Cardinals vs. Steelers.
Whisenhunt vs. Tomlin.
Warner vs. Roethlisberger.
My accuracy in picking winners vs. reality.
Okay, so that last one isn't a storyline going into Sunday's Super Bowl (the 43rd of its kind), but with my 5-5 record in the playoffs, this pick will determine my success rate. Last year, I picked the Patriots to win, even though I desperately wanted them to lose - what with the cheating and all. And I was wrong - happily, I might add.
This year, I freely admit I am pulling for the Cardinals. How can you not cheer for a franchise as pathetic as this? The Cards make the Leafs look like a successful franchise when you look at their respective histories.
This is a team which hosted its first playoff game in 61 years this season, then hosted their second 2 weeks later.
This is a team with a quarterback who was left for retired 3 years ago and who wasn't the starter when training camp began.
This is a team with as many names before the word "Cardinals" as the Bills have AFC championships (Chicago, St. Louis, Phoenix, Arizona).
This is a team that won their last championship in 1947.
This is a team to root for.
But they are playing the Steelers, the epitomy of success in the NFL. With a 5-1 Super Bowl record, they are tied with the 49ers for most Lombardi trophies (although San Francisco is 5-0 in the big game). A win on Sunday cements Pittsburgh as the league's best team all-time.
A team that found a way to beat the Seahawks 3 years ago for this trophy, even with its quarterback having an awful game (after all, the most important throw in that game was by Antwan Randle-El).
This is a team that didn't do anything special all year, except win when it mattered.
So who will win?
My heart says Arizona. My head says Pittsburgh. I'll go with my head in the hopes, like last year, it is wrong.
Pittsburgh Steelers 30, Arizona Cardinals 24.
Record: 5-5
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Will The Real NFL Champion Please Stand Up?
So, after 17 weeks of punishing regular season play and 2 weeks of playoffs, only 4 teams are left in the race for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In the AFC, perennial favourites Pittsburgh host resurgent Baltimore in an AFC North battle which, like last week's Ravens/Titans game, will likely see the first team to hit 10 points win.
In the NFC, the most unlikely of matchups: The 6 seed Eagles, who needed the Bears and Bucs to lose on the last day (to the Texans and Raiders, no less) and to beat the Cowboys just to make the playoffs, visit the worst franchise in the history of professional football for the NFC Championship. The Arizona/St. Louis/Chicago Cardinals franchise took 61 years in between hosting playoff games. They'll now host their second in three weeks.
I'm 4-4, so you have to be impressed with my consistency.
AFC - Ravens @ Steelers: In recent weeks, the Ravens have always seemed to find a way to win, but, with the Steelers winning both matchups this season, I think Baltimore will be hard pressed to knock out the Steelers. Steelers 16, Ravens 12.
NFC - Eagles @ Cardinals: Anyone who said these two teams would meet in the NFC title game at the beginning of the season, let alone when the playoffs began, was either very lucky or very good. Like these two teams, I'm going with the former. Arizona's strength all year has been their play at home, but the Eagles seem like a team of destiny. I planned to pick Arizona all week, but I'm changing my mind. Which never goes well... Eagles 27, Cardinals 23.
Record: 4-4
In the AFC, perennial favourites Pittsburgh host resurgent Baltimore in an AFC North battle which, like last week's Ravens/Titans game, will likely see the first team to hit 10 points win.
In the NFC, the most unlikely of matchups: The 6 seed Eagles, who needed the Bears and Bucs to lose on the last day (to the Texans and Raiders, no less) and to beat the Cowboys just to make the playoffs, visit the worst franchise in the history of professional football for the NFC Championship. The Arizona/St. Louis/Chicago Cardinals franchise took 61 years in between hosting playoff games. They'll now host their second in three weeks.
I'm 4-4, so you have to be impressed with my consistency.
AFC - Ravens @ Steelers: In recent weeks, the Ravens have always seemed to find a way to win, but, with the Steelers winning both matchups this season, I think Baltimore will be hard pressed to knock out the Steelers. Steelers 16, Ravens 12.
NFC - Eagles @ Cardinals: Anyone who said these two teams would meet in the NFC title game at the beginning of the season, let alone when the playoffs began, was either very lucky or very good. Like these two teams, I'm going with the former. Arizona's strength all year has been their play at home, but the Eagles seem like a team of destiny. I planned to pick Arizona all week, but I'm changing my mind. Which never goes well... Eagles 27, Cardinals 23.
Record: 4-4
Thursday, January 8, 2009
NFL Divisional Weekend
Okay, so 2-2 isn't all bad for my first round of predictions in a while (of the first round, no less), but I'd still like to improve that this weekend. Say, 3-1?
AFC
(6) Baltimore @ (1) Tennessee: Since the Titans lost at home to the Jets (which seems horrible looking back), Tennessee hasn't really shown themselves against a strong team. Baltimore, meanwhile, showed why defence wins championships. Yes, I still don't trust the Titans. Ravens 16, Titans 13.
(4) San Diego @ (2) Pittsburgh: As soon as the Colts were eliminated by the Chargers on Saturday night, I said to myself: Okay, so now it's the Steelers going to the Super Bowl. Even with Big Ben coming off a concussion and the last meeting between these teams being a 1 point game, I still like Pittsburgh. Steelers 17, Chargers 9.
NFC
(6) Philadelphia @ (1) New York: Say what you want about the Plaxico distraction, the slide down the stretch, and the difficulty of repeating as champs, but New York is still the league's best team, and I don't trust Philly to win 3 straight games against good teams. Giants 27, Eagles 19.
(4) Arizona @ (2) Carolina: The fact that one of these teams is guaranteed a spot in the NFC Championship game speaks to how far back these two were last year. But, alas, here they are. The Cards won't pull it off again, especially with the vaunted Panther running game and the fact that Arizona is horrible on the East Coast. Panthers 34, Cardinals 10.
Record: 2-2
AFC
(6) Baltimore @ (1) Tennessee: Since the Titans lost at home to the Jets (which seems horrible looking back), Tennessee hasn't really shown themselves against a strong team. Baltimore, meanwhile, showed why defence wins championships. Yes, I still don't trust the Titans. Ravens 16, Titans 13.
(4) San Diego @ (2) Pittsburgh: As soon as the Colts were eliminated by the Chargers on Saturday night, I said to myself: Okay, so now it's the Steelers going to the Super Bowl. Even with Big Ben coming off a concussion and the last meeting between these teams being a 1 point game, I still like Pittsburgh. Steelers 17, Chargers 9.
NFC
(6) Philadelphia @ (1) New York: Say what you want about the Plaxico distraction, the slide down the stretch, and the difficulty of repeating as champs, but New York is still the league's best team, and I don't trust Philly to win 3 straight games against good teams. Giants 27, Eagles 19.
(4) Arizona @ (2) Carolina: The fact that one of these teams is guaranteed a spot in the NFC Championship game speaks to how far back these two were last year. But, alas, here they are. The Cards won't pull it off again, especially with the vaunted Panther running game and the fact that Arizona is horrible on the East Coast. Panthers 34, Cardinals 10.
Record: 2-2
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