Steelers' 24-point Second Half Enough to Edge Ravens for a Trip to AFC Championship Game

Day one of the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs is officially in the books, and it sure has been a wild and wacky one.

In the first game, between two arch nemesis out of the AFC North, defense proved to be the key to victory, as expected from the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Both of which have been in the top five in overall defense in the league for nearly the entire decade.

Playing in Pittsburgh, Joe Flacco and the 13-4 Ravens, coming off a 30-7 shellacking of the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs last weekend, got off to a great start in the first half. Pittsburgh drew first blood with a 1-yard touchdown from running back Rashard Mendenhall to cap a six minute opening drive. But Baltimore quickly came back and scored 14 unanswered points on consecutive drives. The second of the two came after a controversial Ben Roethlisberger fumble.

Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs turned the corner on the Steelers' battered offensive line and hit Roethlisberger from behind, forcing him to get rid of the ball. After the ball appeared to bounce off a defender and hit the ground after leaving his hand, all 21 of the 22 players on the field seemed to believe the play was over with an incomplete pass. The one player whom realized there hadn't been a whistle blow yet--Corey Redding, Baltimore's veteran defensive tackle out of Texas--picked the ball up and ran it back 13 yards for the score. The play was challenge, but the touchdown was upheld, leaving coach Mike Tomlin and the rest of Heinz Field in shock.

The score at the end of one was 14-7, but Baltimore's first half scoring didn't stop there.

After exchanging punts, the Steelers got the ball back deep inside its own territory looking for a fresh start. A couple plays later Mendenhall fumbled the football and gave Baltimore yet another scoring chance. Flacco took advantage, of course, and six plays later threw a four-yard touchdown to Todd Heap. Baltimore went ahead by two scores.

Pittsburgh tried to regroup and get a drive together just before the half, but Roethlisberger's offense sputtered and kicker Shaun Suisham ended up missing a 43-yard field goal after successfully converting his first 14 attempts as Pittsburgh's kicker.

Tomlin's squad did not play Pittsburgh football in the first half of play, giving Baltimore far too many chances to score and digging themselves a huge hole. But, this is why he is a pro football head coach. He was able to get his guys together at the half, regroup, and come out and hit gold in the second half.

Pittsburgh dominated every facet of the game in the second half, outscoring the Ravens 14-0 in the third quarter, and 24-3 in the second half altogether. The key? The exact same 'key' that Baltimore had in the first half of play: turnovers. Pittsburgh forced two fumbles and a Flacco turnover in the third and fourth quarter of play and were able to take advantage of them.

At the end of the third quarter, Baltimore had just 94 total yards, as they finished the game with just 126 total net yards as compared to Pittsburgh's 263. Pittsburgh beat Baltimore in the time of possession category by nearly 10 minutes as well. Despite playing rather sloppily in the penalty category (9-93 yards), the Steelers defense controlled Ray Rice (12 attempts, 32 yards, 1 TD) and grounded Joe Flacco, who threw for just 125 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT and was sacked five times (three recorded by James Harrison).

To overcome such a deficit through ferocious defense, Pittsburgh has proved they can hang in there with a poised Roethlisberger and an aggressive play-calling approach by defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Looking forward to next week's matchup whether they play New York or New England.

Photo credit

James Farrior: NFL/Joe Robbins

Today in NFL History: Major Events and Birthdays

Today the Ravens and Steelers will kick off the Divisional weekend's slate of game's at approximately 4:30 P.M. eastern time, but before we get around to taking one last look at the matchup, here is what has happened on this day in years past.

Major Events:

*1939--First (NFL) Pro Bowl. The NY Giants beat the All Stars 13-10 at Wrigley Field...clearly the whole Pro Bowl deal was a little different back then.

*1967--Super Bowl I took place in Los Angeles, California. Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers defeated Hank Stram's Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. Quarterback Bart Starr was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

*1978--Super Bowl XII, the only other Super Bowl to be held on January 15 in league history, was held in New Orleans. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10. Defensive end Harvey Martin and defensive tackle Randy White were named the game's co-MVP's for the Cowboys.

*1995--The two Conference Championship games were held as the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers both earned Super Bowl appearances by defeating their opponents. San Diego knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-13, while san Francisco handled the hated Dallas Cowboys with a 38-28 defeat. Of course we all know that the Niners went on to crush San Diego, 49-26, in the Super Bowl two weeks later. Steve Young won the MVP award.

Birthdays:

*Fred Davis, Washington Redskins' TE, turns 25 today

*Drew Brees, last year's Super Bowl MVP, turns 32 today

*Corey Chavous, former Arizona Cardinal, Minnesota Viking and St. Louis Rams' strong safety, turns 35 today

*Mike Minter, former Carolina Panthers' free safety, turns 37 today

Source: todayinsport.com

Photo credit

Steve Young: 1995-Mickey Pfleger

Weekend Preview: Who will earn a spot in the Conference Championship?

I have been slacking with the posts as of late and never really did an official recap of this past weekend's Wild Card match-ups. Therefore, I will be combining my (late) recap with a preview of the Divisional round. My picks for last week's slate of games was 3-1, by the way, with my only bad pick being the Saints/Seahawks game.

Also I have added, in addition to my game pick, a simulation of all four games by both Whatifsports.com and Madden 2011. I let the computer play all four Divisional games and have added the final score for your entertainment. I was looking to earn a little extra credit, so I finished the rest of the playoffs and Super Bowl simulations via WIS and Madden for additional entertainment. The final scores of the Conference Championships and Super Bowl were added to the end of my article. Enjoy:

Saturday January 15, 2011

(5) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Pittsburgh Steelers (4:30 PM ET on CBS)

How Baltimore won on Sunday: The first half of the first round game between the Baltimore Ravens and the AFC West winning Kansas City Chiefs was very sloppy on both sides of the ball as Kansas City's Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles took over the spotlight at Arrowhead with his 41 yard touchdown run following a Joe Flacco fumble. Baltimore dominated the first half time of possession, holding on to the ball for 20 of the 30 minutes, but three sacks of Flacco, and the Flacco fumble limited Baltimore's offense to just 10 first half points as they went in to the break with a 10-7 lead.

Kansas City's head coach Todd Haley failed to make the needed adjustments at the half as the Ravens came out and scored 13 third quarter points. Simply enough, Baltimore's defense stepped it up and forced two turnovers during the quarter (one fumble, one INT) and put points on the board as a result. Before the final quarter even began, the Chiefs' hearts were out of it. Baltimore's defense, led by the intimidating Terrell Suggs and future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, took the final two quarters over and forced three second half turnovers, leading to a 20-point outburst.

What will need to be done to win this Saturday: When these two teams meet, it's always a bloodbath. And points are always hard to come by considering these are two the toughest defenses in the game. Turnovers are a given. So that's why I think the team with the most effective offense will come out winners in this game. Both teams are tough against the run, so if Ray Rice and Rashard Mendenhall are able to make an impact on the game it will go a long way for their respective team.

