Today is championship weekend in the NFL. Two teams will punch their tickets to the Super Bowl, while two others will join 28 other teams already looking towards next season.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't still a little disappointed that today's NFC title game isn't being played in the Georgia Dome. I will be watching as the Packers take on the Bears today. Not sure it will be much of a game though.
It's not just that the Packers looked so good last week against the Falcons, or that the Bears haven't really looked like a Super Bowl contender all year. The main reason I think the Packers will head to Dallas in two weeks is that the Packers are simply a better team on both sides of the ball. For the Bears to win today, I think Devin Hester would have to have a return for a touchdown, and the Bears would have to win the turnover battle by 3. The Packers are just that good, and right now, I think they are the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
In the nightcap, anything could happen. I wouldn't have ever picked the Jets last weekend against the Patriots. I can't see the Jets beating Pittsburg today, but then again, the Jets do things like no other team in the league. Win or lose, the Jets have over-achieved for a 2nd straight season. If I had to put money on it, I would take the Steelers, but not by much.
We are currently 10 days away from the biggest moment in the coaching career of Mark Richt. With the possible signing of Isaiah Crowell and Ray Drew in addition to the signings Georgia has already gotten for the class of 2011 will give Georgia a great deal of momentum and hope heading into their game with Boise State in the Georgia Dome.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
A Huge Step Back
Last night, for the first time in the past three seasons, the Falcons took a step back as a franchise. In front of a crazy crowd at the Georgia Dome, the Falcons crumbled under the pressure of the playoffs.
The third year quarterback who has garnered comparisons to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, threw the worst interception I have ever seen in a big game. The Hall of Fame tight end who was brought to Atlanta two years ago to win a Super Bowl, managed only one catch, and then missed the rest of the game with an injury. The coach who resurrected this franchise with his steady hand and professional approach was left to just watch helplessly as his team was dismantled for the world to see. Funny how we didn't see Arthur Blank on the sideline at the end of last night's game.
No last night's game was not apart of the master plan for the Falcons. When they lost on the road in the playoffs two years ago, the thought was that this team had no where to go but up, and that it was an amazing turnaround from the 2007 season. Some people might be inclined to think the same thing after last night, but those people aren't considering the modern NFL.
You don't get dynasties these days.
Wait! What about the Patriots?
The Patriots won three Super Bowls in four years, but when they won their first Super Bowl in 2001, they were huge underdogs to the Rams, and their leader was still a wide-eyed kid who had yet to really become the quarterback we have seen for the past few seasons. During their prime, yes the Patriots won back to back Super Bowls, but that only further proves my point.
When opportunity knocks in the NFL, you better answer fast. Injuries change NFL seasons more than any other sport. The Patriots can tell you about that when Tom Brady got hurt in 2008 after setting the world on fire in 2007, but losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl. Brady hurt, season over.
The Falcons stayed healthy for the most part this season. They earned the NFC's number one seed, a bye in the first round, and had their two biggest concerns (Saints and Eagles) lose last week. Sure the Packers are a good team, this is the playoffs! You don't get to play teams like Carolina in the playoffs.
This franchise has done amazing things in the past three seasons. Yes they have a lot of pieces in place to continue to be a force in the NFC. But you can't take anything for granted in the NFL, and when things fall your way, you had better capitalize and get the ring.
This afternoon, either the Bears or the Seahawks will advance to play the Packers in the NFC title game. And Falcon fans will sit back and wonder, what might have been?
What might have been is the thought that this town is used to wondering, but for the Falcons, let's just hope that they take this loss as a very painful lesson. Because there is no guarantee that this team will ever have a clearer path to the Super Bowl than the one they had this season.
The third year quarterback who has garnered comparisons to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, threw the worst interception I have ever seen in a big game. The Hall of Fame tight end who was brought to Atlanta two years ago to win a Super Bowl, managed only one catch, and then missed the rest of the game with an injury. The coach who resurrected this franchise with his steady hand and professional approach was left to just watch helplessly as his team was dismantled for the world to see. Funny how we didn't see Arthur Blank on the sideline at the end of last night's game.
