# NFL Playoffs - Conference Championship Picks **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 21, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960 "2005-01-21T20:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/21 "2005-01-22T16:48:26Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > Nothing the Falcons do can affect the outcome, because Vick simply can’t pass. Why? Because he’s never tried. That’s one of the many reasons why scrambling is bad. Oh, I dunno. Vick’s scrambling has the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game. If he couldn’t scramble, they wouldn’t be here. And I expect the bad weather to favor the team with the superior ground game. Advantage: Falcons. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/22 "2005-01-22T17:03:12Z")
> [@Suburban Plankton](#): > > Ben Roethlisberger looked like a rookie in his first playoff game last week. He shouldn’t have that problem this time. I’m curious: Why? He’s had a fantatic year, win wise, but the pressure tomorrow is going to be even bigger than last week and he’s still a rook, innt he? I expect a tight game right along the lines you’ve described, but I see Big Ben making that one mistake that costs the game (like it did last week-sheer luck that Herm Edwards bungles that series and Brien misses the kick. Don’t get me wrong, luck’s a part of football, but you have to recognize it for what it is) ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/23 "2005-01-22T17:04:56Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Pittsburgh probably has a pretty big homefield advantage here. Really good, loud fans and confidence. Plus the inexplicably difficult kicking at the Ketchup should work to the well practiced Steelers advantage. > > I like the fact that the Steelers have Tommy Maddox there as a back up. If you’re putting money on a team, you like to know that an injury isn’t necessarily the kiss of death. Wait. You think Adam Vinatieri is gonna have problems if the game’s on the line? He’s the Mariano Rivera of kicking. He’s not gonna miss a kick. And is having the XFL’s only MVP as your backup really a plus? (Note: since the Falcons thumped the Rams, I don’t give a crap about who wins either game, so I’m not biased toward any team.) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/24 "2005-01-22T21:56:05Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > Wait. You think Adam Vinatieri is gonna have problems if the game’s on the line? He’s the Mariano Rivera of kicking. He’s not gonna miss a kick. > > And is having the XFL’s only MVP as your backup really a plus? No, I’m not saying that Vinatieri will suck, but the stat that the analysts always trot out for games at Heinz field is how much kickers struggle there compared to other venues. Some strange quirk of the field. Plus Vinatieri isn’t exactly infallibale, he missed twice in last years Super Bowl. Point is, if it comes down to a kickers battle, I’d feel better knowing that my kicker was used to this difficult venue. Yeah, having Maddox is a huge advantage. Are you forgetting the role Bledsoe had in 2001? Injuries can happen, especially against two defenses like these in the snow. Maddox has proven that he can lead this offense more adequately. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/25 "2005-01-22T22:41:25Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > I’m curious: Why? He’s had a fantatic year, win wise, but the pressure tomorrow is going to be even bigger than last week and he’s still a rook, innt he? I think the logic here isn’t so much that Big Ben failed due to pressure and rookie nerves, but moreso that he was rusty due to the 4 weeks off since the injury and the uncertainty that the glove fiasco is speculated to have caused. I’m inclined to agree with the rusty arguement, and thats a big reason why I don’t feel that the rookie pressure angle is that big a deal. Belichick might flummox him, but I wouldn’t break out the rookie/nerves cliche to explain it. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/26 "2005-01-22T22:54:59Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > With regards to the best pair of Conference Championships, the Raiders screwed the pooch for me, in that 1990 had the greatest Championship game ever played, Giants over 49ers 15-13. However, the Raiders got their shit pushed in big time by the Bills, 51-3, so that year doesn’t qualify. Another clarification. Its too early to say that these are the best conference championship games, since they haven’t been played. I guess the arguement would be is this the best _match ups_ ever. Its the top seeds in both conferences. Super stars and media darlings at QB for all four squads, every coach has a compelling story. Valid aguements why every team should win it all. Not a single team is a heavy favorite in each match up. A combined record of 57-11 for all 4 teams (4 of those losses where meaniless ones to end the season with seeds already decided). And a great symmetry of styles for both games. The season you mention is a pretty good one before the games where played. Top seeds all advanced, pretty good star power all around. Good coaching matchups, but I think the concensus was that Buffalo was a heavy favorite going into that game. The outcomes aren’t really relevant to this debate…thats another debate for Monday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/27 "2005-01-22T23:02:03Z")
