Championship Sunday Review

If you watch the NFL on a week to week basis, you know that many games are decided on turnovers, bounces, penalties, and breaks. Sunday's NFC and AFC Championship Games were prime examples of how sometimes the breaks or mistakes can go one way and decide the outcome. The Patriots won 23-20 when Baltimore's Billy Cundiff missed a 31 yard field goal in the waning seconds. The Giants defeated the 49ers 20-17 in overtime on the heels of San Francisco's Trent Williams fumbled a punt deep in his own territory. The Pats got a break and the Giants got a key turnover which directly led to their respective teams winning. You can call it luck, but at the end of the day that is how games are won in today's NFL. Overall, the championship games were close, competitive, and very good games. Now that the dust has settled the Patriots and the Giants will meet in Super Bowl XLVI-four years after their classic matchup in Super Bowl XLII. Here is my breakdown of the two games.........

AFC Championship

New England-23 Baltimore-20

1) Give credit to Joe Flacco because he outplayed Tom Brady in the game. I am very critical of Flacco on a week to week basis, but he played really well. He finished 22-36 for 306 yards 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. After a shaky start, Flacco settled down and played really well. He drove his team down for the apparent game winning touchdown pass to Lee Evans. Although Evans had it swatted away, Flacco had positioned the Ravens for a game tying kick to send the game to overtime. Had the game gotten to overtime, I really think that he would have driven the Ravens down for a score. This might have been Joe Flacco's official coming out party.

2) On the flip side Tom Brady did not play well at all. You could tell something was missing early on in the game. Brady missed a wide open Rob Gronkowski for an easy score in the first quarter. He also threw a terrible interception in the first quarter right into double coverage. It seemed like Brady was playing a little tentative and nervous. Maybe the enormity of the game got to him a little bit. He finished 22-36 for 239 yards 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His quarterback rating was 57.5! If I gave you those numbers for Brady before the game, there is no doubt that you would have expected to see the Pats lose. They survived, and Brady gets a chance to redeem himself in two weeks at the Super Bowl.

3) The biggest sequence of the game was Danny Woodhead's fumble. After the Ravens took the lead 17-16 in the third quarter on a Flacco to Torrey Smith 29 yard catch and run touchdown, Woodhead fumbled the ensuing kickoff had his own 30. The Ravens recovered, and they could have really taken the control of the game with a touchdown to make it 24-16. The Ravens ended up settling for a field goal, and only led 20-16. That was a very big stop by the Patriots defense and a huge set of plays in the game.

4) The Patriots always seem to get the breaks. That is the exact text message I sent to my friends after Billy Cundiff "Finkled" that field goal try. Think about how many games they have won since 2001 on some lucky breaks. It starts with the Tuck Rule game in 2001 against the Raiders. Then, you have TWO Super Bowls won on last second field goals. Also, you had Drew Bennett's drop in the Tennessee/New England Divisional game in 2003. The fumbled interception by the Marlon McCree to clinch the game for San Diego in the 2006 Divisional Playoff. Now, you can add Cundiff's kick to the list. It is just amazing when you think about it.

5) The Ravens window may be closing. The Ravens exited the playoffs last year after blowing a 21-7 lead at Pittsburgh. T.J. Houshmanzadeh and Anquan Boldin both had big drops in the fourth quarter of that 34-31 loss. This year the loss to the Patriots will hurt more. Lee Evans drop in the end zone was a cruel twist of fate for Baltimore, and Cundiff's miss will haunt them all offseason. The question will be can the Ravens get there again? The defense isn't getting younger, and they have to use money to get Ray Rice resigned. Can they get to the Super Bowl? Can they get back to the AFC Championship? The expectations are now Super Bowl or bust in Baltimore, but it will be interesting to see if this was their last chance for a while.

6) The Patriots head to their 7th Super Bowl appearance. It is the 5th appearance for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. They have a 3-1 record in the Super Bowl together. A fourth Lombardi Trophy would officially cement their place in the annals of NFL history. They are one win away from NFL immortality.

NFC Championship

Giants-20 49ers-17

1) Let's be honest: Trent Williams killed the Niners in this game. The 49ers punt returner misplayed one punt return in the fourth quarter, and he fumbled away another return in the overtime. His last fumble gave the Giants great field position, and set them up for the game-winning field goal. His first muffed punt-GET AWAY FROM THE BALL!- was a terrible mistake and it gave the Giants life in the 4th quarter. The Giants were down 14-10 at the time, and Williams' error led to an Eli Manning-Mario Mannigham touchdown to give the G-Men at 17-14 lead. Make no mistake about it: Trent Williams was the goat of this game.

2) Give the Niners defense credit: They played great. The 49ers have a championship caliber defense, and it stepped up in a big way against the Giants. They garnered six sacks, five passes defensed, and five tackles for losses. They hit Eli Manning constantly, and it was a shame that the Niner offense let them down. That 49ers defense is definitely Super Bowl worthy.

3) Eli Manning's performance was gutty and gritty. He played well, and he got hit all night long. Eli finished 32-58 for 316 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. His third-down touchdown throw to Manningham to make it 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter was one of the best throws I have seen this year. He played well again on the road in a big spot. Manning proved he is elite this year, but he take a whole other step if he wins the Super Bowl in two weeks.

4) This Giants run is very similar to the 2007 run. Both teams looked like they were going to be on the outside looking in at the playoffs, rallied late in the year, got healthy at the right time, took care of their first round AFC South opponent, beat the 1 seed on the road in round 2, beat the two seed on the road in the Conference Championship on an overtime field goal by Lawrence Tynes, and head to the Super Bowl to take on Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots. I wasn't drawing the parallels between the 2007 and 2011 Giants the first weekend of the playoffs, but after this week's win in the NFC Championship you can't ignore it. The Giants pulled off one of the greatest postseason runs in NFL history in 2007, and they are on the verge of doing it again only FOUR YEARS LATER! Incredible, just simply incredible.

5) The Giants defense also deserves credit in this game. Yes, Alex Smith did not play well with the exception of two touchdown passes to Vernon Davis, but give the Giants defense the nod for stepping up once again down the stretch. The Giants got 3 sacks, 5 tackles for losses, and 5 passes defensed. Plus, they held the 49ers to 1-13 on third down conversions. They Niners got the ball twice late in the fourth quarter, and both times the Giants defense forced a three and out. As impressive as the 49ers defense was, the Giants defense stepped up too.

6) The Giants head to their 5th Super Bowl appearance, and they currently have a 3-1 record in the Super Bowl. They can get ring number four this year, and Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning can both cement their status in Giants lore by getting their second rings each.

Broncos Postmortem Mailbag-Postseason Edition

With the Broncos attention fully turned towards the offseason and the Super Bowl still just a week away, it seemed like a good time to get into a final offseason Broncos Postmoderm Mailbag. Here we go.........

Now that the Broncos season officially ended in a Divisional Round defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots, what final grade would you give the Broncos 2011 season?

After defeating the Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game, that anything else that happened would be gravy. Naturally, I didn't really enjoy the 45-10 beatdown that the Patriots handed on the Broncos, but it was going to be a tall order to go up to Foxboro and beat the Pats. With that said, after backing into the playoffs at 8-8, claiming the AFC West Title, and then defeating the 12-4 Steelers as 8-point underdogs, I think you would have to give the Broncos a B for the season. If they had won 10 games, then I think they would have gotten an A-, 9 games would have given them a B+, but finishing 8-8 after losing their last three games gives them a solid B. I went back and checked and all the major publications, preview magazines, and NFL analysts all picked Denver to win no more than 6 games. Throw in the fact that once they made the playoffs, a very small minority actually picked them to upset the Steelers. Given the way that the season started at 1-4, the fact that the Broncos battled back to even get into contention falls on two big reasons: John Fox and the coaching staff and Tim Tebow inserted at quarterback. Anytime you are predicted to finish last in your division, and then you make the playoffs and win a playoff game, then that season is considered a success. The loss to Patriots just proved that the Broncos were indeed just an 8-8 team, and there is a lot of work to do for them to become a major player in the AFC next season.

Where does the playoff win over the Steelers rank in your personal Broncos history?

That game over the Steelers is up there. Obviously, nothing can top Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII, the Drive, the Fumble, and the Drive II against Houston in the '91 Playoffs, but the upset over Pittsburgh falls right below them. The 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff win over New England was special too, but that Denver team was 13-3. This game came out of nowhere because of how poorly Tim Tebow and that Denver offense played the last two games of the regular season against Buffalo and Kansas City. I'll never forget how all week all the analysts talked about how Tebow was going to be benched in the game, and how the Broncos might not score a point against that vaunted Steelers defense. Well, Tebow threw for 316 yards and the game-winning 80 yard touchdown pass in overtime to Demaryius Thomas to pull off the 29-23 shocker. For as long as I live, I will never forget the feeling of watching Tebow hit Thomas in stride, and then watching Thomas take it to the distance as the Mile High crowd just went absolutely ballistic. It is a moment I will bottle up and remember for the rest of my life.

How do you feel about John Elway naming Tim Tebow the Broncos starting quarterback going into training camp next season?

