This game is an interesting one to attempt and predict. Las Vegas opened the line at Patriots -3.5 and the line has not moved much despite an overwhelming majority of analysts predicting the Giants to win. I don’t blame the analysts – on paper the Giants are a much better football team basically across the board (except QB and coaching).

Do the Patriots simply have a larger fan base across America to keep the line steady? Maybe. But I like the Patriots for a few reasons.

First, the line you have heard countless times over the past two weeks is that the Patriots have no defense. Well statistically that may be true, but if you isolate the last 3-4 weeks, the defense hasn’t been bad. Did you see what they did to Ray Rice last week? Also, the Patriots were top 3 in the NFL in turnover differential (+17). This statistic is huge. When the defense is able to give Tom Brady an extra possession per game – good things happen.

Eli Manning had the season of his life this year, but let’s not discount Tom Brady. Tom Brady “only” had a 105 QB rating with 5200+ yards on a team with “no” defense and no run game. When it comes down to it – I’d rather have Tom Brady than Eli Manning.

Then you have to think about Bill Belichick. There is no way that he wants to lose to the Giants in the Super Bowl again. Not only that, but the Giants beat the Patriots earlier this season. Belichick is one of the greatest coaches of all time, and you know he will be prepared. Heck, he even has his team practicing an extended halftime. This is the type of thing that sets him apart. The focus heading into this game will be unheard of.

Lastly, the Giants have consistency issues. They start the season 6-2, then lose four in a row, before winning three of four to make the playoffs. They are playing their best football now, but will they at game time? The Patriots on the other hand have been taking care of business all season long.

The major concern of the Patriots is the health of Rob Gronkowski. He has been Brady’s goto man all season long, and with his high ankle sprain – he will not be near 100% in this game. He will play, and I can see him scoring a TD in the redzone, but the middle of the field I feel he will be limited. But one thing about Brady is that he will make plays regardless of who is on the field – he makes everyone better. Watch out, Chad Ochocinco (the forgotten wide receiver), may step-up big in this game.

Overall, I expect the Patriots to neutralize the Giants defense by picking up the pace with no huddles and unique formations. I like the Patriots defense to force a key turnover and this game will come down to the end of the 4th quarter – but this time the Patriots will come out on top.

[Photo Credit: statesboroherald.com]

The results of these games lead to a renewal of one of the great NFL postseason rivalries. The 49ers and Giants have met seven times in the postseason, with the 49ers leading the series 4-3 (4-1 at home).

The first two times (1981, 1984) the 49ers and Giants met in the playoffs – the 49ers won rather comfortably on their way to Super Bowl victories. Then, 1985 and 1986 came which saw the Giants simply dominated the 49ers, as they went on to win the 1986 Super Bowl.

The next match-up was one of the most notable games in NFL postseason history. In 1990, the 49ers were coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories when they faced the Giants. The 49ers were leading in the 4th quarter when Leonard Marshall ended Joe Montana’s career as 49er. Despite this, the 49ers still led the game with less than 3 minutes remaining and a chance to seal the win with one more first down. Roger Craig fumbled, which set-up a Giants’ last second field goal on their way to a Super Bowl victory.

In 1994, the 49ers avenged the 1990 loss by destroying the Giants 44-3 en route to another Super Bowl victory.

The most recent match-up, during the 2002 season, saw a crazy ending. The Giants were up 38-14 in the third quarter, when Jeff Garcia led the 49ers to 25 unanswered points. The Giants were able to get into field goal range, but a botched snap on the kick and an attempted saving pass cost the Giants the game. There was also a controversial no-call on pass interference because of an ineligible man down-field for the Giants.

Back to this season, the 49ers and Giants are both entering Sunday on top of their game. It’s been ten lonely years for the 49ers who haven’t made the playoffs since 2002, while the Giants have seen some success in recent years, notably winning the 2007 Super Bowl against the then undefeated New England Patriots.

This game will be a hard fought, hard hitting game that will surely be entertaining to watch. But who will win?

I’m going with the 49ers for several reasons:

• The 49ers own the league’s best turnover differential (+28), which was key in their win over the Saints (forcing 5 turnovers).
• The 49ers’ NFL best rushing defense, which held the Saints (6th best rushing offense) to only 37 yards, will be playing the NFL’s worst ranked rushing offense. Brandon Jacobs is not at his best when forced to run hard without lanes, and the Niners will not leave many lanes open.
• The 49ers’ are a run first team, and as well as the Giants’ front four have been playing over the past four weeks – they still struggle against the run at times. The Packers rushed for over 6 yards per carry (147 total yards) last week. If the Giants’ don’t play better than that, it will be tough to beat the Niners, who have a much better defense than the Packers.
• The 49ers are the home team and the game will have sloppy conditions which favors the more conservative play of the 49ers.

