France France have not been playing to expectations as of late, but on paper, they are one of the strongest teams of the tournament. France had a hard time qualifying for the cup, to say the least, with a controversial handball from Thierry Henry getting them past Ireland in the deciding game in the qualifiers. France is a very experienced squad that can play an attack or defense game. Look for star attackers Henry, Nicolas Anelka, and Franck Ribery to play their hearts out in order to get some redemption. France is also returning many players from the 2006 World Cup where they were eliminated in the final. This makes for a dangerous team that is looking for blood. Look for France to come out defensively against Uruguay, and then play aggressive and open against weaker South Africa and Mexico. I say France wins the group with two wins against Uruguay and Mexico, and a draw against South Africa.

Uruguay Uruguay is surprisingly a successful team even though they have had inconsistent results as of late. They are 1 of 5 countries to have won more than 1 world cup (in 1930 and 1950), and they are ranked 8th in the Soccer Power Index. Technically, Uruguay is the group favorite, but they’re not a very deep team, consisting of great strikers, but nothing else of notable talent. Since their strength is in their attack, they play an aggressive game, but unfortunately, they were placed in a group with a couple of defensive-minded teams in South Africa and Mexico. Uruguay is a strong team no doubt, but come World Cup, they’ll face the consequence of an unlucky draw. Look for Uruguay to rack up about 1 or 2 points before being eliminated.

Mexico Not much to say here. Mexico has some top-tier talent, but they are way too inconsistent, and they do not have an identity. The fact that they don’t have a go-to formation makes it difficult for them because South Africa and France are two teams that can play very tough defense. Something that Mexico does have going for them is their attack-when it plays up to standards. If their forwards and midfielders get the job done, they can most certainly beat Uruguay, and have a chance at a draw with South Africa. Maybe in another group Mexico makes it out of the first round, but due to their inconsistency and their non-definitive way of playing, they will have a very tough time getting some wins. Total points for Mexico: 1.

South Africa The bafanabafana are arguably the weakest team in the whole tournament. They are ranked 84th in the SPI. They do have a few things going for them though, with a strong defense and the support of the whole country behind them. Is home-field advantage enough to push the least-qualified team into the later rounds of the tournament? It may not seem like it, but having the World Cup in your home country is arguably the most beneficial factor in the entire tournament. Never before has the home country been knocked out in the group stages. In 2002, when Japan and South Korea co-hosted the World Cup, both teams were considered to be among the weakest in the field. However, with their countries supporting them, both teams advanced to the knockout stages, with South Korea making it all the way to the semi-finals. Besides the momentum South Africa will receive from their home turf, they also showcase a strong defense. I may be the only person you know saying this, but I have South Africa getting through based on history of home-field and a little luck of the draw.

In the end, France will win the group, with South Africa slipping by for 2nd.

In A Cavaliers blowout of the Bulls, LeBron James dances on the sideline, causing Bulls C Joakim Noah to have some nasty words for him.

#1 Cavaliers vs. #8 Bulls

It only seems fitting that the Bulls would make the playoffs over the Raptors. After all, Joakim Noah gets to take that “hatred” he has for LeBron and use it as motivation for the Bulls’ playoff series against the Cavs. The Cavs and Bulls split their season series 2-2, but that isn’t very telling of how this series will play out. The first game these two teams played against each other was a hard fought game that went back and forth with the Bulls winning 86-85. The next two games they played, Cleveland beat the Bulls easily due to an injured Derrick Rose. The last time these teams played, LeBron James sat out to rest up for the playoffs, and Shaq was still injured.

Last year, the Bulls were involved in a 7-game stint with the Celtics in what is widely regarded as the best playoff series of all time. This year, the Bulls will most likely be involved in a rather forgettable series. The Cavs are returning Shaq to their lineup, and it will be the first time that the Diesel and Antawn Jamison will play together. I imagine Cavs coach Mike Brown will use the first few games to experiment with all different kinds of lineups and rotations. In light of this, I’ll give the Bulls one win against the Cavs. The Bulls won’t let the Cavs win any games without a fight. Not to say that there won’t be any blowouts, because that’s probably how the Cavs will win a couple. In the end, it will be LeBron’s playmaking skills and the variety of perimeter weapons at the Cavs’ disposal that will kill the Bulls. Cavs in 5.

Key Matchup to Watch: Cavs frontline vs. Bulls frontline. The frontline for the Cavs that bolsters  Jamison, LeBron, J.J. Hickson, and Varejao just got stronger with the re-addition of Shaq (and Ilgauskas?). Even though the Bulls have star Derrick Rose, their key to winning this series is banging inside with the Cavs using Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, and Joakim Noah. We all know Brad Miller doesn’t bang.

#2 Magic vs. #7 Bobcats

The bobcats aren’t  exactly the most feared team in the NBA. However, they are a team to look out for because they can create matchup problems for any team. With versatile players that can be effective at several positions like Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, the Bobcats aren’t the first team you want to go into a 7-game series with. The Magic are coming into the playoffs hot. They’ve won 9 out of their last 10, and are playing some of the best basketball around the league. They are getting consistent contributions from Matt Barnes, Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis. When the Magic are in sync, they may be the toughest team in the NBA.

