My series concludes with the AFC North and AFC West.
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh Steelers: the NFL schedule makers did them NO favors. They play the toughest schedule in the league this year. However, they have lots of talent on both sides of the ball, and they have a year under head coach Mike Tomlin. While their schedule is tough, it will prepare them for the games within their division. Predicted record: 9-7, division champion, #4 seed.
Cleveland Browns: suddenly they have QB issues with Derek Anderson's concussion. While they are going to score a lot of points, who are they going to stop? Jamal Lewis is a year older. Aside from Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, who do they throw the ball to? Too many questions, and not enough answers. This team takes a step backward. Predicted record: 7-9, no playoffs.
Baltimore Ravens: another team with QB issues. Troy Smith is recovering from an infection in which he lost 20 lbs. Kyle Boller is on injured reserve. Joe Flacco is the Week 1 starter. Jonathan Ogden retired, and his next stop is Canton. However, they still have a semblance of a defense, enough to stay out of the division cellar. Predicted record: 5-11, no playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals: this team has more issues than a hooker in a confessional booth. Where should we start? Chad Johnson? The bad seeds? Ownership? Marvin Lewis? Too many issues, and not enough leadership to overcome these issues. Carson Palmer is solid, but he alone will not be enough to overcome these issues. This team will be one of the worst teams in the NFL. Predicted record: 3-13, no playoffs.
AFC WEST
San Diego Chargers: this team is LOADED. Even with a gimpy Shawne Merriman, the defense is incredible. Big, strong, and FAST. Philip Rivers is a year older and (hopefully) a year more mature. They still have LT. Every piece is in place for a Super Bowl championship. Predicted record: 14-2, #1 seed, division, conference, and Super Bowl Champion.
Denver Broncos: Jay Cutler has another year under his belt. Now that he's been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he can take steps to stay strong throughout the season. Selwyn Young can be a very good back. The defense has picked up a new scheme under new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik. However, they are rebuilding, and it will take time. But they are on the right track. Predicted record: 8-8, no playoffs.
Oakland Raiders: if Al Davis and Lane Kiffin can stop their bickering like an old married couple, they have the semblance of a halfway decent team. I think Davis STILL wants to coach the team. Kiffin wanted to fire Rob Ryan, but Davis blocked it. Now Ryan can stick his tongue out at Kiffin, and snicker his teehees under his breath, knowing he can't be fired. Back to the Raiders for a minute. They have a solid ground game, led by Justin Fargas. The O-line is improved. JaMarcus Russell will go through some growing pains, but he has the potential to be a very good QB. The defense needs to gell and is a question mark, particularly at stopping the run. Another year of struggling by the Raiders. Predicted record: 6-10, no playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs: this team is going through more rebuilding and renovating than Las Vegas did in the 80's and 90's. Brodie Croyle at QB? Ugh. Where's Daunte Culpepper? At least HE'S a proven starter! They still have LJ, but he's going to get hammered more often than a drunk on a three-day bender. Yes, the O-line is THAT bad. And don't even get me started on the defense. While they have some good young players, they lack experience. The gap between the veterans and youngsters is huge. If the Chiefs were Las Vegas, they would be Vegas circa 1986. Predicted record, 4-12, no playoffs.
Perusing the world of sports, one can find many sports figures that vex you, trouble you, or get you so pissed off that you want to SCREAM. You so want to vent your ire. Here is the forum that gives you, the Joe Six-Pack Fan, a forum to vent at the object of your ire by calling them out for their idiocy, or their stupidity, or their arrogance, or whatever else pisses you off. You can do this by throwing _______ under the Bus. I have some nominees.
NFL
Matt Jones, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: this genius was busted for blow in Arkansas. Dude, you're a marginal football player at best. You're BARELY hanging on by a thread on the Jaguars' roster. This isn't going to help, especially when Sheriff Goodell metes out his brand of justice on you. You're going to WISH you had to deal with Sheriff Joe Arpaio instead of Sheriff Goodell. For snorting away your lazy, underachieving career, you get thrown Under The Bus.
Odell Thurman, former Bengals' LB: as if pissing away your football career isn't enough, now you are being sought for an arrest warrant for felonious assault. You STILL don't get it. Perhaps when you're caught by the authorities, justice will be served on you and you'll do a LOT of time in the pokey. DON'T blame _____ for your problems. BE ACCOUNTABLE and accept the consequences for your actions. In the meantime, you get to know up close and personal the tire tracks of the Bus you are to be thrown under.
Travis Henry: as if his babymaking skills weren't enough to give him a headache, now he's facing his biggest headache of all: a possible year long suspension from the NFL for allegedly testing positive for the hippie lettuce. Is jonesing for chronic that much more important than pulling an NFL pay check? Apparently to you, it is. I don't get these imbeciles that have MAD game yet choose to #### it all away for one reason or another. For pissing your career away due to the chronic and all that baby making, you get thrown Under The Bus.
NBA
Los Angeles Clippers: they had a great chance in the offseason to become a legitimate power in the Western Conference. Or at the very least improve themselves. They did neither. They let their franchise player, Elton Brand, go to Philadelphia. They let their second best player, Corey Maggette, flee to Golden State. At least they did sign Baron Davis, but he alone won't be enough. This is why they are the Lakers' JV team and deserve to play at the Sports Arena rather than the Staples Center. Hell, the Lakers' D-league team could probably beat the Clippers. For being the Clippers and being the face of front office ineptitude, the Clippers front office gets thrown Under The Bus.
