And Your Super Bowl Winner Is.......

Arizona Cardinals



VS.

Pittsburgh Steelers

And The Winner Is: 34-26

Super Bowl MVP: Larry Fitzgerald , WR AZ

Analysis: Nothing to in depth, but there is no way to stop Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals passing attack unless you can get pressure up the middle. If Pittsburgh is unsuccessful in this it will be a long night for the Steelers cornerbacks who are average at best. Look for James Harrison and Troy Polamalu to have great games and capture the moment. The vaunted Steelers defense will do all it can do to keep this team in the game but at the end of the day the Steelers simply do not have enough offense.

NFL Playoffs- Championship Weekend

Last week I once again went 3-1, with my only loss being those guys from New York that wear blue. That was honestly the first time since his suspension that the Giants needed Plaxico Burress. I do have one question though: Why did you stop giving the ball to Brandon Jacobs, especially in those short yardage situations?
6. Philadelphia Eagles @ 4. Arizona Cardinals

Winner: Arizona Cardinals 33-30

Analysis: The trend of post season rematches continue in this match up to determine who will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. A hard game to pick based off the season's statistics because these two teams have morphed into completely different monsters during the playoffs. The Cardinals have found a defense and a new found dedication to Edgerrin James and the running game, meanwhile the Eagles have a rejuvenated Donovan McNabb and a team that is hungrier than it has ever been led by its spiritual leader safety Brian Dawkins. The key to success for the Cardinals will be passing blocking against the plethora of exotic blitz Jim Johnson will be sending their way all game. Everyone knows the secret to defending Kurt Warner is punching him in the mouth a couple times to get him timid in the pocket. If the Eagles can't get to Warner look for Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Bolden, & Edgerrin James to have big days. The one player who stands in the Cardinals way to Tampa is, Donovan McNabb. McNabb rarely gets sacked and is one of the premier play makers in football. Look for McNabb to put up solid numbers but Philly will need a strong effort from Brian Westbrook, who with the exception of the 70yd screen pass he caught against Minnesota has been M.I.A, in order to have a chance. The Cardinals defense has proved that they can make an offense one dimensional and when that happens they are capable of forcing turnovers and converting them into points.


5. Baltimore Ravens @ 2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Winner: Baltimore Ravens 17-14

Analysis: One more rematch for the Baltimore Ravens, this one against a team who struggled to beat them twice during the regular season. The Steelers beat the Ravens on a field goal in overtime the first time they met and the second meeting was highlighted by the controversial Santonio Holmes TD catch on the goal line. I believe the Ravens deserve to win that game but at the end of the day the referees made the right call. This game was even harder to chose than the NFC match up because these teams are mirror images of each other. Both teams are hungry and playing with a chip on their shoulder. In order for Baltimore to prevail this week they will need to Joe Flacco upright and he has to complete at least 58-61 percent of his passes, I doubt he will be able to just get by like he has the previous two games. I will give Joe Cool his credit though, he hasn't beat the team by turning the ball over and seems to make the right reads, he now just needs to make the throws. The offenses of both teams will pose as the question make in this game because we all now what both of these stellar defenses bring to the table. If the Ravens can put pressure on Ben Rothlisberger similar to that of the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles did earlier this year look for this game to get away from the Steelers even though their defense will keep them in the game for majority of it. I look for both running games to have solid days on the ground but the onus of victory falls on the quarterbacks this week. With that said, it has been proven very hard to defeat a team as good as the Ravens three times in one year.

