It’s down to Final Four, Mike Smith will break down winners
Peyton Manning faces the Jets' top-ranked defense.
Brett Favre will battle the noise in New Orleans
The two best Sundays of the NFL season are the first one and this one.
The first Sunday is filled with hope. Today theoretically determines the two best teams in football, with the NFC and AFC championships. Generally the games live up to the hype — unlike the Super Bowl, which too often is less entertaining than the commercials.
Both games have great story lines. In the AFC, the New York Jets haven’t lost a game since losing to the Falcons last month. (Afterward, the distraught Jets coach, Rex Ryan, said: “This obviously is t0ugh because now we’re obviously out of the playoffs, and it’s unfortunate.”) But even with the league’s No. 1 defense, it’s difficult seeing the Jets upsetting Indianapolis. Even if they slow down Peyton Manning, it’s hard to see the Colts scoring less than 20 points, or New York scoring even that many.
The NFC game is harder to call. The Minnesota Vikings are a better overall team than the New Orleans Saints, if only because of their defense (No. 6 vs. No. 25). But having covered games in almost every stadium and arena in the country, I can tell you that none is louder than the New Orleans Superdome, particularly after the fans have had several hours to “prep” on Bourbon St. That’s something Brett Favre will have to deal with. (The Metrodome in Minneapolis is close to the Superdome in noise level, but fans obviously are quiet when the Vikings have the ball.)
This might be a prediction stemming more from desire than my head. But I’ll go with the Saints. (Favre winning would justify — in his mind — all of his prima donna actions leading up to this season. My stomach couldn’t take that.)
Drew Brees and the offense seem to show us something new every week. The team has shown a t0ughness and resolve this season that often has been missing in the past. Suffice to say, the win would be a huge boost for a city that needs it, and for a franchise that never has been to the Super Bowl.
When the games are over, I’ll have Falcons coach Mike Smith break it all down. I plan to speak to Smith after each game for a column that will be posted tonight. If you have any particular questions you want me to ask Smith, let me know.
Until then, I’ll be here watching the games and blogging live (from my couch). Coffee time. Back in a few minutes.
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510 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
3:52 pm
Bat –year, that Sonny’s a kidder. I’ve been in Atlanta for 20 years. ‘course, if Sonny’s about Frenchy’s age (26), it’s possible he was a kid and just sounds older.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
3:52 pm
Sorry. I was thinking of F-Troop.
jacket3
January 24th, 2010
3:57 pm
JS – more heavy rain to come your way. Blowing sideways on my windows here is this real country town.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
3:58 pm
Barkin’ Dog — Point taken. The Falcons’ efforts that game shouldn’t be diminished. But still never would have expected the Jets in this game today. Or any playoff game, actually.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 24th, 2010
3:58 pm
Great defensive stand by the Jets.
That’s how you build a good defense!
jacket3
January 24th, 2010
4:00 pm
Sirens going off all over…satellite down…rats..gotta depend on you for the score.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
4:01 pm
That’s huge for Jets, holding the Colts to a FG again.
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
4:01 pm
Jeff..You see any similarities between the jets defense and the 49ers of 81? I kinda do.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 24th, 2010
4:03 pm
That Rex Ryan sure knows how to coach!
Sonny Clusters
January 24th, 2010
4:03 pm
Clusters babies learn to read real early. We was reading Jeff when we was a baby and we’ve been reading ever since. We have a cousin named Peyton Clusters. Not many people know that.
Old School
January 24th, 2010
4:04 pm
Although I am old enough to appreciate the bands, will the NFL ever run out of groups from the 70’s for the Super Bowl Halftime shows?
Only 6 points so far by Colts…interesting!
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
4:06 pm
Bravissimo — if you mean undersized but active, yes. But there’s no Ronnie Lott equivalent on Jets.
Barkin'Dog
January 24th, 2010
4:06 pm
Usually a lower scoring defensive game is boring, but this game has some really great plays going on. And I have to give the Jets props. They are well prepared. But, like Jeff, I can’t see them in the SuperBowl. Oops! Maybe they will… nice pass to 89,
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
4:07 pm
yea..thats kinda what I meant…They dont makem like Lott very often.
Barkin'Dog
January 24th, 2010
4:10 pm
What a pass, with pressure in his face.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 24th, 2010
4:10 pm
Sanchize – that’s how ELITE quarterbacks show up in BIG games!
Great draft pick!
Sonny Clusters
January 24th, 2010
4:12 pm
Jeff was first to shave. He was shaving in 7th grade but he was still dumb. We was a late bloomer with facial hair but we did grow a pencil thin mustache when we was able and that was what make the girls first take notice. We was handsome but modest. We was noticing the Jets want to win today. Perhaps they shall.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
4:12 pm
Great drive by Jets … Maybe that Sanchez/Namath thing isn’t so offensive. Kid has played well, especially taking the hit on that touchdown pass.
Barkin'Dog
January 24th, 2010
4:12 pm
Ryan said earlier this week that “Sanchez is too young to appreciate the largeness of these playoffs. He’s just having fun.” I guess so.
