# NFL Conference Finals: Predictions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2001, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131 "2001-01-09T07:50:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/21 "2001-01-11T02:49:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > **But I’ve been wondering something this whole season: why the rabid hatred of the Giants? No other team had as much ill-will directed towards them. … Some insist it is bad play, but, as their record indicates, the are not a bad team.** As I argued elsewhere, they’re the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked. Now to see if I can successfully get that URL in here … Ok, I can’t seem to find a way to link directly to the post, but [here’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=53651) a link to the thread where some of us explain why we think the Giants are overrated. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/22 "2001-01-11T04:10:39Z")
Go Ravens! I had the Ravens’ defense on my fantasy football team, and they won me a good bit of moolah. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/23 "2001-01-11T04:22:55Z")
The **Vikings** will win come sunday. **Gazoo** , as always, some great picks, you will go 2-0 this weekend. Although, I do like the Raiders, Brian Billick graduated from my high school, so I’m going to root for the Ravens. Scientific picks, eh.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![webmastr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@webmastr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/webmastr)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/24 "2001-01-11T05:47:39Z")
\*\*Gazoo \*\*, interesting picks. We differ on the Ravens/Raiders. Turnovers play a big part in _every_ game; this aspect is just magnified a bit more in the playoffs when you can’t make up for it the next week. As I mentioned, if the Ravens get 14 points from their defense, I think they win. I see them getting possibly one touchdown; at least one turnover could lead to some points (FG?), but I think Gannon is just to poised at this point to make any real stupid mistakes – and fluke plays (bounce of pads, ball bounces funny ways on a fumble, etc.) can go either way, which means they cancel out in forecasting (but can go a long ways towards deciding the game!). Question: how many turnovers do you think the Ravens need to create to win (if any)? ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/25 "2001-01-11T08:12:03Z")
Biggirl - Sorry, missed your post the first time. I’m sure at least some of it is animosity against New York, but beyond that, the general (cough, sputter, choke) consensus is that the Giants don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. Because they got an “easy” division (which very rarely is easy, AND which the Redskins were supposed to dominate, BTW…how soon we forget). Plus they’re extremely “boring” to watch. Lord knows those Redskins meltdowns were _so_ much more exciting. Especially the Cardinals loss. 😛 The problem I have with this is that they’re in the damn conference championships. You don’t get that far by luck…ask the Dolphins. _Furthermore_, the raps on the Giants could also apply to the Raiders, who 1) Won a lot of close games, 2) barely won what wasn’t exactly a monster division despite losing BOTH Broncos games, and 3) didn’t have to face either of their worst opponents, the Broncos and Titans, in the playoffs. There’s a reason they say it’s better to be lucky than good, and (even if it isn’t entirely true) in the case of at least two of the surviving teams, a little luck never hurt. And again, who’d you _rather_ have Minnesota face in the big game? The Buccaneers? (Please don’t say the Buccaneers…) ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/26 "2001-01-11T14:02:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by webmastr \* > \*\*Question: how many turnovers do you think the Ravens need to create to win (if any)? \*\* I think they need to end up at least +2 in the turnover department. Another blocked kick would help too, but I feel sorry for the poor guy who has to stick his hand in front of the cannonball coming off of Janikowski’s foot. **Biggirl** - As I’ve posted before, I agree with you that the Giants are getting a bad rap. _No_ bad team has ever been 12-4 in the regular season, _or_ made it to the Conference Championship. It just doesn’t happen. Part of the lack of respect, I’m sure, is the lack of nationally televised games which means most of us haven’t seen them play as often as the “marquee” teams. That makes it appear, at least somewhat, as if they somehow sneaked into the palyoffs when we weren’t looking. But I still think they lose this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2001, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/27 "2001-01-11T18:39:58Z")
webmastr, Why don’t you tell Tony Siragusa he’s fat and disgusting? He does a live radio show from The Barn on Thursday nights, I’d be happy to drive you over. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/28 "2001-01-12T00:55:19Z")
As someone else on the SDMB said…I will never root for the Ravens as long as Art Modell pretends to breath. Go Raiders! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/29 "2001-01-12T01:24:27Z")
