Saturday Playoff Preview: Saints at 49ers, Broncos at Patriots

by Brandon on Jan 14, 2012 7:01 AM CST in Green Bay Packers Preview

The early NFC game is the interesting one for fans of the Green Bay Packers, but the late game is likely to set some TV ratings records because of the Broncos QB.

Saints at 49ers. The weather is expected to be in the 50s with little wind, which is a huge favor for the Saints. Still, the 49ers offense is going to have to do something other than avoid turnovers and hand it off to Frank Gore, so the fine weather will help Alex Smith find an open receiver or two against the Saints bad pass defense.

The 49ers have had a great season, but the Saints are the better team. They should win the game. But if the 49ers do win, it will be because they learned some lessons from two of the Saints surprising road losses. Drew Brees had two of his worst games on the road against the Buccaneers (1 TD, 3 INTs) and the Rams (1 TD, 2 INTs). The 49ers tied for second in the NFL this season with 23 INTs. They've got to look closely at what made Brees struggle and duplicate it if they're going to win the game.

More on this game at Canal Street Chronicles and Niners Nation.

Broncos at Patriots. I really can't believe how the Steelers played Tim Tebow last week. They were determined to stop the run, and it left their defense vulnerable to big plays down the field. Tebow can't throw the ball well (47.6 completion percentage on the season) but he can connect on deep passes. The Patriots need to win the field position battle, and play their safeties deep to avoid the big play. Tebow isn't going to sustain a lot of 10+ play scoring drives against any defense. Make him work for every first down.

I don't know why the Patriots have listed 13 players as questionable. They should only be questionable if they're a game time decision, and that wouldn't seem to apply to all these of players. However, some of them, like starting G Logan Mankins, are legitimate ones. The Patriots offense is so good that even without all of these questionable players, they should put up points against a mediocre Broncos defense. I'm expecting a comfortable win for the Patriots.

More on this game at Mile High Report and Pats Pulpit.

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The Patriots always do fishy things with the injury report in the playoffs, or so it seems

I remember when Tom Brady went almost the entire season listed as probable, only to start every single game.

Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
Yes, I am on twitter.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jan 14, 2012 9:39 AM CST reply actions

Its the Patriots

The fact they say anything is amazing.

by king.nothing on Jan 14, 2012 10:12 AM CST up reply actions

It's almost like they're being dishonest to gain an advantage

but that’s so out of character for them, I just can’t believe it.

13.

In '62, Green Bay's 7th Championship season, the Packers took a 10-0 record into Detroit on Thanksgiving, and lost. In '11 they took a 10-0 record into Detroit on Thanksgiving, and got it right this time.

In '07, the Packers hosted a playoff game against a Giants team that they had defeated during the regular season, and lost. In '11 they host a playoff game against a Giants team that they had defeated during the regular season, and, again, we’re gonna get it right this time!"

by Wiedmann on Jan 14, 2012 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

Nice sig.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Jan 14, 2012 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

You know...

Since CLEARLY your not a Pats hater or something!! LMAO

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 14, 2012 10:04 PM CST up reply actions

Good to know you're opinion

13.

by Wiedmann on Jan 14, 2012 11:14 PM CST up reply actions

Not "my" opinion!

Your hatred for NE is extremely well documented!

Nice to see you have better things to do than sit around and be anal retentive about others use of Your, You’re and such! Get a life… PLEASE!

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 15, 2012 1:07 AM CST up reply actions

...because you replying to me unneccessarily was a wise life choice.

13.

by Wiedmann on Jan 15, 2012 1:57 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs

I even made light of it!

Guess you don’t know what LMAO means…

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 15, 2012 9:44 AM CST up reply actions

Lynch Mob All Over?

13.

by Wiedmann on Jan 15, 2012 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

If thats what you need to think...

I guess your life must REALLY suck!

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 15, 2012 7:19 PM CST up reply actions

My life is great...

