Championship Week...Who you got?

Ok folks it is a clash from the past, however this time the big game does not feature the huge names of Young, Rice, Sanders, Hanks,Taylor, Hampton and Simms but a much different look for both teams.  The 49ers are built on a much improved and feared Defense.  In the 90s when these teams met we would look for a big splash from the 49ers west coast style, but this year we will look to see if the 49ers BIG D can stop Eli Manning and the game changing WRs from the Giants.


I usually give the edge to Defenses, but in this case I am going against the norm and picking the Giants.  I think we have all underestimated the surge the Giants D has performed over the past few weeks.  They man handled the Cowboys in the final regular season game, totally embarrassed Matty "Ice" Ryan and totally took Rodgers out of his game.  So I only can expect the same when this D goes up against Alex Smith.


I believe that the first half will be close, but in the end Manning will pull away from the 49ers D and begin to prove that his name should be put with the best in the league.  I don't think the 49ers  will be able to move the ball as easily as they did in the 4th quarter last week against the Saints and I think Smith will be under pressure all day and that will force him to make several mistakes.  Let's not get it all hyped up about how the 49ers out played the high powered Saints.  Lets remember the Saints had some costly turnovers deep inside their own territory that gave the 49ers the early 17-0 lead.  If the Giants hold on to the ball I think they will run away with this game and move on to another Super Bowl.  Giants 31 49ers 17.



 Over the years these teams have seen one another in the playoffs.  The last time they met the Ravens put a beat down on the Patriots and left them wondering what just happened.  I do not see this happening for the second time.  I know the Patriots D does not play well and all the hype around there is no way that the worst Defense not only in the AFC but one of the worst in the NFL can advance to the Super Bowl, well let me introduce you to a guy named Tom Brady.  Ladies and gentlemen this man is on a mission this year and I don't see him being stopped.  The Patriots offense has more weapons then it has in the past and the Ravens do not have enough offense to keep up.  If the Patriots can score 24 (which we all know they will) then I think that will be more than enough. 


We all know that the Ravens are going to try and pound the ball on the ground for as long as they can, but if that only transitions to field goals and not touchdowns then they will be in trouble.  I can see Rice having about 140 yards on the ground but I can not see Flaco putting up the kind of numbers to keep pace with the Patriots.  The Ravens D is great and we all know that, but do they have enough to stop all the weapons on the other side of the ball.  I do not think so.  I love Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, but lets face it, they are getting older and they do not much up well with all the skill position players on the Patriots offense.  So here we go folks, its a REMATCH.  Patriots 34 Ravens 24.