Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Straight Outta The Box: Chief Rum Takes Over The FOF 2004 Cards

Chief Rum · 11-25-2003, 09:11 PM

Division Round Matchups

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                         OAKLAND (12-5)       at       TENNESSEE (12-4)

Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk):  361.6 (11)                    359.1 (12)
Rush Offense, ypg (Rk):   92.7 (23)                    135.9  (2)
Pass Offense, ypg (Rk):  268.9  (7)                    223.2 (20)

Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk):  343.4 (21)                    338.3 (17)
Rush Defense, ypg (Rk):   86.1  (2)                    110.7 (27)
Pass Defense, ypg (Rk):  257.3 (28)                    227.6 (10)

Quarterback:             Rich Gannon                   Steve McNair
                 4303 yd, 67%, 23 td, 11 int   3568 yd, 62%, 22 td, 11 int

Running Back:            Charlie Garner                Chris Brown   
                        1101 yd, 8 td                 736 rd, 3 td

Wide Receiver #1:        Jerry Porter                  Derrick Mason
                      80 rec, 1318 yd, 7 td        77 rec, 1134 yd, 5 td

Wide Receiver #2:        Tim Brown                     Tyrone Calico
                      64 rec, 875 yd, 2 td         58 rec, 790 yd, 6 td

Top Third Receiver:      RB Charlie Garner             TE Frank Wycheck
                      68 rec, 650 yd, 3 td         77 rec, 782 yd, 4 td

Top Defensive Players:   OLB Bill Romanowski           DE Jevon Kearse    
                      97 tkl, 1.5 sacks, 2 int     64 tkl, 16 sacks, 25 hurries
                         S Rod Woodson                 OLB Keith Bulluck
                      89 tkl, 6 int, 17 defn       78 tkl, 7 sacks, 3 int
                         DT Dana Stubblefield          DE Kevin Carter
                      39 tkl, 11 sacks, 12 hurries 42 tkl, 13.5 sacks, 35 hurries

Comments: This is the way you have to like it. Strength against strength. One-on-one. The Titans rushing (2nd best) versus the Raiders' run defense (also 2nd best). The Raiders' passing offense (7th best) against the Titans' pass defense (10th best). These are the matchups that will determine who wins this game. The Titans don't look like much of a running team if you consider just Chris Brown, but that would be misleading. Brown combines with Eddie George and Steve McNair, as a running quarterback, for a three-headed 600-yard-plus-each monster. This is an offense that can pile up the runs. And while they don't do so well getting the passing yardage, McNair is an efficient quarterback with the ball on his arm, just like the Raiders' counterpart Rich Gannon. And McNair has a fine #1 receiver to throw to in Derrick mason and one of the more surehanded tight ends in the league in Frank Wycheck. Considering the Raiders aren't very good defending the pass, this could be a key to the game. On the other side, the plays to watch will be in the trenches. The Raiders have one of the best lines in football, but the rreason the Titans were so good against the pass wasn't because of superior corner play so much as a brutal pass rush with Kearse, Carter and DT Albert Haynesworth (9.5) finishing among league leaders. If Gannon gets it off, though (and you know he will), he can be dangerous. The Titans' run defense isn't all that hot, but Charlie Garner is better receiving than he is running the ball. I think this one will be very close, and so I will go with the home field and give it to Tennessee.

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                         PITTSBURGH (13-4)     at      BUFFALO (12-4)

Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk):  381.8  (2)                    340.9 (18)
Rush Offense, ypg (Rk):  140.3  (1)                    102.6 (14)
Pass Offense, ypg (Rk):  241.4 (13)                    238.3 (17)

Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk):  318.6  (8)                    332.3 (13)
Rush Defense, ypg (Rk):  106.1 (24)                    102.1 (16)
Pass Defense, ypg (Rk):  212.4  (5)                    230.2 (11)

Quarterback:             Tommy Maddox                  Drew Bledsoe
                 3834 yd, 66%, 34 td, 10 int   3746 yd, 63%, 22 td, 10 int

Running Back:            Jerome Bettis                 Travis Henry
                        1571 yd, 7 td                  1095 rd, 5 td

Wide Receiver #1:        Plaxico Burress               Eric Moulds
                      65 rec, 1184 yd, 10 td       99 rec, 1396 yd, 8 td

