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
reality
January 24th, 2010
8:49 pm
What a stupid decision by the Viking’s returner….
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
8:50 pm
for 2 teams in the NFC Championship Game, there have been some poor plays by both sides.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
8:50 pm
Saints Hater… you’re a Douche. You wanna root for mercenaries who don’t care about you or the jersey they wear, that’s your personal malfunction.
I gave a very logical reason for why I choose to not support pro sports with my heart and soul like I do the Dawgs.
If you choose to do so, again, that’s your problem.
In the end, you remain a douche.
Just thought you should know.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
8:51 pm
Why is Farve a backstabber, the Packers did not want him back. He is flaky, but I believe he is torn between retiring and playing. You see the hits the guy takes, who can blame him for wanting to retire, but you also see the skill level he still has, so, who can blame him for wanting to keep playing.
Intellibird
January 24th, 2010
8:51 pm
I lean slightly for the Saints because of our shared misery (with the Falcons) in the NFC South. Their team, though, has alot of bad sports (see Pierre, Shockey, and the smug coach Payton, as examples) who exhibitited such bad behaviour in beating the Falcons this year. Not to mention their over-confident fans (see any Saints blog to confirm). They may win, yes, but it will be close and they’ll require a little luck. If the Vikes win then I’ll be happy for Farve. My wife says that his whiskers look worse than mine. Gotta respect such an elderly QB.
Ginger
January 24th, 2010
8:51 pm
hey—-cwm…have you morphed into todd grantham…looks a lot like your style of writing to me.
GT Babe
January 24th, 2010
8:51 pm
sorry to interrupt you guys, but Jeff who in the world updates the AJC’s sports vents? By the time it gets updated, Brett Favre will have retired and unretired again, Tiger Woods will be divorced and remarried only to have been caught again, UGA (sorry Cuz) will once again win 7 with their 5 star recruits and Josh Nesbitt will have won the 2010 Heisman Trophy. haha
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
8:51 pm
I root for the Falcons, because if they get to the playoffs, there is a good party. Maybe that is why I like Bobby Cox, I just want to get to the post season and go a far as we can so there is a buzz in the town. Once it is over, win, lose or draw, after that night of the game, it make exactly zero difference to me.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
8:52 pm
Yeah i pretty much can’t stand Favre either. But his Sears commercials are pretty funny. Drew Brees is rootable, as is AP/AD. For every player or coach I can root for, there is on on the opposing team who deserves some water boarding.
So I am not pulling for either team here – just a bystander.
Guess Jeff is getting good stuff from Smitty. He’s been gone awhile now. Either that or his coffee or his woman decided to extend halftime…
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
8:52 pm
Ginger, you are a very astute observer. best, todd
south
January 24th, 2010
8:52 pm
AD – A rumblin,tumblin,fumblin machine
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
8:52 pm
Quick, someone send the cops over to GT Girl’s house…
… she’s smoking a TON of crack!!!
ONE good year in 20 years, and she thinks the Bugs are relevant.
ONE bad year in 10 by the Dawgs, and she thinks we still don’t own her and the rest of the Bugs.
reality
January 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
That was a BS call, and I want the Saints to lose…
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
That was an AWFUL call. Saints got jobbed on that.
Frank Wren
January 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
Sorry, can’t root for him.
Cant coach with em
Cant win with em
Cant do it
UA Alum92
January 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
Favre should be wearing a dress. Horrible roughing call!
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
i have succeeded coach martinez in all his offices and duties, including blogging.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
well, todd, i prefer if you were gameplanning and not blogging.
i’d prefer if you were a better coach than blogger (martinez was the opposite)
south
January 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
todd – please don’t run the “bend then break defense”
Ginger
January 24th, 2010
8:56 pm
good to talk with ya Todd !!!!
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
8:56 pm
The saints have helped our self esteem, because as poor as the Falcons history has been, we could always look at the Ain’t and know it could be worse. That is why I don’t want them to win.
However, I don’t know if I can handle any more Farve stories, and that is all it will be if the Vikes win.
