Rut

Next London game is 49ers v Broncos. http://www.nfluk.com/news/49ers-and-broncos-heading-for-london_150110.html Come on Broncos!!!

Reminds of a story of a mate of mine. He played in some Sunday league team (sorry, can't remember which one). Anyway - this one year they were top of the league and playing well. They were also doing well in some cup and got drawn away to Brockenhurst Reserves. This was a big deal and they were all up for beating a Hampshire/Wessex League team's reserves. At half time it was 6 or 7 or 8-0 to Brockenhurst Reserves. In the 2nd half Brock just let off the gas a bit because they didn't want to totally humiliate my mates team. He said it was hard to describe what made Brock Reserves better - but his team just didn't stand a chance. This is slightly different from someone on here being dropped into a top Prem team but if you think you'd last 2 seconds at that level - I beg to differ. You wouldn't. Would be great to see though - if Ali Dia could do it - then why can't someone on here?

Tues 16th March. I'm back in England that day - result. What pubs do people recommend nowadays for an all-dayer before the game? I have to ask because I only found out a couple of days ago that Pot Black had been knocked down. Was trying to arrange a game of snooker there but my mate said it could be a bit tricky. He wasn't lying. Is the Firehouse still there (where Boogies, Park Side Tavern used to be)? Is it still a Rock pub?

OK - so now we are onto the Conference semi-finals (nobody over here actually calls them that but that is what they are). (Ranking in brackets - all games live on Skysports and terrestrial USA TV) *** AFC *** * Sat Jan 16 - 20.15 ET (1.15 am Sunday UK time) * Baltimore Ravens (6) @ Indianapolis Colts (1) If the Ravens play like they did v New England then they have a real chance of an upset here. I think they will - Ravens win. * Sun Jan 17 - 16.40 ET (21.40 UK time) * New York Jets (5) @ San Diego Chargers (2) I think the Jets have rode their luck long enough. I don't think the Chargers kicker will be giving them such gifts as the Bengals one did. Chargers win. *** NFC *** * Sat Jan 16 - 16.30 ET (21.30 UK time) * Arizona Cardinals (4) @ New Orleans Saints (1) Arizona struggled to defend v the Packers. Despite winning they conceded 45 points. I think Saints will score heavily and get to Warner (Cardinals QB) a lot more than the Packers did. Saints win. WHO DAT! * Sun Jan 17 13.00 ET (18.00 UK time) * Dallas Cowboys (3) @ Minnesota Vikings (2) This is a hard one to call. You can make a case for either team. I'm going with the Vikings simply because they are the home team. When there isn't much between the teams this can slightly tip it. Vikings win. Betting tip of the weekend: Ravens with a 6.5 point start over the Colts. 10/11 (pretty much across the board). Should be another cracking weekend of (American) football. Enjoy.

WHO DAT!!!! That was the first time ever I've wanted New England to win. It'll probably be the last. That game sucked.

One of his accys was that it would snow in: 1. Newcastle upon Tyne 2. Durham 3. Darlington 4. Bradford 5. Harrogate 6. Leeds 7. Wakefield 8. Huddersfield 9. Halifax 10. Cleveland 11. York 12. Derby 13. Stockport Not sure of what the wording would be but these are obviously what they call 'linked bets'. If it snows in Newcastle it will probably snow in Durham. A bit like what they now called 'scorecasts'. Say Saints are 7/1 to win 1-0. Lambert is 4/1 to score 1st. A double at 4/1 and 7/1 would pay 39/1. They won't be giving you 39/1 though - you'd get, what? 22/1 praps? Whatever - way less than 39/1. Basically if one happens it increases the chance of the other one happening so they cut the odds. Scorecasts are the biggest rip off going, sure they flash up great odds but they are nowhere near the true odds of it happening. It's harsh on the guy in question - what he did was actually pretty smart thinking - but I doubt very much if he'll get his millions. There will be some small print to go with the 'snow bets' to stop this sort of bet. I bet Ladbrokes have taken loads of these over the years though - wonder if they will be refunding all the invalid ones. Or will they claim that once the bet is placed it turns into singles like this bloke is now being paid out on. Never mind all that though - imagine his face when he found out it had snowed in all those places. Calculator out - I'M F***** RICH!!!! Um - no you're not. Gutted.

