I picked 3 winners out of 4 in last weekend’s divisional round playoff games, with the only incorrect pick being the Giants’ big upset in Green Bay. Here are my choices for the upcoming conference title games:
New York Giants at San Francisco – it’s hard to pick against the Giants, as they are on a roll eerily similar to the one they rode to the title in 2007. The Giants have something going for them that any team needs to have to win in the modern day NFL, the ability to pressure the opposing quarterback with just their front four. They have something that the New Orleans Saints, who had record-breaking QB Drew Brees, didn’t have, that is a defense just as physical as the 49ers defense. They also have a QB with postseason experience in Eli Manning, who has the chance to double the Super Bowl ring total of older brother Peyton this year. The home field advantage will allow San Francisco to stay in the game, but I see the Giants winning in the end, with Eli supplying the fourth quarter heroics to get it done.
Baltimore at New England – if this game boils down to a Tom Brady vs. Joe Flacco shootout, then the Patriots should win easily. However, the playing field between the 2 QBs is leveled by the competence of the defenses each has to face. Brady has the tough task of trying to score against a physical Ravens’ team that should make it a long day for them. Led by veterans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, Baltimore, like last year’s New York Jets, has the defense to slow down the Pat attack, and the running game, led by Ray Rice, to control the ball and keep Brady off the field. Flacco wasn’t impressive last week in his team’s win over Houston, but he faces a much weaker D this week. New England becomes the final top team that relies on offense to falter, following New Orleans and Green Bay, and loses to the Ravens at home.
Margaret
January 20, 2012 at 9:41 am
I agree with Louise. The Pats would not have done so well against the Broncos if the Denver punter could have kicked the ball past midfield. Any QB looks good playing on half a field.
Louise
January 19, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Hope you are right about New England. They seem to find ways every year to cheat or use questionable ways to win or gain an advantage over opponents. Let’s hope Belichick doesn’t have some other cheating method up his sleeve this week. Hope the Ravens knock the snot out of the Pats!