Hi all,
As I'm sure you were all waiting for, this is my thoughts on both the AFC and NFC championship games. Well let's start with the NFC: The Bears and Packers. This game was one that really surprised me, I did not see it ending the way it did. This was a great match up between two great teams. The Packers seemed to be more in tune and on point in this game as they jumped out early to a quick 14-0 lead and held it till late into the game. The Bears ran into trouble early with Jay Cutler going down with a knee injury as well as a bloody elbow on his throwing hand. Which brought in the backup who was just as ineffective as Cutler. One of the biggest mistakes that they could have possibly made was putting in the third stringer, Caleb Hanie. This was the last QB on the roster and meant that Jay Cutler or Todd Collins could not come back into the game regardless. They got lucky in that Hanie didn't go down and get hurt because they would have been forced to put other bodies back there to try and play quarterback. For the most part Hanie had a great game and made little mistakes for a third stringer. He only threw 2 interceptions one of which he didn't even see the linemen standing there, and that one was returned for a touchdown which gave the Packers a 21-7 lead. The second one was more critical in that it was at the end of the game with seconds remaining and the Bears were driving to tie the game and send it into overtime. Hanie had no where to go with the ball and there was tons of pressure in his face and he tried to squeeze the ball into tight coverage. This ended up ending the game with one Packers knee to let the clock run out and send them to the Super Bowl to face the winner of the Steelers and Jets, which I will be getting to that game now.
The AFC Championship game was one of the better games, as I thought it would be. The Steelers and Jets were playing for the second time this season. The Jets got the better of the Steelers during the regular season and Pittsburgh was looking to avenge that loss and come out strong. They did just that. Pittsburgh came out and put points on the board on their first drive all the way down the field and took over 8 minutes off the clock. The Jets offense came out and looked a little off or maybe even tired out from the big time win of the Patriots in the Divisional round. Either way at the end of the first half the score was 24-3 Steelers. New York came out in the second half and looked like they had new life being down so much and not wanting to go down more. They came out and got a big time play and a catch by Santonio Holmes. There was a break down in coverage with Ike Taylor who fell down on the play. This brought the score to 24-10 and the Jets had new life. The Steelers defense was not about to give up and made a great stop on the next Jet's possession on the one yard line. This came back to hurt Pittsburgh when they fumbled the snap with Marcus Pouncey getting hurt in the first quarter. This gave the Jets a safety and the ball, which they then brought the ball down the field late in the game to score again, which would be the final, 24-19. But the Steelers defense wouldn't let them down yet again and made a big time stop and gave Ben and the offense the ball back where they were able to kill the clock and win the game. This sent the Steelers to their 3rd Super Bowl in 4 years. I look for a great game between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. My prediction is that the Steelers will pull through in a close game and win their 7th Super Bowl trophy.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Playoffs
Hi All,
As promised here is my take on the NFL playoffs this weekend. First off let's get to the point I know everyone is wondering. How did the Seahawks, a 7-9 team get into the playoffs to begin with? Well they answered that question this Saturday by beating up on the defending Super Bowl Champs: the Saints. It seemed to me the Seahawks came to play and the score proved it. The running game for the Seahawks was unstoppable; Lynch on one single play broke 8 tackles on his way for a big time touchdown run of over 67 yards. If the Seahawks can control the clock like they did against the Saints, they can go far into the playoffs. I know that might be shocking to most, but hey it could happen. They need to just focus on the running game and get Lynch involved into the offense early and often. He is a big, physical, tough, runner and doesn't go down on wimpy arm tackles. Also, the throwing game will open up down field if they have a successful running game. They can start running more and more play action will fall into place. I'm very excited for next weeks Seahawks game against the Chicago Bears who have a tough run defense. They will be looking to shut down all the weapons that the Seahawks have at the running back position.
Now for the second game: the Ravens at the Chiefs. This game looked good for the Chiefs in the first half. They had a great plan ahead of them and seemed to be following it to a T. The running game was there and Charles had a great run to put the only points on the board with a great 40+yard run for a touchdown. This was the one of the first times since the beginning of the season where the Ravens had allowed a 30+ yard run for a touchdown. After half time the defense for the Chiefs seemed to loosen up on the pass defense, and the Ravens with Flacco and Heap seemed to figure out what KC was doing. The Ravens ended up crushing the Chiefs 30-7. I'm really excited for this game, being a Steelers fan, Ravens at Steelers. This is a great rivalry game in the AFC North with two hard hitting teams with great defenses. The offense can get it done for both teams and I look for a great close game with the Steelers on top due to their great defense.
