NFL Conference Championships-Who Will Move On To Superbowl XLVI?

Two of the top offensive powerhouses were eliminated from the post season. Lesson learned, you can have the most potent offense in football, but if it has a bad day or gets shut down by the other team's superior defense and you don't have a defense of your own, you are finished. That is what happened to New Orleans and Green Bay. The New Orleans at San Fran game was probably the best post season game ever. Not a dull moment from beginning to end. Just when you thought New Orleans had sealed the victory, the 49ers came roaring back. Green Bay had problems with the ball period. They couldn't hold onto it and they couldn't catch it. Now, all eyes are on Baltimore at New England, the last offensive juggernaut left. Will defense beat offense?

New England just flat out dominated Denver. The Patriots defense boxed Tebow in so he had nowhere to run and nowhere to throw, all adding up to nowhere to hide. Bill Bellichick is a master at defense and he will devise a winning game plan for each team New England faces. Plan one against Baltimore, stop Ray Rice. Plan two will be a tiny bit more difficult, how to score against one of the top rated defenses. Baltimore's big challenge will evolve around how to cover Gronkowski, something nobody has been able to figure out. And if that isn't difficult enough, there is also Wes Welker to contend with. Baltimore's defense will have to move Tom Brady out the pocket or else he is just going to pick them apart.

It has been said, timing is everything. The New York Giants are peaking at the right time. Unfortunately Green Bay was on the wane and New York's defense took advantage of it. Just about all Rodgers could do was run with the ball. It will be different against San Fran. San Fran is peaking also, both offensively and defensively. The advantage that separates the two teams, home field. I guess you can make the argument the Giants handled it well in Green Bay. Eli Manning will be facing a defense that forces turnovers. Alex Smith's challenge, to silence critics once and for all, will be to put a defining exclamation point on this championship game with a win. Quick releases up the middle to Frank Gore along with screen passes will keep the Giant's quarterback hawking defensive line at bay.

This is football. There are no secrets. Every team knows its own weaknesses and generally has an idea of what the opposing team will be looking to exploit. The coup d'etat is execution with alittle 'hope the ball bouces your way.' Everything has been said that needs to be said. So let the games begin.

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SUN, JAN 22                    TIME (ET)    TV      LOCATION
Baltimore at New England        3:00 PM     CBS     Gillette Stadium
NY Giants at San Francisco      6:30 PM     FOX     Candlestick Park

Divisional Playoffs-Will It Be The Brady Bunch And TeBye-Bye

I got Tebowed this past weekend. My picks got hammered. Only one of the games out of the four was even close. New Orleans did their thing, Houston rose to the occasion, New York would be likened to a sleeping giant awoken, and Denver just plain and simple outsmarted Pittsburgh. My prediction about Tebow getting slaughtered by the Pittsburgh defense was way off. They couldn't even touch him. The Steelers had zero sacks and zero quarterback hits. Denver's play calling had Pittsburgh tripping over their own feet. Hats off to Tebow and the Broncos.

I don't even know what to say about the Denver at New England game this coming Saturday evening. One thing for sure, Bill Belichick is a master on defensive schemes and will have a plan conjoured up to deal with the Tebow Express. He isn't going to let Denver get away with that little stunt they pulled in overttime against wool-pulled-over-eyes Steelers. On top of it, Denver will be facing an offense that protects its quarterback and has an array of weapons at wide receiver, not leaving out their one-two punch at tight end, Rob Gronkowski. The defense has been New Englands only weakness all year, but the offense fills in the gaps.

New Orleans and San Francisco ended the season with identical records. This will be their first meeting of the year. It's no big secret that you have to take advantage of mistakes when they are handed to you on a silver platter. There has been talk about Brees short stature and being prone to throwing errant passes from time to time because he can't see over the linemen. I think the Saints record speaks for itself. When you throw the ball as much as Brees does the inevitable mistake is bound to creep in, after all, he is still human. He had a record setting year with 46 touchdowns and in the San Fran game it will be more of the same. The 49ers, if they are to win, must win it on defense. Their challenge will be to close off the middle and restrict Brees from moving up from the deep drop in the pocket. Lest we not forget, the Saints have a decent running attack.

Houston and Baltimore is a no brainer, if the Ravens offense shows up. There have been times when Baltimore's offense has struggled to score points. If Ray Rice does his thing, the passing game will follow, because the heat will be off Flacco to win the game on his arm alone. If Houston's defense stuffs the run, then Flacco will be hard pressed by a strong pass rush. The same can be said about Houston's offense with Arian Foster. If Foster does his thing, it will take the heat off of T.J. Yates, but here in lies the difference. Flacco will win over Yates.

The NY Giants and Green Bay Packers will be the game to watch. The Giants are at the top of their game. They had a huge victory against an Atlanta that gambled away their season. A Giants defense that struggled all season stepped up and stuffed their opponent. Ely Manning has been finding his favorite targets for big plays and when things are on the line, seems to come through to keep the game close down to the final minutes. Green Bay's success is attributed to their offense plain and simple. Aaron Rodgers, if he wouldn't have sat out that one game, would have surpassed Brees in touchdowns, easily. Rodgers spreads the ball out nicely, but his big play maker is Jordy Nelson. The Packers defense will have to be wary of the Giants bruising running game and at the same time keep Manning off balance in the passing game.

Which would you rather see-New Orleans verses Green Bay or NY Giants verses San Francisco or a Green Bay verses San Francisco or a NY Giants verses New Orleans NFC Championship? The first shall be last.

