Baltimore @ New England Sun 2:00 CBS
These are the two best teams in the AFC. One could make an arguement for a healthy Houston or Pittsburgh, but injuries are a part of the NFL. The leagues third ranked offense takes on the the third ranked defense. Strength vs Strength is the story of this game. Can Baltimore slow down the Patriots offense? Recent playoff failures for the Patriots would seem to show us that the key to beating New England is slowing down the New England offense. How much can Ray Lewis limit this New England offense? We cannot overlook the flip side of this game either: Baltimore offense vs the New England defense. Both units have held back their respective teams at times this season. Are we going to get Joe Cool Flacco, or color blind Flacco? New England has been shaky at home in recent playoff appearences, they are 1-2 in the last three home playoff games, with the lone win coming against the most overrated team in NFL playoff history (the Denver Broncos). Baltimore has been shaky on the road at times this season as well, dropping games to 2011 powerhouses such as Jacksonville, Tennessee, and San Diego. I honestly think this game will come down to two elements: turnovers and rather or not the Ravens can produce more than 17 points on offense. I think we will see the decent Joe Flacco this weekend, and I think they will generate a few touchdowns. But can the Ravens D shut down this TE oriented offense? This one falls stright on to the strength of the Ravens D: LB's and Safeties. Its hard to imagine Lewis and Co stoping the foursome of Gronk, Hernandez, Branch, and Welker, but I think they find away to limit them to less than 30 points. I think the Ravens will generate some points, but without crucial turnovers, they cannot generate enough.

My Prediction: New England 27-21

NY Giants @ San Fransico Sun 5:30 FOX
The NY Upset Giants keep right on a rolling. I trashed them in the wildcard round, and then rode them like a stacked poker deck in the divisional round. Eli Manning is showing the world that he is one of the most underrated QB's in the league right now. San Fransico won and earlier meeting between these two teams, but they had to do it in the fourth quarter against a team that was completely different than this Giants team is now. I do not expect this second game to go anywhere close to the first game. The only major concern I have in this game is how the Giants will play three time zones away from their home. We see it far to often in the NFL, a more talented team playing well below their level when they make the trip from one coast to the other coast. I have to think that will play a factor in this game. The question this week is the same as the question last week: can the 49er offense generate enough points to win this game? They did it last week, but the Giants D is not as soft as the Saints D. I find it hard to believe the 49ers can find the offense they will need to win this game. The only x factor is the turnover battle. If the 9er defense can produce 5 turnovers again this week, they can and should win this game. However, I do not think it is likely Eli Manning and friends turn the ball over more than a couple of times. I fully expect the 49er defense to limit the Giants more than the Falcons and Green Bay defenses could. If the 49ers keep this game in the teens, I think they can walk away with a win, if the game gets into the 20's or 30's I can not see anyway the niner offense can keep up.

My Prediction: NY Giants 24 - 13

 

-----signature-----

NE - This offense can't be stopped right now. And their defense may not have the stats, but they don't give up a lot of TD's. Baltimore's offense was terrible against Houston. I expect Flacco to be confused.

Giants - I don't see this game even being close unless the turnover ratio is in the 49ers favor. I'm not buying that Niner offense. The 49er offense was shut down almost the entire game against the Saints and only had big plays against the Saints defense when they kept blitzing in bad situations. The defense produced 5 turnovers and they only scored 36 points. Most of it in the last 4 minutes. Giants defense is flying around and much better than the Saints. Giants offense is playing amazing and I think I would take the Giants receivers over the Saints receivers (not counting TE's). Man Nicks is fast. That is 2 weeks in a row he has outrun entire secondaries. Rare to see a player with that size and strength outrun the entire secondary.

 

-----signature-----

i dont have a gut feeling on both games...not like i did the previous round. i honestly wont be surprised if SF or Balt wins.

i would however like to see NE lose.


but im pulling for SF/Balt. game...kinda cool to see brothers going at it in the super bowl.

