The Real "Super Sunday"

by KC James 
Independent Sports



My favorite Sunday in the NFL is coming up this Sunday I actually enjoy more than "Super Sunday" You can't get to the BIG Game if you don't win your conference championship first. After a four month lockout and a wild regular season the  final four Sunday is coming with the NFC and AFC championship games this Sunday. The Patriots are hosting the Ravens and the Giants go to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. If styles make fights they also make these two match-ups very interesting. In the AFC it's the Patriots and the leagues 2nd ranked offense against the Ravens and the 3rd ranked defense. The key to this game will be weather or not the Ravens and that physical, hard hitting "D" can pressure Tom Brady make him uncomfortable in the pocket and get him out of his rhythm. If they can't do that it will be a long afternoon for B'More. Brady will perform surgery in that defense. In "09" when the Ravens went into Foxborough and beat New England in the wildcard game they ran the ball Ray Rice scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 75 yard run. The Ravens "D" pinned back their ears went after Brady smacked him around and the Patriots never recovered. That's the same formula they'll need to win Sunday along with Joe Flacco (who's taken a lot of FLACK-O ) making some key throws and not turning the ball over. I like the Ravens defense to contain the Pat's offense Ravens 23-17. 

The NFC is a ... [More]

"Super Match-up"

Sunday's Super Bowl XLV between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers is truly a game for the ages. It matches the two most storied franchises in NFL History. The Packers  won the first two Super Bowls and were one of  the first real sports dynasties. That's the reason the championship trophy is named after their former coach the legendary Vince Lombardi. Pittsburgh is appearing in a record 8th SB and has won more Lombardi's than any other franchise (6). It's only fitting that these two teams are playing  for the right to be crowned champion and be known as the best football team on the planet for one year. The Packers and Steelers are rich in tradition and both literally have their own wings in the Hall of Fame.  Some of the names are Starr, Bradshaw, Nitschke, Green, Horning, Harris, Davis, Lambert, Kramer, Swann, White, Blunt and so many more which are part of the HOF fraternity. Great coaches like Curly Lambeau  (The man the Packers home field was named after), Chuck Knoll (4 championships with the Steelers), Holmgren, Cowher and Lombardi. You now can add Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy to that list.  It is a testament to the sustained excellence of both franchises that after Sunday they would have played in a combined 13 Super Bowls. The Steelers and the Packers are the two class organizations of the NFL and it's only right that they will finally meet with the the Lombardi Trophy on the line. Afte... [More]

Super Coach

The Saints winning Superbowl XXXXIV was no surprise. The teams were evenly matched ( the Colts should have been 3 pt favorites not 4.5-5) but how they won was a surpise. They won because they exceuted better on both sides of the ball. That's because they were better coached, better prepared and just better. The other Peyton New Orleans Head Coach Shawn Peyton was the reason. He had an aggressive game plan and unlike is counterpart Jim Caldwell he played to WIN the game rather than not to loose. He trusted and showed confidence in his team on offense by going for it on 4 and goal from the Colts 2 just before the half. Eventhough they didn't make it the tone was set. And his call (Ambush) the onside kick to start the 2nd half was gutsy and the key to the game. He sent a message to he's team that we're going after the championship with everything we've got and his players responded in a big way. At the most criticle point in the game with the Colts driving for the tying TD the Saint defense did what they've been doing all season and showed why they led the NFL in TO's and scoring defense. They blitzed Manning into a quick throw that turned into a Tracy Porter pick six game over. Drew Brees was the MVP but the most important man on the field didn't make a takle, catch a pass or score a touchdown. Shawn Peyton was the differerence he was the MVC (Most Valueble Coach) and the main rea... [More]

2nd Half of the Year

I know I'm not the only one who figured the Bears wouldn't bother to show up for Monday nights game against the Vikings right? I mean they stoped showing up a month ago and had all but quit on Head Coach Lovie Smith. Jay Cutler who claims to have a stronger arm than John Elway has thrown most of passes to the other teams leading the league in interceptions. The other problem with the Bears has been the defense which has played more like Bear Cubs since Brian Urlacker's season ending injury in the opening game of the season. So this all meant that Monday's game would be a dumper right? Wrong! Cutler showed Bear fans what they've been missing all season by doing his best Elway impression and out dueling Bret Farve leading Chicago to a 36-30 dramatic overtime win. He was what he thought he was for one game anyway going 20-35 for 273 yds 4 Tds and 1 int.

After shutting at the Viks and leading 16-0 at halftime the 2nd half was the best of the Season in the NFL . Frave woke up the Minnesota offense throwing for 285 of his 321 yds and 2 Td's as both teams came out blazing. This was a good old fasion shoot-out between 2 gunslingers with Cutler and the Bears left standing. Minnesota after going 10-1 have lost 3 of their last 4 and are reeling going into the playoffs. We saw what Jay Cutler could do he just needs to do it more often. Bear fans are asking will the real Jay Cutler please... [More]

Manning vs Manning

In the case of Peyton Manning vs Eli Manning the question is who is the better MAN-NING! At first glance the answer would be Peyton right? In 12 seasons he's considered one of the all-time greats. He's won 3 regular season MVP's and  a Super Bowl MVP, he's thrown for 336 TD's, his 64.5 complection pct. is 3rd all-time (among QB's with 1500 attempts). He's the Colts all-time winningest QB (but doesn't like to be compared to Johnny "U") He's the master of the 2 min drill and has led countless 4th qtr combacks including Monday night against Miami. He's started 178 straight games second all-time only to Brett Farve. So Peyton's the obvious choice right? Not so fast LiL Bro Eli isn't just chopped QB. It was a rocky start for Eli after being drafted in the 1st rd by San Diego he refused to play there and then the Giants and Chargers worked a swap for Phillip Rivers. All Eli's done since is win a Super Bowl in dramatic fashion against the mighty Patriots. He's evolved into a true leader, he plays with a quite confidence and he's cluth under pressure. He does what all great QB's do he plays big in the big games (Dallas Sunday night). He'll never put up the numbers that big Brother does because of the system he plays in but last time I checked both Manning's have a Super Bowl Ring. Either one you choose you can't go wrong. Peyton will be in the hall of fame and Eli right now is at the top of his game. There's onl... [More]

Week 1 Surprise

It was an outstanding week 1 in the NFL. It was no surprise the Adrian Peterson ran through and around the Browns for 180 punishing yds in the debut of #4 for the Vikings. It also wasn't a surprise that Drew Brees set a league record by throwing 6 TD's on opening day. It wasn't even a surprise that the 49ers went in to Arizona and smacked the defending NFC champion Cardinals in the mouth. What was a surprise was the peromance of Jets Rookie QB Marc Sanchez who didn't play like a Rookie at all. It wasn't just his numbers 18-31 for 272 and his first career TD it was his presence in the pocket, his command of the offense. For the most part he made the right reads, and good decisions and got the ball where it needed to be and when it needed to be there. Sanchez is an upgrade over some guy named Farve they had last season. Rookies don't do what Sanchez did in their first game (ok Dan Marino) not Montana, Elway, Unitas or even "Broadway Joe"  Actually though Sanchez isn't a Rookie because he's already played for a professional team the USC Trojans.