Wide Receiver #2:        Hines Ward                    Bobby Shaw
                      56 rec, 790 yd, 8 td         51 rec, 665 yd, 7 td

Top Third Receiver:      RB Jerome Bettis              WR Josh Reed
                      54 rec, 454 yd, 5 td         36 rec, 452 yd, 3 td

Top Defensive Players:   DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen         OLB Takeo Spikes
                      31 tkl, 16 sacks, 17 hurries 115 tkl, 6.5 sacks, 5 int
                         OLB Jason Gildon              ILB London Fletcher
                      73 tkl, 3.5 sacks, 3 int     114 tkl, 3.5 sack, 4 hurries
                         CB Chad Scott                 S Lawyer Milloy       
                      60 tkl, 10 int, 14 defn      82 tkl, 5 int, 8 defn

Comments: I am sure Buffalo is a good team. They proved it on the field, right? But looking at the numbers right next to each other, I find it hard to believe the Bills are the ones who had the first round bye. They don't rank in the top ten in any single major team category. Their best ranking is 11th best in pass defense. They have just one star player, based on this year's performances, and that is Eric Moulds. Against them come the Steelers, who rank in the top ten in both offense and defense, have the league's top rushing attack, two of the best in the backfield in Jerome Bettis and Tommy Maddox, an elite reciever in Plaxico Burress, and a defense filled with playmakers. I just don't see this one coming out pretty for the Buffaloes. Unless they weave some of the magic they must have had in the regular season, the bills are going to lose this one.

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                         NY GIANTS (10-7)      at      ST. LOUIS (13-3)

Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk):  378.7  (4)                    373.2  (6)
Rush Offense, ypg (Rk):   93.8 (22)                     87.3 (26)
Pass Offense, ypg (Rk):  284.9  (3)                    285.9  (2)

Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk):  326.4 (11)                    363.8 (28)
Rush Defense, ypg (Rk):   89.9  (7)                     98.1 (12)
Pass Defense, ypg (Rk):  236.5 (16)                    265.8 (30)

Quarterback:             Kerry Collins                 Kurt Warner
                 4511 yd, 65%, 30 td, 17 int   4575 yd, 65%, 34 td, 17 int

Running Back:            Tiki Barber                   Marshall Faulk
                        1206 yd, 1 td                 796 rd, 4 td

Wide Receiver #1:        Amani Toomer                  Torry Holt
                      124 rec, 1693 yd, 8 td       93 rec, 1476 yd, 11 td

Wide Receiver #2:        Ike Hilliard                  Isaac Bruce
                      56 rec, 714 yd, 3 td         54 rec, 854 yd, 3 td

Top Third Receiver:      RB Tiki Barber                TE Cameron Cleeland
                      51 rec, 395 yd, 3 td         61 rec, 691 yd, 5 td

Top Defensive Players:   ILB Mike Barrow               ILB Jamie Duncan
                      118 tkl, 5 sacks, 6 int      103 tkl, 4 sacks, 2 int
                         DE Michael Strahan            CB Aeneas Williams
                      58 tkl, 19 sacks, 29 int     97 tkl, 2 int, 11 defn
                         S Omar Stoutmire              DE Grant Wistrom       
                      59 tkl, 5 int, 5 defn        50 tkl, 16 sacks, 17 hurries

Comments: The Rams come in as the top team in the NFC--and the NFL, by record at least--, but I am still not sure this is going to be an easy game for them. The Giants look very tough when you look at the numbers and who they have on the team. And the Rams look very vulnerable with that horrible passing defense. It does not bode well to go into a game against a quarterback with 4500 passing yards and 30 td passes when you have a pass defense ranked lower than all but two teams in the NFL. The Giants counter with a tough defense and hungry sack artist Miichael Starhan, which you would think would have to give the Rams more trouble than their defensie will the Giants. Of course, nothing is easy when you have a combination like Kurt Warner-to-Torry Holt and home field advantage. Still, I think the Giants sneak into St. Louis and pull out the upset victory in a close one.

