Free Access to Computer Science Course Material

Coming into this semester, I thought it would be a good decision to take a class that covered the basics of computer science.  After my first week of classes however, I decided that it wasn't worth the time and dedication because of my work and school schedules.  My interest in the subject has not diminished though, and I tried to seek out a way to get that information elsewhere.

So earlier this week, someone pointed me towards a website that offers Free Online Course Material to several entry level courses.  Among these courses was Computer Science 101, which is exactly what I was looking for.  The website, http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/, is almost like taking a lecture without being graded.  There are full-length video tapes of each lecture as well as practice tests and notes to help out.

I am just recently finding out about this, so I haven't had the chance yet to fully explore the site. As a Broadcast/Journalism major who would like to get to know more about Computer Science I just figured that this would be helpful to anyone in the same boat as me.

here is the link again: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/

First Post for Web Design Class

I'm going to be honest, I didn't even think about posting in the blog during the past week.  I suppose I could have looked stuff up to spice it up a bit, but I didn't.  I figure once I learn the basics of how to play around with my template and add/remove buttons is when I'll start really messing around with the format.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW AT OUR NEW LOCATION

The Bearor's Den has moved to a new location.  Please continue to follow at http://www.thebearorsden.com/ for sports discussions, commentary, and analysis.

Jorge Posada - It's Been an Honor

As long as I have been watching baseball – granted, it’s only been something like 13 or 14 years – Jorge Posada has been driving in key runs and catching well enough to help propel his team to 5 World Championships.  Year after year, I can recall John Sterling raving about just how important “Georgie” was to the Yankees, and how much of an impact he really had on the team over the span of his 17-year career.  If there is one thing that I will remember Posada for, it would be how he approached the game.

Even though it was painful to watch him run out a double, nobody was faster to run onto the field to give a teammate a high-five after a home run.  Every time they showed Jorge in the dugout, he was smiling whether it was cracking a joke to Jeter, or celebrating a good outing by a starting pitcher.  He was – and still is – a crowd favorite in New York.  Even though he has been often overshadowed in the media by guys like Jeter, Pettitte, and Rivera, Posada had a special place in the hearts of New Yorkers and the Yankees’ organization.

Diana Munson, the widow of Yankee great Thurman Munson, actually said that Jorge was the reason she began to follow baseball again.  After her husband passed away in a plane crash, she couldn’t even bring herself to look at the box scores – that was, until Posada came around. ''I think he and Thurman definitely would have been best buds,'' she said.

Taking away parts about being a fan favorite and a beloved teammate, Jorge Posada could play.  Over a 17 year span, Jorge had 275 home runs, 1,065 RBI, and a .273 batting average.  Without a doubt, Posada was among the greatest catchers of all time when it came to hitting.  The one stat that really jumps off the paper, and really helps the Hall of Fame argument, is his .374 On Base Percentage.  This stat tops 7 out of the 10 catchers that are currently in the Hall, among those are names like Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra.  His contributions to the Yankees Dynasty 

In the late 90’s cannot be overlooked.  The man was a fierce competitor, and that was part of the reason behind the decision to retire.  “I knew in my heart, and I knew in my head that I didn’t want to play anymore” Posada said.  He wore his heart on his sleeve, and that was why he was great.

“Playing for the New York Yankees has been an honor,” Jorge said during the press conference where he announced his retirement. “I could never wear another uniform.  I will forever be a Yankee”

Jorge, we wouldn’t want it any other way.

NFC Championship Game Prediction

NFC Championship Game: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers   6:30 PM ET

So here we are at the NFC Championship Game, and instead of a Drew Brees/Aaron Rodgers shootout, we have another (unlikely) chapter to add to a storied rivalry between San Fran and New York.

These teams have met in the postseason on quite a few occasions – with many of the contests being defined by a single play or going down to the last second – and this is a game that will surely be one that both teams will remember for a long time.  In their latest meeting, San Francisco mounted a historic comeback and took down the Giants as New York botched a field goal snap as time was winding down in a 2002 Wild Card Game.  This series has had its fair share of classic moments in the past: The signature over the 49ers in 1985 when the Giants held Joe Montana and Roger Craig’s group to 3 points, as well as the ’91 New York team putting the kibosh on the Montana dynasty among many others.  Bottom line, these teams have some of the NFL’s most classic playoff matchups.