Who will win: I'm going to have to lean towards Pittsburgh in this one, likely because Ben Roethlisberger edges Joe Flacco in the postseason, and knows how to have success against the Ravens (7-3 against BAL in the regular season; 1-0 in postseason). I haven't even mentioned the fact that Baltimore will be playing on Pittsburgh's home turf with 50,000-plus Terrible Towels. Pittsburgh wins 14-10.

WIS' prediction: Steelers 16-13

Madden's prediction: Steelers 17-10

(6) Green Bay Packers at (1) Atlanta Falcons (8 PM ET on FOX)

How Green Bay won on Sunday: Aaron Rodgers and his sixth seeded Packers were technically underdogs to the Eagles, but this doesn't necessarily surprise me that they were able to go in to the Linc in Philly and defeat Vick's Eagles. Green Bay's record could have easily ended up much better than it was at the end of the regular season had Rodgers not suffered from a concussion late in the season against Detroit. Rodgers is back to full speed and led his Packers to a 14-3 halftime lead as the defense limited Vick early on. The difference between the two games is that Green Bay played solid all sixty minutes and were able to control the clock throughout, as well as limit the mental mistakes (just two penalties all game).

Philadelphia was able to force two Green Bay turnovers, but was only able to convert one of them for points. Two missed David Akers field goal attempts and a failed two point conversion could blamed for the loss, but the fact of the matter is that Vick got greedy towards the end of the game and went for it all. He rushed a throw in to the corner of the end zone to rookie receiver Riley Cooper and the Pack took advantage of the under-thrown pass as Tramon Williams picked off the pass to seal the five-point victory.

What will need to be done to win this Saturday: For the Packers, another huge key in to their victory in the first round was the running game. After Ryan Grant suffered a season-ending injury ankle injury (against Philly) during the first game of the season, Green Bay's run game came in to question. Brandon Jackson--Grant's replacement--ran for career-highs 703 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season, but was a non-factor this past weekend (3 attempts for 10 yards). Luckily for head coach Mike McCarthy, first-year running back James Starks (29 attempts, 101 yards during regular season) ran for 123 yards in his first career postseason game. If Green Bay wants to defeat Atlanta, they will need to make them one dimensional by taking away the run. If Michael Turner is a non-factor, and the Packers secondary can control Roddy White, Matt Ryan may find himself in some trouble against Green Bay's front seven.

Who will win: The above paragraph is much easier said than done. Stopping Atlanta's fifth-highest scoring offense is quite the task, and after allowing 352 total yards last week, I can't see Green Bay succeeding against Matty Ice, Turner and White. The run game of the Packers scares me, as well. How do we know that Starks' Wild Card performance isn't a fluke? Atlanta wins 28-14.

WIS' prediction: Packers 20-3

Madden's prediction: Falcons 22-19 (OT)

Sunday January 16, 2011

(4) Seattle Seahawks at (2) Chicago Bears (1 PM on FOX)

How Seattle won on Saturday: Perhaps one of the biggest upsets in NFL postseason history, I am still in shock that Seattle's offense put up 41 on the defending champions. It's obvious that Drew Brees had a spectacular game and did all he could to lead his Saints back to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately his 404 yards and two touchdowns (and 36 points scored) weren't enough for the Saints to squeeze out a victory as the defense allowed four passing touchdowns.

The greatest run in postseason history was basically the knock-out blow with just over three minutes to play. Former Buffalo Bills' running back Marshawn Lynch, who at one point was one small mistake from being out of the league for good, broke eight tackles on a 67-yard touchdown run that put the 'Hawks up by 11. Brees came back and threw for one last touchdown pass to Devery Henderson, of course, but the five offensive touchdowns for Seattle was just too much to overcome.

What will need to be done to win this Sunday: Once again Seattle will be overmatched against Chicago, but that doesn't mean they don't have a shot. But Seattle will need to break 150 yards on the ground again against Chicago, and on the defensive side of the ball they cannot allow Jay Cutler to have a big day. They were able to get away with a huge day from Brees because of the amount of success the offense had against New Orleans. This week they will be on the road against a much tougher defense, though, and will need to match Chicago's explosiveness on both sides of the ball. In Seattle's week six victory over Chicago they played great defense by sacking Cutler six times and shutting down Matt Forte (8 attempts, 11 yards, 1 TD).

Who will win: As much as it is nice to see the underdog prevail, I just don't see these Seahawks doing it twice in a row. I doubted them last week and they proved me wrong, but it looks like they will have to do it again this Sunday. Hasselbeck could have a huge day in the passing game, but if they can't get anything going on the ground against Chicago's second-best run defense, they wont be able to keep up with Chicago's tempo. Chicago wins 24-10.

WIS' prediction: Seahawks 17-14

Madden's prediction: Seahawks 20-17

(6) New York Jets at (1) New England Patriots (4:15 PM on CBS)

How New York won on Saturday: Head coach Rex Ryan finally got the best of his mortal enemy Peyton Manning, limiting him to just 225 yards passing and one offensive touchdown. But it wasn't as convincing a victory as Jets' fans were hoping for as kicker Nick Folk squeezed a 32-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired. If it wasn't for New York's powerful run game (led by L.T.'s 82 yards and two touchdowns), New York wouldn't have had a chance against Indy's 20th-ranked overall defense. Second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez looked jittery and threw a key red zone interception just before the half. Ryan's defense kept the team in it despite zero turnovers and just four Indy punts. Ball control was key in this game as New York held on to the ball for 33 of the game's 60 minutes.

What will need to be done this Sunday: With the amount of trash-talking coming from coach Ryan and cornerback Antonio Cromartie have been doing this week, New York's defense will certainly need to step up. New England has the league's hottest offense, scoring at least 30 points in each of its final eight games this season, including 45 in a week 13 matchup with this same Jets team. Throughout the season, New York was the sixth-best scoring defense and was third-best in the league in total defense.

But, Tom Brady's Pats are the highest-scoring offense and are arguably the most balanced offense out there. On the defensive side of the ball New England's young defense is highly underrated, and picked off the opposition 25 times this season (most in the league). Sanchez will need to be 100% mistake-free and New York will need to get pressure on Brady nearly every play.

Who will win: This will be the one game that I don't think will be close. At all. Rex Ryan's defense really doesn't stand a chance against Brady and Belichick's pass-oriented offense, and Mark Sanchez is in for a long day against New England's quick defense. The game will be over at halftime. New England wins 31-10.

WIS' prediction: Jets 27-6

Madden's prediction: Patriots 34-17

The rest of the postseason, according to Whatifsports...

Conference Championships:

AFC...Steelers 21, Jets 7

NFC...Packers 31, Seahawks 20

Seattle gets the privilege of hosting a second playoff game despite their 7-9 regular season record, but Rodgers earns his first Super Bowl appearance with an 11-point victory over Hasselbeck's squad.

Pittsburgh lucked out with Sanchez's shellacking of the Pats in the second round, and didn't have much trouble handing the Jets its second consecutive AFC Championship loss in a 14-point victory.

Super Bowl:

Steelers 44, Packers 24

MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (17/24, 243 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs)

Ben gets his third Super Bowl ring with his MVP performance against the Pack as his offense puts up 44 points.

