Divisional Weekend Thread

[MadtownPacker]

Balance has been restored in the universe.
The Lions and Vikings winning would have resulted in celestial armageddon.

And losses got worse and worse and worse.

[Joemailman]

Balance has been restored in the universe.
The Lions and Vikings winning would have resulted in celestial armageddon.

Not only that, it would have the end of the universe as we know it.

[beveaux1]

Every NFC North team in the playoffs lost their only playoff game. Tells me that we were gifted with an incredibly easy schedule that made our records better than they should have been.

[Joemailman]

Every NFC North team in the playoffs lost their only playoff game. Tells me that we were gifted with an incredibly easy schedule that made our records better than they should have been.

I don't think that was it. The strength of schedule and strength of victory of the Lions, Vikings and Packers was in the upper half. I just think the three teams weren't playing their best ball at the end of the season. The Lions were decimated by injuries on defense. The Packers were struggling offensively. Darnold played terribly his last couple of games. They all lost playoff games to teams (Commanders, Eagles and Rams) that were playing very well down the stretch.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

So, the fucking Pussies costed me $300. Also, lost another $400 at the poker tables.

Like a degenerate, I’ve decided to “chase the losses” by putting $500 on the Italianos and Hillbillies, ML parlay @ +165. Smart or dumb?

[Fosco33]

I could see the Rams winning today - Eagles offense wasn’t all that impressive

[run pMc]

I don't think that was it. The strength of schedule and strength of victory of the Lions, Vikings and Packers was in the upper half. I just think the three teams weren't playing their best ball at the end of the season. The Lions were decimated by injuries on defense. The Packers were struggling offensively. Darnold played terribly his last couple of games. They all lost playoff games to teams (Commanders, Eagles and Rams) that were playing very well down the stretch.

Agree, I think the shine had come off Minnesota a bit, and they seemed hungover from the Week 18 loss to DET. GB was similarly trending the wrong way, fading from 9-3 to 11-6.
DET was so beat up on defense the only way they were going to win in the playoffs was via shootout, which they are very capable of doing IF they don't turn the ball over. Today Goff played like early Goff and looked rattled and was bad under pressure. I also think DET got too cutesy with trick plays and the Williams INT cost them.

The easy-schedule thing isn't entirely wrong, the NFCN played the AFCS which was not a great division, and the NFCW was kind of a mess - ARI was an average team, SEA had a bad OL, and injuries decimated SF.
I don't think any boost the schedule provided to their record was THAT a big deal though - PHI & WAS could fatten up on a bad NYG and iffy DAL team twice, plus they played an ugly NFCS division.

When the playoffs come around it's about matchups, health, and momentum. You can often throw the regular records out, especially when a team has a hot start and cools off.

[Joemailman]

I could see the Rams winning today - Eagles offense wasn’t all that impressive

Barkley ran for 255 yards when the 2 teams met earlier this year. But the Rams defense has been better lately. If they can hold Barkley somewhat in check, they can win.

[MadtownPacker]

I could see the Rams winning today - Eagles offense wasn’t all that impressive

Stupid ass APB didn’t consider the “Katrina” factor at play. Rams could get sympathetic treatment like New Orleans did back in 2008. NFL let them cheapshot Favre to the point they had to make “new” rules about it the following season.

Yea Fozzy I would see the Rams win. They are playing good and eagles are not impressive.

[MadtownPacker]

Barkley ran for 255 yards when the 2 teams met earlier this year. But the Rams defense has been better lately. If they can hold Barkley somewhat in check, they can win.

Thinking if they just don’t allow hurts to make crucial plays like the Packers did Barkley can have his yards.

[run pMc]

I think Hurts was rusty from not playing, and Hafley had a decent game plan.
I think PHI's OL will be able to handle LAR's DL better than MIN.

Rams offense will be hard to stop, but PHI's secondary is very good. McVay > Sirianni as a coach, so I think it's a close game. LAR played a little undisciplined at times vs. MIN, I think because they smelled blood in the water, and that might hurt them against PHI... Eagles are just a very solid team and the 2 seed for a reason.

[run pMc]

A little Schadenfreude to go with my chamomile tonight. LOL.

Trying to limit how much Schadenfreude I enjoy so as not to tempt or upset the football gods, but I am feeling a bit smug about both the MIN and DET losses.
DET's loss is as bad as GB's in 2011, both were 15 win teams. Feels like it adds to DET's history of futility/being cursed.

[MadtownPacker]

Trying to limit how much Schadenfreude I enjoy so as not to tempt or upset the football gods, but I am feeling a bit smug about both the MIN and DET losses.
DET's loss is as bad as GB's in 2011, both were 15 win teams. Feels like it adds to DET's history of futility/being cursed.

I feel ya Run. It did feel good to watch them come crashing down to Earth. It was really great therapy after last Sunday.

[Fosco33]

100%

[Fosco33]

Man. I hit 10k posts and didn’t even realize it. At least one or two years got wiped when I was more active here.