Super Bowl XLIX Preview

The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will meet in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. Both teams come into the game as the #1 seeds in their conference, and if you watched the NFL all year these are definitely the two best teams in the entire league. Before I get to my prediction, every Super Bowl has a few story lines heading into the game. To me, there are three really big story lines that headline this game:

1) Deflategate. The Patriots have heard about this all week, and they will continue to hear about it even after the game on Sunday. It will have no affect on the game, and no one suspects that the Pats will be deflating footballs for Sunday, but it has caught the attention of the mainstream media down at the Super Bowl. When people look back at this game years from now, the Deflategate issue will be one the most enduring aspects of this game.

2) Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are in their sixth Super Bowl together. They are 3-2, and they are going for that elusive and coveted Super Bowl win number four. That fourth one will up there with the immortals in Super Bowl history. Belichick will tie Chuck Noll, and Brady will tie Joe Montana. It is the last piece of the puzzle for both Brady and Belichick. Everyone has been skeptical of them since they haven’t won a Super Bowl since the Spygate allegations came out in 2007. They lost two heartbreaking games to the Giants in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. They were literally a helmet catch and a Wes Welker drop from having five Super Bowl titles. Now, they get another shot, and this might be their last and best shot at that Super Bowl.

3) In the era of parity in the NFL, it is so hard just to make it back to the playoffs after winning a Super Bowl. The Seahawks not only returned to the playoffs but are the first Super Bowl defending champion to win at least one playoff game since the 2005 Patriots. Now, they are back in the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. They can become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Pats did it in 2003 and 2004. It would vault Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson to another level if they can get their second Super Bowl win in a row. Plus, how amazing would it be if they knocked off Peyton Manning and Tom Brady both years in route to winning the Super Bowl consecutive years. The Seahawks have a chance to etch their names deeper into NFL history with a win on Sunday.

Here is the breakdown of Super Bowl XLIX and the prediction….

Last Week’s Record: 2-0

Overall Playoff Record: 5-5

Regular Season Record: 135-113-8

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

A Case for the Seahawks: Does anyone believe that the Seahawks secondary can’t shut down the Patriots receivers? Outside of Rob Gronkowski, no one on the Pats roster seems to strike fear into the Legion of Boom. It looks like a big time mismatch. Also, remember in last year’s Super Bowl how Denver just couldn’t block the Seahawks defensive line. There is a part of me that thinks the same can happen this week-especially if NE starting center Bryan Stork is out. The Seahawks might be able to tee off on Tom Brady up the middle and in the pocket. There is something about Russell Wilson. Can’t you see the Pats containing him for three quarters and then all of a sudden when the game is tight at the end, he starts running around and making Russell Wilson-type plays? The same could be said for Marshawn Lynch. The Pats could have him bottled up for most of the game, and then all of a sudden he starts breaking 35 yard runs and running through the entire Patriots defense. Finally, maybe the karma is on the Seahawks side. They avoided controversy all week because the focus was on the Patriots and Deflategate. They are the defending champs, and no one is talking about them. They escaped the NFC Championship and shouldn’t even be in the Super Bowl. Maybe it is just their year, and their time once again.

A Case for the Patriots: You know that the Pats will find a way to exploit the one part of the Seattle defense that they can exploit. They will find a way to move the ball with Tom Brady and that offense. If Green Bay was able to move the ball effectively on Seattle, then you know that the Pats will as well. I think the Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas injuries that they suffered in the NFC Championship will be worth a look. If they are both not 100%, then the edge goes to the Patriots in a big way. On defense, the Patriots secondary matches up very favorably to the Seattle WRs. I don’t see a good matchup for any of the Seahawks receivers against anyone in that NE secondary. When you give Belichick two weeks to figure out a team, then you would expect the Patriots to have a solid game plan and give Russell Wilson some problems. This might the Patriots last, best chance at winning a Super Bowl in the Brady/Belichick era. All hands will be on deck and you can expect the Pats to coach and play their ass off in this one. Everything will be left out there on the field on Sunday-you can bet on that. Finally, can’t you see the Patriots using the whole Deflategate scandal as motivation? When the Patriots feel threatened, then they can be very dangerous. Don’t underestimate the power of motivation for Belichick and his team. They might just go off just on principle.

Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-1) over Seattle: This has all the makings of a great Super Bowl. I think it will be a close game that goes back and forth. In the end, I think the Pats will find a way to win this game. I don’t think it will be dramatic with a late field goal, and I can see Brady hitting Gronkowski or Edelman for a key first down throw to clinch the game on a 3rd and 6 or something like that. I think the Pats will do just enough to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Boston and give Brady and Belichick that long awaited fourth Super Bowl and send them in the annals of NFL lore.

Final Score: Patriots-24 Seahawks-19

Broncos Mailbag Part 3: The Future

Here is the third and final installment of the Broncos season-ending mailbag. This one focuses on the future...

How surprised were you that John Fox and the Broncos "mutually parted ways?"
When I woke up the day of Denver's playoff game against the Colts, and I read about how Jay Glazer tweeted that Fox could be fired if they lost, I was actually surprised. The day after they lost to the Colts, and the manner in which they lost, I wasn't surprised at all. I think Fox is a good coach, and he was the right man for the job in 2011. He won four straight AFC West titles, won 12 or more games in 3 out of the 4 years in Denver, took the Broncos to the Super Bowl in 2013, and won a playoff game with TIM TEBOW! He did a really good job, but he really came up short in the big moments. The loss to the Ravens in 2012 was a really bad moment for Fox. He really screwed that game up at the end. He got completely out-coached in the Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks, and he was downright awful in the loss to the Colts. Did he deserve to be let go? Of course not, but sometimes you have to pull the trigger if you think the coach is one of the reasons why you can't get over the hump and win a championship, and I think Fox wasn't going to be able to lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl title. I just don't think he is a good enough in-game coach, and I question his ability to out-coach someone else in a big game. Plus, as lot of his faults were covered up by having Peyton Manning. Manning made Fox more successful. It wasn't the other way around.

Did you think that the hiring of Gary Kubiak was the right move for this franchise?
I do think it was a good move. I think Kubiak did a pretty good job in his time in Houston, and I think head coaches learn a lot the second time they get a chance to run the show. I love the fact that he has a long Bronco history, has a great relationship with John Elway, and has put together a good staff so far. Only time will tell if he can get this team over the hump and win a Super Bowl, but I do like the hire, and I think he will do a good job as the Broncos head man in the years to come.

Who are the Broncos free agents heading into the offseason?
There are a lot of them. Here is the list of unrestricted free agents: Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Terrence Knighton, Jacob Tamme, Will Montgomery, Mitch Unrein, Rahim Moore, Orlando Franklin, Quinton Carter, Nate Irving, Julius Thomas, and Virgil Green. The list of restricted free agents includes: Steven Johnson, Aaron Brewer, Tony Carter, Brandon Marshall, and Ben Garland.

Who do you think they will try to re-sign or let go?
I think the Broncos will use the Franchise Tag on Demaryius Thomas. From there, I think it depends on what they want to prioritize. I could see them re-signing Tamme, Green or Moore and someone like Unrein. I think that they will try to sign Knighton and Julius Thomas, but I think they will get outbid by other teams for those two guys. I think Welker, Montgomery, Irving, and Franklin are all definitely gone. I do think they will keep Brandon Marshall and tender him.

Who are their 2015 opponents?
The Broncos have a really tough schedule based on 2013 results. Here are their home game for next year: Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs, Baltimore, Cincy, Green Bay, Minnesota, and New England. Their road games are: Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, and Indy.

