Playoff chat with Pat Kirwan
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM ETPat Kirwan
18 comments
NFL.com senior analyst Pat Kirwan answers your questions and breaks down all the action that unfolded in the wild card round of the playoffs. Submit your questions and chat with Pat live on Monday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. ET.
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Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
02:00 PM
Hi everyone, and happy new year! Hope you enjoyed the wild-card games as much as I did. Now we're set for a great weekend of divisional-round games. I'm sure you've got plenty of questions, so let's get rolling. -
Umair, Scotland
02:03 PM ET
The titans have a good running game and im sure the ravens defense will be prepared for it but do you think the titans will be out there to surprise the ravens and throw the ball more rather than run .
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Umair, this will be a low-scoring close game, decided by a field goal. The one thing the Dolphins were not able to do was spread out the Ravens' defense. They only had three WRs active for the game. Tennessee will take a lesson from that and be prepared to spread them out. Kerry Collins is smart enough to throw the ball quickly and neutralize some of the Ravens defense. -
Mark C., Ohio
02:05 PM ET
I really enjoy your insight on sirius radio. Do you think that SD can maintain enough ball control to stay in the game at Pittsburgh?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Mark, they're going to have trouble traveling west to east against a Steelers team that needed the rest. Sproles played great Saturday night, but without a healthy LaDainian Tomlinson playing, I think the Steelers will put the clamps on the Chargers offense. -
Trevor Bronge, Kernersville North Carolina
02:07 PM ET
How far do u see the Panthers going in the playoffs i see them going all the way if Jake plays great.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
They will get a home win this week, I believe, and then head to the Giants for a rematch. The bigger the game, the more important the QB play. Delhomme will need to play better for them to get to Tampa. -
Joe. L, Tucson, AZ
02:08 PM ET
Who do you see in the super bowl? has your pick changed after the wild card week?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I like the Giants to return to the Super Bowl. In the AFC, I think the Steelers have the best chance. The injuries to Tennessee's defensive line are of concern, and the Ravens -- if they get to Pittsburgh for the championship game -- might be asking too much of rookie Joe Flacco to win a second time against Pittsburgh. -
Trevor, Iowa
02:11 PM ET
So what's your opinion on the path the Vikes should take from here? I want so badly to believe that T-Jack is the answer but I just don't see it after this year's performance. Also, is there any player/position (other than QB) they should seriously consider looking at through free agency?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Jackson did not play partuicularly well in the playoff game, but you cannot lose sight of the two injuries on defense (Williams and Edwards). I don't think it's a bad idea to bring in veteran competition if someone's available. But I've seen too many bright spots to turn completely away from the Jackson experiment. If you've got a shot at Derek Anderson or Matt Cassel, okay. -
Jimmy, Charlotte
02:13 PM ET
Hey PK, I enjoy listening to you and T-Rock on Sirius. I wanted to know, what do you think about the eagles and giant game this weekend. I’m hoping that my iggles can pull this one out.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
The Eagles are a fairly hot football team right now and McNabb is playing with house money. But the Giants have always focused on containing Brian Westbrook. Outside of Westbrook's big TD on the screen against the Vikings, the Eagles were being held to field goals. That will not be enough against the Giants. Look for a low-scoring game won by the Giants at home. -
Brandon, Bound Brook NJ
02:15 PM ET
What do you think the Patriots will do with Matt Cassel this offseason .
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
The recent rumors are that they will franchise-tag him, which is fine if they intend to keep him -- for over $14 million, or just under $1 million a game. They are not going to sign him to a long-term deal, and trading him will be very difficult if Cassel doesn't like the team the Patriots are negotiating with. Once Matt signs the franchise tender, he controls his fate. No one will trade for Cassel unless they can get a long-term deal. Is he better off sitting in New England for that kind of money, or signing a five-year contract to be a Detroit Lion? I think so. -
Julie Crickman, Bothell, WA
02:18 PM ET
As a devoted Steelers fan, I'm a big supporter of Ben and firmly believe he is a true "gamer", as exemplified by the fact he led them to a Super Bowl win and his continous big-time play. I have concerns, however, about his current health, given that he suffered a concussion last weekend. If his play is not up to par this weekend against the Chargers, do you think the coaches will have sense enough to pull Ben and play Leftwich, who has also proven he is capable of big-time play? Thank you so much for your time. Julie Crickman
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Julie, I think Ben will go this week and will play the whole game barring a new injury. Ben still has to learn how to play smart, which is also part of being a gamer. -
James, Mooresville, IN
02:19 PM ET
Do you think Tony Dungy will be back next season or do you think he will retire?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I thinnk this is a tough decision for Tony, but he has been contemplating it for too long for me not to think this isn't the year he calls it quits. He's seen Cowher walk away, Holmgren commit to a year off, and now it's his turn to do something else with his life. I would then expect him back in coaching in a couple of years. -
Todd, Charlotte
02:21 PM ET
