently at +3000, which seems like an incredible value. The defense is elite. Flacco, who is a seasoned postseason veteran quarterback, has had the offense humming, and picked apart an elite Jets defense last week without his best receiver. They've shown this year that they can beat the Ravens. Obviously they shouldn't be the favorite by any stretch, but I can't see many reasons why they wouldn't have a legit shot to go all the way if a couple of things break right.
So long as the Dolphins, Bills, and Chiefs flame out in epic fashion, I'm good.
I've really enjoyed watching Lamar, and as much as it sickens me, I think I might be rooting for the Ravens.
As for those hating on BAL (which I get) and rooting for CLE, it's hard for me to root for a franchise that mortgaged their future for a known serial sex offender less than 24 months ago. Ray Lewis may or may not have killed a dude in a bar fight 20+ years ago, but DeSean Watson's HOBBY was sexually assaulting women. The former is obviously a more "serious crime", but I have more sympathy for someone who fucks up badly and commits a crime of passion once in college than I do for someone like Watson. YMMV. (now I will go take a shower)
I've really enjoyed watching Lamar, and as much as it sickens me, I think I might be rooting for the Ravens.
As for those hating on BAL (which I get) and rooting for CLE, it's hard for me to root for a franchise that mortgaged their future for a known serial sex offender less than 24 months ago. Ray Lewis may or may not have killed a dude in a bar fight 20+ years ago, but DeSean Watson's HOBBY was sexually assaulting women. The former is obviously a more "serious crime", but I have more sympathy for someone who fucks up badly and commits a crime of passion once in college than I do for someone like Watson. YMMV. (now I will go take a shower)
Don’t forget Zay Flowers. I’m a BC guy who hates all things Baltimore Ravens so this is tough for me but he is a legitimately awesome talent and reportedly a great person.
Teams I would be happy to see win in order of preference:
1. 49ers - I grew up in the 80s/90s and loved Montana/Rice/Craig/Lott/Rathman/Taylor/Young/etc
2. Lions - The fans deserve this and Dan Campbell seems like a good coach
Teams I don't want to see win, in order of dislike:
1. Dolphins - Ownership is despicable, fans are unbearable, I loathe Florida as a whole, and Tyreek Hill
2. Browns - Ownership is literally criminal, Deshaun Watson deserves to be jailed; however, I do like Stephanski and I feel for the fans
3. Cowboys - Ownership and fans are insufferable in the worst ways
4. Ravens - John Harbaugh is a prick and the fan base is Baltimore
5. Bills - Coach Hardo is insufferable; though I feel for the fans and they can be entertaining AF, but they can also be just as much annoying
6. Steelers - fans and +ownership are insufferable, Tomlin is overrated
7. Eagles - the fans are insufferable, more so when they win, though J Kelce seems cool
8. Panthers - Tepper is a tool and a "billionaire hedge fund manager" a four word phrase for a slew of four letter words
9. Chiefs - There's just something unlikable about them, though I find Kelce entertaining AF off the field
10. Colts - Deflate Gate, insufferable fans and ownership
11. Everyone else - They don't deserve it
12. Falcons - They don't deserve it, but Chris Lindstrom when to my HS (many years after), so I have an excuse to root for them
1. 49ers - I grew up in the 80s/90s and loved Montana/Rice/Craig/Lott/Rathman/Taylor/Young/etc
2. Lions - The fans deserve this and Dan Campbell seems like a good coach
Teams I don't want to see win, in order of dislike:
1. Dolphins - Ownership is despicable, fans are unbearable, I loathe Florida as a whole, and Tyreek Hill
2. Browns - Ownership is literally criminal, Deshaun Watson deserves to be jailed; however, I do like Stephanski and I feel for the fans
3. Cowboys - Ownership and fans are insufferable in the worst ways
4. Ravens - John Harbaugh is a prick and the fan base is Baltimore
5. Bills - Coach Hardo is insufferable; though I feel for the fans and they can be entertaining AF, but they can also be just as much annoying
6. Steelers - fans and +ownership are insufferable, Tomlin is overrated
7. Eagles - the fans are insufferable, more so when they win, though J Kelce seems cool
8. Panthers - Tepper is a tool and a "billionaire hedge fund manager" a four word phrase for a slew of four letter words
9. Chiefs - There's just something unlikable about them, though I find Kelce entertaining AF off the field
10. Colts - Deflate Gate, insufferable fans and ownership
11. Everyone else - They don't deserve it
12. Falcons - They don't deserve it, but Chris Lindstrom when to my HS (many years after), so I have an excuse to root for them
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Perhaps I’m being influenced by living in the KC area for the past decade plus, but I find anything to do with the chiefs success unbearable. In order of who I will be rooting for to make an early playoff exit in excruciating fashion:
1. Chiefs - can’t stand the fans and winning for 20 years straight isn’t a right because you have a great qb. It’s much harder to do than their fans think. Their playoff loses are chicken soup for my soul.