Most importantly, will Peyton Manning return next year?
If I had to say right now, then I would say no. I don't think Manning will be back next year. I think he will retire. Watching him at the end of the Colts game was sad because it looked like he was done, and it looked like that was going to be his last game ever. I still think he can play at a high level, and I still think he can be effective, but I just don't think his body will be able to withstand a full 16 game season and then at least 3 playoff games. I just don't think he can stay healthy from August to January. I hope and pray that he comes back, but I think he is done physically. Throw in the coaching change, and I think that he will come to the realization that it is time for him to retire. If Manning comes back, then Denver is still a contender in the AFC, and the Broncos can easily win at least 10 games next year. If he retires, then the Super Bowl window has closed and this team has to rebuild for the future. I really hope he comes back, but I have a feeling that Manning is done.

Broncos Mailbag Part 2: The Playoffs

Here is the second installment of the Broncos season-ending mailbag with a focus on the playoff loss to the Colts in the Divisional Round...

How surprised were you by the loss to the Colts?
I was mildly surprised by the loss. I thought going in to the game that Denver would win. I thought they were the better team, and I thought Andrew Luck was the only thing that could beat them. Luck played well, but he wasn't the reason why they lost. Simply put, the Broncos didn't show up. They lacked fire, they got out-coached and out-played, and Peyton Manning's injury was worse than we all thought or hoped it was. They never should have lost this game, but when you play as badly or as uninspired as they did, then it isn't a surprise they got beat. I had a little bit of a bad feeling because it just didn't seem like the Broncos were confident heading into the playoffs. They didn't have that same feeling as they had in 2013 or even in 2012, so the loss wasn't as surprising as the loss to the Jags in 1996.

Where does this defeat rank in the history of Broncos playoff losses?
On paper, it is up there, but when you look at the game and at the season, it isn't worse than the Super Bowl losses, the '96 defeat to the Jaguars, or the 2012 loss to the Ravens. There was a fear that this Broncos team didn't have it this year, and those fears were easily confirmed by the result of this game. It stings but when you see a 38 year old Peyton Manning playing like a 50 year old, then you are resolved to the fact that it just wasn't their day.

Is there anything about this game that will bother you all offseason?
The fact that the Broncos coaches did such an awful job of coaching in this game is what will really bother me. John Fox had leaked reports the day of the game that he wanted out of Denver if they lost, so that makes me really angry. Jack Del Rio made no adjustments on defense, and his game plan was awful. Del Rio looked like he was coaching with his other foot out of the door heading to Oakland, and Adam Gase did an awful job calling this game. The running game was actually effective in the first half, and Gase went away from it. It was obvious to everyone that Manning was not effective in this game, and he looked shot, so why didn't Gase just go with the run game from that point on? I'll never understand that. I watched the game twice since the season ended, and I'll never understand why Gase just didn't stick with the run game. It's a sin that they lost, and the coaches deserve just as much of the blame as the players.

What was worse: The offense or the defense?
Both were equally bad. The Broncos were 8-0 at home this year, and they only scored 13 points against the Colts. At home. In a playoff game. That is pretty bad. The defense couldn't get the big stops all game long, and the game plan was horrible and they never adjusted. At 21-13, they needed a stop, and they let the Colts march right down the field, take time off the clock, and kick the game-clinching field goal to make it 24-13. You can't do that if you are supposed to be a championship-caliber defense. Both sides of the ball no-showed at the worst time of the season.

If they had beat the Colts, do you think Denver would have had a chance against the Patriots?
No shot in the world. If Denver went up to Foxborough in the AFC Championship, they would have lost convincingly just like they did up there in November. They wouldn't have gotten blown out 45-7 like the Colts did, but they would not have put up much of a fight-especially with an ailing Manning. In fact, if Baltimore had beaten the Pats, and Denver was hosting them in the AFC Championship, I think Denver would have gotten smoked at home by the Ravens.

Broncos Mailbag Part 1: The Regular Season

As the NFL season is now officially over, I decided to do my season ending Broncos mailbag in three parts. The first installment deals with the regular season….

Did this Broncos regular season match up to your expectations going into the year?
Going into the regular season the Broncos were considered Super Bowl favorites out of the AFC with the Patriots. A 12-4 record, AFC West title (going 6-0 in the division), and the #2 seed in the conference all seemed to fit the bill. You really couldn't ask for more out of this year's group in the regular season outside of being the #1 seed, so yes I think they finished where I and all Broncos fans thought they would finish: At the top of the AFC heading into the playoffs.

How would you rate the Broncos offense this year?
It was a very weird year for the Broncos offense. At times, they looked like the 2013 offense. Other times, they looked like they couldn't get out of their own way. They only scored over 30 points as an offense in 7 out of 16 games compared to 13 out of 16 in 2013. Teams obviously adjusted to them from 2013. The WR screens, bubble screens, and the running game never seemed to get going at times. The offensive line struggled for most of the year and it was shifted during the middle part of the year. Wes Welker was a non-factor, Julius Thomas was banged up for the second half of the year, and Monte Ball never lived up to expectations. Peyton Manning was dominant in the first half of the year and pretty average the second half, but he still threw for 39 touchdowns and over 4,700 yards and a QB rating of 101.5. Demaryius Thomas  was sensational with 111 catches for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns. Emmanuel Sanders had no problem filling in for the departed Eric Decker and he totaled 101 receptions for 1,404 yards and 9 touchdowns. C.J. Anderson started to get a load of the carries during the 9th game and he finished with 849 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns down the stretch, and he was one of our best players the last 8 weeks of the season. This offense scored 482 points which was the most in the AFC, and even after taking away the 21 points scored by the defense, the Broncos still finished with 461 points, which averages out to 28.8 points a game. Obviously, it didn't match the numbers, stats, and points from 2013, but no one was expecting it to. Like I said earlier, at times the offense and Peyton Manning looked unstoppable, but at other times is looked downright ordinary.

Did the defense live up to the preseason hype?
At times during the season they did. They were certainly better than last year, and that was apparent from the beginning of the year. Overall, the defense gave up 354 points, which equates to 22 points a game, but they ranked in the top five in overall defense in the NFL. They held opposing offenses under 20 points in 8 out of 16 games. Von Miller returned and led the team with 14 sacks. Terrence Knighton, DeMarcus Ware, Chris Harris, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, rookie Bradley Roby and Brandon Marshall were all key contributors to the defense each week. Ware added 10 sacks. Talib and Ward all lived up to their free agent expectations and really came in and solidified the defense. It is safe to say that Ware, Talib, and Ward were all upgrades from last year, and they all were very solid free agent signings.

Which games will be remembered the most from 2014?
When you look back to the season, you start with the first game of the year and the win over the Colts 31-24. That was memorable because Denver looked so good taking a 24-0 lead, and then they had to hold on at the end. The stretch of games in which they went 4-0 and defeated the Cardinals 41-20, Jets 31-17, Niners 42-17, and Chargers 35-21 was probably the best set of games they played all year. They were 6-1 at the time, and they looked like the best team in the AFC. Their only loss was a 26-20 defeat in overtime at Seattle in Week 3. Also, the 39-35 win over Miami at home in Week 12 was a great game because they were down 14-3 and 21-10, and they were coming off a bad loss at the Rams the week before. Those five games stand out the most in 2014.

What was the turning point of the year?
To me the 43-21 loss at New England in Week 9 wasn't a surprise, and it only put Denver at 6-2. The 22-7 loss to the Rams in Week 11 was the turning point. Denver's offense got buried, Peyton Manning started to really look old in that game, and it was such a lackluster loss that it seemed to be the first time all year where you started to worry about this team.