13.

by Wiedmann on Jan 17, 2012 4:31 PM CST up reply actions

Woodson was on the injury report pretty much every week last season, too.

Sometimes nagging injuries are just that.

by osc630 on Jan 14, 2012 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

50 degrees and little to no wind at Candlestick?

Sounds pretty close to a dome like environment for me. Smith is going to have to have a phenomenal performance to keep up with Brees in this one.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on Jan 14, 2012 9:45 AM CST reply actions

Not necessarily, the traction will still be grass and it being 50 degrees today doesn't mean it's been that way for weeks

So the turf could still be weaker from the winter, which until you get into the 20’s or really fierce winds matters more than the weather. Either way, we’ll see.

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jan 14, 2012 10:12 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

It's been unseasonably warm and dry for the whole winter

all over northern Cali. It’s still grass, but this has to be a net advantage for the Saints.

by bob47 on Jan 14, 2012 11:43 AM CST up reply actions

Well Smith did say in an interview

He can throw all the yards he wants, we just got to outscore him.

by king.nothing on Jan 14, 2012 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

I would pick the 49ers

If I could trust their offense to score TD’s instead of FG’s. I’m sure the 49ers D will at least slow down the Saints, and the Saints offense is not the same on the road. The weather isn’t what I would hope for, but that field won’t be in the best condition for the Saints O. It’s just that the 49ers need to score TD’s when they get in the red-zone, something they have failed to do all year.

Whats interesting is the Saints red zone percentage on the road. They score TD’s on only 30% of their trips inside the 20 on the road. So maybe the 49ers inept offense won’t be that big of an issue.

by Shoes31 on Jan 14, 2012 10:16 AM CST reply actions

49ers have the formula

All of the Saints losts, came with two styles played against them. The Packers decided to just out score them. They jumped on them big and forced them to chase the Packers down.

The Rams and Bucs ran the ball. They killed a lot of time, time Drew Brees needed. Plus they took the ball away with interceptions.

To stop the Saints you either have to a)outscore them in a shoot out or b)keep the ball out of Brees hands.

The 49ers has a defesne that can create turnovers and will run the ball really well. I like the 49ers in this one.

by king.nothing on Jan 14, 2012 10:18 AM CST reply actions

I think the Broncos can win, btw.

…not because of Tebow or divine intervention or whatever.

It’s a very simple equation that we Packer fans are very familiar with:

Old QB + Cold Weather = crappy offensive performance.

Brady is getting almost as old as He Who Shall Not Be Named was in ’07, and remember how old & cold he looked? The Broncos need a good team game, but they can overcome any one performance by any individual. The Patriots, on the other hand, absolutely need Brady to play well to have any kind of a chance.

I mean, I’m 36 years-old, and… if I tried to play football in 20-degree weather right now… Forget about it.

by Curly Lambeau on Jan 14, 2012 11:17 AM CST reply actions

Broncos D has been playing so well.

While the Pats are the biggest threat from the AFC, I really….really want Tebow talk to be done for a while.

by msc32887 on Jan 14, 2012 11:33 AM CST up reply actions

The Broncos D are the ones that have made Tebow Time a thing

If he didn’t have Elvis Dumervil and Hipster Von to back him up,…. he’d be benched for Brady Quinn by now.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on Jan 14, 2012 11:35 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

No matter how bad his teams were in Carolina, I think that Fox always had a good defense.

And run game.

by msc32887 on Jan 14, 2012 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

yup, that's always been his formula

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 14, 2012 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

Them and Champ Bailey

That dude is still balling. Just look at the play just before then end of regulation against the Steelers. Bailey comes out of nowhere to knock the pass away from Hines. If that pass is complete, they are in FG range almost.

by Shoes31 on Jan 14, 2012 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

Tebow time will end.

Once he ends the Patriots. I think I could withstand one more week if he takes out the Patriots. Then Ravens/Texans could finish the job.