NFL 2008 Playoff Predictions Sure To Be Correct......(NFC Divisional)

4. Arizona Cardinals @ 2. Carolina Panthers

Winner: Arizona Cardinals 31-28

Analysis: First off, I would not be shocked nor surprised if the Cardinals' pull off what many would consider to be an upset. That's why im calling it. Let's not forget in their regular season match up the Cardinals' blew two second half leads (one leaf as big as 14 points) in a game that Carolina eventually won 27-23. A botched fake field goal and turnovers spelled their demise. That Arizona team however had no commitment to the run and had no attitude on defense. Carolina's dominant back field duo of De'Angelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart is the perfect remedy for Arizona's high flying offense as they will be able to run the ball and control the clock. In Steve Smith there is always a big play waiting to happen but based on the numbers that experts like to throw out, these two teams aren't that different with the only disparities being Arizona's passing and Carolina's rushing attack. Both defenses give up about 331 yards a game, while statistically Arizona has the better rush defense at around 110 yards which is 9 less than that of the Panthers' and about of difference of 10 yards against the pass as Carolina gives up around 212 yards a game. Look for a game a lot closer than the pundits would like.

6.Philadelphia Eagles @ 1. New York Giants

Winner: New York Giants 24-17

Analysis: When these 2 teams get together you can throw the stats completely out of the window. But keep this is mind, Brandon Jacobs, who was hurt in the previous game between these two NFC East rivals is rested and healthy and cornerback Aaron Ross who missed the previous game is healthy. Maybe the biggest reason of all: all the hype and distraction of the Plaxico "Chedda Bob" Burress has died down. Eli Manning was the victim of dropped passes by Domenik Hixon, who dropped a sure touchdown pass and Steve Smith who dropped a key 4th down conversion. These two teams are evenly matched and the Eagles' come in riding a emotional high similar to that of the Giants' in their championship run last year. Donovan McNabb will keep this game close with the help of Philly's fast athletic defense led by future Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins. For Philly to keep this game close they must continue to be committed to the run because if they get pass happy, the Giants' front four alone is enough to make McNabb's day very miserable.

NFL 2008 Playoff Predictions Sure To Be Correct....(AFC Divisional Round)

Last week I went 3-1 with my only loss being the Chargers defeat of MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Shocked I was, but not surprised because San Diego seems to have the Colts number similar to the way the New England Patriots once did do to their 3-4 scheme. I personally didn't agree with many of the calls and probably the only one the got correct in overtime was the face mask on Colts linebacker Clint Sessions.

So with that said here go my predictions for the upcoming weekend......

6. Baltimore Ravens @ 1. Tennessee Titans

Winner: Baltimore Ravens 13-10

Analysis: This is my upset pick of the playoff but in a sense it wouldn't really be an upset. This is the rematch of their week 5 match up in which the Titans came back from a 10-6 deficit win on their final drive which as aided by a questionable personal foul call against the Ravens' Terrell Suggs for hitting Titans quarterback Kerry Collins in the helmet. I look for some of the same patterns that developed in that game to continue in this one as well. Baltimore's defense completely took Chris Johnson (18 carries for 44 yards) and Len Dale White (only 3 carries for 4 yards) out of the game, while the Ravens' game amassed 132 yards. The match up of the qb's (Collins 17/32 for 163 yards and Flacco 18/27 for 153 yards) was pretty much a toss up as they both threw 2 interceptions with the only touchdown being the aforementioned game winner by Collins. I look for the Ravens' defense to be even more dominant especially with the out of this world Ed Reed playing maybe the best football of his career. Look for the Ravens' to run the ball even more with the possibility of All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth not being able to go or not being at 100%.

4. San Diego Chargers @ 2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers 21-17

Analysis: The Chargers proved Saturday night that they belonged in the playoffs. Even with the questionable calls made late in the game, they managed to keep themselves in the game long before most of those calls occurred. This game will come down to who can execute best in the fourth quarter. With questions about the health of Ladanian Tomlinson (as well as his heart and toughness) look for Darren Sproles and Micheal Bennett, who came out of hiding against the Colts, to carry the load. The Steelers' top ranked D will be ready so don't look for Sproles to come anywhere close to duplicating the career numbers he posted against the Colts. Philip Rivers,who just doesn't seem to get any respect, will do all he can to keep this game close but at the end of the day the Steelers' D will prove to be too much as long as the Steelers' running game is semi effective and Ben Roethlisberger takes care of the ball against the Chargers aggressive 3-4 defense.