NFL Divisional Wrap-Ups

                 

SEAHAWKS 20-REDSKINS 10 (Sportz 4-1 in playoffs).  Hey, I called this thing 24-13...not bad.  Despite losing Shaun Alexander very early in the game to a concussion....the Seahawks were still able to execute their gameplan and beat the surging Skins.  Despite the loss of Alexander and 3 turnovers....Seattle was able to move the ball down the field quite methodically at times.  The real story, however, was the Seattle defense.  They got pressure on Mark Brunell, clamped down on Clinton Portis and did a spectacular job on Santana Moss. 

Yet, the Skins were still in this thing.  They trailed 14-3....essentially started drives inside their own redzone....were stuck with 2nd and 3rd down and longs....yet crawled back to 17-10 and had a shot to get it to 17-13 [c'mon John Hall!!!].  Hall missed a FG late that would've put the Skins down 4 with plenty of time remaining....but the miss seem to demoralize the team....and me.  More on the Skins season and future as a whole at a later time. 

So, the Seahawks have won a playoff game for the first time since 1983...when they beat the Los Angeles Raiders at home in the Kingdome in the AFC playoffs.  They'll host a conference championship game next week for the first time ever...with a shot at the Super Bowl on the line.

                            

BRONCOS 27-PATRIOTS 13 (Sportz 5-1):  As I said, don't throw the blanket "until they are knocked off, they are the champs and I'm picking them" statement out there.  In Denver, you saw a team who won 10 straight postseason games lose to a team that has lost 3 straight postseason games.  Why?  Mistakes.  Things that experienced champions who get the "well, theyare the champs" statements as reasons they will win games don't do. 

New England turned the ball over FIVE times....which were good for 24 Bronco points.  There were errant throws by Tom Brady.  Adam Vinatieri....aka Mr Clutch....missed a field goal attempt.  There were Pats defenders shoving each other on the sidelines.  They were penalized twice as much as Denver....for nearly 4 times as many yards.  Even those "breaks" that championship teams get didn't go the Pats way.  A very questionable pass interference call set up Denver's first TD....and a close fumble call after the Champ Bailey interception set up the game winning TD. 

Of course, it takes a good team to beat the Pats in the postseason...and the Broncos are it.  I mean, they became the first team in this Patriots Dynasty to beat New England in consecutive meetings.  And this team moves on to face either Indy or Pittsburgh next week for the AFC title.  Don't worry....we will hear from the Patriots again.

                             

STEELERS 21-COLTS 18 (Sportz 5-2):  I guess there was rust on the Offensive Machine!  Everything people feared of turned to be true....there was rust.  For a team that is built on timing and cohesiveness, the time off obviously hindered their ability to run their offense.  Of course, that Pitt defense did a lot of hindering too.  They were up in Peyton's grill all afternoon long.  Hitting him, rushing him, screwing up his timing.  And they also did a bang up job keeping Edge in check.  And you gotta give it up to that Pittsburgh offense...who jumped on the Colts early and did just enough to hang onto this thing.

Most people will remember that wild finish.  That pick that was overturned.  The Bettis fumble on the Colts' 2-yd line.  The game saving tackle by - Big Ben?  And the horrific shank of a FG attempt by "some idiot kicker."  Yep, Vanderjagt will get heat, as will Manning, for blowing the Colts greatest opportunity to win a Super Bowl.  I mean, home field advantage, the Super Bowl in a dome not too far away and the Patriots already eliminated.  But, the Colts played pretty soft...just as Joey Porter predicted. 

I don't see how this could be any more disappointing?  I mean, just one month ago...this team was looking for perfection [13-0 was as far as they got].  Now, this team lost 3 of their last 4 games....with the lone win coming at home BARELY over the lowly Arizona Cardinals.  When will it be your year, Colts??

              

PANTHERS 29-BEARS 21 (Sportz 6-2):  It's funny.  Heading into the playoffs...all you heard about was how great the Colts offensive unit was...and how great that Bears defensive unit was.  Well, we saw that Colts offense sputter....what about da Bears?

Same thing.  How else could Steve Smith...the one guy that everyone in the friggin' NFL knows is the biggest threat on that Carolina offense....go off for 218 yards, 12 catches and a pair of TDs????  Smith had SIX plays of 20 yards or more.  Not the Panthers team....just STEVE SMITH!!  The Panthers made a mockery of that vaunted Bears defense by rolling up 434 yards of offense...including 311 in the air. 

COY winner Lovie Smith may get a bit of heat for plugging in Grossman after a total of 7 career starts...but who else did he have?  However, Grossman [like Carson Palmer, Byron Leftwich, Chris Simms and Eli Manning last week] lost his first career playoff game. 

On a bad note, Panther RB DeShaun Foster broke his ankle and is done for the season.