How was Jake Delhomme not even mentioned in Comeback Player of the year...he's only the 1st QB to go thru Tommy John Surgery and do what was said couldn't be done! Your thoughts?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
At NFL.com, he was my pick for Comeback Player of the Year, and I was disappointed he didn't get it for the reason you suggested. -
Jacob Williams, State College, PA
02:22 PM ET
Where do you see the recently fired coaches going?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Eric Mangini - the rumors about Cleveland are interesting but I'm not sure that will happen... Romeo Crennel - might stay at home with his granchildren... Mike Shanahan- will finish building his house in Denver and come back to coaching in 2010... Rod Marinelli- should go to Seattle over Chicago... Jimmy Haslett- should get a defensive coordinator job somewhere... Tom Cable- could return to Oakland when it's all said and done. -
Joe, Long Island
02:25 PM ET
Pat...would you ever consider going back to coaching or front office personnel work?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Sure, if the right guy asked me. I have two guys I'd consider returning with and neither is in the league right now. I'm very happy at NFL.com and Sirius Radio. -
Olivas, TX
02:27 PM ET
I know you see the Giants over my Eagles, if they beat the Giants, are they a sure shoot to the superbowl? Other than scoring mre points, what do the eagles have to do to beat the giants?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
To beat the Giants, they must force Eli Manning into turnovers and get the short field - which is pssible. I just have a suspicion that Eli will play a smart game against a defense he has now seen many times. The line and RBs will do a good job picking up the blitz, giving Eli time to find his receivers. To win the gam, it has to be by the Eagles defense. Can they stop the big back Brandon Jacobs, who should get the ball 25 times in this game?
If the Eagles win, things are just as tough in Carolina against the Panthers running game. I think it'll be tough to get all the way to Tampa. -
Coward, Lincolnton, NC
02:30 PM ET
Hey PK, Arizona looked surprisingly scary this weekend...What should Carolina expect on Saturday and what is Boldin's health status? How will Fox surprise the vengeance hungry Cards?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I think it's going to be tough for the Cardinals without Boldin -- or at best a limited Boldin -- to come into Carolina and win. Carolina can keep the Cardinals offense off the field with its running game, and I'm not sure the Arizona secondary can handle Steve Smith.
The Cards did a nice job against Michael Turner -- they had a few weeks to work on fixing the gaps in their run defense and taking away the Michael Turner cutback runs. The problem with Carolina is that, behind big Jeff Otah, the Panthers run more of a power run game than a cutback running game. This game will be outside, where weather conditions may reduce Arizona's throwing opportunities, whch they can't affod to have. -
kidfromsolon, maine
02:34 PM ET
What about expanding the playoffs by 1 team per conference? The 2 seed can play the the 7 seed in the first round and you see how everything else will fall into place with little change.
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
I'm not in favor of expanding the playoffs, but I am very much in favor of re-seeding them. I'm happy for San Diego to make it with an 8-8 record, but to send a 12-win Colts team TO San Diego did not reward the four extra wins. Division winners should make the playoffs, but not guarantee a home game, especially when only six of your games are division games. When there were five teams in the division, half of your schedule are division games. We have to take another look at this subject. -
Connor Vogt, Winnipeg, MB
02:37 PM ET
Do you not agree that because of what happened in the Indianapolis vs. San Diego game that the league should change its rules about overtime allowing both teams to touch the ball at least once?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
That game was just another example of why the rule has to be changed, in my opinion. Fifty percent of the games that went to OT in 2008 ended with the team that won the toss winning the game. We play two-platoon football, and offensive players don't play defense. What would have been better football to watch than Peyton Manning taking the field in a one-drive opportunity to tie the game and then send the game to a sudden-death situation? We missed the chance for a great ending.
One possession each and then sudden death. That's what I am in favor of. To watch Peyton Manning stand on the sidelnie and never get in the game wasn't good for the game.
The sudden death overtime we currently play has more to do with TV and getting the game over in time than being fair and true to the competition of the game. -
EDDIE, new jersey
02:41 PM ET
WHATS NEXT FOR THE DOLPHINS? WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO TO ADVANCE NEXT YEAR?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
After watching sunday's game, I would say they are a solid team for the next few years. The biggest moves I see them making involve getting another pass rusher opposite Joey Porter and a big-time WR. -
Joe Deliberti, Fairfiled,CT
02:43 PM ET
Not a play off comment but do you have any info on whether Favre will return AND who do you think would be a good fit for Jets Head Coaching spot?
Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Nobody has info on Favre's return, and he's capable of changing his mind multiple times. Not making the playoffs, finishing the way they did, and having some criticism from his teammates probably convinves me he will not return. He had to feel like a mercenary soldier in a Jets uniform... As for the coaching situation, forget the marquee names. Your search is being run by the general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, who would be wise to select someone like Rex Ryan, an up-and-coming coordinator with a 3-4 background, and let young Brian Schottenheimer continue to coach the offense.
That's it for today, and as always great questions. Let's get ready to enjoy the divisional games this weekend!
