Giants and Niners Clash in Improbable NFC Championship

Giants head to Candlestick to take on the Niners in NFC Championship.

Well football fans, we've gotten exactly what we asked for.  Aaron Rodgers and the almost invincible Packers are pitted in a rematch with the record breaking high octane offense featuring Drew Brees and the Saints in a rematch of week 1's stellar 42 - 34 Packers victory.  Wait, what?  Giants - Niners?  You gotta be kidding me?

Ok, so this isn't quite the game that was expected when the playoffs began for the chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.  But, it doesn't make the matchup any less interesting.  With a last second win over the Saints and a decisive victory over the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Niners and Giants have earned there spot in this years Conference Final.  The question now becomes who wins the game between two teams no one expected to be here in the first place?

This past offseason Eli Manning was cornered and asked blatantly if he thought he was in the same class as quarterbacks like Tom Brady?  Without hesitation Manning replied "I consider myself in that class".  Good for you Eli.  Honestly, what was he supposed to say?  No, I think Tom is in a league above me and I only hope to lick the dirt off his boots?  Like it or hate it, Manning was forced to say he was in the same class and with that answer he was met with stiff criticism.  Fortunately for the Giants QB, he has backed up his response.

Manning threw for just under 5,000 yards this season with 29 touchdowns.  In a season where the Giants defense looked suspect at times and their running game ranked dead last in the NFL, Manning was the driving force behind the team that won the NFC East on the last day of the season.  With back-to-back 300 yard passing efforts, including dethroning the defending champs, Eli is making his mark in the NFL as one of the elites.  A win in SF and subsequently in Indianapolis would give Eli his second ring and certainly cement him as one of a select few in this era.

On the other side of the field, we see a much different progression from the 49ers young quarterback.  Alex Smith, in his 7th season in the NFL, wasn't exactly turning heads in San Francisco.  The former first round pick was seemingly turning into an average at best QB and a potential bust having never thrown for more than 3,000 yards in a season.  However, this season Smith had career highs in completions, attempts and touchdowns, as well as only throwing 5 interceptions all year.  The season reached new heights last week when Smith led the Niners 80  yards in just under a minute and a half for the game winning score. 

In a quarterback driven league, even two teams relying so heavily on the defensive side of the ball can't escape the reality that this game will most likely be won on the shoulders of one of these two guys.  With Eli Manning suffering from an illness and missing some practice this week, we hope it won't affect his ability come Sunday.  Regardless, one of these two guys is going to step up this weekend and lead there team into the Super Bowl, now I have to figure out which one has enough to do it.

So, here's three reasons why I see the Giants continuing their winning ways and heading to Indy on February 5th...

Manning is Giants key to victory.

1. Ok, I realize I just did the schpeel on Eli and that I made my point.  But, this just shows how excruciatingly important this guy is to the Giants.  Manning is the first and foremost reason why the Giants will move on and I can't stress that enough.  He has a Super Bowl ring, he has proved he can win on the road and under adversity, and he has shown he doesn't need help from the running game to do it this season.  With Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz emerging as legitimate NFL threats, manning boasts one of the better wide receiving cores left in the playoffs.  The 49ers defense won't make it easy for Eli, but if he wants to stay in the Brady conversation he will light up the scoreboard this Sunday and lead the Giants to Indianapolis.

2. After Eli, it's no secret that the reason the Giants have put together this late season surge is on the backs of that ferocious front four on D.  Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul do not scream 25th ranked defense, even though that's where the team finished the season.  These guys are legit NFL beasts and Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers can attest to that over the last 2 weeks.  In the playoffs so far the Giants have amounted 6 sacks, a pick and 3 fumble recoveries.  Not to mention they've only given up 20 points in 2 road playoff games.  With numbers like that it makes you wonder if Eli Manning needs to be that good to win?

3. The final key to victory for the Giants stems from a piss poor running game that plagued the Gmen through most of the season.  A team that defines themselves on running the ball and playing defense ranked dead last in rushing this season, embarrassing.  However, Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have come to play in this post season.  The duo has amassed 240 yards on the ground in 2 games and have had some timely runs such as the second last play of the first half against GB.  Bradshaw's run setup Manning's Hail Mary to Hakeem Nicks and essentially iced the Packers. The duo need to give Manning some help against the best run defense in football if they are going to have a shot at the Bowl.

So not many surprises on the Giants side of the ball.  Eli throws it effectively, Jacobs and Bradshaw run it effectively, Giants D makes life miserable for Alex Smith and we see the Gmen in Indy.  But, there is a reason why we play the games.  Here are three reasons why the 49ers defend their house and make their first trip to the Super Bowl since Steve Young and Jerry Rice were in San Fran...

1. There is a theme I keep coming back to in this years post season: Defense wins championships.  It's no secret that San Fran lives and dies by it's 2nd ranked defense this season.  Sunday will be no different.  With the Gmen bringing a lot more on the defensive side of the ball than New Orleans, don't expect 36 points from Alex Smith and company.  Patrick Willis and that 49ers defense will have to step up after allowing 22 points per game over there last 3 games, more than a touchdown over there season average.  If they can pick up another 5 turnovers like last week then SF has a realistic shot at advancing.

