AFC Matchups for Next Week: What Say You?

[WilliamPitt]

Pats v. Broncos

Steelers v. Colts

Me, I say the Pats and Steelers will be damned, hugely, epically, ridiculously lucky to eek out wins against Denver and Indy.

[SpiralHawk]

1. The Pats remain Super Bowl Champions until...

someone pulls the trophy from thier cold, dead toes.

And I think they can take the Broncos, even in Denver.

The Pats are tuned up now, and ready to rock and roll.

Bring it on...

Patriots by 7...

[PDittie]

2. That sounds about right

There's more interesting contests in the National, and the Redskins and Panthers ought to keep it rolling next week.

I think Carolina is the only team that can stay on the Super Bowl field with either the Colts or the Pats, whichever emerges.

[WilliamPitt]

3. The only problem with the NFC

is that any team to win through to the Super Bowl will be meat for their AFC foe. It is what it is; one league is clearly stronger than the other.

[PDittie]

5. True dat.

Indy's high voltage fries John Fox's swarming defense. An the Pats have beaten them in the Supe before; Belichick can do it again.

[MrSlayer]

7. That is said every year but never happens.

The Pats have won their three bowls by three points every time. The Rams, Panthers and Eagles all were right there at the end and could have won. The last blowout in the Super Bowl was when the Bucs did a dickdance on the Raiders. The AFC may have the upper hand right now overall but in the Super Bowl it's been close.

[trotsky]

13. Yep, after nearly two decades of dominance by the NFC,

the tide has completely turned. Even when teams in the NFC rise up, they are rarely dominant for long, whereas you have a good bunch of teams in the AFC that are nearly always in the mix.

Interesting stat I learned the other day: only two teams in the NFC have had non-losing seasons for each of the past three years. Seattle and Minnesota!

[Robeson]

4. I'd go with the Broncos and Colts to win.....

...though I'd not be surprised if the Pats did win. The Steelers will be overwhelmed.

[MrSlayer]

6. Personally, I'm hoping the Patriots win it all again.

But it's awfully hard to win against a team that's coming off a bye. If anyone can do it though it's Brady and company, they just know what it takes and while Plummer has had a good year, he doesn't inspire fear and can be erratic. In the other game, I don't know what I want more. I despise the Steelers but I also despise Manning and the jocking he gets all the time from the media. The Colts will probably rip them.

I'm taking the Pats and the Colts, setting up what will hopefully be another humiliating defeat for the golden boy in the Championship game.

[WilliamPitt]

8. From your lips to God's ears...

[timber84]

9. Will that's what they said about the Pats in the AFC championship

last year, basing it on the Steeler's dominating win over the Pats during the regular season game on Halloween. Don't ever count the Steelers out.

[joeybee12]

10. I say, "Oy vey!"

I have no clue.

I can sort of see the Pats beating Denver, then again, it is in Denver.

As for Indy and the Steelers, my gut reaction is that the Colts will romp, but I just wonder if they're as good now as they were during the beginning to middle part of the season. I think they've gone down a notch.

[underpants]

11. Broncos are best team that I have seen this year

and yes that includes the Colts.

It will probably be the Broncos (hate them still due to Elway) and the Colts (REFUSE in any way to root for them).

Rooting for the Pats of course.

[joeybee12]

12. You know, I live in Denver, so their games are on every week....

...and I have a different reaction. Not a Broncos fan, I should say. I see them as being very inconsistent. During the first half of the season I was waiting for the collapse, since they were winning, but just barely.

[kick-ass-bob]

14. Two Words:

Jake Plummer.

That should be enough to strike fear into the hearts of all Denver fans.
I believe that we will see the return of "Jake the Snake" again this weekend after the Pats stuff the running game.

Be afraid Bronco fans.

Go Panthers!

[joeybee12]

15. BTW, I think your Panthers might beat the Bears...

...still convinced Da Bears are back. Then again, I think NY was vastly over-rated, so yesterday's win might not mean as much as some might think!

[timber84]

16. Weather might be a factor

The Panthers should be hoping for clear ski's and no wind.

[kick-ass-bob]

17. Won't matter if we can run the ball

like we have in the past 2 games.

[timber84]

18. Yes your right but don't forget they are a good defense and

weather would hamper long throws to S.S. and John Kasay has not been his self this year.

[kick-ass-bob]

19. Well, Smith caught about 14 passes last time for a buck and a half

(of course, he didn't score) x(

They don't always have to go deep for him to be effective, either.

I definitely know they are good on defense, I am expecting a real struggle for either team to win it.

[Awsi Dooger]

20. Colts and others

Admittedly I default to stats too much since it's related to my job, but their numbers in the most historically relevant categories are significantly above the other candidates. Particularly if you exclude the final 3 meaningless games after they clinched. Indy was a truly dominant team this year for 13 games and I'm not forgetting or diminishing that. They jumped on the Bengals, Pats and Steelers immediately and make those games look like glorified walkovers. Toss in the home field and I can't see Indy losing.

I respect the Patriots immensely but in contrast their most vital stats scream fraud. I realize that was residue of injury but in football I can't remember a relevant example of a team waking up in the playoffs after a doldrums season. Maybe way back when I was a kid, the '68 Packers who went 9-4-1 then won it all in Lombardi's final season with Green Bay.

[britpopper]

21. Rematch of last year's AFC Championship...

Only with different results...

Patriots beat Broncos
Steelers upset Colts

Then...
Steelers avenge last year and beat Patriots...

Then...
Steelers beat whatever sap comes out of the NFC in Detroit to end Motown's own Jerome Bettis' career in grand fashion...

Woo-hoo!
Go Steelers!