The rest of the postseason according to Madden...

Conference Championships:

AFC...Steelers 31, Patriots 20

NFC...Falcons 24, Seahawks 19

Super Bowl:

Steelers 29, Falcons 17

MVP: Rashard Mendenhall (22 rush attempts, 132 yards, 2 TDs)

I swear to you I had nothing to do with the outcome of these simulations. Pittsburgh has prevailed, capturing the team's seventh Lombardi trophy according to both Whatifsports.com and Madden 2011.

**The Baltimore/Pittsburgh Divisional matchup seems to be the only one in which one team has been favored by myself, Whatifsports and Madden's simulation. Interestingly enough, all three have seen a mixed result in predictions. I wish I could say that I think there will be an upset this weekend, but I just don't think it will happen and I have justified my reasoning in the above article. That's why the National Football League is so great, though, anything can happen on any given Sunday.

Who knows what this weekend holds for us. We could witness history.

Photo credit

Flacco and Roethlisberger: AP Photo/Nick Wass

Tony Gonzalez: AP Photo/Rich Addicks

Jay Cutler: AP Photo/John Smierciak

Deion Branch: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Rex, Cromartie Continue to Blast Brady and the Pats; When Will They Learn?

When are these Jets ever going to learn? I respect Rex Ryan and all for what he has done with these Jets despite an inconsistent and inexperienced Mark Sanchez at the helm of the offense. But when is this never-ending trash talk with the Pats going to end?

Antonio Cromartie, New York's cornerback, was the latest to sound off and "bash" Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. What I find rather funny in this particular situation is that Cromartie has played in seven career postseason games (3-4 record) and two of his four losses came against Brady and Belichick's Pats while he was playing in San Diego.

Anyways, of all teams, the Jets are in no position to trash Brady and the Patriots. This decade alone the Patriots have defeated the Jets 15 out of 23 games, including once in the playoffs (the score of that game was 37-16).

Now obviously we have entered a new era with head coach Rex Ryan coming in to the picture last season, and since he has taken over, the Jets and Patriots have each won two head-to-head games--a season series split last year and this year.

The most recent memory between New York and New England, though, was an embarrassing 45-3 beat down at Foxboro. New York's sixth overall defense couldn't force a single turnover then (at NE) and against the Colts this past week, so how do they expect to force any this week against the near-perfect Tom Brady, who threw just five interceptions this season (least amount in the league).

New England's second half offense put up 30 points or more in eight straight games, and over that stretch they played defenses such as Pittsburgh, Chicago and Green Bay. All three of those teams are in the top four in scoring defense.

Rex and his shenanigans started out just a fun little way of him having a good time and relieving some stress that builds up as an NFL head coach, but as of late he has crossed the line far too many times.

For the New York Jets to walk in to Foxboro Sunday afternoon and soundly defeat the New England Patriots on their home turf, a place where they are 11-2 all-time in the postseason, the entire squad will need to be 100% mistake-free. And, yes, I am pointing at you, Mark Sanchez!

Until this happens, I suggest you (Rex Ryan and Antonio Cromartie) to keep your mouths shut. Thank you very much.

Interesting Fact: Five teams in NFL history (including this year's Jets) have been beaten by a team by 37 or more points in the regular season and then played them again later that year in the postseason. Of the previous four teams (2009 Bengals vs. Jets, 1991 Lions vs. Redskins, 1991 Falcons vs. Redskins, 1969 Browns vs. Vikings) none of those teams have managed to redeem themselves and pull off a victory.

Personally, I can't wait until the two teams hit the field and Tom Brady shows the Jets how to play football...without all the unneeded trash-talking which the Jets like to do so much. Some people enjoy it, but it has gotten way too out-of-hand and this is why I respect Brady and Belichick so much. They don't let Rex get to them and they just go out every week and show the nation how it's done. Gotta respect that.

Rex later said he and the Jets' organization "respect Tom Brady and the Patriots," and the way he's talked about them in the past there's no way that's true. Sorry, Rex, but I may have to call BS on your comment.

And once again, after watching Sammy Morris, Alge Crumpler and Deion Branch answer questions in a press conference, they didn't take any shots against the Jets. But instead, they simply said they were gonna do all they can to protect Brady.

Photo credit

Mark Sanchez: AP Photo/Charles Krupa

BenJarvus Green Ellis: AP Photo/StephanSavola

Must Be the Genes: Top 10 NFL Families

After watching Oregon's linebacker Casey Matthews running from sideline-to-sideline in last night's National Championship game, it got me thinking, what other families out there have produced great football players, considering Matthews is likely on his way to the NFL just like every other man in his long list of family members. Oregon may have lost the game, but to me the play of the game was when Matthews stripped Auburn's Heisman winner Cam Newton of the ball late in the fourth to give the Ducks another shot. It wasn't his fault the offense couldn't produce.


So here it is, my top 10 list of NFL families (including both players and coaches)...

10. Payton's: Walter, Jarrett

Walter "Sweetness" Payton passed his family genes on to his son, Jarrett, after his death at the age of 45 in 1999. Walter, as we all are well aware of, is a Hall of Fame running back for the Chicago Bears whom retired from the game in 1987 as the league's all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards and 110 TDs in 13 seasons. The nine-time Pro Bowler won the Super Bowl under Mike Ditka in 1985 and was inducted in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. His No. 34 jersey has been retired by the Chicago Bears. Jarrett, on the other hand, didn't come close to matching his father's accomplishments. After just one season in 2005 with the Tennessee Titans (33 attempts, 105 yards, 2 TDs), Jarrett was out of the league. Walter's genes may not have been passed on successfully, but the Payton's still squeeze on to this list because of what Walter accomplished in the league.

9. Shula's: Don, Dave, Mike

Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula is the league's all-time leader in victories (347) and led his Miami Dolphins to a perfect, undefeated 14-0 season in 1972. He won a second consecutive Super Bowl the following season. He has coached teams to seven conference championships and has fallen just short of four more Super Bowls. His two sons, David and Mike, obviously weren't quite as successful, but his elder son Dave (51) was head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992-1996, though his stint was very unsuccessful (compiled a record of 19-53). Mike is the current quarterbacks coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and was head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2003-06.

8. Hasselbeck's: Don, Matt, Tim

Don, the father, played tight end for 10 seasons with four different teams in the late '70s to early-to-mid '80s. His best season was in 1981 with the Patriots in which he caught 46 balls for 808 yards and six touchdowns. Fortunately, his eldest son Matt made the Hasselbeck name a little more well-known. The three-time Pro Bowler was a backup to the legendary Brett Favre for a short time in Green Bay before getting his chance to shine in Seattle in 2001. With a 63-54 career record in Seattle, Hasselbeck has led the Seahawks to six postseason appearances (including this season) and a Super Bowl appearance. He didn't get the ring like he was hoping to in 2005, but just getting Seattle there for the first time in the franchise's history is quite an accomplishment. Tim, Matt's younger brother, didn't share the same kind of success as Matt, sadly, as he put up a 1-4 career record in four seasons with four different teams. He has, however, made a name for himself in the media world as an ESPN NFL analyst.