2. Baltimore - because fuck the ravens.
3. Miami - Tyreek Hill
4. The field.
1. Chiefs - can’t stand the fans and winning for 20 years straight isn’t a right because you have a great qb. It’s much harder to do than their fans think. Their playoff loses are chicken soup for my soul.
2. Baltimore - because fuck the ravens.
3. Miami - Tyreek Hill
4. The field.
I also really like the 49ers, a great second team for me. Only “thing” for me is if they win the Super Bowl, they tie the Patriots in total Super Bowl victories. Still, if it came down to the 49ers vs. the Chiefs, Ravens or Dolphins, 100% 49ers for me. I don’t really see any other team coming out of the AFC. Favorite unsung 49er greats from the teams of your youth: Roger Craig, John Taylor, Keena Turner.
edit: went back and saw that you mentioned Roger Craig and John Taylor. So, they were maybe in an area between unsung and great.
I'm not sure what "deserve" means when people say, for example, the Falcons don't deserve it. The 2001 Pats arguable didn't "deserve" it in the sense that they were (rightfully) underdogs in all of their playoff games, and also needed like 16 things in a row to go right at the end of the regular season to even get the bye (won one game because an unconscious guy's head was out of bounds when he fumbled, needed the Raiders to lose to the fucking Jets, etc., etc.). But however they won them they won those three playoff games and anyone who says that was undeserved can eat a giant bag of dicks. Underdog stories are great, no?
I think a lot of this we can chalk up to foresight fallacy. In hindsight, people don't (except around here) lament that the mediocre 9-7 2011 Giants won the Super Bowl, mostly because they proved themselves in the playoffs, winning in Green Bay and San Francisco and (UGHHH) beating Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.
Similarly, the 2023 Atlanta Falcons right now seem pretty bleh. But if they somehow go on an incredible run they will have proved themselves along the way. Say they go into Philly and beat Jalen Hurts, then go to San Francisco and beat them, and then upset the Ravens in the Super Bowl, our view of them will completely change -- Taylor Heinicke will be considered a new Nick Foles, Arthur Smith will be a genius, etc.
I just can't with the score boarding of Brady vs. Mahomes ("Baby GOAT!" "Will Mahomes catch Brady?" etc). And I'm eternally grateful that Brady and the Bucs beat Mahomes head-to-head in the Super Bowl.
I'm not comparing the two teams directly, and I fully expect the Falcons to flame out in the playoffs. But if they go on a run and win it all they deserved it as much as any other team that has ever won a Super Bowl.
Yeah, the 2001 Patriots might not be the right analogy. Maybe the 2008 Cardinals, who went 9-7 and lost 4 of their last 6 regular season games (including a memorable 40-point blowout to Matt Cassel and the Patriots?)
Teams with middlng records getting hot at the right time and winning it all is going to become the norm. Look at MLB this year. The single bye affects this a little bit because it's such an advantage for one team, but that also means only team has to stumble for the advantage to disappear. I think we're also going to see more "maintenance" early in the season among the top players to peak in Dec/Jan/Feb.
I think there's a big difference between not wanting a team to win because 'they don't deserve it' and being a good sport / congratulating an underdog that defies odds and wins it.
Whoever wins will have earned it, however they get there. That's the beauty of sports. But I still think it's ok to say (before the games are played) that you don't want a team with negative point differential and a losing record to win the Super Bowl because there are more deserving teams. The two things can exist together.
It's not necessarily logical, but I have no problem cheering on an NCAA basketball 'Cinderella' (in fact I do that very thing), but you won't find me rooting for these 'shit' 7-9 / 9-7 teams (Jags/Colts/Texans/Steelers/Rams/Bucs/Packers/Seahawks/Saints/Vikes/Falcons). I might root for them indirectly by rooting against Chiefs/Dolphins/whoever, but I won't be rooting for them on first principle.
