Super Bowl XLIII

My prediction is pretty simple. It coincides with my first two AFC predictions in which I picked the Steelers to win. Luckily, I was right, twice.

This time, however, it is the Super Bowl, and the Steelers will be going against probably the best passing offense they've seen all year.

Still, the Steelers have shut down just about everyone this year. The Cardinals may seem to be unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball, but if there is one team that can run with them, it's the Steelers.

I think the Steelers will win. I think they will solidify themselves as the best franchise in the NFL and get that ever-elusive sixth Super Bowl ring. Let me tell you why.

First, this is the best defense the Cardinals have faced this season. The Steelers are aggressive, tenacious, hard-hitting, and flat-out mean. There are no holes in the defense. The defensive line is well above average and has two pro-bowl caliber players. The two outside linebackers include the defensive player of the year in James Harrison and first-year starter Lamarr Woodley, who, by the way, has 17.5 sacks through 18 games. More than Harrison. On the inside, James Farrior is a pro-bowler, Larry Foote is more than solid, and Lawrence Timmons is just as fast as a lot of running backs in the NFL (he caught Darren Sproles from behind, for reference). In the secondary, Ike Taylor is one of the better corners in the league and William Gay, Bryant McFadden, and DeShea Townsend all rotate in as the #2 corner and contribute significantly. Behind them, Ryan Clark had over 100 tackles in the regular season and hits just as hard as any safety in the league, just ask Wes Welker and Willis McGahee. Oh, and next to him is Troy Polamalu, the best safety in the NFL. If the Cardinals want to beat the Steelers, they are going to have to get the ball out of Kurt Warner's hands quickly, find some balance in the playcalling, and make some exceptional plays (not impossible, obviously, as Larry Fitzgerald has proved). The Steelers defense is not perfect, and it has been beaten, but it takes some extraordinary plays to do so.

The Cardinals beat a good defense in the Philadelphia Eagles. The Steelers are similar in a lot of ways. The difference is, the Eagles blitz - a lot. The Steelers don't blitz as much. It may look like they do, because linebackers generate the pressure, but in reality, Dick Labeau relys on 3-4 guys to get to the quaterback. The chess match between Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley and Labeau will be very, very interesting to watch. I think Labeau wins it. After all, he should be the first coordinator to be in the Hall-of-Fame.

Secondly, Ben Roethlisberger has been phenomenal during the playoffs. Kurt Warner has been better - and has proven to be clutch in the Super Bowl - but there are a couple points I want to make about Ben. First, he hasn't turned the ball over. This plagued him throughout the year and he has been much, much smarter about where he passes the ball. In the San Diego game, he made smart decisions and stayed in a rhythm. In the Baltimore game, he was locked in, and his numbers would've looked better if a) Limas Sweed doesn't drop a perfect touchdown pass, and b) Hines Ward stays in the game. Ward is clearly Ben's favorite target and he will play on Sunday; even if he is not 100%, I think he is a factor. The Super Bowl XL MVP has to get involved, because the team needs his big plays. My second point is that the Ben of Super Bowl XL was not good - he admits he was nervous and it seems that this time, he is much more relaxed. I don't see him repeating his 9-21 performance. The big question, in my mind, is: If Warner gets hurt early and often, will he become turnover-prone? He is similar to Ben in that he is vulnerable to turnovers. So far, the playcalling has been good and he has been able to find receivers open quickly.

And Third, while the Cardinals have been outstanding all postseason long, they have less experience in the big game, and will not be at home. The Cardinals have played much better at home all season long, and this game will most certainly not be a home game. Reports from Tampa indicate Super Bowl XLIII may end up like Detroit did in 2006: infested with Steelers-fans. Matt Hasselbeck said that in XL, he was forced to go to a silent count in the first quarter because of the crowd noise. Kurt Warner will obviously adjust, but if it is basically a Steelers home game, the Cardinals could be in trouble.

Score prediction: Steelers 28, Cardinals 20. This game will not be a blowout. The Cardinals offense is too good and the Steelers' offense isn't really capable of blowing out teams. I think the Cardinals will put up some points, but I think the Steelers offense can put up some of their own as well.

MVP prediction: Troy Polamalu. For a defensive player to win this, he has to have the game of his life, and I think a Steelers defensive player will win it if the Steelers win (barring a huge day from either Ben or Willie Parker, which I think is unlikely). Polamalu was a force in the AFC Championship game and I expect more of the same. I think he has the potential for a repeat performance. I think James Harrison or Lamarr Woodley have a shot as well, but it will take a multiple-sack day and probably double-digit tackles (along with a forced fumble) to win it. If the Cardinals win, I think Larry Fitzgerald will get it. If Fitzgerald continues his dominance, the Cardinals will most likely win, and he should get it.

New Time

TnT Sports is back on the air this Monday and every Monday from now on, from 5 to 6. We're excited about the new time, as it should provide everyone an opportunity to listen.

For our first show, we'll obviously talk about the previous night's Super Bowl and recap the NFL season. Maybe we'll preview next year's season, maybe we'll talk about college basketball; you won't know until you listen. 

Where Maryland Basketball Stands

Despite how badly things have gone at times this year - you know, the loss to Morgan State, the blown 17 point lead to Miami, losing by 41 to Duke - Maryland is still somehow in a relatively favorable position to make the tournament. With one great non-conference win (Michigan State), one good one (Michigan), and one decent one (American), and only one bad loss (and Morgan's moving up the RPI standings themselves), 8-8 in conference with a tournament win may still get the job done. 

It does depend on what teams make up each 8, however. So, I'm going to categorize the remaining 11 conference games based on conference standings right now. 

The Elite

The Teams: There are clearly four elite teams in the conference - UNC, Duke, Wake and Clemson. Maryland has a total of six games against these opponents. They already played the away game of a home-and-away with Duke, they have two games with UNC, they have a home date with Wake, and an away game at Wake.

Bottom Line: You will have to go 2-4 in these six games (2-3 the rest of the way). 

How to do it: A 41-point loss still only counts as one loss, so you have to go 2-3 the rest of the way out. It obviously didn't look like it last Saturday, but a penchant of teams coached by Gary Williams is the ability to show up for the big game. There has only been one year since the 1999-2000 season when the team didn't win at least one game against Duke or Carolina. I'm calling a home win against Duke on February 25th. The players have heart, and they will be looking toward that game for a long time. All that leaves is to get a home win against Wake or a road win against Clemson. I don't like it either, but it's what you're faced with. 

