AFC East Preview

1. New England Patriots

What I like: Tom Brady commandeers his deepest offense in years. With WRs Deion Branch and Wes Welker already in the fold, the team took a chance on ex-Bengals Pro Bowl wideout Chad Ochocinco. For all his bad press for being showboating attention hog, Ochocinco is also a fine route runner who knows he can't afford to mess up his best chance at a ring by getting too extra with his theatrics. On top of that trio, Brady has a pair of young TE's in Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, both of which are coming off strong rookie seasons. The Pats will go with a two-man running attack led by power back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and last year's crafty pickup Danny Woodhead. The plethora of weapons allows Brady to do what he does best: Spread the ball around and keep defenses guessing and the combo of Ellis and Woodhead will keep defenses honest. Defensively, the team took another big risk in adding volatile DT Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth wasn't a fan of the 3-4 scheme while in Washington but his presence in New England would suggest the team will be using some 4-3 looks as well. To help with their pass defense woes, the team also added DEs Shaun Ellis and Andre Carter and drafted Virginia cover corner Ras-I Dowling. These additions plus Belichick's tinkering with the scheme switching between the 3-4 and 4-3 to confuse opposing offenses will improve a 30th ranked pass defense, as will the continued progression of youngsters like CB Devin McCourtey(team leader in INT's as a rookie last year) and S Pat Chung.

What I don't like: While the team used draft picks on offensive linemen such as Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon, the offensive line has still allowed Brady to take some hits in the preseason. Teams know the key to stopping New England's powerful offense is getting in Brady's face and wrapping him in the mouth to throw off his rhythm. That's why physical defenses like the Jets and Ravens and Steelers have been able to get the better of New England in years past. The team is also taking a decent risk both in hoping that all these new parts on defense will be productive and that infamous knuckleheads like Ochocinco and Haynesworth will be choir boys under Belichick. The Pats have managed to turn problem children like Corey Dillon and Randy Moss but also failed with guys like Brandon Meriwether and Brandon Tate, both of which were cut last week. The Patriots have succeeded with chemistry and a business-as-usual team mentality. Those seem to go against the mindsets of guys like Ochocinco and Haynesworth.

Bottom line: The retooling on offense and defense has made the Patriots the leaders in the clubhouse in the AFC. If Belichick can make worker bees out of his recently acquired divas, the depth on both sides of the ball will be too much for the rest of the league to handle. Beyond getting everyone in line, the team must also prove it can protect Brady as well as improve enough on defense to stop the other high-powered offenses in the conference. While Brady and company are good enough to win most shootouts, battling back and forth through the air makes Brady more susceptible to punishment. Punishment that the team can't afford its franchise face to take.

2. New York Jets

What I like: A year after trying to get a band of mercenaries together like a scene out of "The Expendables" in hopes of locking down a Super Bowl, the team was a bit less frivilous with their money. Gone are rent-a-players like Jason Taylor and Braylon Edwards. The team did, however, agree to bring back Santonio Holmes to give QB Mark Sanchez a big play home run threat and extended serial impregnater Antonio Cromartie to give Gang Green a superb cornerback tandem by pairing him with Darrelle Revis. The move that made the biggest splash was the signing of former Giant Plaxico Burress. Fresh off doing two years in the clink, Burress is set to be this year's Mike Vick and attempt to wow the world with a great comeback story. At the very least, Plax is a big body in the red zone, which gives the team more options beyond TE Dustin Keller and the running back duo of Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson. A couple of other fresh faces are rookies Muhammad Wilkerson and Kendrick Ellis, who have the task of replacing Shaun Ellis and Kris Jenkins on the defensive line. Wilkerson was unblockable at Temple but, as is the case with all rookies this year, he faces an uphill battle trying to learn a complex defense while being hampered by the lockout. The same goes for Ellis, who not only has to adjust coming from small-school dominance at Hampton to trying to carve a niche in the pros but also spent the offseason avoiding deportation after he was charged with aggravated assault while at Hampton. If the rooks can catch up quick, they will open things up for a talented linebacking core that features pass rushers Bryan Thomas and Calvin Pace on the outside and run stuffers Bart Scott and David Harris on the inside.

What I don't like: We know Rex Ryan can coach a defense but the offense remains suspect. QB Mark Sanchez has improved each year but a team with this much hype needs its franchise QB to take some giant strides in Year 3. For the offense to click, a lot of things need to fall into place. For one, it's asking a lot for the 34-year old Burress to go from two years in the joint to being a viable #2 option in the NFL. Even if Burress stumbles, the next best option is 37-year old Derrick Mason. Mason is a decent possession receiver and might fit in perfect as a #3 at his advanced age but the team could have done a better job instilling some youth at the possession as a backup plan. The Jets also neglected the offensive line, which has some holes after losing guard Alan Faneca and tackle Damian Woody in back-to-back years. Those spots were filled by unproven players like Wayne Hunter and Matt Slauson, weakening a once-strong unit. People are also expecting a bounce-back year from Greene. Rex Ryan wanted to go back to smashmouth, run-first football but Greene stumbled out of the gate taking over for Thomas Jones and, while L.T. started out strong in the first half, old age finally caught up to the future Hall of Famer down the stretch. The team is going to need Greene to be the lead back he was drafted to be in Year 3. Otherwise, more pressure will be put on the already lofty shoulders of Mark Sanchez.

Bottom line: Rex Ryan can't stop telling anyone who will listen that his Jets are the team to beat but there are plenty of question marks to make that claim dubious. The Jets will be a playoff team off the strength of a very good defense and some veteran savvy on offense. However, for this team to make the Super Bowl after being stopped dead in its tracks in back-to-back AFC Championship losses, they are going to need big years out of Greene and Sanchez. In a city like New York, it's all about what you've done for me lately. We know Ryan and company can talk the talk, but the young guys have to help the veterans walk the walk. Otherwise, it's another year of white noise.

