NO SURPRISES ON SATURDAY, BARRY SANDERS GOES WEST, THE TOP-17 FINALISTS FOR THE HOF & MY WILDCARD PICKS FOR SUNDAY
Neither of the Wildcard games surprised me, Houston won 31-10 & New Orleans rolled over Detroit 45-28. I thought Wade Phillips' defense would stymie Andy Dalton & the Bengals but it was the Texans' offense as much as the defense that won the game. RB Arian Foster rolled thru the Bengals for 153-yards on the ground & 2 touchdowns. Rookie QB T.J. Yates didn't make any serious mistakes as Houston won it's first playoff game in franchise history. It gets significantly tougher next week as they travel to Baltimore.
New Orleans was as scary as advertised. They never punted all night, in 11 possessions, they scored 8 times, lost two fumbles & did three kneel-downs to close out the game inside the Detroit 5-yard line. They rolled up 626-yards of total offense, an NFL playoff record. Not only did Drew Brees throw for 466-yards & 3 scores, the Saints out rushed the Lions 167-32. Tho Detroit QB Matthew Stafford kept them in the game clear into the 4th quarter, the Lions' defense was just abysmal. With a couple of exceptions, Brees was throwing from a clean pocket all evening. The Lions linebacker & safety play was very un-playoff-like. The past two weeks are the type of defensive performances that get coordinators canned. Gunther Cunningham had no answers for Brees & company just like he had none the week before in Green Bay. They surrendered 45-points in that game as well. The good news for Detroit fans is you have a budding elite quarterback, several good receivers led by superstar Calvin Johnson. He was superb Saturday night with 12 catches for 211-yards & two scores. They need a lot of help with their back-7 on defense tho. Eric Wright played well on the left corner, but otherwise there were way too many New Orleans' receivers running wide open down the field. New Orleans will go from this offensive show to possibly struggling to score in next weeks game at San Francisco.
Former St. Louis offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has agreed to join the New England Patriots immediately as an offensive assistant. As soon as current Pats O-coordinator, Bill O'Brien, departs for Penn State, McDaniels will assume the post of O.C. under Bill Belichick.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on Saturday the Chiefs search for a new head coach is over, they will remove the interim tag from Romeo Crennel on Monday.
Also from ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen, the Indianapolis Colts will select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick. Mortensen said he got that staright from owner Jim Irsay.
Barry Sanders, that's the son of THE Barry Sanders, made his college commitment after the U.S. Army All-Star game Saturday. He chose Stanford in a surprise move. He had narrowed his choices to Stanford, Oklahoma State(his dad's alma mater), Alabama & Florida State. In other commitment news, the Cal Bears had quite a big contingent of high school all-stars pledging to play at Berkley. Four 4 & 5-star prospects committed to Cal. The nations number one recruit, wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, will announce his choice on national signing day, February 1st. He was co-MVP of yesterday's game after he hauled in a 79-yard one-handed catch for a score. He also dropped a TD pass, but he's still at the top of every recruiting list around. The game was won by the West squad which was coached by Rockhurst head man Tony Severino.
Dorial Green Beckam 6' 6" 230
The 44 voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame have their 17-finalists, 15 players, Bill Parcells & Eddie DiBartalo Jr. They will vote on who will be inducted this August on Saturday, February 4th. Amongst the finalists are former Chiefs Willie Roaf & Will Shields, in his first year of eligibility. Between 4 & 7 finalists will be inducted. I sincerely believe Roaf & Shields will make it. If it were up to me, Cris Carter, Charles Haley & Curtis martin would join the former Chiefs in Canton. Beside Shields, Parcells is the only other first-year finalist.
Will Shields Willie Roaf
Atlanta at NY Giants noon CT FOX
The Giants are shaky from week to week, but this is the healthiest they've been since September. I think they're ready to make a run & it starts with beating the Atlanta Falcons. I love the matchup of the two Falcon tackles, Tyson Clabo & Will Svitek versus the Giants' defensive ends Osi Umenyura, Justin Tuck & Jason Pierre-Paul. Atlanta's lack of a consistent pass rush will allow Eli Manning to set back & pick his targets. Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham & TE Jake Ballard could have big days.
