Who do you want The Hawks to play in the 1st Playoff game?

[Distant Relative]

I'm torn between the Packers and the Saints as they have the weaker D's of the three teams. Your thoughts?

[HawkWow]

I want the 9ers. Badly. And no time like the present. They've got lucky as hell the past 2 weeks and should regain some confidence after beating GB on the road. Let's take them down before they gain anymore.

I need some help with this: IF NO beats Philly, we host N.O. so does that mean SF goes to Carolina if they beat GB?

[RiverDog]

I voted for the Niners j/b I'd love to be the ones to end their season. If the question is which team we have the best chance of beating, I'd vote for the Saints as I think our secondary matches up well against their big receivers.

But it doesn't really matter. If we're truly the best team in the conference we should be able to beat any of them in our building. So hit me with your best shot, NFC!

[Distant Relative]

I want the 9ers. Badly. And no time like the present. They've got lucky as hell the past 2 weeks and should regain some confidence after beating GB on the road. Let's take them down before they gain anymore.

I need some help with this: IF NO beats Philly, we host N.O. so does that mean SF goes to Carolina if they beat GB?

I think so sure but not sure. Here's a link if that helps. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/2013 ... 3Aansfox11

[HawkWow]

I want the 9ers. Badly. And no time like the present. They've got lucky as hell the past 2 weeks and should regain some confidence after beating GB on the road. Let's take them down before they gain anymore.

I need some help with this: IF NO beats Philly, we host N.O. so does that mean SF goes to Carolina if they beat GB?

I think so sure but not sure. Here's a link if that helps. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/2013 ... 3Aansfox11

Got it bro...thanks so much for the link..bookmarked it.

Like RD, I REALLY want to end the 9ers season. I had these 9er fans in my pocket since week 2. Some would intentionally avoid me in public places when both wearing our respective gear. My 9er friends became passive, if not submissive. But now, after their recent win at the Stick??? They are as arrogant as ever and I will feel robbed if Carolina ousts them before we do.

...and to the 9er fans that frequent Hawk boards such as this one. Don't get your feelings hurt. I hate your team not only because of your arrogance, but also because the 9ers are damn good. It's when we stop hating on your team that you should get your feelings hurt..

[Oly]

It depends on how I'm answering that question.

If I'm answering by "who I want because this is the weakest opponent," then I want the Packers.

If I'm answering by "who would it feel the best to beat," then I want the 9ers.

But I still think the 9ers are the second best team in football, and know the Hawks better than any other team, and because I want the Lombardi more than anything, I'm going with: Packers.

[makena]

I want the 9ers. Badly. And no time like the present. They've got lucky as hell the past 2 weeks and should regain some confidence after beating GB on the road. Let's take them down before they gain anymore.

I need some help with this: IF NO beats Philly, we host N.O. so does that mean SF goes to Carolina if they beat GB?

I think so sure but not sure. Here's a link if that helps. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/2013 ... 3Aansfox11

We get whoever the lowest seed is.

[HawkWow]

It depends on how I'm answering that question.

If I'm answering by "who I want because this is the weakest opponent," then I want the Packers.

If I'm answering by "who would it feel the best to beat," then I want the 9ers.

But I still think the 9ers are the second best team in football, and know the Hawks better than any other team, and because I want the Lombardi more than anything, I'm going with: Packers.

That's a great answer. If I could really align things, I'd want:

SF to beat GB
NO to beat Philly
We beat NO
SF beats Carolina
We beat SF

Basically, I don't see anyone other than SF remotely capable of going to Carolina and getting the win...so I have to root for SF over GB because I believe Carolina will give us a slightly harder time at home than SF. And I'd also rather beat SF than Carolina in a championship game. Been there, done that. ; )

[PACHawk]

Eventually we will play the Niners. Wouldn't be awesome if we play and whupp them for the NFC crown? That would be sweet!

[savvyman]

With you on the 49ers - And I think the 49ers are the second best team in the NFL.

Lets have a season for the ages - It would be pure sweetness to send the 49ers home for the off-season.

Since the Hawk Players have been known to reference pro wrestlers I will reference what the champ ric flair used to say:

"To be the man you have to beat the man"

Let's leave no stone unturned - I hope the 49ers (the second best team) pay us a visit one more time this season.

[HawkWow]

Eventually we will play the Niners. Wouldn't be awesome if we play and whupp them for the NFC crown? That would be sweet!

Anything less would be less thrilling...but thrilling none the less. ; )

[RiverDog]

It depends on how I'm answering that question.

