The Divisional round of the playoffs had three blowouts and one tight game, and left us with a championship weekend that has two of the most intriguing games of the playoffs.
The two top teams from most of the season in the NFC will square off, and the AFC matchup pits the top defense in the league against an offense led by the league’s MVP.
Without further adieu, here’s a closer look at each game.
Sunday, 1 p.m. MST
NEW YORK JETS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
TV: CBS
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: The AFC Championship provides a matchup between one of the best offenses in the league — the Indianapolis Colts — and statistically the best defense in football — the New York Jets.
The Jets play a style of football that many believe is the formula to win championships — they have the No. 1 rushing attack in the league and the No. 1 defense. It has proven successful through the first two rounds of the postseason, as they defeated the Bengals by 10 points in the Wild Card round and upset the Chargers by a field goal last week.
The Colts are led by league MVP Peyton Manning, who completed 30 of 44 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 20-3 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Indianapolis has shown that with a leader like Manning, it can win games no matter the situation — like when it held the ball for over 33 minutes last week, or less than 15 minutes in a victory in Week 2.
Manning has plenty of weapons at his disposal, from receivers Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie to tight end Dallas Clark to running back Joseph Addai. The talented Jets defense will have its hands full against such offensive talent, but then again the Chargers boasted a top offense last week, and New York came out victorious.
It will be billed as a matchup between the Colts offense and Jets defense, though the ability of Indianapolis’ defense to slow down the New York rushing attack, and rookie Mark Sanchez’s ability to play smart throughout the game could be what decides the contest.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Revis has said he will rotate receivers throughout the game, trying to slow down the Colts passing attack. All signs point to him lining up against Wayne for much of the game, and if he is able to keep him in check, it could go a long way toward the Jets leaving the field with a W.
Sunday, 4:40 p.m. MST
MINNESOTA VIKINGS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
TV: FOX
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: The NFC Championship looks on paper like it should be one of the more entertaining games of the season. The Vikings and Saints put up a combined 79 points and 741 net yards of offense in the divisional round of the playoffs, so offensive fireworks could ensue with a trip to Miami on the line.
In the Vikings’ previous game, Brett Favre threw for four touchdowns, three of which went to Sidney Rice. In the Saints’ victory, Drew Brees tossed three touchdowns to three different receivers. Athough both quarterbacks have put together MVP-caliber seasons, the running game could play just a big a role in the championship game.
Last week, Reggie Bush rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown in addition to his punt return touchdown for the Saints. On the Minnesota side, Adrian Peterson managed just 63 yards rushing last week, but he ranked fifth in the league with 1,383 rushing yards during the regular season, and is always a threat for a homerun.
Occasionally overlooked in this offensive battle are two defenses that provide a lot of problems for opposing teams. The Vikings boast a ferocious pass rush led by defensive end Jared Allen, and two run stuffing defensive tackles in the middle in Pat and Kevin Williams. Meanwhile, the Saints pass defense snared 26 interceptions — good for third in the league — returning five of them for touchdowns. The unit also returned three fumbles for touchdowns, giving them the msot defensive touchdowns in the league.
Needless to say, there should be a lot of excitement come the second game on Sunday.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Saints safety Darren Sharper. Sharper tied for the NFL lead with nine interceptions in the regular season, and kept the playmaking going in the divisional round of the playoffs, recovering a fumble on the Cardinals’ second posession of the game. The veteran safety, who played with Favre as a Packer and against him as a Viking, certainly knows some of the Vikings quarterback’s tendencies, so watch to see if he can lure Favre into a mistake or two.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Playoff Preview
I think McD should also hire himself to be the ST coach so it will be done right…. I wonder if he’ll have any time to become the GM and Executive VP of the Bronco fan club?
We could really use some leadership in this club….lol
At least Greek is still around! There is NO way McD can get rid of him. Right?!?
You guys are like the daily news, depressing. LOL.
McD could score some points in my book if he hires Romanowski!
maybe it just me but y would we get rid of our best off player in marshall me i think the media is blow it up hope josh mcd dont do that from the shall of the team we need to inprove not get wrose and we need to get some better o line member and hopeful we have a great draft and we finally make the playoff so we can be the fans who cheer for our team THE DENVER BRONCOS
I have to go with bay on this one. I don’t care if Marshall is on this team next year or not. I think we will have success next year either way. Marshall leaving could bring in a new wave of talent to the Broncos. Him staying will help Orton in the passing game.
It doens’t matter who comes or goes. All I know is that I will root for whatever Broncos team goes on the field on Sunday. I hope you all feel the same.