**Wierddave** , not everybody reads The Pit. Some people are going to wonder where that remark came from. ---
**Author:** ![webmastr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc29f/32.png) [@webmastr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/webmastr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/30 "2001-01-12T01:51:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\ ***Wierddave** , not everybody reads The Pit. Some people are going to wonder where that remark came from. \*\* Yeah. You should at least provide a link. Of course, since I am an insenstive asshole, my opinion doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/31 "2001-01-12T04:18:53Z")
No link. This thread has been hijacked enough. GO GIANTS! ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2001, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/32 "2001-01-12T14:27:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narile \* > \*\*As someone else on the SDMB said…I will never root for the Ravens as long as Art Modell pretends to breath. > > Go Raiders! \*\* Ahh, good to see my friend **Sledman** hasn’t been entirely forgotten on the boards while he works away getting everyone in the Northern Hemisphere their W-2’s. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/33 "2001-01-14T20:36:06Z")
Having picked the Vikes…😃 ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/34 "2001-01-14T20:39:09Z")
Is anyone else watching the NFC Championship right now? Because, dammit, it’s happening again. And while I’m releived that my Dreamcast is safe (wait, did I say “not literally”? Never mind…), it’s still amazing to watch. For the record, there’s about nine minutes left in the game and the Giants have already scored the most points they have _all season_ and given up none (even with a missed field goal). I hate to say “I told you so”, but…wait a minute, I only said it’d be a blowout, not necessarily a _Giants_ blowout. Again, never mind. (Though you have to admit, I did get it really close to what should be the actual final score…) Day-amn. Doesn’t ANYONE want to win the Super Bowl this year? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/35 "2001-01-14T20:51:16Z")
…and a proud Minnesota tradition continues with the favored Vikings being completely blown out of the NFC Championship. But do not fret, Purple Faithful, for in the Philip K. Dick-esque alternate universe the Vikings have actually won the Super Bowl, World War III, been declared world chess champions and were the last ones remaining on the island in the alternate “Survivor” TV show (narrowly edging out Stacy and the clumsy old lady). ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/36 "2001-01-14T21:00:06Z")
I’m shocked. I mean, I knew the Giants had to play their best game today, but I didn’t think their best game was this good. Did the Vikes choke? Well, yea. I kept expecting the explosion and hoping the Giants would be able to contain it. No explosion. BTW, what the hell is an “ominus”? ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/37 "2001-01-14T21:51:45Z")
There is no god. Wait, there is. But he must be a Giants fan. Probably feels guilty over that whole ‘David incident’ way back then. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/38 "2001-01-14T23:08:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Giants 42-0. Heeeeey…not bad! To be honest, I thought they would have to play their A game, along with some Viking mistakes, to even win. The Giants played near error-free ball in all three phases of the game, even with a few key players not at 100%. Even if the Vikings played up to their offensive potential in that game, the Giants still had it by a good two touches. I haven’t seen such domination since my Bills beat the Raiders in the AFC championship a few years back. People have been dogging the Giants all year. I think it’s about time that they get the respect that they deserve. I’ve been a Giants apologist the past few weeks. This is because I live with a Giants fan, and I’ve seen most of their games. This team plays with heart and poise that most people haven’t even gotten a chance to see. The Giants had a 1,000 yard and 800 yard rushers, 3,600 yards passing offense, and one of the best defenses in the NFC. The coaching staff has been phenomenal, and they’ve certainly proven that they can beat anyone, even the high-powered passing offenses that were supposed to be their downfall. I’m not even a Giants fan, but I like this team. They fought hard all season long, especially the second half, when nobody expected them to do anything and there were doubts that they would even MAKE the playoffs. I like their chances in the big dance, no matter who wins the game this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/39 "2001-01-15T00:14:15Z")
Ravens win! Ravens win! We’re going to the Super Bowl! ::dances around the room:: ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131/40 "2001-01-15T00:41:45Z")
Drain Bead - Aw, shucks. Actually, I wasn’t really serious when I predicted 42-0 (either way). I was pretty sure that either the Vikings would blow it open early or remember who they were and go in the tank (and it _had_ to be the latter, of course), but that’s about it. 21-0 or 28-0, realistically. I’m as surprised as anyone that the Giants put up that many points. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-conference-finals-predictions/49131.md?page=3)