NFL predictions
By Michael J.W. Stickings
***UPDATES IN COMMENTS***
My beloved Steelers didn't make the playoffs this year, but I'm still excited about the two conference championship games today. And, with kick-off of the first game just minutes away, here are my predictions:
NFC
Saints 27, Bears 20 -- The cold weather and bad field should help the Bears, but I think the Saints have too many weapons on offence even for Chicago's D: Brees, Bush, McAllister, Colston, Henderson, etc. Plus, Rex Grossman is just too inconsistent a QB. Even if he doesn't lose the game for the Bears with too many characteristic turnovers, I doubt he can put together enough offence to outscore the Saints. Although, to be fair, he does have some weapons of his own to work with, and I'm not entirely convinced the Saints' D is that good. The Bears managed to secure the #1 seed in a weak conference. And they've managed to find ways to win -- that crazy come-from-behind win over the Cards comes to mind. But it's hard not to root for the Saints.
**********
AFC
Colts 30, Patriots 17 -- I hesitate to say it, but this may be Peyton Manning's year. The Pats have a solid D, but Manning should be able to spread the field out and pick apart their secondary. He's just too good not to have some success in January. I'm not a Manning fan, even if I admire his talent, but I'd like to see Marvin Harrison win. He's not only one of the best WRs of all-time but one of the classiest players in the league and a true professional. And I like Tony Dungy. On the other side, Tom Brady's a winner, and the Pats should be able to run on the Colts, but I just don't see enough offence to match what Manning should be able to engineer. As a Steelers fan, I can't say that I'm rooting for either team. I just hope it's a good game.
***UPDATES IN COMMENTS***
My beloved Steelers didn't make the playoffs this year, but I'm still excited about the two conference championship games today. And, with kick-off of the first game just minutes away, here are my predictions:
NFC
Saints 27, Bears 20 -- The cold weather and bad field should help the Bears, but I think the Saints have too many weapons on offence even for Chicago's D: Brees, Bush, McAllister, Colston, Henderson, etc. Plus, Rex Grossman is just too inconsistent a QB. Even if he doesn't lose the game for the Bears with too many characteristic turnovers, I doubt he can put together enough offence to outscore the Saints. Although, to be fair, he does have some weapons of his own to work with, and I'm not entirely convinced the Saints' D is that good. The Bears managed to secure the #1 seed in a weak conference. And they've managed to find ways to win -- that crazy come-from-behind win over the Cards comes to mind. But it's hard not to root for the Saints.
**********
AFC
Colts 30, Patriots 17 -- I hesitate to say it, but this may be Peyton Manning's year. The Pats have a solid D, but Manning should be able to spread the field out and pick apart their secondary. He's just too good not to have some success in January. I'm not a Manning fan, even if I admire his talent, but I'd like to see Marvin Harrison win. He's not only one of the best WRs of all-time but one of the classiest players in the league and a true professional. And I like Tony Dungy. On the other side, Tom Brady's a winner, and the Pats should be able to run on the Colts, but I just don't see enough offence to match what Manning should be able to engineer. As a Steelers fan, I can't say that I'm rooting for either team. I just hope it's a good game.
posted by Michael J.W. Stickings at
3:00 PM
15 Comments:
I'll leave a few updates here in comments.
Half-time of the Bears-Saints game. Turnovers will kill you. And the Saints would be doing a whole lot better if they hadn't fumbled the ball away. Although I'm convinced that second one was a bad call (even after replay). The Saints look like they have the stronger offence, though, and I expect them to do better in the second half (how good are Brees and Colston?). A concern for the Saints, though, is how well Thomas Jones ran the ball on the Bears' TD drive. They have to shut down the run and force Grossman to beat them.
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 4:44 PM
Okay, so it's over. Basically. 32-14, and the Bears just intercepted Brees.
The Saints offence is impressive, and it looked good early in the second half, but, again, it's all about turnovers today. The Bears haven't turned it over and have committed no penalties.
