Big Apple Big-Mouths

Dustin' Off the Ol' Typewriter

2012-03-21T16:52:10Z

Come one, come all!

I hope the Valentine's Extravaganza gave you your blog fix for...the past month. Sorry about that. As I'm sure all the readers know, I'm actually doing this stuff for a paycheck nowadays. So things have been a little crazy, as I moved up to Catskill, NY, learned that toilet paper doesn't magically appear in a bathroom, and spent 90 minutes cleaning up the carnage following an attempt to make french toast.

But hey, here I am. Danica Patrick has me locked into this GoDaddy domain name until Decembers (it's more expensive than you think!) so we might as well use it. The clock's ticking on the baseball season, so we'll hopefully get a preview out...however light it may be.

As for now, a penny for my thoughts on the NFL story that has swept the world...

Hines Ward's retirement. Just a remarkable player, and even remarkable-r dancer. You brought pride to Pittsburgh's terrible towel, Hines. I'm sure Canton is waiting with open arms.

Having gotten that out of the way, on to the story that was a bit buried in the NFL headlines. After 13 seasons and a Super Bowl Championship with the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning has moved on to quarterback the Denver Broncos. What does it all mean? Well, ESPN and the like have been dissecting that over and over. So I'll just list some random musings that are hopefully new and fresh.

He must be pretty darn healthy...

When dealing with such an...exotic...neck injury, some common sense things come into play. Presumably, Manning would want to play in a comfy-cozy location. Miami, Tennessee, Houston, San Fran, etc. He's in his mid-30's with an extremely creaky neck. You would think he'd want a consistent climate without any bone-rattling cold.

Denver, Colorado, come on down!! The cold speaks for itself. And Denver can be unkind to some medical conditions. But we have to look at this from both sides. Peyton Manning could have played in any climate he wanted, and he chose Denver. He has heard every opinion imaginable regarding his neck, and he chose Denver. The Broncos heard all the risks and doctor thoughts, and they chose to give Peyton Manning $96 million. The Broncos just had the most popular player in the NFL quarterback them to an unthinkable playoff run, and they chose to give Peyton Manning $96 million.

There were tons of reasons for both sides to reject this marriage. The fact that both teams said 'yes' tells me all I need to know about Peyton's no-longer-uncertain health.

How he swings the Broncos...

Well, let's do some simple-but-flawed mathematics.

Colts with Manning in 2010: 10-6.

Colts without Manning in 2011: 2-14.

Broncos without Manning in 2011: 8-8 (division winner.)

Broncos with Manning in 2012: ....16-0.

Ok...not quite. Everything went wrong for Indy last year, and most other teams would have a somewhat-capable backup quarterback to win them some games. But how do you quantify how many wins Peyton Manning gives a team? We know for sure that Peyton won't be doing any tackling for a defense that gave up 86 points in two games against New England last season.

But as the 8-8 division champion suggests, Manning enters a division where he won't need to be Superman to succeed. The Chargers seem to have missed their window. Kansas City was a mess due to injury last season. The Raiders put all their eggs in Carson Palmer's Easter basket. I have no problem labeling the Broncos to be heavy favorites in the AFC West.

But that's different than labeling them sure-fire AFC contenders. Houston, New England, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have established squads and aren't going anywhere. This rag-tag scramble effort for Denver to Peyton-ize its entire team will have to come together quickly...with Manning getting up there in age, you know he won't be very patient.

Tens of Thousands of fans spent $80+ on a Tebow Broncos jersey they can soon get for $20

Truth. Unfortunately I cannot console those people. Timmy Terrific is all but assured to leave Denver via trade. The cost? Somewhere in the neighborhood of a 3rd-5th round pick seems to be the consensus. Tebow is perhaps the most positive-minded athlete in history, and that is sure to be put to the test after this Denver shafting. But where's he going?

The three teams currently 'in the running' are trivial. There's the Jaguars of course. But Green Bay? Does a 15-1 team from last season that already has a rabidly-dedicated fan base really need the Tebow Circus coming into town to change things up? They seem to a team that's content with quietly going about their business and staying away from the spotlight. Jacksonville just seems to be way more logical. Then there's the third team in the running, who claim their Tebow interest is very real...

As scary as this notion sounds, please listen to Antonio Cromartie!

No. Please. Just, no. It's not that I don't like Tebow. He seems to bring an insanely good amount of karma/luck wherever he goes. He has always won. Every teammate swoons over him. He went to the playoffs last year when no other Jets player did (thought they had the same record...but still.)

No, it's not you Tim...it's the Jets. It's that trivial extension they just gave to their own quarterback. It's the bitterness of their fans and the messiness of the locker room. Gang Green is a madhouse of a franchise.

"But Conor, everyone loves Tebow and maybe he can patch things up among the guys and add some stability! Sanchez will throw the ball, and Tebow can come in for some vicious Wildcat plays and maybe try out some other positions!'

Very fair. But it just won't go down that way. The second Tebow came in, you know the fans will immediately split into Team Mark and Team Tim. The locker room will be the same way. And the guy who just signed a lucrative extension will be walking on eggshells way before training camp even starts. Sanchez and Tebow would say all the right things, but everything would unravel around them. The New York spotlight would be intensified with every play, every mistake, every fan that boos and demands the other guy plays quarterback.

So that's one man's thoughts at a Tebow-infused Jets team. And with that, it's time to go to work. Good to have this pre-shift warmup. Catskill-area high school athletes, be prepared to sit in the hot seat. Thanks for reading!

Year III of the NY Sport Blog Valentine's Extravaganza

2012-02-15T00:11:13Z

Hello readers, and a very Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. The blog is coming at you in a sparkling red font today, as has become tradition for the V-Day Extravaganza. I can't believe we've already reached year 3 of this tradition...furthermore, not ONE of the lucky damsels of years 1 and 2 have contacted me. Not even a telegram.

If you're new to the blog, this is one of the more pathetic annual postings imaginable. Essentially it's the Top 5 Most Desirable Valentine's according to Conor. To help get you up to speed, here is a link to the inaugural posting in 2009 (damn, I forgot all about the 'Puck-Fests I used to write...expect a rousing comeback for those in 2012.) And here is the link to last year's post.

As you can see from the past years, the rules are carefully constructed and concise. I will simply cut/paste last year's rules right here, with some brief modifications:

2012 Valentine List Rules and Regulations:

1) The Valentine can't be over 30 or under 22 (We gotta be able to talk about stuff)

Apologies To: Rachel McAdams, Both Members of the Bieber/Gomez relationship, Kate f'n Beckinsale

2) The Valentine can't give off the aura of hating the world and all the people in it (Put a smile on that face, gurl)

Apologies To: Megan Fox, Blake Lively, everyone on Reality television

3) The Valentine can't be passed from guy to guy like cigarettes at an OTB (Reasonable)

Apologies To: Nicki Manaj, (She's Just Being) Miley Cyrus

4) The Valentine must be a mainstream singer/actress. Models are disqualified (Unreasonable, but necessary)

Apologies To: Kate Upton, Bar Rafaeli, the UFC girls.

5) The Valentine can't have a romantic history with any A-holes/monsters/baby abandoners. Too much baggage (If you've dated a jerk, you're probably berserk)

Apologies To: Rihanna, Elin Nordegren, Kim Kardashian, Gisesle Bundchen, Kate Hudson

6) The Valentine cannot be perpetually confused, as if they were concussed with a brick ten seconds ago (I'm very easily-frightened)

Apologies To: Audrina Patridge, Taylor Swift

7) Obviously, the Valentine could not have been a part of previous lists.

Apologies To: Natalie Portman, Kelly Kelly, Minka Kelly Ashley Tisdale, Carrie Underwood, Anne Hathaway, Maggie Grace, Elisha Cuthbert, Mila Kunis, Olivia Wilde

So there you go...simple enough, right? Now I know what you're thinking: according to rule 7, aren't these technically just #10-15 of your 'Most Desirable' celebrity Valentines? To which I respond- Yes...but this is my blog and I make the rules! Anywho, here goes nothing. Naturally, I put out this list and about 10 minutes later realize "Oh CRAP, I forgot about so-an-so!" It's inevitable. But I'm not ashamed of any of the five lasses I put below. Mini-spoiler alert: it appears television really rules the day at the moment in terms of the hotties. I guess that's what happens when the maker of this list only goes to the movies to see Nicolas Cage and/or talking animal movies.

The link attached to each name is a very pretty, very tasteful image of each lucky lady. Now for real, NY Sport Blog proudly presents the esteemed list of 2012.

5. Keira Knightley

The same thing happens to me every year. I think, "Hm, she seems really great...too bad she must be like 35 by now and is therefore list-ineligible. Then sure enough I get her on Wiki, and....26? 26 years old? How old was she when she starred in the first Pirates movie, 13?? Ok, looks like she was 18 when she did that. Now, Keira hasn't done anything groundbreaking in the last couple of years. And the movie Domino really tested the collective patience of moviegoers worldwide. Nevertheless, she has paid her dues and clearly should have been on one of the first two Valentine's lists. Keira Knightley: not ugly.

4. Kaley Cuoco

Perhaps the most polarizing selection for this list. As recently as two months ago, I had no idea who Kaley Cuoco was. Well, consider me among those who actually latched onto The Big Bang Theory once the show went into syndication. It's pretty funny. Though the show would stand no chance without Kaley's...physical presence. Her shirts in every scene are so low-cut that they often approach the FCC 'danger zone.' But she seems like a spirited lady with some comedic abilities. You don't need much beyond that to qualify for this honor.

3. Vanessa Hudgens

If you can star in a movie with The Rock, that goes a hell of a long way with me. Vanessa hit it big with the High School Musical franchise, and her co-star Ashley Tisdale made an appearance on this list two years ago. Now it's her time, and I'm sure Ms. Hudgens is elated. Part of me is upset that I can never be a boyfriend on the level of Zac Efron (who can?) But it would sure be fun to try. 'Ness, if you need a date to any of the Journey 2 premiers...my email is on the left sidebar of the blog's homepage.

