Here we go, 12 teams enter, only one will come out as Super Bowl XLIV Champions. I'm going to give my end of season awards picks, my picks for Wild Card weekend, and then picks for the weekends beyond.
Most Vaulable Player
1. Drew Brees - New Orleans
2. Peyton Manning - Indianapolis
3. Philip Rivers - San Diego
As far as I'm concerned, out of the three guys listed in my top three, I think Drew Brees is most responsible for his team's great season, so he wins my MVP award. Manning and Rivers follow behind him and are second and third.
Offensive Player of the Year
1. Chris Johnson - Tennessee
2. Peyton Manning - Indianapolis
3. Drew Brees - New Orleans
Why is Chris Johnson offensive player of the year and not MVP? I think mostly because, despite his fantastic 2000 yard season, his team didn't make the playoffs and only finished 8-8. That in my book, doesn't qualify Johnson for that award. The two top quarterbacks in the league, Manning and Brees, follow behind him for the award.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Darrell Revis - NY Jets
2. Charles Woodson - Green Bay
3. Jared Allen - Minnesota
Woodson has the better numbers, but if you watch Darrell Revis play, he is one incredible corner that no quarterback seems to be able to solve. In the playoffs, that comes handy. Woodson is a close secodn behind Revis, his 9 interceptions, including three for touchdowns, is tied for tops in the league. Jared Allen just edges Denver's Elvis Dumervil for third, simply because he gets more attention from lneman than Dumervil and STILL packs in 14.5 sacks.
Coach of the Year
1. Rex Ryan - NY Jets
2. Marvin Lewis - Cincinnati
3. Jim Caldwell - Indianapolis
I might get some flack for this, but Caldwell's handling of the team the last two weeks of the season bumped him down to third for me. If Indy goes 16-0, Caldwell gets this hands down. Instead, another first year guy, Rex Ryan, edges out Marvin Lewis. I might get some flack for this too, but Ryan was able to motivate his guys down the stretch the last two weeks, while the Bengals kind of sunk under Lewis.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
1. Percy Harvin - Minnesota
2. LeSean McCoy - Philadelphia
3. Austin Collie - Indianapolis
Without question, Harvin clear cut takes this award, he turned into Brett Favre's numbero ne option this season. LeSean McCoy showed good breakaway speed and toughness filling in for Brian Westbrook this year. Austin Collie filled in admirably when Anthony Gonzalez went down for Indy.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
1. Brian Cushing - Houston
2. Jairus Byrd - Buffalo
3. Derek Cox - Jacksonville
This was a very tough call for me, but Brian Cushing's Pro Bowl selection gives him the edge for this award. Jairus Byrd and league lead tying 9 interceptions come in as a close second place. Derek Cox impressed me with his cover skills, especially during the Jaguars' first meeting against Indy, his first game.
Comeback Player of the Year
1. Tom Brady - New England
2. Vince Young - Tennessee
3. Cadillac Williams - Tampa Bay
Duh!! Tom Brady tears up his knee, comes back, and does exactly what he did before his injury. Very impressive and very deserving of this award. Vince Young is back as a starting quarterback and looks more polished than ever in helping turn around the Titans season. Cadillac Williams similarly came back from knee issues and was Tampa Bay's leading rusher in 2009.
Wild Card Weekend Picks
Last week I wrapped up a rather forgettable picking season with an 11-5 record, my fifth best of all 17 weeks. This week, I have a way to start new again as I pick the eild card matches and will also try to pick beyond.
Last Week 11-5
Final Regular Season Pick'Em Record 165-91
NY Jets 20 Cincinnati 7
My first upset pick of the week and a peculiar one to boot. This will be a low scoring game between two tough defenses, but ultimately I think New York's D keeps the Bengals ground game from doing anything and will force Carson Palmer to air it out. Now, to be fair, Cedric Benson sat last week's game, so if he is able to pound on the Jet defense, that score may reverse. That score may also reverse if the Jets fail to have their ground game work with Thomas Jones. They must keep the ball out of Mark Sanchez's hands if at all possible. I think the Jets will execute and take down favored Cincy at what will be a very cold Paul Brown Stadium.