What I find interesting is how both teams are painted as heroes of the NFL, with both teams being led by stand-up coaches: In San Francisco’s case, Jim Harbaugh took over a team that was 6-10 the year before and leading them to The NFC Title Game in the following year.  Tom Coughlin is the guy that – once again – went from being on the hot seat to being the man that all of New York wants to stand behind.  These two coaches – more so than any others – have found ways to instill the belief in their team that it is in their destiny to win it all.  As wonderful as each of their stories are, there is only room for one in the Super bowl.

Alex Smith and the 49er’s offense played great last week against the Saints, opening up the pass early and letting Smith pick apart the weak New Orleans secondary.  Although Smith has put together the best year of his career, the red-hot Giants pass rush will give him problems.  If the defensive line keeps up the level of play that has defined their team’s recent victories, San Francisco could be forced to play catch-up early on.

When these teams met in the regular season in week 10, New York faltered on a 4^th down attempt to tie the game as time was winding down and San Francisco pulled out the home victory.  Frisco did what few teams have been able to do this year, pressure Manning into making costly mistakes.  This is the area where the game’s outcome will be decided in my opinion.  The Giants should be able to limit the damage from Vernon Davis and the likes of the San Francisco offense, and it will be up to Eli to avoid turnovers and put points on the board.

As cliché as it sounds – Eli Manning’s responsibility will be to win his team this game.  He needs to put this team on his back – as he has all season – and find a way to beat a defensive unit that had stumped Big Blue earlier in the season.  This is a game that will help define both Manning’s and Smith’s careers, and one of the two will have to step up and be a playoff hero.  Manning will triumph where Smith fails.

Prediction – NYG: 27 SF: 14

Meet Alex Smith

As a former number one overall pick, Alex Smith is familiar with the word "pressure." I'm sure he is also familiar with the word "bust", as he has undoubtedly gotten an earful from every fan in the bay area along with all the analysts that have piled on criticism over his unlikely 7-year career.

    

Before this season, the only talk you heard of Smith was: "Why is he still getting chances? Year after year, he disappoints, yet the team brings him back?"

    

There were no supporters for this guy outside of the organization (if there were, they were awfully quiet for a long time), and few would believe you if you said he would be the starter after 7 years in the doghouse.  And not one person would take you seriously if you said he would salvage a lost career and lead his team through the playoffs and within striking distance of the Super Bowl.

    

Yet here he is.

    

It is improbable that Smith managed to find a job from year to year, but I think the biggest factor in his survival is such: Smith had 7 different Offensive Coordinators over a 7-season career.  You can't blame him for having to learn a new offense every summer, yet there have been a few quarterbacks who have been the scapegoat in similar situations such as Jason Campbell and David Carr. Smith also got lucky that his new coach is a believer in what he can do; John Harbaugh was actually the guy that made the decision to re-sign Alex even though he was a Free Agent.

    

The events that brought him to this point are fortunate, as well as unlikely.  These are some of the reasons why I'm starting to root for the guy.....starting next year.

Feel free to comment below and follow me at @TheBearorsDen on twitter as well as The Bearor's Den on Facebook.

AFC Title Game Prediction

AFC Championship Game: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots   3:00 PM ET

On the surface, this game looks like unstoppable offense versus an immovable defense, but it’s not.  It’s an inspired defensive group, trying to avoid another postseason collapse versus Tom Brady and a gelling defense that are still itching to get Super Bowl redemption.   This game has potential to be another classic matchup between the two; who knows, this may be one that is played over and over on NFL Films for years to come. 

In their only postseason meeting in 2009, the Ravens had Tom Brady’s number.  Baltimore intercepted him 3 times and limited him to 154 yards passing.  Although turning the league’s best playoff quarterback against his own team is an incredible feat, it doesn’t lower my confidence in Brady at all.  If I had to put my trust in any athlete to overcome a past performance, I would go with Brady.  I know that in last week’s predictions, I was raving quite a bit over how much of a lock he is in the playoffs.  As silly as I was being, I wasn’t really exaggerating – he really is that good.  Any goon can look at his career statistics and tell you that he has the numbers of a Hall of Famer, but the real magic of Brady lies in watching him navigate the pocket, calling an audible at the line of scrimmage, deliver one pinpoint throw after another (always keeping his eyes downfield), and doing all of this while making opposing fans feel like they are dumb teenagers in a slasher movie.  This man has been knocked down before, but nobody has managed to keep him down.

