SB Weekend 2011

Two franchises with rich history square off in yet another intriguing Super Bowl match-up. Green Bay, winner of the first two Super Bowls and Pittsburgh, winner of the most (six). This Super Bowl has an aura of tradition and prestige that was missing from the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints match-up last year. Not that last year was a bad matchup, it's nice to change things up.

Nevertheless this is no "3 yards and a cloud of dust" situation. QB Aaron Rodgers and QB Ben Rothlisberger are very much at the forefront of the 21st century passing explosion. Both defenses are of the sleek, hip, 3-4 model with veteran playmakers like S Troy Polamalu or CB Charles Woodson. The Packers are playing well, and are slightly favored. Most pundits however, are taking the 'experience' talking point and beating it to death.

So is Green Bay doomed against 2-time recent champions Pittsburgh? No. Experience doesn't mean anything for a coming-of-age team like the Packers. They didn't make the Super Bowl in 2005 with Pittsburgh, or 2008 with Pittsburgh because they weren't this team yet. So how in the world were they supposed to gain the experience? Truth is, sportswriters just need something with which to compare.

HOW GREEN BAY GOT HERE: They have built this team from the ground up. GM Ted Thompson deserves a lot of credit. QB Aaron Rodgers controversially replaced QB Brett Favre "before his time was up" in 2008 but it was certainly the way to go. The San Francisco 49ers did the same thing with Steve Young forcing out Joe Montana, the only other successful replacement of a QB legend (ask post-Marino Miami, post-Kelly Buffalo, post-Aikman Dallas, post-Elway Denver or even post-Young San Francisco).

D-Co Dom Capers has been installing a defense born from the bowels of Pittsburgh itself over the last two years. While Coach Mike McCarthy has steadily improved his offensive systems since the waning days of Brett Favre in green and gold. In 2010, they started as Super Bowl XLV candidates but faded as injuries piled up. It is a testament to the coaching that they've been able to weather so much and still survive. A slightly healthier team has emerged late and have won five straight must-win games, with a sixth on the horizon.

HOW PITTSBURGH GOT HERE: This summer, D-Co Dick Leabau was elected into the Hall-Of-Fame as a CB for Detroit, but this Super Bowl appearance has got to pad his resume for possible induction as a coach as well. The defense once again keeps a level playing field for an offense that hasn't been as consistent over the years. He has elite talent to work with; 2009 Defensive Player Of The Year LB James Harrison and 2010 Defensive Player Of The Year S Troy Polamalu flanked by a large number of Pro Bowl caliber players.

QB Ben Rothlisberger is at his best now. He runs a respectable offense and nobody need worry about his dreadful Super Bowl XL performance (9/21 123 yards, 2 Int) because he has matured past that. Not that anybody was, because it's a totally forgotten piece of information. He had similar stats against the Jets in the AFC Championship but played a much better, smarter game. The Steelers have been consistent on D, and solid on O. Coach Mike Tomlin deserves to be named among the best coaches at gaging his team and getting performances from his players.

KEYS FOR GB: LB Clay Mathews was beat out by Polamalu (not in my book) for DPOY honors. A big game by he and the deep Packer D could make that look foolish. They need to wrap up Rothlisbeger, keep Woodson on Ward (if Ward factors at all) and let their offense get its feet against the over-rated Steelers secondary. QB Aaron Rodgers cannot hang back the whole 2nd half like in Chicago, he will need to be sharper than that.

KEYS FOR PITT: RB Rashard Mendenhall is running behind a patchwork offensive line but it worked just fine against a deathly tired Jets team. The Packers have a similar situation in that they've had a lot of stress and hard hits but the bye week might make Mendenhall's progress a bit tougher. The one key to Pittsburgh's game seems to come up over and over again. Defensive Turnovers. Big Plays. A TD from the D will win games. They've done it many times, they need it again.

The Farewell 10 (2010/11)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11-6)
Despite the continued presence of QB Drew Brees and the passing weapons, they were undone by a slow start and a weak running game to finish. The secondary can be blamed for the early postseason exit. Trying to defend their title proved difficult, every team had it out for them. The defense wasn't nearly as opportunistic as 2009.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (10-7)
QB Peyton Manning and WR Reggie Wayne can't do it all. Injuries to the offensive weapons and to key defensive cogs (I choose not to include S Bob Sanders, he's essentially a permanent fixture on the  injured reserve).  Better health may have made a huge difference in this team's success, as any team with an elite QB and a few defensive playmakers can make a run.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-7)
The Chiefs finally flashed some offensive firepower. It came in the form of RB Jamaal Charles and WR Dwayne Bowe, two players we media types have classified as 'promising' and as having 'potential' the last couple years.  QB Matt Cassell grew into his role, and the D is strong, young and deep.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-7)
Nobody would have thought it but QB Michael Vick became an MVP candidate and led his team on and off the field. QB Kevin Kolb had the reigns wrestled away but handled it well. WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jeremy Maclin, RB LeSean McCoy formed an explosive young bunch. Vick took all the hits though, and that was the undoing. He was simply beat up by the end.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (13-5)
I've heard it said smartly on CBS that the Ravens offense tries to do too much. They want to get all their weapons the touches. QB Joe Flacco can at least know now not to throw to WR TJ Houshmanzadah on 4th-and-18. WR Anquan Boldin was sometimes very good, but inconsistent. RB Ray Rice continues to emerge. LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed carried the D yet again.