2. Dianna Agron

I'm not really into Glee. Before I ever watched an episode, I thought it was basically a show about Lea Michelle singing all these songs and trying to find love in high school. Once I sat down and started watching, I had just one thought..."Who the HELL is this blonde chick?" Seeing thousands of commercials for the show, none of them seemed to even mention her. Lea Michelle is a mighty talented lady, but Dianna is the franchise player. I'm not sure it will compel me enough to watch her in I Am Number Four...but it's not out of the question either.

1. Katharine McPhee

This one actually dates back a while. I haven't watched an episode of American Idol since the William Hung days, so I didn't know her from that. But she guest-starred on one of my favorite shows, the now sorta-defunct Community. However, you can't get a spot on this esteemed list with just one red-hot cameo. So the perfect storm has arrived in the form of Smash, where NBC is apparently trying to make her the biggest star in the universe. Seriously...I swear I saw commercials for that show six months before it actually premiered. Have I watched it? Absolutely not. But Kitty-Kat is current, she's purrrrrty, she's cool enough to appear on Community, and (presumably) has a great singing voice. We'd like to congratulate Ms. McPhee on becoming the second Idol contestant to take home this prestigious award. If Carrie Underwood's post-victory success is any indication, Katharine is well on her way to superstardom.

There you have it. Honestly, I thought about putting the names in alphabetical order this year...I mean, there's honestly no difference between these five wonderwomen. But I'm satisfied with the order of finish, and hopefully this added some cheer to your Valentine's Day. Ladies, enjoy the taste of your chocolates, the scent of your flowers, and the charm of your cards. Guys, keep on treating them well. Both this day every day. Thanks for reading!

The Game Hath Been Played, The Parade Hath Been Marched

2012-02-08T19:40:09Z

Welcome back to the blog, readers. It's now been three days since Super Bowl XLVI. Before writing the blog, it was only fair to allow ample celebration time....both for the Giants and for Rob Gronkowski. Now that all the festivities have concluded, the sports world turns the page to the ongoing football/hockey/college basketball seasons, as well as the ever-oncoming MLB campaign.

But before that page gets completely turned, let's put a nice bow on the NFL season. I have to be honest...sitting there watching the postgame celebrations on television, I really just had one thought rolling through my mind endlessly: "......the f'ing Giants....." Of course it had to be them. Six months ago, the whole lockout process created a feeling of uncertainty across the league. Every team would be affected in some way (positive or negative) and there was a feeling that a....curiously-flawed....team may potentially hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.

If you were looking for a team that seemed flawed in the preseason, you looked no further than Big Blue. Osi Umenyiora unhappy with the entire organization. Kevin Boss gone. Steve Smith gone. Antrel Rolle continuously talking out of place in the media. The Jets proclaiming ownership of New York. The Eagles looking like they would be unstoppable in the division. Combine these starting problems of 2011 with the ending problems of 2010, and it looked like it would be a forgettable year for the New York Football Giants.

Whoops...

Now, getting to Sunday's big game. In terms of how the game went down, you couldn't help but notice some parallels between Giants/Pats 2012 and Giants/Pats 2008. But the football fan's mindset while witnessing the two games was like day and night. Rooting for the Giants in 2008, you went in with the programmed mindset of "If this game is played ten times, the Patriots will win eleven out of the ten." Every time the Giants gained 3+ yards on a play, it seemed like 30. Every forced Patriots punt was like a mini-miracle. This was back in the day when Eli Manning still stirred some doubts about his play, so every clutch play he made left you slack-jawed. And when it was over...nothing seemed to make sense.

Fast forward to 2012. Despite being a 9-7 team that was a 3-point underdog, the Giants and their fans were confident in every way imaginable. This time around, the Big Blue mindset for the game was more "If this game is played ten times, we'll win at least eight of 'em, and the other two will be because the refs screwed us or because the Patriots cheated." (THEIR thoughts, not mine...) When the Pats were on offense, 'hoping and praying for a key stop' was now 'demanding and expecting a key stop.' On offense, 'who will be able to get open for Eli?' became 'get it to the guy who's open, Eli.' Once again, Eli Manning had a chance at the end of the game to break Brady and Belichick. And when it was over...things just made sense.

I don't want to hunker down in a play-by-play recap of a game 110+ million people saw for themselves. Instead, I will resort to a blog favorite....Super Bowl Bullet-Points!

The intentional grounding. Also known as the play that made some lunatics in Vegas very happy if they bet 'first score in the game will be NYG safety.' Luckily, some lunatics are also philanthropists. But back to the play. I called this flag 'the ultimate luxury penalty.' When the ball was thrown, it was pretty clear that no Patriots receiver was within my television screen. Of course I wasn't screaming for the call because...well, has anyone ever seen grounding called in that context? Quarterback has all the time in the world to throw, yet stays in the penaliz-able tackle-box. Then when pressure finally comes, he avoids the sack not by throwing at some guy's feet that's 2 feet away from him. Instead he launches it directly down the middle of the field? So I questioned, but didn't expect anything to come of it. But when that flag went up late, everyone's eyes just bulged open. It has actually happened. Had the play not been flagged...honestly, I don't think a big fuss would have been made by the Giants--the play was just too peculiar. But the fact it was called just flipped everything. How long did it take for someone on the sideline to sit down Brady and explain to him that a flag can be thrown where he's not the victim, but the culprit? Tough to tell. But because of this, the Patriots didn't gain a positive yard in the Super Bowl until 2:30 remained in the 1st quarter...and they were trailing 9-0.
The 'Oh Crap' Drive. In perhaps a "we know the grounding was a strange play...here's a bone" holding call against Kevin Boothe in the previous Giants drive, the Pats got the ball back on their own 4 yard line. They then penalized themselves back to their own 2. In their three first half drives, New England went safety, 10-play field goal drive, 3-and-out. I'll admit that I was one of the fools salivating over the Giants' potential field position when the Pats punted the ball back so deep in their territory. Big mistake. Hernandez, Gronkowski, Welker, Woodhead. Bang, bang, boom, bang, touchdown with seconds left in the half. The Giants downright dominated 26 of 30 minutes in the first half. To go into the Madonna break trailing? It was foreboding. Which led to.....
The 'Ohhhhhhhhh Crap' Drive. The first drive was scary in how long and methodical it was. The second drive was even scarier in how quick and easy it was. When the first play goes successfully to Chad Ochocinco for 20+ yards...you know thing's aren't ending well. Sure enough, the Pats marched unimpeded to the tune of 80 yards in 3:40 to take a 17-9 lead. Yes, a 9-0 deficit became a 17-9 lead. It was a common storyline of the 2011 Patriots. Start a little slow, come on incredibly fast. This was around the point where another Patriots score (putting them up 2 possessions) would have the Giants flirting with doom.
The Anti-Doomesday Recovery Button. Pushed by the Giants in the drives following the 17-9 lead. Efficient drive for a field goal (17-12), force a crucial 3-and-out via a Tuck sack on 3rd down, efficient drive for a field goal (17-15). Now, it's true the Giants had 1st downs inside the 25 yard line and 15 yard line, respectively, on the two drives. So getting 3 instead of 7 was a bit unsettling. But in the bigger scheme of things, they stopped the avalanche. The Pats were in full-fledged assassin mode, and things could have gotten out of hand. By moving the chains on offense and getting the stop they needed on defense, Brady didn't get the ball back until only seconds remained in the 3rd quarter. Perhaps feeling a little antsy to put some more points on the board...
Deja-Brady strikes again. After being victimized by Jimmy Smith two weeks prior, Brady once again went all Rex Grossman on us. A first down play, in the 4th quarter, with time on their side...and Brady makes the same mistake twice. Against the Ravens, its was throwing to his 5th receiver in double-coverage. In the Super Bowl, it was throwing a jump-ball to the guy everybody knew couldn't really jump. Now, it doesn't take away from Chase Blackburn's tremendous play when I call this a gaffe by Brady. Yes, Tommy Terrific was to blame on the interception,
But Who's to Blame on the Welker Clincher-That-Wasn't? Well, I think I got a general consensus via a YouTube search. In searching 'Brady misses Welker,' there is no results whatsoever, other than some nerds simulating a Madden game or something. But when you search 'Wes Welker drop,' your screen explodes with results. Welker's taking the blame, be it from the media, the fans, or the supermodels. But if you look at the live video, what's the first thing Al Michaels says after the play? That would be "the pass a little bit behind Welker." Not "pass dropped by Welker." You can decide for yourself who to blame. But if you're the supposed greatest player to ever walk the planet, I'd think you'd put that one a little better in the game's biggest spot. And if you relentlessly defend the notion that Brady is the greatest player to walk the planet, you go ahead and call Wes Welker butterfingers. As far as what I think? I think Mark Sanchez puts that one right on the money. I'll gleefully leave it at that. Leading to...
Deja-Eli strikes again. Now, Giants fans were confident with the ball on their own 12 yard line with 3:45 left (definitely more confident than they were when they needed a touchdown from Eli and the boys back in 2008.) But not even the brashest of Big Blue fans saw it happening so quickly. The video says infinitely more than I can type about the play. But it got me thinking...the Manning-to-Tyree play in 2008 took a few days to finally get a name. Though it's still kind of up in the air, 'The Helmet Catch' seemed to be the winner. As for this one, the NY Sport Blog offers up its official entrant into the name-the-play contest: 'The Ham Sandwich.' Think about it- the only thing seperating Eli's last name from Mario's last name is that silly -ham on the backend of Manningham. Combine that nugget with the fact that Eli perfectly finessed the ball to Mario--who was sandwiched by Patriots double-coverage...and I think we're onto something. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's legacies have taken major hits due to things called 'The Helmet Catch' and 'The Ham Sandwich.' Life is sweet sometimes.
After that, it was all gravy. The game got compelling due to the unnatural play of the Pats letting the Giants score, followed by Big Blue fans having their heart in their throats on the Patriots final drive. The too-many-men penalty worked out wonderfully for the Giants as far as the clock went, and nobody expects a hail mary to be answered when it's being prayed by satan.
Montauk BeverageWorks Delicious Performance of the Game: Give me Steve Weatherford! The former Jet plays the game of his life for the cross-town Giants, pinning Brady and the Pats offense deep in their own territory. Led to the safety, led to great Giants field position, ultimately led to a significantly-more attainable Giants championship. Well done, Jets castoff. Maybe next time for Ellis/Woodhead/Ihedigbo/others...

