Championship Sunday!

Tomorrow is Championship Sunday and nobody can argue against the fact that the four best teams in the national football league have made it to what is one of the biggest and most highly anticipated double headers on a NFL Sunday in years! The AFC matchup sees two of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game go head to head once again as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots go on the road to take on the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos. Then straight after that two arch enemies of the of the NFC West will have a rubber match with a place at Super Bowl XLVIII at stake as the red hot San Francisco 49ers walk in to the cauldron that is CenturyLink Field to face the Seattle Seahawks. Now it is time for me to look at these two games and give you my insight as well as my predictions for these two games.

NFC Championship game: San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks

The NFC Championship game sees the 49ers travel to Seattle for the third matchup of the season between these two bitter rivals. We have the two best defenses in football going up against each other in what is set to be a mouthwatering affair and as well as that both of these teams have two of the best young quarterbacks in the league in the shape of Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson respectively.

Earlier in the season the Niners walked in to CenturyLink Field for the week 2 game and were blown out 29-3. The 49ers offense was manhandled and the defense was blown away in a 4th quarter which saw them give up 17 points. Since then the Niners managed to defeat Seattle 19-17 to tie the series up on the year and when you include the teams two playoff victories over Green Bay and Carolina they have now won 8 straight. Colin Kaepernick is 3-0 on the road in the postseason and for a young QB already has valuable playoff experience after helping the team reach the Super Bowl last season; Joe Montana and Steve Young were 1-7 on the road in the postseason combined!

No team has made it back to the Super Bowl after suffering defeat the previous year to then go on and win it the next since the 1972 17-0 Miami Dolphins and the only other exception was the team who they lost to in that Super Bowl the year before; the 1971 Dallas Cowboys. So it is safe to say Jim Harbaugh's team are up against it statistically tomorrow especially when you consider that the Seattle Seahawks have only lost one game at home since Russell Wilson became the teams starting quarterback and after they defeated the Saints last week his record at home is now 16-1.

The second year quarterback also set a record this year when he recorded 24 years in his first two seasons in the league. Even head coach Pete Carroll holds an impressive 24-8 home record as the teams leader since he took over at the beginning of the 2010 season. When Carroll and Harbaugh face off there are always fireworks as these two head coaches just don't like each other so whether there will be hand shakes at the end of tomorrow nights game is anybody's call. You can guarantee there will be plenty of over dramatics tomorrow night from these two men in the form of jumping, excessive celebrating, shouting and fist pumping but I'm not complaining because passion is what makes sport so amazing and when you have two of the best teams in the league facing off against each other you want it to be a bit personal as it adds that extra bit of spice to the game.

In most games you can pinpoint a certain area that will go a long way to determining the result but in this Niners-Seahawks encounter it is hard to put your finger on the key points. Both defenses are tough, both defenses are hard hitting and both defenses are nasty I mean honestly I would not want to be an offensive player on either team tomorrow. Personally with the Legion of Boom at their disposal I think the Seattle defense is slightly better than that of the 49ers but that's not taking anything away from the likes of Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman of the Niners as those two linebackers are probably the two you'd choose to try and help stop Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch.

As we know the two Smith's Justin and Aldon aren't exactly bad themselves and the Niners secondary has the likes of Carlos Rodgers, Eric Wright and Eric Reid who ain't no slouches. Seattle's defense though as I said is slightly better and not just because of the likes of Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas in the secondary. Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett are great pass rushers and will look to disrupt any rhythm the 49ers offense looks to get going. Despite me giving the Seahawks an edge on defense the thing that makes this matchup interesting is that I believe the 49ers offense is better than that of their NFC West counterparts.

Russell Wilson is very efficient but in recent weeks he has been quiet whereas Colin Kaepernick continues to light it up in the postseason and since the return of Michael Crabtree to this San Francisco offense Kaepernick has looked a lot more dangerous. The passing game of the Niners has got going since Crabtree returned and that has given Kaepernick the ability to effect the game with his legs once again. He outplayed Cam Newton last week and personally I feel he is underrated as a passer and I would even say he is a better passer than Newton. Russell Wilson can make big plays though as he is very talented and not just a game manager so if Seattle need to cut him loose to make things happen I'm sure Pete Carroll will have no hesitation in doing so.

The only downside for Seattle offensively though is that offseason acquisition Percy Harvin has never got going this year due to injury problems and the concussion he suffered last week which rules him out of tomorrow's game pretty much sums up his 2013 campaign. Harvin was signed to be the playmaker that would give the Seahawks a different dimension offensively but that plan hasn't come to fruition. Baldwin, Kearse and Golden Tate are good receivers but in comparison to the 49ers wideouts they are no match. Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis can cause Seattle problems tomorrow and Frank Gore is a very good running back who's name I haven't even mentioned yet!

With that being said though I feel that on the day Pete Carroll will get the edge over Jim Harbaugh because Carroll knows what it takes to beat the 49ers when his team is hosting them. Harbaugh is a great young coach and has taken his team to three straight conference championships but to get his team back to the Super Bowl could be a step too far. The Niners are hot and are on a very good streak but to walk out of Seattle with the NFC title is such a tough challenge. Seattle got the home loss out of the way during the regular season and have managed to refocus themselves for the task ahead that is the playoffs. It won't be a blow out and it will be a tightly contested affair which will come down to one or two critical plays in a matchup which will decide who takes the ultimate bragging rights in the NFC West and more importantly a trip to MetLife Stadium in 2 weeks time!

Prediction: 49ers 24-27 Seahawks


AFC Championship: New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos

The hype around this matchup is incredible as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning face off in the 15th installment of a quarterback rivalry that has lasted for over a decade. With both of these QB's in the later years of their 30's you would probably say that this could be the last time that these two face off with the stakes being as high as they are for tomorrow.

But as we know you should never count out Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Manning has finally got to where he wants to be and that is within reach of a third Super Bowl appearance; he is having a monster season having broken Tom Brady's regular season record for passing touchdowns by throwing 55 and breaking Drew Brees' passing yards record by racking up 5,477. These stats will count for nothing though if the season doesn't end with Peyton hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in the air.

