I can't see the Ravens stopping the Brady to Gronkowski duo this Sunday. If the Pats advance...
...how cool would a Brady vs Alex Smith-the team he grew up rooting for Super Bowl be?
Last Friday, I wrote about how the NFL’s Divisional Round was the last great football weekend because it was the last time fans would feel like we had a full slate of games on top. And true to it’s word, the final 8 lived up to that premise. Well, 7 of the final did. Let us not forget the ultimate reality check that kicked the Broncos ass on Saturday night. The final four is here, but there is a sense of inevitability,, as much as finality when it comes to the AFC Championship.
Ed Reed’s not so subtle criticism of Joe Flacco this week was not as shocking as it was untimely. You don’t have to be Bill Walsh to know that Flacco inspires minimal confidence in his teammates. And, it’s not like Flacco was awful against a stout Texans defense last week (14-of-27 for 176 yards with two touchdowns and no picks), but you never get the feeling that Flacco can will his team to a win. Perhaps it’s his Hogan-esque mustache & sarcastic tone with the media that has even his most die hard supporters fearing what he’ll do this Sunday. If it’s not the mustache, maybe it’s because he’s as uncomfortable in the pocket as Kris Humphries is checking into games on the road. He holds the ball too long, and it’s his self doubt and reluctance to make certain throws that Reed is referring to.
Perhaps Flacco will have his moment like Alex Smith did a week ago. I wouldn’t bet on it. The Ravens were 4-16 on 3rd down last week, and the Ravens allowed 4 sacks on those 3rd downs. If that happens this week, Brady and CO. will be wearing those gaudy conference champion hats by the middle of the 3rd quarter.
And who knows, maybe the Ravens aging & beat up defense has one (or possibly two) more defining performances in them. But with Tom Brady coming off a 6 TD masterpiece, it’s difficult to imagine the Pats offense slowing down considerably this week. I mean, it’s not like the Broncos defense is horrendous. So figure that the Pats will score at least 27. And say the Ravens score a defensive touchdown…Does Flacco have the ability to score 21 points in him on the road against a defense that bends but doesn’t break? Sorry, but I don’t see the Ravens hitting two of their patented chuck it deep to Torrey Smith plays to put them in scoring position.
That’s why it’s almost a forgone conclusion that the Patriots win this game. You never know in the NFL, Flacco will be forced to make more plays than he’s capable of making. That’s why the real intrigue is in the NFC…
Giants and 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. It just feels right. These teams have battled 7 times in the playoffs. Let’s go back, before we look ahead…
1981 Divisional– The game before “the catch” started the Niners on their run to Super Bowl XVI. Joe Montana and the Niners won 38-24.
1984 Divisional– Montana threw for 309 yards and 3 TD’s as the Niners won 21-10 en route to becoming the league’s 1st 18 game winner in one season.
1985 Wild Card– The Giants won 17-3 before they came to Chicago to get shutout 21-0 against the Bears.
1986 Divisional– The Jim Burt game…
The Giants won 49-3 on their way to a title.
1990 NFC Championship– The Niners were 14-2 and coming off a 28-10 win vs the Redskins. A 3-peat & the title of greatest team ever was in their sights…
In one of the greatest games ever played, a three-peat was thwarted and the Giants eventually won their 2nd Super Bowl thanks to one of the best hits in NFL history that, basically, ended Joe Montana as we knew him…
The Niners were still winning the game after Montana went out, and led 13-12 late. They were running out the clock when Roger Craig ended the 3-peat dreams. Matt Bahr eventually kicked his 5th field goal of the game, and the G-Men went on to beat the Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV…
The Niners extracted revenge in ’93 with a 44-3 beat down in the Divisional Round.
They didn’t meet again until after the ’02 season in the Wild Card round. It was another classic…
So here we are. Two of the most storied franchises in the sport fighting for a spot in pro football’s premiere showcase. I don’t know about you, but this is football heaven for any fan who grew up in the 80′s & 90′s. After the Giants whooped the Packers ass last Sunday, Fox should do the right thing and have Pat Summerall and John Madden call the game. Unfortunately, Joe Buck will be at the ‘Stick reminding us how lucky we are that he’s calling the game. Whatever. I’d rather have Jack Buck in his current state call this game.
The Giants are red hot and have the gambling public behind them. With the way the clutch Manning is playing, it’s hard to pick against this team. And don’t let me forget about Jason Pierre-Paul and that deep and talented pass rush that had Aaron Rodgers looking over his shoulder last week.
That being said…There is something going on with this Niners team. I had doubts they could win a shootout game vs Drew Brees, but there was Alex Smith morphing into the player so many thought he could become 7 years ago. It’s been quite the transformation for #11 and the entire organization. Win or lose this Sunday, the Harbaugh Effect is no joke. And with sloppy conditions expected thanks to rain pounding the Bay Area this week, it will be the perfect playing conditions for the Niners to capitalize. Defense, running the ball, special teams play (led by the Tony Montana Squad, Andy Lee & David Akers) & a few play action passes to to Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree.
This will be another vintage thriller, but it just feels like it’s the Niners’ year. I’m probably wrong, but Jim Harbaugh inspires the type of confidence that Joe Flacco can only dream of.
The picks…
PATRIOTS -9 over Ravens
NINERS -2.5 over Giants
Last week: 3-1
Playoffs: 5-3
Regular season: 144-102-10
@Louie_Ruffolo8