2. Frank Gore and Vernon Davis co-captain my second reason.  The Giants love to rush four guys at opposing quarterback's and are successful with the likes of Tuck, Umenyiora and Pierre-Paul.  Gore must be able to run the ball effectively and force the Giants to load the box and then Davis, a matchup nightmare for opposing secondaries, must make them pay for it in the open field.  We saw Davis light up the Saints secondary for 180 yards and 2 TD's last week while Gore had 89 yards on only 13 carries.  I don't expect it to be that easy against the Gmen, but these 2 need to make life easier for Alex Smith or I can see the Giants front four having a field day in the backfield.

Candlestick is the Niners 12th man.

3. Finally, what can a young team lacking experience facing a veteran team with a recent Super Bowl win bring to the table: home field advantage.  The 12th man will be out in full force for the 49ers this weekend and San Francisco loves playing at home.  The Niners have gone 8 - 1 so far this year at home and disposed of teams like the Saints, Steelers and oh wait, the Giants.  San Francisco beat the Gmen in Candlestick 27 - 20 in week 10 and haven't lost at home since week 2 against Dallas in overtime.  San Fran will need the 12th man on Sunday if there going to stop this Giants train and continue their magical season.


So home field advantage will be a key on Sunday as the Giants invade Candlestick.  The Niners need that stout D to step up and Frank Gore and Vernon Davis need to be play makers Sunday for a 49ers victory.  But someone still has to lose eh.  Well, I feel the nostalgia in the air everyone and the Giants are on the verge of something special.  A rematch of Super Bowl XLII is in the works as the Patriots and Giants will meet on February 5th in Indianapolis.

Prediction: Giants 27 - Niners 17

Brady and Pats Look for Revenge After '09 Playoff Drubbing

New England and Baltimore face off this Sunday in Foxborough.

The table has been set and we're ready to eat, now bring on the meat and potatoes!  The AFC Championship game goes this Sunday in New England and it's shaping up to be a dandy.  There's a revenge angle, aging superstars on both sides looking for possibly their last kick at glory, young guns making their first appearance and even a bit of animosity inside some locker rooms.

The mighty New England offense and the fierce Baltimore defense are set to do battle in the AFC Conference Championship game with the winner advancing to Indianapolis to play for the Super Bowl.  With a convincing win over Denver the Pats waltzed into this weekend riding high and hoping to continue piling up the points.  The Ravens put on a defensive show in the second half and smothered the Texans in defeating them last week in Baltimore.  Both teams strengths showed up, both teams advanced.  However, someone is goin' home this Sunday.

Every week leading up to Sunday is a media frenzy while both teams prepare for battle.  The microscope only increases as we narrow the field and the pressure mounts.  So every miscue, every interview and every bump and bruise is nearing apocalyptic proportions at this point, so take everything with a grain of salt.  However, we've seen a couple of pretty interesting things in the recent days since this matchup was set.

First off, Tom Brady missed practice yesterday with what they are calling a left shoulder injury (that's his non-throwing shoulder).  Granted it was only Wednesday and frankly Brady looked like he could throw an anvil 40 yards through a hula hoop last weekend, but it is something to keep our eye on.  Brady returned to practice today and reports are positive saying it was mainly precautionary as we are nearing the end of a long season, yet if there is anything truly wrong with that shoulder you can bet Terrell Suggs and that defense will find it and exploit it Sunday.

Speaking of the Ravens  D, how about Ed Reed calling out Joe Flacco on the radio Tuesday.  Early reports out of Baltimore were that there was some tension brewing in the Ravens locker room over this as Reed and Flacco are 2 of the leaders of that team, but both have downplayed it and said they have moved on.  Reed made reference to the fact that Flacco got 'rattled' during the Texans game which seems to be a pattern for the young quarterback.  With a plethora of playoff experience in just a short career, Flacco will need to start winning consistently in January if he expects to be put in the upper echelon of quarterbacks.

So to get this matchup underway here are three reasons why the Pats will win this game...

1. First and foremost, Tom Brady.  He is the driving force behind this Pats team and has been for the better part of a decade.  With over 5,200 yards thrown this year the Pats come at you through the air over and over and over again.  They don't hide it, they don't trick you, they just keep throwing the ball and catching the ball.  With 3 Super Bowl rings and an abundance of playoff experience, Brady is exactly the man you want under center with the game on the line.

2. If Brady is the number 1 reason the Pats will be victorious, then Rob Gronkowski is the number 1 reason Brady will be successful.  'Gronk', as he is affectionately called, is plain and simply a beast.  The 6'6, 265 lb tight end had a monster season for the Pats breaking Mike Ditka's record for being the fastest tight end to reach 20 TD catches.  Gronkowski lived up to the billing last week hauling in 10 passes for 145 yards and 3 scores against Denver.  This guy seems to be uncoverable and if it stays that way we should see New England return to the big dance for the first time since 2008.

3. The final reason the Pats will come away with a win this weekend is kind of a 2-for-1 special with the revenge angle meeting the hall of fame coach.  You ever have a bad taste in your mouth and you never forget it?  Well, let me tell you Bill Belichek had a terrible taste in his mouth after the 33 - 14 beating 2 playoff seasons ago against these same Ravens.  The future hall of fame coach is and always has been an x-factor for the Patriots and I expect that trend to continue this weekend.  Belichek doesn't get fooled twice and he should have that Patriots team fired up and properly prepared for the Ravens on Sunday.

So Brady, Gronk and Belichek will be primed and ready for Baltimore in this weekend's AFC Championship matchup, this much we know.  But here are three reasons why the Ravens will turn some heads and come away with their own victory and a trip to Indianapolis...

