Big Game Reaction

Since I've been a pretty lazy son of a bitch the past few days, I decided that I wouldn't do a pre-Super Bowl analysis, 'cause hell, that would be way to much work! And, yeah, I had a post saved that would have done the trick, yet going into Saved Drafts and simply hitting 'Post' would have been far too arduous. Damn. I guess I was in the Super Bowl spirit: the spirit of sitting on your ass all day watching a game while eating chips and other artery-clogging goodies.

So prior to the game, I picked the Steelers to win 27-20. And, yeah, they won 27-23. I should get some sort of prize, shouldn't I? Anyway, I thought people were getting too excited by the Cinderella Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Yes, the Cardinals have an explosive offense, but the Steelers have a legendary (yes, legendary) defense this year. Everyone was forgetting that defense.

I contemplated making the score more one-sided, yet I thought about Kurt Warner and Larry Fitz and I felt the Cards deserved a shot in hell. When the Steelers got up 10-0, early, I had twinge of satisfaction. Yet, I was absolutely shocked at the grit and determination Arizona soon displayed in the fourth quarter. The team does have something. Really well-coached and talented, and just needed to get the jitters out for a little bit (though it took three quarters).

From this revelation of seeing the grit the Cardinals, such a futile franchise, showed America, I found myself rooting for them in that intense fourth quarter. Yes, I was risking being wrong (I hate being wrong.), losing my streak in Streak for the Cash and also going against a prediction I uttered months and months ago ("The Steelers are gonna win it all"). I really wanted the Cardinals to win this one.

My heart was beating and I had a bit of sweat over my brow. I leaned forward in my chair. I am pathetic, aren't I? And when Fitzgerald scored that beautiful go-ahead touchdown, I think everyone got a tad worried, as plenty of time remained on the clock. The Steelers had time to score.

And they did. It was in the cards (no pun intended) for them, I supposed. They were the better team and the better team won. And, you know, it was bittersweet for me. You see, I have this tendency to pick against the team I want to win, so that if the team I want to win loses, I can still have the satisfaction fo getting to boast my correct estimation. It's great, yet bittersweet.

The season's over. I guess I'm ready. Ready to let go. Time to turn my full attention to basketball, be it NBA or NCAA. It was a hell of a Super Bowl with an incredible finish. The Steelers cemented themselves on the Mount Rushmore of great sports franchises (with the Celtics, Yankees and Canadiens, right?) while the Cardinals had, easily, their best season in Arizona. A landmark year for them.

At least Omar Epps is happy about it. And, God, he's wearing all Steelers colors? Good for him.

NFL Picks - 2009 Conference Championships

Slowly the season winds down. Not much else to it. Here are the picks:

Arizona Cardinals over Philadelphia Eagles
The Cardinals continue their role as Jesus Christ's Team, yet can they continue this? I think I can go outright and say that the Eagles are better than anyone else the Cards have played in the playoffs thus far (the poser-Panthers and the Falcons who are still a year or two away from being a true contender). Who knew the Panthers would suck in such grand scale? Absolutely pathetic.
What I love about the Cardinals is that...they're, kind of, stacked. The best receivers in the NFL. Arguably (ARGUABLY), Kurt Warner had the best offensive output of any quarterback this year. Okay, top-three, at least? The Eagles can't say the same thing about their offense. "But, Mark, the Eagles D. THE EAGLES D WILL DOMINATE!" But, folks, have you seen Arizona in the playoffs, thus far? Their line is getting up in the quarterbacks grill. And they've stopped the run twice, easily. And Westbrook is banged up. It comes down to this: in the playoffs, the Cards have played better D and O. It's as simple as that.

Cardinals 28, Eagles 17

Pittsburgh Steelers over Baltimore Ravens
If you've been reading my NFL Playoff Picks so far (You haven't?) you may know I like the Ravens and I'm casually rooting for them. Yet they got a tad lucky and in 7 out of ten times, against the Titans, they would probably lose. They got some lucky bounces and calls (that infamous delay of game. Goddammit, refs...). So, now, it only gets harder for Baltimore as they play a cruising Pitt team.
The Steelers are basically Baltimore, except for a few things: A better quarterback, probably a better running game, possibly better coaching, more experience, and maybe even the better defense.
This has Best Game of the Year written all over it, so don't be surprised if..it is..the Best Game of the Year. Yet, experience at the quarterbacking position will be the deciding factor.

