Playoffs?! Playoffs?! Don’t Talk to me about Playoffs! Playoffs already?!?! (NFC edition)

When it comes to the NFC side of the playoffs I really wish none of these match-ups were happening. Eagles vs. Packers is a matchup I’d much rather see in later rounds as both teams have the potential to go deep in the playoffs. On the other hand, Saints vs. Seahawks features the first sub .500 team in the playoffs and I really wish that wasn’t happening, especially since they happen to be playing the defending Superbowl champs. Anyway, here’s the breakdown of these games:

New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks

Usually I break down the individual matchups but I’m going to save time here: there’s no way the Seahawks beat the Saints. Despite the facts that the Saints are not as strong a teams as they were last year, they should be able to easily defeat a team that is ranked 28th offensively and 27th defensively. In fact, a quick Google search of the matchup reveals that the only reason people think that Seattle could win this game is because the last Superbowl winners to win a playoff game were the 2005 Patriots.

My Prediction: The Saints take this one and talks of a repeat title will begin. Final Score: 35-7.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Offense vs. Philadelphia Defense

Most people expect this game to be an offensive showdown and for once I’m inclined to agree. The Packers offense has been clicking despite the fact that they lack a quality running game. While their passing game is led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers and is ranked 5th in league, their running game is ranked 24th in the league and alternates between competent and dreadful. The Eagles defense is filled with a bunch of no names yet have managed to stay competent. Can their defense oppose a high powered offensive team? That question is yet to be determined. Their defense is ranked 15th against the run and 14th against the pass with their defense being ranked 12th overall. Basically this matchup will come down to two squads that can either play great or dreadful. If Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jenning hit their stride and the running game is competent, the Packers could win this matchup. However if the Eagles defense steps up and makes the Packers work for their points, similar to how Chicago played last week, the Eagles could win this matchup. Because of these facts I’m calling this a tie.

Philadelphia Offense vs. Green Bay Defense

Michael Vick got his first significant playing time almost leading the Eagles to a comeback victory over the Packers after starting QB Kevin Kolb was knocked out of the game. Since that time Michael Vick has been up for MVP, DeSean Jackson has been phenomenal and Jeremy Maclin has been deadly all year. In addition LeSean McCoy has been explosive all season and can be tough for a defense to contain if they forget to plan for him. It’ll be interesting to watch the league’s #2 offense go up against the #5 defense. The Packers D has been great led by Clay Matthews. Add in BJ Raiji, AJ Hawk, and Charles Woodson and it’s a matchup that any football fan would love. The real difference could be momentum. The Packers have won their last two games to get into the playoffs. In addition they almost beat the Patriots without Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile the Eagles have lost their last two games and rumors have surfaced that Vick could be benched because he can’t recognize the blitz. Despite this I think the Eagles offense will click again in the playoffs and the Eagles offense will win this matchup.

My Prediction: This will be a close game but Vick will hit his stride and the Eagles will win in a close one. Final Score: 35-31

Playoffs?! Playoffs?! Don’t Talk to me about Playoffs! Playoffs already?!?! (AFC edition)

Guess what people? This Sunday marked the last week of the regular NFL season. With that the playoffs are now finalized and the predictions can begin! On the AFC side we have an intriguing matchup in the Chiefs vs. Ravens game and a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game in the Jets vs. Colts game. Here’s my breakdown and predictions for the two games:

New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts

Colts Offense vs. Jets Defense

In a way I could have written the same post in this section without finding out if the Colts were playing the Ravens or the Jets. Because Rex Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens before becoming the head coach of the New York Jets, both teams play a similar style of defense. The personnel might be different but the schemes are the same. That’s good news if you’re a Colts fan because Manning has been able to pick apart these defenses with inhuman precision in the past. Despite this it’s still going to be an intriguing matchup and there are still a few questions whose answers will likely decide the game. Will Manning still be able to operate with so many weapons missing? We know he can beat teams like the Jaguars, Raiders, and Titans but can he keep in form against a defense like the Jets with so many key people missing? Will Rex Ryan change things on defense? Let’s face it unless you constantly mix things up against the Colts, Manning will find the mismatches and burn your defense. The answers to these questions will decide the game but for now I’m giving the advantage to the Colts.

Jets Offense vs. Colts Defense

This is a tough matchup to predict, especially because the winner of this matchup will most likely win the game. For all the talk about Mark Sanchez and the Jets passing game, their running game is where their real strength lies and so it comes down to the same factor that the Colts Defense always seems to face: If the Colts stop the run they’ll likely win the game, if they don’t they won’t. Simple as that. That’s not to say that the Jets passing game is not dangerous, it’s just that they’re ranked 22nd in the league while the Colts are ranked 13th in pass defense. Most of this is because of the pressure that ProBowlers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis bring on the outside that forces opposing quarterbacks into hurrying their throws and making mistakes. If they can rattle Mark Sanchez the Colts should be able to effectively shut down the Jets’ inconsistent passing attack. With a matchup this close, I’ll call it a tie. Either team could pull this one out. I am saying that whoever wins this matchup wins the game.