The key words there are training camp. Tebow deserves to be the starter in 2012. He should be the starter in training camp, in preseason, and in the regular season. He brought the Broncos back from a 1-4 start, made the playoffs, won a playoff game, made the franchise relevant again, and reinvigorated a fanbase. Now, John Elway has to run the franchise and he has to make decisions with a clear mind. I understand that Elway is going to look to bring in competition for Tebow. He has too because if Tebow falls flat on his face, there has to be a plan in place. I just wish the Broncos would give Tebow a little more room to develop and a little more of a backing heading into 2012.

Who could the Broncos potentially bring in to compete with Tebow for the starting job?

The free agent list for 2012 is pretty weak. Names like Jason Campbell, Chad Henne and Josh Johnson are out there. None of those guys should be brought in, and none of those guys would put the Broncos over the top. In the draft, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are the top two QBs, but they are going to go in the top five. Denver is picking at 25, and it would take a boatload to trade up for a shot at one of those two guys. I don't think the Broncos should mortgage their draft just to take one of those two guys-especially with the Colts picking number one and so many teams needing a quarterback. The Broncos will most likely pick a QB in the second or third round to come in and compete with Tebow and another veteran. Maybe that veteran is Brady Quinn or maybe that guy is someone else that gets released or let go (Think someone like Matt Hasselback, Charlie Whitehurst, or Kevin Kolb,) but Elway and Fox will probably take a rookie in the first three rounds in April's draft.

If Luck and RG III are out of the question, then what rookie could be selected by Denver?

Here are the names I would be on the lookout for if your a Broncos fan: Brandon Weeden, Nick Foles, Ryan Tannehill, Ryan Lindley, and Kirk Cousins. One or two of those guys are going to skyrocket from a second round pick into the first round. I don't think Denver should draft a QB in the first round, but I couldn't argue if they took one of those guys if they were sitting there in the second round or the third round. It also wouldn't surprise me if Denver also traded back up into the second round to take one of those guys if he fell. To me none of them stand out so far, but Weeden looks like the guy who would be the best choice at that point.

How would you go about improving this team?

The Broncos should set their sights on adding top notch defensive players in the draft or in free agency. Build up that defense. At pick 25, select the best defensive player on the board. No matter what position that prospect plays, just pick the best defensive player left. That would be a good start. The Broncos need another corner, a middle linebacker, and some help at defensive tackle. On offense, the Broncos need another running back, a tight end, and some depth at wideout and on the offensive line.

Who are some free agents out there that can help the Broncos immediately?

The Broncos went for the cheap approach last year in free agency. They signed guys like Willis McGahee, Ty Warren, and made a low-level trade for Broderick Bunkely. It worked out pretty well for them except Warren got hurt in training camp and missed the entire year. They stayed away from signing big name guys and they avoided mega deals for major dollars. You would expect the same approach this year, but they might make one big splash in the free agency market. Here are some of the best defensive players in the 2012 Free Agent Class:

Mario Williams, Cortland Finnegan, Calais Campbell, Cliff Avril, Robert Mathis, Brent Grimes, Brandon Carr, Jeremy Mincey, Curtis Lofton, Michael Griffin, Matt Roth, Kory Biermann, Tracy Porter, E.J. Henderson, and Rashean Mathis. Those are the big names and many of those guys could be resigned by their respective teams. The question will be if Denver wants to make a run at one of those big names and throw out some cash at them. Plus, there will be a lot of other players who get cut because of salary issues that come on the market. I would love to see Denver go in and grab a big name defensive guy from that list, but it just might not be the Broncos way to do that anymore.

Speaking of free agents, who are Denver's own free agents next year?

The major names on the Broncos list include: Brady Quinn, Spencer Larsen, Matt Prater, Eddie Royal, Daniel Fells, Broderick Bunkley, Marcus Thomas, Wesley Woodyard, Joe Mays, and Brian Dawkins. Out of that group I would like to see Denver resign Prater, Royal, Fells, Bunkley, and Thomas.

How do you feel about Dennis Allen leaving to become the Raiders Head Coach?

I was surprised that Allen left after only one year as a defensive coordinator in Denver. I really liked Allen, and I thought he did a good job with his defense. I understand that he became a hot commodity in the offseason, and if you are a young coach looking to become a head coach, then you have to strike when the iron is hot. I just wish he didn't go to the Raiders that's all.

How do you feel about Jack Del Rio being named Denver's new defensive coordinator?

I love the hire of Del Rio. It is very important to have a good staff around the head coach, and you definitely need solid coordinators. Del Rio ran a good defense when he was the HC of the Jaguars, and I think he was the best candidate for the job. He will be respected by the players, and he brings instant credibility. Plus, he can help cherry pick other players that he has coached in Jacksonville and around the league. I love the move.

Who are the Broncos opponents for the 2012 season?

We all know that the dates and times are not set for the 2012 season until April, but the opponents are set in stone. Here is the slate for next year:

Home schedule:
San Diego
Oakland
Kansas City
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Tampa Bay
New Orleans
Houston

Away Schedule:
San Diego
Oakland
Kansas City
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Atlanta
Carolina
New England

What do you think of that schedule?

It is certainly tough on paper. New England, Baltimore, and New Orleans were three of the top five teams in the NFL in 2011. Plus, Atlanta, Cincy, Houston, and Pittsburgh all made the playoffs. Carolina is an up and coming team, and the AFC West is so balanced that those games are always going to be tough. The one thing to remember is this: Just because a schedule looks tough at the end of one season, doesn't mean that those games will be as tough the next year. There is a lot of things that will happen before any of those games get played in 2012.

Since you are scheduling buff, do see a lot of primetimes games on the horizon for the Broncos in 2012?

Absolutely. I think Denver will get a least 1 Sunday Night Football game, 2 Monday Night games, and 1 Thursday Night game next year. If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, I wouldn't be surprised if the Broncos open up the season at New England on the Thursday Night Season Opener on NBC. I could see them in a Monday Night game against New Orleans, at Baltimore or against Pittsburgh. Also, I could see them getting a NFL Network Thursday Night Game against Carolina (Tebow vs. Cam Newton). The bottom line is that Tim Tebow will bring the Broncos back to primetime next year.

Championship Sunday Picks

We are down to the final four in the NFL. Championship Sunday features the AFC and NFC Championship Games on the last real Sunday of the NFL season. Don't get me wrong because the Super Bowl is always special, but for real NFL fans the Super Bowl is more about the casual fan and not about the real diehard NFL fan. This year's Championship games feature the top two seeds in the AFC, and a surprising two seed in the NFC paired with a surging team looking to spring another upset on the road. Baltimore and New England is certainly an intriguing matchup on one side of the bracket, but how many people had San Francisco and the Giants in the NFC Championship? That is the beauty of the NFL. If you take the two games and try to look ahead to the Super Bowl, there are definitely certain matchups that you would want to see and one that really isn't too sexy. Here is how I would rank the matchups on a scale of 1-4.

Best Matchup: New York Giants vs. New England (Rematch of Super Bowl XLII)

Next Best Matchup: San Francisco vs. New England (Great Defense vs. Great Offense)

Third Best Matchup: New York vs. Baltimore (Rematch of Super Bowl XXXV)

Least Attractive Matchup: San Francisco vs. Baltimore (Harbaugh Bowl II)

Very rarely do we get the best possible matchup in a Super Bowl. Think about that in recent times. Last year, we had Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh. The best matchup would have been the 14-2 Patriots against the Packers, but the Pats lost in the Divisional Round to the Jets. Even the Jets vs. Green Bay was considered the sexy Super Bowl and that didn't happen. In 2009, the Colts and Peyton Manning took on the Saints and Drew Brees. The Saints were a great story, but everyone wanted to see Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings take on the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The Vikings fell in overtime to the Saints in the NFC Championship. In 2008, the Giants were the number one seed and the best team in the AFC. A Giants-Steelers Super Bowl would have been tremendous; however, the G-Men lost in the Divisional Playoffs to Philly, and the 9-7 Cardinals represented the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII. In 2007, the Giants played an epic game with the 18-0 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, but everyone wanted to see Brett Favre lead his 13-3 Packers into the Super Bowl to try and take down the undefeated Pats and Tom Brady. In 2006, Peyton Manning finally got his chance to go to the Super Bowl, but were the Bears really the team that everyone wanted to see matched up with them? Maybe the Saints were the sentimental favorite that year, but there was really no dominant team from the NFC. In 2005, Seattle and Pittsburgh squared off, but many people wanted and were expecting the Colts and Manning to finally get there. Even the Patriots were garnering a lot of support because they were going for a three-peat. The bottom line is that the best possible matchup doesn't always present itself in the Super Bowl. This year, many people would have loved to see the Packers and Aaron Rodgers go for a repeat against the Patriots and Tom Brady going for their fourth Super Bowl title. The Packers were upset last week by the Giants which sets the stage for this Sunday. A Patriots-Giants Super Bowl would be the best matchup hands down. A rematch from that epic Super Bowl XLII showdown just four years later. Brady and Bill Belichick trying to get their fourth ring from the team that beat them four years ago. Eli Manning trying to get his second Super Bowl-one more than big brother Peyton. Throw in the whole New York-Boston rivalry and that game certainly wouldn't need any hype or buildup. That would be fun to watch. That is what I am rooting for this Sunday. The Broncos are out of the playoffs, so give me the best Super Bowl matchup possible. Hopefully, this is the year we get it. Onto the picks for the AFC and NFC Championship Games.........