SAT, JAN 14                         TIME (ET)      TV       LOCATION
New Orleans at San Francisco 4:30 PM       FOX      Candlestick Park
Denver at New England           8:00 PM       CBS      Gillette Stadium
SUN, JAN 15                        TIME (ET)      TV       LOCATION
Houston at Baltimore               1:00 PM       CBS      M&T Bank Stadium
NY Giants at Green Bay          4:30 PM       FOX      Lambeau Field

Week 17 NFL Picks-This Is It

Ok, its that time again. Time to make predictions as to who you think is going to make the playoffs and where each team stands in the playoff bracket. The AFC is a tougher nut to crack than the NFC because it is still up for grabs. Here is my bracket predictions going into the final games of the season and a little summary of what has happened so far on a season that has gone by quickly. (I am picking Oakland and New York Giants to sneak in with Denver and Dallas dropping out.)

After starting the season strong, the Buffalo Bills haven't just faded away, they've disappeared. Well, injuries in key positions can do that to a team. Still, like a light bulb before it burns out completely, the Bills flashed brightly last Sunday against the Broncos and Tim Tebow. The Teblown Express wasn't just derailed, it was blown up, but no surprise, I knew that was going to happen. Denver came out of nowhere and that's how they will end up, nowhere. The Detroit Lions put an exclamation point on their playoff intentions with the pounding they gave San Diego. The Chargers found themselves up the Rivers without a paddle. The New York Giants seem to be the Johny-come-lately of football. At the start of the season they were winning or losing games in the last minute. Now in the last minute of regular season they are making their bid for the playoffs. Watch out Dallas.

The big matchups this Sunday are Detroit at Green Bay and Carolina at New Orleans. Win or lose it won't impact the playoff picture, much. It will be interesting to see how Cam Newton will stack up in comparison to the Saints high powered offense led by Drew Brees.

Detroit can improve their position by beating Green Bay. Win, they come in as the 5th Seed and wouldn't have to face New Orleans in the Wild Card. Lose, they would then be the 6th Seed and the path to the championships would go through New Orleans.

The Buffalo at New England game could have implications of the dire sort. If New England and Baltimore both lose and Pittsburgh with an obvious win over Cleveland, then Pittsburgh would be the 1st Seed. If New England loses and Baltimore wins it doesn't matter what Pittsburgh does, Baltimore would be the 1st Seed and New England would be the 2nd Seed. I don't even want to know what would happen if by some remote chance Cleveland should beat Pittsburgh. End of the world scenario.

SUN, JAN 1                      TIME (ET)       TV       LOCATION
Carolina at New Orleans       1:00 PM        FOX      Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Buffalo at New England        1:00 PM        CBS      Gillette Stadium
Chicago at Minnesota            1:00 PM        FOX      Mall of America Field
NY Jets at Miami                   1:00 PM        CBS      Sun Life Stadium
San Francisco at St. Louis     1:00 PM        FOX      Edward Jones Dome
Detroit at Green Bay              1:00 PM        FOX      Lambeau Field
Washington at Philadelphia   1:00 PM        FOX      Lincoln Financial Field
Indianapolis at Jacksonville   1:00 PM        CBS      EverBank Field
Tennessee at Houston            1:00 PM        CBS      Reliant Stadium
Seattle at Arizona                  4:15 PM        FOX      U of Phoenix Stadium
Kansas City at Denver           4:15 PM        CBS      Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Tampa Bay at Atlanta            4:15 PM        FOX      Georgia Dome
Baltimore at Cincinnati         4:15 PM        CBS      Paul Brown Stadium
Pittsburgh at Cleveland         4:15 PM        CBS      Cleveland Browns Stadium
San Diego at Oakland           4:15 PM        CBS      Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Dallas at NY Giants              8:20 PM        NBC      MetLife Stadium

Week 15 NFL Picks-The Brady Bunch Verses The Tebow Express

Quite frankly, all the stuff that is going around about Tim Tebow is getting Te-boring. There is nothing spectacular about his last minute antics to win games. He has just been down right lucky and fortunate to have a defense that keeps the opponents from scoring and therefore in the game until the offense finally scores, which generally takes the whole game. Look at Cam Not-Win-A-Game, who I also think comentators are making to much of a fuss about. He scores touchdowns in bunches, but is unfortunate not to have a defense that keeps him in the game. In fact, Newton is forced to score just to keep up with the opponents scoring. Well, todays game will make or break the Tebow Express and no amount of Tebowing will help the cause or hinder it because God will be in Arizona with the Cleveland Browns, a team who really needs his help.

The Brady Bunch steam rolled Washington last week. Gronkowski was too much for the Redskins to handle, which is difficult to understand. The opposing defense should already know if Brady isn't looking towards Wes Welker then he will be looking in Gronkowski's direction or visa versa. I guess the two of them are just too hard to handle at the same time. That will be the challenge facing the Broncos defense, covering the two of them. Tim Tebow, instead of thanking God for the win at the end of the game, will be Tebowing to thank God today's humiliation will had finally come to an end, unless the defense comes to his rescue.

Baltimore will be facing a reinvigorated Chargers offense. Philip Rivers has found his groove. We will see if he stays in it today facing a tough on quarterback Ravens defense. Joe Flacco will need to get his mind off the Tebow thing and focus on today's game. Pittsburgh is breathing down their necks in the AFC North. Today's confrontation in San Diego is a must win for both teams and even more so for the Chargers, who have no wiggle room in the AFC West division.

Pittsburgh is in somewhat of a pickle themselves with an injured Roethlisberger. Without Roethlisberger, the Steelers playoff hopes will be iffy. Mendenhall has proven he can carry some of the load on the offense and whether Roethlisberger plays or not, the Steelers game plan will be filled with a heavy dose of the running game. San Francisco has already clinched their division, so their focus will be keeping their players healthy and injury free, but San Fran lost against Arizona last week and a team heading for the playoffs doesn't want to enter it on a skid, so the 49ers can't allow two losses in a row. It will be Pittsburgh's run game against San Fran's run game in the final analysis.
 
