BukyOHare Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 If the Browns play a well scripted, well coached game against the Chiefs, and largely it's been very encouraging so far under Stefanski, then they will cause the huge favourites problems. To win the game is a huge ask, to stay within 10 is very very manageable. As has been mentioned on here already the Browns shouldn't solely rely on their running game, if they do they will come unstuck, but getting it established with Chubb and Hunt, to keep KC guessing will set them up very nicely for play action and bootlegs further down the field. The Kansas run D has been below average (ranked 21st in yards allowed) and Chubb/Hunt props should be viewed favourably to the over for sure. Its the playoffs, the Chiefs have been very conservative in their games since their week 10 bye. I get they deliberately haven't been opening up the playbook with the playoffs in mind but in professional sport it's so difficult to flick the switch to full mode after playing with the handbrake on and another bye week on top of that. The Raiders in both regular season games and Falcons in week 16 gave teams decent film into how to cause KC problems. Im sure that's been in Cleveland's mindset and planning. The Browns have perfectly legitimate and capable receiving and tight end threats for "good" Baker to connect with. Chubb and Hunt are also very good in passes from the backfield. They need to be balanced. It takes a monumental effort on both sides of the ball to beat KC but it definitely can be done. As a neutral I really hope Stefanski plays positively, plenty of pre snap motion and inventive plays on both sides of the ball. If you go up against the Chiefs looking to play conservatively, 3 handoff runs up the middle and a punt for field position, they'll kill you 99.9% of the time. I don't generally bring up last seasons games in previews but in this round last season, a Bill O'Brien coached Texans went 24-0 up against a sleepwalking KC in Arrowhead. Mahomes was at his mercurial best to lead his team to get the win that day. They can't afford that same rust against the Browns. Really looking forward to this one. Guinness in the fridge since the middle of the week in preparation. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G51 Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 The problem with the Chiefs is the Browns could play a brilliant game and still lose by two or three scores. Theres a path for them to win but there’s no doubt that it’s narrow and fraught with danger. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Tunbridge Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, BukyOHare said: Guinness in the fridge since the middle of the week in preparation. Really good read until this point Edited January 16, 2021 by Scotty Tunbridge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountyFan Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 I like all 4 underdogs to cover. The Saints/Bucs game is a toss up in my eyes. Cannot split them. The Saints D is excellent and its strength on strength because as much as I hate Brady, he has that offence humming. The chiefs will win but I'm not giving a divisional playoff opponent 10 points and expecting to cover. There are 8 good teams left and none of them are getting blown out. The packers and rams... heart says we can do it but the head has no faith in Goff not to turn the ball over. Theres a path to victory for us if we get the run game going and keep the ball away from Rodgers but that's tough. I'm not confident. We will not be blown out though. Ravens/Bills might be the game of the weekend. Could genuinely go either way. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bully Wee Villa Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, AmericanFan said: Sure, but it's 2021, not 2007. Game is even more quarterback driven now, and Grossman was lucky enough to play with the greatest kick/punt returner ever, the NFC's best defense and was the beneficiary of the Saints playing like complete pish in the NFC title game. The Eagles won it all three years ago, led by a bloke who has been benched for Mitchell Trubisky. The game hasn't changed that much in three years. It is still possible to do well without an A-List quarterback if the rest of the team is good enough. In any case, you're being a bit harsh on Mayfield imo. He won't be the next Dan Marino but he is destined for a successful career. Edited January 16, 2021 by Bully Wee Villa 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountyFan Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Also NFL fans- do NOT do dry January. Why did I think I could do playoff football weekends with no booze. I havent cracked yet but by christ I'll need a beer by the superbowl. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanFan Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 6 hours ago, Bully Wee Villa said: The Eagles won it all three years ago, led by a bloke who has been benched for Mitchell Trubisky. The game hasn't changed that much in three years. It is still possible to do well without an A-List quarterback if the rest of the team is good enough. In any case, you're being a bit harsh on Mayfield imo. He won't be the next Dan Marino but he is destined for a successful career. Look up how well Foles played in the NFC championship and Super Bowl that year. He was excellent. The point is you need really, really good quarterback play, and the Eagles got it from Foles then. The fact he sucked this year has nothing to do with how well he played in those two games. I don't believe I've ever said Mayfield is awful, and maybe was a bit harsh, but of the QBs left, he's the 7th or 8th best, and if this Chiefs team loses to him at home where he goes off for 325 yards and four touchdowns, it would be a bit of a disaster. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanFan Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 10 hours ago, BukyOHare said: If the Browns play a well scripted, well coached game against the Chiefs, and largely it's been very encouraging so far under Stefanski, then they will cause the huge favourites problems. To win the game is a huge ask, to stay within 10 is very very manageable. As has been mentioned on here already the Browns shouldn't solely rely on their running game, if they do they will come unstuck, but getting it established with Chubb and Hunt, to keep KC guessing will set them up very nicely for play action and bootlegs further down the field. The Kansas run D has been below average (ranked 21st in yards allowed) and Chubb/Hunt props should be viewed favourably to the over for sure. Its the playoffs, the Chiefs have been very conservative in their games since their week 10 bye. I get they deliberately haven't been opening up the playbook with the playoffs in mind but in professional sport it's so difficult to flick the switch to full mode after playing with the handbrake on and another bye week on top of that. The Raiders in both regular season games and Falcons in week 16 gave teams decent film into how to cause KC problems. Im sure that's been in Cleveland's mindset and planning. The Browns have perfectly legitimate and capable receiving and tight end threats for "good" Baker to connect with. Chubb and Hunt are also very good in passes from the backfield. They need to be balanced. It takes a monumental effort on both sides of the ball to beat KC but it definitely can be done. As a neutral I really hope Stefanski plays positively, plenty of pre snap motion and inventive plays on both sides of the ball. If you go up against the Chiefs looking to play conservatively, 3 handoff runs up the middle and a punt for field position, they'll kill you 99.9% of the time. I don't generally bring up last seasons games in previews but in this round last season, a Bill O'Brien coached Texans went 24-0 up against a sleepwalking KC in Arrowhead. Mahomes was at his mercurial best to lead his team to get the win that day. They can't afford that same rust against the Browns. Really looking forward to this one. Guinness in the fridge since the middle of the week in preparation. The Chiefs basically handed the Texans 14 of those points, then went on to score 52 straight in a game they could have scored 70 if they wanted. I don't want to see it again, but I believe they could afford it against the Browns and their secondary (even with Ward back). If KC falls behind 35-0, I'll be worried. But Pittsburgh should have come back last week after a 28-0 hole. KC was trying to go undefeated this year, and once that happened, I believe they had a lackadaisical approach to the rest of the season. Whether they went 12-4 or 15-1 during the regular season or played some half-assed game in a win over the Falcons didn't really matter. They know they're going to be judged by whether they win the AFC and reach the Super Bowl. Anything less is going to be a disappointment. The Browns are going to have to be +3 in turnovers, have Mayfield throw for at least 350 and score at least 35 to win. With the Chiefs being mostly healthy for the first time since October, I don't see that happening. But I've been plenty wrong before and I'm happy to bet anyone on the game with the spread if they want to. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BukyOHare Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 34 minutes ago, AmericanFan said: But I've been plenty wrong before and I'm happy to bet anyone on the game with the spread if they want to. Mate, I think anybody who's read this thread gets it that you're willing to put money on it. I hope you have placed a bet with the sportsbooks. Enjoy it for what it is, a knowledgeable exchange of views and opinions. Nobody's biting. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmericanFan Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 9 minutes ago, BukyOHare said: Mate, I think anybody who's read this thread gets it that you're willing to put money on it. I hope you have placed a bet with the sportsbooks. Enjoy it for what it is, a knowledgeable exchange of views and opinions. Nobody's biting. haha, fair enough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted January 16, 2021 Author Share Posted January 16, 2021 Cooper Kupp out of tonight’s game with a knee injury 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BukyOHare Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 12 minutes ago, lichtie23 said: Cooper Kupp out of tonight’s game with a knee injury I noticed he hadn't practiced all week. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resk Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Well up for this. Fitba's shite anyway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Lanarkshire Jag Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Go Pack Go! Packers and Bills wins for me tonight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Hard to get worked up for the Packers vs Rams. I can't see the Rams shutting Rodgers down or creating much on offence so should be a home win possibly by double figures. Baltimore @ Bills is intriguing. Bills have been very impressive this season and laid a few demons to rest last weekend with regards to the playoffs. Ravens are on a right good win streak though and it is still the bills. I can see this going to the wire, possibly OT. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BukyOHare Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) Tempted by the Rams +7 but it's a game to sit and watch. 2 very well coached teams with guys we should be hearing lots about in the future. Its not mentioned often but Lafleur is 26-6 in his first head coach's job. That's amazing figures. Edited January 16, 2021 by BukyOHare 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
die hard doonhamer Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Good start with the Rams going 3 and out. Mon the Packers in this one. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiochas III Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) There is no one better than Rodgers at getting the 12 man penalty... Edited January 16, 2021 by Antiochas III 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BukyOHare Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 I love Rodgers' reaction when things don't go to plan. It never seems his fault, ever. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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