3. Miami Dolphins

What I like: Am I crazy for thinking Chad Henne isn't THAT bad a QB? Maybe. Henne returns as the starter in Miami after an offseason that saw the team flirt with trading for Kyle Orton but settling for signing ex-Panther Matt Moore. What might be seen as a vote of confidence might me more of a shortening of the leash. This is a make-or-break year for Henne in his fourth season and the tools are in place for the former Michigan Wolverine to succeed. Rookie Mike Pouncey and former Cowboy Marc Colombo were brought in to solidify an already good offensive line led by former top overall pick Jake Long. Once highly-touted runner Reggie Bush was acquired from New Orleans and former K-State RB Daniel Thomas was drafted to replace Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams and give the Dolphins more of a punch in the ground game. Henne will also have weapons in the passing game with supposedly-sane WR Brandon Marshall and last year's breakout star Davone Bess, as well as youngster Brian Hartline. The defense suffered a few losses but gets first-round pick Jared Odrick back to rotate on the defensive line as well as one the game's emerging young LB's in Cameron Wake. Vontae Davis and Sean Smith are coming on as solid young cornerback tandem as well.

What I don't like: As much as I'm willing to give Henne some leeway, I realize I'm in the minority in that category. Henne's been uninspiring in his first two seasons as starter and he could very well be the bust everyone already thinks he is. The same can be said for Bush, who was supposed to be the second coming of Barry Sanders but instead has been softer than Barry Manilow. With the rookie Daniel Thomas a step behind because of the lockout, Bush gets his first real shot of his career to be the lead back. When healthy, Bush is a dynamic playmaker with uncanny speed and good hands out of the backfield but he's never been able to avoid the injury bug. As for Brandon Marshall, he admitted to the world that he was suffering from borderline personality disorder but managed to get it taken care thanks to new meds. When your star wideout needs happy pills to be a better teammate, that should be a cause for concern. The defense is going to miss leading tackler Channing Crowder, who was released and then mysteriously retired. Kevin Burnett was brought in as Crowder's replacement but he's rather ho-hum.

Bottom line: Miami can be a dangerous team is its core players live up to their once-lengthy press clippings. Still, it's asking a lot for guys like Henne, Marshall and Bush to miraculously put it all together in the same season and become the big-time talents they were drafted to be. Henne has no excuses not to improve this season. The offensive line is solid, the supporting cast is better and he's had enough time with the playbook to be able to run the offense smoothly. As for Bush, it will be interesting to see what he can do if he manages to get 20-25 touches a game and plays all 16 this season. Bush has shown flashes during his career but has always been slowed by either his own hype or by injury. The Dolphins aren't close to competing with Super Bowl contenders like New England and New York in their own division but if it somehow all comes together for them, they could be a tough out at the very least.

4. Buffalo Bills

What I like: As dreadful as the Bills were last year. they managed to uncover a few nice surprises. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was better than expected in his first full year as starter and built a nice chemistry with breakout star Steve Johnson. Johnson's emergence allowed the team to cut ties with long time starter Lee Evans. Fred Jackson returns as the starter after wrestling the job away from C.J. Spiller last season. Jackson's been steady yet unspectacular as the team's main ground threat. Defensively, the team made some strides. Buffalo is hoping oft-injured LB's Nick Barnett and Shawne Merriman can return to Pro Bowl form. The return of "Lights Out" is especially crucial to the team's success as he's the team's best pass rusher. The team used the 3rd overall pick on Marcell Dareus, a DE out of Alabama, to be the cornerstone of this 3-4 defense and provide pressure on a defensive line that already features underrated NT Kyle Williams. The secondary also has a share of young up-and-comers in safety Jarius Byrd and CB Leodis McKelvin.

What I don't like: Fitzpatrick's numbers are especially impressive considering he was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. The Bills did nothing to improve a unit that consistently failed to protect its young QB and provide holes for Jackson or Spiller. Speaking of Spiller, the former Clemson standout was a colossal failure as a rookie and the fact that he's behind the pedestrian Fred Jackson is a bad sign for his future as a pro. Any chance of Johnson's success carrying on into this season was compromised by trading Evans. With no other receiver to take attention away from Johnson, the passing game will stall unless someone else can step up. The defense will be much improved by the losses of LB Paul Posluszny and SS Donte Whitner will hurt and the team is really taking a gamble that Barnett and Merriman can stay on the field.

Bottom line: The Bills will be slightly better than last year but the team has huge holes on the offensive line and the trimming of talent on both sides of the ball will prove costly throughout the season. On the bright side, the team might have found something in Fitzpatrick and Johnson and if they can get contributions from Spiller and/or any of its new additions on defense, the team can be respectable in 2011. That's a big if, however.

In This Corner.....

"To be the man, you gotta beat the man!" - Ric Flair

Tomorrow kicks off the NFL postseason, and this year's tournament has a little something for everybody. We've got a couple lovable underdogs(Kansas City, Seattle), some old school, blue collar smashmouth teams (Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Chicago), a few that like to air it out(Green Bay, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Atlanta, New England), a feel-good comeback story(Philadelphia) and even a reality TV star(New York).

Today, we're going to break down the teams to beat in their respective conferences, who has the best chance of knocking them off, and who are this year's dark horses, X-Factors and potential breakout stars. In the process, there will be plenty of pop culture boxing and wrestling references that will inevitably get me made fun of by Gabe.

Paper Champion(the conference favorite): New England Patriots - The Patriots have reverted back to handling business like they did in the pre-Randy Moss years, relying on chemistry and rhythm rather than loading up on the big play downfield. Go-routes have been traded in for quick slants, bubble screens and the occasional hand-off or two. New England managed to finally find an adequate running game via "The Lawfirm", BenJarvus Green-Ellis(1,008 yards rushing, 13 TDs). The effectiveness of Ellis on the ground has kept defenses from focusing on Tom Brady, which has led to Brady not turning the ball over in two months. Defensively, the Patriots' bend-but-don't-break defense is what makes this team more Piston Honda than Mr. Dream(or Mike Tyson, for those who didn't play the original Punch-Out). The team doesn't have a pass rusher with more than 5 sacks(OLB Tully Banta-Cain) and, outside of rookie CB Devin McCourtey's 7 picks, no other player has more than 3 interceptions. That's led to the Pats being near the bottom in pass defense(30th) and total yardage allowed(25th), and is the chief reason why this Patriots team may not steamroll through the playoffs like many are assuming.

