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.