If I'm answering by "who I want because this is the weakest opponent," then I want the Packers.

If I'm answering by "who would it feel the best to beat," then I want the 9ers.

But I still think the 9ers are the second best team in football, and know the Hawks better than any other team, and because I want the Lombardi more than anything, I'm going with: Packers.

Did you ever watch the movie "The Express", about Ernie Davis? When they had their choice as to who to face in their bowl game, either the 2nd ranked team, Texas, or a lower ranked team they had a much better chance of beating, and to a man, they all wanted Texas.

That's how I feel. I want no excuses. Who ever is the second best team in the conference, that's who I want to play. Why chicken out if we think we're the best?

[Zorn76]

49ers.

This has been a popular poll question on other forums, and I answer it the same. I live in the bay area of CA, smack dab in the middle of niner (and Raider, for that matter) country. The latter haven't been relevant for years, it's the former that drives me nuts.

I don't want to wait for the conference championship game. I want them gone before then. Period.

[Futureite]

As a Niner fan, I want to survive this week. But if we do, I don't care who we play. Hawks have earned the right to be considered the best team, but as of today no one is playing better than the 49ers. So does the team that's been better all yr win, or the team that's playing better right now? "IF" this happens, it will be epic. These teams do not like each other. The fanbases don't like each other. And each collectively believe they will hold up the Lombardi.

A lot of people say Niner fans live off of the past. A lot of us believe the 2 losses at Clink are the past. We look at the Cardinal game and the ways we are winning, the turmoil and injuries, and the SB hangover and stiil see a 12-4 team standing with a ton of experience and fierce competitors. I believe we can win in Seattle. I am sure the players do as well. It's the last of a string of hurdles we must jump over to get the Lombardi.

That said, Hawks have the advantage. I am not even all that sure we advance to make this happen. But if it does, no blowout is going down this time. Lol, that's a lot of "ifs".

[Steady_Hawk]

Okay Mr. Future, let me get this straight. The Niners are playing the best right now? You almost got beat by a 4-12 Atlanta team, matter of fact you should have lost that game. That ended something terrible, and I'm sure you crapped your pants when they were driving the ball down your throats to the ten before that little miracle happened.

Also, your D lets the Cards come back and almost beat you as well when you were ahead what, 17?

This is inspirational to you? You're jacked up over that? Looks to me like your D needs some of that inspiration you have for your team quite frankly. They seem to peter out towards the end of games. Some of the guys over at the Web said Aldon needs to start drinking again. Cool fans.

But don't worry, you'll beat the Pack. They don't have enough on D to stop Kap and all the talented weapons around him......but if Atlanta could keep up I guess GB winning wouldn't be all that shocking.

Either way, it is cool to see two teams from the NFC West here and if they expand the playoffs we may see three next year.

[jshawaii22]

So, we can't play Philly in the first game, as the worst they could be is the 3rd seed... but come on, they are one of the hottest team in the NFL right now, with the #1 rated QB (higher than God Manning). Do you really think that Drew Brees is automatically going to stroll into Philly in January and his 'road' woes magically disapear and win this? I don't think so.

It's Plilly winning and playing Carolina and SFO winning at GB... this puts SFO here in two weeks. And my opinion is Seattle vs Philly for the NFC.

I would prefer GB, but it won't happen.

js

[RiverDog]

As a Niner fan, I want to survive this week. But if we do, I don't care who we play. Hawks have earned the right to be considered the best team, but as of today no one is playing better than the 49ers. So does the team that's been better all yr win, or the team that's playing better right now? "IF" this happens, it will be epic. These teams do not like each other. The fanbases don't like each other. And each collectively believe they will hold up the Lombardi.

A lot of people say Niner fans live off of the past. A lot of us believe the 2 losses at Clink are the past. We look at the Cardinal game and the ways we are winning, the turmoil and injuries, and the SB hangover and stiil see a 12-4 team standing with a ton of experience and fierce competitors. I believe we can win in Seattle. I am sure the players do as well. It's the last of a string of hurdles we must jump over to get the Lombardi.

That said, Hawks have the advantage. I am not even all that sure we advance to make this happen. But if it does, no blowout is going down this time. Lol, that's a lot of "ifs".

Ah, Futureite. Nice to see you again.

No one is playing better than the Niners? Are you talking about the same Niners that I saw last Monday night? The game where only a freak play saved your asses from at least overtime? If you can't take care of business against a 4-12 team at home any better than that, then how can you justify thinking you can beat us in our house?

