Well, let me start by saying last weekened was a GREAT weekend of Football! Not just the Saturday games, but the Sunday games as well. Well, at least the early Sunday game anyway. Before I dive into Championship Sunday, I'll give my thoughts on the Divisional Round games.
(4) Baltimore Ravens defeat (1) Denver Broncos
Game of the weekend and it's not even close. This game surpassed the greatness that was that Niners/Saints game from last year. Nobody gave the Ravens a shot against this Peyton Manning led team and they proved everybody wrong and beat them in Double Overtime 38-35. I would love to give credit where credit is due, but let's be honest, the Broncos beat themselves. Champ Bailey was burned for two TDs and never recovered, Denver played too conservative for their well being, Von Miller and Co. couldn't get to Flacco all game, and the refs practically gave Baltimore 14 points.
Then, two HUGE blunders reared their ugly heads. Up 35-28 on 3rd and 7, Denver runs the ball rather than throwing for the first to put the game away. And then with 44 seconds left on the clock, the Denver defense allowed a 70 yard TD BOMB to send the game to OT. Rahim Moore makes a Horrible play on the ball and Jacoby Jones sails into the endzone to send the game to OT. That kind of play in that kind of situation is unacceptable. After that play, I think everyone knew the Ravens had the chance to put it away. But then with 30 seconds, 2 timeouts, with Peyton Manning, you take a knee? I believe Manning could've led his team down the field.
So, Peyton Manning falls to 9-11 in the playoffs, but once again, this was NOT his fault. I could go into great detail, but that's a blog for another time. Once again, hats off to the Ravens for making the plays and never giving up, but in my opinion, Denver beat Denver. Bad coaching, bad playcalling, and bad defense.
(2) San Francisco 49ers defeat (3) Green Bay Packers
Coming into this game, I realized something: You should never abandon your pick until the pick is dead. I had the Niners in the Super Bowl, but I thought Green Bay would be the only team left to stop them and they got stomped on. So, that's my fault.
Kaepernick ran WILD on the Green Bay defense. Not much to be said there. He shook off an early Pick Six and just dominated the Packers defense. Well, I didn't see this coming. The game was close until after halftime. San Fran was up 24-21, but after the half, Kapernick and Company just imposed their will on the Packers. There's really not much else to say about this game. Kaep showed us that he's a baller throwing for over 250 yards and running for 181 yards. One hell of a performance if you ask me.
(1) Atlanta Falcons defeat (5) Seattle Seahawks
I knew I had a good feeling about this defense. Atlanta jumped all over the Seahawks and took a 20-0 lead into halftime. I can say I wasn't surprised. I knew Atlanta could do this sort of thing. But what surprised me is after halftime. You know Seattle loves to make those adjustments and come out strong and that's what they did. Russell Wilson came out slinging that ball and, again, I gotta say I love the way this kid plays Football. Such great pocket presence, nice release on the ball resulting in a fluid throw. Love it. Seattle roared back on Atlanta and took a 28-27 lead late in the fourth quarter. But we've seen Matt Ryan do this so many times. Under a minute to go, Ryan makes two clutch passes to set up a Matt Bryant game winning FG to send Atlanta to the NFC Championship Game! The Seahawks played great Football. I firmly expect these guys to be back here next year.
(2) New England Patriots defeat (3) Houston Texans
41-28 was the final score. While Houston put up a valiant effort, things got out of hand in the third quarter. Down 17-13 going into Halftime, Houston had to feel pretty good, and then before you knew it, Brady and his crew had a 38-13 lead. Houston scored a few points to pull it close, but in the end, the Patriots shut them down. But they lost Gronkowski and Julian Edleman. Two BIG losses for them. Brady was Brady and he helped his team get back to the AFC Championship and a rematch with the Baltimore Ravens.
NFC Championship Game - Sunday, 2 p.m.
(1) Atlanta Falcons vs (2) San Francisco 49ers
Since this game is gonna be on first, I'll start with this one. This one is hard to choose for me. I should pick the Niners because I have them in the Super Bowl, but Atlanta playing at home could cause some problems.