The Really Good

The Teams: There are four teams besides Maryland that are in the middle of the conference, and will more likely than not be bubble teams at the end of the year - Florida State, Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College. Maryland has already played Florida State in their only match of the season, and dropped the away part of a home-and-away with Miami. They play a home game against Boston College (tonight), and an away game at Virginia Tech. 

Bottom Line: You will need to go 2-3 against these teams (2-1 the rest of the way). 

How to do it: The silver lining of the Terps' failed trip to Florida was that the games at Miami and Florida State are the two toughest games during this stretch. Away against Virginia Tech will be extremely difficult as well, unless you believe in sayings like "we're due" and the law of averages. So, what that means is that the game tonight against BC is a must-win, which isn't too bad because they typically play BC pretty well. It also means that they will probably need to beat Miami in College Park. They should have beaten Miami in Miami this year, so that is also plausible. 

The Bottom Teams

The Teams: And then, there are the three teams that are still quality opponents, but are definitely the three bottom teams of the ACC - Virginia, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech. The Terps won their home part of home-and-away series with UVA and GT. They face North Carolina State on the road later in the team. 

Bottom Line: You will need to go 4-1 in these games (2-1 the rest of the way). 

How to do it: This is the exact opposite scenario as the category before. The two easiest games of these three were the home dates against Georgia Tech and Virginia, and the Terps took care of business and won both of those games. Now, they need to go 2-1 on the road against these three teams. They should be able to beat GT in Atlanta. NC State might give them trouble because of Brandon Costner inside, so that would leave Virginia at Virginia for the last game of year - again. They may want to beat NC State. 

(Photo Credits: AP)

RPI Does Not Make Sense

So, you think the BCS is bad? Try the RPI system for college basketball. Granted, RPI is not the only determining factor in a team's selection for the NCAA Tournament, but it's arguably the biggest. I don't have any stats or anything to back up my post about how poor of a system it is except for one. Maryland's RPI before their record-setting loss: 76. After they completely failed to show up for a rival game and were a 3-pointer away from being doubled: 68. 

The Washington Capitals: At the All-Star Break

The Washington Capitals enjoyed the year 2008. Last spring, the team made a magical run to win the Southeast Division. Over the summer, they signed goaltender Jose Theodore and drafted Capitals legend Bengt Gustafsson's son, Anton. In training camp and preseason, another 2008 first-round draft pick, defenseman John Carlson, nearly made the team as an 18-year old.

Once the season started, the success continued onto the ice. Alexander Semin torched the league to start the season. Alexander Ovechkin struggled out of the gate, but has since found his groove and now leads the NHL in scoring. Goaltender Jose Theodore was below average, but was aided by backup Brent Johnson's stellar play. Injuries forced the team to call up nearly 9 players from AHL Hershey, but the team never missed a beat, and remained in first place. 20-year old defenseman Karl Alzner (4th overall draft pick in 2007) emerged as a steadying force on the backline and brought partner Milan Jurcina's play to a whole new level.

2009 saw the Caps hit their first real bump - a 2-game losing streak to two mediocre Western Conference teams - but has still be good to the team. Semin is back healthy and scoring at over a point-per-game. Ovechkin is scoring goals like last season. Jose Theodore has finally began to play like the goaltender who was MVP of the league. Now, at the "half-way" point, I'm going to take a look back and give out some awards.

Team MVP: Alexander Oveckhin. This award would go to Semin if he didn't get hurt, but he did, and Ovechkin picked up the slack. He has dominated games all season long and has been the best player on the team, all season long. He leads the Caps in goals and points, and a second consecutive Hart Trophy is not out of the question.

Biggest Surprise: Tomas Fleischmann. Last season Caps fans saw Fleischmann miss opportunity after opportunity, and he was eventually benched in the playoff series with the Flyers. His new $750,000 contract was lamented by Caps fans. Even at age 24, Caps fans saw him as a guy who could never finish on a consistent basis. This season, that all changed. Fleischmann has 15 goals in 39 games and a mere 12 penalty minutes. He's playing more disciplined and he's playing with boatloads of confidence. His deking skills are almost at Alexander Semin's level. His +/- rating (-8) is not good by any means, but he's playing solid 2-way hockey regardless and even has gotten penalty-kill time. His salary - less than a million dollars - is a steal for (what potentially is) a 30-goal scorer. Fleischmann has finally found his groove.

Biggest Disappointment: Michael Nylander. Last season, Nylander looked like a great signing, leading the Caps in assists before tearing his rotator cuff. He had done a great job mentoring Nicklas Backstrom and was producing. This year, he has not produced (4 goals, 18 assists, +2) in 45 games and has seen his ice time drop below 15 minutes a game. Head coach Bruce Boudreau has scratched him on three occasions and there seems to be some friction between the two. The Capitals have reportedly been shopping Nylander, who has a no-movement clause in his contract. If the Caps can find a deal with a team Nylander would be willing to play for, it would benefit the Caps greatly, because they could move someone like Dave Steckel to the 3rd line role, and play Eric Fehr on a consistent basis. Honorable mention goes to Chris Clark.

"Hard Hat" Award: Brooks Laich. His numbers may not be outstanding (11 goals, 15 assists in 48 games) but Laich does so many things for the team that go unrewarded. He crashes the net on the powerplay. He blocks shots on the penalty kill. He draws penaltys. He's willing to drop the gloves if need be. Without Laich the Caps would have some serious problems. He is so versatile - he plays both center and wing - and scores timely goals. He hits, he scores, and he plays good defense. Not a whole lot more you can ask from a 3rd line winger.

This spring will be an interesting one for the Caps. The trade deadline has the potential to be enormous (if Nylander is traded) or extremely quiet. The team is off to the best start in franchise history and has no signs of slowing up. That said, anything less than a 1st-round series win will be a season failure. This team is too talented to lose in the first round, but it remains to be seen if the Caps can get over that hump.

AFC Championship: Why the Ravens Are Heading to Tampa

I abandoned the 12-part post thing as you can tell. This makes more sense; Tyler knows much more about the Steelers than I do, and neither of us really knows about the NFC. So if you were really looking for a Cardinals-Eagles preview, go to ESPN. As a rebuttal, here are my five reasons why the Ravens will emerge victorious today. 

Reason #1: The Steelers have already beaten the Ravens twice this year. Normally, that means that the Steelers would have the advantage here, but if you think that, you don't know the Ravens. Still instilled from the Billick era is a sense of pride in this team unmatched in any I know. Also instilled is a sense of undeniable hatred for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens are admittedly an arrogant bunch, but this will definitely play into their hands. There's no way the Ravens let the Steelers beat them three times in one year. 