Tom Brady is quite simply Peyton Manning's kryptonite and there is no doubt about it because history doesn't lie. Even in recent memory you only have to look back at the week 12 encounter at Gillette Stadium where Tom Brady and co wiped out a Broncos lead of 24-0 to win the game 34-31 in overtime. That victory gave Brady his 10th victory over Manning in their 14 games against each other including the postseason. Let us look at the stats between the two in the encounters:

Now I will be the first to point out that tomorrow's game between Denver and New England is not just about these two men as it is between two teams who are both hungry to play in the biggest sporting spectacle on earth but whoever wins out of Brady or Manning will have their picture posted on websites across the world for the next fortnight. Brady's 10-4 career head-to-head over Manning says it all and his touchdown to interception ratio shows his efficiency. Brady leads in all categories but one and has a passer rating that is higher by 11! The only category that he doesn't lead in is passing yardage and you could argue that it is because Manning is behind in most games so his teams have chased the games meaning he passes more but enough of that.

No offence to Peyton Manning fans but they love to use statistics to fight their corner. I don't want to take anything away from Manning because he is one of the greatest to play at the position but unfortunately for him if the Broncos lose tomorrow that leaves Manning on his own with a record that nobody wants and that is a quarterback with the most losses in the postseason. 12 losses when it matters lost is unprecedented and that does not look good on anyone looking to leave a legacy.

Brady's legacy will be uncanny if he and the Patriots win the Super Bowl this year. The same applies for head coach Bill Belichick; he claimed his 19th victory as a coach in the playoffs when New England eased past the Colts last week which now leaves him tied in second place with Don Shula. If the Patriots win tomorrow Belichick will tie Tom Landry for the most playoff wins with 20 and if dare I say it the Patriots win the Super Bowl that would be the perfect way for Belichick to break the record and it will leave him on 21.

Back to Brady and his legacy; he is so close to being the greatest quarterback of all-time and if he guides an injury depleted Patriots side that has so many similarities to 2001 Super Bowl winning side it will be the perfect way to cement his name as the greatest to play the game. Brady is tied for Super Bowl appearances with John Elway having played in 5. He and Elway have both won 3 of those which leaves Brady just one shy of Montana and Bradshaw's record of 4 Super Bowl wins. Brady holds the record for playoff wins by a quarterback with 18 so a win tomorrow against Denver and a Super Bowl victory would see Brady end the 2013 season with 20 playoffs wins, 4 Super Bowl victories and 6 appearances in the big game which in my opinion leaves no debate as to who is the greatest quarterback to grace the NFL.

As I have pointed out though this is a team game and it will take a big performance from the New England Patriots to topple the Denver Broncos tomorrow. The Patriots are playing up to the title of underdog and why not because it puts pressure on the opponents. Personally I feel that they are underdogs as despite the fact that Brady can pick holes in a vulnerable Broncos secondary he goes up against a Broncos run defense that has improved in weeks gone by and they know that they have to stop the likes of Blount, Ridley and Vereen in order to win this game. On the flip side Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense is firing on all cylinders and the likes of Welker and Decker along with Julius and Demaryius Thomas will pose problems for a New England defense haunted by injuries.

For Denver to win this game is to score early because taking the pressure off Peyton Manning is a must especially in a conference championship which sees Manning take to the field in a game of his magnitude for the first time since the 2009 season (Brady on the other hand is making is 8th conference championship appearance). Now this may sound silly as it always applies but turnovers are the decisive and key factor for me. My explanation is that if the Patriots turn the ball over I feel they can still win this game but if the Broncos turn it over it'll cost them and they will lose. The more pressure on the Denver Broncos tomorrow and the more likely it'll be that they fall.

New England's defense is led by the defensive mastermind that is Bill Belichick and despite injuries to Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork the younger guy on the team like Chandler Jones and Hightower have been big for this team. Last week saw the emergence of Jamie Collins and he will be looking to build on his success from that win over the Colts. Rob Ninkovich and Dane Fletcher also deserve a mention too and then there's the secondary which possesses the likes of Aqib Talib, Devin McCourty, Alfonzo Dennard and Logan Ryan who can all hold their own against the firepower of the Broncos offense.

If the Pats defense can continue to force turnovers it will give them a very good chance of walking out of Mile High as winners tomorrow. Earlier on in the season I predicted that the two would meet in the AFC title game at Mile High and here it is. At the time I didn't anticipate that the Pats offense would become the ground and pound juggernaut that it has done in recent weeks led by LeGarrette Blount who continued wrecking havoc last week when he ran in for 4 touchdowns and 166 rushing yards which tied a franchise record. If the ground game gets going again with the one-two punch of Blount and Ridley it will open up Shane Vereen in the backfield for Tom Brady and also give him plenty of play-action opportunities which we saw tear Denver apart earlier in the season. Julian Edelman will obviously be crucial to any success the Patriots have tomorrow night and it is also the perfect time for Danny Amendola to step out of the shadow of Wes Welker by outplaying his opposite number. I could sit here night and day writing comparisons but the fact of the matter is that this New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos game will be one for the ages and a playoff game that will be remembered for years to come as well as possibly playing a critical role in deciding an argument that has gone on for years. Brady vs Manning part 15: Let the games begin!

Prediction: Patriots 31-30 Broncos

Playoffs: Sunday Wild Card Picks

Last night I went 1-1. The dream I had about the Chiefs winning was nothing but a dream as they lost an 8th straight playoff game. Who am I to question the magic of Andrew Luck and as a Andrew Luck fan I should have seen that comeback coming even if it was unthinkable! Credit where it is due to come back from 38-10 was amazing so well done to the Colts. As for the Saints well they showed grit and determination to leave Lincoln Financial Field with a 26-24 victory which wasn't far from my 34-27 prediction.

Nevertheless New Orleans won to spare my blushes from getting a doughnut from those two predictions and now I will share my thoughts will you all regarding today's final two wildcard round games. Let the excitement of the playoffs continue!


San Diego Chargers vs Cincinnati Bengals

The San Diego Chargers crept in to the playoffs last week with an overtime victory over the Chiefs in a game full of drama. Now Phillip Rivers and co go on the road to take on a Bengals team that finished the regular season 8-0 at home. Getting hot just before the playoffs has been a recipe for success in recent memory and with San Diego winning 4 straight coming in to this you can expect this to be a close one and a possible shootout too!

This game sees two quarterbacks who thew for over 30 touchdowns in the regular season go head to head with each other. Rivers threw 32 touchdowns to 11 picks whereas Andy Dalton threw one more touchdown with 33 on the year but also had 9 more interceptions with 20. To put this game down to the QB's is simplistic but as we know in the win or game home games it is the quarterback's who are either the hero or the villain depending on the outcome of the result.

