Ha! It's Back! RealJohnBoy's A2K NFL "Pick-Um" Game!

Missing only CoastalRat.

Far be it from me to influence you in any way ... but think of Peyton Manning and this being playoff time. Oakland is better then they've been in some time but are they up for beating Indy? Yes, it's played in Oakland.

Hmmm?

You know the second I switch, Oakland will gain in ability some more.

I'll look at the signs one more time.

I was talking with Rhys today (who plays Fantasy Football). I mentioned that, with only two weeks left some teams may rest players and, perhaps, not try too hard to win if they are already assured a playoff slot with home field advantage. I have no idea which teams might be in that position.

FWIW, the fans are 56% to 43% in favor of Indy winning outright - not that it is the best indicator at this point in the season (playoff positioning and resting of key players).

OK. CAR wins coin toss, elects to receive. That should do it for them as far as winning for the rest of the night.

Relatively few this season, I think.

Only Jespah (snicker, snicker) has Carolina. AndyClubber though, a Steeler through and through, worries that Pittsburgh has a tendency to play badly in games they are supposed to win.

I was [] close to picking the Panthers. Just 'cuz.

That would be a choke of cataclysmic proportions.

Seriously, the game's in Pitt...but they're minus Polamlau. Uh oh!

They could bring in someone from The Little Sisters of the Poor and beat the
Panthers (who have no anthers).

Hahahah. Sisters of the Poor comments have been flying in the sports media lately.

"Pittsburgh is used to playing without Polamalu -- he missed 11 games last season with a knee injury -- but the difference he makes is hard to ignore. The Steelers are 14-4 with him over the past two years, allowing 14.8 points per game while producing 41 turnovers. When Polamalu's been out they're 5-7, yielding an average of 23.1 points while totaling 11 takeaways."

I was a tad iffy about picking Pitt too, but then I remembered the Panthers.

About damn time, too!

20-zip at the half.

yawn...

Johnboy, I give up, I switch to Indy...
(gooooooo, Raiders)

Please, I almost won last week.

That's understatement JP.

I watched the first half. The Panther's first drive stalled at the Steeler's 32. The Steeler's first drive got a FG. CP's next drive stalled at PS's 30. Not much else happened. First quarter finished. It took 31 minutes.

In the 2nd quarter PS drive stalled. CP's drive got intercepted--TD. CP drive stalled. PS TD next. CP drive stalled. PS FG. 20-0. The half took 91 minutes on my clock. A female came on and explained that the Panthers needed to get more of the ball if they were to get back in the game.

By my reckoning there must have been something like 50-60 minutes of ads in the first half. I turned it off at that point.

The game will never catch on here. Our fans demand 94 minutes end to end action with ads at half time only to give us time to make a brew.

I assume the crowd at Heinz Field were being paid. I would want paying to stand around in those temperatures and be absent from home for 5 or 6 hours to watch so little action.

It must be psychological.

pretty much my view of going to a pub. definitely psychological