A couple very interesting games are on the docket today.
In the AFC, you have the 17th meeting of Peyton Manning (5 wins) and Tom Brady (11 wins). The last 10 years, the rivalry is 5-5, and their playoff matchups are 2-2. The caveat being Manning has won the last 2. Likely the last hurrah for Manning as a relevant QB, but you never know. Brady marches on through the AFC East yet again as he coasts his way to another deep playoff run. He looks to have a couple more seasons left in his arm.
Denver would seem to have the advantage due to its punishing defense, and Manning is having a fair-to-middling season, but he’s a lot like Aaron Rodgers. Able to pull himself together as the situations become dire. Still and all, betting against Brady this late in the season would be a fool’s bet.
New England 30 – Denver 24
The NFC is featuring 2 teams that each have a Super Bowl loss to their credit. The Panthers of course are an expansion team that came to life in 1995 and reached the Super Bowl in their 9th season, only to lose Super Bowl XXXVIII to the Patriots and a young Tom Brady 32-29 in one of the better Super Bowls in recent memory. AZ on the other hand has been around since 1920, and haven’t won a championship of any kind since 1947. They however were 34 seconds away from a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII over the Steelers in yet another exciting Super Bowl. They lost only for a fantastic catch by Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone. A big part of that Pittsburgh win came at the hands of a 100 yard pick 6 by LB James Harrison as time ran out in the 1st half. A 14 point swing to close the half as all AZ needed to do was get him out of bounds, and couldn’t.
Today? Most of this game depends on Carson Palmer. He played pretty badly last week, and they couldn’t put away a mediocre Green Bay team. One that was only in the game for Aaron Rodgers’ strength of will. Palmer threw a completely awful pick in the end zone, and short-armed another throw for a pick. He played like he didn’t want to make mistakes, and failed. If he can settle down and shred the questionable panther secondary, they can roll up some points. Cam Newton showed he can shred defenses with the best of them, but their problem is getting and blowing leads. If Carolina can run, I think they take AZ pretty handily. I think they do, and Carolina wins a high-scoring affair.
Carolina 37 – AZ 28
Forty Niners Forever 
I don’t see the Broncos beating NE. The NFC game will be won by the team who makes the least mistakes. I hope the Cards win but I think home field advantage and the way the Panthers have been playing will be too much for the Cards.
Manning looked really good on that drive.
This one is going to be about halftime adjustments, barring another NE TD before the half.
VD has one target and no catches.
Oooh. Sanders fakes out Manning. Nice D on the next one.
For some TV related reason, the further west (Denver v. Charlotte) game today started first. Anybody know what the bullcrap TV reason is for that?…
So they could put the east coast game in prime time
Like the Niners and GB a couple years ago. They could have played that game in the day where the temp would have been bad but tolerable, but instead they played it at night where it was -50 below with the wind chill.
Exactly. That’s their marquee matchup, Cammy and Carson.
We get no respect out here I tell ya. East Coast bias is alive and well.
Hey, you get a 1:30 game.
NE should stop throwing to the sidelines. All their bad plays are trying to hit those passes.
Wow. Refs making their presence known. Thats identical to the hit on Giovanni Bernard that wasn’t called.
Neither QB is playing very well. Brady has missed a lot of plays. Denver’s D is the difference.
How many times can they stop Brady? NE pass pro is not doing their job.
Yow. Denver’s defense loomed large.
Despite the hype ……..defense wins
Ted Ginn with a couple big plays.
Palmer coming up small again.
Harbaugh couldn’t get shit from Ginn.
Peterson with a horrible 20 seconds.
Was that Kyle Williams in there on the punt return for the Cards?…
Ouch. Don’t remind me. Palmer is an idiot. Triple coverage on a gift possession.
Skeebs was happy today. A big yes for the first game at least. For Skeebs that’s about as happy as he gets on his blog!
Palmer looking so far like not ready for prime time. That half was embarrassing for both teams. If the Walsh 9ers were up this much at half, Walsh would put pedal to the metal and try to stomp on the neck of the oppo in the second half. Last week, Panthers sat on their big lead. I’d like to see them not fall prey to that again — just go out and play to score more…
I’ve never understood that mentality, snarkk. The Broncos showed today what happens when you don’t take your foot of the gas. Their D kept coming hot and heavy until the last snap and I believe it won them the game. Pounded the shit out of Brady.
Last week the prevent defense (prevent you from winning) almost cost the Panthers the game. At least they learned from that and did the opposite this week. I still say that football coaches are the most conservative dudes out there.
Yeah. Riverboat Ron nearly blew it last week. Interesting to see if they get complacent again.