Ready, set, go. The NFL season has left only four teams standing after 18 weeks of football. The AFC and NFC teams that have made it to the Championship Game on Sunday are all winners. They have endured the battle, the pain, the injuries and the pressure of competition. Yes it's football four play on the way to the Super Bowl.
Last week's games vividly show why NFL football has become America 's spectator sport of choice.
High drama, upsets, injuries, hard hits, snow storms and fans wearing Jessica Simpson masks leave no doubt that this is clearly America 's passion.
Two coaches who have had their share of doubters made it clear that they had what it takes to coach their teams beyond the regular season.
Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning were both vindicated as the Giants upset the number one NFC seed and favored Dallas Cowboys.
Personally, as a native New Yorker, San Francisco 49ers fan and Dallas Cowboys hater, this game was the highlight of my NFL season. No matter what happens next I am a happy camper.
In the AFC Norv Turner has had to ward off the doubters who insisted he could never take the Chargers into the playoffs. Yet he got them into the playoffs and stunned the Indianapolis Colts on their home field.
Two road teams in two very decisive and exciting road wins.
It doesn't get much better than that.
The Saturday games weren't nearly as exciting. I was hoping the Jaguars would stun the world and take down the flawless Patriots, and although the Jags did play well for two quarters, they just could not sustain the offensive efficiency of Tom Brady and company.
The Seahawks were victims of their own poor play and mother nature. When you factor in Brett Favre and this young teams aggressive play, the Hawks were simply left out in the cold.
Image:
Cold Play
The Games on Sunday:
Chargers at the Patriots.
The Bolts have made it all the way to Foxboro with the help of LT, Philip Rivers and a stout defense.
But they lost decisively to the Pats earlier in the season, and now LT and Rivers are banged up.
I would love to see the Bolts upset the Pats, but unless Tom Brady takes the day off and stays home with his gal, that isn't about to happen.
The Patriots don't have too many chinks in their armor and the only way the Bolts can defeat the Pats is by going after Brady, early and often.
I think they will try but Belichick will find a way to out coach Nor Turner and move the Pats into the Super Bowl.
Pick Patriots
The Giants at the Packers
This could be just as much fun as the last snow ball the Packers played against Seattle .
The weather may be frigid and snowy.
I think the Giants won't have too much trouble staying with the Packers and I see this as a low scoring defensive battle. But Favre's experience and the young defense's speed will
Make Eli's day pure hell.
Pick Packers
|