NASCAR
J.J. Yeley: his #96 team was caught cheating prior to the LifeLock.com 400. Did someone on that team call Bill Belichick for some cheating advice? NASCAR assessed Yeley a drive through penalty at the start of the race. He did recover sufficiently to finish 24th. For being caught cheating, Yeley and his team get thrown Under The Bus.
And now for one off the beaten path:
Celebrities that give their children FUGLY names: you know what I'm talking about. The celebrity idiots that give their children names like Apple, Sunday Rose, etc. Those kids are scarred for life. These celebrities ought to be spayed or neutered for this. Then they should be thrown Under The Bus.
Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come in with yours.
I'm hearing JT the Brick and Jay Glazer broke the news that Jared Allen has been traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings give up the #17 overall pick, two third-rounders this year, and switch positions in the sixth round this year with the Chiefs. Allen has agreed to a contract with the Vikings worth just under $74 million for six years, with $31,000,069 in guaranteed money. This is the richest contract signed by a defensive player in NFL history.
This is a pretty steep price to pay, but Allen is one of the best DEs in the NFL. While Allen does come with baggage, he has been on the straight and narrow and continues to strive to do what is right. An already strong Minnesota defensive line got even stronger. Will this be enough to put the Vikings over the top in the NFC North? That remains to be seen, but they have greatly improved their defense with the acquisition of Allen.
What say you? I welcome any comments, especially from Chiefs and Vikings fans.
NOTE: The story will be up on the Fox Sports site shortly.
Today, the Niners terminated Trent Dilfer's contract. For this Fresno State fan and alumnus, it's a sad day. Whether it's the end of his career remains to be seen. Whatever he chooses to do, whether to try out for another team or go into the broadcast booth, I wish him nothing but the best.
I remember Dilfer as a raw yet talented freshman coming in for an injured Mark Barsotti during the 1991 season. He immediately lit up the opposition defense. He looked like a four-year starter rather than a true freshman. Fresno State was the only school that offered Dilfer a scholarship as a QB; several other schools wanted to switch him to either a LB or TE.
In 1992, the Bulldogs were Dilfer's team, since Barsotti went on to graduate and be a late-round pick of the Miami Dolphins. My best memory of that season was obviously the 24-7 win over USC in the Freedom Bowl. Although Dilfer didn't throw a TD pass in the game, he did complete a key fourth-down pass to Tydus Winans early in the game that set up the Bulldogs' first touchdown.
The following year, 1993, cemented Dilfer's ascension as one of the nation's top college QBs. Dilfer passed for a career-high 523 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-30 loss to Big 8 runner-up Colorado in the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day.
In the 1994 NFL Draft, Dilfer was selected sixth overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a rocky first three years under Sam Wyche, he really blossomed in 1997 under the steady leadership of Tony Dungy. The Bucs made the playoffs that season at 10-6. Dilfer earned his only Pro Bowl nod. He was on his way to a career year in 1999 when he broke his collarbone late in the season. The Bucs advanced to the NFC Championship Game against the St. Louis Rams in which the Rams defeated the Bucs 11-6 on a late TD.
Dilfer was released by the Bucs and signed with the Baltimore Ravens to back up Tony Banks. A five-game TD drought during the season signaled the end of Tony Banks as the starter. Dilfer took over the reins on October 29, 2000, vs. Pittsburgh. Baltimore won its final seven regular season games to advance to the playoffs. It was all about the defense; they set an NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season and for fewest yards allowed rushing, 970. He saved his best for the big games; in the AFC Championship Game against Oakland, he connected with TE Shannon Sharpe on an NFL postseason record 96-yard TD pass as the Ravens defeated the Raiders 16-3. In Super Bowl XXXV, Dilfer connected with Brandon Stokley for the game's first TD on a SWEET post pattern. The Ravens routed the N.Y. Giants 34-7, and only Ron Dixon's 97-yard kickoff return for a TD prevented the first Super Bowl shutout.
Dilfer served as a mentor to Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle from 2001-04. He started several games for Cleveland in 2005 before injuries derailed his season. He was a mentor to Alex Smith in San Francisco the past two seasons. When Smith went down with an injured shoulder, Dilfer stepped in and the spirit was willing, but the body wasn't. It was like he aged like Dorian Gray right before my eyes. Dilfer would go down with a serious concussion late in the season.
I want to remember Trent Dilfer the player as someone who competed, someone that put in the extra time to become the best player he could be. I won't be surprised if he ends up retiring and going into the broadcast booth. Trent, thanks for all the memories from Fresno State to the present. This Fresno State alum will miss watching you compete.
Throughout the world of sports, there is no shortage of people and teams that tick fans off. It could be due to a lack of effort, an "I don't care" attitude that reflects in the player's or team's performance, an overpaid player, etc. I found many sports figures that ticked me off this week. So I'm throwing them Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp). This is a forum for you, the sports fan, to call out the object of your ire and throw them under the bus.