ATLANTA FALCONS (13-4)
QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner finally enjoyed success alongside each other and it resulted in a few very dominant games and an incredibly solid season. WR Roddy White was strong and will start in the Pro Bowl. The Falcons D was especially fantastic but tragically fell apart to Green Bay in the playoffs.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-10)
In their losses, they looked like a team that easily could be 1-15, in their wins they appeared to be a surefire contender. The inconsistency of this team somehow rolled in the right direction to allow them into the final 8 but there is much work to do. Bright spots; RB Marshawn Lynch, WR Mike Williams, S Earl Thomas.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (14-3)
QB Tom Brady is my vote (and probably everybody's) for MVP. Alas, the light-speed improvement of the young defense wasn't quite fast enough when crunch time came in the playoffs. Consider this, it was supposed to be a "transition year" for the Pats. 14-2 in a supposed transition year? As that D improves, things get scary.

CHICAGO BEARS (12-6)
In most minds the Bears had one of the luckiest seasons of all time. The refs (week 1), the schedule, getting a 7-9 team in the 2nd round of the playoffs. In most other minds, it was hard to shake the primetime walloping they got from New York Giants and New England. The stars aligned, and then fate slammed down and sent QB Jay Cutler to the sideline in the biggest game ever.

NEW YORK JETS (13-6)
The Jets promised and talked and blustered and whined until they couldn't breathe. They called Brady expletives, they tripped special teamers on the sideline, they sexually harassed reporters... Yet they were somehow the good guys? We all know Rex Ryan is 2-0 predicting Super Bowl Championships. Good enough I guess.

Sunday 1/23/11 (AFC/NFC)

Green Bay Packers, 21 Chicago Bears, 14

QB Aaron Rodgers was hot to start and put up a beautiful 14 points early. However those veteran Monsters of the Midway, they buckled down. The Bears matched those 14 but ultimately fell pray to two interceptions by Hanie. In the 2nd half, Rodgers was finally stifled long enough to let the spotlight shine on D-Co Dom Capers' excellent 3-4 D, riding it to the Super Bowl.

In one of the strangest injury situations of NFCC history, QB Jay Cutler left with a knee injury in the second half of the most important game of his career. It's unclear on what play he was hurt but it was sometime in the 2nd quarter. He stood on the sidelines with a miserable look on his face. The cameras panned to him dozens of times, at no point was he assisting the backup Bears QBs who had been thrown to the sharks.

Baffled as TV viewers about Cutler's status, LB Lance Briggs, CB Charles Tillman and the Bears defense were dominating the game. 6/7 Packer drives ended in punts, the only time Rodgers was able to move the ball, a 77-yard drive to the Bears' 6, he was intercepted by King Bear LB Brian Urlacher. Meanwhile, Bears 2nd string QB Todd Collins came in for two series, was 0/4 and intercepted. So the Bears turned to 3rd string QB Caleb Hanie. The game was still very much within Chicago's grasp.

KEY PLAY: QB Caleb Hanie was poised to play the role of the improbable hero before he threw a 3rd down pass right to DT B.J Raji (usurping the improbable hero title) who bumbled it back for an 18 yard TD. As great as the Bears' D was playing, and with the Bears offense waking up, Hanie not seeing a DT dropping into coverage was the true undoing.

MVP: WR Greg Jennings had 8 receptions for 130 yards. Much of it was on the first drive of the game. Jennings quick, efficient 20 yard gains had to be disconcerting for a Chicago fan. Though Jennings was quiet for the 2nd half, the damage was done. In a powerhouse slugfest, Jennings sliced directly into the Bears' worst fears.

Pittsburgh Steelers, 24 New York Jets, 19

The self-anointed 2010 Super Bowl Champion Jets are no more. QB Mark Sanchez again padded his stats with some nice numbers but overall missed many, many makeable throws. The Jets D looked sluggish to the ball in the first half as Pittsburgh piled up 17, then added a defensive TD within 2 minutes. QB Ben Rothlisberger was hobbled but somehow managed to limp for first downs and a TD. It was a stark contrast to Jay Cutler's strange situation in the early game.

In the 2nd half, the Steelers appeared content to just hang on. The Jets managed a few big plays, WR Santonio Holmes ad-libbed a deep bomb for TD, and Rothlisberger fumbled a snap on his own 1 yard line for a safety. the Jets added a touchdown drive and suddenly they were within 5. Alas, the wear and tear of Manning and Brady finally caught up to the Jets' D, They simply rolled over in the final four minutes. Rothlisberger and RB Rashard Mendenhall waltzed down the field, squeezed the remaining time out of the clock, and moved on to the Super Bowl.

KEY PLAY: 4th and 1, the Jets brought in RB LaDanian Tomlinson from the Chargers specifically for this purpose. The Steelers D line just won the battle. Things crunched up quickly as the Hall-Of-Famer shifted away from his stuffed fullback to a slight hole to the left. He was quickly enveloped by the Steelers LBs, free to roam after such push. Despite the safety one play later, the lack of a TD to cap off the 7 minute drive proved to be disheartening.

MVP: RB Rashard Mendenhall took the ball for the Steelers 27 times for 121 yards. He fought tooth and nail for the game's first TD, and had a back-breaking 35 yard sprint in the first half. Impressive as his 100 first half yards were, more impressive was his hard running in the final minutes. The Jets had no answer, they were gassed and stacked the box for him. Rothlisberger made them pay with two game-clinching first downs over the top.

Championship Weekend 2011

New York Jets (13-5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4)

They key to the AFC Championship has not been in the headlines or national discussion. Who will be playing LT and RT for the Pittsburgh Steelers? They said it a thousand times during the in-game broadcast. Pittsburgh has both starting tackles on injured reserve, their two back ups were knocked out of the game against Baltimore.The Pittsburgh offensive line will be the key to the game. How will they hold back (or know who to hold back) against the Rex Ryan blitzes?