What was the biggest surprise of the regular season?
The biggest surprise was how the offense and the offensive line just couldn't get going at times. Denver couldn't run the ball at all in the beginning of the year, and it only started to run the ball better when C.J. Anderson started to get the bulk of the carries. With Ryan Clady coming back from injury, you felt that Denver's offensive line would be better than it was last year. Orlando Franklin moving to LG only started to help towards the end of the season, Chris Clark was a disaster at RT, and he eventually got benched. They had to move Louis Vasquez from RG to RT, Manny Ramirez from C to RG, and they inserted Will Montgomery to C. It worked for a little bit, but Vasquez is not a tackle, Ramirez was bad all year, and Montgomery is just an average player. I was very surprised at how lackluster the offensive line was all year long.

What moment stands out the most when you look back at 2014?
Peyton Manning breaking the all-time passing TD record in Week 7 over the Niners was the moment you will always take away from this year. He needed 3 TDs to break the record and he got 2 right away, and you could feel him getting that 3rd one. His record breaking pass to Demaryius Thomas was a really cool moment, and when you think about 2014 that moment will always stand out. Plus, he did it in Denver on a Sunday night which makes it just as good.

Where does think Broncos season rank in terms of regular season success?
This season reminded me a lot of the 2012 season. Obviously, as far as regular seasons go, this was a very good year. They won the division, finished with 12 wins and got a bye in the playoffs. Their offense all year reminded me of 2012. It was a very good year, up until the playoffs, but it was a different year. They weren't as dominant as 2013, 1997, or 1998. If you had to compare it to any other year, then 2012 would be the best comparison. It was just a weird year overall. They started off looking like the team to beat at 6-1, but they never recovered after the losses to the Pats and the Rams. Even as they were winning the key games at the end of the year (Miami, at KC, Buffalo, at SD), it just didn't feel right. I can't explain it, but you could tell if you are a Broncos fan and watch them every week.

Championship Sunday Recap

AFC Championship
New England-45 Indy-7

1) There really isn't much to break down about this game. It felt like a mismatch from the first quarter, and it never felt like the game was going to get close at any point.

2) If there was any turning point, it was when the Pats built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and they were driving early in the 2nd quarter, and D'Qwell Jackson picked off a Tom Brady pass at the goal line to stop the Pats potentially making it 21-0. On the next drive, Indy came down and scored-aided by an incredible throw by Andrew Luck to T.Y. Hilton on a 3rd and 8, and it was 14-7, and maybe this game would be a little interesting.

3) The Pats once again moved the ball with ease, but had to settle for a field goal right before halftime. At 17-7, this game could have easily been 28-0, but the Colts were hanging around. Naturally, the Pats got the ball to start the second half, marched down the field again, and capped off the drive with a tackle-eligible pass play from Brady to Nate Solder. 24-7 Pats and the rout was on from there.

4) The Colts just can't match up to the Pats at this point. It is evident every time they play, and Sunday's game was the same result. They couldn't stop LaGarrette Blount, who pounded out 148 yards on 30 carries and 3 touchdowns. It was exactly what happened to them in the Divisional Round last year in Foxborough. The Pats just overwhelm the Colts at this point, and the Colts better try to get better in that area of the offseason or they'll never get by them in the playoffs.

5) Andrew Luck had a rough night (12-33 126 yards and 2 INTs) and Tom Brady was solid once again (23-35 226 yards and 3 TDs). The torch might have been passed from Peyton to Luck last week, but Brady still holds onto it here in this spot. Brady has been sensational in these playoffs, and he was in full command in the AFC Championship. He found open receivers all night long and he played great. He doesn't look 37 at all, and looks like he energized by this team this year.

6) Give Bill Belichick credit for what he has done in New England. In the salary cap and free agency era, he has now won 6 AFC Championships, and has the chance to get that elusive fourth Super Bowl. He did a great job of rebuilding this team from last year. After losing to Denver in convincing fashion in the AFC Title Game, he added Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner to his secondary. He added some pieces to the interior of his offensive line, and he added Brandon LaFell to the receiver corps. More importantly, he got a lot of players back from injury (Gronk and Wilfork), and he developed the talent that currently existed on the roster. The result was a better offense, way better defense, and an overall solid team. He continues to find different players and ways to win in this league, and this year was one of his best coaching jobs to date. They scored 35 and 45 points in two playoff games. They came back twice down 14 points against the Ravens, and completely and utterly dominated an inferior Colts team. They were the best team in the AFC from November on, and now they are going back to the Super Bowl and will try to win their 4th of the Belichick-Brady era.

NFC Championship
Seattle-28 Packers-22

1) This is one of those games that will be featured on the Greatest Games series on NFL Network in five years. It might become the subject of a 30 for 30 documentary on ESPN. There are so many ways to look at this game, but one thing is for sure: It was an instant classic and a finish that will be hard to top in years to come.

2) Let's start with Mike McCarthy's decisions to not go for a touchdown on the Packers second and third drives. You have to go for at it on 4th and Goal inside the 1 yard line at least one time. You just can't keep settling for field goals. After the Seahawks turned it over the first two times they touched the ball, and the Packers only came away with six points, you knew-you just KNEW- that would end up biting them in the end.

3) There was a series of events that led to the Packers 4^th quarter collapse. But the seeds of this defeat start at the beginning in addition with McCarthy’s judgment error in going for it early in the game on 4^th and goal from inside the 1 yard line. Think about this start for the Packers:

-They drive down to the Seattle 29 on their first drive, but Rodgers gets intercepted in the end zone by Richard Sherman to stop that drive.

-Russell Wilson gets intercepted on the third offensive play, but it only leads to a field goal and a 3-0 Packer lead.

-Doug Baldwin fumbles the ensuing kick return and GB recovers and this only led to the

field goal and a 6-0 lead. The Packers got two turnovers and three trips into Seattle territory and only came away with two field goals.

-Seattle goes 3 and out on their next possession, and the Packers come right down the field and Aaron Rodgers hits Randall Cobb for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead. How did the Packers not win this game!!!!!

-After another 3 and out, the Packers drive down and get a field goal and make it 16-0. Once again, HOW DID GREEN BAY LOSE THIS GAME!!!!!

-On Seattle’s very next play, Wilson gets picked off again! The Packers blew this opportunity and Rodgers got picked off a few plays later.

-To top of the half, Seattle took the ball and drove it down to the GB 18, but Wilson got picked off once again.

-Let’s review the first half: Seattle turned it over 4 times in the first half and went 3 and out the other two times. Green Bay came away with a 16-0, but this game could have been something like 27-0 at the half.

4) The game changed on the fake field goal touchdown by Seattle to make it 16-7. Think about this: With under 5 minutes left, Seattle lines up for a 36 yard field goal down 16-0, but Seattle faked it and holder Jon Ryan hit backup tackle Garry Gilliam for a touchdown on a fake field goal to make it 16-7. It was a gutsy call by Pete Carroll, but it was a move that he had to make. How is Green Bay not playing fake on that call? Just unbelievable.

5) After Green Bay took a 19-7 lead, they forced a Seattle punt at the 50 yard line with 7:00 minutes to go. How GB didn’t finish off this game is amazing? Green Bay got conservative with two runs and an incomplete pass to Andrew Quarless and they had to punt. They need to be more aggressive in that spot. You have to.

6) On the next play after the punt, Wilson gets intercepted again! Morgan Burnett picks it off at the GB 40, and he had plenty of room to run with the ball. Instead, he slides down and ends the play. Why? This was still 5:13 left in the game. It wasn’t like it was 2:00 to go in the game. I know Burnett saw Julius Peppers tell him to slide, but he had to see the open field in front of him. He could have possibly scored or at least put GB in field goal range.

7) Once again, the Packers were conservative to a fault, and three straight runs gave the

ball back to the Seahawks with 3:52 to go and up 19-7. The Packers have to close the

game out there, and give Seattle credit because they kept fighting to the end. Wilson and

Marshawn Lynch took over and marched Seattle down for a score and cut the lead to 19-14 with 2:13 to go. How easy was that for the Seahawks? The Packers defense needs to take a hit for that drive.