As dangerous as Tom Brady may be to Baltimore’s defense, the other matchup may very well be the one that defines this game.  Ray Rice is the most important piece of the Raven’s offensive puzzle and -- without him getting a majority of the touches – they have shown inconsistency when they have to rely heavier on Joe Flacco to throw them to victory.  This has not been a problem for most of the year, as the 13-3 Ravens have had little trouble establishing Rice all season.  However, people seem to forget about the Bill Belichick’s brilliant play calling and his ability to take away a team’s biggest offensive threat.  Although the Pats have struggled throughout most of the regular season, in their recent games, they have found ways to slow their opponents down enough to the point where they cannot keep up with Brady’s – and Josh McDaniels’ – offense.  This bend-but-don’t-break philosophy has once again proven itself to work, as long as it is paired with a potent offense.  Besides, if Belichick is able to slow down the Baltimore running game to the point where Flacco is forced to air it out, this one could be over early.

Prediction – NE: 31 BAL 17

Feel free to comment below and follow me at @TheBearorsDen on twitter as well as The Bearor's Den on Facebook.

Johnny Damon - Back to the Yankees?

There are sources saying that the Yankees would be more likely to bring back fan favorite Johnny Damon than land Carlos Pena.  If this actually ends up happening, then I would be a pretty content fan.  Although Pena would be a great addition to the New York lineup, Damon is a fair and reliable substitute.  Also, Damon – even though he is a bit older – has been a consistent hitter throughout his career, and consistency is something that is lacking in a batting order full of streaky players.

The fact that he is 38 years old should definitely be taken into account, but the numbers that he is still putting up are quite respectable.  In this past year, Johnny Damon had 16 home runs and 73 RBI – numbers that could increase when taking into consideration the dangerous bats backing him up in the lineup as well as the transition to a hitter’s ballpark.  If he can produce at anywhere near the same level that he has throughout his remarkable career, the Yanks will benefit from having him.

He would be great for the team’s winning persona, as he adds to the atmosphere in the clubhouse, and already has established himself to the organization and fan base through his seasons of success in the recent past.

Another interesting note:  Damon is only 277 hits away from 3000.  That means that if New York does decide to sign him for a 2 or 3 year deal, it would open up the opportunity for another historic moment for a legend in pinstripes.  I’m also pretty sure that John Sterling would be happy to dig up some of those old cheesy home-run calls.

Feel free to comment below and follow me at @TheBearorsDen on twitter as well as The Bearor's Den on Facebook.

Eli - Against All Odds - Again

Everyone heard what Eli Manning said at the beginning of this year about being in the same elite class as Tom Brady.  People laughed at the idea, it was so preposterous. Sure, Manning led his team to victory over Brady's in Super Bowl XLII, but that was just a freakish streak of games for a quarterback that had a terrific surrounding cast.

Of course when you compare yourself to the golden boy of the NFL (the one without a neck brace), you are bound to rub some people the wrong way.  At that point in his career Eli had beaten Brett Favre in the NFC Title game at Lambeau field and Brady in the Super Bowl, which -- as impressive as it is-- is not enough to compare yourself to one of the all-time greats.  Eli just spoke his mind and showed a rare bit of vocal self-confidence, and a whole can of worms (labeled "Elite Quarterbacks") was opened.

This added another little storyline to the Giants/Patriots matchup in week 9. Up to that point in the season, both Manning and Brady had played top-notch football and ranked among the cream of the crop statistically.  In what will go down as one of the best regular season games in Giants history, Eli one-upped Brady and the Pats with two touchdowns as time was winding down.  As expected, this only made an ugly and over-publicized issue worse.  Whenever ESPN wasn't caught up in Tebowmania, they would debate where Manning ranked in the quarterback pecking order.

As the season went on and the Giants began to struggle, the conversation seemed to lull until week 13 when Aaron Rodgers' Packers invaded Metlife Stadium.  Manning hung with Green Bay's QB the duration of the game, but New York's defense just looked foolish for 60 minutes as Rodgers shredded the secondary whenever the ball was in his hands.  The Giants' woes continued as they fell 38-35.

Manning's play was the one constant through a season of ups and downs, but eventually the defense came together just in time.  With wins over the Jets and Cowboys in the last two games of the season, Eli's team managed to slip into the postseason with a 9-7 record.

