Here's what I think about the one that matters to me, the Jets-Patriots. Now it's no secret I despise the Patriots and everyone associated with that team. Their coach Bill Belichick resigned after one day, ONE SINGLE DAY, of being the Jets coach to take the New England job, took the entire coaching staff and won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years. And of course, Mr. Hollywood Tom Brady.
Now with Eric Mangini, Belichick's longtime assistant leading the Jets, the rivalry has picked up. There are no distinct games in the 40-year history that these two teams have been playing each other. This will be the first.To win, the Jets have to pressure Brady and more than that, limit the running game. Limit Corey Dillon, limit Laurence Maroney. On offense, the Pats are missing two safeties, so attack the middle of the field. I think tight end Chris Baker will be a target for Chad Pennington, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, mind you. Both theses tams play patiently and wait for the other team to make a mistake and then they pounce. So it comes down to who play smarter football. Who can make the big play? Who can avoid the big penalty? Who can make the big tackle? When two teams know each other as well as these two do, a lot of little things will make the difference.
Prediction: Patriots 27, Jets 17
As for the Giants and Eagles, well, I'll only be able to see the first half anyway, since I'll be at Ecclesia. But the Eagles are as hot a team as there is right now. Jeff Garcia looks like Joe Montana right now, the o-line is the best in the league, and they limit running games. They limit running games. And with Tiki Barber being about all the Giants have going for them on offense right now, that does not bode well for Big Blue. Brian Dawkins gave them havoc last time. Can the Giants keep him from having that type of impact this week? I don't know.
Here's the question of the game. It's this simple. How will Eli Manning perform. I'm not calling him a bust, although he has not lived anywhere near the expectations that were placed on him when the Giants traded two number one picks, and two later round picks to take him from San Diego. But his play has been erratic. He completes less than half his passes and his bad throws look like baseball knuckleball pitches. How can he handle this Eagle defense? With the game in Philly, the Giants need to get off to a quick start Get the Philly crowd angry and get them booing. Don't fall behnd and be forced to pass more, which takes Tiki all but out of the game. Barber must touch the ball at least 25 times, in my estimation, for the Giants to have a legit shot of winning.
I don't know if I even want to see the Giants win because the franchose could be lulled into a false sense of hope that is non-existent right now. This is my second team and I didn't think they'd win the division, but I didn't think they would show so little effort, so little heart, and so little interest in playing over the last 8 weeks. But now that it's the playoffs, will a switch magically turn on for these guys? Will they play with some pride? And with some nerve? And with some toughness? TFor theur own sake, they'd better.
Prediction: Philadelphia 23, NY Giants 10
For the rest of the playoffs, outside of New York, I'll root for San Diego and New Orleans to make it to the Super Bowl.
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