http://packerfansunited.blogspot.com/2007/12/packers-to-play-sat-jan-12.html
The upcoming playoffs. The Pack will host their first home playoff game at 3:30 CT on Saturday, Jan. 12 against an as-yet-to-be-determined opponent. If Seattle wins its game against Washington, the Seahawks will come to Lambeau. If Seattle loses, the winner of the Giants-Buccaneers game will travel to GB:
Saturday, Jan. 5
3:30 p.m. - Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks
7 p.m. - Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, Jan. 6
Noon - New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3:30 p.m. - AFC 6th seed at San Diego Chargers)
Saturday, Jan. 12
3:30 p.m. - TBD at Green Bay Packers
7 p.m. - TBD at New England Patriots
Sunday, Jan. 13
Noon - TBD at Indianapolis Colts
3:30 p.m. - TBD at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, Jan. 20
2 p.m. - AFC Championship
5:30 p.m. - NFC Championship
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cheatsheetforthenflplayo&prov=tsn&type=lgns
Cheat sheet for the NFL playoffs
AFC
No. 1 seed: New England Patriots
Pluses: The quarterback and wide receiver are sensational, the coach is the best and the players covet rings like J-Lo.
Minuses: Foul weather could foul up the Pats' passing game. Their secondary is vulnerable if the opposing QB gets protection.
Bottom line: It will be bigger news if the perfect Patriots don't win the Super Bowl than if they do.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
No. 2 seed: Indianapolis Colts
Pluses: Peyton Manning can pick apart any opponent. Indy's defense is quick and smart, and its big-game experience makes it panic-proof.
Minuses: The pass rush is weak, and if anything happens to hard-hitting safety Bob Sanders, the defense becomes average.
Bottom line: The Colts are the NFL's second-best team. If they can get past the Patriots, they'll repeat.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
No. 3 seed: San Diego Chargers
Pluses: Defensive playmakers force turnovers. Having the world's best running back makes everyone else on offense better.
Minuses: If you contain LaDainian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers won't beat you. This team has been spooked by playoff pressure in the past.
Bottom line: In the NFC, the Chargers would be a serious Super Bowl threat. In the AFC, they'll fall short.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
No. 4 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pluses:Coordinator **** LeBeau's defense is consistently good. Ben Roethlisberger is having a great season with little fanfare.
Minuses:The Steelers are a bad road team. Their offense will lack balance without Willie Parker, and Roethlisberger must be superb.
Bottom line: They peaked too early, and the AFC is too tough for a team to fake its way through.
Momentum: Going backward.
No. 5 seed: Jacksonville Jaguars
Pluses: The NFL's most physical team pounds people with its running game and defense. Play the Jaguars, bring Tylenol.
Minuses: The offense lacks big-play ability. When the Jaguars fall behind by more than a touchdown, they have trouble coming back.
Bottom line: The Jags are best equipped to upset the Patriots, but a lack of playoff experience hurts.
Momentum: Headed in the right direction.
No. 6 seed: Tennessee Titans
Pluses: The defensive line creates havoc, the running game is solid, and the kicker can win a game if the team keeps it close.
Minuses: Vince Young has had an up-and-down season and is coming off a quadriceps injury. His receiving unit isn't star-studded, either.
Bottom line: The Titans have come on of late, but they have too many holes to make a playoff run.
Momentum: Stalled.
NFC
No. 1 seed: Dallas Cowboys
Pluses: Their offense is always on the attack. They have the stars on the field to match the stars on their helmets.
Minuses: Jessica Simpson's favorite QB occasionally has a clunker. Tony Romo and T.O. must be right for the Cowboys to win.
Bottom line: With the road to Glendale going through Dallas, this team should reach the Super Bowl.
Momentum: Stalled.
No. 2 seed: Green Bay Packers
Pluses: No team has improved more since Week 1. A legendary quarterback leads a talented young nucleus.
Minuses: Brett Favre doesn't win in Dallas. And when he plays from behind, he starts throwing more passes to the other team.
Bottom line: Failing to gain home-field advantage will be the Packers' undoing unless Dallas loses in Round 2.
Momentum: Headed in the right direction.
No. 3 seed: Seattle Seahawks
Pluses: Mike Holmgren's play-calling and Matt Hasselbeck's smarts make for a dynamite offense. Who needs a running game?
Minuses: An easy schedule made the Seahawks look better than they are. They didn't play the Cowboys, Packers or Giants.
Bottom line: It's hard to see Seattle winning more than one playoff game -- even with a hot Hasselbeck.
Momentum: Stalled.