1. Here it comes again folks: defense wins championships, offense sells tickets.  The Ravens walk into Foxborough with a chance at stopping this offensive juggernaut because of their D.  It's no secret Baltimore lives and dies with Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and the rest of that vaunted defense.  Ranking 3rd in points allowed and 4th in passing defense, the Ravens aren't afraid to play anyone.  Brady has had some trouble against the Ravens getting sacked 12 times in his career by Baltimore.  With Ed Reed and Ledarius Webb patrolling the field turnovers can also be at a premium so Brady better be careful with the rock.

2. As weird as it sounds, the second reason for a Ravens win is Joe Flacco.  With all the trials and tribulations Flacco has gone through in his short career, it's time for him to step up and take Baltimore to the next level.  This Ravens offense isn't exactly a pushover with Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin, so if Flacco is able to exploit a weak New England secondary and the Ravens D can hold Brady to a reasonable amount of points, Baltimore has a shot.  The key for Flacco is to take Ed  Reed's advice and not get rattled.  Come on Joe, you've been here before, get it together.

3. The final reason we may see the Ravens in the Super Bowl is fate.  Yes, I said fate.  If anyone is able to hold down Tom Brady in his own house, stop the great Gronk on his mission and pull the wool over coach Belichek's eyes twice in 3 years, it must be a Harbaugh.  For those of you sentimentalists, we've got a shot at seeing brothers clash in this years Super Bowl if Baltimore and San Fran come away with wins this weekend.  John and Jim Harbaugh are head coaches of both the Ravens and 49ers respectively and have taken the league by storm this season.  If fate will have it, we may see a family affair in Indy.


Well there you have it, 3 foolproof reasons why both these squads come away with a win in Foxborough.  Trouble is, somethings gotta give.  Let's be honest with ourselves though, my final reason for the Ravens was fate, did anyone buy into that?  I didn't think so.  Frankly, I can't see an aging Ed Reed and Ray Lewis muster up the ghosts of playoffs past and stop the Brady mobile from reaching top speed.  Throw in an angry Bill Belichek and a frightening Gronk monster and you have a recipe for disaster.  Pats end up in the Super Bowl for the first time since the pre-Burress jail time era.

Prediction: Patriots 31 - Ravens 23

Divisional Round Ends With a Bang as Giants Roll Over Packers

Final Four are set to clash this weekend in San Fran and New England.

Well the final four are set in this years NFL season and who woulda thunk it, the mighty Packers are nowhere to be found.  The Divisional Round started and ended in fine fashion as both teams playing for the NFC Championship came in as dogs at the beginning of the weekend.  Most poolies had the Saints and Packers clashing at Lambeau this weekend in a rematch of week 1's 42 - 34 shootout.  Clearly with other ideas, the 49ers and Giants threw a monkey wrench into the plans and came away with victory's in both games.

The 49ers and Saints started the weekend with a real barn burner that proved to be my only loss of the weekend.  Saints fans had to be excited with the fact that Drew Brees threw for over 450 yards, 4 touchdowns and that vaunted offense hung 32 points on Patrick Willis and the Niners defense.  What they hadn't accounted for was the the 5 turnovers the Saints had which gave Alex Smith and Vernon Davis the life they needed to score the game winning touchdown with 9 seconds remaining to defeat the Saints 36 - 32.

With Pierre Thomas being knocked out on the first drive of the game after fumbling inside the Niners 5 yard line, you could sense something might be amiss.  After San Fran took a commanding 17 - 0 lead early in the second quarter, that sensation was definitely heightened.  But as Darren Sproles jogged unabated into the end zone to complete the 2-point conversion and put the Saints up 32 - 29 with a minute and a half left, I think people felt like order was restored.  Not so fast.

Davis with coach Harbaugh after game winning catch.

Alex Smith, the grand facilitator, led an 80 yard drive in under a minute and a half that culminated with a 14 yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis and sent the Saints home for the second straight year in devastating fashion.  Davis, with tears in his eyes as he came to the sidelines after the catch, finished the game with 7 catches for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Smith, not known for his big play ability, threw for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also adding a 28 yard touchdown run late in the 4th quarter. 

The weekend was off and running and we hadn't even seen Mr. Tebow yet.  Before we get to that, the last game of the weekend featured the 15 - 1 Green Bay Packers against the resurgent NY Giants.  With San Fran watching and openly cheering for the Giants, so they would claim another home game this weekend, New York walked into Lambeau with the same intensity and swagger they have shown for the better part of 6 weeks.  The Packers, not so much.

Nicks fights off defenders and catches a prayer.

The play that basically summed up the Packers night came with no time on the clock in the 2nd quarter when NY elected not to kick a 54 yard field goal and instead threw up a prayer into the endzone.  Hakeem Nicks answered that prayer and came down with the ball giving the Giants a 10 point lead going into half, one they would never relinquish.

The Packers looked completely out of sorts all game long with 8 dropped passes and 4 turnovers, including Aaron Rodgers first fumble this season.  Last week in the preview for this game I asked "how will Aaron Rodgers be affected not having played a meaningful snap in several weeks and not having taken a snap in a game at all in 3 weeks".  I guess we can understand now the importance of continuing to play meaningful games in December and keeping your game sharp.  The Giants were playoff ready, the Packers simply were not.