But how bad is Grossman? Except for the drive that ended with the TD pass to Berrian, he's been lousy all day. 4 for 18 at one point, or something like that. Imagine how good the Bears would be if they had a real QB.
In my last comment, I said that the Saints should force Grossman to beat them through the air. What I didn't take into account was just how bad a CB Fred Thomas is. There's no way he can cover Berrian, and that drive proved it. His defence on the TD catch was particularly awful.
So now I suppose I'm hoping for a Bears-Colts Super Bowl. I'd love to see the overrated Bears go up against a team from the AFC that can destroy them.
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 5:57 PM
Rex Grossman isn't exactly Trent Dilfer, but he doesn't need to be if his defense can force that many turnovers and keep the other team's defense out of the field all day. I'd like to see Peyton Manning finally have a good playoff game (why aren't you a Manning fan, Michael?), and see a Colts-Bears Superbowl. But it will be interesting either way.
By
., at 6:35 PM
Let's hope this next game is more competitive. Grossman aside, the last game was pretty good until the Saints imploded in the fourth quarter.
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 6:36 PM
Sure, a Bears-Pats Super Bowl would be interesting given how thoroughly the Bears dismantled the Pats in '85. I suspect a "rematch" would be closer. But I'd love to see how the Bears D does against the Colts O.
I didn't think the Bears D was dominant today, though. (And, to be fair to Rex, he didn't throw any INTs today, even if his completion ratio sucked. But how would he do against a better secondary?)
As for Manning, look, he was my fantasy QB this year, and I often find myself admiring him the way I admire, say, Tiger Woods or Roger Federer or Kobe/LeBron/Wade or, increasingly, Sidney Crosby (a truly amazing hockey player). But there's just something about the Mannings that turns me off. Peyton doesn't pout the way his brother does, but he seems to be a great QB is meaningless games and a mediocre one in meaningful games.
We'll see what happens today...
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 6:43 PM
Oh, Peyton's definitely come up short in big games, but he seems like a likable enough person. I agree he doesn't have, well, the three Superbowl rings Brady does, but I'd like to see him win (unlike, I don't know, Kobe).
By
., at 7:11 PM
Well, I'd like to see Harrison win one. But Peyton's so good it would be a shame if he kept coming up short.
And I wouldn't lump him in with Kobe either. Is it because Peyton didn't rape someone?
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 7:19 PM
Yeah, the rape thing definitely counts against Kobe. Even more than breaking up a dynasty to satisfy his own delusional ego.
By
., at 7:23 PM
Oh, right, that too.
So much for a good game so far. The Pats looks pretty good, and the Colts, on both sides of the ball, look completely outmatched.
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 7:47 PM
Well, the Colts were on a roll before that long kickoff return by Hobbs. And what a catch by Gaffney in the endzone. (And a good call by the refs.)
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 9:13 PM
Just think if Vinatieri ends up kicking the winning field goal
By
., at 9:22 PM
I just momentarily turned on the sounds. Jim Nantz is the poor man's Bob Costas, but I can't decide which I hate more.
By
., at 9:25 PM
Costas is much more full of himself. Especially when he goes all traditionalist with baseball.
Where's the Pats' D on this drive? And now a roughing the passer penalty?
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 10:09 PM
And it's over...
The Pats blew it on that last drive, giving up big play after big play and then allowing Addai to go into the endzone almost without being touched. But I suppose Peyton and the Colts deserve some praise. Peyton didn't have a great game, but they finished off a "historic comeback" (Nantz's words) against a pretty good team.
But now what?
Bears-Colts. Oy. For whom to root? I don't like either team. I suppose the Bears, but there's no way Rex should win a Super Bowl. But I just can't stand the thought of Manning (and the whole Manning clan) winning one either.
By
Michael J.W. Stickings, at 10:23 PM
Why do you hate the Mannings so much? Even I've gotten over Eli's little draft day temper tantrum, especially since he's so royally screwed being on the Giants.
By
., at 10:29 PM
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