Biggest Keys to the AFC NFC Champ Games

I have worked through the numbers, listened to the talking heads and made myself aware of all the information about this weekend’s games. With so many variable, factors and opinions, I found myself asking the question. If I had to pin these two games down to one of those elements, what would it be? Now I know it is going to take more than one ingredient to achieve success, and make it to the big one, but if I had to narrow its importance to one, this is what it would be it.

New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts

Let’s not kid our self. The Jets are the underdog her. I love them too. I know they beat the Colts once this year already. They have already upset one good team and one great team in this post season, both on the road. However, they are still the underdog here and deservingly so. So key one. Forget that you played once this year. So often in this league you see a team beat another and forget to make adjustments for the next meeting. Thank you Baltimore and New England. New England though they were going to go out, through another half dozen passes to the rock (Wes Welker), holding off the pressure, and focus on cutting down Flaco’s big arm with a lot of deep coverage. It worked before didn’t it? What happened? Adjustments for Baltimore and non for New England! Flaco didn’t even need to play they run the ball so much and effectively against that deep cover. And without Welker, Tom Brady looked like a seventh round pick against the pressure…Ooops. The best thing either of these teams can do, and the key to winning this game is forgetting they even played this season. So much changes from week to week with injuries, venue, officiating crews and so on. Play your game!!!

Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

I truly believe these two team are superior to the Colts and Jets, and that neither has a real advantage on the field. They are like two run away locomotives heading towards each other on a track. Sure their offensive and defensive systems differ, but show me an “exploitable weakness” on either team. Some would argue the right side of the Vikings offensive line. But that is often negated with a great running back and aware quarterback. Does AP and Favre fit that description? And some would say constancy in the secondary by New Orleans. That is often negated if you can stop the run and drop more back in coverage. Do the Saints who were 5th against the run fit that? I know you want to argue, but its AP. And Favre and Rice are too good to be stopped no matter how many they drop back. Or maybe you want tell me about how poorly Minnesota has run the ball lately. Look, the sun isn’t perfectly round and is full of blemishes in the form of sun spots and solar flare, but would you want to get in its way? Didn’t think so. So what is this games key? I say this, being the last of these two Juggernauts to through a punch, offensively or defensively. It will come down to the last big play of the game. That is the key.

By: Matthew Walden

Peyton Mannning is Good? Who knew

I have marginalized ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and other main stream football media outlets who cater to the ordinary “fan”. They spew out a plethora of irrelevant football news and superficial information in order to entertain the masses. Now I understand that large businesses and organizations like these mentioned cant market to you and me. They can’t build their magazines, shows and commentary around the 2% of National Football League fans that actually understand the game. They can’t give the depth of analysis that goes beyond Peyton Manning is good. The masses are too happy to be Sunday morning fans from September through January. And I am not even knocking those fans. But for those of us that are looking beyond the first round of the draft. For those of us that want to understand how a change of offensive scheme in our division affects our team or league. For those of us who want to know who is really the “best” and not just the most publicized, thank God for good bloggers. No, I am not claiming to be one of these true fan treasure chest, I am just taking a moment to point out a couple of well keep secretes to those of you like me. I currently found a collection of fantastic blogs that I have linked in My Blog List. It is an individual blog for each NFL team provides some great detail about all aspects of your team and others. I encourage you to take a look if you are a True Football Fan.

P.S. No offense intended to the fine institution of Sporting New, your dedication to insightful football knowledge should serve as an example to the rest of mainstream sports media. Thank you!
By: Matthew Walden