Conference 7.286::sports_91

    Here's a graphic of the road to the Super Bowl.
    
    First Round              Semi-Final Round           Championship
    --------------------------------------------------------------------           
    Houston Oilers        |
    (9-7,wldcrd)          |
                          |__
    Cinci. Bengals        |  |    ------------
    (9-7,AFC Cent Champs) |  |--> First Round |               
    ______________________|        Winner     |
                                              |-----|
    ----First Round Bye---------> Raiders or  |     |
                                  Bills       |     |
                                  ____________|     |
                                                    |    Semi-Final
    ----------------------                          |     Winner
    KC Chiefs             |                         |--> ---------- -->SB-XXV
    (11-5, wldcrd)        |                         |    Semi-Final
                          |--                       |     Winner
    Miami Dolphins        |  |    ____________      |
    (12-4, wlcrd)         |  |--> First Round |     |
    ______________________|         Winner    |     |
                                              |-----|
    ---First Round Bye----------> Raiders or  |
                                  Bills       |
                                  ____________|
                                                                        
    
    If Cincinnati wins Houston they play the Raiders in the second round
    and Buffalo plays the winner of the Miami/KC game, but if Houston
    wins Cincinnati then the Oilers play the second round in Buffalo
    and the Raiders play the winner of the Miami/KC game. I know it's
    kinda confusing and maybe this'll help. In the playoffs the best
    team plays against the worst team (or seed). The Bills won their
    division and have the best record 13-3 so they are the best (or 1st 
    seed),then the Raiders 12-4 (2nd seed), then the Bengals 9-7 (3rd
    seed), then the wildcard teams based on their records, being, Miami 
    12-4 (4th seed), KC 11-5 (5th seed), and Houston 9-7 (6th seed).
    
    Help this hopes....
    
    Homeboy

    Here's my perdikshuns (tm) for the AFC playoffs:
    
    Bengals - 21
                 -------- 
    Oilers - 31          |   Oilers - 21
                         |->               ---
                             Bills - 24       |
                                              |        Bills  - 24
                                              |------>
                                              |        Raiders - 27
    KC Chiefs - 21           Dolphins - 14    |
                   -------->               ---
    Dolphins - 24            Raiders - 35                         
    
    
    
    
    Carlos

Hey Art Modell what do you think of Marty now? Chiefs' deserved better
yesterday. Great game until Shula's boys threw the hankies. Sure the guy
kinda of held but when you can call it on every play but don't it's a
shame to throw it in such a crucial situation. Especially when you consider
the center or the other guard was leveling the guy who was being held.
Certainly took the luster of the great comeback for me.

mike

    The Raiders are gonna win the SB with their (kick butt, ask questions
    later) defense! And the Marcus, Bo, and Willie show! Count on it!
    
                 AFC teams still in the playoffs -vs- NFC         
                 
         Raiders  -  3-1
         Bills    -  3-1
         Dolphins -  2-2
         Bengals  -  1-3
    
                 NFC teams still in the playoffs -vs- AFC
    
         49'ers   -  4-0
         Giants   -  3-1
         Redskins -  3-1
         Bears    -  2-2 
                                                           
    
    Carlos                                        
    

    Any team that beats the Bills *in Buffalo* *in January* will have truly
    earned the AFC title.
    
    
    JMHO,
    py

    	So Paul, are you saying that if Miami beats the Bills this weekend
    that we cancel the Conference Finals and send Miami packing to the
    Bowl?  8^)
    
    				/Don

    Sounds o.k to me. Keeps da fish from having to go to Cincinnati.

    -1, correction keep the fish from going to LA....Will be an intresting
    weekend, I dont really care for Miami but one good thing that would
    come from a Miami victory would be raiders hosting Miami for the AFC
    champions in a warm up game for the Raiders trip to the superbowl....
    
    								Mab

    	Both the Bills and Raiders will win *and* cover this weekend.

    The Bills and Raiders - My two favorite teams!  
    
    Lee

    I give the Raiders very little chance next week in Buffalo.  The Bills
    will be playing their first AFC Championship game in Rich Stadium with
    a shot at their first Super Bowl.  The crowd will be rockin' and
    rollin' big-time, and the Bills will feed off it like a school of frenzied
    sharks.  Buffalo seemed to have Miami put away early, but Marino kept
    bringing Miami back.  Even so, Buffalo still won going away.  And
    Schroeder is no Marino.  
    
