Posted on 01/17/2018 6:44:13 AM PST by Impy
I expect a competitive game but I am picking against the Pats? No way. 
Lagertha's squad seem to have fate on their side 
, Vikes
Teeman8r and Rbmillerjr, if you want me to record your picks with the rest simply tell me what you want your little icon to be.
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========= Minnesota at Philadelphia===
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= Democratic People's Republic of Korea at United States of America= = = = = = = = = = = I see the Jags and Eagles are underdogs on the FreeRepublic odds board.
Which means they will probably win.
More people picking the Jags than the Eagles surprises me.
Eagles/Vikings is more of a tossup. It could have gone either way.
I questioned if Case Keenum was a playoff QB and he proved he can get the job done. Can he do it two weeks in a row in the playoffs and on the road? Unless Nick Foles wakes up, I have to give the edge to the Vikings.
CGato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPH4Oayq7Ss&t=175s
Here’s a video of Bud Grant talking about the early years. In the first minute he talks about the respect he has for the flag, and how he made all the guys line up, hands on their heart, helmets all held the same way in their other arm, etc.
Watching other videos of him, I didn’t realize how great of an athlete he was. Football star as a pro. Played for the Minneapolis Lakers (Basketball)when they won a championship, minor league(?) baseball, etc. He had polio as a kid! His doctor told his parents “The best thing you can do is get him a baseball mitt and ball and get him outside and play!”
Virtue signaling s a cherished Free Republic tradition.
Go Jags!
Bud Grant, a Wisconsin native, also coached four Grey Cup championships in Canadian football, and played three sports at the University of Minnesota. Still lives in Wisconsin resort country.
Little icon??!
That hurts.
No need. Betting against the patriots seems crazy enough, no need to create a paper trail. Hehehe... I have always enjoyed the season, no matter how bad the ravens have done, due to this thread. Thanks for doing it.
No dog, er, raven in this fight.
As others have pointed out, the Patriots' defense is not going to be so open as was the Steelers' defense. Jaguars are going to have to earn their points the hard way - their work is cut out for them.
Hey didn’t Tom Brady’s back up QB throw for five TDS against the jags week 16. When you played the 4-10 49’s. Good luck with the master when you couldn’t beat the apprentice.
LOL!!
I wonder if they figured out what cause those strange growths on his fingers.
Jags Vikings Superbowl....................
Bender's NFL Live Thread: Conference Championships
Sunday, Jan 21, 2018
Jaguars versus the Patriots. Liked what the Jaguars did last week. I would have never believed they could have scored 45 points against the Steelers after only scoring ten against the Bills. Now they get the Patriots. While some wags are saying the Jags have the system to beat the Patriots - strong running game, great defense, Tom Coughlin's magic Patriot-beating powers - I just don't see them scoring enough to outscore Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, et al. Plus the Pats are at home, plus the Pats are playing for .... immortality. We will see New England in the Super Bowl. Again. PATRIOTS.
Vikings versus the Eagles. Ah, a more interesting match-up... After the Minnesota Miracle last Sunday, are the Vikings the team of destiny? I forgot last week, the Eagles have a pretty stout defense, holding Atlanta to only one TD. And Case Keenum, God Bless Him, is not Matt Ryan. Nor is Stephon Diggs (a Terp!) Julio Jones. But I don't think that matters as Nick Foles is well, Nick Foles. And I don't see Foles being able to lead the Iggles to enough points to beat the Vikings, who have a pretty strong defense of their own. Minnesota wins to become the first team to host the Super Bowl while playing in it. VIKINGS.
Winners . . .
Jackson ville
Vikes
Patriots shoot down the Jags...
Eagles take the Vikes...
You just have to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" 
Jim’s Offense vs. Defense Matchups and Analysis
Sunday, Jan 21, 2018 (all times Mountain)
AFC: #3 Jacksonville at #1 New England 1:05 pm CBS, Gillette Stadium
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#1 N.E. Offense #2: 3 Pass 11 Run
#3 Jags Defense #2: 1 Pass 23 Run subttls
#3 Jags Offense #5: 13 Pass 7 Run
#1 N.E Defense #5: 25 Pass 30 Run subttls
N.E. outranks the Jags 1 to 3 in net (overall) scoring strength, the definitive stat for team rankings and favorites. But on offense and defense scoring N.E. and the Jags are equally matched. The best part of the game will be when N.E. has the ball. On offense, of course N.E. shines as the #2 scoring offense, especially with Brady’s air attack ranked #3 in yardage. However, the Jags #2 scoring defense is #1 against passing yardage and should cause problems for Brady’s passing attack, slowing it down and possibly causing some turnovers and interceptions. N.E.’s best chance on offense appears to be their #11 running game against the Jags #23 run defense. But this is N.E. in the playoffs and that usually adds up to a lot of passing. That could turn to the Jags favor.
In beating N.E.’s offense and Brady, L,TOWM (on FreeRepublic.com) has pointed out that, “The Giants showed (twice) what the blueprint is for beating Brady’s bunch and Coach Marrone tried to implement that a few times in Buffalo...Now he has the players to pull it off.” Check out the link to read a good article about this very thing. https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-the-jaguars-are-a-giant-threat-to-the-patriots-1516132540
The Jags #5 scoring offense is matched by N.E.’s #5 scoring defense. However, in yardage, the Jags offense have an overwhelming advantage mainly in the run, but also in the pass. The N.E. defense appears to allow a lot of yards midfield, but gets stingy in the red zone. The Jags should mostly run, but again, this is the playoffs where teams tend to pass a lot EVEN if, like the Jags, the team’s best offensive weapon in the matchup is to mostly run the ball.
This should be a very entertaining game and could be a very close game. I think the Jags have a chance. But N.E.’s decisive #1 NFL net scoring stat puts them as the favorite. Winner: N.E.
NFC: #2 Minnesota at #1 Philadelphia 6:40 pm FOX, Lincoln Financial Field
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#1 Philly Offense #3: 14 Pass 3 Run
#5 Vikes Defense #1 1 Pass 5 Run subttls
#5 Vikes Offense #10: 11 Pass 22 Run
#1 Philly Defense #4: 3 Pass 6 Run subttls
Philly outranks the Vikes 1 to 5 in net (overall) scoring strength, the definitive stat for team rankings and favorites. The best part of the game will be when Philly has the ball. Philly’s strong #3 scoring offense will have its hands full with the Vikes’ #1 scoring defense. Philly’s pass attack is a mediocre #14, hampered because their injured starting QB has been sidelined. The Vikes are tied with the Jags as the #1 pass defense in the NFL. If Philly tries to pass too much, they could lose to the Vikes on turnovers, interceptions and possibly some defensive TD’s. Philly’s best offense bet is their strong #3 running game against the Vikes’ strong #5 running defense. Again, the mindset, “pass if you’re in the playoffs” could hurt Philly because their strength and best matchup against the Vikes, is to run.
The Vikes’ lukewarm #10 scoring offense will have problems with Philly’s strong #4 scoring defense in both the pass and the run. The Vikes should probably pass more than run, but they’ll have to be careful not to turn the ball over or allow interceptions against Philly’s tough #3 pass defense.
This will be a defense battle extraordinaire. It should be a low-scoring but entertaining game. Winner: Eagles.
NFC: #5 Minnesota at #1 Philadelphia
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