Now... for whom to root?

[zcoop]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

Atlanta - not only becuase I live here but because the Falcons are the only team left without a coach or player I really dislike

I selfishly would like to go to a Super Bowl party where most of those in attendance have an active rooting interest and will pay attention to the game (Super Bowl parties in Atlanta when the Steelers have played involved trying to watch the game while people were talking about the commercials or halftime show and asking me what I thought about the commercials or halftime show) but would dread watching the Patriots or Ravens win over the Falcons

I hear ya Dan, and live in Metro Atl too, but the Falcons can't beat the Cheaters or Ratbirds. If the Dirty Birds get there, they'll lose badly, to the AFC opponent. The 49ers can beat either but the Cheaters will give them a game and could win it themselves.

[BlacksburgSteeler13]

Originally Posted by NSMaster56

Three of the four remaining teams earned their wins and therefore deserve to hoist Lombardi's trophy.

The fourth has two games and three weeks to prove that they deserve it.

How is any team that makes it to the conference championship game undeserving of the chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy? The four remaining teams have each overcome many obstacles and won many hard-fought games in both the regular season and the postseason to make it to their respective conference championship. No team makes it that far by being a bad team. To say or to even imply that any team that makes it that far doesn't deserve a chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy is, in my opinion, completely asinine.

[Atlanta Dan]

Originally Posted by zcoop

I hear ya Dan, and live in Metro Atl too, but the Falcons can't beat the Cheaters or Ratbirds. If the Dirty Birds get there, they'll lose badly, to the AFC opponent. The 49ers can beat either but the Cheaters will give them a game and could win it themselves.

Falcons could beat the Ravens but Brady would put up 50 points on Atlanta's defense

[BrandonCarr39]

I'm not the world's biggest Ravens fan either(they beat Dallas in their TX Stadium finale in 2008, and then a gut-wrencher this year), but they are getting hot at just the right time. It's as if we've seen this movie a number of times before recently.

With no Gronk, the Pats may have a tough time next week.

[SteelersCanada]

Originally Posted by BrandonCarr39

I'm not the world's biggest Ravens fan either(they beat Dallas in their TX Stadium finale in 2008, and then a gut-wrencher this year), but they are getting hot at just the right time. It's as if we've seen this movie a number of times before recently.

With no Gronk, the Pats may have a tough time next week.

Even if they put Cary Williams on Welker (good luck, Cary) then who's covering Lloyd, Hernandez and the 'Back out of the backfield? I'd love to see Ray Lewis try and cover Hernandez - that would be the funniest shit I'd see all week.

I'd also like to throw in the fact that the Texans front 7 is significantly better than the Ravens and they generated little-to-no pressure on Brady all game. That gives Brady time to pick apart and shred that secondary. I think this game has blowout written all over it.

Sorry, Ravens fans. Joey isn't going to beat Brady in his house.

[NSMaster56]

Originally Posted by BlacksburgSteeler13

How is any team that makes it to the conference championship game undeserving of the chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy? The four remaining teams have each overcome many obstacles and won many hard-fought games in both the regular season and the postseason to make it to their respective conference championship. No team makes it that far by being a bad team. To say or to even imply that any team that makes it that far doesn't deserve a chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy is, in my opinion, completely asinine.

The Falcons backed into their win against the Hawks as they have many other times this year.

They just seem 'lucky' as opposed to 'good'.

The other three remaining teams smack other teams around and have looked better so far.

If the Falcons win it all it will speak for itself, but until then...

[BrandonCarr39]

Originally Posted by NSMaster56

The Falcons backed into their win against the Hawks as they have many other times this year.

They just seem 'lucky' as opposed to 'good'.

The other three remaining teams smack other teams around and have looked better so far.

If the Falcons win it all it will speak for itself, but until then...

Yeah, the Falcons could/should have easily lost to Carolina(1st game), Oakland, Tampa(1st game), and Arizona. To be frank, their previous coordinators(Mike Mularky and Brian Van Gorden) were much better than their current ones, but somehow Derek Koetter and Mike Nolan get way too much accolades.

[NSMaster56]

Originally Posted by BrandonCarr39

Yeah, the Falcons could/should have easily lost to Carolina(1st game), Oakland, Tampa(1st game), and Arizona. To be frank, their previous coordinators(Mike Mularky and Brian Van Gorden) were much better than their current ones, but somehow Derek Koetter and Mike Nolan get way too much accolades.

Agreed.

Not trying to be harsh on ATL, they're a good young squad who would be a fitting champ, it would just be nice to see them take it to a team for a change (more first half like offense vs. the Hawks and less everything else).

Wasn't trying to insult the overall quality of their team, but of the four remaining teams with a season on the line I'd certainly want to play them the most.

[OX1947]

I think it's going to be Harbaugh vs Harbaugh and Ravens are going to win it all. This feels a lot like Bettis' last year, last year for the gipper type emotion for Ray Ray. Word is Ed Reed might be done as well, I think if the Ravens win it all, he will definably retire this time.

[AndyWitmyer]

I might take some heat for saying this - but of the teams remaining, I'm rooting for Baltimore. They're a divisional rival that I love to hate - but I also respect them in a weird sense - definitely moreso than I do the Patriots. I have nothing against the 49ers, but they could threaten the Steelers current #1 SB victory count by tying them with a win. And I despise thinking of Brady holding onto yet another ring...when we're not even certain if (morally speaking) 1 or more of them should be there in the first place.

So yeah...the Ravens it is, champion of the AFC North. Go Ravens! (until next season, that is)

EDIT: Wow - I almost forgot the Atlanta won that game - I'll definitely root for that team, as well!