    Most people thought the Raiders would have an easy time with the
    injury-depleted Bengals, but Cincy was in it just about to the very
    end.  Schroeder looked good, but he did have all day to sit back there
    and pick out receivers.  Guaranteed, that won't happen against the
    Bills.
    
    The Bills simply won't let this one get away.  You had a good year
    Raiders, but it ends here.
    
    Joe
    

 I think the Raiders will make it a whale of a ballgame and have a decent
 shot at winning. The key will be the Raiders' defensive line. If they
 can get pressure on Kelley the Linebackers will be able to drop into 
 a three across zone and take away the crossing routes that the Bills
 have been hitting with success. Also Raiders maybe the first team to
 wake up and realize that buffalo starts everygame with a bomb, a run
 by Thomas another run or a flare pass to thomas and then Reed underneath...

 Raiders offensively have the running game to keep the Bills off the field.
 If Shoreder doesn't get all jacked up we could be in for an upset...

 mike

    Miami's defense doesn't even compare to the Raiders.  The Raiders rushing
    attack is much better than Miami's.  
    
    I was amazed to see yesterday that the Raiders have only given up four 
    rushing TD's this season.  Less than one every four games.  I think the 
    outcome will be decided by the quarterbacks.  We can probably expect a 
    good game from Kelly.  Hopefully, Schroeder will equal or better it.
    
    					Steve

                 Raiders  vs  Giants in the Superbowel

Mike JN

    Raiders and Giants - my two favorite teams!
    
    lEe

    So who in the AFC has the best shot at dethroning the 49ers?  My vote
    would be the Raiders.  They seem to have the best overall defense
    (compared to Buffalo), especially passing.  This seems to be the 49ers
    strong suit too (passing).  Marino did a number on Buffalo's secondary!  
    Only Buffalo could compete in an offensive war though, but I doubt it
    would come to that.
    
    It'll be tough for LA to win in Buffalo, but they had them beat there
    before and threw the game away.
    
    Mike

    Hawk, I agree except for the NFC.  The Super Bowl will be Northern
    California vs. Southern California.
    
    Imagine what that would be like if the Raiders were still in Oakland
    ;-)
    
    Mike

    >         <<< Note 41.16 by PNO::HEISER "Armageddon Appetite" >>>

>They seem to have the best overall defense (compared to Buffalo),
>especially passing.  This seems to be the 49ers strong suit too (passing). 
>Marino did a number on Buffalo's secondary!   Only Buffalo could compete in
>an offensive war though, but I doubt it would come to that.
 
 Well, I think the weather conditions had a lot to do with a weak
 performance by the Bills secondary.  The same way that the Dolphins had no
 pass coverage (Kelly was having a picnic out there).  If there's similar
 weather, you'll see an offensive battle again and Buffalo should outscore
 the Raiders.  If it's dry but not too cold, you'll see Allen take charge
 and make it a close game.  I am more suspect of the Bills rushing defense
 than I am of their secondary.   Bills by 4.
 
 -Paul
 PS - All that snow you saw during the Bills-Dolphins game may run contrary
 to what I had previously stated about Buffalo weather.  But nope, it is
 exactly what Buffalo weather is, 32F and rain/snow.  It just 'appeared' to
 be -10F and a blizzard.
 
 Oh yeah, do you believe they greased the goal posts !!

I can't think of a better example to have the whistle technology included on
the instant replay tape than yesterday's fumble by BO.

Bo was standing straight up, got hit and the ball popped loose. He hit the
ground a couple of strides later. The officials said that the play had been 
blown dead by an inadvertant whistle. I find it hard to believe that the
official blew his whistle as early as they say they did.

It might not have turned the game around but they again..it may have...

Bengals played pretty gutsy for having all the injuries they did as well as 
having 1/2 the team come down with the flu bug a few days ago. Then to play
in warm weather must have really screwed them up.

Ickey looked sharp, I still can't believe they gave Munoz away via plan B.
Bengals need a pass rush and another quality wr for next year.