7. Ronnie Lott/Ryan Nece

Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott (San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and New York Jets) posted solid numbers for 14 seasons, being selected to ten Pro Bowls, six first-team All Pros and picking off nine interceptions in seven postseason games (not including Super Bowls) and captured four Super Bowl rings. Lott's son, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Ryan Nece, is currently a free agent and hasn't played a game since 2008, but he put up decent numbers in seven seasons with the Buccaneers and Lions (204 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 INTs, 10 PDs in 45 starts).

6. Simms': Phil, Chris

Phil Simms is a two-time Super Bowl champion and a one-time Super Bowl MVP winner as the quarterback of the New York Giants from 1979-93. Simms has made a name for himself as a broadcaster for CBS over the years, pairing up with Jim Nantz in the booth. Simms finished his 14-year pro career with a 95-64 record as New York's starter and a 6-4 playoff record. His son Chris didn't get as much attention in his five-year career with three different teams. He is currently the backup quarterback in Tennessee and has posted a career 69.1 QB rating in 16 NFL starts. His life-threatening spleen injury at the beginning of the 2006 season while in Tampa Bay may be what he has gotten the most publicity for.

5. Long's: Howie, Chris

Howie Long, Oakland Raiders' defensive end, played 13 seasons and was selected to 8 Pro Bowls and two first-team All Pros. In five career postseason games, Long recorded four sacks despite his Raiders going just 2-3 in those games. Long was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000. Howie is another former player who has made a living in the media as well as on the field, he is currently an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. His son, Chris Long (also a defensive end), was drafted second overall by the St. Louis Rams in 2008 NFL draft after playing his college ball at Virginia. In his first three NFL seasons, Chris has played in all 48 games and put up solid numbers: 92 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 5 FF.

4. Winslow's: Kellen Sr., Kellen Jr.

Both Winslow's were drafted in the first round of their respected draft classes, and played/play tight end in the National Football League. Only difference between the two? Kellen Sr. was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after catching 541 passes and being selected to five Pro Bowls in nine seasons for the San Diego Chargers. In his first six seasons in the league, Kellen II has been a one-time Pro Bowler, but has finally humbled himself after making a huge mistake early on in his career (violated his contract by riding a motorcycle; crashed it and missed a full season as a result of the crash in 2005).

3. Ryan's: Buddy, Rex, Rob

This family tree has produced three well-known NFL head coaches. As head coach, the father, Buddy Ryan, put up a record of just 55-55-1 in his seven seasons at the helm in Philly and Arizona (three winning seasons, all with Eagles). But it was as the New York Jets' linebackers coach (1968-75) and the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator (1978-85) in which he gained all his fame, and his two Super Bowl rings--'69 Jets, '85 Bears. Buddy was known for creating the 46 defense while in Chicago, and by 1982 he had perfected the 46 defense.

Buddy ended up having twin sons, both of whom also made a name for themselves in the coaching realm. Rex won a ring while in the Baltimore Ravens organization from 1999-08 before leaving Baltimore to take the New York Jets' head coaching vacancy. It was there where he became known as the smack-talker, always making headlines for things he says about opposing teams and, in general, having some pretty funny press conferences. Rob, a much more quiet guy than Rex, has never taken a job as head coach, but he was New England's linebackers coach from 2000-03 where he won two rings. He has been a defensive coordinator in the league since 2004, and is currently interviewing for possible head coaching jobs. By far the best family for NFL coaches.

2. Manning's: Archie, Peyton, Eli

Archie was elected to two Pro Bowls and had a healthy 15-year career with three different teams (Saints, Oilers, Vikings), but his numbers were no where near getting him to the Hall, and he never even participated in a playoff game throughout his prolonged career. Career record? 35-101-3. His rating on the day he retired from the game? 67.1. He threw for 125 touchdowns, but also 173 career interceptions. He was the "face of the franchise" of New Orleans back when they were referred to as the 'Aints.


Luckily for Archie, two of his three sons went on to win Super Bowl championships, and Super Bowl MVP awards, in back-to-back seasons. The elder of the two, Peyton, is known as one of the smartest quarterbacks in the game today, and was the first to win a championship when he led his Colts over the Bears in 2006. The following year, Eli, whom also attended Ole Miss as a quarterback, just like Archie, led his Giants to one of the greatest upsets in league history by defeating the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Even Cooper, Archie's eldest son, was a solid football player. He played receiver at Ole Miss.

1. Matthews': Clay Sr., Clay Jr., Bruce, Clay III, Kevin, Casey (LB at Oregon)

Forget the Manning's, the Matthews have by far the best football genes out there. Clay Matthews Sr. was the first to reach the National Football League, playing four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers on both the offensive and defensive line. From 1950-55 Matthews Sr. played in 45 games for the Niners. A year after his retirement, his son Clay Jr. was born. Clay Jr., a four-time Pro Bowler for the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons for 19 years, retired from the game in 1996 with 1,561 career tackles and 16 interceptions. Clay Jr.'s little brother, Bruce, born five years after Clay, played 19 seasons as well. Bruce, an offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans was elected to 14 Pro Bowls and a seven-time first team All Pro in 292 starts at guard, tackles and center. As one of the most dominant offensive lineman in league history, Bruce was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, just six years after his retirement from the game.


The family lineage does not end here, though. Both Bruce and Clay Jr. each have a son who is currently in the league. Bruce has a 23-year old son, Kevin, who is a center for the Titans after signing with them as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M. His other son, Casey, is a linebacker for the Oregon Ducks, who just fell to the Auburn Tigers in last night's national championship. Clay's son, Clay III, is a pretty well known linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. In his second pro season, Matthews was elected to his second Pro Bowl this season.


People seem to want to call the Manning's the best family in football, but I beg to differ. (Note: Unfortunately, the photo above only shows Clay Jr., Bruce and Clay III).

Honorable Mentions:

--Tatupu's: Mosi, Lofa

--Griese's: Bob, Brian

--Phillips: Bum and Wade

--Moss's: Santana, Sinorice

--Bailey's: Champ, Boss

--Metcalf's: Terry, Eric

Photo Credit
All photos in article belong to the AP, and can be found on NFL.com.

Last-second Preview: Things to Consider While Watching Saints/Seahawks Game

Just a couple of hours separate us from the kick-off to the 2010-2011 NFL playoffs. The first matchup between the 11-5 Saints, the fifth seed, and the 7-9 Seahawks, the fourth seed in the NFC playoff bracket would appear to be a cakewalk for the defending champions.

*Keys for the Seahawks:

1. Run, run, run.

2. Pressure Drew Brees

3. Protect the ball! Hasselbeck tied a career-high this season with 17 interceptions, even while missing two games due to injury. He missed last week's game against the Rams and may start the game off a bit rusty. He wont be throwing the ball any more than 30 times today, and will need to play mistake-free football to give Seattle a chance.

*Why you can't rule the Seahawks out of this one:

-New Orleans' top two running backs--Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory--are both inactive for today's game. In fact, they have both been placed on the injured reserve and will not be available at all this postseason. Not only does that affect the Saint hugely this week, but they will likely be one dimensional all postseason.

