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I wonder if Seattle fans are whining that they have to play a 10 AM Pacific time game?

f-d, again, that's not what I'm talking about (when you offer your opinion).

Anyway, let's not have another nonsensical f-d/kb argument bring down another fantastic thread.

I just don'tt know what I'm supposed so say to appease you here. Do you an apology, an admission, a "my bad"?

Do the Refs have an agenda?

Ask Mike Holmgren and the Seahawks.


Did kind of make a feel-good story when Bettis got his ring.

Did kind of make a feel-good story when Bettis got his ring.

Don't forget the chance to establish their brand in Korea, with bi-racial Korean superstar (and Superbowl MVP), Hines Ward.

What was the alternative? Attracting more bald white guys with Hasselbeck or goign after the gay audience with Alexander? The Steelers were the obvious choice for the powers that be.

Well the good news is that if the Birds win Saturday night, the NFC Champion will get three more hours of rest than the AFC champion, since the NFC tilt has already been deemed the undercard fight.

Seriously, does it make that much difference if the game is six days away or seven? At worst, the team loses a day of "free" time and does a walk-through in one practice instead of a full contact practice.

The coaching staff saw N.O. coming for weeks. We knew they had the #2 locked up and knew at about the time we beat Dallas on Christmas that holding onto the division lead would have meant playing N.O. in the second round. I'm sure the gameplan is prepared and am sure they have enough notes on the previous game with them that preparations were likely lighter than usual.

I honestly don't know how much a short week hurts a team in the playoffs.

I doubt there are many trends out there since they never actually give a team a short week, but I think the players are geeked up and ready to go right now, so it's probably not that big of a factor.

Still, it's one less day or preperation, one less day or rest, and it really screws with the schedule when you include traveling on a short week.

It's just not optimal, but I don't think it will be a determining factor in a Saints win or Eagles loss.

Well, it's not like an extra day of rest would help the cornerback squad, right?

However, heel and hamstring injuries sidelined Hood for a half dozen games this season, including the club's previous meeting with the Saints back in October, a game in whoch Drew Brees threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

James, meanwhile, is healthy after missing the last four games with a calf injury he sustained in pre-game warmups prior to the Dec. 17 game against the Giants. In fact, he practiced last week but the team opted to hold him out of Sunday's game just to be safe.

Oh wait...

The scheduling of the Eagles game at 8pm on Saturday night sucks.

It completely screws up my plans to go to Day Dreams.

God damn fkn NFL schedulers.

I'm going to write a letter to Roger Goodell about this outrage.

So, are we ready to talk about the game now? I don't want to disrupt the flow if not everyone's vented about the scheduling yet.

It's this stupid NFL playoff system. If the league would get with the times and institute the BCS, everyone could have a good six weeks' rest between games.

Plus, the Eagles would've been co-Super Bowl winners!

That has to be good enough for a parade down Spring Garden Street.

So, are we ready to talk about the game now? I don't want to disrupt the flow if not everyone's vented about the scheduling yet.

I think the biggest concern for the Eagles will be McCallister. He's a monster and has ALWAYS been successful against the Eagles. If they start ripping off 8 yards at a time with Duece, it could be a long day for the Birds.

They also have to keep an eye on Horn. it seems like he old ass beat no one this season, but the Eagles made him look like the best WR in football the last time they played. They need to pay attention to Colsten, but not at the expense of Horn.

The key to everythig on defense (simply) is getting off he field. I think slowing down the run, forcing some third and long situations, sending the blitz, and getting a lead are all part of that.

On offense, the Eagles can't afford a slow start. I think they can put up enough points to win against the Saints, but I hope they don't lose track time an forget to run the ball. After they got on track last time, they moved the ball all over the Saints D, but remember in the first half, they just kept throwing deep balls to Baskett for some reason? Wird.

At any rate, the Saints have the 23rd ranked run D and the Eagles have a pretty good rushing offense now, so they might as well use it. However, the Saints couldn;t cover Reggie Brown to save their lives last time. They'll have to figure Reggie out now AND account for Stallworth.

Basically, I think both offenses present bad macthups for the defenses, but I have no idea how this game will play out.

Yeah, on paper it looks like a scorefest.

NO has way too many talented receivers. It's hard not to see the Eagles having trouble in an already beat-up secondary.

Don't forget about the bush

Well, this time around the Eagles offense is more balanced and the defense is playing a much better. I don't think the D had a single sack on Brees in the regular season game.

Defensively they definitely will have their work cut out for them trying to stop McAllister and contain Bush and the Lito-less secondary against Horn, Colston and Henderson scares me. They have to get to Brees this time around to take the pressure off.

I like the emotion Stallworth should bring in his return to the Superdome. Hopefully the offensive line will just maul the New Orleans defense in the run game. I also wouldn't mind seeing Westbrook returning punts again. Mahe just adds nothing and I think the Eagles might need a boost from special teams to get by the Saints.

Outside of his 3-TD day (stat fairy gift TDs), what has bush done? He's had a grand total of one 100 yard day and that was when he got double (20) the usual number of carries.

From a quick look at the stats, it looks like Bush is in to catch passes. Hopefully Trotter or Dawkins will key on that.

I think Bush's biggest asset right now is that he creates match-up problems much like Westbrook does.

Trotter could not cover Bush if Trotter was on horseback.

Look at Bush's second half totals compared to his first half. New Orleans worked him in over the first 8 games, and he really took off in the second half.

Ugh. That adds up to a huge WR/TE in Colston, a veteran in Horn, a speedster in Henderson, and a RB that splits wide in Bush. Plus a large, mobile QB and a strong RB.

Covering these guys in the secondary will be bad enough. If they don't break through to the pocket on half the plays, they're in for a very long day.

I wish I could recall anything about their defense.

Trotter could not cover Bush if Trotter was on horseback.

Cover? Nope. But at least if they sense the pass coming they'll be a tiny bit less likely to alligator-arm on the tackle.

Yup. Bush is going to be a very good player when he puts it all together, but the guy who really scares me (between the two of them) for this matchup is Duece.

He had something like 12 rushes for 60 yards against the Eagles last time and I think he only played a quarter or so before leavign the game. I think if he would have stayed in teh game, the Saints plan of attack was to pound the Birds into the turf with him.

I also remember the game he played in Philly a coupel years ago when he ran for 200 yards and 2 TDs. I was at that game, so I didn't have a feel for the "stats" at the time, but I just kept thinking "Jesus...he must be the best RB in history".

I drafted him on my fantasy team the next season based on that performance and he fucked me.

Ugh. That adds up to a huge WR/TE in Colston, a veteran in Horn, a speedster in Henderson, and a RB that splits wide in Bush. Plus a large, mobile QB and a strong RB.

If you want the silver lining:

- Colston is a rook and you never know how he'll react in his first playoff game.

- Horn is old and injured. Without Mike Lewis on the field to gift him TDs, maybe he won't be much of a factor.

- Henderson drops half the balls thrown to him.

- Bush has been up and down all year, but mostly average.

- Brees is very good, but he's a midget. MOLE!

- McAllister has been banged up off and on all year.

Not saying anythign other than those are the "green goggles" versions of your comments.

Here are Bush's first and second half splits:

First 8 Games

81 rushes/207 yards/2.6 ypc 0 TD
46 catches/312 yards/6.8 ypc 0

Second 8 Games

74 rushes/358 yards/4.8 ypc/6 TD
42 catches/430 yards/10.2 yc/2 TD

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