Deadspin: 2008 NFL Playoffs

Super Bowl Pants Party: Patriots Vs. Giants

Leitch — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:45:21 EST

After a week of drivel so repetitive that we were reduced to writing this, we finally land, inevitably, on the game itself. Whew. That took forever.

No more football until September. Enjoy it.

The picks, y'all.

• Cool Standings: Patriots.
• Football Outsiders: Patriots, "by some score that will make Giants fans angry."
• Matt Pitzer: Patriots 38, Giants 17.
• Dan Shanoff: Patriots 41, Giants 17.
• With Leather: Patriots 52, Giants 20.
• Michael David Smith: Patriots 30, Giants 20.
• Big Daddy Drew: Patriots 30, Giants 20.
• AJ Daulerio: Giants 33, Patriots 30.
• DEADSPIN: Patriots 44, Giants 17. Yep: This one feels like an early '90s blowout.

Your thoughts?

NFC Championship Pants Party: Packers Vs. Giants

Leitch — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:15:29 EST

Eli Manning against Brett Favre. The debate about the relative attributes of these two quarterbacks has raged for a generation. At last, it will be settled on the field.

Finally, some variety!

The picks, y'all.

• Cool Standings: Packers.
• Football Outsiders: Packers.
• Matt Pitzer: Packers.
• Dan Shanoff: Packers.
• With Leather: Giants.
• Michael David Smith: Packers.
• Big Daddy Drew: Giants.
• AJ Daulerio: Packers.
• DEADSPIN: Giants. We agree with Drew and Simmons: We never get the matchup we want.

Your thoughts?

AFC Championship Pants Party: Patriots Vs. Chargers

Leitch — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:35:23 EST

Does anyone out there dare? Can anyone claim, with a straight face, that the Chargers are going to win this game? It's the AFC Championship, and we haven't found a single person who is taking the underdog. Sad state of affairs.

Anybody here have the intestinal fortitude to tilt at a windmill here?

The picks, y'all.

• Cool Standings: Patriots.
• Football Outsiders: Patriots.
• Matt Pitzer: Patriots.
• Dan Shanoff: Patriots.
• With Leather: Patriots.
• Michael David Smith: Patriots.
• Big Daddy Drew: Patriots.
• AJ Daulerio: Patriots.
• DEADSPIN: Patriots. Nope. We didn't think anyone would take a chance here. We're surely not.

Your thoughts?

NFL Divisional Pants Party: Cowboys Vs. Giants

Leitch — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:40:28 EST

You know what would really blow people's minds? If Jessica Simpson would have dated Eli Manning instead. Man, those guys would have some scintillating conversations.

Anyway, everyone's hyped about this game, but we're wary. It has the feel of one of those "end of the best weekend of football snoozers." That's a brand name term we just invented.

The picks, y'all.

• Cool Standings: Giants.
• Football Outsiders: Cowboys.
• Matt Pitzer: Cowboys.
• Dan Shanoff: Cowboys.
• With Leather: Giants.
• Michael David Smith: Cowboys.
• Big Daddy Drew: Cowboys.
• AJ Daulerio: Giants.
• DEADSPIN: Cowboys. We have a sneaking suspicion Owens is going to go nuts. And by that, we mean "play well," not what he usually does.

Your thoughts?

NFL Divisional Pants Party: Colts Vs. Chargers

Leitch — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:35:31 EST

For whatever reason, everyone seems to be sleeping on this game. We are wary of that; this seems like the game with the most potential to be a wild 41-38, last second field goal type of game.

But if you listen to pretty much everybody talking about the game ... well, nobody trusts Norv.

• Cool Standings: Chargers.
• Football Outsiders: Colts.
• Matt Pitzer: Colts.
• Dan Shanoff: Colts.
• With Leather: Colts.
• Michael David Smith: Colts.
• Big Daddy Drew: Colts.
• AJ Daulerio: Colts.
• DEADSPIN: Chargers. Seriously, everyone: This team, Gates or no, they're pretty talented, right? We didn't imagine that, did we? For one day, we say Norv is vindicated.

Your thoughts?

NFL Divisional Pants Party: Patriots Vs. Jaguars

Leitch — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:30:03 EST

It's always nice to see the NFL adopting baseball's strategy of scheduling the most exciting postseason games really late at night. Though we might just be getting old.

Patriots-Jaguars. Will the monstrous horned beast be felled?

• Cool Standings: Patriots.
• Football Outsiders: Patriots.
• Matt Pitzer: Patriots.
• Dan Shanoff: Jaguars.
• With Leather: Patriots.
• Michael David Smith: Patriots.
• Big Daddy Drew: Jaguars.
• AJ Daulerio: Patriots.
• DEADSPIN: Patriots. Sorry, guys: We just don't see it.

