Championship Weekend

From 12 to 8 to 4. The chase continues but first some side notes The Steelers are the worst winners (whiners??) in the world. If one didn't know better one would have thought the Steelers had lost the game the way Joey Porter was carping about the calls and how he thought the league wanted Indy to win. Well of course you dummy, most real football fans want to see a real offense and not cheap shot artists masquerading as defender in the leagues ultimate game. The Steelers won and trying their best to spin an "Us against the world" mentality. No one outside of Pittsburgh wants to see the Steelers in the Super Bowl. I think that I would not read or watch much coverage about the game if I had to be subjected to two solid weeks of various spins on "Bill Cowher, the tough veteran coach who hasn't won the big one." and "Jerome Bettis' final shot at a title." ad infinitum to nauseum Had Mike Vanderchoke hit a makeable field goal, the Steelers would even be in the conference title game. The Patriots fell hard in Denver ending any talk of a three-peat. Now really, did anyone think that the Pats would even make it to the conference title game, much less the Super Bowl? Just by attrition alone the Pats aren't as good as they were last year or in 2003. Losing both coordinators to head coaching jobs will contribute to the erosion. The Pats may fall further with the loss of Eric Mangini to the Jets. With a resurgent Dolphins squad closing fast we'll see how long Bill Belichick will wear the genius title with his brain trust leaving for greener pastures. For Denver, Jake Plummer isn't flashy and doesn't need to be. (I wish he and Ben Roethlisberger would both give up the Johnny Damon look), as long as he remembers he has a great running game and doesn't try to do too much they have as good as chance as any of the four remaining teams to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Detroit. The Panthers are a fierce team and will be a tough, tough out. Ask the Bears how they liked getting slugged in the mouth by this lunch bucket crew. The Panthers are the NFL version of the Road Warrior but it'll be hard knocking the Seahawks off in one of the more underrated tough home venues. But if there is one team that could do it. The Panthers are the team. John Fox's crew isn't scurred (sic) of going into tough venues and sending the home crowd home sad Look at where they have won in past playoff tilts: St. Louis, Philly, New York and Chicago. Could Seattle be next? The Seahawks won their first playoff game in 22 years. The last time they won a playoff game, Reagan was still thinking about re-election and the Seahawks were in the AFC. They tried to give that game away to the Redskins, but even they couldn't screw up given the Skins offensive difficulties. So now were down to four. Lets take a look

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver- Sunday, January 22 3:00pm (CBS) Pittsburgh (11-5) AFC Wild Card #6 seed defeated AFC North Champ (#3 seed) Cincinnati 31-17 in wild card round defeated AFC South Champ (#1 seed) Indianapolis 21-18 in Divisional round
Denver (13-3) AFC West Champ #2 Seed had a first round bye defeated AFC East Champ New England 27-13 in Divisional Round

Both these teams are full of playoff vets and will turn on who can control the clock. Both teams have punishing ground games, with multiple runners. Both teams have manager type QB's who won't turn your head with eye-popping numbers but keep mistakes to a bare minimum. Both teams have sliky smooth vet receivers who can break a play wide open if you let your guard down. In such an even matchup who takes the edge. The Steelers have won games at tough venues in Cincy and Indy but going to Denver is another matter. Bill Cowher is 1-4 in AFC title games and the one he did get wasn't settled till the final play. Add to boot that this is Cowher's first AFC title game on the road. His playoff jinx continues as Denver will beat the Steelers at their own game. Look for Denver to mix it up with different running styles with the speed of Tatum Bell and the road plowers Mike Anderson and Ron Dayne. If the Broncos get a lead, they won't squander it like the Bengals did. The Broncos with a lead at home is about the closest thing to a sure bet lock in the NFL. The Broncos are 24-4 all time at home in the postseason. I'm thinking that 25 will be finalized at about 4:30 Mountain Time Sunday. Pick-Denver

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Carolina Panthers (13-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
Qwest Field, Seattle-Sunday, January 22 (6:30pm FOX)
Carolina 11-5 NFC Wild Card #5 Seed Defeated NFC East Champ New York 23-0 Defeated NFC North Champ Chicago 29-21
Seattle (13-3) NFC West Champ had a first round bye Defeated NFC Wild Card Washington 20-10 Carolina is a tough team to figure. Are they a passing team relying on the exciting Steve Smith, a ground pounder though losing Stephen Davis and Deshaun Foster has a capable fill in with Nick Goins or a rugged defensive team with the hard hitting Julius Peppers, Mike Minter and Mike Rucker? The answer is yes. I think that the Seahawks may have gotten away with the loss of MVP Shaun Alexander, but they had better have a backup plan to counter the Panthers attack. Though the Panthers are a wild card team, they don't act like it. Sorry DJ, the Seahawks will realize quick that this is big-boy school now and pushing the weak Redskins around doesn't prepare you for a battle tested Panther team.
Pick-Carolina
Last Week 2-2

Coming soon...the NCAA Spec Sheets your inside info on who makes it to the NCAA tourney and why. Time tested insight and info, for those that were up on the info last year know I got 63 of 65 picks to the tourney right. Joe Lunardi of ESPN's bracketology may tell you where he thinks teams are going but I'll tell you who is going