In the first round, New York drew a home game against the Atlanta Falcons where they dominated every aspect of the game.  Matt Ryan's offense failed to score once while Manning's unit scored three times through the air, en route to a 24-2 New York victory that set up a rematch with the 15-1 Packers.

Once again, in order for the Giants to advance to the Super Bowl, they had to go through Lambeau.  Considering that Green Bay receivers dropped 8 passes, Aaron Rodgers played another great game, but Manning managed to outplay another Packers quarterback on a playoff stage and brought his team to the NFC Title game for the second time in five years.

Now here we are.  The Giants are one win away from a possible rematch with Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, but you can bet that the Pats will be ready this time.

Nobody is laughing at Manning now.  In what has been the best season of his career Eli has added several signature wins to his resume, this time without the help on an elite defense.  Eli's provocative statement at the beginning of the year now seems a whole lot less silly.

At this point, I don't think that Eli has any doubt that he is on Brady's level, it's just the rest of the sports world that is still stubbornly holding onto doubts.  Eli has an opportunity to add to his growing pile of accolades by possibly advancing in the tournament and defeating Tom Brady's Patriots.  Again. 

Feel free to comment below and follow me at @TheBearorsDen on twitter as well as The Bearor's Den on Facebook.

Divisional Round Playoff Predictions

Saturday 4:30 PM ET: New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

            The unstoppable force meets the immovable object.  Unstoppable is not an overstatement either; Brees and the Saints’ offense have been rolling on all cylinders and have shown no signs of slowing down.  One piece of information that I have noticed many experts and analysts using against New Orleans is the fact that they have struggled when playing outdoors.  When playing without a dome this year, the Saints were 3 and 2 (13 and 3 overall), which may or not be significant.  You could argue that 60-degree weather may not affect a dome team as much as numbers suggest, but the Saints have averaged a full two touchdowns less in those games.  What I keep coming back to are the memories of exciting, high-flying, flashy offenses being stopped in their tracks by a big boy defense (as the Ravens and Steelers have shown us in many recent years).  As incredible as Drew Brees has been all year, I really think that we could see an instance where he actually has some issues throwing those accurate, 20-yard missiles downfield that he has made look so easy.  In a year that has definitely been a breeze for the New Orleans offense, this one looks more like a grind.

            On the other side of the field, the matchup is Alex Smith and the Frisco offense against the soft defensive unit for the Saints.  People keep looking at Smith’s past seasons, where his numbers and lack of success had him going down a road similar to so many “1^st Overall Pick” busts before him, and fail to recognize the success he has had this year under a true quarterback’s coach, Jim Harbaugh.  While his stats still don’t dazzle, he is more than capable of leading an offense, as he has shown this year.  There is nothing about this unit that Smith is facing that really discourages taking shots downfield and attacking weaknesses.

Prediction -    SF: 24 NO: 21

Saturday 8:00 PM ET: Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

            I love Tim Tebow and will, without a doubt, be wearing his number 15 jersey on Saturday night.  That being said, I think this year’s magical run is over when the Broncos go into Gillette Stadium to play the New England Patriots.  While he deserves all the credit in the world for playing the best game of his career against the (although injured) best defense in football, Tebow will be tortured to the point of insanity by Bill Belichick and his defensive schemes designed to take advantage of young quarterbacks like himself.  Unless Denver gets their running game moving early on, forcing the defense to play up on the Tebow-McGahee option, there won’t be many points scored on that side of the field.

            The Broncos’ defense is one of the biggest reasons – if not the biggest – for this years magical run.  Let’s be honest though, as good as they are, they are not “Stop Tom Brady” good.  This man probably holds the record (among others) for crushing more hopes and dreams than anyone else in history. He is that good.  When you think you have him where you want him: losing a game late in the second half;  he comes back at you like something out of a horror movie.  Don’t get me wrong, I will be Tebowing and acting a fool if the Broncos find a way to pull this off, but I don’t think it will happen.

Prediction -    NE: 28 DEN: 17

Sunday 1:00 PM ET: Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

            Smashmouth football at its finest.  Both teams have their top-of-the-line running backs pitted against top-of-the-line defenses.  The biggest difference that I see between these two is at quarterback: Joe Flacco is under center for Baltimore, and some Yates guy is going to do his best to hand the ball off to Arian Foster.   I may be underselling the Texans QB a little, but not much.  Since he has had to take over the offense thanks to injuries, he has played what some would call “game manager” football.  To me, that translates to “Let’s get the ball out of this guy’s hands and work around him.”

