Hey everyone!
I decided, just like the NFL, to take a week off. Exciting? I agree.
Anyway, I probably should talk about the Super Bowl before the game actually starts, eh?
BEFORE I GET TO THAT: There is something that I would like to bring up...Sportsmanship.
This issue has been a topic of discussion in the sports realm for quite awhile, and for the longest time I didn't think there was one "Pure" athlete out there. When I say "pure", I mean one that exemplifies the definitions of extreme talent and extreme courtesy and sportsmanship. It wasn't until Friday that I realized that there is at least ONE person out there that shows all this: Rafael Nadal. Friday morning at the Australian Open, Nadal was playing against Fernando Verdasco for a spot in the final round against Rodger Federer. Critics viewed this as a shoe-in match for Nadal, but it turned into anything but. The match lasted 5 hours, with three out of the five sets going into a tiebreaker. I bring this match up in terms of great sportsmanship because at the end of the match, the VERY FIRST thing Nadal did once declared the winner was gingerly step over the net and give Verdasco a gracious hug.
In the heat of the battle, we sometimes forget that people are ultimately going after the same thing, and put in as much or more effort to reach that same goal. To show appreciation for that kind of match like Nadal did showed me that there is a glimmer of hope for the future of all in the world of sports. Congrats to Nadal for his victory, and even more, his heart.
Now, the moment you've all been waiting for: The Super Bowl
If you've been watching ESPN intently like I have the past week, you'll know everything you'd ever like to know about these two franchises, and probably a bit more. For that reason, I will spare you the deep analysis (even though that kind of stuff is what I live for....{insert any and all "Dork" references here}). What I will do is tell you a brief reason why each team will and will not win the Super Bowl, and then give you my overall prediction.
The NFC representative is the Arizona Cardinals....wait, what? YES! The Cardinals! Even though them being here goes against my pick of the Eagles, I am happy to see this team succeed the way they have this postseason. When you think about the Arizona Cardinals, you immediately think of Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald. While those players are a large reason why they're in the Super Bowl, they are not the reason they win the game. If they're going to win this weekend, it will be because of two DEFENSIVE players: Bertrand Berry and Adrian Wilson. It was the defense that got them to this weekend's game, and it will be the defense that gets them a win. Ben Roethlesberger and the Pittsburgh offensive line have had the hardest time blocking the pass rush. In fact, the Steelers were #1 in the league in sacks given up. If Bertrand Berry puts pressure on Big Ben, that will force him to rush his throws. Enter Adrian Wilson. As a safety, Wilson is a blitz specialist, and once the Cardinals send him as an extra pass-rusher, Roethlesberger will have no choice but to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Either that, or they'll get the sack and force tough plays out of the offense on later downs.
The Cardinals will NOT win the Super Bowl because of inexperience. I know I said that for last week, but this game is MUCH different than the Championship games. There are only five players on the current roster who have Super Bowl experience, one of them being QB Kurt Warner. The Steelers have 20 players still playing for them from their Super Bowl XL victory. The talent for this team is there, but to play in a high-level game such as this with an inexperienced roster is tough, and it makes it even tougher when the opposing team has done this EXACT thing before.
Now for the AFC representatives: The Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlesberger, Hines Ward, Willie Parker, and a defense that second to none. I knew that if the Steelers were to get to the Super Bowl, that they would be automatically the favorite. With a defense featuring Troy Polamaulu and Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison, the offense of the Cardinals have to be perfect to win. So, how do the Steelers win? Not by defense. The offense, led by the passing game of Ben Roethlesberger, is what will win this game for the Steelers. With the rate of scoring that the Cardinal offense can have, the defense may not be a factor in the game. That is where the scoring ability of the Steelers has to come into play. If Roethlesberger is able to hit Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes for scores, the offense may be the story of the game.
Now, I've already mentioned this before, but the way that the Steelers lose this game is through the offensive line. The Pittsburgh Steelers led the league in sacks allowed this year, and Ben Roethlesberger's ribs have paid a steep price. The inefficiency of the offensive line may cause a disruption in the running game. Willie Parker is not the type of back that likes to run through tackles. If he finds a hole, he will exploit it. The problem is that there may be no holes to run through if the line doesn't do its job. Major parts of the Steelers' game plan relies on the efficiency of the offensive line, and as of now, they're just getting by.