NFL
Oakland Raiders: they overpaid to resign Tommy Kelly and to sign Gibril Wilson via free agency. While Kelly is a decent player, he’s NOT one of the top DE’s in the NFL. Yet the Raiders paid him a king’s ransom. If Wilson were that good, the Giants would have kept him. Overpaying by the Raiders further exposes their inability to draft quality players. The front office is a mess. Lane Kiffin could be on the way out, replaced by James Lofton, who Al Davis DESPERATELY wants as his head coach. For making an unnecessary big splash in free agency and spending money like drunken sailors (I apologize to all the drunken sailors out there for lumping you in with the Raiders) the Raiders are to be thrown under the Bus.
San Francisco 49ers: for overpaying to sign DE Justin Smith away from the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith was a good player on a very bad defense in Cincinnati. He may end up being a good player, who knows? But for overpaying a slightly above average DE, the Niners get thrown under the Bus.
MLB
Sam Zell: this Nimrod wants to sell the naming rights of Wrigley Field. You GOTTA be FREAKING KIDDING!!! This is Wrigley Field we're talking about! The Friendly Confines. One of the last bastions in the entire country to remind us of a purer and more honest era. If some bozo owner wants to sell the naming rights for 30 pieces of silver, he's become the Judas Iscariot of sports. Nothing is sacred anymore in this era of corporate greed. When will it stop? At least I give the City of San Francisco kudos to restoring Candlestick Park back to its original name. No wonder the Cubs are destined to lose for the next 100 years while this Nimrod runs the team. You're messing with the baseball gods, and if you do, they don't take kindly to that. So Under The Bus you go, Sam Zell, being thrown under by baseball fans everywhere.
Roger Clemens: enough said.
ESPN: for showing Clemens' mug during the Rockets-Nuggets NBA game on its network.
NBA
New York Knicks: see Isiah Thomas.
Phoenix Suns: for their effort, or lack thereof, against the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia was coming off a loss against Golden State the night before. They were playing their second game in as many nights. Yet it was the 76ers that looked like a playoff team and the Suns a lottery team. This was a game the Suns should have won handily. Suns fan, time to beat the panic button to a pulp. For this dispirited effort, the Suns get thrown under the Bus. At least Steve Kerr will have a TNT gig waiting for him starting next season.
NHL
Bryan Murray: let me preface this. He was the head coach for the Ottawa Senators last season, when they came up short in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Anaheim Ducks. He then became the Senators' GM and hired John Paddock (the head coach of their AHL affiliate at the time) to be the Sens' head coach. Fast forward to last week. The Sens are second in the Eastern Conference and first in goals scored. They are going through a rough patch. Every team does at some point in the season. So what does Murray do? He FIRES Paddock and takes over the head coaching duties and bogarts all of the credit for any success the Sens may have. What a greedy, selfish, Machiavellian son of a ####. Machiavelli thinks that's messed up. I will be rooting for every team the Senators face, until Murray is no longer in the Senators' organization. Even if I have to root for the other teams in the Atlantic Division that face the Sens. For this Machiavellian stunt, Bryan Murray is to be thrown Under The Bus. I'm giving the keys of the Bus to John Paddock.
Those are the objects of my ire in sports for this past week. What were the objects of your ire for the past week? Come in here and tell us!!
Here is my unbiased analysis and prediction for Super Bowl XLII.
NEW YORK GIANTS
How they got there: the Giants finished 10-6 in the regular season, good enough for a wild card spot. In the postseason, they defeated Tampa Bay 24-14 in the Wild Card Playoffs; defeated Dallas 21-17 in the Divisional Playoffs; defeated Green Bay 23-20 in overtime in the NFC Championship Game.
What they must do to win: very simple. They MUST control the clock and rush for over 200 yards as a team. Eli Manning must continue to be sharp, and not turn the ball over. So far he has not committed a turnover in the postseason. On defense, they must put consistent pressure on Tom Brady with their front four. They are capable of putting pressure on Brady with just their front four. And if they aren't able to get to Brady, they must force him to see through a forest of arms ready to bat the ball down. They must win the turnover battle, and force a couple of turnovers at critical junctures. They must make a big play or two on special teams (a turnover, TD return, etc.).
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
How they got there: finished the regular season undefeated; won the AFC East; defeated Jacksonville 31-20 in the AFC Divisional Playoffs; defeated San Diego 21-12 in the AFC Championship Game.
What they must do to win: control the Giants' fierce pass rush with a variety of draws, short passes, and screens. Perhaps leave in an extra TE such as Kyle Brady for pass protection. RB Laurence Maroney could well end up being a key player in this game, as he could have his number called quite frequently. On defense, they must pressure Manning into some mistakes. At the very least, disrupt his timing. They must also slow down the Giants' punishing ground game. S James Sanders could well end up being a key factor in this aspect of the game. On special teams, they must win the field position battle and blunt the Giants' advantage.
Who will win and why: when all is said and done, I'd love to pick the Giants, but I don't see them winning. The Giants will be able to put pressure on Tom Brady, but not on a consistent basis. Laurence Maroney will have a huge game; in fact I'm predicting Maroney to have a game for the ages, setting a Super Bowl record with 210 yards on 28 carries and two TDs. He will wipe the forgettable Timmy Smith off the record books. New England caps a season for the ages with their fourth Super Bowl championship in seven years.