No. 4 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pluses: The quarterback (Jeff Garcia) and coach (Jon Gruden) are playoff proven. The defense features savvy veterans.
Minuses: The red zone offense and running game are concerns. They've lost their edge since clinching the division.
Bottom line: The Bucs had a nice season, but they're not good enough to win the NFC.
Momentum: Going backward.
No. 5 seed: New York Giants
Pluses: A terrific pass rush, a consistent running game and mental toughness give the Giants a chance in any game.
Minuses: Eli Manning is inconsistent and plays poorly in bad weather, which will make a long playoff run more difficult.
Bottom line: The Giants are excellent on the road and could be a sleeper. But more than one playoff win is unlikely.
Momentum: Stalled.
No. 6 seed: Washington Redskins
Pluses: The Redskins win with a strong running game, a low-risk offense and a swarming defense that hits hard and tackles well.
Minuses: They have trouble scoring, so when their defense comes up short, they have little chance of winning.
Bottom line: No NFC team has played better December football. Washington will be a tough out.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703757
Note: Bigby late show is deadissue...settled with McCarthy in a meeting.
Spitz, Blackmon closer: Guard Spitz (thigh) and cornerback Will Blackmon (foot) did not practice but McCarthy is confident both will be able to take part next week. "It's positive every day when we talk to the medical staff," McCarthy said, referring to Spitz's status. "McKenzie thinks he's making very good progress. He won't practice until next week. I don't have the exact day that he will go but he's very optimistic he will go." With Spitz sidelined, Moll got most of the practice at right guard. Colledge continued at left guard
Blackmon will test his right foot on Monday. Williams is preparing to fill in for Blackmon. Williams briefly held the punt-return duties before Blackmon regained his role. Injury update: Linebacker White (ankle), fullback Kuhn and tight end Franks (ankle) were held out of practice to help their nagging injuries. Fullback Hall and quarterback Rodgers returned to practice. Receiver Koren Robinson left practice to get what he termed "routine maintenance" on his right knee.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703801
Getting by playoff hurdle: Packers, Favre want to avoid recent history
The turnabout has been amazing. The talk about Packers quarterback Brett Favre the past few years has revolved almost solely around the timing of his eventual retirement. It seemed time was being extended each year. Now, with the Packers armed with a first-round bye in the playoffs by virtue of their 13-3 record, time may be running out....think three years ago we were saying, 'He's done.' And I was saying the same thing, and here we are," Favre said. "Stranger things have happened. We may go 14-2 next year, so who knows?" Maybe in the end, time will end up standing still a little longer.
PREDICT OUR OPPONENT & WILD CARD WINNERS.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703756
NFL Playoff Capsules
Washington Redskins (9-7) at Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
When: 3:30 p.m. today
Player to watch: Redskins quarterback Todd Collins has thrown five touchdowns and no interceptions in his four starts.
Recent history: Seattle won an NFC divisional playoff in 2005 to snap a four-game skid in the series.
Key statistic: Seattle is 7-1 at home this season.
picks: Straight up, Washington; vs. spread, Washington.
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
When: 7 tonight.
Player to watch: Former Packers running back Najeh Davenport will have to carry the Steelers' ground game with Willie Parker out.
Recent history: The Jaguars have won the last three meetings, including a 29-22 victory in Week 15.
Key statistic: Jacksonville has scored at least 24 points in its last 10 games.
picks: Straight up, Jaguars; vs. spread, Jaguars.
New York Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
When: Noon Sunday.
Player to watch: Grey Ruegamer, who played in Green Bay from 2003-'05, will see a lot of action at center for the Giants after Shaun O'Hara hurt his knee in the regular-season finale.
Recent history: The Giants have won two of the last three matchups.
Key statistic: Tampa Bay is winless in the playoffs since its victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
picks: Straight up, Giants; vs. spread, Giants.
Tennessee Titans (10-6) at San Diego Chargers (11-5)
When: 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Player to watch: Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman hurt his knee in the teams' meeting in Week 14 and said it was on a cheap shot from the Titans.
Recent history: San Diego's 23-17 overtime victory this season extended its winning streak against Tennessee to five.
Key statistic: The Titans allowed just two 100-yard rushers this season. One was San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, who torched Tennessee for 146 yards on the ground.
picks: Straight up, Chargers; vs. spread, Chargers.
Wild Card Weekend Picks: Who's going to win?
Jax or Pittsburgh?
Tennessee or San Diego?
Washington or Seattle?
Giants or Tampa Bay?
