Thursday, January 24, 2008

Super Bowl XLII

I will gladly take my 6-4 playoff record into the Super Bowl with another bold prediction.

New York Giants vs. New England Patroits
Sunday, Feb. 3 6:18 p.m. (FOX)
University of Phoenix Stadium,
Glendale, Arizona

I'll be honest with you, after the Giants beat the Packers last Sunday, I thought they had no chance to win the Super Bowl. Now, I'm thinking otherwise.

* The Giants come in as not only the hottest team but the hottest road team winning their last 10, yes, last 10 road games and knocking off the top two teams in the NFC.

* Eli Manning is playing like Peyton. I keep waiting for him to realized he is Eli Manning but I think this new confidence is here to stay.

* Giants defense has been playing smart and forcing the opposing QB to make mistakes.

* They keep proving everyone wrong.

The Patroits on the other hand haven't looked so great over the last six weeks and are fortunate to still be undfeated.

* The Chargers defense smartly forced Tom Brady to make mistakes. Too bad their offense could not capitalize on it.

* Did anyone tell Randy Moss that the playoffs started. The Jags and Chargers both proved you can shut down Moss if needed.

* Karma has to catch up with them. As much as they try to tell us otherwise, they did cheat. The league did slap a $250K fine on the team and a $500K fine on the man in the hoodie. They don't just do that to fun. What better way to teach the Pats a lesson, kicking them off the karma train when they can taste immortality.

With all of that said, I think the Giants D-line will give Brady fits and force him to make mistakes or at least frustrate him enough to throw off his rythmn. The Giants will challenge the Pats dinosaur LB crew to stop their one-two punch of Jacobs and Bradshaw.

I know what you are saying, the Giants have no chance. Maybe, but these two cities were part of the biggest Super Bowl upsets. Remember a guy named Joe Willy Namath with the Jets...they were 16 point dogs to the Colts. Everyone laughed when Namath said they would win. The Pats were not supposed to win their first Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams greatest show on turf. Kurt Warner was talking dynasty prior to that game. Neither the '69 Jets or '01 Pats had any business being in the Super Bowl, but won anyway.

The Giants almost upended the Pats week 17 (falling 38-35). This time, the Giants get the last laugh as Eli Manning runs in the game winning TD as the New York football Giants end the Pats perfect season, 28-24.

Enjoy the game!

Friday, January 18, 2008

NFL Conference Championship weekend

After an impressive wild card weekend (3-1), I slipped a bit in the divisional round going just 2-2. I was shocked the Colts lost but am not surprised that Dallas fell on their face. Still doing well at 5-3 in the playoffs so let's tackle the conference championships.

AFC, Championships: Sunday, Jan. 20
San Diego at New England, 6:00 p.m. (CBS)
I thought the Jags and Colts each had a shot to beat New England. San Diego does not. I'm shocked they beat the Colts, especially without LT. Losing Philip Rivers isn't that big of a loss. After all, he is only slightly better than backup Billy Volek. Brady and company should light up the Chargers defense. SD may put some points up but this could be a shootout and the Pats thrive on that style of play. NE 42-28.

NFC, Championships: Sunday, Jan. 20
New York at Green Bay, 2:30 p.m. (FOX)
NY has been playing great but I'm still not convinced that they can keep this high level of play going. Yes, they have won 9 in a row on the road but this is probably the game that Eli Manning comes back down to earth. Green Bay will get some pressure on Manning and force him into mistakes. Brett Favre actually plays better in the cold. GB moves on, 24-17.

Super Bowl XLII: Sunday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.,
University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
Green Bay vs. New England
Brady is looking to get into Super Bowl lore of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with four rings. Favre looking for his second SB title. In the warm weather, this turns into an old western shootout. I think the GB defense can slow NE down just a little bit more than the NE D can slow down Favre. NE's defense is old and is worn out. GB's defense is young and will take some chances. Favre gets the last laugh with a late TD pass to Greg Jennings to seal a 38-35 victory.

Call me crazy for this not ending in a Patriots perfect season but karma says the Pats can't possibly run the table. Besides, the '72 Dolphins slipped me a few bucks to get them knocked out!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

NFL Playoff predictions week 2

I went 3-1 during the Wild Card round only losing on Pittsburgh but I did say it was going to be a close game. Not to pat myself on the back but I also corrected predicted the final score of the NY Giants-Tampa Bay game (check last week's entry).

This week the folks that had bye's are not back on the field. Here's how they breakdown:

AFC Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 12
Jacksonville at New England, 8 p.m. ET (CBS)
Yes, I realize I had Pittsburgh in this game last week but actually think the Jacksonville has a better chance than them to spring the upset (I know that logic doesn't make any sense but I didn't think I was going to have to use it). For Jacksonville to win, they need to control the ball for 38-40 minutes with Fred Jackson and Maurice Jones-Drew. The way to beat the Patriots is to keep their offense off the field and wear down their old LB's. As much as I hate NE this is not the week that they blow their perfect although if the weather is crappy and QB Tom Brady can't toss 50 passes this could be a backyard brawl. I really want to pick Jacksonville but I think New England gets by, barely, 24-21.

Sunday, Jan. 13
San Diego at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
I was extremely unimpressed with San Diego last week. They barely beat the Titans who had a rash of injuries and the guys that did get on the field were pretty dinged up. They waste a lot of their talent. TE Antonio Gates will be out for the game so that should make QB Philip Rivers look mediocore. The Colts get WR Marvin Harrison back this week and have had a week to rest up everyone else. QB Peyton Manning will not make the same mistakes he did when they played in SD earlier this season. Manning throws four TD's and the Colts runaway, 41-17.


NFC Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 12
Seattle at Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
The site of the famous coin toss with Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck saying they will take the ball and win only to throw an interception that was returned for a TD a few years back. Seattle coach Mike Holmegren will have the 'hawks ready but the Pakcers and QB Bret Favre don't lose much on their home turf. Farve still has his old coaches number and with temps to be around freezing, GB all the way 28-17.

Sunday, Jan. 13
New York Giants at Dallas, 4:30 p.m., ET (FOX)
The Dallas players ran amuck in the off week which makes me skeptical about their focus. The Giants looked great last week, but Dallas will not suffer the same playoff mistake as they did last season and QB Tony Romo will ask Jessica Simpson to watch at home. Eli Manning comes back down to earth, throwing a few picks, Dallas 31-20.


These are the same picks from week one without any changes:
AFC, NFC championships: Sunday, Jan. 20
Indianapolis at New England, TBA (CBS)
If the Patriots are going to lose in the playoffs, this is the day. New England will have the mother of all snow storms haulting the Pats potent passing game. Indy RB Joseph Addai becomes the star running the Colts back into the Super Bowl as he tears up NE's aging LB corps, Indy in a squeaker 28-24.

Green Bay at Dallas, TBA (FOX)
Dallas beat GB in the regular season but in Favre's possible swan song (I know we say that every year) he rises to the occasion with one of his biggest games of his career carrying the young Pack on his back to the Super Bowl, 31-28.

Super Bowl XLII: Sunday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.,
University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
Green Bay vs. Indianapolis
Both Manning and Favre looking for their second SB title. In the warm weather, this turns into an old western shootout as Favre gets the last laugh with a late TD pass to Greg Jennings to seal a 38-35 victory.

Call me crazy for this not ending in a Patriots perfect season but karma says the Pats can't possibly run the table. Besides, the '72 Dolphins slipped me a few bucks to get them knocked out!

Saturday, January 05, 2008

NFL Playoff Predictions

The NFL playoffs start today but I will breakdown the whole month of playoffs for you and why.

AFC Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, Jan. 5
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) at 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Heinz Field, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Everyone in America thinks Jacksonville is the trendy pick to go far in the playoffs. While I like their running game and the fact that QB David Garrard doesn't turn the ball over, Pittsburgh has more playoff veteran's and that counts for a lot. Plus, the Steelers are playing at home and were not happy they got embarrassed a few weeks back by these same Jags. Pittsburgh wins in a close one, 21-17.

Sunday, Jan. 6
6. Tennessee Titans (10-6) at 3. San Diego Chargers (11-5)
Qualcomm Stadium, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
San Diego is famous for the implosion in last year's playoffs but the fact that the Titans could be down their starting QB and two WR, things don't look good. All SD needs to do is give LT the ball and run into the next round. Let's see if Norv Turner is smart enough to do that, SD 35-20.

First-round byes
1. New England Patriots (16-0) and 2. Indianapolis Colts (13-3)
are the top two seeds in the conference and have first-round byes.

NFC Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, Jan. 5
6. Washington Redskins (9-7) at 3. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
Qwest Field, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
The Redskins are a great story winning their last four games and may be the hottest team coming into the playoffs. I have always been a Matt Hasselbeck fan and he has won big games before. This is the week the 'skins and QB Todd Collins come back down to earth, Seattle 20-10.

Sunday, Jan. 6
5. New York Giants (10-6) at 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Raymond James Stadium, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
The Giants are easily the worst team in the playoffs. I watched them live and was unimpressed. QB Eli Manning still has a lot to prove but I don't buy into Tampa Bay at all, Giants 24-14.

First-round byes
1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3) and 2. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
are the top two seeds in the conference and have first-round byes.


AFC Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 12
Pittsburgh at New England, 8 p.m. ET (CBS)
As much as I hate NE this is not the week that they blow their perfect although if the weather is crappy and QB Tom Brady can't toss 50 passes this could be the big upset of the playoffs. My heart says Pittsburgh but my mind knows Pats, NE 35-14.

Sunday, Jan. 13
San Diego at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
The Colts are still the champions until someone knocks them off. QB Peyton Manning doesn't lose very much in the dome and will have Marvin Harrison back, Indy 31-24.


NFC Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 12
Seattle at Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
The site of the famous coin toss with Hasselbeck saying they will take the ball and win only to throw an interception that was returning for a TD a few years back. Favre still has his old coaches number and with temps to be around freezing, GB all the way 28-17.

Sunday, Jan. 13
New York Giants at Dallas, 4:30 p.m., ET (FOX)
Dallas will not suffer the same playoff mistake as they did last season and QB Tony Romo will ask Jessica Simpson to watch at home. Eli Manning comes back down to earth, throwing a few picks, Dallas 31-20.

AFC, NFC championships: Sunday, Jan. 20
Indianapolis at New England, TBA (CBS)
If the Patriots are going to lose in the playoffs, this is the day. New England will have the mother of all snow storms haulting the Pats potent passing game. Indy RB Joseph Addai becomes the star running the Colts back into the Super Bowl as he tears up NE's aging LB corps, Indy in a squeaker 28-24.

Green Bay at Dallas, TBA (FOX)
Dallas beat GB in the regular season but in Favre's possible swan song (I know we say that every year) he rises to the occasion with one of his biggest games of his career carrying the young Pack on his back to the Super Bowl, 31-28.

Super Bowl XLII: Sunday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.,
University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
Green Bay vs. Indianapolis
Both Manning and Favre looking for their second SB title. In the warm weather, this turns into an old western shootout as Favre gets the last laugh with a late TD pass to Greg Jennings to seal a 38-35 victory.

Call me crazy for this not ending in a Patriots perfect season but karma says the Pats can't possibly run the table. Besides, the '72 Dolphins slipped me a few bucks to get them knocked out!