1985 Bears vs 2000 Ravens: Which was the better defense?

I've read several articles about the greatest defenses of all time. Some say the 1976 "Steel Curtain" of the Steelers, others say the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles, the 1973 LA Rams, and the 1977 "Gritz Blitz" of the Atlanta Falcons. The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers also deserve to be in this conversation, in my opinion.

But the two teams that were mentioned in particular were the 1985 Bears and the 2000 Ravens. So, this begs the question, which team had the better defense? Let me break down the defenses of both teams.

The 1985 Bears debuted that 46 defense technique which hasn't really been seen before coming from defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. It was an effective 4-3 technique where the D-Line was shifted to the weak side in front of the guards and centers. It forced the offenses to account for the defenders in front of them which made it harder to execute offensive line assignments. The 46 defense was intended to rush 8 to stuff to negate the running game and make it harder for QB's to throw the ball. This allowed the two outside corners to play free bump and run, coverage to disrupt receiver routes. Offenses back then occasionally ran Strong-I, two back, two receiver sets which made it very difficult to beat that defense. Nowadays, with 5-wide formations, it makes the 46 defense easy to beat because rushing 8 will always leave somebody running open across the field. Also, quick throws can be made before the blitz hits. 

Another method of creating confusion would be to show blitz, and drop linebackers into coverage. This defense is still used to this day, but sparingly. Rex and Rob Ryan implicate this defense into their defensive schemes.  

The 2000 Ravens defensive scheme was a basic 4-3 allowing Ray Lewis and Co. to drop back into coverage while the defensive line did the rest. Because of their speed of the edge, and constant rushing through the A gaps, they negated the running game with ease. Their hybrid defense allowed them to shift between 3-4 and 4-3 looks making their defensive ability very effective. Their 4-3 technique was particularly effective because their four down lineman were fast enough to get to the QB leaving the linebackers surveying the quarterback and making open field tackles if a runner got through. The 3-4 allowed them to close the B & C gaps.

I assume they used the 4-3 more because running the ball would be more effective against a 3-4 technique. Especially a Strong-I set with two backs and an extra tight end on the line to block. Many teams use this sort of defensive technique, but none have been as effective as the Baltimore Ravens. The linebackers in coverage were exceptional athletes, and their four down lineman they would use were powerful and had dangerous closing speed.



How do they stack up statistically?


Overall Rank in the Regular Season:

85 Bears: #1 overall, #1 against the run, #3 against the pass.
00 Ravens: #2 overall, #1 against the run, #8 against the pass.


Total Points Allowed:

85 Bears: 198
00 Ravens: 165 (best all time)


Total Rush Yards Allowed:

85 Bears: 1,319
00 Ravens: 970 (best all time)


Rush Touchdowns Allowed:

85 Bears: 6
00 Ravens: 5


Pass Yards Allowed:

85 Bears: 2,816
00 Ravens: 2,997


Pass Touchdowns Allowed:

85 Bears: 16
00 Ravens: 11


Sacks:

85 Bears: 64
00 Ravens: 35


Interceptions:

85 Bears: 34
00 Ravens: 23


Double Digit Points Allowed: (including playoffs)

85 Bears: 11 with 4 shutouts
00 Ravens: 7 with 3 shutouts



Total points allowed in the Playoffs: (including the Super Bowl)

85 Bears: 10 (Won Super Bowl)
00 Ravens: 23 (Won Super Bowl)



How good was their Offense?

85 Bears: 456 points (2nd)
00 Ravens: 333 points (14th)


The 2000 Ravens went through 2 Quarterbacks, both putting up mediocre numbers. Tony Banks put up 143.5 yards per game and Trent Dilfer put up 136.5 yards per game. Their running game ranked 5th in the league. They went 5 games in a row without scoring a Touchdown constantly depending on their defense to bail them out. Imagine if they had a Peyton Manning on their team. Even with poor QB play and a decent running game, the Ravens dominant defense led them all the way to the Super Bowl and won it.

The 85 Bears' had a nice lineup with Jim McMahon averaging 184.0 yards per game with 15 TD's to 11 INT's. With Walter Payton in the backfield running for over 1,500 yards that year, they had the #1 ranked rushing attack in the league that year.

But what it comes down to, is the playoffs. Both teams won the Super Bowl, but it's how they won it. The 85 Bears shut out TWO teams and held The Patriots to 10 points to win the Super Bowl. That's dominance. The Giants were 5th in total yards per game and 4th in total rush yards and were held to 0 points. The Patriots were 6th in total rush yards and were only held to 10 points.

The 2000 Ravens weren't the top ranked defense, but they showed their dominance in the playoffs. They faced the Broncos in Wild Card Weekend. Denver was 2nd in the league that year in total offense, 3rd in passing yards per game, and the 3rd ranked rushing offense in the league. Baltimore held them to just 3 points. They went on the road against Tennessee and their top ranked defense and top defense against the pass and won 24-10. They held McNair to 176 yards passing and Eddie George to just 91 yards on the ground. They took on The Raiders and their top ranked rush defense and held them to just 3 points.


After all that, it's tough to choose. Both teams stats are almost identical, but I say the Bears. They showed more dominance in the playoffs shutting out two teams and giving up just 10 in the Super Bowl. The Ravens went on the road and still allowed 13 points in two playoff games. The Ravens players was what made their defense so good. The Bears defensive scheme is what brought them to dominance. Good defensive coaching rather than relying on exceptionally good players. The Bears 46 defense was still relatively new and teams had no answer on how to attack it, giving them quite the advantage. Over time, the scheme is now easy to beat. There was nothing unusual about Baltimore's scheme. It was a simple 4-3, but the players on defense was made it work.

Then factor in the Quarterbacks playing in that time period. In 85, you had Montana, Elway, Marino to name a few. In 2000, you had Testaverde and McNair. I would've liked to see those 2000 Ravens go up against a few more skilled Quarterbacks.

Which team would've won if they faced each other? Probably the Ravens. The players they had on defense would've made McMahon run for cover. Not saying Dilfer would out play him, but with offenses knowing how to beat the 46 defense, it'd be easier. Again, this is just my opinion.

I'll end it like this:

If consider the scheme as defensive dominance, then it's The Bears.

If you're looking solely on the play of the players in the defense, then it'd be The Ravens.


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By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Week 5 Predictions

Better late than never. Time to quickly go over these NFL games for Week 5 of the NFL Season.

