Championship weekend

[Jedi Master Carr]

Here are the AFC and NFC Matchups, make your pick
New Orleans at Chicago
New England at Indianapolis

[Jedieb]

Pats @ Colts - Cotls win
Let's be honest, this is the dream match up that few people thought we'd get. I look at these two teams and the similiarities betweens the Cowboys and Niners of the 90's are startling. Brady is Aikman and Manning is Steve Young. Superbowl IXXX was Steve Young's monkeybowl. That famous shot of his telling teammates to take the monkey off his back pretty much sums up what that game meant to his career. And it was made all the more legitimate because the Niners went through the Cowboys to get it. You can argue that Young never would have seen his ring if not for the ego's of Jerry and Jimmy, but none of that was in his control. And the Niners certainly didn't look like a team lucky to be in the game against San Diego. That was one of the most lopsided SB's ever. Now, Manning has his chance to become Steve Young. He may never get another chance like this and it's a long shot he'll ever get a chance to get his while stepping over the coach and QB that have tortured him the most.

Saints @ Bears - Saints win
I keep going back and forth on this win. If the weather is halfway decent, the Saints should be able to roll some big numbers on a Bears defense that isn't as strong as it was at the beginning of the season. But even if the weather is bad, the Saints can pound Duece in there and still move the ball effectively. Both teams can giveup big plays but it's anybody's guess which Grossman shows up. If the solid one does the Bears could throw on the Saints at will.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Bears and Pats! :D

[Jedi Master Carr]

I disagree about the Manning and Young comparisons. Young went to two Super Bowls when Montana was there. I never got the whole monkey off my back thing he said because the team won those two with the same coach and a couple of players was on that team. I think it is impossible to compare QBs to other QB's but that is my opinion. I will have my picks up soon. I am waiting to see some weather information from Chicago.

Edit
Its going to Snow on Sunday in Chicago, no way do the Saints win that kind of game. They are a dome teams and dome teams play awful historically in that kind of Environment
I am going with Pats vs Bears now.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

As much as I'd like to see Indy -v- Saints... with the snow forecast on Sunday, methinks me real picks are


*drumroll*


...
..
..

...
..
.
.
.


Indy and da Bears

I mean, face it. I don't think I could ever see the Pats and the Bears play each other in the superbowl. That's just weird.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well rematches have happened before, the Bengals played the 49ers twice, the steelers vs the Cowboys. I can't think of any others but I am sure there are.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Snack is that you being silly? I can't tell :lol The Pats and the Bears faced each other in 86 and Chicago mopped the floor with them :p

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Bills and Cowboys did the whole two superbowl thing as well.

And yes, it is me being silly.

I just want to see Indy in the big game and believe they have the best shot, if any, to beat the Pats. ^__^

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well I can understand that. The only good thing about a Pats-Bears rematch would be that the game would be much closer this time around.

[Liam Jinn]

Indy and Chicago

[Lilaena De'Ville]

New Orleans WIN at Chicago
New England at Indianapolis WIN

[jjwr]

Its all about the road teams!

New Orleans WIN at Chicago
New England WIN at Indianapolis

Pending weather I may change the Saints pick to the Bears. The Saints have a killler rushing Offense which can use the snow as well as the Bears can.

Pats vs Colts

Should be interesting, I can see this game going either way, from both teams blowing the other out to a down to the wire slugfest.

Pats will move the ball against the Colts, their D hasn't instantly become top 5 in the league. Pats will spread them out and throw the ball all over them and run it up the gut.

For the record I want the Bears to win, the Saints speed bothers me as a Pats fan. I would love a Bears vs Pats rematch.

[Rutabaga]

New Orleans (W) at Chicago
New England at Indianapolis (W)

[Jedi Master Carr]

Its all about the road teams!

New Orleans WIN at Chicago
New England WIN at Indianapolis

Pending weather I may change the Saints pick to the Bears. The Saints have a killler rushing Offense which can use the snow as well as the Bears can.