            Flacco hasn’t been too impressive in his past playoff appearances, but with no injuries and another year under his belt, he should do just fine.  The Ravens have looked like the best team in football (at least to me) for most of the year and I believe they will play up to their potential, at least for one more week.

Prediction -    BAL: 20 HOU: 14

Sunday 4:30 PM ET: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

            The wild card Giants that got hot at the right time have to go through Lambeau Field and the almighty Packers in order to advance.

Sound familiar?

            Aaron Rodgers wasn’t a factor in that game, as he was still waiting for his chance behind Brett Favre, but a lot was different then.  These teams even played earlier this year, in week 13 actually, and Rodgers one-upped Eli Manning and the Giants, 38-35 as the Big Blue pass rush seemed to be one step behind the elusive QB all afternoon. Since that matchup, both teams have changed significantly: Green Bay has gotten healthy in key areas such as wide receiver and the offensive line, and New York’s defense has done a 180 and is looking very similar to the group in ’08.

            Even as a Giants fan, I give a slight edge to Rodgers over Manning at quarterback.  However, I have more confidence in Eli to put the team on his back when everything else is going wrong around him.  This may cause some Packers fans outrage in games where they have to come from behind to score late, Rodgers looks more good than great.  The Giants should move the ball well against the Green Bay defense and the running game that has absent most of the year should help considerably.

            The key matchup to this game is Aaron Rodgers versus the New York pass rush.  If Rodgers is able to move around outside the pocket and make guys miss like he has all year, the Giants don’t have a chance.  What should be noted is the return of Osi Umenyiora, and JPP’s level of play.  This defense is more confident that it has been in years (some say overconfident), and for good reason.  It is not going to be easy to beat the Pack in their own house, but it is far from impossible.

Prediction -    NYG: 35 GB: 31

Feel free to comment below and follow me at @TheBearorsDen on twitter as well as The Bearor's Den on Facebook.

The Jets Have Bigger Problems Than Quarterback

The Jets are looking more like something from the movie “Airplane!” right now. They’re in a downward spiral, and nobody seems man enough to take the wheel. Not long after Offensive Coordinator Brian Shottenheimer was forced out New York replaced him with Tony Sparano, who probably has third degree burns from the hot seat in Miami that he had been sitting in for a few years. While all of this is happening, Jets players are anonymously taking shots at quarterback Mark Sanchez, and Rex Ryan – Mark’s biggest supporter – seems to be quieter than usual at the wrong time.
Wake up Rex, something’s afoot!
Someone better wake up and get this team together, and I don’t mean the third-string rookie quarterback. The “us against the world” mentality was all well and good when the Jets were winning playoff games last year, but that tough guy act may have played itself out. Once things started to go wrong for New York, nobody made an effort to step up and right the ship. You didn’t hear about Mark Sanchez giving “rah-rah” speeches in the locker room, or the defense that was supposed to be among the elite rallying around Bart Scott or anyone else.
I’m really starting to doubt there are any leaders at all on this team and, even though Sanchez’s lack of progress or leadership is a part of the issue, there is something much larger that is wrong with this team, something deeply corrupt with the team’s attitude that is affecting them like a cancer.
Players (without showing their face, of course) are calling for the Jets to make a move to acquire Peyton Manning this offseason. When I sat back and thought about this, it actually made me laugh a little. To me, this is the equivalent of the team saying: “Screw it, get someone else to come and fix this.” I wouldn’t doubt that Peyton Manning might have what it takes to get this team going in the right direction, but if you were Peyton would you really want to step foot anywhere near this team that threw its QB under the bus after a disappointing year? Even if Christmas comes early for the Jets and they land Manning, they have to find a solution to this unity problem. Someone – or a few people – need to take charge and try to land this plane because right now they are on their own and on a direct path to crash and burn.

MVP: Rodgers or Brees?

What does MVP mean?  Is it the guy that puts up Madden numbers all year, although his team fails to make the playoffs, or is it the guy who is the heart and soul of his team’s success?  Of course, neither Drew Brees nor Aaron Rodgers have had trouble winning games, and both are the “glue” that brings the team together, but does one really deserve it more than the other?