Alright, now that the minor analysis is done, time for me to predict a winner.
Before I make the pick, let me make something absolutely clear. I don't care who wins. If the Steelers win, that's great. They'd get their 6th title as a franchise and forever put themselves in the record books. If the Cardinals win, that's great too. They'd get their first title in over 60 years, and their first since moving to Arizona. BUT, in the end, I believe that the winner of Super Bowl XLIII will be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hope you all enjoy the game!
Jared
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
And the Super Bowl participants will be.....!?!?! (AFC Edition)
Hey again!
It's time for my view on the AFC side of the equation. Who will advance to the Super Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers? Let's take a look!
First, we'll analyze the away team, the Baltimore Ravens. A rookie QB and a rookie head coach in the AFC Championship game? You better believe it! Joe Flacco and Co. are coming into this game ready to prove that they are no fluke. There are still players on this team that were on the 1999 squad that won it all (Ray Lewis and Chris McCallister), and they will provide the guidance and the leadership that is necessary to defeat the Steelers. The underrated offense, especially this postseason, has limited the mistakes that come often to a youthful squad. The decision-making has been very impressive for a rookie QB coming from a small college, and the running game, headed up by LeRon McClain and Willis McGahee, has been debilitating to their postseason opponents. Of course, their defense has been nothing short of spectacular. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terell Suggs have led the league's #2 defense deep into the postseason, and there seems to be no end to their dominance.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, again, are showing how they are the most well-rounded team in the AFC, if not the entire league. Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, and Hines Ward have returned to their dominant selves and are poised and ready to head back to the place where the world first saw their full potential; the Super Bowl. The defense for the Steelers has always been solid, but this year they have stepped it up and are now the #1 defense in the NFL. Led by Defensive Player of the Year linebacker James Harrison and All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu, this defense is ready to dominate whatever the Ravens throw at them. Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau is known throughout the league as one of the most detailed and prepared coordinators in NFL history, and his preparations for today will show why he has earned the respect of his competators.
So, who wins this game? It is true that these teams have played eachother two other times this year, and both games have been very close. Yet, the Steelers have found a way to win each game. Will that be the case for the third meeting? Yes. The Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Roethlesberger and Ward, will do what it takes to get the ball in the endzone, and the running game of a healthy Willie Parker will be too much for a solid Balitmore defense. I give props to the Baltimore Ravens, and rookie Joe Flacco, for being successful up to this point, and there is no limit to what this team can do in the years to come. Yet, the strength and experience of the Steelers will be too much to handle for the Baltimore Ravens.
My Prediction? Steelers over Ravens
So, those are my picks for the weekend. It doesn't look like my NFC pick is turning out the way I wanted it to, but like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals went all the way. They're a very talented team, and I'm very impressed with what they have accomplished. We'll see how the rest of the game turns out. Thanks for reading!
Jared
It's time for my view on the AFC side of the equation. Who will advance to the Super Bowl between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers? Let's take a look!
First, we'll analyze the away team, the Baltimore Ravens. A rookie QB and a rookie head coach in the AFC Championship game? You better believe it! Joe Flacco and Co. are coming into this game ready to prove that they are no fluke. There are still players on this team that were on the 1999 squad that won it all (Ray Lewis and Chris McCallister), and they will provide the guidance and the leadership that is necessary to defeat the Steelers. The underrated offense, especially this postseason, has limited the mistakes that come often to a youthful squad. The decision-making has been very impressive for a rookie QB coming from a small college, and the running game, headed up by LeRon McClain and Willis McGahee, has been debilitating to their postseason opponents. Of course, their defense has been nothing short of spectacular. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terell Suggs have led the league's #2 defense deep into the postseason, and there seems to be no end to their dominance.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, again, are showing how they are the most well-rounded team in the AFC, if not the entire league. Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, and Hines Ward have returned to their dominant selves and are poised and ready to head back to the place where the world first saw their full potential; the Super Bowl. The defense for the Steelers has always been solid, but this year they have stepped it up and are now the #1 defense in the NFL. Led by Defensive Player of the Year linebacker James Harrison and All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu, this defense is ready to dominate whatever the Ravens throw at them. Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau is known throughout the league as one of the most detailed and prepared coordinators in NFL history, and his preparations for today will show why he has earned the respect of his competators.
