"There's lots of ways to hit the ground - not many answers to be found - we're faced with mysteries profoundThis is one of the best ones.
Don't always recognize what I feel but of the dancing scenes that life reveals... This is one of the best ones". Bruce Cockburn
Luckily the folk hero from Canada is neither a football fan or a prophet.
His doom and gloom of lost love and failed bets will never land on my desk.
Looking at the upcoming match ups in every playoff game tends to always focus on the quarterback position and the "edge" is given based on both this year's stats and career accomplishments. I'll break down the upcoming duels, but need to include some rather important factors in how every game can be determined. Brady or Manning can both have great numbers, but the last time I saw Peyton Manning play, his teammates were forgetting blitz assignments like a kid who chose not to study for the finals.
His right tackle missed so many reads that the outside linebacker forced arguably the game's greatest manager of an offence into full panic mode and his throws were rushed, dropped or hit the dirt. Manning also is missing not one, but four of his key receivers and when they do get into the heat of battle will the absence of all that firepower give the Jets a chance?
Another huge factor will be the weather and who can "man-up" to perform their wonders given the elements. Greasy and frozen footballs can turn the games finest running backs into butter-fingered bozos and turnovers often determine the outcome.
Jets vs. Colts - I give the edge to the Colts because of a pressure defence that should befuddle young New York pivot David Sanchez. Jacob Tamme is doing his best Dallas Clark impression and allowing Manning to check down to shorter routes. Jets ageless RB LaDanian Tomlinson is showing his age.
Ravens vs. Chiefs - The edge in this one goes to the battle tested Ravens, who beat several strong clubs in regular season. If Flacco puts up 20 points it's over. If Cassell returns to form and lethal running back Jamaal Charles has a good day it will be close.
Packers vs. Eagles - It is even odds, unless Vick plays. I picked Aaron Rodgers to be the NFC MVP, but Vick is always the trump card with his amazing athleticism. Philly has a better running game because no one knows when Vick will take off, but Green Bay has a deeper receiving corp.
Saints vs. Seahawks - New Orleans will stomp them in the dome and Brees has all his weapons back and healthy. It will be no contest. Brees threw nearly three times as many TDs as Hasselbeck and Seattle has no running game - only the league's best punter in Regina's own Jon Ryan. He'll be busy.
Once the wildcard slots are settled we can look at the remaining QBs which include the likes of Big Ben Roethlisberger, who can play in any weather and beat the best and Atlanta's Matt Ryan, who is largely untested in the pressure packed playoffs. Chicago's hopes rest on the ultimate gunslinger in Denver castoff Jay Cutler whose 100mph fastballs will be like catching ice cubes if Mother Nature has her way in Illinois. The Bears have an amazing defence and special teams that can change a game but then there is Tom Brady. After a 14-2 regular season, the Patriots hardly look like they have broken a sweat and go forward as the odds on favourite, but I never checked with Vegas. I just know. And so do you. Explosive running back Danny Woodhead took a mean shot to his wooden head in the final regular season game, but the Pats also have a 100-yard running back with a few too many names. Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis must have been named over a drunken game of poker but he scored 13 TDs and is yet another one ofBrady's short yardage options. Wes Welker is the Andy Fantuz type of possession receiver - only much quicker, and Dion Branch can still stretch the secondary for lumbering tight end Alge Crumpler to find soft spots in any zone defence. At least they spelled his name right.
The fun begins. As a Steelers fan I have my hopes set on the big prize, but all barometers point to a New England parade.
