This is it. After weeks of shockers and no surprises, it comes down to this. The conference championship games are set and there are at least two teams that didn’t think they would be here. Here’s the rundown of possibly two games that will leave the sports nation breathless.
AFC Championship
San Diego Chargers vs. New England Patriots
The Chargers are hoping that luck and faith are on their side. The last two teams to win the Super Bowl came up short the year before and the Bolts are hoping that they can pull off another upset at Gillette Stadium. The last time the Chargers were in this chilly environment they stopped the Patriots undefeated home streak. Sadly enough, that was with Marty Schottenheimer and Drew Brees...and things have changed since then.
The Patriots are looking to finish off the history-making season with a Championship, something that not even the 1972 Dolphins accomplished during their undefeated run. The Patriots looked practically unstoppable last week against the Jaguars and now they are looking at a possible showdown with either the past (Favre) or the new future (Eli) in the desert.
As much as faith has been on the side of San Diego, LT and Phillip Rivers’ injuries could play a major role in what happens on Sunday. Billy Volek earned his keep in leading the Chargers to the upset of the Super Bowl Champion Colts, but this isn’t the flip floppy champs they’re facing.
This is the New England Patriots. The Pats are ready for the AFC Championship and the Sports Gods want them in the Super Bowl.
The faith stops on Sunday in Foxboro. Despite anything that could happen, this is what will happen this Sunday. The Patriots will lay the smackdown on an injured Chargers team. San Diego will look more like a busted up, broken down Chevelle than a Hemi loaded Charger.
The Pats might as well get ready for Tempe, because not even the thought of working on a suntan in a possible snowstorm is going to keep the Patriots out of the Super Bowl. And yes, it has snowed in Arizona in February before. I checked.
Final Score: Patriots 38, Chargers 20
NFC Championship
New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers
The cold frozen tundra of Lambeau Field is once again graced with the NFC Championship Game. This will be the first conference title game in Lambeau since 1998 and Brett Favre is looking to relight a fire that hasn’t been seen in Green Bay in more than 11 years.
Let me spell it out for you.
The last time the Packers were this good they won Super Bowl XXXI, and the team that had to feel the pinch of Favre’s vicious determination was...the New England Patriots. But Randy Moss wasn’t playing for the Pats then and neither was Tom Brady. There is a sense of euphoria that is brewing here. The late, great Reggie White is smiling in heaven right now, due in large part to the fact that the Packers are better than anyone truly expected.
But don’t tell the Giants that. They’re motivated. They have two road wins in the past two weeks and they look more together than they did during the regular season. The G-Men dominated the Buccaneers and then dispatched a media crazy Cowboys team.
Not even TO’s tears could have prevented the onslaught of boos and insults hurled in Tony Romo’s direction. The question is whether the Giants have enough left in the tank to handle the imminent snowstorm that is on the horizon.
And I’m not talking about the weather.
The well-oiled machine known as the Green Bay Packers has not only history, but also motivation on its side. After months of speculation in regards to Randy Moss becoming a member of the team, as well as whether Brett Favre will retire or not, the Packers posted their best record since that Super Bowl season, clinched the NFC North division, and now can breathe a sigh of relief for not having to travel out of their element.
Eli Manning has been getting plenty of scrutiny from me as well as a few others, but he has shown that he is worth watching. Even though he didn’t play a definitive game on Sunday, he did enough to keep the Cowboys at bay.
So while Romo’s trying to play in some celebrity golf tournament, Eli has a chance to do what no quarterback since Kerry Collins has done: take the Giants to the Super Bowl. It’s too bad they have to go through Green Bay to do it.
Bottom line is Green Bay knows who will most likely be waiting for them if they make it past the NFC Championship Game. I know the Sports Gods love upsets, but if San Diego and New York duke it out in this year’s Super Bowl, I don’t think many people will watch.
A Super Bowl XXXI rematch sounds a lot better just because of the history that is behind the history. Green Bay wins this game and punches their ticket to Tempe. Hope Eli is ready for his final lesson in playoff football because it’s only going to get worse on Sunday.
Final Score: Packers 41, Giants 27
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9 months ago
Is it luck when the Chargers were labeled as "The Most Talented Football Team" in the NFL back just last year?
Is it luck when the Chargers have the leading rusher in the NFL?
Is it luck when the Chargers defense has taken the ball away from opposing offenses more so than any other team?
Just what luck are we talking about?
Who are the sport Gods? I hope that isn't the masses of the "football fans" who may switch between the game and re-runs of survivor. Please tell me how the two BEST teams in the league will play in a blowout game with snow all over the ground. In case you haven't noticed it doesn't matter if a pass is thrown deep or short the Chargers will take it away. And no, Brady doesn't have to make a mistake. All it takes is a slip in the snow here. A double move route that sends Moss sliding out of position and oops, SD has another turnover in their bag.
