Storylines are all over the place as the NFL holds its Final Four this afternoon.
In the AFCG between the Colts and Jets, some have isolated 18 key storylines, naturally symetrical with Peyton’s jersey numbers. Peyton Manning, the greatest QB the last decade, is going for his second Super Bowl apperance.Everybody has talked about the jinxed or woebegone histories of the Jets, Vikings and Saints, but dont forget the Bad Mojo the Colts have to overcome as well. We all know what happened the last time this much stack was on the line when these franchises met.
The Cinderella Jets are trying to make their first Super Bowl since that afore-hinted at Super Bowl III and the Joe Willy Namath days. Their coach is every bit a quote machine as their star QB was back then on that championship run. The Colts could have eliminated the Jets a month ago, but pulled their starters out, a move that helped win the Jets the game. Now, they’re in their face again with a lot more on the line. The longer New York stays in this game, the more fatal that move, controversial even at the time because of the Colts undefeated season to the point, grows.
One of the best defenses in the league, known for blitzing and bringing pressure from all spots going against Manning, a QB known to have happy feet and wilt against just these types of defenses in big spots. Watching Manning audible in response to Rex Ryan’s defense first moves out of the huddle might be like listening to the cadence of a Russian novel. Insert its a chess mate analogy right here. Manning versus Darielle Reivas might be the best one on one matchup of the day. How many times will he challenge him? I said last week if Ed Reed got his hands on the ball twice, the Ravens would win. He got it once, but fumbled the ball away. Advantage: Colts. The assertion still stands today: If Reivas gets his hand on a couple of balls today, the Jets will be in the Super Bowl. The Jets are making a change on the opposite corner, benching Lito Sheppard. You know Manning is going to test early on whether or not this is a good move or not. Can Sanchez become the first rookie QB to qualify for the Super Bowl. Or, does he throw up an inconsistent, turnover marred game the way Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco did in AFCCG appearances in their rookies seasons. Both teams lost and failed to cover the spread, by the way.
In the NFC, we get the matchup that from about mid-October on, looked like it would be for all the NFC marbles. With the exception of the late love affair the loudmouth talking heads had with the Cowboys, the Saints and Vikings have been 1-2 in the NFC from the get go. This is a game I wanted to see sometime in the playoffs. It only seems right that its in this spot.
New Orleans. Perhaps the most downtrodden NFL franchise in league history. A year after qualify the Cardinals, who are in the downtrodden team photo with the Saints, can the NFC put another surprise qualifier. This is a franchise that has won just three playoff games in its history. They are a step away from the Super Bowl. Throw in all the team means to the city in their post-Katrina recovery and this could be a truly emotional day in the history of the city, let alone the franchise. It’s also a chance to finally exact some revenge after the Vikes thumped the Saints 22 years ago in the franchise’s first ever playoff game. Minnesota hopes its ‘Who Dat? We Dat!’ all over again. The Vikings, meanwhile, lost four Super Bowls in the 1970s and havent been there since. They’ve lost three NFCC games since then, including a heartbreaker 11 years to Atlanta after spending the year as the best team in football. These are two tragic NFL franchises. Karma and home field advantage favors the Saints, but does history favor the Vikings today?
The Vikings have a premier “factor back”in Adrian Peterson, but his ball security issues has put a possible Earnest Byner moment on the table. That’s always exciting. They have a killer front four on defense, the first line of a defense thats charged with stopping a lights out Saint attack today.Keep track of the Jared Allen vs Jermond Bushrod matchup. Can Bushrod, a surprise starter and contributer down the stretch contain one of the most active and aggravating pass rushers in the league? Percy Harvin vs Reggie Bush, two of the most ecletic college players this decade, whose skills will challenge NFL coaches to figure out how to use them best. Whoever gets more big plays from their guy might win this one.
Oh. Yeah. Brett Favre. The poster child for the TMZing of the sports world. A man who has become a year round storyline, so much so that he’s already retired and unretired once this week. He’s on the verge of finally getting back to another Super Bowl after a 12-year absensce. Two years ago, he was in this spot and threw it away with his worst game of the season. He’s on his second team since then, playing now for the Packers bitter rival. There might be as much violence in Wisconsin tonight than in Minnesota if the Vikes advance. Not only is Favre a step away from a Super Bowl, but if things break right today, he’ll be playing the Jets, the team he played for last year. How bizarre is that?
The biggest storyline, of course, is that spots are for grabs in the greatest football game in the world: The Super Bowl. That makes today the last truly dramatic day of the 2009-10 football season. And, to make it more dramatic, let’s gamble.
Jets +8.5 over Indy, 1 Unit……probably a sucker play. The Colts seem to have been in a lot of nip and tuck games this season. I love the Jets defense and its ability to power run to help shorten the game and keep them in this one. The Ravens shot themselves in the foot time and time again last week. And, they gave up a pair of TDs in the closing 2 minutes of the first half. Despite all that, they stayed in range of the cover the whole way. If we take one of those out of the equation today, the Jets will be there within a score when its over. I also cant get over Shonn Green’s presence. In 2008, it seemed like I rode he and the Iowa Hawkeyes to the winning windown every week I played them. Watching him breakout in the playoffs during his rookie season with the Jets has had me kicking my self the last two weeks as he’s run to daylight. I feel there is good karma there, so I will pursue it. I have enjoyed how resilient this club has been. I dont think they wilt this afternoon and instead will go toe to toe every step of the way with the Colts. They’ve made believers out of the bloggers in their notoriously pessimistic fanbase. I think the Colts might need a late score just to win this one.
First TD scored in Jets/Colts Game:
Shonn Green 8/1 and Dallas Clark 5/1…….I am putting a quarter Unit on each. Just for fun. Why not? I dont really like any of the other player props. The second game is expected to be way more statistical. I will be crunching those during the first game.
Sainst -3 over Minnesota (-120), 2 Units……buying down to an even field goal. I have said all year the Saints wont lose in the playoffs at home. What I meant to say is I dont think the Saints will win by less than a field goal at home in the playoffs. Seriously, I think the Dome is worth a solid touchdown in this one. Saints get more out of Bush, than the Vikes get out of of Harvin, whose status is a bit up in the air. Drew Brees is a much better quarterback than Brett Favre right now. In a game with a lot of points, I’ll take the better and more trustworthy gunslinger. NOLA!
Saint/Vikings Over 54, 1 Unit………each quarter will have multiple scores. Both teams will have great field position all day thanks to their return games. I see a 35-27 type of game.
I MIGHT HAVE A FEW PROP BETS. GIVE ME SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT. WE’RE STILL MORE THAN A HOUR AWAY FROM THE FIRST KICK. THERE IS STILL TIME.
I am so excited I can not wait until Sunday's show down!
I am so excited I can not wait until Sunday’s show down!