The NFC Championship game is set and it will go through San Francisco.  Two ferocious defenses will take center stage at Candlestick Park this Sunday when the Giants and 49ers meet for the right to go to Indianapolis.  Over in the AFC there was a much less impressive showing from the two games with more predictable endings.

For those of you who are sick to their stomachs watching highlight reels of Tim Tebow singing hymns on the sidelines and kneeling every time he has a good bowel movement, feel sick no more.  Tom Brady took care of business and put an exclamation mark on it for good measure. Brady gashed the Denver defense for 6 touchdowns, 3 to big tight end Rob Gronkowski, and put up 45 points in routing Denver and ending Tebowmania.

Tebow, meanwhile, was left with rib, lung and chest injuries suffered after getting hit in the 3rd quarter of Saturday's game.  The Pats usually suspect defense shutdown Tebow and company giving up only 10 points in the victory.  It was a defensive effort by the offense of sorts because by putting up points early and often Brady took Tebow out of his comfort zone and forced him to throw the ball, something he is not comfortable with.  The final was embarrassing for Denver and has to leave John Elway wondering if Tebow is truly the man long term.

In the other AFC matchup the Houston Texans visited Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens.  Despite a gutsy 132 yard effort from Arian Foster the Texans couldn't muster any late game magic after falling behind 17 - 3 early.  The Ravens looked a little shaky in the first half on defense but came out flying in the second half and shut the Texans out in the 3rd and 4th quarters. 

Baltimore beat New England 33 - 14 in '09 playoffs.

Rookie quarterback TJ Yates was picked off 3 times by Baltimore including twice by Ledarius Webb.  The Texans must be wondering what could have been had veteran Matt Schaub not been hurt in the middle of the season.  The Texans defense proved it could  handle the playoff intensity and we should see this team back here next season.  But for now, the Ravens will head to Foxborough in a rematch of the 2009 Wild Card Round where Baltimore ran all over New England for a 33 - 14 victory.

So with the Steelers and Packers both making plans for next season we are guaranteed to see a new face in both the AFC and NFC in this years Super Bowl.  The question remains, who will those faces be?  I'll have my previews and predictions for both Championship games tomorrow and Friday so stay tuned sports fans.

Defense Takes Center Stage as Ravens Host Texans

Ray Lewis leads an experienced Ravens defense.

Our final Divisional round matchup pits 2 division winners against each other.  The Baltimore Ravens captured the AFC North and were rewarded with a bye last week.  The Houston Texans stumbled down the stretch losing there final 3 regular season games but still managed to win the AFC South by a game over Tennessee.

The Texans made there first trip to the post season this year and cruised too an easy 31 - 10 win over the Bengals in Houston last week.  Rookie TJ Yates made his first post season appearance as the Texans have been without starting quarterback Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinhart since midseason.

Sunday afternoon is a rematch of week 6 when the Ravens came away with a 29 - 14 win in Baltimore.  Schaub was still under center for Houston at that point.  Key injuries have been a problem for the Texans this season as wide receiver Andre Johnson also missed several weeks during the season.  Johnson played last week and appears to be healthy now but Yates will undoubtedly be the man for Houston the rest of the season.

On the other side of the ball the Ravens have to be excited to see the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts watching from their couches.  The Ravens previous four playoff runs have all ended at the hands of either the Steelers or the Colts.  Baltimore is the only team in the AFC to own a perfect home record at 8 - 0 which could spell trouble for a young Texans team with a rookie quarterback.  Let's take a look at how both teams match up on either side of the ball.

OFFENSE

Offensively these teams are virtual clones of each other with one notable exception: TJ Yates.  Yates has done an admirable job stepping in for the Texans going 2 - 3 in 5 starts and winning last weeks Wild Card game against the Bengals.  However, Yates is clearly not Matt Schaub.  He's thrown for 300 yards only once and has 4 touchdowns to go alongside his 3 interceptions.  Yates has the tools to be an NFL QB, but youth has its ups and downs.  A healthy Andre Johnson should alleviate some pressure from Yates, though, as the big wide receiver is one of the best in the game.

As I said, these two teams are very similar offensively.  Both average 23 points per game, rank mid pack in passing offense and like to run the ball.  The Texans especially are a run heavy team with Arian Foster in the backfield.  Foster will be expected to carry much of the load for Houston if they expect to score many points against a very talented Ravens defense.  As well, Yates will need to take care of the ball because that offense isn't built to come from behind so the turnover game will be crucial for the Texans.

For Baltimore, they have their own ace in the hole in the backfield.  Ray Rice is Mr. all purpose as he had over 2,000 all purpose yards including over 1,300 rushing yards and over 700 receiving.  The dual threat that Rice poses gives opposing defenses fits in the screen game.  Off play action Joe Flacco likes to go downfield to Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith when he gets them in one-on-one coverage.  The key for Baltimore is to protect Flacco and give him time in the pocket to let things play out downfield.  If the O-line can hold off Houston then Rice, Flacco and company should be able to put up some points.  That combined with a rookie quarterback in an unfriendly environment could lead to disaster for Houston.

Advantage: Ravens

DEFENSE

Cushing and the Texans D will need a big game Sunday.

Sunday's tilt will pit the 3rd and 4th best scoring defenses in the NFL against one another.  The Ravens allow only 16.6 points per game while the Texans come in giving up 17.4.  Both of these teams live and die on defense and I expect Sunday to be a battle.

