AFC and NFC Championship Games

I cannot believe we are already here at championship weekend. This season has flew by faster than any season for me. After these two games comes a dead week, then a week with too much coverage. It is depressing that we only have three football games left in the year.

My playoff picks have sucked. I have underestimated the Jets defense, I still cannot believe an offense that scared of its quarterback can win in today's NFL, but Revis could just be that good. I overrated Philip Rivers. I underrated the level to which the Vikings can play at home.

One quick Packer note, and a reason why I think the future is so bright for Green Bay. As a Packer fan, you have to love the character and fight the Packers showed in the Arizona game. So many of these playoff games have been blowouts when the home team has gotten out to a quick lead, the Packers were the only team to put up a fight. That showed me that the Packers have the mental toughness and talent to do special things in this league.

AFC Championship

Jets
Colts -8

At this point what the Jets have been able to do cannot be ignored, finding a way to get a win at the Chargers when I thought they were the best team was impressive. The Jets will run the ball until they absolutely cannot anymore. Meaning, they will run until they get down by two scores, which they have not. How can a team this offensively challenged not get at least one bad break against it to get down by ten? All it takes is a fumble, a special teams breakdown, something and you can be down 10 points. The same could have been said about the Pats back in 2001.

One of the biggest problems I see for the Jets in this game is Rex Ryan versus Peyton Manning. You could argue that the best defensive mind in football belongs to Ryan, whose exotic blitzes and schemes create headaches for opposing QBs and offenses. You could also argue that Peyton Manning is the greatest offensive mind in football, nothing fools him, he always can find a tell. This matchup is the game in my mind.

The Jets will try to run at Freeney and Mathis, every team has. The Jets will be able to get some first downs but have to settle for FGs in the red zone because they will be afraid to pass and the zones will shrink in the red zone. On defense the Colts wait for teams to screw up, and so many teams do screw up on 10 play drives. On Offense Peyton will identify the blitzes, get into a better protection, and hit his hot read.

The game will come down to the Colts getting touchdowns while the Jets get field goals. Ryan will get to Manning more than any other team has this season. But when you have a great defensive mind going against a great offensive mind, I will go with the guy that can actually make plays due to being in the game and that is Manning. Since Manning will have the ball in his hand he will always be able to make the last adjustment.

Colts win, Jets cover. 21-16.


NFC Championship

Viking
New Orleans -3.5

I hate to be too simple with my pick, but whoever was home in this game will win. These two teams are so much different at home. The pass rush for the Vikings is insane at the Metrodome when the offense has to go to a silent count. I am not sure any team in the last 10 years could beat this Minnesota team at home, maybe the Pats from a couple years ago. The Vikings engulfed Dallas, and they did it with mostly a four man rush. The Viking secondary is weak, but when you can drop seven and still get to the passer that really helps. One underrated item with Minnesota is the ability of Leber and Greenway to cover as LBs. These are two of the better cover LBs in football.

Problem is, this game is in New Orleans. Minnesota will lose that big edge it gets from being at home. They will not be able to get to Brees quickly with 4 rushers, meaning either they will start blitzing or Brees will have time. Both scenarios are bad for Minnesota as the matchup of the Saints WRs and Viking's DBs is a bad one. It may be the biggest matchup problem in the entire game for either side.

Favre will make some plays, but I see some struggles with the Vikings OLine in the Super Dome. If this game was played at Minnesota or on a neutral field I would go with the Vikings.

Saints 28-24