A 49ers win will put them in the Super Bowl for the 6th time in franchise history, and they are currently the only team in NFL history to appear in more than one Super Bowl without ever losing one. But that is for another day…

Be sure to catch the game: Sunday, January 22nd @ 6:30PM EST on FOX.

[Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Scott Boehm/Getty Images via ABCNewsRadioOnline.com]

If I was the Falcons, this is the perfect situation. At the time, the score was 38-16 – not a likely comeback scenario, but plausible with over 5 minutes to go. Passing stops the clock and gives you a chance to get the ball back. All the Falcons needed to do was step up and play defense against a team that telegraphed it was going to pass the ball.

Brees basically was challenging the Falcons to stop him from getting the record, and the Falcons did not step-up to the plate. No disrespect was meant by the Saints, and it shouldn’t have even been talked about.

Passing the ball to attempt to break Marino’s record does not equate to automatically beating the record. If anything, Brees had a somewhat off game by forcing some throws into deep double coverage (the two INTs stand out). He was well below his season completion percentage as well.

Falcons fans don’t feel disrespected that your defense couldn’t stop Brees, no-one has been able to all season long.

The true reason behind the disrespect talk is to try and motivate the team for the possible first round playoff match-up between against the Saints.

Congratulations Drew Brees, and way to go Saints for going after the record on Monday Night Football in New Orleans.

[Photo Credit: WorldBestSports.com]

The Ravens are coming off of a bad loss to a bad team and they need this win to get back on track. They seemingly play to the level of their opponent, whether good or bad. One thing is for certain, the Ravens should be embarrassed that Ray Rice only rushed the ball 5 times last week. He is the offense, and should be getting at least 15 rushes per game. Flacco is not going to be the man to carry this team to the Super Bowl by himself.

The Bengals are an interesting team – they are sitting at 6-3, but they have basically beaten bad teams (Browns, Jaguars, Colts, Seahawks) while losing to the top teams (49ers, Steelers). If the Bengals want to make the playoffs – they need to win some divisional games against teams other than the Browns. The mounting injuries aren’t helping the Bengals – having lost their best corner (Leon Hall) for the season and Rookie sensation A.J. Green is most likely not going to play this week.

Overall, this should be a hard fought game that will come down to the wire. I definitely like the Bengals plus the 7 points, and I am actually going to say they come out with the upset. Their great defense will be able to shut down Ray Rice, forcing Flacco to beat them (and I don’t think that happens).

[Photo Credit: Ned Dishman/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.com]

The primary draw of this game isn’t even the fact that the Patriots and Jets hate each other, but how the teams are coming into this game. I can’t think of anyone that would have expected the Patriots to enter this week on a two game losing streak while at the same time the Jets are on a three game winning streak. The teams are seemingly heading in the complete opposite directions. The Jets’ defense is hitting its stride, while the Patriots’ offense is losing its edge.

Tom Brady and company are losing their offensive edge because they have no deep threat. The Patriots no longer have the Randy Moss – home-run threat each and every play. Wes Welker and the receiving corps are mainly 10-15 yard route runners and it is allowing defenses to cheat. It also doesn’t help that the Patriots’ defense can’t get off the field, thus preventing the Patriots’ offense from developing a rhythm.

The Jets on the other-hand, are finally running the ball like many expected they would. Mark Sanchez remains inconsistent, but he is a game manager and as long as the Jets put him in a position to manage the game and not force anything – he will be alright. It doesn’t hurt that their defense is playing at the highest possible level right now which gives Sanchez the ability to take his time and manage the game.

The million dollar question is: Will the Patriots actually leave New York in Week 10 on a three game losing streak? I honestly don’t think they will. The Jets is the type of game that I feel will spark the Patriots offense. They want this game more than any other, and a win will give them a major advantage over the Jets in the tight AFC East Standings. This is the type of game Tom Brady is made for.

Enjoy the MikesPickz Game of the Week in Primetime on NBC this Sunday at 8:20PM.

[Photo Credit: Jim Rogash, Getty Images via AOLNews.com]

That was only the beginning of a tremendous week in the NFL. The week was loaded with rivalry games, meltdowns, excitement, surprise and upsets.

The Ravens sent the NFL a message by destroying their biggest rival, the Steelers. The Ravens forced an amazing 7 turnovers and dominated the game from start to finish. The Redskins also sent the league a message by doubling up the Giants.

The NFL changed the kickoff rule, moving the starting spot five yards closer. This change was not perceived well as it hinders a major advantage that many teams attempt to exploit – kick returns and coverage. If Week 1 taught us anything, it is not to worry about it. The teams with good returners are willing to let them run the ball out of the endzone, resulting in three Week 1 kick return TDs.

Upsets? Week 1 had those too. The Bengals, whom many predicted to be the worst team in the NFL, beat the Browns in Cleveland. The Bills stormed into Kansas City and destroyed the heavily favored Chiefs. The Bears told everyone not to write the division off to the Packers this season by beating the Falcons.