Meanwhile, the Jets O-line has been playing well and taking the pressure off of QB Mark Sanchez. This is their biggest test. LB James Harrison is unlike anybody they have yet faced and if Pittsburgh returns DE Aaron Smith, things could get ugly. With the Jets, they are always ugly. Sanchez may have had pretty stats in New England, but it was WR Santonio Holmes and WR Braylon Edwards making plays. They need to do it in Pittsburgh too.

KEYS FOR NYJ: The key for New York never changes. RB Shonn Greene and RB LaDanian Tomlinson need to be involved. If they get down early, Sanchez is far, far out of his league. In a way, New York is somewhat like Baltimore in their big-name playmakers but reputation for 'grinding, pounding the ball'. Translation: this is not an elite offense. The offense is key, but if the defense, for whatever reason, can't keep  up it's fantastic play it won't matter what the offense does.

KEYS FOR PITT: Their running game, their passing game, getting the D off on 3rd downs... does any of this matter if they have to play a whole game with 3rd-string tackles? Baltimore was putting on pressure, and it took some miraculous throws (and an inept Baltimore offense) to win that game. The main consolation is that  QB Ben Rothlisberger is the best in the league (besides possibly Vick) after the pocket breaks down.

Green Bay Packers (12-6) @ Chicago Bears (12-5)

CB Charles Tillman dropped an interception that turned into a Seattle TD. The Bears laid down flat while Seattle drove 70 yards in 2 plays for another TD. That is not prevent defense, that is zero defense. If 4th quarter Seattle can do it, what lead is safe in Chicago against the red-hot QB Aaron Rodgers? The Bears heads are held high, which is a plus, but there are seeds of doubt that a few Green Bay TDs could water, infecting the Chicago brains with small doubt-trees.

QB Jay Cutler had a marvelous divisional round but it was just three weeks ago that he was made to look like a fool against this very Green Bay defense.Why #6 seed Green Bay is favored is not just the masses seeing the pretty throws from Rodgers, it's the experts who know Rodgers is backed up with a threatening D. LB Clay Matthews, CB Tramon Williams and especially the ring-hungry veteran CB Charles Woodson aren't going to allow 28 unanswered.

KEYS FOR GB: WR Greg Jennings, WR Donald Driver, WR James Jones must be in-sync all game with Rodgers, the passing game must take over.Yes, RB James Starks is a nice playoff storyline but let's be realistic about his impact. The passing game will need to be on top of its game early. There is blood in the water, the Bears are who Dennis Green thought they were. Don't let them off the hook.

KEYS FOR CHI: Chicago has made turnovers, defense, special teams a priority for so long. The reason is for this very type of game; to win the big games against the hot hands. RB Matt Forte should be featured. There was no need for him last week (though he had a solid game) but this week there is a rougher grain to go against. If Chicago is to defeat the red-hot Rodgers, they need turnovers, defense and special teams.

Sunday 1/16/11 (Divisional)

Chicago Bears, 35 Seattle Seahawks, 24

The Seahawks end their season at 8-10. I believe the first 8-10 record in all of NFL history. The Bears took advantage of the big plays; TE Greg Olsen had a big game, QB Jay Cutler was solid, and the D shut down the run game so convincingly that Seattle abandoned it, leaving RB Marshawn Lynch (4 carries, 2 yards) on the side line

CB Charles Tillman shut down WR Mike Williams until the game was well out of hand. DE Julius Peppers got the better of rookie OT Russell Okung. These were battles the Bears had to win, and while they aren't reflected in the score as obviously as the ups and downs of Cutler and QB Matt Hasselbeck, they were just as important.

KEY PLAY: Up 7-0 in the 1st quarter, QB Jay Cutler threw one of the worst red-zone passes I have ever seen. A direct bullet between the numbers of a startled D-back. The was no Chicago player, there is no explanation except that Cutler most have assumed the Seahawk was a Bear. It would have been an easy pick-6, a 7-7 game for a momentum-thriving Seattle team. Best drop Cutler has ever had.

MVP:  Yet still, QB Jay Cutler made this game a lot easier for the Bears. Yes, he could have made it a lot harder too  but he shook it off, he did what many said he could never do; he moved on. You can see his face filled with disgust after an incomplete 2nd and 5 up 28-0. He has to let those things go. For the most part, he did.

New York Jets, 28 New England Patriots, 21

Coach Rex Ryan and the Jets have had a lot to say over the past week, name-calling, hollow predictions, and needless taunting. The love-loss between the Patriots and the Jets actually seemed to work in the Jets favor. When it came time to dig deep, the Jets had to back up the same boasts that they didn't back up last year.The Patriots didn't snap out of lethargy all game.

WR Santonio Holmes had a spectacular TD, and RB LaDanian Tomlinson, when being utilized, has looked strong as ever. QB Mark Sanchez was happy to have the weight off his shoulders and placed onto QB Tom Brady. Brady usually responds with such poise but the Jets D got in his head, the Patriots sealed their own fate with a 7 minute drive in the 4th quarter, down 10, only to have WR Deion Branch drop a 4th down pass.

KEY PLAY: For the 2nd straight AFC game, a WR who started the year on the Seattle Seahawks dropped a season-deciding 4th down pass. TJ Houshmanzadah of the Ravens yesterday and Deion Branch today. 4th-and-12, with Revis on the sideline to injury for just one play. The conversion would have spared the mad scramble of onside kicks and prevent defenses and allowed the Patriots to play the game they wanted.