[Oly]

Did you ever watch the movie "The Express", about Ernie Davis? When they had their choice as to who to face in their bowl game, either the 2nd ranked team, Texas, or a lower ranked team they had a much better chance of beating, and to a man, they all wanted Texas.

That's how I feel. I want no excuses. Who ever is the second best team in the conference, that's who I want to play. Why chicken out if we think we're the best?

I haven't seen that movie, but I totally understand the sentiment. That's why I said it would feel best to beat the 9ers, and I bet that to a man, the Hawks would choose to play them.

But I think in terms of statistics, and I think, at the Clink, we beat the Packers 9 times out of 10 and the 9ers 7 times out of 10. I just want the Hawks to get the Lombardi, and I can't see myself feeling any less about that if they never knocked off the 9ers on the way.

Now, if by some miracle the Chargers make it to the SB, I would feel a bit cheated. In the big game, I want the big opponent (i.e., the Pats or Broncos) so that nobody can talk chit about the Hawks' achievement. But if the Hawks were to win by beating Manning in the snow, none of us are going to say "but we had to go through the Pack instead of the 9ers."

[HawkWow]

I'm not going to brag about our past month, .500 isn't much to brag about, but I think we are playing better than the 9ers right now....when it matters most. Looking at the VERY vanilla offense we ran this past month provides something of an excuse, but excuses aside, throw the records out the window and the Cards are just marginally better than the Rams. If at all. Carson will be called vastly superior to Clemens, but for me, that is debatable.

With the above in mind, and your opinions may differ, in must win games this past week for both Hawks and 9ers, against *comparable teams, I don't think there's any question who played better football going into the post.

* Add 6 pts to the 9ers score total for being on the road, and us at home, and my point still remains (IMO).

[RiverDog]

Did you ever watch the movie "The Express", about Ernie Davis? When they had their choice as to who to face in their bowl game, either the 2nd ranked team, Texas, or a lower ranked team they had a much better chance of beating, and to a man, they all wanted Texas.

That's how I feel. I want no excuses. Who ever is the second best team in the conference, that's who I want to play. Why chicken out if we think we're the best?

I haven't seen that movie, but I totally understand the sentiment. That's why I said it would feel best to beat the 9ers, and I bet that to a man, the Hawks would choose to play them.

But I think in terms of statistics, and I think, at the Clink, we beat the Packers 9 times out of 10 and the 9ers 7 times out of 10. I just want the Hawks to get the Lombardi, and I can't see myself feeling any less about that if they never knocked off the 9ers on the way.

Now, if by some miracle the Chargers make it to the SB, I would feel a bit cheated. In the big game, I want the big opponent (i.e., the Pats or Broncos) so that nobody can talk chit about the Hawks' achievement. But if the Hawks were to win by beating Manning in the snow, none of us are going to say "but we had to go through the Pack instead of the 9ers."

Yea, I want the Pats or Broncos, too. Especially the Broncos. Somehow playing the Bengals or Chiefs doesn't do it for me. If we don't get to the Super Bowl, I hope they have the biggest blizzard in the history of NYC a few hours before game time.

"The Express" was a decent movie. Not the best sports movie I've ever seen, but not a bad flick if you're looking for some entertainment during the wintertime.

[Johnny B]

It worked out great that GB and San Fran have to play each other, I think both of them could be problems for the hawks. It seems the obvious answer is the saints, they are not physical enough to deal with the hawks.

[Distant Relative]

Sun
Jan 5

Partly Cloudy
9°High

-16° low

Partly Cloudy

Chance of snow:20% Wind:NW at 9 mph

Green bay is gonna be a cold mother on Sunday. I can't wait for this game. Talk about frozen tundra.

[Hawktawk]

I want the Saints.Weve seen the movie we know how it ends. And I want GB to handle the 9ers. That eliminates the dangerous Eagles and insures no more divisional opponents. Ive had enough punching matches for the year thanks much.Weve got to start thinking about staying healthy. Then Id love to see the Packers knock off the Panthers and come on up for the "golden hail mary" rematch for the conference. Seattle gets to play 2 pass first teams to get ready for Manning and Co in the superbowl.

[Futureite]

[quote="Steady_Hawk"]Okay Mr. Future, let me get this straight. The Niners are playing the best right now? You almost got beat by a 4-12 Atlanta team, matter of fact you should have lost that game. That ended something terrible, and I'm sure you crapped your pants when they were driving the ball down your throats to the ten before that little miracle happened.

Also, your D lets the Cards come back and almost beat you as well when you were ahead what, 17?

