NFL Playoffs

Post NFL Editor Cindy Boren was online Thursday, Jan. 17, at 2:30 p.m. ET to take your questions about this weekend's slate of playoff games.

A transcript follows.

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Cindy Boren: Sorry I'm running a little late. I've braved a killer snow and ice storm to be with you today. Hope you'll take it easy on me for not picking the Chargers to win last weekend. ...

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Freakzillalympia, Wash.: Dear Ms. Boren,

Please oh please oh please say this whole Jim Mora, Jr., interview is a poorly thought-out prank gone awry.

Yes?

Thank you.

Cindy Boren: Welcome, Freakzilla. I know that the conventional wisdom and all the right people say Williams is the front-runner for the job. But I have this nagging little feeling that it might be like one of those bad love-triangle B movies. You know, the lead character breaks off a relationship and, instead of falling for the loyal, patient best friend, he/she gets swept away by ... Jim Mora.

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Court House, Va.: So how psyched are you that you get to say "It's not a Toomer" at least one more week?

Cindy Boren: I am BEYOND psyched. It's a great line and Gene Wang and I have managed it to imbue with hilarious nuances. Only, it's not "It's not a Toomer" it's "It's not a Toomah."

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Ice storm?: Cindy...it's the playoffs, you need to be tough. And don't talk to someone from Boston about snow this year. I have stumps for trees in my yard right now. Speaking of weather, how do you think the boys from sunny San Diego are going to like low-teens and windy on Sunday? If the wind goes over 20 MPH will the advantage switch back to the Bolts because Brady's air attack will be grounded like at windy Baltimore and Philly?

Cindy Boren: Don't push my buttons, Boston!!!! You live in New England, where they shovel the snow every two inches. They cope with it. You don't have to wear stupid Wellington boots, the sidewalks are so clear. Here, they'd do that, if they weren't so busy abandoning their cars on the Beltway. Anyway...the weather in both Green Bay and Beantown is supposed to be, um, bracing Sunday. I see the advantage switching back to the Bolts under only one circumstance and it doesn't have to do with weather. If, say, Brady were to get hurt, that would do it. Man, it's gonna sting when Shawne Merriman hits.

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Re: Mora: Hey Cindy,

Gut feeling: Will Jim Mora Jr. be the next coach of the Washington Redskins?

Thanks

Cindy Boren: I have to trust our sources and our legwork on this one and go with Williams. We'll keep at it, though, and make sure the playing field hasn't changed. And I'll keep repressing that nagging feeling I have.

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San Francisco: Hello Cindy,

A lot of people (see Wilbon, Michael) don't seem to be giving the Giants any sort of shot at upsetting Green Bay, and see Green Bay as the only team with only the slimmest chance at defeating the Patriots, despite the Giants being one of only four teams to come close to beating the Pats this season. First, what do you think the G-men's chances are at defeating the Packers, and second who do you think has the better chance at playing the Pats' spoiler?

Cindy Boren: Unlike Wilbon, I think the Giants have a shot, a better shot than the Chargers will have Sunday. If you look at how well Eli Manning does in cold weather, you're not going to pick the Giants. Still, they're on a roll and do well on the road. That's enough to give them a slight edge for me. I can't decide whether I'd rather see a continuation of that Saturday night Giants-Patriots game or Favre vs. Brady.

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Baltimore: Non-playoff question: So Jason Garrett seems to have given the Ravens the bird. They made a contract offer and he danced long enough to get a fat counter offer from Jerry Jones. So how do the Ravens make their number two choice to run the team come off as not being a backup prom date?

Cindy Boren: They pin a lovely corsage on his lapel? Or, my personal favorite, they give him a truckload of money? There are only 32 NFL head coaching jobs; I think whomever they pick will get over it.

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RickyBobbyville, MD: Cindy,

Gregg reportedly interviewed for 4 straight days with Snyder. What in the world can you possibly talk about for that long?

P.S. Do you know of any nice steakhouses I can take Lisa to for her bday?

Cindy Boren: RickyBobby! Let's talk dates first. I'm a big fan of Ray's the Steaks in Arlington. As for Snyder-Williams, I can't imagine four days of interviews. I've been through a daylong series of them at The Post and I know that you're pretty well wrung out when that's over--and that's one day. I'm guessing that racquetball might have been involved. That would take up some time.

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Los Angeles, CA: I keep hoping some of the sports pundits would revisit this playoff season and finally put to rest the ridiculous notion that one should sit all of one's starters during "meaningless" season-end games. (I am not, of course, referring to anyone with an injury.) Look who did that: The Colts and the Cowboys. Look who didn't: The Pats and the Giants. No practice regimen prepares players for game pressure and game situations better than, duh, playing in games. I've been rooting for the Giants to win their playoff games because they gave the Pats all they could handle in a "meaningless" game.