So for the second time in four years, the Giants derail the Patriots and win the Super Bowl. Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin turn away their doubters, and the Boston-New York rivalry heats up yet again as baseball approaches.

Thanks very much for reading this post, and for reading throughout the season. It was a blast, and I appreciate the patronage. It's a bit of a sports lull now, with the NBA and NHL yet to hit their stretch runs. But hey, pitchers and catchers are right around the corner. March Madness is creeping up, and things will be wheeling and dealing again in no time. Until then, happy watching.

(Things You Probably Already Know About the) Super Bowl Preview

2012-02-05T16:25:49Z

Hello all. It's been a full twelve days since Kyle Williams Persecution Day in San Francisco and Bil-Lee Cund-evans Appreciation Day(s) in New England. Those three individuals had quite a bit to do with this year's Super Bowl participants, the New York Giants and New England Patriots. But you knew that.

As a matter of fact, the general product probably knows more than they even want to about this matchup. After 12 days, I think it's safe to say that everyone is in full 'Let's just play the damn game already' mode. So I will approach this preview that most readers have already had their fill of pregame information--whether it be from ESPN, newspapers, magazines, or....Maya Angelou?

So with that in mind, maybe it's just best for me to ask some of my own questions. They may be realistic, hypothetical, rhetorical, playfully-hateful, who knows? The hope is they will lead me to a reasonable, unbiased (yeah right) prediction fro Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. Les'go...

Question #1: Are the Two Best Teams Playing in Super Bowl XLVI?

Consider question #1 my attempt to remedy the lack of an AFC/NFC Championship recap blog two weeks ago. Sorry about that. Needless to say, much was made of the fashion in which the Giants and Patriots won their games. In the days afterward, we seemed to hear the name Kyle Williams more times than any Giants player combined. We heard how Lee Evans and Billy Cundiff helped that Patriots way more than them helped themselves in the game beforehand. With so many goats, there wasn't much time to talk about heroes. Which was a shame.

Now, getting to this question. In the final four of Giants, 49ers, Patriots, Ravens, I think the matchup we have is probably the 'juiciest.' 49ers-Ravens would be the nastiest. Giants-Ravens would be a nice throwback. Patriots-49ers would be the strangest. On championship weekend, we saw two quarterbacks clearly outplay their counterparts, but only one advance. But contrary to what it may seem sometimes, it's not always about the quarterback. The Ravens and 49ers just showed some unreadiness for the Big Time with unusual, sometimes-inexplicable mistakes. The Giants were fortunate to win their game, while the Patriots were unfortunate not to lose theirs. But at the end of the day, New England has won ten games in a row, and New York has ripped through the NFC's top seeds on the road during their own five-game streak. We'll take it.

Answer #1: Yes, we have the two best teams. (But it's still fun to irk their uptight fans.)

Question #2: Have the Giants Gone from Root-able Underdog to Insufferable Villain?

I mean...what are they doing? Seemingly forgetting that they were a modest 9-7 on the season and a half-fingertip away from not qualifying for the playoffs, the Giants have given off quite an aura this week. It is certainly a trivial occurrence, considering they've seen what happened to the Jets and their mouths this season. Simply put, "I told you so" is not something that tends to work out in the NFL. Particularly in the playoffs. Tom Brady's track record indicates he's not exactly a guy you want to poke with pregame talk. Especially when he's coming off a subpar game two weeks ago. When Plaxico Burress predicted a win over the 18-0 Patriots four years ago...it was cool. That stuff is loveable when you're underdog by a million points (and saying 'I told you so' actually pays off in the end.) But in a three-point spread when a lot of the public already has your back? It seems excessive and over the top...no other way to put it. The Giants took an immense amount of pleasure out of seeing Rex and the Jets fail to backup their talk. Now, I know the Giants made it all the way to this point....but with this kind of brash confidence? They could be the first Super Bowl underdog in history to have egg on its face after losing.

Now to look at things from the other side. If we're being honest, the Giants are staying true to the theory of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' The confidence was there against the Falcons. The (slightly-less reasonable) confidence was there when traveling to Green Bay. By virtue of they weren't going to New Orleans, the confidence was there in San Francisco. If they were to hush up now...wouldn't that be counter-productive? Probably not...but I can't fault them for keeping things consistent. The Patriots have been silent all week. Then again...what can they really say? Some week 17 of 2007 banter?

Answer #2: Big Blue certainly haven't gained any supporters. In fact, if they were playing one of the other 15 teams in the AFC on Sunday, they may have talked themselves into antagonism. But they're playing the Patriots, who simply have too much evil collateral built up. The outside-of-New England football world still owes an incredible debt to the Giants for what they did four years ago. A couple week's worth of trash talk isn't likely to swing too many folks in this one.

Question #3: Wait...So Why Are the Patriots Favored?

Oh.

Well, um, that's easy.....

Cause....

Hm.

I am no expert in the workings of Las Vegas or the people that do these things. All I can do is look at the history of Super Bowl spreads. There has been a spread under 3 points just three times in history, and none since 1982. (In the seven Super Bowl games when the spread was exactly 3, the favorites won 3 and the 'dogs won 4...this stuff really is just a crapshoot.) So logic dictates that the notion of a pick'em game or a spread under 3 is pretty much extinct. When picking the mandated favorite...One team is 13-3 with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and one team went 9-7 overall and 3-5 in the second half of 2011. Can't hate on it.

Answer #3: Other than the feeble above attempts at the contrary, I really have no freakin' clue.

Question #4: Is Eli Manning an Indestructible Alien?

A fascinating inquiry. Have you noticed that leading up to this game (and pretty much all Patriots games) everyone proclaiming "the key to beating the Patriots is hitting Brady and rattling him." The Jets have talked about doing it twice (sometimes thrice) a year for the last decade. It's been the strategy for Brady's whole career.

Now as much as 'hitting Brady' has been publicized...has anyone mentioned that hitting Eli Manning for a Patriots victory formula? Um, no. It's because as goofy, spacey, seemingly-always-frenzied as Eli Manning appears...there is nothing that can possibly refute the notion that he's an indestructible alien. The game against San Francisco two weeks ago is example #1. Never in my life have I seen such a throttling of a quarterback. He was hit about 20 times (6 sacks) in his 58 dropbacks, but it seemed more like 120 hits. The lasting image of that game may just be the :11 mark of this video. Eli Manning may be the first quarteback in history to reverse-rattle a defense. The fact that he could still breathe, let alone play remarkably, after some of those hits surely had the Niners feeling a little bit like Ivan Drago. He just keeps ticking. Anything less than a full-on Vince Wilfork bellyflop directly on Eli's temple will be ineffective in shaking him. And I'm not even totally sure a Vince-flop will do it.

Answer #4: I'm cautiously certain Eli is 'of Earth.' But that doesn't necessarily make him destructible.

Question #5: Besides Brady, is Rob Gronkowski the Last Guy New England Wants Injured Right Now?

Well, let's look at the other candidates...

Besides Wilfork, no one on the defense can be in this discussion. Yeah, Mayo makes tackles and Ninkovich gets some quarterback pressures, but...well, somebody has to. If you want to make an argument for Stephen Gostkowski in this question, I would come to respect you quite a bit.

But talking sensibly, the reasonable candidates come down to Gronkowski, Welker, Hernandez, or Wilfork. And though he's a safety valve/3rd down luxury of sorts, you can take Hernandez and all of his tattoos out as well. And Wilfork...counting him out of this discussion should not be a smear on his unbelievable play of late. But as far as 'indispensable' players go...it can't be him. The Patriots are just too reliant on their offensive play.

After that, I don't know if I could narrow it down any further. Gronkowski (no, he will never be referred to as his five-letter nickname in this blog as long as I draw breath) has been Mr. Everything for the Pats and has certainly soaked up all the storylines. But the numbers don't lie when they say Welker had 50 more targets, 30 more receptions, 200 more yards, and more 1st down catches than the big man. Once they're in striking range, it's always Gronkowski getting the love. But it's a different story in terms of getting to striking range.

Answer #5: I'd say Gronkowski and Welker tie for 'last guy Pats want injured' status. They are severely, severely hindered if they lose either one. Though if I had to pick one, Gronkowski would be the candidate to inexplicably offset his body's pain functions for a few hours and tough out the game.

Question #6: Honestly Now...Will the Running Games Even Matter?

It's not looking like it will be the end-all, be-all in this one. Despite a resurgence from Brandon Jacobs complimenting the relentless Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants had some ghastly numbers for most of the season. Some of that has changed of late, but they're not taking the ball out of Eli's hand when he's this red-hot. The Giants have to be thinking that every single time Manning drops back, one of his Nicks/Cruz/Manningham/Ballard buddies will be open. That's not to say they will be throwing every single play. But you can count on the Giants throwing the ball on every play that matters. Wilfork just eats up too much stuff inside.

The Patriots have a more interesting situation. They have to make sure the Giants pass rush don't just catapult toward Brady every single play. It would behoove them to try and use the Big Blue aggressiveness to their advantage. And Benjarvis Green-Ellis has really created a headache for defenses of late. But there is serious limitations to this strategy--much like the Giants, you can't be taking the ball out of Brady's hands on the key plays.

Answer #6: Well, I'm not so sure I like the wording of your question. It seems to indicate I am not 100% honest and objective all the time. That aside, the running games will not be terribly important. There is the obvious wrinkle of running the ball late in the game with the lead. It's necessary to 'run' out the clock. But the spirit of this hurtfully-worded question is whether it affects who wins an loses the game. My gut feeling is that is will not be the deciding factor.

Question #7: Can A Scorned Tom Brady Win the Game On His Own?

