New England Patriots Post AFC Championship (Photo Taken with Instagram)

A photo of Tom Brady’s arm from the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Knees flexed — DOWN, DOWN!
NO TURNOVERS
Find 20 ON EVERY PLAY

NFL Referee Ed Hochuli’s 57-second explanation of the new NFL overtime rules … in verse.

With the score tied
at the end of regulation
we will go into overtime

There are special
overtime
rules
in the playoffs

Both teams get an opportunity
to possess the football
with one exception

That one exception
is a touchdown
always wins the game

So if a team
that
gets
the opening kickoff
scores
a
touchdown
on their first possession
the game is over
at that point

If the team
that first gets the ball
kicks a field goal
the other team
will have an
opportunity
to possess the football

And then
we are
essentially
in
sudden
death

If the first team
that
gets the football
does not
score
we will go into
sudden
death

The second team
will then
have the
opportunity
to possess the ball
and
the first team to score
even if it’s
just
by
three points
will win

Timing rules
are as if
we were starting
a
new
game

We will use
regular timing rules

And replay
all replay
will be
conducted from the booth

The coaches
do not
have challenges

New York
It’s your call
What’s your call?

It’s halftime at Foxboro and the Patriots are up 13-10 on the Ravens.

Surprisingly, the key to today’s game has been New England’s ground attack and Flacco’s passing.

How does it end!?

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Championship Preview: Giants at 49ers

@steven_lebron - New York Giants

First, I’ve been terrible at predictions this post-season. Surprisingly it’s comforting to know that the football playoffs are as unpredictable as its ever been. Any one of the remaining four teams winning the Super Bowl registers as a surprise. The Patriots can’t possibly win three playoff games with that defense, can they? The Ravens can’t possibly win the Super Bowl with the inconsistent Joe Flacco under center, can they? The NFC East or NFC West can’t possibly be home to a Super Bowl champion, can they? One of those will actually come true. But before we get to the big game, the conference championships. The Giants have taken a path that well, define who they’ve been in the Tom Coughlin era. It’s impossible to know which team will show up from week to week. Success for this team breeds complacency, complacency breeds an underdog mentality that comes thru when the team wins as we’re ready to write them off. The key for the Giants this week will be their running game. Going up against one of the top defenses, if Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs can establish themselves, it should allow for Hakeem New York Nicks and Victor Just Cruzin’ to go to work. How about those nicknames. Chris Berman is my ghostwriter apparently. But when it comes down to it, I like the Giants in this spot based on their big game experience and because Eli Manning has quietly put together a brilliant season. A rematch of Giants-Patriots? A possibility for Eli Manning to have more Super Bowls than his older brother? That’s all in play. I’ll take the Giants pulling it out with a fourth quarter comeback. Like every week, don’t quote me or remind me of this.

@nhall - San Francisco 49ers

I freely admit that I too am having a tough time getting a handle on this game. If momentum means anything I think the Giants are bringing more of it into this game.  The Niners had a thrilling last minute victory at home. It was a fantastic win but I still think the Giants have more momentum. They are playing with a purpose. But will they bring that to the West Coast? The Niners won this match up earlier in the season but it was a very close game that the Giants had a great chance to win it.

I too think the Giants will need to get that running game going. It’s been fantastic since the playoffs started but now the running game sees the stingiest rush defense in the league. What 49er is going to be scared to tackle Jacobs?

We’ll see how Eli plays. He has been fantastic I can’t take that away from him. But he also hasn’t seen a defense like this.  Something has to give here. How will Alex Smith play after last week’s legend making performance? Can Harbaugh still keep the team’s emotions near the point of no return? Will Vernon Davis be able to make the same kind of difference in the passing game or will he be stuck blocking New York’s pass rushers? Lots of questions I’m not sure which way to go. In the end I think the Giants will need a turnover or two to go their way in order to put the game away.  However, this 49ers team takes care of the ball. That will be the difference in this game.  I’ve been picking the Giants each week but this time I’m all in on Harbaugh.

Mutual admiration. Ray Lewis and Arian Foster exchanging jerseys after yesterday’s game.

“No time for celebration. We have bigger fish to fry.”
Osi Umenyiora

All business.

I’m a total pessimist when it comes to my sporting allegiances so take this with a grain of salt.

The Ravens won the game today (which is what really matters) but the Texans played like the better team. The Ravens got off to a fast start but they couldn’t score in the second and third quarters. They would have been held completely scoreless after the first if not for a 44-yard field goal Cundiff made in the 4th. The offense could not get anything going.

Houston’s rushing attack looked much better than the Ravens. Arian Foster ran for 132 yards on 27 carries. Rice got 60 on 21 attempts. In general the Texans defensive line out played the Ravens offensive line. They pushed around the Ravens line and they sacked Flacco 5 times for 36 yards. The Ravens defense came up with 0 sacks on the day. Zero.

The Ravens secondary was ready to play. They allowed 184 passing yards but also intercepted Yates three times. Ladarius Webb came up with two of them. Still, the Houston defense looked superior.

What would’ve happened if Houston didn’t play Yates? What if they still had Schaub? What’s gonna happen in New England when it’s Tom Brady throwing the ball?

@nhall

Divisional Preview: Giants at Packers

@nhall - New York Giants

I’m so glad you wanted to take the Packers.  I’m all in on this Giants team. I think my favorite part of the playoffs thus far (besides Tebow knocking out the Steelers, duh) is New York allowing only 2 points last wek.  Yes, that high flying Falcons offense could not find the end zone against the Giants. What did I say last week? They are getting a tremendous amount of pressure by rushing only four guys. And on top of that the Green Bay offensive line is far from healthy. What they need to worry about is how the secondary will cover all of Green Bay’s receivers. It could get ugly but now if they keep constant pressure on Rodgers.  The best secondary could be a good pass rush. On the opposite side of the ball they just need Manning to keep doing what he is doing.  He hasn’t been turning the ball over and he’s been deadly in the fourth quarter. Yes, Eli Manning.  Deadly.  He could keep it up, who has this Packers defense stopped this year?  When was the last time Clay Matthews made a play?  I’m trying to remember.  I’m not hating on the Packers, it’s impossible for to dislike this team but the Giants are exactly the type of team who can catch them. They’ve been here before going in as underdogs to Lambeau field. They thrive on this stuff.  I’m with JPP, a win is guaranteed.

@steven_lebron - Green Bay Packers

Does anyone still remember Aaron Rodgers? What with the past few weeks of Drew Brees and his own back-up Matt Flynn setting records. The pursuit of a perfect season ended in Kansas City, and it’s been weeks since Rodgers took the field. But let’s not forget the masterpiece he’s been orchestrating all year long. If Greg Jennings returns for this game, I see it getting out of control early in a blow out.

It’s halftime and the Niners are up 17-14 over the Saints.

What do you think so far?

Divisional Preview: Saints at 49ers

@steven_lebron - New Orleans Saints

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that these two teams have contrasting styles. The 49ers were 7-1 at home this year, while the Saints were just a respectable 5-3 on the road. Take away their opening night loss at Lambeau Field, the remaining two road losses were puzzling: at Tampa Bay and at St. Louis. There are similar takeaways from both losses: the Saints rushed for a combined 126 yards in those two losses, and Drew Brees threw five interceptions. The 49ers have the formula to stop the Saints’ ground game and force turnovers. But is this the same New Orleans team that we saw two months ago? And just how far has San Francisco closed the gap on the elite teams in the NFC with their terrific year. I don’t think far enough to win this game. It will be a learning experience for Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith. Saints win in a close one.

@nhall - San Francisco 49ers

The Saints are a great team. It’s really hard to argue against them, but the Niners can play the schedule game too. Take away the overtime loss to a reality tv touchdown reception and the Niners are undefeated at home. The Saints have all kinds of weapons. Not only do they have the usual suspects at receiver but they added Sproles and Jimmy “And 1” Graham has stepped up in a major way. That said, the Niners can stop them. First of all, the Niners will win the field position battle. They arguable have the best special teams unit in the league - Andy Lee, David Akers, Tedd Ginn. But the x-factor is Jim Harbaugh. He is readying his soldiers for battle. These guys are going to be amped beyond belief to play this home game. Patrick WIllis and NaVorro Bowman seem to be the worst possible matchup for Sproles. And what if Aldon Smith gets going? These Niners can win this game and if they do it’s because of the defense and the home grass. I see Alex Smith staying controlled and this New Orleans pass rush staying less than impressive.