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

Its Just the Jets

As the playoffs continue, I find myself reminiscing about great games and improbable champions of past. I don’t have to thank too hard. I remember the Arizona Cardinals transformation of last year from an undeserving playoff team who won an embarrassing division, to a juggernaut one play away from a Super Bowl victory (James Harrison’s TD run back before half time). I think of the New York Giants killing the immortal New England Patriots in 08 with an historical catch by an infamous David Tyree. And of course there were the forgotten legends like Peyton Manning, He and his Indianapolis Colts solidifying Peyton’s place in history with an unexpected title run in 07 after much doubt he could get it done in the post season. There were the great players and remarkable stories like Jerome Bettis finally getting his in his home town of Detroit (06), and Steve Young removing the stigma of Joe Montanan’s legacy (95). There were amazing performances such as Larry Fitzgerald during the entirety of last year’s playoffs, and Frank Reich for the bills in 92. All of these great memories make me look to this year’s class to find heroic efforts, great teams, amazing plays and more amazing players…But as I ponder, I find myself at a loss for those things. I can’t see to find any of that here in the 2009 NFL playoffs. Wait, you say who? The Jets?...Maybe the least memorable ever, I agree. The New York Jet!. But do you know why? It is how they have done it that is so important. It is not flashy play, or new found team ability. It isn’t players who have emerged or new schemes. It’s not the great old vets or new blood rookies. It isn’t even great defense or offense. They are not even in the top 5 of any major post season stats (http://www.nfl.com/stats/team for details). No, it’s is because of the the most underrated factor for successful teams. Constancy! The Jets have the highest turnover margin at a +3, they have an amazing 90 percent 3rd down conversation rate, they lead the post season in time of possession, and haven’t let a play go over 32 yards (not a TD). That’s right. No 200 yard rushers, 4 touchdown passing, 12 reception games to show on ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/), just disciplined football. I just though since Sports Illustrated (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/) wasn’t going to talk about it, someone should. Consstancy can win chanmpionships too.

By: Matthew Walden, Jan 19, 2010