Personally I think this is the toughest game to call of the week especially when you consider that both offenses have so many options. San Diego have Phillip Rivers throwing to rookie revelation Keenan Allen who hauled in 8 touchdown passes for over a 1000 yards! They have tight end Antonio Gates who still remains a threat especially in the redzone along with running back Ryan Matthews, the dynamic Danny Woodhead and the explosive Eddie Royal.

The Bengals have Andy Dalton throwing to monster wide receiver AJ Green who finished the year with 11 touchdown catches and Marvin Jones who is so underrated; his 10 touchdown catches and for 712 yards can't be overlooked. The Law Firm and Giovani Bernard at running back pose problems for the Chargers too but there is more pressure on the backs of Cincinnati today because the Chargers are ranked 6th in points allowed per game which shows their defenses strengths in key situations like the redzone.

The last time these two teams met the Bengals defeated San Diego 17-10 so you can expect today's game to be close but a lot more intense when you consider what is at stake. Andy Dalton is the least hit QB in the league but we know how he can crumble under pressure and with the Bengals looking for their first playoff victory in 14 years along with this great home record they have you get the impression that they could crumble again in this matchup. The Chargers have nothing to lose; personally I feel they deserve to be in the playoffs but the fact that they got here is down to hard work, determination and a bit of luck which is what you need at times to succeed in sport.

Earlier in the week I was riding with San Diego and then my head told me that the logical choice was the Bengals but when you consider the unexpected nature of the playoffs and what Phillip Rivers has been doing this year I think that the Chargers will pull out to what some will see as a shock result. I am going to base my decision down to this two things; The Chargers are hot and momentum is key in the playoffs so when you put that with the fact that in my opinion Mike McCoy is a better head coach than Marvin Lewis I feel that in a high pressure situation McCoy guides his San Diego team to beat the favoured Bengals to take his team to Mile High next week to face the Broncos.

Prediction: Chargers 27-24 Bengals


San Francisco 49ers vs Green Bay Packers

One of the NFL's oldest and most exciting rivalries is renewed tonight but the San Francisco 49ers go up against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a cold weather game which is set to give this matchup an old school feel.

The Packers got in to the playoffs last weekend with a late victory over the Chicago Bears thanks to some heroics from returning quarterback Aaron Rodgers. On paper you'd have had the Niners to defeat the Bears or the Detroit Lions from the NFC North but going up against the Packers complicates things. Despite the grit and determination of the men in green and yellow San Francisco are not exactly pushovers; they are a hard working football team and are winners which comes from head coach Jim Harbaugh who is a natural born leader who strives for success.

The Niners have a monster defense with the likes of NaVorro Bowman, Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith who will be looking to put some personal woes behind him with playoff success for the franchise. Patrick Willis is also a big time player for this defensive unit but although you'd think that the Niners need to be prepared for Aaron Rodgers personally I feel that the Niners will win this game if they manage to stop the run. Packers rookie running back Eddie Lacy has been one of the teams high points ranking third in the league in touchdowns with 11 and 8th in yardage with 1,178.

If Lacy can be stopped this puts more pressure on Rodgers in the passing game; his 66 yards along with James Starks' 88 yards helped the Packers stay in the game against Chicago last week and both will have to be at it again if they are to succeed in tonight's encounter. The Green Bay receiving core can get back to business though after Rodgers' return so the likes of Nelson, Jones, Boykin and Randall Cobb to all chip in and help the cause.

Famous road victories are part and parcel of the playoffs and I feel like San Francisco have a huge opportunity to win tonight setting them up against Carolina next week. Colin Kaepernick has had two huge games against the Packers in his two career meetings against them which include last seasons playoff victory and a impressive performance in the opening week of this year when he completed 27/39 passes for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns. The 49ers are getting healthy at the right time with one of Kaepernick's favourite targets Michael Crabtree returning to action recently; along with him they have one of the best tight ends in the league with Vernon Davis as well as the likes of Anquan Boldin who lit the playoffs up last season for the Ravens. When you put their passing game with an established running game led by Frank Gore as well as Kaepernick's ability to use his legs himself and extend plays you've got to say that San Francisco edges this one and leaves Lambeau Field victorious.

Prediction: 49ers 31-27 Packers

NFL Week 3 recap:

Week 3 of the 2013 NFL season was eventful and brought some surprise results wise as well as high scoring games for us viewers to savour. We shall recap my top three games of the week and sum up the other results around the league:

Green Bay Packers 30-34 Cincinnati Bengals
            (1-2)                               (2-1)

Terence Newman helped the Cincinnati Bengals move on to 2-1 with a 58 yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the 4th quarter to seal the comeback win over the Green Bay Packers. The Bengals got off to a flying start when Giovani Bernard put them 7-0 up within the first six minutes of the game with a spectacular dive in to the end zone for his second touchdown of the season.

The running game really helped the Bengals early on as BenJarvus Green-Ellis helped his team capitalise on the Packers' special teams fumble just moments after the home team scored their first touchdown; The Bengals put up 14 points in 12 seconds. Bernard and Green-Ellis combined for 79 yards as well as the two touchdowns that put them up 14-0 early in the first quarter.

Turnovers then cost the Bengals as four straight drives resulting in a change of possession caused them to go in at halftime down 16-14. That was a silver lining for Green Bay after tight-end Jermichael Finley left the game early with a concussion. After putting up 14 more points, 30 unanswered, in the third quarter it appeared that his one may be over but when Andy Dalton hit AJ Green for the score late in the third it brought Cincinnati right back in it.

Aaron Rodgers ended the game with two interceptions meaning it was his first game since 2010 in which he threw more than one pick and it proved costly as after the second turnover the Bengals scored quickly again to bring themselves within three points with over 10 minutes left in regulation.

Newman's touchdown return came as a result of a forced fumble when Green Bay were looking to move the chains on 4th&inches but that turnover meant they trailed the Bengals by 4 points with less than four minutes on the clock. The Packers couldn't convert on a 4th&5 play which sealed their fate and saw them move to below .500 leaving at them after 1-2 after three games for the second year running. The Packers will be in a hurry to forget this defeat and have a bye next week before hosting the Detroit Lions in week 5 as they look to get their season back as track after falling two games behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North

Meanwhile quarterback Andy Dalton more than held his own against Aaron Rodgers and played his part in this Bengals victory which saw them move to 2-1. Dalton was efficient with 20 out of 28 passes completed for 235 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Cincinnati leads the AFC North after this big win but now need to prove they can keep grounded by going out and getting a win against the Browns next week with the team hoping to win their third straight game in a row.


