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
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
9:15 pm
Gotta plug in the laptop, back in a few
reality
January 24th, 2010
9:16 pm
The Vikings may be a cursed franchise at this point…..
Not only were they the Bills before the Bills, they look like they will have the notoriety of giving the Falcons and the Saints their first Super Bowl berths….
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
9:16 pm
I think what Troy Aikman just said sums up the New Orleans offense: “Reggie Bush was the fourth or five option on that play.”
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:17 pm
28-21 may be the final score.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:18 pm
Watching all of these screen passes to take the pressure off of the QBs makes me want to drive to Flowery Branch, grab Mike Mularky by his collar and SHAKE HIM vigorously for his insane refusal to call screen passes to keep the pass rush off of Ryan at any point in this past year.
Ginger
January 24th, 2010
9:19 pm
talk about beating yourself
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
9:20 pm
That we can agree on BK.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:20 pm
wow nice catch
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:20 pm
bush would be my fifth option too.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:21 pm
reality, that IS a cursed history.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:21 pm
be careful with the wording…
Ginger
January 24th, 2010
9:22 pm
todd—let’s hire Travis Jones–Saints DL coach
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
9:22 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA — Sorry. There I go again.
That’s turnovers on three straight Minny possessions and four of the last five possessions (2 in the red zone).
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:22 pm
game over.
Sean payton makes me hate that I like to chew gum.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:23 pm
Bush is usually my first option
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:27 pm
J dubb… USUALLY?
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:29 pm
nasty beer. funny commercial.
where’d everybody go?
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:30 pm
Then again… there IS such a thing as too much Bush.
I always feel, the less Bush the better.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:31 pm
I guess I get this thing all to myself now.
Brett Favre make actually start crying from pain when this is over.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:32 pm
BK, exactly….now you’re with me.
Ginger
January 24th, 2010
9:32 pm
great blocking Vikes
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
9:35 pm
What did you guys think of that PI call?
I think if it was Revis in coverage it would not have been called.
Atlanta Jacket
January 24th, 2010
9:36 pm
Cannot believe the Vikings tied this game
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:36 pm
I don’t know, I like little Bush, I am not fond of the trend to eradicate Bush.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
9:36 pm
I can seen the commenting has reached the low levels we’ve all come to expect.
Intellibird
January 24th, 2010
9:37 pm
Anybody knows this game will go down to the wire. Brees and Farve can both drive the ball easily down the field. Probably, whoever has the ball last will win. (Or either some dumb penalty will decide the winner).
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
9:37 pm
Jeff it was just a matter of time…. with that said…
I am all for the eradication of Bush, just sayin….
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:37 pm
TDAP
Cuz
January 24th, 2010
9:38 pm
Wow what a game, back to the big screen, carry on
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:40 pm
there’s Brees’ mulligan…. he better make it count
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:41 pm
I always hope to include bush in the gameplan, although I have been banished to the basement because Mrs Mr. Charlie because I have been sitting on the couch with the computer on my lap since 1PM, so I don’t think there will be any Bush in the gameplan tonight.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:42 pm
Aint need a gift.
GT83
January 24th, 2010
9:43 pm
Com on Farve – a Manning – Farve matchup would be a great game. Although I think the Colts would have the upper hand.
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:43 pm
GT, NNNNNNOOOOOOOO I can’t take any more Farve, I mean, he has been the lead story every day since, what? Feburary of 08? I mean, what do we not already know about the man?
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:45 pm
Todd, your gonna be a good one.
Saints Hater
January 24th, 2010
9:45 pm
What a HUGE first down. Wow.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:45 pm
i guess the manners of some bloggers have an inverse relationship with the amount of alcohol consumed.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:46 pm
Ginger, there will be another defensive coach hire. cant tell you who yet.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:46 pm
I havent heard Jared Allen’s name at all tonight. Somebody on NO is doing an awesome job containing him.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 24th, 2010
9:47 pm
Nice pass Favre!!! Not sure who I wanted to win before the game . . .now with a minute left I find myself rooting for the Vikes.
todd grantham
January 24th, 2010
9:47 pm
i have to believe peterson will lay the ball on the ground to lose this game for the Vikes
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:48 pm
I bet you can’t guess what kind of beer I am drinking?
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:49 pm
Do you think History can repeat? Can Longwell take the monkey of Anderson’s back?
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:49 pm
Todd, notice Chester Taylor is in the game?
Once "Recent" Reader
January 24th, 2010
9:50 pm
I’d be wary of staying on the ground here . . . . . . .it seems when the Vikes do that . . the ball has a way of finding the ground.
BugKiller
January 24th, 2010
9:50 pm
because we’re so full of euphemisms tonight, I have to say… it’s all about the Yuengling.
Hehe.
J dubb
January 24th, 2010
9:51 pm
Dagnabit – Vikes kick a FG to win it…….
Mr Charlie
January 24th, 2010
9:51 pm
No, Busch.
Jeff Schultz
January 24th, 2010
9:51 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA — Oh wait. I did that already.
Once "Recent" Reader
January 24th, 2010
9:51 pm
This is a pretty long FG as it stands now . Longwell can definitely kick long . . but has he ever been in a position to kick a long one to gain a Super Bowl?