The Contender(team with the best chance of knocking off the champ): Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens are the last team to intercept Brady, picking him off twice in their 23-20 OT loss to New England back on Oct. 17th. The Ravens also possess the ability to strike at New England's Achilles' heel, which is pounding the ball inside with the run game as well as be physical and aggressive enough on defense to smack Brady in the mouth. That was the formula Baltimore used to trounce the Patriots in Foxboro last year and this year's version of the Ravens now have a passing game to complement The Ray Rice Show. You could throw the Pittsburgh Steelers in the mix here, too, but only if DE Aaron Smith manages to come back from a torn triceps that kept him out most of the season(which the chances of that are slim) as well as if S Troy Polamalu can stay healthy(also no guarantee).

Little Mac Award:(team with an outside shot becoming champion): New York Jets - The Jets spent the offseason in "win now" mode, uniting every title-hungry veteran in the Meadowlands as if they were filming an NFL version of "The Expendables". Gang Green has been up and down all year, faced with its own inconsistency(the terrible second half play of QB Mark Sanchez and the disappearance of LaDainian Tomlinson down the stretch, for starters) as well as a myriad of distractions(Braylon Edwards' DUI, the filming of "Hard Knocks", the Brett Favre-Jenn Sterger fiasco, Michelle Ryan's foot fetish videos), and that has tempered some of the early season Super Bowl hype. That may work in the Jets' favor. 11-5 teams ranked in the top 5 in nearly every defensive category with a QB that's playoff seasoned and a run game that ranks among the top in the league can be a scary team to face(especially in the cold). The X-Factor for New York will be Tomlinson. Left for dead by the San Diego Chargers after years of coming oh-so-close to the Super Bowl, LT ran with a vengeance early in the season and then tapered off in the last couple of months(less than 60 yards rushing every game since mid-October). Time will tell whether it's because Rex Ryan was saving his aging lead back for the playoffs or it's a further sign of decline for the future Hall of Famer. Regardless, an L.T./Shonn Greene combination as well as Sanchez finally finding a game breaker in former Steeler WR Santonio Holmes(another guy with playoff seasoning) may give the Jets the type of balance that makes them a tough matchup these next few weeks(especially against their opening round opponent, Indianapolis, which is soft against the run). On defense, they haven't missed NT Kris Jenkins much, as the team finished the regular season third in run defense. OLBs Jason Taylor, Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas provided a fierce pass rush, with all three notching over 5 sacks a piece(Taylor leading the way with 6), although the secondary hasn't been able to take full advantage of the pressure the front seven has provided(a surprisingly low 12 team INTs).


Mickey Ward Award(player with the most to prove): Ravens QB Joe Flacco - This was supposed to be "The Year of Jersey Joe". With wide receivers Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, and Donte Stallworth added to an arsenal that already featured fellow wideout Derrick Mason and versatile RB Ray Rice, Flacco was supposed to step up into the elite ranks of signal callers. Flacco's numbers were respectable(62% completion percentage, nearly 3,700 yards passing, 25 TDs, 10 INTs) but the offensive line has failed him at times(40 sacks allowed). We all know no team can succeed in January without at least competent QB play(even though the Ravens last title came with Trent Dilfer leading them), so it goes without saying that the Ravens are screwed if Flacco isn't ready for primetime. Still, the case can be made that no QB in the AFC has as many high-profile weapons as Flacco does and, with a defense littered with stars whose championship window is closing quickly(MLB Ray Lewis, S Ed Reed), the Ravens' fate lies in the hands of their 6'6 238-pound gunslinger.


Hasim Rahman Award(guy most likely to go from nothing to something): Eric Berry, S, Chiefs - It's hard to say a rookie heralded as "the next Ed Reed" can possibly fly under the radar and become an overnight celebrity(especially after a 92-tackle, 2 sack, 1 forced fumble, 4-INT rookie campaign), but Berry has the skills to make his mark in these playoffs. Normally, breakout stars are found on the offensive side of the ball(as we saw with Pierre Garcon and Shonn Greene last year), but fantasy football has emerged to the point where any run-of-the-mill offensive playmaker can become a household name with a breakout game(which is why this spot wasn't given to Patriots TE's Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez). The Chiefs are a team with no real notable wins, which is why many have written them off as "one and done" once they host Baltimore on Sunday. However, since Baltimore's defense will stifle the Chiefs' underrated offense for most of the night in Arrowhead, Kansas City's best shot at an upset will be to match the Ravens' efforts defensively. Given how important safety play has become in the NFL, that means we're looking at a potentially big game for Berry.

Pacquaio-Mayweather Award(conference's most anticipated matchup): Colts at Patriots - As much as I hate the slurpfest that these New England-Indianapolis matchups end up becoming in the pregame hype leading up to kickoff, there's no denying that Brady vs. Manning is this generation's Marino vs. Montana(or Aikman vs. Young or Marino vs. Elway, whichever you choose).

The Brady-Manning showdowns almost always live up to the hype, with this year's regular season clash being no exception. The Colts attempted to come back from a double-digit deficit but a Peyton Manning interception on the potential game-winning drive gave New England the win. With New England and Indianapolis hardly possessing lights out defenses, a potential rematch between the two will no doubt be another shootout and, while matchups against the Jets, Steelers or Ravens would be entertaining, no team is better at playing the foil to the Patriots than Manning's Colts.