I thought the Colts were total wimps to pull their stars less than a quarter into their final game (and if I were a Browns fan, I'd have gone nuts) and watching them play the Chargers, it definitely looked like Manning hadn't played more than a few downs in three weeks.

What are your thoughts?

Cindy Boren: I agree with you. I think it's dangerous for a team to think it can turn the energy on and off at the end of the NFL season. That's why I'd have had my starters in for three quarters if I were a coach (still no offers, by the way...think I could be the Ravens' second choice for prom date?).

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DC: So it is universally recognized that the Chargers have NO CHANCE of beating the Patriots. How does this "NO CHANCE" compare to last week's "NO CHANCE" against the Colts?

Cindy Boren: NO CHANCE? There's never NO CHANCE. Even though the Chargers are going to be missing some key players, they're going to hit the Patriots hard in this game. Brady is going to be wearing a bulls-eye as far as Shawne Merriman is concerned and that dude can hit.

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Washington, D.C.: Local radio reports have the media room at Redskins Park being prepared for something, possibly a news conference in the coming days. Any white smoke coming out of the chimney at Redskins Park?

Cindy Boren: Tough to see the chimney, let alone smoke, in this killer blizzard....I wouldn't think the team would introduce a new coach on the weekend. Maybe Monday or Tuesday?

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Packer fan all the way: I'm a huge Packer fan and everyone expected the Packers to never make it to the playoffs. I think they stand a great chance to beat the Giants (again!) but in all honestly what's the chances of them beating the patriots? It's obvious the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl even though I am so tired about hearing how great they are.. blah blah blah blah.

Cindy Boren: I like the Packers' secondary. Green Bay would do a nice job of limiting the Patriots' passing game. If Favre is having a big day -- hmmmm, how likely is that in the Super Bowl? -- they'd stand a nice chance.

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Delaware, Ohio: Did Bill Parcels completely ignore the Rooney Rule with the quick hire of Sparano? Is this guy where Belichick's complete disregard for the rules was spawned? Will there be any penalty from the Commish?

Cindy Boren: The Dolphins interviewed Leslie Frazier, the Vikings' defensive coordinator and one of the half-dozen or so guys on the runway for a head-coaching position.

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Boston: Brady fade pass to the corner of the end zone to Moss with Cromartie covering one-on-one: TD, incomplete or interception?

Cindy Boren: That would be a T and a D.

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Seattle Deadskin: Can we have a new thread on RI?

Cindy Boren: No.

:)

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Lambeau West: Scenario: Super Bowl, Patriots vs. Packers; The Patriots spot the Pack an early, turnover-induced 14-point lead like Seattle was given. Who do ya got?

Cindy Boren: It quickly becomes a shootout. I take the Patriots on a -- seen this one before? -- field goal with 9 seconds left.

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Washington, D.C.: I had hoped the Pats would fall, now I want them to go undefeated. However, now I see a story line coming that would be amazing. "Farve lead Pack over Pats in Super Bowl!"

They have decent corners and a gunslinger in Farve that would love the challenge that they need 30-40 points at a minimum to be in the game, let alone win.

Cindy Boren: That's a very plausible scenario. All Favre has to do is get past the Giants.

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Davidsonville, Md.: Do you think Tom Brady chewed out Wes Welker for dropping a pass last week?

Cindy Boren: How funny would that have been? Maybe he just said, "Dude."

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Philadelphia: JLC seems to be absent lately... a well deserved time off or is he in line to interview for the Redskins as well? Or did he get caught in the BALCO/MLB/Congressional Steriod investigation?

Cindy Boren: Sorry, I just imagined JLaC petitioning Roger Goodell to be allowed to wear his Milkcrate hoodie on the sidelines...

JLaC and JReid are busily working their Blackberrys on this coaching story, putting in long hours. At the moment, there isn't much we can report. There isn't much news. But we're working the story.

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Anonymous: Wouldn't it be cool to have a NYG vs. Chargers Super Bowl?

It would be the two quarterbacks switched during the draft. The Mannings saying how bad the Chargers would be and such.

I think that storyline would be better than old Favre going up against young Brady.

Cindy Boren: While I can appreciate that storyline, in a luxurious office high above Park Avenue, Roger Goodell is weeping as he reads this question.

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Cindy Boren: It's time to run. Thanks for the great questions; see you here next week. I leave you with this link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/webcams/snowcam.htm

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