MVP: CB Darrelle Revis deserves huge credit for shutting down Reggie Wayne and now Deion Branch. Revis (along with Tomlinson) is one of the only likable players on the Jets who chooses class over bluster and boasts. Revis is also a huge reason, if not the main reason, for holding #18 of the Colts, and #12 of the Patriots to reasonably lackluster performances.75 or more yards. He is the center of a red-hot offense.

Saturday 1/15/11 (Divisional)

Pittsburgh Steelers, 31 Baltimore Ravens, 24

Both teams took advantage of weakling pass interference penalties early on, trading tainted TDs. The subsequent insanity of Ravens DT Corey Redding's fumble recovery for TD in which the other 21 players seemed to be huddling up for the next play seemed to stun the Steelers into another fumble and QB Joe Flacco hit TE Todd Heap to go into halftime 21-7

The Baltimore Ravens offense than truly collapsed for an entire quarter. They had more turnovers than yards. More turnovers... than yards. The Ravens D kept it as close as they could despite only 126 yards of offense the whole game. The game tied at 24, QB Ben Rothlisberger pulled a patented big-time bomb 58 yards to WR Anotnio Brown that eventually led to the game winning TD.

Not to say Baltimore didn't have it's chances. WR Anquan Boldin dropped a sure TD and WR TJ Houshmanzadah dropped a perfect 4th and 18 pass to end the game. The drops ensured that it would be Rothlisberger not Flacco, once again, who made the big plays at the big times in the big games.

KEY PLAY: Early 3rd. RB Ray Rice fumbled in Baltimore territory. It was the catalyst for an absolutely devastating 3rd quarter. Up 21-7 at the time, Rice's uncharacteristic fumble brought the Pittsburgh crowd back. The Steel train was on an unstoppable downhill roll as soon as TE Health Miller got his feet down in the yellow & gold end zone, turning Rice's mistake into 7.

MVP: It has to be QB Ben Rothlisberger. With his O-line battling injuries and the Ravens playing lights out D and special teams, Rothlisberger had small windows in which to win the game and he pulled it off. LB Terrell Suggs gave a valiant effort with 3 sacks and was a disrupting presence all game. Had the Ravens won, he would have been sure MVP.

Green Bay Packers, 48 Atlanta Falcons, 21

QB Aaron Rodgers was stellar with 3 TDs, and a 136.8 passer rating. RB James Starks helped balance the game with 25 carries. The Falcons just had no answer for the perfect timing passes and Rodgers' ability to get away from the pressure. Coach Mike Smith summed it up when he said the D got there but just "couldn't make the play".

The entire NFL stood up and took notice this day. There has been a nagging inkling through the last month that Green Bay was gaining momentum and must be stopped (the Bears tried to knock them out in week 17 with nothing to play for). These fears seem have been realized.

QB Matt Ryan, RB Micheal Turner and the Falcons offense just weren't built to erase large deficits. The pundits all had it absolutely correct when they said Green Bay needed to jump out to a lead. Down 14-7, they responded to an Atlanta kickoff return TD with a 92 yard TD drive. They put up 35 unanswered points.

KEY PLAY: CB Tramon Williams proved he should be in the Pro Bowl (as I said during the season) with his 3rd interception of the postseason; a 70-yard 'pick-6' with :00 left in the first half. The TD took a tough, close game (about to get closer as Falcons were in FG range) and broke it wide open.

MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers is announcing himself into the elite of Brady, Brees and Manning. Many have watched him put up similar numbers but he now has 10 TDs in 3 playoff games. 2 wins. Rodgers had four receivers with 75 or more yards. He is the center of a red-hot offense.

Divisional Weekend 2011

Baltimore Ravens (13-4)  @ Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

The two AFC playoff match-ups make for great television. The Steelers and Ravens already play each other twice a year, always in prime-time, seemingly always in a bloody, gutsy nailbaiter. Now they have created an even bigger stage for their third battle of the year. You don't have to stretch the memory muscles too much to recall the 2009 AFC Championship Game, one of the hardest hitting games I've ever seen. LB Ray Lewis, LB James Harrison, S Ed Reed, S Troy Polamalu. It makes sense, it's Steelers-Ravens.

Two seasons removed from the 2009 AFC Championship, QB Joe Flacco has improved and added RB Ray Rice and WR Anquan Boldin to his arsenal. The Steelers have remained the strong, AFC front-runners they have always been. The Ravens and Steelers won't be surprising each other, they know they are in for a grinding battle. The last four match-ups have been won by a late field goal. This is Steelers/Ravens, this is prime-time football.

KEYS FOR BAL: Anything close to the production out of TE Todd Heap will be crucial. For all of the Steelers glory and S Troy Polamalu, their secondary is actually easier to exploit than the superb young Kansas City group. Baltimore dominated time-of-possession in the Wild Card and can't count on that happening against Pittsburgh but 3rd downs are looking comfortable for Joe Flacco.

KEYS FOR PITT: Get those terrible towels moving. QB Ben Rothlisberger has had a couple weeks to rest his many injuries but it's the Steelers vaunted run game needs to step up. The run game been more Steeler myth than Steeler fact in the past few years, with RB Rashard Mendenhall putting up inconsistent numbers. If they are forced to play the 'new Steeler' way, WR Mike Wallace needs to make some big plays.

Green Bay Packers (11-6) @ Atlanta Falcons (13-3)

The regular season match-up between these two teams was a thriller. With two go-ahead scores in the final two minutes. Two good young QBs, two young, tough defenses. The future of the NFC will likely float around these two teams for awhile. Both teams, both quaterbacks are on the cusp of elite status. As always, the place to make that case is the postseason.