The Magic should win this series, but the Bobcats won’t make it easy. In order for the Bobcats to take the series, they need to play consistent defense, limit Dwight Howard’s touches, and shoot the ball well (something they often have trouble with). Stephen Jackson is going to have to show some of those leadership skills he has and pull the weight for the Bobcats to be successful. For the Magic, it’s all about Dwight Howard, how often he touches the ball, and how much he stays on the court. When the Magic put the ball in Dwight Howard’s hands, they win. It’s as simple as that. The Bobcats have a couple decent centers in Theo Ratliff and Tyson Chandler, but they can’t keep up with Dwight. In the end, the Magic are too deep and too consistent for the Bobcats, but it should be a fun series to watch. Magic in 6.

Key Matchup to Watch: Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, and Boris Diaw vs. Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis. The success and play of Orlando’s versatile guard/forwards have been vital to the Magic. When both Vince Carter and Dwight Howard have it going, they’re tough to beat. Especially when Rashard Lewis is raining 3′s all day. Dwight Howard will get his monster double-doubles, but if the Bobcats can keep these two contained, they have a legitimate shot of winning some games.

#3 Hawks vs. #6 Bucks

I just thought I’d give everyone a little flashback in the life of Brandon Jennings. Last year, he was overseas playing ball in Europe. He played less than 20 mpg and averaged less than 10 points per game. I guess going to the NBA worked out for him. In the regular season, he averaged about 15 points per game while leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs without their best player, Michael Redd. He is a lead candidate for ROY award, and he’s a game changer. This series could have been very entertaining with both teams giving it their all and going into a game 7, but then Andrew Bogut goes down with a NASTY elbow/arm/wrist/hand/life injury. Why did he have to get injured? He’s not the greatest or most dominant player, but he is a solid rebounder and low-post presence. With him, the Bucks are a well-rounded team that relies on defense and occasional offense to grind out wins.

Now Atlanta, a high-octane, high-energy, and high-powered offense takes on a short-handed Milwaukee Bucks. Atlanta gets it done by winning games with stars Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Jamal Crawford, and Al Horford. They Hawks can change their gameplan according to the team they play, and it wouldn’t be very surprising if they made a deep run into the playoffs. The Hawks should be able to take advantage of the Bucks’ lack of interior power in this series by going inside to Al Horford and penetrating and kicking to their shooters. I don’t really give the Bucks a chance in this series due to the fact that John Salmons and Brandon Jennings will have to do all the heavy lifting for a 7-game series, and I don’t see that working out too well. Hawks in 5.

Key Matchup to Watch: John Salmons vs. Joe Johnson. John Salmons is going to need to step up big time, and show flashes of the brilliance he showed last year during Chicago’s first round series against the C’s. He has two tough tasks against the Hawks; score a lot, and contain Joe Johnson. If Johnson takes advantage of Salmons, then the Hawks will have this series in the bag, however, if Salmons can shut down Johnson, that takes a big dimension out of the Hawks offense. I give the advantage to Joe Johnson, but John Salmons can be surprising at times.

#4 Celtics vs. #5 Heat

What do we have here? A bunch of past-their-prime old timers versus a team full of inexperienced, young, and inconsistent players. The numbers of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce all down, but they still play with the fiery passion for the game they had in their glory days. They are perfect examples of players that pour their heart and soul into every possession of every game whether their team is headed to the lottery, or headed to the playoffs. Give the C’s some credit, even though they’ve all lost a step, the Celtics’ big three are still a formidable force to be reckoned with. Oh yeah, let’s not forget about a top point guard, Rajon Rondo.

The Heat on the other side are one of those teams that could achieve greatness, but are consistently underachieving. Michael Beasley came into the league, a top pick, and he was supposed to blow the roof of the NBA. Instead, he has shown flashes of his raw talent, and is a rich man’s Marvin Williams, at best. Daequan Cook and Mario Chalmers are also two young talents who came in the league with big buzz, but they have not lived up to the bill. In addition, Udonis Haslem’s and Jermaine O’ Neal’s seasons have also been plagued by the inconsistency virus. Dwyane Wade…well, he’s still Dwyane Wade. So put it all together, what do we got? A group of overachieving vets with a touch of youth against a talented Miami team whose only consistency this season is inconsistency. I say this makes for a pretty damn good series. I give the advantage to the Celtics. A potentially dominating defense, a balanced offensive attack, and a closing window of opportunity can make for a surprisingly dangerous team. Celtics in 6.

Key Matchup to Watch: Dwyane Wade vs. Ray Allen/Paul Pierce/Tony Allen. Dwyane Wade is a phenomenal player, and the key for the Celtics is to limit his contributions. If he goes his usual playoff crazy, 30ppg, 5ast, and 5reb, then the Celtics are in trouble because that;s when Wade can utilize his teammates, and all of the sudden, the Heat are a pretty dangerous team. When Wade gets shut down, the Heat get shut down. If the Celtics can contain Wade, everything else will fall into place.