Reason #2: I don't know how beating a 4-12 and 9-8 team qualifies you as world beaters. The national media absolutely fell in love with the Steelers this week. They were on the cover of SI twice in a row, and the latest prognostication trend has been to shy away from predicting a close, hard fought game, and to say the Steelers are going to win along the lines of 27-10. Since the week 15 game - a truly epic game that showed just how much separates these two teams (a half-inch, if you recall), the Steelers have lost handedly to the Titans, beat a Browns team that quit in Week 10, had a bye, and then took care of a San Diego team that was only there because for some reason they have the Colts' number. In that same time frame, the Ravens beat the Cowboys in their last game in Texas Stadium, destroyed the Jaguars to clinch a playoff spot, walked all over the Dolphins in Miami, and made enough clutch plays to escape Tennessee with a win. You tell me who has more momentum.

Reason #3: I can fully envision a scenario in which the Steelers rely too heavily on Willie Parker for too long. That's been another theme of this Steeler resurgence: the resurgence of Willie Parker. I will be the first to admit that Parker was awfully impressive in gaining 146 yards against San Diego last week. However, that was against the Chargers' run D, ranked 11th in the league. I know, still solid, but not Baltimore's. Plus, there is Parker's history against the Ravens; he has never gotten over 70 yards. You can talk about what Chris Johnson did all you want, but Chris Johnson is faster than Parker is. Also, the Ravens were playing on a 6-day week last time, and they're playing an 8-day week this time. 

Reason #4: No matter what parts are around them, lined up in the middle linebacker spot for the Baltimore Ravens today will be Bart Scott (pictured, above) and Ray Lewis. You forget how good Ray Lewis truly was against the Steelers in Week 4 this year until you go back and watch the game. It was the most dominating performance by any Ravens player all season. Then, there is Scott, who seemingly plays two good games a year, both against the Steelers. These two players, being - and I kid you not - 2 of the 4 defensive starters from the beginning of the year who are still playing healthy, will anchor this defense, and will be the reason Parker will go nowhere. Suggs is going to play, but even if he doesn't, then the Ravens would go to the 4-3, stick Marques Douglas at defensive end, and line Scott up at the outside linebacker to he can blitz Ben all day. He will rush the passer with a scary fervor. 

Reason #5: As the saying goes, big time players make big time plays in big time games. No matter how much the offense struggled against the Titans and the Dolphins, if you look back at the games, plays were there that were left on the field. The offense has done a brilliant job of holding onto the ball and the defense has done a fantastic job taking it away. They played the two most turnover-savvy teams in the league these past two weeks and stole the game away from both because of the turnovers. Still, that may not be enough against the Steelers, and I expect rookie Joe Flacco to rise up the occasion. Remember what happened in the Dallas game after he fumbled on the 5? He led them down the field in a tone-setting drive that only netted three, but gave the offensive confidence for the rest of the game. Remember what happened in the Jacksonville game when Jacksonville went up 7-0? Flacco went off the deep end, completing something like 11 of 12 passes for 200 yards in the second quarter alone for three consecutive TD drives. Remember what happened in the Miami game when they up 3-0? The very next drive, Flacco led them down the field for the tying score. And remember what happened when Tennessee tied the game at 10? Flacco led the team down the field for the game tying field goal. He's done it all season. When he's needed to make a play, he has - more often than not to Derrick Mason (pictured, right), the Steeler Killer. He may need to make several plays today, and I think he will.

I'm saying the Ravens come away with this one, 17-16. 

And because I'm 6-2 so far on my picks for this postseason, better than 12 of the 13 "experts" on ESPN, I'll pick the other game. In upset II, I like the Cardinals 27-17. 

AFC Championship: Why The Steelers are heading to Tampa

Fittingly, the Steelers and Ravens face off on Sunday at Heinz Field in the AFC Championship game. The two bitter rivals will meet for the third and final time this season, with a ticket to the Super Bowl on the line. Here's why, in my opinion, the Steelers will be headed to Tampa.

Reason #1: The Steelers have already beaten the Ravens twice, so they have proven to be able to win. The wins were both extremely close (a combined 7 points), but a win is a win, no matter how you slice it. Not to mention when a team sweeps another team in the regular season and meets them in the playoffs, the team that swept has won 11 of 18 times. 

Reason #2: Rookie Joe Flacco has been calm and collected during the playoffs, but he had a QB rating of 53.4 in two games versus the Steelers, and was sacked 7 times. In his two playoff wins so far, Flacco has been extremely average, with a QB rating of 59.1 versus the Dolphins (9 for 23, zero TDs or INTs) and 89.4 (11-22). Those numbers are far from fantastic, but Flacco has done a good job protecting the ball and he has been sacked ZERO times. The Steelers have brought pressure against Flacco in the two matchups. In the first game at Heinz Field, Flacco was good in the 1st half, but struggled in the 2nd half, the key play being a lost fumble for a Steelers touchdown. In the 2nd matchup, Flacco was bad: 11-28 with 2 interceptions. He was also sacked twice. The Ravens utilized an unbalanced line against James Harrison, and you can bank on Dick Labeau having a way to break that. Flacco will need to be on his game on Sunday, because he was very mediocre in Tennessee and his touchdown came on a deep ball. If the Steelers cover the deep ball to Clayton, they will be in good shape.

Reason #3: The Steelers offensive line has finally resembled a solid unit. Throughout the season, the offensive line has failed to produce a push off of the line of scrimmage and has failed to produce a reliable pocket for Ben Roethlisberger. The result: 46 sacks, a 3.8 yards per carry average for Willie Parker, and a 22nd ranked offense. Against the Chargers, the offensive line had arguably its bes

t game in 2 seasons, as it opened up holes for Parker and gave Roethlisberger time to throw (he was sacked once, on a cornerback blitz that Mewelde Moore failed to pickup). Parker had 5.4 yards a carry and ended up with 146 total yards. Rarely was he stopped in the backfield and he had numerous 10+ yard carries. He will most likely not have another 100 yard day against the stout Ravens defense, but a solid 75-80 yards from Parker may be enough to give the offense balance. Also, in pass protection, the line has improved mightily down the stretch, which allows Roethlisberger to get in a rhythm. Not to mention offensive coordinator Bruce Arians finally decided to utilize the I-formation and quick, easy throws, both of which moved the ball well for the Steelers.

Reason #4: The Baltimore Ravens have not had a rest since week 2, which wasn't much of a rest. Starting tailback Le'Ron McClain has

 powered the tough running game, but he is banged up and no doubt beginning to get worn down. Terrell Suggs (T-Sizzle) injured his shoulder against the Titans, and will not be at 100% on Sunday. A reduced role of Suggs is a huge factor in the Ravens pass rush, as he led them in sacks with 8 during the regular season. How much will fatigue play in the game? The Steelers had their bye week during the season and had another before the playoffs. They were clearly rested against the Chargers, the most obvious example being Willie Parker, who missed most of the season with injuries.