Last week's record: 1-2-1

Overall playoff record: 2-5-1

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

AFC Championship

Baltimore at New England

A Case for the Ravens: They have given the Patriots fits the last few years that these two teams have played. They have already won a playoff game in Foxboro. The Ravens destroyed the Patriots 33-14 in the 2009 AFC Wild Card game. You would think that Ray Rice would be able to run on the Patriots all day long. The Ravens defense could give Brady some trouble, and they might be able to slow down that New England offense. Plus, the Ravens played pretty bad last week, and they are lucky to be playing this weekend. Can a 12-4 team play two absolute stinkers in a row? Joe Flacco was awful last week, and maybe he can use that as motivation to play the game of his life. Are the Ravens due to the finally make it back to the Super Bowl as their window is closing? Plus, everyone seems to be on the Pats bandwagon, and we know what happens when everyone loves one team-especially in the NFL playoffs.

A Case for the Patriots: Tom Brady has that look in his eye, and it looks like he won't be denied another chance at the Super Bowl. The Patriots offense is so explosive, and how can the Ravens stop Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez? If the Texans were getting guys wide open against the Ravens, imagine what Brady and the Patriots can do. The New England defense has been heavily criticized all season long, but it seems like they are coming together at the right time. They are getting healthy, and they won't be forced to stop too much with that Ravens offense. If the Pats focus on taking Ray Rice out of the game, do you see Joe Flacco beating them time after time? I don't see that happening. Even if the Ravens move the ball on the Pats, Brady and that offense have no problem matching them score for score. The Pats just look like they are on a mission.

The Pick: NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Baltimore

I just think that with everything that has been said about the Patriots defense, this game could be their shining moment of the season. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have been to four Super Bowls together. They are 3-1, and they are desperate to get to another Super Bowl and get their fourth ring together. It has taken them longer then they thought it would after they left the field losers that night in Phoenix after Super Bowl XLII. This year they get back with a big win at home, and they punch their ticket to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI.

Final Score: Patriots-30 Ravens-20

NFC Championship

New York Giants at San Francisco

A Case for the Giants: They are getting hot at the right time. We have seen this happen in recent memory. The 2010 Packers did it, the 2005 Steelers did it, and the 2007 Giants did it too. The Giants had to fight to make it into the playoffs. They were 7-7 less then a month ago, and they had to beat the Jets and the Cowboys just to get in. They did that and won the NFC East. The G-Men buried the Falcons 24-2 in the first round of the playoffs, and then they pulled the upset over the 15-1 Packers last week. The Giants are healthy, and their defense is playing great. Throw in a ridiculously explosive passing game led by a red-hot Eli Manning, and the Giants look like a team that is peaking at the right moment. They will learn from their lessons in their 27-20 loss at San Francisco in November, and they will play a lot better in this game. A dominating pass rush and great QB play are two great strengths going into any game, and the Giants have both of those.

A Case for the 49ers: The Niners are good. In fact, they are really good. Jim Harbaugh is a great coach, and their defense is tough and physical. Their defense was able to force turnovers last week against the Saints. We know they are going to try to run the ball with Frank Gore, but Alex Smith and Vernon Davis can make explosive plays in the passing game. They are home, and the weather is supposed to be crappy, so that definitely gives the Niners the advantage. They can also play the "No one is picking us" role because many people are picking the Giants to win this game.

The Pick: New York (+3) over SAN FRANCISCO

I won't be surprised at all if the Niners win this game, and this game will be a close one. Last year, I tried to get too cute and I picked the Bears to beat the Packers. This year, I am not going against the hot team. The Giants are the team that no one wants to play, and I can't go against that this year. I think the 49ers are also due for a letdown after last week's emotional win. This game brings back memories of great 49ers-Giants playoff games from the past. The big matchups in the Meadowlands in the 80s, the classic 1990 NFC Championship Game, and the wild 2002 NFC Wild Card Game all set the stage for this great game on Sunday. All this game needs is Pat Summerall and John Madden calling it from the booth. I think in the end I'll ride Eli Manning and hot team. The Giants head back to the Super Bowl to meet up with their old friends Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in Super Bowl XLII.

Final Score: Giants-26 49ers-23

Divisional Round Recap

Here are some of my thoughts on this past weekend's Divisional Round games. With the exception of the blowout in New England, the other three games were all competitive and exciting. The game of the weekend of course was the 49ers-Saints classic on Saturday afternoon.

49ers-36 Saints-32

1-Give all the credit to the Niners for this win, but you can't discount the fact that the Saints just killed themselves with five turnovers. They trailed 17-0 early in the second quarter, and once they settled in, they were able to get back into the game.

2-The last four minutes of this game were about as exciting as you can get in any NFL game. The Saints took the lead on a Darren Sproles touchdown reception to make it 24-23. San Francisco answered with an Alex Smith 28 yard run on a beautifully executed QB sweep to take a 29-24 lead. After a two-point conversion failed, the Saints and Drew Brees answered with a 66 yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham with 1:37 left to take a 32-29 lead. From there it was all Alex Smith and Vernon Davis. Smith hit Davis with the game-winning 14 yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left to seal the win 36-32. What a frantic and wild last few minutes.

3-You have to feel good for Alex Smith and Vernon Davis. Both have been in San Francisco for many years, and they have been apart of some really bad seasons, but Saturday was their day. Smith finished 24-42 for 299 yards and 3 touchdowns and a touchdown run. Davis finished with 7 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Their last second touchdown hookup will go down in Niner history alongside "The Catch" and "The Catch II."

4- The 49ers defense has been great all year long, but they were so physical in this game it was scary. They also picked off Drew Brees twice, and they seemed to be all over the field and they were flying around.

5-For the second straight year the Saints defense crumbled in a playoff game. They let Smith and Davis absolutely slice and dice them on those last two drives. It is no wonder that Gregg Williams left New Orleans to become St.Louis' new defensive coordinator.

6-The crowd was great and it felt like old times watching a big playoff game at Candlestick. Great setting, great crowd, and a great game. The Niners advance to their first NFC Championship Game since the 1997 season, while the Saints will have to spend the offseason listening to questions about them winning big games on the road in the future.

Baltimore-20 Houston-13

1) Give the Texans credit because their defense played lights out. They limited Ray Rice to only 60 yards rushing, held the Ravens offense to only 227 yards of total offense, and they completely harassed Joe Flacco. It is a shame they weren't able to get the win because their defense deserved to win that game for them.

2) If the Texans had Matt Schaub, then they win this game hands down. T.J. Yates looked like a rookie 5th round pick. He was awful (17-35 for 184 yards and 3 interceptions). His picks were absolute killers, and if Schaub plays in this game, then the Texans are in the AFC Championship.

3) Joe Flacco talks about how he gets no respect all the time, but why would you respect him? He is an average QB on a team with a stout defense and a great running back. He was terrible in this game, and looked just as skittish as Yates. Flacco's numbers (14-27 176 yards and 2 touchdowns) don't justify how bad he was. Flacco needs to just shut up and play like a franchise quarterback before he anoints himself as one.

4) This game changed when Jacoby Jones fumbled the punt deep in his own end in the first quarter. The Texans were up 3-0 at the time, and the fumble led to a Kris Wilson 1 yard touchdown reception from Joe Flacco.

5) This game had the least appeal of the four heading into the weekend, but it was a competitive game with solid defensive play and great hitting. The Ravens pulled it out like they normally do, and they now head to their second AFC Championship Game in four years. Since John Harbaugh took over as head coach in 2008, they have made the playoff all four seasons. They have won five playoff games, but the one thing that has alluded them was a Super Bowl appearance. They get another chance this Sunday in Foxboro.

New York Giants-37 Green Bay-20

1) There is so much to talk about in this game, but the Packers picked a bad day to have a bad day. Aaron Rodgers played his worst game of the season (26-46 264 yards 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 1 fumble lost and a bunch of bad throws), and the Packers were off the mark in the passing game all day. He missed a wide open Greg Jennings for a touchdown in the first quarter, and the Packers had to settle for a field goal and a 3-3 tie. That was the beginning of a bad day for Rodgers.

2) You could just feel that the Giants were playing fast and loose and the Packers were playing tight. After Hakeem Nicks broke a 66 yard catch and run for a touchdown to make it 10-3, you could feel the Packers get tighter and tighter.

3) The fumble call that wasn't overturned in the second quarter by referee Bill Leavy was one of the worst replay decisions in the history of the NFL. I don't know what Leavy was looking at. The Packers made the Giants pay with that call, and Rodgers hit John Kuhn for a short touchdown pass to tie the game at 10 in the second quarter as a result of that call.

4) The ensuing kickoff was an onside kick that was recovered by the Giants. Although the Packers blocked the Giants field goal attempt on that drive, you could just feel the desperation in the air on that call by Mike McCarthy.

5) The biggest sequence of the game for me was when Eli Manning was picked off deep in Green Bay territory late in the second quarter with the scored tied at 10. The Packers were moving the ball, but John Kuhn fumbled, and that led to a Giants field goal with 1:51 left in the half. The Giants got the ball back, and on a third down, the Giants decided to run the ball with Ahmad Bradshaw with no timeouts left. Bradshaw broke the run and got out of bounds to give the Giants one more play before the half ended. Eli Manning lofted a hail mary into the end zone and Nicks inexplicably came down with the ball, and the Giants led 20-10 going into halftime. At that point, I knew the Giants were winning this game.