Atlanta Falcons 23-27 Miami Dolphins
         (1-2)                          (3-0)


This was the potential upset on the cards that I was personally certain of happening and I even predicted the Dolphins to win 27-24! After the first quarter though Miami were down 10-0 but Lamar Miller helped the offense come alive and the team finished the half behind by just three points, 13-10, with Daniel Thomas the scorer of the Dolphins lone first-half touchdown.

The Falcons came out for the second half all guns blazing and regained their two possession lead early on in the third quarter when Matt Ryan combined with Levine Toiolo on a play-action pass at the goal-line to put Atlanta up 20-10.

With divisional rivals the New Orleans Saints looking good the Falcons needed a win but so did the Dolphins considering that their divisional rivals the Patriots were also on a roll. With high stakes on the line so early in the season somebody needed to come up big and there was a big hit on special teams by Don Jones on Falcons returner Harry Douglas which forced a fumble and gave Miami the opportunity to tie things up.

On the resulting drive Ryan Tannehill threw to the left side of the end zone on an 18 yard touchdown play to Brian Hartline which made it 20-20. That set up a tense 4th quarter and the Falcons took the lead again early on within it with a Matt Bryant field-goal putting the pressure on the Dolphins once again.

The game winning drive by Miami couldn't have been tenser but it was very well executed with the team converting three times on third down and eventually scoring the winning touchdown with less than 40 seconds to go when Tannehill lopped a throw to the big rookie tight-end Dion Sims to put the Dolphins up by four.

Matt Ryan tried his best to help the Falcons pull off a very late win but was picked off on a 2&10 play but was picked off by Jimmy Wilson sealing the game for Miami and taking them to 3-0 for the first time since 2002. With the Falcons at 1-2 they find themselves two games behind New Orleans in the NFC South and need to get their season back on track to avoid falling even further behind the resurgent Saints but week 4 won't be easy as they host the undefeated Patriots.

As for Miami well there came up big in this match despite some key injuries and on offense quarterback Ryan Tannehill has built up a good rapport with his receivers which has been on display throughout the team's first three victories; Tannehill was 24/35 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. This game against Atlanta was definitely a benchmark with the win proving they can mix it with the better teams in the league but it is a long season and that is proven by the fact that they face fellow unbeaten team the New Orleans Saints 3-0 next week on Monday Night Football in what should be a great matchup.


Indianapolis Colts 27-7 San Francisco 49ers
           (2-1)                              (1-2)

The Indianapolis Colts came up trumps on Sunday by frustrating the 49ers offense with their quarterback Colin Kaepernick being limited to 150 passing yards. Kaepernick also completed less than 50% of his pass attempts going 13/27 with an interception thrown and was also limited on rush attempts as he only managed 20 yards from 7 attempts.

The first half was close with the Colts going in to the break 10-7 up. The highlight of the first half for Indianapolis was that new acquisition Trent Richardson scored a touchdown on his first running attempt as a Colt.

Richardson and Bradshaw ran the ball well all day for the Colts and were crucial in ensuring that the team pulled off the surprise win at Candlestick Park. It is taking away credit from this Colts team by saying it is a surprise when you consider that this roster has lots of talent and new running back Richardson could turn Indianapolis in to a potential contender.

With just over 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter there were only six points in it with the Colts up 13-7 but that is when their offense came alive with Andrew Luck running in the end zone on a 3rd&3 play in the red-zone to put them 20-7 up. Then the Niners fumbled on the resulting drive on a 3rd&10 with less than 4 minutes left which gave the Colts the ball in a red-zone situation again with Ahmad Bradshaw finishing the quick drive off on 3rd&goal to make it 27-7.

Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 95 yards from 19 carries with Trent Richardson rushing for 35 from 13 and both had one score. The ground game really helped Andrew Luck and gave him the opportunities to put the Colts in scoring positions which effectively won them the game. Luck may not have thrown a touchdown pass but his rushing score came at a time which pretty much killed the game off and the second year QB completed 17 of his 26 pass attempts.

Credit must also go to the defence for limiting a talented Niners offense to just 7 points; they have scored just 10 points in the past two weeks after being blown away by the Seahawks in week 3. Two poor results leave the Niners 1-2 after three weeks and although it is early days this is unfamiliar territory for this San Francisco team.

They face divisional rivals the Rams on Thursday night who are also 1-2 as they look to bounce back and ensure they remain within touching distance of the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. As for the Colts well they bounced back well from their week 2 loss to Miami and moved above .500 ahead of a week 4 matchup with the 0-3 Jaguars. That road trip to Florida should be well enjoyed by the Colts as it looks all but certain that they will move to 3-1 whilst piling on the misery for Jacksonville.


Other week 3 results:

(3-0) Kansas City Chiefs 26-16 Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)

(0-3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-23 New England Patriots (3-0)

(2-1) Houston Texans 9-30 Baltimore Ravens (2-1)

(0-3) New York Giants 0-38 Carolina Panthers (1-2)

(1-2) St. Louis Rams 7-31 Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

(1-2) Cleveland Browns 31-27 Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

(1-2) Arizona Cardinals 7-31 New Orleans Saints (3-0)

(1-2) San Diego Chargers 17-20 Tennessee Titans (2-1)

(2-1) Detroit Lions 27-20 Washington Redskins (0-3)

(1-2) Buffalo Bills 20-27 New York Jets (2-1)

(0-3) Jacksonville Jaguars 17-45 Seattle Seahawks (3-0)

(3-0) Chicago Bears 40-23 Pittsburgh Steelers (0-3)

(1-2) Oakland Raiders 21-37 Denver Broncos (3-0)

NFC West Preview

What a difference a few short years can make! In the 2010 season the Seattle Seahawks became the first team to reach the playoffs with a losing record when they clinched the NFC West title on the final day of the regular season. Now heading in to the 2013 season the Seahawks are one of the powerhouses in the NFC along with their arch rivals the San Francisco 49ers who made the Super Bowl last season. Heading in to this season the two will both believe that they have a good chance of going deep in to the postseason whilst the other two teams in the division, the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals, are both in their own type of rebuilding process so predicting their fate for the 2013 season is something that will take unique analysis.

