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
Cousin Vicker
January 24th, 2010
7:31 pm
Posting to break up the blog ownage by Cuz and Mr. Charlie.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:32 pm
Of course in Minnesota right now, they are drinking Michelob Golden Draft Light during the game.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:32 pm
Thanks Cousin, we can use all the help we can get.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
7:34 pm
Michelob Golden Dry Draft Ice Lite, they were out of the regular Michelop Golden Draft Lite.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
7:35 pm
I wonder if Ken Hourck is watching.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:36 pm
Dang, time for another shot. Don’t throw me in that briar patch!
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
7:37 pm
I was actually hoping that Jerry Glanville would have been hired by one of the local colleges looking for a D Coord.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:38 pm
both defenses have played fairly well on first and second downs. third down defensive play has been terrible.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:38 pm
Cousin Vicker — Have a seat, kick your shoes off. …. Oh look, another touchdown.
Cousin Vicker
January 24th, 2010
7:40 pm
Jeff,
You have basically described my entire weekend. It’s been a strict sweats/socks/seating weekend.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:41 pm
Jeff, did you bet the over?
Cousin Vicker
January 24th, 2010
7:41 pm
Hey Todd at 738,
That sounds a lot like UGA’s defense under Martinez. Let’s work on that k?
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
7:41 pm
Todd, you just described the defense for the Falcons this entire season.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:42 pm
I wonder if it got above freezing in Minnesota today?
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:42 pm
Todd — I’m smart. Didn’t bet.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:43 pm
Can ANYBODY get a pass rush this game? I mean, just touch the freaking QB, please.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:43 pm
one would think our old buddy willie m were coaching the defenses.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:44 pm
28 in Rochester right now. They must have been sunbathing today.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:45 pm
you’re right. favre has been hit but after the throw and the personal foul was pretty egregious.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
7:45 pm
Just think… with every massive hit Sharper puts down on someone in this game… the Falcons could’ve had that guy.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:46 pm
i think minnesota is in trouble if favre keeps getting decked.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:47 pm
todd, aint no call to using big words on this blog. You know I only made it five years at Georgia to get a four year degree, okay five and a half.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
7:48 pm
Why don’t they have Dagmar doing the weather alerts?
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
7:48 pm
Way to go Jeff, you could’ve called the first game score if you would’ve tried harder.
If Favre takes a couple more of those hard shots/late hits he will be lobbing (sp?) up picks like a wet nerf in the 2nd half.
I cant stand either of these teams…..could we just give the title to Indy now and be done with it?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:48 pm
ok cuz, i’ll try and tone it down.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:48 pm
The Falcons had Brett, what is your point?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
dubb, i agree. just give it to indy.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
Jeff,
Before the games started today, I watched Game 7 of the 1991 World Series (because I’m a masochist) on MLBN, and I have to say…
… between the Braves and Twins… there were A LOT OF MULLETS.
I mean, damn. It’s like everyone on those teams were from Gainesville, FL or South Jersey.
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
Motorola had to get their logo on Childress’ stupid looking headset I see.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:49 pm
J dubb, I have been taking hard shots every touchdown, got a heck of a buzz.
todd, thanks. you need to get used to us dumbdonkey UGA fans.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
7:51 pm
Umm… the Falcons had a fall down drunk. NOT Brett Favre. He didn’t become Brett Favre until Holmgren got a hold of him.
Sharper, however, would have improved the Falcons defense by leaps and bounds.
What’s YOUR point?
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:51 pm
Jeff, when we get together for an interview, please bring a professional photog. i hate those pics by phone. thanks, todd
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
7:52 pm
never gotten that message before “slow down”.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:52 pm
Driving into Darlington County, me and Wayne on the Fourth of July.
How bout dat one Bugkiller. Mullets everywhere.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
7:52 pm
Jeff, can you ask Smitty if he ever gets a chance to speak to the refs that hosed him on a few calls this past season? Specifically; if he ever gets to discuss those bad calls (where he looks like he blew a few gaskets on the sideline) with any of the officials who actually called the game (not the head of officiating or the league office).
Just curious if he ever gets resolution or he just forgets about it, like some fleeting road rage….
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:53 pm
Finally, defenses starting to take over a little. One score in last 5 possessions.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
7:53 pm
You mean the great Jerry Glanville was not the proper mentor to develop a QB like Farve? Well, well that kid from Southern Miss would have never beat out that juggernaut Chris Miller.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:53 pm
J-Dubb — I can understand not liking Favre/Vikings but why Saints? Because of the Falcon thing?
reality
January 24th, 2010
7:53 pm
This game has completely lived up to it’s hype to this point….
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:53 pm
todd, I have only got that message when posting in the same minute before. Tonight, post every five minutes and you get it.
Server error.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
7:54 pm
Jeff, is Fran watching the game with you?
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
7:54 pm
Mullets.
Like with jorts, mullets should be outlawed.
reality
January 24th, 2010
7:55 pm
Jeff,
Only a true life long falcon fan can understand the hatred of the Saints….
Thus far, the one major thing the Falcons have over the Saints is a Super Bowl berth. For that reason alone, I don’t want them to win this game.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:55 pm
Bugkiller — Did Lonnie Smith get tricked again?
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
7:56 pm
Don’t like Favre the quarterback but his ladies are easy on the eyes….
cuz – i hear ya. i think I’ll just keep sipping the Captain’s Private Stock.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:57 pm
J-dubb — I think he’ll forgive refs before he forgives Jason Elam.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
7:57 pm
I also saw good wonderful mullet plummage in Birmingham a few weeks age, I mean the whole town just oozzed Mullitude.
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
7:58 pm
Reality…. exactly right.
Any one claiming to be Falcons fan and uttering the words Go Saints, is not a true Falcons fan.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
7:58 pm
What happened to Elam? I man, he just mentally collapsed, he did not even try to play for another team, it was like he just know it was time.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
7:58 pm
Reality— I get that. Totally. I just wondered if that was only reason somebody didn’t like the Saints.