Monday Morning Mehta 1/2/07
Edition # 191
January 2, 2007
www.mondaymorningmehta.com
www.nba-jam.blogspot.com
Eagles finish off the 2007 regular season with a 24-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and winning the NFC East with a 10-6 record. We generally go into the details of the game, but today brings a new year, new hope, and the start of the playoffs. One City, One Team, One Dream!
Eagles (-6.5, O/U 46.5) Giants Sunday @ 4:30pm
The Eagles and Giants face off in the playoffs for the first time since the 2000 season. The two teams split their two games this season with both games featuring very little defense (minus the Eagles first half in the first game). You should probably expect more of the same this weekend. When the Giants have the ball, it's going to be Tiki Barber and Plaxico Burress. I think the Eagles have their hands full. Plaxico seems to kill the Eagles and Tiki is coming off a game in which he ran for 6,274 yards (OK, it was 234 but if you wacthed that game you may think I was right). As for Burress? How many times in the last two seasons has Eli Manning just thrown the ball up for grabs to Burress, the Eagle defender (mainly Rod Hood, but everyone else has had their share too) looks lost, and Burress comes down with the ball? Too many times. Eagles fans can take comfort in the fact that Eli Manning hasn't shown he can step up yet though, and Burress has a way of being quiet in big games and sulking if things go wrong. Injuries have also taken their toll on the Giants. Luke Petitgout and Michael Strahan, possibly their best trench players, are out for the game. Jeremy Shockey? He claims he'll play no matter how hurt he is, and I believe em. He's stupid, but out of all the Giant players, many of which sulk, you haven't seen that from Shockey during the game this year.
When the Eagles have the ball, it's the same story: Run the ball! The Giants defense is awful, but with any defense if you get too predictable, you'll get hurt. In the words of the infamous Steve Fredericks from WIP, the Eagles should "Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, PLAY ACTION FAKE". Plenty of opportunities should exist for big plays, but the Eagles need to be patient in finding them, as they'll develop plenty as the game progresses. The key to the game could be the Eagles signing of Koy Detmer to be the holder for Akers.
Overall, I'm a bit scared of the Giants, but it's not like you ever play a cupcake in the playoffs. The Giants have played like dog poop the last month and I don't see them suddenly turning things around. But this is the playoffs. There are no gimme games. It's going to be a battle. Hopefully Tiki Barber starts his Good Morning America and 20/20 gigs next week. Enjoy retirement. Eagles 30, Giants 20.
Kansas City @ Indy (-6.5, 51) Saturday @ 4:30pm
In another relatively recent playoff rematch, this time from 2003, the Chiefs squeak into the playoffs after beating the Jaguars and watching the 49ers beat the Broncos. Herm Edwards beat the Colts back in 2002 41-0 with the Jets, and I could see the reverse happening this weekend. The Colts are a juggernaut at home, and the Chiefs are just happy to be in the playoffs. Larry Johnson can and will pose problems to a poor Indy defense, but I don't see them being able to keep up with the Colts. The line is a little weird, as I'd expect the Colts to get a little more respect than this especially at home, but that's not going to deter my thinking. Colts 44, Chiefs 20.
Dallas @ Seattle (-3, 46.5) Saturday @ 8pm (as opposed to 8am, your welcome for the clarification)
Best game of the weekend, I think. Yes, Dallas has played terribly the last two weeks. My justification/reasoning is this: They laid a stinker versus the Eagles and realized the division was out of their control, and really lost any inspiration to beat Detroit (yeah, they could have hoped for an Eagles loss to Atlanta, but once you're in the playoffs is there REALLY that much motivation? Ok I'm stretching a bit...). A dejected Bill Parcells after the loss to the Lions usually means a very well prepared Cowboys team the next week. As for Seatlle, I just don't see the defense playing with anywhere near the fervor as they did last year (not sure if the word fervor is the right word there, it's just my New Years Resolution to use the word fervor more this year). Anyway, scoring shouldn't be too difficult for either side here, and in our only new playoff matchup, Dallas 27, Seahawks 24.
Jets @ New England (-8.5, 38) Sunday @ 1pm
For all those that tell you the AFC is stacked I give you the Jets and Chiefs. Folks, these aren't very good teams. The AFC is stacked up top with 4 very good teams at the top, but the drop off after that is dramatic. Sure, the Jets COULD pull the upset, but is it likely? Heck no. The Jets can't run the ball and the Pats will eat up Pennington. The Jets defense is good and will probably keep this game close for the first half, but as is the Patriots way the last 5-6 years, they'll pull away in the 2nd half. In a 1985 Wild Card game rematch, the Patriots win by the same score, 24-16.
We'll see you next week, hopefully previewing a Eagles/Saints divisional playoff matchup. Why do I have visions of an Eagles/Cowboys NFC Championship rematch in Philly??
