NFL Conference Championship weekend

Journal NFLFan's Journal: NFL Conference Championship weekend 5

Journal by NFLFan on Thursday January 19, 2006 @12:38PM

The Fan's Six pack:

Here are my quick thoughts from this past week's playoff games:
- The Redskins would be really good if they had an offense.
- The Seahawks were ready early. Injuries slowed them down though.
- The Seahawks lost 3 fumbles and still won?
- Why was Tim Dwight of the Patriots wearing one of those play wristbands on his bicep?
- Tom Brady seemed wound a little too tight. Why egg-on Lynch and the Bronco fans? Brady seemed to hurry enough throws to say that Lynch was in his head.
- I knew the Patriots were finished when they decided to sellout on a early fourth quarter punt opting to go for the block. Had the Patriots not gone for the block, I think Troy Brown does not fumble.
- The Patriots looked a lot like they did last time they played a good team, Kansas City. Seems that late season cup cake, err I mean schedule, that allowed them to look good and had people suggesting that the champs were back was just an illusion.
- I keep reading that Rod Smith is the best no-name wide receiver of his generation. I do not agree with that but he was best wide receiver on either the Broncos or Patriots this past week.
- Plummer really does not throw a good deep ball.
- Richard Seymour is a thug. He could have been flagged for at least 10 personal fouls for after the whistle activity.
- Wow the Steelers did it!
- I guess Joey Porter did know what he was talking about. Everybody was lambasting Porter for his pre-game comments but he delivered.
- Roethlisberger had thrown 2 touchdowns before Peyton Manning even completed a pass!!! How cool is that?
- That was not the same Colts team that started 13-0. There was just too much for them to overcome.
- How does Steve Smith get that wide open?
- Wow, losing DeShaun Foster could really hurt the Panthers.
- Guess Rex Grossman was not ready. I think starting him was the right choice though.
Thoughts on the coaching merri-go-round:
- Outstanding hire by the Jets to grab Eric Mangini. What was up Belichick advising Mangini of the situation? I think Mangini is able to think for himself. Belichick is afraid of that division getting more competitive and with the way things ended between Belichick and the Jets I think Belichick was trying to screw them.
- I like the Saints hiring Sean Payton. I like young smart coaches.
- Mike Mularkey did the right thing by resigning. I never understood how or why he got a head coaching job to begin with but it sure looked like the the "new" regime was setting him up to fail. Enter Jim Haslett?
- I do not like what I am hearing from the Rams. I liked the idea they had when they were going after a defensive coach but now they are said to be after an offensive coach. I am probably making too much of this defense versus offense thing but I would rather hear they are after the best coach at this point.
Of the four quarterbacks left in the playoffs I think I would rank them as follows: 1.) Ben Roethlisberger, 2.) Jake Delhomme, 3.) Matt Hasselbeck, and 4.) Jake Plummer. I'm sure others will have a different order. Roethlisberger is the most complete package, he can make all the throws and probably has the best mobility of the four. Take away Steve Smith and Delhomme's past playoff success then Hasselbeck and Delhomme probably switch positions. Plummer gets the job done but it is not always pretty; the problem is that Plummer is not a pocket passer and this is a pocket passing league. Overall, a good collection of quarterbacks who are mostly underrated.
I am really surprised that Joey Porter is not going to be fined for his post-game comments. Yes, overturning that interception was just horrible but Porter's comments suggested collusion. I guess the NFL feels they screwed things up so badly that they can't fine Porter. It is so easy to dismiss whatever Porter says but it is silly how often he ends up being right.
Defense wins championships. All four teams left have pretty good defenses, I do not think I would call them great but they are good. Seattle is close to just being ordinary but when they are on top of things they are good.
What is up with this T.O. to Miami talk? I do not see it happening. I think T.O. is most likely to pick a West Coast offense team-- maybe Denver or Seattle.

The Picks:
Last week I went 2-2. My overall playoff record is 6-2 (.750).

Sunday, Jan. 22
Pittsburgh at Denver 3:00 p.m.
I like the Steelers. The thin air of the Denver scares me but I do not want to look foolish for picking against the Steelers again. The Steelers might be underdogs with the gamblers but after defeating the Colts they have to be the people's favorite. Two very similar teams. I think Pittsburgh has the better quarterback while the Broncos have the better run game so I will call the offenses even. While both teams are good against the run the Broncos appear to be bad against the pass, they are very good at taking the ball away though, so I am giving the advantage to Pittsburgh.

Carolina at Seattle 6:30 p.m.
I like the Seahawks. Seattle is undefeated at home and Carolina is dinged-up. Even if Nick Goings can step-in for DeShaun Foster then who is going to step-in for Goings? I think Julius Peppers is going to play but he won't be full go. I think Seattle is a bit soft, especially away from Seattle, but I think they will put up enough points and stop Steve Smith just enough to win.

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