With the loss of Schaub, the Texans need the defensive side of the ball more than anything right now.  Linebacker and leading tackler Brian Cushing leads a workmanlike Texans defense that has a never stop attitude.  They shutdown the Bengals last week after the first quarter and added a pick 6 to their resume when rookie JJ Watt took one back to end the first half.

Cushing will most likely be in charge of spying Ray Rice on Sunday and trying to limit the backs production.  Connor Barwin, who led the Texans with 11.5 sacks this season, needs to make life difficult for Joe Flacco and create some turnovers.  The Texans may have trouble moving the ball so turnovers and field position will be crucial in this game.

For Baltimore, it's a simple recipe that the Ravens have been using for years now: hit everyone and hit them hard.  A bruising defense led by the likes of future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis and sack leader Terrell Suggs with 14 this season, the Ravens take pride in breaking other teams.  The Ravens rank 2nd in the NFL in rush defense holding opposing backs to 92 yards a game.  This is obviously a key matchup between the Ravens run D and the Texans running game, the winner of which will most likely advance to the Conference Championship next weekend.  The Ravens must force TJ Yates to throw the ball Sunday by taking away Arian Foster on the ground.  If they are able to do that then the rookie QB is more than likely to make a few mistakes and Safety Ed Reed will be lurking with eyes wide open.

Advantage: Ravens

INTANGIBLES

I don't think it's a major secret that experience and home field advantage are vital to winning football games in January.  Both aren't able to worked on in the weight room or game planned for, you either have them or you don't.  The simple fact is, the Ravens have them and the Texans don't.  Baltimore went 8 - 0 at home this season and held opponents to just under 15 points per game there.  TJ Yates has yet to walk into confines as unfriendly as Baltimore will be on Sunday.  The rookie QB has looked shaky on the road losing in Indianapolis and needing a last second touchdown to defeat Cincinnati.  It won't be any easier in Baltimore.

Speaking of Yates, the second intangible this weekend is experience.  Once again,  Ravens have a plethora of it including several Super Bowl rings, the Texans have virtually none.  Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are the faces of an experience and stout defense who knows exactly what it takes to win in January.  Joe Flacco is in his 4th season and has a ton of playoff experience in that time.  Yates, Foster and company are coming in wide eyed with only a home win over Cincinnati last week to hang their hats on.  Newsflash, this isn't going to be like last week.  I'd be shocked if the Ravens don't completely smother the Texans offense and while I believe Houston's D will make a game of it, a bunch of kids can't hang with the big boys just yet.

Prediction: Ravens 20 - Texans 10

Pats Brace for Tebow Mania Saturday in Foxborough

Brady and Tebow after the Pats rolled over the Broncos 41 - 23 in week 15.

On the one side of this equation we pit almost 40, 000 career passing yards, 300 touchdowns, seven Pro Bowls, 2 MVP Awards, 2 Super Bowl MVP's and 3 Super Bowl rings.  Meet Tom Brady.  On the other, 15 career starts as a quarterback and a whole lot of questions marks surrounding his talent level.  Meet Tim Tebow.  Yet, for some reason, no one can talk about anyone else but Tebow this week.

If you really have to ask then you probably shouldn't be reading this to begin with, but Tom Brady versus Tim Tebow doesn't seem very evenly matched.  Brady comes into Saturday with an already Hall of Fame career and showing no signs of slowing down.  He's led the Patriots to another phenomenal 13 - 3 season to lead the AFC despite having a mediocre defense at best.  Tebow, on the other hand, began the season behind Kyle Orton and analysts pondered if the former first rounder would just melt into the background of the NFL as a perennial backup.

Apparently Tebow had other ideas.  After starting the season 1 - 4 and fans chanting his name at every opportunity, Tebow was finally given the chance to start.  He was nothing short of magical coming back from 15 - 0 to beat the Dolphins in week 6 and sparked a 6 - 1 run that vaulted the Broncos to first in the AFC West.  Fourth quarter comebacks and game winning drives have become a regularity for Tebow with last week's overtime shocker against the Steelers putting an exclamation point on it.

Tebow hasn't been flashy while doing it, shown by his 17 - 10 win at KC where he completed only 2 of 8 passes yet managed to win, but he has been consistent.  Brady is all flash.  He became the second quarterback this season to break Dan Marino's passing yardage mark with over 5,200 yards.  Brady leads a vaunted offense with the likes of Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski that put up over 32 points per game, good enough for third in the NFL. 

The Patriots, however, have stumbled in recent years in the playoffs.  A win here by Tebow would instantly vault him into another level of stardom by eliminating both the Steelers and the Patriots in one season, both considered to be the class of the AFC.  Let's dive into the x's and o's and see what might transpire Saturday in New England.

OFFENSE

The Broncos and Patriots come into the Divisional round featuring polar opposite styles on offense.  The Broncos boast the leagues best running game averaging over 160 yards a game on the ground.  The Pats are led by Brady and bring in the NFL's second best aerial attack.  Neither team does the other particularly well as the Patriots rank 20th in the run game and the Broncos second to last through the air. 

The Broncos rely almost exclusively on a ground and pound, ball control style of play.  Willis McGahee rushed for almost 1,200 yards this season and is aided by the option which allows Tebow to use his legs as well.  Tebow averages over 60 yards a game on the ground which usually makes up for the passing game.  The Broncos rushing attack has opened up room in the secondary for there receivers, a game plan that gutted the number 1 ranked defense in Pittsburgh last week.  If Tebow can make his throws off play action then the Broncos should be able to take advantage of a weak New England secondary.