This is inspirational to you? You're jacked up over that? Looks to me like your D needs some of that inspiration you have for your team quite frankly. They seem to peter out towards the end of games. Some of the guys over at the Web said Aldon needs to start drinking again. Cool fans.

But don't worry, you'll beat the Pack. They don't have enough on D to stop Kap and all the talented weapons around him......but if Atlanta could keep up I guess GB winning wouldn't be all that shocking.

Either way, it is cool to see two teams from the NFC West here and if they expand the playoffs we may see three next year.[/quot

Not to be sarcastic, but who 'is' playing better than us? The Panthers, who needed an errant snap to win by 1 pt over the same Falcon team you chided? The Broncos, who lost just 2 weeks ago to the Chargers? The Hawks, who we beat and who lost to the same Cardinal team that we just beat in their place? I'd like to know, seriously.

I am not saying we are 'better' than the Hawks. Truth be told I honestly do not know. I am also not suggesting we aee without flaws. We have then, but so does every team left. Like I said, I have no problem with people ranking the Hawks higher. But how in the world can you claim they are playing better?

And btw, we did not 'almost' lose to the Cards or Falcons. We held double digit leads late in each game. The Falcons needed an onsides kick to even be in the position they were in. That is a lot different than the Hawks climbing back from 21-0 and 20-3 v Tampa and Hou, is it not? Hey, I credit them for doing so. You should not knock the 49ers for holding on to beat the same team that just beat you.

[Futureite]

And let me be clear: Hawks are the #1 seed. If we want the Lombardi, we have to beat the #1. I like the challenge if it turns out we have the opportunity to play ya'll . . .I just went street on you .

[HawkWow]

Okay Mr. Future, let me get this straight. The Niners are playing the best right now? You almost got beat by a 4-12 Atlanta team, matter of fact you should have lost that game. That ended something terrible, and I'm sure you crapped your pants when they were driving the ball down your throats to the ten before that little miracle happened.

Also, your D lets the Cards come back and almost beat you as well when you were ahead what, 17?

This is inspirational to you? You're jacked up over that? Looks to me like your D needs some of that inspiration you have for your team quite frankly. They seem to peter out towards the end of games. Some of the guys over at the Web said Aldon needs to start drinking again. Cool fans.

But don't worry, you'll beat the Pack. They don't have enough on D to stop Kap and all the talented weapons around him......but if Atlanta could keep up I guess GB winning wouldn't be all that shocking.

.Either way, it is cool to see two teams from the NFC West here and if they expand the playoffs we may see three next year.[/quot

Not to be sarcastic, but who 'is' playing better than us? The Panthers, who needed an errant snap to win by 1 pt over the same Falcon team you chided? The Broncos, who lost just 2 weeks ago to the Chargers? The Hawks, who we beat and who lost to the same Cardinal team that we just beat in their place? I'd like to know, seriously.

I am not saying we are 'better' than the Hawks. Truth be told I honestly do not know. I am also not suggesting we aee without flaws. We have then, but so does every team left. Like I said, I have no problem with people ranking the Hawks higher. But how in the world can you claim they are playing better?

And btw, we did not 'almost' lose to the Cards or Falcons. We held double digit leads late in each game. The Falcons needed an onsides kick to even be in the position they were in. That is a lot different than the Hawks climbing back from 21-0 and 20-3 v Tampa and Hou, is it not? Hey, I credit them for doing so. You should not knock the 49ers for holding on to beat the same team that just beat you.

While I respect your position, there's a big difference between a team clawing it's way back for a win, after being on the verge of defeat, and a team playing with the lead and all but losing it at game's end. I would say the 9ers were very fortunate to have held on against both the Falcons and Cards...BUT.. they did hold on and deserve credit in doing so.

You say you are unsure who the better team is (Hawks /9ers). I assume you mean at the 'stick, or on a neutral field, because even the most die hard 9er fans I know, have no reservations about who the better team is when the game is played in Seattle. In any event, I respect your commitment to your team.

[Hawktawk]

[quote="Futureite"]And let me be clear: Hawks are the #1 seed. If we want the Lombardi, we have to beat the #1. I like the challenge if it turns out we have the opportunity to play ya'll . . .I just went street on you .[/quote


Dont think the Whiners will get out of Green Bay. That squad officially became deadly with the return of Rodgers. They are playing at home with absolutely no pressure to win. The game looks to me like a rerun of the Hawks "brown bag" 7-9 team dispatching the heavily favored Saints a few years ago.