NFL Conference Championship Previews and Predictions

First off, my apologies for the lack of updates.  Between studying and preparing for the Washington at Princeton broadcast(I’ll blog about that later) and trying to buy a car I have been slammed.

So let’s get to the NFL.  It is always bittersweet for me this time of year.  I love the conference championships and of course the Super Bowl, however, that means the NFL is coming to a close.  And let’s face it…the world without football is cold and empty.

Last week in my predictions I went 3-1.  I thought I was going to have a clean sweep until the very surprising Chargers upset loss to the Jets.  That brings my playoff record to 5-3.  So who do I like this week?  Leave your predictions in the comments section below.

I am very excited for this game.  By far these are the top two teams in the conference.  For the Vikings to win…their defensive line needs to be healthy.  Kevin Williams and Ray Edwards are listed as questionable.  Edwards had a career game against the Cowboys last week.  Receiver Percy Harvin is suffering from migraine headaches and is also listed as questionable.  Those would be some major losses for Minnesota if they can’t go. 

When you matchup the Saints and Vikings player by player they are pretty dang equal.  Really breaking it down, I would give the Saints offense a slight edge, and I would definitely give the Vikings defense an advantage. 

I really would love to see the city of New Orleans celebrate getting to the Super Bowl.  I also would really like Purdue’s Drew Brees make it to the big game.  He has had such a great career.  I find it interesting that both quarterbacks in this game were shipped off from previous teams.  So now, do you think the Chargers and Packers would still like to have Brees and Favre back?!  Both Phillip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers are obviously very solid, but Brees and Favre have been clutch.

 I do not have a lot of confidence in this pick.  Almost always a road team wins in this round.  However, I am going to hope for my nemesis Brett Favre throwing a critical interception late.

MY PICK:     31-28

Well this game is a lot less exciting.  As a matter of fact, I had an offer for tickets to the game and turned it down.  I did not want to travel and pay 180 bucks for a ticket for this game.  Watch it now be an instant classic and I’ll regret it.

First off, like most, I love Rex Ryan.  As a Bears fan his dad Buddy is a hero of mine.  I actually got to meet Buddy and interview him a few years back.  Anyhow, Rex has the swagger and confidence that has taken a mediocre team to the brink of a Super Bowl.

However, the dream ends tomorrow for the Jets.  I give them ZERO percent chance to win this game.  The Colts are far superior in almost every facet.  They certainly are motivated by the debacle when these two teams met last.  I think Peyton Manning would have to turn into Rex Grossman for the Jets to win this game.

Dallas Clark will have a huge game and the Colts will head to another Super Bowl in Miami.

MY PICK:
 
27-9