NFL Conference Championships
 

In the AFC, I think the gap between the Pats strength (offense) and the Ravens strength (defense) is greater than the gap between their weakness (defense) and the Ravens weakness (offense). Basically, even if the Ravens are able to slow down the Pats today I don't see their offense lighting up the Pats.

In the NFC, the Bay Area has the same feel to it as it did during the SF Giants WS run where nobody thought they would beat ATL, PHI and TEX. I expect this game to go down to the final minutes with the front 7 on defense that performs better will lead their team to victory.

Watching the Pats win will just anger me, so I'm keeping busy until the night game. Can't wait for the one, that should be a great one. Hoping for a Harbaugh bowl in the Super Bowl. A lot of love for Jim in Indiana still.

Even I as a Pats fan was a huge fan of Jim during his Indi days. I'm loving the season he's having pretty much solely because of that.

Captain Comeback!

I'm going to go with my gut and pick the Ravens and Giants. I guess I'm one of the (apparently) few who thinks the Ravens' offense isn't as inept as Houston made it look last week. And I'm not picking against a Giants team on a roll.

My gut says Ravens and Giants, my head says Pats and Niners....(so for the pick em game, I split the difference and picked for who I want to win. :) ).

As for Pats/Ravens.

Pats defense is not nearly as good as it looked against Denver and their offense has been more inconsistent than not all season. I can easily see Baltimore holding the Pats to 20 or less and Baltimore put up north of 20.

I'm really surprised people think the Pats are as good as they are, too be honest.

The Pats defense isn't the Texans defense.

Pats defense looks a little better than it did early in the year. Seems like they got a few players back and some others have settled in. It's not good, but I don't think it's as bad as people might think.

My problem with the Ravens is that they really didn't look that good against Houston. They were blown off the ball on both sides and a semi-competent QB would have had Houston winning that game last week. Their offense is also incredibly predictable. Not saying they won't make it a game, but I'd be taking New England especially with it being in Foxboro.

As I predicted before the season started, I think it'll be Giants/Patriots:

Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - NFL Predictions - 2011

(Of course, I also predicted the Rams would "dominate" the NFC West, that the Bengals would go 1-15, and that the Packers would miss the playoffs - but hey, that super bowl pick is still looking pretty good - as was the pick that the Jets "miss the playoffs as the Rex Ryan act gets a little old").

History says the Patriots and 49ers won't win the Super Bowl, so I am looking for a Ravens vs. Giants rematch from 2007.

I think you mean 2000-2001 superbowl.

As for the Giants I am a little worried because so many people seem to like them this week. However, this roll reminds me exactly of the superbowl run a few years back and I just don't trust Alex Smith yet.

NE/SF have never faced off in a SB, I like this matchup.
Young Padawan(Harbaugh)vs. Jedi Master(Belichick).

I hate these odd kickoff times.

That national anthem was...odd...

fixed

Steven Tyler with the national anthem in NE. :(

I'm an Aerosmith fan, but that was just terrible.

Flacco has a tough time seeing the open receiver. Had a man on an out route to the right side of the field.

Ed Reed has gotten into Flacco's head. :lol:

Ravens defense will have to win it for them.

Ravens are screwed. At some point they will have to respect the run. When they do Brady is going to go to town.

Ravens D like butter on that drive. Flacco looking better than Reed so far.

Don't worry the real Flacco will show back up. :lol:

Flacco holding up his end of the bargain, time for some Ravens D.

He does look much better after a play breaks down than in the pocket...

Patriots need to be more disciplined in their rush lanes and quite opening up the right side of the field for him to roll to.

Is Ed Reed even playing today?

You are correct!

Looked like a catch to me..

I thought so too.

Pats fans not pleased with end-of-half kneeldowns?

Boomer thought so too...

Ravens D bending....can they stop the break?

Bend but don't break.

Flacco needs to step up big right here.

Agreed.

Every time I see Gronkowski making that standard 14 yard play against totally overmatched safeties or linebackers, I wonder "how does anyone ever stop this team?" (admittedly, I feel the same thing for Jimmy Graham and a couple other guys to a lesser extent)

I love how football is a game of matchups and adjustments like that. But what manner of player do you invest in if you start facing these 6'6" 265-lb gazelles on a regular basis?

I'm going to guess that a strong 4-man pass rush will help and then some lighter speed LB's.

I think you'd have to start lining up guys to play underneath coverages and making them beat you deep. As far as player type... I have no idea.

I think those guys can beat you deep...which is part of the problem they present.

What kind of endzone/sideline close up cam hides the feet from view!?!?

Well yeah. But forcing them to go deep is a lower percentage play than letting him run 10-14 yards and turn around for an easy catch.

Nice play call by the Ravens.

Out at the four.

Give or take four. :)

:lol:

Ravens ball.

Have to give credit, after a shaky start Flacco has come to play.

Hi, I'm a member of the Patriots secondary. I'm not very good.

Really can't stomach the thought of a Harbaugh bowl. I'll have to stay away from football for the next two weeks.

Well, that's a given when they have Edelman playing nickel-back.

...OR...you could just twist their legs up so they can't perform...

Ouch.

WINNAR

Bernard Pollard = Patriots killer

Hah, I was about to post that too.

Brady really looks off.

He's short.

Brady takes one for the team. Nice play call.

Yea. Props to Brady on that play.

I can't stomach a Patriots bowl.

please please harbaugh bowl

That sucks for Flacco. Made a terrible throw.

I think you misunderstood. Just one of the Harbaughs have to lose. :lol:

Pats could pretty much put this away if they get a TD out of it.

What a pick.

Clutch.

Now the old man Ricky Williams needs to step up. Great game.

NE should've ran the ball.

+1

C'mon Pats. I got 2 whole dollars against my boss on this.

This has to be a FGA. Right?

You'd think...

Out of six 50+ attempts Cundiff has only made one this season tho..

Was it just me, or was that draw call on 3rd and 3 completely awful?

:lol:

Uh-oh....Raven's are now in Miracle win scenario...not good.

Cam Cameron

But still. If you miss you only give the pats offense 7 yards and by going for it, you're essentially saying your defense will stop them if you don't make it on 4th down. You have to go for the tie IMO there with under 3 minutes left.

It was pretty bad. It almost looked like the offensive line was playing it like a trap to the left, but the run went to the right. That seemed like a strange spot to try a complex running play no matter what. Not exactly the time to get away from a good ol' power running game.

Not to mention the pulling guard rocked before hand giving away the play.

Oh hey, there she is! Ed Reed, ladies and gentleman.

I'd have ran it there. Force them to burn a timeout.

Nice catch. I didn't see that.

Flacco's loving the out of bounds...two in a row that are uncatchable.

Vince Wilfork is abusing Matt Birk. It looks like the Ravens are finally offering Birk some help.

So the biggest surprise of the day for me so far is that lawrence Taylor has a studio gig. Has that been going on all year? I figured that statutory rape would have kept him down longer.

Wow, nice run after the catch.

Smart play by Boldin. Instead of just stepping out of bounds, he took advantage of all the space in front of him. I've seen too many receivers thinking "just get out of bounds" instead of finishing the play strong.

Patriots deserve to lose this for leaving Boldin that wide open.

HUGE block downfield.

Lee Evans was invisible all year. I bet he wishes he was invisible right now.

Evans...not clutch, dude.

Catch the damn ball!!!

LOL

How do you miss that!

Wow.

Evans/Cundiff = anti-clutch

Huh

Ballgame.

Great game.

Tim Tebow would've made that field goal.

Cundiff comes through with a timely miss.