AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
BALTIMORE RAVENS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
I’m trying to think how the Ravens will be able to beat the Patriots in Foxborough. Barring at least one significant injury, I can’t.
The Patriots are simply too hungry, too powerful and too good.
In 17 games this season, the Patriots have scored 30 points or more 13 times, including eight times in the last nine games. Gulp.
New England simply poses too many matchup problems. If a team were to double-team Rob Gronkowski, good luck with Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez. If a team were to somehow double-team two of those guys, good luck with the other one, not to mention Deion Branch or a group of running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield.
In addition, Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady does a terrific job of rendering even a talented pass rush somewhat slower by how quickly he goes through his progressions and gets rid of the football.
Even with a minimal running game at best, Brady has been able to buck conventional wisdom and put up astounding numbers. He is simply too good. He simply has too many weapons.
More importantly, he, along with his teammates, seems unbelievably focused on bringing another Lombardi Trophy back to team headquarters. When Brady gets “that look,” he is usually as close to unstoppable as an NFL player can get.
The Ravens’ defense is still very good, ranking third in the NFL by allowing only 16.6 points per game. But this just isn’t any other game against any ‘ole team. This is the AFC Championship…against the vaunted Patriots…in the Patriots’ house.
Very good won’t be good enough for Baltimore. New England rolls into Super Bowl XLVI.
NEW ENGLAND 34, BALTIMORE 17
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW YORK GIANTS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
After 17 years, the 49ers will return to football’s Promised Land. It won’t be easy, but then again, getting to the Super Bowl is usually an arduous survival of the fittest. And San Francisco will be the fittest, but the margin will be small.
One has to respect how the Giants are able to get pressure on the quarterback with their front four. Whenever they make a run in the playoffs, this seems to be a key component to their success. They did a great job of making Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers uneasy last weekend. In the Wild Card round two weekends ago, they simply abused Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan.
But the 49ers are a different animal. While quarterback Alex Smith has been solid, but typically unspectacular (save for last week against the Saints), the 49ers horse it up and run the ball. They run it to the tune of 127.8 yards per game, eighth in the NFL.
The Packers haven’t been able to run the ball consistently the entire season. Clearly that has not been the case with the 49ers. I’m not saying San Francisco will run over New York. The Giants have a way of playing tough in the postseason. They allowed, however, 121.2 rushing yards per game during the regular season.
The 49ers’ rushing attack will keep the Giants’ defensive line honest. That should open up play-action for Smith, who showed against New Orleans that he is capable of putting up big numbers on the big stage.
Beyond the San Francisco offense, the 49ers’ defense has been nothing short of sensational this year. While quarterback Eli Manning is playing well for the Giants right now, he hasn’t faced the 49ers’ defense. The 49ers flat-out get after it. That will continue Sunday against the Giants.
It’s one thing to have a good drive against the 49ers. The Giants might have one of those here and there. But it’s another thing completely to have a good game against that defense. That won’t happen. By any measure, the 49ers have one of the elite defenses in the NFL. They allow 14.3 points per game (2nd in the league), 308.2 yards (4th) and 77.3 yards rushing (1st). There is no reason to think the Giants will do much better than the numbers suggest.
As if they need one other advantage, the 49ers will be at home. It will be a physical battle. But it will be a San Francisco treat Sunday at Candlestick Park. The 49ers march on to the Super Bowl.
SAN FRANCISCO 23, NEW YORK 17
Tags: AFC Championship Preview, Mike Rice, NFC Championship Preview
Kirkpatrick is a Helluva DB,I’d be satisfied with him or Hightower!!!!
Ya’ll might be right though. Last time John Fox picked 25th was in 2007. That pick was Jon Beason. Who should be a FA if im not mistaken!!!!!!
im on the east coast now. lol 11:33
I dont think they gonna give up on Nate Irving. So that’s why I don’t think MLB will be high on our draft board!!
Where about 007?
Im in DC right now!!!!!
We need a MLB or Irving to step up in training camp….we are hurting so bad at that position with Mays,imo!
Oh GodDamn……..DC is messed up bro,I been there one time,and swore I’d never go back again……..feel sorry for you and TRB!!!!!!!!
I think we killed the Damn blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well I kill it all the time!!!!!!
lol It’s ok not that bad. Gotta be in MD in the morning.
Im bout to be out myself. You have fun and be safe out there. im out
007…..be safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You guys clearly did not see the sarcasm lol.
You know I never thought the day would come I would log onto the internet to ask for help but here goes…..I have just found out my beloved Mother in Law, Ginger, has Leukemia. It literally happened yesterday. I am going to ask, beg, pled, and kindly request that anyone that sees this, prays for her on whatever level. Pls pray for Heather, my partner, as well so she can stay strong and focused to keep her Mom in the best spirits. So anyone whom cares, pray anyway and pass it on to everyone. Ginger Lewis is my Mom in Law and we need your prayers. Life is precious cherish it.
