Championship Sunday!

It's Championship weekend! Which means the winner of each game will be crowned champion of their respective conference, and most importantly get the chance to play for the Lombardi Trophy. Before I get started lets flashback to a few teams, before opening day.

Eagles

The Philadelphia "Dream Team" Eagles, stepped on the gas pedal and didn't let off. Signing key players such as Jason Babin, Nnamdi Asomugha, Steve Smith, and DRC. Immediately after the Eagles were highly favored Super Bowl contenders.

At seasons end Philadelphia finished 8-8 resulting in third in the NFC West, and no playoff birth.

Bengals

After a stubborn Carson Palmer chose to sit on the couch instead of suiting up for the Bengals. Much of sports nation had flat out written off Cincinnati. The Bengals began to rebuild, drafting WR A.J. Green with their first pick and QB Andy Dalton  with their second pick. People still wrote off the Bengals, in fact many "experts" said Andy Dalton couldn't play in the NFL.

At seasons end Cincinnati finished 9-7, with a defense in the top 10, and made it to the playoffs for the third time in 5 years.

49ers

Fresh off firing Head Coach Mike Singletary after a 6-10 2010 season. Expectations were just above nothing for the 49ers. Coach Jim Harbaugh took the reigns from Singletary, and decided to give the still unproven Alex Smith another shot. Soon after that announcement expectations dropped from just above nothing to not a damn thing. Even in a week division most were picking the Cardinals, and the Seahawks to finish ahead of them.

At seasons end San Francisco finished 13-3 (second best record in the league), and had a defense ranked in the top three in the NFL. Alex Smith has taken his critics words, and shoved them down their throats.

Broncos

Naming Kyle Orton the starter before opening day sounded peachy, I mean he's proven he can win before. Soon as you know it the Broncos are 1-4, and Orton is out. The two John's knew their season was pretty much done, so they figured "Eh why not put in this Tebow guy in so the fans will shut up."


At seasons end It was Fox and Elway doing the shut part, because from there Tebow and the Broncos just went up. Going 7-4 down the stretch, and giving the Broncos their first home playoff game since 2005.

My point: NO match up can be won on paper. On that note let's jump into Sunday's games.


Baltimore @ New England (Sunday 3:00pm EST)

Both teams have played outstanding this season! Baltimore finished the season with a top three defense, while the Patriots finished with a top three offense (shocker I know.) Man you would expect this game to be close and exciting right?

Not according to "experts."

"Tom Brady will get his revenge come Sunday. He hasn't forgotten what happened back in 2009."

"The Pats duel Tight Ends will be to much for the Ravens."

"This Ravens defense is old and overrated."

"Joe Flacco is holding this team back."

"I Just can't see a scenario where Tom Brady and the Patriots lose this game"

"30-14 Pats"

Those are just SOME of the thousands of things I have heard off of stations such as NFL Network and ESPN. It's just unreal to me, I haven't seen these networks this bias since...the word bias became a damn word!

T-Sizzle & co. know the old saying
"Defense wins Championships"

The Ravens finished the season 12-4, number two in the AFC, the leagues third ranked defense, and 7-0 against playoff teams (8-0 if you count their win in the divisional round.) It's the questions about Joe Flacco in which people are concerned, and he has definitely been inconsistent this year. Completing just under 60% of his passes, and posting a QB rating of 80.9. But a guy can't have an off year? Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, all did. My only explanation for this nonsense is People Forget..

Tom Brady has a career quarterback rating versus Baltimore (6 games) of just over 70. His rating through out his 11 year career: 96.4.

Brady has 5 touchdown passes in a total of 6 games versus Baltimore. This is the same Tom Brady who threw six TD passes last week versus Denver, and the same Tom Brady who over the last four years, averages between 2-3 touchdown passes per game.

I just had to get some of that stuff off my chest. Enough about Baltimore. What does New England have to do well to win this game?

It's pretty simple. Play mistake free football, and spread the ball around. Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernendez have both posted record setting seasons. Either one of them is a threat on every down. Even with the Patriots facing a great Baltimore defense. Are New England's Tight Ends all they need to beat Baltimore? My answer is no, in fact my prediction is that each Tight End WILL be held to under 60 yards with one touchdown. Aaron Hernendez will score the TD, if anyone.

The key to getting New England's offense going, is the Wide Receivers. Deion Branch, and Wes Welker (who they didn't have back in the 09 loss versus the Ravens.) Baltimore has shown that they can be beaten deep, and Tom Brady throws one of the best deep balls in the league.

So...GO DEEP! Force Ed Reed, Lardarius Webb, and Jimmy Smith to make a play, attack them like their not expecting it. Then you kill them late in the game, in the slot with one of 3 options. A.) Wes Welker B.) Aaron Hernendez C.) Julian Edelman D.) all of the above.

If the Patriots can get off to a fast start and play to attack the Ravens defense. Their going to make it tough on Baltimore. Joe Flacco has endured success through out all aspects of his young career, but will he be known as the quarterback who DID have something to do with preventing Tom Brady from a record tying fourth ring?

I think so.

Final Score: Baltimore 27 New England 17 


New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers (Sunday 6:30 EST)

It took me all week to figure out the winner of this game, little did I know it was only a phrase away.

Defense wins Championships.

That's been the motto throughout the NFL for the past 10 years, and it's not about to change. While the Giants do have a good defense..at times (25th overall.) The 49ers (second overall) will be just to much to handle. Carlos Rodgers, Tarell Brown, and the hard hitting Donte Whitner roam the secondary for the 9ers. Patrick Willis, Navarro Bowman, and Ahmad Brooks anchor the line backing core. And Aldon and Justin Smith deliver the final blow on the defensive line.

the Giants offensive line allowed 28 sacks on Eil this season, and I believe the 49ers will add an extra four on Sunday night.

However it was the 49ers O-Line who allowed the most sacks in the league (44), and without a doubt the Giants have one of the best (if not the best) defensive line in football. JPP, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora do I need to continue? The Giants will force 5 sacks on Smith, but that's not enough to rattle this determined QB. Smith was just one year away from losing his job, from maybe never playing another down in the NFL again. Until a certain head coach decided to give him another chance, he had faith in Alex when no one else did. That's what makes this 2011 49ers team so special.

They can beat you in ALL aspects of the game. On the ground? OK here's Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter. Through the air? OK here's Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree. With the Giants secondary giving up 255 passing yards per game (29th in the league.) Alex Smith will come out throwing, much like last week against New Orleans.

As for the Giants comparing this playoff run to their 07 Super Bowl year, I would say is accurate. They have as much fire power as they did four years ago, and  to make things scarier Eli is playing better than he was in 07. The only problem is the Giants have ran into a hotter team.

Much like Drew Brees, when Eli Manning is off....he's off. The 49ers D will put pressure on all three big play receivers for the Giants. Which opens up the opportunity for the Smith's and co. Two interceptions sounds about right. One for CB Carlos Rodgers and one for SS Dashon Goldson.

But even with that, that's only limiting the Giants wide outs not stopping them. This Giants offense is to good to just lay down, I haven't even mentioned Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw yet. Even with San Fran's first ranked run D, I can't see both these running backs being held in check. If the Giants use Brandon Jacobs well and often in this game, he's going to break one. As for Ahmad Bradshaw expect less than 50 yards from #44.

I broke down all aspects and scenarios from each team at least 10 different times, and I still couldn't decide on a winner. Little did I know it was only one saying away. "Defense wins Championships." Believe it!

Final Score New York 21 San Francisco 24