AFC and NFC Championship Predictions: The Patriots Fans' Perspective

Well, we Patriots fans could barely stop now, right?  The AFC and NFC Championships are upon us, and while we lick our wounds, we still have a little life left in us.  That’s because we are like the Patriots, resilient in the face of adversity.

This week you have your old favorite  Grandpa Glenn Card , your other old favorite, yours truly, and your not-so-old favorite  Enigmatic EA .

Mr. Sexy Steve Firth went AWOL this week and Mr. Terrible TR is toiling away somewhere and unavailable. 

But you really wanted to hear from we three anyway, right?

So without further verbosity on my part, let’s get down to it.  Here are our picks for the championship games.

AFC: New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts

EA: Damn. I guess to retain the small, small shred of credibility I have left to talk on this subject, I must admit I was 100% WRONG about the New York Jets. Their running game is outstanding. All year long I would readily admit that they have the best corner in the league (Darrelle Revis), a hell of a pass rush, and an outstanding, explosive running game. Unlike the rest of us, these guys believe in themselves, and that kind of attitude goes a long way when you have an immensely talented core.

Still, their wide receivers don't impress me, nor does Mark Sanchez. All year long he was able to lose very winnable games for the Jets because of the stupid mistakes he made (i.e. 20 interceptions). Because of Sanchez and their mediocre receivers, it became easy to pick against the Jets, because it seemed as easy as stacking eight in the box and shutting down the run, and bam, the Jets lose.

But that didn't happen. The Chargers didn't know what the hell they were doing last Sunday, so they not only got run all over on by Shonn Greene, but Mark Sanchez had plenty of time in the pocket, found plenty of open receivers, and in turn, led the Jets to a win, albeit a fluke.

Still, the Jets are set up perfectly to beat the Colts. They can run anywhere they want.  They run enough to be able to open up passing routes for Sanchez for those inevitable 15 passing attempts he'll make. Revis can probably shut down Reggie Wayne on his own, but judging by how Antonio Gates was handled last week (8 catches, 93 yards), they'll need to get all over Dallas Clark, which I'm not so sure they can do while also watching Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie. If they aren't careful, even Joe Addai could be a big factor in this game.

In the end, I have to pick the Colts for this one. The Jets are admittedly one of the best teams in the league right now, and for the first time of the playoffs, I'm really not going to be surprised at all if they win. It's just that I feel that they will be spread out too thin on defense to be as effective as normal. Indy in a tight one.

GC:  Despite some annoying Jets fans, I did take another look at their team. Why shouldn't they be favored in every outing to the Super Bowl?  They have a solid offensive running game and a rookie quarterback that is doing well in managing the game and limiting his tendency to do damage. The Jets defense has been stout all year long. If the Jets defense can keep it close there is a chance they could go to the big show. 

The Colts, on the other hand, have been able to win those close games, and the games they didn't win happened when they pulled their starters at the end of the season. As much as I hate to, I have to pick the Colts to win this game.

DB:   Last week, I didn’t think the Jets had a prayer of beating San Diego in San Diego.  The Chargers were the hottest team going into the playoffs but fell as flat as doughy pancake run over by steamroller.  The Colts, on the other hand, didn’t exactly look like world beaters against the Ravens. They did play great defense, and Baltimore just could not get anything done.

The Jets are a team that is built to beat the Colts.  They have a good running game, a very good offensive line, and can run the ball on the Colts.  And they have the No. 1 defense in the league.  Cornerback Darrelle Revis has already proven he can take the Colts' best receiver, Reggie Wayne, out of the game.  And I said the same thing when they beat the Colts earlier in the season, albeit with most of the Colts starters sitting on the bench in the second half.

And that’s the rub.  The Jets were losing before backup quarterback Curtis Painter, the rookie from Purdue, stepped in and looked lost, giving the game away to the Jets.  Despite their great defense and good running game, at some point against an offense as potent as the Colts, they are going to have to get the ball down the field occasionally.  Frankly, they have not shown the ability to do that this year. 

With that weakness and Peyton Manning in the lineup the entire game, I think the Colts are on their way to the Super Bowl.  Indianapolis Colts.

NFC:  Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

EA: Brett Favre is almost unstoppable in a dome. Guess what we're playing this one in? The Saints are great, and their fans will be making plenty of noise, but New Orleans has plenty of holes in their defense that Favre can and WILL expose in this one. Vikings win in a classic shootout.

And here's your Super Bowl: Indianapolis Colts v. Minnesota Vikings.

GC:   I have to give the Minnesota Vikings a lot of credit. I'd like to pick the Vikings to win because it truly would be a storybook ending to Brett Favre's career. The team from the "Big Easy," the Saints have been making it look pretty easy all season long. Honestly, their last outing was just a tune-up for the rest of their postseason run.  The Saints win and get a ticket to the "Big Show."

DB:   This game should be wildly entertaining.  I hope it is as entertaining as the game that they played last year in the regular season that the Vikings barely won. 

The Vikings and the Saints have great, great offenses.  I think they are almost equal in offensive potency.  Drew Brees probably has more weapons in the passing game, and they have the X factor in Reggie Bush, who turned it on last week. 

Favre will either throw six interceptions or six touchdown passes.  He has a tendency to melt down in the playoffs.  But I am leaning toward a great game by Favre.  He has played very controlled and less reckless than in the past.  And he has two good running backs behind him.

Both defenses have been very solid this year (although the Saints had a down period because of injuries).

I have a very hard time choosing who is going to win this game.  The Saints are at home with what will definitely be a loud, raucous crowd.  But guess what?  I think the Vikings' defense is the key to the game.  They simply are better than the Saints' defense.  Their defensive ends, Ray Edwards and Jared Allen, could really exploit the Saints tackles, who, frankly, are not that great.

My gut tells me the Vikings are going to pull this one out in a wild one.  And that is who I am going with.  Minnesota Vikings.

So there you have it, EA and I predict a Minnesota Vikings versus Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl, with Glenn leaning toward the Saints and Colts.  Tune in next week to see who will really win the Super Bowl.