:USA:
mg: :yeah: mg: :USA:
The upcoming playoffs. The Pack will host their first home playoff game at 3:30 CT on Saturday, Jan. 12 against an as-yet-to-be-determined opponent. If Seattle wins its game against Washington, the Seahawks will come to Lambeau. If Seattle loses, the winner of the Giants-Buccaneers game will travel to GB:
Saturday, Jan. 5
3:30 p.m. - Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks
7 p.m. - Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, Jan. 6
Noon - New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3:30 p.m. - AFC 6th seed at San Diego Chargers)
Saturday, Jan. 12
3:30 p.m. - TBD at Green Bay Packers
7 p.m. - TBD at New England Patriots
Sunday, Jan. 13
Noon - TBD at Indianapolis Colts
3:30 p.m. - TBD at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, Jan. 20
2 p.m. - AFC Championship
5:30 p.m. - NFC Championship
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=cheatsheetforthenflplayo&prov=tsn&type=lgns
Cheat sheet for the NFL playoffs
AFC
No. 1 seed: New England Patriots
Pluses: The quarterback and wide receiver are sensational, the coach is the best and the players covet rings like J-Lo.
Minuses: Foul weather could foul up the Pats' passing game. Their secondary is vulnerable if the opposing QB gets protection.
Bottom line: It will be bigger news if the perfect Patriots don't win the Super Bowl than if they do.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
No. 2 seed: Indianapolis Colts
Pluses: Peyton Manning can pick apart any opponent. Indy's defense is quick and smart, and its big-game experience makes it panic-proof.
Minuses: The pass rush is weak, and if anything happens to hard-hitting safety Bob Sanders, the defense becomes average.
Bottom line: The Colts are the NFL's second-best team. If they can get past the Patriots, they'll repeat.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
No. 3 seed: San Diego Chargers
Pluses: Defensive playmakers force turnovers. Having the world's best running back makes everyone else on offense better.
Minuses: If you contain LaDainian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers won't beat you. This team has been spooked by playoff pressure in the past.
Bottom line: In the NFC, the Chargers would be a serious Super Bowl threat. In the AFC, they'll fall short.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
No. 4 seed: Pittsburgh Steelers
Pluses:Coordinator **** LeBeau's defense is consistently good. Ben Roethlisberger is having a great season with little fanfare.
Minuses:The Steelers are a bad road team. Their offense will lack balance without Willie Parker, and Roethlisberger must be superb.
Bottom line: They peaked too early, and the AFC is too tough for a team to fake its way through.
Momentum: Going backward.
No. 5 seed: Jacksonville Jaguars
Pluses: The NFL's most physical team pounds people with its running game and defense. Play the Jaguars, bring Tylenol.
Minuses: The offense lacks big-play ability. When the Jaguars fall behind by more than a touchdown, they have trouble coming back.
Bottom line: The Jags are best equipped to upset the Patriots, but a lack of playoff experience hurts.
Momentum: Headed in the right direction.
No. 6 seed: Tennessee Titans
Pluses: The defensive line creates havoc, the running game is solid, and the kicker can win a game if the team keeps it close.
Minuses: Vince Young has had an up-and-down season and is coming off a quadriceps injury. His receiving unit isn't star-studded, either.
Bottom line: The Titans have come on of late, but they have too many holes to make a playoff run.
Momentum: Stalled.
NFC
No. 1 seed: Dallas Cowboys
Pluses: Their offense is always on the attack. They have the stars on the field to match the stars on their helmets.
Minuses: Jessica Simpson's favorite QB occasionally has a clunker. Tony Romo and T.O. must be right for the Cowboys to win.
Bottom line: With the road to Glendale going through Dallas, this team should reach the Super Bowl.
Momentum: Stalled.
No. 2 seed: Green Bay Packers
Pluses: No team has improved more since Week 1. A legendary quarterback leads a talented young nucleus.
Minuses: Brett Favre doesn't win in Dallas. And when he plays from behind, he starts throwing more passes to the other team.
Bottom line: Failing to gain home-field advantage will be the Packers' undoing unless Dallas loses in Round 2.
Momentum: Headed in the right direction.
No. 3 seed: Seattle Seahawks
Pluses: Mike Holmgren's play-calling and Matt Hasselbeck's smarts make for a dynamite offense. Who needs a running game?
Minuses: An easy schedule made the Seahawks look better than they are. They didn't play the Cowboys, Packers or Giants.
Bottom line: It's hard to see Seattle winning more than one playoff game -- even with a hot Hasselbeck.
Momentum: Stalled.
No. 4 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pluses: The quarterback (Jeff Garcia) and coach (Jon Gruden) are playoff proven. The defense features savvy veterans.