I’ll make this quick, because we all know how these teams got here, so I’ll just explore what they need to do to get to the Super Bowl. First and foremost, Jets need to put pressure on Peyton Manning. It’s true that he is the best in the game at recognizing blitzes and getting rid of the ball in mere seconds, but pressuring the quarterback is the most important thing a defense can do. The Jets may not get to Manning very often throughout the game, but if they are able to break through the Colts strong offensive line, there is hope for the Green Machine. Putting pressure on Peyton Manning isn’t like putting pressure on just another NFL quarterback though, being forced to make quick throws doesn’t phase Peyton. He thrives off blitzing defenses. However, if there is one visible weakness of the NFL’s best quarterback, it’s that he doesn’t like to take many hits. After 1 or 2 good hits, he does get shaken up, and he gets a little intimidated when he sees big defensive linemen coming after him. If the Jets can get consistent pressure on Manning, then they will be able to not allow him to get in a rhythm, and will force him into some bad decisions. Also, Derelle Revis needs to do what he’s been doing this whole season, and that’s shut down the other team’s #1 receiver. This week, he gets Reggie Wayne, a phenomenal wideout for sure, but nothing General Revis can’t handle. If Revis shuts Wayne down, the Colts will have to make larger roles for Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. Especially if the Colts take the high road on getting Wayne involved, the Jets D will have increased control of how the game will be determined because Revis commands a whole part of the field, the Jets can send however many rushers they want at Manning, or they can drop more guys into coverage than that of the norm in the NFL (again why Revis is such a special player). Lastly, the Jets offense will have to become two-dimensional. The simple formula of running the ball, playing defense, and keeping the opposing qb off the field for as long as possible won’t work against the Colts. The Colts do not have the most stout run defense, but every year in the playoffs, the defense goes through a major transformation, Take last week for example, the Colts became an immovable force when they shut down the Ravens and their superior run game. Mark Sanchez will have to step up, and make plays once again, and they will have to protect the rookie QB from Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis if they want that to happen. The Colts, will have to do quite the opposite to win the game. The most important thing for the Colts in this game is that the offensive line protects Peyton Manning (not they haven’t been this season: they’ve allowed 10 sacks all year), and buys him time from the tricky pass rush of the Jets. Another very important thing for the Colts this week will be getting the run game going. Running the ball isn’t exactly the Colts bread and butter. They ranked dead last in the league in ypg, and constantly became a one-dimensional offense. If the Colts want to loosen up the tough D of the Jets, they’ll need to play some power run game. If they have early success running the ball, the Jets will have to commit to the run, and that’s when Peyton can pick them apart with play action and by testing the waters downfield with the plethora of weapons he has at his disposal. What will happen? That’s a different story. I see Wayne becoming a non-factor, Colts ground game going nowhere, and Peyton Manning being his usual self. That said, I think Colts will jump out to a lead, Sanchez will be forced to take the reigns of the offense and he’ll feel the pressure that he hasn’t yet felt of being down in a playoff game, and Peyton & company will find a way to come out victorious. However, I won’t be shocked if the Jets win, it should be interesting to see how this game plays out because there are many factors for who comes out victorious in this one. My pick is Colts over Jets, 27-16.

#2 Vikings at #1 Saints

Hell of a game this is going to be. Saints and Vikings are both high-caliber offenses with solid defenses coming in hot from a Divisional round where they scored a combined 79 points. Even though both these teams have defenses of virtually shutting out opposing offenses completely, I have a feeling this one will be a shootout between two spectacular quarterbacks. Not to say that these teams don’t have respectable tailbacks and rushing attacks. Obviously, the Vikings have Adrian Peterson, arguably the best running back in the league, and the Saints have a trio of versatile backs in Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, and Reggie Bush (currently in USC god-mode form!). I think the ground game will be exercised in this game, but both quarterbacks will end up throwing the ball around 40 times. In order for the Saints to win, they are going to have to STOP Adrian Peterson. Easier said than done. Homeboy is a beast. He can run around you, or literally through you (run you over). Also, the Saints will have to protect Drew Brees. The Vikings have (if not the best) a top 3 front 4 on defense, and they will be coming for Brees. Seriously, Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, and Pat Williams on the same line….that’s not even fair. Also, the Saints will have to find a way to get their ground game going, something that many teams haven’t been able to do against the Vikes. (I think the only way to do that is to get the running backs involved in the passing game, which the Saints most certainly do). For the Vikings to come out victorious, Favre needs to play like he’s been playing this whole season, and not the Favre that chokes in the big games. Favre has had the most spectacular season I’ve ever seen from a 40-year-old quarterback (have there ever been any other ones?), and I think people forget about the Favre that throws 3,4, sometimes 5 interceptions in 1 game. He does hold the NFL record for career interceptions after all. I haven’t seen too many flashes of the old Favre this season, and that bodes well for the Vikes. The Vikings will also have to soften up the Saints opportunistic defense by getting AD going. If Peterson gets in a groove, Favre plays well, and the defense gets pressure on the quarterback, I don’t see any team beating them. When it’s all said and done, I think both ground games will be used efficiently, but not extensively. I believe it will be a duel of quarterbacks and coaching masterminds, and the winner of this game will be decided by how many mistakes the respective quarterbacks make. I would love to see a Saints-Colts Super Bowl, but I am afraid that the Vikings will get consistent pressure on Brees, Adrian Peterson will have it going on, Favre will be on his game, Brees will be forced into mistakes, and the New Orleans offense that has, at times, appeared slow and inefficient will come out again in what should be an explosive game from start to finish. In the end, the team that makes the less mistakes wins. Vikings, 34-30.