We all expected fireworks last time (also in the Georgia Dome) but we received a defensive game. Although the two masterful 4th quarter go-ahead drives from both young QBs took over the headlines, we remember the D's. It is hard to not expect fireworks this time as well! It's tempting to say "QB Matt Ryan, QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Roddy White, WR Greg Jennings... the firework show". It could go either way, as almost anything can (and does) in the NFL.

KEYS FOR GB:  The Green Bay O-line needs to make things easy for RB James Starks again. There has been much made that Starks isn't a hard worker, and doesn't practice well (a large reason Coach Mike McCarthy didn't play him much during the season) but a solid running game will take a lot of weight off Rodgers, which is crucial as the opponents get better and better.

KEYS FOR ATL:  RB Micheal Turner, the O-line, and the D are no longer shouldering Matt Ryan, but neither is Ryan carrying them. This is a very well-balanced team and they will need every bit of that to fundamentally overwhelm the Packers, who have had injuries affect their depth. WR Micheal Jenkins needs to emerge as a threat with Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzalez likely taking a lot of the Pro Bowl Packers secondary players with them on their routes.

Seattle Seahawks (8-9) @ Chicago Bears (11-5)

Chicago safeties need only pop in the tape of Seattle's upset over New Orleans, watch the Saints safeties and do the exact opposite of everything they did. QB Matt Hasselbeck and QB Jay Cutler are two roller coasters and it's hard to say what we'll get out of each offense. When these teams met in the regular season, the entire Chicago offense was awful.

Chicago loved the bye week, getting their aging linebacker core healthy and replenishing the legs of their speedy weapons, RB Matt Forte and WR Devin Hester. Most of the media had Chicago pegged as underdogs no matter who they played in the divisional round (of course, that was before Seattle actually won). Now, the Bears have everything to lose, they are expected to dominate, how will they respond?

KEYS FOR SEA: Without the 12th man, Seattle has historically struggled. The D is strong, especially on early drives. S Earl Thomas, LB Aaron Curry are looking good but they can't hold out forever. Many games were lost because the offense just couldn't hold onto the ball. RB Marshawn Lynch may have impressed the NFL with his run but he can't overpower every player, he's got to watch out for that notoriously opportunistic Bears D.

KEYS FOR CHI: LB Brian Urlacher and LB Lance Briggs have to shut down the run early.  If Briggs and Urlacher can step in those holes and shut it down. It will be a long night for a Seattle offense that has had troubles on the road. O-Co Mike Martz also needs to be a calming presence on QB Jay Cutler who has never played in the postseason (in the NFL or in college). Martz's big-game experience should help.

New York Jets (12-5) @ New England Patriots (14-2)

The Jets say they want this. They say they are looking forward to going into New England, a shot at redemption.And it really is a great shot at redemption. How the bluff and blustering, sexual harrassing, tripping opponents on the sideline Jets became the good guys over the quiet confidant Patriots I will never know. You will be hard pressed to find another AFC Divisional season with two hotter rivalries than this weeks, New York/New England is as hot as it has ever been.

QB Tom Brady wont be phased, nor caught off guard after Baltimore marched into Gillette Stadium last year and  manhandled the Pats. QB Mark Sanchez needs to play better, the Pats are healthier, stronger and deeper than the battered Colts. Yet still, the Colts really had Sanchez's number.

KEYS FOR NYJ: Pound the ball with Tomlinson and RB Shonn Greene, keep the ball out of Mark Sanchez's hands. He may pout about it but I say again, the Jets O-line has been strong and was the difference over Indianapolis (though RT Damien Woody will not play). CB Darrelle Revis can't stay on one player all game, with the way Brady spreads the ball it won't do any good. In the Week 14 drubbing Brady never once threw the way of Revis, he didn't need to.

KEYS FOR NE: The key for almost every team, in the cold January playoffs,  is the run game. The Patriots though, may be the best cold weather passing team in the history of the NFL. Brady and his gang of receivers, tight ends, and running backs use the knowledge of the routes to their advantage. Pressing and pressing for that one defender to slip. If there is snow out there, don't count Brady out of the game. Meanwhile, cold weather will be a tough test for the young Pats D against a strong run game.

Sunday 1/9/11 (Wild Card)

Baltimore Ravens, 30 Kansas City Chiefs, 7

In what seems like an annual event; the Baltimore Ravens dominated the early Sunday Wild Card game. This sets up a rematch with the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. QB Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense, combined with the usual dominating D was just too much for the Cheifs.

The  Kansas City defense played admirably but they were exhausted. Baltimore converted too many 3rd downs and sustained a 10 minute TD drive in the second half. Meanwhile RB Jamaal Charles couldn't match a stellar first half when the Baltimore Defense put their entire focus on the fastest man in the game, after 89 yards in the 1st half, they held Charles to -5 in the 2nd.

The five turnovers, the dominating ball control, how many times have we seen it? Kansas City can take heart to a solid season, but Baltimore had to have this game, had to have another shot at Pittsburgh, it's do or die.

KEY PLAY: The Ravens had the game in hand about five minutes into the 4th; 23-7; they clinched it with a 4th-and-1 on the KC 35. RB Willis McGahee took it through a massive hole nearly untouched, 35 yards into the end zone. The play was a testament to patience, having worn down the Chiefs the first 3 quarters with 70 total offensive plays.

