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.
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.
Even thought the Jets have hailed themselves the team to beat, Colts QBPeyton 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.
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.
Congratulations to the city of New Orleans, and their Saints on winning the Superbowl! You are the Champions!!
The Saints can stomp on home and start celebrating. Not only did the franchise want their first championship, but the city needed something to celebrate after Hurricane Katrina wrecked it.
Whatever Katrina took, The Saints gave it back today, and nothing can take that away ever.
The game lived up to the hype, as the two best teams battled it out till the end.
Down 10-0 at the start of the second half, the Saints momentum needed a jolt. That is exactly what Coach Sean Payton did by calling an on-side kick to confuse the Colts. Payton’s seemingly gutsy moves were pure brilliance in the victory.
The Saints defense played Peyton Manning to perfection. The patience, against the best QB in the league, sealed itself with an interception in the fourth quarter. Saints defensive end Tracy Porter picked off Manning’s signature passage rout, to score a touchdown. Porter’s timing sealed the team’s eventual win.
While Manning got rattled, Drew Brees did not; as he played with dignity by spreading the ball around to eight different receivers throughout the game.
The Saints quarterback rightfully crowned the game MVP, throwing 32-of-39 passes, for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He was the underdog team’s leader, who played with heart. Having the stress of a city on your shoulders, Brees knew how much bigger this game was than football, and New Orleans should be immensely proud.
The team finished the Colts off with a score of 31 to 17. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley earning nine of the 31 points, going 3 for 3 with each kick being over 40+ yards playing as good as it gets.
The Colts did not have it this game, and the players were superior in defeat, giving the Saints all the credit for playing better football.
After 42 years in the NFL, the Saints made history today. Let the party stay on Bourbon Street, and for Saints fans everywhere because you are the Champions now!!!
“The glory of sport is witnessing a well-coached team perform as a single unit, striving for a common goal and ultimately bringing distinction to the jersey the players represent.”
—Dick Vitale
It’s the City of New Orleans who is familiar to the Superbowl, playing gracious host to the big game many times.
The patient Saints fans watching as team after team celebrated in their home.
Now, it’s their turn, as the Saints are just days away from playing in their first Superbowl ever.
Who couldn’t cheer for a city who’s undying spirit is on full display, after all the devastation it’s faced?
If your not a Colts fan, the answer is you can’t. To be anything other than awestruck, inspired and a little jealous, but in a good way because loyalty like that becomes contagious.
Easy to forget that the Saints could still lose on Sunday, as Payton Manning’s Colts can rival it with talent.
The Saint’s formula will focus on two main aspects:
The defense must limit Manning to short passes, while not relying on the blitz. Manning is 6’6 feet tall so it is hard to limit his vision by charging him from the sides. Rattle him coming straight up the middle as the Colts love to control the center with their pass game. The Saints coverage of Guarcone, Clarke and Collie is a key reason.
Manning is the best liar, as his pre-snap antics on the line allow him to read the defense to the last second on the play clock and gets defenses to fold their cards. The Saints have to beat him at this own game by being inconsistent especially on man to man coverage, mixing up coverage to the point where their uncomfortable.
Can’t overlook Joseph Adi by Manning need for attention.
The Colts offense need to run the clock when possible because keeping Manning off the field for even seconds can decide the game.
Reggie Bush has to have a huge game. Bush is a functional player who outrun any team both as a running back and a wide receiver.
Utilize Bush’s arsenal from the start, to allow openings for Brees to throw long. Brees is a great third down QB and can be relied under pressure.
Saints left tackle, Jermon Bushrod protection of Brees blindside, from the Colts first-class defensive end Dwight Freeney is essential. Freeney is questionable with an ankle injury, but couldn’t imagine him not playing.
Saints have to score touchdowns because this is where they have the advantage.
Will the Saints go marching in?
The City of New Orleans will be waiting, no matter what.
Waiting for the champions is only appropriate, and the Saints would love to be the ones to do that.
Just as the World Series, the two best teams are facing each other. Even orphan fans cannot help their intrigue because it’s the second best possibility to their own team competing.
Over the next two weeks football will get plenty of air-time and on this blog as well. So, I went digging to find some of my favorite memories from Superbowl‘s past.
No, not game highlights, but from the commercials, half-time shows and team shuffles. These minute slots can sell for millions or just be plain out entertainment. These skits can be as memorable as the game itself. Continue reading ‘Come On And Get Ready….’ »
Last week, one out of the four NFL playoff games is all I predicted correctly. To be perfectly honest, picking the Vikings over the Cowboys was a sensitivity issue because I am a Giants fan.