6) After one drive was stalled by a strip sack by Osi Umenyora on Rodgers, their last big moment came early in the fourth quarter. Down 20-10 and facing a 3rd and 5, Rodgers missed a wide open Jermichael Finley for an easy first down. On 4th and 5, Rodgers was sacked, and that really killed the Packers momentum.

7) A Ryan Grant fumble gave the Giants the ball deep in Green Bay territory and Manning made them pay. He hit Mario Mannigham with a 4 yard touchdown pass with 6:48 left to make it 30-10 and that effectively ended the game.

8) Speaking of Eli, he was sensational once again. He finished 21-33 for 330 yards 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. He picked up key third downs all game long. Victor Cruz was great with 5 receptions for 74 yards and Hakeem Nicks was fantastic as he added 7 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

9) The Giants advance to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2007, and they beat the Packers in Lambeau Field for the second time in four years. The Packers are the first team in NFL history to go 15-1 and lose their first playoff game. This will be a very bitter pill to swallow for the Packers, and it taints an amazing two year run that they have had.

Broncos Season Ends in Blowout Loss to Patriots in Divisional Playoffs

All good things must come to end, and the Broncos 2011 season came to an end in dismal fashion on Saturday Night in the AFC Divisional Playoffs to the New England. It was a cold and windy night in Foxboro and the Pats were red hot, and the Broncos looked like they wanted no part of this matchup. The Patriots and Tom Brady proved that they are ready to make another Super Bowl run, and the Broncos proved that they are a long ways away from being a Super Bowl contender. The final score was 45-10, and it felt like it could have been 63-10. Before I could even get my fire started in my fireplace, the Patriots had scored to take a 7-0 lead on a Brady to Wes Welker touchdown. After a promising drive by the Broncos was ended by a strip sack on Tim Tebow, the Pats hit another touchdown pass from Brady to Rob Gronkowski to make it 14-0 early. After a rare Brady interception deep in New England territory by Quinton Carter, the Broncos punched in a touchdown run by Willis McGahee to make it 14-7. That glimmer of hope was quickly erased and the Patriots took a 21-7 lead on another Brady to Gronkowski hookup. Near the end of the first half is when the game was basically put away by the Patriots. The Broncos were down by 14 when they took over with 5:44 left in the first half. The Broncos couldn't give the ball back to the Patriots, and the Broncos couldn't just get a drive going and go into the half still down by 14. That didn't happen. The Broncos had to punt the ball back to the Patriots with 2:27 left in the half. It took two plays and Brady hit Deion Branch with a bomb for a 61 yard touchdown down the sideline to take a 28-7 lead with 1:57 left. The Broncos ran the ball on first down, but they decided to throw it on second and third down, and both throws were incomplete which forced the Broncos to punt back to the Patriots. With 1:09 left, it took the Patriots six plays to go 58 yards and Brady hit Gronkowski for another touchdown to make it 35-7 at the half. That was essentially the game, and that pretty much ended the Broncos season. A Brady to Aaron Hernandez touchdown in third quarter made it 42-7. A late Broncos field goal made it 42-10, but it was a bitter pill to swallow as the Broncos season came to a crashing halt. I spent the entire second half thinking and reflecting on the season, but the Patriots game proved that the Broncos aren't close to being in the elite class of the NFL. It was a fun season and a great ride, but it came to a crashing halt in Foxboro on Saturday Night.

Here are some of my other thoughts and observations about the game.......

1) Tebow had a rough night (9-26 136 yards and 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions), but there wasn't too many quarterbacks that were going to win this game in Foxboro. Tebow and the Broncos walked into a buzzsaw.

2) The Patriots defense looked fast, healthy, and very stout all night long. They shut down the option game, but that really wasn't that big of an issue in the game. They dominated the line of scrimmage, got five sacks, forced one turnover, and forced 14 negative plays against the Broncos. They might not be a good defense, but they buried the Broncos in this game.

3) The Broncos got smoked by elite quarterbacks all season long, and Brady absolutely picked them apart. He was on fire all night, but the Broncos defense couldn't matchup at all with the Pats offense. The Broncos had no pass rush, and just couldn't slow down or even remotely stop the Patriots no huddle scheme.

4) The Broncos and John Fox really made a mistake by trying to throw the ball near the end of the half. They gave New England another possession and the Patriots made them pay. At 35-7, it pretty much ended the game.

5) Why do the Broncos always have these awful blowout losses in the playoffs? Here are some of the Broncos blowouts in the playoffs in my lifetime:

-Super Bowl XXI: Giants-39 Broncos-20

-Super Bowl XXII: Redskins-42-Broncos-10

-Super Bowl XXIV: 49ers-55 Broncos-10

-1993 AFC Wild Card Game: Raiders-42 Broncos-24

-2000 AFC Wild Card Game: Ravens-21 Broncos-3

-2003 AFC Wild Card Game: Colts-41 Broncos-10

-2004 AFC Wild Card Game: Colts-49 Broncos-24

-2005 AFC Championship: Steelers-34 Broncos-17

-2011 AFC Divisional Playoff: Patriots-45 Broncos-10

Those are some bad beatdowns in the playoffs. Is there a reason why this happens to the Broncos in the postseason? I think a lot of it is because most of those teams were built with an offensive minded philosophy. The Broncos had some good defenses in some of those games, but they were never great defenses, and in big games against really good offenses they got exposed. This year's blowout can be contributed to the fact that the Broncos were an 8-8 headed to the number one seed's backyard and they just weren't on their level.

6) As far as Tebow's development and future is concerned, I will have a whole separate column on him in the near future. Put it this way: Tebow made some strides this season, and there is a chance he could be the guy in my mind in Denver for a long time.

6) The Broncos season ends in disappointment, but they exceeded my expectations, and they made a great run. To go from 4-12 to 8-8 is one thing, but to somehow get into the playoffs and beat the Steelers in the Wild Card round is pretty sweet. This Winter, Spring, and Summer, there will be many nights when there is nothing on television. As I wait patiently for the next season to begin, I will have a lot of games to watch from this 2011 season. The Miami game, the comeback win over the Raiders, beating the Chiefs in Arrowhead, Tebow's run against the Jets in Denver on a Thursday Night, the win at San Diego in overtime, the shootout win over the Vikings, the miraculous comeback win over the Bears, and of course Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas in overtime to shock the Steelers in the playoffs 29-23. I'll be able to watch one of those games and smile on a season that brought the Broncos back to respectability.

Divisional Round Picks and Broncos-Patriots Preview!

Ahh, the sweet feeling of playing Divisional Playoffs of the NFL Postseason. This week was fun. I watched the Tebow to Thomas touchdown pass like 65,000 times this past week, and it never got old. I was like a sponge trying to soak in all the glory of the Broncos stunning 29-23 win over the heavily favored Steelers. We'll get to Tebowmania and the Broncos chances in New England this week in a little bit, but if you are a football fan this is one of the best weekends of the year. Yes, Wild Card Weekend is great, but when you get to the Divisional Round, the stakes are higher and all the top seeds return to action for two days of football heaven. It is definitely an intriguing weekend, and there are a lot of storylines in play. Let's get it going with some the picks for the Divisional Playoffs.......

Last week's record: 1-3

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

New Orleans at San Francisco

A Case for the Saints: Do you get the feeling that the Saints are on that run to Super Bowl? I do, and I picked them to make it out of the NFC before the season, and I am not going to abandon them now. Look, I know that the Saints aren't the same team away from the Dome, and they struggled at times on the road this year (Losses at St.Louis and at Tampa Bay), but Drew Brees and that offense are heading to San Francisco this week. It is going to be 65 and sunny. It is not like they are going to Chicago, New York, or even Green Bay this week. This week is tailor made for them to play the way they want to play. Sometimes you just can't go against the team that is hot. The Saints have that look, and they are red hot.

A Case for the 49ers: Jim Harbaugh and the Niners have heard all week about the Saints, and they are going to be really pumped up to prove everyone wrong. The Niners defense is legit, and if anyone is going to slow down the Saints, then it could be them. Great defenses usually shut down a great offense, and this could be a classic case. Throw in the fact that this is the first playoff game for this storied franchise since 2002. The crowd at Candlestick is going to be amped up for this game. Everytime someone doubted the 49ers this year, they responded mightily. The 49ers are almost getting no respect in this game, and that makes a team very dangerous. This might be one of those games where everyone says "Wow, the Niners are a really good team."

The pick: New Orleans (-3) over SAN FRANCISCO: Last year, I over-analyzed the playoffs and tried to be different with my picks, and I should have just gone with the better team. I'm not doing it this time around. The Saints have Drew Brees and the 49ers have Alex Smith. That will be the difference. Take the better team and the better quarterback. The Saints win it and head to the NFC Championship Game.

Final Score: Saints-27 Niners-20

Houston at Baltimore

A Case for the Texans: Their ball-control running game led by Arian Foster can control the game and the time of possession. Plus, they have one of the best play callers in the league in Gary Kubiak. If anyone can get the Ravens guessing, it will be him. The Texans have nothing to lose because last week's win over the Bengals was the cherry on the top of their season. They can play fast and loose, and their defense can definitely match up with the Ravens offense.