MVP: TE Todd Heap, 108 yards and 10 receptions, was the great equalizer. While the Chiefs secondary battled amicably against WR Anquan Boldin and WR Derrick Mason, Heap exposed the middle of the field, especially on 3rd down, saving Flacco from what might have been a rough game.

Green Bay Packers, 21 Philadelphia Eagles, 16

All the Vick magic was wasted on the Giants in week 17. QB Micheal Vick threw an interception in the end zone with 30 seconds to play. The Eagles were thinking comeback, down 5. Their defense had finally managed to buckle down and get a stop after three TDs from QB Aaron Rodgers had put Philly in their current situation.

But the Packers D never looked like the game was spinning away from them. CB Tramon Williams (my #1 Pro Bowl snub) pulled down that final interception, and D-Co Dom Capers used the lack of  a blitz as a phantom threat to keep the Eagles jittery, then brought the heat at the perfect times.

RB James Starks ran for a surprising 123 yards. Make no mistake about the Vick magic wearing off or whatnot, or WR DeSean Jackson's injury troubles, the Packers had this game in hand. The Eagles D stepped up late but the Packers D never let go.

KEY PLAY: All this talk of the hobbled Vick scraping the Eagles back into the game would have been moot had WR James Jones caught a deep, sure TD pass from Rodgers late in the second quarter. The pass was arguably one of the best of the weekend. Jones is lucky the Packers ended up with the game.

MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers earns his first career playoff win and only has to throw three TDs! (He threw four in the wild-card loss last year to Arizona). Rodgers has been the heart and soul of the offense, and with the running game clicking... Rodgers could be even more dangerous in the post-season.

Saturday 1/8/11 (Wild Card)

Seattle Seahawks, 41 New Orleans Saints, 36

The Seattle Seahawks brought out the 12th man and surprised the entire NFL. Down 10-0, Down 17-7, they never panicked. The crowd noise never ceased. QB Drew Brees had a great 400-yard day and RB Julius Jones (cut by the Seahawks earlier this season) took two TDs to add a certain statistical revenge but ultimately, the Saints are marching home.

The Saints lost because the secondary, particularly S Roman Harper and S Darren Sharper, gave up huge plays. QB Matt Hasselbeck was able to connect with a wide-open TE John Carlson twice, hit WR Brandon Stokley deep after both safties played the pump fake, and again deep to WR Mike Williams, another slower possession receiver, deep because the safeties showed no respect. 28 easy points for a veteran QB like the much-maligned turned hero Hasselbeck.

New Orleans did not give up, down 11, Brees drove them to a TD inside 2 minutes (failed 2pt). An onside kick recovery could have spelled historic doom for Seattle, but the kick was botched, the 12th man erupted.

KEY PLAY: RB Marshawn Lynch's 67-yard run in the 4th quarter. At the time, the Seahawks had the lead but it was dwindling. With Drew Brees' hot hand and Seattle's stagnant 4th quarter offense, the mood was bleak. Suddenly, Lynch starting shooting downfield, breaking tackle after tackle to the end zone. Some of the hardest running of the year, it seemed the Saints assumed he was down at least twice, but he kept pumping his legs. Lynch threw last year's Super Bowl hero CB Tracy Porter like a ragdoll to ensure the final 20 yards and 6 points.

MVP: QB Matt Hasselbeck made sure to take advantage and capitalize on the New Orleans' secondary mistakes, at least 21 points would be off the board if he had been more conservative and not held the ball just that fraction longer to expose each mistake.

New York Jets, 17 Indianapolis Colts, 16

K Adam Vinateri was clutch, nailing a 50-yard FG with less than 1 minute to play. Unfortunately Vinateri is the only Colts Special Teams player who showed up to play. The Colts subsequently allowed a good kickoff return and K Nick Folk took matters into his own hands, finally giving Coach Rex Ryan his revenge over QB Peyton Manning, the story of the century apparently.

The actual story was defense. The Jets defense worked hard to blanket Manning and his limited weapons (CB Darrelle Revis held major weapon WR Reggie Wayne to a single, meaningless yard) as much as they could. The Colts D focused on stopping RB Shonne Green, RB LaDanian Tomlinson and the surging Jets O-line but they could not, while QB Mark Sanchez handed off, watched from a distance, and occasionally put his finger in the air to signify the number one.

After a 7-0 first half, the Jets O-line put together two TD drives (7 minutes and 10 minutes) that kept #18 on the bench, Sanchez threw only 5 passes. Jets punted to Colts with 2:30 left... Manning and Vinateri did what living legends do, but the Colts Special Teams let them down in the final minute.

KEY PLAY: 3rd and long, the play before the Vinateri 50 yard field goal. Manning and the entire O-line make a roll to the right, WR Blair White was open for the 1st down but the coverage collapsed in on him and White couldn't hold on. If this pass is completed (assuming Vinateri makes a shorter FG as well) the clock runs down and Colts win.

MVP: RB LaDanian Tomlinson has had some hard playoff losses and this would have been a real tough one to swallow despite two drive-capping touchdowns and an overall bounce in his step. Tomlinson's triumph is deserved, but we knew he was great. Jets fans likely wish Sanchez was even in the top 10 of players lined up for this MVP award.

Wild Card Weekend 2011

New Orleans Saints (11-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (7-9)

Seattle has made a deal with the devil for this home playoff game at 7-9. Unfortunately, the defending champs are rolling into town and have the manpower to repeat the Week 11 34-19 pounding. 34 points was a nice gesture, because QB Drew Brees could have put up 60 easily, and RB Reggie Bush didn't even play in that game.

Now granted, that game was in New Orleans at the Superdome, lately one of the harder stadiums to pull out a road victory. Quest Field in Seattle is the loudest, most intimidating stadium there is. Even with the Seahawks at 7-9 (3-7 outside the NFC West) that has to be a concern. This is the NFL, so New Orleans cannot take for granted one of the most lopsided playoff games in history, it is still a road game against a division champ.

KEYS FOR N.O: Saints WR Marques Colston needs to be in fine form for the playoffs, but his knee injury is a concern. Yes, Drew Brees can hit any number of receivers, but Colston is that big one that every team needs deep in the playoffs. The D needs only a few turnovers to quiet the crowd, and we know Brees can control the ball with his plethora of targets and 3-headed RB monster RB Chris Ivory, RB Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush.

KEYS FOR SEA: Seahawks QB Charlie Whitehurst will have no St.Louis breaks, and if QB Matt Hasselbeck suits up, there will be no time to shake any rust off. In St.Louis RB Marshawn Lynch and RB Justin Forsett found holes and had great runs behind the patchwork O-line, that will be important. OT Russell Okung must play.

New York Jets (11-5) @ Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

The Jets spent all off-season with nightmares of Coach Rex Ryan's proclamation of the Super Bowl, and Colts QB Peyton Manning once again taking Rex to the cleaners (Manning is 5-1 against Ryan defenses, dating to Ryan's days as Baltimore D-Co, the lone loss was week 16 of last year with the Colts at 14-0, resting Manning).

It's not often we get a rematch of the AFC Championship in the Wild-Card round. QB Mark Sanchez has had a year to mature (though he has not performed well against quality teams) and there was no RB LaDanian Tomlinson or WR Santonio Holmes last year. Meanwhile the Colts are without many key players to injury and Manning suffered a mid-season streak that put doubts on their playoff potential.

KEYS FOR NYJ: There is only one key, stop Peyton Manning. Now, CB Darrelle Revis is respected by Manning but he can't shut out Colts WR Reggie Wayne all game because the Colts will find ways to get him the ball. LaDanian Tomlinson could be a key, he's been well-rested through the season and Rex could be saving him up for the playoffs, lets not forget this is a future Hall-Of-Famer in the backfield.

KEYS FOR IND: Pressure on Mark Sanchez will make this an easy victory. DE Robert Mathis and DE Dwight Freeney have their hands full, with a very solid Jets O-line but a few sacks and hits on Sanchez and this game is likely over. The Colts are built on early leads and the Jets are not equipped to erase them. You know, Manning will be coming out firing. The Colts do not intend for anything close to a down-and-dirty slugfest.

Baltimore Ravens (12-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)

Baltimore wants another shot at Pittsburgh, possibly more than any other team wants anything, besides the Jets not wanting New England. If the Jets win on Saturday, they will drudge (heads lowered I would think) to New England, and Baltimore will playing for another shot at Pittsburgh. Through all this, Kansas City fans are probably sitting here thinking 'what are we chopped liver?' Take solace, if Baltimore considers you chopped liver, this game will be a surprising upset.

Kansas City and QB Matt Cassell have had a streaky year and have really pounded on lesser teams in the AFC West and NFC West. RB Jamaal Charles, WR Dwayne Bowe have finally got confidence in their steps while the D has a swagger not in KC since the 1990's. The Cheifs' Arrowhead Stadium is nothing to be taken lightly, a real college atmosphere. But if Baltimore keeps its focus, they should be delivering a wild card road victory for the 2nd year in a row.

KEYS FOR BAL:  RB Ray Rice, WR Anquan Boldin need to show, on the big stage, what the new Baltimore offense is supposed to be. QB Joe Flacco is having a solid year but likely can't shoulder a Super Bowl run on his own. You know LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed will show up strong, and DT Haloti Ngata is a force, but the rest of Baltimore D needs to step up for the playoffs.

KEYS FOR KC: An early lead, a few good runs and big yardage. This is a team built on big plays. The D needs to get hits on Ray Rice and get off the field, wear down the aging Baltimore D. The home field advantage for KC is strong, so this is a toss up game, KC knows this is their key, get the crowd going.

Green Bay Packers (10-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

The last thing Green Bay wants is another shoot-out loss like last year's debacle against Arizona. The Green Bay defense, was as hailed with praise last year as this year, and they gave up 50+ points in the first game of the playoffs. CB Charles Woodson, CB Tramon Williams, LB Clay Matthews, LB A.J Hawk... the game is on their shoulders to stop Eagles QB Micheal Vick.

Unless of course, Vick stops himself. Has his body taken too much of a pounding? Both teams have so much offensive firepower and the Eagles are the team likely to need it the most. The D has been lukewarm down the stretch and the last time we saw most of the starters was a sore-looking loss to Minnesota on a Tuesday.  Meanwhile, Green Bay has surged out of their injury-plagued season with confidence.

KEYS FOR GB: QB Aaron Rodgers is the guy for a shoot-out, but GB would rather he be able to take their West Coast style to ball control. The Packers are great at using high-percentage completions to keep the clock moving, without much of a running game, this has been their strategy. If the D can keep Vick and the Eagles O contained, Rodgers can run the game.

KEYS FOR PHI: Big plays are the life and death of the Philadelphia Eagles. WR DeSean Jackson has regressed on his route-running but his speed keeps him relevant. WR Jeremy Macclin and RB LeSean McCoy are all fast, eager for the big play and they have one of the all-time game-changing QBs under center. Neither team looks to run much, but the Eagles would do well to get LeSean McCoy plenty involved.