So Peyton wins it again. big shock. My take on this is, is that Peyton’s colts were 14-0 this season under his reigns, and most definitely could have went 16-0. Their run game is of dismal importance or effect, averaging 82 yards a game on the ground (good for dead last in the NFL). The defense, although of late much improved, isn’t anything to brag about either, giving up an average of 340 yards per game and 140 through the ground. Peyton single-handedly turned unknown receivers Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon into high-caliber wideouts. He put up his normal 33 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, and completing 69% of his passes. This is his second year in a row wining the award, and I think he definitely deserves it. This guy has started every game of his 12 year career, and is the definition of consistent. He posted a passer rating of 99.9 and only allowed himself to be sacked 10 times this season. All this while losing two of his top three receiving threats from last season (Marvin Harrison & Dominic Rhodes). In the terms of who is most valuable to their team, Peyton Manning should win this award outright. Without him, this team is 9-7 at best. The other candidates this year were also worthy of second and third looks, which is why the argument for this year’s MVP is so controversial. Drew Brees, Brett Favre, and Phillip Rivers are all viable candidates, but when it comes to who does more for their team, no one touches Peyton.

Defensive Player of The Year-Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers

I love Charles Woodson as much as the next guy, and I probably would have given him the nod for this award any other year with the season he had. Woodson recorded 9 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 2 sacks, and 74 tackles. Outstanding numbers from a CB. Woodson definitely deserves some limelight for his performance this season, especially considering he’s been in the game for 12 years, and plays alongside some of the most talented Defensive Backs in the league in Atari Bigby and Al Harris. However, I think there is 1 more person that deserves this award even more than Woodson, and that is a feat all in itself, considering Woodson’s numbers. Derelle Revis, CB for the New York Jets is the literal definition of a shutdown corner. He is 24 years old, and is already the most feared Defensive Back in the league. In Revis’ case, you have to go beyond the numbers to see his importance. He recorded 6 interceptions and 54 tackles this season. Respectable stats indeed, but Defensive Player of the Year numbers? Not quite. Let me shine some light on Revis’ statistics. 0. That’s the number of times Revis allowed a receiver he was manning up on to go for more than 35 yards. The likes of these receivers? Try Randy Moss (twice), Andre Johnson, Terell Owens, Steve Smith (CAR), Roddy White, Chad Ochocinco (twice). The list goes on and on, but every single one of those players are future hall of fame receivers. Opposing teams facing Revis just decide it’s easier to completely stay away from Revis, accepting the fact that their number 1 receiver won’t be a factor in the game, rather than trying to fool him or throw to him. Revis has become such a presence, that teams build their offensive game plans around him, literally. Revis has been so important to his team, that you could even make a case for him as MVP. Jets head coach Rex Ryan has even said that Revis allows his defense to be successful. This holds true because teams avoid throwing in Revis’ area of the field, and that lets the Jets D send extra defenders on the blitz, and lets Rex Ryan come up with new blitz packages that no quarterback has ever seen before. The Jets are the #1 ranked defense in the league, and quite frankly, it all trickles down to how special of a player Revis really is. He allows his defense to get to the quarterback so often, and he allows them to thrive off of him. And without their defense, the Jets would be nothing. In my opinion, Revis should have been the outright winner of the award.

Coach of The Year: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

I love the Bengals and have a lot of respect for Marvin Lewis, but I don’t think he should have won coach of the year this year. I understand that they overcame the death of a fallen teammate and the death of a coach’s wife. Also, several player’s direct families were affected by the tsunami in the Samoan islands, but I don’t think that provides merit for COY honors. I believe it should have been Jim Caldwell of the Colts. Yes, Caldwell has all the players he needs with Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, and Dallas Clark but he came into a team that was devoted to Tony Dungy, and came into an organization where no one was pleased with Dungy’s departure. It had seemed the Colts were on the decline before the season. Last year, the Colts lost in the wild-card round, and pre-season, many experts had the Colts to miss out on the playoffs for this season. Jim Caldwell was having none of that. The Colts went on to go 14-0, and rightfully so clinching the AFC South. They could have gone 15-0 but Caldwell decided that the health of his players were more important than the ever-tangible chase for 19-0. Caldwell decided to sit his starters in weeks 16 and 17, leaving the Colts with a 14-2 record on the season. Throughout the season, Caldwell has shown a strong will, great knowledge of the game, along with perseverance, with the Colts coming from behind to win games 7 times. Marvin Lewis was a fine choice, but Caldwell would have been my pick.

