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Nomarfan5

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The FN SuperBowl Tourney: Which teams will win the 4 wildcards?

Oso's back-Sort of said 11/17, 09:12 PM
If I have to pick the 4 teams who will have the best record but not win the division, I have to go with these teams who currently have the best record far and away and with the best shot possible to win with their roster & play:
1) Jacksonville Jaguars: They have a strong defense and a great 1-2 punch in Taylor and Jones-Drew

2) Tennessee Titans: Again a good defense that keeps their team in the game. Brown and White are a strong tandem that compliment VY's run and shoot style of play. Jeff Fisher will get his team to the wildcard with his coaching.

3) Detriot Lions: Martz has brought his greatest show on turf to Motown. Kitna isn't looking so dumb for predicting 10 wins now. Marinelli is building a legit defense with his style of Tampa 2.

4) NY Giants: Spagnolo has brought a fierce defense that blitzes and will take on the rest of the field before them. Jacobs and Droughns compliment the passing game that features Burress, Toomer and Shockey. No others will come close save the Lions.

Nomarfan5 said 11/22, 11:44 PM
AFC

1. Jaguars- agreed

2. Browns- Yes, they have a horrendous defense, but so did Cincy 2 years ago. I am picking them for two reasons, strength of schedule, and strength at QB/WR.

The Browns remaining teams on their schedule are a combined 27-39 (.409), and they don't play a single team over .500. They close the year with the awful Bengals and 49ers.

the Titans have a schedule with a combined record of 28-34 (.452) and play the Colts and Chargers.

Also, The QB situation. The Browns are led by Derek Anderson, who has 20 TD's and 10 INT's on 56.8 % passing

The Titans have big Vince Young, who has 5 TDs, 12 INT's, and 55.4 % passing.

Am I saying VY is a bad QB, no. But he has the worst WR's in the league, and if they play the way they have all season, this team will continue losing games

NFC

Giants- agreed

Arizona Cardnals

Right now the Cards are 5-5, and could tie for the wildcard with a 6-5 record if they win sunday against the 49ers.

The biggest stat? Strength of schedule

Cardinals remaining teams are combined 23-38 a .377 Winning %
Lions teams are 33-19 (.635,) and they have to play the Cowboys, bolts and Packers again. I just don't see them winning the wildcard.

Oso's back-Sort of said 11/24, 12:43 AM
I like your choices. However, they have some holes.

Primarily the Browns. Any team that is dead last in yards per game: 406.3 and dead last in points given up per game: 29.4 cannot help an offense no matter how good your QB and WR's are, especially with no ground game.

What's worse is that the Browns aren't even in the top 10 offensively in passing. Which you say is their strong suit. 242 yds. a game does not ensure a postseason appearance.

Now that the weather is colder, they'll need a ground game. A mere 103.8 won't do.

The Cardinals are even worse with rushing at a measly 86.8 yards! Sure they can pass some. But the Cards are worse than the Eagles at passing, and that's saying something.

So what's going to get them over the hump? Defense? They're tied with the Falcons at 22nd with 22.2 points surrendered a game while they generate a mere 22.3 points on offense. They barely break even.

In a division where even the Rams can come up and bite you, that just won't cut it.

Nomarfan5 said 11/24, 12:53 AM
A mere 103.8? last time i checked, thats not half bad. And the yards aren't what matters, its the points you put up on the board, and they have the 3rd most. Now the reason I chose the Browns was based on their strength of Schedule, it is pathetic. they don't play a single team over .500, and they play horrible teams such as the Jets, the 49'ers, the Bengals, and the Bills, who are 31st in offense and defense.

the Browns are #10 in passing, just thought i would put that out there.

Yes the Cards are not great with running the ball, but they only have 2 games away from balmy Arizona, and one is in New Oreans. The other will be a toughie against the Seahawks, but lets look at the Lions stats compared to Ari.

RUSH YARDS!
ARI- 86.8 (25)
Det- 82.1 (29)

PYPG
ARI- 225.2 (12)
Det- 251.2 (8)

Points
ARI- 223 (12)
Det- 257 (9)

RYAPG
ARI- 97.5 (10)
Det- 95.8 (8)

PYAPG
ARI- 214.6 (17)
Det- 269.1 (30)

Points Against
ARI- 222 (20)
Det- 269 (25)

So your little Rushing theoren kinda backfired, as the Lions play the hardest schedule in the NFL in the cold with a bad run offense and an O-Line that has given up the most sack in the NFL. The Lions are seriously in trouble my friend.

Oso's back-Sort of said 11/24, 01:25 AM
With the exception of anyone playing the Patriots, any team can win at any given time. The teams you chose as easy targets for the Browns may be bad, but they have their sting.

The Jets beat the Steelers in an upset last week. Who's to say they can't do the same with the Browns? Mangini is all too familiar with Romeo's schemes.

The Bills just about sunk the high flying Cowboys who have an eminently better offense and defense than the Browns. Even with their injuries, they pose a threat to most any struggling team.

The Bengals are division rivals with the Browns. This will not be an easy game. A team's record means little once you take the field. Just ask the Saints and Rams.

If the Lions can't run the ball, then how were they able to rack up 134 rushing yards on a monster defense like Green Bay? All the while the Lions still manage to pass for 224 yards on a tough secondary.

Strength of schedule is not as important as another: Penalties and yards lost on those penalties.

Guess who are 32 and and 27th in the league respectively? Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. If a team cannot play with discipline then they'll lose as many yards as they gain.

Nomarfan5 said 11/24, 11:31 AM
You bring up all these hard games for the Browns, but what about the Titans?
They have to play division rival Colts

The same Cincy team you bring up for the Browns
San Diego, who at 5-5 is still just as good if not better than the Titans
the same Jets you mention
Plus Houston and KC.

Going by your standards, the Titans have a very hard 6 games, undoubtably harder than the Browns.

I also think the running game is less than stellar for the Titans. Sure they rank 4th, but who's running? LenDale white hasn't proven he can hold up for a whole season.

Wow, the lions ran the ball well one game.
Here are the rest
Week 1- 108 (against Oakland, the worst run D in the nation)
Week 2- 56
wk. 3- 39
Wk. 4- 95 (the hurting Bears)
Wk 5- 68
Wk 7- 147 (a good week)
Wk 8- 119 (The not-so-good Bears)
Wk 9- 130 (Broncos horrible Run D)
Wk 10- -16 (ouch)
Wk 11- 25

So maybe than can pull some good games against bad rushing D's, but -16, 25, 68, 39, and 56 rushing yards won't win you games.

You talk about penalties, but what about sacks? Those are just as bad, and the lions have given up 47! compare that to the next highest, 31.

Isn't that losing yards? YES!

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I am the Appalachian State in this throwdown....I can only hope for the same result. LOL

Oso's back-Sort of | 11/17/07, 09:14 PM

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The FN SuperBowl Tourney: Which teams will win the 4 wildcards?

Nomarfan5 beat Oso's back-Sort of 6 to 3

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