We've now reached the frightful part of this interrogation. The Giants have gained so much traction among the casual fans because Brady seemed so flawed against the Ravens. But...what about the week before that in Denver? Remember, 360 yards? Six touchdowns? Stuff like that. I'm not saying the Giants defense is as bad as the Broncos. But I don't think they're as good against the pass as Baltimore. Brady is probably going to fall somewhere in the middle of his Bronco and Raven performances. The Giants have to hope it leans more toward the latter.

The good thing for Big Blue is that they can do a lot more than hope. They did enough to beat Brady in his own house during the regular season. But the Patriots have also been planning for two weeks how to counteract everything the Giants will bring in terms of pressure. But with a healthy (and talking) Tuck, Pierre-Paul, Osi and the boys all coming, it will take a whole lot more than diligent scheming to succeed.

That being said, Brady may have a whole other level for this game. Naturally, he wants to be remembered as the best ever. Doesn't that take a hit if, while in his prime, he loses to the same dude twice on the biggest stage? Doesn't that hit seem a lot worse when that same dude.... IS THIS GUY? I don't think Tom can withstand this one. I just don't know.

Answer #7: I think the Giants ruling this out would be a grave, grave mistake.

Question #8: Is There Any Way This Game Tops to the First One, Super Bowl XLII?

That will be one tall task. There's no way it measures up in a historical sense (stopping perfection, allowing a continued world of tranquility and happiness, etc.) I'm writing this on Friday, the 3rd of February. This just happens to be the day Eli and the Giants shocked the Patriots in Arizona. Certainly one of the quirkiest nights on a personal level...

Because, well, I wasn't even in the country for this game. Studying abroad in Dublin, we had to settle for a 11:00pm kickoff local time. This was a Boston University-organized program, so needless to say there were plenty of Patriots boosters that were excited to make history. Sensing an inevitable spell of darkness in the football world that would be stamped for eternity, me and the few Giant backers decided to get significantly....handicapped, before the late-night kickoff.

So when I say that game felt like a dream is only half-a-joke. There is just something to be said when you're resigned to a certain outcome and the miraculous happens. Not resigned in the sense of 'aw shucks, they sure seem overmatched. This will be tough' sense, either. The Giants were a beadle playing chicken with a freight train. All I remember is creating a one-man mosh pit, bouncing around and making the referee signal for 'completion' after...ya know. But you know all that. Again, I'm not Giants fan. But Manning, Tyree, Tuck and the others gave the football world an invaluable gift that will never depreciate in value. And unfortunately for the two guys sitting on the ground in this video (gotta admire their composure), the gift cannot be returned.

Question #8: If it does...everyone better save this game to their DVR with the setting 'Never Erase.'

Question #9: What's Your Favorite Super Bowl Prop Bet?

Prop bets are weird things that people can actually bet on for the Super Bowl. Seriously weird things. "Will Madonna Wear Fishnet Stockings at Any Time During Her Performance" type-of weird.

Answer #9: I would say the biggest slam-dunk bet would be Jason Pierre-Paul having more tackles than Kyle Arrington. I will also take Ahmad Bradshaw receiving yards (-2.5) over Chris Bosh points against the Raptors. Chris Bosh sucks.

Question #10: It's Been 2500 Words. You Must be Getting Hungry. Winner and MVP Please?

Answer #10: Based on my reputation, this seems like a 'how' answer more than a 'who' answer. I have been queasy in the intestinal region ever since Cundiff's field goal sailed wide. Deep down, I believe the Pats would have handled the 49ers with ease had San Fran advanced to this game (marking the 6,000th and final time I insult the 49ers this year.) But here we are, Giants-Pats in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII and a rematch of a regular season game this season. That game this year was actually 0-0 at the half if you can believe it.

Simply put, I think this one's getting a little crazy. Each team comes out guns a'blazing, and neither really slows down after that. I think Brady and Manning easily combine for over 600 yards, and this game easily tops the Vegas 'over' of 54 points. Receivers running open for both teams all over the field and it takes the form of a Division II college game.

But in the end, the Giants just force 1-2 more punts than New England does. Sacks will do that for a team. Eli doesn't exactly out-duel Brady, but he more than holds his own as headlines of 'ELIte' litter headlines across the whole country. He will not be MVP though, as Hakeem Nicks compiles other-worldly stats as Manning's go-to guy all game. I don't know if it will feature the frenzied finishes of two weeks ago...but I kinda sorta think I know who's coming out on top.

Giants 35, Patriots 32

Hey, thanks for reading everyone. Feel free to leave your own predictions for the game in the comments section of this page or Facebook. Whoever guesses the closest wins...I dunno...how about I mail you the cover of Monday morning's New York Post autographed by me? Sentimental value > financial value. At least that's what I continue to tell myself...

Royal Rumble 2012 Preview

2012-01-29T23:47:39Z

Hello all. I know this is a blog that prides itself on football. I also know that perhaps the craziest Championship weekend we've ever seen has still gone un-analyzed. Thank you bye week-as we have plenty of time to dissect that later this week. The image of Billy Cundiff's kick sailing wide is still branded to my retinas, anyway.

This is the first Sunday in about five months with no NFL football. You know what that means...

LET'S GET RRRRRRREADY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEE!

The second-biggest night on the wrestling calendar kicks off the road to Wrestlemania. The Rumble is great in so many ways, and well worth a posting. Thirty men, one winner. The main event of Wrestlemania awaits. A quick breakdown of what to expect tonight.

First off, the pre-Rumble matches are underwhelming to say the least. CM Punk should dispose of Dolph Ziggler, as I don't think the latter is quite ready to carry the burden of The Guy on Raw. I expect one of the behemoths to unseat Daniel Bryan for the SmackDown title. Cena vs. Kane? Yawn...but give me a Kane win by disqualification as Cena goes crazy with a chair or sledgehammer or something.

Now the Rumble... In a night of surprises, you don't know the order of wrestlers to enter the match. And though you know there are 30 entrants, you're not completely sure of who they are. So there's some guesswork involved. Without further adieu...

The Ba'Gaw King, That's "His" Music!

Guys that throw monkey wrenches into any/all Royal Rumble expectations. WWE legends, guys you thought were done, announcers, celebrities, etc. There are usually 2-3 of these per Rumble. Guys that make you lose your mind when you first hear their music. I will list examples, but there is a good chance none of these guys will even be in the match.

Example: Triple H, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Vince McMahon, Goldust, Rob Van Dam, Undertaker

The Morale Boosters

The vast majority of Rumble participants. Fun when they come out, they will bring some energy (and perhaps even some laughs.) They may reel you in for a little while, but ultimately you know they won't be walking away as the winner. There is no Rumble without these guys though.

Examples: Santino, Kofi Kingston, Ted DiBiase, Mason Ryan, Heath Slater, many others.

The Established Vets

Not totally out of the question for these guys to win. These guys at some point were a big deal in the business, and could have a return to glory. If these guys some in before the 15-20 range, there's not much hope. After that, though...there's no counting them out.

Examples: R-Truth, Kane, Big Show, Christian, Mick Foley, The Miz

Dark Horses with Legitimacy

Guys you must take seriously, no matter what stage they enter the match. These are guys either on the cusp of big things, or are just red-hot right now. No real shock if one of this group is the last one standing.

Examples: Brodus Clay, Cody Rhodes, Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Jack Swagger

The Favorites

Simply put, the guys that would make the most sense. Guys you know can deliver in a Wrestlemania main event. Many things factor into what makes them favorites. There are only two clear favorites I can envision at the moment:

Randy Orton: The overwhelming favorite. The Rumble match is in St. Louis, Orton's hometown. Since his move from Raw to Smackdown, things have been quiet for him. That's quite a change from the days where he and Cena carried Raw for years. I almost think Orton is too obvious a pick to actually pull it off. Opening the doors wide open for....

Chris Jericho: NY Sport Blog's official pick to win the 2012 Royal Rumble. Weird/bizarre comeback recently. One of the most popular wrestlers of the last decade, yet hasn't been in legitimate contention for the title in years. His time has come again. Tonight, Jericho breaks the walls down on the road to the main event at Wrestlemania.

Thanks so much for reading. All 5 of you wrestling diehards.

Conference Championship Preview

2012-01-22T16:53:36Z

Come one, come all, to the official preview of the AFC and NFC Championship games. You can't escape the Giant excitement here in New York. Listening to sports talk radio, you'd likely hear about 30% of the conversation about the potential San Francisco forecast on Sunday, and the other 70% about how the Giants are about to make mincemeat out of the 49ers. The confidence is brewing, and the G-Men have certainly backed it up over the last month.

But before the local game, the AFC Champion will be crowned up in Foxboro. The Ravens and Patriots are two worthy candidates, and they will settle it all at about 3pm. Should be real fun, so let's just get down to it...

Baltimore Ravens (12-4) at New England Patriots (13-3)

The Line: Patriots by 7

Former Jets Involved: S. Ellis/J. Ihedigbo/D. Woodhead/B. Belichick (Patriots)

Blog's Preseason Excerpt About the Ravens:

"Many folks favor Pittsburgh due to their franchise's unparalleled stability in this post-lockout situation. Call me a psychopath...but this is the storybook team of 2012. In the last stand for Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the Ravens finally break through and get the best of big brother Pittsburgh. Yeah, they'll get some serious help from Suggs, Ngata, and those other ferocious defenders. Boldin and Evans give the Flac Attack some nice toys to use through the air. And Rice may be a monster with his new best friend Vontae Leach blocking for him."

Projected Record: 11-5

Blog's Preseason Excerpt About the Patriots:

"They've won every division since 2003 except for the Cassel season. So a wild card may feel weird for Brady, Belichick, and the fans. But a change may be good for the Patriots. Going back to February 2008, the last three playoff games have not gone as...planned. There was David and Eli-ath. There was Rice Rice baby. There was Can't Wait. So they're looking to restore their playoff glory in 2011. And there's plenty of reason to believe they'll do so. Branch, Welker, and the tight ends give Brady all his favorite toys back on offense. And though they played over their heads during times in 2010, the defense has one more year of experience and should play well."