So, who wins this game? It is true that these teams have played eachother two other times this year, and both games have been very close. Yet, the Steelers have found a way to win each game. Will that be the case for the third meeting? Yes. The Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Roethlesberger and Ward, will do what it takes to get the ball in the endzone, and the running game of a healthy Willie Parker will be too much for a solid Balitmore defense. I give props to the Baltimore Ravens, and rookie Joe Flacco, for being successful up to this point, and there is no limit to what this team can do in the years to come. Yet, the strength and experience of the Steelers will be too much to handle for the Baltimore Ravens.
My Prediction? Steelers over Ravens
So, those are my picks for the weekend. It doesn't look like my NFC pick is turning out the way I wanted it to, but like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if the Cardinals went all the way. They're a very talented team, and I'm very impressed with what they have accomplished. We'll see how the rest of the game turns out. Thanks for reading!
Jared
And the Super Bowl participants will be.....!?!?! (NFC Edition)
Hey everyone!
Sorry about not posting anything last week. I was in the middle of getting back to college, and time was very short for me. But never fear, I have returned for some helpful insight as to who will be playing in the Super Bowl in two weeks!
First, let's take a look at the NFC Championship game between the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles and the "I think this is a typo" Arizona Cardinals. Both of these teams are riding hot streaks, and both teams have advantages that off-set each other.
The Eagles have several players that could swing the advantage to their side. Brian Westbrook is a player that has to be effective in order for the Eagles to have a functioning offense. Whether it be in the run game or in the short passing game, Westbrook has to be utilized to his fullest potential throughout this game. Donovan McNabb must also be on his game as well. If he reverts to his pre-benching performances, this game will be over. The last player that needs to be on top of his game is Safety Brian Dawkins. Known as the heart of the Eagle defense, this versatile veteran can be effective in run defense as well as pass defense. He hits harder than any 30-year old Safety in the game, and receivers are always cautious when running routs by this guy. If any or all of these guys are ineffective in this game, the Cardinals will take advantage and advance to the Super Bowl with ease.
The Cardinals also have players that could make home-field advantage seem like an insurmountable obsticle. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are two offensive players that are a must in terms of this teams success. Kurt Warner will have limited options in the passing game if these receivers are not able to get the ball in their hands. The Eagles defense is suseptible to the "big play" in the passing game, and Boldin and Fitzgerald are the best receivers for the job when wanting the "big play". The defensive player that the Eagles need to watch out for today is Bertrand Berry. He may be getting up there in age, but he can still be extremely effective in the pass rush. If he is able to get pressure on McNabb and force him into rushing a few throws, players like Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie and Roderick Hood can jump a few routs and get some takeaways. If they force turnovers and get an effective pass rush, this game may turn out in the favor of the ultimate underdog story.
So, who wins the game? Like I said earlier, the pros of each of these teams seem to offset eachother, so I have to look to the head coaches. Andy Reid for the Eagles has been here before. He's been here four other times, to be exact. He and McNabb have felt the pressures of a big game like this in the past, and they both have experienece playing these big games on the road. The Cardinals, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt, have very limited experience in these big games. Granted, they've beaten two of the best to get to this game today (the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers), but that does not prepare them to play in a game such as this. If it turns out the other way, I would not be surprised in the least, but with the experience that the Eagles possess, I believe that will lead them to a victory today.
My prediction? Eagles over Cardinals
Alright. That's my take on the NFC side of the league. Later today, I will be posting my views on the AFC Championship game between the Pittsburg Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens and tell you who will be representing that conference in the Super Bowl. I will see you all later!
Jared
Sorry about not posting anything last week. I was in the middle of getting back to college, and time was very short for me. But never fear, I have returned for some helpful insight as to who will be playing in the Super Bowl in two weeks!
First, let's take a look at the NFC Championship game between the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles and the "I think this is a typo" Arizona Cardinals. Both of these teams are riding hot streaks, and both teams have advantages that off-set each other.
