It was great to see Herman Edwards get that big win in San Diego. I'm sure that had to be vindication for losing to St. Louis two weekends ago. People are still talking about that big outburst on the sidelines at his assistant coach, however. Usually Edwards is a calmer guy.
As for the Chargers, there really isn't much to say. They played a good game, but Chad Pennington was in a zone. Curtis Martin was being Curtis Martin, and that's a hard combo to overcome, especially when the Chargers played from behind most of the game. However, they shouldn't feel too bad, because no one during preseason thought the Chargers would be half as successful as they were this season.
Denver was sure they'd be able to compete with the Colts on Sunday. After all, they supposedly upgraded their secondary in the offseason, fired their defensive coordinator last year (Oh yeah; that same defensive coordinator now works for Atlanta. I'm sure he enjoyed watching that game.), got rid of Brian Griese and picked up that lethal weapon: Jake "The Snake" Plummer.
Well, at halftime the game looked like the video game Madden NFL 05, only with better graphics. Although Jake didn't make too many dumb mistakes, the defense was shredded to pieces by the NFL's MVP Peyton Manning. I guess winning Sunday, despite Manning only playing one offensive series, gassed the Broncos' heads up just a little too much. Someone should have reminded them that they barely made the playoffs, and their secondary really hadn't been up to snuff all year long.
If there is a team scarier than Indianapolis, I don't know who it is. Peyton Manning has never played better, Edgerin James is healthy and running hard, Manning has more weapons than ever, and in Dwight Freeney they have the best pass rusher in the game right now. This week they face their archnemesis, New England.
St. Louis beat a team that finds ways to lose. Big whoop. Bulger has been playing excellent, however, since coming back from that injury just before the close of the season. Stephen Jackson has been running the ball quite well too. In fact, he led the NFL this year with 5 yards per carry. It's simply too bad that neither of them have a coach that can utilize the weapons on that team effectively. Under Mike Martz, the Rams have been a very underachieving team this year.
Let's talk about this weekend's games. First, St. Louis at Atlanta.
If Stephen Jackson touches the ball more than 10 times in this game, it'll shock the hell out of me. Atlanta's defense is contoured to stop the run. Besides, we know Martz never tries to establish a running game.
Bulger's arm is strong enough and accurate enough to get the long ball over Atlanta's weak secondary. The only question is if Atlanta can put on a decent pass rush to frustrate Bulger into making mistakes and getting some sacks. It's definitely possible.
Vick is hurt, and Duckett is coming back from an injury. Neither one of them is expected to be 100%. But Vick doesn't know the meaning of pocket passing, and will try to use his feet to get him out of trouble. The good thing for Atlnata is that the Rams don't have a front line or linebacker set that can even catch him on two-hand tag. And expect Algee Crumpler to have a big day.
It will be a close game, as it always is in Atlanta games. Therefore, Atlanta would be well advised to sit back, take it easy and let Mike Martz screw up to give you the win.
Vikings at Philly. This is no doubt the most intriguing game this weekend. Philly has benched their starters for the last three weeks (they had the bye last week) and their primary offensive weapon, Terrell Owens, is on the shelf until the Super Bowl, if they make it there.
Both teams have circumstances going for them and against them this week. The Vikings don't have to worry about TO. That's a big relief in and of itself. Considering McNabb and the receiver corps haven't played a full game in almost a month, they're going to come out rusty. And the spotlight is on Philly receivers Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell, in that they have to step up and produce to make up for TO. Without TO, that offense is much worse than last year, as they let Duce Staley and James Thrash go in the offseason.
As for the Vikings, Randy Moss isn't 100%, as he aggravated a previous ankle injury in last week's game against the Packers. That cuts Culpepper's options severely. Moss didn't work out on Wednesday, deciding to rest that leg.
McNabb will also face off against the worst pass defense in playoff history. That should be a little reassuring, and will help him get to Pinkston and Mitchell. However, if that defense comes in playing like they did last week, that might now bode too well for Philly. And Brett Farve is more accurate than Donovan McNabb.
A lot of people are calling the upset in this game. I say it all depends on which Vikings team shows up. If they come in with the same intensity they had at Lambeau Field last week, they'll win. But if they are sloppy, and Moss can't make plays on that foot, Philly will let Westbrook carry them to victory.
Jets at Steelers. Can Pennington do it again? He's going to have to have the same day he had against the Chargers and then some to pull off this upset. Pittsburgh's defense is tough. They are healthy, and rested. They're also on a 14 game win streak. Pittsburgh either matches the Jets even or better in almost every stat.
I really don't see the Jets winning this one. The Steelers would have to underachieve to lose. The Jets front line can't keep Roethlisberger from being able to stay versatile behind the line of scrimmage, and the two-headed monster of the Bus and the Duce will keep that ball moving and eventually pound the Jets into submission.
Colts at Patriots. This is the boogieman that has haunted Peyton Manning for a year. It seems as if the Colts get so close, but eventually succumb to the Patriots' D at the end of the game.
Manning is having a year that quarterbacks only dream of. Pats coach Bill Bellicheck and Tom Brady are ready to take that plunge and get to the Super Bowl one more time. This is a game between the unstoppable force and the immovable object.
