NFL 2008 Season Wildcard Weekend Picks

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/29/2008 @ 05:00:50 PM
It's on!		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Carlos44ec - "If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style." 12/29/2008 @ 06:37:10 PM
I forgot last week's picks. Damn me.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	PackOne - Push the little daisy's and make em come up. 12/29/2008 @ 07:06:37 PM
They can't even sell out the Dome. 20,000 left, enjoy the blackout.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - I hate our freedoms 12/29/2008 @ 10:12:07 PM
The article you're quoting from was written roughly 12-14 waking hours after the day/time of the game was released with 6 days left to go. Not sure it's time to hit the panic button yet.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 08:17:33 AM
I have a feeling you will be fine, but you can look at it in two ways- 1) Vike fans and the fake Vike fans (you know who you are, you're out there, watching) will go nuts and grab up the tickets. This is, in fact, a good year for them Vikes. 2) People will go at it in a negative manner- "Aww shucks, it's the Vikes, they're gonna choke for sure!" and not even bother to go. Either way, I wish them all the best- the better they do, the more chances of scandal in the off-season!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	jay6666 - 29 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 08:21:42 AM
All away teams!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - On your mark...get set...Terrible! 12/30/2008 @ 08:37:08 AM
The real battle this weekend is the battle for first place between Matt, Scott, and Jeremy for the Picks championship. I made the same picks as Matt, so I cannot catch him, but Jeremy can either gain a win or fall 3 wins behind Matt. (I did not base my picks on Matt's picks, just for the record).		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 08:44:23 AM
"Falcons @ Cardinals Sarah I have to make 4 witty comments this week? Wasn't a regular seasonful enough for all ya'll? " Oh, you mean like this one? "Sarah Huh, those Dolphins."		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Jeremy - I believe virtually everything I read. 12/30/2008 @ 09:29:58 AM
Carlos44ec Wrote - Today @ 08:17:33 AM I have a feeling you will be fine, but you can look at it in two ways- 1) Vike fans and the fake Vike fans (you know who you are, you're out there, watching) will go nuts and grab up the tickets. This is, in fact, a good year for them Vikes. 2) People will go at it in a negative manner- "Aww shucks, it's the Vikes, they're gonna choke for sure!" and not even bother to go. Either way, I wish them all the best- the better they do, the more chances of scandal in the off-season! Wouldn't the Vikings have to be favored for something to count as a "choke?"		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Carlos44ec - A Vote for me is a Vote against Terrorism! ...or atleast just wasted. 12/30/2008 @ 09:36:20 AM
In a word: no. To me (and maybe only me) choking is when you've qualified for something or achieved a certain inferred level of excellence, then completely fail to capitalize or do anything with your "earned" opportunity.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Carlos44ec perfected this at 12/30/2008 9:44:12 am

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 09:54:30 AM
So 11 teams "choke" in the playoffs every season? Even the Cardinals who only made it as kings of a shit heap? Even the Eagles who only had a chance to make it because the Raiders and Texans took out the two playoff teams ahead of them? No matter who loses it's a choke? One team always chokes? I'd have to disagree. Seems to me the word is pretty liberally applied to pretty much any Viking loss by Packer fans, despite the fact that the Packers have done a lot of actual choking lately. You have to actually be favored to win, or up big at some point in said game, for it to qualify as a "choke" in my book. Edit: Also, 37.5% of the teams in the league make the playoffs, I'm not sure that qualifies as an "inferred level of excellence."		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy screwed with this at 12/30/2008 9:57:56 am

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? 12/30/2008 @ 10:17:29 AM
Well, the Eagles can't choke, because they won the Wild Card which isn't really even winning anything.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 3 times.

	Jeremy - Super Chocolate Bear 12/30/2008 @ 10:20:03 AM
I'd say "touche", if that had anything to do with anything, or meant anything.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 10:21:21 AM
Maybe I should say they Clinched the wild card. Is that better?		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 3 times.
Scott edited this at 12/30/2008 10:23:57 am

