NFL Playoff
Championship Weekend

-Minnesota @ New Orleans
This is the match up the Saints were hoping for. I like them big in this game--there will be scoring on both sides, but my thinking is
New Orleans 35 Minnesota 24

Brees has a quick release by nature, and Peyton calls the offense with that in mind so it makes it difficult to get any kind of pressure. That will hurt the Vikings, with the trench-monsters they have being a huge part of their strength. If Jared Allen and Ray Edwards are going to be able to do their thing, the secondary is going to have to map out perfect zones to try and make him hang on a bit longer than normal.




But I don't think the Minnesota secondary is strong enough to cover both Colston and Henderson deep, let alone Meachem or the occasional up field dart to Bush.

The Viking linebackers are a liability from what I've seen this year and they are the guys that are going to have to cover Shockey and the running backs in and, coming out of, the flat. Chad Greenway is the best they've got, but watch closely when Shockey catches his TD early on. Greenway will be just slightly behind him on his way into the endzone.

Bush and Pierre Thomas both have great hands and with Brees throwing the way he is this year, they are in stride heading up field by the time you notice they have it.
No doubt, it is going to be a long day for the Viking LBs.

Against a downhill run game like Dallas, the Vikings were able to stuff things up and force Romo to play a different type of game than he likes. Drew Brees wants to pass every single down and often they don't start running at all until they are up big.

Reggie Bush appears to be the big-game player that they were hoping for when they plucked him out of USC. Last week may have been the best game he has played as a Pro--he just seemed to be focused to an unusually high degree. I expect to see that again this week and in the biggest of games in February as well.

When Minnesota has the ball, that is when they'll shine--Favre has enough in the tank to keep throwing and Adrian Peterson is probably the best in the game right now.

And I like their receivers--Sidney Rice posters went on back order until 2011 just based on the Dallas game. However, the Saints secondary is healthy and Gregg Williams (defensive coordinator extraordinaire) has the Saints blitzing you from all angles. They have won so many games this year because they have added a secret ingredient to the pressure cooker: your QB.

Jonathan Vilma is a fun LB to watch because he can get after a QB, or he can drop back and disrupt a short pass--but he is best when he gets to put his head down, scrape off a lineman and plug up the hole Adrian Peterson is going to be looking to get through. Vilma is going to be all over Adrian Peterson on Sunday, that is money in the bank.

Keeping the other team off balance will play a big part in this game as well, and the Saints will have likely have success making Favre think blitz on every play. Their offense is particularly out-dated; the coach, Brad Childress, doesn't like Favre messing with the play calling via the audible. Brett has a little flexibility to try and protect himself from an extra blitzer by moving his RB around, but the miles of tape that Gregg Williams is watching right now as we speak will win this battle. He knows how to get his guys to 'sweep the leg Johnny'.

by the third quarter the blitz is going to 'break on through to the other side' (err, a' little know fact thea Normie: Jim Morrison was a huge Saints fan for the few years they coexisted).

And to make matters worse for Brett, he'll be in a dogfight with Brees on the scoreboard and so he'll have to pass to keep up. That is good for Favre's chiropractor but not the Viking faithful.

Here are a few Gregg Williams tidbits

-common quote of his: '[Favre] MIGHT throw a couple touchdowns, but he'll DEFINITELY get his ass knocked down all day.'

-Sean Payton took a $250,000/yr pay cut to help get Williams signed on--that says a lot right there

-In 2007 on the first play of the first game that Williams' defense (then Washington Redskins D coordinator) took the field after they lost Sean Taylor (murdered on 11.27.07), they only sent 10 men out to honor him. A few weeks later they held Adrian Peterson to 27 yds rushing, and the Cowboys as a team to 1 yd rushing in back to back weeks.

The writing is on the wall. Favre will be running and gunning. He doesn't mind taking chances, we all know that.

But when you gamble enough the house always wins!

Geaux Saints!

-Jets @ Colts
the AFC game is a hell of a lot simpler the way I see it. Peyton Manning is probably going to win his second ring this year because he was bred to be in this position, and he is the hardest working man in the business. Like clockwork he is locked in and focused year in and year out.

So we can talk about

-the Colts seeming to be amping up their run defense for the playoffs,

-and the Jets being on the road one too many games to keep it up;

-or we can talk about how Rex Ryan is a rookie coach with a rookie QB,

but whatever path you choose, this game comes down, as all Colts games have since 1998, to the man behind center.

Manning is looking as sharp as ever, and his two top targets might as well be named Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent--because they always save the day. Add in Collie up the sideline, Garcon on a slant to mix it up and Addai in the flat or right up the gut to keep you honest, and it all spells doom for Rex and the Sanchise.

Way too much for NYJ to handle, even though they have a good corner to complement the great Darrelle Revis. Lito Sheppard is good, but you really need a few greats to have a chance against these Colts. Probably the best Colts team ever--they have more receivers than the 2006 team and Manning just keeps getting smarter and smarter.

Sanchez can do alright in a game where he only has to throw 15 or so passes; when he is down 14 heading in at halftime, he is going to be asked to do more and this season is already a check he wrote that he knows he can't cash. I am impressed with the last month for the Jets, congratulations. But the ride ends here. Unbuckle the belt and step towards the EXIT signs.

The Colts secondary is ball-hawking because they are used to ,much more seasoned QBs having to take chances to keep up with Manning. Watch for Sanchez to give it up at least a couple times.

As a Saints fan, I am pulling for the Jets, but in my heart of hearts I don't see it. The score that is chasing me when I shut the lights off is Colts 38 Jets 14...