0723…I get it..lol.
jj…life is here until it is tooken from you…then it is gone…you are right cherish it!!!!!!
Night all!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Night all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
night bfe. what a day of games. best championship sunday i can remember in quite awhile. but i will go for the giants in the superbowl. i think the pats will take it by about 6 tho. hoppe they get smashed but feel like they’ll win. cant wait either way.
Patriots/Giants…………………told ya so!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Giants will win the SB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m a poet and didn’t know it…I make it rhyme everytime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Morning Everyone……..
What an amazing Championship Sunday it was. Both games were electrifying, right down to the finish.
Ravens gave the pats all they could handle. Cundiff is the goat, but I think Lee Evans should be wearing the horns in this one. Allowing the pats defender to strip the ball in the endzone like that is inexcusable.
And I’ve never been much of an Eli fan…………but man, I got to give the guy some major props. He’s been so overly critisized all his career but he just keeps playing, and playing hard at that. He gets knocked down and gets right back up and makes plays. He’s shown a lot of toughness both mentally and physically.
It’s going to be one helluva super bowl and I can’t wait! And to whoever it was that said we make them sick cause we’re excited about the SB even though the broncos aren’t in it…………COME ON MAN! We’re all hardcore football fans….not just broncos fans……….and just face it, our team wasn’t good enough to make it this far…….
It’s funny how many times Coughlin has been on the verge of being fired………I think even this year they were calling for his head at a couple points………..and now he’s heading back to the SB. His job will be safe again……….until they go on a 4 game losing streak next year! hahaha
Judging by the caliber of the games yesterday I’d say the right 4 teams were battling it out for the Super Bowl. Agree with killerkod, two great games.
I have to feel bad for Williams of the 49ers, just trying to make something happen and two costly turnovers on punt returns. I think it could be a good Super Bowl, I am not a Patriots fan at all, so go Giants!
the four teams that played yesterday all had very good Ds. I feel bad for the Ravens and 49ers. It suck too lose like that.Alot of missed calls in the Ravens game. Pass inter. the play b/4 the missed FG.
Yeah, gotta feel for him……….he had the ball tucked pretty tight………I think it was more of an awesome strip rather than a bad fumble. But at that point of the game, there’s no excuse. That play lost the game for his team………..tough.
The giants D are bada$$……….Brady is going to get his fill of laying on the turf in the SB. His TE’s got pretty banged up yesterday too so I think it’s going to be a pretty close game.
I don’t think he’ll have to rely on an insane helmet catch this time round. lol
It almost looked as though Evans maintained control of the football in the endzone before it was stripped……….maybe another second would’ve deemed it a score. Either way……….he should’ve held on to the ball………….given the magnitude of the catch.
As a lot of coaches say it boils down to “guys going out and making plays.” You’re either ready to make plays or you’re not and given the magnitude every dropped catch, missed assignment, turnover, and penalty are magnified.
I think it is interesting how the umpire for the Patriots/Ravens game has called the most roughing the passer calls all season. I’m sure the Patriots hooked that up somehow.
BFE,
DC is pretty great man. I like it at least. If you are not a frequent resident and try to drive in DC, I gaurantee u will get lost tho. Live in MD but im in DC all the time. Its like a stones throw away. northern VA too. Thats why we call it the DMV.
JJ, Best wishes man. Terminal illnesses are hard on everyone not just the one with it.
I still wouldn’t call Eli Elite but I think he has earned it I suppose (if we call brett farve elite) … they both inconsistent. One year INTs up the wazooo. The next year pretty good. Then repeat. But kudos to Eli. Still don’t like him but he has earned it. Earlier in the year he said he was elite in the ranks of Brady and everyone laughed at him … the same brady he beat in the superbowl once before and what did he do? he took his team to the superbowl again. Agaisnt Brady. I suppose we shouldn’t have laughed him off the stage at the begining of the year.
TRB
It seems like our game against the Pats was like a month ago. I can’t hardly believe it was just last week. I’ve never been so impressed by the fundamentals of tackling as I was watching the Niners defense. I think they’re so good because they don’t miss any tackles. Literally, I don’t recall even one. Tough loss for both losing teams. Goes to show you how important depth is and how important every player is who steps on the field is.
Brian
The patriots always seem to have refs that give them calls that go their way. While this wasn’t the reason the ravens lost and they had the chance to win at the end. In the first qaurter, there was an INT called pass interference … it wasn’t … it was just incedental contact. But things always goes the patties way.