TV Champion(The conference favorite): Atlanta Falcons - They trot out the NFC's most balanced attack combined with being nearly untouchable at home. If The Carolinas are "Flair Country, the A-T-L is "Matty Ice Land". Matt Ryan, in his third year, is a long playoff run away from stepping into the next tier of franchise QBs. Helping him along the way will be bruising running back Michael "The Burner" Turner and Ryan's pass-catching tag team partner Roddy White. The Falcons' balance on offense is their calling card. Their suspect defense, however, is what makes them a shaky favorite. Despite being 5th in points allowed, the are 22nd against the pass, and 16th in total yards. That's a bit troubling in a conference that will see them face pass-heavy teams like Philly, Green Bay or New Orleans. Luckily, the Falcons get to play host in the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome, where the team has lost three times in head coach Mike Smith's three years and where Ryan has lost just twice as a starter. What goes against the Falcons, other than their leaky pass D, is their relative inexperience. Ryan made the playoffs a couple years ago as a rookie, but still doesn't have a playoff W. The Falcons also don't have a convincing win against a legit contender this season. Atlanta got some Charles Robinson-type poor officiating to help them beat Baltimore a couple months ago, and they edged out New Orleans by way of a shanked Garrett Hartley chip shot in OT as well as sneaking out a win against Green Bay thanks to a bad facemask penalty setting up the game-winning field goal. Of the top seeds in these playoffs, the Falcons look like the sketchiest, but that's why we play the games.


The Legend Killer(team with the best chance of knocking off the champ) : New Orleans Saints - As I said earlier, they came thisclose to sweeping Atlanta and they proved their mettle by going into the Georgia Dome two weeks ago and pulling out a W on national television. The Saints have the NFC's best coach(Sean Payton) and best QB(Drew Brees) and, perhaps the biggest factor, they've been here before. Brees is one of two QBs(Mike Vick being the other) with a playoff win to his name in the NFC and, even though rookie QBs have made big playoff runs in years past, experience goes a long way in the playoffs, especially during crunch time. Defensively, unlike their NFC South rival, the Saints are stout against the pass(but not so much against the run) and they have the easiest of the four Wild Card matchups by drawing a putrid Seahawks team that they crushed in Week 11(34-19 in New Orleans). What will hurt the Saints the most is their lack of a run game. RBs Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas are done for the postseason, meaning the weight now falls squarely on former poster child Reggie Bush to provide some production on the ground. Bush's biggest plays of his pro career have come in the postseason(his electrifying run against Chicago a few years ago and last year's dominance of the Cardinals). If Bush can be even somewhat close to USC Reggie Bush, the Saints are the team to beat in the NFC...hands down.

The Third Man(team with an outside shot of making a surprise run): Green Bay Packers - Call me a homer, but history tends to reflect positively on teams that rank in the top 10 on both sides of the ball. Green Bay possesses the 2nd best overall defense(statistically, at least) and the 10th best scoring offense. They are 5th in total yards allowed and pass defense, 9th in total yards, and 5th in passing. Obviously, what holds Green Bay back is both the lack of a run game and their occasional struggles with stopping the run. Since Ryan Grant went down in Week 1, the team has tried everything short of resuscitating Edgar Bennett to get something going on the ground. Brandon Jackson, the man who was initially drafted to be the Packers' lead back, finished with a little over 700 yards rushing and even his relatively decent games have been few and far between. The Packers' offense still lives and dies through Aaron Rodgers, who put up yet another stellar season(65.7% completion percentage, 3,922 yards passing, 28 TDs and 11 INTs) even despite falling victim to two concussions. The key is keeping Rodgers' upright. The Packers' offensive line, the team's biggest weakness at this point last year, cut down its sacks allowed from 51 last year to 38 this year but still aren't exactly a brick wall when it comes to defending a pass rush. If Rodgers gets time to throw, though, look out. Very few teams in the NFC(or even the NFL) can match offenses with the Packers, especially with the way the defense has played of late. Led by a reigning Defensive Player of the Year(CB Charles Woodson) and the frontrunner for this year's DPOY award(LB Clay Matthews), the Packers have put opposing offenses on lockdown. The road to Dallas will be rough, however. Although they beat Philadelphia at The Linc in Week 1, the win came when the Packers were much healthier than they are now and with Mike Vick on the bench for the first half. If they can somehow repeat their opening week performance, they will then have to go into Atlanta where they lost a close one to the Falcons a couple months ago. If they can survive that, they'll either travel to Chicago for a third showdown with the Bears(who they lost to at Soldier Field earlier in the season) or to NOLA to face the defending champs. The Packers eeked into the playoffs, despite a multitude of key injuries, but if they can stay away from dumb penalties and find a way to pull out wins in close games(two HUGE ifs), this team will be right where many had them in the preseason: The Super Bowl. (Side Note: For those who don't get the "Third Man" reference, take a look at this. P.S. When it comes to announcing, Tony Schiavone makes Jon Gruden look like Vin Scully.)

Most In Need To Get "Over"(Player with the most to prove): Michael Vick, QB, Eagles - As great as this storybook season has been for Mike Vick(62.8% completion, 3,018 yards passing, 676 yards rushing, 30 total TDs, 6 INTs) the best chapter has yet to be written. Vick needs a postseason that mirrors the first half of his regular season to end one of the greatest comebacks in this sport's history. Vick went from the league's most notorious heel to its biggest babyface after coming off the bench for the injured Kevin Kolb and finally realizing the potential that made him a #1 pick in 2001. Finally able to dominate with both his arm and his legs, Vick has morphed into the league's most electrifying player. Still, in the past couple of weeks, Vick's old form has reared its ugly head. For a guy who is often the fastest man on the field, he still takes far too many sacks and his scrambling ability makes him prone to big hits that his smallish frame can't continue to withstand. If the Eagles are going to be serious Super Bowl contenders, everything rides on Number Seven's ability to continue to extend plays with his feet while remaining accurate with his passes. The combination of Vick's versatility and the incendiary speed of playmakers like DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy make the Eagles like a more modern "Greatest Show On Turf", and with Vick's contract up at the year, a lot rides on him closing the show much like he started it.

