NFL Playoffs, Day Three

Big Ben Roethlisberger continues to own the Ravens.
(Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

STEEL the better team


Much like I said they would, the Ravens controlled last Sunday's game against Kansas City by playing strong defense as they do and also scoring on the offensive end. The defense forced five turnovers with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Ravens simply did what they needed to do on offense with a couple of touchdown passes from Joe Flacco and a 25-yard capper of a run by Willis McGahee late in the fourth quarter to finish the game. Billy Cundiff also added three field goals in the effort.

It wasn't exactly a Patriots-esque domination, but rather just a simple domination. The Ravens didn't go off for seven touchdowns and look seemingly unstoppable every time they got their hands on the ball, but they did score and score efficiently to go along with that great defense.

However, this week poses an entirely different challenge for the Ravens. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger currently holds a six-game winning streak over the Ravens dating back to November 5, 2007. (The Steelers have lost all contests with Baltimore with Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon at the helm since that date.) So it seems as if Big Ben is the difference in these rivalry games, at least as of late. The Ravens always have their hands full when Roethlisberger is on the field. Even though Roethlisberger is banged up, he said in an interview earlier this week that he isn't making any excuses. Pittsburgh also still has that famous defense playing on full tilt this year allowing only 62.8 yards per game on the ground (1st in the league). Plus, when Troy Polamalu is in the game, the Steelers defensive strength grows exponentially (he is listed as probable for today's game). With all of this taken into account, I think the Steelers are just too much for the Ravens to handle. The defense is going to force Flacco to throw and Pittsburgh controls the ball on offense extremely well. I think through tough defense and bruising offense the Pittsburgh Steelers will slowly but surely finish Baltimore today.

Steelers 21 - Ravens 10


*Game is on CBS at 4:30 PM EST

Aaron Rodgers will help the Packers run past the Falcons.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The table is being TURNERed


How great have the Packers looked in the past three weeks? Aaron Rodgers has led the team to three wins over three of the NFC's best teams in the Giants and Bears to get into the playoffs and then the Eagles to move on to the next round. Now Rodgers faces the number one seed in the NFC, the Atlanta Falcons.

In their last matchup both teams were neck-and-neck for the length of the game, but the Falcons pulled out a win with a Matt Bryant field goal with nine seconds remaining on the clock. Rodgers was relied on to do it all as he led the Packers in passing and rushing with a touchdown in each. However, now the Pack have a new-found running attack as shown last week against the Eagles. Rookie out of Buffalo James Starks piled on 123 yards on the ground to help the Packers to a 21-16 victory over the Eagles.

If the Packers defense can keep down arguably the most explosive player in the league in Michael Vick, all signs point to them being able to keep the Falcons' offense under wraps today. But let us not forget the great season the Falcons have had. Perhaps the quietest number one seed in NFL history, the Falcons have flown under the radar to gather their 13 wins. Quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown for 3705 yards and 28 touchdowns, Michael Turner 1371 yards with 12 touchdowns, and wide-receiver Roddy White has 1389 yards receiving and ten touchdowns. The Falcons are the best team that nobody has heard of, whereas, the Packers were on a lot of people's radars (including mine) to win the Super Bowl this year. But the Packers had to claw into the playoffs after missing Aaron Rodgers for a couple games after his second concussion of the season. Now with Rodgers back in the lineup and a revamped rushing attack, I think Green Bay has the winning formula to get where a lot of people saw them going at the beginning of the season. So despite the Falcons' terrific season and top ranking, I see the Packers turning the tables on them to move on to the NFC Championship game.

Packers 27 - Falcons 21


*Game is on FOX at 8 PM EST


p.s. My playoff record sits at 2-2.

p.p.s. For the fashionistas reading, I am starting another blog (a fashion blog!) for Ohio University's Thread Magazine. My first post will be up in the coming week.

p.p.p.s. Big win for my Phoenix Suns last night. Let's keep it up, gentlemen.

p.p.p.p.s. For more senseless babble, follow me on Twitter @Bradley_W_Parks.

