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Good for you Plaxico.  Fire the troops up.  23-17?  That’s your score?  Why not predict a win by 30?  By 50? 

I like your confidence.  And why shouldn’t you be confident?  You have had a hell of a playoff run.  You can barely walk yet you have produced big play after big play, leading your team to the big game.  So smile, take it in buddy, and enjoy your time in Arizona, because come Sunday night, there wont be much to smile about.

Patriots win easily 44 - 24. 

This post has caused me much pain, on one hand I don’t like the Patriots, I find their fans annoying and just over-bearing. I look at both teams, and I can’t in good faith pick the Giants, I will sort of break it down for you, but if you need me to do this to make your pick you must be a slow adult.

The Patriots beat them in nearly every matchup, minus a few on Defense, but this all comes down to one thing, which team has the better Quarterback. Now don’t get me wrong, bad quarterbacks can win Superbowls, but not with a great something else (The Ravens had a great Defense, and a terrible Quarterback). This Giants team has a good defense, not a great one; they have an OK running game, not a great one. What it comes down to is when all is said and done in his NFL career (which if I were him, ends after winning Superbowl number 4); Tom Brady will be considered the greatest Quarterback in the history of the NFL. The Giants simply have no answer for him; they will seem ineffective against him.  Eli is a nice enough guy, he likes Oreo’s and licking them with his brother, but come on, who thinks he is a great NFL Quarterback.  Everytime I see the guy he has this look on his face, like “What the hell is going on”.  Also when pressured in the pocket he seems to fall apart, which is something I have never seen Brady do.

That brings me to my second point, Bill Belichick, although unlike Brady he will not go down as the greatest coach ever, but he probably should. He is going to complete an undefeated season, which in this day and age boggles the mind. Now I know it’s not a perfect season, people scored against him, but ignoring the five college teams that did that (Yale in 1888, Texas in 1895, Michigan in 1902, Colgate in 1932, and Texas A&M in 1919 and 1917, yeah they were good back then), this is the closest we are getting to perfect. He will also have won four Superbowls, joining him in a group with a list of coaches, oh wait that’s right, it’s just Chuck Noll. People argue that Noll did the four Superbowl wins in six years so it means more, ok sure that is a great argument it took Belichick one extra year, and he has an undefeated season.

Ok all this talk of greatness is making me sick, on to my final score. I am going to say 49-13 final, it’s going to be ugly, and it’s going to piss a lot of non-New England fans off.

Well this wonderful NFL season is almost at an end, and who would have guessed the New York Football Giants would be playing for a spot in the Super Bowl?  Or that the Patriots would still be undefeated?  Or that Brett Farve will still be playing?  And playing well?  Or that a new Rambo movie, starring 78 year old Sly Stallone would be opening next weekend?  Anyways, on to the picks.

In the AFC championship I cant pick against the Patriots.  Here are a few matchups I will be watching closely with a cold Coors Light in my hand.

• Bill vs. Norv - I know easy pick right?  Well even with Norv trying to give the Colts the game both times they played, the Chargers still won.  Things have just seemed to work out the last 2 months for Norv, but they have also gone well for Bill.  I’ll be surprised to see what Norv tries to do with this banged up squad today.

• Cromartie vs. Moss - Cromartie is a big CB, stands around 6′2.  This is the type of guy who can shut down a Randy Moss.  The Jags held Moss to 1 reception last week, but had to throw 2 or 3 guys at him on every play.  That freed up the running game, and allowed Brady to complete 26 short passes and eventually the win.  I’m just curious to see if Brady will toss a few jump balls in Randy’s direction, and who will win those battles.

• The Pats O-Line vs. the front 7 of San Diego - I’m sure Shawne Merriman will be blitzing every down, looking to take Brady’s pretty little head off.  I’m sure Luis Castillo and Igor “Whats his name” will be trying to bullrush through the All-Pro line of New England.  But that doesn’t scare me.  Why?  Because Tom Brady is the most mobile QB in the NFL.  Let me explain before you start calling me names.  Watch him in the pocket.  Nobody moves around, stepping up at the right time, quite like Brady.  Sure hes not going to beat you around the end for a 15 yard gain, but what he will do is side step  a blitzing LB and complete a 15 yard pass.  Watch him and you will see my point.

So that’s it. Ill guess 31-20 New England.  Closer than all the homers here in Boston, but a bigger romp than most of the “experts” are predicting.

Now tonight in the NFC should be a fun game to watch.  Sub-zero temps, the look of defeat and confusion on Eli’s face after the teams first 3 and out, and old man Farve still smiling after all these years.  This is what Im looking at tonight.