From Jobber To Superstar(guy most likely to go from nothing to something): Mike Williams, WR, Seattle - Lost in all the glitz of the soon-to-be-a-Hollywood-blockbuster-with-Terrence-Howard-playing-the-lead-role comeback story of Mike Vick is the triumphant return of another Mike: former Lions first round bust Mike Williams. Sure, Williams didn't even have the best season of guys sharing the same name(Tampa's Mike Williams had a better year on a far better team that is far more deserving of a playoff spot than these Seahawks), but he's arguably the best player on the worst team in these playoffs and since we're hours away from forgetting anything sports-related the city of Seattle will have to offer between now and baseball season, we might as well give the Seahawks some face time. As good as the Saints are against the pass, it's tough to really account for a receiver built like BMW("Big" Mike Williams, for you slow-witted folk). Williams runs 6'5, 235 pounds, with hands like magnets and the speed of a minivan. He's pretty much a glorified tight end, but he's going to be Matt Hasselbeck's most reliable target and there's going to be at least a play or two tomorrow where you sit up and say "Oh shit! Who the hell is that!?". The Seahawks' only hope of pulling off a 123 Kid/Razor Ramon-type upset will be if Williams can move the chains and get the loudest crowd in the NFL motivated enough to at least somewhat intimidate the defending champs. I can see BMW reeling in five or six catches and a score as the Seahawks make things interesting on the first drive.....and then proceed to get annihilated for the next 3 1/2 quarters. At least now you can say you know who Mike Williams is before you bother use Wikipedia during the commercial break.


Steamboat vs Flair Award(most anticipated matchup) Eagles at Falcons - Eventhough the NFC plays the inferior ugly stepsister to the AFC, there are some good potential matchups on the horizon. Packers-Saints would be exciting, as would Saints-Eagles and maybe even Falcons-Bears. However, in continuing with the "Comeback Story of Mike Vick" theme, this postseason can really only shape up one way: With Mike Vick trying to lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl by going into the place that he once packed to the rafters and taking on his successor. Mike Vick vs. the team that threw him away IN Georgia. You can't script it better than that. The place will be filled with deafening mixed emotions, with some glad to see Mike Vick back while others unwilling to forgive him for why he left. On top of that, it pits two of the most exciting offenses in the league against each other, on the Georgia Dome carpet, for a chance at representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. As much as it goes against every fiber in my being to root against my Packers, the only way I can digest a Eagles win this weekend would be if it led to Vick inevitably stepping foot into the place he once called home, staring out into the crowd he once flipped off "Stone Cold" Steve Austin-style, and putting on a show similar to his Madden-like performance against the Redskins on Monday night.

Pay-Per-View Headliners(the five, er, six best potential Super Bowl matchups):



Honorable Mention: Seahawks-Jets - Barring some kind of Disney-scripted fairy tale postseason run, this has absolutely NO SHOT at happening. However, if Seattle can pull off a Cinderella run, we get Mark Sanchez against the college coach that chastised Sanchez's decision to declare early. We get a week's worth of Rex Ryan soundbites, a chance to see LaDainian Tomlinson in the Super Bowl, the first ever Super Bowl matchup featuring a team that finished the regular season with a losing record. There's also Seattle getting its revenge after the referees screwed them over in 2005(Sorry, Steeler fans!), as well as the biggest sports market in the country going ape shit for two straight weeks(and maybe even more if Carmelo Anthony goes to the Knicks or Nets somewhere in that timeframe). Sanchez gets to do his best Ben Roethlisberger impression and go from AFC Championship in his rookie year and Super Bowl in his second(and maybe even a sexual assault in his postgame), and Darrelle Revis gets to babysit Antonio Cromartie's 8 kids while trying to find something to keep him entertained during his defense of Mike Williams. How can you not root for this? Oh, because of the potential words "Super Bowl winning QB Charlie Whitehurst", huh?

5. Jets-Falcons: Obviously, all the Jets' reasons from the last paragraph are in play here as well. The media circus behind this Jets team would be phenomonal, and you know we'll get at least two or three good Rex Ryan quotes during the interviews leading up to the big game. LaDainian Tomlinson gets to return home to Texas, much like Jerome Bettis did in Detroit in '05, and possibly end his career with a ring(though I don't think this is the end for LT). A couple storybook endings for Jason Taylor and Tony Gonzalez, two of the best people the sports world has seen in this generation. You get a battle between two up-and-coming QBs in Mark Sanchez and Matt Ryan, and the potential for Ryan to build on his "Matty Ice" legacy with a 4th quarter drive. There's Jets team officials trying to both keep Braylon Edwards off the bottle and Antonio Cromartie from knocking up any Dallas cheerleaders. A "student vs. teacher" plotline with Michael Turner against L.T, the inevitable deflection of questions about the Jets' sexual harrassment lawsuit as well as Michelle Ryan questions, Telemundo getting excited about possibly the first Latin Super Bowl-winning QB, "Rowdy" Roddy White vs. Revis Island, and of course, Rex Ryan soundbites(Yup, so good, it had to be mentioned twice!).

4. Steelers-Eagles: Only for the sole purpose that, when this one is over, the man hoisting the Lombardi Trophy will either be a man twice accused of sexual assault who will be winning his third ring in seven years or a man who spent nearly two years in prison for bankrolling a dogfighting ring. Maybe it's not "exciting" from a football standpoint, although both offenses are good enough to keep it from being a snoozefest, but from a storyline standpoint alone, it's a matchup that will make Roger Goodell sweat and reporters salivate on Media Day.