The Pats, conversely, have no trouble putting up a lot of points in a short amount of time.  Brady threw for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns in there week 15 matchup in Denver as the Pats hung 41 points on a Denver defense that had given up less than 20 points in 4 of their previous 5 games.  New England uses Pro Bowl wide receiver Wes Welker and tight end Rob Gronkowski as their two most dangerous weapons in the pass game.  Gronkowski broke the record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season and was the quickest tight end to reach 20 touchdown receptions.

For the Broncos to have a shot Tebow and McGahee are going to need to chew up a ton of clock and cash in on their opportunities.  The Pats are going to get theirs, so Tebow needs to limit the time that Patriots offense is on the field by controlling the clock.

Advantage: Patriots

DEFENSE

Statistically neither of these teams are defensive juggernauts by any stretch of the imagination.  The Pats rank next to last in passing yards and total yards against giving up over 410 yards a game to their opponents.  The Broncos, meanwhile, give up over 24 points a game ranking them 24th in the NFL in that category.  New England has allowed opposing teams to score 20 or more points in 12 of their 16 games, yet that could be similar to Green Bay's dilemma giving up garbage yards late because there offense has put up so many points.

New England features a very young and athletic secondary which has been burned for some big plays this season.  If the Pats are going to win this weekend and moving forward that secondary is going to have to grow up fast.  The Broncos are led by cornerback Champ Bailey and linebacker Von Miller.  The Broncos went through a stretch mid season where they limited opponents to 13 or less points in 4 of 5 games before getting blown out by New England and Buffalo on consecutive weeks.  Three times this season Denver has been burned for 40 or more points which doesn't bode well against Brady and company.

The Broncos have more potential on the defensive side of the ball, but that is counter balanced by Brady's ability to score points.  The key to this game won't be the Broncos defense but rather that Pats ability to stop Tim Tebow and give Brady the ball back.  If the Patriots let Tebow and McGahee run the clock and hit on some big plays downfield then the Broncos will have a shot.

Advantage: Denver

INTAGIBLES

Brady and Belichek are the winningest combo in NFL history.

The New England Patriots of the past decade are synonymous with 3 things: Tom Brady, Bill Belichek and winning football games.  Belichek is widely considered one of, if not the best head coach in pro football.  Brady is a future Hall of Famer who will be put into the argument as the best of all-time.  Together, they just win.

Tim Tebow has become a cult hero in the past few months because of his unconventional play, intensity and his ability to just win.  Tebow magic has become something of an epidemic around the NFL since mid-October and the legend continues to grow.  Can you imagine if the 2 time NCAA champion from Florida could knock off the dynamic duo in there own house?

Dreams aside, David only defeats Goliath once.  The part of the story that was left out was when Goliath's brother crushes David just a week after his victory.  I expect much of the same Saturday when Denver visits New England.  The Pats have too much firepower and Belichek is deadly when seeing someone for the second time.  Lightning can't be caught twice and the Broncos storybook season comes to an abrupt end.

Prediction: Patriots 37 - Broncos 24

GMen Invade Lambeau In Classic Rematch

The Packers outlasted the Giants in a week 13 tilt in New York.

The Green Bay Packers walked into New York in week 13 boasting a league best 11 - 0 record and beginning to hear the realistic chatter of a perfect season.  The Giants had sputtered in recent weeks losing 3 straight and getting absolutely embarrassed on MNF against the Saints the previous week.  This one looked like it was setting up to be a route.  Enter reality.

Eli Manning threw a 2 yard TD pass with 58 seconds left and DJ Ware ran in a 2-point convert to tie the mighty Packers at 35.  With the home crowd in a frenzy the GMen sent there vaunted defense onto the field to try and send the game into OT.  Enter Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers led a drive that consumed the last 58 seconds and ended with a Mason Crosby 31 yard field goal to give the Packers a 38 - 35 victory and continue the undefeated season.  The drive looked effortless, like flipping a switch.  No problem, the Giants have seen this story before.  Tom Coughlin and company used this game as motivation and reeled off 3 of 4 wins to end the season, including taking both with division rival Dallas to win the NFC East.  They suffocated Matt Ryan and the Falcons last week throwing up a goose egg on the defensive side of the ball.  Remind anyone of a certain Super Bowl run a few years ago?

Only a few years ago the GMen faced a similar situation when on the last day of the season Tom Brady and one of the greatest offenses in pro football history came into New York 15 - 0 looking to re-write the history books.  The Giants put a scare into the Patriots until they eventually fell and completed the Pats perfect season by a score of, yes, 38 - 35.  The Giants, however, would get there revenge as their magical playoff run that season saw them take on and defeat those same Patriots in the Super Bowl to capture the Lombardi trophy.

The football Gods have blessed us with another classic rematch in January.  What more can we ask then 2 teams playing at the top of there game with everything on the line.  We'll take a look at who may have the edge this week in Lambeau now.

OFFENSE

Manning will try to match Rodgers throw for throw.

This seems on paper to be a clear cut edge in favor of the mighty Packers.  Aaron Rodgers leads an aerial attack that ranks third in the NFL behind only New England and the Saints.  The Packers scored a league high 35 points per game and do it using a variety of receivers. 