As far as The Thursday Night game goes, The Browns are 3-2 and in command of the AFC North, but they are now without Brian Hoyer. I don't fully believe in Wheeden. He did good in Hoyer's absence throwing almost 200 yards with 0 picks, but I need to see more. Wheeden never wowed at all last season. The Browns have a chance to capture the AFC North. I hope Wheeden can lead them there. As bad as the Browns have been for all these years, I'm actually rooting for them to pull it off.

Now, let's get to these games!

New Orleans @ Chicago 

- The Saints are undefeated going on the road against The Chicago Bears in a game that The Bears probably need more than New Orleans. Chicago has excelled in turnovers, but Detroit exposed them and they were the ones that forced Cutler in turnovers and Reggie Bush dominated them on the ground. With Payton back, New Orleans is a better disciplined Football team on offense and defense. Brees will have success in the passing game, but I doubt Cutler will have a bad game like he did against Detroit. Saints offensive line isn't perfect, so Chicago will have their way early. It all comes down if the Chicago secondary can't stop Drew Brees. Can they create some zone schemes and make Brees have a rough day? Will Cutler bounce back from his showing in Detroit. I say it'll be a close game, but New Orleans takes in on the road and goes 5-0. The Saints are on a mission this season.

Prediction: Saints defeat Bears

New England @ Cincinnati

UPSET ALERT!

- The Patriots look like they've finally got their offense under control. Other than a little run, The Patriots had the Atlanta game firmly under control. Kenbrell Thompkins has emerged as Brady's favorite target, and of course Julian Edleman has been a nice little slot target for Brady as well. The Bengals defense is vastly different from Atlanta. Their front line is faster, their linebackers play better coverage, and you could argue they have better safety play. I haven't heard anything about Amendola and Gronk, but if they come back, New England takes it easily. If they aren't back, The Bengals can rough them up and throw Brady off his game. Aquib Talib will have a tough test against AJ Green, but Dalton has an array of weapons to throw to and a good running game. They'll definitely give New England a fight. The Bengals already lost 2 in a row, will they lose 3? I say no.

Prediction: Bengals defeat Patriots

Detroit @ Green Bay

- Detroit right now is in control of the NFC North. Their ground game is on fire and the Stafford/Megatron combination is on fire like usual. This all comes down to which defense can stop which. Green Bay can't stop the run and I don't think the Lions' secondary can pull of what they did to Jay Cutler to Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is going to have his way with the secondary and do what he does best. The tandem duo of Bush and Bell are doing wonders balancing out the Lion's offensive attack. Green Bay's has 2 weeks to prepare and they're playing at Home. The Lions are playing good football, but I think Green Bay gets the job done. After blowing that game in Cincinnati, they're bound to bounce back. I like their chances. Won't be surprised if it's a shootout.

Prediction: Packers defeat Lions

Seattle @ Indianapolis 

- Definitely one of the most intriguing games of the afternoon. 4-0 Seattle travels to Indy. The Colts, on paper, look outmatched. They can't stop the run, their offensive line constantly crumbles, their secondary is inconsistent and against this Seattle defense, I don't think they'll have much success with the running game. Seattle's defense is lethal and ranked #1, their offense is potent, and they're just an overall better team. But the thing is, Seattle is playing on the road and they're notorious for being a bad road team. The Colts, playing at Home, have such energy and passion. It's hard to beat these Colts at Home on their game. Luck is playing good Football. Has been since last season. High Football IQ, ability to extend the play and playmaking abilities. 

- I believe The Colts will have some success in the passing game. Reggie Wayne vs Richard Sherman will be interesting watch. T.Y. Hilton will be the X-Factor in this one. His breakaway speed and ability to get open will be key. With Bradshaw out, Trent Richardson will need to take his chances against Seattle's Front 7. This is gonna be a good one, but Lucas Oil Stadium will be on fire this Sunday. That defense will play its hardest and Luck will need to play mistake free ball and not turn it over. On paper, Seattle should crush them, but this is why we play the games.

Prediction: Colts defeat Seahawks

Baltimore @ Miami

- After a sound thrashing by New Orleans, you would think Miami would come back with some effort, but I don't think they will. The Ravens haven't been looking too good all season and they're the ones coming off a Super Bowl win. Their offense struggles to put up points, but their defense is what keeps them in games where they have no business being in (i.e. Houston, Buffalo) But I think this is the game where Baltimore breaks out and plays an overall balanced game. Mike Wallace is inconsistent, Hartline vanishes within the offense, but they do have flashes of brilliance. I think The Ravens defense gets the better of Miami and Flacco has a good performance.

Prediction: Ravens defeat Dolphins

Philadelphia @ New York

- This is New York's BEST chance at getting a win. The Eagles can't play defense, and The Giants are playing at Home. The Eagles will have success in the running game and Vick will have his way extending the play. Eli's been struggling ALL SEASON and I think this could be the game he makes plays and doesn't turn the ball over. Their offensive line is bad and Philly's defensive line will get to the passer. I can honestly say I don't know what to expect from this game. I can see the Giants exploiting Philly's defense and putting up points. I don't know if the Eagles can keep up with New York at Home. The Eagles defensive liability will be their downfall.

Prediction: Giants defeat Eagles

Jacksonville @ St. Louis

- Two bad teams. Not really much too say about this one. The Jags are just a horrible team overall. The only saving grace is that Justin Blackmon returns and will add another physical receiver in the passing game and if Jones-Drew plays like the tailback in his past days, Jags might have a shot. The Rams defense is still inconsistent, but their Front 7 is still decent. All it takes is one big play to put the game out of reach. I think whatever potential they had this season died in their loss to San Francisco. Jags get their first win.

Prediction: Jaguars defeat Rams

Kansas City @ Tennessee 

- The Titans have a good defense and can match up with the Chiefs receivers. They'll defend Donnie Avery on those inside routes, and they're gonna try and keep Dwayne Bowe in check. The Titans have Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm with Locker out. Fitz is a solid QB, but he'll have his hands full with KC. This team's defense is underrated and causes a lot of turnovers. Their offense isn't up to Denver's standards, but they check the ball down like crazy and tire out the defense. This will be a tough test for The Chiefs on the road. How will Alex fair against the Titans' defense? They're gonna throw all kinds of blitz packages and etc. to take him out of the game. The Titans have a lot of weapons, but The Chiefs have the defense to matchup with the kind of offense Tennessee plays. The Chiefs are playing good Football right now. 