One things for sure this division has talent and its matchups are always good to watch so with 2 days to go until the rest of week 1 gets underway let us take a look at all four teams to see where they'll end up come the end of the regular season:


St. Louis Rams

When you look at the Rams you have to say that although they are in a rebuilding process you can see they actually have a plan for the future. They finished 7-8-1 last season and only lost 1 game to a division rival which is impressive considering they have the Niners and Seattle competing with them. On offense they are led by 4th year quarterback Sam Bradford who had his best year to date in 2012 throwing 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for 3,702 yards. The rest of the offense is also young and many people are predicting a good future for this group of young men but after improving from 2-14 to 7-8-1 it is being suggested by some that they have a shot at making it in to the playoffs as a wild-card team.

Now I like the job the franchise is doing on all fronts I mean both of the Rams first round picks from this year's draft class have great potential and will benefit them on both sides of the ball for years to come. Tavon Austin was the number 8 overall pick and the wide receiver will fit nicely in to the St. Louis offense and then there's Alec Ogletree who despite some run ins with legal issues has the potential to be a very good linebacker if he keeps his head screwed on and is managed in the right way. The Rams may have lost franchise running back Steven Jackson but Zac Stacy may have been a major steal in the 5th round as he impressed in the combine and made the Dan Walker Award watch list in 2012. He also was a two-time West Alabama Player of the Year and ended his career in college with 5,863 rushing yards and 76 total touchdowns.

How will Jeff Fishers Rams fair in 2013?

Now despite the good work Jeff Fisher has done the Rams need to be realistic in 2013 in the sense that they may take a step back in terms of their season record but if they can keep this group together they have reason to be optimistic for the future. Their downfall will be that the NFC West faces the NFC South which is another division with two front runners and two other teams looking to be that surprise package so the schedule is tougher for the Rams than last year. When you add that together with the fact that they will find it very hard to only lose one game within their division again, I have them winning just one NFC West matchup this year and losing the other 5, then you have to say that 2013 will be another learning experience for this franchise.

Season prediction: 6-10. 4th in NFC West.


Arizona Cardinals

After a surprising 4-0 start in 2012 the Cardinals lost 11 of their last 12 games which meant they finished 5-11 as well as bottom of the NFC West. Following the disappointing season Ken Whisenhunt was fired and replaced by Bruce Arians after he guided the Colts to the playoffs during his time as interim head coach. With Arians now given the opportunity of head coaching his home team he will look to revive the fortunes of Larry Fitzgerald whilst developing the likes of Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts who together create a wide receiver trio that could produce results for Arizona.

Will Fitzgerald put up big numbers this season?

 The talent on this team doesn't give off the impression that the Cardinals are a franchise that it is rebuilding but with new coaches, a new GM and a few new faces it's hard to predict how Arizona will do. With Arians as head coach the Cardinals ship will be steadied and they will make progress but sadly like their divisional counterparts the Rams it will be a tough schedule that hurts their chances especially as they line up in a division with two of the best teams in the entire NFL. Arizona will be tough to beat though as they now have new faces most notable on offense as experienced quarterback Carlson Palmer was brought in to help the offense out and ensure that Larry Fitzgerald is given the chance to show off his superstar talents again. Palmer endured a tough couple of years in Oakland before making the move to Arizona and he will be looking to prove himself as this is probably his last genuine shot at recapturing the good level he played at during his early years as a Bengal.

The Cardinals have potential on offense but on defense is where there season chances lay as they still have pro bowl calibre players in the shape of Calais Campbell, Patrick Peterson and Darnell Dockett despite losing an experienced leader in Adrian Wilson. As mentioned before Cardinals are enduring a lot of changes this year which isn't always ideal but I feel the players and coaching staff will embrace the challenge which will result in a productive year in terms of progressing forward and rebuilding the franchise.

Season prediction: 7-9. 3rd in NFC West.


San Francisco 49ers

After going 13-3 and defeating the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 the 49ers reached their first Super Bowl since 1994 under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh. Unfortunately for San Francisco they fell short of winning the Lombardi trophy by a mere seven yards as a Baltimore redzone stand clinched the win for them. For the Niners it was heart breaking but they had a lot of positives to take from the 2012 season and will look to become the first team to lose a Super Bowl then go on to bounce back by winning it the next season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins; 7/12 Super Bowl loses since 2000 have failed to even make it back to the playoffs after defeat in the big game!

The Niners defense is crucial to any success and even though they endured some playoff woes last season, especially in the Super Bowl against the Ravens, we know that the likes of Justin Smith, NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks are all top notch defensive players who can all be difference makers in their own right. They've added rookie free safety Eric Reid who will be beneficial to this secondary along with the veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. It's scary to think that the 49ers defense could improve when you consider they were in the top 3 for defensive categories such as takeaways, points allowed per game, third down conversions and total yards allowed which overall made them the best defense in 2012; watch out for rookie outside linebacker Corey Lemonier who forced his way on to the roster and could make a big name for himself. The 49ers have a star-studded roster even when you take out a wide receiver like Michael Crabtree who underwent surgery to repair a torn achilles tendon this past May so he won't return for at least 6 months plus Anquan Boldin isn't exactly a bad replacement!

Colin Kaepernick is a real star in the making

The NFC West division is the only one which has given me a headache on deciding who will win it because to choose between San Francisco and Seattle may as well come down to the flip of a coin but personally it comes down to the fact that the 49ers have Colin Kaepernick. With this young man as their QB it makes me think they'll have a great 2013 and progress to the postseason as NFC West champions. He managed to beat out Alex Smith who had a 104.1 passer rating before his injury but Jim Harbaugh saw a unique and dynamic talent in Kaepernick; even in his first start he tore apart a highly rated Bears defense completing 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 246 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the 32-7 win. In Kaepernick's 10 starts he threw 10 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions and he threw for 1,608 yards whilst on the ground he rushed for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns. Now that Kaepernick has had a full offseason to learn the offense you can expect greater success from him in 2013 especially under Jim Harbaugh's guidance as he has full trust in his young QB and will give him the freedom he needs. In the playoffs alone you could see how he had improved in such a short amount of time especially when he tore the Packers to shreds along with leading the Niners to a comeback against the Falcons in the NFC title game. His postseason numbers were impressive and even in the Super Bowl considering it was only his 13th start in the league he more than held his own; 798 passing yards in playoffs, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 264 rushing yards with 3 touchdowns and a combined passer rating of 100.9. Kaepernick can tear it up in the air and on the ground as he possesses fantastic arm strength with good accuracy, great speed and has great scrambling ability. There's so much you can say about the 49ers and their talented young quarterback but I'll finish by saying expect big things from the 49ers especially in the regular season as they'll be looking to prove many people wrong who are suggesting the Seahawks will take their divisional crown. Despite some tough challenges ahead it's safe to say that although it is a long season the 49ers are one of the standout Super Bowl contenders.