Offensive Rookie of The Year- Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota Vikings

This is probably the award that I would agree most with. Right from the beginning, Percy Harvin was making a difference on the Vikings, and in Week 1 of the season, you could already see a bond between him and Brett Favre. He scored a touchdown in his first 4 games, and was a threat to score every time to touch the ball, whether he lined up as a receiver, in the backfield, or when he was running the wildcat. The rookie compiled 690 receiving yards, and caught 6 touchdown passes. He also returned 2 kickoffs for TD’s (101 yards and 102 yards). He was Favre’s go-to guy aside from fellow standout WR Sidney Rice. He has lightning speed, and could be put in the same group as Chris Johnson, DeSean Jackson, and Usain Bolt? Consider Harvin a poor man’s DeSean Jackson for now. Or you can consider him the future of the NFL.

Defensive Rookie of The Year-Brian Cushing, LB, Houston Texans

You know I approve of Cushing. He’s USC Trojan alum. All bias aside, he had a stellar season for a somewhat bland Texans defense. He had 87 solo tackles and another 47 assists on his way to becoming a force in the middle of the field. He also recorded 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. Those are some pretty impressive stats for this all-around athletic linebacker. Then again, playing alongside DE Mario Williams probably doesn’t hurt either. I think Cushing is definitely worth the nod, however there are some other worthy candidates. Jairus Byrd, CB for the Buffalo Bills helped revamp a Buffalo passing defense that was sorely lacking in the 2008 season. Byrd almost single-handedly transformed them into a feared unit in which opposing teams would run the ball 40-50 times against (their run D is a different story). Byrd had 9 interceptions (tied for league lead this season), and recorded 78 total tackles. Also worthy of a second look is Clay Matthews, LB for the Green Bay Packers. Matthews (another Trojan fresh out of SC) had a noteworthy season, recording 10 sacks, forcing a fumble, and returning 1 of his 3 fumble recoveries for a touchdown. All in all, there were many rookie standouts on the defensive side, but Cushing was a great choice.

Hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts about the awards, make sure to check in next time when I give you guys my All-Sports End of Decade Awards. See you next time, (all ten of you).

#6 Ravens at #1 Colts

In weeks 16 & 17, Jim Caldwell sat out his starters in favor of getting them their beauty rest for the playoffs. The argument about whether or not sitting your starters in a meaningless weak 17 game is the right decision to make is a never-ending argument that’s as strenuous and as hard to prove as the topic of abortion. Maybe not quite. But no one will be able to prove whether there is a sure-fire right way to go about it. Anyway, anyone who has any measurable amount of football knowledge knows that the Colts will always go in favor of resting their starters, so it shouldn’t have been too shocking. But the question is, will it make them rusty and unprepared? Or will it relieve them of pressure and allow them to be calm and play with focus? I think the Ravens will come out with just as much intensity as they ever have, and they’ll come out hot, pounding the ball into Indy’s throat. I’m guessing Indy comes out cold and flat, but after a quarter, they regain their form and Peyton starts taking advantage of Baltimore’s thin secondary. Baltimore will probably jump out to an early lead and gain the momentum, but the Colts will weather the storm, come back, and take the lead. Peyton won’t play a mistake free game, in fact, he’ll most definitely make a few mistakes, and it will come at a costly price as Baltimore takes advantage of their opponents’ miscues. In the end, it will have been a hard-fought game in which both teams brought intensity on defense with the Colts dragging out an ugly win by exposing the Ravens secondary through the air. I really hope I’m wrong about this one, because I love the Ravens, but I can’t go against logic and what my mind tells me. Colts over Ravens, 24-17.

Remember when the Patriots playing a game prior to the super bowl was a formality? Remember when no team would ever, in their worst nightmare want to play the Patriots in the playoffs? It seemed like the Patriots had a godly aura around them that no team could interrupt. That was until Super Bowl XLII when the Giants pulled off the greatest super bowl upsets of all time. But we all know that story. The Patriots and the Ravens both walked into this game beaten up, with many of their starting players injured and off the roster for the playoffs. Despite all the injuries in the Ravens secondary, the defense showed up to play, and brought the signature Baltimore Ravens tenacity with them.Patriots QB Tom Brady had two turnovers on the Pats’ first two drives, and the Ravens jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. The Patriots were not quite capable of getting their composure back, turning the ball over another 3 times in the game. Brady was sacked three times, lost a fumble, and was picked off another 3 times. The absence of Wes Welker came into play when Randy Moss was double covered every passing down in the game. However, Welker’s replacement, Julian Edelman, filled in nicely, catching 6 passes for 44 yards; two of which went for short touchdowns. Ravens QB Joe Flacco only had to throw the ball 10 times in this one (that’s even less than Mark Sánchez, who threw 15), but he was rather inaccurate, hitting his recievers only 4 times. That’s all he needed against the Patriots though, because the defense brought their A-game, holding the usually stellar Patriots offense to just 14 points on just 218 yards. What caused Tom Brady to be off during the first quarter was the variety of defensive schemes the Ravens came out with. Tom Brady clearly looked confused, and never caught his rhythm throughout the game. He finished 23 of 42 for 154 yards for a QB rating of a dismal 49.1. The Ravens looked dominant, but if they want to get far into the playoffs, Joe Flacco and the passing game will have to become much more of a factor.