Projected Record: 11-5

Blog's 2011 Picks Record Against the Spread: Baltimore: 10-6-1 New England: 8-9-0

How the Ravens Can Win:

By playing about 5 trillion times better than they did last week. Put Tom Brady behind center on the Houston offense last week, and the Ravens would have been blown out of their own building. Fortunately for Baltimore, rookie T.J. Yates showed he wasn't quite ready for the big time. They weren't spectacular in any way last week, but the Ravens have certainly been in the NFL's elite in 2011-12. The defense had yet another stellar campaign, and the offense has done what it's needed to do. Sure, they had some bizarre losses to some poor teams this season. But every single time Baltimore has played a team equal-or-better-than them, they have answered the bell. Every time. The Ravens know the only way to beat this Patriots team is to make Brady shuffle his feel a little, and also reasonably cover the Gronkowski/Hernandez connection. They have the personnel to do so, it's just a matter of their execution. New England's blasting of Tim Tebow and the overmatched Broncos last week answered very little about their defense. Baltimore isn't exactly the 1999 St. Louis Rams, but they have some weapons. Houston's masterful defense made it seem like Baltimore was offensively inept...but this Patriots defense isn't anywhere near the level of the Texans. Keeping Brady uncomfortable should hold the Patriots between 21-27 points...which is pretty much the ceiling for Baltimore's offense. A complete team effort will be enough to beat the Patriots...the Ravens are not nearly as inferior as they've been portrayed this week.

How the Patriots Can Win:

I gotta say...New England's win last week took away quite a bit of fun. No more one-and-done crown for Belichick. No more 'Mr. December' mock-championship for Brady. No more 'Sanchez 4, Brady 0' mock scoreboard for playoff wins since '09. I blame Ike Taylor completely for not allowing the Steelers to be a more reasonable opponent last week. But all good things must come to an end. The Patriots can win this game because of their unbelievable offensive philosophy and ability. Everyone on the planet knows how they plan to win, yet they do it anyway. And they do it with a crappy defense. Nevertheless, the Pats got a big monkey off their back last week. But they better have a short memory. The Ravens are superior to the Broncos in every way, shape, and form. They have concrete playoff experience, which includes a Foxboro beatdown of New England. Nobody knows this better than New England. They ought to have some brand new wrinkles for the Ravens to process. If things get out of hand early, it seems the Ravens don't even believe in the ability of their quarterback Joe Flacco. The Patriots have no such doubts with Brady, to say the least.

The Pick:

It's playoff time, so no one really gives a damn about point spreads. Which is why I feel grimy writing this pick. Bottom line, I think that a 7-point spread for this game is astronomically high. Of course it's a reflection of how amazing New England was last week, combined with how underwhelming Baltimore was. I think this game is a toss-up, and with that in mind I am firmly cementing my pick of the Ravens (+7). I know they looked real bad last week, but doesn't Ray Lewis' crazyman dance/pump-up thing work so much better when they're underdogs? That's enough for me to take the points. When it comes to actually winning, though...I'm not nearly as confident. But when I picture myself looking at a final score that has Baltimore winning the game outright...I see myself way more in 'holy sh*t' mode than in 'told ya so' mode. Baltimore covers, and hopefully do much more. But I can't go proclaiming it.

Patriots 30, Ravens 28

New York Giants (9-7) at San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

The Line: 49ers by 2.5

Former Jets Involved: S. Weatherford/K. McKenzie (Giants)

Blog's Preseason Excerpt About the Giants:

"Gone is Steve Smith. Gone is Kevin Boss. Injured is Terrell Thomas and Prince Amukamara. Osi Umenyiora is unhappy. Eli looks lost this preseason. Their kicking game is horrid. Call this one a lockout hunch. The Giants had one of those offseasons that seem so atrocious...so ghastly...that they must know something we don't. Their organization is stable, their pass rush is ferocious, and like it or not, their doofus is the only quarterback in the division that's been to a Super Bowl. The schedule will allow these changes to develop, as Big Blue will likely be heavily favored in five of their first six games before the bye. After that it's a nightmare, and we all know the late-season track record under Tom Coughlin. Again, it's a lockout hunch. This team is going to the playoffs."

Projected Record: 10-6

Blog's Preseason Excerpt About the 49ers (Uh-Oh...)

"A franchise that just seems to be permanently stuck in neutral. They have elite players at their positions such as Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, and of course Patrick Willis. But with Alex Smith still lining up under center, people have run out of preseason expectations for this team a long time ago. They'll have to win the division before anyone gets any August/September excitement for them. I'll be shocked if said division crown comes in 2011."

Projected Record: 4-12

Blog's 2011 Picks Record Against the Spread: New York: 7-10-1 San Francisco: 6-10-1

How the Giants Can Win:

By just merrily rolling along. Ever since the 99-yarder-that-shall-not-be-revisited, it's been just peaches and cream for Big Blue. Especially in the playoffs, where 2-0 was pretty much the biggest deficit they have faced in a game so far. People still had doubts after Atlanta seemed to no-show the wild card round. But going on the road to dominate a 15-1 Packer team? Doubts erased. They Giants could not have planned a more perfect time for the pass rush to explode, and Matt Ryan/Aaron Rodgers each faced 60 minutes of duress. Eli Manning has certainly done his part on the offensive side, as Hakeem Nicks/Victor Cruz cannot both be covered. Sprinkle in some running game, and the Giants are the hottest team going right now. Is a team with Alex Smith in the most important position really going to stop them? According to the fans and media this week, that notion seems laughable.

How the 49ers Can Win:

I don't even deserve the right to type this section. I have bad-mouthed, mocked, ridiculed, and scoffed at the 49ers all season. You can see as much in the excerpt above. Picking mostly against San Fran led to a crappy record when picking them against the spread. Sure enough, I doubted them at home against the Saints. So simply put, the 49ers can win because they are in incredibly tight-knit football team that knows exactly what they do well. They have a coach putting together perhaps the greatest rookie campaign in history. They have a dominant defensive front, a great running game, and a quarterback that seems to be fueled by his doubters (and there's still barrels of barrels of fuel in his back-stock.) You have to think the Giants will eliminate Vernon Davis from this game by any means necessary--he completely wrecked New Orleans last week. So it will be on Michael Crabtree & co to step up and help Frank Gore. The defense pounded the Saints into turnovers and shut them down for 55 minutes last week. The Saints have a better offense than the Giants. It's not rocket science as far as what the Niners are capable of. As much as Big Blue has looked like a team of destiny for the past month, San Fran has now looked like a team of destiny for over four months.

The Pick:

It's a shame one of these teams has to lose this weekend. I would want both these teams go to the Super Bowl rather than one of those AFC guys. Nevertheless, one of these teams is going home Sunday night no matter what. As loco as it may be, I'm going with the California dreamers. If you stack the two teams up, the Giants are probably the better team by a hair. I've rode Big Blue through the playoff picks section, and they have not let me down. But there seems to be something else in play here. One reason I didn't think the Packers would reach the Super Bowl is because everything seemed so...easy for them. Now I'm not suggesting things have been easy for the Giants. They needed to make their own luck in the final month, and they certainly answered the bell. But this in a 9-7 team that ceased their home game against the Falcons and went to Green Bay with no trouble either. In response, the fans couldn't be more confident. I don't blame them, but I don't think they're taking the Niners seriously whatsoever. There's a reason the 49ers are favored in the game (they're home.) And as much as the on-field tangibles seem to favor the Giants, everything else points toward the Niners. In a game this close, that's good enough for me. I sincerely, sincerely apologize to the blog readers that are 49ers fans, who have enjoyed so much success with me picking against their team. I wasn't there for the wedding against New Orleans, but I don't envision a funeral at the hands of the Giants. Alex Smith, Super Bowl-bound. No matter how painful that sentence was to type....oh dear.

49ers 21, Giants 14

Enjoy the games, everyone!

Divisional Round Wrap Up: Post-Holiday(s) Edition

2012-01-18T20:52:09Z

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

-Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963

I had that written down on Monday. With so much to write concerning football over the previous two days, I was more in the holiday mindset. January 16th was to be a day of rest in America, honoring the life of King. I thought about trudging on and still writing the column, but then I realized that MLK's birthday wasn't the only anniversary for me to celebrate that day...

"To all the non-believers. TO ALL THE NON-BELIEVERS! Especially you, Tom JACK-son. Way to have our back, Keyshawn.... ANYBODY CAN BE BEAT!"

-Bart Scott on January 16, 2011

With these two celebrations in play, it was abundantly clear that Monday was to be a day of reflection, not labor. So when Tuesday rolled along, I was revved up and ready to go. That was, of course, until I found out it was Kid Rick's 41st birthday. It's a day I celebrate privately every year. I wouldn't dare soil tradition with a blog posting. So all the sudden we were knocked back to Wednesday.

But we're here now, and we're here 'til the end. Eight teams were left going into Saturday afternoon. We now have four. Things played out the exact way most people thought they would in the AFC. The #1 seeded Patriots will host the #2 seeded Ravens. Houston and Denver had their carpet rides come to an end (or in the case of Denver, the carpet incinerated and crash-landed into a cesspool.) The NFC had a little more tricks up its sleeve. In any case, we're left with two Harbaughs and two Elite Quarterbacks in the conference championships. Yum yum.

It's convenient that the first game of the weekend was also the best one. By far. Going into the game, I mentioned that New Orleans just had more outlets to victory than the Niners did. Too many weapons, too much experience, too much of a quarterback advantage, etc. Well, when you turn the ball over five times, it kinda sorta saps away your outlets to victory. Sure enough, the Niners built a 17-0 first-half lead.

But even so, I was simply wondering not if, but how fast the Saints would come back. It was the typical disrespect I've shown the Niners since training camp started. And this foolhardy mindset was temporarily justified when New Orleans got hot and made it a 17-14 game at the half. Just like the Lions game the week before, it was time for the touchdown avalanche...

But not this Niners team. That 'avalanche' I was thinking about...how about the Saints scoring all of three second half points until less than five minutes remained in the game. And just when you thought you were impressed at the Niners performance (holding the Saints to just 17 points with five minutes left) was when things really got nutty.

Defense versus offense. Force versus immovable object. One football philosophy pitted against another. For 55 minutes of the game, San Francisco was beating New Orleans by playing their own game. For the final five minutes, San Fran beat New Orleans at their own game. And that was the shocker of the divisional weekend.

Because yes, a 23-17 game deep into the 4th quarter turned into a 36-32 victory. The Saints scoring with 4:02 left put them up by one point and certainly made New Orleans breathe a sigh of relief. After a crazy start, they finally had the lead, very late in the game. After playing calm and collected the entire day, an Alex Smith-led offense now was trailing and needed to efficiently and effectively drive the field. The heartbreak 49er ending just seemed to be predictable.

Welp, before those thoughts even processed through my skull, Smith was already deep in New Orleans territory. By hooking up with his once-upon-a-time-unfocused tight end Vernon Davis, Smith had me going, "Wow, he got them into range. They'll kick a field goal, take their chances with Brees, and live to play another minute of so." Then it happened.

I mean IT happened. It was a play straight out of the Mountain West conference of college football. If you don't know the saga of Alex Smith's career, I would strongly encourage a Wikipedia visit on the matter (ya know, on a day it's not shutdown in protest.) But to see him running down that sideline...wow. I know it may be blasphemy, but I was equally as shocked watching that play as I was watching Marshawn Lynch mow down the Saints the year before. Not in terms of athletic ability and difficulty, of course. But just in terms of pure shock value in terms of play call, player involved, and the high stakes involved. When the Saints scored with 4 minutes left, who the hell would have thought the Niners would not only score, but also leave too much time for Brees afterwards??

Sure enough, the Saints scored in about 30 seconds to go up 32-29. Any rational person thought the game was over. But if lightning was ever going to strike twice, it was going to be in Candlestick Park on this day. Smith to Davis once, and Smith to Davis twice. Smiles and Yippies! from Alex, nothing but water-works from Vernon. And even in a game like this, 10 seconds wasn't enough time for Brees and the vaunted Saints to respond. New Orleans is already a built team that won't have much major tweaking to do this offseason. But you gotta think priority number one for them in 2012 will be avoiding a playoff trip to an NFC West team by any means necessary.

Now, never you worry. I realize this post is on pace to be about 30,000 words. I assure you this will not be the case. Because as good as the San Francisco-New Orleans matchup was, that's how ho-hum the two AFC games were. Real quick on those two...

First off, the Patriots looked pretty darn impressive on Saturday night. Six touchdown passes, nothing for Tebow to do, Gronk, etc. Sure, Denver proved it would not have been anywhere near that game if the Steelers has any semblance of health or if Ike Taylor played like anything close to a moderately-skilled football player. But New England finally got off their one-and-done schnide and look to be peaking as they host Baltimore this Sunday.

...and Baltimore will be there due to plenty of good fortune as well. Houston did not get eliminated because they were the worse team. They were eliminated because in a game all about the quarterbacks, it finally became clear that they didn't have what it took from TJ Yates. If Matt Schaub were healthy and playing, we're likely talking about a double-digit Texans victory. Nonetheless, injuries happen. The Ravens won't be giving this game back, but they know that scoring just 3 points in the final three quarters of this week's game will result in a New England slaughter. Brady won't be nearly as accommodating as the rookie Yates.

Now onto those hometown boys in Blue. Or if you've listened to the New York fans/media this week, "The Team of Invincibility That Beats 15-1 Teams No Problem Even Though the Refs Tried to Give Green Bay the Game." To make things easy and political correct, we'll just call them the Giants.

On the surface, a 37-20 beatdown on the road against a 15-1 team says plenty. Eli Manning is playing at a level that...well, isn't making things any easier for Mark Sanchez and his struggles in this town. Hakeem Nicks again exploded, reiterating the fact that spotlighting Victor Cruz isn't the best idea on defense. The running game was capable, the defense forced turnovers with consistency, and the Giants played an unbelievably complete game. The better team on Sunday was really never in doubt.

Now that being said....What the hell happened to the Packers? Ya know, the Packers? The fellas that scored 30 points in 11 of their games this season? The unstoppable offense? The MVP playing quarterback? The Packers were playing with the focus and crispness of an August preseason game.

Now of course the Giants had plenty to do with this. It would be foolish to think the ever-ferocious pass rush and improved secondary play got lucky all day. But starting in December 2010, every single imaginable thing seemed to go right for the Packers. Their defense took advantage of every mistake. Rodgers threaded passes into the tiniest window imaginable. The backs and receivers wouldn't dare drop a pass or fumble the ball.

Over a year's worth of near-perfection really got flipped on its head Sunday. Ryan Grant and John Kuhn may not be dynamic gamebreakers, but they have been sure-handed backs for the Packers over their careers. A fumble apiece, and give the Giants credit for hopping on them both. The Packers defense definitely regressed throughout the season, but always had the personnel to get to the quarterback. On most of his dropbacks Sunday, Eli Manning had time to scarf down a sandwich before throwing a pass to an open receiver.

But this game can be broken into five plays. On offense, it would be Rodgers' early incompletion to Jennings and Rodgers' late incompletion to Finley. I can't locate it on Youtube, but you can just imagine the tone of the telecast on that Jennings play. It's a touchdown the Packers have put in the bank dozens of times this season. Jennings didn't have a soul within five yards of him, and his all-world quarterback flat-out missed. By quite a bit. The later one to Finley was no sure touchdown, but just showed a mortal side of Rodgers that had gone unseen for over a year.

So those things happened...fine. No offense can be invincible for every single week. The Giants defense did everything they needed to wreak havoc. But the three plays on defense that changed the game were inexcusable in every way.

Play #1: An 'Oh my God, it happened again." play. Over the last month, the Giants have had a knack for turning normal gains to crazy plays. You would think the Packers would place post-reception tackling at the very top of their list on defense. They respond with some flailing pinball approach on defense. I mean...are you kidding me? Full credit goes to Nicks for being unbelievable hard to bring down in the open field...and full discredit to the Packers for being the only people on earth that didn't seem to be aware.

Play #2: (The first 35 seconds of the video.) Not the most damaging play of the game, but certainly the most egregious. It was halftime. It. Was. Halftime. Everybody playing on the field seemed to want halftime. Go ahead and play Madden, put the settings on the easiest level of gameplay, and see if you're able to run the ball to the left and then be able to get all the way across the field out of bounds. Try it 100 times. It should just never happen in a professional game. Green Bay refused to touch Bradshaw the entire play, and did the only thing they couldn't afford to do. And that was set up the possibility for...

Play #3: (Everything after the first 35 seconds of the video.) I mean, you saw it happening. The ball seemed to be in the air for ten seconds. Actually, it was just three seconds, from :47-:50 of the video. Pausing the video at :49 seconds, there are 3 Giants in the endzone and just 2 Packers. It what universe could this ever be allowed to happen? There is no time left on the clock. There are five Packers running with the guy who isn't in the endzone, but two guys covering the three Giants who are actually a threat. Simply unbelievable. Great throw by Eli, better catch by Nicks, inexcusably woeful defensive football by Green Bay.

And after that...what can you say? The Packers never recovered from that devastating shell-shock before the half. The Big Blue defense just moseyed along, allowing yards but not points. Making the clock their best friend. There were certainly times where the Packers seemed to be getting things together (and after watching the insane 49ers-Saints game, didn't 4:46 seem like an eternity when Rodgers & co. made the game 30-20?)

But when push came to shove, Eli Manning went into Lambeau and had himself a ball. Plenty of time to throw, plenty of open receivers, plenty of yards after the catch. It was the formula that had people talking about potential back-to-back titles in Green Bay. The Giants played with composure on the road, and have now earned the chance to go to San Fran in the NFC Championship game. Who the hell woulda thought?

The Montauk Beverageworks Delicious Performance of the Week:

Alex Smith, 49ers. Stats be damned. Brady and Gronkowski were...admirable(?)....in running up the score on a 8-8 team. Smith put up the numbers when everything was on the line. As I covered (eeeeeeextensively) before, his run up the left side will long live in 49ers lore. Playing in the same conference with Vick, Romo, Eli, Romo, Rodgers, Stafford, Cutler, Brees, Ryan, and even Newton...it's been real easy for Alex Smith to be left in the dust. He put on a 'How you like me now?' performance on the biggest of stages. And it's him who will be hosting the NFC Championship game Long time coming for the man named Smith.

Championship weekend spreads. The NFC side has been widely consistent: Niners by 2.5 in their building. It seems like a fair line that shouldn't move too much...but if it does move, I would expect it to be in the Giants' direction. Beating a 15-1 team will do things like that. As far as the AFC, I saw opening lines that varied from Pats by 6.5 to Pats by 9. If I'm seeing things correctly, it looks to be Pats by an even touchdown. Picks will come Friday....spoiler alert: I don't think they'll be what you expect from me.
Have a great week!

Monday Mash: Three Favorites...and a Tebow

2012-01-09T23:48:21Z

The perfect storm was brewing.

Saturday football was a bit of a bust. In the 'only people outside of Cincy and Houston who care are gamblers' matchup, the Texans were able to pull away from the Bengals. Sure, the game was a bit more competitive early on than the 31-10 score indicated. And J.J. Watt made a ridiculously athletic play to swing the game. But in the end, 31-10 speaks for itself as Houston was just plain superior.

After that came the shootout in New Orleans. Both for picking reasons and rooting interest, I was on Detroit for the upset. For the life of me, I don't know how they didn't cover. The first half could not have gone any better. 7-0 at the end of the first (that's 17.5-0 in Vegas terms) and the Lions looked even more unstoppable on offense than the Saints! Maybe they wouldn't win, but the cover looked to be in the bag. Sure, New Orleans scored right away in the second quarter to tie it up. But when the Lions responded right back with an 87-yard drive, I thought it was going to be Detroit's night. When Brees fumbled right after that, I was legitimately thinking about how much the Giants would love to go to San Fran instead of Green Bay, and how the Lions were about to make this dream a reality.

