NFL Playoffs (with GT FB spin)

[GTJT622]

Wild Card Weekend (Jan. 9-10)

Sat. 4:35 (ESPN & ABC): Chiefs (-3) at Texans -- indoors
*Texans head coach is former Jackets assistant, Bill O'Brien...Texans' Offensive Coordinator is former Jacket QB, George Gutsy

Sat. 8:15 (CBS): Steelers (-2.5) at Bengals -- slight chance of rain, temps in lower 40's at kickoff
*Michael Johnson is a Defensive End for the Bengals...he has 5 sacks on the season and 3 forced fumbled with 1 recovered...he is in his 7th NFL season and back with Cincy after a 1-yr stint and very nice payday with the Bucs a year ago

Sun. 1:05 (NBC): Seahawks (-5.5) at Vikings -- clear skies, temps in lower teens (brrrrrrrr!)
*Brandon Watts is a backup linebacker and special teams contributor for the Vikes, who play their last season outdoors at the University of Minnesota...however, Watts has been inactive for the last month of games Minny and missed last night's win at Green Bay as well due to injury...it is unknown whether he will be able to play against Seattle...he was surprisingly released by the Vikes in their final cut in early September, but was re-signed in late October...the Voice of the Seahawks is former Jacket WR Steve Raible

Sun. 4:40 (FOX): Packers (+1) at *MY* Redskins -- 60% chance rain, temps in upper 40's
*very nice temps for a home playoff game in the DMV in January...Morgan Burnett is a starting safety for the Pack

Divisional Playoff Weekend (Jan. 16-17)

Sat. 4:35 (CBS): TBD at Patriots
*Shaq Mason is a guard and sometimes fullback in short-yardage situations for the Pats...Belichick is good friends with Paul Johnson as they both have close ties to the USNA

Sat. 8:15 (NBC): TBD at Cardinals
*can't find any immediate ties of Techies to Arizona

Sun. 1:00 (FOX): TBD at Panthers
*WR Stephen Hill still remains listed on Carolina's roster on their injured reserve list

Sun. 4:40 (CBS): TBD at Broncos
*WR Demaryius Thomas and DT Vance Walker are having outstanding NFL careers and Denver holds the home field advantage with the #1 seed in the AFC

Conference Championships (Jan. 24)

Sun. 3:05 (CBS): AFC Championship
Sun. 6:40 (FOX): NFC Championship

Super Bowl 50 (Feb. 7)

Sun. 6:30 (CBS)

Good luck to our Jackets over the next month. Imagine if the NFL would now take off 5 or 6 weeks before starting the postseason like the dumb ice D1A CFB does.

 

[GTJT622]

More since Monday's OP...

1. Seattle-Minnesota temp at game time is now forecast to be 0 degrees. That's -17.8 centigrade for you Non-American metric weenies. Regardless of what scale you use, I think this little one will summarize for us all...

2. The Steelers-Bengals game is now forecast to be played in steady rain the entire game Saturday night.

3. The Pack have now moved from being a 1-pt dog to now a 1-pt favorite over *MY* Redskins.

4. Pro Football Talk's predictions for Wild Card Weekend... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/07/pfts-wild-card-picks-5/

Looking forward to this weekend. #HTTR

 

[Buzzforlife]

http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011116aaa.html

 

[GTJT622]

It will be interesting to see who winds up being the next 49ers HC. I think Tom Coughlin is interviewing with them either today or perhaps yesterday. I think he's the best fit there and likely will be named HC as soon as today maybe. They could use some stability and experienced HC along with the assistants he can bring in with him. Reason I bring this up is Smelter is going to be viewed potentially as a guy who can step up and into a nice role at WR this offseason heading into 2016.

 

[BornAJacket]

The Steelers are really beat up. It is amazing that their QB is still able to run and throw the ball. He needs a rest.

 

[GTJT622]

Agree, BaJ. The Broncos D is pretty stout. I think they'll be ready after the Steelers came back (from down 27-10 late 2Q) and put up 24 on them unanswered in a December loss in Pittsburgh.

The weather looks like it is going to cooperate in Denver with temps in the low 40's and a clear day.

Remains to be seen whether star WR Antonio Brown suits up after being knocked out at the end against the thugs from Cincinnati as well as whether RB DeAngelo Williams plays or not. Big Ben is not the only one banged up from one of the best offenses in the NFL. Even if these guys suit up, I question how effective they will be and how long they will be able to play.

Denver laying 6.5 at home is looking tasty.

 

[GTJT622]

FWIW, former Jackets Ken Whisenhunt is returning to San Diego to become the Offensive Coordinator replacing Bobby Ross' former QB at Maryland, Frank Reich, who was fired from that position after the season.

 

[Buzzforlife]

 

[BornAJacket]

Congratulations to the Pro-Jackets. Another Georgia Tech alum will get a Super Bowl ring!

 

[GTJT622]

Panthers are 5-pt favorites. Rooting for the Broncs. Would love to see Peyton get another ring and ride off into the sunset as a champion. Also, of course, would love to see Bay Bay and Vance get their first rings.

Will be a tall order though. Panthers look REALLY strong.

 

[Buzzforlife]

Most Players in Super Bowl 50:
6 - Ohio State
4 - GT, Tennessee
3 - Alabama, Auburn, Arizona St, Florida, Georgia, ND, Oregon, Oregon St

 

[BornAJacket]

Vance Walker was a 2 star athlete coming out of high school

Thomas was a 3 star player.

Young was a 4 star player

Hill was 3 star, I think...