And it always comes down to the players … thats why at times I try not to blame the coach. Execution. Any coach will tell you that picking plays is like chess … especially on Defense … u see the formation they are planning to run, and u counter with a defensive play … sometimes u pick the right play and sometimes u don’t but at the end of the day … the play doesn’t tell the story … it comes down to player execution and players playing it right and using instinct to sniff out deception and predicting plays.
TRB
I did think the Ravens, for the most part, played the no huddle pretty well. That can really take a turn on teams and they countered it decent. Countered it much better than we did.
And now the Raiders have more folks to look at for their HC job, bet they are setting up interviews with either SF or Baltimore right now, if it were me I ‘d bring in the DC from SF, right across the street too, seems like it would be the ideal thing for both parties, plus us, we would keep Allen for sure.
Not unless the Packer-Raider era ushers in something new … i believe the Raiders will continue to be an offensive team. I doubt they hire a DC. But 49ers coach maybe a good selection … good for us because we keep allen … bad for us because well … he might be a very capable HC.
TRB
You guys are over analyzing the ref thing as always, if anything the refs have a tendency to be more leanient towards the home team is all, and I personally thought the Giants got the bad end of most of the calls this week, not the Ravens.
But I get it, with some of you guys it’s always the team that lost that didn’t get the calls, whatever, yesterday the Giants did not get the calls and they won, go figure…
TRB, you are thinking Al Davis Raiders, the O thing, this is not the same Raiders this is McKenzie’s Raiders and they already brought in quite a few DCs in for interviews, including ours, so don’t be surprised if they go DC minded HC at all, best way of changing the mentality around in Raider Nation for McKenzie.
I just thought it was interesting anecdote about the ref, since the “Brady Rule.” I’ve come to the conclusion that there have been, are, and will always be missed calls. When they hurt your team, they’re bad, when they help your team, they’re good.
Williams and Cundiff gotta form a country band together, singing all kinds of sad tunes….
BTW, dark day for all of us Elway fans.
He is no longer the only QB to go to 5 SBs.
Now Brady will join him.
And not only that but even if he loses he will beat John.
Because he would be 3-2 and John was 2-3.
Real bummer, I’m running out of amunition about my Elway when talking to other teams fans.
And Eli is Elite if I ever saw one, to say he is not is just denial in my opinion. Plus Elite Eli was meant to be, like it or not, LOL.
I’ve got no friends in even the low places so come own down to the Free Agents…ohh I got no friends…
baylinorcrush: You have to also remember Elway played in a different “era” if you will. He played in a league where a season knee injury to the QB wouldn’t get a dumb rule made after him. He also played in a league where the WR weren’t protected. While Brady is a great QB, I think comparing the two is comparing apples to oranges as far as accomplishments.
It all makes you wonder what would’ve happened if Bledsoe didn’t get hurt that year……would Tom Brady even be with the pats? Would he have even become a starting QB?
TRB says:
What I didn’t want was any team in the superbowl that we have seen too much. And yet … here we go. Even worse … its a rematch. Snore.
All last night I kept saying we are going to get one of the best SB match up we ever got, the “Revenge” SB, the ideal story line the likes of it hardly ever seen.
And Woody says:
The AFC and NFC championship games Sunday were masterpiece theater.
The first outcome wasn’t certain for 59 minutes, 49 seconds. The second took even more time. One was decided by a missed field goal; the other was determined on a made field goal. Three points difference in both.
And the New teams — New England and New York — finally prevailed to have a chance to settle an old score.
Déj… Redo.
Patriots and Giants in what the Romans affectionately would call Eximius Scaphium XLVI.
The 46th Super Bowl that should be worthy of the name.
Those two classics Sunday will wake up Naptown.
The Giants-Patriots, Eli Manning-Tom Brady rematch from four years ago seems appropriate, after all.
This one has curb appeal.
Amazing how folks can view the exact same thing in a completely different light. No wonder we should never talk politics or religion, LOL.
Bold Presiction: (this may be hard to substantiate if it takes place behind closed doors) The Broncos will make a move for the #1 pick.
I understand all that Brain, but ultimately all QBs are measured by SBs, no matter what century they played in. Bradshaw is still the only one with 4 wins and now Brady might also match that.
Elway was the greatest to ever play the position in my book and nothing will ever change that, not even Tebow disciples, LOL, but SB accomplishments are what they are and they will be set in stone forever.
A bold prediction to be sure to rattle Tebow fans everywhere, LMAO!
I liked it better when Elway was the only QB to go to 5 SBs, I can’t be the only one?
I hear ya baylinorcrush, and you’re right Super Bowls is what every team is judged by. I just think if Elway had the protection that QBs have today he may have been able to play for a few more seasons.
Tebow hasn’t showed anything near what Elway has…and *cough*..never..*cough* will.