My Prediction: I say the Colts win this in a nailbiter. Final score: 27-24

Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Baltimore Offense vs. Kansas City Defense

Does anyone know a player on the Kansas City Defense? I honestly had to go look at their roster before breaking down this matchup! This matchup is more a matter of both teams making sure they play solid consistent ball. The Chiefs feature a solid but average defense, they’re ranked 14th in the NFL. The Ravens offense on the other hand is ranked 22nd. They have a good running game led by Ray Rice, but their passing game has been a disappointment. Don’t count them out though, they can still make a big play in the air. In this matchup I give the advantage to the Ravens, but just slightly. While they statistically have a worse offense than the Chiefs’ defense, I think their experience in the playoffs will allow them to win this matchup.

Kansas City Offense vs. Baltimore Defense

This matchup is the one that everyone will want to see. The Chiefs have the #1 rushing attack in the league, led by Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles. Their passing game is their big weakness, they have one of the worst passing games in the league. However, like the Ravens, you can’t count these guys out. They still have Pro Bowl receiver Dwayne Bowe in addition to receiver Chris Chambers and the inconsistent yet capable Matt Cassel. Facing this offense will be a defense that needs no introduction, the Baltimore Ravens usually have one of, if not the, best defenses in the league. With four Pro Bowlers, including Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed, the Ravens defense is always a tough matchup. Surprisingly they matchup with the Chiefs in an alarming fashion: Their defense is the 5th best run defense while being one of the worst pass defenses in the league. This matchup will be close and will be interesting to watch. I think that despite the Chiefs excellent offense, the Ravens D will end up winning this matchup.

My Prediction: This is a hard prediction for me but I think the Ravens end up winning this game. Final Score: 21-17

Welcome to… Randomness!

Unlike previous random news posts, this post will be small snippets of information and opinions that are too small to warrant a post of their own. So without further ado:

• The Oscars were last night and basically we can take this away: As long as your film features average acting and a realistic plot, you’ll win big. Avatar won for its visuals and art but besides that they were shut out. Up won best animated feature, which gives Pixar their second Oscar in a row.
• The Iron Man 2 trailer debuted and the only thing I can say is WOW! It looks like this film will be really big!
• Speaking of Iron Man, has anyone noticed that Marvel has a lot of red-headed girlfriends? I think Stan Lee must have liked red hair. There’s Mary Jane (Spider-Man’s gf), Jean Gray (Cyclops’ gf), the Black Widow, and Pepper Potts. (Both are in Iron Man) Of course you could also make the case that he liked blondes too. There’s Karen Page (Daredevil’s one time gf), Susan Storm (Mr. Fantastic’s wife), Gwen Stacy(Spider-Man’s first gf), and Agent 13 (Captain America’s gf).
• Rush Limbaugh’s New York Penthouse is on sale for $13.95 million. If you haven’t seen the pictures go take a look. I can’t tell whether it’s neat, wasteful, or just plain over the top.
• Yahoo news blog has a post about President Obama making the same mistakes as Bush.  It’s a good post that deserves a read. I only wonder, why is it that the last two presidents made the same mistakes?
• The Cincinnati Bengals are in talks with Terrell Owens. All I can say is that even if Ochocinco and Owens don’t produce results on the field, the off the field antics would be awesome!
• A new study has concluded that men become more accident prone in the presence of a beautiful woman. Basically a male’s testosterone levels go up which leads to a reduced sense of caution which in turn leads to more spectacular feats as well as more accidents. All of a sudden cheerleaders at sporting events make a lot more sense!(Note: Not that cheerleaders don’t keep spirits high, but in a huge college or professional stadium you can’t see them unless you’re on the field or on the bench)

Hahaha! The teams that deserved to lose!

Now I’m not going to take this time to brag that I called both championship games exactly right even though I want to. (HAHAHA! I called them both exactly right!!!) Ok there! Now that that’s out of my system let me tell you why both the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings deserved to lose.

New York Jets. Yes they had an amazing Cinderella run. Still when you’re going up against the number one team in the league, the last thing you want to do is shoot your mouth off. Despite the fact that opposing kickers were 0-6 against them, and yes kickers are very important in playoff games, you had Rex Ryan saying they’d be “shocked” if they lost, Kerry Rhodes saying that Manning is easily flustered, and (although not a part of the Jets staff) Bengals Defensive coordinator was quoted in the NY Daily News as saying that “If the Colts are leading 12-9 in the fourth quarter they’re going to get frustrated.” Add that to the fact that some Jets players were arguing that they won the Dec. 27 match up fair and square, and you’re asking for trouble. The Jets are a good team, a little maturity could have gone a long way.