Gotta root for the Bills now. I'd like to see a team win it that hasn't in
a  while.


Metz

    Nope, it sure as heck can snow at -10F.  In fact one of the few truly
    nasty storms Buffalo had (the famed Blizzard of '77) was in -5 - 0F
    weather with 50mph winds (truly nasty stuff).  When you get cold winds
    over a relatively warm lake, you'll get snow.
    
    -Paul "Willard Scott" Mazur (god I hate Willard Scott, I gotta come up
                                 with a new weatherman)

The GIANTS shot their wad's yesterday. 

The Niner's played a scrimmage after the half. If Hostetledereresd(sp) 
completes 40% I'd be suprised. 

It will be a Raider 49'er SB XXV.

 

Jeff --

With all due respect....eat my shorts ;^)

'Saw

PS  Re the weather thing.  Snow is usually associated with low pressure,
    and that's usually thought of as warmer, moister air.  However, it
    is possibly to have snow and blizzard conditions in the temps mentioned.
    Just look at Siberia 8^)

    BILLS	24
    RAIDERS	17
    
    49ERS	28
    GIANTS	13

    When people are saying "It's too cold to snow" what they really mean is
    that "It's too dry to snow."
    
    At least in this part of the country, our coldest weather comes when
    the air comes down from Canada and is very dry.  Our storms come up to
    us from down South along a southwest to northeast track, usually along
    a cold front separating warm air southeast of the front from cold air
    to the Northwest.  A weather flow from the south means moisture and
    warmth, and you'll find that most (not all, most) of our snowstorms
    dump snow that is heavy and wet, because the temperature is usually
    close to freezing when the snow comes.  Because it has such a high
    moisture content, it tends to freeze when not cleared properly.  This
    is why skiing in New England is like skiing on ice, because it very
    often *IS* skiing on ice.
    
    Thus, if a storm passes to the west of New England, we get warmth and
    rain.  If it goes through New England, everything to its southeast is
    rain and everything to its northwest is snow.  If it passes to the
    south of New England, then everything is snow.
    
    Unlike the Midwest and the Rockies, we are so close to the ocean that
    it helps keep coastal areas warm.  Very often, the Cape and Islands
    will get little to no snow throughout the winter because they're
    surrounded by water.  A lot of times, too, coastal areas will get snow
    changing to rain because the wind will start coming in from the east,
    making the temperatures rise above freezing while inland sections
    continue with snow or (gulp!) get ice, freezing rain and/or sleet.
    
    John

    Northwestern New York 
    
        vs.
    
    Northeastern New Jersey
    
    
    JaKe
    

    Buffalo and vicinity is commonly called Western New York or the 
    Niagara Frontier.
    
    -Paul

    re.29
    XXXXXwestern New York 
    
        vs.
    
    Northeastern New Jersey
    
    
    Better????
    
    JaKe
     

    In Vegas the Buffalo game opened at 7 and some early money has come in
    on the Raiders.  The heavy hitters are banging the 49ers early this
    year.  The Champs opened at 7 point chalks and have gone up a full
    point to 8.  I see a 49ers vs ??? in the superbowl.  Raiders vs Bills
    a very tough one to call.  
    
    Greg              
    
    
    
    

      Watch for Schroeder (sp?) to "throw" the game away one this one.  He
    has been protected well this year, but the Bills "D" will make the
    difference IMO.
    
      Bills 49rs SB
    
    		T-bone

    What's the betting that Jackson will see this banner on Sunday??
    
    
    	       		"BO DON'T KNOW SNOW"
    
    
    
      PJ

 Word I heard on the radio is that BO NO SHOW...his hip pointer coupled
 with his knee also being injuried has put him on the sideline for the
 game. While it's a shame that we won't get to see him it doesn't really
 hamper the raiders' offense any as I think they got somebody who can 
 pick up the slack? Some USC guy, his name escapes me right now, I think
 he won a superbowl mvp...

 ;^)

mike

    
    re:-1
    
    Last week before Bo got hurt, he had 77  yards on 6 carries.
    I'd call that more than the "occasional" super run.....sounds
    more like consistancy.
    
