Predicted Super Bowl Matchup Ain't Bad

To understand the future, one must understand the past.

With that in mind, I now revisit my September prediction of how the NFL season would pan out. I picked eight of the 12 playoff teams, but didn’t get a single seeding right. I also had the Steelers as the AFC’s top seed and the Saints and Vikes out of the playoffs.

There’s always next year, and here’s my “do-over” prediction.

Wild Card Weekend

Bengals 28, Jets 27

Cowboys 20, Eagles 3

Ravens 21, Patriots 20

Cardinals 34, Packers 28

The Bengals should shake off there narcoleptic outing in Jersey and advance.

Tony Romo, having exorcised his December demons, will now bring Cowboys owner Jerry Jones some January Joy.

I don’t know why I’m picking Baltimore other than the injury to Wes Welker and how that may affect Tom Brady’s performance.

The Cardinals will now show Green Bay the REAL game plan, and it’ll keep the Pack off balance.

Divisional Playoffs

Colts 23, Ravens 17

Saints 51, Cardinals 27

Cowboys 17, Vikings 10

Chargers 34, Bengals 13

Peyton Manning is on fire, and while the Ravens may get to him, he’ll make enough plays to win.

While tackling won’t occur often at the Superdome, the Saints will do slightly more of it.

Adrian Peterson’s touchdowns are up, but his yards per carry are down. Woe to him and the aging Brett Favre against an unhappy Dallas defense.

The Chargers are too focused to get beaten while holding such a large talent advantage.

Championship Sunday

Chargers 27, Colts 24

Saints 37, Cowboys 20

The Chargers match up well against the Colts. San Diego has a slight advantage on defense, and Darren Sproles will be the difference maker.

I’m tempted to pick the Cowboys in the NFC game, but the defense can’t overcome Drew Brees, the rabid Superdome fans, and the pressure for revenge on the team that answered the question “Who dat?”

Super Bowl XLIV

New Orleans Saints 24

San Diego Chargers 31

I don’t know when it happened, but suddenly, LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t the center of the Chargers’ offense. The team still has a chance against just about anybody, whether LT plays or not.  But I suspect he will. However, he won’t be the workhorse. His contributions will be combined with those of Sproles and Shawne Merriman.