8) Now, here comes the onside kick. I know everyone is going to blame Brian Bostick, the Packers TE, who dropped the ball, but I can’t totally put the blame on this kid for losing the game. Yes, he drops the ball and Seattle recovers the onside kick, but what is he supposed to do? He instinctively jumps up and goes to grab the ball out of the air and misplayed it. Seattle recovers and the whole end of the game changes. Of course it was a huge play in the game, but it was one play in a sequence of events that goes back to the first quarter that sealed the Packers fate on this day.

9) Naturally, Wilson makes the Packers pay on the next drive. A scramble for 15, and then a Marshawn Lynch 25 yard TD run and all of the sudden the Seahawks are in the lead. Then, Wilson throws up a prayer for a two-point conversion and they lead 22-19, which was huge because there was still 1:25 left to play and the Packers had all three timeouts. A 22-19 lead is a lot different than a 20-19 lead with Aaron Rodgers getting the ball back.

10) Give the Packers and Rodgers credit for driving down and getting the game tying field goal. It took three plays for Rodgers to get GB to the Seattle 36. I really can’t question the play-calling in this spot because they did what they had to do and marched down to tie the game against the NFL’s best defense in the loudest stadium to send this game to overtime.

11) The overtime reminded me of the Seahawks OT win over Denver in Week 3. Seattle wins the toss and Russell Wilson can’t be stopped and takes the game over. The big play was on a 3^rd and 7 from their own 30, Wilson hits Doug Baldwin down the sideline for a gain of 35. They run that play every week and it always seems to work. The next play, Wilson hits Jermaine Kearse on a beautiful 35 yard post play, and Seattle wins the game 28-22. What a finish by Wilson and what a finish to the game. Just remarkable.

12) This game will sting the Packers for a long time. The way the game started and the way the game played out has to kill the Packers and their fans all offseason. Mike McCarthy did an awful job of managing this game, and the Packers have to think about this being a missed opportunity. There was no way they should have lost this game. It will be a very bitter winter for Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Packers.

13) Give Seattle credit. They were dead to rights in this game and had no business winning it, but they did. I don’t know if this will carryover to the Super Bowl, but they certainly deserve credit for the comeback. It seems like Russell Wilson has that knack to thrive in these situations. It is very hard just to get to the playoffs after winning a Super Bowl let alone a Super Bowl, but give Pete Carroll and his team credit. This was one of those games that will go down in Seattle sports lore, and also in the annals of NFL history as one of the craziest finishes ever.

Broncos Name Gary Kubiak New Head Coach

It has been a crazy week for the Broncos and their fans. Just over a week ago, Denver was preparing to host the Indianapolis Colts with a berth in the AFC Championship Game on the line. Since that moment, the Broncos showed no heart and guts in an ugly and shocking loss to the inferior Colts, mutually parted ways with head coach John Fox, wondered about the retirement of Peyton Manning, went through three different interviews for a new head coach, and agreed to terms with Gary Kubiak to become the new head coach on Sunday night. What a whirlwind. I am happy for Kubiak, and I think this was the move Elway wanted to make all along. My overall opinion about the Kubiak hire are mostly positive. I think this will be a good move for the franchise. Here are my general thoughts about the hiring of Kubiak:

1) Kubiak is a Denver Bronco. He backed up John Elway from 1983-1991, then was the offensive coordinator from 1995-2005. Anyone who is a Broncos fan recognizes, likes and respects Kubiak. I remember him as the lifelong Broncos backup, and having him come back as the OC under Mike Shanahan was great. Now, he gets the promotion he probably dreamed about and he gets to be the next head coach of the Broncos. I always liked Kubiak and I was really impressed with the job he did as the offensive coordinator in Denver, and I even rooted for him in Houston, so it is cool to see him back, and I think he can get a lot out of this team.

2) Kubiak and Elway go way back, so you would think that there will be a good relationship with them going forward. Since the parting of ways with John Fox, it has come to light that Elway and Fox didn't see eye to eye towards the end of their relationship, and both guys were looking to move on. Perhaps with Kubiak in the fold, Elway can trust his head coach and Kubiak will be okay with Elway as the top decision maker for the franchise. These two have a lot of history, so they should be able to work well with each other and have success.

3) One thing about Kubiak is that he is a very, very good play-caller and offensive coach. I have no worries about him implementing his system and providing the Broncos with a very good offense. Just go back and look at the playoff games this year when he was calling plays for the Ravens. Look what he did to the Steelers and the Patriots. I know a lot will be said about his zone blocking scheme and his bootleg/play-action game, but that gets overplayed. He will bring a good offense to Denver right away.

4) I understand on paper that it doesn't look like Kubiak's scheme fits Peyton Manning, but I can't see it being an issue. If Manning comes back, and that is a big if, then I am sure both Manning and Kubiak will find a way to make the offense fit both of their liking. Put it this way: Do you really think Kubiak told Elway that Manning doesn't fit his system and that he has to go? I don't think so. If Manning comes back, then Kubiak and Manning will make it fit and work. Kubiak is a good enough coach to adjust.

5) From what it sounds from former players, Kubiak was well respected from his time as the Texans head coach. It may not look like it on the sideline, but Kubiak was intense and take charge when need be behind closed doors. Looking at how the Broncos went out of the postseason each year under John Fox, perhaps an outside voice like Kubiak's could be just the thing that this team needs to get over the hump or be successful.

6) My biggest concern for Kubiak is two-fold. One, does Peyton Manning come back? If he doesn't, then what is Kubiak's plans at QB? Does he go with Brock Osweiler or does he look somewhere else? The second concern is with the defense. It is rumored that he wants to bring in Vance Joseph, Cincy's secondary coach, as his defensive coordinator. Who the hell is Vance Joseph? I would really want a veteran coach on the defensive side of the ball and a big name because there is a lot of talent and high-priced guys on that defense that need to be coached up and guided to make that leap to the next level. I just wonder if Kubiak will be able to get the guy to do that.

Championship Sunday Picks

With the Broncos season prematurely ending last Sunday in that debacle against the Colts, it is hard to get the juices flowing for this Sunday's AFC and NFC Championship Games. Championship Sunday is one of the best Sundays of the football calendar. Although Denver got eliminated, you still have some pretty good matchups to look forward to (Manning vs. Brady is still better than Luck vs. Brady though). I do have an interest here because back in August I had predicted 3 of the 4 teams that actually made it to this weekend's games. I had the Colts going to the Super Bowl out of the AFC, and I had Green Bay upsetting Seattle to get to the Super Bowl in the NFC. Do I stick with my Super Bowl pick of Indy-Green Bay? It is a tough call, but I will certainly be rooting for that on Sunday. Before I get to my picks, here are the four possible Super Bowl matchups in the order that I think would be the best possible games:

1) New England vs. Seattle: Brady and Belichick going for that 4th Super Bowl against the Seahawks going for the repeat.
2) New England vs. Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady in a rematch of the classic game these two teams played in November in Lambeau.
3) Indy vs. Green Bay: Rodgers and Andrew Luck in a showdown of two of the best QBs in the NFL.
4) Indy vs. Seattle: Luck tries to get his first Super Bowl against the Seahawks vaunted defense.

Now, onto the the picks for Championship Sunday.

Last Week's Record: 2-2
Overall Playoff Record: 3-5
Final Regular Season Record: 135-113-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)


NFC Championship
2-Green Bay at 1-Seattle

A Case for the Seahawks: Their defense is playing lights out again, and they could be better than they were last year. They are at home in front of the 12th Man. They absolutely dominated the Packers in Week 1 in the same building. Russell Wilson is quietly emerging as one of superstar QBs of the next decade. They are 60 minutes away from having a chance to repeat as Super Bowl Champions for the first time in over 10 years. It seems like they are just going to be too much for the Packers to handle-especially with a gimpy Aaron Rodgers going against that defense.

