Playoff Record: (5-3)
Championship weekend is my favorite week of the playoffs. Not only is it the last week that features multiple games, but the crappy 8-8 teams that back their way into the playoffs have been weeded out by now. This year’s championship matchups are extremely tough to predict, but I have faith that the top defensive teams are going to prevail. Check out my picks below:
Sunday January 22, 2012
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots 3 PM ET
Sportsbet.com
Realclearsports.com
It seems the Miami Dolphins have found their next head coach in Packers’ offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. Whether or not this is the right man to take over this anemic offense will obviously depend on Miami’s success in the years to come, but Dolfans have to be excited about the fact that they landed the coordinator of one of the most effective offensive attacks in recent years.
The Green Bay Packers have finished in the top 10 in offensive ranking each of the past 5 seasons, all of which they were led by Joe Philbin. In contrast the Miami Dolphins have not ranked in the top 10 in offense in the last 16 years.
Jockpost.com
ESPN is reporting that Dwight Howard has expressed interest in playing in L.A. Not for the Lakers, but instead the Los Angeles Clippers. No typo, this is right. Can you imagine what that team would look like with Chris Paul, Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin? If they are known as Lob-City now, what would we call them then?! If this team is in fact assembled, they can be the most talented front court since the Spurs’ David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Although the realization that the NFL season is coming to an end is sad (unless you’re a colts fan), we’ve had some really interesting matchups in the playoffs thus far. This weekend featured what was arguably one of the best finishes in NFL playoff history in the Saints vs 49ers game, and we also witnessed the NFL’s version of George Mason University go down vs the almighty Patriots. Check out the results of this weekend’s action below:
My playoff record: 5-3
Saturday January 14th 2012
Final Score: New Orleans Saints 32, San Fransisco 49ers 36
My Prediction: Saints 31 Niners 17 (Niners’ D came to Play!)
BleacherReport.com
The NFL playoffs have been great so far, and this weekend should only get better as the Divisional round features exciting matchups. After going 2-2 last weekend (I too, got Tebowed), I had to put a little more thought into my predictions for this weekend’s action. Check out the picks below
Saturday January 14
New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers
4:30 PM ET
Miami Country Day will play in the South division
The Palm Beach Post is reporting that fourteen South Florida high schools have decided to form their own conference starting as soon as 2012.
The conference will consist of two divisions (each of seven teams), and the division winners will meet in a conference championship game. The conference will align its divisions as seen below:
North Division
South Division
Saturday January 7th 2012
Final Score:Cincinnati Bengals 10, Houston Texans 31
My Prediction: Bengals 24 Texans 21 (too much Foster, not enough Green)
blog.syracuse.com
The main storyline coming into this game was the fact that for the first time ever two rookie quarterbacks were facing each other in a playoff game. However, it was rookie DT J.J. Watt that stole the show. Late in the first half, Watt leaped while engaged with an offensive lineman and was able to intercept and return an Andy Dalton pass for a touchdown. Houston also enjoyed significant contribution from star running back Arian Foster (153 yds 2 Td), and all-pro wide out Andre Johnson (5 rec 90 yds 2 td). The Bengals were unable to get anything going on the ground (76 rushing yds) and were intercepted 3 times. Although Cincinnati obviously struggled in this game, their young nucleus of talent on the offensive side of the ball will only improve and should have them contending in the playoffs for years to come. The Texans travel to Baltimore next week to take on the Ravens.
Saturday January 7th 2012
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans 4:30 PM ET
This matchup marks the first time in the Super Bowl era that two rookie quarterbacks face off in the playoffs. Neither team has had any recent success in the playoffs, so this matchup promises to be a good one. Look for Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to have a huge game as he targets rookie wide receiver A.J. Green, who has also had a magnificent season. In order for the Texans to move on, they must pound the running game with Arian Foster and control the clock for the majority of the game.
Bengals 24 Texans 21
Jeff Fisher has officially narrowed down his decision to either the Miami Dolphins or the St. Louis Rams. Sources say he is expected to make a decision no later than Tuesday afternoon.
Fisher interviewed with the Rams early Thursday after several meetings with the Miami Dolphins. His experience is something that both team value, and has in turn made him the highest sought-after head coach so far this offseason.
The majority of experts believe that the Ram’s job might be more appealing to Fisher. It is obvious that the Rams have stability at the quarterback position (something that has been lacking in Miami since Dan Marino left), and they also posses the 2nd pick in April’s rookie draft.
Penn State has decided to hire New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’brien as their next head coach. Sources confirm that the university will make the official announcement later this weekend.
It will be the first time in 46 years that the Penn State football team is lead by someone other than hall of fame coach Joe Paterno, who was fired earlier this season as a result of sexual abuse allegations against his former defensive coordinator.
Bill O’Brien has coached at universities such as Duke, Maryland, and Georgia Tech. Under his direction this year, the Patriots are the number one offense in the NFL.