UA Alum92
January 24th, 2010
8:56 pm
Great pick! Looks like Favre is banged up.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
8:58 pm
DOWN GOES JAY LENO!!!
DOWN GOES JAY LENO!!!
DOWN GOES JAY LENO!!!
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
8:58 pm
Bugkiller, and don’t forget, on Techs BEST YEAR in 20 years, they still could not beat our worst team in 10 years. We might only win 7 games, but we are playing against different competition.
Could this be in? Is Farve done? Will the iron man miss a snap? Or will the legend grow?
reality
January 24th, 2010
8:58 pm
Looks like the Saints may have ended Favre’s career….
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
8:59 pm
i guarantee the uga defense will be better in 2010. it wont be difficult. heh heh
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:00 pm
Gawd, if Farve comes back and the Vikes win, it will be 2 weeks of Farve stories.
waw
January 24th, 2010
9:00 pm
Wow. And Favre’s FIRST NFL pass was a pick!
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
9:00 pm
GT Babe — Sorry, don’t know. You might want to try sending an email to Leo Willingham, one of the online sports channel editors. lwillingham@ajc.com.
Ginger
January 24th, 2010
9:00 pm
Villma has been such a good pick up from Jets for Saints. Falcons beat Saints in their second game this yr if Villma was not playing
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:01 pm
favre went down in a heap
and the blood began to seep
i’ve had enough
this game is too tough
when i retire now its a promise i’ll keep
UA Alum92
January 24th, 2010
9:01 pm
The refs have treated Favre with kid gloves for too long. Violent sport. Sorry he’s hurt, but if ANYONE had it coming to them, it’s that prima donna.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:01 pm
The Old man’s not going to make it to the SB even if his team wins.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:02 pm
He is gonna be back.
KenDog
January 24th, 2010
9:02 pm
Just logged on, but there’s one thought that keeps going through my mind – what the hell were the Falcons thinking all those years ago??
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
9:02 pm
All those years of abusing pain pills have made Favre into a super human who cannot be hurt.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:04 pm
Isn’t the monicker “GT Babe” an oxymoron?
You know, two words that don’t belong together, like “compassionate conservative” or “intelligent liberal”?
Because I have to tell you, in the very few times I’ve had the guts to make my way down into the war zone that the Bugland campus is in, down in that rinky-dink, pop warner stadium… I saw the six or seven girls that actually go to Bugland, and let me tell you… WOOF.
Not one girl could be described as a “babe,” let alone average. Beer Googles couldn’t make those girls bedable.
“GT Babe.” = World’s most outrageous oxymoron.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:06 pm
Percy Harvin, Hated Gator… FUMBLES the game away!!!
Couldn’t have happened to a more pot-filled athlete!
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
9:07 pm
j dubb, GT girl and Bugkiller, props to all of you. Had the damn ex on the phone and she would not shut up. I am back.
Heck of a game. Finally a game worth watching.
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
9:08 pm
You could see that live, it was a touchdown.
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
9:08 pm
Babe, sorry, No dis meant.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:08 pm
cant ANYBODY hang on to the ball??
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:09 pm
Jeff, when you talk to Smitty later, as him if he thinks Farvre got “broke down”.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:09 pm
God dang that Ref is a MORON.
Touchdown!!!
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
9:11 pm
Think about it Killer. A hot nerdy babe with glasses that will knock your boots off. C’mon that is hot.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:12 pm
That clown commercial has me and my roommate in TEARS!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA… clowns in pain, ALWAYS funny!
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:12 pm
Damn I forgot I was watching/recording….too much Captain….your post made me realize I had paused it to go eat and I was on a delay!
Maybe the Saints are greasing up the footballs on the Vikes’s sideline.?.?
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:13 pm
Dude… hot librarians are AWESOME.
Guess what school does NOT have library science as a major and which school does?
What do you call a hot girl on the Bugland Campus?
A VISITOR.
Hee-hee!
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
9:14 pm
Clowns are scary, those kids better run.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
9:15 pm
Vikings have turnovers three of their last four possessions, going back to end of the first half.