#5 Packers at #4 Cardinals

What’s to be said about this game that already hasn’t? The final score was 51-45. This was the shootout that many of expected us to see from the Eagles and Cowboys. So much for that. This turned a rather forgettable wild-card weekend into a somewhat memorable wild-card weekend. I thought this game was going to be a back and forth shootout, but 96 points? That’s just madness. In the earlier parts of the game, it seemed as the Packers were destined to get run out of the building, with turnovers on their first 2 possessions. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers first throw of the game was picked off by Cardinals DB Douglas Rodgers-Cromartie. On their next possession, Rodgers flung a pass to usually dependable WR Donald Driver, he turned and had the ball stripped from him by Karlos Dansby, the same man who ended the game with a 17 yard fumble recovery. After those turnovers, Rodgers and Cardinals QB Kurt Warner engaged in a quarterback battle that should be remembered as long as the game of football exists. The two QB’s combined for 815 yards and 10 touchdowns. Let me repeat that. 10 touchdowns. The interesting thing is, is that both teams came into this game with more than respectable defenses. The Packers, owners of the #2 defense in the league (and 5th best pass defense) came in with a secondary that wise men build game plans around. All that meant nothing as soon as Warner took the field. Warner went 29 of 33, with 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. That means he threw more touchdowns than incomplete passes. Rodgers also had arguably the best game of his life. He went 28-42 for 422 yards, threw for 4 touchdowns, and ran for another one. I’m assuming everyone who would read this would have definitely watched the game, or at least overtime. So we all know how this game ended. Aaron Rodgers was hit from the side, fumbling, and kicking the ball right in the hands of Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby who returned for a touchdown (that should have been called back for a facemask, and an automatic first down). No doubt the last play of the game was controversial, but the blame for a football team’s loss cannot be pinned on a missed call, or a miscall. There are miscalls every game ever played, and the wrong calls go in both directions. It was a truly beautiful game, and it should be looked outside of the biased fan view (I, being a Cardinals fan, have an easy time doing that), and should be appreciated as an all-time great game played in the long history of the NFL playoffs. Next week, the Cards go on to face the #1 scoring Saints……would I be crazy to expect 150 points?

So, this one didn’t quite turn out the way I thought it would be. Through the first quarter, I was sittin’ pretty: Bengals were up 7-0, the Jets running game was going nowhere, and Cincy appeared to have set a dominant tone. Then, in the 2nd quarter, Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez faked a handoff, and pitched it to RB Shonn Greene, who took a beautiful block from Dustin Keller, and turned it into a 39 yard touchdown run to the outside. Later in the quarter, Sanchez scrambled out of the pocket, avoiding several sacks and threw a perfect toss ahead of TE Dustin Keller which he caught in stride and turned into a nice touchdown run. The half ended 14-7 Jets, and it was still anybody’s game. During the second half, poorly thrown passes by Carson Palmer and fumbles from different Bengals let the Jets set the tone and capture full momentum. After Jets RB Thomas Jones punched it in for a 9 yard score, the game had seemed to be lost for the Bengals, who were losing 21-7. With 11 minutes remaining in the game, Cedric Benson bursted through a hole for a 47 yard touchdown run, cutting down the Jets lead to 7 while reviving the Bengals’ and the fans’ hopes of a comeback victory. However, the #1 ranked Jets defense prevailed in holding off the Bengals, and were able to pull out a hard-fought victory; 24-14. Even though Carson Palmer only completed half of his throws, and even though Chad Ochocinco couldn’t get going, the game was much more competitive than the box score revealed. The reason why the Jets won was not because of their established rushing attack; it was because Mark Sanchez stepped up and played like an experienced and poised veteran quarterback. He finished the game 12 of 15 for 182 yards, a TD and no interceptions, or turnovers for that matter. Rex Ryan let him off his leash, and let him air it out, opening up the Bengals tough run defense. The success of Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones today was set up by Sanchez’s nearly perfect play. On the other side, Cedric Benson had a big game, carrying 21 times for 169 yards against the Jets tough run defense. Benson and the ground game had it going on, however Darrell Revis and the Jets’ secondary held Ochocino and company in check, holding Carson Palmer to just 18-36 with 1 td toss and 1 pick. Had Sanchez not played like a champ, you could have guaranteed the game would have looked more like the 1st quarter where the Bengals dominated every aspect of the game.