Prediction: Chiefs defeat Titans

Carolina @ Arizona

- The Cardinals are quietly flying under the radar. They've got a solid defense, but their offense is on and off at times. The Panthers offense is good, but they can struggle to put up points themselves. Despite Cam's arm and playmaking abilities, he is mistake prone. I think The Panthers offense is clicking right now. They won't go anywhere, but they're clicking. Newton will make plays, extend the play with his legs and it'll be up to their defense to take Fitzgerald out of the game. If he's out, The Cardinals offense will be stagnant. I got the Panthers in this one.

Prediction: Panthers defeat Cardinals

Denver @ Dallas

- As inconsistent as Dallas has been so far, I think this will be Denver's first true test. The Cowboys have the playmakers to contend with Denver's defense. They have the defense that can rattle, maybe even stifle Denver's offense. A game like this being played in Dallas is gonna be big. If Dallas plays up to their potential, they can match up well with The Broncos and maybe pull off the upset. If they play like they did against San Diego, Denver will crush them. Despite a few bad games here and there throughout his career, Romo is a better QB than people give him credit for. It'll come down to whether or not The Cowboys defense can stop Peyton Manning. The way Peyton Manning is playing right now, he can't be stopped. The Cowboys might be the first team so far that can contain this stacked and powerful offense. I'll say this, if Dallas plays the way I know they can, there is an outside chance they can pull the upset, or even not get blown out. But The Broncos can't be stopped right now. I actually have them going 16-0. 

Prediction: Broncos defeat Cowboys

Houston @ San Francisco

- The Texans will go as far as Matt Schaub takes them. They blew a 20 point lead against Seattle. The same game where Schaub threw a Pick 6 that turned the game around. Their offense has a habit of producing points and being consistent early, but slowly fizzle out later in the game. The Niners have paid attention to what Seattle did to Schaub. Making adjustments, tightening the coverage and just anticipating what the next move will be. The Niners defense is gonna be all over Schaub. The Texans have the potential to be the class of the AFC, but I don't fully believe in Schaub. Too inconsistent, too many mistakes, poor ball control. They won't get blown out. Their defense is good enough to keep it that way. As good as Houston is, The Niners are simply just a better team. Houston is too inconsistent to bank on them. If the game was in Houston, MAYBE, it'd be different.

Prediction: 49ers defeat Texans

San Diego @ Oakland

- Terrelle Pryor is back and The Raiders offense is gonna be better than it was last week. The Chargers seem to struggle with Oakland recently. When San Diego was the power of the AFC West, Oakland would be no challenge, but Oakland is different and the Chargers are an inconsistent team. But I'll take San Diego. Rivers is playing great this season. His receivers are making plays, especially guys like Royal and Woodhead and their defense shows up when they need it. It would be tough for San Diego to win in the Black Hole, but after that win against Dallas, I think San Diego will make just enough plays to win. They can TRY and contain Pryor, but he'll still get his yards on the run and through the air. 

Prediction: Chargers defeat Raiders

New York @ Atlanta

- The Jets are all messed up offensively and defensively. Geno has potential. I'm not ready to write him off, but he's gonna struggle again here. The Falcons are 1-3 and desperate for a win. The Falcons offense is superior to the Jets secondary and will put up points. I don't think Cromartie is a match for Julio and Tony Gonzalez is prime for a good game like he had against New England. Geno is gonna struggle at first trying to figure out this Atlanta secondary and trying to make plays. The Falcons are gonna bounce back from that loss and The Jets simply can't match up. Falcons will be too much for the Jets to handle.

Prediction: Falcons defeat Jets

Enjoy the games!

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NFL Week 4 Predictions!!

Week 4 of the NFL!

Ok, I was wrong about The Rams, but right about The Niners winning the game. I gotta say, I thought The Rams were gonna be at least decent this year. They have the talent and an ok defense, but they're still The Rams. I wanna give Bradford the benefit of the doubt here, but I'm starting to lose faith in him myself. Niners dominated them 35-11. Looking back on what they used to be, The Rams are sad. 

Time to get into Week 4 with my picks! Got some very interesting games on the schedule.

Baltimore @ Buffalo 

- The Ravens have struggled to consistently score points and produce in the passing game. Last week, they had a spark putting up 30 against The Texans. The Ravens sorely miss the presence of Jacoby Jones. Flacco pretty much just throws in the direction of Torrey Smith as his other receivers aren't a sure thing. I see them trying to get Dallas Clark more involved. Clark has a habit of dropping passes, but I believe he should be involved a little more to provide some stability to that passing game. The Bills looked good in their showing against The Jets. E.J. Manuel is solid young QB, but their team is a liability defensively. Playing in Buffalo will be a challenge because that crowd can get rowdy. I fully believe The Ravens will go into Buffalo and get the job done. Won't be surprised if the Bills don't go down without a fight. 

Prediction: Ravens defeat Bills

Cincy @ Cleveland

UPSET ALERT!

- This game is gonna be a lot closer than people think. Cleveland actually beat Cincy by 10 in Cleveland last season. The Brows always play their divisional foes tough and this in-state rivalry is always fun to watch. At Home, Cleveland's defense gets a much needed boost and plays well. Their pass rush and ability in the secondary can be underrated at times. Nothing special, but a bend, don't break type of defense. The Browns have found bonafide weapons in Bess, Little, and Jordan Cameron. Cameron is gonna be huge for them in this game. Hoyer is gonna throw a lot of passes his way. Cameron might be a difficult match up, even for Cincy's great defensive players. 

We already know how good the Bengals defense is. Hoyer is gonna struggle early on trying to pass on this team, or even get the pass off because of Cincy's Front 7, but it's all about adjustments. I think The Browns, coming off a last second win in Minnesota, are feeling good right now and are ready to take that next step with Hoyer. I'm not saying they'll win the division or anything, but I'll take them to win this game over Cincy. Dalton will get his points throwing to his weapons like Sanu and of course AJ, but in Cleveland, I think this one goes to The Browns. That's my upset pick of the week. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. The Bengals will definitely get theirs back in Cincinnati. 