    Al 

    No Bo!  Well if the Championship games are canceled this weekend maybe
    Bo get a week or two to rest up.
    
    Greg

    Dont get me wrong I love Marcus Allen as a running back and he is great
    and brings a big treat to any offense...But Bo ran for more yrds than
    allen this year and is averaging over 5 yrds per carry, hes very
    consistent and very explosive and adds a treat and a danger to any
    defense one that Buffalo will no longer need be concearned with.  yes
    marcus is a great Running Back but the Bo less raiders are staill less
    threatening without him....
    								Mike

    No Bo?  Shroeder at QB?
    
    Taaaaaaake the Bills.
    
    Dan

    	The Raiders are hurting without Bo.  He's a legitimate threat
    to score from anywhere on the field (I can feel the puns coming
    now).
    
    				/Don

    I just don't see this game as being that close.
    
    The Buffalo defense will dominate.  Schroeder will be pressured all
    day, and his season-long bubble will burst.  He will make the big
    mistakes we have been waiting for him to make this season.  
    
    I'll say:
    Buffalo  28
    Raiders   7
    
    

    NOT BEING CLOSE...thats the understatement of the Decade, I just
    called for an update , theres 12 mins left in the 4rth, the Raiders
    pulled shroder (SP) and the score is BUFFALO 51 and the raiders 3 ??
    Buffalo still was playing there starters...I hope they put there 3rd
    or 4rth string in soon and save there top men for next week this game
    was over at kickoff, what a disgusting excuse for a FBALL game....Im
    at work and I was taping the game but I highly doubt Ill bother
    watching this one....Sounds like BO made more of a difference than
    anyone would have ever gave him credit for....
    
    1 RB = QB throwing more = 5+interceptions   The riaders air attack is
    obviously lacking and without 2 threats in the backfield they had no
    chance at all......Oh well Better luck next year LA, Buffalo is going
    to the Bowl....I hope they can look across the field at the GIANTS....
    
    Ill get home in time to see the second game this afternoon, I hope they
    at least have the curtiousy to make it a game.....
    								M_Air_B

    It's just not the same to see the Raiders get whupped without Hoot and
    Monty around.

    Har har har!  Hee hee hee!  Ho Ho Ho!
    
    Loved every minute of it.  I was so tired of all that "Silver and
    Black" mystique talk all last week.  It wasn't the weather either. 
    They just plain sipped.  
    
    Loved the shots of Uncle Al up in the booth with those stupid silver
    glasses just shaking his head.  Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
    
    	--dan'l (who found his old "raider hater" blood flowing again
    		 for some reason)

    Well, I have to agree....
    
    ....the Silver & Black is back......
    
    
    
    .... TO REALITY!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
    

    Where were Jim Garner and MC Hammer? They could have played better
    D than the ones on the field.

    
    Shroeder should have stayed home and played his mini-grand piano!!
    What a shlep. HA HA!! What A POUNDING!!! HA HA HA!!! 
    
    Ya, your right, it's not the same without Hoot and Monty. Maybe we
    can all send them sympathy cards via U.S. MAIL! Anyone got the boys 
    adresses?
    
    
    Steve

    For those of you who turned over to CBS before NBC ended its telecast,
    you missed a touching scene.  Players from both the Raiders and Bills
    met at midfield after the final gun, knelt, and said a prayer.  It was
    obviously for the troops.  I was touched.
    
    See, I can support the troops without supporting the government.  So
    can you.
    
    	--dan'l

    Don't know about Hoot's address but his phone number is 719-475-0718.
    I posted it in the old SPORTS per his request. 

    Just got off the phone with Hoot, but couldn't quite understand him.
    
    I kept hearing screams and moans, and vague comments about poor
    officiating, one-way calls, etc.
    