Your thoughts?

NFL Divisional Pants Party: Packers Vs. Seahawks

Leitch — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:35:44 EST

OK, everyone, it's the best football weekend of the year. Seriously: Four awesome games, all weekend. What more could someone want?

The first game is perhaps the least intriguing, which is kind of amazing, considering it might be Brett Favre's last game in Green Bay. (Boy, does that phrase sound familiar.)

Let's go to the predictions from around the Interwebs:

• Cool Standings: Packers.
• Football Outsiders: Packers.
• Matt Pitzer: Seahawks.
• Dan Shanoff: Packers.
• With Leather: Packers.
• Michael David Smith: Seahawks.
• Big Daddy Drew: Packers.
• AJ Daulerio: Packers.
• DEADSPIN: Packers. We know Green Bay has struggled lately, and they're hardly as dominant at home as usual ... but sorry, we just can't see Matt Hasselbeck charging off Lambeau Field victorious in Favre's potential last game there.

Your thoughts?

NFL Wild Card Pants Party: Chargers Vs. Titans

Leitch — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:01:00 EST

Finally ... the game everyone can agree on, right? Blowout, yes? Vince Young crying on the sidelines while Merril Hoge cackles? Yes?

Let's see what the kids say.

• Cool Standings: Chargers.
• Football Outsiders: Chargers.
• Matt Pitzer: Chargers.
• Bill Simmons: Chargers.
• Michael David Smith: Chargers.
• Big Daddy Drew: Chargers.
• Dan Shanoff: Chargers.
• AJ Daulerio: Chargers.
• DEADSPIN: Chargers. At last, gleeful consensus. Which means of course San Diego is toast. If the Bolts lose this game, they'll execute Norv Turner at midfield.

Your thoughts?

NFL Wild Card Pants Party: Buccaneers Vs. Giants

Leitch — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:35:30 EST

We are incredibly pleased to live in a world in which this guy is facing off against this guy in an NFL playoff game.

Let's go to the predictions from around the Interwebs:

• Cool Standings: Giants.
• Football Outsiders: Buccaneers.
• Matt Pitzer: Buccaneers.
• Bill Simmons: Buccaneers.
• Michael David Smith: Buccaneers.
• Big Daddy Drew: Buccaneers.
• Dan Shanoff: Buccaneers.
• AJ Daulerio: Buccaneers.
• DEADSPIN: Giants. We think Eli Manning will save his late-game, back-breaking interception for the Packers.

Your thoughts?

NFL Wild Card Pants Party: Steelers Vs. Jaguars

Leitch — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:10:43 EST

Everybody loves the Jaguars all of a sudden. We dunno: If Big Ben stays off the bike, look out.

A look at predictions from around the Interwebs:

• Cool Standings: Steelers.
• Football Outsiders: Jaguars.
• Michael David Smith: Jaguars.
• Big Daddy Drew: Jaguars.
• Dan Shanoff: Jaguars.
• AJ Daulerio: Jaguars.
• DEADSPIN: Steelers. Everyone's obsessed with that potential Jaguars-Patriots matchup ... but Mike Tomlim is so dreamy!

Your thoughts?

NFL Wild Card Pants Party: Seahawks Vs. Redskins

Leitch — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:35:28 EST

All right, kids, the playoffs are beginning Saturday, so it's time to start sorting some of these wild-card matchups. We find one game compelling, two somewhat intriguing and one rather dull. This is in that middle category.

We just hope the memory of Sean Taylor will not be disrespected if the Redskins, you know, lose.

A roundup of predictions around this here Interwebs:

• Cool Standings: Seahawks.
• Football Outsiders: Seahawks.
• Michael David Smith: Seahawks.
• Big Daddy Drew: Seahawks.
• Dan Shanoff: Seahawks.
• AJ Daulerio: Redskins.
• DEADSPIN: Redskins. We really haven't been sold on the Seahawks all year. Maybe Shaun Alexander will collapse directly on the field as a result of the ball being pushed too hard into his sternum.

Your thoughts?

The Only Playoff Simulation That Matters

Leitch — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:35:35 EST

We're just two days away from the beginning of the NFL playoffs — woo! — and that can only mean one thing: Time for Tecmo Bowl simulations of each playoff game.

Above is the second half of the Giants-Buccaneers tilt; it's amazing how compelling watching the final seconds turns out to be. We are almost certain that will be more entertaining than the actual game.

Tecmo-izing The Playoffs: Wild Card Weekend [ArmchairGM]