The Green Bay Packers pulled out a great win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams had a great game plan, but when it came down to it the Packers made less mistakes in the end. It looked like at the end of the game that Philadelphia was going to drive down the field and score a game winner. On the last play for the Eagles, Mike Vick made a critical error late in the game with only 53 seconds left. Vick hurried them all to the line and called all goes, when he should have just spiked the ball and regrouped the offense. The Eagles had just gotten a first down so there was plenty of time, and they were on the Packers 25 yard line going in to score. Vick threw a poor ball to his wide receiver. The ball was under thrown and made it very easy for the Packers corner to pick it off and end the game. The Packers move on to play the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta where the Falcons and Matt Ryan on QB have not lost many games.
For the last game of the weekend it was the New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts. This game had all the excitement of all three of the previous games mentioned. The game was controlled by the defenses all game. The score ended up 17-16, Jets with a game winning field goal made by Nick Folk. It was a first for Rex Ryan to beat Payton Manning. This game winner would not have been possible if it wasn't for an amazing catch made by Braylon Edwards on the sidelines. The only problem was he didn't get out of bounds and the clock ticked away. The Jets did the smart thing and didn't kill the clock to try and run a big play to the end zone and risk an interception. They ran the clock down to 2 seconds left and set it up for their kicker. He put it right down the middle to win the game. The Jets don't have an easy road ahead of them going to New England with Tom Brady and the Patriots. This is another big rivalry game with two teams that hate each other. I look for a big hitting, hard nosed game and expect fireworks to go off during this game. We'll see if Rex Ryan has was it takes to pull of yet other big upset and move on further into the playoffs.
As promised here is my take on the NFL playoffs this weekend. First off let's get to the point I know everyone is wondering. How did the Seahawks, a 7-9 team get into the playoffs to begin with? Well they answered that question this Saturday by beating up on the defending Super Bowl Champs: the Saints. It seemed to me the Seahawks came to play and the score proved it. The running game for the Seahawks was unstoppable; Lynch on one single play broke 8 tackles on his way for a big time touchdown run of over 67 yards. If the Seahawks can control the clock like they did against the Saints, they can go far into the playoffs. I know that might be shocking to most, but hey it could happen. They need to just focus on the running game and get Lynch involved into the offense early and often. He is a big, physical, tough, runner and doesn't go down on wimpy arm tackles. Also, the throwing game will open up down field if they have a successful running game. They can start running more and more play action will fall into place. I'm very excited for next weeks Seahawks game against the Chicago Bears who have a tough run defense. They will be looking to shut down all the weapons that the Seahawks have at the running back position.
Now for the second game: the Ravens at the Chiefs. This game looked good for the Chiefs in the first half. They had a great plan ahead of them and seemed to be following it to a T. The running game was there and Charles had a great run to put the only points on the board with a great 40+yard run for a touchdown. This was the one of the first times since the beginning of the season where the Ravens had allowed a 30+ yard run for a touchdown. After half time the defense for the Chiefs seemed to loosen up on the pass defense, and the Ravens with Flacco and Heap seemed to figure out what KC was doing. The Ravens ended up crushing the Chiefs 30-7. I'm really excited for this game, being a Steelers fan, Ravens at Steelers. This is a great rivalry game in the AFC North with two hard hitting teams with great defenses. The offense can get it done for both teams and I look for a great close game with the Steelers on top due to their great defense.
The Green Bay Packers pulled out a great win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams had a great game plan, but when it came down to it the Packers made less mistakes in the end. It looked like at the end of the game that Philadelphia was going to drive down the field and score a game winner. On the last play for the Eagles, Mike Vick made a critical error late in the game with only 53 seconds left. Vick hurried them all to the line and called all goes, when he should have just spiked the ball and regrouped the offense. The Eagles had just gotten a first down so there was plenty of time, and they were on the Packers 25 yard line going in to score. Vick threw a poor ball to his wide receiver. The ball was under thrown and made it very easy for the Packers corner to pick it off and end the game. The Packers move on to play the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta where the Falcons and Matt Ryan on QB have not lost many games.