One could make an argument this year more than ever that there should be co-MVP’s, probably because they played so similar statistically and it’s hard to give one stat more weight than the next.  I think the co-MVP argument is a cop-out though, there have been close races like this one in the past and even though picking a winner may make the runner-up feel like they’ve been robbed, it is the right thing to do.  I feel like this extraordinary season for passers fired up the “who is the best QB in the league” more than recent years, and it would be a disappointment to see such an epic competition end in a tie.  “You Play To Win the Game!”  Herm Edwards had a point.

If it was up to me to choose this year’s MVP, I would have to give it to Brees.  As integral of a part that Rodgers was to the Packers success, I argue that the Saints relied on Drew’s success just a bit more.  It should be noted that Rodgers did sit out the final game of the season, but that shouldn’t take away from all of the passing numbers that Drew put up.  Also, in the final game where Rodgers sat out and called the offensive plays for backup Matt Flynn, Flynn threw for a Green Bay record 480 yards and 6 touchdowns.  A popular knock on Aaron Rodgers and his early success in the league was that his numbers were the result of playing in a system that many passes could do.  While I don’t buy a second of that argument and anyone who watches him for a second can see that Aaron is a special player, I think that when the backup quarterback stepped in (with Rodgers’ help) and had little difficulty working the offense, maybe some of Aarons numbers should be taken with a grain of salt.

In this past year, Drew Brees attempted 657 passes, a number that was only bested by Matthew Stafford’s 662.  Rodgers finished with 155 less attempts than Brees, which I think is significant when trying to determine how central each is to his offense’s success.  I think that the weapons that each QB has at his disposal just about equals out, with Sproles and Graham for the Saints, and guys like Jennings and Nelson for the Pack.  Rodgers comes out on top of Brees with an NFL-record quarterback rating (122.5 to Brees’ 110.6) and touchdown to interception ratio, but Drew has the edge in passing yards (5,476 compared to Rodgers’ 4,643), completion percentage (71.2 compared to 68.3), and touchdowns (46 to 45). Bottom line, I would think that Green Bay without Rodgers would fare slightly better than a New Orleans team without Brees, although both are scary thoughts for Packers and Saints fans.

Wild Card Week Wrap-Up, and a Look Ahead

Houston Texans 31     Cincinnati Bengals 10

            I honestly did not think that Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals were going to absolutely fall apart like they did, but I guess that’s what I get for putting my faith in a team that hasn’t shown up for big games all season.  In a game where I thought T.J. Yates was going to cost his team the game with rookie mistakes, it turned out being Andy Dalton who assumed that role.  Dalton finished with 259 yards and 3 picks, which is the kind of performance that should be expected from a young quarterback when he is forced to play from behind in a high-stakes game.   Yates completed 11 of his 20 passes for 159 yards and 1 Touchdown, yet again posting pedestrian numbers that didn’t hurt his team, but that’s all that his team needs him to do when Foster can carry the offensive workload.

A Look Ahead:  The Texans are going to have their hands full next week when they travel to Baltimore for the biggest game in the young franchise’s history.  They come face to face with one of the NFL’s best defenses and an elite running back in Ray Rice, but the Texans have an eerily similar team. This game has potential to be a classic smash-mouth showdown.

New Orleans Saints 45     Detroit Lions 28

            Going in to this game everyone expected an offensive outburst on both sides, and it definitely didn’t disappoint.  Brees one-upped Stafford (as expected), and the rushing attack of the Saints helped control the tempo of the game as it ate away at Detroit’s defense (also as expected).  As flashy as this game was with the long touchdown passes, it was nothing that the knowledgeable football public didn’t see coming.  Drew Brees and the best offense in the league were not going to be stopped this week, especially playing against a shoddy defense like this.

A Look Ahead:  New Orleans draws arguably the toughest defense they have faced all year when they head to Candlestick Park to play the ‘Niners.  The unstoppable force that is the Saints offense is put up against Patrick Willis and his immovable defense.  Matchups on both sides of the ball seem to be somewhat equal and should provide the crowd with an entertaining game, if not a suspenseful one.