	Jeremy - 1.21 Gigawatts!?!? 12/30/2008 @ 10:26:08 AM
In that case, yes.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 03:42:05 PM
PackOne Wrote - Yesterday @ 07:06:37 PM They can't even sell out the Dome. 20,000 left, enjoy the blackout. Jeremy Wrote - Yesterday @ 10:12:07 PM The article you're quoting from was written roughly 12-14 waking hours after the day/time of the game was released with 6 days left to go. Not sure it's time to hit the panic button yet. There's still 14,000 to go, and I've pretty much changed my mind. I'm pretty sure it will still sell out, but the fact that it's taking this long speaks volumes about the general apathy toward sports of the Twin Cities. I used to think the team moving was a long shot. If this game doesn't sell out, it seems like it would be inevitable. It would be awfully hard to even blame Wilf. The area has been jerking him around on a stadium for years, and I can't think of a bigger way to state "we don't give a crap about this team" then the fact that this game might not (legitimately*) sell out. The economy is not an issue, times are tough everywhere, and 3,490,000 people in the Metro aren't affected by it to the tune of $40 being too much to spend in a fiscal year. Every team, every year, sells playoff tickets "just after Christmas" and "with New years coming up." These aren't excuses. It's another clear cut sign of the apathy of people in the immediate area toward the teams, and frankly it's embarrassing**. *I very much doubt a blackout will happen. A business could step in and bail them out. **Though, to be fair, the Vikings showed a remarkable lack of foresight. Starting this year they offered "pay as we play" payment options. Most teams all but force season ticket holders to buy their seats in the playoffs, the Vikings gave fans the option this year. So the Vikings knew how many were turned down. They didn't have to wait until after the game to start marketing. The team also needs to grasp that they have a shallow, broad, fan base, and stop operating like they have a deep local fan base. People drive HOURS to go to Viking games, which is tough to do on short notice. Flight/Bus/Hotel packages should have been put in place weeks ago.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy screwed with this 4 times, last at 12/30/2008 4:09:17 pm

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 04:13:00 PM
Good point Jeremy. You know, I think I would go see this game, just to go. $40 for an NFL ticket at the dome? you betcha. Just have to find someone that would want to go- and that doesn't already have season tickets.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - You're going to have to call your hardware guy. It's not a software issue. 12/30/2008 @ 04:41:47 PM
$40 for NFL Playoff ticket? I paid $100 for a regular season buccaneers ticket, at regular price.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - I believe virtually everything I read. 12/30/2008 @ 04:52:15 PM
The prices don't go up a whole lot, if at all, for the playoffs. Our seats are like $25 for regular season. Not sure what they are for the playoffs.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 12/30/2008 @ 07:18:30 PM
there are tix for 30, plus the INconvenience fee of 6.75. I'm considering the trip downtown.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	jthompto - 209 Posts 12/31/2008 @ 11:47:35 AM
I must say I am a little embarrased to be a Vikings fan and also a person originally from the Twin Cities. Our first playoff game at home since 2000 and we can't even sell it out by the deadline. Miami sold out in like an hour. If I lived closer would definately go. I agree with Jeremy, why were they not selling and promoting these playoff tickets weeks ago. I beleive the Twins had promotions on their website at the beginning of September when the team didn't even make the playoffs.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Carlos44ec - A Vote for me is a Vote against Terrorism! ...or atleast just wasted. 12/31/2008 @ 12:02:05 PM
I'm looking for someone to go with. Unfortunately everyone I know that will definitely be making the trip has season tickets, or has no interest in going.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 01/02/2009 @ 11:11:23 AM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3805670 I guess he deserved it.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - Knuckle Sammich 01/02/2009 @ 12:07:23 PM
He got it for the commercials he's in.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/02/2009 @ 01:39:58 PM
Carlos44ec Wrote - Today @ 01:07:23 PM He got it for the commercials he's in. Maybe not for the double-stuffed racing league. The Sony commercial with the San Diego chicken is pretty good.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - "The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawnmower." 01/02/2009 @ 02:28:29 PM
I like the one for the hotels		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - Refactor Mercilessly 01/04/2009 @ 11:16:44 AM
The Colts got hosed. Edit: To elaborate, on the facemask call the LB had one of the offensive lineman's hands up inside his facemask, which cannot be legal. The defensive holding call was super weak. Make that both of the defensive holding calls were super weak. The NFL should have a rule that the officiating crew that calls the most penalties during the season is banned from the postseason. The refs decided that game.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Alex perfected this 2 times, last at 01/04/2009 11:36:56 am