Only thing I don’t want to see is Tebowmania running wild in Indy this year.

by king.nothing on Jan 14, 2012 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

I would love to see it, that would be a great story

whoever he’s facing though, whether it’s the Saints or Packers, is gonna annihilate the Broncos anyway

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 14, 2012 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

Packers would love to see it.

Hey Tebow, we are going to go put at least 30 on you guys. Run the ball all you want because all we need is 59 seconds to score, ask the Giants. Keep up son.

by king.nothing on Jan 14, 2012 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

Tebow

Tebow has been able to do the same things that many running QBs have been able to do – lure LBs and DBs toward the line of scrimmage by running out of the pocket than hitting either an open man, or a WR covered one-on-one with a step or two on the DB. Having watched some of the Bronco games out of curiosity, it also seems to me that Tebow does have leadership ability, which is a necessary quality for the sort of late game comebacks that have happened with Denver. It’s very true, that the defense and McGahee and the O-line and Prater deserve as much credit as Tebow. At the same time, it seems pretty certain that while Orton was a better passer, Tebow has been more of leader.

I hope the Broncos beat the Patriots. My dislike of all things Patriot overrides my getting tired of Tebowmania.

by MikeDB on Jan 14, 2012 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

True but in not sure it's as much leadership as a good overall QB

A much worse passer but a better QB in the positions entirety. In fact, much like Vick, Young, and Newton (though with the exception of Young he’s not even as good of a passer as those guys) he draws a lot of value from running which is still production. He’s not on the same level as Rodgers but part of what makes Rodgers the best QB in the league, aside from being the leagues best passer, is being mobile. Seriously he’s an awful passer but his production overall is slightly below average and the clock control benefit that it gives the defense as well as the addition game planning it forces other teams into probably boosts him to average.
I also Sony get the Pats hate, they’ve been good but there are towns of franchises to be more jealous of, including ours. They had Spygate but that was one bead thing that was less bad than ‘roofs by Chargers players or party boats, and they have mostly been humble an classy throughout thier success. I’m surround by Rams fans who have good reason to hate the Pats from losing a SB to them, but we beat them (even if it was from before Brady and Belichick) and we lost to Denver. I hate Denver, Tebowmania, just Denver, and not the Pats so I hope the Pats win. The Pats hate, the gross overrating an undertaking Tebow is annoying, an the hate for Tebow is dumb. You want to overrate a terrible QB or hate that people or doing so? mark Sanchez sucks balls. Otherwise QBR is crap even without Tebow an Tebowmania is less annoying that the attention the Sanchize gets, Go Pats

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jan 14, 2012 3:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

And of course I only mean go Pats vs the Broncos

Go Pack Go

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jan 14, 2012 3:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

you know who else has leadership ability?

Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers…

The difference is those guys are actually good QBs as well

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 15, 2012 9:19 AM CST up reply actions

the Pats biggest opponent is themselves

If the Pats do what the Pats do, no one outside of GB can be them, simple as that

REPORTER: What do you think is happening to the team?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: The ship be sinking.
REPORTER: How far can it sink?
MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON: Sky's the limit.

by uofmike on Jan 14, 2012 2:03 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

you greatly overestimate New England

newsflash: They haven’t beaten anybody this season. They’ve played two teams with winning records and lost to both of them (Pit and NYG)

All four remaining teams in the NFC are better than New England

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 14, 2012 2:34 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

good point about Tebow

he can’t complete short or mid-range passes consistently, but he really is a pretty good deep ball thrower.

The key for the defense should be to force him to complete shorter passes by taking away anything over the top.

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 14, 2012 11:53 AM CST reply actions

But we ARE talking about the Pats' secondary here

They ranked 31st in yards giving up, and Patrick Chung whose been decent this year is listed as questionable…. And from my observation Devin McCourtney is the strong point of the DBs, and he’s not having as good a year as last. I dunno. We’ll have to see what happens. Well, you guys will.. I gotta work (day off tomorrow for the Packers game though)

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on Jan 14, 2012 1:06 PM CST up reply actions