[Sportsgirl]

On the road again, just can't wait to be on the road again ....


http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.d...D=200770119015

http://www.sbrforum.com/Article/200701212243.aspx

[bigboydan]

Heres the article:

NFL Picks: Go with road teams in NFL title games
by Nancy Allen
published January 19, 2007 11:54 am

Destiny is something predetermined by fate.

When, against all odds, something happens anyway that never even looked like a possibility. Such is the path of the New Orleans Saints. Coming off a 3-13 season last year in which they were displaced by a devastating hurricane, the Saints are the phoenix of the NFL, rising out of the ashes to soar into the NFC Conference Championship game.
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New Orleans has rebuilt both its city and its football team. The Saints hired head coach Sean Peyton to be at the helm for the rebuilding process. They drafted running back and Heisman winner Reggie Bush to complement Deuce McAllister in their backfield. Most importantly, though, they took a chance on quarterback Drew Brees, who was recovering from shoulder surgery – giving talented receiver Joe Horn someone to work with.

The Saints make a trip to Soldier Field to take on the Bears – a team that hasn’t reached the Super Bowl since winning it in 1986. At the forefront of their run to the conference championship is a defense ranked third in the NFL.

Behind Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs and others, Chicago’s D has posted two shutouts and held opponents to 20 points or less nine times during the regular season. While the defense has been stellar, it sometimes appears the offense is just along for the ride. QB Rex Grossman has been a question mark for this team, but rallied his own game to a personal best last Sunday against Seattle (21-for-38 for 282 yards, setting up the game-winning field goal in overtime). Grossman also had an interception and a fumble.

Chicago’s defense will have to be in top form to combat the 1-2 punch on New Orleans running and passing games. New Orleans will need to cover the running game of the Bears and put pressure on Grossman. My best friend in the world is a football fan born and raised in Chicago. I hope she’ll understand that it’s really hard to go up against destiny … SAINTS.

AFC

Sometimes someone just has your number, and New England coach Bill Belichick seems to own Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning. Twice in the last three years, the Patriots have ending the Colts’ season, shutting down Manning in the process. In both of those post-season match-ups, Manning managed a total of 17 points against the defensive schemes of Belichick. In the 2004 conference championship game, the Pats took down the Colts 24-14, forcing Manning into four interceptions. During the next regular season, Manning passed for NFL-record 49 touchdowns, but managed none against the Pats in a 20-3 loss in a divisional playoff.

The Colts play host today and will hope that being at the RCA Dome will elevate this playoff-challenged team to victory. Manning will have pressure on him to shake-off his post-season demons and his reputation for coming up short. He’ll attempt to do that against perennial playoff star and Patriots QB Tom Brady. While Manning's Super Bowl aspirations have been lessons in futility, Brady's have been road maps for success. Since arriving in New England in 2000, Belichick and Brady are 12-1 in post-season play. I like those odds even on the road … PATRIOTS.

Last week: 3-1; overall, 158-106.

[Sportsgirl]

Sowry, Dan ... I keep forgetting that ... only one more chance this season to get it right!

[GolfYoda]

Thanks for that bigboy

[GUNZ-05]

GO SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!

[PaCKeRMaN]

I respectfully disagree with your Patriots pick... I truly believe this is the Colts year... You have picked against them for the last 2 weeks and you saw what happened... I love how people still are giving them barely any credit... Everyone just keep overlookin the Colts... We shall see who is the last one standing in Miami on February 4th! Don't be surprised when the Indianapolis Colts hoist the Lombardi trophy in Dolphins Stadium... The Colts WILL WIN on Sunday! Keep callin me crazy, everyone keep countin us out, don't say that I didn't tell ya so though! Let's Go Horse!

Not a Colts fan, but totaly agree with this statement. The pats are done come this weekend. Even though they might have beaten the Chargers, I still think they played very sloppy football this past weekend. And the chargers didnt help. Colts have been OUTSTANDING in the post season. Sure while everyone else was tring to get in the playoffs the Colts had seem to fall apart. They were the team that was not supost to go past the wildcard game AT HOME... If the Colts do beat the Pats this weekend, they will also beat the Saints. Lets remeber the Saints were 0-4 this season against the AFC.

Packer

[GUNZ-05]

Not a Colts fan, but totaly agree with this statement. The pats are done come this weekend. Even though they might have beaten the Chargers, I still think they played very sloppy football this past weekend. And the chargers didnt help. Colts have been OUTSTANDING in the post season. Sure while everyone else was tring to get in the playoffs the Colts had seem to fall apart. They were the team that was not supost to go past the wildcard game AT HOME... If the Colts do beat the Pats this weekend, they will also beat the Saints. Lets remeber the Saints were 0-4 this season against the AFC.

Packer

the saints are 1-4 against AFC...beating the browns

[nosuzieno]

On the road again, just can't wait to be on the road again ....

Yes, but as Dorothy of Oz fame rightfully said "There's no place like home, there's no place like home."

[PaCKeRMaN]

the saints are 1-4 against AFC...beating the browns

LOL your right. I forgot the browns. LOL

[bigboydan]

Sowry, Dan ... I keep forgetting that ... only one more chance this season to get it right!

no worries SG