Reason #5: The Heinz Factor. Heinz Field was absolutely rocking last Sunday and it will be this weekend as well. Flacco has played in Miami and Tennessee, both good fanbases, but Heinz Field is a different demon. Ravens fans were able to infiltrate Nashville and Miami; do not expect the same in Pittsburgh. How will Flacco respond to such a hostile environment on such a big stage? I don't expect him to get flustered, but what if he's forced to turnovers early? And, of course, the other Heinz: Hines Ward. No one has gotten in the Ravens' heads more than Hines Ward. He hits hard, he makes big catches, and his smile makes defenses want to destroy him (and even put a bounty on him!). The problem is, they haven't been able to, and Ward has had key catches/plays in both matchups: the first game, he drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Ravens linebacker Jarrett Johnson and in the 2nd game, he had 3 enormous catches on the Steelers game-winning drive, all of which turned out to be first downs. Another interesting tidbit: Hines Ward is now the Steelers all-time leader in playoff receptions. Come playoff time, Hines comes to play.

Hockey Fight!

I know it's the playoffs, and all that, but I came across this video and had to show it with you ... if you like hockey fights, please watch and enjoy. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: What I Thought I Knew

Now that my heart rate has recovered from a crazy divisional playoff weekend, it's time to do a little posting. This is going to be a 12-part posting about every team in the playoffs. For each team, I am going to do a little post about what I thought I knew, what I know now, and what I expect. 

What I Thought I Knew Heading into the Playoffs: Steelers

1. Their defense is the best in the NFL, led by their linebackers, the best in the NFL. Post-divisional round analysis: TRUE

Don't let the 24 points San Diego put up on the board fool you. First, Philip Rivers was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Second, Darren Sproles was arguably the hottest player in the NFL after his game against Indianapolis. Third, after the Chargers' first drive, where they hit Vincent Jackson over the top for a brilliantly thrown 41 yard completion, the Chargers' offense was completely shut down until the game was out of reach. Rivers got his, but Sproles only finished with 15 yards on the day. As much as it pains me, I will concede that the Harrison-Woodley-Farrior-Foote (pictured, left)-Timmons group is the best position group in the NFL.

2. Pittsburgh has a very underrated group of receivers, and they get open often enough to make Ben's job a little easier. Post-divisional round analysis: TRUE

This is not to slight Ben's performance at all, but one drive to me stands out in particular. It was in the third quarter, when the Chargers desperately needed a stop, and they backed the Steelers into three separate 3rd and 8+ on the same drive. Every time, a Steeler wide receiver threaded his way into the middle of the San Diego zone and made the catches Ben rocketed in there. Hines Ward (pictured, right) is the leader of the group and a possession guy, but both Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington can beat you deep. 

3. Pittsburgh's offensive line woes will come back to haunt them; their lack of production running has been on them, not Willie Parker. Post-divisional round analysis: FALSE

Perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to throne them, but it's hard not to when you look at the game and you saw the lanes that Willie Parker had to run through the entire day. Also, unless I heard mistakenly, Roethlisberger was only hit one time the entire game. Of course, the offensive line has a much harder task ahead of them this Sunday, as they play the second, not the 25th, ranked defense. So far, so good, though, for an oft-maligned group. 

(Photo Credits: AP)

Philadelphia Eagles: What I Thought I Knew

Now that my heart rate has recovered from a crazy divisional playoff weekend, it's time to do a little posting. This is going to be a 12-part posting about every team in the playoffs. For each team, I am going to do a little post about what I thought I knew, what I know now, and what I expect. 

What I Thought I Knew Heading into the Playoffs: Eagles

1. Brian Westbrook right now is not healthy enough to be an every-down back. Post-divisional round analysis: TRUE

Over two games so far this postseason, Westbrook (pictured, right) has 38 carries for 74 yards. Now, I will grant you that he played the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants, two teams who stop the run brilliantly. Nonetheless, though, Westbrook's explosiveness really hasn't been on display this postseason besides that one fateful screen pass. I'm surprised they haven't worked in Correll Buckhalter more. 

2. Donovan McNabb is on a mission, and when he is, he is one of the three best quarterbacks in football. Post-divisional round analysis: TRUE

Now, the numbers won't blow you away, but as we've learned throughout these playoffs (see Chad Pennington's passer rating vs. Joe Flacco's in that game), numbers don't mean everything. McNabb (pictured, left) has been positively stellar leading his team down the field when they needed to be led down the field so far. His third down passing is superb. He is also showing the mobility - especially in the pocket - that has made him so great this past decade. One example that comes to mind is the 3rd and 20 he converted against the Giants. He dropped back, broke one tackle, scooted forward in the pocket to find a clear throwing lane, and then zipped it to a wide open man downfield. 

3. Brian Dawkins is still considered a good safety based on name recognition only. Post-divisional round analysis: FALSE

No real numbers here, just a sense after watching them play. Dawkins is still everywhere, and he can still hit with the best of them. Dawkins has really stepped up his play this postseason, and is the unquestioned leader in an Eagles secondary that is playing superb right now. 

(Photo Credits: AP)

Arizona Cardinals: What I Thought I Knew

Now that my heart rate has recovered from a crazy divisional playoff weekend, it's time to do a little posting. This is going to be a 12-part posting about every team in the playoffs. For each team, I am going to do a little post about what I thought I knew, what I know now, and what I expect.

What I Thought I Knew Heading into the Playoffs: Cardinals

1. Larry Fitzgerald is a top 3 NFL wide receiver, and Anquan Boldin is top 5. Post-divisional round analysis: TRUE

We didn't get to see too much of Boldin, but we learned that if you throw a jump ball to Larry Fitzgerald (pictured, left), double coverage or not, he is going to come down with it. He just has that uncanny ability to time his jump perfectly every time, and he can jump higher than you can, plain and simple. Both the Falcons and the Panthers learned that the hard way. When Boldin is healthy, he can turn any 5 yard gain into a sixty yard touchdown because of his agility and power. 

2. The Cardinals can not stop the run, even if they know it's all that is coming. Post-divisional round analysis: UNDECIDED

I mean, you can tell why I thought that heading into the playoffs. They were the 16th ranked rush defense heading into the playoffs, but look at the running backs they played this year, and you will notice they've only played four in the top 10, the last one being Adrian Peterson, who went off for 165 yards against them. In the playoffs, though, it's been a different story. They held a very good Michael Turner to 42 yards on 18 carries, but both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart got at least four yards a carry against them this past weekend. Arizona just jumped out to such a large early lead that they got away from the run. 