    Then, a loud ZAP, I think it was because the mouthpiece got filled up
    with spittle and tears and shorted out.
    
    lEe
    
    
    
    
    If anyone DOES call, how about a report in here? Should be good for a
    laugh or 10.  :*)

    Now Now you shouldnt be too hard against the raiders, granted the best
    team won but you have to agree that buffalo is not a +48pt team over
    the raiders.  The raiders completely fell aprat they didnt show up
    physically or mentally (just emotianlly).  The No BO played some part
    but I think Shroader showing up for the game hurt them the most.  His
    passing was unbelieveably disgustiong 6 interceptinos 0 tds....If I was
    him Id rather say I was paidoff to play that bad than to admit he did
    his best......The raiders are still a good team, they won their
    devision, a highly competitive division and beat cinncy in the 1st
    round.  A bad team IE the patriots wouldnt have gotton that far if.
    I still agree with some noters in here that the silver and black are
    back and they will be a top team next year (any maybe beyond) they
    just wernt the best this year just as SF 49ers are not the best this
    year....To put it in respective you could say that the raiders this
    year are only as good as the 49ers...They both lost in the championship
    games....Untill next year.....Although you can proberbly bet the farm
    that Buffalo will be back as strong as ever next year as well......
    After next sunday there will be 2-peat chants somewhere in New York.
    

>    ....To put it in respective you could say that the raiders this
>    year are only as good as the 49ers...They both lost in the championship
>    games....
 
    Yes, the Faiders got as far as the Niner boys, but to say they're as
    good as SF is a joke.  The 49ers lost by 2 points on a field goal on
    the last play of the game.  Meanwhile, the Faiders were absolutely
    destroyed and totally embarrassed.  (And I loved every minute of it,
    especially seeing Al Davis just sitting there with that blank stare).
    Come on, it was 41-3 at halftime.
    
    Walsh had a great line in the first quarter, when I think the Faids
    were 'only' down 14-3.  There was a penalty against the Bills, and
    Walsh said that was the best play the Faiders have had so far. 
    
    Then just before the game ended, the Bills were dancing and
    celebrating, and someone mentioned that the game had been over for 'about
    two and a half hours.'  That was great!
    
    I send the Bills my thanks for putting the Faiders in their place!
    
    Joe
      

    Bottomline...The Raiders made it to the AFC Championship game.  Yes
    they completely choked and are not going to the superbowl and neither
    are the 49ers.  If you think the score is a reflection of the teams
    talants your sadly mistaken.  Buffalo played on a level far above 
    there normal and the Raiders played far below.  You dont get to the AFC
    championship game if your a 51-3 losing team.  This was a fluke and I
    was dissapointed.  Again the best team did win, no doubt about that but
    the score didnt reflect the teams talant.  Home Field, NO BO and a QB
    having the worst day of his life are just some of the factors that
    resulted in a 51-3 loss.  I didnt get to watch the game live ( I taped
    it and fast forwarded thru alot) so I dont know what other factors were
    involved in making this  so lop sided but No bo and 6 interceptions are
    responsible for about 40+ point of the 48pt margin.  Should have been a
    much closer game and even some buffalo (or anti raider) fans proberbly
    wish it was more of a game.  Id feel cheated if I paid money to watch
    this one.  Reminds me of the patriots Vs chicago superbowl or even last
    years superbowl (I mean SF VS Denver).  This years superbowl should be
    a great game maybe even better than the NFC Championship game.  Ill be
    rooting for the Bills...
    								Mike

    Chris Berman said at the beginning of the highlights:
    
    "The Bills won the coin flip and it was over."
    
    

    I don't think Sunday was the worst Shroeder ever had...

    >...Home Field, NO BO and a QBhaving the worst day of his life ...
    >...involved in making this  so lop sided but No bo and 6 interceptions 
    >   are responsible for about 40+ point of the 48pt margin...
     
     gee, can you make the excuse list any longer?
    
    >Id feel cheated if I paid money to watch this one.  
     Not me.  I would have loved to have been there.  It's analogous to
     being a Red Sox fan and wishing they were at the deciding game of the 
     World Series where they win it by a 12-1 score.  After all those years
     of frustration, you would want *total* victory.  Knowing Buffalo (and
     also speaking with my parents in Buffalo), this is the best thing to
     happened to the city since the Erie Canal was opened.
    
    Also, I don't think the "Buffalo has shot its wad" theory is valid. 
    The players and coaches made it clear that their goal wasn't *to make
    it* to the SB, but *to win* the damn thing.  It will be a close game,
    but I am confident.
    
    >Ill be rooting for the Bills...
     Me too!  Buffalo by 4.
    
