Who would of known waaaay back in week 2 that we would of had 2 rematches from that week deciding who travels to Arizona for the Super Bowl ? Heres hoping that the games are a little closer and more competitive than they were that week.

CHARGERS + 14 @ PATRIOTS

If the Chargers are to have ANY chance in this game they are gonna have to play some outstanding D and force some big turnovers, fortunitly for them thats what they do, the Chargers lead the league in turnover differential ( I think it’s at + 23 for the season ) thats how they got here ( beating the Colts twice ) and thats the only way they can move on. Of course that alone won’t be enough, after all they are still playing the Patriots, who definitely are nearly as unbeatable as they were a month or so ago but are still pretty damn good team.

Now the good news for the Chargers is Rivers said he will play, yeah just a couple weeks ago I had him buried but these last 2 weeks he has played great football again, just like last year. If he can keep that big mouth shut and play a full mistake free game and the D plays just as good, then they have a shot but they need everything working for them all at once. They must run the ball effectively ( not really worried about that ) get a couple big pass plays and cause at least 2 turnovers. ( hopefully to Cromartie cause that would be 12 points the other way )

So I know what needs to happen but do I know what will happen ? I’m not sure, yet I do like the CHARGERS to cover and keep it a game until around the 3rd or 4th quarter, but thats right where the Pats want you, as you tighten up they loosen up, they remain calm and wait for you to panic and start making mistakes. The closer you get to the end the more mistakes they are likely to force and less they will make and let’s be honest the real reason the I the Patriots win this game hhave to do with simple math.

Brady > Rivers

Bellichek > Turner

GIANTS + 7 1/2 @ PACKERS

First off let me give the Giants some credit. I have been hating on them all year long. Yeah I still think they are overrated, things broke perfectly for them to get here but regardless if your in your conference championship game you did something right.

The Giants have been winning with their D and thats where the problems against the Packers will start. Not that I don’t expect solid play from the Giants D but the Packers are already built perfectly to beat the G-Men. The Giants strength is their D-line, their weakness is their banged up secondary ( played much better lately but still not very good, especially if the ends can’t provide pressure ) The Packers have a solid O-line and an even better rushing attack to keep the D-ends off balance and on their heels all game. The Packers are also really good at spreading the field and having Farve take a 3 step drop and hit a running receiver mid stride, very few people get rid of the ball as fast as Farve and he does it on purpose so teams don’t have enough time to get to him. If the Giants want constent pressure than they are gonna need to stunt and blitz up the middle of the line as well as the outside to keep Farve guessing. Expect the Packers do like last week and run the ball and then run it some more. since Grant came to start no one has stopped green bay from running the ball and I don’t see that happening today. If the Giants load up the box, then Farve spreads the field and hits any of his receivers and thats where they are most dangerous. The Packers lead the NFL in YAC ( yards after Catch ) as Farve does a great job of hitting his receivers in open space with lots of room to run. However the Giants D plays it the packers should have an answer, the danger for both teams is that neither team wants their QB throwing more than 25 times. Which ever one does will mean they are forcing things and a mistake is coming soon and could be too tough to overcome. If it’s Farve the Packers might be able to overcome it as he can erase mistakes with one big play much easier than Eli, but if Eli is throwing it around 25-30 times that means they are playing from behind and they aren’t ,oving the ball as easily as they would like.

So the Giants must play great D, run the ball effectively ( much easier said than done against the Packers ) and limit Eli’s drop backs. They are also gonna need to give Kareem Mckenzie some help with blocking Aaron Kampman, as Mckenzie won’t be able to keep up with Kampman’s motor. The Packers don’t blitz too much so if they can get good pressure with their front 4 then the Giants will be in for a long day. It’s funny I was already to say the Giants should be able to keep it interesting and within 10 but after reading what I just said, how can they ? PACKERS win this one and win it easy.