PIGSKIN
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
Wild Card Round
Divisional Round
Divisional Round
Look what the Jaguars did to the Pittsburgh Steelers ... again! I'm the first to preach about defense and a strong running game being keys to success. But what the Jags did to the Steelers over the course of two games this season is astonishing. After dismantling the Steelers six weeks ago by a 30-9 margin in Pittsburgh, Jacksonville went back to cold Steel City and upended them again by an obnoxious 45-42 final score. Big Ben threw five TD passes, but Jacksonville fans say, so what!
The "Minnesota Miracle" and "Minneapolis Miracle" are now official property of the Vikings. They wasted no time copyrighting the latest phrase craze. But, what a finish - crazy indeed. The Saints had that game won. In New Orleans, however, the game's disastrous end will go down as the Tackle That Never Was. Saints rookie Marcus Williams looks like was either attempting to upend Minnesota's Stefon Diggs, or was just aiming low. In any event, it appears as if he put his head down too early, and just lost sight of his target, and the actual play itself. Sixty-one yards later, the Saints lose ... thuuuuh Saints lose! Regardless, the Vikings were seemingly putting themselves in field goal position, and could have very well kicked themselves into Championship Sunday anyway. But, still, that's not the way history remembers things.
There is not a person that exists on the face of this good planet Earth that could have predicted this week's final four quarterbacks. Tom Brady is a natural; sure. But back-ups Nick Foles, Blake Bortles, and Cace Keenum? No way! Otherwise, I want to meet that person so I can plan out my retirement prior to Feb. 4. Tom Brady nursing a hand injury makes this development even more ponderous.
Okay, my record entering this weekend is not great: 94-113-7. What can I say other than I've had a tough season against the spread. If you've incurred monetary loses following my advice, that's your problem. I'm just a dude with a blog.
Now for the real matter at hand: Championship Sunday.
Now for the real matter at hand: Championship Sunday.
American Football Conference
Championship Game
PATRIOTS -7 1/2 (Jaguars)
Sunday NYP Line
Do I think the Jaguars can win? The answer is yes. If there were a game when the theorem of any given Sunday applies, this would be the one.
Tom Coughlin knows the formula for beating Tom Brady on the field, and for thwarting Bill Belichick from the sidelines. He twice orchestrated major Super Bowl upset victories over the Patriots as head coach of the Giants. He knows a strong running game helps keep Tom Brady off the field. And when Brady is on the field, Coughlin knows he is a statue in the pocket, and that a strong pass rush by the front four, particularly with pressure up the middle, is a sure fire way of getting the GOAT off his mark. Coughlin may not be the head coach, but his knowledge and experience permeates throughout the organization.
He also knows the Jags can't blitz Brady, otherwise he'll chew them apart. Therefore, if the Jags can keep a full compliment of defenders in coverage, this game will be closer than many expect. The X-factor is, of course, Blake Bortles. No matter what levels of physical harassment Jacksonville can bring against Brady, the Jags QB will still need to make big plays from the pocket. Belichick will no doubt be looking to bottle up Leonard Fournette, essentially daring Bortles to beat them with his arm. There's the rub. Ideally, all Blake needs to do is manage the game and not screw it up. Simon Bar Belichick isn't likely to blitz. So, does bend-don't-break induce Bortles into throwing a pick, or two?
Or will Belichick actually pressure the novice? Not likely. Belichick knows better than anyone, that smash mouth football isn't about schemes, and certainly isn't cute in application. To a large extent, it's punishing; it's about brute strength and ignorance. As Bill Parcells used to say ... that's why you lift all those weights. Smash mouth is about physically beating the guy in front of you. Leonard Fournette and Jacksonville's offensive line can do that. And their defense seems equally up for the task. But if the Patriots get turnovers I'm confident they will cover. Minus turnovers, I expect a much closer game. Even with a bad hand, I trust Brady and Gronk more than Bortles (and Fournette, whom might be called upon to carry the offense).
Bortles sure looked good against the Steelers, though. Didn't he? So, yeah, the Jags can definitely cover ... and even win. But history says the Patriots seldom lose playoff games at home. Just saying.
The number-one seed Philadelphia Eagles are still being looked upon as underdogs. Look no further than Nick Foles. He enters this game with the least amount of playing time (this season) among Sunday's four quarterbacks.
Scoring is clearly down since he took over for Carson Wentz after game thirteen. The Eagles averaged 31-points with Wentz at the helm. In Nick Foles four starts, Philly put up 34-points against the Giants, but dipped to just 19-points against the Raiders. The Eagles then got whitewashed in what amounted to them as an inconsequential season finale against the Cowboys. But, still ... no points? In a limited appearance, Foles was 4/11 for 39 yards, and threw an INT. The Eagles followed up with just 15-points against the Falcons during last week's Divisional playoff. Nick Foles was 23 of 30 for 246 yards; no TDs and no picks.