#6Eagles at #3Cowboys

Well the Cowboys brought their A-game. Throughout the entire game, there was not a full minute where the Eagles seemed to have the game in their control. For about 20 seconds, they were on top of the world. Cowboys’ QB Tony Romo appeared to have thrown an interception on their own 10 yard line, giving Eagles prime field position (when it was only 7-7). Then, shortly after, the call was overturned. The Cowboys went on to score on that drive, and they kept piling it on, scoring 34 points by game’s end. The key to Dallas’ victory tonight was the penetration their defensive line was getting. Donavan McNabb never had room to breathe. I watched all but 5 minutes of the game, and it seemed that there was not 1 play where McNabb was not forced out of the pocket. He was sacked 4 times, and turned the ball over twice. DeMarcus Ware had 2 sacks, forced a fumble, and rushed McNabb countless times. The Eagles could not get anything going due to the Boys’ disruptive defense, and it showed. The Eagles had 7 points up until the 4th quarter, where DeSean Jackson scored on a 4 yard screen pass. Another thing that I think played an enormous role in the Eagles’ demise is the difference in the time of possession and in the number of plays run. The Cowboys had the ball for 40 minutes while (that’s right, you know basic math) the Eagles had the rock for 20 minutes. The Eagles ran 52 plays in all while Boys Noize had a total of 70 plays. During the later parts of the game, and even the 2nd quarter, where the Boys scored 20 unanswered points, the Eagles D looked fatigued and slow. In the time that the Eagles’ defense was on the field, I could have downloaded a bootleg version of, and watched Avatar. This game felt over from the moment Romo threw the touchdown pass to Miles Austin. Like I said, if the Cowboys are healthy, and if their defensive line gets penetration, they start to fire on all cylinders, and they look scary. I don’t care what team they face, no team wants to see a Cowboys team that comes off two blowout defeats to their most bitter rival. On a side note, is T.O. in his bed, under the covers, crying?

Through the first day, I’m a disappointing 1-1. I thought for sure I’d make it through today 2-0, but Sanchez really shocked me with how well he played. If he can play that well, every game, I’ll actually go as far as saying they can get past the colts, but maybe not the Chargers. Lastly, I noticed that in the 4th quarter, McNabb gave up. When he sprinted out of the pocket, he’d slow down on his way towards the sideline. A look of competitiveness that most quarterbacks would have while trying to keep their playoff run alive, McNabb did not show after the 1st quarter. I’m always pro-McNabb, and I always jump to defend him when fans of Philly blame him for their woes. Mcnabb has given Philly his all his whole career, and deserves nothing but that city’s undying support. However, tonight was the first time I saw a lack of effort and passion in McNabb’s game.

I’ll start with what in my opinion is the easiest game of the wild-card round to pick. Last week in the regular season finale, the Jets and Bengals played each other in a somewhat irrelevant meaningless game. For the record, the Jets routed the Bengals, rushing for 257 yards and adding 4 scores on the ground on the way to a 37-0 shutout victory. The Bengals could not get anything going on the ground or in the air, collecting a total of just over 100 yards throughout the whole game. Prior to the Sunday night game, Bengals’ WR Chad Ochocinco took shots at Jets’ CB Darrelle Revis, saying “Darrelle Revis couldn’t cover me in a brown paper bag on a corner of a Manhattan street inside a phone booth.” He even went as far as to say if Revis would shut him down on ( last Sunday night) game day, he would change his name back to Chad Johnson. During the first half of last week’s game, Ocho was held without a catch on 4 targets, and didn’t play in the 2nd half. As far as I know, his name is still Ochocinco. Enough about last week’s formality game. This game is going to play out a whole lot different. During the regular season, the Bengals were the owners of a stout defense, ranking 7th in the league in run defense, allowing just under 100 ypg to opposing teams. The J-E-T-S Jets are all about running the rock. They run the ball more than any team in the league, and they led the league in rushing yards per game during the regular season. The Bengals have a strong defensive line led by Tank Johnson, Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers, and they are backed by some of the best linebackers in the league in Keith Rivers and outstanding rookie Rey Maualuga. On the other side, the Jets are the owners of the #1 overall defense in the league. It will be a low-scoring physical game that will stay close throughout all the 4 quarters. Whether the Jets like it or not, this game will come down to how well Mark Sanchez can lead his team down the field. Mark Sanchez is the only rookie quarterback in the playoffs, and he is no doubt the most turnover prone. During the regular season, he accounted for 23 turnovers, with another 7 fumbles recovered. Both of these teams have the ability to stuff the run, and you can count on the Bengals stuffing the box with 6-8 men on every play unless Sanchez takes some shots down the field. The Jets’ gameplan is to run the ball, play keep away from Sanchez, and to keep the Bengals defense on the field for as long as they can. The Bengals should be able to pull this one out as long as Carson Palmer remains mistake free, and they find a way to get their receiving corps going against the Jets secondary. My guess is Bengals hold on to win a close one, 24-20.

#6Ravens at #3Patriots

I admit, that entry was a little lengthy. I’ll keep this one shorter. As we all know, last week in the Patriots’ week 17 meaningless game, Wes Welker went down with an injury that will keep him out of the playoffs. Enter Julian Edelman, who has filled in nicely for Welker in previous games this season. When Edelman steps in for Welker, he averages about 7 catches for 73 yards a game. Not quite Welker, but it’s good to have that kind of production when you are missing a player of Welker’s caliber.The Ravens are dealing with some injuries themselves, especially in their secondary. Rookie standout CB Ladarius Webb is out for the playoffs, and Ed Reed is banged up, but he is Ed Reed, so he’ll play. I’m not playing down the importance of Welker, because it is huge. Now that he is out of the gameplan, the Ravens can focus almost solely on shutting down Randy Moss. The Patriots are a solid team, but they have glaring weaknesses. They can be run on, and they are susceptible to teams that have physical defenses (this is the Baltimore Ravens we’re talking about). On defense, the Patriots will stay in their zone, and maybe send a couple guys deep once in a while, but against the Ravens and against the struggling Joe Flacco, it probably won’t be necessary. What’s going to break down the Patriots’ “Zone-D” is the versatility of Ray Rice. This guy is a nightmare for other teams’ defensive coordinators (trust me, I had him on my fantasy team). He is a tough downhill runner with elusive quickness, and he is also deceptively strong when he runs in between the tackles. He can run inside, outside, but his biggest threat is his hands. He led the Ravens in catches and had over 700 yards on the season. The screens and the outs they ran for him will break down the Patriots D and soften them up until they can be run on. On the other side, the Patriots will find their attempts to run unsuccessful, and will probably have to air it out. And with Moss permanently double-covered and with Welker’s absence, the brutal Ravens’ D will be too much for the Pats to handle. Ravens over the Pats, 27-17.