-In addition to the Thomas and Ivory injuries, the Saints have four other players who have been ruled out for the game today. Three of those four players are on the defensive side of the ball, including starting free safety Malcolm Jenkins. Veteran five-time Pro Bowler Darren Sharper is expected to start in his place though he has been limited to just eight games this season as he been battling numerous injuries. We'll see if head coach Pete Carroll decides to pick on the vulnerable Sharper in the passing game today.

-New Orleans' pass defense: 193.9 yards/game (4th), run defense: 112.3 yards/game (16th)...Seattle's run attack is 31st in the league, but don't be surprised if you see a heavy dose of Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett early on anyway. Seattle has had the game's top rusher only five times this season, but they put up a 5-0 record during those games, and scored 30-plus points in two of those games.

--No matter which way you look at it, Seattle's best chance at winning this game is to run the ball affectively and limit turnovers.

*History is on Seattle's side:

These two teams have met just 11 times, all in the regular season. So, yes, this is the first postseason meeting between New Orleans and Seattle. But, the Seahawks have won three out of the last four meetings (New Orleans holds series lead, 6-5, after defeating Seattle at home earlier this season), and have outscored the Saints 256-234 in the series.

Also, defending champions always have a hard time. In the past eight years, only one team (2004 Patriots) have made it out of the second round. And, only two teams (2004 Patriots and 2005 Patriots) even managed to come away with a playoff victory the following season.

Oh and did I mention the fact that the Saints have to go in to Qwest Field, a very tough place to play for opposing teams considering the noise level (leads to quite a few false start penalties) and the crappy Washington (state) weather?

Having said all this, I am still picking the Saints to pull away with a victory. But wouldn't this be quite a game if Seattle is able to keep up with Brees and his cannon of a right arm?

My pick: New Orleans 31-17

Whatifsports.com's pick: Seattle 29-24

Interesting to see the simulation pulling for the upset. We'll see how all of this plays out in approximately two hours. Check back later for updates, I may do a live blog of the game if I'm up for it. Enjoy.

(Note: This is my 100th blog post here on All-Out Blitz. I haven't exactly gotten many readers at all but I'm working on that.)

Photo Credit

Drew Brees: Aaron M. Sprecher/NFL

Leon Washington: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Wild Card X-Factors

When playoff times rolls around, usually just a couple of key players end up making the largest impact on the game's outcome. Each of the eight teams competing for a spot in the second round of the playoffs have guys who I think will be the deciding "X-Factor" for his respective team.

New Orleans at Seattle, Saturday 4:30 PM ET

Saints X Factor: Drew Brees

With the loss of New Orleans' top two running backs in 2010, Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas, both of whom will miss Saturday's game due to injury, even more pressure will be put on defending Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. If he can't get off to a quick start I don't see him having any trouble carving up Seattle's defense with quick, intermediate passes on the perimeter of the field. A couple of deep balls to Marques Colston could be a lethal weapon in the match-up with the league's 27th-ranked passing defense. On the road this season Brees has 16 TDs/10 INTs (6-2 record).

Seahawks X Factor: Lofa Tatupu

Without an active Ivory and Thomas available this Saturday, and Reggie Bush (150 rushing yards in eight games this season) making the start at running back, Seattle's defense has their work cut out for them. They know Brees will be throwing the football freely and that if they can force a couple of Brees turnovers they would give their offense a shot at putting points on the board. That's why its up to Seattle's defensive captain--and leader--Tatupu to keep his 'Hawks in the game and make sure they are focused on stopping the pass. Tatupu (58 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT this season) doesn't specialize is rushing the passer, but is a great coverage 'backer and is the backbone of Seattle's defense.

New York at Indianapolis, Saturday 8 PM ET

Jets X Factor: Brad Smith

The former quarterback out of Mizzou has had success against Indy before, in fact in last year's AFC Championship game he made a couple of big plays albeit in a losing effort. The Jets' defense as a whole will be a pretty big factor against the Hall of Fame-bound Peyton Manning, but the real x-factor I believe will be the elusive receiver/return man. He can be used with trick plays and formations such as the wildcat and pistol formation. Out of those two formations he has shown he can make an impact both running the ball and throwing it deep. Not only that, but he also has three career kick return touchdowns, two of which he ran back this season. Head coach Rex Ryan has several ways of using Smith, and he will most definitely incorporate him in to his game plan against Indy.

Colts X Factor: Dwight Freeney

We all know the Colts struggle stopping the run, and that the Jets will likely take advantage of that. It's so bad that the Colts may even just allow the Jets to run the ball and completely shut down Mark Sanchez's passing offense. Last year, when Indy knocked New York out of the playoffs in the Conference Championship game, then-rookie Mark Sanchez threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns (1 INT), yet the offense still only managed 17 points against Indy. With Freeney's nine sacks in 11 career playoff games, I don't expect him to lay off of Sanchez this week. Expect a couple of Freeney sacks, and a couple of New York turnovers at the expense of Sanchez, who still has a lot of maturing to do.

Baltimore at Kansas City, Sunday 1 PM ET

Ravens X Factor: Ed Reed

This past Sunday against the Bengals, Baltimore's free safety Ed Reed posted his 11th career two interception game. What's even more miraculous about this feat is that the Ravens are 11-0 when the seven-time Pro Bowler has at least two interceptions in a game. On the defensive side of the ball, it isn't nose tackle Haloti Ngata, veteran Terrell Suggs or even the seven-time first team All Pro linebacker Ray Lewis that KC's quarterback Matt Cassel needs to look out for. It's the roaming ball-hawk Ed Reed that needs to be contained.

Chiefs X Factor: Jamaal Charles

After reading what I wrote about Reed above, it's obvious that if Kansas City wants to win this game they will need to have success on the ground. With the league's top rushing attack, Charles' career-high 1,467 yards on the ground will surely be tested against Baltimore's fifth-best run defense, which allowed just 1,503 yards rushing all year. Despite topping the league in rushing yards, Kansas City struggled to get the ball in the end zone while running the ball. Kansas City will need to get the ball to Charles 25-30 times in order to have a shot at controlling the clock--and the game.

Green Bay at Philadelphia, Sunday 4:30 PM ET

Packers X Factor: Clay Matthews III

On defense, there's no doubt Matthews is the nucleus. After a solid rookie performance in '09 (36 tackles, 10 sacks, 7 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR TD), Matthews one-uped himself with an even better 2010 season, quickly making a name for himself. His 54 tackles, 13.5 sacks and interception landed him a second straight Pro Bowl selection. Not only have his numbers been solid, but he has also imposed fear in his opposition. Quarterbacks now need to know where No. 52 is at all times when they step on to the field. He's not all that large (6'3'', 246 pounds) in comparison to other linebackers, but his speed and strength is baffling. He is the Packers' key to containing Vick and keeping him inside the numbers. Once Vick bounces to the outside it is tough to stop him. Look for Matthews to be running sideline-to-sideline on Sunday.

