NFL Championship Predictions: Can the Jets and Vikings Score Upsets?

Joe KleiberJan 24, 2010

Rex Ryan's Jets have been the "Cinderella Story" of the playoffs, and Brett Favre is gunning for his first Super Bowl title since 1996.

The problem for both teams is that they will have to go into hostile environments to win. Both teams travel to domes and the challenges can't get much bigger.

For the Jets, they have to rely on their running game and defense in order to pull off the upset. Mark Sanchez will also have to make more plays and can't make mistakes.

TOP NEWS

Peyton Manning, his counterpart, rarely makes mistakes and the Jets are going to have to hit and knock him to the ground numerous times in order to stop him. The Jets have the running game and No. 1 ranked defense, but can they slay this giant?

For the Vikings, they have to get Adrian Peterson going and hope their defense is healthy enough to stop the top scoring offense of the Saints. They need Ray Edwards to play and be effective in order to put pressure on Drew Brees.

Favre is going to have to limit his turnovers, because the Saints defense thrives on forcing mistakes. Can they stop the Saints?

AFC: New York Jets at Indianapolis

Prediction: IND 21 NYJ 17

This is going to be the Jets' toughest challenge yet.

They just took down the second-best team in the AFC, the Chargers, so they should be up for the challenge to take down the Colts.

The problem for the Jets is that this Colts team is well-rested and even better than the last time they played in Week 15. The Jets are going to have to run the ball down the throat of the Colts and keep Peyton Manning and his arsenal of weapons off the field.

The Colts rarely make mistakes and if the Jets are going to win, they are going to have to force turnovers like they did against the Bengals and Chargers.

If the Jets keep it close then they have a chance, but if they are down two scores or more, they can't overcome the Colts. This will be a great game, but the Colts are too strong right now and won't let the Jets hang around.

NFC: Minnesota at New Orleans

Prediction: NO 34 MIN 31

This will be the game of the weekend, because these were the two best teams throughout the year in the NFC. These two offenses are explosive, but something has to give.

For the Vikings, they have to run the ball more with Peterson in order to stay balanced. Favre also needs protection and can't keep getting hit or forced into bad decisions.

The Saints defense will mix things up to confuse Favre. Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been everything the defense-starved Saints had hoped for and more this year. Their defense has been resurrected under Williams and Darren Sharper is having a career season. Sharper has played with Favre in the past and can read Favre like a book.

The Saints are going to have to double-team Sidney Rice and keep him from having a big game, because the Vikings are unstoppable when Rice breaks out.

If Peterson wants to prove he didn't struggle a bit this year, then he will have to hold on to the ball and be more explosive. We have not seen the same "All Day" that we have seen in the past. Look for the Vikings to get him going early to keep Brees on the sidelines.

Brees has been a savior to the city of New Orleans both on and off the field. There has not been a more important free agent signing since Reggie White signed with the Packers.

What Brees has done for this team is remarkable. Plus, many people forget he has been here before: The Saints lost to the Bears in the NFC Championship in 2006 and he knows he can't let the Saints down now. Brees is one of the best at avoiding the blitz and the Vikings will bring everything but the kitchen sink at him.

The Saints also have another explosive player in Reggie Bush. Bush was incredible last week and showed why the Saints picked him so high in the draft. If Bush has another game like last week, the Vikings are in trouble.

The Vikings have a similar player in Percy Harvin. Harvin, who has been suffering from migraines all week, is going to have to make plays in the return game and in the receiving game in order to keep the pressure off guys like Peterson and Rice.

This will be a great game, but the Superdome is going to be rocking. And even though the Vikings are used to playing in a dome, this will be too tough to overcome. The Saints have been destined all year for Miami and will show us why today.

*For those still in fantasy playoff leagues, here are my rankings for championship weekend and for the Super Bowl.

Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees

2. Peyton Manning

3. Brett Favre

4. Mark Sanchez

Running Backs

1. Reggie Bush

2. Adrian Peterson

3. Joseph Addai

4. Shonn Greene

5. Pierre Thomas