[Sportsgirl]

Colts, Saints, Bears & Pats to advance


http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.d...D=200770112051


By: Nancy Allen
http://citizens-times.com

Seattle's luck runs out this weekend when the Seahawks travel to Chicago to face the Bears. Two more home teams, the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Colts, should also advance this weekend to their conference championships. But the fourth, the San Diego Chargers, will see their season end on Sunday as Tom Brady leads the New England Patriots to a win.

As Seattle heads to Chicago, the Seahawks must be thanking their lucky stars to be making the trip.

What a wild wild-card game they had against Dallas last weekend. I watched as the Cowboys clearly won that game every where but the scoreboard. Who could have guess that a botched hold on a 19-yard field goal would have stopped the deserving Cowboys from making this trip to Soldier Field?

Seattle is attempting to reach the Super Bowl for the second straight year. Getting through Chicago, though, will take more than good luck. Earlier this season, Seattle took a 37-6 beating from the Bears. Chicago QB Rex Grossman was playing top-notch football during that contest, while the Seahawks were without running back Shaun Alexander. As of late, the question mark for the Bears has been Grossman.

Will the week off and the health of his teammates - those on defense in particular - make the difference today? After watching what happened in Seattle last weekend, the Seahawks are in Chicago on a wing and a prayer and that flight ends on Soldier Field...BEARS.

Saturday’s Games:

Indianapolis at Baltimore: I’ve been accused of not being much of an Indy fan, but that isn’t really true. I view Indy as a good team, but all the components are not there for this to be a great team - a Super Bowl team.

Going into Baltimore today, the Colts will face what is the best defense in the NFL. The Colts’ offense will rest solely on the shoulders of QB Peyton Manning because the Indianapolis running game simply has no chance in this game.

Baltimore allowed a league-low 12.6 points per game and scored six defense touchdowns during the regular season. Baltimore also has a seasoned quarterback in Steve McNair and home-field advantage. The Colts experience post-season futility once against at the hands of the...RAVENS.

Philadelphia at New Orleans: The Saints have inexperience written all over them. The team has been playing since 1967 and has just one playoff victory. They have a rookie head coach in Sean Peyton, who did win Coach of the Year honors, having turned a 3-13 club in 2005 into NFC South champions. They’ll go into the game with many of their key players, including rookie Reggie Bush, experiencing the NFL playoffs for the first time.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees, however, has been in the playoffs before and he has been instrumental in the Saints’ turnaround.

The resurgent Eagles squeaked past the Giants last weekend - their sixth-straight win. Running back Brian Westbrook has been shouldering much of the offense and it likely won’t be much different in this game. The Saints rush defense will be tested, but the offense should so enough to make this a victory for the...SAINTS.

Sunday’s Other Game:

New England at San Diego: You just never want to play New England and Tom Brady at this time of year. While San Diego has been one of my favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, they’re playing a Patriots team that thoroughly dismantled the Jets last weekend. The Patriots have Bill Belichick, Brady, and an 11-1 record in the playoffs since 2001 and that adds up to... PATRIOTS.

Last Week: 2-2
Overall: 155-105

[gummo]

Hey Nancy, did you see who aced the picks in your contest last week?

I gotta give you credit this week for having the guts to pick NE. I think I would have to go with all homers.

[Sportsgirl]

Originally Posted by gummo

Hey Nancy, did you see who aced the picks in your contest last week?

I gotta give you credit this week for having the guts to pick NE. I think I would have to go with all homers.

Yes, I did! and congrats on your great picking!

I like SD, but New England plays tough this time of year, and Rivers is a rookie in the playoffs - not everyone is a Tom Brady in that scenario, ya know.

[gummo]

Originally Posted by Sportsgirl

New England at San Diego: You just never want to play New England and Tom Brady at this time of year. While San Diego has been one of my favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, they’re playing a Patriots team that thoroughly dismantled the Jets last weekend. The Patriots have Bill Belichick, Brady, and an 11-1 record in the playoffs since 2001 and that adds up to... PATRIOTS.

[Sportsgirl]

Originally Posted by gummo

awwww ... you're making me blush

[bigboydan]

I see your article is posted on the main page of the forum nowadays Nancy.

Now that outta make you really blush

[Sportsgirl]

Originally Posted by bigboydan

I see your article is posted on the main page of the forum nowadays Nancy.

Now that outta make you really blush

Yep! Willie Bee asked me if it could be posted.