3. The Cardinals can not run the ball, and will have to rely on Kurt Warner for everything offensively. Post-divisional round analysis: FALSE

Once again, you can't really blame me for thinking this. This was, after all, the team that came IN DEAD LAST in rushing this year. It really seems to me, though, after the Carolina game, that they realized they might have something with this Hightower-James duo. Unlike many teams, who use the run to open up the pass, Arizona uses the pass to open up the run. When you have to double cover both receivers, that will happen to you. Neither Hightower or James (pictured, right) are going to get 100 yards on you most games, but both are becoming reliable options, especially on second down. 

(Photo Credits: AP)

Vasquez Lashes Out at Student Section

The Terps - despite their complete inability to knock down a jump shot for the majority of the game - played good enough defense and hit some clutch free throws to start the ACC season off on the right foot, beating Georgia Tech 68-61 at the Comcast Center. At the game, it was very evident that guard Greivis Vasquez, who struggled for much of the game, was visibly upset with a part of the student section. He came on in the last 10 minutes of the game, and every time he made an assist or knocked down a shot, he would look toward one section of the crowd, and the big screen at the arena caught a visible "shut the f--- up" come from his mouth. Courtesy of the Baltimore Sun, here's what Vasquez (pictured, right) had to say after the game. 

"I don't know if they were booing me or booing the other team. It doesn't bother me. My mind is strong. We're 12 and 3. We were 9 and 5 last year about this time. What the hell are they thinking? If they don't want to believe in us, get the hell out. We don't need them here. We need the people who are going to support us and be with us. I want to say thank you to the people who were supporting us and believing in us. If you don't want to support us, get out."

Strong words, particularly to your own student section. You know what, though? Vasquez is absolutely right, and here's why. 

I am by no means saying that, as a fan, you shouldn't be allowed to criticize your team. I did it just the other day, writing that post about Gary Williams. When I'm at a game, though, do I boo Gary Williams as he does his traditional locker room-to-court march? No, because I'm not moronic. There's a thing in sports that is a proven factor, and it's called home field advantage. By booing your own team, you take away all home field advantage, and even reverse it so that the other team has the edge psychologically. What makes you think that by booing Greivis, he is going to play better?

One more thing about Vasquez. He is easily one of the most frustrating people to root for in sport history. He is cocky, he throws up bad shots, he plays out of control, and he plays without thinking a lot of the time. Here's another thing about Vasquez. He is by far Maryland's best player, and without him they probably would not score 60 points a game. He is the only player on offense that defenses need to account for. It was good to see Hayes step up against GT, but really, just guard him on the three point line. It was apparent in the first half what happens when he drives. Put a quick guy on Bowie, eliminate his drives, and you're golden. Milbourne can't score in the post as a power forward, and the Dave Neal dream was shot down rather easily once we got into conference play. Vasquez, though, will post up smaller players, drive by larger players, and can kick the ball out for an open three better than any Terp I've seen since Steve Blake. 

So, say what you want about Vasquez on your own time (even though I feel like if you think the team doesn't need him, you have problems), and I'll say my things about Gary on my own time. If you're at the game, though, use common sense. Root for your team. 

Baltimore Ravens: What I Thought I Knew

Now that my heart rate has recovered from a crazy divisional playoff weekend, it's time to do a little posting. This is going to be a 12-part posting about every team in the playoffs. For each team, I am going to do a little post about what I thought I knew, what I know now, and what I expect. 

What I Thought I Knew Heading into the Playoffs: RAVENS

1. It is impossible to move the ball consistently against their defense. Post-divisional round analysis: FALSE

Please don't get me wrong here. The Ravens still have the second best defense in the NFL. However, both the Dolphins, and, to a much larger extent, Titans were able to move the ball on this Baltimore defense, and they did it the same way. Largely forget that running the ball exists, and throw short curls and slants. The reason is two-fold. The Ravens bring exotic blitzes that confuse quarterbacks and offensive lines, but if you get rid of the ball quickly enough, it doesn't matter. The other reason is that these routes will be open, because Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington are both finesse quarterbacks who will play five yards off you at all times. 

2. You can't beat the Ravens deep. Post-divisional round analysis: TRUE

The reason for this is one of the same reasons as number 1. Rolle and Washington both can't tackle anyone to save their souls, but they can run with everyone and don't let anyone get behind them. The bigger reason is that if you throw a ball in-bounds more than 30 yards in the air against the Ravens, it is just as likely to be picked off by Ed Reed, one of the greatest free safeties in NFL history, as caught by one of your receivers. And if Reed picks it off (pictured, above), it's coming back the other way. 

3. Joe Flacco doesn't lose his composure - ever. Post-divisional round analysis: TRUE

Flacco (pictured, right) hasn't been pristine by any means in his first two games. Less than 50% completion rate in his first game, 50% in his second. It hasn't been because he's been rattled, though. Sometimes he's just inaccurate. He's a rookie. It happens. You know he hasn't been rattled because he hasn't turned the ball over once, or even taken a sack yet in the playoffs. Now that's impressive. 

(Photo Credits: AP)

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

First, it's long overdue, but best of luck to Maryland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, who officially declared for the NFL Draft on Wednesday. I know that as a Ravens fan, I'm hoping he falls into the second round so he can be wearing purple on Sundays (all accounts say that the Ravens are looking for a cornerback in the first round of the draft), but the Maryland student in me hopes that Heyward-Bey doesn't even make it until the second round. 

Maryland has ample people to catch the ball next year (Torrey Smith, Ronnie Tyler, for instance), but they will surely lack Heyward-Bey's game-breaking speed. One of my fondest memories as a Maryland football fan was against Boston College last year when Heyward-Bey took a reverse down the right sideline to the house. Whenever the ball was in his hands, he was a threat to go all the way. A fan favorite, he will be missed. 

On to other Maryland news, after the community recovered from the embarrassment that was Wednesday night, the team looks to move forward and start the ACC season 1-0 with a home win against GT today at 12:00. 9-7 in the ACC with one win over either Duke or Carolina will still likely get the job done, so Maryland fans should not completely despair yet. If they go their projected 6-10, though, it will certainly make for an interesting offseason. 

Of course, those stories are certainly overshadowed by the NFL Divisional Playoffs. People aren't exaggerating when they say this is one of the greatest sports weekends of the year. You have really the four best teams in the NFL playing at home against four teams who already won playoff games. There are always going to be great games during this weekend every year, but it will be especially true this week with all four of the games being played this weekend having already been played earlier in the season. 