The Eagles have several players that could swing the advantage to their side. Brian Westbrook is a player that has to be effective in order for the Eagles to have a functioning offense. Whether it be in the run game or in the short passing game, Westbrook has to be utilized to his fullest potential throughout this game. Donovan McNabb must also be on his game as well. If he reverts to his pre-benching performances, this game will be over. The last player that needs to be on top of his game is Safety Brian Dawkins. Known as the heart of the Eagle defense, this versatile veteran can be effective in run defense as well as pass defense. He hits harder than any 30-year old Safety in the game, and receivers are always cautious when running routs by this guy. If any or all of these guys are ineffective in this game, the Cardinals will take advantage and advance to the Super Bowl with ease.
The Cardinals also have players that could make home-field advantage seem like an insurmountable obsticle. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are two offensive players that are a must in terms of this teams success. Kurt Warner will have limited options in the passing game if these receivers are not able to get the ball in their hands. The Eagles defense is suseptible to the "big play" in the passing game, and Boldin and Fitzgerald are the best receivers for the job when wanting the "big play". The defensive player that the Eagles need to watch out for today is Bertrand Berry. He may be getting up there in age, but he can still be extremely effective in the pass rush. If he is able to get pressure on McNabb and force him into rushing a few throws, players like Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie and Roderick Hood can jump a few routs and get some takeaways. If they force turnovers and get an effective pass rush, this game may turn out in the favor of the ultimate underdog story.
So, who wins the game? Like I said earlier, the pros of each of these teams seem to offset eachother, so I have to look to the head coaches. Andy Reid for the Eagles has been here before. He's been here four other times, to be exact. He and McNabb have felt the pressures of a big game like this in the past, and they both have experienece playing these big games on the road. The Cardinals, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt, have very limited experience in these big games. Granted, they've beaten two of the best to get to this game today (the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers), but that does not prepare them to play in a game such as this. If it turns out the other way, I would not be surprised in the least, but with the experience that the Eagles possess, I believe that will lead them to a victory today.
My prediction? Eagles over Cardinals
Alright. That's my take on the NFC side of the league. Later today, I will be posting my views on the AFC Championship game between the Pittsburg Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens and tell you who will be representing that conference in the Super Bowl. I will see you all later!
Jared
Saturday, January 3, 2009
It's Playoff Time!
Hey Everyone!
To begin, I would like to welcome everyone to the year 2009! As a part of my New Years resolution, I wanted to start blogging again. I found it a great outlet to voice my opinion about all things sports last year, and I wanted to get back into that. So, here I am!
Also, I thought that this would be a great way to get experience in writing about sports. I want to be a sports broadcaster after I graduate from Iowa State, and writing about sports in any form is a great way to get that needed experience.
OK! Lets begin..
I want to start out by discussing the blackout issues that were surrounding the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams had to sell close to 20,000 tickets in a week to avoid being blacked out by local television stations. The Vikings had not been blacked out since 1997. To me, if a team fails to sell the required tickets to get the game on local television, there is no reason to put them on national television. They can't sell tickets? FOR THE PLAYOFFS? The Arizona Cardinals haven't been in the playoffs since 1998, and the Minnesota Vikings haven't seen the playoffs since the Randy Moss days. Why aren't these fans excited for their team? Why were there nearly 20,000 tickets still available at the beginning of this week?
Well, the fans ARE excited. In fact, they're as excited as any fans in the entire nation.
The problem lies in how much money the teams are asking for these tickets.
The cheapest a ticket was running for the Vikings game against the Philadelphia Eagles was $80. The most expensive ticket for sale was $160. Really? You expect the average American fan to pay $80 out of their own pocket to go watch a football game? Either these NFL teams are very naive, or they are focusing their sales in another direction. Why else do the new NFL stadiums have extra Box seating and limited expansion on regular seating? Why else do stadiums sell fancy cuisine versus a pizza and a burger?
At this point in my life, I can't see myself ever going to another professional sports event. I can't afford it, and neither can most of the average fans. Until there is a refocus in priorities, and the world of sports becomes more fan-friendly, I only anticipate a decline in attendance and merchandise sales.
After saying that, let me discuss the playoff match-ups for this weekend.