THU, DEC 15                        TIME (ET)    TV       LOCATION
Jacksonville at Atlanta             8:20            NFL       Georgia Dome
SAT, DEC 17                        TIME (ET)    TV       LOCATION      
Dallas at Tampa Bay                8:20 PM     NFL      Raymond James Stadium
SUN, DEC 18                        TIME (ET)    TV       LOCATION
Carolina at Houston                 1:00 PM     FOX      Reliant Stadium
Washington at NY Giants       1:00 PM     FOX       MetLife Stadium
Miami at Buffalo                     1:00 PM     CBS       Ralph Wilson Stadium
Seattle at Chicago                   1:00 PM     FOX       Soldier Field
New Orleans at Minnesota      1:00 PM     FOX      Mall of America Field
Cincinnati at St. Louis             1:00 PM     CBS      Edward Jones Dome
Tennessee at Indianapolis        1:00 PM     CBS      Lucas Oil Stadium
Green Bay at Kansas City        1:00 PM     FOX     Arrowhead Stadium
Detroit at Oakland                   4:05 PM     FOX      Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
New England at Denver           4:15 PM     CBS      Sports Authority Field at Mile High
NY Jets at Philadelphia           4:15 PM     CBS       Lincoln Financial Field
Cleveland at Arizona               4:15 PM     CBS       U of Phoenix Stadium
Baltimore at San Diego            8:20 PM     NBC      Qualcomm Stadium
MON, DEC 19                        TIME (ET)    TV       LOCATION
Pittsburgh at San Francisco     8:30 PM       ESPN    Candlestick Park

Week 13 NFL PIcks-The Playoff Picture Is Getting Clearer

It's not going to get any easier for the Detroit Lions, who are hanging on tentatively to their playoff hopes. Buffalo is fading fast. San Diego is nowhere to be found. The New York Giants can't score enough points. Baltimore and Pittsburgh are neck and neck. Green Bay is packing for the Super Bowl and New Orleans is Breesing along. And Cleveland, they just seem to be content with living in the cellar of the AFC North.

Green Bay is playing the frustrated Eli Manning Giants. Eli Manning just can't catch a break. He threw for more yards than Brees and still lost. Maybe, this Sunday, going up against a Packer secondary that gives up yardage, will be his day. He will need to have a good day because Aaron Rodgers just has too many options, and the Giant defense can only double cover so many recievers a down. It is inevitable Rodgers will score and not just score, but continue to score. The key to beating Green Bay is disrupting the source, Aaron Rodgers. Blitz, blitz, blitz, and after you blitz, blitz some more.

Cam-not win a game finally won a against the everybody-beats'em Colts. Everyone makes a fuss over Cam Newton and I just don't see it. Yah, he is big and can run the ball. Whoopty doo. Box him in and he will throw the mistake. If Tampa Bay accomplishes that, victory will follow. If they don't, Cam-not win a game Cam-win another one against a weaker defense in the Buccaneers. Carolina's defense has been shredded by opposing offenses, so it will come down to who puts out the better offense with the least turnovers.

Andy Does-win is facing the tough-on-offenses Steelers. Who would have thought the Bengals would be contenders this year. Cincinnati has a good solid defense and a balanced offensive attack with Dalton guiding the way. The Steelers will be focusing on A. J. Green for obvious reasons. Pittsburgh likewise has a balanced attack on offense with Mendenhall running and Roethlisberger passing, but Roethlisberger has more consistent receivers to throw to and the uncanny ability to get out of tight situations when the opposing team brings the blitz. Steelers will come out throwing with the hopes of scoring quickly to take the Bengals out of their game plan.

If Cleveland beats Baltimore, they will win the rest of their games. Ha Ha. That is a mighty big if. As a comparison, that would be like getting a hole in one on the 18th of Pebble Beaches Spyglass Hill Golf Course. As far as winning the rest of their games, they play Baltimore one more time and Pittsburgh twice. That would be like getting a hole in one on the 13th of Spyglass Hill. I think you get the picture.

The Cleveland coaching staff just doesn't want to play Joshua Cribbs on offense and that is getting down right offensive. I remember an announcer once said, "If you don't air it out at least three times a game, you are doing your team an injustice." Cleveland, make something happen or at least look like you are trying to. Send Cribbs long and throw it to him.

THU, DEC 1                         TIME (ET)  TV      LOCATION
Philadelphia at Seattle             8:20 PM   NFL      CenturyLink Field
SUN, DEC 4                         TIME (ET)  TV      LOCATION
Carolina at Tampa Bay            1:00 PM   FOX      Raymond James Stadium
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh           1:00 PM   CBS      Heinz Field
Atlanta at Houston                  1:00 PM   FOX      Reliant Stadium
NY Jets at Washington            1:00 PM   CBS      FedEx Field
Indianapolis at New England  1:00 PM   CBS      Gillette Stadium
Oakland at Miami                   1:00 PM   CBS      Sun Life Stadium
Denver at Minnesota               1:00 PM   FOX      Mall of America Field
Tennessee at Buffalo              1:00 PM   CBS      Ralph Wilson Stadium
Kansas City at Chicago          1:00 PM   CBS      Soldier Field
Baltimore at Cleveland          4:05 PM   CBS      Cleveland Browns Stadium
Dallas at Arizona                   4:15 PM   FOX      U of Phoenix Stadium
Green Bay at NY Giants        4:15 PM   FOX      MetLife Stadium
St. Louis at San Francisco     4:15 PM   FOX      Candlestick Park
Detroit at New Orleans          8:20 PM   NBC      Mercedes-Benz Superdome
MON, DEC 5                      TIME (ET)  TV      LOCATION
San Diego at Jacksonville      8:30 PM   ESPN     EverBank Field

Week 11 NFL Picks-Green Bay Remains Undefeated

Winning in football is sometimes literally a matter of inches. This statement had verification in the Saints verses Falcons with the Falcons losing 26-23. San Diego got Bush-wacked and Palmer-ized by Oakland Thursday night. Pittsburgh gained control of the AFC North beating Cincinnati, while Baltimore sputtered against lowly Seattle. The Jets inability to put it in the end zone cost them against New England. Chicago topped Detroit and Green Bay had their way with Minnesota.