Remember Gaffeney can catch almost just as well and run after the catch just as well. He can’t bulldoze or jump as good though. He could maybe get 21 catches in a game if Kyle really wanted to. Either way we have had success with or w/out him and we will success with or w/out him. It isn’t just one player who wins games or championships it is a team effort. I wish he would stay but whatever happens, happens and I hope it is great whatever happens.
Go Broncos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t know that Romanowski applied for the Denver HC job after Shanny was fired. Probably old news for the rest of you but I just found that out. I think he could be a good DC, he was the DC for the his kids high school football team. He could turn our LBs into beasts just like he was. I’ll never forget him spitting in T.O’s face LOL!!!!
I don’t know who is responsible for starting these totally unfounded rumors about Romanowski as a possible replacement for our DC position. All this stuff happened back in January of 2009, and nothing came of it. I haven’t heard or seen a single rumor to this effect this year, if anyone has, please enlighten me. And if I don’t hear a thing back, I’ll assume is just bogus, which it probably is.
it’s just bogus…
I think someone just stated that they would like Romanowskit to be our DC.
*Romanowski*
It was sndvl, you’re probably right, all it is is a wish.
It’s a nice wish that sndvl came up with, but doesn’t appear very likely unless someone is really keeping it quiet. I just wish they would hire the new DC already. Maybe IF they give it to Martindale, someone will give Romanowski a call to offer the LB coach position. That would also be great in my book. It can’t hurt to dream.
sndvl
Hire Romanowski??? Great idea!!!! What an example he’s set for Broncos, spits in ther face of an ex teammate, attacks and destroys the career of a teammate, takes any performance enhancing drug that either is not currently banned or can’t be detected. Yes sir!!! That’s that the example I would certainly want our Broncos to be able to look up to!
You aren’t really serious are you????
I’m happy thought that at least they’re not jumping on the first DC that is available and throwing money at him. I know they went for Pees initially but he’s most likely out of the running. They could just be working out all the details and red tape with Martindale.
Even better, maybe they are starting talks with the DC’s from Minnesota or the Jets, or waitind to talk to the DC’s from the Saints or the Colts, which could bring Larry Coyer back to Denver. I’d rather be shooting for the top than settle from within. The longer they wait on this one the more intriguing it gets.
I think that is why we haven’t hired a DC yet. If Pees would’ve said yes..done deal. I think baylinorcrush you may be on to something. Maybe we are waiting until the official end of the season and then start looking again.
PEES SIGN WITH THE RAVENS AS LB COACH… Hmmmmmm!!!!
Yeah, maybe they are waiting to talk to Coyer. He and his wife still have a home in Aurora. This could make it easier to get him here if they really are trying to lure him back.
So the news about Pees is still not confirmed by the Ravens yet, but I wonder what they would do with their current LB coach, Vic Fangio, then. He has DC experience with Houston and Indy.
He was DC at Carolina too.
WHAT IS THIS TALK ABOUT COYER? HE RUNS THE 4-3 NOT THE 3-4…..
I REALLY NEED HELP!
Someone on here made some good highlights of Knowshon Moreno.
WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR FOOTAGE?????
I ask because in my Tech Seminar class, we do projects. I want to make some highlights of the Broncos, but have no way of finding film to do so
If you, or someone else can reply, please do so.
Thanks! and I hope they don’t take off this comment
Bay,
All those guys are strictly 4-3 guys.
too bad the packer’s DC is currently employed.
Yeah Larry Coyer would be great to bring back to denver but I think he is Caldwells best friend or something and I do know he really wanted to coach with caldwell, and he was caldwell first choice. Im not saying we cant bring him in but it would be a little surprising if we did. I could see maybe jets coachs or minnesota’s coachs, but I do know there wont be any talks with romanoski, espically with steroids thing, I wouldnt see any mlb team bringing Jose conseco, because of the chaos with it, same would go for romanoski
*laughs at the post about gaffney being just as good as Marshall..
I would like to see a promotion within the organization, chemistry is already there with most of the players and players dont need to learn another different playbook and philosophy
and we wouldnt want to go back to 4-3 defense, I dont think anybody in the team wants to run a 4-3 defense, I know I want denver to stay a 3-4 hybrid defense,
Our team has had December slides over that last 4 years. 6-14 in December since their last winning month in 2005. Obviously something needs to be changed. We have tried 4 different DC’s, with the same results. So now on to number 5. Yes, I have stated that I would like to see Romanowski. It was nothing more than a wish!