For the last game of the weekend it was the New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts. This game had all the excitement of all three of the previous games mentioned. The game was controlled by the defenses all game. The score ended up 17-16, Jets with a game winning field goal made by Nick Folk. It was a first for Rex Ryan to beat Payton Manning. This game winner would not have been possible if it wasn't for an amazing catch made by Braylon Edwards on the sidelines. The only problem was he didn't get out of bounds and the clock ticked away. The Jets did the smart thing and didn't kill the clock to try and run a big play to the end zone and risk an interception. They ran the clock down to 2 seconds left and set it up for their kicker. He put it right down the middle to win the game. The Jets don't have an easy road ahead of them going to New England with Tom Brady and the Patriots. This is another big rivalry game with two teams that hate each other. I look for a big hitting, hard nosed game and expect fireworks to go off during this game. We'll see if Rex Ryan has was it takes to pull of yet other big upset and move on further into the playoffs.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Pens
Hi all,
I know you were probably wondering where the post was for the Winter Classic. Well here it is. The Pens have made some news of late: with Crosby's streak ending at 25 games, and dropping the Winter Classic at home. The Capitals seemed to have their number in this game, winning 3-1 over Pittsburgh at Hines Field. For the most part the Pens shut down Ovechkin but it was the solid goal tending by the Capitals that helped them pick up this win.
With Crosby losing his streak at 25 games, the Pens seemed to start clicking better from line to line. They look like they are no longer worried about getting Crosby his point in a game and just worried about winning games. They still hold the lead in the East by two points over Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh needs to be more careful and focus on winning games and making it to where everyone wants to seem them, the Stanley Cup yet again. They quickly bounced back from losing to the Islanders and the Capitals with a huge win over the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-1. The Penguins just couldn't be stopped in this game, just scoring at will is what it seemed like. Within the first 7 seconds of the game they had their first goal and never looked back from there. They scored every couple of minutes after the first goal and had a commanding 4-0 lead after the first intermission. With 3 more goals in the second period and a 7-0 lead, the Penguins seemed to go on auto-pilot. They gave up their first and only goal to the Lightning in the 3rd period. The Pens quickly rebounded with a goal of their own early in the period and that would be it for the scoring in the game. If the Pittsburgh Penguins can keep this momentum up they will be set to be the first seed in the Playoffs. They also will be looking for another big win tonight over the Canadiens at Centre Bell arena in Canada. Let's all look forward to a win and I will keep you updated on this and with the NFL Playoffs coming up this weekend.
I know you were probably wondering where the post was for the Winter Classic. Well here it is. The Pens have made some news of late: with Crosby's streak ending at 25 games, and dropping the Winter Classic at home. The Capitals seemed to have their number in this game, winning 3-1 over Pittsburgh at Hines Field. For the most part the Pens shut down Ovechkin but it was the solid goal tending by the Capitals that helped them pick up this win.
With Crosby losing his streak at 25 games, the Pens seemed to start clicking better from line to line. They look like they are no longer worried about getting Crosby his point in a game and just worried about winning games. They still hold the lead in the East by two points over Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh needs to be more careful and focus on winning games and making it to where everyone wants to seem them, the Stanley Cup yet again. They quickly bounced back from losing to the Islanders and the Capitals with a huge win over the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-1. The Penguins just couldn't be stopped in this game, just scoring at will is what it seemed like. Within the first 7 seconds of the game they had their first goal and never looked back from there. They scored every couple of minutes after the first goal and had a commanding 4-0 lead after the first intermission. With 3 more goals in the second period and a 7-0 lead, the Penguins seemed to go on auto-pilot. They gave up their first and only goal to the Lightning in the 3rd period. The Pens quickly rebounded with a goal of their own early in the period and that would be it for the scoring in the game. If the Pittsburgh Penguins can keep this momentum up they will be set to be the first seed in the Playoffs. They also will be looking for another big win tonight over the Canadiens at Centre Bell arena in Canada. Let's all look forward to a win and I will keep you updated on this and with the NFL Playoffs coming up this weekend.
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