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                         SEATTLE (13-4)       at       TAMPA BAY (12-4)

Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk):  352.9 (14)                    364.3  (9)
Rush Offense, ypg (Rk):  113.5 (11)                    105.9 (12)
Pass Offense, ypg (Rk):  239.4 (16)                    258.4  (9)

Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk):  314.8  (4)                    322.9  (9)
Rush Defense, ypg (Rk):   88.4  (4)                     88.4  (5)
Pass Defense, ypg (Rk):  226.3  (8)                    234.4 (15)

Quarterback:             Trent Dilfer                  Brad Johnson
                 3824 yd, 66%, 32 td, 21 int   4132 yd, 66%, 30 td, 23 int

Running Back:            Shaun Alexander               Thomas Jones
                        724 yd, 6 td                  1027 rd, 5 td

Wide Receiver #1:        Koren Robinson                Keenan McCardell
                      71 rec, 957 yd, 7 td         80 rec, 1323 yd, 11 td

Wide Receiver #2:        Bobby Engram                  Keyshawn Johnson
                      44 rec, 760 yd, 9 td         73 rec, 959 yd, 5 td

Top Third Receiver:      WR Darrell Jackson            TE Ken Dilger
                      41 rec, 684 yd, 4 td         70 rec, 607 yd, 5 td

Top Defensive Players:   ILB Randall Godfrey           S John Lynch
                      113 tkl, 5.5 sacks, 6 defn   125 tkl, 5 int, 15 defn
                         DT John Randle                OLB Shelton Quarles
                      63 tkl, 9 sacks, 18 hurries  98 tkl, 4 sacks, 2 int
                         CB Marcus Trufant             DE Simeon Rice       
                      44 tkl, 12 int, 9 defn       44 tkl, 10.5 sacks, 25 hurries

Comments: This is one is about a reversal of roles. The Seahawks are the ones renowned for offense, with maybe the best three-receiver lineup, a gamebreaker at running back in Shaun Alexander, and the steady Trent Dilfer with the controls in hand. The Buccs are the ones with the terrific defense, with Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp on the line, Derrick Brooks at linebacker, and John Lynch and Ronde Barber in the secondary. But how's this for a shock? The Buccs have a better offense than the Seahawks, and the Hawks have a better defense than the Buccs. Go figure. This should be a great matchup, since both teams can make it happen on both sides of the ball. I have to give this one to Tampa Bay, though. Seattle may have the best overall unit in their defense, but Tampa Bay is still very good ont hat side of the ball, and the Hawks don't put up the yardage quite as well as they do the points. I have a feeling the Buccs' defense will come to play and shut them down pretty good, giving Tampa Bay a ticket to the conference championship game.

