AFC Final: Colts 38, Patriots 34
Great game, that's why Football is king. Manning was great, not perfect. Brady was great, not perfect. That was how it was supposed to be. Very little controversy. Still not sure why they called roughing the passer on that last drive - that was a huge call. Too bad CBS was dying for the Manning to win or else maybe they'd have shown another replay of the game winning interception.
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AFC 4th Qtr: Patriots 34, Colts 31
Not a huge fan of the 3rd down draw play to Heath Evans to set up the field goal. It was safe and it worked and that's what you pay Bill Belichick for. Had to have points on that drive or else you're at the mercy of Vinatieri's foot. Let's see what happens in this huge moment for Manning in the final 4 minutes.
It's not a career-defining moment, because it's already defined. He's top 5 all-time, whether he comes through or whether he fails.
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AFC 4th Qtr: Patriots 31, Colts 31
Terrible no-call in the endzone by the refs. in the 3rd Qtr, the Pats' Ellis Hobbs gets called for pass interference in the end zone for face guarding Reggie Wayne. He never touched him, but the refs said he face-guarded. Ok fine. But the refs blew it minutes later when Nick Harper was all over Reche Caldwell in the endzone and it forced the incompletion. Not sure what the refs were looking at, but honestly I'm sure Caldwell would have dropped it anyway.
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AFC 4th Qtr: Patriots 28, Colts 28
This must be a joke. 3 lineman have scored touchdowns in this game and we still have almost the entire 4th quarter left. Until or unless Brady or Manning makes a colossal mistake, the prediction you read here earlier is dead on regarding the two QBs - both are playing winning football.
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AFC 3rd Qtr: Patriots 21, Colts 21
While the announcers were going on and on about the great comeback of Manning and the Colts, Ellis Hobbs put Tom Brady and the Pats in position to re-take the lead. Hey at least Eli has something to cheer for this time of year. And Boom goes the Dynamite - Jabar Gaffney strikes again. Patriots lead again 28-21
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AFC 2nd Qtr: Patriots 21, Colts 3
After the Pats 3rd TD, does anyone still think it's destiny for Peyton Manning or Tony Dungy?
Another 4th down conversion - and easily again. Then About the easiest 7 yard TD run you're going to see. Then Manning capped the whole mess off by tossing a pick for a score to the game's best CB not named Champ Bailey. It sure looks like this one is about to get really ugly.
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AFC 1st Qtr: Patriots 7, Colts 0
After the Pats 1st TD, does anyone still think it's destiny for Peyton Manning or Tony Dungy? On 4th and 1, Corey Dillon darts out for 35 yards. Just guessing it was his longest run of the year. Then on 3rd and 1 from the 4, Brady and Lawrence Maroney botch the handoff and three Colts land on it at the 2-yard line. but the ball squirts free and the Pats fall on it in the endzone. The expression on Manning's face after this one really was priceless.
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It's all over:Bears 39, Saints 14
I think we all know the old saying, 'Defense wins championships.' Well the Bears are going to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at QB. The Saints outgained the Bears despite being on the sidelines most of the game. But they turned it over 4 times and they were staring at a long field all day long.
The Saints had 15 drives which is a very high number for an NFL game. Exactly 2 of them started beyond their own 28 yard line and one of those was their last drive of the game.
The Bears on the other hand started 13 of their 16 series beyond their 30, including six that started on the Saints side of the field. The Bears scored on all of those drives, except the final one when they ran out the clock and claimed their first NFC title since they were shuffling in Chicago.
By the way, did you notice the Saints started the year 5-1, finished 6-6??
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Time to squeeze in my slant on the AFC title game. Again it seemed like many were going with the Colts, thinking it was their time. If they're winning while Peyton Manning isn't even playing well (1 TD,5 INT in '07 playoffs), then what if he does play well? Again I'm in the minority going with the Patriots. I'm calling for an '86 Super Bowl rematch. The NightShift predictions...
Matt:Indy in a great battle, wins on Vinatieri kick, 16-13.
Wex: Both Brady & Manning play well, but Pats win again, 27-20.
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4th Quarter:Bears 32, Saints 14
Someone told me earlier today that snow was expected in Chicago. My immediate repsonse was, "Game over, Bears win." Now it's a lot more complicated than that. But I just didn't feel like the Saints were going to go win an NFC title game on the road against the Bears. They were getting no love despite leadaing the league with 47 interceptions and forced fumbles. So far today they've forced 4 fumbles (recovered 3) and picked off Brees once.
Grossman has looked better in the second half, but still not very good. The Bears have basically made no mistakes. No penalties. No turnovers. See you in Miami
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3rd Quarter:Bears 16, Saints 14
That didn't take long. Bush turns a simple 20-yard route into an 88-yard touchdown. Great play call by Sean Payton & gang, but that's Bush doing the rest. Now's lets see if the Bears can exact some revenge on Bush who bush-leagued them with a tauinting wave over the final 15 yards to paydirt.
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Halftime:Bears 16, Saints 7
I don't think it's possible for Rex Grossman to have looked worse in the first half. Except for one nice 30 completion to Desmond Clark that led to one of the Bears 3 first half field goals, Sure Grossman looked totally unprepared and completely clueless in the biggest game of his career.
Sure Grossman's numbers (3-12 for 37 yards) tell a very clear story, but not the whole story.
- He missed a wide open Clark during a series when he Bears ran 6 plays inside the ten yard line before settling for a 19-yard FG.
- He tried to call timeout on back-to-back plays, he had no clue what to do at the end of the half, trying to actually head to the lockerroom before realizing the Bears wanted to run more plays.
His head was not in the game at all, his own team is taking the ball out of his hands as much as they can and it's working.
As far as the Saints, they're fine. Once some of their youngsters got over their jitters (Colston) they were fine and this is game is far from over. Still think the Bears will win.
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I'll update throughout Sunday's action, including the Indy/New England picks.
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All week long we heard how the Saints were going to the Super Bowl, they'd go into Chicago and take apart the 14-3 Bears and capture the NFC title, a year after a 3-13 season. 8 ESPN panelists were asked who would win - all 8 agreed - New Orleans.
We took an unofficial poll on the Friday night edition of The NightShift showed a bit closer tally. 60% went with New Orleans. Host predictions went like this.
Matt: Saints in a blowout, 27-13
Wex: Bears nice and tight, but win & cover, 24-20
---- WEX
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