Prediction: Browns defeat Bengals

Chicago @ Detroit

- Another interesting one. The Bears are 3 years removed from being in the NFC Championship and finishing off Jay Cutler's nice reign as the Bears QB. They haven't even been back in the playoffs since. Now, here they sit at 3-0, heading to 2-1 Detroit, a team that also wants to get back to the playoffs. Most of the Lions receivers are injured. Stafford's primary weapons will be Megatron and Ryan Broyles, who had a good showing last week. I think The Lions will be able to adjust and produce points in the passing game. Cutler has shown that he can produce points and effectively throw the ball down field if he has time in the pocket. I think this game will come down to the battle of turnover. Which team can cause that fumble, or make that interception to put the other team away. The Bears scored 23 points off turnovers against Pittsburgh. I want to give this game to Detroit because they're at home, but I don't believe they can get it done. Chicago has just a better team, and their defense will be the key to this one. If they can stop Megatron, which is HARD to do, they've got this one. I have Chicago going 4-0.

Prediction: Bears defeat Lions

Seattle @ Houston

- Seattle is DOMINANT at Home, but this a true test to see if they can play the same on the road. We've got two hard hitting teams that like to force turnovers, really bring the pressure and close some gaps to bottle up the running game. Matt Schaub will have a hard time against this #1 ranked Seattle defense. They can really rush the passer and their hard hitting secondary is so lethal. The Houston secondary on the other hand is also pretty good. Wilson will get his. He's got the receivers to do so. This is the same Houston team that let Christian Ponder and AP torch them last season. I predict Wilson be rattled at first, but once he adjust to their defense, he'll get his. He can also hand it off to Lynch and let him do this thing if anything. Houston is good home team, but I like the Seahawks in this game. 

Prediction: Seahawks defeat Texans

Indy @ JAX

- The Colts just came off a dominating win on the road against a formidable opponent, The San Francisco 49ers, blowing them out 27-7. They're looking good and Andrew Luck is showing no signs of a sophomore slump. The Jaguars maybe one of the worst teams, but they do play Divisional foes tough. But it's always a safe bet to take the team playing against Jacksonville. The Colts win this one and move to 3-1. I'm really intrigued to see Indy play Houston in Week 9 to really test how far they've come. They need this win because they're next three games are a doozie: Hosting Seattle, on the road against San Diego, and then the BIG one, Week 7 hosting Peyton Manning and The Denver Broncos. A win here could prepare them for the tough stretch and at least keep their record strong.

Prediction: Colts defeat Jaguars

NYG @ KC

-  The Giants have been playing badly. No better way to put it than that. Eli already leads the league in turnovers, and their defensive gives up a ton of points. This resulted in them being 0-3. And now they go to 3-0 Kansas City. The reason I don't fully believe in The Chiefs is because Alex Smith doesn't take a lot of chances. Alex Smith is Mr. Checkdown. He throws those slants, bootlegs, and intermediate passes, he never attempts any passes down the field even though he has a receiver like Dwayne Bowe on his team. He took some chances with The Niners, but not so much with KC. What if The Giants take away those short passes? Smith will have to throw down the field and sometimes he can do it effectively, and sometimes he can't. If Smith just throws 5 yard pass after 5 yard pass and moves down the field, Giants won't be able to win because Smith is efficient in this kind of offense. This is why it works for him. 

It's hard to choose, but if The Giants can't beat a team like Carolina, who probably isn't going anywhere this season, how can they beat a team that's tactical offensively and aggressive defensively like The Chiefs? I'm gonna make a bold prediction and pick The Giants. The Chiefs are a good team, but The Giants are gonna want this game a little more and play with some fire. At least, I think they will. They very well could lay an egg like last week. But I can't see them starting off 0-4. I'll take The G-Men in a close one. 

Prediction: Giants defeat Chiefs

Pittsburgh @ Minnesota

- Oh yes, The London Game. Two teams that haven't played up to their expectations. The Vikings offense runs through Adrian Peterson which makes them one-dimensional because The Vikings passing game isn't as good as it was last season with Percy Harvin opening up more opportunities. The Steelers, on the other hand, haven't looked at least decent. They've had poor showings in all their games so far. You could say Ben has no weapons, or because his lost his Center, he doesn't get the protection he needs. This is a weird game, there's no clear cut one-sided winner in this one. Vikings have an Ace with A.P. but Pittsburgh won't start off the season 0-4. I'll take The Steelers. Ben finds some rhythm in the passing game and he makes enough plays to lead his team to the W.

Prediction: Steelers defeat Vikings

Arizona @ Tampa Bay

- Poor Josh Freeman. Getting benched and a rookie starting over him. I don't really watch College Football anymore so I can't comment on whether or not this kid is good. He'll have his hands full. Arizona definitely has a solid defense and rattle the young guy. The battle between Fitz and Revis will interesting to watch. The kid's got some weapons in Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, but how will he fare against this Arizona defense? I think it'll be a rough outing for this young guy and Carson Palmer's team gets the win. The Cardinals are just a better Football team than Tampa Bay. The struggles will continue for The Bucs.

Prediction: Cardinals defeat Buccaneers

NYJ @ Tennessee

- This is gonna be an interesting one. Both teams are 2-1, both young QB's have been playing well so far this season. The Jets have played well against the run, but they haven't faced a running back like Chris Johnson yet. I believe they'll limit his runs and the game will be in Locker's hands. Locker's receiving core has been inconsistent. Kenny Britt hasn't played like Kenny Britt we've seen in the past, but Nate Washington has come on as a go to guy. Either him, or Kendall Wright. Locker is a young stud of a QB and definitely opened some eyes leading the offense in that comeback win against San Diego. I think Geno has found another weapon besides Holmes, in Hill. 

I see a nice defensive struggle in the early going as it should be. The Titans defense do a great job of rushing the passer and disrupting the QB's rhythm. If The Jets offensive line can give Geno some time, he can expose The Titans soft spot in the defense and make some plays over the middle and produce some points. Can Locker put up points against this team? He'll struggle to put up points because of his inconsistent receivers, but if he can get into a rhythm and make some plays down the field and his guys show up, they can pull this one out. 

Both defenses will be the key in this game. When you have two young QB's, it's all about who makes the first mistake and who makes that one big play. I like the way Geno's been playing, his poise in the pocket, and his arm. I like Locker's ability and efficiency. This is gonna be a good one. But in Tennessee, I gotta give the edge to The Titans. 

