I’m thinking Championship Sunday will be a Dog Day Afternoon.  I know, I’m crazy.  Joe Flacco vs. Tom Brady in New England?  Yup, I think Flacco is going to shut a lot of people up today.  Folks are reading too much into last week’s games, where the Ravens struggled and the Pats looked invincible.  Those games mean nothing –different teams, completely different match-ups.  Yes, Flacco looked bad last week, versus a Texan defense that is light years better than a New England group that ranked 31^stin the yards allowed and gave up the most passing yards in the AFC.  Look for wide receivers Lee Evans and Torrey Smith to have productive days versus a Patriot secondary that has suffered 3^rddegree burns form being torched so much this year.

The NFC is a toss-up, the weather, and more specifically the condition of the field will be a big factor.  The Giants’ big edge is their front 4 versus a 49er o-line that has yielded 20 sacks in its three loses this year.  If the swamp-like filed inhibits the quickness of the Giants pass rush, their secondary could get exposed.  Conversely, as good as the 49ers defense has been, Drew Brees tore them apart for 462 yards.  If Eli is given time, he’ll perform surgery.  Remember, Eli has been sacked just 6 times during the Giants 5 game winning streak.  In what promises to be a close games, give me the points.  (San Francisco is about a 2 ½ point favorite.)  The hot QB, Eli, has 9 TD’s and 1 interception over last 3 games.

See you today at the Hudson Grille!

Falcon fans, don’t listen to the negativity from the doom & gloom folks who are preparing for the collapse.  I’ll evoke Jim Fassel here, “This team is going to the playoffs”.

Sure, the Falcons have warts, but so does every other team in the NFL, including the undefeated Packers.  The Falcons have balance on offense & are stout versus the run on defense.  I fully expect them to take 3 of their last 4 games, finish 10-6 & be the #5 seed in the NFC.  Only one of their remaining opponents has a winning record, and 2 of the 4 games are at The Dome, where their record with Matt Ryan is stellar.

In the NFC right now, the Packers are the top seed, followed by the 49ers at the #2, the Saints are the #3 seed and the 4^thwill most likely go to Dallas in the NFC East.  Look at the competition for the remaining spots.  The Bears have no QB and just lost Matt Forte...they’re BRICKS.  The Lions have lost 5 of their last 7 games, have no running game and 2 of their remaining games are at Green Bay and at Oakland.  And remember, Atlanta owns the tiebreaker over Detroit.  And why are people jumping on the Giants?  They’ve lost 4 in a row.  Is that a team peaking for the playoffs?  They’re o-line is atrocious and the coverage on defense is worse.  They have Dallas twice and the Jets on New Year’s Eve –good luck.

If I’m correct, Atlanta will be a wildcard.  Now the question is –would you rather play your first playoff game in Dallas or in New Orleans?

 

Time to peek into the crystal ball and make predictions for the upcoming season.  One of these years, I could get this right.

Your Playoff Teams & Seeding:

NFC                                                                        AFC

Packers                                12-4                                       Patriots                                13-3

Saints                    11-5                                       Steelers                               12-4

Eagles                   11-5                                       Chargers              11-5

Falcons                 10-6                                       Texans                  10-6

Lions                      10-6                                       Jets                        10-6

Rams                       9-7                                        Ravens                10-6

 

 

NFC Wildcard Playoffs                                  AFC Wildcard Playoffs

Eagles over Lions                                              Chargers over Ravens

Falcons over Rams                                           Jets over Texans

 

NFC Divisional Playoffs                                AFC Divisional Playoffs

Saints over Eagles                                            Steelers over Chargers

Packers over Falcons                                      Patriots over Jets                            

 

NFC Championship                                         AFC Championship

 Packers over Saints                                        Steelers over Patriots

 

SUPER BOWL

Steelers over Packers

 

 

Time to peek into the crystal ball and make predictions for the upcoming season.  One of these years, I could get this right.

Your Playoff Teams & Seeding:

NFC                                                                        AFC

Packers                  12-4                                       Patriots                  13-3

Saints                     11-5                                       Steelers                 12-4

Eagles                    11-5                                       Chargers               11-5

Falcons                  10-6                                       Texans                    10-6

Lions                      10-6                                       Jets                          10-6

Rams                       9-7                                        Ravens                   10-6

 

 

NFC Wildcard Playoffs                                 AFC Wildcard Playoffs

Eagles over Lions                                           Chargers over Ravens

Falcons over Rams                                         Jets over Texans

 

NFC Divisional Playoffs                                AFC Divisional Playoffs

Saints over Eagles                                          Steelers over Chargers

Packers over Falcons                                      Patriots over Jets                            

 

NFC Championship                                        AFC Championship

 Packers over Saints                                        Steelers over Patriots

 

     SUPER BOWL

    Steelers over Packers

 

Had the opportunity to check out Museum Replicas, a really cool store in The Village outside of The Mall of Georgia.  If you are a movie fan, if you love Harry Potter, Star Wars, Iron Man, etc --this store is a must go!  These folks actually created many of the props and costumes you see in the films, like Star Wars.  Think I'm going to get myself a Count Dooku costume...

Check out the website:   www.MuseumReplicas.com

 

Congrats to Rafa, who with his victory Sunday in Paris, tied the great Bjorn Borg for most French Open Titles in history (6)...and holds on to his number 1 ranking.  This one was more satisfying to Nadal, who unlike previous years, struggled on the red dirt.  He got pushed to 5 sets in the 1^stround by American John Isner and lost a set and could have easily lost another to Federer in the Final.  He should thank Roger for doing what he couldn’t, beating Novak Djokovic.  I don’t believe Rafa would be celebrating had he played Novak on Sunday.  The Joker had beaten Rafa twice this year on clay in Madrid and Rome.  Styles make fights in sports and Novak matches up better versus Rafa than Roger does.  Nadal will always be Federer’s nemesis because his forehand to Roger’s backhand is a scenario that Roger can’t win.  But, congrats also to Roger, the highlight of this tourney, and the match of the year, as far as I’m concerned was Fed’s semi-final victory over the undefeated Djokovic.  In that match Roger served huge and defended brilliantly, and for the first time all year the invincible Djokovic blinked.  How will Novak re-act?  Remember, until Djokovic  beats Nadal in a slam, Rafa will be considered the best player, regardless of what the computer says.

For the last several years, the French Open, the year’s 2^ndmajor which began Sunday, has been, with 1 exception, a perfunctory exercise.  Save time and just mail Rafael Nadal the trophy.  He has totally dominated the red clay of Roland Garros, playing with Borg-like efficiency.  So, how can a man who has won 5 French titles, and has a lifetime record in Paris of 38-1 not be considered a prohibitive favorite?  Novak Djockovic, that’s how.

Djockovic is playing tennis from another planet.  He’s still undefeated this year, winning 37 straight.  He’s beaten Nadal 4 straight times in finals, including the last two on clay.  In the 37 match winning streak, he’s won 90% of the sets.  He’s simply on a different level than anyone else....a tennis cyborg.

If Novak wins 7 matches in Paris, he’ll have tied, my favorite player, Guillermo Vilas’ open era record for most consecutive wins, with 46.  How will Novak adjust to being the favorite in Paris?  What adjustments will Nadal make? Rafa for the first time appears doubtful and uncertain.  Can’t wait to find out!  See you on the courts...