The Week That Was

The Conference Championship games are set in the NFL Playoffs and to say they are unlikely would be an understatement. It was a weekend for the road team as they took 3 out of the 4 games and are now 5-3 in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Eagles will travel to Arizona (?!!??!) to take on the Cardinals in the NFC Championship, while the greatest current rivalry in football will be renewed in the AFC Championship as Baltimore travels to Pittsburgh.

Divisional round weekend kicked off with the Ravens defeating the Titans. As predicted this was a physical, low-scoring game, however the Titans blew multiple chances. LenDale White fumbled in the red zone, Alge Crumpler fumbled by the goal line, and Rob Bironas missed a field goal. Ravens QB Joe Flacco had an unspectacular day but didn't turn the ball over. The Ravens defense is playing out of its mind right now, and was also helped by Titans RB Chris Johnson going down with an injury in the first half.

The shocker of the weekend came Saturday night when my pick to win it all was embarrassed and destroyed by the Arizona Cardinals. The Panthers lost for one reason, QB Jake Delhomme. He was absolutely miserable on his birthday, throwing 5 interceptions and losing a fumble. The Cardinals defense does deserve some credit but Delhomme just looked lost out there. The Cardinals caught a team having their worst game of the season at the wrong time. However, they now get to host the NFC Championship game, despite finishing the regular season 9-7, unbelievable.

The Eagles continued the theme of the road warriors as they defeated the Giants. The Eagles absolutely manhandled the Giants in the second half. Twice they stopped the Giants on 4th and short, and the Giants offense couldn't find a rhythm the entire game. Giants fans seemed non plussed when they lost Plaxico Burress for the year but that turned out to cost them their season. None of their WRs were worth anything and it completely changed how defenses were able to match up against them. For their sake they better hope Burress doesn't go to jail or they will need to address the WR position in the offseason. The Eagles, once 5-5-1, and left for dead, now are favorites to reach the Super Bowl. Their defense has been on fire the last two months, and Donovan McNabb has provided a steady hand at QB. Andy Reid and McNabb will now be in their 5th NFC Championship game in 8 seasons, quite an amazing accomplishment. It makes all the talk of Philly fans wanting them gone seem even more ridiculous.

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought some normalcy to the weekend as they spanked the Chargers. The Chargers got off to a quick start but Santonio Holmes returned a punt for a TD, with speed that suggested he was worried about missing out on a bong rip. RB Willie Parker dominated on the ground as I predicted and the Chargers were only one offense for one play in the 3rd quarter, which sealed their fate.

Seems like old news now but on Thursday night the Florida Gators defeated the Choklahoma Sooners to win the national championship. It wasn't the high scoring affair that many predicted as both defenses played well. Somehow Tim Tebow won player of the game despite throwing 2 INTs. He had a good second half, but it was clear to anyone watching and anyone that doesn't have a love affair with Tebow that Percy Harvin was the player of the game for the Gators. Tebow announced yesterday he is coming back for his senior season and the Gators return almost their entire defense, so it is likely I will grow to hate the Gators even more next season.

The North Carolina Tar Heels fell to 0-2 in the ACC with a loss at #4 Wake Forest last night. I'm not panicking yet, but it is clear that the Heels are far from invincible. Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson both played like garbage, Hansbrough put up a terrible 3 point attempt late in the game with the Heels down by 4. It is becoming more and more apparent that while Roy Williams can recruit better than anyone, he is an average game coach. It is looking like Heels fans might have to learn to deal with what Jayhawks fans dealt with for so long. Great players coming in and out of the program, with little championships to show for it.

I will be back on Friday with The Hail Mary as I predict and analyze the Conference Championship games. The blog will be seeing some changes over the next few weeks with football wrapping up, will keep all of you posted on what those changes will be.