It's On- The NFL is Back

I said (not here) that it would be a 49ers-Packers NFC championship.

And no one - no one - is more surprised than I am that I was wrong because the *Packers* lost.

Fucking Packers.

Scratch that. I *did* say it here, in post #133.

So bring it on, New York. If the Giants from SF can't win this year, then neither will the Giants from NY.

Has a 15-1 team ever lost in their first playoff game before? I don't think so. That may be the biggest playoff flop of all time. The undefeated Pats losing was the biggest Super Bowl surprise, but they at least won two playoff games to get there.

Let's see:

15-1 1984 49ers, won Super Bowl over 14-2 Dolphins
15-1 1985 Bears, won super bowl over 11-5 Patriots
15-1 1998 Vikings, lost in NFC championship to 14-2 Falcons
15-1 2004 Steelers, lost in AFC Championship to 14-2 Patriots
15-1 2011 Packers, lost in Division Round to 8-8 Giants

Yeah, one of these things is not like the others.

That being said, I expect the Pack to be nasty for a long time to come. They just seemed to take this one for granted. Yes, the Giants kicked them in the teeth, but they played like crap too - 8 or so dropped passes, Rodgers missing a wide open Finley, more fumbles than Gerald Ford trying to walk down a stair case.

Pats - Ravens. I've got a hunch that the Ravens win this one. Great O vs Great D. The only real edge here is Belicheck - but he won't be able to film the Ravens practices or hire their former head coach for this one. I just think Great D normally wins these games. Neither team is particularly notable in special teams. I'd say the Ravens O is better than the Pats D (4.6 yards a carry sucks). The Pats passing game is phenomenal, but their running game is only average. The Ravens have a better running game, and while their passing game isn't in the same league, it's OK. The Ravens clearly have the better run defense and pass defense. So my guess is a close Ravens victory, say 23-20.

Niners - Giants. This one should be nasty. That was one very impressive win against the Packers. The Giants have the better passing game, the Niners the better running game. The Niners seem to have the better overall defense, though the Giants D is better at rushing the passer. Plus the Niners are at home. Coaching is about even - Coughlin has been through the wars and knows how to get the most out of his team, and his the playoff experience advantage, but Harbaugh is the Coach of the year. The Niners have an edge at special teams - their punter is having a career year (50 yards average), and they have good return and coverage units. The Niners have one big hole though - the #2 WR has been a non-factor, with Braylon Edwards hurt, and Ted Ginn being a bust.

Hard to get a read on the Giants because they were so injured this year. They are playing great now - they already had one of the top pass rushes in a so so year, and with all their horses back now they are clearly the best D-Line. But they gave up a lot of running yards. With all their injuries in the Secondary they played great, but they still are only an average-above average secondary. Their running game was awful this year, but they seem to be playing better now. So which team shows up? The one that dominated the best team in the league, or the one that got swept, yes swept, by the Redskins? LOL.

Gut hunch is the Niners win at home, like they did in the regular season. Call it 24-17.

So my picks are a Niners-Ravens super bowl - the Harbaugh bowl.

God I couldn't believe it. Saints and Packers out. The only thing I got right was the Patriots killing Tebow.

Want to hear a joke I heard on the radio?

Rodgers, Tebow, and Brady walk into Gods throne room.

God asks Rodgers what he believes in. Rodgers says hard work and fair play. God tells Rodgers to sit on his right side.

God asks Tebow what he believes in. Tebow says believing in you and helping people. God tells Tebow to sit on his left side.

God asks Brady what he believes in.

[?=lol]Brady says, "I believe you're in my seat"[/?]

Jim Caldwell has been fired as head coach of the Colts.

Not too surprising I suppose, but definitely intriguing in the sense of what happens with Peyton now.

I think they go for the rebuild and Andrew Luck. Peyton released, signed by the Redskins. Redskins continue to suck.

I had no doubt the Colt's head coach would be let go, but the Peyton release is interesting. If I was a Quarterback sucky team, I'd get him.

I'm guessing we've already seen a Super Bowl record for number of hashtags.

Peyton to Seattle? I've heard crazier things today!

I'm beginning to think Peyton is done - there's a report out that his throwing arm is only at 60%, and fatigues quickly due to nerve damage.

Not sure if it's true, but if it's anywhere close he's not going to be close to the same guy.

Annnnnddd.... I was completely wrong.

Though it took 2 fluke plays. The dropped punt, that's just on the returner. The missed FG? A bit of chicanery helped that one out by Belicheck. Glad he lost again, he's a shithead.

After a C-spine injury and surgery, my honest advice to Peyton is to retire from football and sign on with one of the networks as a sportscaster.