Prediction: Titans defeat Jets

Philly @ Denver

- Philadelphia is an inconsistent team that can't play defense. Their offense is fast, they've got a great running attack with Lesean McCoy, and can move down the field. But again, they can't play defense. The Broncos pass rush can also be inconsistent, so Vick may find some lanes to run in and make some plays in the passing game. Denver, on the other hand, looks like they're gonna go Undefeated. They are an offensive juggernaut with Peyton Manning at the helm and that defense is lethal now and they're still missing some pieces. Imagine how dangerous they'll be once everybody's back and healthy. In Denver, Peyton will have his way with this defense. Sure Philly will make some plays and get off the field and rattle Manning in a little, but once all is said and done, it'll come down to whether or not The Eagles defense can stop Peyton Manning. Something no team has been able to do yet. I got Denver going 4-0. Too much offense, too much Manning, and don't underestimate that defense. It's Philly's #1 rushing offense vs Denver's #1 rushing defense. Something's gotta give here. 

Prediction: Broncos defeat Eagles

Washington @ Oakland

- Both these teams have looked bad so far this season. I think it's worse for Washington because their expectations were so high coming off last season's success. But look at them. RG3 looks like he's scared to run and scared to re-injure that leg again and without his running, he can't properly succeed in the passing game like he did last season. Then, right across the field, you have a guy in Terrelle Pryor who's proven to be a QB that can maybe lead Oakland into the future if he becomes more polished and the front office makes the right moves. I'm gonna go ahead and take Washington to finally get a win and beat The Raiders.

Prediction: Washington defeats Oaklan

Dallas @ San Diego

- I remember years ago, people were picking these teams to compete in The Super Bowl. They always fall just short of their expectations. With Washington, Philly, and New York reeling, the Cowboys have a chance to put a little strangehold on this division. Tony Romo is playing well like he has been every year. I don't know why people underestimate this guy. His playmaking ability is up there and he can throw the ball down the field. It also helps that he's got Dez Bryant and Demarco Murray on his side to help balance out the offense. The Chargers are all sorts of messed up. They have such a choke factor. Houston, then Tennessee. San Diego is a good team that just can't seem to close out games when it counts. 

Philip Rivers is also a decent playmaker when he has to. He's got his money receivers and a decent runner in the backfield. This will be a battle of the QB's. Romo vs Rivers. I have faith that Romo will make and extend plays and produce points on this defense. The Chargers are just a weird team whose inconsistency is why I can't really take them seriously going forward. The Cowboys are smelling blood in the NFC East and want to gain a little breathing room. Even on the road in San Diego, I got those Cowboys.

Prediction: Cowboys defeat Chargers

New England @ Atlanta

- Brady is still without Gronk and still without Amendola. But he looks he found a little chemistry with his rookie receivers, Dobson and Thompkins. But he still has Julian Edleman out there making plays as well. But The Patriots are still lucky to be 3-0. They should be 1-2. They narrowly escaped Buffalo, winning on a last second FG and The Jets were one big play away from beating them in Foxboro. They're going on the road against an offensively disciplined team like The Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons haven't looked like The Falcons of last season, but they're still a good Football team. 

Let's be real, The Patriots haven't faced an offense like Atlanta yet. Julio Jones is still a beast on the outside and they have a dangerous tandem set in the backfield with Snelling and Rodgers. Playing Atlanta is one thing, but playing them on their home turf, a place where they almost never lose is something else. The Falcons defense will play them tight, give their receivers no space, jam them at the line and throw off Brady's composure. I don't think the Patriots can consistently move the ball on this offense, but Matt Ryan can surely move the ball on their defense. I'll take The Falcons to get the W. Don't be surprised if it's an easy W as well. 

Prediction: Falcons defeat Patriots

3-0 Miami @ 3-0 New Orleans 

- This one right here. Undefeated Miami vs Undefeated New Orleans. I gotta admit, I was surprised The Dolphins were able to beat Atlanta. The Dolphins are really playing some good Football. Their offense can really move the ball man. Ryan Tannehill has emerged as a stud, with poise in the pocket, and making plays. He's got Wallace/Hartline duo to thank as well. They don't open eyes with the running game, but they're efficient when they run the ball. Lamar Miller will see a lot of time if Tannehill can't get it going early. Watch their defense too. Cameron Wake and the pass rush love to swarm the QB and disrupt the momentum.

With Sean Payton back and running things, The Saints are once again offensively disciplined and their defense is playing well so far. We already know that with Drew Brees at the helm, The Saints will score points. That's a foregone conclusion. Their offense is hard to stop and Brees has got so many weapons to throw to and they've got a three headed running attack. Their defense is ranked #4 right now. Their pass rush is a tad shaky, but still effective and their secondary has improved. 

I think Miami is for real. If they pull this off, then I fully believe they can take the division as well. Bold prediction, I know. But playing New Orleans in the Super Dome on Monday Night Football is quite a feat. I like the way The Dolphins are playing right now. They'll be a hard team to stop going forward, but in THIS game, I gotta give it to The Saints. I don't know if Miami can make enough plays to contend with New Orleans at Home in this one. It'll be a close one, but with Drew Brees at Home, it's hard to pick against them. The party has to end for one of them.

Prediction: Saints defeat Dolphins

Got a lot of good games this week. Gonna be interested to see the outcome of some of them, especially that Monday Nighter in New Orleans. 

Enjoy the games!

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Super Bowl 47 Reaction

Well, well, well. Look at who played a somewhat complete game and beat the San Francisco 49ers to become the Super Bowl Champions.

As the game went on, it was clear who the better team was: The Baltimore Ravens. Flacco was playing like Peyton Manning and went up 21-6 at the half. Like I said, the Ravens defense were zoned in on this read option and Kaepernick looked like a deer in the headlights. The so called greatest receiver of all time Randy Moss ha 0 catches, they couldn't get anything done on the ground, and could barely get the passing game going. Colin even threw up a duck that landed right in Ed Reed's lap. I knew the Niners defense wasn't that great, but 21-6? The Ravens were looking like a very dominant team. Boldin was having a great game, Jacoby Jones had that fantastic TD catch and run play, and it looked like it was going to get uglier.

Sure there were some questionable moments like The Ravens not trusting their kicker TWICE in the first half. Punting on a long FG try was smart, but I think Tucker could've made it. And then trying the fake FG to try to pick up the first down. It almost worked but to no avail. It was also obvious that John was coaching circles around Jim. How the Niners come out with an illegal formation on the FIRST PLAY OF THE GAME is weird.