November 13, 2011, Atlanta verses New Orleans, a date which will live in infamy. The game was forced into overtime and Atlanta won the coin toss. Momentum appeared to be on the side of Atlanta. Mike Cox took the third down pass from Ryan. The oustretched arm of Cox in real time looked to have gotten the first down, but the replay showed he had bobbled the ball just before his arm crossed the stick. The Falcons now were faced with a drive ending fourth down. The obvious decision would be to punt, a no brainer, but the obvious was not today.

All eyes were on Mike Smith. A glaring fact: Go for it and fail, it would be a chip shot for New Orleans to win. If you are a gambler it could be likened to a moment you're standing at the Roulette Wheel with a wade of money in your hand and you pause to reflect, should I or shouldn't I. A decision that would have one of two outcomes. If you succeed, you will be celebrated with confetti showering down and corks popping. If you don't, it won't be confetti showering down, but a hail of disappointment and that was really stupid.

The offense got the green light and it was over at the snap of the ball. Turner couldn't get any momentum with his offensive line pushed back in his face and the Saints swarming to the ball. New Orleans took over, end of game, end of story.

It was the game to take control of AFC East because Buffalo lost to Dallas earlier. The Jets inability to score in the red zone and some stupid mistakes made it easy for the Brady Bunch. If you give Brady a minute of time, he will turn it into a score, and that is what Mark Sanchez did just before the half ended. Fumble a punt and throw an interception, thus turning the ball over to the Brady Bunch is only asking for trouble, and that is what the Jets did. Instead of taking advantage of the rag-tag defense of the Patriots, the Jets offense sat on the sidelines while Tom Brady performed his magic.

The New York Jets play Denver on Thursday night. Stop Tebow from running and it should be a farely easy victory. Is Dallas for real? They play Washington and it could get real nasty for the Redskins. Buffalo will be facing off with a surging Miami. Could go either way. San Diego is jumping from the frying pan into the pot against Chicago. A must win for both teams, especially the Chargers. Cincinnati needs A. J. Green against Baltimore and Baltimore needs to get focused. New England, on a Monday night at Gillette Stadium, mixed with some New England weather, could leave the Chiefs shivering in their feathers. I was 10-6 in Week 10.

THU, NOV 17                       TIME (ET)        TV          LOCATION
NY Jets at Denver                   8:20 PM         NFL      Sports Authority Field at Mile High

SUN, NOV 20                       TIME (ET)        TV          LOCATION
Tampa Bay at Green Bay       1:00 PM         FOX      Lambeau Field
Carolina at Detroit                  1:00 PM         FOX      Ford Field
Jacksonville at Cleveland       1:00 PM         CBS      Cleveland Browns Stadium
Oakland at Minnesota            1:00 PM         CBS      Mall of America Field
Buffalo at Miami                    1:00 PM         CBS      Sun Life Stadium
Dallas at Washington             1:00 PM         FOX      FedEx Field
Cincinnati at Baltimore          1:00 PM         CBS      M&T Bank Stadium
Arizona at San Francisco       4:05 PM         FOX      Candlestick Park
Seattle at St. Louis                 4:05 PM         FOX      Edward Jones Dome
Tennessee at Atlanta              4:15 PM         CBS      Georgia Dome
San Diego at Chicago            4:15 PM         CBS      Soldier Field
Philadelphia at NY Giants     8:20 PM         NBC      MetLife Stadium

MON, NOV 21                    TIME (ET)        TV          LOCATION
Kansas City at New England 8:30 PM         ESPN     Gillette Stadium

Week 8 In The NFL Highlights Some Surprises And Follies

Denver got t-boned by Detroit. Pittsburgh stole the show from New England. Buffalo buffaloed Washington. Cincinnati clawed their way to victory over Seattle. Philadelphia soared over Dallas. Whoopsy San Diego made a late game mistake that cost them a victory. But, the shocker of all shockers was St Louis ramming New Orleans into the wall of shame.

The Rams going into their contest with the Saints were 0-6. The previous Sunday they were pummeled by inconsistent Dallas. Meanwhile. the Saints thoroughly embarrassed Manningless Indianapolis, scoring 62 points. So, what the heck happened to the Saints, who I would not have picked to lose in a million years against the Rams? The answer is quite obvious, Steve Jackson and a relentless defense. The Ram defense took Drew Brees out of his usual rhythm. While on the otherside of the ball, Jackson ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. The rest of the NFL teams, take note.

Detroit rebounded in a big way. They needed to reaffirm their legitimacy. Sure, it was just Denver, but a win is a win. Matthew Stafford had a career day. He threw three touchdowns on a total of 267 yards with a rating of 130.8. Tim Whoop-tee-do Tebow didn't have a bad day, running for 63 yards and throwing for 172 yards and one touchdown. His one huge blunder was a pick that went for a hundred yards and a touchdown. Tebow runs out of necessity because he gets easily flustered and can't find the open man. Running quarterbacks just don't go to the Super Bowl.

Buffalo is one of the surprises of the year. They are staying on pace with New England. One of the reasons, Fred Jackson is having a great year. He didn't score a touchdown in this one, but he accumulated a total of 194 yards of offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdowns to Scott Chandler. Buffalo faces a tough, opportunistic Jet defense that raise havoc a a quarterback. Jackson will be their ticket to victory.

Their were alot of borderline penalty calls that went against the hard luck Chargers in the Monday Night Follies. It was raining yellow flags from the beginning to the end. Game altering official calls that took scores away from the Chargers. That been said, San Diego shot themselves in the foot on numerous occassions. They could only get the ball across the goal line once. All the other times they entered the red zone, penalties and mistakes forced them back. Kansas City didn't fair much better, but came away with the win on an overtime field goal. The Chargers are looking eerily like the Browns of old.