I'm going with the unstoppable force. Manning has conquered every defensive scheme this year, and there have been some good ones over the course of the year. The Patriots also placed Ty Law on IR, which means Tim Brown is virtually left alone to face off against those receivers. And how many teams are able to beat all of those weapons Indy has twice? Realy the only thing the Pats have going for them is that Manning has to play this game in Foxboro, and it's going to be pretty cold this weekend. The Colts are also only 2-9 against the Patriots all-time.
Another factor this weekend that the broadcast team will talk about: the NFL decided to call illegal contact and pass interference very tight after last year's AFC title game featuring these two teams. Don't think it wont come into play in this game.
So my picks:
- Steelers over Jets
- Falcons over Rams
- Vikings over Philly
- Colts over Pats
If there is a team scarier than Indianapolis, I don't know who it is. Peyton Manning has never played better, Edgerin James is healthy and running hard, Manning has more weapons than ever, and in Dwight Freeney they have the best pass rusher in the game right now. This week they face their archnemesis, New England.
St. Louis beat a team that finds ways to lose. Big whoop. Bulger has been playing excellent, however, since coming back from that injury just before the close of the season. Stephen Jackson has been running the ball quite well too. In fact, he led the NFL this year with 5 yards per carry. It's simply too bad that neither of them have a coach that can utilize the weapons on that team effectively. Under Mike Martz, the Rams have been a very underachieving team this year.
Let's talk about this weekend's games. First, St. Louis at Atlanta.
If Stephen Jackson touches the ball more than 10 times in this game, it'll shock the hell out of me. Atlanta's defense is contoured to stop the run. Besides, we know Martz never tries to establish a running game.
Bulger's arm is strong enough and accurate enough to get the long ball over Atlanta's weak secondary. The only question is if Atlanta can put on a decent pass rush to frustrate Bulger into making mistakes and getting some sacks. It's definitely possible.
Vick is hurt, and Duckett is coming back from an injury. Neither one of them is expected to be 100%. But Vick doesn't know the meaning of pocket passing, and will try to use his feet to get him out of trouble. The good thing for Atlnata is that the Rams don't have a front line or linebacker set that can even catch him on two-hand tag. And expect Algee Crumpler to have a big day.
It will be a close game, as it always is in Atlanta games. Therefore, Atlanta would be well advised to sit back, take it easy and let Mike Martz screw up to give you the win.
Vikings at Philly. This is no doubt the most intriguing game this weekend. Philly has benched their starters for the last three weeks (they had the bye last week) and their primary offensive weapon, Terrell Owens, is on the shelf until the Super Bowl, if they make it there.
Both teams have circumstances going for them and against them this week. The Vikings don't have to worry about TO. That's a big relief in and of itself. Considering McNabb and the receiver corps haven't played a full game in almost a month, they're going to come out rusty. And the spotlight is on Philly receivers Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell, in that they have to step up and produce to make up for TO. Without TO, that offense is much worse than last year, as they let Duce Staley and James Thrash go in the offseason.
As for the Vikings, Randy Moss isn't 100%, as he aggravated a previous ankle injury in last week's game against the Packers. That cuts Culpepper's options severely. Moss didn't work out on Wednesday, deciding to rest that leg.
McNabb will also face off against the worst pass defense in playoff history. That should be a little reassuring, and will help him get to Pinkston and Mitchell. However, if that defense comes in playing like they did last week, that might now bode too well for Philly. And Brett Farve is more accurate than Donovan McNabb.
A lot of people are calling the upset in this game. I say it all depends on which Vikings team shows up. If they come in with the same intensity they had at Lambeau Field last week, they'll win. But if they are sloppy, and Moss can't make plays on that foot, Philly will let Westbrook carry them to victory.
Jets at Steelers. Can Pennington do it again? He's going to have to have the same day he had against the Chargers and then some to pull off this upset. Pittsburgh's defense is tough. They are healthy, and rested. They're also on a 14 game win streak. Pittsburgh either matches the Jets even or better in almost every stat.
I really don't see the Jets winning this one. The Steelers would have to underachieve to lose. The Jets front line can't keep Roethlisberger from being able to stay versatile behind the line of scrimmage, and the two-headed monster of the Bus and the Duce will keep that ball moving and eventually pound the Jets into submission.
Colts at Patriots. This is the boogieman that has haunted Peyton Manning for a year. It seems as if the Colts get so close, but eventually succumb to the Patriots' D at the end of the game.
Manning is having a year that quarterbacks only dream of. Pats coach Bill Bellicheck and Tom Brady are ready to take that plunge and get to the Super Bowl one more time. This is a game between the unstoppable force and the immovable object.
I'm going with the unstoppable force. Manning has conquered every defensive scheme this year, and there have been some good ones over the course of the year. The Patriots also placed Ty Law on IR, which means Tim Brown is virtually left alone to face off against those receivers. And how many teams are able to beat all of those weapons Indy has twice? Realy the only thing the Pats have going for them is that Manning has to play this game in Foxboro, and it's going to be pretty cold this weekend. The Colts are also only 2-9 against the Patriots all-time.
Another factor this weekend that the broadcast team will talk about: the NFL decided to call illegal contact and pass interference very tight after last year's AFC title game featuring these two teams. Don't think it wont come into play in this game.
So my picks:
- Steelers over Jets
- Falcons over Rams
- Vikings over Philly
- Colts over Pats