On tap first, the Atlanta Falcons travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals. Alright..so..this game is actually going on right now. After watching the first half and the beginning of the second half, the game is going back and forth. There are times where it seems the Falcons are being affected by the nerves of a playoff game, and then there are times where those nerves switch over to the Cardinals. Overall, I feel as though the Cardinals, with home-field advantage and an experienced QB in Kurt Warner, will come out on top over the Falcons. Atlanta has had a great year, and they will be a team to contend with for many years down the road, but Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Co. will be too much to handle for the Falcons.
My Prediction: Arizona over Atlanta
The next game in the lineup is the San Diego Chargers playing the Indianapolis Colts. Both of these teams, at one point or another this season, were at risk of missing the playoffs altogether. The best story out of both of these teams is the story of the Chargers. With four weeks left in the year, the team found themselves at a 4-8 record and one loss (or a Denver win) away from playoff elimination. With wins against the Raiders, Chiefs, Buccaneers, and a playoff-clinching win against the free-falling Broncos, the Chargers found themselves AFC West champions and hosting a playoff game. Yet, nothing takes away from the streak the Colts are currently on. The team has won 9 straight games to get to this game today, and recorded another 12-4 season. Peyton Manning, who was voted the NFL MVP this week, passed for 11 TD's against 1 INT during that 9-game sequence, and he passed for 4,000+ yards a record 9th time in his career. Moving away from the offense, the defense (led by former Iowa Hawkeye Bob Sanders) is looking like the defense of their 2006 championship squad.
So, which team has the advantage? This one is surprisingly tough.
On paper, this game goes to the Colts. With injuries to LaDanian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, the Chargers may be short-handed. Yet, let's rewind to last year's Divisional Playoff game between these two teams (IN Indianapolis). Tomlinson barely played, Gates was out completely, and QB Phillip Rivers missed a good portion of the game due to injury. Backup QB Billy Volek led the team to an road playoff victory and a chance to play the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. What is Peyton Manning's problem against the Chargers? To paraphrase a recent interview, their defense isn't vanilla. He has passed for 10 TD's, but has also thrown 11 INT's in his career against the Chargers. If he wants to beat this team, Manning has to put his history behind him, and play like it was any other team they've played this year.
I believe that Manning will have the poise to overcome the Charger defense, and I think the Colts move on.
My Prediction: Colts defeat Chargers
Next is the game that nobody expected to occur: Baltimore vs. Miami. Talk about your underdog vs. underdog game. Both of these teams were extreme underachievers last season. In fact, the only reason that the Miami Dolphins won a game last year is that they defeated the Ravens in overtime 22-16. Could revenge be on the way.
Both of these teams improved greatly. Miami, going 1-15 last season, changed the team president, head coach, and team mentality. Offseason aquisitions of rookie Jake Long, TE Anthony Fasano, and QB Chad Pennington helped with the stability of a team viewed to be out of it from the beginning. After going 11-5 this season and winning the AFC East (a division thought to be dominated by the Patriots), the Dolphins are looking to prove the rest of the world that anything is possible. The Ravens, after a 5-11 finish last year, looked to re-tool what was already a talented squad. First, QB Steve McNair announced his retirement. Following that announcement, the Ravens announced that their new head coach would be John Harbaugh, who had been a Special Teams coach with the Philadelphia Eagles. After drafting QB Joe Flacco in the 1st round of the NFL Draft and the team's hiring of Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron, the Ravens had a foundation for a successful offense. The defense, of course, has always been solid, and has only gotten better as the year went on.
So, who wins the game?
Putting the success stories aside, I believe that the Baltimore Ravens have the advantage. I think that the offenses of each of these teams are a wash. The game will come down to the defenses. With the traditional aggressiveness of the Baltimore defense, Chad Pennington and the rest of Miami will be overpowered and outmatched.
My Predition: Ravens over Dolphins
The final game on Wildcard weekend is the Vikings at home against the Eagles. I don't see this game being as close as many people are predicting it to be. As a Green Bay fan, I see the Vikings play the Packers twice a year. After reviewing both match-ups this year, the only thing that stuck out to me was the ability of Minnesota to deny the rushing attack of any team. That was their bread and butter. As long as Kevin and Pat Williams (no relation) were in the middle, there was no worry about the run defense. Yet, Pat Williams is questionable due to injury, and the pass defense is very suseptible to the air attack. Who does Philadelphia have that can take advantage of this? Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. The "Dynamic Duo" of the Philadelphia Eagles are exactly what is needed to take down a weak Minnesota secondary. If the Eagles get Westbrook out in the open, this game is over. If not, McNabb will struggle and the Vikings could take advantage.