The late season losses don't really mean much though. The best example of this is the Bengals & the Jets. Last week, in the last game of the season it ended Jets 37 Bengals 0. By chance they now have to play again in the 1st play-off game. Sure it is in Cincinnati now but obviously the Jets are nailed on to win??? The bookies don't think so. The Bengals are slight favourites to win the game. Only by 2 or 3 points but they are still favs - last weeks thrashing means nothing. Now I'm not saying the Bengals will win - but the people who make their living out of working out who has the best chance think they will. Same thing with the Saints. Forget about the late weeks - they mean nothing. The season starts again for real on Saturday. That Jets 50/1 seems long gone now - 40/1 across the board. I ain't doing it though. I'm on New England @ 14/1 and Saints @ 4/1 - hopefully at least one of them will get to the Superbowl. If New England win tomorrow then they travel to San Diego for the next game. That'll be a cracker and hopefully the Chargers lose (sorry "Born In The 80s" but I can't stand the Chargers). Anyway - all to play for. Should be a good weekend. Now do I get a couple of cases of MGD or Bud?

LOL - like you got past the 1st sentence!

Would be good - afterall they have 32 teams which would be perfect. Can't see it happening though. Pads or no pads the players take a battering and playing for 4 months of the year is seen as more than long enough. They don't like too much change either. That said the NFL is pretty good at making rule changes if they think they need to. A few seasons ago players were often faking injuries in the final 2 mins when clock management is a big part of the game. Basically they were cheating. The NFL changed the rules so that after the 1st one the team would be given a 5 yard penalty for each subsequent one. Pretty much stopped the cheating overnight. Also of course if the NFL could work out how to make big money from a knock-out tourny of sorts I'm sure they'd consider it. After all they are allowing regular season league games to be played in England nowadays. That would have been totally unthinkable as recently as 5 years ago. Fck no's and fck cares where it is all leading - just see what happens....

Probably taking the pìss but who cares - I'll answer (with way more info than you probably want....) Basically the winner of the NFC (National Football Conference) plays the winner of the AFC (American Football Conference) in the Superbowl. A team is either AFC or NFC (could just call them the red and blue (or whatever) leagues - it doesn't really matter. There is no real logic behind them). There are 4 leagues of 4 in the AFC and 4 leagues of 4 in the NFL. See here: http://www.nfl.com/standings Take the NFC... The post-season (that starts next week) has the 4 league winners (Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans & Arizona) and the 2 other teams with the best records (Philadelphia & Green Bay). All other teams are now knocked out. The best 2 league winners (New Orleans & Minnesota) have a bye week next week. It's now a knock-out competition. The reason George is so excited is that in the NFC the New Orleans Saints have the best record. As well as the bye week they will be at home in the NFC semi-final. If they win that they will be at home in the NFC final. Getting Number One seed is a big deal. That said - the good news for all you 'George haters' is that the number one seed is not a gimme to get to the Superbowl. They will be favourties but anything can happen. ********* Just to a add a bit of related stuff.... The season is only 16 games long. This makes each game pretty important. The 16 games are (and we'll take Saints as an example here): Saints play in the NFC South so they will play each team in that division home and away (6 games). This happens every season. The other 10 are: Each team from another NFC division (ie NFC West - 2 home 2 away) (4 games) Each team from another AFC division (ie AFC North - 2 home 2 away) (4 games). Then the 2 other teams who finished in the same position in the other 2 NFC Divisions (ie next year they will play 1st in NFC North (Minnesota) & 1st in NFC East (Dallas)). (2 games) This helps level things up a bit year-to-year. The divisions they play against rotate. Assuming the way it works stays in place then you can plan a long way ahead to see who you will be playing. Just look here: http://www.johnnyroadtrip.com/schedules/nfl_future_nfcs.htm The big games are the ones v the other teams in your division. Winning these makes such a big difference. They are also the games with the most edge - there are some age old rivalries lurking around in these games. **** One last thing... This year the St Louis Rams came last in the whole of the NFL. They only won one game. What this means is that they get 1st choice next season of what player they want from the draft picks (college players who are now ready to play in the NFL). Although not the finished article this player will have great potential. This (in time) helps bad teams become good teams. At present there is a strict salary cap. No one team can 'do a Chelsea' and buy all the best players. It makes it a very competitive sport. ***** Even I will agree that calling the Superbowl Winner 'The World Champion' is pushing it a bit though. George - if Saints do win it then please don't start saying that. Even I'll think you sound like a bit of a dipshìt then! **** Odds for this year's Superbowl are here: http://www.oddschecker.com/american-football/nfl/superbowl-xliv/win-market Saints are 4/1. I'll have some of that. Not sure what AFC team to go with. I think the Jets could have timed it right and 50/1 could have some value. Can they win 3 games on the road though? That is why they are 50/1.