If I think it through, the best I can come up with for a 'why' is that the only real way I see one of these teams winning is four consecutive 17-13 slug-fests filled with 3 and outs, all of which won't really entertain me. And if the Pats aren't in it, I am rooting for entertainment and exciting football which probably excludes these teams based on their performance over 16 games.
I think Craig might be one of the most unsung offensive players of all-time. He played with plenty of greats when he was on the 49ers, so I can see how he gets overlooked at times, but damn was he good. Taylor was never the main option and often the 3rd/4th, but he could move with the ball in his hands. The late 80s/early 90s sustained my football love, while the Pats just floundered before Parcels/Bledsoe arrived.
They need to win three games on the road to even make the Super Bowl, two of those games will probably be against KC and Baltimore.
So they have to beat the AFC South, KC on the road, Baltimore on the road, and probably SF.
That's a gauntlet for a team with a lot of injuries still, not great RB, a QB was sitting at home in October, and Myles Garrett hasn't been the same player since he hurt his shoulder.
The Browns have shown they can beat any team. They also got killed by Denver and needed a miracle to beat Baltimore, Chicago, Indy, and SF. I think those odds are just acknowledging that they would have to go on a heater.
I understand the hate, but why are the Panthers and Colts on your list?
The Panthers in particular, as much as we hate Tepper, just blew the # 1 pick and have guaranteed the # 1 pick to the Bears this year. Their rebuild is long coming.
All good points. But is there a better value bet for super bowl winner? +$3000 to me feels like odds for a team that has no real chance, not a team that can win it all if it goes on a heater.
I don't think any futures bet is a value, actually. It's designed to be in favor of the house.
But if you're feeling froggy, throw a little taste on the Browns for the yuks.
The Browns exorcising their demons, by beating the Ravens (the old Browns, who broke their hearts leaving Cleveland) with the Raven’s old quarterback coming off the couch to do it… I can’t imagine a better story. Maybe it screws Watson too somehow.
I was typing that while I was sick and my disdain for both those teams is high, so I probably just included them out of fever induced hate.
AFC CG winner order of preference:
Houston
Cleveland
Buffalo
Baltimore
Kansas City
Meteor
Pittsburgh
Miami
NFC CG winner order of preference
Detroit
Green Bay
LA Rams
Dallas
San Francisco
Tampa Bay
Meteor
Philly
Super Bowl winner order of preference (slight variation due to franchise SB wins and other reasons)
Houston
Detroit
Cleveland
LA Rams
Green Bay
Tampa Bay
Baltimore
Meteor
Dallas
San Francisco
Buffalo
Kansas City
Philly
Miami
Pittsburgh
Houston
Cleveland
Buffalo
Baltimore
Kansas City
Meteor
Pittsburgh
Miami
NFC CG winner order of preference
Detroit
Green Bay
LA Rams
Dallas
San Francisco
Tampa Bay
Meteor
Philly
Super Bowl winner order of preference (slight variation due to franchise SB wins and other reasons)
Houston
Detroit
Cleveland
LA Rams
Green Bay
Tampa Bay
Baltimore
Meteor
Dallas
San Francisco
Buffalo
Kansas City
Philly
Miami
Pittsburgh
Updating1. Anyone but the Chiefs
2. Anyone but Tyreek hoisting the trophy
3. Anyone but the Eagles
4. Jags/Colts/Texans/Steelers don't deserve it, so no to them
5. Rams/Bucs/Packers/Seahawks/Saints/Vikes/Falcons don't deserve it, so no to them.
Which I think means:
AFC: Any of Ravens/Bills/Browns
NFC: Any of 49ers/Cowboys/Lions
If forced to pick, Bills beat Cowboys, with Jerry's team losing in heartbreaking fashion
Updated notes:
1. I am glad to see the Chiefs/Bills rematch - this is what the NFL and fans need.
2. Count me in as a Bucs fan, I am getting on board that bandwagon for this week.
3. I want the Packers to lose and hope (and expect) they get stomped
Me too. I hate Baltimore more but it's just a very tough one. I'm going to bet KC because just bet Mahomes. It's a good strategy, especially getting points.
I want Baltimore to lose and for Harbaugh to be publicly embarrassed somehow. Both AFC teams incurring numerous sprained grundles.