Pats vs Colts

Should be interesting, I can see this game going either way, from both teams blowing the other out to a down to the wire slugfest.

Pats will move the ball against the Colts, their D hasn't instantly become top 5 in the league. Pats will spread them out and throw the ball all over them and run it up the gut.

For the record I want the Bears to win, the Saints speed bothers me as a Pats fan. I would love a Bears vs Pats rematch.

You see the Bears have the best rushing defense in the NFL they will stop Mcalister if they know its coming. The only way the Bears lose is if Grossman has a really bad game, which I admit could happen.

[Yog]

New Orleans at Chicago (W)
New England at Indianapolis (W)

[sirdizzy]

New England
Chicago

[Ryan Pode]

Colts and Bears superbowl.

[Jedieb]

I disagree about the Manning and Young comparisons. Young went to two Super Bowls when Montana was there. I never got the whole monkey off my back thing he said because the team won those two with the same coach and a couple of players was on that team. I think it is impossible to compare QBs to other QB's but that is my opinion. I will have my picks up soon. I am waiting to see some weather information from Chicago.

The monkey on Young's back was ENORMOUS. He was just a backup on those Superbowl teams. He was after that starting job for YEARS. When he finally got it Montana was basically shoved out the door to KC. Young had a ton of pressure on him and he kept getting his nads to him by the same team, the Cowboys. It didn't matter if it was at home or at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys kept beating him when it mattered the most. That first NFC Championship loss was especially painful because it was at Candlestick and the Niners were the favorites. Leading up to that game all you heard was that the Cowboys were too young and inexperienced while the Niners had all this Championship experience and homefield advantage. One of the most enduring images from those Cowboys NFC Championship wins was Young getting his helmet ripeed off his head by that feroucious Dallas defense. Everybody knew Young had a monkey on his back, especially Young himself. That's why you can see him asking teammates to take the monkey off his back during the 4th quarter of that San Diego blowout. Without that SB Young is still a HOF, but he's a HOF that could never win the big one. The wins a backup would have meant squat for his legacy. The same thing will be said of Manning if he doesn't win one in the next few years.

[Jedieb]

For the rest of his career, every time I see Reggie Bush do something like that I'm going to think the same thing;
"The Houston Texas are the dumbest organization in the history of sports."

NO 14
Bears 16

[jjwr]

Bears taking it bigtime right now 32-14, unless the saints can pull off something miraculous then the Bears are on their way.

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Bears were just too good for the Saints. Their defense played amazing and that Home Field was huge.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Chicago is a happy town tonight :D:D:D:D

I usually don't watch the games. Call me a jinx. Seems like everytime I watch them they loose but not this time!!! I was there for the whole thing and seeing them play so well was amazing :)

[Jedieb]

Luckiest team in the HISTORY of playoffs. Unfrickin' believable.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Actually, I thought that was the Pats because of last weeks game :p

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well the Colts defense is looking like it did in the regular season. They can't stop the run after stopping the run the last two weeks. Although, I think that is more becuase those teams tried way too hard.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Actually, I thought that was the Pats because of last weeks game :p

I think that's who he was talking about - that bothced run turn into a fumble turn into a TD for the Pats... luck-y.

[Rutabaga]

I knew I was doomed when I picked what I hoped would happen as opposed to what I thought would happen. Eh, them's the breaks. So unless the Colts somehow win this stinker, the ultimate triumph is quite possibly yours, jjwr :cool.

I really thought the Saints would pull it out, especially after Reggie Bush's TD run. Then came the safety, and then things just went downhill not long after that. The Saints gave it a good run, though, and hopefully they'll be back in fine form next season.

Now, as for the Colts...yikes, I figured they would choke sometime, that's why I'd picked Baltimore to win last week...but c'mon, "choke" isn't even the word for what's happening right now. It's almost too kind :x.

[Jedieb]

Yes, of course I was talking about the friggin' Pats. Who else fumbles at the one, has 3 opponents land on the ball only to have it squirt out for an easy TD. The Bears put that game away and the defense played great. There was no luck in that game.

As for this game, it's "deja vu all over again." Boomer Easian was friggin' brutal during halftime. "Manning is going to have to buy a house in A-Rod's neighborhood!" You'd swear that fool actually won a SB. Jerk.

[Miranda Tarkin]

:lol sorry. I wasn't watching the game to know you were talking about the Pats. Course .. I want the Pats to win :uhoh

[Jedieb]

That TD drive was the only way Indy was going to have a prayer of coming back in this game. Now it's up to the defense. We'll see if they make any adjustments to their defense because they've reverted to regular season form against the run. Knowing the Pats though, they'll probably out think Indy and start flinging the ball all over the field.

[Jedieb]

NE 21
Colts 21

Even if they lose, at least Manning can hold his head up. He didn't roll over, they fought back and tied the game. I still expect Brady and Bellick to come back and put up some points. Wow, this has turned into a GREAT game.

[Miranda Tarkin]

yes it has and that 2 pointer got them a tied game :)

[Jedieb]

Right on cue, big return by the Pats. Lord how I hate this team.

[Miranda Tarkin]

:rollin :crack :rollin

[Jedieb]

Right call by Dungy to challenge it. A replay could have shown he stepped out before the catch. It was close, but the refs made the right call. the Colts are now driving down the field again. That 3rd quarter was amazing, let's hope the 4th quarter matches it.

[Jedieb]

What comes around goes around. Fumble at the one recovered by an O-lineman for a TD. How do you like that NE? this game is friggin' EPIC!!!!!
NE 28
Colts 28

[Jedieb]

OMG, if Vinatieri misses this...............
If he had missed that then there would have been no doubt that God himself hates Manning. Tie game, what a classic.

[Adraudia Basillie]

This game is an awesome rollercoaster ride :D

[Jedieb]

Sanders dropped a sure TD. OMG.......... This is it, I predict Vinatieri misses the game tying FG. Lord, how I HATE the Pats.

[Jedieb]

They're in FG range. Even if Wayne had lost that ball, the roughing penalty would have given the Colts the ball. Here it is Manning, you've got your legacy right in your hands.

[Jedieb]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Jedieb]

It's out of Manning's hands. If Brady does what he's done so many times before, there's no way anyone can lay this on Manning. He had every reason to crawl into a shell and give up, but he kept coming back and he may just have pulled out one of the guttiest comebacks ever. But here comes Brady. OMG, what an INCREDIBLE GAME!!!!!! :crack

[Jedi Master Carr]

I hate the Colts they screwed Baltimore and I hope the Bears kill them in the Super Bowl.

[Jedieb]

I feel so good for Tony Dungy. This guy is one of the nicest, classiest coaches in the NFL. He's had to suffer through personal and professional heartbreaks and now he's finally getting to the big game. Wow, what a game, I think I just heard it was the biggest comeback in an AFC championship game. Man, that was AMAZING. The game lived up to the hype.

[Ryan Pode]

Tom Brady blew it. HA.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I am sorry I am sick I don't like Manning. I will just root for the Bears.

[Rutabaga]

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I almost gave up in the middle of the 2nd half, the Colts were playing so badly. Holy cow! And for it to end with a Brady interception?

*faints*

[Miranda Tarkin]

Well, I'm disappointed but not like I would have been if the Bears lost. I still not a fan of the Colts tho >_< However, it should be fun in Miami! Midwest all around in the Bowl!

[jjwr]

Awesome game! Still hate to see Manning go to the Superbowl but the Colts played awesome.

The Pats D was gassed, Belechick admitted the Chargers game took a huge toll on them and the flu this week didn't help. Toss in the Colts fast play and it was just too much.

Strange play calling by the Pats, quite a few times they had good chances to run the clock but would try some odd plays that didn't get them anywhere.

[Ryan Pode]

I pick defense over offense. Go Bears!

[Jedi Master Carr]

I pick defense over offense. Go Bears!

I agree with you Defense wins SBs.

[jjwr]

Tom Brady blew it. HA.

Nobodies perfect, even Montana lost in the playoffs. Same as Boller...oh wait ;)

[Rutabaga]

I know there's a lot of Colts/Manning hatred around here, but I like the team, and I really like Manning. So I'm stoked he's going to the Super Bowl, finally.

Go Indy! :D

[jjwr]

Agreed, I want the Bears to win!

I don't mind Manning but he's had way too many easy breaks in his career(Harrison, Edge, etc)...he'll be back in the big game so lets hope he loses this one.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I hope it is like Marino who lost his only SB.

[Jedieb]

Awesome game! Still hate to see Manning go to the Superbowl but the Colts played awesome.

The Pats D was gassed, Belechick admitted the Chargers game took a huge toll on them and the flu this week didn't help. Toss in the Colts fast play and it was just too much.

Strange play calling by the Pats, quite a few times they had good chances to run the clock but would try some odd plays that didn't get them anywhere.
The Pats were amazing and gutsy as usual. You're right, that defense was gassed in the second half, but they kept battling and forced a key punt in the 4th quarter. That was some pretty creative play calling on that last TD. You could tell the Pats thought Manning would be throwing. They dropped a lot of guys back but the Colts trusted their running game and they pounded it in. You have to think that they felt the tie was a lock with Vinatieri on the sideline. Wow, this game was just amazing.

[Ryan Pode]

Nobodies perfect, even Montana lost in the playoffs. Same as Boller...oh wait ;)

The Ravens have been in the playoffs 2 out of the 4 years in the Boller era, just, he wasn't the QB at the time.

[Jedieb]

I'm not going to throw any cheap shots at Brady. But can you imagine if Manning had blown a 21-3 lead and ended the game with an INT?

[Ryan Pode]

We'd be screaming Choke.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I'm not going to throw any cheap shots at Brady. But can you imagine if Manning had blown a 21-3 lead and ended the game with an INT?

Its different though Brady has won 3 SBs and Manning 0.

[Rutabaga]

We'd be screaming Choke.

Exactly. With Manning's reputation for choking at the worst possible moment, I'm still flabbergasted and agog that they came back and won the darn thing.

[Jedieb]

Having two African-American coaches meet for the first time in a Superbowl IS a big deal. Hopefully, after this it won't even be noticed, but the first time always deserves some recognition. Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy have been friends for years and it's going to be a sick mutual lovefest these next two weeks.

[Jedieb]

Its different though Brady has won 3 SBs and Manning 0.

But Ryan's right, people would be shoving choke insults down his throat. Winning gives you a lot of cover, but today Manning outplayed Brady and he should get some benefit of the doubt from now on. I mean holy crap, he was down 21-3 after throwing an INT for TD. He deserves a lot of credit for this win, as much as Brady would be getting if he'd won it the way Manning did today.

[Jedi Master Carr]

It is just one game though it is like Montana won 4 Super Bowls over Elways two to me Montana was the bigger big game QB of the two.

[jjwr]

Brady has come back and won in that situation quite a few times, especially in the playoffs. Manning hasn't. He deserves as much credit for the winning drive as he would have gotten had they lost.

Incredible game, I'm not really upset the Pats lost. As long as its a good game I'm ok with it and that was one of the best I've seen in a while.

One gripe with the refs, what was up with the phantom personal foul on that TD drive? Banta-Cain barely touched Manning and they give them 10+ yds on it? Pats had WR's hit clearly before the ball a few times in their previous drive with no calls, including one in the end zone, but then they make this call?

As for teh Pats, I'm already excited for next year! A full year in the system for Jackson, Caldwell & Gaffney. Maroney seasoned, 2 1st rounders and over 30M in cap space. If this was a down year for the Pats then next year should be great!

[jjwr]

Also, I got both my picks wrong so Jinn Fizz takes our yearly pick'em!!!

[Ryan Pode]

Yeah. In the playoffs the last three years the Ref's always try to make some BS calls to let the Colts win.

[Yog]

What an incredible comeback by the Colts. I really really hope they win the SB now. They deserve to win it at least one time for crying out loud.

[Park Kraken]

I'm just popping in to say, Hooray, Colts won, Pats lost, too bad about the Saints, I don't know how I feel about the Bears, and how do the two advancing teams fair in what will probably be 70-80 degree weather?

[jjwr]

It should be a great matchup. The bears have team speed which the Pats lack and will be able to cover the middle of the field a lot better. Its been a well known fact amongst Pats fans all year that as a whole their LB's were getting older and slow, Bruschi has really lost a step.

The real key will be if the Bears can pass on the Colts, if they can't pass then we'll see a repeat of the first two Colts games.

[Rutabaga]

Also, I got both my picks wrong so Jinn Fizz takes our yearly pick'em!!!

Wow, really? I'd lost track, I thought we were still tied. :)

After the Chargers lost last weekend, I thought I didn't care much about the Super Bowl anymore, although I'd still watch, of course. Now that the Colts are in there, I'm more excited and looking forward to it. I'll be happy with either team winning, to be honest, since neither one of the teams has been there for years...but I'll be pulling for the Colts, since I want to see Manning finally win one. :)

[jjwr]

Whoops my bad, you had New Orleans & Indy, I had New Orleans & the Pats, so you are a game up. If our SB picks are different we could end up tied again!

[Ryan Pode]

If you have same pick, use points.

And Parcells is out in dallas.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Who knows who Jones will try to get now.

[jjwr]

One thing I'm finding rather funny is a number of columnists saying the Pats dynasty is dead, etc. Huh? 14-5, AFC Championship game...with that roster and they're dead? Just annoying is all.

The other thing I just realized, Belechick will now coach the AFC Pro-Bowl team...as serious as he is I wonder how he'll take the whole atmosphere, and lets not forget he has LT now.

[Jedieb]

A day that should be about the Bears and the Colts is all about Parcells now. And I'm sure he loves it. That's why it's more than likely he'll be back in a year or two, because he loves the attention almost as much as he loves coaching.

[Ryan Pode]

He can't stand TO gettin' all the spotlights.

[Rutabaga]

Whoops my bad, you had New Orleans & Indy, I had New Orleans & the Pats, so you are a game up. If our SB picks are different we could end up tied again!

Well, I know I'm picking Indy, and it sure sounds like you'll be picking the Bears, so it might be a tie again, depending on how things go. Although I did hear that the early odds have the Colts up by 7 :D.

If it's a tie, I'd be more than happy to just share the tie and the glory and the bragging rights. If money were involved, it might be another story.... :lol

[Jedi Master Carr]

One thing I'm finding rather funny is a number of columnists saying the Pats dynasty is dead, etc. Huh? 14-5, AFC Championship game...with that roster and they're dead? Just annoying is all.

The other thing I just realized, Belechick will now coach the AFC Pro-Bowl team...as serious as he is I wonder how he'll take the whole atmosphere, and lets not forget he has LT now.

Well their dynasty won't be dead until the end of the decade. The Niners went 4 years between SBs. 84-88.

[Rutabaga]

One thing I'm finding rather funny is a number of columnists saying the Pats dynasty is dead, etc. Huh? 14-5, AFC Championship game...with that roster and they're dead? Just annoying is all.

I agree, the dynasty is anything but dead.

Plus, I guess Bears and Colts fans should also take a look at how going to the SB can sometimes be a curse more than a blessing...just ask the Steelers and Seahawks this year, eh? :lol

Oh, and I can't blame Parcells for retiring. I can't help but think that TO's presence had at least something to do with the decision.