Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Super Bowl or bust.
Who's going to make it to the Big Dance?
It's two intriguing matchups with the surprising 'ground-and-pound' New York Jets traveling to Lucas Oil Stadium to face the high-flying Indianapolis Colts.
In the NFC matchup, Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings head to the Louisiana Superdome to square off with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
Yes, on paper, those are two very good matchups. But we all know many of these playoff games haven't been close. Here's to having two nail-biters today!!!
Here's a couple of quick-hitters and what I'm looking for out of each matchup:
Jets at Colts
We all know the Jets knocked the Colts from the upbeaten after the Colts started 14-0, but we also know the Colts packed up their starters in that game and basically let the Jets win, which gave them the inside track of earning a playoff berth. Will that move by the Colts come back to bite them in the AFC Championship?
I'm saying no way.
The Jets have surprised us all with their great play on defense and the ability to control the clock and run the football -- which they will try to do to the Colts today -- but if they get down by a couple scores, Rex Ryan's game plan might go right out the window.
The Colts can air it out on the Jets. Don't expect a big game from Reggie Wayne, who will be blanketed by Jets outstanding cover corner Darrelle Revis all day long, but the Colts have too many weapons in the passing game (TE Dallas Clark and WRs Pierre Garcon & Austin Collie, and RB Joseph Addai, who can catch the ball out of the backfield).
The Colts are simply too explosive for the Jets to keep up with. But if the Colts have to settle for field goals instead of TDs, then the Jets can stick to their game plan and pound the rock, while protecting rookie QB Mark Sanchez.
New York's luck runs out today. Sanchez will have to make some big throws in this game, and he won't. The Colts will attack, stop the run and put the game in the rookie's hands. He's not ready for that kind of pressure, plus Indy's relentless pass rush.
Prediction: Colts 27-13
Vikings at Saints
Now this should be a slugfest with two ball-hawking defenses and two prolific passers in Favre (those of you who thought he washed up are pretty quiet now, huh?) and Brees.
The knock on Favre has been that he chokes in big games. Well, can the Saints capitalize on some of Favre's errant throws and turn them into game-changing plays?
I think they can, especially with former Vikings safety Darren Sharper, who played with Favre in Green Bay, patrolling center field. If the ball goes up, Sharper has the awareness to go after the ball and make a play. If it hits his hands, you can bet your savings that Sharper will make the INT. Plus, I know Sharper is jacked for this game since his old team didn't re-sign him, forcing Sharper to sign with the Saints in the offeseason.
Besides Sharper, the crowd noise in the Superdome can't be overlooked. Advantage to Brees and that pass-happy offense. That noise limits Minnesota's attacking nature off the ball since they can't hear, forcing the defensive line and beast Jared Allen to be a tad slower since they have to watch the ball be snapped instead of reacting to Brees' cadence.
Same thing for when Minnesota has the ball. The Vikings will have to go to a silent snap count since the line won't be able to hear Favre, and that advantage also goes to the Saints attacking off the line of scrimmage.
If the Vikings have a real shot, they must pound away with tailback Adrian Peterson, who has disappeared at times this year but has the ability to overtake a game at any point. But it's not his fault for some iffy games; the Vikings simply don't have a great run-blocking offensive line.
My guess is that the Saints will take away Peterson, putting the game on Favre's shoulders. Favre will play real well in this game since he's got great targets to throw to as well.
Favre will not be to blame for this loss, you can pin it on the defense which is real weak against the pass. If the Vikings can't get to Brees and sack him and force him to get rid of the ball quickly, expect to see Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush wide open down the field. And when they're open, the Saints know how to put on a show and punch it into the end zone.
Prediction: Saints 34-31