3. Ravens-Falcons: It's the age-old showdown of a great defense against a great offense. It's a matchup between the two marquee QBs of the 2008 NFL Draft, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. It's the potential last hurrah for two sure-fire Hall of Famers(Ray Lewis and Tony Gonzalez) and another possible Canton resident(Ed Reed), and maybe even a last goodbye for Derrick Mason. It's a rematch of perhaps the only entertaining Thursday night game all season and a game that ended with some very suspect officiating at the end. It's a chance for John Harbaugh to steal a little of the spotlight from his San Fran-bound brother, and it's a chance for two cities(one that had its team stolen from them in the middle of the night, the other a team that lost the biggest star the team has ever had to dogfighting) to finally stand on top of the world.

2. Packers-Patriots: A rematch of the two's hotly-contested battle a few weeks ago, this time with Aaron Rodgers(hopefully) filling in for Matt Flynn(it's also a rematch of the '96 Super Bowl, the last one the Packers won, but that may be too dated to matter that much). It's a showdown between two of the league's best QBs and a shot to finally step out of the shadow of Brett Favre for Rodgers. It's arguably the league's smartest coach and most meticulous gameplanner against argaubly one of the game's dumbest coaches and worst crunchtime coaches. It will be a nice cherry on top of a battered sundae for the Packers or yet another notch on the belt of the great Tom Brady.

1. Saints-Patriots: Brees! Brady! That should pretty much say it all. Incase it doesn't, how about this: Reggie Bush doing his best Desmond Howard impression, reporters trying to get a halfway decent quote from Bill Belichick and Sean Payton, endless jokes about Brady's hair, Brees replacing Peyton Manning as Brady's biggest competition for immortality, Brees also getting a shot to play "Legend Killer" for another great QB in back-to-back years, another reason for a huge New Orleans party, Mark Wahlberg vs. Harry Connick Jr., one more week of yelling "Lawfirm!" at BenJarvus Green-Ellis, one more week of yelling "Ray J's Sloppy Seconds!" at Reggie Bush......oh, and it's Brady vs. Brees....and it really doesn't get much better than that.

The Pick: Patriots over Saints - I had Ravens over Packers in the preseason and, as much as I would like to stick to my guns here, both of those teams commit way too many dumb penalties and have too many glaring weaknesses to be relied upon. I do think the Ravens have the best shot at beating New England, but it's hard to bet against this Pats team right now. As for New Orleans, the only team with a legitmate shot at beating them in the NFC is Philly and there's a puncher's chance that the Eagles don't make it out of the first round. I have no faith in Atlanta....not enough convincing wins against tough opponents, not enough experience in the playoffs and, certianly, not enough defense. As good as Matt Ryan has been, he's not winning a shootout with Drew Brees in the playoffs. I like New England over New Orleans because the Patriots can run the ball better and Brady is less likely to make big mistakes than Brees is. As much as I'd like to see the Jets and my Packers here, I think we're looking at another parade in Beantown and another spring of annoying Pats bandwagon fans going nuts. Sorry, America.

Better Luck Next Time

Less than two weeks from today, the Saints and Colts will kick off what is expected to be a very exciting Super Bowl(a Super Bowl that could have been much more exciting had both teams played a bit harder in December and ended up at this point both at 18-0). We have more than enough time to get to the Super Bowl, but what about the other playoff teams that had to leave with some nice parting gifts?

Ask no more. Here's a detailed look at what should be on the agenda for the ten playoff teams who couldn't make the big dance(starting with the recently eliminated first).

1. Minnesota Vikings

How It Ended: The same way any big Brett Favre playoff game seems to end these days: With The Riverboat Gambler's uncanny knack for completing passes to the guys in the wrong colored shirts in the most inopportuned times. Favre wasn't alone wearing the goat horns, as guys like Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson fumbled the ball the way Carlos Menica fumbles another comedian's jokes.

What Happens Now: Obviously, who quarterbacks this team next year is first and foremost. Favre says he's unlikely to come back next year, but how many times have we heard THAT this decade? Backup Tarvaris Jackson is a free agent and you have to think he's not returning if he thinks he'll be Favre's caddy again. That's why the Vikes need to harden their stance and impose a deadline for Favre's decision. If Favre agrees to come back, the team can move on to their other big need: Finding an heir apparent for one half of the vaunted Williams Wall, Pat Williams(who says he is 50-50 on whether he's hanging them up). If Big Pat decides to give it one more go, the team can focus their first rounder on a QB whether Favre comes back or not. The fact of the matter is, if the team had faith that Jackson or Sage Rosenfels could run the show, they wouldn't have spent last summer making the googly-eyes at Favre.

Oh, and if you can find a solid RBs coach who can teach AP how to be a bit more careful with the football, that might be great for Minny's long-term future. Other than that, this team is set to contend for quite some time.

2. New York Jets

How It Ended: They showed some spunk on the road against the Colts, but inevitably became another victim of The Peyton Manning Show. The Colts also seemed to do a better job in the second half running the ball, Gang Green's trademark, which made stopping Number 18 that much harder.

What Happens Now: Like the Falcons last year, the team has the luxury of knowing it has a capable, playoff-tested young QB in Mark Sanchez. The team also has a great young runner in 3rd-rounder Shonn Greene. However, there are questions. Starting RB Thomas Jones, who quietly had a solid season, has been rumored to have played his last down in Jersey as the team looks to save some money. The same might also be true for injured and since long-forgotten RB Leon Washington, who was hoping for a big contract before he was lost for the season and Greene decided to break out. Two other big decisions involve WR Braylon Edwards, whom the team traded for midseason, and LB Vernon Gholston, the #6 pick of the 2008 Draft. The Jets need to decide whether they want to move forward with the stone-handed Edwards, who will probably want a contract along the lines of what the Cowboys paid fellow hands of concrete wideout Roy Williams, as their top guy. Edwards showed flashes of his ability in the AFC Championship with his 80-yard catch and run against the Colts. That also came two weeks after a potential TD catch hit right off his mitts against Cincinatti. If the Jets wave bye-bye to Braylon, they could try to make another move for a guy like Arizona's Anquan Boldin or sign problematic wideout Brandon Marshall OR they can go the draft route and look at a guy like Notre Dame's Golden Tate.

