Hoshifransu 0 Posted January 17, 2003 Do you like the ? Remember, last Play-off results : Monday, 13 January, 2003 NFC Divisional Play-off: Tampa Bay 31 San Francisco 6 AFC Divisional Play-off: Oakland 30 New York Jets 10 Sunday, 12 January, 2003 AFC Divisional Play-off: Tennessee 34 Pittsburgh 31 (OT) NFC Divisional Play-off: Atlanta 6 Philadelphia 20 So, we have two semi-finals (which are in fact two finals for the respective Conference Championships) on Sunday, Jan. 19 Philadelphia Eagles Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans playing at Oakland Raiders And we'll have finally the Super Bowl XXXVII on Sunday, Jan. 26 at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California So, which team will succed to the New England patriots Super Bowl winners last year ? Well, I would say, we could have a Raiders Vs. Eagles final, and Oakland Raiders could win it ! That's my feeling ! Last week, I watched on the free German Sport channel via Satellite, an interesting Tennessee Titans Vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Titans hardly winning after extra-time 34 to 31, at home, after a great game from the Steelers ! Well, I don't think the Titans could beat an impressive Oakland team, beating 30-10 the New-York Jets last sunday (The Jets trashing 41-0 Indianapolis a week before) So, a gap between Raiders and Titans ? Wait and see ! This will be an hard game between Philly and Tampa Bay and even if they beated San Francisco 49ers by 31-6 last sunday, well, 49ers ... A so great team in the past, but this year, they weren't a great team, they hardly beated New-York Giants 39-38 two weeks ago (I watched the game) with big defensive errors, so beating 49ers by 31-6, well ... I would say, advantage Philly ! In final, advantage Raiders ! They've got that man, Rich Gannon, very skillful Quarterback ! (Personally, I prefer quarterbacks like Steve McNair for Titans or Brett Favre for Green Bay, who play a lot of long long balls sometimes) A question of style and risk ! So, a winner idea !? European viewers, you want to watch these games ? It's "live" at German Premiere World TV, for example, but it's not a free channel, unfortunately, but you can still catch the free DSF via Astra Satellite and watch the replays on Monday, 20th at 23.45 CET for the semi-finals, and on Monday, 27th at 23.45 CET for the total replay of the final of the SUPER BOWL XXXVII in San Diego. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted January 17, 2003 Well, I would say, we could have a Raiders Vs. Eagles final, and Oakland Raiders could win it !That's my feeling ! The majority of the experts seem to agree with you on that one. The one thing I've learned watching NFL football this year is that you can't count on anything. Teams that look unbeatable one week, look terrible the next. For example, Green Bay had never lost a home playoff game. Then they went out and lost to a less than impressive Atlanta at home in the first round. All four of the remaining teams fall into this catagory. None of them a particularly dominating, like St. Louis and Baltimore the last couple of years. And all of them are prone to having bad games every now and then. I don't think there are any clear favorites among the remaining teams. Tampa and Philly seem to be as evenly matched as two teams can be. Both with dominating defenses and so-so offenses. Philly has the edge in playing at home. Oakland *should* take care of Tennessee...but.. it will depend on which team shows up. The one that looked bad in the first half against the Jets, or the one that blew New York off the field in the second half. (Personally, I prefer quarterbacks like Steve McNair for Titans or Brett Favre for Green Bay, who play a lot of long long balls sometimes)A question of style and risk ! Well Gannon can throw the ball deep, it's just not the style of offense that the Raiders employ. They are a ball control offense, one that uses a short passing game to control the clock. This is different from most other ball control offenses that use the run for this purpose. He'll throw deep occasionally, as evidenced in last week's game against the Jets, but that's just not his team's strategy. So, a winner idea !? Probably the Raiders. But another thing I've learned over the years is this: A team that enters the Super Bowl with a powerful, dominating defense, something possessed by both the Eagles and the Bucs, cannot be counted out. The 2000 Baltimore Ravens and the 1985 Chicago Bears are great examples of this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted January 17, 2003 Green Bay had never lost a home playoff game I'm so sad ... I'm a big fan ... They made a so impressive first part of season, but sometimes, they made very poor games, like the strange defeat Vs. Minnesota Vikings. Brett Favre had "up and down" moments that season, and he promises he will make everything to lead the Green Bay Packers to the Super Ball final next season ... Well Gannon can throw the ball deep Absolutely. Sometimes, he does it very well. And I regret Brett Favre plays "too short" sometimes and I noticed the Packers could lose because of that. That's only a feeling but Packers must play "long" to win, I think ! Well, I have to wait for next season ... They started so well, that season, I wish they could make the same start next season and to be much better during the Play-Offs, that time, of course ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted January 18, 2003 Well, I voted for fellow Floridians Tampa Bay... But as long as the Titans DON'T win, I'll be happy... they are the longtime nemesis to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not that I particularly care about American Football, but there you have it :) Cheers Zenjimoto, who will not be watching ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted January 18, 2003 WHAT?? The Lakers didn't make it this far?? Oh, I guess they were eliminated by the Yankees. Or the Islanders. so who's Tampa's QB these days? Tiger Woods or Andre Aggassi? I personally am a fan of the Chicago Fire, though their passing is lacking somewhat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tokimori 0 Posted January 18, 2003 WHAT?? The Lakers didn't make it this far?? Oh, I guess they were eliminated by the Yankees. Or the Islanders.so who's Tampa's QB these days? Tiger Woods or Andre Aggassi? I personally am Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted January 21, 2003 Well, the final will be : Oakland Raiders Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay creating the sensation, beating Philly, away from home and reaching their first ever Super Bowl final. Unfortunately, I watched only the highlights, but I watched the other very entertaining one : Rich Gannon led the Raiders in final, but with the help of luck, at the end of the second quarter, Raiders benefited of lucky fumbles ad avoiding themselves to concede a fumble, and to lose the precious ball. It's sad for Nashville's QB McNair who played a terrific game ... This will be for next season ! So, Raiders strong favourites now ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted January 21, 2003 Actually, I think Tampa Bay matches up very well with Oakland, at least when comparing their defense to Oakland's offense. The Bucs have a very quick team defensively that is great for defending the pass and putting pressure on the Quarterback, while the Raiders live and die throwing the football. So I wouldn't be surprised if Tampa won this game, since the strength of their team (pass defense) appears to match up real well with the strength of Oakland (pass offense). In the end it will probably come down to what Tampa Bay can do offensively against a suspect Oakland defense. We shall see next Sunday... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted January 21, 2003 against a suspect Oakland defense. Absolutely right. Their defense is so weak sometimes ... When they have the ball, they're great, in offensive game, but when they have to defend, they suffer, they undergo the game a lot ... Well, they should re-examine everything with their defensive coach ! Though, Raiders impressed me a lot Vs. Titans, Titans played very well and Raiders have had a full success at the end, finally. And a maximum of luck, too. That's a parameter which makes me believe they will make it in final too, though I was wrong saying the Eagles would beat the Bucs, I underestimate the Bucs one time, so ... Difficult to say ! One thing is sure : both teams have in common a frightening flag (brrrr) : European viewers, don't forget the replay next monday at 23.45 CET on free German channel DSF via Astra satellite ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted January 24, 2003 "Defense wins championships." I think Tampa Bay will win this one. Jerry Rice (Oakland receiver) is one of my favorite players, and I think it'll be a fun game to watch ;) If anyone has been to Tampa, it's a pretty nice city. One of its suburbs is called Ybor City, which is special because it has the highest number of bars per capita in North America :-9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
