Green Bay Sneaks Past Philadelphia And Baltimore Steamrolls Kansas City

The very first play of the Green Bay and Philadelphia game set the tone for its final outcome. From start to finish it was the defense of Green Bay that decided who would move on. It began with a sack and ended with an interception. One question lingers. Did Vick go for it all to soon with less than 40 seconds left? You can't falt him for trying to win, but once that ball is released there is no pulling it back. Tramon Williams made a good catch for an interception, game over, Packers win 21-16. Baltimore just plain set the tone in their confrontation with Kansas City. Once again it was defense, defense, and more defense. Kansa City turned the ball over five times as a result, three of them Matt Cassel interceptions. Flacco got the job done on offense. Baltimore wins persuasively 30-7.

Aaron Rodgers spread the ball around like cream cheese on a warm bagel. He made use of nine different receivers. Jones and Jennings were not his primary targets in this one, it was old veteran Donald Driver and a host of others. Rodgers only accumulated 180 total yards, but made good use of every yard, throwing for three touchdowns. Rookie James Starks ran for 123 yards to balance out the Packer's offensive attack. On the other side, Michael vick did plenty enough to win the game, throwing for a touchdown and running one in. Unfortunately, it was the one errant pass at the end that sealed the Eagles fate, coutesy the defense of the Packers.

Joe Flacco completed 25 passes out of 34 attempts. You would have to say that is a pretty good ratio. Todd Heap was his main target hauling in 10 of those passes for 108 yards. The two touchdowns Flacco threw went to Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin, who made an excellent catch in the middle end zone. Rice and McGahee shared the running assigments combining for 101 yards. McGahee's longest was a 25 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, putting an exclamation point on the game. Matt Cassel took it one the chin and just about everywhere else on his body. He was stung for three picks and sacked three times. Jamaal Charles scored the Chiefs only touchdown and that is pretty much it. It was all Baltimore defense.

Green Bay moves on to play Atlanta. They met once in the regular season where the Falcons won in a close game. They will faceoff on Saturday at 8:00 PM. Don't miss this one. Anytime Baltimore and Pittsburgh get together it's going to be a headbanger. Division rivals who ended the regular season with the same win-loss record and Baltimore has a score to settle. Each of their previous confrontations were low scoring and decided by three points. I hope their is plenty of snow on Saturday at 4:30 PM. It would make it all the more interesting. Football and the elements, good old fashion fun the way it was meant to be.

History In The Making-Seahawks Win Big And Colts Just Lose

It was a great start to the Wild and Wooly-Card Weekend. The 7-9 Seattle Seahawks rocked the football world by taking out the New Orlean Saints 41-36. The Seahawks defied all logic. They not only won, but did it convincingly. If that wasn't enough irony, Peyton Manning stood helplessly on the sidelines as the Jets methodically moved down the field in the closing minute. The camera honed in on Manning and then the field of play where Edwards made a sensational catch to seal the Colts fate. All that was left to do was for Nick Folk to put it through the uprights for a 17-16 win, which he did with no time on the clock.

The Seahawks are changing the record books and making history. I guess the statement, "It's tough for a visiting team to win at Qwest Field," is true. Matt Hasselbeck outmatched Drew Brees with four touchdown passes to one and he did it with almost half the attempts. Brees threw the ball sixty times in desparation to Hasselbeck's thirty-five. It was one of Hasselbeck's best performances. Marshall Lynch was held to 55 yds of running going into the fourth quarter and then it happened. Lynch broke free for a 67 yard scamper and his only touchdown of the day. The video will be watched time and time again by Seahawk fans for days to come. He ended up with a total of 131 yards for the day. Seattle's tightend, John Carlson, had only three catches, but two of them were for pay dirt. Stokely and Williams accumulated most of the reception yardage and each had a touchdown.

You could see the agony on Peyton Manning's face after the game ended with the Colts on the short end of the stick. Manning is a true competitor, who doesn't like to accept anything short of perfection. There isn't much offense to talk about in this one. Manning had a decent game, although not one you would usually expect when Manning takes the field. He was 18-26 totaling 225 yards and only one touchdown toss. The rest of the Colts points came on Adam Vinatieri field goals. The offensive highlights came late in the game after the Colts took a two-point advantage. Antonio Cromartie returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards. The ball was now in the hands of Mark Sanchez. He completed four passes to bring the Jets into Folk's range, but that was not enough. A final pass went in the direction of Braylon Edwards, an ex-Cleveland Brown, going down the right side, who adjusted his stride and leaped into the air to make a spectacular catch. From there it was easy for Folk to put it through the uprights with no time left. Jets win, Colts lose.

Well, that's two picks wrong so far. I wrote in my previous article, "If the Seahawks win, I am taking them to go to the Superbowl." Looks like I am locked in on this one. If the Seahawks play like they did against the Saints, there is no stopping them. Although, the next game won't be at Qwest Field. As for the Jets, I still don't know what to make of them. They will face ex-Cleveland Browns coach Bill Belichick's Patriots next.

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

NY Jets Outplayed Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengal's Bernard Scott took the opening kickoff from Jay Feely 56 yards to the Jets 36 yard line. It looked like it was going to be the Bengal's game. Three plays later Carson Palmer passed to Laveranues Coles for 4 yards who then fumbled the ball and Shaun Ellis recovered the fumble for the Jets. It was all down hill from there. The Jets defeated the Bengals 24-14.

The Bengals could not recover from the numerous mistakes that plagued their game. Cedric Benson was the only Bengal who had a good game. Benson had 169 yds on 21 carries and one touchdown. Carson Palmer on the other hand had a horrendous day. In the beginning of the game all his passes sailed too high for his receivers to haul in. Palmer was harassed by the Jet's defense in key situations and just wouldn't let him get into a rythmn. Palmer had 18 completions out 36 attempts and one touchdown. Chad Ochocinco was dogged by cornerback Darrelle Revis and ended the game with only 28 yds. Near the end Ochocinco had a chance to make it a game when he came close to hauling in a pass in the corner of the end zone, but lost it when he hit the ground. Shayne Graham missed two field goals, which really hurt their cause.

The Jets played a well rounded game on both sides of the ball. Mark Sanchez quarterbacked an excellent game. He made clutch passes in key situations. Sanchez had 12 completions out of 15 attempts for 182 yds and was mistake free. Dustin Keller had two big pass plays and scored one touchdown on a 39 yd catch and run. Shonn Green pounded out 135 yds on 21 carries and one touchdown. The Jet's defense showed why it is number one in the NFL taking it to the Bengal's offense with their blitzing shemes. It was a complete team effort.

The Jets move on to the next level. Their full of confidence and seem to be peaking at the right time. They now have to wait for the outcome of tomorrow's game between Baltimore and New England to see who their next opponent will be. A good start to the Playoffs. Just a side note: The Cowboys took it to the Eagles big time by the score of 34-14 and will be moving on in the Playoffs. My picks this week have already been shattered.