It gave me that subtle reminder of why sports’ popularity never fades.
Quick recap of last week:
The Ravens handed the win to the Colts on a silver platter. Payton Manning is superb, but the Ravens just made mistakes. Ed Reed‘s interception gave a glimmer of hope, until he fumbled it right back to Indy.
The Jets played tough, simple football to beat the Chargers. Philip Rivers looked like a deer in headlights, but a well deserved victory for Rex Ryan‘s Jets.
The Cowboys were back to their former selves by not utilizing their running game. Relying on Romo’s authority doesn’t get the job done, as proven once again on Sunday. Green Bay’s defense took advantage of the Cowboys inadequate protection of Romo and a game when Favre continually hit his targets, easy win for Vikings.
New Orléans has their dominating Saints back again. On both sides of the football, the Saints prevailed. Reggie Bush has not played that well since college. The Saints defense made Kurt Warner‘s possibly last game one that he will not need to remember.
Now football fans enter the last weekend before the Superbowl. Here is my predictions:
JETS OVER COLTS…..It just sounds wrong even thinking it, but this Jets team is no joke.
The Jets have the scapegoat concepts edge, of already having gone further than expected. In turn all the uncertainty gives a teams the effort to prove the world wrong.
For the Colts to lose is not an option and would consider the season a disappointment. See, Payton Manning is the MVP and supposed to win the Superbowl, so anything else would be unreasonable.
The game is in Indiana, home of the Colts. Obviously because the Jets are the underdogs and that title comes with no advantages.
What is it, just luck that is about to run out? No, two negatives equal a positive and the Jets would love to show-up the gracious Colts in front of their fans.
In the last game of the regular season, Indy’s trusty vote in resting the starters to be more pressing than eliminating the Jets is an arrogant statement.
Do not forget that the Jets would not be here if Colts had won. That alone must piss a team-off Ryan and the Jets enough to win. Hell it pisses me off just thinking about it.
At this point, I have doubted Coach Rex Ryan enough and it is about time I started listening.
Final Score: 27-17
SAINTS OVER VIKINGS…..this has nothing to do with being a huge Kardashian fan, and more that the Saints have never been to the Superbowl in 43 years.
The Saints look unstoppable again.
Reggie Bush is on a mission. The defense shut down the Cardinals offense once they settled in, and again, Drew Brees looking together makes it a powerful formula to overcome.
Viking running-back Adrian Peterson is the foundation for the Vikings to win. Peterson has not carry by 100 yards in his last eight games and only ran 63 yards against the Cowboys. Peterson is like catching mercury but if he fumbles the efforts do not matter, and this week everything matter.
For the Saints, starting out strong against the run is crucial. Last week allowing the Cardinal’s Hightower to run 70-yards in for a touchdown in the first few minutes just that cannot happen against the Vikings. The defense only allowed 31 yards for the rest of the game last week, but missing assignments is intolerable.
The Vikings defensee is led by Jared Allen and overall a rugged, solid group. Allen & Co. love to disturb the QB’s progress, but against the Saints o-line will be a good match-up.
With all their best d-men healthy again, the Saints have the better defense in my opinion.
If Favre is ever going to ‘retire’, it would seem a Superbowl appearance would help. Favre’s having his most dominant term in 19-years. So far throwing for 37 touchdowns including 4 last week to beat Dallas, for a total throne of 4000+ yards. That is a 40-year old on a mission.
Favre’s not just on this quest. His old Packers teammate, Saints free-safetyDarren Sharper (a baby in age at 34) was dumped by the Vikings last season and has made them kick themselves ever since. Sharper intercepted nine times, ran three in for touchdowns, totaling 376 yards returned which is a new NFL record. Both veterans, familiar with the other and something to confirm will be fun to watch.
Having the home field advantage gives the Saints their crazy fans. Regarding the noise, the Vikings play in the Metrodome (aka Metro-dump) the loudest place on earth. Just for baseball people, when the Tigers and Twins played that season-deciding game, the Tigers practiced with blasting music to get ready because the echo in the Metro-dump is unbearable.
Plain and simple is when the Saints have their A-game swagger; you would be hard pressed to get a better team or one that could win.
NFL fans are buzzing awaiting the Championship games to commence this weekend.
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