Eagles X Factor: Michael Vick

Vick says he has recovered from his thigh injury and is "100 percent" ready to go on Sunday. But we should all still keep an eye on Vick's thigh. If Green Bay's defense is all over Vick he could re-injure his thigh at any moment. If he is ready to go like he says he is, though, Green Bay could be in for a long day. That's why, of course, Matthews is my X-Factor for Green Bay. The result of this game will vary depending on who shows up and is ready to play. If Vick can break out for a couple of big plays against Matthews' defense, Philly could take this one at home.

Photo Credit

Lofa Tatupu and Jordan Babineaux: AP Photo/John Smierciak

Brad Smith: AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

Jamaal Charles: AP Photo/Ed Zurga

Clay Matthews: AP Photo/Morry Gash

Mr. Heck's Regular Season Awards

With a crazy 2010 regular season finally in the books, it's time for my annual "Regular Season Awards." I know what you're saying, and yes my title for these awards isn't very creative, but it will have to do until I can come up with a fancier name, sorry.

Most Valuable Player: Tom Brady

Everyone seems to wanna give this award to Michael Vick. But, the truth is Brady was far more consistent throughout the season than Vick. While Vick went his first seven games without an interception, he threw six in the last five games of the season. Brady through four all season and ended up playing the final 11 games without an interception. Twelve of Brady's 16 games he threw for multiple touchdowns and had a quarterback rating of 100 or better in 12 games. Vick was an all-around solid player this season, but Brady put up numbers reminiscent of New England's undefeated regular season in 2007.

Runner ups: Michael Vick, Phillip Rivers

Rookies of the Year: LeGarrette Blount (offense) and Ndamukong Suh (defense)

For Blount, the road to the NFL was a rocky one after his punching incident in week one of the college football season last year after his Oregon Ducks fell to the Boise State Broncos. He was suspended indefinitely and his chances at going pro were put in jeopardy. Tampa Bay, looking for a consistent runner who could play on first and second downs, claimed Blount off waivers (from the Titans) on September 6. It wasn't until week four against the Cardinals that Blount broke out and raised some eye brows with a 120 yard, two TD performance. He went on to break 1,000 yards rushing with four 100-yard games and a couple of highlight reel plays (jumped completely over two defenders on two separate occasions this season). Blount's Bucs just barely missed out on the playoffs this season, unfortunately.

Suh, a Heisman trophy finalist in 2009, made an immediate impact in the NFL this season. The 6'4'', 307 pounder was first among defensive tackles with 10 sacks as he started all 16 games this season. Suh's 66 total tackles was seventh-best among defensive lineman. The former Nebraska Cornhusker forced fear in to his opposition with a big hit he put on Cleveland Browns' quarterback Jake Delhomme in the preseason. Suh was fined $7,500 by commissioner Roger Goodell for the hit in which he slammed Delhomme down to the turf. Suh, unlike my offensive rookie of the year Blount, was awarded a Pro Bowl selection this season. This is the first of what should be many in the years to come for Ndamukong.

Runner ups: Sam Bradford (offense) and Eric Berry (defense)

Breakout Player: Arian Foster

Houston seemed to be lost for words as soon as they learned that their rookie running back Ben Tate would miss the rest of the season after suffering a leg injury in the very first preseason game. A couple weeks later they would discover a guy who would carry the workload for a majority of the season. Foster, who ran the ball just 54 times for 257 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season last year, ran all over the Indianapolis Colts in week one (a franchise-record 331 to be exact). Foster put up seven 100-yard games and five multi-TD performances throughout the season, and ended the 16-game schedule with a league-high 1,616 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Foster is on the radar in 100 percent of fantasy leagues after this season.

Runner ups: Peyton Hillis, Cameron Wake, Brandon Lloyd

Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Vick

He didn't get my MVP vote, but the fact that he went from not playing in the league at all in 2007 and 2008, to just 13 pass attempts and 24 rush attempts in 2009, to a Pro Bowl selection and an MVP-type performance in 2010 warrants this award. Vick's career-high 3,018 yards and 21 touchdown passes showed the NFL world that Vick can--and will--throw the ball. His 676 rushing yards and nine TDs sure did help too. I look forward to seeing what he and the Eagles do in the playoffs.

Runner ups: Brian Urlacher, Braylon Edwards

Biggest Disappointment: Brett Favre

What can I say? After last season's career year, we probably should have been expecting a letdown in 2010, but yet we're still all disappointed that it had to end this way. His consecutive games played streak was ended and the last image we may have of Favre is of him being slammed in to the turf by a rookie defensive lineman, causing a concussion on a rock solid Soldier Field surface in a 40-14 loss. Favre's 19 interceptions and Minnesota's 6-10 record sure didn't help matters. There's still a chance he could come back in 2011, but I really do not expect it to happen. I think he has finally discovered that his body can't take the beating any longer.

Runner ups: Donovan McNabb

Coach of the Year: Lovie Smith (Chicago)

Green Bay and Minnesota made all the headlines and front pages this off-season, but it was in Chicago where all the hard work finally paid off during the 2010 season. Quarterback Jay Cutler put up over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdown passes for the fourth straight season and was able to protect the ball a little better than last year, going from 26 int's from '09 to 16 this season. He had to adjust to yet another offense as Mike Martz was brought in as the coordinator. But it was really Lovie's defense that was able to get the Bears' its first division title since the year they played Indy in the Super Bowl back in 2006. Good luck to Lovie and his Bears in the playoffs.

Runner ups: Todd Haley

If you have any other awards you would like to "hand out" feel free to inform me of them in the comment section.

Photo Credit
LeGarrette Blount: AP Photo/Bill Haber
Arian Foster: AP Photo/Dave Einsel
Brett Favre: AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt

NFL playoff system "broken" but can't be fixed

The NFC West division has been a weak link for years when it comes to the National Football League's playoff seeding procedure, but it hit a new low this season.

After defeating a hapless St. Louis Rams offense last night, led by rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, the Seattle Seahawks became the first team to win a division with a sub-.500 record (7-9). Recently several NFL employees have brought to attention the weak spot in the procedure for figuring out each conference's playoff seeds.

Because of the format (No. 1 thru No. 4 division winners, No. 5 and No. 6 the two Wild Card teams), the Seahawks get to host the 11-5 New Orleans Saints, since they are in a stronger division and didn't win the NFC South. Depending on how the sixth seeded Green Bay Packers do in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Seattle has a slight chance at hosting not just the first week, but the conference championship game as well if they make it that far.

Another thing that was brought to my attention is the fact that two 10-6 NFC teams (New York and Tampa Bay) are both sitting at home watching the playoffs while the Seahawks are not. Funny thing is that both the Giants and Bucs crushed Seattle earlier this season--New York won 41-7 during week nine and Tampa won 38-15 just last week. In the history of the league this is the first year that two 10-6 teams in the same conference missed the postseason.

It's clear that Seattle, who didn't even get to start Matt Hasselbeck in last night's game yet still managed to pull out a victory, doesn't deserve a playoff spot after finishing with a point differential of -97 and going 2-6 on the road.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves. This isn't a fixable system like the NCAA's.