I usually never post my picks on this, because there's nothing like losing your credibility for everyone to see, but why not? I went 3-1 last week in case you were wondering - that one loss also meant my projected Colts-Panthers Super Bowl could be no more. 

So, feel free to quote me, because I'm saying ...

Baltimore 21, Tennessee 10. The Ravens clearly outplayed them earlier in the season, and the Ravens are better since then. The Titans may be worse. Home field means nothing; the Ravens thrive on the road.

Arizona 24, Carolina 35. This was going to be my upset of the week until I learned Anquan Boldin wasn't playing. Yes, I do think Boldin means that much to the Cardinals. On the other side of the ball, I just don't see the Cardinals' run defense holding up two weeks in a row. 

Philadelphia 23, Giants 20. Philadelphia didn't even play that great against the Vikings and came away with a relatively easy win. I just don't think that the Giants can get through the playoffs without Plaxico; it's too easy to provide a gameplan on passing downs. 

San Diego 9, Pittsburgh 13. Pittsburgh's defense is not that of the Colts. Though I mean no disrespect to Sproles, who put out the performance of a lifetime last Saturday, I don't see him having the same kind of success this Sunday, and Rivers will suffer for it. 

(Photo Credit: Washington Post)

I've Had Enough

Note before I start on what promises to be a spiteful rant: These views do not necessarily reflect those of my co-host. They may. I don't know. This is all from my (Tony's) heart. However, since Maryland's loss to Morgan State tonight, my feelings about the matter are boiling over. 

Gary Williams needs to leave the University of Maryland. The only reason he's still coaching after last year's debacle is because Steve Bisciotti (the university's biggest booster) is one of his best friends. University of Maryland just so happens to be exclusively about money, so God knows they wouldn't get rid of their primary source of donations.

When does pride become a factor, though?

When does the fact that Maryland is now on pace for 4 NIT berths in 5 seasons start telling the university that they need to get their of their highest paid employee?

When does the fact that the team loses at least one game every year that they have no business losing start getting under boosters' skins enough so that all the other donations stop flowing?

How long will it take him to recruit any of the best players in Maryland? Yea, he got Sean Mosley, but something about the fact that nobody outside of the Maryland knows a single thing about him tells me he's not Kevin Durant. 

When will someone finally realize that not having a big man on the roster that can play adequately is completely unacceptable? Let's remember that James Gist and Bambale Osby were, after all, seniors. Everyone knew they were leaving.

When will Gary learn how to use timeouts? In a close game the entire way, Gary used his last timeout with 4:00 left in the second half. Ridiculous. This isn't the first example that comes to mind either. 

I don't know the answer to any of those questions. The University of Maryland will more than likely continue to let Gary do his thing for as long as Gary wants, because money talks.

I have my answer, though. I've had enough. Gary has had great contributions to this university, but hasn't done anything positive, really, since the national championship. He's never been grateful to the fans (anyone else remember when he called the fans out in the season opener against Bucknell for not being supportive enough?). It's time for him to go. I've had enough. 

Notable Pictures from the Weekend

I want you to get the context of this picture. I took it while on the bus, so I was sitting on the right side. It was as we were making a left turn. As you can see, the light was red, but we were turning anyway. The cop there is stopping traffic so we could pass. I think everyone that saw the bus pass by thought we were the actual players. 

Suggs; to get his attention, I actually yelled out "Hey, Sizzle!" I think he enjoyed that. 

Very nice and respectable pre-game

About this time, the "Let's Go Ravens" chant you heard started. 

If you want more pictures, check out my facebook. If you don't have one, or aren't friends with me on facebook, leave me a comment with your e-mail address, and I would be more than happy to send some to you. There were about 60 total, including some more good ones with players (Ngata, Mason, McGahee, McClain, Flacco, Johnson, Washington), and some shots of and around the hotel in which we stayed. 

Weekend Recap: VIP Style

This weekend, as some of you know, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Ravens-Miami game in Miami as a "Ravens VIP." It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I tried posting pictures with this, but I guess it would be too long, so I'm just going to asterisk things that have a picture to go with them and do a post immediately after this with the pictures I wanted. 

First, there was the so-called "VIP" treatment, which usually involves getting like a bagel and cream cheese on the flight (we did get that, by the way). The Ravens don't mess around with VIP, though. VIP means walking down stairs from the plane on to one of three coach buses. 

VIP also means police escorts. Meaning six police cars in a constant rotation around the three buses, blocking intersections*. 

And, of course, happenstance, not the Ravens, guaranteed this one, but being in Miami in January was nice, too. 

VIP also meant - and we didn't know this at the time - that we were staying in the same hotel as the Ravens. They checked in through the basement, so we didn't see them then. However, my sister and I stalked the hotel lobby from 4 to 6 and saw practically every player on his way out with other guys or a date out to dinner. 

A couple notes about the players, now. The nicest were Suggs (who actually stopped while he was in a hurry somewhere to take a picture*), Mason (who thanked us for coming down to support the team), and McGahee (the only Raven besides Flacco to smile). The rudest? Corey Ivy. As if he wasn't terrible enough on the field - and he's too small, slow, and weak to play in the NFL - the guy cussed out a little kid asking for his autograph. 

Side note here: Also in the group were some of the players' wives and, presumably because of his good friendship with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, Maryland basketball Coach Gary Williams. Williams couldn't have been ruder. We were in line at the Ft. Lauderdale airport waiting to go through security, and somehow Williams ended up in line between me and my father. The line wasn't moving anywhere, Gary didn't have anything to do or anyone to talk to, and we weren't rude. We tried talking to him like he was anyone else that was in line with us. We just introduced ourselves, and I told him I was a Maryland student and a big fan. No "How's school? How's classes? You like it? Go Terps?" anything. Just an "Okay." I congratulated him on the Charlotte victory. Got a noncommittal head nod. Told him I was excited to attend the GT game this Saturday afternoon, and how it was fortunate the Ravens game wasn't until 4:30 so I could do both. Got a grunt about how GT plays them tough. What? I'm a student at your school and wasn't bothering you. But anyway.

Another note about the players, and this is the biggest cliche I'll give you tonight. They're huge. You knew that, I know. You don't know how big, though, until you get next to them in street clothes. Terrell Suggs could very well be the most jacked human being on this planet. And I kid you not when I tell you that one of Haloti Ngata's legs is about the width of both of mine put together. 

The rest of the weekend went as I expected it would. We went to the game. Miami, for their credit, was rocking that stadium at the beginning of the game. It was louder than it is in M&T Bank Stadium most Sundays, although a few extra thousand people couldn't have hurt that. They also did a nice pre-game ceremony, with Darius Rucker singing the national anthem and a field-sized flag stretched out*. 