New York Giants 24     Atlanta Falcons 2

            The Giants won big. Osi Umenyiora and the rest of the New York defense simply manhandled the Falcons in every way.  Matt Ryan and his squad failed to score when they had the ball and couldn’t get anything started offensively, even  in garbage time.  Eli Manning threw for over 300 yards and a career postseason high 3 TDs while the running game that has been absent all year made its presence felt.  Kevin Gilbride called an uncharacteristically aggressive game, which contributed to the feeling of dominance that the Giants exuded all game.  This one was never in question.

A Look Ahead:  In a rematch of a week 13 game where the Packers defeated the Giants on a last-second field goal, Coach Coughlin leads his white-hot team back into Lambeau Field.  The last time New York played on the historic frozen tundra, Lawrence Tynes kicked the Giants into the Super Bowl after a late Favre interception.  The Packers are coming off of a bye week, and look to keep their incredible season rolling behind likely-MVP Aaron Rodgers.  This game interests me the most out of any this week, and not only because I’m a Giants fan.  I have an odd feeling that an instant classic may be coming our way.

Denver Broncos 29     Pittsburgh Steelers 23

            I had predicted the Broncos winning this game – and wholeheartedly believed they would – but even as a Tim Tebow supporter, I had no idea that he would come through like he did on Sunday.  All game, the Steelers defense (or what was left of it) played close to the line to defend the option offense that Denver has been running.  They were pretty much daring Tim to throw on them, and he did.  If you told someone before the game that Tebow would throw for 316 yards against the league’s best defense, they would either walk away after making some sort of explicit comment about Tebow or respond with violence.  Big Ben played well considering his injury, but eventually the pass rush of the Broncos got to him and set up the offense for a “Mile High Miracle”.

A Look Ahead:  No doubt that the Broncos and all of their fans are ecstatic after their signature win Sunday, but one could argue that New England and their fans could be even happier.  With offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels returning to his roots, the Patriots offense is a force to be reckoned with.  The Denver defense that didn’t have too much trouble containing a hobbled Roethlisberger may have met their match here.  The group that Tebow has to face is nothing stellar, but I expect Belichick to give him some defensive looks that will put him in a difficult position.  Who knows though, Tebow may just be baiting us in like he did with the Steelers’ secondary.

Wild Card Playoff Predictions

Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans Saturday 4:30 PM:

 This game really interests me because of each team’s improbable success. The Bengals somehow scratched and clawed their way to a playoff berth despite the fact that they play in the AFC North, which is arguably the best division in football. Andy Dalton has surprised everyone with his performance this year, and is one of the few major reasons the team is still in it. It should be noted that Cincinnati has beaten only one team with a winning record this entire season (Tennessee Titans, 9-7). This could be a problem for the Bengals, because the teams that usually make the playoffs tend to win more games than they lose. If Matt Schaub was still playing, I think this game could get ugly fast. The fact that T.J. Yates is taking the snaps makes this game a whole lot more difficult for the Texans. If Yates can keep playing well enough that he doesnt lose the game, then Foster and the Houston defense should be able to carry the team one more week. I just have a gut feeling that Yates falls back down to earth this week and the Texans come up short.

Prediction – CIN:24 HOU:20

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints Saturday 8:00 PM:

            This rematch of a week 13 game where New Orleans handled Detroit 31-17 is sure to be a barnburner.  Drew Brees just put together one of the best seasons a quarterback has ever had, while Matthew Stafford went somewhat under the radar while throwing for over 5,000 yards and 41 TDs.  The defensive units for both teams are less than dazzling, which only furthers the case that this game will probably break some scoreboards. The Saints have the best passing offense in the NFL, while also leading the league's 6^th best rushing attack, and I believe the key for the Lions is slowing down this ground game.  Detroit is among the worst in the NFL in both running the ball and stopping the run, and this matchup certainly doesn’t favor them.  However, if the Lions can stop the Saints on the ground, they might be able to get more of a pass rush on Brees, change the outcome of this game, and maybe keep this dream season alive for another week.  I don’t see this New Orleans offense being stopped this week, with or without Mark Ingram.