NY Giants 27 Atlanta 20
Pittsburgh at Denver 3:30PM CT CBS
I simply can't make a case for the Tim Tebow-led Broncos beating Ben Roethlisberger's Steelers. Just can't do it. I can see a low-scoring contest dominated by both defenses, but in the end, Roethlisberger will make more plays with his superior group of receivers. If you thought Tebow & his limited WR corps had a rough Sunday against Kansas City, wait till you see how ineffective they'll be this afternoon. Pittsburgh 16 Denver 6
New Orleans was as scary as advertised. They never punted all night, in 11 possessions, they scored 8 times, lost two fumbles & did three kneel-downs to close out the game inside the Detroit 5-yard line. They rolled up 626-yards of total offense, an NFL playoff record. Not only did Drew Brees throw for 466-yards & 3 scores, the Saints out rushed the Lions 167-32. Tho Detroit QB Matthew Stafford kept them in the game clear into the 4th quarter, the Lions' defense was just abysmal. With a couple of exceptions, Brees was throwing from a clean pocket all evening. The Lions linebacker & safety play was very un-playoff-like. The past two weeks are the type of defensive performances that get coordinators canned. Gunther Cunningham had no answers for Brees & company just like he had none the week before in Green Bay. They surrendered 45-points in that game as well. The good news for Detroit fans is you have a budding elite quarterback, several good receivers led by superstar Calvin Johnson. He was superb Saturday night with 12 catches for 211-yards & two scores. They need a lot of help with their back-7 on defense tho. Eric Wright played well on the left corner, but otherwise there were way too many New Orleans' receivers running wide open down the field. New Orleans will go from this offensive show to possibly struggling to score in next weeks game at San Francisco.
Former St. Louis offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has agreed to join the New England Patriots immediately as an offensive assistant. As soon as current Pats O-coordinator, Bill O'Brien, departs for Penn State, McDaniels will assume the post of O.C. under Bill Belichick.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on Saturday the Chiefs search for a new head coach is over, they will remove the interim tag from Romeo Crennel on Monday.
Also from ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen, the Indianapolis Colts will select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick. Mortensen said he got that staright from owner Jim Irsay.
Barry Sanders, that's the son of THE Barry Sanders, made his college commitment after the U.S. Army All-Star game Saturday. He chose Stanford in a surprise move. He had narrowed his choices to Stanford, Oklahoma State(his dad's alma mater), Alabama & Florida State. In other commitment news, the Cal Bears had quite a big contingent of high school all-stars pledging to play at Berkley. Four 4 & 5-star prospects committed to Cal. The nations number one recruit, wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, will announce his choice on national signing day, February 1st. He was co-MVP of yesterday's game after he hauled in a 79-yard one-handed catch for a score. He also dropped a TD pass, but he's still at the top of every recruiting list around. The game was won by the West squad which was coached by Rockhurst head man Tony Severino.
Dorial Green Beckam 6' 6" 230
The 44 voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame have their 17-finalists, 15 players, Bill Parcells & Eddie DiBartalo Jr. They will vote on who will be inducted this August on Saturday, February 4th. Amongst the finalists are former Chiefs Willie Roaf & Will Shields, in his first year of eligibility. Between 4 & 7 finalists will be inducted. I sincerely believe Roaf & Shields will make it. If it were up to me, Cris Carter, Charles Haley & Curtis martin would join the former Chiefs in Canton. Beside Shields, Parcells is the only other first-year finalist.
Will Shields Willie Roaf
Atlanta at NY Giants noon CT FOX
The Giants are shaky from week to week, but this is the healthiest they've been since September. I think they're ready to make a run & it starts with beating the Atlanta Falcons. I love the matchup of the two Falcon tackles, Tyson Clabo & Will Svitek versus the Giants' defensive ends Osi Umenyura, Justin Tuck & Jason Pierre-Paul. Atlanta's lack of a consistent pass rush will allow Eli Manning to set back & pick his targets. Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham & TE Jake Ballard could have big days.
NY Giants 27 Atlanta 20
Pittsburgh at Denver 3:30PM CT CBS
I simply can't make a case for the Tim Tebow-led Broncos beating Ben Roethlisberger's Steelers. Just can't do it. I can see a low-scoring contest dominated by both defenses, but in the end, Roethlisberger will make more plays with his superior group of receivers. If you thought Tebow & his limited WR corps had a rough Sunday against Kansas City, wait till you see how ineffective they'll be this afternoon. Pittsburgh 16 Denver 6
Good for you and Linda on the rescue of "Bear". Probably didn't measure up to some yuppies expectations during duck season(which most 2 year olds don't)so being a gentleman hunter...dumped him..on the "Grav-eye" no less. Hope the dog gets healthy and tracks him down while you're out on a walk. Caught your show the other night, professional as usual but didn't get time to call in my pick(34-24 N.O.). Think one caller had that beat anyway. I couldn't tell from your text if you were pleased with the coaching choice or just ehhh! I actually started watching again because for the first time in a long time the coach had a "GAME PLAN". I'm envious of your address and miss my summer work station at Real Inn Resort, although the lake isn't the big lake tucked in the woods anymore. Keep me posted on Bears's recovery, or rather all of us, and keep cranking out the text(gotta be tough but you always have subject matter).
GW
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