I will say, though, Dolphin fans - probably because they don't go to their regular season games - are some of the least intelligent in the NFL. I had one guy to my left trying to convince me the Ravens got lucky when they beat the Dolphins by two touchdowns earlier in the year. After Derrick Mason's catch with about a minute left in the first half, a guy diagonal from me was screaming his head off about "throwing the flag" and couldn't comprehend when I told him that they couldn't do that. After Chad Pennington threw the incompletion on 3rd and 26 towards the end of the game, nobody around me knew that the force-out rule wasn't even in the NFL anymore, so it was a rightful incompletion. Also, Miami fans can secure season tickets next year by only paying a $100 dollar deposit. In Baltimore, you have to wait on a list for about 15 years, and that's not even near the longest in the NFL. One final note about their fans: they don't know when to cheer. They were louder while the team was on offense than on defense, and after the team got down, they stopped cheering for pretty much the rest of the game, save the Ronnie Brown touchdown grab. That being said, it didn't matter, because, by the end of the game, it was all Ravens fans anyway*. 

My actual game analysis will be in my next post, either today or tomorrow. Hope you enjoy the pictures. 

Steelers vs. Chargers Preview

Next Sunday the San Diego Chargers will travel to Pittsburgh, PA to take on the AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in a rematch of a week eleven 11-10 Steelers win. If the Chargers want to upset the Steelers next week, here is what they have to do:

Get pressure on Ben Roethlisberger. In their previous matchup, the Chargers got to Roethlisberger a total of 4 times. They will have to not only repeat their performance, but improve on it. Roethlisberger completed 31 of 41 pass attempts for 308 yards and moved the ball on the Chargers' defense all game long. He had plently of time on the majority of his throws and he did not turn the ball over once. The 31st-ranked pass defense of the Chargers will have to step up in the cold Pittsburgh weather and cover Roethlisberger's numerous weapons - Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Mewelde Moore, Nate Washington (not to mention backup tight end Matt Spaeth, who had 6 catches in week 11 with Miller sidelined with an injury). The 3-4 defense will have to bring pressure and bring it often. In the wildcard matchup with the Colts, the Chargers sacked Peyton Manning a mere one time (though it was an important sack). They allowed 310 passing yards to the Colts' QB and NFL MVP, even though the Colts had a 2:1 pass-run ratio and one of the worst rushing attacks in the league. Which leads to my next key for the Chargers.

Stop the Steelers running game. It is no secret that the Steelers want to run the ball. They averaged 105.6 yards a game during the regular season, but torched the Browns defense for 176 yards in the week 17 blowout. In that game, Willie Parker finally looked like his old self and Mewelde Moore continued to prove why he was an excellent pickup with 33 total yards (6 yards per touch). In week 11, Parker had 115 yards rushing on 25 carries. The Steelers dominated time of possession because of their adequate rushing attack. The Chargers are going to have to stop the running game so that their pass rushers can tee off on the Steelers pourous pass protection and force turnovers. If the Steelers can run the ball at will, it will be a long day for the Chargers defense.

Avoid 3rd and long. With Landanian Tomlinson most likely out with an injury (at best, he plays, but is nowhere near 100% percent, and likely not used much, if at all), the Chargers will look to tiny Darren Sproles to handle the load. He did an outstanding job in the wild card game, but the Colts' rush defense is near the bottom of the league; the Steelers were 2nd in the NFL in rush defense. The Chargers will have to use Sporles, Vincent Jackson, and Antonio Gates (even if he is not 100%) to manage each set of downs. 3rd and long is a bad idea against the #1 defense in the NFL. In situations where the Chargers will be forced to pass, Steelers defensive coordinator will bring anyone and everyone at the NFL's #1 rated passer in Phillip Rivers. Rivers was ineffective in the week 11 meeting, completing 15 of 26 passes for zero touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He cannot afford to be turnover prone on Sunday. James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley - the Steelers' franchise record holders for most sacks by 2 players in one season - are due for big games; if Rivers is faced with numerous 3rd and longs, Woodley and Harrison will be running at Rivers all game long. To avoid long 3rd downs, look for the Chargers to utilize the draw play - the kyrptonite of an over-aggressive defense. Tashard Choice of the Cowboys and Kevin Faulk of the Patriots used the draw plays to great success, and other teams are beginning to use these kind of plays (along with screens) to force the defense into over-pursuing. Sproles' speed will be key in these kind of plays. He's fast enough to get open quickly and run free after the catch. Look for the Steelers to have Troy Polamalu somewhat shadow him throughout the game - he may be the only player on defense quick enough to shut him down.


If the Steelers want to play in the AFC Championship game, the following themes will be very important:

Limit the turnovers. I'm looking at you, Big Ben. Ben has a knack for turnovers, given his nature of trying to make a big play as much as possible. He's finally learning to check down to his running backs, a trait that greatly cuts down on the interceptions. In week 11, Ben was more than fine - he passed for more than 300 yards and made plays all game long. He will need a repeat performance, especially if the running game never materializes. He has to be smart with the football and take what the defense gives him. The offensive line will have to give him time to throw and Bruce Arians has to gameplan effectively. He has to get Roethlisberger in a rhythm early on with short passes out of the bunch formation and he has to get Heath Miller involved. If Roethlisberger can get in a rhythm, he is tough to stop. He is less turnover-prone when he is throwing the ball short with safe patterns. Note: This is assuming Ben is healthy enough to play, and I think he will be.

The old Willie Parker needs to show up. He did in week 11 and he certainly did against the Browns just one week ago. He needs to repeat his performances and a 100-yard day from him would be a huge boost to the offense. Hopefully, Mewelde Moore gets some touches (most likely receptions) to change things up and give Parker a break. A healthy Parker is an effective Parker. A solid running game will keep pressure off of Roethlisberger, which will lead to a relaxed offense.

Score touchdowns, not field goals. The Steelers dominated in every statistical category in the week 11 matchup, but could not punch the ball into the endzone. Field goals and a timely safety were the only points for the Steelers. The red-zone offense has to improve. In the playoffs, field goals will not win games. Touchdowns do. The red-zone deficiencies can be attributed to a bad offensive line and running game. Goal-line stands by opposing defenses are nothing new for Steelers fans. That will have to change. The offensive line will have to dig deep as does Willie Parker. Look for Gary Russell to get some goal-line carries in an effort to punch the ball in.