Now he goes up against a very good Minnesota defense. After allowing the Steelers 26 points in the regular season's penultimate game, they allowed 43 total points in back-to-back games against the Saints. Therefore 23-points seems to be the magic number. Thing is, Nick Foles is not Ben Roethlisberger, nor is he Drew Brees. He was efficient against the Falcons, though. But will that be good enough? Remember ... just 15-points against a good Falcons defense. And he's playing the number one defense in points allowed. The onus will therefore be on Philadelphia' defense - also very good in their own right - to carry the day. The fans in Philly are relishing their underdog status, and will no doubt be frothing at the mouth. So, there's that.
During the regular season, the Vikings went 12-3 with Case Keenum at the helm (in relief of injured opening day starter Sam Bradford). Keenum threw for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. After last week's game, his confidence is through the roof. He still needed to complete that pass which ended the game. He stood in the pocket, and did just that.
But, hey, like I said: What do I know.
Good luck, and Happy Championship Sunday!
Tom Coughlin knows the formula for beating Tom Brady on the field, and for thwarting Bill Belichick from the sidelines. He twice orchestrated major Super Bowl upset victories over the Patriots as head coach of the Giants. He knows a strong running game helps keep Tom Brady off the field. And when Brady is on the field, Coughlin knows he is a statue in the pocket, and that a strong pass rush by the front four, particularly with pressure up the middle, is a sure fire way of getting the GOAT off his mark. Coughlin may not be the head coach, but his knowledge and experience permeates throughout the organization.
He also knows the Jags can't blitz Brady, otherwise he'll chew them apart. Therefore, if the Jags can keep a full compliment of defenders in coverage, this game will be closer than many expect. The X-factor is, of course, Blake Bortles. No matter what levels of physical harassment Jacksonville can bring against Brady, the Jags QB will still need to make big plays from the pocket. Belichick will no doubt be looking to bottle up Leonard Fournette, essentially daring Bortles to beat them with his arm. There's the rub. Ideally, all Blake needs to do is manage the game and not screw it up. Simon Bar Belichick isn't likely to blitz. So, does bend-don't-break induce Bortles into throwing a pick, or two?
Or will Belichick actually pressure the novice? Not likely. Belichick knows better than anyone, that smash mouth football isn't about schemes, and certainly isn't cute in application. To a large extent, it's punishing; it's about brute strength and ignorance. As Bill Parcells used to say ... that's why you lift all those weights. Smash mouth is about physically beating the guy in front of you. Leonard Fournette and Jacksonville's offensive line can do that. And their defense seems equally up for the task. But if the Patriots get turnovers I'm confident they will cover. Minus turnovers, I expect a much closer game. Even with a bad hand, I trust Brady and Gronk more than Bortles (and Fournette, whom might be called upon to carry the offense).
Bortles sure looked good against the Steelers, though. Didn't he? So, yeah, the Jags can definitely cover ... and even win. But history says the Patriots seldom lose playoff games at home. Just saying.
National Football Conference
Championship Game
Vikings -3 (EAGLES)
Sunday NYP Line
The number-one seed Philadelphia Eagles are still being looked upon as underdogs. Look no further than Nick Foles. He enters this game with the least amount of playing time (this season) among Sunday's four quarterbacks.
Scoring is clearly down since he took over for Carson Wentz after game thirteen. The Eagles averaged 31-points with Wentz at the helm. In Nick Foles four starts, Philly put up 34-points against the Giants, but dipped to just 19-points against the Raiders. The Eagles then got whitewashed in what amounted to them as an inconsequential season finale against the Cowboys. But, still ... no points? In a limited appearance, Foles was 4/11 for 39 yards, and threw an INT. The Eagles followed up with just 15-points against the Falcons during last week's Divisional playoff. Nick Foles was 23 of 30 for 246 yards; no TDs and no picks.
Now he goes up against a very good Minnesota defense. After allowing the Steelers 26 points in the regular season's penultimate game, they allowed 43 total points in back-to-back games against the Saints. Therefore 23-points seems to be the magic number. Thing is, Nick Foles is not Ben Roethlisberger, nor is he Drew Brees. He was efficient against the Falcons, though. But will that be good enough? Remember ... just 15-points against a good Falcons defense. And he's playing the number one defense in points allowed. The onus will therefore be on Philadelphia' defense - also very good in their own right - to carry the day. The fans in Philly are relishing their underdog status, and will no doubt be frothing at the mouth. So, there's that.
During the regular season, the Vikings went 12-3 with Case Keenum at the helm (in relief of injured opening day starter Sam Bradford). Keenum threw for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. After last week's game, his confidence is through the roof. He still needed to complete that pass which ended the game. He stood in the pocket, and did just that.
But, hey, like I said: What do I know.
Good luck, and Happy Championship Sunday!
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