Overall, I think The Niners are the better team and if this game was in San Francisco, I would give Atlanta no shot, but I think the Falcons can thrive off their fans and play a spirited game. People are gonna look at how Seattle almost beat the Falcons and how their defense was lit up by Russell Wilson. With Kapernick coming in being faster and having a stronger arm than Russell Wilson and a more elite defense, this could cause some problems for the Falcons. How will Atlanta contain Colin Kaepernick and prevent him from doing what he did to Green Bay to them too. Even if they do attempt to contain Kaepernick's running, they have to worry about his arm and the man has a CANNON for an arm. He can beat you from the pocket and with his arm. Atlanta's defense has to be prepared.
The only way the Falcons can have a chance in this game is to do what they did to Seattle and jump out to an early lead and make Kaepernick play from behind. If they can do that, they could win this one. The Falcons offense have to really put up some points on this defense. The Niners defense isn't perfect and they can get scored on. Ryan has to be mindful of the Niners pass rush and the fact that they are relentless. White and Jones have to be physical with the Niners' corners and work them off line and get open. Tony Gonzalez needs to gave another BIG game. They cannot miss opportunities against this team. They've got to cash in on touchdowns and not score too many FGs. They've got to get physical with the physical 49ers and out physical them.
Here's the deal, Kaepernick can beat the Falcons with his running and his passing ability, and everybody already has them as a 4 point favorite and rising. But at HOME, I think the Falcons can grind out a win against this team. Playing at home has its strengths, and these fans will be LOUD. And we saw how Kapernick struggled with a LOUD atmosphere when he went up to Seattle and got blasted 42-13. I think the Falcons' home crowd will be on their side and Atlanta will rise up against the hate and the critics and punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Prediction: Falcons defeat the 49ers
AFC Championship Game - Sunday, 6:30 p.m.
(2) New England Patriots vs (4) Baltimore Ravens
Well, here we go again. Last year, the season ended for Baltimore Ravens in Foxboro, and they have returned to face Tom Brady and the Patriots one more time for the AFC Championship. In that game, Brady had maybe his worst game with 239 yards and 2 interceptions. His defense came to play and lucked out when Lee Evans dropped the game winning TD in the endzone and Billy Cundiff missed the FG that could've sent the game into OT.
The Ravens came off a memorable, 2OT game against Peyton Manning and the Broncos and now they have to face a much faster, up tempo offense in New England. I believe Flacco and the Ravens will score points on this defense, but I will tell you this, Aqib Talib will be a difference maker for the Patriots' Secondary. And the defense will have to play better than they did against Denver which means Suggs, Lewis, and Kruger will have to bring the house on Brady and disrupt his rhythm. All over ESPN, people say Destiny is on the side of the Ravens. Kinda hard not to believe that after the way that game in Denver ended.
BUT, it's Tom Brady, at home, and in the AFC Championship. He's 3-0 at Home in this situation. I would like to say the losses of Woodhead and Gronk would hurt them, but even without them, they put 41 on the Texans. Brady's offense still flowed. Hernandez has really emerged since Gronk's been out, Welker is still the best slot receiver in the game, and they got some serious power in the backfield with Vereen and Ridley. This offense just clicks and moves the ball at will no matter who they have out there.
I would love to give this game to the Ravens and believe they will right the wrong made last season, but beating Tom Brady and the Pats at Home in the AFC Championship is going to be a tall task. A task that I don't think Baltimore can do. At Home, it's gonna be too much of Brady and that offense. I got the Pats taking it in a close game.
Prediction: Patriots defeat Ravens
As much as I would love to see the Harbaugh Bowl in New Orleans, I think their luck has run out. Tom Brady at home and a hostile environment in Atlanta could put a damper on any hopes of the Harbaugh Bowl. I guess I got the Patriots and Falcons in the Super Bowl. Let's see what happens on Championship Sunday!
Feel free to Comment.
By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete
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