#6 Eagles at #3 Cowboys

Really, I’m sorry for making you read so much (not really, I love writing about this). The Cowboys are atop of my list of teams that I hate the most (in case you were wondering, I hate the Steelers, Cowboys, and the Raiders). Anyway, personal vendettas aside, I think this game is going to be a highly entertaining one all the way until the end. We all know that the Cowboys have swept the Eagles this season, winning both times. Last week, the Cowboys gave the Eagles a whooping, and completely shut out the electric Philly offense. I don’t see that happening again. Philadelphia and Dallas are both teams capable in partaking of back-and-forth shootouts, and that’s what I presume we’ll see come Saturday night. Philadelphia is led by quarterback Donavan Mcnabb, who is having yet another great season and the explosive WR DeSean Jackson, who has 8 touchdowns of 50 yards or more. That’s impressive, and in case you were wondering, that also ties an NFL record. The Dallas offensive attack is led by Tony (no homo) Romo, rising star Miles Austin, the disappearing act of Jason Witten, and the three-headed tailback monster that consists of Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice. As much as I hate Dallas, I have to say, they are a pretty solid team that can be capable of greatness if they remain healthy and stay consistent. Their defense has also attained much credibility this season, after having a top 10 overall unit. They can run on you, they can heave it downfield, and they have a defensive line that if not the best in the league, ranks among the top 3. Between the pressure they’re going to put on Mcnabb through rushers like DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer and their talented receivers, the Cowboys should come out victorious in this shootout for the ages. It kills me to write it, but my guess is Dallas over Philly, 34-27.

#5 Packers at #4 Cardinals

I save this game for last, because I believe this can go either way. Out of all games in the Wild-Card round, I feel the least secure about my pick in this one. These two teams are so similar in style of play and personnel, it is so difficult to make an argument for a clear-cut winner. Both teams have star quarterbacks, one in grizzled veteran Kurt Warner, and the other young superstar Aaron Rodgers. Both the Cardinals and Packers have pedestrian running games that are just used to set up the explosive passing game. Both teams have opportunistic defenses with secondaries that play the game with a burning passion. The Pack secondary is led by Charles Woodson and Atari Bigby (let’s not forget about the injured Al Harris, because with him, they are the best secondary in the league, hands down). The Cardinals boast a perfect mix of talent, youth, and experience on their defense. Their defensive stars are Douglas Rodgers-Cromartie, Adrian Wilson, and Antrel Rolle. The only major difference I think will come into play with these two teams is the ferocious pass rush of the Packers. On the season, the Pack Attack recorded 37 sacks. Led by veteran A.J. Hawk and rookie Clay Matthews, the Packers have a set of Linebackers that should be feared and respected. In the end, I believe it comes down to who wants this one more. And I believe that is the Cardinals. They still have a bad taste in their  mouth from last year’s super bowl, and they are just itching to prove everyone wrong about the super bowl losers. Through the toughness of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and the passionate defense, Cardinals pull a tough, high-scoring and hard-fought game out of thier butts and win. 31-30.

They’re not fool-proof,  and they’re not rock solid, but I think they’re defensible. Keep me in mind when you watch the wild-card weekend folks….I’m counting on you to point out where I messed up in my predictions. Regards, Jason.

After watching the first half of the BCS championship game,I have random ideas and some thoughts are running through my head that I wanna get down on paper so I can say “I told you so” in the near future.

1. Javier Arenas has raw talent, and he knows how to use it. He makes great reads on the quarterback, and I think he definitely has a future in the NFL.
2. I haven’t watched much of college football this season, and as a result, haven’t seen much of Mark Ingram either. But what I’ve seen in the first half is enough to convince me of his Heisman award. He runs with tenacity, and I’ve yet to see him be brought down on first contact. His first half performance is especially impressive considering the stage and the powerful run defense they are playing. Even though all of this is well and nice, I haven’t personally seen enough of him to pass a final judgement on him, but it looks like he’s a star.
3. It really sucks that McCoy got messed up, because this would have been a completely different game. He may still come back after halftime, so we’ll see what happens, but the score would definitely not be 24-6 if McCoy was in.
4. What happened to these teams’ offensive lines

Hopefully McCoy will come back and this will be a game again

See you Later, Jason.