As for Gholston, two years removed from all of the Lawrence Taylor hype he had coming out of a productive career at Ohio State and an impressive combine, he's still yet to record an NFL sack. Perhaps it's his inability to play in the 3-4 or perhaps he's not really the goods. Nevertheless, he's making a nice paycheck for zero production, and that's something that's sure to not sit right with GM Mike Tannenbaum or coach Rex Ryan. Other needs for Gang Green include finding a solid corner to play opposite Darrelle Revis and perhaps a change-of-pace back for Greene if they decide to part with Jones and Washington.

3. Dallas Cowboys

How It Ended: The Cowboys got a thorough lesson in defensive dominance at the hands of the Vikings as Leslie Frazier's boys routinely found ways to smack Tony Romo and company in the mouth.

What Happens Now: We can debate for days whether keeping Wade Phillips as head coach was the right move but, at the end of the day, Phillips is still the coach. The team would probably love to cut ties with drop-prone loud mouth Roy Williams, but that would be very costly. For now, they'll have to settle on improving on a team that seems to be thisclose every year. First things first has to be the offensive line. When left tackle Flozell Adams isn't a holding penalty waiting to happen, he's showing every bit of his 34 years of age. The time has come for the Cowboys to make a concerned effort on protecting its pretty boy star quarterback. Next up, the team needs to continue to bolster their secondary, especially at the safety position. SS Gerald Sensabaugh was decent in his first year in Big D, but he's hardly a franchise guy(he's also a restricted free agent). As for FS Ken Hamlin, when it comes to tackling, he swings and misses more often than Mike Cameron. The team can consider itself lucky if freakishly athletic safety Taylor Mays of USC is still available in Round 1, but that's probably wishful thinking.

Last, but certianly not least, this team needs a kicker. Nick Folk came and went and the late season addition of Shaun Suisham only served to make Folk look like Gary Anderson. This team needs a kicker who can consistantly put it through the uprights. Pronto!

4. San Diego Chargers

How It Ended: The Bolts continued their string of January lumps in the throat with another postseason no-show against the Jets.

What Happens Now: When you're one of the worst rushing teams in the league, the running game needs addressing. LaDainian Tomlinson was given a reprieve of his horrible season last year and was allowed to come back so he can continue to look washed up this season. The buck probably stops here this offseason. By cutting the 31-year old Tomlinson, the team saves $4 million, which it can use to lock up jitterbug back Darren Sproles or even linebacker Shawne Merriman. Sproles is clearly not an every down back and the decision to pass on "Beanie" Wells will continue to haunt them. With so many young stars on this team, adding a franchise RB has to top the list if this team is going to challenge the AFC's big three(Indy/Pittsburgh/New England...though NE's time might be over). One name that could be interesting is Titans FA back LenDale White. White was a star at Southern Cal and with the emergence of Chris Johnson in Tennessee, he's clearly not coming back to Nashville. With so few openings for starting RBs in the NFL, White might find his free agent options limited and may pounce at the idea of being a star in the Golden State once again.

If they can nab a guy like White, the team can shift its focus to finding some more beef on the interior defensive line(Texas A &M's Terrance Cody comes to mind) or on the interior offensive line(Idaho guard Mike Iupati would be nice). A new coach would help, too, but that's a whole 'nother story.

5. Arizona Cardinals

How It Ended: After giving up 45 points in a thriller against the Packers, the Cards decided to do it again against the Saints.......only this time, Arizona couldn't drop 51 to advance.

What Happens Now: All signs point to former Heisman winner and 10th overall pick Matt Leinart taking the reigns from the retiring Kurt Warner. That's an obvious step back, and the eventual departure of WR Anquan Boldin certianly doesn't help matters. While the team can use some more help protecting its new QB with an infusion of talent on the offensive line, you clearly need to address the defense first when you give up 90 points in two games. The team already lost pass-rusher Bertrand Berry to retirement and have to make some free agent decisions on top guys like Karlos Dansby, Gabe Watson, and Chike Okeafor. The team might decide to keep Dansby(the hero of the Packers win) and Watson(a valuable big body inside) and let Okeafor find greener pastures elsewhere. That would mean the team needs to grab a couple pass rushers and perhaps find an upgrade in the middle of the linebacking core opposite Dansby(if he's retained). Alot will ride on what the team can get for Boldin if and when he's dealt and whether the team can have more solid talent fall to them much like Beanie Wells did last year.

6. Baltimore Ravens

How It Ended: The Colts quieted a one-dimensional offense and beat up an aging defense so bad, Ed Reed might retire.

What Happens Now: Age and a lack of depth could give the Ravens the grimest outlook of all the playoff teams. If Reed decides to hang them up, there would be no replacing him. Add that to the fact that the team already needed help in the secondary after watching their corners get burnt to a crisp all season. Legendary MLB Ray Lewis came back with authority this season, but how many great seasons does he really have left at 34?

On offense, if QB Joe Flacco is going to be a star in this league, he's going to need weapons other than RB Ray Rice. Top wideout Derrick Mason is thinking retirement and the guys behind him, Mark Clayton, Kelly Washington and Demetrius Williams, are free agents. That could mean the team doubles up in the offseason with a combination of Marshall/Boldin and a first rounder like USC's Damien Williams or LSU's Brandon LaFell. The team also needs to lock up LT Jared Gaither to shore up a much improved offensive line.

7. Green Bay Packers

How It Ended: In a blaze of glory. The Packers came back from down 21 at the half to force overtime and get their heart broke by a Cardinals team that was on the ropes at home.

What Happens Now: Like the Chargers, the Packers have enough young talent on both sides of the ball to be downright dangerous the next few years. QB Aaron Rodgers has proven to be a top 3 QB. RB Ryan Grant has come on as a franchise back, and the recieving core is four deep with Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Plus, the team found a potential stud in young TE Jermichael Finley. On defense, Clay Matthews Jr. was absolute steal at the end of the first round last year and they have the reigning Def. POTY in aging Charles Woodson.