Season prediction: 1st in NFC West. 12-4


Seattle Seahawks

In three years Pete Carroll has taken the Seattle Seahawks to new heights. In his first year as head coach they won the NFC West with a 7-9 record then in 2011 they posted a 7-9 record again but finished 3rd. Last season was the turning point as Carroll started to build his own team and prove to the players they had the potential to succeed with the team finishing 11-5 and making it to the divisional round of the playoffs where they lost by the narrowest of margins 30-28 to the Falcons. Their 11 victories was the third best record posted in franchise history and they went undefeated at home for the third time ever.

The expectations have risen in Seattle and now it is the job of the players and coaching staff to rise to the occasions and make this talent count. Now while many people are predicting either the Seahawks or 49ers will dip personally I don't see a dip from either but I do see Seattle not meeting their own expectations which will be to win the NFC West. The only good news for them on this front is that they are a definite playoff team regardless of what happens in the division and it's what you do after January that makes you great so Pete Carroll just needs to keep his players focused and ensure that they get the job done. The reason I don't see them winning the division is due to their schedule as it was home form which helped them last season as the team only managed 3 wins out of 8 on the road. It will be success on the road which determines their fate this year as they travel to Carolina on week 1 which is no easy game then they also have matchups against the Texans, Colts, Falcons and Giants on the road to look forward to. Their home form will be fine and they'll win at least 6 games but I have just mentioned 5 hard road games so let's say worst case scenario was they lost all 5 and won the other 3 that puts them at just a 9 win team which in the NFC may not be good enough.

Can Wilson, Carroll and co go all the way this year?

Thankfully for Pete Carroll he knows how to manage talent and the likes of superstar running back Marshawn Lynch will ensure the Seahawks don't dip drastically. Their defense is arguably the best in the league with the team ranked 1st in points per game only allowing 15.3 along with being tied 4th for turnovers forced with 31; helped by the talented secondary of cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner  along with strong safety Kam Chancellor and free safety Earl Thomas. Now I don't believe sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson will have a sophomore slump but if he did they better hope the defense comes up big once again which I believe they will. Thankfully for Seattle they have near enough ever piece in their jigsaw in place for success and will have one coming back when Percy Harvin returns from injury later on in the season which will be a great boost for them. Wilson won't slump as 2012 saw him tie Peyton Manning's rookie touchdown record with 26 and the fact he only threw 10 interceptions was impressive especially when you consider Manning threw 28 picks in his rookie season. Wilson had a regular season passer rating of 100.0 and from two playoff games had a rating of 102.4 with 3 touchdowns and one interception so it is clear to see this kid has a bright future. His talents helped Sidney Rice produce the second best season to date in his six year career and could help fellow wideout Golden Tate have a breakout year in 2013. When you consider their potential on offense along with an established defense which has added Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril as pass rushers, sacks being maybe the one weak spot for the Seattle D considering their total of 36 ranked 18th, despite the fact I believe they'll finish 2nd in the West with an 11-5 record you have to say considering they're a sure bet for the postseason that this Seattle are a genuine early season Super Bowl contender.

Season prediction: 11-5. 2nd in NFC West.

Super Bowl 47

We are just hours away from Super Bowl 47 which pits the Baltimore Ravens up against the San Francisco 49ers as the two battle it out with the winner claiming the Vince Lombardi trophy.

This game has a lot of stories which include Ray Lewis playing his last ever game in the NFL as one of the greatest linebackers to play the game calls time on his long career hoping to go out on the ultimate high. The Ravens are appearing in their second Super Bowl with the first coming back in 2001 when Baltimore blew out in the Giants in a 34-7 win with Ray Lewis grabbing the Super Bowl MVP award on a memorable day for Baltimore. Also spare a thought for Baltimore wide receiver Torrey Smith who lost his brother early on in the season so he will be pumped up ahead of tonight's game.

Now you may have heard that the Ravens and 49ers head coaches are brothers so tonight's game is being dubbed as the "Harbaugh Bowl" as John and Jim go head to head in what will be a fascinating encounter as two of the league's best and brightest head coaches battle it out on the biggest stage of them all.

Now the loser will never near the end of it from their fellow sibling despite whatever may be said after the game in terms of modesty from the winning and losing head coach but it is worth noting that the San Francisco 49ers have never lost a Super Bowl with the team winning all five of the Super Bowl's that they have appeared in. Their last appearance in the big game though was 1994 so if has been a long wait for the franchise to reach the heights that use to come oh so natural to them back in the days of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.

Keys:

With any big game there are always going to be key points that can determine or change the outcome of the match. Let's look at what I think are the key things to look out for tonight ranked in order of importance:

1. Defenses: Both of these teams have great defenses and as they say defence wins championships. The 49ers possess every sort of quality on this side of the ball. They have the ability to pass rush, great man coverage options and their secondary is second to none. From linebackers Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith to the super impressive Justin Smith to the likes of Carlos Rodgers and Dashon Goldson in the secondary all of these guys can make a game changing play and will feel like they deserve a Super Bowl ring. You bank on the 49ers forcing a turnover at some point tonight and the luxury of having a defense like this will take a lot of pressure off of the offense knowing that they can get it done on both sides of the ball.

As for the Ravens well they have been written off all year but a resurgent Ray Lewis has led Baltimore strongly as always and this time he has inspired as well as guided Baltimore back to the Super Bowl. The Ravens will do their utmost to try and make sure that Ray Lewis bows out of the sport in the greatest possible way. If they are to pull off yet another upset then this defense will need to keep the 49ers versatile offense in check so the likes of Ngata, Suggs and Lewis will have to muster up one more big performance to get the win. In the secondary they have the great Ed Reed and the hard hitting Bernard Pollard who can both change the game in the blink of an eye meaning that Baltimore's defense does have the talent as well as the experience to rival the Niners incredibly talented defense.

The key factors on defense will be who can come up with the big third down stops, who can force turnovers, most likely the 49ers, and who can be the most efficient in the red zone; most likely the Ravens who's red zone defense has saved them points time and time again during the playoffs.