Employees have brought up the idea of changing the format to just picking the top six teams in each conference (record-wise). But what exactly does that fix? I mean yes it does allow the top six teams to make it in to the postseason, but it also completely takes away the whole point of having divisions.

If this change happens sometime in the near future, I am not going to be a happy camper. There would be no reason to have division match-ups and it would take away from the rivalries which have been created through having four divisions in each conference.

If they want to fix the system, you might as well fix the entire format of the league. And that just seems like far too much trouble to go through.

I hope you hear me, Roger Goodell. Do not fix the playoff system. That may temporarily fix the problem, but it will only lead to new problems.

Photo credit: AP Photo/John Froschauer

Steelers, Falcons Solidify First Round Byes; Other News from Early Game Action

With Mike Tomlin's Pittsburgh Steelers easily handling AFC North rival Cleveland Browns, 41-9, in their 1:00 P.M. match-up, the Steelers clinched both the second seed in the AFC playoffs and a first round bye. Atlanta, on the NFC side of things, took care of Carolina, 31-10, to take the top seed and of course the first round bye.

Despite coming out with the victory over Cincinnati and finishing the season with a 12-4 record, the Baltimore Ravens had to settle for the fifth seed in the playoffs while Rex Ryan's Jets hold the sixth seed.

Other headline-making news in the football world today:

*With their loss to Oakland and Indy's recent 23-20 victory over Tennessee--thanks to a game-winning field goal by veteran Adam Vinateri--the Kansas City Chiefs were bumped down to the fourth seed. Peyton's win awarded him Kansas City's third seed.

*AFC Wild Card Match-ups for next week:

Baltimore @ Kansas City

New York @ Indianapolis

(Note: The Colts have tied an NFL record with their ninth consecutive playoff appearance)

*Jacksonville, needing both a win and a Colts loss, were doubled up by Houston, 34-17, and subsequently eliminated from contention.

*The Bucs, needing a win to have a shot at making the "Second Season" A.K.A. the postseason, defeated the already playoff-bound New Orleans Saints. New Orleans, whether they won or lost, basically already had the fifth seed wrapped up.

*Unfortunately for Tampa, they needed both the Packers and Giants to lose for them to move on. That didn't happen after Green Bay defeated Jay Cutler's Bears 10-3, putting the Pack in as the sixth seed. Which also means that despite New York's 17-14 victory over the Skins, they will miss the playoffs this season.

*With the Eagles' loss to Dallas, Chicago was given the No. 2 seed, Philly now holds the No. 3 seed.

*The NFC Wild Card match-ups are still up in the air. We know the Eagles will be hosting the Packers, but it's unclear who the Saints will be playing. The winner of the St. Louis/Seattle prime-time matchup will host New Orleans next week. Either way, I do think it's safe to say the Saints will be moving on to the second round, but you just never know. Anything could happen.

*Coaching changes: both Minnesota's and Dallas' interim coaches, Leslie Frazier and Jason Garrett respectively, are expected to be named their team's head coaches.

The games that didn't matter:

Patriots(#) 38, Dolphins 7

Jets (#) 38, Bills 7

Lions 20, Vikings 13

Chargers 33, Broncos 28

Niners 38, Cardinals 7

# already clinched a playoff spot

Photo Credit

Ray Lewis: AP Photo/Rob Carr

Whatifsports crowns a Super Bowl Champ

Using my projected playoff seedings from my previous post (see below), I have run through all three rounds of the playoffs, and the Super Bowl, using Whatifsports.com's free online simulator "SimMatchup." It isn't exactly 100 percent accurate, and obviously the playoff seedings are based off my predictions of tomorrow's games, but it is always nice to provide a little entertainment.

First off here are the AFC and NFC seedings, just in case you don't feel like scrolling down to my previous post:

AFC

1. Patriots 14-2

2. Steelers 12-4

3. Chiefs 11-5

4. Colts 10-6

5. Ravens 12-4

6. Jets 11-5

NFC

1. Falcons 13-3

2. Bears 12-4

3. Eagles 11-5

4. Rams 8-8

5. Saints 12-4

6. Giants 10-6

...And the match-ups/outcomes of each round. Enjoy!

Wild Card Round

AFC

Chiefs 16, Jets 14...no touchdowns, two interceptions and only 133 yards passing for K.C.'s Matt Cassel, but Jamaal Charles' 101 yards rushing, including a 54-yard touchdown run just before the half were enough for Kansas City to sneak in to the next round. Another win at Arrowhead, 9-0 on the season now, and there's a slight chance they could get another home game down the road.

Colts 31, Ravens 13...this is now two years in a row that the Colts have knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs. Let's just face it, Manning's had an off year (no touchdowns, 1 INT, 208 yards in this simulation), but believe it or not Indy's run game bailed him out in this one. Donald Brown ran for 73 yards and a touchdown while the fresh Joseph Addai ran for 40 yards and, yes, three touchdowns. Flacco's two interceptions didn't help the cause too much either.

NFC

Giants 24, Eagles 7...my, oh my have the tables turned on Vick and the Eagles. Just a couple of weeks ago Philly scored 28 points in the final five minutes of play to shock Eli Manning and the G-Men. Eli has seemed to get it together and led his Giants to victory, though it was truly the ground game that took control as all four of the game's touchdowns came on the ground. Osi Umenyiora's four sacks allowed the Giants to keep Vick under control and forced a couple of Vick mistakes.

Saints 20, Rams 17...it doesn't seem right that the Rams (8-8) are hosting the Saints (12-4) in a playoff game, but that didn't seem to bother Drew Brees any as he threw for 230-plus yards and a touchdown in the three-point victory, which was a closer call than it should have been. Pierre Thomas' 113 yards on the ground allowed the Saints to get off to a 13-0 start, but New Orleans' defense allowed 17 second half points and nearly gave up the lead late in the game. Luckily, St. Louis just flat out ran out of time in the end.

Divisional Round

AFC

Patriots 34, Colts 10...Tom Brady just seems to have Peyton Manning's number. New England has been on fire for a good part of the season, and this 24-point blowout doesn't much surprise me, nor anyone else for that matter. The Patriots are most certainly the best all-around team in the league right now and this simulation surely displays that. I'd hate to face Brady in Foxboro, especially in January.

Steelers 16, Chiefs 10...it really is tough to beat playoff football at Heinz Field, especially when two teams of (KC and PIT's) caliber are facing off. Hard-nosed defenses and tough running games. Matt Cassel could have been named a Pro Bowler this season if it wasn't for names such as Manning and Rivers, but he didn't seem like a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback in this game, going an ugly 4 for 16 for 66 yards against Pittsburgh's defense. On the other side of the field, Ben Roethlisberger went 21 of 29 for 200 yards. The running game of Pittsburgh allowed them to control the t.o.p. and eventually run out the clock on the Chiefs and their Super Bowl hopes.