	Sarah - So's your face 01/04/2009 @ 11:51:43 AM
Carlos44ec Wrote - 01/02/2009 @ 02:28:29 PM I like the one for the hotels I like the one for MasterCard.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 01/04/2009 @ 01:55:05 PM
How ridiculous is this Dolphins-Ravens game? 5 turnovers by the "we never turn it over" Dolphins and there's still 9 minutes left in the 3rd. Surprisingly, they're only down by 10.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 01/04/2009 @ 02:54:30 PM
I'm really going for an 0-4 start to the playoff picks, that's it.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/04/2009 @ 04:32:16 PM
I just saw a stat about Adrian Peterson that he fumbled 9 times this season. I found that interesting, because of all the talk about Ahman Green being a fumbling machine, he never fumbled more than 7 times in any season. And let's face it, Ahman Green had issues with fumbles.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	PackOne - You analyze me. Tend to despise me. You laugh when I stumble and fall. 01/04/2009 @ 05:09:32 PM
I saw that stat too. What helped Ahmad Green was having Favre. Without Favre, Ahman would have fumbled at least twice as much if not more.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	PackOne - 1528 Posts 01/04/2009 @ 07:05:53 PM
Packers fire Bob Sanders.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Super Chocolate Bear 01/04/2009 @ 10:57:40 PM
Scott Wrote - Today @ 04:32:16 PM I just saw a stat about Adrian Peterson that he fumbled 9 times this season. I found that interesting, because of all the talk about Ahman Green being a fumbling machine, he never fumbled more than 7 times in any season. And let's face it, Ahman Green had issues with fumbles. I suppose the implied question there is is "Why did it come up all the time with Ahman and not with Adrian?" to which I'll say. a) It does, a lot, which is likely why you saw the stat in the first place. b) Ahman is no AP, and that's just how the world works, even if it were true. Obviously I'm disappointed the Vikings lost, but I'm really not all that upset about it. I would have been pissed if they lost last week, but for some reason I'm not now, even though this game is obviously "bigger." I guess I feel like when a person is on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" (which apparently is a statement) and last week was the 32 thousand dollar question and this week was the $64k*. Ultimately you've already accomplished something, and all you lose on the 64 thousand dollar question is the right to keep going toward the million**. The ideal goal is a the million, but everyone who doesn't win the million can't write it off as a complete failure, because few people do win it all, and some people go home with nothing. *I think maybe the "safe level"/dollar-amounts have changed since the old days, but no one watches anymore anyway. ** Well, and $64k		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this 3 times, last at 01/04/2009 11:02:26 pm

	Carlos44ec - What the F@#$ am I being arrested fo? 01/05/2009 @ 08:21:40 AM
PackOne Wrote - Yesterday @ 05:09:32 PM I saw that stat too. What helped Ahmad Green was having Favre. Without Favre, Ahman would have fumbled at least twice as much if not more. How does that work? Unless you're talking about how the ball was passed between them, this has nothing to do with anything.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - "The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawnmower." 01/05/2009 @ 08:24:00 AM
I just wish that Vikes fans would have talked it up more, bragged, and were a little less negative about the whole deal. That way I could have come in this morning and smiled inwardly at all the lowered heads. You folks seem to have seen this coming.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - If you aren't enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 01/05/2009 @ 08:56:44 AM
I went 0-4. That was unexpected.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	PackOne - The girls all know he's "way cool" Jr. 01/05/2009 @ 09:17:54 AM
Carlos44ec Wrote - Today @ 08:21:40 AM PackOne Wrote - Yesterday @ 05:09:32 PM I saw that stat too. What helped Ahmad Green was having Favre. Without Favre, Ahman would have fumbled at least twice as much if not more. How does that work? Unless you're talking about how the ball was passed between them, this has nothing to do with anything. It doesn't Carlos...unless your a die-hard Favre lover that gets sarcasm and plays nutcan softball.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Robots don't say 'ye' 01/05/2009 @ 10:09:35 AM
I'm pretty sure that makes no sense no matter who you are.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Pie Racist 01/05/2009 @ 10:23:01 AM
Carlos44ec Wrote - Today @ 08:24:00 AM I just wish that Vikes fans would have talked it up more, bragged, and were a little less negative about the whole deal. That way I could have come in this morning and smiled inwardly at all the lowered heads. You folks seem to have seen this coming. It's a foreign concept to Packer fans, I know, but you aren't always the best team, and acting like you always are doesn't make you "positive," it makes you an idiot. The Vikings were the best team in the division, had some potential to do some damage in the post season, at least in the sense that there wouldn't be any matchup where it would be a monster upset. (There were also few chances they would have been expected to win at any point.) That said, they weren't THAT good either. They were hardly a "Superbowl or bust" team. The play calling is a disaster, the o-line needs work, and we might need to keep looking for a QB. I don't see how having reasonable expectations for a team is being negative.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy screwed with this at 01/05/2009 10:28:27 am