2. Quarterbacks: Now it sounds obvious considering that the quarterback position has become undoubtedly the most important position on a football team but with Joe Flacco and Colin Kaepernick both getting ready for their first appearance in a Super Bowl and knowing that they'll have the chance to join the greats they will be nervous when stepping out on to the field in New Orleans. This may only be Kaepernick's first season starting as the 49ers QB and he only came in half way through the year but he has torn up many different types of defenses this year so when he goes up against the old Baltimore defense will this young, talented quarterback who has all the intangibles to succeed tear up the Ravens.

Now I would say that is quite possible but Baltimore has been written off throughout the playoffs and so has quaterback Joe Flacco. He has the ability to keep the Ravens in this game no matter how hot the heat gets in Super Bowl 47; we've seen Flacco call himself elite and he is one win away from being just that. During a Ravens playoff run which has seen Flacco knock off a superhuman like rookie and two future hall of fame quarterbacks who were playing some of the best football of their careers Flacco himself has completed 54.8% of his passes for 853 yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions, and compiled a 114.7 quarterback rating. Now that Flacco is putting up astronomical numbers especially when you consider the fact that he has thrown no interceptions despite going on the road to Denver and New England he is finally getting some of the recognition he deserves during this fine playoff run.

Now I think that Colin Kaepernick deserves a lot of respect too with him putting in some fine performances during his short time as San Francisco's quarterback. He has took this 49ers football team to the next level and while some people are criticising this young man's ability to throw the football I've seen him make some great plays and veteran like throws too since coming in at quarterback midway through the season. During a huge win over the Packers and a road game which saw them overcome a tough as well as underrated Atlanta Falcons team Kaepernick has completed 63.5% of his passes for 496 yards, 3 touchdowns and one interception. He didn't throw a pick on the road against Atlanta and helped his team rally back from 17-0 down to 17-14 only for them to go in behind at halftime 24-14. In that second quarter the Niners came up big all over the field and it was clear that Kaepernick was key in engineering the comeback which saw the Niners win the NFC Championship. Both these wins showed off all the qualities he has to offer as on the ground he is also great with this being proven when the young QB put up big numbers against Green Bay in the divisional round when he put up two scores for 181 yards whereas against the Falcons he had only two rushing attempts but in the air he completed 16/21 passing attempts for 233 yards and a score whilst using Frank Gore in the backfield to get it done and get the Niners in to tonight's game.

3. Kickers: Now the position of kicker is often undervalued in the National Football League but in a game like the Super Bowl which has seen so many close encounters tonight's game could come down to one last field goal attempt. Now why this is so key is because both of these teams have had problems with kickers in recent memory. The Ravens had Billy Cundiff to blame for missing out on a shot at overtime and the Super Bowl last season but this year they have rookie Justin Tucker who has excelled in his debut season. The undrafted rookie from Texas kicked 30 of his 33 attempts successfully during the regular season and came up with the game-winning field-goal in overtime on the road at Denver against the Broncos.

Now the 49ers are having some problems with their kicker David Akers being off the boil this year as he only completed 29 out of his 42 kicking attempts in the regular season and missed his 14th field goal of the season against the Falcons in the NFC Championship game which almost proved costly. His dip in form was so alarming to head coach Jim Harbaugh that he added no other than Billy Cundiff to the roster ahead of that game before deciding to stick with Akers.

Now going in to the biggest game of the season the Niners will hope that if Akers is called upon he comes up big whereas the Ravens have full confidence in their young kicker to get the job done.

4. Running backs: Ray Rice and Frank Gore go head to head as both to open up the passing game for their respective quarterback's or come up with the big play that would fulfil their dreams. Gore is a 4 time pro bowler and the 29 year older is appearing in his first Super Bowl. He has racked up 209 yards in the Niners two playoff games with his two scores against the Falcons getting the Niners over the line and in to the Super Bowl. In his 8 years as the 49ers running back Gore is one of the guys on the roster who has helped transform the team and deserves to be representing them tonight and you can expect him to come up big tonight.

Ray Rice is in his 5th year as an NFL running back and over the years as established himself as one of the best. He leads all running backs in yardage with 247 to his name but has played a game more than his opposite number in Frank Gore. Despite coming under some criticism for the way he was carrying the ball against Denver Rice bounced back with an efficient performance in the AFC Championship win over the Patriots as he rushed for 48 yards from 19 carries and for a score. Rice is willing to do the dirty work for this football team but also possesses the ability to come up with a big play and tonight he will need to come up big for the Ravens to have a shot as his success on the ground will be key if Joe Flacco is to succeed himself when the time comes for him to throw the ball.

5. Receivers: Now by ranking receivers at 5th I am by no means saying they are not important as obviously they have to do their fair share of the work when it comes to making a big offensive play and it is very likely that one of these guys on either side will produce a Super Bowl picture perfect moment.

The Ravens and 49ers both have offensive weapons that can change the game for them but let us rank who is the most likely on either side to come up with the "big play":

1. Vernon Davis - The big tight end is one of the best in the game and will be effective as always
2. Torrey Smith - Underrated but has come up big for Baltimore when needed. Expect more tonight.
3. Michael Crabtree - He has become a big time player since Kaepernick become the Niners QB.
4. Anquan Boldin - Caught 2 touchdowns in the Raves AFC title win so could be the difference maker
5. Randy Moss - The self-proclaimed best wide receiver ever gets another shot at a ring tonight.
6. Dennis Pitta - Not the most dynamic tight end in the league but does his job well.

Prediction: This year's Super Bowl could be one of the closest ever and is one of the hardest to predict in recent memory. The term elite is starting to be defined more by the money paid to a quarterback as opposed to Super Bowl wins so I stand by my claims that Joe Flacco is elite following two big wins over Peyton Manning and Tom Brady during this post-season. Flacco will get paid big in the off-season but he is no Eli Manning and as comparable as this playoff run has been for Flacco to Eli Manning's run that saw him win his first Super Bowl I'm predicting that the Ravens fall short tonight.

I'm not saying that Flacco is going to be the one who costs them the game as if he can keep his team in the game then of course they have a chance but Baltimore is coming up against a 49ers team that is tough and physical so they won't be able to bully teams like they did to the Colts, Broncos and Patriots throughout their playoff run. The NFC has many physical teams but the Niners are also heavily talented and although I wrote it off earlier in the season I am predicting Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick to pull off a feat similar to what Bill Belichick and Tom Brady achieved on February 3rd 2001 which yes is the exact same date as today 12 years later and remember it is also being played in the same place; Louisiana, New Orleans.