A Case for the Packers: Although Aaron Rodgers isn't healthy, he still played great in the 2nd half of last week's win over the Cowboys. Anytime you have Rodgers as your QB, then you have a chance. The Packers can take what they learned and what they didn't do in Week 1 and make adjustments in this game. Perhaps the Packers defense can stifle the Seahawks offense just enough to give Rodgers and that GB offense a chance to win it. Also, not many people are expecting the Packers to win the game, so you have to take that into account and they will use that as motivation.

Prediction: Green Bay (+7.5) over SEATTLE: I picked Green Bay in this exact spot in the summer, so I'll stick with it here. Plus, I hate Seattle and would love nothing more than to see the Packers end their run in Seattle.

Final Score: Packers-26 Seahawks-20

AFC Championship

A Case for the Patriots: After last Saturday's thrilling comeback win over the Ravens, do you really see them losing at home to the Colts? They have dismantled the Colts and Andrew Luck the last three times they have played them. They can pound the ball at the Colts, and there is no answer for Rob Gronkowski. Tom Brady took his game to an epic level last week, and there is no reason why he can't do it again this week. It seems that Bill Belichick really has an answer to Andrew Luck at this point in Luck's career as well.

A Case for the Colts: Many people believe that the Colts don't belong in this game, but they certainly do. They can use that as motivation. NO ONE is picking them to pull off the upset this week in Foxborough, and you know how dangerous a team can be when no one is picking them. Did I mention they have Andrew Luck? How perfect would it be for Luck to really take the QB torch by knocking off Tom Brady one week after defeating Peyton Manning?

Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Indy: As much as I want to stick with the pick of the Colts going to the Super Bowl from back in August, I just can't see them beating the Pats on Sunday. This is the Pats best team since the 18-0 team in 2007, and I think the Pats will get back to another Super Bowl with Brady and Belichick. Trust me, I will be rooting for the Colts and Luck, but I don't think they can get it done.

Final Score: Patriots-33 Colts-20.

Divisional Round Review

After witnessing a terrible loss by the Broncos at home to the Colts, it is hard to muster up the strength to break down the other three games from Divisional Weekend in any kind of spirited depth. Instead I’ll give a brief review and summary of some of the games because I have to admit that I am gutting through it here dealing with the sting of the Broncos loss.

Patriots-35 Ravens-31

1)    The game of the weekend and an instant classic. Can’t believe that the Pats came back down 14-0 and 28-14.

2)    Tom Brady was brilliant in the second half, and it was one of his defining moments in his career.

3)    Joe Flacco played great once again, but his late interception down by four was so awful that it marred his performance.

4)    I had no problem with the Patriots formation and how they set up the Ravens with it. I know the Ravens were mad about it, but it was legal, and the Pats declared their extra receiver eligible while taking out one of their lineman. This happens all the time in high school football as well. Give credit to Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels for what they did, and it worked well.

5)    Also, give McDaniels credit for breaking out the double pass to Julian Edelman to tie the game late in the third quarter.

6)    Flacco hit Owen Daniels in the hands in the end zone but he couldn’t come down with the pass on 3^rd and goal late in the 4^th quarter. They had to settle for a field goal and a 31-28 lead instead of being up 35-28. It opened the door for Brady and the Pats and they took advantage by taking the lead for good on a Brady to Brandon LaFell hookup late in the game.

7)    These two teams looked like the best two teams in the AFC on Sunday. The Pats won a close one and head to their 4^th straight AFC Championship-just incredible.

Seahawks-31 Panthers-17

1)    It was going to be a tall order for Carolina to pull the upset in Seattle, but at least they kept it close for awhile. They only trailed 14-10 at the half and 17-10 in the 3^rd quarter. In the end, the Seattle defense was just way too much.

2)    Russell Wilson doesn’t get enough credit because he is a really special player. He threw for 3 touchdowns, and each throw was more impressive.

3)    What can you say about the Seattle defense. They are playing better than last year. Kam Chancellor’s pick six made it 31-10 late and sealed the game, but the defense was lights out all night long. Seattle looks like they are ready to defend the Super Bowl.

4)    Seattle becomes the first Super Bowl winning team since the 2005 Patriots to win a playoff game the next year.

 Packers-26 Cowboys-21

1)    This was the second best game of the weekend. Classic setting with two classic teams, and it was a nail biter throughout.

2)    Give Aaron Rodgers credit because he played really well with a strained calf. He was laser sharp in the 4^th quarter.

3)    Interesting sequence late in the first half. With Dallas up 14-7, Dan Bailey’s field goal attempt was blocked, and the Packers turned it into a field goal right as time expired in the half. Instead of having a 17-7 lead, Dallas was now only up 14-10.

4)    The turning point of the game was Demarco Murray’s fumble in the third quarter with the Cowboys up 14-10. The Packers recovered and got a field goal to make it 14-13. If Murray doesn’t fumble, he might go all the way and score.

5)    After Rodgers guided his team back into the lead with two brilliant touchdown passes, everyone is going to point to the call on the Dez Bryant catch on 4^th and 2 late in the game. On a 4^th and 2 from the GB 32 with 4:42 left, Tony Romo found Bryant deep down the sideline. Bryant went up, caught the ball, came to the ground, bobbled it a little, and looked to secure it for a first down inside the GB five yard line. After the Packers challenged it, the officials overturned it because Bryant didn’t maintain control through the catch (The Calvin Johnson Rule). I can’t go crazy about it because although it is a shitty rule, it is the rule and the officials made the right call based on the rulebook. It is very similar to the Tuck Rule, and that is the way it goes.

6)    The Packers advance to the NFC Title game, and it is the Packers first trip back to the NFC Championship since they won the Super Bowl in 2010. The Cowboys should hold their heads up high after a really great season.

John Fox Out as Denver Head Coach

There was a report early Sunday that John Fox could possibly be out as Denver coach if he lost the game to the Colts. Well, Monday afternoon confirmed that report to be true. After meeting with John Elway, Fox and the Broncos decided to mutually part ways. Fox is out after four years as head coach. Fox finished with a record of 46-18, four AFC West titles, and a Super Bowl appearance in 2013. Here is what we do know about how this all transpired:

-Apparently, John Elway and John Fox both went into Monday's meeting thinking that it was time to move on. Fox and Elway have been reported as having a rocky Coach-GM relationship recently, and Fox already has his eye on other jobs.

-They both agreed to move on, and with that the Broncos are now in search of a new head coach.

-It sounds like Elway wasn't thinking about firing Fox, but after the report came out on Sunday morning, it looks like Elway felt that Fox wanted to move on.

-Elway obviously wasn't happy about how the Broncos played on Sunday, and with the recent playoff disappointments under Fox, he decided that the team needed to go into a new direction as well.

My thoughts on this move are mixed. I hate to see instability and coaching changes so rapidly. I liked the Fox hiring in 2011, and I thought he did a really good job his first year taking over a team that went 4-12. Fox was handed the Tim Tebow-Kyle Orton mess, had the guts to go with Tebow at 1-4 in 2011, and rode the Tebow train all the way to an 8-8 season and a surprise AFC West title and the stunning playoff win over the heavily favored Steelers. He improved the defense right away, and he brought a much needed amount of energy and passion that the Broncos desperately needed after the Josh McDaniels era. My problem with Fox begins with the playoffs and big games. He had the luxury of getting Peyton Manning, and John Elway did everything he could to bring in players to help the Broncos win a championship now. The Baltimore loss in 2012 was inexcusable and Fox deserved all the blame and criticism for that game. He did a terrible coaching job in the Super Bowl last year, and it was embarrassing how badly he got out-coached by Pete Carroll that night. This year, he did a terrible job getting the Broncos ready for the Divisional Game against the Colts and the failure of this team to break through and win a championship is certainly on him. I thought his in game strategy and coaching ability was questionable at best, and if it wasn't for Peyton Manning, I don't think his record would be what it is after four years. I think hiring Fox for the team was the right move in 2011, but after the last three playoff losses he suffered, moving on from him in 2015 might be the right move as well. Naturally, only time will tell.