No last night's game was not apart of the master plan for the Falcons. When they lost on the road in the playoffs two years ago, the thought was that this team had no where to go but up, and that it was an amazing turnaround from the 2007 season. Some people might be inclined to think the same thing after last night, but those people aren't considering the modern NFL.
You don't get dynasties these days.
Wait! What about the Patriots?
The Patriots won three Super Bowls in four years, but when they won their first Super Bowl in 2001, they were huge underdogs to the Rams, and their leader was still a wide-eyed kid who had yet to really become the quarterback we have seen for the past few seasons. During their prime, yes the Patriots won back to back Super Bowls, but that only further proves my point.
When opportunity knocks in the NFL, you better answer fast. Injuries change NFL seasons more than any other sport. The Patriots can tell you about that when Tom Brady got hurt in 2008 after setting the world on fire in 2007, but losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl. Brady hurt, season over.
The Falcons stayed healthy for the most part this season. They earned the NFC's number one seed, a bye in the first round, and had their two biggest concerns (Saints and Eagles) lose last week. Sure the Packers are a good team, this is the playoffs! You don't get to play teams like Carolina in the playoffs.
This franchise has done amazing things in the past three seasons. Yes they have a lot of pieces in place to continue to be a force in the NFC. But you can't take anything for granted in the NFL, and when things fall your way, you had better capitalize and get the ring.
This afternoon, either the Bears or the Seahawks will advance to play the Packers in the NFC title game. And Falcon fans will sit back and wonder, what might have been?
What might have been is the thought that this town is used to wondering, but for the Falcons, let's just hope that they take this loss as a very painful lesson. Because there is no guarantee that this team will ever have a clearer path to the Super Bowl than the one they had this season.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
NFL Playoff Preview: Wild Card Weekend
The NFL playoffs get underway on Saturday afternoon with the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints visiting the champions (read survivors) of the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks. On paper, this one shouldn’t really be close. The Saints went 11-5 this season and seem to be hitting their stride late in the season. Despite a Week 17 loss to the Bucs, the Saints have all of their weapons healthy and primed for another run to the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks on the other hand, were the last team to clinch a birth into the playoffs. They beat the St. Louis Rams on Sunday night to win the west, and the right to host a playoff game, despite their 7-9 record. That is right; they had a losing record on the season.
Drew Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and Sean Payton has the experience of leading the Saints to the promise land one year ago. The Seahawks don’t even know who their quarterback will be, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wouldn’t exactly be my first choice to lead anything.
Saints 30 Seahawks 13
Saturday Night features one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and one of the biggest talkers in the history of the NFL. Peyton Manning leads his Colts into the playoffs for a record tying 9th consecutive year. Rex Ryan took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game last year, only to fall to these same Colts. Ryan said earlier in the week that it was “personal” for the Jets, and for Ryan, who has only managed to beat Peyton Manning once in the six times the two have faced each other.
Manning is without many of the weapons that he is accustomed to having come playoff time. However, Manning has confirmed his greatness by leading backups into the NFL’s second season. The Colts defense will have to contend with second year quarterback Mark Sanchez. In the playoffs, you look to the quarterback to lead you to victory. I think this will be a close game, and in a close game, give me the League’s Most Valuable Player rather than the League’s Most Inconsistent Star Who Isn’t Really a Star.
Jets 20 Colts 26
On Sunday, the Ravens visit the Chiefs in a game that I wouldn’t even watch if you paid me. I don’t think there is a more team as good and boring as the Ravens. Their only interesting player, Ray Lewis, is about 50 years old, and seems to have a lot more bark these days than bite. CBS really got the shaft having only this game to televise this weekend. I’ll make a pick, but I don’t care in the least.
Ravens 17 Chiefs 13 (The real losers are people who watch this game)
Wild Card weekend ends with what I believe will be the best game of the weekend. Mike Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Although the Eagles will be playing at home, the cold won’t have any effect on the Packers, which will take away some of the home field advantage.