Farewell 20 (2010)

Every season (this being the first) I take a little time to remember the fallen 20 that we won't be talking about for the next month. A quick look at our long lost and departed teams. Fear not, they shall return for the NFL draft. Pick #1? Carolina Panthers!

AFC

MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-9)

QB Chad Henne didn't show himself to be a franchise QB, even with blossoming WR Davone Bess and star WR Brandon Marshall. Despite the stellar play of LB Cameron Wake, the Miami defense can only do so much. 1-7 at home? Surreal.

BUFFALO BILLS (4-12)

Give the Bills credit, they didn't quit after their 0-8 start. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and WR Steve Johnson put up numbers and RB Fred Jackson, RB C.J Spiller could be a nice backfield for the future. Can the front office get it's act together and help out the small pieces they already have?

CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-11)

Coach Eric Mangini is gone (a recurring theme on this list). They have some decisions to make after a promising start to the season with upsets of New Orleans and Pittsburgh turned into the regular programming in Cleveland. Rookie QB Colt McCoy earned a chance, and RB Peyton Hillis shined.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-12)

The fact that QB Carson Palmer's job never came into question despite a great young D, RB Cedric Bensen and the supposedly unstoppable but at least formidable duo of WR Chad Johnson and WR Terrell Owens proves one thing - Cincinnati is in trouble.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-8)

Jacksonville has the markers but not the intangibles. This is simply not a good team. QB David Garrard is inconsistent in a league that you simply cannot be. RB Maurice Jones-Drew makes the highlights but can't carry the team. Jacksonville had the playoffs handed to them, and they blew it again.

HOUSTON TEXANS (6-10)

Football isn't as simple as the media portrays. Although RB Arian Foster gave Houston the running game that they so desperately needed last year when they threw for huge numbers and showcased their defensive stars, the Texans actually took a step backwards in 2010. Go figure. 

TENNESSEE TITANS (6-10)

(see HOU; media) The Titans struggled with teams crowding RB Chris Johnson and it was said they just lacked a big play threat, they added WR Randy Moss (the greatest big play threat in NFL history) and... nothing. The season tanked, QB Vince Young threw a fit, the entire team collapsed.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (9-7)

QB Philip Rivers had a great year but injuries and sloppy special teams play finally damned the previously late-season-blessed Chargers. For the first time in four years, the Chargers annual terrible start to the season actually came back to bite them.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (8-8)

It's sad to say this is the best year Oakland has had since 2002 but it's true. In fact, it's very, very true. RB Darren McFadden finally came into his own, and the defense had another good year. The Raiders need a QB, they've needed one for a long time.

DENVER BRONCOS (4-12)

Essentially, former Coach Josh McDaniels waltzed in to Denver in a Bellicheck hoodie, gave away three Pro Bowl players (Marshall, Cutler, Hillis) and a top-tier D-Co (Mike Nolan), lost a lot of games (a lot) and handed the franchise off to 1st-round pick QB Tim Tebow.

NFC

NEW YORK GIANTS (10-6)

They walloped the Seahawks at home, I mean- crushed them and won three more games than Seattle. Yet they will be sitting at home next weekend. It is a travesty that is not the NFL's fault, it's the fault of the entire NFC West. QB Eli Manning should have a chip on his shoulder, two collapses in a row.

DALLAS COWBOYS (6-10)

QB Tony Romo led them admirably to a 1-5 start and was then injured. Coach Jason Garrett took over for the grandfatherly and perputaly baffled Wade Phillips and had a few good wins. Is this the kind of season Dallas, or anybody anywhere, expected?

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6-10)

This team is such a mess it's almost sad. Every year for the entire reign of Owner Dan Snyder we go through an under-achieving but big-name coach and wonder what's wrong, what's wrong with the big name free agents (QB Donovon McNabb). It's starting to get old.

DETROIT LIONS (6-10)

Ending the season with a 4-game winning streak finally puts to rest a historically bad decade. QB Matt Stafford had a tough time with injuries but QB Shaun Hill filled in nicely. WR Calvin Johnson, RB Jahvid Best, DT Ndamukong Suh... Coach Jim Swartz has a few things to build on.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-10)

Well QB Brett Favre is finally out of the NFL picture. Sad to see him go on such a sour note, but the history books will be kind. WR Percy Harvin, RB Adrian Peterson quietly had solid years and who knows what QB Joe Webb could be in for in his career?

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-6) 

QB Josh Freeman appears to be the QB for the future. WIth his emergence, a lot of other weapons reared their heads, rookies RB LaGarrete Blount and WR Mike Williams are forming a nice young core. The D needs work, but I guess that's what the future is for.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-14)

It's lonelier at the bottom than usual (even the Bills made it up to 4 wins) but the Panthers deserve it. One of the worst passing games in the history of the NFL, in the golden age of passing, no less. Coach John Fox knew he wasn't coming back, so what was the point?

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10)

Mike Singletary couldn't out-motivate the other coaches, big surprise. Now that we can move on to football that isn't just "will and heart" we see a lot of weapons, TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree played well when they could but QB Alex Smith needs a system, and it's just not coming.

ST. LOUIS RAMS (7-9)

The first pick in the draft has rarely meant so much so instantly to a team. Although they fell short of the dubious honor of being the first 7-9 team to reach the playoffs (the Seahawks earned that right) the Rams have to be happy with QB Sam Bradford.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-11)

Coach Ken Wisenhunt insisted the QB was 'just another position'. I guess that's why they had one of the worst QBs in recent history (QB Derek Anderson) starting and losing his job to an undrafted rookie (QB Max Hall) who did equally bad. Even a Super Bowl team cannot overcome that.