This is the worst weekend of the year. No football. No NASCAR. Just wall-to-wall hoops (although there were some EXCELLENT games today), some golf, and the NHL All-Star Game. Just because there is no football or NASCAR doesn't mean that fans can't vent and throw the objects of their ire Under The Bus this week! I have a few teams that I'd like to throw under the Bus.
NBA
Indiana Pacers: why, oh why, did you have to go out and LOSE to the hapless Miami Heat? The Heat had lost umpteen games in a row prior to facing the Pacers. Yet the Pacers allowed the Heat to play like the 2006 version of the Heat. For that, not only do you get thrown under the Bus, you should be demoted to the D-league.
Phoenix Suns: once again, they fatten up on the bottom feeders of the league by beating the Bulls. I will stop throwing them under the Bus once they face some QUALITY competition. I was happy to see that they had lost to the T-wolves earlier in the week. I'm not worried--they won't win the NBA championship because of the lack of a true big man. Amare Stoudemire is a 4 playing at the 5. He'll be worn down come playoff time. On a related note, I throw the NBA schedulers under the Bus as well.
The roof inspectors at the Staples Center: these geniuses proceeded to cause a 12 minute delay in the first quarter of the Lakers-Cavaliers game because of some rain-soaked clothing they had left on a catwalk above the north basket. Naturally, the water dripped through the slats to the floor behind the basket. That 12 minute delay allowed LeBron James a critical rest period, as he was playing with his usual high energy. He didn't come out at all in the second half. Whatever happened to going to floor level to change clothes in the bathroom? For this act of intelligence, the roof inspectors get thrown under the Bus.
NFL
Oakland Raiders: if the ESPN report is true, and the Raiders are preparing to replace Lane Kiffin with Dennis Green, the Raiders brass should be thrown under the Bus, then the Bus backs up and runs them over again, then moves forward to run them over again, then repeat the process until the Bus runs out of gas. WHY the #### would you do something like that? Especially when the Raiders were being praised league-wide for going in the RIGHT direction? I thought the head coach had the right to hire and fire his own people? As head coach, Kiffin SHOULD have the right to fire Rob Ryan; it's his prerogative.
San Francisco 49ers: for hiring Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. Yes, it's a few weeks late to be doing this, but better late than never. It's a BAD fit. They have a stud TE in Vernon Davis. Martz is DEATHLY ALLERGIC to tight ends. Cam Cameron would have been a better fit in San Francisco. At least his offense goes to the TE at least once a game! The Niners' brass gets thrown under the Bus for hiring Martz.
The League: for scheduling the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints to play in London in late October. Scheduling a regular-season game overseas is a BAD idea. Schedule a preseason game in Week 3 of the preseason in London instead. Week 3 is the week of the preseason that closely mirrors Week 1 of the regular season. NFL, I love ya, you're my favorite sport, but a bad idea deserves to be called out and thrown under the Bus.
Ben Roethlisberger: Big Ben gets thrown under the bus for implying that the Steelers' WR corps isn't good enough. No wonder Hines Ward is pissed. I'd be pissed, too. You just threw your All-World stud WR and stud human being under the bus. Big Ben said, "I'd like a taller WR." Instead of meeting with the Steelers' brass behind closed doors to make his request, he opted to air it out through the media. Big Ben, when you won Super Bowl XL as a member of the Steelers, who were your receivers? Was Plaxico Burress among your WRs that season? Yes, it doesn't suck for a QB to have a 6'5" WR that makes plays in the Red Zone. Yet Hines Ward made HUGE plays in the Red Zone game after game that season, including some in said Super Bowl. Hines Ward is closer to 5'10" than 6'5". I'll let Hines Ward drive the Bus that Big Ben is to be thrown under.
MLB
The Media: more specifically, the media that think there are only two teams--the Yankees and Red Sox. Yes, the two teams have a long and bitter rivalry. Yes, they're both very good teams. But it hasn't always been this way. For a long time, the Red Sox sucked while the Yankees ruled baseball. When the Yankees sucked, the Sox were good. There are OTHER teams besides the Yankees and Red Sox. The Myopic Media gets thrown under the Bus.
NCAA
Alabama Crimson Tide: actually, I don't have the heart to throw the Tide under the bus because they're coming hard after Fresno State OC Jim McElwain. And I have a soft spot in my heart for the Tide. Naturally as a Bulldogs fan I want McElwain to stay at Fresno State, but if he does decide to go to Alabama, I wish him the best. The Tide will be getting one of the nation's best college OC's. Tide fan, be very thankful that Nick Saban has a close friendship with Fresno State coach Pat Hill from their Cleveland Browns days under Bill Belichick.
Those are my nominees for this week. Your comments and nominees are welcome.
This is the unofficial last weekend of the football season. I will review the two conference championship games.
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
This was a defensive slugfest. For the most part, the Chargers were able to put pressure on Tom Brady.