CR

11-25-2003, 09:11 PM	#110
Chief Rum Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Where Hip Hop lives	Division Round Matchups Code: OAKLAND (12-5) at TENNESSEE (12-4) Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk): 361.6 (11) 359.1 (12) Rush Offense, ypg (Rk): 92.7 (23) 135.9 (2) Pass Offense, ypg (Rk): 268.9 (7) 223.2 (20) Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk): 343.4 (21) 338.3 (17) Rush Defense, ypg (Rk): 86.1 (2) 110.7 (27) Pass Defense, ypg (Rk): 257.3 (28) 227.6 (10) Quarterback: Rich Gannon Steve McNair 4303 yd, 67%, 23 td, 11 int 3568 yd, 62%, 22 td, 11 int Running Back: Charlie Garner Chris Brown 1101 yd, 8 td 736 rd, 3 td Wide Receiver #1: Jerry Porter Derrick Mason 80 rec, 1318 yd, 7 td 77 rec, 1134 yd, 5 td Wide Receiver #2: Tim Brown Tyrone Calico 64 rec, 875 yd, 2 td 58 rec, 790 yd, 6 td Top Third Receiver: RB Charlie Garner TE Frank Wycheck 68 rec, 650 yd, 3 td 77 rec, 782 yd, 4 td Top Defensive Players: OLB Bill Romanowski DE Jevon Kearse 97 tkl, 1.5 sacks, 2 int 64 tkl, 16 sacks, 25 hurries S Rod Woodson OLB Keith Bulluck 89 tkl, 6 int, 17 defn 78 tkl, 7 sacks, 3 int DT Dana Stubblefield DE Kevin Carter 39 tkl, 11 sacks, 12 hurries 42 tkl, 13.5 sacks, 35 hurries Comments: This is the way you have to like it. Strength against strength. One-on-one. The Titans rushing (2nd best) versus the Raiders' run defense (also 2nd best). The Raiders' passing offense (7th best) against the Titans' pass defense (10th best). These are the matchups that will determine who wins this game. The Titans don't look like much of a running team if you consider just Chris Brown, but that would be misleading. Brown combines with Eddie George and Steve McNair, as a running quarterback, for a three-headed 600-yard-plus-each monster. This is an offense that can pile up the runs. And while they don't do so well getting the passing yardage, McNair is an efficient quarterback with the ball on his arm, just like the Raiders' counterpart Rich Gannon. And McNair has a fine #1 receiver to throw to in Derrick mason and one of the more surehanded tight ends in the league in Frank Wycheck. Considering the Raiders aren't very good defending the pass, this could be a key to the game. On the other side, the plays to watch will be in the trenches. The Raiders have one of the best lines in football, but the rreason the Titans were so good against the pass wasn't because of superior corner play so much as a brutal pass rush with Kearse, Carter and DT Albert Haynesworth (9.5) finishing among league leaders. If Gannon gets it off, though (and you know he will), he can be dangerous. The Titans' run defense isn't all that hot, but Charlie Garner is better receiving than he is running the ball. I think this one will be very close, and so I will go with the home field and give it to Tennessee. Code: PITTSBURGH (13-4) at BUFFALO (12-4) Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk): 381.8 (2) 340.9 (18) Rush Offense, ypg (Rk): 140.3 (1) 102.6 (14) Pass Offense, ypg (Rk): 241.4 (13) 238.3 (17) Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk): 318.6 (8) 332.3 (13) Rush Defense, ypg (Rk): 106.1 (24) 102.1 (16) Pass Defense, ypg (Rk): 212.4 (5) 230.2 (11) Quarterback: Tommy Maddox Drew Bledsoe 3834 yd, 66%, 34 td, 10 int 3746 yd, 63%, 22 td, 10 int Running Back: Jerome Bettis Travis Henry 1571 yd, 7 td 1095 rd, 5 td Wide Receiver #1: Plaxico Burress Eric Moulds 65 rec, 1184 yd, 10 td 99 rec, 1396 yd, 8 td Wide Receiver #2: Hines Ward Bobby Shaw 56 rec, 790 yd, 8 td 51 rec, 665 yd, 7 td Top Third Receiver: RB Jerome Bettis WR Josh Reed 54 rec, 454 yd, 5 td 36 rec, 452 yd, 3 td Top Defensive Players: DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen OLB Takeo Spikes 31 tkl, 16 sacks, 17 hurries 115 tkl, 6.5 sacks, 5 int OLB Jason Gildon ILB London Fletcher 73 tkl, 3.5 sacks, 3 int 114 tkl, 3.5 sack, 4 hurries CB Chad Scott S Lawyer Milloy 60 tkl, 10 int, 14 defn 82 tkl, 5 int, 8 defn Comments: I am sure Buffalo is a good team. They proved it on the field, right? But looking at the numbers right next to each other, I find it hard to believe the Bills are the ones who had the first round bye. They don't rank in the top ten in any single major team category. Their best ranking is 11th best in pass defense. They have just one star player, based on this year's performances, and that is Eric Moulds. Against them come the Steelers, who rank in the top ten in both offense and defense, have the league's top rushing attack, two of the best