Everyone in the world knows about Mike Vick’s story. His comeback this season has been remarkable. However, Vick has never been to a Super Bowl, and has been injured on more than one occasion this season. Vick sat out last week’s game because of injury, and there has been no word about whether he will be 100% for the Packers game on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers has to be the cockiest quarterback in the league, who has no reason to be cocky. Rodgers always seems to play with a chip on his shoulder, and argues with the officials about as well as he throws. He is a good quarterback, but it makes you wonder if he has the mental toughness to go on the road to win a playoff game.
The Packers have not had a running game all season, and I wouldn’t expect them to find one on Sunday. The Eagles have had big problems in their secondary, but without having to respect the running game of the Packers, they should be able to at least limit Rodgers ability to throw the ball. Vick is the difference in the game, because of his ability to improvise and stay out of the clutches of the Packer’s Clay Matthews.
Packers 26 Eagles 30
If the Wild Card games work out as I predict, the matchups for the Divisional Playoffs would be as follows:
AFC:
Ravens @ Patriots
Colts @ Steelers
NFC:
Saints @ Falcons
Eagles @ Bears
Who Dat guy who don’t want to play them Saints again? That would be me.
GO SEAHAWKS!
The Seahawks on the other hand, were the last team to clinch a birth into the playoffs. They beat the St. Louis Rams on Sunday night to win the west, and the right to host a playoff game, despite their 7-9 record. That is right; they had a losing record on the season.
Drew Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and Sean Payton has the experience of leading the Saints to the promise land one year ago. The Seahawks don’t even know who their quarterback will be, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wouldn’t exactly be my first choice to lead anything.
Saints 30 Seahawks 13
Saturday Night features one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and one of the biggest talkers in the history of the NFL. Peyton Manning leads his Colts into the playoffs for a record tying 9th consecutive year. Rex Ryan took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game last year, only to fall to these same Colts. Ryan said earlier in the week that it was “personal” for the Jets, and for Ryan, who has only managed to beat Peyton Manning once in the six times the two have faced each other.
Manning is without many of the weapons that he is accustomed to having come playoff time. However, Manning has confirmed his greatness by leading backups into the NFL’s second season. The Colts defense will have to contend with second year quarterback Mark Sanchez. In the playoffs, you look to the quarterback to lead you to victory. I think this will be a close game, and in a close game, give me the League’s Most Valuable Player rather than the League’s Most Inconsistent Star Who Isn’t Really a Star.
Jets 20 Colts 26
On Sunday, the Ravens visit the Chiefs in a game that I wouldn’t even watch if you paid me. I don’t think there is a more team as good and boring as the Ravens. Their only interesting player, Ray Lewis, is about 50 years old, and seems to have a lot more bark these days than bite. CBS really got the shaft having only this game to televise this weekend. I’ll make a pick, but I don’t care in the least.
Ravens 17 Chiefs 13 (The real losers are people who watch this game)
Wild Card weekend ends with what I believe will be the best game of the weekend. Mike Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Although the Eagles will be playing at home, the cold won’t have any effect on the Packers, which will take away some of the home field advantage.
Everyone in the world knows about Mike Vick’s story. His comeback this season has been remarkable. However, Vick has never been to a Super Bowl, and has been injured on more than one occasion this season. Vick sat out last week’s game because of injury, and there has been no word about whether he will be 100% for the Packers game on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers has to be the cockiest quarterback in the league, who has no reason to be cocky. Rodgers always seems to play with a chip on his shoulder, and argues with the officials about as well as he throws. He is a good quarterback, but it makes you wonder if he has the mental toughness to go on the road to win a playoff game.
The Packers have not had a running game all season, and I wouldn’t expect them to find one on Sunday. The Eagles have had big problems in their secondary, but without having to respect the running game of the Packers, they should be able to at least limit Rodgers ability to throw the ball. Vick is the difference in the game, because of his ability to improvise and stay out of the clutches of the Packer’s Clay Matthews.
Packers 26 Eagles 30
If the Wild Card games work out as I predict, the matchups for the Divisional Playoffs would be as follows:
AFC:
Ravens @ Patriots
Colts @ Steelers
NFC:
Saints @ Falcons
Eagles @ Bears
Who Dat guy who don’t want to play them Saints again? That would be me.
GO SEAHAWKS!
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