Colts Upset Broncos In Divisional Playoff 24-13

It was Super Bowl or bust for the Broncos, and they certainly busted on Sunday at home in a stunning 24-13 loss to the Colts in the Divisional Playoffs. The Broncos season is over just like that. The Broncos looked flat, got outcoached and outplayed, and deserved to get eliminated. It was a game that might have seen the end of Peyton Manning's career, the end of John Fox in Denver, and the true passing of the torch to Andrew Luck as the next superstar QB in the NFL. It is amazing how everything that looked so bright for the Broncos during the season, just came to a crashing halt on Sunday. 12-4 record, AFC West Title, a bye, and a home playoff game, and the Broncos blew it all in one of the most uninspired games I have ever witnessed as a Broncos fan. There are a lot of things to look at, so here are my thoughts and observations about what went down on Sunday....

1) Great start to the game for Denver. They forced a 3 and out, and Peyton Manning leads a touchdown drive on the first series with sweet throw to Julius Thomas down the sideline and a beautiful fade to Demaryius Thomas for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

2) After the Colts tied the game up at 7, I thought the turning point was when Manning got strip sacked and Indy recovered the fumble. Denver was putting together a nice drive at the time. Andrew Luck went to work from there and a touchdown pass to Dwayne Allen made it 14-7. The Colts were in control of the game from that point.

3) The Broncos were able to run the ball early with C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman. Why did they abandon the run so easily? After realizing that you were getting a C game from Peyton Manning, just go back to what they did in December and grind out the Colts on the ground. I'll never understand that.

4) Down 14-7 in the 2nd quarter, Manning threw incomplete to Wes Welker on a 3rd down. He missed a wide open Ronnie Hillman on an out and up down the sideline that would have been a touchdown and tied the game at 14.

5) The Broncos paid Aqib Talib big money in the offseason, and he flat out sucked in this game. He got burnt by T.Y. Hilton early and often in the first half, and he committed two defensive holding penalties. It was a complete no show by Talib.

6) Awful job by John Fox and Jack Del Rio as far as defensive strategy goes. They waited to long to adjust, couldn't generate any pressure on Luck, and had no answers for most of the game for what the Colts were doing offensively. I hope Del Rio takes the Raiders job because he was a disappointment in Denver the last three years as the DC.

7) Von Miller and Demarcus Ware couldn't generate any pressure on Luck. Even when the Broncos got some sort of pass rush, Luck easily stepped up and made the 4 or 5 ridiculous throws that he makes every week.

8) Denver kept throwing deep, but Manning was off target all day long to Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. Give the Colts credit: They played man-to-man coverage all day on the Broncos receivers, and dared Manning to throw it deep, and he couldn't do it. It was similar to what they did last year in the game between these two in Indy.

9) The Broncos were lucky to only be down by 7 after Adam Vinatieri missed a 44 yard field goal in the 2nd quarter. The Broncos offense again did nothing, and after getting a gift interception-more like a long punt- they were able to convert it into a field goal and make it 14-10 at the half. I had a feeling that maybe that would change the momentum since they were getting the ball in the second half, but I was dead wrong.

10) After another 3 and out by the Denver offense, Luck went to work and this is where the game really changed. He put together a masterful drive, and the key play was a huge 3rd and 16 conversion to Coby Fleener down the seam inside the Denver 5. Luck threw a bullet to Hakeem Nicks to make it 21-10, and at that point I thought the Broncos were doomed. You could just feel it.

11) After C.J. Anderson single handedly converted a 4th and 1 with an amazing run, all Denver could do was settle for a field goal and a 21-13 margin. They needed a touchdown on that drive and they couldn't do it. Settling for the field goal there was a big sequence.

12) After Denver's defense finally rose to the occasion and forced a 3 and out, the Broncos offense continued to struggle and had their own 3 and out to give in the Indy the ball back early in the 4th. That was the ball game right there.

13) The Colts dominated up front and moved the ball effectively on the next drive, and put the game away with a Vinatieri field goal to give them a 24-13 lead. There was no way Denver was coming back at that point. Peyton Manning and that offense just didn't have it in them to do it on this day.

14) It was a bitter loss for the Broncos. Their offense didn't show up, and you can't score only 13 points at home in the playoffs when you average over 28 for the season. Peyton Manning was playing with a quad injury and it showed. Outside of the first drive, he couldn't complete any deep passes, tried to dink and dunk his way down the field, and the Colts swallowed everything up. Demaryius Thomas had a really bad game marred by some terrible drops, Wes Welker was a non-factor as usual, and Julius Thomas was invisible after that first catch he made. C.J. Anderson was the only Bronco who played like he wanted to be there. As far as the defense goes, they were supposed to step up and win these games when the offense wasn't clicking. They failed miserably on Sunday. The Colts were a step ahaed in all phases, and the Broncos got exposed at the worst time.

15) The whole game was just weird, and the Broncos looked like they were flat after having the bye week. This was a very telling loss for the franchise. For the second time in three years, the Broncos lost in the Divisional Round at home as big favorites. Denver came into the game as 8 point favorites over the Colts. A 12-4 season in which the Broncos were considered Super Bowl contenders ended in a very disappointing way. This column is basically about wrapping up the game against the Colts and I will spend a lot of time recapping the season and what lies ahead for the Broncos in the coming weeks. I'll talk about the ramifications it has on Peyton Manning and if he is going to retire or not at a later date. Manning's late season slump continued in this game, and that was the one thing I feared. I also feared Andrew Luck coming and stealing the torch away from Peyton, and he did just that. I'm not shocked Denver lost to the Colts, but I'm very surprised the way it went down. The 2014 season was not supposed to end like it did on Sunday.

Colts-Broncos Divisional Preview

When CBS slotted Denver in the late Sunday window of Divisional Playoff weekend, I am sure they were thrilled to see that the Colts and Andrew Luck were coming to town to take on the Broncos. Luck vs. Peyton. Manning going up against his former team in the playoffs. The old great one going up against the kid who replaced him. What else do you want? All over the board the Broncos have the better team in this matchup. If you look at Indy this year, you see holes at every level. So why does this game scare the hell out of me? Why am I up all week worried and concerned. Here’s why this game scares me…..

1)    Andrew Luck is so good that he could win this game on his own. That is the number one thing that scares me. Luck scares me. I don’t care if the Broncos are up by 20, Luck can beat them on his own in this game. I can’t tell you how nervous I am going to be anytime Luck has the ball in this game.

2)    The Broncos have all the pressure on them. The window is closing and this team was put together to win NOW. There are only so many more chances they can get. The Colts can play fast and loose, while Denver will be the more uptight team.

3)    Did I tell you Andrew Luck scares me?

4)    There is something not right with Peyton Manning. Maybe it is fatigue, age, arm trouble, thigh injury, or just the effects of a long season, but Manning doesn’t look like the same player he was in the beginning of the year. Plus, Denver’s offense doesn’t look like the same offense it was in the beginning of the year. Something is off with Manning, and I am worried he might get exposed on Sunday.

5)    Denver is the same on offense with a banged up Julius Thomas. He hasn’t been the same since he hurt his ankle on November 16^th. If he can’t be effective in this offense, then Denver’s offense is just ordinary.

6)    Andrew Luck with the ball late in a close game scares the shit out of me!