Beyonce's performance was absolutely sensational. She is the perfect woman, great voice, great look, amazing dancing ability, and the body. I thought Alicia Keys performance was great, but Beyonce's took it to a whole other level. Bringing in Destiny's Child was a nice touch too. Would've liked them to perform "Say My Name, but I digress.

Kelly Rowland was looking pretty damn good too. Michelle will probably get no love out of this whole thing, but I think all 3 females did a great job. Nothing more, nothing less. This Halftime Show blows last year's out of the water. The last good one was the Justin Timberlake/Janet Jackson incident. Maybe this is the start of bringing prominence back to the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Great job Beyonce. Jay-Z is a lucky man.

The third quarter got started and started in a BIG way. Jacoby Jones runs the opening kickoff back all the way to the house for a 109 yards and a COMMANDING 28-6 lead over the 49ers. If it didn't look bad before, it was getting gruesome for the 49ers, and then.....the Lights when Out. I don't think something like this has ever happened before. This outage took about 34 minutes, the Ravens momentum was completely shot and The Niners had a chance to make the necessary adjustments to their gameplan.

I'm gonna be honest here, if the Niners had come back to win this game, this power outage should've been looked into. It's TOO convenient how The Ravens were ROLLING on offense, all of a sudden, the lights go out, killing the Raven's momentum allowing the Niners to outscore Baltimore 25-6 the rest of the way.

Then again, it could've been the work of The Undertaker.

Getting back to the game, The Niners had a surge of fire and they started to roll on offense. The read option was beginning to work, the running game began to pick up chunks of yards, and Kaepernick began to make plays with that cannon arm and his feet. He was making clutch plays and before you knew it, 28-6 was 28-23. The Ravens needed to make some clutch plays and THIS is why DEFENSE wins Championships.

The Ravens looking like they were about to lose their lead, Flacco leads his team and drives the length of the field with Boldin, who was making clutch plays all over the field, go down and extend their lead to 31-23. The Niners came back, on a very fantastic drive in my opinion, and scored making 31-29. The Niners tried going for two, but it was not to be. Ed Reed sprinted off the edge, undetected by LeMichael James and pressured Kapernick into a hesitation throw and just tosses it out of bounds. Ravens tack on another FG making it 34-29 and the Niners get the ball back.

And then here was the biggest moment of the game, The Niners were inside the 5 yard line and The Ravens HELD. They prevented Kaepernick and Company to take the lead. And then there was the so called, "holding" call on 4th and Goal. Ok, I admit, Jimmy Smith was holding, but then what Crabtree did afterwards was an obvious offensive pass interference. Both men held, but in this game, you have to let the guys play. You don't make that call. There a NUMBER of bad calls by the way including that BS running into the kicker call in the second half, but I digress. Backed up in their own territory, the punter gets the ball and runs around in the endzone and chews up about 10 seconds. Extremely smart move. This is why John Harbaugh is an outstanding HC. The Niners had no shot when they got ball back with just 4 seconds.

DEFENSE wins Championships. Goal Line Stand moments are what defines how dominant and elite a defense truly is.


Last Words:

- The game wasn't as bad as people are saying. It got exciting towards the end. Which makes the power outage look like more of an inside job, but it could've been a lot uglier. It got better and suspenseful. Great game.

- It was a great moment seeing the Harbaugh Brothers after the game.

- Ray Lewis' emotional speech after getting the trophy was AMAZING.

- Like I said, Karma came back to bite the 49ers. Alex Smith is probably saying, "we would've won if it was me." Well maybe. We'll never really know. The Cardinals or The Jets are awaiting Mr. Smith's arrival.

- The commercials were HORRIBLE. There were at least one or two good ones. The Rock's Got Milk Commercial was great, the M & Ms commercial was funny, but the rest were just downright outlandish. Especially the one with the "nerd" making out with the sexy model. The fact that they had to ZOOM IN was irritating.

- Flacco is a GREAT QB, but I'm not calling him Elite yet. The Media will just forget that his defense didn't come up clutch when they needed to be.

- Early Prediction: Ravens won't be back here next year. They had a great run this season, but I don't see the repeat. But for now, The Ravens are the Super Bowl Champions! Ray Lewis' journey is finally complete and he can move on to bigger and better things in his life. I'll leave you with one final image of the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)

Feel free to Comment.


By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

Super Bowl Predictions

The Ravens and 49ers both have had their struggles this season, but when January came, both teams turned their game up several notches. This is why both teams are in the Super Bowl this year. It's The Baltimore Ravens vs The San Francisco 49ers for the right to be Super Bowl Champions of the National Football League.

Let me say, it's actually a pleasure to see two fresh teams in the Super Bowl. It was always the whole Patriots, Colts, Steelers vs Random NFC Team, repeat, repeat, etc. So, this will be a treat. I've heard people cry about how the ratings won't be good because there's no big names involved. It's the Super Bowl. The SUPER BOWL. The ratings will be fine. 

Before I get to the Super Bowl, I wanna talk about the Pro Bowl. I don't think the NFL will get rid of it. They should add to it. Right now, the NBA has the best All-Star Weekend lineup out of all the sports. So many events and competitions and it ends with the All-Star Game. The NFL should go back to having different activities. A Field Goal kicking contest, a 40 yard dash race with the fastest stars in the NFL, an accuracy skills challenge for the QBs, and a Celebrity Flag Football game. Just having the Pro Bowl is eh. The stadium is never filled all the time and it's just annoying and boring to watch at times. If they were to include these activities, then the hype and everything would keep people interested and keep them in Hawaii until the Pro Bowl. It's a simple solution to a simple problem. Imagine seeing Adrian Peterson race against Chris Johnson, or Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees in an accuracy challenge, or seeing celebrities show their skills in a flag football game. Food for thought Mr. Goodell.

Let's get to the game. ESPN has said The Ravens have not faced a defense like the Niners yet. The Niners have not faced a defense like the Ravens yet either. The Ravens are not going to let Kapernick run all over them like Green Bay did. Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs have been studying that read option and they're going to be ready. And after this postseason, I've got newfound respect for Joe Flacco. The Denver game was whatever, but he still won. And then he threw 3 TDs on Tom Brady's team. Flacco is playing some damn good Football. The Niners defense isn't exactly elite. They've got power and speed up front and rush the passer, but their secondary isn't exactly shutdown. Their secondary is good, but they've been known to give up the big play here and there. I have faith that Flacco will have a big game with the help of Boldin and Ray Rice. He's got a lot of options to spread the field, but the Niners are rugged players. They will get their hits and they can hurt people. Let's not forget that. 