Old School
January 24th, 2010
4:14 pm
Maybe this isn’t a “warm up” game for the later game. Wow, Nice standing in taking that pressure and making the TD throw. Why not- go Jets!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 24th, 2010
4:16 pm
Man that Rex Ryan is a defensive Genuis!
What a coach!
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
4:20 pm
Never thought the Colts winning would depend on a defensive stop. But I don’t think they can let Jets score again here.
Barkin'Dog
January 24th, 2010
4:20 pm
Go ahead Choke, say it! The Falcons could have hired Rex Ryan. Well, that would have been great. But with the Falcons history, he would have been a bust here. I still like Mike (White, not Vick). The Falcons will make you disappear next year. But, I guess we’ll have to put up with you for now.
Barkin'Dog
January 24th, 2010
4:24 pm
You gotta admit, Peyton has not looked like Peyton on several of his passes. And he has happy feet too.
Bat Masterson
January 24th, 2010
4:25 pm
Sonny, an relation to Scout Finch, she was an early reader too.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
4:27 pm
Let’s see if that wakes up Colts offense. Big touchdown before the half. Jets not getting the pressure they were getting early in the game.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 24th, 2010
4:27 pm
Barkin’Dog
January 24th, 2010
4:20 pm
Go ahead Choke, say it! The Falcons could have hired Rex Ryan. Well, that would have been great. But with the Falcons history, he would have been a bust here. I still like Mike (White, not Vick). The Falcons will make you disappear next year. But, I guess we’ll have to put up with you for now.
“I never mentioned the Falcons”
Must be your conscience guy
Barkin'Dog
January 24th, 2010
4:29 pm
Cool, Choke… you’re being polite and respectful today, huh?
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
4:31 pm
Partytime is over for the Jets…Defensive genius wont be so geniuslike in the 2nd half..
Sonny Clusters
January 24th, 2010
4:36 pm
We was reading Dr. Seuss before Green Eggs and Ham and Scout was a long time before us. Reading the Atlanta Newspapers was always a lot of fun and we did that before we cleaned the windows with the newspaper. Sometimes, we’d clean the windows first and it was hard to read.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 24th, 2010
4:37 pm
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
4:31 pm
Partytime is over for the Jets…Defensive genius wont be so geniuslike in the 2nd half..
“To be exact”
That’s 10 more quarters than Mike Smith has this post season.
TXDawg
January 24th, 2010
4:39 pm
Jeff, you must be reading my blogs….I believe I first mentioned Sergio Kindle as someone the Falcons should consider. Glad to know my thoughts have support.
TXDawg
January 24th, 2010
4:40 pm
Can someone please tell me why the Walter Payton award looks nothing like Walter Payton??
Sonny Clusters
January 24th, 2010
4:41 pm
Jeff, off to the kitchen. Covering this thing from home must be pretty satisfying. Don’t let Boomer or Dan influence anything you write. We was always objective when we was covering sports for the school paper and later when we was at the AJC. It is easy to be influenced by professional commentators but they are almost never right.
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
4:41 pm
your point?..
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
4:44 pm
TXDawg — Sorry, I haven’t. What’s your blog?
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
4:53 pm
Colts have forced Jets to punt only once in the game (NYJ offense: 2 TDs, 1 FG … and now 2 missed FGs)
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
4:56 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan
January 24th, 2010
4:37 pm
That’s 10 more quarters than Mike Smith has this post season.
“So the man has $2.50 more in his pocket than Coach Smith has?”:)
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
5:01 pm
Looks like Peyton knows everything that’s coming now.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 24th, 2010
5:03 pm
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
4:56 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan
January 24th, 2010
4:37 pm
That’s 10 more quarters than Mike Smith has this post season.
“So the man has $2.50 more in his pocket than Coach Smith has?”:)
“And”
- 2 playoff wins
- 1 Championship Game appearance
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
5:08 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan
January 24th, 2010
5:03 pm
“And”
- 2 playoff wins
- 1 Championship Game appearance
“And an overeating problem”
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
5:08 pm
Shonn Greene — out for the game.
Intellibird
January 24th, 2010
5:24 pm
I’ve got a question for Coach Smith. If Indianapolis wins, then does that mean that NFL coaches (including Indy Coach Jim Caldwell) know more about the game and their teams than all of the second guessing NFL reporters and sports talk radio hosts who doubted the wisdom of sitting the starters during the team’s first meeting with the Jets?
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
5:27 pm
Intellibird — I was definitely going to ask Mike about Indy’s decision. But the way you stated your question, it seems to presume the Colts wouldn’t be here today if they hadn’t rested their starters. That’s something we’ll never know.
falcon71
January 24th, 2010
5:33 pm
now we see why Feeley is gone from here
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
5:36 pm
Jeff.Have you noticed more and more defenders trying to force fumbles this year,instead of tackling?
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
5:37 pm
A lot of time left … but I sense that’s it. Jets have 3 pts in last 4 possessions. Had 17 in first 5.
falcon71
January 24th, 2010
5:47 pm
you are holding your coffee pretty good Jeff
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
5:49 pm
Who said I’m holding it?
Bravissimo
January 24th, 2010
6:00 pm
Nice pass Sanchez…lol