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Open Thread Thursday (1/29)
Someone please post a topic and get us started.
35 Responses to “Open Thread Thursday (1/29)”
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We gotta have more predictions about THE GAME Sunday, as opposed to the halftime entertainment!! Here are the only two that were tendered on the tails of Smitty’s early week analysis. Would like to see all the benchwarmers offer a prediction. Send ‘em in!
Smitty: Steelers win 33-31
Wally: Cardinals win 27-24
I don’t have a score to predict…yet…I’m liking Edgerrin James to play a large role in the game. IF and that is a huge IF the Cardinals pull this off, it will be as the result of three strategically timed screen passes that James takes for first down plus yardage.
Steelers 21 Cardinals 10
If the Steelers score a defensive touchdown, I’ll be willing to put 250 down that they cover the spread X2.
I think the Cardinals have exposed just how weak the NFC was this year. Could they have possibly changed that much since the New England debacle and their lackluster performance against, I think, Seattle to end the regular season? I know everyone now has a man crush on Fitzgerald, but he hasn’t seen LBs and a secondary like Pittsburgh in a while. As always, I’ll be willing to put my foot in my mouth if Arizona continues to dominate and lifts the Lombardi trophy.
Wasn’t the Philly defense supposed to be one of the top units in the league?
And wasn’t Philly the “hot team” coming into the playoffs? Or was it Carolina?
Just trying to get some rational thought going out there
Philly was 4-3-1 to finish the regular season with losses to the Giants, Redskins, and a 36-7 whooping to Baltimore. They tied the Bengals 13-13. Yeah – they were smoking “hot.”
In their losing efforts, Philly’s defense gave up an average of almost 30 points a game. Who has their defense had to play? Outside of the NFC East: The Browns, Rams, Bears, Niners, Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, and Cardinals. None of these are exactly Offensive juggernauts.
As far as Carolina, offense comes and goes and for them, it went that game. Their defense has been average at best all year. Arizona gameplan for that game was obviously top notch.
Rational thought? Does that mean I just repeat everything I hear on ESPN? I may be wrong but I don’t think it’s irrational.
C’mon guys stop pushing.
Man, there is no more room on this Larry Fitzgerald band wagon.
Rey — you clobbered me with all those facts and figures. No mas! No mas! But I never let facts get in the way of a good story
I don’t think anyone on ESPN is saying the Cardinals will win … are they? (I haven’t been listening … I’m at work).
Arizona is the attractive pick. I’ve heard few take the Steelers with conviction.
Personally I think the Steelers are going to win, but let’s not dismiss the Cardinals.
They did beat a pretty good Eagles team that came into that game smoking hot. So I am back up Wally here.. Chillax Wally, I got your back dude.
I hear people beating up on the Eagles D, but people failed to mention that they won 4 of the their last 5 games to get into the playoffs. Add in 2 playoff games on the road. In that stretch they beat the Giants twice in Giants Stadium. In those 7 games, the defense gave up an average of a little over 13 points a game.
Okay – they had issues in the beginning of the season. Big deal. The fact is – they turned it, figured out their defense and at the end of the season , was playing really well.
That Cardinals offense is legit and is going to give the Steelers D problems. Besides Fitzgerald, there is the problem of covering Boldin and Breaston. Warner is so good of getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers, that the Steelers better bring the heat or Warner is going to pick them apart.
If you are going to throw schedules into play, let’s look at the fact that the Steelers got to the play the Browns and Bengals 4 times. That is like having 5 bye weeks.
And Philly beat the Steelers in Week 3.
Sunday is going to be a great game.. I hope.
Let’s not discuss the early season struggles, but the Eagles beat the Steelers in week 3. Smitty – Why can you discuss the third week and I can’t?
We could argue for days. My point is don’t ask for input and predictions, then say a prediction is not rational. I bet last year when someone said, “You know – I think the Giants might beat the Patriots and the Pats offense will struggle,” everyone thought that person had lost his mind.
My bad Reynell – my point on that was the fact that the Eagles D was playing extremely well when they went up against the Cardinals. And if you are going to talk about the early part of the season then have to include the fact that the Eagles did beat the Steelers.
And to answer your question – since the Pats dropped 35 in Week 17 last week agains the Giants – yeah there would have been disagreement. But the fact that they had played 3 or 4 weeks before the Super Bowl worried the hell out of me.
The fact is, this is a different Cardinals team right now and it is going to be a great game. Let’s enjoy it.
Y’all know I don’t watch much football on Sundays, until the playoffs anyway. But I do know that it will come down to Warner vs Roethlisberger, and while I am not a big Warner fan (he’s not HOF material despite what many sports columnists say) I have NEVER been impressed with Roethlisberger. He seems more accidental than good. Accidental luck won’t beat the experience and talent of Kurt Warner. Cards 21-17, and I’m sticking with my 3 songs for halftime.
Smitty … I owe ya a cold one. Cheers!
Casey … we’re waiting. Crap or get off the pot!
I’m trying to come up with a prediction, but I am struggling with ‘rational’ thought. Geez…beg everyone for predictions, and the first guy who takes you up on the offer gets slapped around. Makes me wanna just jump right to front of the line and get mine…thank you sir may I have another. Besides what do I look like Jimmy the Greek or something?
Wait…and Smitty gets a cold one? That prediction has gotta be one of the finer examples of a waffle I have ever seen. First he predict the Steelers then goes on and tells us why the Cardinals are going to win.
Cold ones all around for ‘rational’ thought.
We’re forgetting one very important detail about the Eagles’ victories over the Giants: the Giants had lost their best receiving threat in Plaxico ‘I love my bling so much I would shoot myself for it’ Burress. On the other hand the Cardinals still have Larry Fitzgerald. Is there any more room on the bandwagon?