7)    I just don’t have a good feel on this team. It has been a weird year. Ever since the loss to New England this team just hasn’t felt right. I don’t know how to explain it, but you would know if you watched them every week. It would surprise no one if they got ousted this week to Indy.

8)    This feels like a passing of the torch game. As Peyton’s career comes to end, Luck’s run is about to start. It feels like that moment could be real on Sunday if Luck pulls the upset.

9)    Finally, did I mention that Andrew Luck scares me the most in this game?

Prediction: Indy(+7) over DENVER: I know the Broncos are better, but this just feels like an upset waiting to happen. Luck can win this game by himself, and although I think Manning and Denver will play well, I just see Luck making a play here or play there late to steal this one.

Final Score: Colts-33 Broncos-28

Divisional Round Picks!!!

The Divisional Round kicks off this weekend with a group of four games that have intrigue, storylines, and big-time QBs. Here are the final eight quarterbacks left in the playoffs: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Joe Flacco, Andrew Luck, Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Cam Newton. Manning, Brady, Flacco, Rodgers and Wilson have all won Super Bowls. Romo is a perennial All-Pro who missing only a Super Bowl on his resume. Cam Newton is a former #1 overall pick, who has led the Panthers to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.  Andrew Luck is on the cusp of being the next elite QB in the entire sport, and will probably win multiple Super Bowls. It is a star-studded cast of QBs who hit the field this weekend. The weekend starts with a classic playoff rivalry when the Ravens travel to Foxborough to take on the Patriots on Saturday afternoon. The Saturday night game features the defending champion Seahawks hosting the Panthers. Sunday is a classic day. The early game features the Cowboys and Packers from Lambeau Field. Denver hosts the Colts the late game Sunday: Luck vs. Peyton. The best weekend of football is upon us... On a side note, before I get to my picks, I would like to congratulate myself on the fact that I predicted all four of the teams left in the AFC in my preview back in August. Back then, I had the Ravens upsetting #1 New England and the Colts upsetting #2 Denver. Whatever happens this weekend, just know that I predicted this all way back before the season started. I just want everyone to know that. Carry on with the picks for the Divisional Playoffs.....

Last Week's Record: 1-3
Overall Playoff Record: 1-3
Final Regular Season Record: 135-113-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

6-Baltimore at 1- New England

A Case for the Ravens: Did I tell you that the Ravens under John Harbaugh are a tough out in the playoffs? You have to like the momentum as the Ravens head to New England fresh off their convincing win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh last week. Plus, having Haloti Ngata back helps that front seven keep the pressure off their depleted secondary. With Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs coming off the edge, the Ravens can get pressure on Tom Brady and disrupt the Pats offense. Maybe the one team that the Pats wanted to avoid was the Ravens, and all of a sudden here comes Baltimore on Saturday. No one else in the AFC knows how to play the Pats better than the Ravens. Did I mention how clutch Joe Flacco is in the playoffs? The Ravens have won a Super Bowl, and a lot of those key members are back for a possible run this year.

A Case for the Patriots: This might be the best Patriots team to make a run at the Super Bowl since 2010. With Rob Gronkowski back in the fold and healthy, this offense has been superb. Brady has Gronk available and that makes the world of difference. Also, if the Pats want to run the ball, they can do it. On defense, for the first time in a few years, you aren’t worried about the secondary or injuries. They are healthy in the front seven, and with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner in the secondary, they can shut the Ravens offense down. I just can’t see how the Ravens secondary is going to hold up to the Patriots offense with Gronk, Julian Edelman, and a rested Tom Brady.

Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Baltimore: This game has all the making of a close one, and I could see the Ravens pulling the upset-I don’t think the Pats were thrilled to see them advance. But the thought of Tom Brady picking apart that Ravens secondary is what I keep coming back to over and over again. Look for the Pats to advance to their fourth straight AFC Championship.

Final Score: Patriots-30 Ravens-21

4-Carolina at 1-Seattle

A Case for the Panthers: Don’t you think that the Panthers are the type of team that can match the Seahawks in a physical sense? These two teams twice in the last two years, and both times the Panthers played the Seahawks really tight and lost close games both times. I have confidence that their defense can stifle the Seahawks for a little while, and I could see Cam Newton taking this game over. Plus, there is no one picking the Panthers and they are the one team that really has nothing to lose this weekend.

A Case for the Seahawks: They are clearly the best team in the NFC, and they are at home against a team that was 7-8-1 in the regular season. It would be a tall task for the Panthers to go into Seattle, battle the 12^th man, and win this game. Seattle has been playing great the last month and a half of the season, and their defense is playing at the level it played last year. I can’t see how the Panthers and a banged-up Cam Newton are going to be able to move the ball consistently on this Seattle defense.

Prediction: Carolina (+11) over SEATTLE: The Seahawks will win this game outright. There is no doubt that Seattle is advancing, but this line seems a little too high. I see the Seahawks winning a tough, grind-it-out, game and advance back to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: Seahawks-24 Panthers-14

3-Dallas at 2-Green Bay

A Case for the Cowboys: The Cowboys can run the ball, have a great offensive line, weapons on offense, and Tony Romo. You can win a playoff game on the road with those things. You have to like the Cowboys chances in that regard. I think they match up really well with the Packers. Don’t you feel like they got that monkey off their back with that comeback win over the Lions last week? Now, they can play fast and loose as the underdog. Also, wouldn’t be typical of the NFL if the Cowboys rode the momentum of that non-call last week against the Lions and went on a run to the Super Bowl after almost getting eliminated in the Wild Card round.

A Case for the Packers: They are the better team, and they are at home in Lambeau. The Packers were just so dominating at home this year. On a frigid Sunday in the playoffs, you can just see them going off and getting a huge lead early. I know Aaron Rodgers is a little banged up with the calf injury, but he will play, and I expect him to be at his best. I like his matchup with his receivers and the Cowboys secondary. It would be a tall order for someone to come in and beat the Packers at home in these playoffs.

Prediction: Dallas (+7) over GREEN BAY: I love this matchup early on Sunday. Cowboys-Packers from Lambeau Field. What a setting for the Divisional Round. The Packers will probably win, but how much fun would it be if the Cowboys advanced. I think they have a shot, so I’ll take them in the upset.

Final Score: Cowboys-30 Packers-27

Wild Card Weekend Review!

This weekend's Wild Card matchups featured two really boring games, a rivalry renewed, and an instant classic filled with a whole lot of controversy. It sets up a very interesting Divisional Round this weekend. Here are my thoughts and review of the Wild Card games from this past weekend. 

Carolina-27 Arizona-16

1)    This game was pretty tough to watch. Carolina played sloppy, and the Cardinals had nothing to offer considering they had Ryan Lindley starting at QB. It was a bad game, and not the game you wanted to see to kick off Wild Card Weekend.

2)    The fact that Carolina led 10-0, then was down 14-13 showed how bad they played. Cam Newton was not sharp early on and his interception in the 2^nd quarter gave the Cards hope.

3)    After settling down, the Panthers took control of the second half. The key moment was after taking the lead on Fozzy Whitaker’s 39 yard score on a screen pass, the Panthers forced a Ted Ginn fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Mike Tolbert scored on a 1 yard pass from Newton to make it 27-14 late in the 3^rd quarter. Once, the Panthers took that lead, the game was over.

4)    The Panthers defense did their job against Lindley. They limited the Cards to 78 total yards, sacked Lindley four times and picked him off twice. Luke Kuechly intercepted Lindley after a Cam Newton fumble deep in Carolina territory. With the score 27-14, Arizona had a chance to cut into the lead, but Lindley was intercepted on the goal line.

5)    This was probably one of the least memorable playoff games in a while. The Panthers didn’t play well, and Cam Newton looked beat up and tired, but they were able to do their thing and advance to face the Seahawks next Saturday in Seattle.