Skye's predicted score: Baltimore Ravens 24-28 San Francisco 49ers

Bold prediction 49ers win: With the Niners down by 6, 27-21, Colin Kaepernick engineers a game winning drive deep in the fourth quarter finding Vernon Davis at the back of the end-zone which looks like a reenactment of Joe Montana's pass to Dwight Clark in the NFC Championship game back in 1982 against the Cowboys.

Bold prediction Ravens win: The Ravens lead the Niners 24-21. Kaepernick goes down the field to set up a David Akers field goal which goes wide left to give the Ravens the win.

Conference Championship Previews

Last week I went 1-3 on predictions and after spending most of the week cleaning my wounds I've dusted myself down and prepared my predictions for the AFC and NFC title games; even Elliot Harrison from NFL.com went 1-3 in his predictions... Just throwing that out there.

We are 2 weeks away from Super Bowl 47 and two teams will make the trip to New Orleans ready to fight it out for the Lombardi Trophy on the biggest stage of them all so let's bite our teeth in to the two mouth-watering match-ups

San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons

Can Kaepernick help the Niners knock off Atlanta

Last week I predicted both of these teams to lose and in fitting fashion both have made it to the NFC title game but when the playoffs began I did say that if the 49ers made it past the divisional round they would win the NFC Championship then advance to Super Bowl 47 and lose.

Forgetting the Super Bowl for now though let us just stick to this game and yes the Niners will win. All you have to do is watch the performance of quarterback Colin Kaepernick last weekend to know that this guy is the real deal. He completed 17/31 passes for 263 yards in the air, 2 touchdowns and a pick then on the ground he tore it up just as much if not more by rushing for 181 yards on 16 attempts for 2 scores in the 49ers' 45-31 victory over Green Bay. The Kapernick interception was thrown within the early stages of the first quarter but after that he came to town and was instrumental in the Niners pulling off the victory. The San Francisco offense if just as dangerous as its defense now who welcomed back Justin Smith in the divisional round so Atlanta better watch out.

Now this is not to say that the Falcons don't have a chance of winning because in the national football league anything can happen but the one stat that stands out for me is that the 49ers put up 579 yards in total on offense last week but only gave up 352 yards on defense against an Aaron Rodgers lead Packers in comparison to the Falcons who gave up 491 yards in total on defense but did manage to put up 417 yards on offense against a tough Seattle defense. For me this shows that the 49ers will find a way to win because despite Atlanta's offensive weapons Matt Ryan does not possess the experience or the offense to cause the Niners defense the problems that Tom Brady did against them in week 15.

The most important factor though is how far Colin Kaepernick has come since becoming the 49ers quarterback. I don't think there is anyone in the NFL who can do what this guy can do because the way he runs the ball which is speed for a QB is unreal and makes his a threat to any opposing defense but more than anything he has a tremendous ability to throw the football which many have criticised and even doubted. Jim Harbaugh made the right call putting in this kid for Alex Smith as it has taken his offense and this football team to the next level. It will be hard going on the road and winning in the playoffs especially at the Georgia Dome but unless the Falcons can force some turnovers and hope that quarterback Matt Ryan stays as cool as ice then it will be San Francisco representing the NFC at Super Bowl 47.

Predicted Score: 49ers 38-24 Falcons


Baltimore Ravens vs New England Patriots

Brady vs Lewis the final episode

Ray Lewis' career in the NFL continues for another week as he inspired the Ravens to go on the road and knock off Peyton Manning and the first seeded Denver Broncos. Now Baltimore has a chance to redeem themselves for their defeat in the AFC Championship game last season against the New England Patriots with the rematch set up for Sunday night at Gillette Stadium bringing two of the greatest players in their respective positions head to head for once last time when Ray Lewis goes head to head against Tom Brady.

The two things that gives the Ravens a chance in this game is that their defense have returned to their nasty self and that Joe Flacco is now elite... Yes I said elite! The 70 yard touchdown pass he made against Denver in the fourth quarter to tie the game up and take it to overtime was absolute magic and proved he has the ability to potentially mix it with the best. The rejuvenated Flacco has emerged ever since Jim Caldwell has hired as the team's offensive coordinator for week 15 and since then Flacco has thrown 9 touchdowns and just one interception.

Now the Ravens will need to match the Patriots offense if they are to stay in the game as it could well become a shootout but their one concern must be running back Ray Rice as he looks like he is scared about fumbling the football. You can see it in the way Rice is holding the ball and he has already had a few errors during the post-season up until this point. This will be a real cause for concern for Baltimore considering the Patriots lead the league in turnovers with a differential of +25 which includes 20 interceptions and 21 forced fumbles.

Now that New England's defense has the ability to make big plays all over the field thanks to a reborn secondary which can cover the pass and a defense running game led by Vince Wilfork it is going to be hard to get past the Patriots. Combine that with an offense that is getting it done on the ground with Stevan Ridley and their backs love to come out and catch the ball which is what Shane Vereen did perfectly in the team's 41-28 victory over the Texans in the absence of Danny Woodhead who went down to injury in the first quarter. Vereen racked in 83 yards receiving for two touchdowns including a 33 yard touchdown reception from a beautifully thrown pass by Tom Brady as well as racking up 41 yards and a score on the ground.

The Patriots offense is on fire even without superstar tight-end Rob Gronkowski as they have the likes of Hernandez, Lloyd and Welker to go to. The team put up 457 yards in total against Houston in the divisional round and they also boats the number one offense in the league following outstanding performances during the regular season. All of the signs are there for New England to make it back to the Super Bowl and that is exactly what I think will happen. Tom Brady was masterful again last weekend completing 25/40 passing attempts for 344 yards and throwing three touchdown passes. It was a perfect performance by Brady and with the win took him to 17 playoffs wins overtaking the legendary Joe Montana.

The following stats also suggest that New England wins on Sunday:

1. Now it may not be playoff related but in his career as a starter Tom Brady is 136-39

2. Brady is 17-6 in his career as a starter in the playoffs.

3. He is also a very impressive 11-2 at home in the playoffs in his career as starter

4. Finally and probably the most applicable to this game is that Tom Brady is 3-0 at home as a starter in AFC Championship games.

So all in all despite it being pretty obvious that the Ravens do have a chance I fancy New England to win on Sunday and advance to the Super Bowl in New Orleans where if they win it will mark 10 years exactly to the day that they won their first Super Bowl which was also in New Orleans; 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams February 3rd 2002.

Predicted Score: Ravens 23-31 Patriots