They deserved It

Way back, when the Bulls were averaging 70 wins a season, we were watching them take on the Pacers- and the Bulls looked off. The whole game they looked like they were playing @ 70%, and although we were thinking they would win the game, Jackson made the remark that "maybe this is just one of those games they will lose." It just happens, sometimes - the best team on the court that nite wasn't the to be 87-13 Bulls champs, it was the Pacers. Last nite = No question, although the clear superior team the first 18 games of the season was the Patriots, it's now very clear that the best team for the last four games of the year was the Giants.

From the beginning of the Super Bowl, they were the better team. One kept waiting not only for New England to wake up from the stupor they were playing in the whole game but for the Giants to start to make mistakes that would take them out of the game. But the huge Giant drive in the first quarter made the statement : we're gonna play this down to the last second.

Although this wasn't as big a upset as the Jets in '69, I would rank it as the second biggest upset in SuperBowl history. The fact that the dynasty unbeaten Patriots were beaten to a team that many thought was , @ best, the third best team in the weaker conference.

Not anymore.

My two favourite moments in the game was the shot of the brother Manning up in the box seats celebrating his brothers 45 yard completion to Boss in the third quarter. One look and it was appearnt that he knew the giants had a chance, as long as plays like this were being made. And although I bring this up to show how the confidence was building on the Giants side as the game when on - hey, we can do this- I will freely acknowledge that I was more touched by the very obvious family love on display. Although his season was over, it was very obvious who he was pulling for. It wasn't his team playing, but you could see how invested in this game Peyton Manning was.

My other favourite shot was one of the Giants line before their final drive started. It was a quick shot, but you could see they were bucking each other up; and again, one could see the confidence. So, although I - along with 18 out of 18 reportes from dcs, The Sun Times, and the Tribune - picked New England to win it - by the time the Super Bowl Champs got the ball for their final drive, everyone was believing.

Teetering!

This game was supposed to be a gimme. Griese and company looked good, Hester looked great and the defense looked like a shell of their supposed reputation.

The spin is that the Vikings rook rb, Peterson is the next coming of Barry Sanders. This defense has been getting a pass for two years. Last year wasn't as good as 2005 and this year is a joke! Someone call Rivera quick.

Griese is doing what he should be doing- running an average efficient offense. Hester is perhaps the next Gayle Sayers. I can't ever remember such excitement about a punt return. Without him this game would have been a boo bird blowout.

The Bears are 2-4 and in serious trouble because of their division losses and Green Bay. .500 will not win this division and the wild card will certainly not come from the NFC North. That leaves the Bears on the outside looking in for the playoff picture. Quite an embarrassment.

Next year will be hear very quickly unless the Bears or the Packers fortunes change quickly.

Playoff picks for wagering purposes only!

Let's see if Jackson can beat the Swami, he seems distracted these days.


AFC

K.C 3 over Indy

N.E. 6 over NYJ



NFC

Dallas 3 over Seattle

Philly 8 over NYG

NFC Wildcard Playoff Preview

Dallas Cowboys (9-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys come into their wildcard showdown with a two game losing streak and Tony Romo coming back to Earth. The Seahawks have looked nothing like the dominant team that went to the Super Bowl last year. The line is the Seahawks are giving 3. I think a shaky performance by Tony Romo will sink Dallas and give the Seahawks the edge. Look for Seattle to get its act together and be ready to face the Bears next week.

Prediction: Seahawks 27 Cowboys 21

New York Giants (8-8) @ Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Jeff Garcia has revitalized his career back with the Eagles West Coast Offense. Eli Manning and the Giants might have saved Tom Coughlin's job with the win last week. If they lose to the Eagles, and they will, there will be more calls for his job. I just don't believe in Eli, who in my opinion has regressed this year. Tiki had a monster game last week, but I don't think he will repeat this against the Eagles. Even though they split their two regular season games, the Eagles dominated both before collapsing in the first game. Look for the Eagles to get out early, neutralize the Giants running game and force Eli into several mistakes.

Prediction: Eagles 34 Giants 17