Conference Finals

Since I am 1 and 8 in the playoff so far I feel very uncomfortable picking these games particulary when two of these teams (the Saints and the Jets) were teams I said in an earlier blog would be out of the playoff early. Regardless what happens Sunday both teams have proved many "experts" wrong and it will not be surprising if either team makes it to the superbowl.
That being said here are my picks

NFC Conference Final : Minnesota vs New Orleans

This is a tough call. With the return of Tight End Jeremy Shockey and Running Back Reggie Bush the Saints overwhelmed Arizona and look to have regained their regular season form when they were dominating their opponents. The Vikings who were also struggling late in the season are clearly firing on all cylinders as demonstrated with their annihilation of the Dallas Cowboys. The game is in New Orleans which does benefit the Saints but earlier in the season Drew Brees struggled at home in the Saints loss against Dallas due to the Cowboys defensive pressure. The Vikings defense is better than the Cowboys and if they create the same pressure on Drew Brees that they did against Tony Romo they will come out on top. The emergence of Reggie Bush will definitely help the Saints but in the end the Vikings have the better defense and that will be the difference in this game.

Vikings 27 Saints 21


AFC Conference Final : Indianapolis vs NY Jets

Whether you like Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan or not he has put together the best defense in the AFC. Like his father Buddy Ryan's Superbowl Champion Chicago Bear defense, the Jets defense creates the illusion that there are 20 defensive players on the field instead of 11 and confuses opposing quarterbacks into throwing interceptions. Every player on the Jets defense is solid and Cornerback Darrelle Revis is the best Cornerback in the NFL. Even though the Jets defense got the better of Charger Quarterback Phillip Rivers, it is unlikely that they will have the same success against Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning has been in top form most of the season and has faced Ryan's style of defense when Ryan was the Defensive Coordinator with the Ravens. In those games Manning did struggle some but did just enough to win and that will be the case in this game. Unless the Jets decide to let Quarterback Mark Sanchez throw the ball more (and it is very unlikely they will), this will be a low scoring game. The Jets will pressure Manning early but as the game goes on Manning will figure out the Jets defense and lead Indianapolis to the Superbowl.

Colts 17 Jets 13