A Case for the Ravens: They are at home and rested, and no one has really talked about them so far in the playoffs. It is kind of like everyone forgot that the Ravens are the 2 seed in the AFC, and everyone has been talking about the Patriots, Tebow, and the Steelers collapse last week in Mile High. No one is mentioning the 12-4 Ravens. Plus, they have Ray Rice, and they are hosting their first playoff game in Baltimore since 2006. It is pretty safe to say that their fans will be very loud for this game. Also, that Ravens defense gets to tee off on T.J. Yates all game long.

The pick: BALTIMORE (-7) over Houston: I can see this game being close for a while, but Ray Rice and that Ravens defense will be the difference. This game looks so obvious on paper, but don't get cute here. Take the Ravens laying a touchdown. The Ravens will take care of business at home and advance to the AFC Title Game.

Final Score: Ravens-27 Houston-10

New York Giants at Green Bay

A Case for the Giants: Their defense is playing great at the right time. Their pass rush is down right nasty, and they only have to rush four in certain situations to get to the quarterback. They played well enough to beat the Packers a month ago, and sometimes you can learn enough from a loss to help you win the next time two teams play. Plus, Eli Manning is playing at an elite level right now, and he will not be skittish on the road in Lambeau. The Giants are also looking like they are on one of those magical runs like they got going in 2007.

A Case for the Packers: They are the better team, and they are sick and tired of hearing about the Giants and their pass rush all week long. The Giants had problems covering the Packers receivers in their first meeting, and Aaron Rodgers will find the matchup he likes and exploit it all game long. Everyone rips apart the Packers defense, but they just need to get the stops when it counts. I think they can get those stops in this game. The Packers are healthy, rested, and ready to make the Super Bowl run.

The pick: GREEN BAY (-7) over New York Giants: The Giants have a legitimate shot to win this game because of their pass rush and Eli Manning. As much as I would love to see an upset here, I have to go with my head. The Packers and Aaron Rodgers will be just too much for the G-Men. This game will be close for a while, but look for the Pack to put it away with a late touchdown and move on to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: Green Bay-31 Giants-21

And now.........Broncos at Patriots.......AFC Divisional Playoff........Saturday Night in Foxboro.....

A Case for the Broncos: Tim Tebow's magical run just might continue. After last week's win over the Steelers, the Broncos are playing the ultimate "House Money" game. Tebow cemented his status in Denver after last week's performance, and they can play fast and loose in this game. The pressure is on the Patriots this week, and not the Broncos. Once again, Denver finds themselves as huge underdogs and NO ONE is picking them to win this game or even keep it close. They can take chances, and if you watched the game they played against the Pats in December, they moved the ball at will for a large chunk of the game. The Broncos were dominating the Pats defense when they built that 16-7, and three Denver fumbles completely turned the game. If the Broncos don't turn it over, then they should be able to run the ball and keep the ball out of Tom Brady's hand.

A Case for the Patriots: The Broncos couldn't stop Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski last time, so how the hell are they going to stop them this time? Those tight ends are a matchup nightmare for Denver, and Brady should be able to exploit those matchups all night. The Pats will find a way to slow down Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller to give Brady time. Plus, the Pats ran the ball at will when they spread out the Broncos defense. Look for them to give the Broncos fits with those type of runs on a cold and windy night. Also, Bill Belichick is not going to play Tebow the way that the Steelers and Dick Lebeau did. They are not going to leave Demaryius Thomas alone on the outside, and they will come up with a plan to take him away.

The pick: NEW ENGLAND (-13) over Denver: As much as I want to pick Denver in the upset, I just can't see it happening. I didn't think that Denver was going to beat the Steelers, but by gametime I had a feeling that the Broncos would keep it closer than expected. I don't get that feeling this time. I don't see Brady and Belichick losing four straight playoff games together, and I can't see them losing their third playoff game in a row at home. The Pats get their first playoff win since the 2007 AFC Championship Game.

Final Score: Patriots-38 Denver-20

One final thought on the game........This has been just an amazing season for the Broncos. Whatever happens on Saturday Night will not take away what we saw this season. Everything was capped off with last Sunday's win over the Steelers. Could there be some Tebow Magic in this game? Sure. Could the breaks and bounces go the Broncos way? Absolutely. It will be a tall order, but like I said last week: At least I get to see this all play out this weekend. It has been a fun ride, and maybe-just maybe-Tim Tebow and the Broncos have one more rabbit to pull out of the hat. If they do, it will be one of the greatest upsets in the NFL history. Let's hope something strange go does in Foxboro on Saturday Night, and Tebow gets a chance at the end. At least I get a chance to see it one more time. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!

Wildcard Weekend Thoughts

Usually, on the Monday after the Wild Card Round I like to post my thoughts on all the games. I started this blog in 2008, and this was the first year I actually had a Broncos playoff game to write about after Wild Card Weekend. I know I'm a few days late, but here are my thoughts on a pretty nondescript set of Wild Card games...........

Houston-31 Cincinnati-10

1- It wasn't a great game by any means, but this game was competitive for the most part. The game changer was J.J. Watt's interception and return for a touchdown to put the Texans up 17-10 late in the first half. That was a killer on the Bengals part.

2- For the second time in three years, Marvin Lewis mismanaged his challenges and left himself without any challenges in the second half. He challenged a spot on a second down early in the second quarter, and it turned out he was wrong. Next, he challenged another fumble call on Houston's next possession, he lost the challenge, and it wiped out all of his challenges. He did the same thing against the Jets in 2009. By halftime, he was done with challenges. Lewis got exposed again in another big game.

3- Andy Dalton looked like a rookie QB on the road in his first playoff start. He was 27-42 for 257 yards and 3 interceptions. He started pretty well, but he went downhill after the Watt interception. Here were the Bengals second half possessions: Punt, Punt, Interception, Interception, and turn it over on downs. He'll be back, but this was a learning experience for him.

4- The Texans did a great job of managing the game for T.J. Yates. Yates finished 11-20 for 159 yards and 1 touchdown. He played well on third down and hit Andre Johnson for a huge 40 yard touchdown pass to make it 24-10 late in the third quarter.

5- Arian Foster was sensational and ripped through the Bengals defense. His 42 yard touchdown run was a thing of beauty and it officially ended the game with 5:15 left in the fourth.

6- Congrats to Gary Kubiak and the Texans on their first win in franchise history. The crowd at Reliant Stadium sounded loud, and now they head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens on Sunday.

New Orleans-45 Detroit-28

1-When Detroit jumped out to a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, I started to think that this might be the game that Matt Stafford takes that step to the next level. Much like Aaron Rodgers against the Falcons last year in the Divisional Round, Stafford was on fire early. He hit Will Heller and Calvin Johnson for touchdowns, and it looked like the Saints were going to have trouble stopping him.

2- The key moments in this game were the two fumbles by the Saints. The first one by Marques Colston in the first quarter was when the Lions had an early 7-0 lead. The Lions failed to convert. The second fumble came from Drew Brees in the second quarter, and the official blew the play dead. Tony Corrente, the head referee, called it a fumble but the Lions couldn't advance it because the whistle blew. It was an early whistle, and it negated what would have been a fumble return for a touchdown by Detroit. It was a huge moment because the Lions didn't take advantage of the turnover and came away with no points.

3- You knew the Saints were going to get going, and even though they didn't play well in the first half, they were only down 14-10. They then ripped off 35 points in the second half and pulled away with the game. Brees threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns. He was sensational again for New Orleans.

4- At least the game was still competitive going into the fourth quarter. Stafford's 1 yard touchdown run made it 24-21 New Orleans with a minute left in the third quarter. Unfortunately, the Lions just couldn't stop the Saints in the fourth quarter and they gave up three more touchdowns.

5-It was a tough way to end the season for the Lions, but they should keep their chins up because they finished 10-6, made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, and they put a scare into the Saints for a while in this playoff game. The Lions will be back for years to come.

6-The Saints look like a machine right now, and they head to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Saturday afternoon. This is a classic matchup of offense vs. defense, and I can't wait to see how it plays out. The Saints are rolling, and it might be tough for anyone to stop no matter where the game is played.

New York Giants-24 Atlanta-2

1) This game had an old-school, 1980s feel to for the Giants. It was cloudy, windy, cold, and the playoffs were back at the Meadowlands. It felt like a classic Bill Parcells type Giants team was out there playing in a big playoff game again. Guess what: The G-Men played like the old-school Giants on Sunday.

2) The Giants defense was brilliant, and they might be playing their best ball of the year. They shut down Michael Turner (15 carries for 41 yards), limited the Falcons receivers (No receiver had over 65 yards receiving), and they added two fourth down stops in the game. They buried the Falcons all day long.

3) Eli Manning got off to a slow start, but he picked it up as the game went on. His numbers were very good (23-32 for 277 yards and 3 touchdowns), and his 27 yard throw to Mario Manningham in the fourth quarter was a thing of beauty. The Giants running game also showed up. Brandon Jacobs had 92 yards rushing, and Ahmad Bradshaw added 63 yards. Jacobs had a huge fourth down conversion to set up Hakeem Nicks touchdown in the second quarter.

