NFC South vs NFC West Divisional Round matchups

[Pelicans78]

Saints at Seahawks - Saturday - 3:35 CST

Niners at Panthers - Sunday - noon CST


All 4 teams have top 5 defenses, while 3 of the teams have athletic QBs who can make plays in the passing game while one team has an elite passer.

Seahawks should be the favorites over the Saints since they're strong at home while the Saints have been below average on the road. Seahawks will make it really tough on the Saints passing game so Payton needs to go with the running game early and often. I suggest a 60/40 run/pass ratio for the Saints to keep pressure off of Brees and the o-line as well as help the defense with field position and clock management. Saints front four needs to keep Wilson in the pocket and hope Keenan Lewis is playing just in case Harvin is ready to go.

Niners-Panthers should be a low-scoring even matchup. Both defenses can keep the other QBs in the pocket as well as stopping the run. Niners defense isn't quite as strong against the pass compared to the last two seasons while the Panthers have a suspect secondary. Key will be which QB does well. The Niners have more weapons right now, but I still think Kaep will struggle on the road against that front 7. Not sure how much Cam can succeed either since he hasn't played that great in a few weeks now. This game is a pick-em.

[Darth_Pelican]

100% chance of rain is forecast in Seattle for Saturday, so the Saints are going to need to run the ball like they did against Philly. Brees cannot throw 2 early interceptions again if they want to win this game. Lance Moore needs to be involved heavily in the slot because you know that Seattle's 2 top corners will be focusing on Graham and Colston. I have a feeling that some strange special teams play will turn this game in one of the team's favor.

I expect the Panthers-49ers game to go similar to their first meeting, with both teams playing it conservative and leaning heavily on their defense. I give the edge to SF because without Steve Smith, the Panthers offense is very limited and the 49ers will load the box and take away the run. The trio of Crabtree, Boldin, and Vernon Davis will keep the Panthers D honest and if Kaep can make a few big pass plays to them like he did yesterday, then it will open up the running game.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

I expect the Panthers-49ers game to go similar to their first meeting, with both teams playing it conservative and leaning heavily on their defense. I give the edge to SF because without Steve Smith, the Panthers offense is very limited and the 49ers will load the box and take away the run. The trio of Crabtree, Boldin, and Vernon Davis will keep the Panthers D honest and if Kaep can make a few big pass plays to them like he did yesterday, then it will open up the running game.

We will have Steve Smith and Jonathan Stewart back next week.

Gonna be a close game, but I think Cam will make more plays than Colin. Add that to this time we're playing them at home (Being the first home playoff game since 08) and the "black out" we are having... I think we will pull out a nailbiter. Still, this wasn't the team I wanted to face.

Panthers are 9-0 when Cam runs more than 7 times.. but Cam said in the post-practice interview he can't make a living out of running the ball, and said he's gonna look to pass more, only to run when the offense "needs a spark". I'm glad he's turning (or at least trying to) into a conventional QB.

[Darth_Pelican]

We will have Steve Smith and Jonathan Stewart back next week.

Gonna be a close game, but I think Cam will make more plays than Colin. Add that to this time we're playing them at home (Being the first home playoff game since 08) and the "black out" we are having... I think we will pull out a nailbiter. Still, this wasn't the team I wanted to face.

I didn't realize that Smith would be back. That's huge for you guys. Even is he isn't 100%, he can help stretch the field and force SF to keep an extra Safety back

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

I didn't realize that Smith would be back. That's huge for you guys. Even is he isn't 100%, he can help stretch the field and force SF to keep an extra Safety back

yeah he's the inspiration/team captain so having him on the field is definitely big. it was a big reason we struggled against atlanta last week.

[Darth_Pelican]

Past 2 season's representation in the divisional round of the playoffs:

NFC West: 4 appearances
NFC South: 3 appearances
NFC North: 1 appearance
NFL East: 0 appearances

[.G.]

Earlier this morning my Dan Patrick "confirmed through his sources" that the league will have two additional wildcard games for next year's playoffs. Should make it easier for some teams to make the playoffs, e.g. dlls, and hopefully avoid the scheduling atrocity that has an elite 12-4 team visiting a mediocre 8-7-1 squad.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

Sons I'm so hype about this match Sunday.. if I have to work I'm gonna go ape

[Thread]

These are my anti-Media wants:::

Saints @ Seahawks:::Media wants no part of the Saints winning this game. They want to see the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Ipso facto, I'll pull mightily for the Saints here.

Niners @ Panthers:::Media wants no part of the Panthers winning this game. They're fully vested in Kaepernik now. He brought Media home over the weekend and he is their golden boy now. Ipso facto, I'll pull mightily for the Panthers here.

[spurraider21]

chicken hiding from the NBA forum

[dirk4mvp]

These are my anti-Media wants:::

Saints @ Seahawks:::Media wants no part of the Saints winning this game. They want to see the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Ipso facto, I'll pull mightily for the Saints here.

Niners @ Panthers:::Media wants no part of the Panthers winning this game. They're fully vested in Kaepernik now. He brought Media home over the weekend and he is their golden boy now. Ipso facto, I'll pull mightily for the Panthers here.

in the nfl forum, cully?

[mojorizen7]

The NFC West is gonna run this whole NFL thing for awhile. Division is stacked defensively with grade A rushing attacks. Even the inferior Rams are better than all the conference teams that missed out on the playoffs(minus AZ).

SF and Seattle in the NFC le game.

[Robz4000]

It's ridiculous tbh. A couple years ago the NFC West was the laughing stock of the NFL, producing the worst divisional winner (record-wise) ever; now its one of the most stacked divisions in recent memory.

[benefactor]

If the Saints can somehow get out of Seattle they will win the Superbowl.

[Pelicans78]

If the Saints can somehow get out of Seattle they will win the Superbowl.

Correct.

Payton and Brees can't screw this up. They have the defense and playmakers around them to get it done.

[Darth_Pelican]

Correct.

Payton and Brees can't screw this up. They have the defense and playmakers around them to get it done.

Keenan Lewis needs to pass the concussion tests or we're ed.

[leemajors]

The NFC West is gonna run this whole NFL thing for awhile. Division is stacked defensively with grade A rushing attacks. Even the inferior Rams are better than all the conference teams that missed out on the playoffs(minus AZ).

SF and Seattle in the NFC le game.

Of course, the NFL has zero parity. Nice take.

[Clipper Nation]

These are my anti-Media wants:::

Saints @ Seahawks:::Media wants no part of the Saints winning this game. They want to see the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Ipso facto, I'll pull mightily for the Saints here.

Niners @ Panthers:::Media wants no part of the Panthers winning this game. They're fully vested in Kaepernik now. He brought Media home over the weekend and he is their golden boy now. Ipso facto, I'll pull mightily for the Panthers here.

Chicken

[Clipper Nation]

It's ridiculous tbh. A couple years ago the NFC West was the laughing stock of the NFL, producing the worst divisional winner (record-wise) ever; now its one of the most stacked divisions in recent memory.

When a whole division gets that many high draft picks, they have to stop sucking eventually

[Ghazi]

Saints have an underrated chance v the Seahawks. Theyre underdogs deservingly but have a legit shot

[Spur-Addict]

Saints have an underrated chance v the Seahawks. Theyre underdogs deservingly but have a legit shot

I agree. Everyone is setting this up to be some sort of upset of epic proportions if N.O pulls it out. I think that's a ridiculous point of view for a top 5 team on both sides of the ball, and a 12-4 regular season record to boot.

[The Gemini Method]

I agree. Everyone is setting this up to be some sort of upset of epic proportions if N.O pulls it out. I think that's a ridiculous point of view for a top 5 team on both sides of the ball, and a 12-4 regular season record to boot.

Saints have the potential to beat the Seahawks most definitely--it's hard to beat a team a 2nd time as was the case for Wildcard Weekend. By the way, the Saints went 11-5 and not 12-4, Addict.

[Spur-Addict]

Saints have the potential to beat the Seahawks most definitely--it's hard to beat a team a 2nd time as was the case for Wildcard Weekend. By the way, the Saints went 11-5 and not 12-4, Addict.

Ha! Thanks for the correction. I botched that

But yes that's certainly a nice point to add, it's hard beating a quality opponent twice in one season, no matter how the initial game turned out. Our play against the Niners and Cardinals are certainly evidence of that.

[The Gemini Method]

Ha! Thanks for the correction. I botched that

But yes that's certainly a nice point to add, it's hard beating a quality opponent twice in one season, no matter how the initial game turned out. Our play against the Niners and Cardinals are certainly evidence of that.

That's why it's going to be a great run if Seattle is able to pull it off because if they manage to beat the Saints they'll have back-to-back weeks where they play a team for the 2nd time no matter whomever wins the SF vs Car tilt. Hopefully the hunger will drive the team forward.

[Holden_Caulfield]

niners vs seahawks nfccg would be nice