NFL Playoffs, Day Two

Ray Lewis and the Ravens D will show up big.
(AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Chiefs big winners? "Nevermore," quoth the Ravens


The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the big surprises of the season. After finishing last season at 4-12, the Chiefs were not the most threatening team coming into this season. They definitely weren't thought to be a team that could take down the Chargers and Broncos in a difficult AFC West. However, despite the low expectations, the Chiefs managed to finish with a record of 10-6, enough to earn them a division title and a home game in the playoffs. Led by a quarterback-receiver tandem of Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe and a two-headed monster in the backfield of quick scat-back Jamaal Charles and bruiser Thomas Jones, the Chiefs and head coach Todd Haley have crafted an extremely dangerous team.

The Baltimore Ravens, on the other hand, have not been surprising, but rather they have been exactly what we expect the Ravens to be. This season they posted a terrific 12-4 record to finish even with the Steelers, but lost the division by a one-game tie-breaker. However, Baltimore is still a high-caliber team with that famous defense and consistent offense. They are not flashy in how they win, they just win. They don't allow a lot of points on defense and score enough to win on offense. Simple enough. They don't blow teams out, but you can tell when the Ravens are dominating a game. They do everything necessary to win.

In today's game, we will be seeing the NFL's best rushing offense in the Chiefs (1st in rushing yards) against one of the NFL's best rushing defenses in the Ravens (5th in rushing yards allowed). All signs are pointing to this game being a grinder, one that will be low-scoring with both teams fighting tooth-and-nail to get to the endzone. It will be an interesting one to watch, but ultimately I think the Ravens will play that classic Ravens football to squeak out a win. They won't blow the Chiefs out of the water by dropping 40+ points on them unless they have to. I see the Ravens getting a nice seven- or ten-point lead and playing running the clock and playing for field position.

Ravens 20 - Chiefs 14

Aaron Rodgers is running into the next round.
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Packers win, RODGERs that


The Green Bay Packers, as I reminded everyone yesterday, have been my Super Bowl champs from day one of the NFL season. I think that this team has everything it takes to be a Super Bowl team. Aaron Rodgers will be in the same class with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as soon as he gets that ring. Donald Driver is a fighter and Greg Jennings is electric at the receiver position. The Packers' defense is a force to be reckoned with. Clay Matthews could be the best linebacker in the league and Charles Woodson is an ageless wonder. All they have missed this year is a solid running attack with Ryan Grant out for most of the season. Overall, though, this team is the most rock solid team all the way through in the NFC.

Michael Vick is an incredible story. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be Comeback Player of the Year in the NFL this season. But with a banged up Vick, where does that leave the Eagles? It leaves them searching for options. Backup quarterback Kevin Kolb can definitely play, but he changes the entire Eagles team. Vick's identity as a dual threat keeps defenses on edge, so that Philadelphia can do basically whatever they want on offense and they will be able to succeed nine out of ten times. However, with Kolb in the game, the mobility threat is taken away, so that allows defenses to stick with a gameplan. Vick cannot be contained by a gameplan because he is a game-changer, but when he is injured he begins to lose that identity. He cannot take as many risks with his legs and his tackle-breaking ability to avoid getting hurt worse.

I think that is what makes the difference in today's game. Vick will play, no doubt, but he has been knocked around quite a bit in the past few weeks. In the game against the Vikings he was clearly hurting in the final quarter of that game. A solid week of rest in Week 17 could have been what he needed to be back up to speed this week. However, I still think that with the Packers being so solid and Vick's health being slightly in question, the safest bet is to take Green Bay. Their defense is great and Rodgers is absolutely incredible. As long as Rodgers puts the ball where it needs to be, I think the Packers will win this one and send the Eagles home early.

Packers 31 - Eagles 21


p.s. Props to the Seahawks and the Jets yesterday for starting me off with an 0-2 playoff record. Terrific.

p.p.s. Sorry for no NBA post yesterday. I had more homework than I thought.

p.p.p.s. For more senseless babble, follow me on Twitter @Bradley_W_Parks.