Romanowski came to mind simply because I knew he applied for the head coaching job. Yes he has issues. But in fairness, doesnt our current head coach. He also has that nastiness, that our team lacks down the stretch. Not to mention he has some good ideas. You should look at his proposal as how he would run a team. Sure he spit at a player. Sure he punched a Raider teamate(who really wants to make a big deal about that. those a-holes cheap shot us every chance they get. did you see Clady getting his hair yanked this year?). Sure the performance enhancing thing came to light. How many people want to talk about the EAS era.
This is the point Im trying to convey. We need a dark horse candidate. A new fresh perspective. Isnt that why McD was hired? Romo fits that bill. Again its just a wish. Not to mention a change of topic. I know everybody here is tired of B-Marsh stay or go, McD stay or go and whether or not Orton should be 1st or 2nd string.
Broncobailey-
If you don’t already have it, download Mozilla Firefox, also download a add on called Download helper its a program that you can find on Mozilla website. Then go to youtube or any other website that has videos and find the video you like ,you notice there are three balls near the bookmark at the top of the page. Click the down arrow and download “insert whatever name of video is.flv or .mp4″
Just make sure you give credit to NFL for the footage.
Jde-07
3-4 is way more flexible. In 4-3 You always know who is coming at the QB. (the dline) Any one more would be a blitz. In the 3-4 the 3 linemen blitz and then a forth man can come from any where. It keeps the offense on their toes.
You know McD was around for the spygate thing. Isnt that considered cheating?
In the 4-3 you can drop the DEs into coverage and have a delayed blitz, but I agree the 3-4 is more flexible just ask Doom.
Romo was doing more then the eas era, both him and his wife were bust for steroids, not peds, first his wife was busted during some beauty thing I cant remember, then he was busted not too long after that is when he had his little roid rage fit and shatter that guys orbital bone, but yeah I agree with you with that not caring because it was a raider and probally deserved it, but I think if Romo wants a head coaching job or good starting point for a job would be with raiders, I know al davis is looking and really isnt that picky on who is coach because he is going to can them in 2 years anyway
I dont think it was steroids they were busted for. It was weight loss supplements. If memory serves me correct
I want us to stay in 3-4 scheme, I wanted to go to a 3-4 scheme about 5 years ago, I thought was some the reasoning of letting trevor pryce go to ravens is so we could convert to a 3-4 but it never happened with shanny and I think is what ultimately got him fired in the end,
he is a link for romo http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2190441
Hey, If Mark McGuire can return to coaching after his saga…
Mark McGwire is totally different person then Romo is, and hitting a baseball does take more then just brut strength, I takes amazing hand and eye cordination, I think McGwire is great idea for a hitting coach, now him hitting some home runs that havent landed yet yeah that something to do with roids
What I said earlier is simply meant that the fact we have not yet named a DC could be because we are waiting to interview coaches of teams still in the running, or that lost last week, so we can talk to them as you are not allowed to do so while they are still in it. Whether they are 4-3 or 3-4 D’s doesn’t tell the whole story as McD could be looking not only at HC’s but also coaches who may not be HC’s like LB coaches or other assistant coaches and may fit what McD is looking for. It’s definitely a possibility and since no one has addressed it, I thought I would do so.
By HC I mean DC.
Whether it is a 3-4 or a 4-3, it is the players that make the defense work, not the schemes. Having the right players is the key for whatever defense is run. I also like the 3-4 because of its versatility and allowing for getting more pressure on the QB and such. Whatever DC gets the job will have to be capable of running the 3-4, and it does not matter if he is a 4-3 coach, he just better be able to get the job done. Just my opinion
That being said, after the report that Pees is the new Ravens LB coach, the D.P. is saying that Martindale is the front runner for the job. If that’s the case, the fact that Pees is now off the table should make the Martindale hiring imminent, like by Friday latest. If he is not hired by then, my theory above gains a lot of credence, IMO.
What would bum me out about a Martindale promotion to DC is that he is clearly NOT McD’s first choice, that much is clear.
It would be like “we did the best we could with what was available” type of thing (meaning we couldn’t get the ones we were hoping for).
I know if I were Martindale, I would use that as motivation to show them how good I can be.
Or you could use that as demotivation and throw a fit like Cutler.
Or maybe Cutler was onto something with his “mistrust” of McD?
sndvl, I bet you are a great tennis player since your favorite thing to do is to put the ball back into the other guy’s court, all the time, relentlessly, like all great tennis players do. LOL. Only question is, they do it for a few hours at a time, how long can you last, you’ve been at it for a couple weeks straight already!!! LOL.
No I’m pretty sure it was because he was a cry baby. He’s under a new system, new coaches, new teammates, and he still has that cry baby mentality. Just watch his postgame interviews with the Bears, you’d never guess that he even changed teams.