Rodgers threw for 45 touchdowns this season and had a 122.5 passer rating.  He was essentially flawless until a late season blip against KC.  Rodgers was in the hunt for Dan Marino's passing record all season as well, but the fact that the Packers clinched the Conference so early worked against him in this case.

However you look at it, the Packers offense is going to get there's on any given day.  Give them an inch and they'll take, oh, about 100 yards to pay dirt.  The question isn't how good are the Packers, it's how good are the Giants?

The Giants may be one of the biggest offensive enigmas in the NFL.  Are they among the league's elite, or just a wannabe who plays with big brother from time-to-time?  New York ranks in the top 10 in points scored at 24.6, 5th in total passing yards, 8th in total yards per game and, wait, dead last in rushing attack?  That can't be right, can it?  Yes, the dynamic duo of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have struggled mightily this season putting even more pressure on Eli Manning.  Manning responded by throwing just shy of 5,000 yards and keeping this offense afloat.

If the Giants are to keep up with the Packers then Manning is going to have to be at his best.  The question is will we see the Manning that gutted the Dallas secondary in week 17 for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns, or the one who looked awful against the Redskins just 2 weeks prior throwing 3 interceptions and no touchdowns?  That will depend on the duo coming out of the backfield.  Jacobs and Bradshaw showed up in a big way last week against Atlanta and there ability to run the ball and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field will be the key to a Giants victory.  The Giants need to force the Packers to crowd the box and take away the run so Manning can expose a mediocre Packers secondary.

Advantage: Packers (but not by as much as you would think)


DEFENSE

Mean Machine.  Mean Machine.  Mean Machine.  You know that scene from 'The Longest Yard' when all the misfits from the convict's team start the Mean Machine chant, that's what I think happens before every Giants game lately.  These guys are on some kind of magical cloud right now where they can do no wrong.  There throwin' up shutouts in the playoffs, blocking last second field goals to save games and generally making life very difficult for anyone not wearing a Giants uniform. 

Led by the likes of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora, the Giants ranked 25th in total defense this season.  A proud group, these guys cannot have been happy with that number.  Don't let the numbers fool you, there mean, angry and they know how to win.  Tied for second in the NFL in sacks and ranking in the top 10 in interceptions and fumble recoveries, this defense is hitting it's stride at the right time.  The Giants are going to need every bit of that anger and intensity on Sunday to slow down Rodgers and give there offense a chance to stay close.

The Packers on the other hand went from one of the league's best defenses last year to one that ranks dead last in total yards against and passing yards against per game.  The key to this stat is how much of that yardage is 4th quarter garbage yards because Mike McCarthy is in a prevent defense and the Packers are up 3 scores.  Either way, the stat to look at is interceptions.  The Pack far and away led the league in picks with 31 and returned 4 of them to the house.  This team has a bunch of ball hawks in there secondary led by Charles Woodson and salivate when passers drop back in the pocket.  They'll need to stop New York's running game, however, or that will put a lot of pressure on play action on a secondary that has looked vulnerable at times.

Advantage: Giants


INTANGIBLES

Well this game is loaded with storylines on and off the field.  We'll start with the obvious, Lambeau field in January.  Now, I realize the Giants are from New York so I want to make it clear I'm not talking about the weather.  Both these teams have the ability to play outside in the sleet, snow or whatever other garbage mother nature throws at them.  What I'm talking about is Lambeau field in January.  Breathe it in, look around you, feel the ghosts of the greats and Super Bowls of the past.  There is an aura surrounding this field and the Packers take full advantage of it.  A team owned by it's people, a people owned by it's team, Lambeau field is as much a part of Green Bay as any player wearing it's uniform.  Don't get caught staring Giants.

Secondly, how will Aaron Rodgers be affected not having played a meaningful snap in several weeks and not having taken a snap in a game at all in 3 weeks.  Rodgers sat out the final game of the season versus the Lions and had the bye last week.  Greg Jennings is just returning from an injury and Rodgers needs to flip a switch, will the bye actually help a Giants team getting hungrier and more confident with each passing week?

Finally, I think one of the most underrated angles in sports, and especially football, is the revenge factor.  This is a game laden with emotion, intensity and animosity.  The Giants have not forgotten the crushing defeat at home in week 13 and you can be sure they will have game planned accordingly.  The Packers as well cannot forget how close the Giants came to ending there perfect season.  The team that is able to channel that energy on Sunday will ultimately make it's way to the NFC Championship game.  Here's my upset special for the week boys and girls and it's a shocker!

Prediction: Giants 34 - Packers 31

Opposing Styles Highlight NFC Showdown in Candlestick

Patrick Willis leads a fierce 49ers Defense

It doesn’t matter what sport you look at the old adage remains the same: Defense Wins Championships!  Well Niners fans were going to find out if this motto still holds true in the new look NFL.

In a league where high octane offenses have begun to take precedent over suffocating defenses, the 49ers are one of the exceptions to the rule. Ranking 2nd in points allowed, 4th in total yards allowed and boasting the leagues best run defense, the Niners hang there hat on the defensive side of the ball game in and game out.

Just to give you an idea of how good these guys were the 49ers didn't give up a rushing touchdown until week 16 against the Seahawks.  They held opponents under 20 points 11 times this season and averaged only 10.8 points per game against at home this year. 