4) Speaking of Nicks, everyone focused on Victor Cruz all week, but Nicks was the man of the hour on Sunday. He caught 6 balls for 115 yards and two touchdowns. His 72 yard catch and run with 2:44 left in the third quarter put the Giants up for good at 17-2. He was tremendous, and that touchdown was the back breaker for Atlanta.

5) Outside of the safety in the second quarter (Intentional Grounding by Eli in the end zone), nothing went right for the Falcons. Mike Smith had a really bad day on the sidelines. I don't question his decision to go for it on fourth and one at the Giants 24 early in the second quarter, but I just don't agree with the play call. Give it to Michael Turner and get the yard not a quarterback sneak by Matt Ryan. The Giants saw it coming all the way and stuffed it. The next time he went for it was in the third quarter with just over four minutes left and down 10-2. Again, I am not going against the decision, I just didn't like the play. Another sneak by Matt Ryan? Not a good idea and again the Giants sniffed it out and stuffed it.

6) Another Falcon who didn't have a good day was Matt Ryan. He was 24-41 for 199 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He just didn't play well, and looked listless throughout the game. He will have many questions to answer because he is now 0-3 in playoff games in his career.

7) The Falcons took a step back on Sunday. They looked like they quit in second half. At 10-2, it looked like they were done, and after Nicks scored to make it 17-2, you knew they were done. The Falcons have made the playoffs three out of the last four years, and they lost their first playoff game each time. They were the big losers of the weekend.

8) The Giants are playing really well right now, and they won a playoff game for the first time since their Super Bowl XLII win over the Patriots. Also, it was their first home playoff win since the 2000 NFC Championship Game. Now, they go back to Lambeau Field for a rematch with the 15-1 Green Bay Packers. The game will bring back memories of the epic 2007 NFC Championship Game which the Giants won 23-20 in overtime. More recent memories will bring us back to about a month ago when the Giants lost at home to Green Bay 38-35 on a last second field goal. The game will be on Sunday at 4:30 pm EST, and it will definitely be interesting to see how these Giants will come out and play against the Pack. That could be another classic for sure.

Broncos and Tebow Pull Off Stunner in OT Win over Pittsburgh

What a day for Broncos fans. In a game where no one-including myself- gave the Broncos no chance to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver pulled off one of the great upsets in playoff history. The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in overtime to win the AFC Wild Card Game at Mile High, and they advance to the Divisional Playoffs against New England next Saturday Night. Where to start with this game? There were so many twists, turns, controversial calls, great plays, and drama that this game will go down as an instant classic. It will certainly live on in Denver lore. It may be Tim Tebow's defining moment in Denver, but we'll get to that more later on. The game started out like a lot of people thought. The Steelers drove the ball twice in the first quarter, but the defense was able to hold the Steelers to two field goals and a 6-0 Steeler lead. The Broncos went three and out twice in the first quarter, and it looked like the same Broncos offense we saw the last few weeks. The turning point for the Broncos and in this game was when Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas for a 51 yard bomb on 3rd and 12. It kind of woke up the Broncos and the crowd. From there, Tebow hit Eddie Royal on a beautiful 30 yard touchdown pass, and the Broncos took a 7-6 lead. The Broncos used that momentum and hammered the Steelers in the second quarter. After a Mike Wallace bobble on a big pass play, Denver forced a Steelers punt. Tebow responded with a 58 yard hookup to Thomas. Tebow ran it in from 8 yards out, and Denver took a 14-6 lead. Ben Roethlisberger got picked off the next series, and Denver converted a field goal to take a 17-6 lead. After a great tackle by Quinton Carter on Mike Wallace on a third down, the Broncos took possession again, and Tebow went back up top. This time he hit Daniel Fells for a gain of 40 yards on a bootleg, and the Broncos were on the move again. After the drive stalled, another Matt Prater field goal gave the Broncos a 20-6 lead. Pittsburgh was moving the ball near the end of the half, but a bad snap on a shotgun play pushed the Steelers out of field goal range. After a Broncos punt to start the half, the controversial part of the game appeared. A lateral to Mike Wallace was ruled an incomplete pass, and the whistle blew, so the Broncos couldn't challenge it and claim a fumble recovery. It was an unfortunate series of events for Denver, and of course the Steelers responded with a touchdown drive. Wallace capped it off with a short touchdown run after Isaac Redman got them down to the one. The Broncos responded and drove the ball down the field effectively, and they were able to get a field goal and that give them a 23-13 lead with 13:10 left in the 4th quarter. The Broncos were able to hold the Steelers to a field goal and the lead stood at 23-16. The Broncos were moving the ball again, but Willis McGahee fumbled at the Pittsburgh 40 yard line with only 7:35 left in the game. You knew the Steelers would take advantage. After the Steelers moved the ball into Denver territory, there was another crucial moment in the game. Big Ben threw deep into the end zone for Mike Wallace, and Champ Bailey undercut the route, and he inexplicably dropped the interception. It could have ended the game, and the Steelers took advantage. Roethlisberger hit Jerricho Cotchery with a 31 yard touchdown and the game was tied at 23. Tebow missed a wide open Thomas on a third down throw, and the Steelers had one more shot to win it late. Big Ben hit Antonio Brown for 17 and Emmanuel Sanders for 18 down to the Broncos 45. A huge sack by Elvis Dumervil essentially knocked the Steelers out of field goal range, and they settled for overtime. In overtime, the Broncos won the toss and it took one play: Tebow to Demaryius Thomas, 80 yards, game over. It was one of the greatest plays in Broncos history, and it was one of the most stunning ways to end the game. It was an amazing finish to an amazing game. The Broncos deserved to win, and they bucked all the odds and pulled off a tremendous upset. Denver heads to New England next week in the Divisional Playoffs on Saturday Night in primetime. There are so many things to talk about in this game. Here are my thoughts and observations on this great game..........

1) Tebow played his best overall game of his career. He finished 10-21 for a whopping 316 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and he added 50 yards rushing and one touchdown run. He threw the ball deep all day long. John Elway told him to pull the trigger and Tebow did just that. He was sensational all game long. His throw to Thomas in overtime will go down as one of the great moments of playoff history.

2) There were so many twists and turns in the game. For me, the Tebow throw to Thomas in the second quarter really was the big play that changed this game. Backed up on your own 18 and facing a 3rd and 12, Tebow lofted a perfect 51 yard pass to Thomas, and it set up their first touchdown to take a 7-6 lead.

3) The second quarter was always a problem for Denver all year, but they outscored Pittsburgh 20-0 in the second quarter, and it was highlighted by a defense that forced punt, interception, punt, and punt. It was a great quarter for the defense, and Quinton Carter's pick of Big Ben was a huge play in the game.

4) You knew the Steelers were going to come back and make this game close. Roethlisberger was a warrior out there. He willed his team back into this game playing on one ankle. If he could have made one or two more plays late in the fourth quarter, then the Steelers would have pulled this game out.

5) How about all the other twists and turns? Consider these key plays: Tebow to Thomas for 51 yards, Tebow to Thomas for 58 yards, Big Ben's pick, the bad shotgun snap for Pitt at the end of the half, the Mike Wallace lateral ruling, McGahee's fumble, Champ Bailey's dropped pick, Dumvervil's late sack of Big Ben, and Tebow's throw to Thomas in overtime.

6) If the Broncos have "The Drive" and "The Fumble," then I think this one should go with....."The Throw." 25 years from now when people will think of this game people will remember Tebow to Thomas in overtime a.k.a "The Throw."

7) The crowd was awesome all game long, and give credit for the Broncos' fans for stepping up their game yesterday. The shots of the crowd after Thomas' catch and run were just amazing. The stadium and the fans were going absolutely crazy. It was awesome to watch.

8) I loved Jim Nantz's call of the Tebow throw. Plus, Phil Simms yelling "He's got him!" just as Tebow was releasing the ball was great.

9) The Broncos defense played well at times-especially when they needed to. They made the stops when they had to in the red zone, and forced some field goals. They did get gashed in the second half by the Steelers run game, but they got big sacks when they needed them. Robert Ayers played one of the best games of his young career.

10) Let's face it: This game was about Tim Tebow. The pressure was on him all week. Elway talked about pulling the trigger. All I heard about the day of the game was how Brady Quinn was going to replace Tebow at one point, and this game was going to be the final chapter in Tebow's run for the Broncos. Well, he responded with his finest moment. He only completed 10 passes, but he threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He threw the ball deep all day long, and he was sensational with his throws all game. He responded in the biggest moment, and he deserves all the credit he gets. Tebow Time is here to stay.

11) Ike Taylor had an awful day for the Steelers. He got burnt by Demaryius Thomas all night long, and he killed the Steelers. Dick Lebeau didn't have his finest hour, and James Harrison didn't have a clue how to stop Tebow on the zone read plays. The Steelers defense got ripped up by Tebow and the Broncos offense. The Broncos offense had the Steelers off guard all game long.

12) This game will rank as one of the most dramatic and great NFL Playoff games in history. What a game it was. As far as Broncos history, this one is up there with "The Drive," "The Fumble," and "The Drive Part 2 (Elway over the Oilers)." This game ranks up there with most of them, and it was one of the greatest wins in recent Broncos history. This win ranks higher then the 2005 AFC Divisional win over the Patriots. Put it this way: I will be watching this game over and over this winter, spring, and summer.