Baltimore-30 Pittsburgh-17

1)    It wasn’t the classic Ravens-Steelers game that we are used to, but this game was a good one. The setting was perfect and it was a game between two teams with some high level players on it. You have to give credit to Baltimore because they always seem to play their best on the road in the playoffs-especially Joe Flacco.

2)    The loss of Le’Veon Bell really hurt the Steelers. Plus, their inability to just spread the field and go after the Ravens secondary hurt them early in the game.

3)    Joe Flacco plays big in the playoffs. That is all you need to know about him. He outplayed Ben Rothelisberger, and Flacco has won five straight playoff games and hasn’t thrown an interception in each one.

4)    The Ravens were winning 10-9 at the half, and you felt like this was Baltimore’s game. After getting a field goal to extend their lead to 13-9, they forced a punt and after getting a huge pass play to Steve Smith, they added a Flacco to Torrey Smith touchdown to make it 20-9. You knew the Steelers were in trouble at that point.

5)    The key part of this game was after Baltimore went for a 4^th and 1 at the Pitt 49 early in the 4^th quarter, Justin Forsett fumbled the next play and the Steelers recovered. Big Ben throws a touchdown two plays later and now it is 20-15 after the Steelers missed the 2 point conversion. The Ravens answered right back and on a 3^rd and 13 from their own 34, Flacco hit Owen Daniels for a first down. It set up a Justin Tucker field goal and a huge 23-15 lead.

6)    Roethlisberger got picked off by a diving Terrell Suggs a few plays later, and in typical Gary Kubiak fashion (Baltimore’s OC) the Ravens went for the kill with a perfectly timed bootleg and touchdown pass from Flacco to Crockett Gilmore and the Ravens went up 30-15 and that was basically the game.

7)    You know the Ravens are dangerous on the road in the playoffs, and give John Harbaugh credit for getting his defense ready to play. Elvis Dumervil had 2 sacks and the Ravens sacked Big Ben a total of five times. They actually were able to keep it under control in their secondary, and they now set up a trip to Foxborough to take on the Pats next Saturday afternoon it what will be a very interesting matchup.

Indianapolis-26 Cincinnati-10

1)    If you thought Carolina-Arizona was bad, then this game was pretty damn close. This game had nothing to it, and it was so boring I was searching other channels at points because I was going to fall asleep watching this game.

2)    The Bengals were screwed when they had to deactivate A.J. Green and Jermanine Gresham. That left Andy Dalton without two of his biggest weapons, and there was no way he was pulling this game out by himself. It wasn’t his fault they lost the game, but Dalton didn’t make the big time throws that he needed to make on third downs to give his team a chance to win.

3)    Andrew Luck was the story of this game for the Colts. He had tremendous time in the pocket and picked the Bengals apart. If it wasn’t for three T.Y. Hilton drops, this game could have easily been 41-10. Luck’s touchdown throw on the run to Donte Moncrief in the 3^rd quarter made it 20-10 and put the game away.

4)    The crowd seemed dead, and the whole game was pretty nondescript. The Bengals are now 0-4 in the last four playoff games under Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton, and it seems as if they have reached their ceiling with those two.

5)    The Colts advanced to the Divisional Round where they have a date with Peyton Manning and the Broncos next Sunday afternoon.

Cowboys-24 Lions-20

1)    This was the last game of the weekend and it was the best game of the weekend by far. It was intense from the beginning, and the crowd and atmosphere is Dallas was just amazing. It really felt like a playoff game, and that is what added to it.

2)    The Lions came out on fire and built up a 14-0 lead in the 1^st quarter. It was like the Cowboys got knocked back on their heels right from the start. Give Detroit credit for coming out and starting fast like that, and their defense really punched Dallas’ offensive line the mouth for the first time all season.

3)    The Cowboys did battle back and Terrence Williams 76 yard touchdown catch and run gave them life and was a huge turning point in the game. It got the game to 14-7, and it gave the Cowboys a needed burst that they needed in the 2^nd quarter.

4)    At 17-7 going into the 3^rd quarter, the Cowboys needed a break to start the second half, and they got that when they intercepted Matt Stafford on a deflected pass at the Detroit 19. Unfortunately, reliable kicker Dan Bailey missed a 31 yard field goal and the score remained at 17-7. You had a feeling there that this just might not be the Cowboys day at that point.

5)    At 20-7, I loved the sequence when Dallas drove down inside the Lions 5, and went for it on 4^th and goal from the 1 yard line. Demarco Murray burst through the left end, and the Cowboys made it 20-14 with a few minutes left in the 3^rd quarter. They had to go for it there, and they did and got the touchdown.

6)    After a Detroit 3 and out, the Cowboys went to work and Cole Beasley started abusing the Lions underneath. The Cowboys were smart and they kept going after the Lions with Beasley and it moved them down into field goal range. Ndamukong Suh took care of that when he sacked Tony Romo on back-to-back plays and forced a Dallas field goal to cut it to 20-17. Suh dominated the game upfront, and he was a force throughout. If this was his last game as a Lion, then he went out with a bang and made himself a fortune in free agency next year.

7)    The next sequence produced the biggest controversy of the game. On a 3^rd and 1, Stafford’s attempted pass to Brandon Pettigrew was broken up by Anthony Hitchens. It looked like blatant pass interference as Hitchens never turned around to play the ball. It would have given Detroit a first down in Dallas territory with 8:25 to play in the game. The official threw the flag, the referee announced pass interference, and then all of a sudden he said there was no foul on the play. It was obvious pass interference, and I have no problem with the officials discussing the play and overturning the call, but you can’t announce pass interference and then say that there is no foul. It was an awful non-call by the officials, and the Lions certainly got screwed on the play. It will forever be the defining moment of this game-and maybe even the entire playoffs. I think this game will be dubbed the “No Flag” game in the annals of NFL history.

8)    I don’t think the Lions made such a mistake on punting on 4^th and 1 the next play. The problem was that the punted was shanked and it resulted in a 10 yard punt and the Cowboys took over at their own 41. It is unfortunate that the punt was so bad and Dallas had good field position, but I can’t kill Jim Caldwell for not going for it in that situation.

9)    Give Tony Romo credit for his final drive of the game. Dallas faced a 4^th and 6 at the  Detroit 42, and head coach Jason Garrett made the right call and went for it with 6:00 minutes to go in the game. Garrett’s call to go for it was right, and Romo made a great throw to Jason Witten underneath for a 21 yard gain and a huge first down. Garrett’s gamble paid off.

10) The Cowboys took their first lead of the game when Romo found Terrence Williams in the back of the end zone with an 8 yard pass to give Dallas a 24-20 lead with 2:39 left. It was a dramatic moment as Tony Romo finally delivered in the clutch. Everyone was waiting for the ill-timed Romo mistake, but he got the job done and finished the drive with the touchdown pass. I was happy for Romo that he finally came in big in that spot.

11) You really had a feeling that it wasn't meant to be for the Cowboys when on the final drive Matt Stafford fumbled and DeMarcus Lawrence picked it up but instead of kneeling down, he tried to run with the ball, and he fumbled it back to Detroit. That was an amazing sequence, and you had to believe it was going to come back and haunt the Cowboys. Naturally, Stafford, who played gutty in my opinion, started to move the Lions down the field. You could just see how this was going to end in complete pain for the Cowboys. Fortunately for Cowboy fans, Stafford got sacked and stripped by Lawrence on a 4th and 3 from the Dallas 42 with only a minute left. It was the ultimate redemption for Lawrence and added a final storyline to this classic game.

12) This game had everything: Great plays, back and forth action, controversy, and it came down to the end. It was everything you want in a playoff game. The Cowboys only won their 2nd playoff game since 1996, and now they head to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers on Sunday in what should be a really fun and interesting game in the Divisional Round of the NFC  Playoffs.