January 2, 2007
www.mondaymorningmehta.com
www.nba-jam.blogspot.com
Eagles finish off the 2007 regular season with a 24-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons and winning the NFC East with a 10-6 record. We generally go into the details of the game, but today brings a new year, new hope, and the start of the playoffs. One City, One Team, One Dream!
Eagles (-6.5, O/U 46.5) Giants Sunday @ 4:30pm
The Eagles and Giants face off in the playoffs for the first time since the 2000 season. The two teams split their two games this season with both games featuring very little defense (minus the Eagles first half in the first game). You should probably expect more of the same this weekend. When the Giants have the ball, it's going to be Tiki Barber and Plaxico Burress. I think the Eagles have their hands full. Plaxico seems to kill the Eagles and Tiki is coming off a game in which he ran for 6,274 yards (OK, it was 234 but if you wacthed that game you may think I was right). As for Burress? How many times in the last two seasons has Eli Manning just thrown the ball up for grabs to Burress, the Eagle defender (mainly Rod Hood, but everyone else has had their share too) looks lost, and Burress comes down with the ball? Too many times. Eagles fans can take comfort in the fact that Eli Manning hasn't shown he can step up yet though, and Burress has a way of being quiet in big games and sulking if things go wrong. Injuries have also taken their toll on the Giants. Luke Petitgout and Michael Strahan, possibly their best trench players, are out for the game. Jeremy Shockey? He claims he'll play no matter how hurt he is, and I believe em. He's stupid, but out of all the Giant players, many of which sulk, you haven't seen that from Shockey during the game this year.
When the Eagles have the ball, it's the same story: Run the ball! The Giants defense is awful, but with any defense if you get too predictable, you'll get hurt. In the words of the infamous Steve Fredericks from WIP, the Eagles should "Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, PLAY ACTION FAKE". Plenty of opportunities should exist for big plays, but the Eagles need to be patient in finding them, as they'll develop plenty as the game progresses. The key to the game could be the Eagles signing of Koy Detmer to be the holder for Akers.
Overall, I'm a bit scared of the Giants, but it's not like you ever play a cupcake in the playoffs. The Giants have played like dog poop the last month and I don't see them suddenly turning things around. But this is the playoffs. There are no gimme games. It's going to be a battle. Hopefully Tiki Barber starts his Good Morning America and 20/20 gigs next week. Enjoy retirement. Eagles 30, Giants 20.
Kansas City @ Indy (-6.5, 51) Saturday @ 4:30pm
In another relatively recent playoff rematch, this time from 2003, the Chiefs squeak into the playoffs after beating the Jaguars and watching the 49ers beat the Broncos. Herm Edwards beat the Colts back in 2002 41-0 with the Jets, and I could see the reverse happening this weekend. The Colts are a juggernaut at home, and the Chiefs are just happy to be in the playoffs. Larry Johnson can and will pose problems to a poor Indy defense, but I don't see them being able to keep up with the Colts. The line is a little weird, as I'd expect the Colts to get a little more respect than this especially at home, but that's not going to deter my thinking. Colts 44, Chiefs 20.
Dallas @ Seattle (-3, 46.5) Saturday @ 8pm (as opposed to 8am, your welcome for the clarification)
Best game of the weekend, I think. Yes, Dallas has played terribly the last two weeks. My justification/reasoning is this: They laid a stinker versus the Eagles and realized the division was out of their control, and really lost any inspiration to beat Detroit (yeah, they could have hoped for an Eagles loss to Atlanta, but once you're in the playoffs is there REALLY that much motivation? Ok I'm stretching a bit...). A dejected Bill Parcells after the loss to the Lions usually means a very well prepared Cowboys team the next week. As for Seatlle, I just don't see the defense playing with anywhere near the fervor as they did last year (not sure if the word fervor is the right word there, it's just my New Years Resolution to use the word fervor more this year). Anyway, scoring shouldn't be too difficult for either side here, and in our only new playoff matchup, Dallas 27, Seahawks 24.
Jets @ New England (-8.5, 38) Sunday @ 1pm
For all those that tell you the AFC is stacked I give you the Jets and Chiefs. Folks, these aren't very good teams. The AFC is stacked up top with 4 very good teams at the top, but the drop off after that is dramatic. Sure, the Jets COULD pull the upset, but is it likely? Heck no. The Jets can't run the ball and the Pats will eat up Pennington. The Jets defense is good and will probably keep this game close for the first half, but as is the Patriots way the last 5-6 years, they'll pull away in the 2nd half. In a 1985 Wild Card game rematch, the Patriots win by the same score, 24-16.
We'll see you next week, hopefully previewing a Eagles/Saints divisional playoff matchup. Why do I have visions of an Eagles/Cowboys NFC Championship rematch in Philly??
posted by Monday Morning Mehta at 10:23 AM
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