Only 4 times this season did SF allow a quarterback to reach the 300 yard plateau and they won 3 of those 4 games regardless.  There is no doubting the legitimacy of the SF defense, but can they do it against one of the greatest offenses in the history of the National Football League?

Brees broke Dan Marino's single season passing record.

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have put together one of the greatest all-time offensive seasons the NFL has ever seen.  Averaging a whopping 34.2 points per game and leading the NFL in total yards and passing yards per game, the Saints have relied heavily on there offense and the arm of Brees this season. 

Brees' magical year saw him decimate Dan Marino's single season passing record by week 16 and fell only 4 touchdowns short of Tom Brady's record 50 TD's in a season.  Along with a plethora of other single season records that Brees broke, he led the Saints to a 13 - 3 record and is in search for his second Super bowl in 3 years. 

Let's go inside the numbers and see what to expect this Saturday when the Saints and 49ers clash.


OFFENSE

Ok, it's no secret that this one's going to the Saints.  We'll throw up some numbers here to begin with just to light a quick fire.  The Saints outscored SF by almost 11 points per game this season and outgained them by an amazing 157 yards per game.  Drew Brees has been unconscious breaking single season marks in passing yards, consecutive 300 yard passing games, 350 yard passing games and pass completions.  He began this years playoff run throwing for 466 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Lions last week in 'just another day at the office' fashion.  The key thing to understand here is this passing offense is pretty good. 

What most people tend to forget about is the three headed monster in the backfield that ranks the Saints 8th in the league in rushing.  Featuring bruising backs Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory alongside maybe the most explosive all around player in the league right now in Darren Sproles, the Saints possess all the tools to blow any defense out quickly if there not careful.  The Saints, however, have had a little more difficulty scoring on the road averaging 27 points per game as opposed to the 41 points per game they average at home.  Brees, at times, has looked a little shaky outside especially when the weather becomes inclement and he isn't hidden away inside the friendly confines of the Superdome.  Expect SF to be loud and cold this week and we'll see how Brees handles it.

On the other side of the ball, the 49ers feature a ground and pound attack that uses ball control as there biggest weapon.  Averaging 23.8 point per game, the Niners rely heavily on Frank Gore who rushed for over 1,200 yards this season despite battling injuries later in the year.  Former number 1 pick and QB Alex Smith has rounded into a solid young quarterback who hasn't been asked to do to much this season.  TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree keep opposing secondary's honest with deep ball abilities and if Gore is able to establish the ground game and the Niners can win the field position battle they are hard to stop.  A key for SF is keeping Brees and company off the field.  Gore will be an integral part of this game if the Niners have real aspirations of moving on to the NFC Championship game.

Advantage: SAINTS


DEFENSE

So, I would think by now you would be getting the picture here.  This is about as big a mismatch as the offensive side of the ball.  The Niners rank near the top of the league in just about every major defensive category.  The Saints, well they rank near the bottom in just about every major category except for where it counts the most; points against.  The Saints, despite having the 30th ranked pass defense and ranking 24th in the NFL in total yardage allowed per game, somehow managed to only allow 21.2 points per game, good enough for 13th in the NFL.  The bend but don't break attitude has been instilled by Sean Payton and New Orleans plays the part well.

A lot of those numbers have to do with Brees and company putting opposing teams in such a deep hole that they have to throw the ball all game to try and keep up.  It's interesting to note however, that this Saints team had just 9 interceptions all season long ranking them near the bottom of the NFL.  The team that won the Super Bowl 2 years ago was known for having 'ball hawks' in their secondary exemplified by Tracy Porter's pick 6 off of Peyton Manning late in the 4th quarter to put the Colts away.  If New Orleans is to win this game they must win the turnover and field position battle.  The Niners were tied for second in the NFL in picks and tied for first in fumble recoveries giving them a major edge in this category.  If Brees gets too cold the 49ers defense will surely be waiting with open arms.

Advantage: 49ERS

INTANGIBLES

Here's where things start to get a little interesting.  We all know the tale of two worlds coming out of San Francisco and New Orleans.  We've discussed at length the high octane Saints offense versus the powerful shutdown defense of the 49ers.  What will ultimately swing the game in the direction of one of these two teams and vault them into the NFC Championship game next weekend is the question.  The simple answer is weather versus experience.

The New Orleans Saints boast a world class quarterback having a magical season.  They return several players from the 2009 Super Bowl team and the team that fell victim to the Seattle Seahawks last year in the Wild Card round.  The 49ers, on the other hand, have an abundance of youthful exuberance making its first trip to the post season.  The Saints know how to win, plain and simple.  The Niners haven't proven they know how to win in January yet.  Advantage Saints.

The early look at the weather report shows no sign of inclement weather for Saturday's tilt between the Saints and Niners.  However, Drew Brees is noticeably uncomfortable playing outside then he is under a roof.  The Niners will look to expose that using the crowd and the elements.  If there is any precipitation at all the advantage swings heavily in favor of the 49ers but for now we give the slight nod to San Fran.

In the end, I have to believe the Saints learned a big lesson last year against the Seahawks.  Brees and Payton will come into San Francisco with a solid game plan and the three headed monster in the backfield will provide enough support that Brees will be able to throw the ball downfield.  While I don't think Brees throws up the type of numbers he did last week, I think the Saints do enough to come out on the right side of the score board in this one.

Prediction: Saints 27 - Niners 20