Minnesota Vikings: This one is a little harder to say that the team deserved it. So I’ll boil this down: Brett Farve and Brad Childress deserved to lose this game. I love Adrian Peterson, I think Sidney Rice will be a very good player, Percy Harvin is an absolute joy to watch, and I doubt you could find a defense that is better than the Vikings. However Brett Favre doesn’t deserve a shot at the Super Bowl for several reasons. 1. For his annoying drama queen like performances every off-season. 2. For his deliberate flaunting of NFL rules: he wanted to go to the Vikings so he was going, forget about everything else. 3. For his annoying ability to upstage a coach and take complete control of a team. 4. For almost making the team center around him.  5. For his insistence to try to be the hero (and as we saw in the game, that didn’t work so well.) 6. For his inability to see past the game of football and move on with his life. Another reason is the way that the media just swoons in his presence. He might be one of the best of our time but please, show some dignity media! Childress on the other hand deserves this loss for some minor reasons. 1. For his willingness to let Brett Favre run his team. For those of you who don’t remember, Favre refused to let himself be benched during a game where Favre was playing horribly! No coach should take that from a player yet Childress did. 2. For his groveling at the feet of Brett Favre. Again for those of you who have forgotten, Childress BEGGED Favre to come to the Vikings and gave up anything and everything that he could to make that a possibility.

Now I know that fans of these teams (and of Brett Favre, whose fan base is larger than that of many teams) will hate me for this, but argue with the facts and you’ll see that the deserving teams are in the Super Bowl. Now may the best team win!

Pro Bowl or Pro Boring?

For the first time the NFL Pro Bowl will be held at the same location as the Super Bowl and will be a week before the Super Bowl. Now the Pro Bowl suffers from a complete lack of interest in the game. Yes all the All-Stars playing together is cool, but it’s not that interesting as the game is not designed to be competitive and people understand that. However this move in just a disaster. See the Pro Bowl had a few things going for it and this move to generate interest has taken away everything that made the Pro Bowl worth watching.

The Pro Bowl was the last NFL game of the season as well as the last real sports game till March Madness. Let’s face it, part of the reason people watched it was because this was the end. The grand finale. Even if the game stunk it was still football for those who love the sport and it was still sports for those who love athletic competition. By eliminating this most of the reason to watch the Pro Bowl is lost.

It was the last chance to watch marquee players play for the fun of the game. In addition it was a chance to watch football in the unique Hawaiian atmosphere. Really watching the fun that the players were having was also part of the fun. The whole Hawaiian atmosphere made the game seem similar to a game of football in the backyard with your best friends. Now the only players there are those who are not injured (Say hello to Vince Young and Matt Schaub as Pro Bowl QBs!) and not in the Super Bowl. Not only that but it makes the value of being a Pro Bowler diminish.

All the great stories that came out of the event. Who’ll ever forget the stories about Peyton Manning and Bill Belichick talking about football for hours while trying their best to not give anything away about their teams? Or the stories about how Peyton Manning would try to get young defensive players drunk so that they would reveal things about their defense? Stories like this made the thing feel like a giant exclusive party. Now, with so many players missing the Pro Bowl, the same anticipation is non-existent. Basically the NFL replaced the party with a bland imitation.

So in the end this is a huge mistake. If it’s a one year experiment then ok, the result is that it failed. Besides there’s always the weather to consider. Sure a Pro Bowl in Miami is not too much different from Hawaii but what about 2012 when it will come to Indianapolis? You think the snow and the cold will make the game feel the same as Honolulu? I doubt it. If Roger Goodell knows what he’s doing, he’ll move the Pro Bowl back to Hawaii.

Wow! Was I totally wrong or what Part 2

Well we’re going to move on to the NFC side of the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings. All I can say is Wow! Have you ever seen two teams meet after completely blowing out their opponents? This one has all the makings of a good game. #1 vs. #2? Check. High powered offenses on both teams? Check. Good Defenses? Check. Keep reading as I break down the game.

Saints Offense vs. Vikings Defense. The battle here will be fought on two fronts.(Yes it’s cliche’, sue me.) The first will be how the Saints O-line stands up to the Vikings pass rush. Led by Jared Allen, Pat Williams, and Kevin Williams, this Vikings Defense is a strong unit. While it’s doubtful that they will be able to completely neutralize almost-MVP Drew Brees, their ability to rattle him will be key to this game. The other front is Brees vs. the Vikings secondary. Brees has been defeating deadly defenses with ease this season.(Points for alliteration!) If he can succeed in forcing the Vikings to devote extra attention to covering his receivers, the Saints have a good chance of winning. The wild card will be Reggie Bush. Last week, he played the best game of his career. If he has another good game, the Saints Offense could carry them to the Super Bowl.