Who wins the game? I do not have the greatest confidence in the Minnesota defense, and the Eagles are still rolling after the 44-6 blowout against the Cowboys. Even though that game was closer than the score revealed, to defeat a team like Dallas by that much shows how hungry this team actually is. The Vikings? They won their division on a last minute field goal against a relaxed New York Giants team. Advantage Eagles.
My Prediction: Philadelpia defeats Minnesota
So, that is my view on the world of sports for this week. I think this weekend will be exciting in terms of NFL Football, and I hope that the games are as exciting as I anticipate. I plan on doing an entry each week, so keep watching for it, and comment on what you think! I appreciate any responses that I get, and I hope that what you see is informative and entertaining. Thanks for reading!
Jared
To begin, I would like to welcome everyone to the year 2009! As a part of my New Years resolution, I wanted to start blogging again. I found it a great outlet to voice my opinion about all things sports last year, and I wanted to get back into that. So, here I am!
Also, I thought that this would be a great way to get experience in writing about sports. I want to be a sports broadcaster after I graduate from Iowa State, and writing about sports in any form is a great way to get that needed experience.
OK! Lets begin..
I want to start out by discussing the blackout issues that were surrounding the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams had to sell close to 20,000 tickets in a week to avoid being blacked out by local television stations. The Vikings had not been blacked out since 1997. To me, if a team fails to sell the required tickets to get the game on local television, there is no reason to put them on national television. They can't sell tickets? FOR THE PLAYOFFS? The Arizona Cardinals haven't been in the playoffs since 1998, and the Minnesota Vikings haven't seen the playoffs since the Randy Moss days. Why aren't these fans excited for their team? Why were there nearly 20,000 tickets still available at the beginning of this week?
Well, the fans ARE excited. In fact, they're as excited as any fans in the entire nation.
The problem lies in how much money the teams are asking for these tickets.
The cheapest a ticket was running for the Vikings game against the Philadelphia Eagles was $80. The most expensive ticket for sale was $160. Really? You expect the average American fan to pay $80 out of their own pocket to go watch a football game? Either these NFL teams are very naive, or they are focusing their sales in another direction. Why else do the new NFL stadiums have extra Box seating and limited expansion on regular seating? Why else do stadiums sell fancy cuisine versus a pizza and a burger?
At this point in my life, I can't see myself ever going to another professional sports event. I can't afford it, and neither can most of the average fans. Until there is a refocus in priorities, and the world of sports becomes more fan-friendly, I only anticipate a decline in attendance and merchandise sales.
After saying that, let me discuss the playoff match-ups for this weekend.
On tap first, the Atlanta Falcons travel to Arizona to play the Cardinals. Alright..so..this game is actually going on right now. After watching the first half and the beginning of the second half, the game is going back and forth. There are times where it seems the Falcons are being affected by the nerves of a playoff game, and then there are times where those nerves switch over to the Cardinals. Overall, I feel as though the Cardinals, with home-field advantage and an experienced QB in Kurt Warner, will come out on top over the Falcons. Atlanta has had a great year, and they will be a team to contend with for many years down the road, but Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Co. will be too much to handle for the Falcons.
My Prediction: Arizona over Atlanta
The next game in the lineup is the San Diego Chargers playing the Indianapolis Colts. Both of these teams, at one point or another this season, were at risk of missing the playoffs altogether. The best story out of both of these teams is the story of the Chargers. With four weeks left in the year, the team found themselves at a 4-8 record and one loss (or a Denver win) away from playoff elimination. With wins against the Raiders, Chiefs, Buccaneers, and a playoff-clinching win against the free-falling Broncos, the Chargers found themselves AFC West champions and hosting a playoff game. Yet, nothing takes away from the streak the Colts are currently on. The team has won 9 straight games to get to this game today, and recorded another 12-4 season. Peyton Manning, who was voted the NFL MVP this week, passed for 11 TD's against 1 INT during that 9-game sequence, and he passed for 4,000+ yards a record 9th time in his career. Moving away from the offense, the defense (led by former Iowa Hawkeye Bob Sanders) is looking like the defense of their 2006 championship squad.