Pittsburgh handled the Brady Bunch quite nicely. New England fought right down to the final seconds of the game when their final possession ended up sailing in the wrong direction and out the back of the end zone, courtesy Polamalu, after a Brady fumble. The result was a safety. The offense can't advance the ball on a fumble, but there is nothing ruling against the ball going backwards 25 yards after being slapped. Roethlisberger and Company controlled the ball twice as long as the Brady Bunch. Ouch. Now Pittsburgh faces a gauntlet of AFC North teams in the back stretch. Though, I don't think they need to worry too much about the touchdownless Browns. Unless, the Browns coaching staff gets their heads out of their keisters about the wide receiver dilemma. And that's another story.

Week 8 NFL Picks-Game Of The Week Patriots vs Steelers

The onetime "Kardiac Kids" are looking like the "Kouch Potato Kids." No touchdowns scored in their last game. Four quarters of zero, zip, zilch, and pass me the popcorn, nothing else is happening, and what other games are on. I have to admit, they did win. Only one other game looked worse and that was Jacksonville against Baltimore, and that was a Monday Nighter. Even embarrassed-off-the-charts Indianapolis scored a touchdown. New Orleans showed them no mercy. Green Bay found themselves in a bit of a tussle with Minnesota, but figured things out to win. Kansas City shut out a McFaddenless Oakland. Denver's whoop-tee-do Tebow led the Broncos to victory and Cam-not win a game finally won for Carolina. That's pretty much a wrap for last week in the NFL. My picks looked as bad as the Colts, 6-7. The worst I have ever done. Time to use the throw the dart at the schedule system.

Cleveland will be going to San Fran this Sunday at 4:15. I have said it over and over, the Browns need to get Joshua Cribbs involved in the offense and use him like Pittsburgh uses Wallace. They are waisting a wide receiver in a position where kickoffs have been taken out of the equation because of the new rule. Shurmur or whomever needs to get off the couch on this one. Defense will not be enough to win against a prolific 49er offense led by Frank Gore. Jim Harbaugh won't be getting too excited about beating Cleveland like he did Detroit.

New England will be facing the Steelers in Pittsburgh. This will be a good game to watch. Tom Brady will have to be at his best and he usually is against the Steelers. You can be sure the Steelers defense will be going after him in a big way. The Brady Bunch will score despite the Steelers efforts. Look for the Pittsburgh offense to make an attempt at establishing a running game from the start to keep the Brady Bunch off the field. If that should fail, Ben Roethlisberger has been on fire as of recent with a deep threat in Wallace, so the running game is of no consequence. Will Roethlisberger and Company be able to match the Patriots point for point? This question will be answered Sunday.

Arizona will be at Baltimore. Baltimore can't afford to lose another one like they did against Jacksonville. The Ravens are looking to rectify the embarrassment they suffered at the hands of the Jaguars. The Cardinals are the unfortunate ones to be next in line on their schedule. The Ravens defense is breathing fire and the Cardinal offense is going to get burned. Kevin Kolb won't have anywhere to hide and he better have his dancing shoes on. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice will definately have a better day in comparison to last week, and that is not saying much.

New Orleans will be at St Louis. Could be another 60+ outing for the Saints. Cincinnati faces Seattle. You never know what Seahawk team will show up, but you do know what Bengal team will be there. Denver will host Detroit. Detroit has to get back on track. Tim whoop-tee-do Tebow will be facing a Lion defense stronger against the pass, so he will have to think about running and that would be no surprise. Minnesota gave the Packers a scare last week and seeing it is Halloween, Carolina should be also, scared that is. That's a wrap for now. I held off using the darts. I anticipate doing better in my picks this week.

SUN, OCT 30                       TIME (ET) TV       LOCATION
Arizona at Baltimore W            1:00 PM  FOX      M&T Bank Stadium
Minnesota at Carolina W          1:00 PM  FOX      Bank of America Stadium
Jacksonville at Houston W       1:00 PM  CBS      Reliant Stadium
Miami at NY Giants W             1:00 PM  CBS      MetLife Stadium
New Orleans at St. Louis L       1:00 PM  FOX      Edward Jones Dome
Indianapolis at Tennessee W     1:00 PM  CBS      LP Field
Detroit at Denver W                  4:05 PM  FOX      Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Washington at Buffalo W         4:05 PM  FOX      Rogers Centre
Cincinnati at Seattle W             4:15 PM  CBS      CenturyLink Field
Cleveland at San Francisco W  4:15 PM  CBS      Candlestick Park
New England at Pittsburgh L   4:15 PM  CBS      Heinz Field
Dallas at Philadelphia L           8:20 PM  NBC      Lincoln Financial Field
MON, OCT 31                    TIME (ET)  TV      LOCATION
San Diego at Kansas City L    8:30 PM  ESPN     Arrowhead Stadium

Week 4 NFL Picks-Will The Former Losers Continue To Be Winners

A change of scenery is good. It's refreshing. It's engaging. It gives the eyes a different perspective and challenges the senses. The scene of the NFL maybe under going a change. Although Green Bay, New Orleans, New England, and Pittsburgh are familiar landmarks, it is good to see former downcasts like Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, and Oakland entering as possibles in the playoff scene of NFL football. And, one thing this young season has shown us is the top choices are all very vulnerable. So, with this welcomed change the picks should get more difficult. I was 12-4 in Week Three.

Buffalo's offense has been a running and passing juggernaut and going up against Cincinnati should not change that. It's a good thing because the Bills are seriously lacking a defense. If their offense should faulter, the door may open for the Bengals, who must strike quickly to take advantage. In order for Cincinnati to have even a remote chance of making it a competition, their running game with Benson must be relied upon or hope their better defense can force a mistake deep in Buffalo territory. Buffalo has been playing smart ball. Just look at how they kept Brady from getting back on the field in the last minutes of play.

