Finished the Divisional Round 2-2 after getting burned by the Manning's. What a shock. If I sweep the final three games I can finish a respectable 6-5 for the playoffs. In order to do that I have to- get ready for it- "take it one game at a time." Lets start with the AFC.
AFC Championship: San Diego Chargers vs. New England Patriots
The Bolts shocked the world last weekend in Indianapolis, although, it shouldn't be as big of a shock as everyone made it out to be. The Chargers haven't lost since Nov. 18 at Jacksonville- an eight game span. When the playoffs began, I felt Rivers would be the one to do them in since he seemed to be more focused on trash talking anyone and everyone rather then beating the other team. Rivers has proven me wrong the past few weeks, along with another quarterback that we'll get to later, but I think he may do them in today for a completely different reason. The late word just came in that Rivers will start today, which sounds good for San Diego, but the reality is the man is not healthy. He will have trouble moving around on his injured knee and that's the last thing you want when going against a Bill Belichek defense. It also doesn't help that LT and Antonio Gates are hobbled as well. Teams at full strength can't beat the Patriots, how do you expect a team whose three best players are playing with serious injuries? The Chargers have been a great story, and provided me personally with great joy last weekend after knocking of Peyton and the Colts, but I don't see them going into Foxboro beating the Pats at full strength let alone their current state. I think the Charger defense pressures Brady and gives the Pats some problems early, but this should get ugly in the second half after Billy Boy makes his halftime adjustments. It's 18 and counting as the Pats roll, 29-13.
NFC Championship: New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers
The Giants have won nine straight road games. The Packers lost once at home in 2007, and just twice in playoff history at Lambeau Field, so something has to give today. Let me start off by saying that people are making way too much out of the weather situation in Green Bay. The game-time temperature is supposed to be around one degree with a -12 wind chill, and everyone seems to think this favors the Packers. First of all, conditions like that favor no one because they just don't happen that often and neither of these teams practice in a cooler in preparation. Secondly, the Giants are from New York and it would actually be colder in Giants Stadium under those temperatures because the wind would be a much greater factor, so don't tell me the Giants are at a disadvantage because of weather. They are at a disadvantage because the Packers have Brett Favre. This legend is on a mission to retire in 2008. He has talked about wanting to continue next year, but I can promise you he will hang it up if he wins today and beats New England in two weeks. However, if that is going to happen, its going to come down to his running back Ryan Grant. Throwing the ball will be very difficult under the freezing conditions so I'm guessing the running backs will have a lot to say about who wins this game. There isn't a back left playing as well as Ryan Grant has been and while the Giants sport a great ground game with Jacobs and Bradshaw, I think Grant will again steal the show as he did last week against Seattle. His play should open up some opportunities down field for Favre and he will expose the Giants secondary in ways Tony Romo couldn't last week. Eli Manning has been fantastic the past few weeks, but I don't see him going into Lambeau and upstaging the legend. Eli and the Giants will be back, but it's Favre and the Packers day, 17-10 Packers.
The stage is set. A rematch of the '97 Super Bowl, a game that a young Brett Favre won 35-21 over Bill Parcells' and Drew Bledsoe's Patriots. A growing legend- Tom Brady- vs. an immortal in Brett Favre. It should be a special game. Check back in two weeks for my prediction on that match-up or another if some surprises occur today.
NostraDTMus
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