Yeah if it hits 4 people it will be so off the scale it will be immeasurable. Us USA based NFL fans can only count on one hand so I guess you are getting close to your claim though... Now the Broncos are out I'm with George - WHO DAT!!!! A 'who dat' v 'who dey' final will suit me fine. George - I work with a Bengal who swears the Saints nicked their chant. You need to get a new one mate.

Stupid bleedin' sport. Just hope the Jets win tonight so that the Broncos poxy lay down to the Chiefs doesn't end up mattering. Colts & Saints both lost - oh no! they must be awful.

Thanks for the uploads Tractor_Saint - watching them really felt like being there. Great for us ex-pats who can't make it to the games.

Was a great game last night ey George? I was on the Bears with +8 and didn't even need those points. I ain't got too many bad feelings for Cutler - he ended up having a not too bad a game. Sunday is gonna be tense. So badly need Houston to beat New England in the early game. Then of course the Broncos need to do the biz. Assuming the Raiders have fallen down for the Ravens then it'll all be down to the Bengals beating the Jets. As the game last night showed (and Saints v Tampa (sorry!)) just because a team needs to win it doesn't mean that they will... Good luck in the play-offs. Of the 6 NFC teams left I'd def prefer Saints to get to Miami. About time I put a few bob on them I guess...

No chance. Eagles will lose their 1st post-season game and the Chargers suck. I'm now quite an expert on how the tiebreaking rules. 1/ Broncos have to beat the Chiefs* (*though in theory can qualify with a loss) 2/ Jets OR Ravens have to lose. It's far from that simple (ie a 3 way tie with Ravens and Steelers puts the Broncos out) but without those 2 things happening - no chance. For various reasons we actually want Houston to beat New England. Though if Broncos were to lose we'd want Houston, Steelers & Ravens all to lose. It's complicated - but actually pretty simple (if that makes sense...)

"Philly is not charged with delay of game because we spotted the ball too late". With calls like that the Broncos did really well to only lose by 3. AFC wildcard race is a right headf*** now. Sure there are some simple scenarios ie - Jets, Texans and Steelers all lose their early games and Broncos win. Can't see it being that simple though. For anyone who remembers goal average (instead of goal difference) then that was very simple compared to the NFL tiebreaking scenarios when there are lots of teams tied... See what happens. At least the Broncos have a chance still... As for New Orleans? Well they are in the post-season and it's better to get crazy results out of the system now - rather than in a couple of weeks time.

Yeah George what the who datting hell happened??? I've been on a good roll of late but backing Saints with a -7.5 was not a good choice!!! Watching on TV I think that Dallas basically got their sh**** together and did a number on Brees. He had little of no time most of the game. Dallas ran the ball well and overall looked a quality team on the night. Broncos blew it today (still in their hands though) but at least they beat the Cowboys so cos the Cowboys beat the Saints this makes the Broncos better than the Saints. Bring on the Superbowl. Currently on Panthers with +8.5. Would help a bit if they could sort out how to kick extra points. Still 7.5 up in my world at half time though.....

They sure did and it was a great result for the Broncos. You looked at the wildcard race in the AFC lately? http://www.nfl.com/standings?category=conf&season=2009-REG&split=Overall Got to be one of the closest ones ever. I'm looking forward to the Sat night game & will be rooting for the Saints. Just debating whether to back them with a -7.5. You reckon they'll win by more than that?