The Sunday nightcap saw the Cowboys pick up where they left off last season – disappointing their fans. They led the Jets 24-10 in the fourth quarter and preceded to blow the game, thanks in part by a fumble by Tony Romo inside the Jets five yard line, a blocked punt which was returned for a touchdown, and a horrible pass by Romo that was intercepted by Revis.

All this and there are still two games remaining on the schedule for week one. Football is here, and I couldn’t be happier that the lockout didn’t shorten the NFL season.

[Photo Credit - OnPointSportsBlog.com]

Michael Vick’s incredible comeback was unexpected and at 33 it would be even more remarkable for Burress. You have to assume he’s lost a step and that he’s going to be rusty. On the other side, I would argue that WR is easier to pick up than QB.

Burress is dead set on playing in the NFL, but will any team take a chance on him? Brandon Jacobs said there was ‘no chance’ that Burress would play with the Giants next season. Jacobs alludes that Philadelphia would be a likely destination because of the similarities to Vick. Justin Tuck, on the other hand, is lobbying to have him back in a Giants uniform citing the Giants’ record with and without him.

I tend to agree with Jacobs, I can’t see him playing with the Giants again and the Eagles would be a good fit. Burress is a big physical receiver that would complement the speedsters of Jackson and Maclin.

On the bright side, there isn’t likely to be much public criticism of Burress returning to the NFL. There will probably be more jokes about him shooting himself (because he kept his gun tucked in his sweatpants at a night club? Are you kidding?) than outrage over his inevitable NFL contract.

What do you think? Can you see Burress in the NFL again?

Photo Credit: CollegeOTR.com

Sadly, that is what I am saying to myself as I read NFL news these days. Here we are just three weeks away from the NFL draft and I don’t feel that excitement that I usually do. Sure, I still read articles here and there about draft rumors, but if this were any other off-season – I would be reading magazines, subscribing to websites, and scouring the internet just to find the smallest rumors about the draft. This year it is different. There are still draft magazines and expert mock drafts to be read, but I just don’t care.

I can thank the owners and players for killing my interest in the game I love. They teased us with extensions on the then-current collective bargaining agreement and told us that they cared about the fans of the game. But here we are stuck in an NFL lockout. Yes, the draft is going to go on as planned but there is no free agency, there are no mini camps, there is nothing to care about.

So why exactly is the NFL in a lockout? Simply put, grown men arguing over $9 billion. That is the amount of money that the owners and players can’t figure out how to split. The players want more and the owners want to give less. The bare minimum that an NFL player can make is $310,000 a year. Been in the league for 2 years? That number jumps to $475,000 a year, and the number just keeps rising from there. Those are just the MINIMUMS. I don’t think I have to discuss the millions of dollars that other players make. Starting to see why I don’t care anymore?

Yes they play a violent game and risk getting injured, but it is their choice to keep playing – so keep those slavery comments to yourself, Adrian Peterson. In the latest proposal from the owners they agreed to cut back on mandatory off-season workouts and even make training camp shorter, but the players want more time-off.

Finally, progress was made this past week when the NFL owners and players went to court in Minnesota under the ruling of Judge Susan Nelson. The players filed a lawsuit against the NFL basically saying that the NFL is breaking the law by not letting them go to work. Nelson could have ruled that the NFL was breaking the rules by forcing a lockout and that the off-season would start immediately, but instead she advised them to go back in to negotiations under a mediator. That sounds easy enough to the casual fan but of course the NFL wants to continue talks in Washington D.C. while the players want to stay in Minnesota. Even when progress seems to be made, they can’t agree on the simplest things. Hopefully, they can figure out where to meet and how to split up $9 billion, but when they do will anyone care? I know I won’t.

This is the first post from the newest contributor to MikesPickz, Patrick Bourque. We welcome him to the team and look forward to reading more in the future.

[Photo Credit: PreventNFLLockOut.com]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most appearances in the Super Bowl (this will be their 8th appearance) and they have the most Super Bowl victories (six). The Steelers first claim to fame came in the 1970s when they entered dynasty status by winning four of six Super Bowls. They are on the verge of reaching dynasty status again, if they win Super Bowl XLV it will be their third in the past six seasons. With winning brings fans and the Steelers certainly have one of the largest, most passionate groups of fans in the NFL.

Super Bowl XLV couldn’t have asked for a better scenario, the Packers vs Steelers in the largest stadium in the NFL, the new Dallas Stadium. The NFL is expecting to break the largest crowd to ever attend the Super Bowl, and I’m willing to bet that they will break the record.

The question everyone wants to know is who will win the game? Both teams match-up tremendously well.

