Before I start this post, let me just say that it feels like a lifetime ago that I last wrote anything on here. In an ideal world, I would be a full time blogger, and maybe even make some money from it. But in the less-than-ideal world we live in, I've got to have a full-time, regular job so that I can pay the full-time, regular bills. And boy does paying bills suck. If you can think of a worse feeling than sitting in front of the computer to pay bills, I'm all ears. I think I'd literally rather get punched in the face than sit down and pay bills. I mean, even if I have more than enough money to pay the bills, I hate the act of actually paying the bill. Anyway, I'm getting way off topic here, so I need to stop.
Bear with me as I get this blog thing up and running again folks, it's been a while. I'm in a position to start posting more on here, so be sure and check back regularly. Right now though, I'm going to give you a NFL playoff picks post (yes, I know....a very lazy post idea) so that I can ease back into this blogging thing. Let's get into it, shall we?
1. New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers:
The Saints are the Jennifer Aniston of NFL teams for me. You see, I agree with most other guys that Jennifer Aniston is hot. But unlike some of my guy friends, I just don't think she is that hot. Nothing against her or anything, it's just me I guess. If I were holding a fantasy hot chick draft with my buddies, I wouldn't be worried about drafting Jennifer Aniston until at least the 5th round. Definitely not first or second round material, at least not for me. (I'm rambling, yes, I know. And I'm sorry, but I did warn you that this is my first time back in the saddle and it might be a bit rough. Anyway, I'm going to now try to bring this Aniston analogy home to make at least a little bit of sense...)
I feel the same way about the Saints as I do with Jennifer Aniston. They're great and all, but I don't see the magic that everyone else sees, I guess. Yeah, sure they're really good. I'm not saying that they're not one of the top 5 teams in the NFL. But I still think (at least this season) the Packers are a better team than the Saints. Plus, New Orleans doesn't look nearly as good when they're playing on the road, as they do at home. I know that one or two games don't define a season, but the Saints did lose to Tampa Bay and St. Louis this season.
On the flip side, the 49ers are a bit of an unknown quantity in these playoffs. I buy into their defense, but I am still not so sure that they're as complete of a team as everyone says they are. To my untrained eye, they're one Frank Gore injury away from not being able to move the ball on offense very well at all. But they have home field advantage and their strength (defense) is matching up with the strength of the Saints (their offense), so I don't think the Saints are going to be able to run up the scoring on the Niners, as they tend to be able to do.
2. Denver Broncos at New England Patriots:
I've been a Patriots fan since they drafted that statue of a QB Drew Bledsoe back in 1993, and they still are the team I root for. But this season I've found myself watching much more of Tim Tebow and the Broncos than even the Patriots.
And its not like I am watching the Broncos because that's the only game that CBS is showing in my area. I have the Sunday Ticket this season (which is a godsend by the way), so I've actually been choosing to watch the Broncos and Tebow each week. I've said a few times on Twitter that I'm a Tebow guy. I am not ashamed at all to admit that, yes, I like Tim Tebow and so I want him to succeed and do well.I'm not delusional enough to think that Tim Tebow is going to grow to be some great quarterback one day, and ranked alongside the likes of Rodgers, Brady, Brees, Manning, etc. I'm also not going to say that he's a "winner" or that he even deserves a majority of the credit for most of Denver's wins this season. (Their defense is really, stinkin' good folks.)
But I would take Tim Tebow over a lot of other starting quarterbacks in the NFL right now, no matter how flawed his mechanics are. I would take Tebow as my QB1 over John Beck, Josh Freeman, John Skelton, Kyle Orton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Moore and probably even Carson Palmer. There are lots of QBs that are much better than Tebow, but hey, there are some that are worse.
Okay, because I don't want to get into the whole Tebow thing too deeply here, let's move on to the game. The Patriots and their horrible defense are going to win this game. They've already played once, in Denver, and the Patriots won the game going away, 41-23. I think the Patriots are going to make it to the Super Bowl, and I'm not saying that just because they are the team I'm rooting for. I think if the Steelers had won in Denver, they would give New England lots and lots of problems. But I think the Pats get it done in this one, and put Tebow Time on hold until next season. New England 35 Denver 17
3. Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens:
There aren't a ton of juicy storylines that jump out about this game between the Ravens and Texans, or as I like to call this game, "naptime". No, I'm kidding (sort of). This game should be pretty good, looking at it on paper. Two good rushing offenses against two really good defenses. Maybe I won't be napping after all.
Can I just say how odd Arian Foster's career path thus far has been? Went to high school in Southern California. Recruited by North Carolina, West Virginia, Oregon State, Oregon and Tennessee. Hardly what you would call "highly recruited." Chose Tennessee, but was injury prone off and on while in Knoxville. Then he doesn't get drafted at all (maybe due to injury?), and then winds up being a top 5 running back in the NFL currently? Pretty bizarre, if you ask me. I think I read once where Clay Travis said that he talked to someone affiliated with the Tennessee football program, and this person said something to the effect of "Arian Foster was the most talented athlete I've ever seen....when he was actually on the field. Dude just couldn't stay healthy."
He is still pretty injury prone, interestingly enough. But I'm sure the Texans aren't complaining too much about that right now. After all, the only thing keeping them afloat is Arian Foster and their defense. Anyway, I'm thinking this is going to be a low scoring game, and I think the Texans squeak this one out. Houston 20 Baltimore 13
4. New York Giants at Green Bay Packers:
I have a feeling this game is going to be the best of the weekend. The first time these two teams played, it was close and high scoring. I think it's going to be a lot of the same thing this time. Or at least I hope so.
Lots of experts have backed off of Green Bay a little bit as of late. Not sure why though. Maybe they're didn't win as impressively as the Saints or something? Sure, they didn't finish the season undefeated, but they're still really damn good. This morning, Colin Cowherd said the Giants are the Green Bay Packers of last season's playoffs. That is to say, they're the hot team that is peaking at exactly the right time to make a surprising run all the way to the Super Bowl. I'm not as sold on that as Cowherd is, but I have to admit, the Packers are in for a fight.
On a personal note, I hate the New York Giants. I friggin haaaaate the Giants. You can probably guess why too. It's not a secret. Damn you, David Tyree, damn you man. What pisses me off most about that catch Tyree made, is that David Tyree was the one who made that catch!!! I mean, I'm okay with getting beat by a receiver that is actually good. But f-ing David Tyree?!? I shouldn't go on any more about it. My doctor said to not bring it up anymore. Anyway, I will surely be rooting against the Giants in this game, and I hope they get shut out 93-0. To Hell with em.
Okay, sorry about that. I think the Packers win. I'll go with Green Bay 31, New York 20.
So there you have it. I have Houston facing New England, and Green Bay hosting the 49ers in the conference title games.