Philadelphia 24 Dallas 20
Beware all Dallas fans!! Beware of last week's game. Yes, Dallas played terrific in a very big game last week, but this is the playoffs, and we all know how recent playoff appearences have turned out. True, the Eagles have never won a playoff game in Dallas, but they've also have never lost a wild card game under Andy Reid. Meanwhile, Dallas' last wild card win was in 1996, the Eagles last wild card loss? You guessed it, 1996. Will this be a week of reversing trends? No, it won't. I don't think Dallas will show up tomorrow? Why? Gut feeling, the gut feeling of being let down time and again, year after year. The fact that I've been a Dallas fan for over a decade and STILL haven't seen a playoff win is a joke. I don't see it happening. Do I hope it happens??? Absolutly!! Will it happen?? I say no.
Baltimore 24 New England 17 - UPSET PICK
Now HERE is the true upset of the week, the Ravens are going to go to Foxboro and beat the Patriots for the first time EVER. Why? Because no Wes Welker. And before you try and argue against me, look at things this way. Week 2- Patriots at Jets. New England is missing Wes Welker to injury. The Jets put their attention to Randy Moss and even though Julien Edleman has a solid day for the Pats, they manage just 9 points and fall to New York. Baltimore and the Jets are very similar football teams and though there is a huge home field advantage for New England, I can see Baltimore overcoming it, considering they nearly (and should have) defeated the PAtriots in week 5. Give the Ravens the benefit of a doubt and the win
Arizona 34 Green Bay 24
Don't laugh, but beware of the home crowd that is Arizona fans!! They may not be the loudest, but with a closed roof in Glendale, that place will get noisy. Ignore week 17 for this game, the Cardinals last season proved they were a force to be reckoned with in the postseason and I believe in them this year. Yeah, there's the whole Super Bowl runner-up curse, but Arizona bucks it. This is a young Packer team going into the playoffs with Aaron Rodgers for the first time ever, against a seasoned Cardinal team led by a quarterbakc who's been to three Super Bowls, Kurt Warner. Green Bay has showed holes, especially during games such as in Tampa Bay this season, and though they finished the regular season on a roll, I just struggle to see them beating an Arizona team that is very much the same squad that nearly upset Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl last year. Cardinals are the lone home team to win this week.
Future Playoff Predictions
Divisional Round
New Orleans 34 Philadelphia 21
Baltimore 24 Indianapolis 21
Minnesota 27 Arizona 24
San Diego 41 NY Jets 14
The Eagles playoff run ends in the Big Easy, the Saints simply have too many weapons and Drew Brees showed in week 2 he can easily beat the blitz packages sent by the Eagles. Baltimore pulls out another upset and stuns an unprepared Colts team as rookie coach Jim Caldwell learns a hard lesson. The Vikings get revenge for a late season loss in the desert by out scoring the Cardinals in a wild duel between two old and senile quarterbacks. No chance for the Jets going to San Diego, the Chargers absolutly crush the young New York team.
AFC Championship
San Diego 27 Baltimore 9
New Orleans 21 Minnesota 10
The red hot Chargers easily roll at home against the Baltimore Ravens and capture their second AFC Championship ever. In a surprisingly low scoring battle at the Superdome, the Saints defense steps up and shuts down Brett Favre and company to go to their first ever Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLIV
San Diego 31 New Orleans 23
In a battle between two teams who have never won a Super Bowl, San Diego gets it's first title since winning the AFL Championship in 1963. The Saints defense is thrown off balance by the combined power rushing of LaDainian Tomlinson and air game coming from PHilip Rivers and company. Drew Brees tries another heroic comeback like he's done so many times this regular season, but falls short in the big game against his former team.
Lamar Hunt Trophy Winner- San Diego Chargers
George Halas Trophy Winner- New Orleans Saints
Lombardi Trophy Winner- San Diego Chargers
Super Bowl MVP- Philip Rivers - San Diego
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