                        Prediction – NO: 38 DET: 27



Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants Sunday 1:00 PM:

            “Matty Ice” faces “Elite” Eli as the Falcons travel up to Metlife Stadium to face the Giants.  The Giants have found their groove, sacking the Jets and Cowboys a combined 11 times in the last 2 weeks, leaving both Ryan brothers battered and beaten in their tracks.  The Falcons are on a hot streak as well, winning 3 out of their last 4 games.  The only loss during that span coming from the juggernaut Saints.  That loss is not a bad one, but what really stands out about this Atlanta team is how they haven’t shown up for big games this whole year.  They seem to roll over in front of good teams, letting capable quarterbacks ravage their defense.  Almost every high-powered offense they have faced have put up big numbers, and Victor Cruz’s Giants are another one of those great offenses.  I think the key to this game lies in New York’s defense, and its ability to contain Matt Ryan’s aerial assault while keeping Michael Turner grounded.  Keeping a tab on Julio Jones and Roddy White is no easy task, but the way Fewell’s squad has been playing recently, anything is possible.  If this recent defensive success is just a fluke, then this game will be a classic playoff shootout.  I honestly believe that this is the real Giants defense; it just took some time for the pass rush to get healthy and Fewell’s system to work out the kinks.  Giants win big.

                        Prediction – NYG:31 ATL:17



Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos Sunday 4:30 PM:

            The Steelers have the best pass defense in the league, the 6^th best against the run, and they’re playing against Tim Tebow.  Game, set, match, right?  It would be if there weren’t so many other factors going into it.  First off, Pittsburgh is going all the way to Mile High Stadium to play in what is sure to be a crazy atmosphere (Just imagine a Tebow playoff game).  Speaking of atmosphere, Safety Ryan Clark is inactive due to a blood illness which doesn’t mix well with high altitude and might put another chink in the mighty Steelers armor to go with the hole at running back.  The thing that concerns me most about the Steelers is the health of Big Ben’s ankle.  He wasn’t healthy going into last week’s game against the Browns, and it showed.  Even though his team came away with the victory, Roethlisberger didn’t look very sharp or comfortable throwing the ball.  After the game, news broke that Ben suffered a “setback”, but is expected to play. Roethlisberger is probably the toughest QB in the league, but toughness only goes so far when it comes to serious injury.  There’s no doubt in my mind that Ben is not going to be playing at one-hundred percent, and that could prove to be the game changer, especially with Denver’s ferocious pass-rushing combo of Dumerville and Miller.  I don’t see either team putting up many points, with Tebow facing the best defense he has seen, and an injured Steelers offense going up against a very worthy opponent.  It should be fun to see what happens with Tebow after Elway urged him to “pull the trigger” this week.  Either it backfires and Tim loses another game for his squad, or Tebow Time finds a place in the post-season.  Don’t shoot your eye out, kid.

                        Prediction – DEN:14 PIT:10

Norv Turner Still Has a Job...

     Im not too sure how I feel about San Diego keeping their Head Coach and General Manager after yet another disappointing season. I mean, I could care less if the only time I hear the Chargers mentioned on ESPN is when analysts and experts debate how many more games they should have won, or the tremendous hot streak they go on once the playoffs are out of reach. Actually, I'm more torn on whether or not I agree with the front office's decision to try and right the ship with stability rather than a total makeover.    
     Dean Spanos, the president and CEO for the Chargers made the decision this week that the team would stick with Head Coach Norv Turner and General Manager A.J. Smith, as he believes the duo gives the team the best chance to win.  It seems like he made the decision that made the players happy, and disregarded the fans.  After hearing the news, running back Mike Tolbert had this to say: "I’m a big fan. I love playing for Coach Turner. ... I can’t get enough of this news.”
     This is where I start to get confused. The only conclusion I keep coming to is that Spanos must have absolute confidence that this combination will turn the ship around. Its clear what Spanos wants: success in the playoffs.  This was made evident after Marty Shottenheimer was fired after a season in which his team went 14-2. Given, he had developed a record of playoff struggles during his stint in San Diego, but since he left in '07, has anything gotten better?
     Sometimes, the best adjustment a team can make during the offseason is not making a change at all.  This tends to be the case with young teams that are finding their identity, not teams like the Chargers who have a veteran quarterback and no real reason not to be dominating the weak AFC West.  If you look at how the team has changed in the past few years, the decay is obvious.  Losing an aging, expensive LaDanian Tomlinson to free agency is understandable.  Letting Darren Sproles slip away is not all right.
     Bottom line is, I don't fully understand what Spanos thinks will change by keeping Turner and Smith, but he better be damn sure that he is making the right move because it would be a terrible waste to let this Chargers team that once had so much promise miss their window of opportunity because management doesn't really know what to do.  But hey, if Phillip Rivers has actually stopped his whining, then something must be going right.