The 49ers, as much as I am NOT a fan of how they treated Alex Smith this season, they are in the Super Bowl nonetheless with Colin Kapernick. He took over this team and used the read option to perfection leading his team to a blowout win over Green Bay and a comeback win on the road in Atlanta. But the Niners have not faced a defense like this before. Ed Reed is going to be ready, the Ravens' corners are not scrubs either. The Ravens' have some serious power on their defensive line with Kruger and Ngata leading the charge. But Kapernick has really come alive and has found a favorite target in Crabtree and he's got so many other options with Vernon Davis, Randy Moss, and now LeMichael James. This team can come at you and beat you in so many different ways. Kapernick can run and the man has an arm. This has been well documented. But this is a tall task, even for the 49ers. How will Kaepernick play against a defense like this. The man can play, but this defense is primed and ready to stop whatever he's got planned. It's not going to be as easy as people think. 

And we have the Harbaugh Brothers. We're going to find out who the better Coach is. We know these two aren't going to play conservative and play not to lose. These teams are almost mirror images of each other. The defenses hit hard and force turnovers, and their QBs aren't too bad either. 

Time to pick a winner. I've got the Baltimore Ravens. It's funny how this works out. I picked the Niners to get to the Super Bowl and I've picked against them all month and I'm still going against them. I just don't trust Colin Kapernick in this position. I have more faith in Joe Flacco than Colin Kapernick. The Niners have the better team, but the best team doesn't always win the big game. It's about who has the better coaching and gameplan coming into the game. Ray Lewis has been a BIG difference maker for this team all postseason long. It's Ray's last game and Ed Reed's last game. A LOT of people are picking the 49ers, but I've got the Ravens. 

Coming from a personal standpoint, Karma has yet to hit the 49ers for their poor treatment of Alex Smith. Things have gone far TOO perfect for the 49ers. I feel like it's going to be a rude awakening for the Niners. The Ravens will defeat the 49ers and bring them down to earth and back to reality. God help the world if the Niners win. The Colin Kaepernick, Joe Montana, and Steve Young comparisons will be overwhelming for days to follow. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed go out with a ring. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice get their first.

Prediction: Ravens defeat 49ers

Feel free to Comment.

By: Gerald "Showstopper" Prophete

NFL Championship Sunday

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

NFL Divisional Round Predictions

Ok, I didn't do so good on my Wild Card Weekend Predictions and I'll get into those games in just a little bit. I only got one game right, but the rest could've gone either way. The Divisional Round has been decided, but before I get into those games, I'm gonna give my thoughts on each of the Wild Card games.

Be Warned, this blog post will be a little long.


(3) Houston Texans defeat (6) Cincinnati Bengals

I'll make this one quick. I said in my last blog post that the Bengals have a habit of missing opportunities and they did. Dalton missed Green deep for a TD that could've given them a 20-19 lead. I also said their defense would give them chances and they came to play only allowing ONE offensive TD. But the Bengals couldn't capitalize on those opportunities. Other than that, their offense didn't convert one third down, the offensive line couldn't block all game and Foster and Watt helped carry Houston to victory. Too many dropped passes, and too many missed opportunities that could've put Cincy over. Dalton was just inaccurate all game and loses to Houston the second year in a row. For now, they're out of the playoffs and Houston moves on to play New England.

(3) Green Bay Packers defeat (6) Minnesota Vikings

The news of Ponder not playing was definitely big for the Vikes cause although Ponder isn't great, he does help that offense flow along with Peterson. Didn't have a lot of faith in Joe Webb. Green Bay took care of business big time holding AD under 100 yards, and giving Webb a hard time. Green Bay was up 24-3 at one point and you knew it was game. Most people said it was game when they heard Ponder wasn't starting, but I knew Green Bay was going to win regardless. This was the only game I got right. Green Bay moves on to play San Francisco.

(4) Baltimore Ravens defeat (5) Indianapolis Colts

Other than a couple big plays, the Ravens didn't really play that well. Rice fumbled twice, and it took a bad matchup on Boldin for Flacco to get going. As far as the Colts are concerned, Luck played well, but there were WAY too many dropped passes, the line couldn't block most of the time, and too many field goals and not enough TDs when they got in the RedZone. Last home game for Ray Lewis and the Ravens got the job done. The game was close until late in the third and into the fourth. Indy could've won, but again, too many missed opportunities. Colts will be good for years to come. The Ravens now have a date with Peyton Manning and the #1 seed Denver Broncos.

(5) Seattle Seahawks defeat (4) Washington Redskins

The X-Factor going into this game was RG3's health. Early on, he seemed fine as they jumped on Seattle 14-0. But I saw that before they scored the second TD, RG3 looked like he re-injured his leg. Ever since then, his mechanics were all messed up. He couldn't run, plant his feet to pass, or even escape pressure. He ran with a limp on one play in the first quarter. I think after that, he should've been out. With RG3 unable to produce, Russell Wilson led his team back and scored 24 unanswered in Washington to get the win. I knew the Seahawks were legit, but I thought RG3 would be healthy enough to lead them to victory, but that was not the case and Seattle moves on to Atlanta. I'm not making any excuses, but a healthy RG3 wins that game. Once RG3 went down, it was inevitable. Cowboys fans need to relax too saying the Cowboys would've beaten Seattle. No, they wouldn't have. Seattle would've blown them out.....again.



Ok, now that I'm done with that recap, it's time to get to the NFL Divisional Round. And we have some GOOD games lined up. Well, hopefully.

(4) Baltimore Ravens vs (1) Denver Broncos

You remember the last time these two teams played each other? The Broncos beat them 34-17. Ray Lewis coming back gives this defense a new fire and they'll play better this time around. And if anybody can match Peyton Manning's Football IQ and study just as hard as he does, it's Ray Lewis. Joe Flacco struggled against a Colts secondary that wasn't that great and now they're going up to Mile High to play the #2 ranked defense overall and the #3 ranked defense against the run. And more importantly, they're playing Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning FINALLY has a defense that can get off the field on third down, can stop the run and can for sure create turnovers. They also have a damn good running back in Knowshon Moreno. Ever since their offense got their chemistry going, they've been unstoppable. The reason they've been so good is that they like to jump on their opponents early. If Denver goes up by double digits, they can unleash Von Miller and Company on Joe Flacco and that defense is relentless with their pass rush. The Broncos are no longer the team that spots the opponent 20 points and plays from behind. Now, they can go up by 20 and make their opponent play from behind, and you don't want to play from behind against Denver. It's a battle most teams didn't win.

