NFL Divisional Playoffs

[Roy Hersh]

You're right but last weekend I was 3 fer 4 and missed that 4th one by one point. So 6 fer 7 so far and with Denver going to wipe up the Dead Batteries from SC, and like I predicted 12 (or more) points ... well, we have to wait until the game is played, but the donkeys moved quickly down the field with dinks and dunks and pure passing prowess. Can you tell I hate Denver? LOL

[Ray Barnes]

No Roy, I hadn't noticed actually - thought you didn't like the singer of the same name (ducks).

All kidding aside, the Broncos are doing well so far.

[Roy Hersh]

You gotta love Rivers hard edged guts and unwillingness to give up. One TD separates them now. Impressive come back. MO has changed. Anything is possible. I'd still bet on Denver.

[Ray Barnes]

True enough, but in the end the Chargers D could not get Rivers the ball back. I think the better team won, the result was fair, and I agree with the CBS commentators that the 4 best teams made it through to the penultimate round.

[Ray Barnes]

Surprise, surprise.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... ake-in-win

[Roy Hersh]

For once, I agree that the best 4 teams in the NFL are left for Conference Championship Games.

I don't need to wait to make my predictions.

Seattle over 49'ers by 3 points 24-21 in a closely contested brutal battle of these excellent teams.

Denver over New England in one of the best AFC Championship games in ages. Really close down to the wire and a good clean fight. Denver wins by 4 points, 35-31.


Playoff Game Prognostications so far this year: 7 -1

[Ray Barnes]

Congrats on your 7-1 record so far. At the moment I am leaning towards Seattle and New England. but that may change.

Extreme fantasy football booking: Denver vs. New England vs. Seattle, on a triangular field. To avoid officiating controversy, there will be no penalties. In a brilliant masterstroke, Peyton Manning deliberately throws a pass to Richard Sherman, who is set upon by a swarm of Broncos, Patriots and a few incensed spectators. Russell Wilson misses two offensive series due to sudden incontinence.

[Ray Barnes]

Early prognostication for AFC Championship:

New England: 28
Denver: 24
Number of times Peyton Manning calls "Omaha": 46

[Eric Menchen]

Number of times Peyton Manning calls "Omaha": 46

I think you are way low on that one, or are you counting a single play in which he says it twice as one? Denver had 70 plays last week, with no punts and just two field goal attempts. How many of those got two "Omaha"s?

I had no favorite in Carolina vs. SF, but must say some poor officiating really hurt the Panthers:
- Missed call for 12 men on the field. No debate there.
- Missed call for a head butt. It was called the other way, so not much debate there.
- Poor call for a late hit on the tipped reception attempt since the ball was clearly still in play. This last one is subjective, but it seemed pretty clearly wrong.

[Ray Barnes]

The Province newspaper even published an article about the Omaha shouting, shucks (sic). Perhaps the count was conservative. I can't comment on the officiating controversy in the Panther game, didn't see it.

Rumor has it that the Omaha Chamber of Commerce wants to engage Peyton Manning in a promotional campaign, but there is an insurance problem.

[Eric Menchen]

You might be better off with 46 than I realized. With respect to the San Diego game:

According to an NFL.com video montage, Manning barked "Omaha" before the ball was snapped 44 times during the game.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2013/st ... nap-shouts

[Eric Ifune]

How about adding the times calling "Omaha" with the number of times calling "Hurry" as well.

[Ray Barnes]

Agreed. I have some silly stuff on this to post in a new thread.

[Eric Ifune]

A group of Omaha, NE companies have gotten together and will donate $500 each time Manning uses "Omaha" in his snap count. The money will be donated to Manning's charities. Last week he used it 44 times.
I've also heard that the Omaha Steak company is interested in some ads as well.