So, which team has the advantage? This one is surprisingly tough.
On paper, this game goes to the Colts. With injuries to LaDanian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates, the Chargers may be short-handed. Yet, let's rewind to last year's Divisional Playoff game between these two teams (IN Indianapolis). Tomlinson barely played, Gates was out completely, and QB Phillip Rivers missed a good portion of the game due to injury. Backup QB Billy Volek led the team to an road playoff victory and a chance to play the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. What is Peyton Manning's problem against the Chargers? To paraphrase a recent interview, their defense isn't vanilla. He has passed for 10 TD's, but has also thrown 11 INT's in his career against the Chargers. If he wants to beat this team, Manning has to put his history behind him, and play like it was any other team they've played this year.
I believe that Manning will have the poise to overcome the Charger defense, and I think the Colts move on.
My Prediction: Colts defeat Chargers
Next is the game that nobody expected to occur: Baltimore vs. Miami. Talk about your underdog vs. underdog game. Both of these teams were extreme underachievers last season. In fact, the only reason that the Miami Dolphins won a game last year is that they defeated the Ravens in overtime 22-16. Could revenge be on the way.
Both of these teams improved greatly. Miami, going 1-15 last season, changed the team president, head coach, and team mentality. Offseason aquisitions of rookie Jake Long, TE Anthony Fasano, and QB Chad Pennington helped with the stability of a team viewed to be out of it from the beginning. After going 11-5 this season and winning the AFC East (a division thought to be dominated by the Patriots), the Dolphins are looking to prove the rest of the world that anything is possible. The Ravens, after a 5-11 finish last year, looked to re-tool what was already a talented squad. First, QB Steve McNair announced his retirement. Following that announcement, the Ravens announced that their new head coach would be John Harbaugh, who had been a Special Teams coach with the Philadelphia Eagles. After drafting QB Joe Flacco in the 1st round of the NFL Draft and the team's hiring of Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron, the Ravens had a foundation for a successful offense. The defense, of course, has always been solid, and has only gotten better as the year went on.
So, who wins the game?
Putting the success stories aside, I believe that the Baltimore Ravens have the advantage. I think that the offenses of each of these teams are a wash. The game will come down to the defenses. With the traditional aggressiveness of the Baltimore defense, Chad Pennington and the rest of Miami will be overpowered and outmatched.
My Predition: Ravens over Dolphins
The final game on Wildcard weekend is the Vikings at home against the Eagles. I don't see this game being as close as many people are predicting it to be. As a Green Bay fan, I see the Vikings play the Packers twice a year. After reviewing both match-ups this year, the only thing that stuck out to me was the ability of Minnesota to deny the rushing attack of any team. That was their bread and butter. As long as Kevin and Pat Williams (no relation) were in the middle, there was no worry about the run defense. Yet, Pat Williams is questionable due to injury, and the pass defense is very suseptible to the air attack. Who does Philadelphia have that can take advantage of this? Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. The "Dynamic Duo" of the Philadelphia Eagles are exactly what is needed to take down a weak Minnesota secondary. If the Eagles get Westbrook out in the open, this game is over. If not, McNabb will struggle and the Vikings could take advantage.
Who wins the game? I do not have the greatest confidence in the Minnesota defense, and the Eagles are still rolling after the 44-6 blowout against the Cowboys. Even though that game was closer than the score revealed, to defeat a team like Dallas by that much shows how hungry this team actually is. The Vikings? They won their division on a last minute field goal against a relaxed New York Giants team. Advantage Eagles.
My Prediction: Philadelpia defeats Minnesota
So, that is my view on the world of sports for this week. I think this weekend will be exciting in terms of NFL Football, and I hope that the games are as exciting as I anticipate. I plan on doing an entry each week, so keep watching for it, and comment on what you think! I appreciate any responses that I get, and I hope that what you see is informative and entertaining. Thanks for reading!
Jared
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