 

-----signature-----

Everyone in the world is picking New York and New England so there's no way that can happen. I have no idea which one will lose.

lm picking New York and Baltimore. Instead of the rematch of the century it will be the rematch of a game no one ever talks about.

I'm just hoping for anything but Harbaugh vs Harbaugh.

 

-----signature-----

I'm in agreement about seeing Harbaugh vs Harbaugh. No thanks.

 

-----signature-----

San Fran has the best chance to pull an upset IMO. I just dont think Baltimore can score enough to win this game against the Patriots. The Ravens are not the best road team, and they tend to have limited offense on the road. The east coast to west coast lag will be a factor in the Giants-Niners game, and it could be such a factor that the Giants play well below their recent level. I think the Giants have over achieved the past three weeks. It is very much possible they get pulled back to earth this week. I dont think they will lose, but if one of my picks is going to be wrong, I would bet on it being the Giants pick being the wrong one.

 

-----signature-----

Very impressed with Joe Flacco in this game. He is really starting to elevate his game. I expected the Ravens to put a few drives together against this New England defense and I also thought we would see a good performance from Flacco, but he is playing even better than I expected. I didnt think Baltimore could realistically win this game, but I am starting to reconsider that opinion now....and just as I finish writing this Flacco throws a bad INT. It is a shame as well since the Ravens were moving the ball very well at that time. This will be a very good finish in this game, but I would not be surprised to see Flacco lead a game winning drive in this game, similar to what he did in Pittsburgh.


EDIT 1:

Big fourth down play here for the Ravens. I personally think they should attempt the field goal here, but this is a perfect chance for Flacco to step up to the big time and make a championship caliber play. If the Ravens convert this and get it into the endzone, they will not leave much time for Brady to respond. Even if they do not score a TD and settle for a shorter field goal the wasted time will be huge.


EDIT 2:

Big stop by the Patriots defense, bad play by Flacco. He needs to get out of the pocket in that situation. That is two fourth quarter drives ended by poor decisions by Flacco. He played a great second and third quarter, but his fourth quarter has been a letdown. Such a shame too, this was a game that could have moved Flaccos legend up many different levels. I do not expect to see the Ravens get another chance at this game, Brady will milk the clock away.

 

-----signature-----

My thoughts on the final drive of the regulation:

Pats play it conservative on first and second down and give it back to Ravens. Here we go. Two minute drill, now it is time to see if Joe Flacco can lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl that was eluded them the past three seasons...Huge third and five conversion by the Ravens, I think they need to play for a TD and not a game tieing field goal. I would not want to put the game on the line in overtime if I am the Ravens...Huge third down conversion on third and one at the 50. Definitely in field goal range now, but as I said a few plays ago, if I am Baltimore I am playing for a TD first and using the field goal as a safety valve...Wow what a drop by Smith, that was a big time throw by Joe Flacco, Ravens have to take two more shots at the endzone. Such a shame for Flacco, cannot say enough what a big time throw that was...Fourth down, we are going to overtime....WOW, what a shank on that field goal by the Ravens. This loss is going to sting for years to come, you dont get many opportunities like this in the NFL. That was a chipshot field goal. That cannot be labeled as anything other than a choke job. Patriots are the AFC champions, and right now they are my favorites to win in Indianapolis.

 

-----signature-----

Just a few thoughts on the NFC championship game before I have to head out for a basketball officals meeting. The home team has won 4 of the last 5 games in championship weekend the past three years. Over that time my championship weekend record is an amazing five wins to zero losses. First time in the playoffs quarterbacks are 0-3 during that span; Alex Smith started his first playoff game last weekend. This should be a good game, I think it will be relatively close through most of the game. I should be home by the fourth quarter, I will post random thoughts through the fourth quarter if I can, and if the game is close I will give my thoughts on the final drive as it happens, similar to how I did with the Ravens final drive.

 

-----signature-----

Looks like Im rooting for the NFC this year. I F******! hate the Pats!

 

-----signature-----