As Promised...

My picks! (cue single trumpet making the ta-dah sound.)

Ok, so they're a little late, but technically they're still before the games have started, so I'm going to give them...and THIS time they'll be better (I hope).

NFC Championship Game
Eagles at Cardinals: Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought the Cardinals would have done what they did to the Panthers. I mean, it wasn't even close. Carolina scored the first touchdown of the game, then gave up 30 straight. I mean, that just isn't good math. Arizona was aggressive throughout, even despite being without one of its best receivers, Anquan Bouldin. It dominated the line of scrimmage with what most people thought was an inferior offensive line and it got Edge involved early once again. I can't tell if Wisenhunt is a genius for basically resting Edgerrin the entire season or if he's just becoming a better coach, using all the weapons he's been given a little better than he had been. Either way, the Cards (especially Kurt Warner) will be smelling the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for them, it seems like the Eagles have some special this year, almost exactly like the Giants did last year. The funny thing is that even if Philly wins the Super Bowl, I doubt they'll bring McNabb back. But that's another discussion for another day. Right now it's about the NFC Championship and the Eagles are playing too well for Arizona to stop them. They're on a mission...Eagles 27, Cardinals 16

AFC Championship Game
Ravens at Steelers: For a true football fan, one who appreciates those games where the announcers are always warning that it's a man's game and that everyone should put their hardhats on, this is one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. Ravens/Steelers is always tough, always grimy, always a little dirty and cheap. If it was a woman, it'd be that one who cusses a little too much for your liking and smokes and might not be the one you take home to Mom, but is ALWAYS the one you tell your boys about. Just this season, Steelers wideout Hines Ward (who I'm told would smile to your face even while he's shanking you) was accused by Ravens players to be a cheapshot artist for the way he blocks downfield. Then, of course, in their first meeting of the year on a Monday night game, Hines totally demolished Ed Reed, who, as I've said before, has probably been the best coverage safety in the game for the last 5 years or so. I mean, it's never a good thing when the back of your head is the first thing to hit the ground after you've been hit. So because of that hit, word got out that the Ravens players had put a bounty out on Ward for when they faced each other in the next game later in the year. Ray Lewis had already taken care of Pittsburgh's rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall for talking trash prior to their first meeting by way of breaking his shoulder on a hit and ending his season. I'm guessing he won't be talking much next year.

The second meeting didn't have as much visible bad blood (although I'm sure there was plenty of cordial discussion amongst the guys during the game), it did treat us to a controversial finish, which should make Ravens/Steelers III all the more intriguing. Usually, when two teams play each other three times, whichever one lost the most recent game winds up being the winner of the third, but in those rare occurances, some teams get swept. Even as I type this, I'm not sure which way I'm going to go with this pick. Baltimore looks a whole lot like their Super Bowl team that leaned on an amazing defense and just told the quarterback to not make any mistakes. The Steelers, coincidentally enough, have the best defense in the league. It actually ranks with some of the best defenses to ever play since the NFL/AFL merger. Every time you think they can't win or that they'll roll over, the Steelers find a way to win. That said, I just don't know that Ray Lewis will let his team lose. Baltimore wins ugly, the only way they know how...Ravens 13, Steelers 9


Here's to hoping I do a little better this week!