What We Learned From the Wild Card Round
Monday, January 5, 2009 22:31Posted in category NFL
Round 1 of the NFL playoffs is complete. Some games were close, some were… well, not so close, and perhaps even those were closer in final score than they really were on the field. So, what did you learn? Here are my musings (some serious, some slightly less so) based upon the just completed Wild Card games.
- Darren Sproles is the best back-up running back in the NFL. Any other team (except for the Vikings) and he would be starting. A healthy LaDainian Tomlinson and Sproles is one of heck of a lethal combination.
- Yes, he did finally win a Super Bowl ring two years ago, but Peyton Manning remains a great REGULAR season quarterback. Seriously, the voters couldn’t come up with anybody more deserving of the MVP award this year? Manning and the Colts were terrible to start this season.
- I guess Arizona really was resting up for the playoffs those last miserable weeks of the regular season. Usually limping into the post-season results in first round disaster, but that wasn’t in the Cards.
- Miami’s 1-15 record last year finally came back to bite them; the lack of playoff experience really showed against Baltimore. Will the Dolphins be able to keep it up next year?
- The same can be said for Matt Ryan–his brilliant season finally crashed to an end. Unlike the Dolphins, I have no doubt he’ll be back.
- Donovan McNabb’s benching may have been the best thing possible for both the Eagles quarterback and Philadelphia’s season.
- Would Indianapolis have been favored if San Diego did haven’t the worst of luck their first two games and were a 10-6 team instead of an 8-8 one?
What do you think?
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4 Responses to “What We Learned From the Wild Card Round”
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P.K.
says:
January 6th, 2009 at 5:15 am
I think a case could be made for the Ravens with La'Ron McClain, Chester Taylor, and McGahee as having the best running back depth in the league.
I like Sproles, but I don't think he could play a full season.
natebarlow
says:
January 6th, 2009 at 5:41 am
The Ravens do have an incredible backfield and could lay claim to the best overall depth. But I like the Chargers 1-2. Sproles is small, which could hurt him over a full season, but he's perfect for backing up Tomlinson.
Gairzo
says:
January 6th, 2009 at 11:13 am
***Without Manning, the Colts are a bees eyelash north of average. No one is more valuable to his team. The reason he wretches in the playoffs isn't hard to figure out. Without a decent running game, Peyton's place in the post-season will continue to be a one and done soap opera.
***Love Sproles. Human pinball. But Indy's line is undersized and mediocre, at best. Let's see how it goes after Farrior and company finish picking the Sprolster out of their teeth.
***Arizona? Please, six wins against Seattle, St. Louis, San Fran? 33-10 Panthers
***Miami won't win 7 games next year. They got overlooked by a lot of teams. They deserved their success, but my Aunt Clara has a better arm than Pennington–and she's dead.
***Now, Ryan has an arm, a great running game and decent defense. The Falcons will win their division next year.
***Everyone wants to smooch the Chargers' rump. Their secondary is awful and their Merriman-less linebacking corp is average. If I'm Tomlin, I go to no-huddle and don't stop until Jamal Williams pukes a river. Steelers 31 Bolts 21
***I'm a huge McNabb fan but the Giants have the best lines in the league. NY 24 PH 21 in OT.
***The Blackbirds look like the '05 Steelers. Hot at the right time. But, everyone is dissin' Tennessee. Jeff Fisher will take Harbaugh to school Titans 28 Birdies 16
natebarlow
says:
January 7th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
***Except for 2006-2007, even when Manning had players around him, the Colts failed in ways great teams and players don't. And since when has the MVP award in any league been awarded to the player most valuable to his team? Personally I think it should be, but more often than not it's based solely on statistics.
***Arizona was one of my not so serious comments. :-) However, I was surprised they actually put something together this past weekend when they seemingly mailing it in after clinching the division.
***I agree, Miami is one and done.
***With apologies to Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan = Rookie of the Year.
***Steelers will beat the Chargers (especially with LT out). The Chargers are not as good as a lot of people say, nor are they as bad as others say–they most definitely should have been favored against Indy. They would have been 9-7 if not for the Denver Debacle and should also have won the first game of the season for 10-6. Not bad considering Merriman being out for the season and Tomlinson having intermittent injuries.
***I used to be confident about the Giants, even with Burress out, but I'm not so sure anymore. They've looked completely exposed three of the last four weeks of the season.
***Titans are good. Hands down. Anyone dismissing them is crazy.