13) Denver gets its' first playoff win since 2005, and now they head to the Divisional Round to face the Pats on Saturday Night.

NFL Wild Card Picks and Broncos-Steelers Preview!!

It has been five long years since the Broncos have made the NFL Playoffs, and I guess I just forgot how fun and exciting it is for your team to make the postseason-even if your team backs in at 8-8. No matter the record, no matter the manner in which they got there, it is so much better waking up on that Monday morning after the regular season ends, and your team is one of only 12 teams preparing for a playoff game, and the other 20 teams around the NFL are preparing for the offseason. With that said, this week has been fun talking about the game and analyzing every single aspect of the upcoming playoff matchup. Instead of trying to break down every single key matchup from what is going to take place on Sunday, think about this: The NFL playoffs are a crap shoot. It has become almost like the NCAA Tournament. We see it all the time in the regular season. Any Sunday any team can win in the NFL. That still holds true for the playoffs. You can nitpick and analyze every part of these games, but usually they are decided by turnovers, penalties and a handful a plays that transpire. In making my Wild Card picks I'm going to go about the feelings that I have going into in each game and why I can make a case for each team. The second season has arrived and it is time for some NFL Wild Card predictions and picks............

Cincinnati at Houston:

A Case for the Bengals: Their defense is pretty good, and it should be able to matchup to T.J. Yates and the Houston offense. Plus, Houston has lost three in a row. Here is what I am looking at: Don't you think that the Bengals are due for a playoff win? They haven't won a playoff game since 1990. Their supposed savior, Carson Palmer, led them to two playoff appearances(2005 and 2009) and they lost both times. Maybe Andy Dalton is the one who finally gets Cincy to break through.

A Case for the Texans: Overall, they are probably the better team. They are at home in their first ever playoff game, so you know the crowd will be very loud and into the game. Their running game behind Arian Foster should get going, and their defense also matches up well with the Cincy offense. The Texans did lose three games in a row to end the season, but that was after they clinched the AFC South. It looks like the perfect week for them to rev it up in time for a playoff win.

The Pick: Cincy (+4) over HOUSTON: My gut feeling is that the Bengals do enough in this game to get it done. If Yates falters, then the Texans have to turn to Jake Delhomme, and I would take Andy Dalton over both of those options. The Bengals win a tight one, and move on to New England for Round 2. Bengals-20 Houston-17

Detroit at New Orleans:

A Case for the Lions: Outside of a bad first half, the Lions played the Saints well in the Superdome a month ago. Their stupid penalties really killed their chances in the second half, but you could see that the Lions can hang with this Saints offense. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson can certainly get going on offense, and big time passing games can help a team on the road. Plus, the Lions can play fast and loose knowing that they are big underdogs and playing in their first playoff game since 1999. The Lions are dangerous and this is one of those games where Stafford makes the jump to the elite quarterback level.

A Case for the Saints: New Orleans looks red hot, and they have won their last eight games. Drew Brees looks like he is in the zone, and the Saints always start fast and play well at home. The Lions secondary looks like it is in deep trouble trying to stop Brees and that offense. The Saints also come into the game with a lot of playoff experience and that should help them against the young Lions. They have that look of a team that is ready to make another Super Bowl run.

The Pick: Detroit (+10) over NEW ORLEANS: The Saints will win this game, but I have felt that this line was way to high all week. The Lions can weather the storm early, and if they do that, then this game will be a shootout. Take the Lions and the points to keep this game tight on Saturday Night. Saints-30-Lions-24

Atlanta at New York Giants:

A Case for the Falcons: The Falcons go into this game as one of the least talked about teams in the playoffs. No one has given them credit for their season. They finished 10-6, but they beat up a lot of crappy teams in the process. When they played some of the big dogs (Green Bay and New Orleans in particular) they got smoked. They can use the "No Respect" card in this game, and play balls to the wall. I like Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Julio Jones and that offense against a weak Giants secondary. Also, isn't Matt Ryan due for a playoff win? Isn't Mike Smith and his team due for a victory after going 0-2 in the playoffs the last three years? This could be a game where the Falcons capitalize on some Giants mistakes and win going away. I don't buy into the notion that the Giants are all of sudden going to go on a run like they did in 2007.

A Case for the Giants: It is simple for the G-Men: Eli Manning, the passing game, and that Giants pass rush. Those factors are huge come playoff time, and the Giants have all of those elements going for them. Plus, the Giants crowd is going to be all in for this game. It is the first playoff game at the new Metlife Stadim, and the Giants were left for dead three weeks ago when they were 7-7. If you give a team new life on a season, it could be dangerous. It just feels like we are destined for Giants-Packers Round 2 at Lambeau next Sunday at 4:30.

The Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS (-3) over Atlanta: I was going back and forth on this game all week, but I'll take the Giants laying three points. It would not surprise me at all if the Falcons won this game, and the Giants made mistake after mistake, but I'll ride Eli and that pass rush one more time. The G-Men get their first playoff win since Super Bowl 42.

Giants-24 Falcons-17

And now the final game of the weekend.........Steelers-Broncos from Denver.........

Pittsburgh at Denver:

A Case for the Steelers: Their defense should be able to eat up Tim Tebow and the Broncos offense. On paper this looks like a total mismatch. How is Denver going to run the ball on this defense? Although Ben Roethlisberger is banged up, expect him to play at his best on Sunday. He is a big game QB, and Denver's pass rush is not there after Von Miller injured his hand. I know Rashard Mendanhall is out too, but there is no one that can match up with both Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace on the outside. Mike Tomlin is a fantastic coach, and he will have his team prepared and focused and not looking ahead. The Steelers are just a matchup nightmare for the Broncos. Plus, they love playing in Mile High. They buried the Broncos in the 2005 AFC Championship Game, and they won their on a Monday Night two years ago when Denver was 6-1. Plus, you know that Steelers fans travel well, and a lot of Bronco fans are probably going to dump their tickets because they are so down and depressed about how the last three weeks have played out for Tebow and the Broncos. You know Pittsburgh fans will be gobbling them up.

A Case for the Broncos: Well, Big Ben is hobbled, Ryan Clark can't play because of the Altitude, Mendanhall is out, and the Steelers are banged up on the offensive line. The Broncos are at home for the first time in the playoffs since 2005, so that certainly can help. No one, and I mean NO ONE, is giving the Broncos and Tim Tebow a chance in this game. The Broncos can certainly play loose and with nothing to lose. If anything the Broncos should take more chances because of that. One thing I will say: Denver won a lot of their games this year in a game just like this one: Keep it tight, play good defense, play the field position game, limit the possessions by running the ball, and don't turn it over. If the Broncos can do that, then maybe it is close in the fourth quarter and Tebow can pull out his magic just one more time. Hey, it is the playoffs and anything can happen.

The Pick: Pittsburgh (-8) over DENVER: If this game got to 10 points, then I might have taken the Broncos, but I just don't see them keeping that close and pulling out the victory. The Steeler defense is just too good for this Broncos offense, and Big Ben will make the throws that he has to make down the field to generate enough points to win. Steelers-30 Denver-10

One final note on the game.........I will be totally relaxed watching this game. Denver comes into the game at 8-8 and losers of three in a row. If they were 10-6 or 11-5, then I would have a lot more expectation in my mind that they can win this game and get on a run in the playoffs, but this team lost a lot of that momentum from early December. They have nothing to lose here, and if they keep it close then it will be exciting. I am going to sit back, relax, and just watch it all play out. I just want Tim Tebow to play well. The Broncos should treat this like a bowl game. Instead of waiting all year to see if Tebow can do the things needed to be a big-time QB in the NFL, the Broncos get a chance to look at next year with him in this game this week. Let it all hang out. Throw the ball on early downs, let him use his legs, give him a chance to throw first and run the ball second. I hope Tebow plays great. I hope he shuts up a lot of critics after this game, and I hope he gives the Broncos front office a glimpse of what he might become down the line. Tebow needs to play the game of his life, and I know he didn't play well the last two weeks, and he lost his confidence, but just him a chance to make plays. You never know because maybe Tebow Time and Tebow Magic have one of those moments on Sunday. Maybe we can witness one of those games that everyone points back to and says "There it is." Maybe this is the day Tebow silences the critics and plays the game of his life. Maybe the game is close late in the fourth quarter, and Tebow has the ball and drives the Broncos to a late touchdown or field goal and the Broncos pull off one of the greatest upsets in NFL Playoff history. It is a lot to ask, but at least I have a chance to see it all play out on Sunday. Go Broncos!!!!

Broncos End of Season Question and Answer Time!

With the Broncos 2011 regular season now complete, it is time for the annual "Season in Review with a little question and answer segment:

Now that the regular season is over, what was this Broncos season like to experience as a fan?

This was the strangest Broncos season I have ever experienced as a fan, and I go back to 1984. It started with the whole Orton-Tebow debate, then the Orton was the man, then the typical 1-4 start, then the move to Tebow, then the Miami Miracle, then the Detroit Debacle, then the incredible six game winning streak, Tebow Mania at its' peak, and then the buildup to the Patriots game, then the three game losing streak to end the season, and finally backing into the playoffs at 8-8. What a strange turn of events all season long.