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 12:47:20 PM
PackOne Wrote - Yesterday @ 05:09:32 PM I saw that stat too. What helped Ahmad Green was having Favre. Without Favre, Ahman would have fumbled at least twice as much if not more. ahmad green =/ ahman green		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	jthompto 01/05/2009 @ 01:00:20 PM
The Vikings met my expectations this season. They won the Division because they had the most talent. I thought they would have had a good chance to win a home playoff game but they ran into a Philly D that is playing really well and with a young QB making his first playoff start, thats never good. I feel this team is being held back mostly by the coaching staff and mostly on offense. Leslie Frazier is the best coach on the team and he will be gone in a few days as he takes the Rams or Lions job. Chilly and Bevell continue to use no creativity in their offense. The offense was completly awful in the second half and blew chance after chance. Jackson made one really bad choice with the Pick 6, but I am not ready to get rid of him yet. I think they should bring in someone other than an aging veteran to compete for the starting job and make Jackson earn it. Right tacke is a really weak spot and Adrian Peterson needs to learn how to pass block and pick up the blitz. Even though AP had the one big run, Chester was more effective yesterday.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 01:09:55 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 10:23:01 AM The Vikings were the best team in the division, had some potential to do some damage in the post season, at least in the sense that there wouldn't be any matchup where it would be a monster upset. (There were also few chances they would have been expected to win at any point.) That said, they weren't THAT good either. They were hardly a "Superbowl or bust" team. The play calling is a disaster, the o-line needs work, and we might need to keep looking for a QB. I don't see how having reasonable expectations for a team is being negative. Well, you could have told me this BEFORE the game so I could have picked the Eagles.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 01:10:35 PM
jthompto Wrote - Today @ 01:00:20 PM Jackson made one really bad choice with the Pick 6, but I am not ready to get rid of him yet. I think they should bring in someone other than an aging veteran to compete for the starting job and make Jackson earn it. I think they should trade for Favre.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - I was too weak to give in Too strong to lose 01/05/2009 @ 01:13:15 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 10:09:35 AM I'm pretty sure that makes no sense no matter who you are. I think I caught the drift.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 01:15:32 PM
Chester is often more effective. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say AP is overrated, but we're not the "one man show" people on the outside looking in seem to think we are. As far as Jackson goes, there's no clear "right" move and no clear "wrong" move. He played pretty badly last night, but so did Tony Romo the week before. That's what happens when a QB has .002 seconds to dump the ball. Declaring T-Jack's career a bust is ridiculous. People need to stop acting like he's the only QB to ever have a "slow start," and it's not even apparent it was his problem. The play calling is awful and the offense is a mess most of the time. 90% of our offense is flat passes that, if picked go for 6, and if caught gain 3 yards. T-Jack made many plays over the last few weeks that G-Frer had no prayer of making. It's really just another example the media deciding the storyline of someone's season/career and facts/rationality be damned. That said, even if we had a crystal ball that says T-Jack will be the MVP of the league in 2014-2019, that doesn't mean the best move for the team is going into the year with a big question mark there. The rest of the team is set, we can't have 2-3 years of mediocrity there while the window closes.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 01:24:13 PM
Alex Wrote - Today @ 01:10:35 PM jthompto Wrote - Today @ 01:00:20 PM Jackson made one really bad choice with the Pick 6, but I am not ready to get rid of him yet. I think they should bring in someone other than an aging veteran to compete for the starting job and make Jackson earn it. I think they should trade for Favre. Well, if the Jets want him to be the starter they won't trade him, and they'd owe him way too much to be a potential backup. If it wasn't a 100% sure thing he'd be the starter I think they'd be wise to just cut him, assuming he even wants to play.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy messed with this 2 times, last at 01/05/2009 1:28:37 pm

	Carlos44ec - 2079 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 03:49:57 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 01:24:13 PM Alex Wrote - Today @ 01:10:35 PM jthompto Wrote - Today @ 01:00:20 PM Jackson made one really bad choice with the Pick 6, but I am not ready to get rid of him yet. I think they should bring in someone other than an aging veteran to compete for the starting job and make Jackson earn it. I think they should trade for Favre. Well, if the Jets want him to be the starter they won't trade him, and they'd owe him way too much to be a potential backup. If it wasn't a 100% sure thing he'd be the starter I think they'd be wise to just cut him, assuming he even wants to play. Look for a tearful interview, a re-retirement decision, then some chatter about how much he still wants to play- followed by a media blitz, and then... oh hell, nevermind.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - I was too weak to give in Too strong to lose 01/05/2009 @ 05:13:01 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 01:24:13 PM Alex Wrote - Today @ 01:10:35 PM jthompto Wrote - Today @ 01:00:20 PM Jackson made one really bad choice with the Pick 6, but I am not ready to get rid of him yet. I think they should bring in someone other than an aging veteran to compete for the starting job and make Jackson earn it. I think they should trade for Favre. Well, if the Jets want him to be the starter they won't trade him, and they'd owe him way too much to be a potential backup. If it wasn't a 100% sure thing he'd be the starter I think they'd be wise to just cut him, assuming he even wants to play. Was totally kidding.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	PackOne - 1528 Posts 01/05/2009 @ 05:16:05 PM
I think that Favre will actually hang it up.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 01/06/2009 @ 10:58:01 AM
Not to rush, but we can't make picks for the Divisional round yet.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - ...and Bob's your Uncle! 01/06/2009 @ 11:19:11 AM
I blame Jeremy		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 01/06/2009 @ 11:35:15 AM
Oops, hang on. Wouldn't want to deprive us of another dismal week.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.