NFC

Giants 26, Falcons 14...this is starting to look a lot like the 2007 season in which Eli led New York to three consecutive road playoff victories as the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs, and then went on to defeat the "Giant," undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. One of the single greatest upsets in professional sports history. In this game, Eli threw for 315 yards and a touchdown after trailing early. Once again New York's run game allowed the G-Men to absolutely dominate the time of possession (held the ball for nearly 40 minutes of the game). Umenyiora added another sack, making that five in two playoff games.

Saints 19, Bears 13...a rematch of the 2006 NFC Championship, only this time the Saints contained Devin Hester and knocked the fiesty Bears out of the playoffs before their Super Bowl hunt really got going. Another close game for Brees, but kicker Garrett Hartley's 28 yard field goal halfway through the fourth quarter sent the game in to overtime. In OT, the electric playmaker Reggie Bush ran the game-winner in from 29 yards out with just over five minutes to play. Two road playoff victories but six or less points for the Saints. Believe it or not, according to WIS both of the NFC's Wild Card teams made it to the NFC Championship game. Interesting.

Conference Championships

AFC

Patriots 19, Steelers 7...once again, for the fifth time in the 2000s, the Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl. Brady and Roethlisberger both made costly errors (one INT each, both led to scores), but Brady's 208 passing yards and Danny Woodhead's 66 rushing yards and 23-yard touchdown run late in the game were enough to squeeze past the No. 2 seeded Pittsburgh Steelers in Foxboro. They will face either the Saints or Giants, both NFC Wild Card teams, in Super Bowl XLV.

NFC

Saints 17, Giants 10...finally, a home playoff game for the Saints', and they surely took advantage of it. The defending Super Bowl champs have captured the NFC championship for the second straight season. It was Chris Ivory's 31-yard touchdown catch from Brees late in the game which gave them the lead for good as New Orleans' defense solidified the victory with a Darren Sharper INT. New York's attempt at another cinderella story has failed, meaning it will be a Brady/Brees Super Bowl. Should be interesting.

Super Bowl XLV

Patriots 30, Saints 0

Wow, certainly not what I was expecting. I mean, yeah, we all knew that this may happen (Patriots winning Super Bowl) with the way they've been playing. But shutting out Drew Brees and his Saints' offense (just 161 passing yards and one INT with no touchdowns)? No way would I have predicted this. Brady threw for 223 yards and a touchdown as he captured his fourth Lombardi Trophy for the Pats. Sure first-ballot Hall of Famer after this performance if he wasn't already.

MVP: Tom Brady (third of his career)

Photo Credit

Reggie Bush: Aaron M. Sprecher/NFL

Mike Wallace: AP Photo/Gene Puskar

Danny Woodhead: AP Photo/David Duprey

How it will all play out

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful New Years this year, and all the coaches and players enjoyed time with their families over the holidays, because from here on out, it's all business (although for most it still was all about business).

Tomorrow marks end of the 2010 regular season, meaning the playoffs are just around the corner. Of the 12 available playoff seeds, nine have been clinched and only three are left up for grabs. But, only one of the four first round byes have been clinched (Patriots).

Since commissioner Roger Goodell introduced his new plan (last season) of only division matchups during the final weekend of play, we will get to witness 16 games between rivals tomorrow, making for exciting January football.

Here are the scenarios for teams looking for playoff berths tomorrow:

In the AFC...

*Clinched

--Patriots 13-2, AFCE division, first round bye

--Jets 10-5, playoff spot

--Steelers 11-4, playoff spot

--Ravens 11-4, playoff spot

--Chiefs 10-5, AFCW division

*Can Clinch

--Colts (9-6) can clinch the AFC South with a win over Tennessee OR a Jacksonville loss.

--Jaguars (8-7) can clinch the AFC South with a win over Houston AND an Indianapolis loss.

*Seeding Scenarios

--Pittsburgh will win AFC North with a win over Cleveland OR a Baltimore loss. If they win they will also be awarded the second seed in the playoffs.

--Baltimore can win the AFC North with a win over Cincinnati AND a Pittsburgh loss. If they do not win the division but win tomorrow they will be the fifth seed in the playoffs (hold head-to-head tiebreaker over New York Jets).

(Note: You heard it here first! This year the Kansas City Chiefs will be the '08 Cardinals. A.K.A. the sleepers of the 2010-2011 playoffs. Especially since they'll play at least one game at home in Arrowhead Stadium. Don't underestimate K.C.)

*Prediction: Without David Garrard under center for the Jags, the Texans will shock Jacksonville and ruin their playoff hopes, giving Peyton Manning's Colts the AFC South title. Steelers beat the Browns (and Ravens beat Bengals), to give them both an 12-4 record, but the Steelers' hold the tiebreaker and will take the North title and first round bye. Projected seedings: 1. Patriots, 2. Steelers, 3. Chiefs, 4. Colts, 5. Ravens, 6. Jets.

In the NFC...

*Clinched

--Eagles 10-5, NFCE division

--Bears 11-4, NFCN division

--Falcons 12-3, playoff spot

--Saints 11-4, playoff spot

*Can Clinch

--Packers can clinch Wild Card spot with a win over Chicago OR a New York Loss.

--Giants can clinch Wild Card spot with a win over Washington AND losses by Green Bay and Tampa Bay.

--Tampa Bay can clinch Wild Card spot with a win over New Orleans AND losses by Green Bay and New York.

--Winner of St. Louis/Seattle game wins the NFC West division.

*Seeding scenarios

--Atlanta can clinch the division with a win over Carolina.

--New Orleans can clinch the division with a win over Tampa Bay AND an Atlanta loss.

--If Atlanta wins they will be awarded the top seed in the NFC and a first round bye.

Prediction: Atlanta clinches the South, and top spot in the NFC, as they easily handle the Panthers, meaning despite the victory over Tampa Bay, the Saints can only finish the season with a Wild Card spot. The Bears defeat the Packers, giving them the second seed in the NFC (Eagles clinch second seed with victory over Cowboys). With losses from Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the Giants clinch a spot with their victory over the Skins, despite Eli's horrendous four interception game against the Packers one week ago. The Rams, led by rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, defeat the Seahawks in primetime to clinch the West, despite an unimpressive 8-8 record. Projected seedings: 1. Falcons, 2. Bears, 3. Eagles, 4. Rams, 5. Saints, 6. Giants.

One more interesting piece of information to keep in mind while tuning in tomorrow:

New England and Kansas City are trying to become the only two teams this season to finish with a perfect record at home. They will most definitely be two of the toughest places to play in the postseason as well, so beware.

With three playoff spots still to be clinched, it looks like we're in for one crazy slate of Sunday games. Lucky us, huh?

Oh, I almost forgot! Here are my game picks as well. Might as well include them with this article...

Falcons over Panthers
Ravens over Bengals
Steelers over Browns
Vikings over Lions
Chiefs over Raiders
Patriots over Dolphins
Saints over Buccaneers
Jets over Bills
Broncos over Chargers
Bears over Packers
Texans over Jaguars
Colts over Titans
Eagles over Cowboys
Cardinals over Niners
Giants over Skins
Rams over Seahawks (Primetime!)

Photo Credit

Robert Mathis: AP Photo/Jose Sanchez

Matt Forte: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh