NFL Playoffs: What The H*** Is Going On Out There?

Ah yes, the immortal words of the great Vince Lombardi, and I too ask, “What the hell’s goin’ on out there?”

From my perspective, 'tis not the season to be a prognosticator of the football playoffs. Maybe there are those shouting that they should be heading to Vegas, but as for me, I’m glad I don’t gamble.

All indicators pointed to a New York Giant/Carolina Panther championship game and a Pittsburgh/Tennessee championship game; both rematches, and very intriguing games. Most of you who have read my columns know that I am a Viking fan, and so I sit on the sidelines wishing, hoping, and praying for 2009 to be a good one for us.

In the meantime though!

What do we make of those Arizona Cardinals? Could they be this year’s football version of the Devil Rays? It seems that every 5 years or so (Pittsburgh for SB XL, and the Ravens in SB XXXV) we get this Cinderella story, and this year the Cardinals have taken away the Eagles (the Donovan benching, having the stars align for them to even make the playoffs) Cinderella role.

The Eagles are playing some pretty good football, but after watching Carolina implode, I would have to say the Cardinals are playing pretty well also. Jake Delhomme was not wearing an eye patch, so he had both eyes available, but the Cardinals made it seem like there were 13 defenders out there.

The question this year is will there be a road team who wins the championship game and goes on to represent their conference in the Super Bowl? By all accounts most people would say the Eagles have the better chance of the two. Other than last year’s Giants, what these teams have been able to do is remarkable.

In the AFC, Pittsburgh seemed to TCB (take care of business) against a team that looked like it was overmatched. It was a complete game, and the score was not indicative of the whooping placed on the Schwarzenegger inspired “Let’s GO Chargers!” It will be interesting to see a third game between the Steel bunch and a Ravens defense that looks to be flying around as such. Tennessee left their game in the film room. Even after losing Chris Johnson, they could have kept the pressure on, but those nasty turnovers will get you every time.

You also saw how pedestrian a running back that Lendale White is. I was hoping the Titans would have won just to play Pittsburgh again. I am sure the Steelers would have had something to say about White’s stomping of the Terrible Towel a few weeks back.

Credit goes out to the Ravens; they survive, and they have a QB who reminds me of a Roethlisberger. Remember, Roethlisberger in those early years was very efficient when he needed to pass, and the result was a SB title. Could the same bode for this year’s Ravens? One thing I hope for in that game is snow; now that is January football.

Okay, having consulted the bones, spitting into a pit, and whirling 3 rotations, it is prediction time:  

NFC: Cardinals 31, Eagles 21,

AFC: Steelers 16, Ravens 10.

The way I have been picking games though, don’t be surprised to see an Eagles/Ravens SB.