    
    -Paul

Personally, I'd rather see the handshake thing we do in rugby at the close
of a game.  I've got nothing against praying, but the handshake thing
is so sportsmanlike, I think it belongs at a professional level, so the
young kids could see it, where it would set a good example...

Then do some praying.  

And after that, go to have a post-game party.  But don't drink and drive.

Then go out and save the whales, do some research on nuclear fusion,
and bake some oatmeal cookies...

All in all it would be a very productive Sunday!

'Saw

    re-.53
    
      You stated that the raiders didn't show up physically or mentally,but
    they showed up emotionally.  Isn't mentally and emotionally the same
    thing?????
    
      I must admit though, that you are the only faider fan that seems to
    have shown up in the notes file today;^^
    
    also, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the 48 point spread the largest
    in post-season play (including last years final post season game)?
    
      I predicted that Shroeder would choke if not protected, and so I was
    right.  He also choked when he was protected;^^ 
    
    
    re-  Love that coin flip slam!!!!
    
    		T-bone

    
    >Then go out and save the whales, do some research on nuclear fusion,
    >and bake some oatmeal cookies...
    
    For starters, 'Saw, you might try saving the Whale in nearby Haafah.
    8^)
    
    And I'm surprised you didn't finish those above suggestions with "goin'
    downtown and lookin for some tush." ;^)
    
    Dickstah
    

    Jets would have given Buff. a better game!  They've at least got a real
    QB.  Almost beat 'em the last time they played.
    
    I've been calling Buffalo's number for weeks now, and I'll stay with it
    through next Sunday.  They've got it all together, and the Giants
    (whether their fans want to admit it or not) are suspect on offense.
    
    Dan

    -2, no I dont consider emotionally and Mentally the same.  Mentally
    would be playing with a plan, thinking about the game and exactly
    what to do, remembering what you saw on all those tapes and what the
    coaches wrote on the board (in schroaders case remembering what colors
    his team had on and the other teams and to throw to your own team).
    Emotionally is hyped up and physiced (SP) about being there and going
    out there on adrenaling only and the second you step on the field you
    forgot everything that was drilled into your head the entire week
    before which is obvious what happend here.  Any team can play with
    emotion but you have to be mentally ready and aware to win.  Buffalo
    was focused on the game so hard a bomb could have went off and they
    would have finshed the play without blinking an eye...That Mentally
    ready...Not saying they didnt play emotionally as well.  Im happy
    with the outcomes of this weeks games, except for the margin of victory
    but should be a great superbowl.  Why do people find the giants so
    boring, there defense is very exciting...You didnt enjoy Leonard
    Marshalls hit on JM a perfectly executed sack, may have made the
    difference of the game.....
    								MaB

Dickstah --

The gOwHAle in Harfah is beyond help from me.  Mired in the tidal flat
mud of mediocrity, we'll sacrifice this one, and hopefully a nice 
new construction project can change that tidal mud flat into a super highway...

And Dickstah, it's a given that i'm always goin' downtown, jus' lookin'
for some tush!

8^)
'Saw

    re .50
    
    Hawk, prayer after a game (on-field) is not unusual - I remember it
    being done in high school. Given that I never have seen on-field prayer
    before in the NFL isn't fair to assume that players from both teams are
    doing that for the troops ?

    Hawk, the troops have been in place for quite awhile, now.  I don't
    think it's for anything other than a prayer that our troops return home
    safely, unless it's for peace.  
    
    Lee

    >Hawk, the troops have been in place for quite awhile, now.  I don't
    >think it's for anything other than a prayer that our troops return home
    >safely, unless it's for peace.  
    
    Thankfully, the football season is over and we don't have to endure
    anymore of these ostentatious expressions of religion for the purposes
    of advertisement and prostelyzation.
    
    If your scratching your head wondering why something so seemingly
    benign gets my goat, take a second and wonder if they'd give air-time
    to every religion represented, if practitioners would be allowed to
    occupy the center of a football field on national TV for just any old
    cause.
    
    Dan

If they decide to show a monk burning himself, I won't ever watch
football again.

I had enough problems watching them put that cat to sleep last night
on Rescue 911.....

'Saw