Final prediction: Steelers 24, Chargers 17

ACC Is Making Me Look Bad

For all the blustering I've done about the ACC being college football's second best conference (this post plus numerous text conversations) they haven't done much to back me up come bowl season. 

The conference finished up at 4-6 in bowl season, hardly enforcing my claim. Florida State posted the conference's most impressive win, laying a beat-down on Wisconsin in the Champs Bowl. Meanwhile, GT was by far the conference's most perplexing and embarrassing loss, as they were dropped by LSU 38-3. GT had already beaten Ole Miss and Georgia out of the SEC, so it seems odd they would pick such a time to fall apart to another mid-level SEC team. Nonetheless, there it was, though.

Some notable conference records in bowl games so far:

Pac 10: 5-0, with 0 to play

Big 12: 3-1 with 3 to play

SEC:  3-1 with 4 to play

Big East: 3-2 with 1 to play

MWC: 2-2 with 1 to play

ACC: 4-6 with 0 to play

Big 10: 1-5 with 1 to play

The Humanitarian Bowl

I could be that guy. I could be that guy who sits here and writes about how Maryland - an ACC school with a long, rich athletic history - was forced to play in the Humanitarian Bowl. In Boise. Against Nevada. And they gave us all we could handle, as we won by only seven.

That would be extremely disrespectful towards my school, though, and not how I honestly feel about the situation at all. 

To be frank, I was thrilled about the victory. I thought Maryland was going to go into Boise and absolutely get their brains beaten out. First of all, I never expected Maryland to come out and play the game with the passion and intensity they did. When your whole campus seemingly forgets about you, I imagine it would be easy to lose some of your focus. I feared that my thoughts were affirmed when I learned of the seven players suspended for the first part of the game. 

Then, Chris Turner stepped up, flashing his potential as a terrific quarterback once again (before becoming his inconsistent self in the second half again). Ronnie Tyler (FR), Torrey Smith (FR, pictured), and Adrian Cannon (SO) all stepped up, showing that the passing game can have life without Heyward-Bey and Oquendo next year. Morgan Green and Davin Meggett showed that the offense doesn't need to have Da'Rel Scott to have a big game to win.

Then Scott showed how much easier it is to win when he does have a big game. 

Defensively, they gave up 35 points, but what did you expect? They had a new defensive coordinator, and they were facing one of the top quarterbacks in the country (that's serious; I am of course talking about WAC player of the year Chris Kaepernick, who, even hobbled, managed 370 yards). The defense truly did a remarkable job in shutting down Nevada's rushing attack, holding the number two rushing team in the country to a mere 114 yards. 

I'm not saying the performances were sterling all around, but as a Maryland fan, you have to be happy to send the senior class out with a win. You also have to be happy with how many underclassmen really played well.

As we know quite well, though, it's the talent that Maryland lacked this year. Hopefully, next year, something clicks and the team can play up to its potential every game. If they can, they can certainly be in contention to win the ACC championship game. 

It all starts with a little momentum. That's hopefully what the Terps got with this win out in Idaho. God only knows, 8-5 sounds a lot better than 7-6. 

(Photo Credit: umterps.com)

Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

For 20 NFL teams, the season is over. So why bother ranking them? I didn't. Here is another edition of the power rankings, this time only ranking the teams that matter. 

1. Indianapolis Colts: Yeah, I still have them at number one. In my mind, they have to be considered the favorite to win the AFC. They have the best quarterback in the league, they've been here before, and they have an underrated, fast defense. 

2. Tennessee Titans: If you believe in defense, running the football, and playing at home, you believe in the Tennessee Titans. There are a lot of potentially terrific re-matches in the AFC playoffs, but perhaps none are as enticing as a Tennessee-Indy AFC championship game. 

3. New York Giants: See exactly what I wrote about the Titans. Insert "Philadelphia" for "Indy" and insert "NFC divisional round matchup" for "AFC championship game" and it's perfect. Completely accidental, too. 

4. Carolina Panthers: I've come to the conclusion that Jake Delhomme may be a great leader, but he's only an average quarterback. He has one of the two best wide receivers in the game catching anything that's thrown within five yards of him.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: And the debate rages on as to whether Big Ben should have been playing or not. Me personally, I agreed with having him out there, if only because Pittsburgh has a bye this week. Having a bye for two weeks straight can be too much. By the way, is it a coincidence that the quarterbacks of the top five teams on this list have all been to super bowls?

6. Baltimore Ravens: They go from being unanimously picked against in Dallas to being everyone's sleeper favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. A number of things have to happen. First, they have to do better both on returning and covering kickoffs. Second, Joe Flacco can't have more than one turnover in any game. Third, they have to tackle better behind the line of scrimmage. 

7. Miami Dolphins: They're far from a walk in the park during the first round for Baltimore. This is a team with a quarterback who can lead drives down the field because of his accuracy, and can use their running game for the big play. Turnover margin is the most important stat in the NFL, and the Dolphins are the best at it. 

8. Atlanta Falcons: You have to wonder if there's enough playoff experience on this team for them to truly know what they're getting in to. Their top three guys on offense have never been in the spotlight quite like they are now. Mike Smith should have them prepared, though. 

9. Minnesota Vikings: The Eagles are going to stack eight in the box every single down to do two things. Their primary goal will be to stop Adrian Peterson, but they also hope to confuse Tavaris Jackson. The Vikings have to counter with a few big runs by Peterson and Jackson's receivers helping him out by breaking tackles on things like slant routes. 

10. Philadelphia Eagles: A lot of people, including myself, think that Philadelphia is going to go and Beat Minnesota this week. Why do I have them all the way down here, then? Because Philadelphia has shown this year that they have the ability to lay an egg like no other team. When they're playing their best, Philadelphia is a top-5 team. Can they play their best four weeks in a row, though?

11. San Diego Chargers: What a great first round matchup San Diego vs. Indianapolis will be. Indy can score on anyone; your only option is to score with them. San Diego has the ability to do that far more than Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Baltimore or Miami does. Philip Rivers has the opportunity to show the world why he was the NFL's highest rated quarterback this year. 

12. Arizona Cardinals: Their only hope is that the offense remembers the way it was playing midseason. The Falcons have a fairly poor pass defense (number 21 in the league), so that bodes well for Arizona. Their interior line has to play like men on Saturday. If they get blown off the ball like they have been recently, the Cardinals simply won't get the ball enough to put up enough points. 

I'm back

So, between family and the holidays I haven't gotten a chance to be on here. I made it my New Years resolution, though, to make this thing legit, so that starts tonight. In the next few days, look for posts about the latest NFL Power Rankings, the Terps football team finishing out the season strong, some firings in the NFL, the NFL Wild Card weekend, and maybe even more.