Minuses: The red zone offense and running game are concerns. They've lost their edge since clinching the division.
Bottom line: The Bucs had a nice season, but they're not good enough to win the NFC.
Momentum: Going backward.
No. 5 seed: New York Giants
Pluses: A terrific pass rush, a consistent running game and mental toughness give the Giants a chance in any game.
Minuses: Eli Manning is inconsistent and plays poorly in bad weather, which will make a long playoff run more difficult.
Bottom line: The Giants are excellent on the road and could be a sleeper. But more than one playoff win is unlikely.
Momentum: Stalled.
No. 6 seed: Washington Redskins
Pluses: The Redskins win with a strong running game, a low-risk offense and a swarming defense that hits hard and tackles well.
Minuses: They have trouble scoring, so when their defense comes up short, they have little chance of winning.
Bottom line: No NFC team has played better December football. Washington will be a tough out.
Momentum: Full speed ahead.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703757
Note: Bigby late show is deadissue...settled with McCarthy in a meeting.
Spitz, Blackmon closer: Guard Spitz (thigh) and cornerback Will Blackmon (foot) did not practice but McCarthy is confident both will be able to take part next week. "It's positive every day when we talk to the medical staff," McCarthy said, referring to Spitz's status. "McKenzie thinks he's making very good progress. He won't practice until next week. I don't have the exact day that he will go but he's very optimistic he will go." With Spitz sidelined, Moll got most of the practice at right guard. Colledge continued at left guard
Blackmon will test his right foot on Monday. Williams is preparing to fill in for Blackmon. Williams briefly held the punt-return duties before Blackmon regained his role. Injury update: Linebacker White (ankle), fullback Kuhn and tight end Franks (ankle) were held out of practice to help their nagging injuries. Fullback Hall and quarterback Rodgers returned to practice. Receiver Koren Robinson left practice to get what he termed "routine maintenance" on his right knee.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703801
Getting by playoff hurdle: Packers, Favre want to avoid recent history
The turnabout has been amazing. The talk about Packers quarterback Brett Favre the past few years has revolved almost solely around the timing of his eventual retirement. It seemed time was being extended each year. Now, with the Packers armed with a first-round bye in the playoffs by virtue of their 13-3 record, time may be running out....think three years ago we were saying, 'He's done.' And I was saying the same thing, and here we are," Favre said. "Stranger things have happened. We may go 14-2 next year, so who knows?" Maybe in the end, time will end up standing still a little longer.
PREDICT OUR OPPONENT & WILD CARD WINNERS.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=703756
NFL Playoff Capsules
Washington Redskins (9-7) at Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
When: 3:30 p.m. today
Player to watch: Redskins quarterback Todd Collins has thrown five touchdowns and no interceptions in his four starts.
Recent history: Seattle won an NFC divisional playoff in 2005 to snap a four-game skid in the series.
Key statistic: Seattle is 7-1 at home this season.
picks: Straight up, Washington; vs. spread, Washington.
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
When: 7 tonight.
Player to watch: Former Packers running back Najeh Davenport will have to carry the Steelers' ground game with Willie Parker out.
Recent history: The Jaguars have won the last three meetings, including a 29-22 victory in Week 15.
Key statistic: Jacksonville has scored at least 24 points in its last 10 games.
picks: Straight up, Jaguars; vs. spread, Jaguars.
New York Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
When: Noon Sunday.
Player to watch: Grey Ruegamer, who played in Green Bay from 2003-'05, will see a lot of action at center for the Giants after Shaun O'Hara hurt his knee in the regular-season finale.
Recent history: The Giants have won two of the last three matchups.
Key statistic: Tampa Bay is winless in the playoffs since its victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
picks: Straight up, Giants; vs. spread, Giants.
Tennessee Titans (10-6) at San Diego Chargers (11-5)
When: 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Player to watch: Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman hurt his knee in the teams' meeting in Week 14 and said it was on a cheap shot from the Titans.
Recent history: San Diego's 23-17 overtime victory this season extended its winning streak against Tennessee to five.
Key statistic: The Titans allowed just two 100-yard rushers this season. One was San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, who torched Tennessee for 146 yards on the ground.
picks: Straight up, Chargers; vs. spread, Chargers.
Wild Card Weekend Picks: Who's going to win?
Jax or Pittsburgh?
Tennessee or San Diego?
Washington or Seattle?
Giants or Tampa Bay?
:USA:
mg: :yeah: mg: :USA:
op: hey this is maddie her grand daughter i think you are the best player