Detroit will be tested this week in confused, don't know what I am supposed to do Dallas. Maybe, the Dallas offense should all wear detailed diagrams on their wrists, showing exactly where they are supposed to be on any given play. Or better yet, on each down Tony Romo should do it the old fashioned way in the huddle and draw on their jerseys where he wants each one of them to go. If Dallas achieves some resemblance of order on their offense, the Lions will have their hands full. It could be the battle of the tightends or the slaughter of the quarterbacks.

Cleveland was fortunate in their meeting with the Dolphins. Two great catches was all they needed and realistically was all they had all game long. Peyton Hillis will be back on the field and should have an impact on what the Browns will do. Protecting Colt McCoy from the blitz will be crucial or it will be a long day for the Browns in the negative, but the presense of Hillis should keep the Titans off balance. And what can you say about a team who loses to the Jaguars one week and beats the Ravens the next. The Titans have been a surprise and are dangerous, even without the dominant running game of Chris Johnson. Tennessee has been defensively good. All in all, the Browns and Titans look eerily similiar. Cleveland, get Joshua Cribbs involved, he is the trump card in this game.

Darren McFadden has been shredding opponents defenses and New England's defense doesn't look to be an exception. New England will go to the run more against an Oakland defense that has been giving up yardage on the ground, which will also take some of the heat off of Brady. It is highly unlikely Brady would have two weeks in a row where his picks equal his touchdowns. Ball control and time of possession will be key for Oakland, keep McFadden on the field and Brady off.

SUN, OCT 2	TIME (ET)	TV	RESOURCES	LOCATION
Detroit at Dallas L	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Cowboys Stadium
Carolina at Chicago W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Soldier Field
Buffalo at Cincinnati L	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Paul Brown Stadium
Tennessee at Cleveland L	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Cleveland Browns Stadium
Minnesota at Kansas City L	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Arrowhead Stadium
Washington at St. Louis W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Edward Jones Dome
New Orleans at Jacksonville W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	EverBank Field
Pittsburgh at Houston W	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Reliant Stadium
San Francisco at Philadelphia L	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Lincoln Financial Field
NY Giants at Arizona W	4:05 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	U of Phoenix Stadium
Atlanta at Seattle W	4:05 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	CenturyLink Field
Miami at San Diego W	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Qualcomm Stadium
New England at Oakland W	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Denver at Green Bay W	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Lambeau Field
NY Jets at Baltimore W	8:20 PM	NBC	Tickets | Travel	M&T Bank Stadium
MON, OCT 3	TIME (ET)	TV	RESOURCES	LOCATION
Indianapolis at Tampa Bay L	8:30 PM		Tickets | Travel	Raymond James Stadium

Week Two Picks-Will It Be Offense Or Defense?

The quarterbacks ruled Week One. Will they continue their domination going into Week Two? A few of them may, like Brady, Rodgers, and Brees, but Cam Newton had his day in the sun, and jury is still out on Henne-who. The defenses of New England, Green Bay, and New Orleans were offensive, what will Week Two reveal? The Cleveland Browns need to do only one thing? What is that one thing? And the Pittsburgh Steelers need to continue doing only one thing? What is that one thing?

The Packers are going to rain on Cam Newton's parade this week when they bring relentless pressure on the rookie quarterback in the form of Matthews and company. Newton will have no where to throw and no where to run. On the otherhand, Aaron Rodgers should continue his winning ways with a deep on talent receiving core. The Saints first game revealed a vulnerable secondary, so they will have to step up their pressure on Cutler via the pass rush or it may be a long afternoon, forcing the Saints to abandon the run and rely strictly on Brees to equalize the score, which he has the ability to do.

The Cleveland Browns start the season once again on the bottom, so they need to reverse their direction and that can only be accomplished with a win. Mistakes and miscues dominated their game play both on defense and offense. Indianapolis was extremely inept in their first game and that was understandable because they are suffering from an identity crisis with Peyton out. They are like a boat without a rudder. Cleveland is favored to win, but I am not so sure. Kerry Collins could have a Henne day. Pittsburgh needs to continue their losing ways, but facing Seattle, in Pittsburgh, and looking like a dog that just got its tail stepped on, unlikely.

San Diego is taking on New England this week. Could it be another shoot out? The Chargers barely survived their meeting with the ho-hum Vikings and they will be in hostile territory. The key to victory for them will be how much pressure they put on Brady, but even if they accomplish that, Brady adapts quickly, making a victory a long shot. Philip Rivers will have to be on the top of his game to overcome the point differential. Philadelphia is visiting Atlanta. Michael Vick will be returning home to what will be an unfriendly environment. Anyway you look at it, it is going to be a dog fight. The game is favored to be run dominant, but I think it will be decided by the pass.

SUN, SEP 18	TIME (ET)	TV	RESOURCES	LOCATION
Kansas City at Detroit W	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Ford Field
Oakland at Buffalo W	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Ralph Wilson Stadium
Tampa Bay at Minnesota L	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Mall of America Field
Chicago at New Orleans W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Superdome
Baltimore at Tennessee L	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	LP Field
Cleveland at Indianapolis W	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Lucas Oil Stadium
Jacksonville at NY Jets W	1:00 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	MetLife Stadium
Seattle at Pittsburgh W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Heinz Field
Arizona at Washington W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	FedEx Field
Green Bay at Carolina W	1:00 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Bank of America Stadium
Dallas at San Francisco W	4:05 PM	FOX	Tickets | Travel	Candlestick Park
San Diego at New England W	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Gillette Stadium
Houston at Miami W	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Sun Life Stadium
Cincinnati at Denver W	4:15 PM	CBS	Tickets | Travel	Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Philadelphia at Atlanta W	8:20 PM	NBC	Tickets | Travel	Georgia Dome
MON, SEP 19	TIME (ET)	TV	RESOURCES	LOCATION
St. Louis at NY Giants W	8:30 PM		Tickets | Travel	Metlife Stadium

The First Week Of NFL Football Was A Real Eye Opener

Does explosive or inept describe the game play of the first week of the NFL? Were the offenses that good or were the defenses that bad? The new kickoff rule, did it take away some of the thrill? All good questions. In any rate, the first week of football was very entertaining from the first kickoff of the New Orleans at Green Bay opener to the final play of Denver at Oakland closing the week out.

