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Even though Namath beat the Colts in the huge Super Bowl III upset, the Colts may be the only favorite that wins this weekend.
The two best NFL weekends of the year have arrived, and neither of them involves the Super Bowl. Everyone knows that the Division and Conference Championship rounds usually yield better matchups than the Super Bowl, and in my opinion, this weekend the titans will fall.
The Jaguars are in a perfect position heading into Foxboro, having won their Wild Card game in the direst of places and conditions against the Steelers and the Vegas oddsmakers making this game out to be a laugher. According to everyone else, the Jags have no chance.
Not so fast my friend.
The number one rushing offense and the number one rushing defense are coming at the Patriots. Regardless of the fact that the Patriots throw the ball, history has shown that RUSHING teams are successful in the playoffs. If the Pats cannot get a ground game going and cannot stop the Jones-Drew/Taylor tandem, then they are in big trouble. The pressure is completely on the shoulders of the Patriots. The undefeated Goliath inviting the young, upstart David to play in the giant's house. The Jags could shock everyone this weekend in what I think will come down to a much closer game than the 13 point line that Vegas is offering.
Prediction: Jags 30 Patriots 28
The other upset we may see on Saturday will be on the frozen Tundra at Lambeau. The Seattle D has come out of nowhere and simply controlled the high speed Washington offense last weekend. The offense has two achilles heels, Matt Hasselbeck's wrist and Shaun Alexander's fading ability. How the hell does a guy go from leading the league in rushing to a team's weakest point?
Ahem, see Jamal Anderson, Atlanta Falcons.
The Favre Cinderella story continues at Lambeau this weekend and though I think it will be a very close game, Mike Vick will keep his pristine record in Green Bay and the Seahawks will lose this weekend. The Packer mystique will be restored at Lambeau in January.
And Seattle kicker Josh Brown ... please, leave the battery-powered heated pants at home. Vince Lombardi is turning in his grave.
Prediction: Seattle 20 Green Bay 24
The Chargers-Colts game is the one game of the four that I don't think will even be close. In order for the Chargers to beat the Colts, at home, earlier this season, they needed Adam Vanatieri to miss a chip shot to win the game and six, count em', SIX interceptions from the humbled Peyton Manning. Basically, the Chargers need the two most reliable star players on the Colts to replicate the worst games of their careers. The Chargers don't even keep it close in the RCA Dome.
Sorry, LT, but no Gates = no offense. At least you won your first playoff game since '94?
Prediction: Chargers 17 Colts 35
The final game to wrap up the weekend features the other Manning in his quest to be relevant and respected by, well, anybody (See: Ronde Barber). Winning in Dallas is a tall task, but it could be done with T.O. at less than 100% and Jessica Simpson hiding the rafters. This will be another close one, and I think that the Giants defense is going to get to Romo. Dallas does not have much of a running game and that could spell trouble against Osi and Strahan. The Cowboys will take to the sky but with wide receivers in question, I think that this comes down to a game of field goals.
We all know what happens when Tony Romo is involved in a game with field goals...
As Charlie Brown once said, "Good grief!"
Prediction: Giants 20 Cowboys 17
It should be a fun weekend...