Steelers 21, Ravens 13

So that sets the stage for a Steelers-Cardinals Super Bowl. AKA, One of the Worst Super Bowls in Years.

NFL Divisional Round Playoffs Picks

Onto the Divisional Round, we proceed. Things remain interesting as we head into this week, yet in a different way from last week. No more, are teams with identical or close-to-identical records facing off. Now, Big Tunas are going against wild card teams (and a wild-card Division winner). It shall be interesting. Away we go...

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
2009 Baltimore Ravens = Official Playoff Bandwagon Pick. The Titans? The underrated squad who people forgot are extremely dangerous. But, dammit, I'm a bandwagon jumper and I love this Baltimore team. Not a phrase I'd imagine saying prior to this season. Doubt in your mind? As I hold all this confidence towards Baltimore, the Negative Nancy in my head tells me I'm just a bandwagon jumper and that usually the bandwagon burns as people jump on it during the playoffs. Yet, can you really see this tough Baltimore team losing that badly? Gritty, playmaking, defense-first teams are a tough out.
Baltimore over Tennesse, 17-13

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers
I just don't like Carolina very much. They seem like the type of team that is relatively easy to dissect as their options aren't endless. Get past that tough D-line and stop the run (though, not easy tasks...), and you'll probably prevail if you can do that. Hell, the Cardinals are even easier. Stop Kurt Warner. And the Cards may not have Anquan Boldin? Eek. I like Carolina to go in, run the hell over a spotty Cards D (though they did shut down Michael Burner Turner...) and come out with the easy win. Though an upset is possible if Arizona can pull some strings. I'm flip-flopping aren't I?
Carolina over Arizona, 33-20

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
I can't really see the Giants losing, can you? Uh, but they just might. Westbrook is a playmaker, we all know that. He can pull off a little play that becomes a really friggin' big play and the defense can't do much about it. And Donovan McNabb gets way too much flack. He played more-than respectable ball against a good defense last week. If he can pull through, as he usually does, this only sures up a win. The Giants, on the other hand, may have peaked early. Philly has shown they can beat them. The key for the Eagles? Stop Brandon Jacobs. I feel they can.
Philadelphia over New York, 30-20

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Two, nearly, opposite teams. Yet the Steelers are better at what they do (DEFENSE). It seems as though fans and analysts are all forgetting how good some of these division winners are. Remember just weeks ago, everyone was high on the Steelers? Well, dammit, I still am. I remember early in the season I picked them to win it all. That belief faltered a bit in past weeks, but this team still finds ways to wins. Now, the Chargers are playing like a 12-4 team currently. But don't forget, the Steelers are a 12-4 team. And no LT = No chance. Darren Sproles performance last week was enigmatic and I can't see it happening again.
Pittsburgh over San Diego, 26-14

Oh, and speaking of Kurt Warner? This video is really awwwkward.

NFL Playoff Picks

So, my bracket for the playoffs is filled out, but I can't reveal the whole rundown just yet. Today and tomorrow, the wild-card rounds will be underway. I, honestly, can't control my excitement.

You would think, as a Patriots fan, I would be pissed. Well, I am. Very pissed. And rightfully so! I mean, it's obvious why. A team that was 4-8 a month ago is in the playoffs, prepping to get their asses handed to them, while the resiliant Pats are at home, admiring their remarkable/pointless 11-5 record. I guess karma is a bitch. Please, never bring up that I was rooting for the Jets last week, okay?

Yet, I'm a positive guy. I'm like Poppy. I'm Happy-Go-Lucky. I look on the bright side, and there are many places to look at in this playoff field. Two rookie quarterbacks. Three rookie head coaches. Along with the rookie coaches, two coaches who have never head coached a playoff game. Wild-card teams. And, not like, literal wild card teams, but teams that could do really well, or could suck (Falcons, Eagles, Cardinals). So, I'm pumped.

The team I'm rooting for: The Baltimore Ravens
Here's a team that has a formula for winning. When they win, they blow out their opponents. They've also only lost to really good opponents. I like John Harbaugh, the coach, as well as Joe Flacco, the quarterback. A really interesting team. There's no reason this team can't win it all.

Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals

It doesn't look like an interesting game, but it actually is. And here's the reason: the quaterback matchup. Warner is the seasoned playoff veteran who had nearly (NEARLY) an MVP-caliber season. Then, Matt Ryan, had an easily justified Rookie of the Year campaign. I think clearly, though, Warner and the Cards have the advantage, just because of the superior quarterbacking, therfore...
Arizona, 38-24

Colts at Chargers

The Chargers are suddenly good, but I still hate their guts. Well, in fact I hate them much more than I did when they were disgustingly underachieving. I hate pouty bitch Ladanian and crazyass fratboy Rivers. Norv Turner is a doofus. This whole team is the opposite of the class act Colts. Easy win for Indy (and this won't be their last *wink*wink*).
Colts, 41-24

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins

Miami really isn't that good. I'll keep saying that, despite the fact that they never lose (it seems). They barely win, in every contest. The friggin' wildcat (which I'm perfecting in Madden), is so annoying and I know the Ravens can shut it down, as they did in a prior meeting. A walkaway win for Baltimore.
Ravens, 28-10

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
Don't jump on the Eagles bandwagon just yet. I think the defense is looking damn sharp, but the Vikings do have the best D-line in the game. A low-scoring affair, I foresee. Then again, you have two great running backs, two potentially erratic quarterbacks, both of whom have been benched at some point in the season. Two professionally-realted coaches who, at times, suck. This is a good (very weird) match-up.
Eagles, 17-13

My Fantasy Line-up Week 11: Make or Break

For some reason I have this gut feeling that I'm effing myself over this week. I have some mainstays in my line-up that will always do well (Kurt Warner, Calvin Johnson), but then I have some risky little bitches in there (Jerious Norwood, hell, Maurice Jone-Drew). And the thing is?

I can't afford to take any damn risks. If I lose this week, I'm basically knocked out of the playoffs, mathematically. Not that I have the greatest chance, now, as it is, but really all hope is lost if I don't win today.

Here's the line-up...

QB: Kurt Warner
Pro: Well, he's Kurt Warner 2008. An MVP candidate. Seattle sucks against the pass, Warner has the best receivers at his disposle, etc. Can you believe I traded Justin Fargas for Warner, straight up?
Con: No con here really. Seattle has made a few strides as of late, yet mainly on the offensive side of the ball, so it shouldn't affect Kurt's performance.

RB: Jamal Lewis
Pro: Jamal's had a good(?) year. He's been Rain Man-consistent putting up fourteen points in four of his last six games. Not 15, not 13, just 14. Buffalo hasn't looked top notch against the run lately, so Jamal should be in double digits.
Con: When he's not getting fourteen points, he kind of sucks, on average getting about 7 points in non-14-point games.

RB: Maurice Jones-Drew
Pro: He is clearly the goal-line back after that three touchdown ass-kicking last week. Jones-Drew is always a threat through the air, as well.
Con: Well, Tennessee's defensive line is great, and the Jacksonville O-line is made up of mainly back-ups at this point. Fred Taylor actually didn't elicit routine cringing from me last week and could outcarry Jones-Drew. Which would suck.

RB: Jerious Norwood
Pro: He's had three really good games this year and should be able to run all the hell over Denver's shitty defense. He also caught a 68-yard pass last week as well, so watch out for the air strike.
Con: Well..ugh, he's back-up. Yeah. This is realy the run-down for Norwood: he may get 20 points, he may get a goose egg. Make or break for him.

WR: Calvin Johnson
Pro: Catches the deep ball better than anyone else in the league. There, I said it. If he can get a touchdown (WHICH HE USUALLY DOES), than 15 points or more is almost guaranteed.
Con: He's the only valid receiver on the Lions, yada, yada, yada. He still gets open though. Carolina has a great pass defense, too.

WR: Laverneous Coles
(Played on Thursday. Only got 3 points. Dammit, I should of started Donnie Avery.)

TE: Owen Daniels
Pro: Is one of the most consistently good tight-ends (TE) in the league. Its a little hit or miss, but I can see him being open every once in a while, so 5 or more receptions is almost likely.
Con: Indy has a very good pass defense, as always. Owen has a chance to be shut down.

Defense: Tampa Bay

Kicker: John Kasay

So, I'm confident in most of my players that week, but if Jones-Drew or Norwood or both disappoint..well, I'm broken