AFC Championship Game

Published 19 January 07 12:03 AM | scoutmom
New England Patriots vs Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, Jan 21, 2007 on CBS
Kickoff:  6:30 PM Eastern

Let's start out with some key matchups.

Tom Brady is 12-1 in the post-season. Peyton Manning is 5-6.  Brady is 10-0 in domes.  Adam Vinatieri was the entire offense in the 15-6 win over the Baltimore Ravens.  His replacement in New England, Stephen Gostkowski not only hit a 50-yarder, he also hit the game winner in the Patriots victory over the Chargers.  Manning has problems against the 3-4 defense (39.6 passer rating against Baltimore). 

The Colts wide receiver trio of Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark provides a mismatch against just about any secondary in the league, including the Patriots.  Dwight Feeney...dome...right there in Brady's face.

The Colts have won the last two games over New England, but lost the previous six.  New England is the reason Indy was knocked out of the 2003 and 2004 playoffs. 

Both Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy have post-season experience, but Dungy hasn't been able to get his team to the big game.  Belichcik on the other hand has been there, done that. 

This game looks to be tough, hard-hitting, exciting and close.  The Colts are a 3 point favorite to win - home field advantage may be just the boost they need.

Comments

# aislin123 said on January 18, 2007 10:26 PM:

I'm in between these teams, I like them both.  But I probably will root for the Colts this time.  Hopefully, this will be an exciting game to watch.

# scoutmom said on January 18, 2007 10:36 PM:

Personally, I think both games are going to be real slug fests.  It may just come down to who has the best kicker (and the fewest interceptions!!).  ESPN.com has a cool thing from Accuscore where they run 10,000 game simulations, one play at a time, to pick a winner.  Even those are unbelievably close.

# mar1759 said on January 19, 2007 12:09 PM:

Personally I'm bored already with the AFC thing between the Patriots and the Colts.  I'd like to see the Patriots win just because I'd love to see Peyton lose...again.  The icing on the cake for me for would be to see Vinatieri miss a field goal and still give the win to the Patriots.

As far as the NFC game, despite the Saints beating my Eagles if that's what you want to call a fairly called game by the refs, I'm still routing for the Saints to win.  The only reason Eagles fans aren't more outraged at this particular loss is because we were dead and buried before Mcwedon'tneedyou went down with yet another injury.  To the refs who called the Saints/Eagles game...if you're gonna call holding on every snap, then split it up a bit huh; and once in awhile call a pass interference call in favor of the other team for the remainder of the season, ya know, just to make it look good - we get it that the NFL wants the Saints in the Superbowl.  Yes, this Saints team is strong with an awesome coach, a kickass offense and a not to shabby defense (of course some of that defense came from the Eagles in the trade for Dante Stallworth), a little weak in the secondary but unless the Bears intend to play a perfect game on Sunday, it's gonna be tough getting around the fairy tale story that is the New Orleans Saints.  I just don't know how you Bears fans can breath when Grossman has his hands on the ball - it must be very stressful to watch a QB like that week after week LOL!  

So please spare me the "bitter Eagles fans" remarks, all football fans know about Eagles fans.  Unless the Saints win on Sunday, I, along with millions of others don't see a Superbowl here, which is why the Saints will be the NFC Champions of the 2006-2007 season - just the way god wrote it.

# scoutmom said on January 19, 2007 03:01 PM:

Hmmmmm.....34 views on the AFC game, only 18 on the NFC.  Does that mean we have WAY more AFC fans here?

And I don't think I've breathed since Week 6 of the regular season.  Good Rex/Bad Rex?  I wanted NO Rex a long, long time ago.  Too late now!