> [@Frank #2](#): > > I also remember a cold day in 2002 when Vick played in Philly, and lost. I was at that game. Eagles fan checking in. I’d point out that Vick only had 2 games throwing for more than 200 yards all year. That’s awful for an NFL QB; he can’t throw. The Birds should _finally_ win this one easily. We’re getting about a foot of snow, which is supposedly wrapping up about 3 hrs before kickoff. It should be about 12 degrees and windy at kickoff, getting a little colder through the game. Dome teams rarely win in those conditions. Atlanta is 4-4 on the road this year, and one of those wins was at SF, which barely counts. Iggles 24, Falcons 9. Funny sign yesterday at Eagles rally: MICHAEL VICKTIM > [@](#): > > seems that the Boston self-loathing mojo has been passed on to Philly nowadays. Nowadays?! Boston won 2 Super Bowls & a World Series in 3 years; we haven’t had a championship since '83 (with all 4 major sports franchises), and haven’t won an NFL championship since 1960. Nowadays, he says… This is a huge, loyal sports city and we really have had this win coming for a long time. Very tough to call the AFC game. I’d rather play Pittsburgh (I think we have a better chance of winning, I’d like to see an all-PA Bowl and so forth) but I like NE. Pats 27 - Steelers 16 Ugh. Really don’t want to play NE right now, 50% TO back or not. E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/28 "2005-01-22T23:23:39Z")
Philly will stop Atl & Vick. Not because of the weather stopping Vick, he did quite well in GB in the snow a couple years ago. 27-20 I think NE will win, but if the weather is real crappy, it wouldn’t surprise me if Pitt does it with their running game. Still, Jerome Bettis?? I don’t know. NE 24-13 ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/29 "2005-01-22T23:28:16Z")
Just as a total aside, is this the closest that the two Championship games have been played to each other, in terms of distance? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/30 "2005-01-23T00:12:28Z")
Philly to Foxboro is a little bit shorter than Philly to Pittsburgh, so last year’s sites were closer. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/31 "2005-01-23T00:44:29Z")
NFC – Eagles. Come on. They can not lose four in a row. At home. In a blizzard against a dome team. AFC – Steelers. Home feild. Beat them already this year. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/32 "2005-01-23T01:05:26Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > The Birds should _finally_ win this one easily. Boy, really going out on a limb with that prediction, aren’t you? 😃 😛 😃 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/33 "2005-01-23T10:27:57Z")
> [@kevja](#): > > NFC – Eagles. Come on. They can not lose four in a row. At home. In a blizzard against a dome team. Sure they can. They’ll go down in history as the biggest choke artists EVER. Well, for that prize, they’d have to lose five… ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/34 "2005-01-23T16:23:28Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Sure they can. They’ll go down in history as the biggest choke artists EVER. > > Well, for that prize, they’d have to lose five… Nah, I still think the Buffalo Bills or the Denver Broncos would have that title. Or maybe the 2004 Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/35 "2005-01-23T16:30:27Z")
> [@Jimmy Chitwood](#): > > Philly to Foxboro is a little bit shorter than Philly to Pittsburgh, so last year’s sites were closer. These aren’t as the crow flies, but Rand McNally says that the shortest distance from Pittsburgh to Philly is 294 miles (with most of it on US 30 and the turnpike) and the shortest distance from Philly to Foxboro is 284 miles, but that it’s two hours faster to go from Pittsburgh to Philly using the shortest route. Is this the first time both championship games were in the same state? ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/36 "2005-01-23T17:38:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Is this the first time both championship games were in the same state? Apparently yes. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/37 "2005-01-23T17:45:46Z")
It’ll be Pats and eagles in the Super Bowl, with Pats winning that. At least I hope so, since neither team is getting the respect they deserve. McNabb is a good smart QB who doesn’t run unless he has to. They’re down without TO but they’re far from out. Mitchell’s been stepping up and making good plays. It’ll be tight but I think the Eagles have the edge. Especially with the weather. If the Steelers play like they played against the Jets, it’s not even gonna be a contest. It would be Jets v. Pats, but for two muffed FG’s. I like Ben R, but the Steeler’s just don’t have the experience the Pats have and the Pat’s D is killer. I predict blowout. If the Pats do go all the way, maybe people will recognize them as the dynasty they are. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/38 "2005-01-24T02:37:47Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Eagles 27-10 Not bad. 🆒 > [@](#): > > Patriots 21-20. Not quite as good, but not terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/39 "2005-01-24T07:52:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Sure they can. They’ll go down in history as the biggest choke artists EVER. > [@](#): > > Boy, really going out on a limb with that prediction, aren’t you? Eagles 27 - Falcons 10. I cheated them out of one point & us out of three. \*Fly, Eagles, Fly On the road to victory Fly, Eagles, Fly Score a touchdown 1-2-3 Hit 'em low, hit 'em high And watch our Eagles fly Fly, Eagles, Fly On the road to victory E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!\* ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960/40 "2005-01-24T13:50:39Z")
Well done, Eagles. Well done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoffs-conference-championship-picks/285960.md?page=3)