Fair play to the person at Sony who thought of this lark - bet they can't believe their luck!! I like this story: *** X Factor protestors to give money to Sony in slightly different way Organisers of a Christmas number 1 protest against the X Factor have chosen to purchase a different song owned by the Sony Music Entertainment than the Joe McElderry track being released by Simon Cowell’s bit of Sony Music Entertainment. The protesters are encouraging people to buy the track, “Killing in the name” by Rage Against the Machine, which includes the lyric, “F*ck you I won’t do what you tell me” which experts have said might as well be “F*ck you I’ll give my money to Sony in a slightly different way thank you very much”. It is hoped that by securing the number 1 slot for a non-X Factor act, Sony executives will be forced to look seriously at their ability to accurately forecast revenue spikes during future earning periods. *** Facebook *** Organiser of the Facebook protest Jon Morter told us,”We have nothing against Joe McElderry personally, but if we wanted to listen to someone murder a Miley Cyrus record, we’d buy a Miley Cyrus record.” “Our aim is to hurt the corporation behind it all, and these protest purchases of a different Sony record will almost certainly cause some sort of forecasting error at Sony HQ, which in turn will result in something of a temporary kerfuffle.” “What better way to stick it to the man than by giving him money in a slightly different way than he was expecting to receive it.” “Imagine your mate was buying an old CD from you, but he put the cash in your wallet instead of your PayPal account. You’d be livid, and rightly so.” “Now imagine that was a couple of million quid instead - see, it’s a flawless plan that simply can not fail.” *** Sony *** A Sony spokesperson told us, “This is terrible news for everyone at Sony Music Entertainment, honestly.” “Earning more money than we expected to over the Christmas period is always difficult to explain to shareholders.” “It’s almost enough to make us learn our lesson about filling the charts with populist sh*te, almost.” “In fact, I can pretty much guarantee you would teach us the mother of all lessons, one we’d never forget, if you could all buy the album of Sony artist Franz Ferdinand when Joe McElderry’s album is released.” "man that would p*ss us off"

Hey George. I always wondered what you look like - now I know!

Hate: Any song you hear in any store. It's all commercial sh*** and 9 times outta 10 I will walk out - makes me wanna puke. Really can't abide any of them. Aarrrrrghh. Xmas songs that are half handle-able: Peter & The Test Tube Babies (Feat GBH) - I'm getting p*ssed for Xmas The Business - Boll*x to Xmas UK Subs - Hey Santa (a cover of the song by that Aussie bloke) Fear - F*** Xmas Wat Tyler - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Suburban Filth - Xmas is a pile of sh*t (Live version) Some of the stuff by The Yobs off of their Xmas albums (The Boys under another name) Crass - Merry Crassmas Macc Lads - Jingle Bells (not great but at least it's ripping the sh*** out of it) + umpteen odd obscure Punk songs that 99% of you won't have heard of! Trust me - they are all better than the sh**** you hear whilst walking round Asda.

Is that from the team coach - or what? What time of night is that? A great video - how about SFC fans going to Southampton airport if we win at Leeds? Could start a new Sat night tradition. There is a bar at Southampton Airport so it wouldn't be too bad a thing to do. 1.20am on a Sat night. You'll never make the whole game. Thurs should be good as well. From hating the Colts on Sunday I will now be cheering them v Jacksonville. For that reason I can see it being their 1st defeat of the season. Hopefully not. As for the Cardinals last night? I'd backed them with a -4 and thought that was a cracking bet. Not at all - they got a number done on them. There's def a lot more twists & turns to come this season...

American football is back to being a poxy sport this week. Should be ok again next weekend though. Who Dat George? Praps winning is now a bit boring...

Great to see the Steelers lose last night. They were awful as well - plus the Browns defence was on fire. Makes it hard for the Steelers to make the wild-cards now. Good. I've got a feeling the Broncos are going to beat the Colts in overtime on Sunday and then will badly need Dallas to do us a favour. Sunday & Monday night games are both NFC match-ups. Boo.