And if it comes down to a running attack. I take my chances with the back-to-back leading rusher in the NFL against Maroney any day. What is a bruised knee? Or even a hyper-extension? Stop riding the AP's athletic cup, and write a real analysis of a football game.
from 9 months ago
Yes
Yes
Yes
See the previous three questions.
Any playoff win with Norv Turner captaining the ship is luck. If they beat the Patriots, it will be luck. If they win the Super Bowl, it will be ridiculous luck.
from 8 months ago
A man who goes around bashing everyone with lots of opinions and no facts is one that deserves the disrespect he is getting. As far as Sports Gods are concerned, they are those "higher beings" that give us something to rant about, talk about, laugh about, cry about, and in some cases, bitch about. Hence the issue here. Despite his worse game, LT was useless and Philip Rivers earned everyone's respect, including mine. Just too bad they couldn't get into that endzone of death, though.
9 months ago
Lt maybe the leagues best runner . But Brady is the best Q.B and moss is the best receiver, and welker is the best slot receiver. oh lets not forget the pats have the best o-line. And all those take aways you are talking abut . the chargers have played 1 more game than New England and only have 6 more take aways then the pats. How ever the pats have like 40 more touch downs than the chargers . i was just setting the record straight . and that being said if the chargers shut up for once it will be a good game , but that maybe to much to ask cause the never stop talking . and the last thing anyone wants to do is piss of a giant like New England
9 months ago
Wow...so many Charger haters. Now for real any sensible sports fan with any knowledge of the game putting all team associations aside would have to admit the Chargers have talent. Like I'll admit the Patriots are the best team in football right now (see I'm not so myopic as to admit a truth) I assume you think we got lucky that the officials tried to take away the win against the Colts, that game shouldn't have been that close and you know it. I have also got to say Randy and Wes are great at what they do but the best? No way, upper echelon but not the best. The Pats have the best system, QB and O-line. All the other positions are full of very solid position players that know there role and don't forget it. I admire that in a team. I don't admire most Pats fans though just too blind, must be the cold affecting straight thinking.
9 months ago
i did not bash the charger's .I am a die hard pats fan and i said i think it will be a good game.
But i am sick of L.T and everyone else on the team that must for god knows why has to shoot there mouth off.
Yes they are a good team but man they should quit telling everyone. And no i do not think it was luck they beat the colt's . but i also do not think they will beat the Pat's . a good team does not have to tell everyone else how good they are.
9 months ago
This week's picks are relatively clear-cut.
9 months ago
Listen, I don't like the Pats at all. I'm a Dolphins fan. Dolphins, Jets, and Bills fans hate the Pats and everyone in that division hates everyone. In fact, it's probably the most rivalry ridden conference in the NFL. However, you gotta give it up to the Pats. There's just no chance for the Bolts on Sunday. You have to ask yourself one question:
What makes you think the Chargers (or any team, no disrespect for the Chargers) have ANY chance of beating the Pats, AT HOME, THIS YEAR? There is a very strong reason why the Pats are 17-0. With that being said, there's a lot more riding on the line for the Pats than the Bolts.
I'm not a huge fan of predictions but I'm gonna say Pats win by at least 2 TDs.
9 months ago
Reported in the TV Guide online:
Green Bay TV Station Sacks Eli Manning's Seinfeld
Seinfeld courtesy SonyIn an amusing if ultimately inconsequential bid to throw Eli Manning off his game, Green Bay, Wisconsin, affiliate WLUK-TV has canceled a rerun of Seinfeld (the Giants QB's favorite program) slated to air Saturday at 5:30 pm. The purpose is to deprive Manning, who at that time would be in his hotel room relaxing before Sunday's NFC Championship game, of the smallest pleasure — not that there's anything wrong with that. — Matt Mitovich
9 months ago
Sean, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but...
those questions were rhetorical in nature. Your responses are invalid and lack any evidence of any truths. If you're going to give hypothetical answers to rhetorical questions than at least give hypothetical scenarios to back them.
I appreciate the game of football enough to ignore the soap-opera antics that the media attempts to force down my throat.
I like Brady.
I like the Patriots.
I've been a Chargers fan since being a vendor in good ol' Jack Murphy stadium as a teenager. If it weren't for the Chargers being in this game, I'd wear my Moss jersey this weekend. Fortunately, I have to decide between navy blue and gold or Powder blues.
My tangent is against the lack of analysis given to the match-up. The source of EVERYONE's analysis comes from the associated press, not from breaking down the game; and I don't mean looking up statistics.
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