That being said, even with the improved performance down the stretch, the offensive line needs work. The Packers need to snag one of the top left tackle prospects, be it Oklahoma's Trent Williams or Iowa's Bryan Bulaga. The team can also use some depth on the interior as well as injuries forced them to do some shuffling throughout the season.

On defense, longtime franchise pass rusher Aaron Kampman will probably be allowed to walk as he's not a fit for the team's 3-4 scheme. The same might also be said of former Pro Bowl corner Al Harris, who was lost for the second straight year with an injury and is a bit long in the tooth at 34. If Harris goes, locking up backup Tramon Williams becomes a priority, as does signing Pro Bowl S Nick Collins long-term(and hard-hitter Atari Bigby, as well). The Packers will enter next season with potentially only four starters over 30(Woodson, Driver, Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton), but even with all the fresh legs, depth is going to be a huge concern.

Another underlying issue will be the return game. Return specialist Will Blackmon is a free agent but, like Harris, has had his injury woes. The team can hope to find a guy to replace Blackmon in the draft but will more than likely try to keep him.

8. New England Patriots

How It Ended: Bad karma came back to sting the overly-aggressive Patriots in the form of the punishing Ravens defense in one of the most embarressing playoff losses in New England history.

What Happens Now: The team gets Tom Brady a full year recovered from ACL surgery, so perhaps that goes a long way to helping the offense. What won't help the offense will be the recovery of Brady's top target, Wes Welker, who tore his ACL and MCL in a meaningless Week 17 loss to Houson. With Welker not being completely right and continued concerns about Randy Moss' effort, the once electrifying Patriots passing attack looks like it might be grounded. Speaking of the ground, the team will probably cut ties with RB Laurence Maroney who subconciously tried his best to get booted out of Beantown. That means going back to the drawing board and bringing in a new rusher as current holdovers Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris are a bit too old to carry the load. That could mean a guy like Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer or Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart. The offensive line is going to need some adjusting, especially if Brady continues to develop happy feet in the pocket.

As for the defense....well, it doesn't look good. The Leigh Bodden/Shawn Springs experiment didn't work so well and the team has yet to develop a young corner through the draft the way it did with guys like Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs. The front seven is a mess, with the only real standouts being ILB Jerod Mayo, DE Ty Warren and NT Vince Wilfork(whose a free agent). Adalius Thomas is probably on the next thing smoking out of Belichick-ville, and one has to wonder if that means the team will take a look at free agent pass rusher Julius Peppers. With the Jets and Dolphins nipping at their heels, this offseason more so than any other, leaves very little room for error for The Boston Hoodie and company.

9. Philadelphia Eagles

How It Ended: Philly laid down to division rival Dallas in back-to-back weeks, first in Week 17 in a game for the division title and then in the Wild Card round. Both losses should have been the end of the Andy Reid Era, but alas, we get one more year of Big Red.

What Happens Now: Time to decide on a QB. Is it going to be embattled starter Donovan McNabb? Annointed heir apparent Kevin Kolb? Or the wild card, ex-con Mike Vick? We can probably take Vick out of the equation, as his starting days will probably not be in Philly(Washington, perhaps?). Reid has said that McNabb's his guy but you have to wonder just when Donovan is going to ask to get out of Philly, where he's constantly under fire. The same goes for Kolb. After showing flashes of competence in relief, it has to be irritating for him to continue to play McNabb's caddy. Reid knows his fate lies with McNabb, which is why this will be the final show for both if they can't produce on all the promise that has been generated since their arrival in '98.

Beyond the signal caller issue, there's the possible retirement of RB Brian Westbrook(which is somewhat padded by the presence of "Shady" McCoy) and a newfound focus on fixing the defense after years of adding offensive weapons. After addressing their big needs on the offensive line last year with Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews, the team now needs to fix some holes on the D. The team really missed Brian Dawkins in centerfield and will have to fight Dallas as well as others for a guy like Taylor Mays. The team is also hoping to get better health from the linebacking core as things went downhill once Stewart Bradley went down in camp. The Eagles have solid depth at corner and on the defensive line and, on paper, they will be once again considered a threat for the Super Bowl. The biggest issue, though, will be how dangerous the formidable Eagles will be to themselves if they make another postseason run.

10. Cincinatti Bengals

How It Ended: Like the Eagles, the Bengals held their hands behind their back facing an opponent for the second time in as many weeks. First, the Bengals pulled out quicker than a kid on prom night in their shutout loss to the Jets. Then, Gang Green beat on the Bengals once again in Cincinatti in the Wild Card game.

What Happens Now: After finding their franchise back in the most unlikely of places(former Bears castoff Cedric Benson), the Bengals need to breath some life into their once powerful air attack. Head coach Marvin Lewis put the shackles on former #1 pick Carson Palmer, playing it safe all season to avoid injury to his franchise QB. The result was a offense that lacked a punch beyond Benson's hard-nosed running. After spending three draft picks on wideouts in the event they'd lose star wideout Chad Ochocinco, the Bengals are now stuck in a quagmire where, not only is Ochocinco still present, but there is nobody around to complement him. The team lost Chris Henry to a tragic accident and the rest of passing game seemed to die with him. Andre Caldwell showed signs of promise, but is still wildly inconsistant and Missing Persons is still searching for youngster Jerome Simpson. Even if the team can find a viable partner for Ocho, that becomes moot if they don't lock up Benson to a long term deal.

On defense, the Bengals possess an underrated cornerback tandem in Jonathan Joesph and Leon Hall. They also hit home runs in the draft with linebackers Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga. The focus now will be shoring up the defensive line, where the team saw its pass rush zapped once sack leader Antwan Odom was lost for the season. Greg Hardy is an interesting prospect out of Ole Miss but a guy who could really bring a pass rush is USF's George Selvie. The team can also make a play for Packers' FA Aaron Kampman, who starred for years in the 4-3.