Peyton Manning knows the Baltimore Ravens inside and out. He's played them time and time again, and knows when to throw on this team and take chances. I don't think the Ravens are going to get blown out again, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. Joe Flacco needs to protect the football. So that means no wild throws or trying to make a play when there's nothing there. When all else fails, dump it off to Rice, or Pierce and they'll set up the passing game for Flacco to open up better opportunities. If the Ravens play like they did yesterday against Denver, they will get blown out again because Peyton Manning will cash in on touchdowns when he has the opportunity. At the end of the day, I think it's too much Manning and too much Von Miller.

Prediction: Broncos defeat Ravens

(3) Green Bay Packers vs (2) San Francisco 49ers

This one is tough. Back in Week 1, the Niners beat Green Bay 30-22. They even led the game 23-7 heading into the fourth quarter. But now, things are different. The Packers have found their groove since then and the Niners benched Alex Smith for Colin Kaepernick. While I do like Colin Kaepernick, I don't like how they treated Alex Smith. That's neither here nor there, so let's get to the game.

While we're on him, let's start with Colin Kaepernick. He doesn't have the accuracy throwing the football or Football IQ that Alex Smith has, but what he lacks in that, he makes up for in arm strength, the ability to throw the ball down field and extend the play with his legs. Unlike last year, the Niners offense won't have to go through Vernon Davis because now they've got Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree has played well for this team. The Packers secondary is good, but they do give up the big play occasionally and with Kaepernick, they love to throw the ball deep. The only thing is that Kaepernick turns the ball over. He has three interceptions with nine fumbles. He can make the big play, but he's gotta protect the ball.

On the other hand, the San Francisco 49ers are vulnerable on defense. It showed with New England and when Seattle put 40 on them. Green Bay has the receiving core to stretch the field and Rodgers loves to stand back in the pocket and pick apart the defense. The defensive line has missed Justin Smith. If he returns on Saturday, that team gets a much needed boost on the defensive line and can pressure Aaron Rodgers. The Niners defense is so physical and will get their hits and cause pressure. That's what they'll have to do to beat Green Bay. Same way they beat New Orleans last year. That defense really needs to show up cause Rodgers and his weapons will wreak havoc if they have the chance.

All that said, I got Green Bay. My Super Bowl pick was Denver vs San Francisco, but I gotta pick against the Niners here. Just don't trust Colin Kaepernick. Even though Green Bay is on the road, it doesn't matter. I think Aaron Rodgers is going to be too much for the Niners to handle. Niners defense is elite, but if any team can go into San Fran and win, it's Green Bay. People forget how good Aaron Rodgers really is.

(5) Seattle Seahawks vs (1) Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons under Matt Ryan and Mike Smith are 0-3 in the playoffs. The last time they were the #1 seed in the NFC, Green Bay blew them out by 27 points. Nobody is giving them a chance, but I'm going to give them a chance. They have to get over the hump sometime. Here's why I believe in them. You can talk about their explosive, quick strike offense, but the reason they could get the job done is their defense. Mike Nolan has done a masterful job in changing the identity of this defense. They do a great job of confusing the quarterback and changing their defensive schemes, moving around on the line, stack 8 players in the box and drop 4 into coverage, and other things. Also, the pickup of Asante Samuel was HUGE for this team as well. Him and DeCoud are a great cornerback combination on the outside.

Everybody is already giving the win to the Seahawks and they are a dangerous team. Like I said before, their defense is extremely athletic, speed off the edge and versatile and powerful corners that can get aggressive with receivers. Sherman and Browner are gonna have a tall task covering Roddy White and Julio Jones. Russell Wilson played great against Washington and he can spread the ball around to different receivers. He's a pass first, run second quarterback and he can also extend the play. The Seahawks love to eat the clock and get huge chunks of yardage and control the game. They're gonna score their points, but can they stop Matt Ryan? With Jones and White being defended, it leaves the middle of the field open for Tony Gonzalez and open up other opportunities.

I have faith in the Falcons that they can finally get the job done. The Falcons offense can score the points, but the way the defense has been playing, I think they can finally get over the hump. They can't give the Seahawks any chances to allow big plays over the middle. I got the Falcons getting over hump and winning this game and hosting the NFC Championship game. Let's find out if they can silence their critics once and for all.

Prediction: Falcons defeat Seahawks

(3) Houston Texans vs (2) New England Patriots

Ok, in their last meeting, Houston got BEAT DOWN 42-14 and this was against a Patriots team that didn't even have Gronkowski. Gronk is back and Houston is in danger of getting blown out again. To avoid getting blown out again, Houston needs to control the clock with the running game and set up the play action pass. If they can run the ball and control the game, they may stand a chance. Schaub has to play better than he did in that last meeting. On the defensive side of the ball, they have to put pressure and get to Tom Brady. In their last game, Brady had his way with the Texans defense all night long and only got sacked once. With Gronk back in the lineup, that just gives him one more weapon to his arsenal.

Playing the Patriots at home in the playoffs is always a challenge, and I don't know if Houston has enough firepower and defense to stop New England. Their defense isn't spectacular, but when they come to play, they show up and make some big plays. They had Watt on lockdown in their last meeting. It's really tough to make a case for Houston to go up and beat the Patriots because their offense is so explosive and their receivers are good at getting themselves open. Their defense has to show up. They can't give up so many big plays like they did last time. They need to jam receivers at the line and disrupt Brady's progression throwing the ball. If they can't do that, Brady will have his way.

I got the Patriots in this one. I stated in earlier blogs that if Houston ran into Denver, or New England, they would get eliminated. Here is Houston's chance to prove everybody wrong and pull off the upset. I'm not picking them though. Tom Brady and New England advance to face Peyton Manning in Denver for the AFC Championship.

Prediction: Patriots defeat Texans


There you have it. Hopefully, my picks for the Divisional Round are better than my Wild Card picks. If these picks go the way I think, it sets up a great Championship Sunday.

Once again, your opinion and feedback is welcome. Feel free to Comment.