In the pocket Tom Brady of the New England Patriots looks to throw a pass as during the AFC Championship game. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Chargers were able to move the ball fairly efficiently, but were not able to punch it in. LaDainian Tomlinson tested his injured knee, and played the first series, but was out for the rest of the game. The Chargers' defense, aside for the second quarter, was sharp. They swarmed the Patriots' receivers, denying them the big play, and coming up with some big plays of their own.
Up to the task San Diego Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer intercepts a pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Donte' Stallworth. (Winslow Townson/Associated Press)
As the game wore on, it was apparent that New England's defense was tightening up, not allowing big plays to the Chargers' offense, and putting pressure on Philip Rivers. As the Patriots' defense clamped down, Laurence Maroney found holes in the Chargers' defense. Maroney's running set up a Wes Welker TD that effectively put the game out of reach.
Spread the joy New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker celebrates with teammate Jabar Gaffney after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game. (Winslow Townson/Associated Press)
The reactions told the story.
Not looking good Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and fullback Andrew Pinnock sit on the bench during the third quarter of the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. (Stephan Savoia/Associated Press)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates against the San Diego Chargers during the AFC Championship Game on January 20, 2008 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 21-12. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Getty Images
The Patriots held on to the ball for most of the fourth quarter and defeated the Chargers 21-12 to advance to Super Bowl XLII.
Going to Glendale New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hugs Laurence Maroney after winning the AFC Championship game 21-12 against the San Diego Chargers to advance to the Super Bowl. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)
In a nutshell, the Patriots took advantage of their red zone opportunities and the Chargers didn't. While Brady wasn't sharp, and was forced into a few turnovers, he had other teammates pick up the slack, namely Laurence Maroney. Maroney was the Stud of the Game, gaining 122 yards on 25 carries. They will enter Super Bowl XLII as heavy favorites to complete a perfect season.
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
This game was better suited for polar bears and Eskimos above the Arctic Circle. The temperature at game time was zero degrees Fahrenheit with a minus-24 wind chill. It was one of the coldest games in NFL history. The extremely bitter cold affected the quality of play, as both teams looked three steps too slow and passes were very wobbly and hung in the air. The game was close throughout, with several lead changes. After a Giants' field goal, Green Bay struck with the first big play of the game, a 90-yard TD pass from Brett Favre to Donald Driver.
Give him a lift Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre leaps into the arms of center Scott Wells after throwing a touchdown pass to Donald Driver. (Mike Roemer/Associated Press)
Off to the races Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver runs from New York Giants defenders Corey Webster and Gibril Wilson on a first-half touchdown reception. (Jeff Roberson/Associated Press)
The game was hard-hitting throughout, with plenty of trash-talking and extracurricular activity after the whistle. C Shaun O'Hara of the Giants had been accused of being a dirty player by several Packers throughout the week. Plaxico Burress and Al Harris were talking trash to each other throughout the game.
Up and away New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross breaks up a pass intended for Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones during the first half. (Jeff Roberson/Associated Press)
Lawrence Tynes missed two FGs in the fourth quarter, the last one a duck-hook job as time expired in regulation. With each Tynes miss, the Giants' defense really stepped up. Early in overtime, Corey Webster made the biggest play of his career when he picked off a Brett Favre pass. The Giants won a few minutes later on Tynes' 47-yarder that split the uprights. Now the G-men are headed to Glendale to face the mighty New England Patriots in a rematch from Week 16. I had wrote that the Giants can win if they get a few turnovers. They got a few turnovers and controlled the clock with a stout running game and Eli Manning being efficient and managing the game well. Plaxico Burress was the Stud of the Game, with 11 receptions for 154 yards. Congratulations to the New England Patriots and New York Giants for advancing to Super Bowl XLII. Both teams earned their ducats. Could the G-men be the Team of Destiny and put that straight number on the L column for New England, or will New England cap a perfect season with their fourth Super Bowl in seven years?
I have decided to preview and analyze this weekend's championship games and offer my predictions.
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
The Chargers come in as a walking MASH unit. Philip Rivers is hurt, LT is hurt, Antonio Gates is hurt, Lorenzo Neal is hurt. All of these players are expected to play in Sunday's championship game.
Having said that, the Chargers offer something to the Patriots that the Jaguars don't have: a defense that can force turnovers, particularly in the secondary. Antonio (Crime Time) Cromartie led the NFL in picks with 10. The Chargers' front three can get to the QB. It's important that they pressure Brady UP THE MIDDLE. The Chargers' DBs are fast and athletic. And don't forget Shawne (Lights Out) Merriman. For the Patriots, it is important to establish the running game, to keep the Chargers' defense honest. Brady must make quick, decisive reads. And the Patriots' O-line must keep Brady upright.
When the Chargers are on offense, they must establish LT and get him 25-30 touches (20-25 rushes, 5 receptions). And unlike in years past, they have a playmaking WR in Chris Chambers, the ex-Dolphin. He should know the Pats well, having played against them twice a year as a member of the Fins. Vincent Jackson has emerged as a playmaker opposite Chambers. Gates' injury is a question mark; he'll play, but his effectiveness will be limited. The Patriots' defense must rattle Rivers and force a couple of early turnovers.
Special teams will be very important. The Chargers MUST have a huge play on special teams (forced turnover, TD return, long return, etc.) And when the Chargers punt, they must pin the Patriots deep in their own end. The Patriots' special teams coverage must limit Darren Sproles to short returns or fair catches on punts. They must win the field possession battle.
If the Chargers jump out to a quick early lead, it will give Rivers and the Chargers LOTS of confidence that they can get it done and advance to their second Super Bowl. Will that happen? I see a close, hard-fought game for three quarters, and New England pulling away in the fourth quarter.
PREDICTION: New England 34, San Diego 24.
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
The Giants come in on a roll, winning their last nine road games. The last time they lost was in WEEK 1 against Dallas. That seems like LAST SEASON that the G-men lost on the road. Eli Manning is playing the best football of his career, and that TD drive at the end of the first half may well become his signature drive when he looks back on his career.
For the G-men to win, they must establish the running game, as there may be a forecast of snow showers. The G-men must give the Packers' defense a heavy dose of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Manning must take a few shots down the field, regardless of the weather. The Giants' defense must pressure Favre up the middle and shut down the Packers' stout running game.
The Packers must continue to feature Ryan Grant. Favre is Favre and he has young studs at WR and TE. A well-balanced Packers attack is going to be a lot for the Giants' defense to handle. Favre should be able to exploit the Giants' battered secondary, provided the O-line gives him time.
Special teams will be very important. The Packers must limit the Giants to short returns or fair catches. This area is where the Giants have an advantage and must exploit that advantage.
Kudos for the Giants for making it this far. They could have folded the tent after Week 2, but to their credit, they dug deep and found some guts. Eli Manning has emerged as a premier NFL QB. They have found a young stud RB in Ahmad Bradshaw. Unfortunately, their secondary is very ####ed up at a bad time. While I think this game will be fairly close, and I think the Giants can win if they get some turnovers, I think the Giants' amazing run will end in cold, snowy Lambeau Field.
PREDICTION: Packers 31, Giants 20.
Those are my analyses and predictions for Championship Sunday. What do you think? Come strong with your responses!
Today's games were far more exciting and had the aura of unpredictability than yesterday's games. With that, I give you an analysis and review of today's games.
San Diego at Indianapolis: I have to come correct on this one in a big-time way. I gave the Bolts little to no chance of winning. I'll have my crow chilled, thank you very much. I predicted Indianapolis 37, San Diego 17. And it sure looked that way when the Colts drove down the field for their first TD.
Breaking free Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark heads for the end zone on a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of a divisional playoff game against the San Diego Chargers. (Michael Conroy/Associated Press)
But the Chargers' defense stiffened, and forced Peyton Manning into mistakes, including a pick at the Chargers' 2 that killed a Colts' drive.
Jump for joy Eric Weddle (32) and Shaun Phillips (95) of the San Diego Chargers celebrate after Weddle intercepted a pass in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
The Chargers have playmakers too, and some of them were guys that no one expected to come up huge. You expected LT to make plays, but due to an injury, he was pretty much a spectator. Vincent Jackson? All he did was catch a huge TD pass from Philip Rivers.
Rising up San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson catches a 14-yard touchdown pass over Indianapolis Colts safety Antoine Bethea. (Michael Conroy/Associated Press)
Darren Sproles? All he did was take a short screen pass 56 yards to the House.
Tide turning Darren Sproles (in air) and Vincent Jackson of the San Diego Chargers celebrate after Sproles scored on 56-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers won 28-24 to advance to the AFC Championship game. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Billy Volek? He scored on a 1-yard TD run to put the Chargers ahead to stay. (I also liked the WAC connection when he completed a pass to Naanee, the rookie from Boise State [Volek played his college ball at Fresno State])
Backup plan Injured quarterback Philip Rivers (L) of the San Diego Chargers congratulates Billy Volek after Volek scored touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers won 28-24. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The Chargers' defense played outstanding after the first Colts' drive. To win without Rivers, Tomlinson, and a hobbled Gates is so huge. Give loads of credit to the role players and reserves that stepped up. Give credit to Norv Turner and his staff for not panicking and staying within their game plan. The Chargers simply answered the playoffs' slogan, Who wants it more? Today, it was the Chargers that wanted it more. Their reward is a date next Sunday against the mighty New England Patriots in Foxborough.
New York Giants at Dallas: the Giants came out smoking. Amani Toomer's 52 yard TD reception from Eli Manning gave the G-men an early 7-0 lead.
Quick start New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer beats Dallas Cowboys linebacker Akin Ayodele to the end zone to complete a 52-yard touchdown. (Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)
The Cowboys responded with two TDs in the second quarter, the first a 5-yard TD pass from Tony Romo to Terrell Owens. The second TD, a Marion Barber 1-yard TD run, capped a 20 play, 90-yard drive that took almost 11 minutes. The Giants quickly responded to the Cowboys' long drive, driving the ball down the field. The drive was capped by Amani Toomer's second TD reception of the game, a 4-yarder with 7 seconds left in the first half.
Twice as nice Wide receiver Amani Toomer of the New York Giants scores on a 4-yard reception against the Dallas Cowboys, his second TD of the game. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The Giants made enough plays to keep the Cowboys off balance, particularly on defense. The defense showed tons of heart and grit, playing without three of its regular DBs. They sacked Romo twice, and hit him on eight other occasions. Brandon Jacobs scored what proved to be the game winner early in the fourth quarter. That TD was set up by a huge punt return by R.W. McQuarters.
Balancing act New York Giants punt returner R.W. McQuarters is pushed out of bounds by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Justin Rogers. (David J. Phillip/Associated Press)
Giant score New York Giants players including Shaun O'Hara (60) celebrate after running back Brandon Jacobs (27) scored the wining touchdown on a 1-yard run against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants beat the Cowboys 21-17. (Matt Slocum/Associated Press)
All season long, Dallas was able to overcome penalties and mistakes. Today, they didn't. The Cowboys had too many penalties that came at the worst times, one of them negating a huge play. As a result, Dallas will be making tee times tomorrow and New York will prepare to play at Green Bay next Sunday night at Lambeau Field. I will preview the conference championship games later in the week. In the meantime, congratulations to both the New York Giants and San Diego Chargers.
Now we come to the best weekend of the playoffs. The eight teams that are still in the playoffs are the elite of the league. Win or go home. For one team in particular, the pressure is enormous.
Seattle at Green Bay: the Seahawks come off a 35-14 thrashing of the Washington Redskins. While the Hawks have long been known for their offense, it was their defense that dismantled the Redskins. Green Bay comes off a bye. For Seattle to win, their defense must force Brett Favre into making mistakes. They must win the turnover battle. Offensively, they must be balanced. The RBs must combine for at least 120 yards rushing. For Green Bay to win, they must put pressure on Matt Hasselbeck, sustain long drives that lead to scores, the DBs must be physical with the Hawks' WRs, and Favre must play smart and within himself. I see this being a fairly low-scoring game. Each team will have its moments. This is the hardest game for me to pick. If Seattle were at home I'd take the Hawks. But I'm taking the Packers in a close game.
PREDICTION: Green Bay 23, Seattle 20 (OT).
Jacksonville at New England: this is a study in contrasts. Jacksonville will pound the ball on the ground and grind you down until you cry uncle. David Garrard takes care of the ball and while he doesn't have playmakers at WR, they get the job done. Their defense is physical, in your face, and the front four can put pressure on opposing QBs. New England has a record-setting passing attack, a ground game when needed, and a ball-hawking, opportunistic defense. For Jacksonville to win, they must control the ball on the ground and keep the Patriots' offense on the sidelines. They must take advantage of scoring opportunities. They MUST take care of the ball. They must put pressure on Tom Brady, forcing him to be ineffective. They must shut down the Patriots' running game. The Jags' DBs better be prepared to do a LOT of sprinting, as Brady will go deep when given the opportunity. For the Patriots to win, they must force the Jags into mistakes/turnovers. Laurence Maroney must have a solid game, with a MINIMUM of 75 yards rushing/100 yards of total offense. Brady must have time to make his reads and throw to the open receiver. The Pats' offense must have a couple of big plays early and jump out to a big early lead. The Jaguars will be able to run on the Patriots and keep Brady on the bench long enough to keep him from turning the game into a track meet. This is my upset of the entire playoffs.
PREDICTION: Jacksonville 27, New England 20.
San Diego at Indianapolis: on the surface, it looks like a bad matchup for the Colts, especially considering the recent success the Chargers have had against the Colts. However, this was before Peyton Manning won his ring. Now that Manning has his ring, he comes into this year's playoffs a lot more relaxed. This is Philip Rivers' first time in a divisional playoff. For the Chargers to win, LT has to have a monster game, the defense has to pressure and knock down Manning, and force turnovers. Plus, the Chargers' special teams have to have a huge game. Rivers must be composed and not melt down. For the Colts to win, they must force Rivers into mistakes, particularly early in the game. If the Colts jump out to a huge early lead, it will be too much for the Chargers to overcome. Joseph Addai will play a huge role in the game. This is not your older brother's Colts defense. This is a Colts defense that will punch you in the mouth repeatedly. They will do that to Rivers time and again. Addai will have a huge game. Colts win big.
PREDICTION: Colts 37, Chargers 17.
New York Giants at Dallas: this is the third time the two teams have met. It's very hard for one team to beat another three times in one season. Dallas has already beat the Giants twice. For the Giants to win, Eli Manning has to keep playing like a franchise QB. They must pound the ball on the ground and Manning must continue to make plays. Defensively, the Giants must create turnovers and put pressure on Tony Romo. They must make plays on special teams. For the Cowboys to win, Romo must play like he did earlier in the season, when he distributed the ball around to his receivers like Santa Claus distributing Christmas goodies to all the kiddies. Terrell Owens must play, and have a huge game. The ground game must be able to move the chains and not be dormant. Eli Manning continues his superb play. The Giants move the ball on the ground. Romo makes enough mistakes that the Giants take advantage of and end up winning.
PREDICTION: N.Y. Giants 30, Dallas 20.
Those are my predictions for the Divisional Playoffs. What say you?
I'll throw my hat into the ring as far as predictions. Here are mine for the Wild Card round, complete with a brief analysis of the game.
Washington Redskins @ Seattle Seahawks: I have been going back and forth on this game. This game is really too close to call. And I've really been hard on the Seahawks for most of the season. I'll go easy on them, LOL. Washington comes into this game on a roll, winners of their last four in a row. They throttled the Dallas Cowboys' ground game to the tune of ONE YARD in Week 17. While the Redskins have a strong ground game, the Seahawks have a stout run defense. And they are at home. And they have Matt Hasselbeck. And they still have Shaun Alexander. My heart says the Redskins, but my head says the Hawks in a close game. PREDICTION: Seahawks.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Pittsburgh Steelers: the Jags slapped the Steelers up and down Heinz Field a few weeks ago. They have the two-headed beast named Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. David Garrard takes care of the ball (only 3 INTs this season). The defense is stout. The Steelers come in ####ed up, but they make up for hit with loads of heart and grit. This game will be close like the last one, but with the same result. PREDICTION: PAIN--OOPS, wrong! Ahem, Jaguars.
New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: the Giants come in ####ed up after their stellar effort against the Patriots last week. The Bucs are coming off a loss to Carolina. I never know which Eli Manning is going to show up. Jeff Garcia is a playoff veteran who has won in the postseason. PREDICTION: Bucs.
Tennessee Titans @ San Diego Chargers: Tennessee is perhaps the most ####ed up of all the postseason teams. Roydell Williams broke his ankle in practice yesterday and he's out for a minimum of six weeks. The Titans are a walking MASH unit. Not a good thing to go into the playoffs. The Chargers are on a roll, FINALLY getting the ball to LT and letting him do his thing. Lorenzo "The Battering Ram" Neal will be back at some point in the playoffs to clear a path for LT. The defense is stout again. This will be the most lopsided game of perhaps the entire postseason. PREDICTION: Chargers to win BIG.
Around the world of the NFL faster than Andre Davis taking not one, but TWO kickoff returns to The House, Crappafoni Pictures presents, spaghetti western style, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Week 17.
THE GOOD
New England Patriots: what more can be said? Perfection. 16-0. And the way they beat the Giants is the stuff legends are made of. Tom Brady got sharper as the game went on. But the playoffs are a totally different animal. The Pats better be prepared to win when they score in the teens.
Carolina Panthers: as has been a recent tradition under John Fox, the Cats went out and won their last game of the season on the road. Matt Moore was efficient, throwing for 174 yards and 2 TDs. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 121 yards and a TD. Granted, Tampa Bay was resting its starters after the first half of the game, but a win is a win, and the Cats will take it.
Washington Redskins: was that a DOMINATING defensive performance, or WHAT? The Skins defense held the Cowboys to one yard rushing. FOR THE GAME. Watching the game, I could sense the late Sean Taylor encouraging his mates; they played very inspired ball, particularly on defense. I saw the Redskins' D-line pushing the Cowboys' O-line around all game long. Now they're on to Seattle, and I think it's a very winnable game for the Redskins.
Green Bay Packers: they put an ####-kicking on the Detroit LLLLLLLLLLLLLions, plain and simple. They seemed to shake the hangover of the loss to the Bears from their systems.
Tennessee Titans: they got it done, on the road, in a hostile environment, minus Vince Young for the last third of the game. Granted, it was against the Colts' second and third string, but a win is a win in the NFL. Kerry Collins was sharp, keeping the chains moving, and extending drives. Now they're on to San Diego next weekend.
Atlanta Falcons: one of the rare times this season I've put them in the Good category. They did beat a playoff team, and scoreboard is everything in the NFL.
Houston Texans: or more specifically, Andre Davis. He returned two kickoffs to The House in a 42-28 win over Jacksonville. The Texans finished 8-8 for the first time in franchise history. The AFC South is the only division to have all four of its teams finish .500 or better.
THE BAD
Dallas Cowboys: one of the REALLY rare times (maybe the ONLY time this season) I've put them in the Bad category. They proceeded to set a franchise low for yards rushing in a game: ONE yard. Thirty-six inches. Three feet. That broke the previous low of seven yards set in 1998 against New Orleans. Tony Romo was not sharp. The Redskins' defense had a lot to do with that. The Cowboys' O-line was pushed around by the stout Redskins' D-line all game long.
St. Louis Rams: I know you wanted the season to end, but I didn't realize how desperate you were to finish it. They threw in the towel and were ready for their tee times. Now you're picking second overall.
Miami Dolphins: you were watching the back of Chad Johnson all game long as he was blowing by you. Ocho Cinco took a short pass and took it to The House from 70 yards away. You couldn't WAIT for the season to end; it couldn't end soon enough. Now comes the inevitable purging by The Big Tuna, Bill Parcells.
Detroit LLLLLLLLLLLLions: you, too, couldn't wait for the season to end. Ford Field will be a ghost town come tomorrow as the players can't leave fast enough. Many of them will be attending their alma maters' bowl games. Others will be taking a much-needed vacation. Still several others have played their last game in a LLLLLLLLLions' uniform, as they will either be released or leave via free agency.
THE UGLY
Kansas City at N.Y. Jets: this epic battle of bad teams was compounded by this game going into overtime. What, did neither team WANT to win?
Buffalo at Philadelphia: a 17-9 yawnfest played in rainy, chilly weather. It would be one thing if both teams were in the playoffs. But neither team is in the playoffs.