Vikings Offense vs. Saints Defense. Brett Farve. Percy Harvin. Adrian Peterson. Sidney Rice. The Vikings offense is arguably one of the best offenses in the league. In my opinion, the Saints Defense can’t stop them, just contain them. Like before, one of the keys will be getting to Brett Farve. It’s been shown that the more he gets hit, the worse he plays. While the Saints pass rush is not that impressive, they have good players spread throughout their defense. However the Saints Defense will have to play their best game of the season if they want to slow down the Vikings.

So the final outcome of the game? I predict that the Saints will win this one. It’s going to be close, but I think that the Saints will be able to pull through simply because they’ve been here before and lost. The veteran players and coaches won’t let that happen again.

Wow, was I wrong or what? Part 1

What a week in the NFL! So basically this week goes to show that 1. The playoffs are a new beast and are very unpredictable. 2. Other than the Colts, I know little about the other teams! (Ok, maybe not the 2nd one but it is a little disappointing) I know that it’s early but as of now, here are my AFC picks for next week:

New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts. The last time these two teams faced it was a game that was heavily talked about, not because of the actual game, but because Coach Jim Caldwell decided to sit his starters and blow the Colts chance at a perfect season. This time around a shot at the Super Bowl is on the line.  So let’s break this one down a little further.

Colts Offense vs. Jets Defense. No one can ever count out the Colts offense. Led by Peyton Manning, this group knows what it takes to get a win. However, the Colts running game is very weak. They’re ranked dead last in the league. Their running game is just a front that allows them to set up a play-action. To beat the Jets, their running game has to become more of a threat. The Jets boast the leagues’ #1 ranked defense. Led by the shutdown corner Darelle Revis and the brilliant defense mind of coach Rex Ryan, the Jets will be one foe that the Colts will have to work hard to beat. Still I give the Colts the slight edge here. Manning is one of the smartest quarterbacks and the Colts have too many weapons for the Jets to contain.

Jets Offense vs. Colts Defense. Mark Sanchez is a good quarterback and he has some good receivers. The Jets also boast a good running game. Unfortunately for him, the Colts played a team that had a similar offensive style. If the Colts play the way they did against the Ravens, the Jets Offense will be derailed.

So my pick is that the Colts will win this one. It won’t be quite so easy as the game last week but expect the Colts to see their second Miami Super Bowl.

Predictions, predictions, predictions

Well let’s see. I’ve done a movie review, talked about a comic-book related movie, dabbled in what could pass as politics, I guess that leaves sports that I have yet to talk about.  So in this post I’ll be talking about the NFL playoffs and my predictions about the games ahead.

Before I go there, I’d like to take a quick timeout(see the sports theme here?) and say that I am incredibly saddened by the devastating effect of the earthquake in Haiti. The images coming from that country are truly heartbreaking. I urge you all to pray for them and donate money if you can. That said I’m not going to talk extensively about it because every other blog and news organization are doing a great job of covering the story. I don’t think anyone expects me to say anything new and the only thing I could do is say something incredibly stupid a la Pat Robertson. (If you haven’t heard his comments on why Haiti was struck by an earthquake, don’t. It’s painful)

Anyway, (I’m doing a fantastic job of staying on topic) the most interesting match up on Sunday will be the red-hot Baltimore Ravens vs. the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are known for their offense which is led by Peyton Manning. Against them is the perfect ying to their yang, the Baltimore Defense, led by Ray Lewis. This match up is always an interesting one. The real difference in this game will be the Baltimore offense against the Indy D. Joe Flacco is hurt which means that they will probably be relying heavily on the legs of their Running backs. Indy’s ability to stop the run has always been their Achilles’ heel. They will need to have a good game if they want to beat the Ravens. That said I predict that the Colts will win in a nail biter.

The other matchups are:

The Dallas Cowboys vs. the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings seem like the smart choice. With Percy Harvin, Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, and Bret Favre, they seem like the obvious choice. The Vikings have sent more players to the Pro Bowl this year than any other team. Still anyone who watched Dallas play knows that this team is for real. Not only did they beat the Eagles 3 times, they also ended New Orleans bid for a perfect season. It’s going to be a good game, but I’m picking the Cowboys.

The Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are under a lot of pressure. They have not played well their last couple games and enter the playoffs with no momentum. Of course that’s not everything, but you can’t deny that it’s important. The Cardinals are playing like the team to beat. Their game against the Packers was incredibly entertaining. Still I’m worried that game may have taken too much out of them. I’m going to say that the Cardinals will win, but I’m not counting out the Saints. (See how I chose both to be safe? I really have no idea but I have to pick one!)

Finally it’s the San Diego Chargers vs. The New York Jets. Two words: Chargers win.

As always comments are welcome. I realize this post is long and I’m sorry, I just get carried away when if comes to predictions.