Are you even excited that the Broncos made the playoffs at 8-8 and backed their way in?

Of course I am excited that the Broncos made the playoffs, but it certainly wasn't the way that I thought they would get in. It was weird that as soon as Denver lost, I was depressed and moping around, but the next thing I know the Chargers are scoring a touchdown and the Raiders are down 38-26, and the Broncos basically win the division by default. Once the Raiders lost, I did at least have a smile on my face as I tried to think about the Broncos and Steelers matchup for wild card weekend.

Do you feel bad that the Broncos made the playoffs? Do you think they deserve to go?

No, you don't give back playoff invitations. The Broncos had not made the playoffs since 2005. It is hard to make the playoffs in the NFL. On this Monday, 20 teams are packing up their up bags and heading home for the offseason, and the Broncos are one of the 12 teams that are still playing, so it is still special to make the playoffs. The Broncos should have made the playoffs in 2006 and they should have made it in 2008. I am not going to apologize for making the playoffs in 2011, but it certainly isn't the way I had envisioned the Broncos making the playoffs. Backing in at 8-8 is not the way that you draw it up, but I can't feel bad about it now. The bottom line is that the Broncos are in, and the new season starts next weekend. Obviously, when you lose your last three games you probably don't deserve to go, but their body of work for the season allowed them to get into the tournament.

If Kyle Orton remained the starter, would this team have made the playoffs?

No. If Orton was the starter I think they would have finished in the 6-10 range. Orton is not a winner, and this team was not going to win with the conventional and standard offense that Orton was running in his two and half years as the starter.

What will be the most memorable moment of this Broncos season?

The six game winning streak that Denver put together to battle back from a 2-5 record to a 8-5 record was one of the most exciting stretches of Broncos football I had seen in a long, long time. The comeback win over the Bears on December 11th will stand out because it was so improbable, and it was the height of Tebow Mania. Long after this season is over, I will at least be able to look back and watch those six games and smile while I rewatch those games this Spring and Summer.

Were you surprised that the Broncos fell apart in these last three games?

Yes. The Broncos were riding such a wave of momentum at 8-5, and it looked like one of those dream seasons that resembled something out of a fairy tale. The way they jumped out on the Patriots 17-7 certainly added to the dream. From there the Broncos just imploded and got buried by Tom Brady and company, got buried by the Bills, and played scared in a loss to Kansas City. It is amazing how their season turned in a matter in three weeks. That is what happens in the NFL. Seasons can turn on a dime.

Has the NFL caught up to Tim Tebow?

I don't know if the league has caught up on Tebow and Broncos offense, but it certainly has decided to play this style of defense: Keep Tebow in the pocket, blanket his receivers with man to man coverage, and make him make a great throw. During the six game winning streak, he was able to do it at times-especially late in the game- but the last three weeks he hasn't been able to do it. It is that simple in my opinion.

Are the Broncos moving in the right direction as a franchise?

Yes. The Broncos improved their win total from four wins to eight. They an impact player in Von Miller, and Champ Bailey is still playing at a Pro Bowl level. Elvis Dumervil had a nice season coming back from injury, and they have a good mix of young players ( Chris Harris and Quinton Carter) and veterans on defense (Broderick Bunkley, D.J. Williams, and Andre Goodman). On offense, Willis McGahee gives them a good running back, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have shown some flashes at receiver, and they have a pretty good offensive line with some youth at that spot. The key for this franchise will be the development of Tim Tebow and what will happen at the quarterback position in 2012 and beyond. They are definitely headed in a better direction now, but there is still a long way for them to go in order to be playoff contenders year in and year out.

Do the Broncos have any chance to win on Sunday against the Steelers?

Sure they do, but it will be a monumental task. First, anything can happen in the NFL playoffs. Second, on any given Sunday in the NFL, any team has a chance to knock someone off. Third, maybe the fact that Tebow and Denver has been humbled the last three weeks, and this week they will play loose and with nothing to lose. I'll preview this game in more depth later in the week, but the Broncos need to go out and play this game with no bullets left in the holster. Maybe they can use the whole "Nobody believes in us" routine to rally up and pull off one of the greatest upsets in NFL playoff history.

Broncos, Tebow Choke.....But Back Into Playoffs

Raise your hand if you were a Broncos fan and you thought at the beginning of the season that the Denver Broncos would win the AFC West this year.........

Okay, raise your hand if you thought that the Broncos would make the playoffs after starting 1-4 and turning it over to Tim Tebow........

Okay, raise your hand if you thought the Broncos would lose at home to Kansas City and still back into the playoffs at 8-8............

All three scenarios played out this year in the conclusion to one of the weirdest Broncos seasons in my lifetime. The Broncos are the 2011 AFC West Champs, and they will make the playoffs at 8-8 after losing to Chiefs at home, but the Raiders lost at home to San Diego, so the Broncos clinched the division anyway. Before we get to the Broncos and their season, it is time to recap yesterday's terrible performance at home vs. the Chiefs.......

The game started out with my worst fears being realized. The Chiefs were moving the ball pretty effectively, and Dwayne Bowe was actually getting the best of Champ Bailey in their one-on-one matchup. Usually, Bailey shuts down Bowe when these two teams met, but Bowe really ate up Champ in the first half. Dexter McCluster was able to run effectively in the first half, and he scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The Broncos also dodged a bullet when Ryan Succop missed a 44 yard field goal, so Denver could have been down 10-0. From there, the Broncos defense really played well against Kyle Orton and the Chiefs offense. The other key point was the fact that Denver was able to run the ball very effectively with Willis McGahee, but Tim Tebow fumbled deep in Kansas City territory on a third down scramble. If Denver would have scored a touchdown there, then the game would have been 7-7, and maybe the Broncos would have been able to get things going in the second half. Down 7-0 at the half, the Broncos were able to move the ball a little bit, but everytime they did, their drives ended with third down failures. The Broncos got a break that they needed when Javier Arenas muffed a punt, and the Broncos recovered at the 20. Once again, the Broncos went nowhere, and they had to settle for a field goal. The fourth quarter played out like much of the second and third quarters, and the Broncos played field position. Unfortunately, there was no Tebow magic this time, and the Broncos final two drives ended in a punt, and an interception with 10 seconds left. The Broncos fall to 8-8, but with the Raiders losing to San Diego, the Broncos win the AFC West. It certainly wasn't the way that you draw it up, but the Broncos are in the playoffs for the first time since 2005. I said all week that this was Tim Tebow's moment, and I thought that he would play really well. He played absolutely dreadful (6-22 60 yards 1 Int), and he turned it over in a key moment in the first half. I was shocked at how tentative he played in such a big game. Granted, the play calling was too conservative, and the Broncos played not to lose, and it came back to bite them. It was a sad way to end this season, and Tebow's long term future is in serious jeopardy. The Broncos defense is not great, but it is obviously better than it was last year. There is some talent on this team, but they still have a long way to go, and it starts with Tim Tebow.

Here are my observations and quick thoughts on the game.........

1) Outside of the first few drives, Kyle Orton did nothing this game. I am so glad the Broncos moved on from Orton, and perhaps he stays in Kansas City, but I don't think Orton is a guy that can start and lead a team to the playoffs. Forget about winning this game in Denver, not having Kyle Orton as a QB anymore is a good thing for Broncos fans.

2) Chris Kuper's horrendous leg injury is a big loss for Denver. He was probably our most consistent offensive linemen, and it is a shame that he will not be able to play in his first playoff game since joining the Broncos in 2006.

3) Willis McGahee, 145 yards rushing, proved to be one of the best free agent signings in the offseason. Denver needs to grab a running back in the draft next year, hopefully in Round 2 or 3, but McGahee was a great addition to this team.

4) Denver's defense played well for most of the game, but if Dwayne Bowe didn't get hurt, the Broncos might not have been able to stop him. Also, Denver continues to struggle when teams spread them out and run the ball with quick hitters. McCluster's touchdown was a carbon copy of what the Patriots running backs, and C.J. Spiller did to them the previous weeks.

5) Von Miller again did not really do anything, and you have to think the hand injury really has put an end to his impact on this defense.

6) The thing that perplexed me about Tebow's fumble in the second quarter was that he wasn't even stripped or hit hard. The defender slapped at his arm and Tebow fumbled. Tebow has run the ball over a million times in his high school, college, and pro career, and he just inexplicably dropped the ball. That play bothered me the most about his game yesterday.

7) Tebow was bad yesterday, but their play calling was even worse. You can't just run the ball on first down, run the ball on second down, and then expect your quarterback to constantly pick up third downs. If your QB is Drew Brees, Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, then you can probably get away with it, but it won't work if your quarterback is Tim Tebow.

8) I don't blame John Fox for not going for a 57 yard field goal right before the half because if Matt Prater misses it, then the Chiefs have really good field position and timeouts to get a score right before the half and make it 10-0. I do think that Fox should have went for it on fourth down in his own territory with about 3 minutes left in the game.

9) The Broncos do get the chance to play another game and will host the Wild Card game on Sunday at 4:30pm EST against the 12-4 Steelers in Denver. Stranger things have happened in the NFL playoffs (see Seattle over New Orleans last year), but you have to think that the Steelers will be able to put a whipping on them.