Silly me.

Of course the Saints would allow me to get ahead of myself. I was already declaring the game over when it's just 14-7 in the first half?? These are the things that happen when over-excitement kicks in during the playoffs. Because New Orleans kicked a field goal to make it 14-10 at the half, and that was the last field goal they'd have all game (and not in a good way for Detroit.) Six second half possessions for the Saints- Touchdown, Touchdown, Touchdown, Touchdown, Touchdown, QB kneels. How did I not see it coming? Stafford was admirable in his attempts to keep up (and the Lions were flirting with the +10.5 cover all they way til the very end.) But turnovers are inevitable in that situation, and the Saints defense came through in that department. A 14-10 Detroit lead turned into a 45-28 Detroit loss. Only in N'orleans...

SO....two Saturday games, two pretty much-snoozers. Surely the Giants-Falcons matchup would pick up the burden of wildcard excitement. It seemed to be the most even matchup heading into the weekend. The first playoff game in MetLife Stadium, the Falcons looking to avenge playoff heartaches in the Matt Ryan era, Giants having the 'it' factor, etc. Everything was shaping up nicely.

Fast forward to the second quarter with a score of....2-0 Atlanta? 2-0? Even with the trivial score, it seemed the Giants' potential to bust loose was infinitely higher than the Falcons. It's tough to say whether or not it was due to his woeful college experience, but Matt Ryan came up small yet again in the big spot. The Giants pass rush must be credited for wreaking havoc all day. But Michael Turner wasn't doing anything to bail out his quarterback, as he was swallowed up run after run. After the safety, Eli had no such issues in the pocket. Hakeem Nicks reminded everyone that Victor Cruz's success in recent weeks had a little something to do with opposing defenses spotlighting Nicks. Once Hakeem faced some single coverage of his own...6 catches/115 yards/2 TD speaks for itself.

Truth be told, the game was all-but over when it was 10-2. The Falcon offense was just that inept. And when Atlanta was actually able to manifest a drive or two, it all went to hell with some bizarre 4th down failures. The Giants front seven was possessed. The scariest part of the day was Jason Pierre Paul's apparent injury. But he seemed to be fine afterwards. Lord knows the Giants will need him as well as everyone else on defense to be at full strength next week in Green Bay.

SOOOOO...Three playoff games, three favorites winning by 2+ touchdowns. I don't want to say that I had completely changed my pick in the Denver/Pittsburgh game. I just believed that wildcard weekend owed us a little bit of wildness. Tim Tebow came through with one of the wildest playoff outcomes in playoff history.

Obligatory disclaimer: Pittsburgh was woefully banged up on both sides of the ball. Ben Roethlisberger was obviously hurt a lot more than people thought, and in the first half I was realistically wondering if he was the quarterback that gave the team the best chance to win. After injuries to Hampton and Keisel, I was playfully referring to the Steelers as the JV-eelers. They were hobbled, and likely would have won the game if Ben were at full strength and the defensive guys were there. Fair? Fair.

Now...jeez louise. I predicted a 17-3 win for Pittsburgh. When halftime came and it was 17-6 Denver, I was far too confused to feel stupid about my pick. 20 points in the second half alone. Tebow lofting passes like he's John Elway, and running like he's Steve McNair. All in all, Timmy completed ten passes. For 316 yards. Yes, math majors, that would be 31.6 yards per every pass completion.

Tebow was great, McGahee ran well despite his terrible fumble. But the best player for Denver may have been Pittsburgh defensive back Ike Taylor. Demaryius Thomas had a modest four catches for a preposterous 204 yards and the overtime touchdown that shocked the world. Denver's best receiver is actually Eric Decker, who was injured early in this game and became a non-factor. After that injury, there is no fathomable reason for Denver to beat Pittsburgh through the air in this game. All I can imagine is that the esteemed, proud Steeler defense didn't think Tebow could beat them throwing the ball, and were too stubborn to change things when he was doing just that. If it were a Madden game, it was like the Steelers were choosing 'goal line' formation every play. Denver put up a modest 3.9 yards per rush in the game. Once overtime comes, don't you keep maybe one guy in centerfield to prevent a disaster? Didn't this said disaster look inevitable when Taylor kept getting roasted? Sure enough, overtime was over almost before it began.

Isaac Redman and the crippled Roethlisberger certainly had nothing to hand their heads about in this game. Ben's receivers dropped multiple balls, the Steeler defense was shellshocked, and Denver really just had a perfect storm. Give the Broncos credit. Probably about 90% of the nation outside of Denver thought Pittsburgh was winning the game when Cotchery hauled in that touchdown. The Broncos were robbed on that 'backwards-pass-that-wasn't.' McGahee's fumble was such a gut punch. Sure the Steelers were playing a whole lot of backups, but Denver deserved what they achieved yesterday. Dopes like me thought the Steelers' third stringers could pull out that game. To be fair, the Broncos played exponentially better yesterday than they did the previous several weeks. And they will have to be exponentially-better than their exponentially-better performance to stand any chance in New England.

The Montauk BeverageWorks Delicious Performance of the Week:

Drew Brees, Saints. No contest. Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas had historic days catching the ball. And Arian Foster made Cincy tap-out all game. But in a regular season of dominant quarterbacking, the playoffs saw much of the same. 466 yards and three touchdowns as the Saints put away the Lions. It won't be so easy on the road in San Francisco. At least the 49ers hope it's not...

A quick look ahead to next week. Understandably, the Saints are the only road favorite. San Francisco is currently a 3.5 'dog in their own building- the lowest spread of the week. The other three margins have some meat on them. Baltimore is 7.5 points favored over Houston. Green Bay is giving away 8 to the Giants. And Tebow & Co. are looking at a 13.5 point spread in New England. Texans-Ravens may not shake the football world, but the other 3 matchups will sure be fun. Preview will come later in the week.
National Championship of college football tonight. For what it's worth, give me Alabama (-2.5) over Louisiana State in the big game. I was wrong last time about this game, and believe it's woefully unfair that 'Bama gets to play. As much as I'm rooting for the Honey Badger and the rest of the Tigers to pull it out, I see too much Saban, too much Richardson, and not nearly as much missed field goals for the Tide. Call it Alabama 17, LSU 9.

Thanks so much for reading. Enjoy Dan McShane's quest for Ken Jennings' record tonight on Jeopardy, and the college football game afterwards.

Wild Card Preview Part II: This One Actually Has the Giants

2012-01-07T17:16:43Z

Hello football fans! The NFL Playoffs get underway in a few short hours. Before the Bengals and Texans kickoff in Houston, it's best to get out the rest of the weekend picks. The tri-state area is abuzz (both positive and negative) about the Giants matchup on Sunday. Atlanta will bring a solid team into the first ever playoff game at MetLife Stadium, and Big Blue is peaking at the right time. It should be a fun one. Let's dive right in.

Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at New York Giants (9-7)

The Line: Giants by 3

Former Jets Involved: Kareem McKenzie/Steve Weatherford (NYG) John Abraham (Atl) Advantage: Falcons

How the Falcons Can Win:

Considering Atlanta has the better record, these Falcons sure are flying in (poor pun) under the radar. The offense is stacked in the passing game with Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones, Tony Gonzalez, etc. But their attack runs through (decent pun) Michael Turner in the backfield. He opens things up rather nicely for the downfield pass. On defense, the Birds are spotty against the pass and good against the run...which may give them trouble against the pass-happy Giants. It will be on John Abraham (see above) and Ray Edwards to harass Eli and force some turnovers. The Falcons play teams tough in domes (road win at Detroit, overtime loss to New Orleans) but on the road in the elements may give them some issues.

How the Giants Can Win:

Welp, it sure seems like they got all the intangibles. Pass rush is showing its Super Bowl form of a few years ago. Eli Manning is playing as well and anyone. Victor Cruz single-handedly ruined the seasons of the Jets and Cowboys. The Giants are playing at home and will go as far as Eli takes them. Depending on who you ask, it can be one-and-done or it can be all the way. The Giants have had some puzzling losses at home this season (Seahawks, Redskins) but seem to be putting everything together at the right time.

The Pick:

Give me the hometown heroes. If the Lions were coming into MetLife, I would pick them to blow the Giants' doors off. But I haven't been too fond of this Falcons team. Matt Ryan's playoff performances have been forgettable at best. I think the Giants pass rush makes this trend continue. If the Falcons don't cover Cruz, he will destroy them. That, in turn, will leave Nicks in single coverage running amuck. Just a real tough spot for the Falcons here.

Giants 20, Falcons 10

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at Denver Broncos (8-8)

The Line: Steelers by 8.5

Former Jets Involved: Jerricho Cotchery (Pit) Huge Advantage: Steelers

How the Steelers Can Win:

By being the more talented team. By being the more experienced team. By making sure the Lord doesn't strike them down on behalf of his favorite child.

How the Broncos Can Win:

Divine Intervention.

The Pick:

I know, the insight for this game is a little flimsy. You've seen all the previews for this game, and it seems to be a consensus. Denver has just played terrible football over the past month. Quarterback Tim Tebow has hurt the team way more than he's helped in that span. The Steelers are as beat up as you can possible imagine, and this spread is still hefty. If Tebow pulls off the win, God bless him. But I won't holy (last pun) my breath or cross (after-pun) my fingers.

Steelers 17, Broncos 3

Enjoy the games, everyone. Congrats to blog reader Dan McShane for going into playoff weekend as new Jeopardy champion. It's a victory for the nation as a whole.

Wild Card Weekend Preview: It's Up to You, Blue York, Blue York

2012-01-06T17:24:22Z

Week 17 has come and gone. For the first time in over two years, me and all Jets fans feel impossibly, helplessly irrelevant. Well, not completely irrelevant of course. There's always stuff like this. Sprinkled in with a little of this. Topped off with a little bit of that. And Stephen A. Smith is always looking to jump into the fun with things like this.

...a typical start to the offseason, right?

