Here's the Conference Championship Edition of the End Zone!!1. Did the Ravens lose the game or did the Steelers win it?
KDC: I can’t imagine any playoff team will have a longer off-season than Baltimore, not even New England. Not to take anything away from the Steelers who came out in the second half as if they hadn’t done everything in their power to give this game away, because they played like champs, but . . . How many different ways did Baltimore lose this thing? Two big receivers drop balls to their chests, Flacco threw an awful rookie interception, the play-calling on the last drive was atrocious (a bomb on 2nd-and-10? Really? Why not make 6-8 yards on 2nd down and keep the initiative? Instead, they blew the bomb and the Steelers went into super blitzes for the last 2 downs.), the list goes on.
New England was outplayed. Baltimore wasn’t—they just played like a wild card team and everyone thought they were better than that.
Momo: The Ravens lost that game. So many dropped balls and missed opportunities b the Ravens. I found it interesting that Ravens gave the Rams Mark Clayton, who did get injured, for T.J Housmanzadeh, who dropped a ton of passes, including the critical on the failed final drive. The Ravens cannot blame Flacco for this year’s failure.
2. Jets backed up their talk with a huge win against the Pats. Surprised?KDC: Shocked actually. New England had won 8 in a row (granted some weren’t all that impressive, but they were still wins), it was at home and usually the guys who mouth off the most don’t live through the game. Not this time. Rex Ryan is a force to be reckoned with.
Plus, Tom Brady was exposed as not quite the instant HOFer he’s been made out to be. Turns out if you can create a 4-man rush on him, he just can’t produce (again). The Giants did it to him in the Super Bowl and the Jets proved it true again. Champions create plays. He didn’t.
Momo: I’m surprised on how the Pats have manhandled the Pats in Foxborough, not surprised that they won. The Pats had receivers that were 5’8 and shorter. That past formula is not going to work today. The Jets were tougher and played harder than the Pats. Belicheck has a problem because his teams last three playoff losses have shown how vulnerable his team really is. Small and soft.
3. Your picks for the Super Bowl are and why:
Green Bay vs. Chicago—
KDC: So the Packers are my team, so I’ve got to pick them. Aaron Rodgers got all the press, but the Packer D is becoming something special. They do everything right, not because they’re all Pro Bowlers, but because they trust each other and rarely blow assignments. Seriously, who’s their defensive MVP—Clay Matthews? Charles Woodson? A. J. Hawk? Tramon Williams? All I’ll say is Chicago is good enough to beat them, but probably won’t. Starks needs to be more impressive than he was against Atlanta to keep Bears defense honest.
Momo: I want to go with the Packers because of how well they are playing on both sides of the ball. The Packers have found somewhat of a running game with Starks in the backfield, and Aaron Rodgers is on fire in the passing game. The one X-factor is Devin Hester. If the Pack kick to him, they will be in trouble. Hester has burned them numerous times. Robbie Gould is a solid kicker in Soldier field. My gut says to go with the Pack because in the end Jay Cutler will probably throw an untimely interception. Packers by 6
New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh—
KDC: As unlikely as it sounds, I’m going to pick the Jets. Frankly, my logic believes it’ll be the Steelers, but the Jets have a wily toughness that can’t be underestimated. The comparisons to the 76 Raiders is apt and accurate. Not sure how they’ll do it, but I think they will.
Momo: This game is a pure pick’em. All the love these two teams are showing each other is ridiculous. I know there is mutual respect but at least pick some of the trash talking up. The Jets barely escaped the Steelers a few weeks ago. I don’t think they can go into Pittsburgh and beat them twice. Polamula is back as well as Heath Miller. I think the Jets used up all their emotion the past two weeks. Plus I don’t trust the Jets kicker, Nick Folk in the swirling winds of Heinz field. Special teams will play a big role in both of these games. Steelers by 3.
Green Bay vs. Chicago—
KDC: So the Packers are my team, so I’ve got to pick them. Aaron Rodgers got all the press, but the Packer D is becoming something special. They do everything right, not because they’re all Pro Bowlers, but because they trust each other and rarely blow assignments. Seriously, who’s their defensive MVP—Clay Matthews? Charles Woodson? A. J. Hawk? Tramon Williams? All I’ll say is Chicago is good enough to beat them, but probably won’t. Starks needs to be more impressive than he was against Atlanta to keep Bears defense honest.
Momo: I want to go with the Packers because of how well they are playing on both sides of the ball. The Packers have found somewhat of a running game with Starks in the backfield, and Aaron Rodgers is on fire in the passing game. The one X-factor is Devin Hester. If the Pack kick to him, they will be in trouble. Hester has burned them numerous times. Robbie Gould is a solid kicker in Soldier field. My gut says to go with the Pack because in the end Jay Cutler will probably throw an untimely interception. Packers by 6New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh—
KDC: As unlikely as it sounds, I’m going to pick the Jets. Frankly, my logic believes it’ll be the Steelers, but the Jets have a wily toughness that can’t be underestimated. The comparisons to the 76 Raiders is apt and accurate. Not sure how they’ll do it, but I think they will.
Momo: This game is a pure pick’em. All the love these two teams are showing each other is ridiculous. I know there is mutual respect but at least pick some of the trash talking up. The Jets barely escaped the Steelers a few weeks ago. I don’t think they can go into Pittsburgh and beat them twice. Polamula is back as well as Heath Miller. I think the Jets used up all their emotion the past two weeks. Plus I don’t trust the Jets kicker, Nick Folk in the swirling winds of Heinz field. Special teams will play a big role in both of these games. Steelers by 3.
No comments:
Post a Comment