Predicting NFC Wild Cards (CBSSportsline)

TallySaint · 12-07-2006, 03:43 PM

Predicting NFC wild cards as easy as pulling teeth

Dec. 7, 2006

By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer

Someone recently asked me which NFC teams I liked as wild-card entries for the playoffs and, after pausing a moment, I asked him if it mattered. The answer is no, it doesn't.

There are four bona fide playoff clubs in the NFC, and they are Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and New Orleans. Period. That doesn't mean someone can't emerge from the pack in the last couple of weeks, but tell me which of these 6-6 teams you like to catch fire.

The Giants? They've lost four straight.

Carolina? It's in the middle of a two-game slide.

Atlanta? It just broke a four-game skid by beating Washington. Yeah, I know, big deal. Well, in the NFC it is.

And what about Philadelphia? It was supposed to be toast. Then it overcame Carolina for its second win in seven games.

Those are your choices, people. I don't know what to make of them, either, but I'm going to give it a shot.....

New York Giants

The good: Tiki Barber continues to carry this club. His career might be winding down, but Barber isn't. His 1,564 yards rank fourth in the league and comprise 38.6 percent of the team's offense. Barber typically gains strength as the year goes on (six of his eight 100-yard efforts last season were in the second-half) which means it's his time to take over. Quarterback Eli Manning showed signs of emerging from a slump against Dallas, and I'm not talking about his two touchdowns and no interceptions; I'm talking about that last scoring drive when he led the Giants 63 yards in 2:27 and was 6-for-6 passing.

The bad: The Giants are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, and while last weekend's effort against Dallas was their best in awhile, a loss is a loss is a loss. There's always the possibility that the bottom falls out, proving that last weekend's game was the final gasp of a dying patient. I don't see it that way, but check for a pulse Sunday against Carolina.

The ugly: Inconsistency reigns on the field; chaos reigns off it. One week the Giants forfeit a 21-point fourth-quarter lead; the next they're committing dumb personal fouls. And that's a problem. In fact, the Giants' 708 yards in penalties are the fourth-highest in the league, and that's not what I'd call discipline, Tom Coughlin. The team's locker room outbursts gain more attention than they probably deserve, but they're symptoms of a larger headache: Coughlin may have lost control of his team.

The prognosis: Good. The Giants have too much talent to die. They played well against a surging Dallas team last weekend and are getting players healthy when they need them most. The only winning opponent on their schedule, New Orleans, will be faced at home on Christmas Eve. That's a break. If Manning can continue to minimize his mistakes, and the club shows a little discipline the Giants should make it.

Story continues....
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9855587/2

8)

TheDeuce · 12-07-2006, 04:18 PM

I'm thinking it's going to be Carolina and the G-Men. I would say the Eagles over the Giants, but I just don't think Jeff Garcia can get it done anymore, especially with such a weak receiving corps.

TallySaint · 12-07-2006, 09:04 PM

I'm thinking it's going to be Carolina and the G-Men.

Yep. Giants need to start thinking about winning a game or two, ifuknowwhudimean.

8)

12-07-2006, 03:43 PM	#1
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	Predicting NFC Wild Cards (CBSSportsline) Predicting NFC wild cards as easy as pulling teeth Dec. 7, 2006 By Clark Judge CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer Someone recently asked me which NFC teams I liked as wild-card entries for the playoffs and, after pausing a moment, I asked him if it mattered. The answer is no, it doesn't. There are four bona fide playoff clubs in the NFC, and they are Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and New Orleans. Period. That doesn't mean someone can't emerge from the pack in the last couple of weeks, but tell me which of these 6-6 teams you like to catch fire. The Giants? They've lost four straight. Carolina? It's in the middle of a two-game slide. Atlanta? It just broke a four-game skid by beating Washington. Yeah, I know, big deal. Well, in the NFC it is. And what about Philadelphia? It was supposed to be toast. Then it overcame Carolina for its second win in seven games. Those are your choices, people. I don't know what to make of them, either, but I'm going to give it a shot..... New York Giants The good: Tiki Barber continues to carry this club. His career might be winding down, but Barber isn't. His 1,564 yards rank fourth in the league and comprise 38.6 percent of the team's offense. Barber typically gains strength as the year goes on (six of his eight 100-yard efforts last season were in the second-half) which means it's his time to take over. Quarterback Eli Manning showed signs of emerging from a slump against Dallas, and I'm not talking about his two touchdowns and no interceptions; I'm talking about that last scoring drive when he led the Giants 63 yards in 2:27 and was 6-for-6 passing. The bad: The Giants are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, and while last weekend's effort against Dallas was their best in awhile, a loss is a loss is a loss. There's always the possibility that the bottom falls out, proving that last weekend's game was the final gasp of a dying patient. I don't see it that way, but check for a pulse Sunday against Carolina. The ugly: Inconsistency reigns on the field; chaos reigns off it. One week the Giants forfeit a 21-point fourth-quarter lead; the next they're committing dumb personal fouls. And that's a problem. In fact, the Giants' 708 yards in penalties are the fourth-highest in the league, and that's not what I'd call discipline, Tom Coughlin. The team's locker room outbursts gain more attention than they probably deserve, but they're symptoms of a larger headache: Coughlin may have lost control of his team. The prognosis: Good. The Giants have too much talent to die. They played well against a surging Dallas team last weekend and are getting players healthy when they need them most. The only winning opponent on their schedule, New Orleans, will be faced at home on Christmas Eve. That's a break. If Manning can continue to minimize his mistakes, and the club shows a little discipline the Giants should make it. Story continues.... http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9855587/2 8)
	My Guardian Angel wears a hard hat.

12-07-2006, 04:18 PM	#2
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928	RE: Predicting NFC Wild Cards (CBSSportsline) I'm thinking it's going to be Carolina and the G-Men. I would say the Eagles over the Giants, but I just don't think Jeff Garcia can get it done anymore, especially with such a weak receiving corps.
TheDeuce 1000 Posts + Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,928

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12-07-2006, 09:04 PM	#3
TallySaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,367	I'm thinking it's going to be Carolina and the G-Men. Yep. Giants need to start thinking about winning a game or two, ifuknowwhudimean. 8)