Now, to answer the question about the new kickoff rule. It really doesn't matter unless you are playing in Denver where the kickoffs were going into the stands. Well, maybe not quite that far, but pretty close. Randall Cobb's kickoff return of 108 yards in Green Bay is proof the thrill of a monster return is still ever present. Maybe, the returners will take more chances at bringing the ball out of the end zone creating longer runs like Cobbs.

Some of the offenses ran up big numbers like New England, Miami, Buffalo, Houston, New Orleans, and Green Bay. Probably, no surprises here with quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers and their ability to methodically take apart a secondary. But the fact that their own teams defenses were also shredded reveals an apparent weakness, an Achilles heal that other seemingly lesser teams can exploit to overcome the offensive juggernaut they face. One simple mistake could tilt the game in any direction, like the Saints and Packers game proved.

The Cleveland Browns disappointed again in a game they should have won despite themselves. They were caught daydreaming and A.J. Green waltz into the end zone like he was on "Dancing with the Stars." Shurmur complained that the Bengals did something illegal, but the fact still remained, the Browns defense that was on the field didn't have a clue and Green tippy-toed past the secondary. The only bright spot for the Browns this week was the fact the Steelers looked even worse than they did, and who got obliverated by the Ravens. The Browns can only go up from here. Cleveland plays Indianapolis this week, thank goodness.

I was 100 percent on the picks I made this week. This coming week I will be making my picks for the whole schedule. I glanced over it and the only game that looks like a sure win is Detroit over Kansas City, but despite everything said and done it was only the first games of the season. Glad the strike got settled.

Patriots Are Denied and Seahawks Are Sent Packin'

Number One New England Patriots mounted a second half surge, but were denied a trip to the AFC Championship by a stubborn NY Jets, who just won't go away. Tom Brady couldn't get into his usual rythmn due to an annoying Jets defense and was sacked five times plus hit another seven. Mark Sanchez didn't make any mistakes, which was necessary for the Jets to even have a chance in this one. The Jets running game was superior to the Patriots. All the way around the Patriots were out finessed by the Jets ending 28-21.

Tom Brady threw for more yardage than Sanchez. Brady accumulated more passing first downs with 19-8. Time of possession was as equally imbalanced, with the Patriots holding the ball almost ten minutes longer. Obviously Brady and company were not as productive with the ball. Brady threw for 299 yards, but had the one looming mistake in the beginning that set the tone. The Patriots even had more rushing first downs. Five different rushers combined for 113 yards. All-in-all just too many passes fell to the wayside.

The Jets made the most of the time they had the ball. Mark Sanchez had a 194 total passing yards with three touchdowns. He went 16-25. Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson combined for 119 yards of rushing with one touchdown each. Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards accounted for the other two reception touchdowns, but Jerico Cotchery was Sanchez main target hauling in 5 passes for 96 yards. Offensive job done. The Jets defense did their part in making sure the Patriots were miserable and frustrated. As already mentioned, they sacked Brady 5 times, 3 of them in the Patriots disastrous first half. Jets move on to play the Steelers in the AFC Championship.

Seattle made it fun and interesting, but you had to know it wasn't going to last. Jay Cutler was just too much for the Seattle defense to handle, who had a great game. He became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for two touchdowns and run for two others in a playoff game. Seattle made a valiant effort in the fourth quarter to narrow the point difference, but it was not enough. Chicago won 35-24.

Jay Cutler passed and ran like a man on a mission. The mission was to win, and that is what he did. Cutler threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Greg Olsen made some big catches for him scoring one touchdown with 113 yards. The big one was a 58 yard touchdown on the Bears first possession. Chicago dominated the ground game with Matt Forte pounding out 80 yards. Chester Taylor ran for another 44 yards and Cutler scrambled for 43 yards. The Bears defense did their job keeping the Seahawks out of the end zone for three quarters. Bears move on to face the daunting Packers in the NFC Championship.

Seattle could not get anything going for three quarters, their guns were silent. If it wasn't for the fourth quarter there wouldn't be anything to talk about as far as Seattle's offense was concerned. You figure by then Chicago was in prevent mode being so far ahead with the score at 28-3. Matt Hasselbeck threw three touchdowns, all in fourth quarter. Mike williams caught two of the three in that last ditch effort-less ending. Brandon Stokely caught the third and through the game mounted 85 yards. That's pretty much it, the fairy tale season is over for the Seahawks.

Divisional Playoffs-Couldn't Have Been Scripted Any Better

Is it fate or destiny that is quietly, pretentiously manipulating the way the ball is bouncing? Take for example the closing drive of the Jets against the Colts. Braylon Edwards caught the pass from Sanchez over the middle at which time the defender slapped the ball out of his hands onto the ground. When you look at the replay the Colt defenders didn't even see the loose ball because if they did it would have ended the Jets drive and the game. Did something for that crucial moment cast a shadow over their vision? It was as if a Colt victory was not meant to be. Some mysterious force wanted the Jets to win and dare I suggest it's because a Jets-Patriots confrontation appears more interesting than a Colts-Patriots game when considering their regular season matchups. And Kansas City, the ball just flat out eluded them.

The Jets and Patriots were even in regular season matchups, but that's not saying they are evenly matched. The Patriots had two seasons, the Randy Moss Season and then the rest of the Season. The Jets won their game in the Randy Moss Season. Plus, the loss to the Browns woke up the sleeping giant and since then the Patriots have been unstoppable. True, the Jets defense ranks better in all categories, but weather is the great equalizer. Added to that, they are playing on the Patriots home turf. Brady is nearly invincible at home, especially in the playoffs. The Jets have been living on borrowed time all season. The only thing that can save the Jets in this one is the ball needs to mysteriously bounce their way.