• The condition of Lambeau Field - Throw out the cold weather.  It gets pretty cold in New York too ya know.  I’m wondering how the field is holding up.  If it snows, goodbye Giants.  New York needs solid ground to able to blitz, and to hang in this game they are going to have to blitz often.  just look what happened last week in the snow.  Seattle couldn’t get within 8 yards of Farve on most plays.

• The health of New York - The Giants secondary is really banged up.  I mean really banged up.  If Aaron Ross doesn’t play, it could be a long day for Tom Coughlin.  Green Bay has a very talented group of wideouts.

• Ryan Grant’s revenge!!! - Grant was traded by Green Bay to the Giants for a 6th round pick back in August.  In weather like this, Grant should have plenty of chances to show the Giants they made a huge mistake.

So I’ll take Green Bay winning 20-10.  I really have no idea how to pick a score in this one, but I think Green Bay has too much for New York to handle right now.  The Giants hot ride through the playoffs comes to an end tonight.

Ken Nutter

As a die-hard baseball fan (as well as a Red Sox fan) I am surprised by how quiet this off-season has been.  The Mitchell report and the on-going steroids saga(which will follow the game for a long time) has been the biggest story thus far.  Lets run down the off-season so far, and please correct me if I am wrong of miss something.  This is only my opinion, so chime in with your own thoughts.

• The whole A-Rod fiasco.  Opting out during game 4, then turning his back on super-agent Scott Boras and running back to the Yankees for a few million more.  This was news for a day or 2, thankfully we all moved on.

• The fall of Scott Boras.  I use the word “fall” loosely as he is still getting his commission from A-Rod and he still is stocked with superstar clients.  But getting dropped by Kenny Rogers and snubbed by A-Rod wasn’t good for his image.

• The dissection of the Oakland A’s.  Now I wont pass too much judgement on these moves because I believe in Billy Bean, but wow.  Nick Swisher, Dan Haren, and Marcus Scutaro gone and looks like only 1 blue chip prospect was obtained.  It’s going to be hard to compete in the AL with the talent that team has now.

• Tori Hunter to the Angels.  LOL,LOL,LOL!!!!  Just a year after signing Gary “HGH” Matthews to a ridiculous 5 year $50 million dollar contract, the Angel decide to throw $90 million at Hunter, making Matthews the most expensive 4th outfielder in the game.  On top of that they failed to the big bat needed to protect Vlad in the lineup.  Arte Moreno cracks me up.

• The Tigers get scary!  By acquiring Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins, the Tigers find themselves as a favorite to win it all in 2008.  Barring injury, Detroit looks to have the leagues best lineup, plus a promising rotation.  As a Sox, this team scares the crap out of me!

• Those same Marlins got younger, cheaper, and maybe better?  Florida got 2 big-time prospects from Detroit in that deal in Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller.  Maybin looks to be the real deal and Miller, in my opinion, is already better than Willis.  Plus they are affordable for the next few years.

• The Red Sox re-sign Mike Lowell.  It was a no brainer to bring back the World Series MVP but fans should be cautious of a 3rd baseman who is entering his mid 30’s.  The thing that really worries me is the lack of moves this team has made.  I understand we have a good mix of young talent and veteran players, but sitting tight never seems to work.  Remember 2005?

• Which brings us to the Johan Santana saga.  Both the Sox and Yankees have been chasing Santana since the winter meetings, and while the Twins seem to be playing hard ball, I expect the deal to get done.  Im picking NY as his eventual landing spot, because the Steinbrener brothers are just like their daddy.

• Last but not least the mess that is the SF Giants.  This team is old.  Real old, and the only positive they have is their young pitching.  So why is it that all winter long I have heard that they were dangling their #1 starter, Tim Lincum, over the trade table?  And for who?  Alex Rios of  Toronto?  Really?  Bad move Sabean.  And I think he realized that because he went out and made an equally as bad signing in Aaron Rowland for $60 million.  Don’t get me wrong, Rowland had a nice year, but is he really worth $12 million a year?  This guy flourished in Philly, which is a hitters haven.  Ive been there, and I may be able to hit a few out.

So wow, pretty boring stuff.  All that excitement plus the Goose is now in the Hall, Roger is suing his accuser, and Barry is looking at jail time.  Good thing spring training is only 6 weeks away!

Written by Ken Nutter

The NFL  has agreed to simulcast this Saturdays Patriots-Giants on 3 stations, The NFL Network, CBS, and NBC.  This ensures the entire country will get to watch Tom Brady and Randy Moss break their respective TD records, and watch New England cap off a perfect 16-0 regular season.

This is the first 3 network simulcast in NFL history.  The story is everywhere, but you can read it here at Si.com

Well the question now is will Bonds play in ‘08, and now where will he play.  It is being reported that Giants will not re-sign him, so where will he go, I am guessing he is off to DH at an AL club, we will have to watch and see.

Read more at ESPN.com