I don’t think I predicted the Cards to win… I just said they were going to be tougher then people were giving them credit for.
I said Steelers would win, said it twice and you STILL haven’t made a prediction. Except for grabbing on to Larry Fitzgerald’s dreads for dear life..
Yes, you stated: “I think the Steelers are going to win.”
I read that.
Then you went on for five paragraphs making a case why we should “not dismiss the Cardinals.”
Is there a way for anyone to outdo that? You stated the Steelers will win. You showed how the Cardinals shouldn’t be dismissed. So if the Steelers win, you’re good. If the Cardinals win, you showed why.
Kinda reminds me of the two-headed Wally of a couple of years who couldn’t decide between the Colts or the Bears.
Well it explains why I picked one team in my column to win, but I am rooting for the other to win.
And you still haven’t made a prediction.
Turning the conversation to Bruce’s new album? What does everyone think??
Pete – I know you bought the CD. Did it come with a 30 minute making of the album video? If not, it was included on iTunes when I downloaded the album.
Sorry – I should point out that I wasn’t rub it in your face Pete – if you don’t have the video. I was pointing out that if you don’t have it, I do and I can try to burn a copy for you. Pretty interesting if you can get by Bruce looking like he just woke up.
Cardinals 27, Steelers 13. You heard it here first…or did you?
And, if you believe that, I’m predicting Bruce will play “Atlantic City”, “Brilliant Disguise” and “Leah”. Ok, that’s just what I want him to play.
Seriously, I think the Cardinals are going to “reverse cover”. Did I just invent a new term?
I listened to Working on a Dream for the first time yesterday…fairly entertaining but it’s no Devils & Dust, which is the best thing he’s done since the 80s…in my opinion.
‘reverse cover’ – Chas – you did just create a new term. You could write a whole post on that. Could there be any history of games where the cover has been reversed?
As for ‘Working on a Dream’ – not sure if I actually had this as a conscious thought before I listened to the new release – but isn’t this kinda quick? Earlier this month when I heard Bruce was coming out with a new album, the thought crossed my mind, but I didn’t actually dwell on it. He was just touring as of late last summer. I know songs get written on tour and all, but not much of a break taken for creativity to take place. I’ve listened to ‘Working’ twice, and it is good but not special. ‘Lucky Day’ is a fun little ditty that I enjoy, but it is not unique. It is well-produced and catchy.
I need to spend more time with ‘Devils & Dust.’ For me ‘The Rising’ was a surprising triumph – melodramatic at times, but still it works. Especially now that I have an ipod and can play it while doing house work like snow-blowing. Oh man I can get all the snow removed in less than one listening – great stuff.
‘The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle’ is my absolute favorite.
Okay – I am glad to see that I am in the majority with this. I am certainly enjoying the new release, but by no means do I walk away thinking this is his best stuff.
Casey – funny you should say that about ‘Lucky Day’. With a lot of the songs, I feel like I am hearing some rehashed melodies. On ‘Good Eye’, I hear the microphone with the feedback that he used on the tour version of ‘Reason To Believe’.
As for the quick release of ‘Working on a Dream’ . If Last Carnival is in fact written for Danny Federici (as rumored), I am wondering if Bruce felt a need to get it out there for people to listen to. Plus, add in the song from the ‘The Wrestler’ and it may have pushed this along. Then again, they are starting to get up there in age and since they are going back on tour – I am wondering if Bruce feels like their days on the road are becoming numbered. I hope not – I want to see him again in concert.
I don’t think I have ever listened to ‘Devils & Dust’. I will have to give it a listen.
As for my guess at halftime, I am going with:
Born to Run
Lucky Day
Glory Days – just to make Casey roll his eyes.
That is weird. I just typed a response to the conversation, hit post and now it is gone.
Not sure what happened.
Don’t know why, but it was dumped into the spam area.
Thrilla and I have had a running conversation: While traveling throughout the various diamonds in the NYCBL we would only hear two Springsteen songs: ‘Glory Days’ and ‘Born In The USA.’ Every time one of those songs blared we would comment: “Of all the songs in the Springsteen catalog these two are the worst, yet they are played the MOST.”
Casey —
Is there a prediction on the game coming from you in our lifetime?????? Pete’s gettin’ up there in years! (Sorry, Pete, I had to throw out an example).
GO CARDINALS!!!!
Hosting huge SB bash at my place … maybe 35 people. C’mon on over if you can catch a dog sled. Enjoy the game wherever you are!
Wally – Did you invite the entire state of Alaska ??
No … Sarah Palin is hosting the other 65 people at her party in the Governor’s Mansion. I’ve heard they’re serving crow for dinner.
Isn’t there any concern about the volcano?
How come Wally didn’t get a Helmet Sticker, there..
Wait, I didn’t start that.. never mind..
Yeah.. any problems with the volcano? Can you have Sarah take care of the volcano before I come for a visit..
She’s gonna blow any minute now. Well … that’s what they’ve been saying for about a week now. It’s Mt Redoubt … you can look it up at
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Redoubt.php
We’ve asked Governor Palin to declare a “Cease Eruption” while the Super Bowl is playing. She’s complied, but we’ve seen some spittle on the webcast … a little “premature eruptification”.
That helmet sticker deserves a prediction. Wally – the site is laughing in unison.
Steelers 34 Cardinals 21
I hate predictions!!!!!!! Especially when I have absolutely no friggin’ idea what I am talking about.
I don’t get it. Why should I be laughing?
Anyway, I am so excited. Pa said I could stay up and watch the whole game.
Barney and Thelma Lou are coming over. We sure are going to have a good time.