OK, so anyone who read my previous post will understand why I don’t bet on Football. I can’t pick a winner, let alone cover a spread.
To summarize, I was 2-2.
My Packers/Seahawks pick was right on. Even after the Packers spotted them two touchdowns, the Seahawks were still beaten badly. As much as I like Holmgren I think he made a bad decision moving to Seattle, I don’t think he’ll ever win a championship there.
My Cowboys/Giants pick was also correct. The ‘boys peed down their leg and looked pathetic. The Giants, while not stellar, were consistent and held on for a win.
The AFC picks were another matter altogether. Either the Chargers are better than I thought, or other worries clouded the Colts. I can’t help but wonder if all this speculation about Dungy retiring was a bit of a spectre in everyone’s mind. That coupled with Harrisons obviously sub-par performance and lingering injury must have been a hit to the Colts moral. Speculate all you want about the cause, the result was that the Colts just didn’t look like the offensive powerhouse we’ve come to expect. As a result, the Chargers are headed to Foxborough.
The Jacksonville/Patriot pick was also WRONG. I wish the Jacksonville team we saw last week had showed up. Give credit to the best quarterback-protecting offensive line that the NFL has ever seen for this win. Until someone figures out how to pressure Brady, New England is probably unbeatable.
OK, with last week’s analysis done, here are my picks for the AFC and NFC Championship games.
AFC Championship
Chargers travel to Massachusetts and face the mighty Patriots. As much as it pains me, I will be rooting for Norv Turner and the Chargers, but I have no illusions about them winning this game. With LT coming off an injury and Rivers probably out, a banged up Chargers will most likely give a pathetic showing and the Pats will ascend to yet another Super Bowl.
NFC Championship
Favre and the Packers have the Giants right where they want them. New York will be traveling to the great metropolis of Green Bay Wisconsin to play the NFC Championship game on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field. The Giants could put on a good showing, but this is a year of destiny for the Pack. With mounting pressure from the world for Favre to retire, this might be their last chance to attain a world championship in some time. I expect this to be a good game, potentially close, but at the end of the day I can’t see anyone but the Packers going to the big game.
As always, this is a sad time of year. Next Sunday is really the last weekend of real football for the next 9 months or so. The Super Bowl is played in a nice warm friendly location, and the media coverage is more about the sponsors and unique advertisements than it is about the game itself.
After this weekend’s game watch for part III of my NFL predictions. Oh, and feel free to comment and put a shout out for your favorite team or player.