Quarterback
This is a tough breakdown. In terms of passing skills, I’d say Aaron Rodgers is the better QB. They both are very tough QBs that will not be afraid to take a hit, but I have say that the Steelers have the edge in this category because Big Ben has more experience in the big game than Rodgers.
Advantage: Steelers

Running Backs
This is probably the easiest category to breakdown, the Steelers clearly have the better rushing game with Rashard Mendenhall. The Packers have struggled running the ball ever since Ryan Grant went out with a season ending ankle injury. Rookie James Starks has been playing well of late, but I don’t expect him to dominate the game.
Advantage: Steelers

Wide Receivers
The Steelers top four WRs are Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antwaan Randle El and Emmanuel Sanders, compared to the Packers top four, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, and James Jones. Both teams have the aging veteran leader (Ward and Driver) and both teams have the young stud (Wallace and Jennings). Wallace is probably the most explosive down field threat in the game, but as a unit the Packers’ WRs are the better group.
Advantage: Packers

Offensive Line
This decision just became tremendously easier. The Steelers will not have starting Pro-Bowl center, Maurkice Pouncey, and this will be a huge factor in determining the outcome of this game. The Packers have the clear edge.
Advantage: Packers

Defensive Backs
The Steelers have probably the best safety in the NFL, Troy Polamalu, but the Packers have one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, Charles Woodson. Woodson is a game changer because of his ability to play multiple positions. He can cover the best WRs, he can blitz and he can drop to play safety. Don’t forget about Tramon Williams on the other side of Woodson or Nick Collins over the top, all three players are Pro-Bowlers and they give the edge to the Packers in this category.
Advantage: Packers

Linebackers
The Packers have the runner-up defensive player of the year in Clay Matthews, but the Steelers have four tremendous starting linebackers. The Packers’ linebackers can hold their own, but LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison is as solid of a line-backing corps as you will find in the NFL.
Advantage: Steelers

Defensive Line
This is a pretty evenly matched category. The Steelers are led by Brett Keisel and Casey Hampton while the Packers are led by B.J. Raji and Cullen Jenkins. I’d be happy with either pair on my team.
Advantage: Even

Special Teams
Neither special teams unit jumps out that they need to have an extra game-plan session to defend. If the games come down to field goals, I’d give a slight edge to Mason Crosby over Shaun Suisham, but not enough for me to choose one team’s unit over the other.
Advantage: Even

As you can see this is as even a Super Bowl as you could want. Dare I say this will be the first ever Overtime Super Bowl which would also be the first ever time the NFL’s new Postseason overtime rules will be in effect?

The Prediction
I may not have had many of my pre-season NFL predictions come true, but I did have the Packers winning the Super Bowl and I am sticking with it. The Steelers will really miss having Pouncey at the center position while the Packers have been the hottest team in the NFL since Week 16.

Final Score: Packers 27 – Steelers 21

[Photo Credits: Rodgers - FantasyKnuckleheads.com, Polamalu - StilettoSetSports.com]

Difference Number 1: The body that awards the designations

The body that awards the designations is completely different. The National Football League is the body behind the Pro Bowl. The NFL holds a voting process to elect the members of the Pro Bowl. The fans get to vote, as well as the coaches and players. Each group’s votes count for one-third of the final vote.

The Associated Press is the body behind the All Pro team. A national panel of 50 media members place their votes for the All Pro team.

Difference Number 2: The number of players

The Pro Bowl consists of two teams. The ‘best’ players from each conference represent their own conference in the game. The teams consist of three QBs, three RBs, one FB, four WRs, two TEs, three Ts, three Gs, two Cs on offense, three DE, three ILB, three OLB, two I/MILB, three CBs, three Ss on defense, and one P, one K, one KR, one LS, and one special teamer on special teams. This means that there at least 86 Pro Bowlers every season.

This is a sharp contrast to the All Pro system, in which there is only one team comprising of the best players regardless of conference. The All Pro team consists of one QB, two RBs, one FB, one TE, two WRs, two Ts, two Gs, one C on offense, two DE, two DT, two OLB, two ILB, two CBs, two Ss on defense, and one K, one P and one KR on special teams. This means taht there are only 27 All Pros every season.

Difference Number 3: What the teams do

The Pro Bowl teams actually compete in an exhibition game, whereas the All Pro team is strictly an on paper award. The NFL Pro Bowl Game is the league’s all-star game, but it doesn’t have the draw of other major sports All-Star games. Every year there are numerous Pro-Bowlers that don’t play in the game for existing injuries, for fear of a new injury or because his team is in the Super Bowl. This dilutes the Pro Bowl by adding even more members to the team. There are no replacements for the All Pro team.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it is an honor for any NFL player to get named on either team, but the All Pro team is more prestigious because of the extremely limited number of spaces. For example, there are six quarterbacks initially selected for the NFL Pro Bowl, but the All Pro team has one.

[Photo Credit: DailyWorldBuzz.com]