We all knew this was coming. Well...maybe not this. But there was eventually going to be a year where Rex Ryan's team couldn't back up all the talk and everyone would be red in the face. Sitting at 8-5 with the playoffs on the horizon, most thought that it wouldn't be this year. The Jets finished at a collapse-worthy 8-8 and embarrassed themselves right out of the 2011 campaign. It didn't help matters that one of the losses in the collapse was to the big brother Giants, who made mincemeat out of Gang Green on their way to re-establishing dominance over the city.

And that's where we will transition. Sure, there are plenty of grievances to address regrading the Jets. But to do so before certain events are put into action (coaching moves, inevitable player arrests, etc.) would be pure speculation. This time of the year, it's about the teams actually on the field. This weekend features four matchups that may not floor anybody, but all seem to be relatively even. The game of the week may very well be the Giants/Falcons game on Sunday afternoon. But as we've seen before (Saints-Seahawks last year, anyone?) this weekend can be partiularly....wild...at times. Lets dive right into the fun.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at Houston Texans (10-6)

The Line: Texans by 3

Former Jets Involved: Mike Nugent (Cin) and Matt Turk (Hou) Advantage: Texans

How the Bengals Can Win:

The Bengals can win because Houston is one of the most decimated playoff teams I have ever seen. First-string quarterback gone. Second-string quarterback gone. Franchise defensive player gone. Franchise wide receiver hobbled the majority of the season. But the Texans just kept clicking. Sure they caught a break that Indy took the year off. But if anybody deserves a break, isn't it the team that's been playing the past decade against Peyton Manning? But back to the Bengals. Most people thought the defense would be sufficient, but they still blew away everyone's expectations. They're in the top 10 in both pass and rush yards allowed. The offense was supposed to be the downfall of the team, but they held up their end too. A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson are two studs at wideout, and Red Rocket Andy Dalton had a sensational rookie year. Though the two best players in the game (Arian Foster and healthy Andre Johnson) both play for Houston, there can certainly be a case that Cincinnati is a more complete team than the battered Texan squad.

How the Texans Can Win:

Running the ball and playing defense. It's the only thing that's kept them alive through their string of injuries. Arian Foster is a mad man when he has the ball, and Ben Tate is just as good from the bench. Wade Phillips transformed the defense into one of the NFL's best, and they can certainly hold their own against the Bengal attack. Unfortunately, Houston's shortcoming is at the most important position. T.J. Yates is up and down to say the least. And if he were on the road this weekend, the chances of Houston winning would be far less. But as long as the Texans defense prevents any huge plays early on, the ball should go to Foster and Tate all day. And that's exactly what has worked all season long.

The Pick:

I'm taking Houston. Sure, I have a soft spot in my heart for the little guys. I'm sure it's been a long few years for them, just knowing every season that the division is pretty much out of the question (Jets fans know a little something about that.) This is the first ever playoff game for the franchise, so the fans will be pretty amped up. But take a look at Cincy's schedule and who they beat this year. Let's just say that if they were to win this game, then Houston would be the best team they've beat all year by a landslide. Both these teams were good stories in 2011, and I think the carpet ride continues for the battered bunch.

Texans 21, Bengals 13

Detroit Lions (10-6) at New Orleans Saints (13-3)

The Line: Saints by 10.5

Former Jets Involved: Jonathan Vilma (NO) Huge Advantage: Saints

How the Lions Can Win:

This game isn't rocket science. Detroit is woefully incapable of running the ball. They know they must throw it, and their opponents know they must throw it. So...how do they still do it so damn well? The Lions pile up points by the boatload, scoring at least 28 in each of their last four games. Stafford to Megatron may be the best hookup in the league, and the supplementary receivers are also quite talented. The Lions know they're going to score on the Saints. They key is providing any kind of hinderance to New Orleans' offense. Drew Brees broke all kinds of records, and he has 4-5 legitimate gamebreaking options to choose from. It's impossible to cover them all, meaning the maniacal Detroit defensive line will need to have the game of their lives. These two did play about a month ago, and the Saints cruised to a 31-17 victory. Detroit must try to address what went wrong on defense (and relatively speaking, offense.) Detroit has waited a very long time for this playoff game. They are youthful, hungry, and won't be intimidated by the hostile crowd. If the Saints want a shootout, they will get a shootout.

How the Saints Can Win:

They're at home, and they have Drew Brees. Right off the bat, that combination has produced historical results this season. Sure, the Saints defense is decent and yadda yadda, but that's not the hook in this game. The New Orleans offense hasn't been stopped in their dome this season. It hasn't even been slowed down. Whether it's Colston, Graham, Sproles, Meachem, Henderson, Moore...it's just crazy. The Saints are favored by 11.5 points. It's an enormous spread. And I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing...but last year's loss to Seattle must be mentioned at some point in this post. Yes, it was on the road in a hostile place. But games like that make you look at 10.5 point spreads and think just how enormous that margin is. As was said before, this game already happened this season. And 31 points was actually pedestrian for the Saints this season. What happens if they play to their full potential? May get ugly.

The Pick: I'm upset with this pick because it's cowardly. I expect the Saints to win. A detroit victory would actually be on par with Seattle's last season- the Saints have just been that perfect at home. But 10.5 points bothers me to the upteenth degree. I can see a sound victory to the tune of 35-27 or 30-20. But deep down I think the Lions are coming to play Saturday night. It's just been too much work over this season and over the last decade. This game is the culmination of the 0-16 season. Of the Charles Rogers pick. Of Dan Orlovsky running out of his own endzone. Of all the Thanksgiving embarrassments. This one's for KISS, Kid Rock, and Tim Allen all put together. Ah screw it, I'm all-in.

Lions 31, Saints 30

Thanks for reading, everyone! Check back tomorrow for Sunday's preview.

2012: The Pursuit of Picks Perfection

2012-01-01T17:47:49Z

Hello, all readers. And a very happy new year to everyone! This gorgeous day marks the final NFL Sunday of the regular season. Some teams are playing for nothing, some teams are playing for all the bananas. 2011 was an unmitigated disaster in terms of the blog picks. Hopefully 2012 brings an itty bit of success.

Speaking of success, that term would be the complete opposite of the Jets the last 12 months. In a year of so much aspiration and hope, today will likely be the final game for Gang Green. That is, of course, barring a miracle that I won't stop believing in until the very bitter end. One hour til kickoff, here is the final pick section of the regular season. Home team's in bold. Correct picks will be on the left.

Eagles (-7.5) over Redskins

Philly has gone into 'We're better than everyone else' mode that is sure to have people scared in 2012. Washington needs help everywhere, and would like as high a draft pick as possible. LeSean McCoy and Mike Vick may very well put on a show in front of their fans. It will be a feeble but entertaining apology for 2011.

Falcons (-10) over Bucs

Atlanta may have nothing to play for by the time this game kicks off. But Tampa just can't beat anyone these days, and it may cost Raheem Morris his job. The Falcons' backups would give Tampa a run for their money.

Rams (+11) over 49ers

Just because the year changed, it doesn't mean I should change my stance on picking against San Fran. The Niners have a bye week to secure if they win, but the Rams have been a tad frisky at home. 11 points seems like a bit overkill.

Vikings (-2.5) over Bears

The runaway winner for worst game of the week. Both teams are decimated and looking forward to 2012. Minnesota is at home so I trust them a bit more to show up. But I would avoid this game like the Plague, both in viewing and betting.

Lions (-6.5) over Packers

No groundbreaking analysis here. Aaron Rodgers and the core players are all resting. Detroit can potentially improve its playoff situation. Not terribly difficult to gauge the result.

Panthers (+7) over Saints

I don't think Carolina will win outright. But Cam Newton may put on a nice little show to bookend his sensational rookie year. This may get out of control in terms of score.

Titans (-1) over Texans

This is the game that will ruin the Jets. Besides beating Miami, the Jets need losses from Tennessee, Cincy, and one of the western squads. All are quite plausible with the exception of this game. Houston is ravaged by injury, have nothing to play for, and have next week's playoff game to worry about. The Titans are all about here and now, and will be play their little hearts out. Damn.

Baltimore (-2.5) over Cincinnati

Lock of the week? No, no that never works out. But the tenacious Ravens would love to end the Bengals' season today. Even though it's at the Jets' expense, it's hard not to root for Cincy's desperate attempt to sell out this game. They've been a feel-good team...but I don't think it has a happy ending.

Steelers (-7) over Browns

Cleveland doesn't rock.

Jacksonville (-3) over Colts

Only the Andrew Luck prognosticators will be watching this one. Indy can lock up the number one pick with a loss. Jacksonville isn't particularly great, but remember they actually beat Baltimore at home a few weeks ago. Feel good about this one.

Jets (+3) over Dolphins

Just let me perish in peace...

Bills (+10.5) over Patriots

New England's defense gets one last chance to get itself together before the playoffs. Buffalo's season really fell apart quickly, but they're still trying out there. A season sweep of the Patriots would be quite satisfying for them, and I expect them to go for it. And maybe come close.

Chargers (+3) over Raiders

I think San Diego is the more talented team. It's real shocking that Oakland is the team playing for the playoffs in this one. In what may be Norv Turner's last game of coach, the Chargers would take a great pleasure in ruining the Raider campaign.

Chiefs (+2) over Broncos

Kyle. Orton. Revenge: Redefined.

Cardinals (-3) over Seahawks

Seattle is not the same team on the road, and John Skelton's actually playing pretty well! Not much to watch in this one, other than the continuing Marshawn Lynch saga. What's the saga? I'm not exactly sure. And that's the way it should be.

Upset Perfiction of the Week

Cowboys (+3) over Giants

Sour grapes over the Battle of New York? I'll leave that for you to decide. Part of me wants to cop out and just blame this pick on my preseason prediction of Dallas to win the division. But I shall not do that. Tony Romo has played unbelievable lately. Though Eli has been no slouch, Dallas is better in an overall sense. True, the Giants beat Dallas on the road a few short weeks ago. It was a ridiculous game to be sure. I expect slightly more control tonight, but for the game to feature a different winner. Dallas goes on to the playoffs while both New York teams migrate for the winter. Humbug.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the regular season finale. Should be good, clean fun all day long.