in the backfield in Jerome Bettis and Tommy Maddox, an elite reciever in Plaxico Burress, and a defense filled with playmakers. I just don't see this one coming out pretty for the Buffaloes. Unless they weave some of the magic they must have had in the regular season, the bills are going to lose this one. Code: NY GIANTS (10-7) at ST. LOUIS (13-3) Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk): 378.7 (4) 373.2 (6) Rush Offense, ypg (Rk): 93.8 (22) 87.3 (26) Pass Offense, ypg (Rk): 284.9 (3) 285.9 (2) Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk): 326.4 (11) 363.8 (28) Rush Defense, ypg (Rk): 89.9 (7) 98.1 (12) Pass Defense, ypg (Rk): 236.5 (16) 265.8 (30) Quarterback: Kerry Collins Kurt Warner 4511 yd, 65%, 30 td, 17 int 4575 yd, 65%, 34 td, 17 int Running Back: Tiki Barber Marshall Faulk 1206 yd, 1 td 796 rd, 4 td Wide Receiver #1: Amani Toomer Torry Holt 124 rec, 1693 yd, 8 td 93 rec, 1476 yd, 11 td Wide Receiver #2: Ike Hilliard Isaac Bruce 56 rec, 714 yd, 3 td 54 rec, 854 yd, 3 td Top Third Receiver: RB Tiki Barber TE Cameron Cleeland 51 rec, 395 yd, 3 td 61 rec, 691 yd, 5 td Top Defensive Players: ILB Mike Barrow ILB Jamie Duncan 118 tkl, 5 sacks, 6 int 103 tkl, 4 sacks, 2 int DE Michael Strahan CB Aeneas Williams 58 tkl, 19 sacks, 29 int 97 tkl, 2 int, 11 defn S Omar Stoutmire DE Grant Wistrom 59 tkl, 5 int, 5 defn 50 tkl, 16 sacks, 17 hurries Comments: The Rams come in as the top team in the NFC--and the NFL, by record at least--, but I am still not sure this is going to be an easy game for them. The Giants look very tough when you look at the numbers and who they have on the team. And the Rams look very vulnerable with that horrible passing defense. It does not bode well to go into a game against a quarterback with 4500 passing yards and 30 td passes when you have a pass defense ranked lower than all but two teams in the NFL. The Giants counter with a tough defense and hungry sack artist Miichael Starhan, which you would think would have to give the Rams more trouble than their defensie will the Giants. Of course, nothing is easy when you have a combination like Kurt Warner-to-Torry Holt and home field advantage. Still, I think the Giants sneak into St. Louis and pull out the upset victory in a close one. Code: SEATTLE (13-4) at TAMPA BAY (12-4) Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk): 352.9 (14) 364.3 (9) Rush Offense, ypg (Rk): 113.5 (11) 105.9 (12) Pass Offense, ypg (Rk): 239.4 (16) 258.4 (9) Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk): 314.8 (4) 322.9 (9) Rush Defense, ypg (Rk): 88.4 (4) 88.4 (5) Pass Defense, ypg (Rk): 226.3 (8) 234.4 (15) Quarterback: Trent Dilfer Brad Johnson 3824 yd, 66%, 32 td, 21 int 4132 yd, 66%, 30 td, 23 int Running Back: Shaun Alexander Thomas Jones 724 yd, 6 td 1027 rd, 5 td Wide Receiver #1: Koren Robinson Keenan McCardell 71 rec, 957 yd, 7 td 80 rec, 1323 yd, 11 td Wide Receiver #2: Bobby Engram Keyshawn Johnson 44 rec, 760 yd, 9 td 73 rec, 959 yd, 5 td Top Third Receiver: WR Darrell Jackson TE Ken Dilger 41 rec, 684 yd, 4 td 70 rec, 607 yd, 5 td Top Defensive Players: ILB Randall Godfrey S John Lynch 113 tkl, 5.5 sacks, 6 defn 125 tkl, 5 int, 15 defn DT John Randle OLB Shelton Quarles 63 tkl, 9 sacks, 18 hurries 98 tkl, 4 sacks, 2 int CB Marcus Trufant DE Simeon Rice 44 tkl, 12 int, 9 defn 44 tkl, 10.5 sacks, 25 hurries Comments: This is one is about a reversal of roles. The Seahawks are the ones renowned for offense, with maybe the best three-receiver lineup, a gamebreaker at running back in Shaun Alexander, and the steady Trent Dilfer with the controls in hand. The Buccs are the ones with the terrific defense, with Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp on the line, Derrick Brooks at linebacker, and John Lynch and Ronde Barber in the secondary. But how's this for a shock? The Buccs have a better offense than the Seahawks, and the Hawks have a better defense than the Buccs. Go figure. This should be a great matchup, since both teams can make it happen on both sides of the ball. I have to give this one to Tampa Bay, though. Seattle may have the best overall unit in their defense, but Tampa Bay is still very good ont hat side of the ball, and the Hawks don't put up the yardage quite as well as they do the points. I have a feeling the Buccs' defense will come to play and shut them down pretty good, giving Tampa Bay a ticket to the conference championship game. CR __________________ . . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready.