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New York Giants vs. New England Patriots: 3 Key Factors To Super Bowl XLVI

Posted by on 1 February 2012, 11:58 pm

Super Bowl XLVI is this Sunday, between the New Giants and New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts.

Image via Wikipedia

So, what will I be watching for after kickoff, which is scheduled for 6:30 ET on NBC?

Here are 3 key factors that I will have a close eye on.

1) Rob Gronkowski 

How seriously injured is Patriots tight end Gronkowski’s? The offensive monster suffered, what was later diagnosed as a high ankle sprain, during the AFC Championship Game two weeks ago. Gronkowski got off the plane in Indianapolis last Sunday in a walking boot, but has not been seen in it since. There is no doubt that the 6’7, 265 lbs. Gronkowski is limping a little, but how able he is to take part on Sunday will be a HUGE factor.  Gronkowski broke NFL tight end records in 2011 with his 1327 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns; he is a nightmare for any defense to deal with.

2) The Quarterbacks

Eli Manning threw for 4933 yards, which resulted in 29 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2011. While Manning’s numbers don’t quite match Tom Brady’s 5235 yards, 39 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, they both ranked in the top 5 NFL quarterbacks on the season. These two are not new to the big stage, and know their performances will dictate the flow of the game. This is an offensive clash you won’t want to miss. Continue reading ‘New York Giants vs. New England Patriots: 3 Key Factors To Super Bowl XLVI’ »

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2011 AFC Championship Game Preview: New York Jets Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Posted by on 22 January 2011, 4:13 pm

NFL fans are buzzing awaiting the Championship games to commence this weekend.

By early Monday morning, two of the four remaining teams left will head to Dallas, Texas to play for a championship on February 6th 2011; the other two will head home.

Let’s look at the AFC Championship Game, as the New York Jets head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.

New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 2011 AFC Championship

The New York Jets are off to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Sunday night, in a game that will send one team home and the other to footballs holiest grail, the Superbowl.

The Jets have taken down the Colts and the Patriots; as Coach Rex Ryan’s game plan was not only on the field, as the Jets gave trash talking a new meaning.

Offensive? Yes. Classless? Definitely. Necessary? Maybe not, but in sports professional anything goes as long as you are winning and the Jets are still doing that.

So following the 28-21 win against the Patriots, most figured the Jets would start another week filled with more ridiculous antics.

Instead, the Jets have remained virtually silent, with only words of praise and admiration for the Steelers and QB Ben Roethlisberger. Making everyone wonder, why stop now?

The Steelers are not the preppy Pats, or orderly Colts, they are rough, dicey and hard-hitting.

They’re not polished or polite, as the Steelers are more what the Jets dream of becoming, terrifying and you don’t mess with any of them. For whatever reason the Steelers have the Jets respect.

Still, the Jets are no slouches either. Whether or not it is justified, Game-Green enters this game with a wealth of self-confidence. In the last two weeks New York has been on the road and trodden two of the supreme quarterbacks of all time, first Peyton Manning and second Tom Brady. Continue reading ‘2011 AFC Championship Game Preview: New York Jets Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers’ »

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2011 NFL Wild Card Weekend: Sorting Out Winners From The Losers, Game By Game

Posted by on 5 January 2011, 7:00 am

The NFL Playoffs start this weekend with the four Wild Card teams traveling to the homes of the bottom two-division winners.

The top two teams in the AFC and the NFC both get a bye, as they will wait to see who their opponents will be in the Divisional Rounds.

Now let’s separate the winners form the losers, by looking at Wild Card Weekend game by game:

Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Jets*

Even thought the Jets have hailed themselves the team to beat, Colts QB Peyton Manning is dynamic and has had the Jets number in the past.

The Jets defense loves to blitz the opposing QB, but won’t work because Manning gets better under pressure. Fact is the Jets defense was better in 2009 and Manning eat them alive in the second half of AFC Championship Game.

The Jets-D needs to figure out how to get back there and fast because the Colts O-line sits atop the NFL. Leadership is one of Manning’s biggest strengths, but it is quite the opposite for Jets QB Mark Sanchez, who floundered in the second half of the season.

The Colts defense’s weakness is stopping the run, so that should take some of the demands off Sanchez, as the Jets will run the ball a lot. LT and Shonn Greene will have to come up big for Game-green, hopefully resting Week 17 will help the tandem get healthy again.

Look for the Jets to use back-up QB Brad Smith to run the Wild Cat to shake-up the Colts-D, but the veteran defense with lots of playoff experience won’t be fooled that much.

Rex Ryan needs to get his head checked and “making it personal” with Manning is just setting up his team to get killed. Ryan just needs to put a foot in his mouth. 

WINNER: COLTS BEAT JETS 28-10

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens*

The Chiefs are legitimate again, as Kansas City has football fever but facing the Ravens will be a huge test. The Chiefs ended the season losing at home to the Raiders, which left too many questions on the table.

The Ravens have only gotten better, and RB Ray Rice has finally found his feet towards in the second half of the season. Rice can pound the average Chiefs defense, but the Ravens offense is very balanced all-around and QB Joe Flacco has proven very solid at the helm.

The Chiefs offense relies heavily on the run game, with duo Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones. Ravens defense stops the run better than anyone, so Chiefs will be forced to throw.

QB Matt Cassel is just not reliable as a deep passer and the Ravens are weak defending deep, middle passes. Cassel will have to relay on his arm against playoff teams, and the Chiefs have not defeated a playoff team all season.

Arrowhead Stadium is known to be one of the nosiest and the fans have definitely done their part in 2010, so expect the place to be shaken on Saturday afternoon but it won’t be enough.

WINNER: RAVENS BEAT CHIEFS 21-6

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers*

Michael Vick, need I say more? Continue reading ‘2011 NFL Wild Card Weekend: Sorting Out Winners From The Losers, Game By Game’ »

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Jets Pull Through, Feels Like Deja Vu

Posted by on 18 January 2010, 11:30 pm

Rex Ryan‘s contagious spirit is spreading across NYC, as J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets are just one win away from the Superbowl.

To even dream that the Jets would be playing the Colts in the AFC Championship was beyond unthinkable and just three weeks ago.

Well, the Jets should already be very proud, because this was long overdue for the ‘other’ team that plays at Giants Stadium.

For Giants fans everywhere it is a sweet reminder of just two years ago.

The Jets have the #1 defense, a young QB who’s becoming a leader, two-headed monster of running backs, last game of the season was against the #1 team and a coach who demands greatness.

Sound familiar?

Also, the 2007 Champion Giants did not have one playoff game at home, neither do the Jets. Both NY teams considered the underdogs by a long shot and surely gives a team something to prove.

Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan brought life to a hopeless team. The Jets reputation only consisted of failure and disappointment for their loyal fans.

Green jerseys worn on Sundays in New York were commonly that of Eagles fans. The future looked grim.

This season a new coach, along with a rookie QB to once again attempt to find something that clicked. Even Brett Favre couldn’t help. NFL‘s superman QB seemingly lost his swagger wearing a Jets jersey too.

Prayers finally got answered.

Coach Rex Ryan publicly challenged big, bad Bill Belichick and his Patriots with such confidence his sanity was even questioned by Jets fans.

Days before the game, Jets ticket-holders each received a surprising voicemail from this new coach. Ryan asked the fans to once again, not only cheer louder than ever but to believe again.

Mission accomplished.

For the Colts, advice is they better listen to Ryan.

Ryan and his Jets have heart and nowhere to go but up. As the world watched in 2007, that is the recipe for champions.


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