The Ravens and Steelers game to me is the game of the week. When these two teams come together it's like the splitting of an atom. The two times they faced off in regular season were very low scoring and decided by the count of a field goal. Pittsburgh took the division even though their records were identical. Baltimore has a grudge to settle. They are tired of being on the short end of the stick when it comes to the Steelers. It will be a hard-hitting defensive battle with alot of blitzing, but if Roethlisberger and Wallace get the opportunity to hook up, watch out. Baltimore will need a stable run game to give Flacco room to work.

Atlanta had a good season this year. Green Bay has been on and off, suffering five of their six losses on the road. Green Bay is tough against the pass, but weak against the run. Atlanta will attempt to take advantage of that fact with Michael Turner. If they are able to establish the run game, Matt Ryan will have the opportunity to pick and choose his targets at his liesure. Still, that will be difficult with a Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson led defense. Atlanta will be vulnerable when it comes to Aaron Rodgers, so Green Bay will be relying heavily on his talents and uncanny ability to find the end zone, whether throwing or running. The Packers have been lacking a consistent run game all season, but it mysteriously showed up with Starks last weekend. The Georgia Dome will be hostile.

It was reported a tremor was registered when Marshawn Lynch ran for his 67 yard fourth quarter  touchdown. Was it the cheering and pounding of the fans or the Saints defensive players hitting the ground that caused it? A different Seattle showed up at Qwest Field last weekend and gave their hometown a show. Despite their losing record, the Seahawks are determined to show they are worthy of being in the playoffs. Lynch will be facing a field of more sure-handed tacklers in the Chicago Bears. Matt Hasselbeck had a revival of past glory. He was deadly accurate with his four touchdowns. Chicago will not be underestimating the enthusiasm of the Seahawks. The Bears have a tough defense with Urlacher leading the way, especially agaist the run. Seattle will be coming after Jay Cutler, so he will have to rely on his ability to move around to find the open receiver and avoid hasty decisions.
 
Playoffs - Divisional Playoffs
SAT, JAN 15 TIME (ET) TV RESOURCES LOCATION

Baltimore 18 at Pittsburgh 20 4:30 PM CBS

Heinz Field

26*

Green Bay 24 at Atlanta 27 8:00 PM FOX

Georgia Dome

SUN, JAN 16 TIME (ET) TV RESOURCES LOCATION

Seattle 23 at Chicago 21 1:00 PM FOX 

Soldier Field

21*

NY Jets 17 at New England 30 4:30 PM CBS

Gillette

19*

Playoffs Begin-Wild Card Round

Seattle tops St. Louis to go into the playoffs with the first full season losing record in NFL history. The only other time that happened was in the strike shortened 1982 season. Cleveland and Detroit finished at 4-5 and for the record were knocked off in the first round of playoffs. So, what are Seattles chances of making it past the first round? How many times have you won the million dollar lottery? Pittsburgh, New England, Atlanta, and NY Jets all put huge exclamation points on their final games, each scoring over 30 points in their wins. New Orleans fumbled their way into the playoffs and Indianapolis stubbed their toe to victory. Chicago and Baltimore need more offense if they are to survive. The Packers and Eagles futures rest on the arms of Rodgers and Vick.

As I watched the Rams-Seahawks game I saw nothing that would convince me there is even a remote chance for Seattle to survive their meeting with New Orleans on Saturday at 4:30 pm. During said game I kept on hearing the words, "Its tough for a visiting team to win at Qwest Field." Well, the Saints aren't the Rams and anything short of an earthquake can save the Seahawks. If they were to beat the Saints, I will pick them to go to the Superbowl.

The Packers have something the Eagles do not, a relentless defense. The Eagles will need some help from mother nature in the way of rain to even the playing field. Vick would have the advantage on a soggy field with his ability to move and run. Sunday's weather looks to be free of any rain at 4:30 pm. Sorry Philadelphia, you might try a dance or two.

Indianapolis will be hosting the Jets on Saturday at 8:00 pm. The Colts, as of late, have not been the offensively explosive team we are use to seeing. Peyton has struggled through this season missing his compadres Clark and Collie, but has weathered the storm. Manning will be facing the tough defense of the Jets. Addai's return no doubt has given him some comfort along with the addition of old friend Dominic Rhodes. The Jets were razzling and dazzling everyone in the beginning with their last minute shockers in the form of Santonio Holmes. Well, the Jets have sinced used up their nine lives. They will need to blitz and blitz some more to keep Peyton from gaining any rythmn or else it's lights out.
 
Baltimore and Kansas City play on Sunday at 1:00 pm. The Chiefs were whacked by the Raiders in their last game. Not a good way to enter the playoffs against a bruising Raven defense. If Jamaal Charles gets stuffed it's going to be a long frustrating game for the Chiefs. The Ravens will try to establish a running game of their own and if they do that, it will give Flacco the edge he needs to get the job done. Cassel and Flacco are birds of a feather, so it is a tough one to call after all is said and, you will just have to wait for the done.
 
AFC wild-card round SATURDAY, JAN. 8
No. 6 New York Jets 20 (11-5) at No. 3 Indianapolis Colts 30 (10-6)
Lucas Oil Stadium, 8 p.m. ET, NBC
SUNDAY, JAN. 9
No. 5 Baltimore Ravens 23 (12-4) at No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs 21 (10-6)
Arrowhead Stadium, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

NFC wild-card round
SATURDAY, JAN. 8
No. 5 New Orleans Saints 28 (11-5) at No. 4 Seattle Seahawks 23 (7-9)
Qwest Field, 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC
SUNDAY, JAN. 9
No. 6 Green Bay Packers 27 (10-6) at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles 24 (10-6)
Lincoln Financial Field, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX