You can't have a Wild Card Weekend without Tebow

It was about 4:30 in the afternoon on the Sunday of a Wild Card weekend that had been anything but wild. The Texans blew the doors off of the inexperienced Bengals. The Saints used their playoff savvy and Brees factor to TKO the young Lions. And the Falcons put up no fight against the Giants who steamrolled them to an easy win. Three wild card teams had been eliminated.

Little did everyone know, things were about to get a bit wild.

Of course, it was time for the Broncos to play. Time for the world to watch.

Tim Tebow had just gone through a rough stretch. He lost three straight, and despite getting his team into the playoffs, was being considered for a demotion. Maybe Brady Quinn could help.

I thought to myself, “Yeah, maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad idea?”

Quinn could split time with Tebow or spell him if he was either tired or not producing. Maybe there was a game plan that Tebow could really succeed in.

Turns out there was one: Tebow playing like a normal quarterback.

The first quarter looked ugly. Despite holding the Steelers to two fields goals, Denver’s offense was stuck in the mud. Tebow had yet to throw a completion. All seemed a bit lost.

And then Tebow sailed a beautifully gift wrapped pigskin right into the breadbasket of Demaryius Thomas for 51 yards. Shortly after, a perfectly thrown bullet to Eddie Royal in the end zone gave Denver the lead.

He did it again when he tossed a deep ball to Daniel Fells and then ran in a touchdown himself. Could the Broncos really keep this up?

As the game went on, Pittsburgh started to get some of their mojo back. Denver collected a few fields goals, but the Steelers tied it up when Roethlisberger sent a beautiful dart to ex-Jet wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery.

Eventually, the Broncos would have to punt the ball back to the Steelers with under two minutes remaining. This was Roethlisberger’s time. This is what he does. It’s over, I thought. I’ve wrongly said that too often in Bronco games.

The Denver defense came up with some key stops, including sacking Roethlisberger twice. Then it was off to overtime, and the new overtime rules.

I had gone out to dinner with my girlfriend that night, and when regulation had ended, we got out of my car (that had the game on the radio) to go eat. After spending ten minutes struggling to get a parking pass, we entered the restaurant to see Tebow’s angelic pass to Thomas.

Game over.

It was truly an amazing sight. An 80-yard touchdown to end the game. It seemed just like a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the tenth. And behind the whole act was Tebow, who had been tossing the ball deep all day like it was his job. Because it is his job.

You may not be able to explain Tebow or even understand how he does what he does, but you must respect him. He has the whole world buzzing and is leading an overachieving team on an improbably run this year. He had beaten the odds his entire life and is beating them this year with the Broncos.

So finally, we got to see just how wild Wild Card weekend could be. A monstrous upset fueled by an unforgettable pass and led by a quarterback who would accept nothing less than a win.

But if you really think about it, the Broncos were the home team, while the Steelers were the wild card. Also Tebow has been doing this all season. We’ve grown accustomed to it.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, was it really so wild?

Lions vs. Saints: What a Brees

I'm sure all of you are cringing at the title I gave this article, but you may be cringing more when you watch the Lions take on the Saints in the Superdome. Let's put it this way: this game has the potential to be uglier than Ndamukong Suh going to his kid's career day at preschool.

A lot of people were riding high on the Lions until they dropped a game to the Packer's second unit, a game that would have given them a significantly easier first round matchup. And for those who are still high on the Lions, consider these facts:

• Since the Lions' 5-0 start, they have gone a pedestrian 5-6.
• All ten of the Lions' wins have come against teams with a record of .500 or lower.
• Five of their six losses have come to teams with a record above .500. The sixth loss was to the Chicago Bears when Jay Cutler was healthy.
• In all of their wins, they have scored at least 24 points. In all of their losses (except for the Packer game last week), they've scored less than 20 points.
• They're YOUNG!!!

All of those point towards the fact that the Lions are too young to really compete with the Saints at this level. They should use this game as a learning experience. That being said, let's look at the matchups.

The Lions pass defense gives is 22nd in the league. Drew Brees is first in passing in the league. I see where this is going...

Brees passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns when these two teams met earlier this year. He posted a QB rating of 129.6.

The Lions pass rush has mellowed out since Suh has returned. Maybe he realized he needs to calm down? Maybe he's just depressed he can't go out there and knock people's heads off? Whatever the case, that factor will make it extremely difficult on the Detroit secondary.

Add in the fact that the Saints have three explosives and different backs (Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, Christopher Ivory) and it's going to be a long day for the Lions' defense.

Oh, and don't forget about Jimmy Graham. That guy is a freak.

On the other side of the ball, Matthew Stafford will get his. He has a plethora of weapons to throw to. If Calvin Johnson is taken away, he'll go to Brandon Pettigrew. If he's not there, he'll launch the ball to Nate Burleson. If Burleson is not open, Titus Young will get the target. The Saints can't stop all of those playmakers.

However, the one way that the Lions could help make the game go at their pace is running the ball. And unfortunately with Kevin Smith, I don't think they can do that well enough.

Don't get me wrong, Smith is not a bad back. But he just isn't the kind of yard churner that can help the Lions in this kind of game.

That being said, the Lions will be in a shootout. And while I think Stafford will have a spectacular game, he will feel pressured to keep up with Brees and make some mistakes. Things like that happen often to young players in the playoffs.

Any way you want to put it, this is a mismatch. The Lions are in a tough spot, but they made their bed, so now, they must lay in it. Any plans that Jim Schwartz has to stop Brees will be foiled by one of the best head coaches in the NFL, Sean Payton. See, New Orleans even has a coaching advantage too.

What you will see is a young Lions team hitting the field on the road in a hostile environment, feeling the pressure and anxiety, and getting slammed by a better opponent. All is not lost though, Lion fans. This will help the team grow as they move forward. The Lions are explosive and I can very well see them making enough improvements to compete with the Packers as soon as next year. As for the Saints, they want to win the Super Bowl. Now.

New Orleans 42, Detroit 24

Bengals vs. Texans: Battle of the New Blood Quarterbacks

The Bengals are going to be a popular upset pick because the Texans have lost three straight. But is anyone going to mention that the only wins Cincinnati has in the second half of the season are against the Browns, Rams, and Cardinals? How about the fact that they’ve only beaten one team above .500 all year (9-7 Tennessee)? The Bengals are a young team who has struggled against top competition, and this Saturday, they go on the road against one of the best defenses and rushing attacks in the NFL.

First we’ll take a look at the quarterback play. All I’ve been hearing this season is praise for Andy Dalton. But is it time to realize that he is just not that good yet?

Sure, leading your team to the playoffs as a rookie is great, but getting a win is a different story. I’m not saying that Dalton isn’t having an impressive season as a first year signal caller, but he’s just not as good as everyone makes him out to be.

Dalton has done a better job not turning the ball over. In the past six games, he has had only one interception. However, in those six games, he’s topped 200 yards only twice, never topping 300 yards. One of the games he did not eclipse 200 yards in was against these very same Houston Texans.

In that game, Yates was more than impressive. He led a drive all the way down the field with no timeouts that culminated with a touchdown pass to win it with only two seconds remaining. The drive included a 3^rd down and 15 where Yates scrambled for 17 yards. If this game comes down to crunch time, I’m taking Yates.

And even is Yates is hurt and can’t play, is going to Jake Delhomme really that much of a downgrade?

I understand that was only one game and that Yates has not blown anyone out of the water this season, but I’m still confident in the Texans because I don’t think this game will come down to quarterback play.

Arian Foster and Cedric Benson have both had 1,000-yard seasons. The difference between the two is that Foster is way more explosive than Benson, who is more of a plodder. Foster is able to not only control the clock, but also make big plays. Expect to see Foster making plays on the ground as well as in the passing game.

For Benson, I see him struggling in this one. He had 91 yards in the first meeting between these two teams this year. I feel like the Texans’ defense will hold him to less this time around.

Speaking of the Texans defense, they have been monstrous all season both against the run and against the pass. What Wade Phillips has done for this defense has been remarkable. And while the Bengals have had a stifling defense as well, they are still without their top cornerback, Leon Hall. They sure could use Jonathan Joseph, who is, well…now on the Texans.

I give the edge to Houston on defense, as well as the overall edge in the game.

Many will be surprised by how well the Texans will play on Saturday. They will advance to play Baltimore, and should look to take a page out of San Francisco’s book and try to rely mainly on their defense and running game. If they play their cards right, they may surprise even more people.

Houston 23, Cincinnati 13

What if Tebow Does it Again?

What-ifs are one of the most exciting things in sports, let alone the world. It allows you to delve deep into a dimension where dreams can become a reality and the impossible suddenly becomes possible.

Sports fans have what-ifs run through their heads every season. “What if my team wins a championship?” is probably the most common one.

Being a Cowboys fan, I’m all too familiar with what-ifs. What if the Cowboys didn’t blow the easily winnable games to the Jets, Lions, Cardinals, and Giants this year? Wouldn’t they be 11-2, fighting for a playoff bye?

What if Romo didn’t get hurt last year? Could he have won that game against the Giants, sent the Cowboys to 2-4, and led them to an improbable run to the playoffs?

What if that miscue against Seattle didn’t happen?

But enough ranting about the Cowboys, the main point I am trying to make is that what-ifs are only fun before the actual event takes place. Otherwise, you just kick yourself over them. If there’s anything I’ve learned been a Cowboys fan, it’s that.

Also, you have to make sure you temper expectations for these what-ifs. You could have unreal what-ifs like these: What if the Chiefs upset the Packers? What if the Colts score 75 points against Tennessee? Then you have your all too realistic what-ifs. What if Drew Brees throws for over 200 yards against the Vikings? Those kinds of questions aren’t fun at all. For the unrealistic ones, at least a man can dream.

What you must do is find a what-if that is very improbable and hard to believe it could happen, but still has that sliver of hope that you could actually consider it.

You’ve probably figured out what my question is right now. ‘What if Tim Tebow and the Broncos can upset the mighty Patriots on Sunday?’

If you’re reading this, this is probably the hundredth article you’ve read on Tebow all year. And those are for the normal people. If you’re a diehard fan that bleeds pigskin, that numbers may be in the thousands by now.

The reality is that every week, Tebow gives us something that makes us talk about him: wins. That’s what you want people to be talking about when they talk about you.

For those of you who don’t understand how in the world this continues to happen, let me try to explain it in the best way I have come to understand in these five bullets.

· Tim Tebow is not a bad quarterback: Tebow has improved, as you saw in the game against Minnesota. While it may look ugly, he is starting to make good throws and deep throws. And clutch throws have always been there.

· Tebow has an excellent team surrounding him: Willis McGahee has revitalized career. He is running hard and he is running with a purpose. Maybe it’s because many considered Grandpa Willis unfit to be a lead back in the NFL. Maybe it’s because he could probably break Knowshon Moreno’s paper and glass body with a simple bro-slap and hug. Whatever the case is, he’s hungry. Then you look at the defense. Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil lead a nightmare of a pass rushing attack as Champ Bailey anchors the secondary. And like McGahee, they are hungry.

· Tebow’s ability to run and run the offense: John Fox has done a marvelous job of creating a game plan that Tebow can succeed in. It allows Tebow to have several choices of what to do with the ball. One of those choices including talking it himself, which, if you haven’t gotten by now, is something he’s rather good at.

· The power of positive thinking: I’m sure this is the point where I’ll lose all the Tebow haters and people who hate corniness. But the truth of the matter is that Tebow has put his faith in God and truly believes that him and his teammates will succeed. Notice how I said will, not can. As a Christian, I am truly amazed by how strong his faith is and what he is doing with it. And even if you’re not a Christian, you can’t deny the fact that Tebow’s positive thinking hasn’t been anything short of a miracle. Unless you’re one of those people who hate corniness, in which case, you’re not reading anymore. Are you?

· Wins: Tebow is 7-1 as a starter this season. Clutch has been replaced in the dictionary with the word “Tebow.” In fact, on that note, I think now would be a good time to let you all know that “tebowing” is now an official word in the dictionary. But back to the wins, isn’t that all that matters? If Tebow can lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl, I’m sure all their fans will be laughing in the faces of those ignorant enough to continue criticizing him.

With that, I hope I didn’t confuse you even more. So to take a more playful side of the Tebow phenomenon, I’ll let you in on a moderately interesting and probably useless story.

I decided to play games of Madden 12’ with the Broncos that may actually occur in the playoffs, because I’m a dork. So I started off with their most likely first round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As you would imagine, things got off to a rocky start. Pittsburgh got two quick field goals while Tebow fumbled on his first carry, and then Rashard Mendenhall broke off a long touchdown run. Before I could even understand why I thought an all out blitz would be a good idea on that play, I had just thrown a pick with Tebow. A Mike Wallace touchdown catch quickly made it 20-0 in the 2^nd quarter.

Then out of nowhere, I tossed a 68-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal. Tebow magic?

Now in the second half, I was aided by a stingy defense, I continued to make stops and eventually led a Tebowesque (that word should be in the dictionary soon) drive, which ended with a Demaryius Thomas touchdown pass. 20-14.

The defense stepped up. I kicked a field goal. Then another. Then another. With less than two minutes to play, I was up 23-20. Big Ben had a one final chance to come back.

The Denver defense held him to a three-and-out. Broncos win.

I honestly didn’t feel fazed by the early deficit. I felt like as long as I made smart plays, I would be fine. I was channeling Tebow. Yes, in a video game.

I then went on to play the Patriots, a possible second round opponent. I jumped up to an early 17-0 lead and wounding up sacking Tom Brady nine times (remember that number on Sunday, just for the what-if purpose). Brady quickly came back in a fury that included a long touchdown to Wes Welker, a running score for Benjarvus Green-Ellis, and a few field goals that ultimately led to the score being 23-17. In favor of the Broncos, of course. Brady was driving again at the end of the game and had fourth down at about the Denver 20 with less than two minutes left. New England had three timeouts, so they elected to kick the field goal and kick the ball away instead of going for it. Not very realistic, but this is Madden coaching right now, not Belichick.

The rest was history, as McGahee killed the clock and ended the game. I was on such a Tebowhigh (more words), that I decided to play Baltimore in a potential championship game.

Two early interceptions got the Ravens out to a 10-0 lead. But it didn’t matter. Does any deficit really matter?

I eventually tied the score at 10 but surrendered the lead by giving up a late Ray Rice touchdown. With about a minute and no timeouts left, I had one final shot to salvage the game. Driving down the field and making some ridiculous throws, I set the ball up at the goal line with six second remaining. I asked myself, “What if I ran the ball?”

QB sneak. Touchdown Tebow. Overtime. Coin Toss won. Game-winning field goal: good.

Granted I didn’t have the same amount of luck when I played the Packers next. It was still pretty wild. And granted it was just a video game, it got me thinking: “What if that actually happened?”

The reason why I gave you that not-so-short story was to try and put you in a what-if mindset as we turn our attention to the game at hand.

It seems like an ideal matchup for Tebow. He has struggled against good pass defenses, which is something New England does not possess.

He finally gets an elite team after beating the scrubs and mediocre teams of the league and a chance to really prove something.

If the Broncos defense can keep the game close and not make it a shootout early, maybe Tebow gets a chance to win it at the end like he has been all season.

At this point, it’s harder to bet against Tebow than it is to bet on him. He has been so astounding so far and that Bears game was just the tip of the iceberg. I didn’t get the game in my area (I was in Pennsylvania), so I was forced to watch it on nfl.com. I saw Denver on the 41 and thought it was all but over. And then a blue screen popped up.

MATT PRATER 59-YARD FIELD GOAL IS GOOD.

I literally jumped. There’s probably still a hole in the ceiling. I also saw this one when it seemed Caleb Hanie had guided Chicago to a win.

MARION BARBER FUMBLES. DEN RECOVERS.

I jumped a little higher. He did it again.

What-ifs are a lot of fun. If you want to give your brain some exciting food for thought, you should ask yourself, “What if Tebow wins?” Then again, you may just want to ask yourself, “Why not?”

The Final Stretch

With only four weeks left to play, the NFL is entering its final quarter. All of the teams are entering the stretch run, some firmly in the playoff race, some already eliminated, and some who are reaching out for a final playoff spot. This time of year is so exciting. December. Where the real teams come to fruition. I will be reviewing all of the divisions and what to expect out of them for the remainder of the season.

AFC East: This one seems to be just about wrapped up. The Patriots will most likely win the division and probably even get a first round bye with their incredibly easy remaining schedule. At 7-5, the Jets are still fighting for a wild card spot. Their remaining games aren’t too difficult but aren’t easy either. They could very well sneak into the playoffs yet again. Buffalo is in a downward spiral that is really hurting their fast start. With the injury to Fred Jackson, it seems that their team has been exposed. With an average passing game and a defense built on the big play, things are not looking good for their remaining games. Expect the Dolphins to jump them in the division standings. They’ve won four of five, the loss being by one point to the Cowboys. Matt Moore and Reggie Bush have revived the Miami offense and maybe even saved Tony Sparano’s job. They are the perfect definition of a spoiler team.

AFC North: It has become clear that the Bengals are not quite in the same league as the Steelers or Ravens, and I’m not shocked. The Bengals are too young and their record has been favored by a creampuff schedule (before the meetings with Pittsburgh and Baltimore). If they can squeeze into a wild card spot, it will prove they really are ahead of schedule in developing as a team. If not, you could see them resemble the 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season (ouch). The Ravens are incredibly dangerous, especially at home. I would not be surprised at all if they can finally reach the Super Bowl this year, but if Big Ben is in their way, they may not fare so well. Roethlisberger and the Steelers step up in big games. They have the kind of mentally tough team that is built for a playoff run. Winners of 7 of their last 8, I would have to make them my AFC Super Bowl pick. The Browns are ugly. There’s really nothing else you can say. The team has little to no talent and it’s a blessing they’ve gotten four wins. Cleveland’s front office needs to have a busy offseason if they want to be competitive in their division for the next decade.

AFC South: This division is over-or is it? T. J. Yates has looked good enough to where the Houston defense and running game can carry him to the playoffs, but consider this: the Texans and Titans each have three games before their Week 17 showdown. To make that a winner-take-all matchup, the Titans would need to go 2-1 and the Texans would need to go 1-2. The Titans play the Colts, Jaguars, and Saints, so it is entirely possible. The Texans get the Bengals, Panthers, and Colts, another possibility. However, due to tiebreakers, one of those Houston losses would have to be to the Colts. Hey, they have to win at some point right? The Colts are a mess but look a little better with Dan Orlovsky at the helm. Drafting Andrew Luck is a must for them. Jacksonville has become one of the worst teams in the leagues but has a solid core to build off of if they make the right moves in the offseason.

AFC West: This is the only division where every team has a realistic shot of winning it. Right now, it’s Tebow magic up top leading the way. Tim and the gang are leading the division with good defense, good running, and clutch play. They seem to be the favorite, as wild as that may seem. But you never know in the Wild West. Just like you never know what you’ll get with the Raiders, who must travel to Green Bay Sunday after getting thrashed by Miami. If Darren McFadden doesn’t get back soon, Oakland’s season may be over. The Chiefs and Chargers are both still alive, being two games out of first. I wouldn’t count out San Diego because of their historically stellar play in December and the division up for grabs, but you can turn the lights out in Kansas City. Tyler Palko cannot lead this team to the playoffs and Kyle Orton is not the savior either.

NFC East: The Giants-Cowboys Sunday night game is actually a lot more crucial than people think. If the Cowboys win that game, they could clinch the following week with a win and a Giant loss. That isn’t a guarantee, but expect Dallas to come out and play their hearts out knowing it’s a huge game. Expect the same from the Giants, who know they are playing for their season. Losers of four straight, New York is desperate for a win. This week will show us which team is hungrier. The Eagles season has been a drag and they look absolutely miserable. They resemble the Cowboys of last year. Unlike the Cowboys, there won’t be a coaching change that will spark them to end the season strong. The front office needs to do some evaluating and find players who want to win. The Redskins need to find a new quarterback. And wide receivers. And head coach. Both the Shanahans have been awful since they’ve been in Washington. Did they really think Rex Grossman or John Beck could lead the team? The Redskins’ defense is solid, but the offense is what really holds them down.

NFC North: Ah, the Packers. Would you look at them. Blazing through the competition, it seems almost impossible to stop them. They should go 16-0, and I have them as my Super Bowl pick, but it is possible a team could upset them in the playoffs. It doesn’t seem like the Lions or the Bears want a playoff spot at this point, but I see the Lions getting one by process of elimination, and because they’re actually healthy. Playoff experience would be good for this young team. As for Chicago, it’s unfortunate that such a promising season has been doomed by injury, so they’ll have to wait for next year before they truly contend. A lot of people say that if the Vikings had a quarterback, they would be a good team, but I just don’t see it. Did you see that secondary on Sunday? The Broncos wide receivers aren’t that good. The defense is really aging quickly. This team is in full-scale rebuilding mode.

NFC South: The Saints look really good. Almost as good as the Packers. The only difference I would say is that Drew Brees throws more picks and the Green Bay wide receivers are better, but both defenses are awful. New Orleans looks like it could keep on rolling right into the NFC championship game. The Falcons have gotten better but I’m still not sold on them. Matt Ryan has struggled this year and the secondary is spotty. Due to mediocrity of other teams, Atlanta is the best NFC team that won’t win its division. Wasn’t this the year the Bucs were going to compete for the NFC South title? A win over the Saints had them in prime position at 4-2. Six games later, it has gotten ugly. The team looks absolutely lifeless, unlike the Carolina Panthers, who just thrashed them last week. Cam Newton is a special player. Once he limits his mistakes and the Panthers get defensive help, they will be a playoff constant.

NFC West: San Francisco has been outstanding this year. The defense has been spectacular and Alex Smith has become a good quarterback. I still worry about them in the playoffs, but they’re headed in the right direction. Seattle has been impressive. Marshawn Lynch can still run in the NFL and the team really plays hard for Pete Carroll. Can you say Matt Barkley? Arizona wishes they could. They would really love to draft a quarterback like that, but may be stuck with Landry Jones. Or they could still be stubborn and keep Kevin Kolb. Winners of four of their last five, Arizona is overachieving. The Rams are underachieving. Sam Bradford has had his sophomore struggles and the team just isn’t that good overall. How in the world did this team beat the Saints?

How the NFC East will be Won

The NFC East has downgraded from last year. The Eagles have flopped. The Redskins are bad. And the Cowboys and Giants are not considered elite by many people. However, anything can happen in the playoffs, which is why it will be interesting to see who wins the division.

The winner of the division will have a lot of momentum and get through a tough road to the playoffs. Therefore, they will be battle-tested and have a shot to make some noise in the playoffs. With that, I look into some key factors that will shape the road for both teams.

First, the obvious: the remaining schedules. Next week, the Giants travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys on Sunday night football. While it's only one game, it will be huge in giving momentum to the winner. If the Giants win, the two teams are tied. If the Cowboys win, the Cowboys will have a two game lead with three to play.

Many would say the game is more crucial for the Giants, but I would say it's just as important for the Cowboys. If New York wins, they automatically become the favorites in the division race and people will question Dallas after losing back to back games.

Needless to say, it is an important game for both sides.

An interesting thing to look at is the parallel between the Packers-Giants game and the Patriots-Giants game from 2007. In the final week of that season, the Giants played the undefeated Patriots close, but lost. The rest is history, after they went on to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

There are many differences and similarities to that game, but the best thing you can take out of it is that Tom Coughlin's Giants know how to learn from their losses and beat teams the second time around. That its why the Giants could be dangerous, should they get into the playoffs.

It may mean nothing, but it's an aspect to keep on eye on should the situation arrive. The Giants will be focused on winning right now. As will Tony Romo.

This division race and a possible Cowboys postseason appearance will do a lot to shape Romo's legacy. He has been an excellent quarterback in the NFL but has been erratic at times and has had trouble winning close games. Everyone remembers when he botched the hold on the field goal against Seattle in his first season starting. Then, of course, their are the many December follies he has had.

This year, we've seen the good and the bad of Romo. Earlier in the year, he found a way to give games to the Jets and Lions by throwing interceptions.

However, in the game against San Francisco, and in recent games, Romo has been clutch.

He has blown out the Bills and Rams and handled the Seahawks. He set his team up for game winning field goals against the Redskins, Dolphins, and Cardinals (even though they didn't beat the Cardinals).

Romo's clutch play as of late has Dallas fans being optimistic. However, the running game has to get better in order to not put everything on him. Romo is a good quarterback, but not one who can get the job done all by himself.

If Romo can lead his team to the playoffs and some postseason wins, his image may be changed for the good. If he fails to come through again. People will be saying he can never win the big one.

So finally, with all of that being said, what will happen? I'll pick all of their remaining games to correctly see who will win the division.

Giants @ Cowboys: I like the Cowboys because they have a better defense. If DeMarco Murray gets going, it will be a long day for the Giants.

Cowboys @ Buccaneers: A rare Saturday game, but I like the Cowboys again. Tampa Bay has been completely flat and looks like they have no desire to play.

Redskins @ Giants: In a must-win game, I can't see New York dropping this one. They will avenge an early season loss against the inept Redskins.

Giants @ Jets: This will be a truly close and exciting game, but I like the Jets to pull out a win in the battle for New York.

Eagles @ Cowboys: The Cowboys have something to play for. The Eagles don't. And right now, at least for this season, Dallas is a better team.

Cowboys @ Giants: The Giants get the victory in what would be a meaningless matchup. For the record, however, even if the game meant something, I would still pick the Giants because I think the teams are so even that they will split the season series.

That would put the Cowboys at 10-6 and give them the division crown over the 8-8 Giants. But that's just my opinion. Anything can happen. All I know is it's going to be an exciting end of the season for the entire NFL. But don't sleep on the NFC East; you may be surprised at what you see.

Ten Things to Watch for in the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is finally here. Fans all around the country have been anticipating this moment since the Saints won it last year. Two of the league’s top defenses square off in a battle that will be fun for any sports fan to watch. These teams are very evenly matched, so all the viewers should really be in for a treat. That being said, here are the keys for each team, and things you’ll want to take a look at as the game progresses.

10. How will the Steelers’ offensive line play without Maurkice Pouncey? Pouncey was an excellent center as a rookie, and really did a great job to help a banged up and mediocre Steelers’ offensive line. Everyone saw how much the Steelers missed him two weeks ago when he got injured in the AFC championship game. Doug Legursky came in, and eventually botched a snap which led to a Jets safety. Legursky is going to need to do a good job not only in snapping the ball, but protecting Ben Roethlisberger. Being thrown in there after being a backup all season puts a lot of pressure on him, and we’ll see if the Super Bowl hype gets to him. If he can’t handle the job, Roethlisberger could be sacked often.

9. How will the Green Bay corners match up with the Pittsburgh receivers? The weak spot of the stingy Pittsburgh defense is in its secondary. Don’t get me wrong, Ryan Clark and Ike Taylor don’t get lit up every game, but they’re no Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. They will both have their hands full with Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, and even Jordy Nelson. All of these guys have the ability to make plays and are very good receivers. They also have a very good quarterback throwing to them. If the Steelers want to win, Clark and Taylor will have slow down Green Bay’s receiving core. But with all the depth they have, and the fact that neither of the two may be able to contain Jennings, the Steelers could get lit up.

8. How will Aaron Rodgers deal with the pressure? Rodgers has never been to a Super Bowl before so the black and yellow will be taking his big game virginity. That is not a good thing. Rodgers has taken big steps in each of his first three seasons starting for Green Bay. When he first started, he had an excellent year as a player, but failed to give the Packers a winning record. Last year, he got them into the playoffs, but couldn’t get out of the wild card round. Sunday, he will finally be in the Super Bowl, and I’d say he has done a great job of handling pressure and criticism so far. If he can win the big one, people may actually start forgetting about Brett Favre. That is a huge compliment. There’s definitely a possibility of Rodgers having a meltdown late in the game, but I don’t see that happening.

7. Can Big Ben carry his team? Ben Roethlisberger is a good quarterback on a very good team. He’s tough, can make difficult throws, and does an excellent job at extending plays with his legs. He plays a style of schoolyard football that is a nightmare to defend. But is he an elite quarterback? Not really. The numbers aren’t that great. He didn’t play that well against the Jets and Ravens. And he really didn’t have an outstanding game in either of his Super Bowl wins. He’s benefited from playmaking wide receivers (Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, and Mike Wallace), a solid running game, and a shut down defense. This Packers team is very unique. They have the ability to beat the Steelers defense, stop the running game, and blanket the wide receivers. So if it comes down to it, Big Ben may be called on to the task of putting the team on his shoulders. It will be interesting to see what he would do in a situation like that. The guy knows how to win, but he has also received a lot of help. He’s going to need help Sunday.

6. Will Troy Polamalu make a big play? Dick LeBeau is going to have to decide whether he wants Polamalu to drop back in coverage and help against the wide receivers, or blitz and put Rodgers under pressure. He’s going to have to be at his best with his defensive schemes because Rodgers will make him pay. But a big play by the long haired safety could go a long way in winning the game. Polamalu should be a force all game just being on the field, but if he could get a pick six, that could change the momentum of the game greatly. It’s not going to be easy to trip up the Packers offense, but if anyone can do it, it will be the defensive player of the year. Last year, when the Steelers didn’t make the playoffs, Polamalu missed 11 games. This is the stage where players like Polamalu step up and really excel.

5. Who has the best chance of winning MVP? The Super Bowl MVP is often presented to the quarterback of the winning team because they are involved in the game more than anyone else, and have a better chance to make plays. However, that hasn’t been the case with Roethlisberger. He’s won two Super Bowls, but no MVP awards. Hell, even Eli Manning has a Super Bowl MVP. If the Steelers win, he may not get the award for a third time. My pick with a Pittsburgh victory is Mike Wallace. Wallace has the ability to outrun anyone on the field, and rack up big time yardage. He’s also able to have a great game even if Roethlisberger doesn’t. If Big Ben can get him a few bombs and a score or two, Wallace will follow in the footsteps of Ward and Holmes to win an MVP with the Steelers as a wide receiver. If he doesn’t win, James Harrison is the best bet. He can rack up a few sacks and maybe force a few fumbles because he’s going against a suspect Packers’ offensive line and quite frankly, he’s a beast. Everyone saw the play he made two years ago against Arizona. Other dark horse Pittsburgh candidates are Mendenhall, Polamalu, and Roethlisberger. However, if Green Bay wins, it will most likely be because of superb quarterback play. No one on that team will probably outperform Rodgers, who has a solid chance of an MVP caliber game. If somehow Rodgers doesn’t win it, Clay Matthews will likely be the recipient. Like Harrison, Matthews can bust through the offensive line, get some sacks, force some turnovers, and cause hell. A lot of people are talking about Matthews versus Polamalu because of their long hair, but people should be more concerned about whether or not Matthews can outplay Harrison. Other outside shots of winning for the Packers are Greg Jennings, Charles Woodson, and James Jones.

4. Can Rashard Mendenhall go the whole game? During the second half of the AFC championship game, Mendenhall seemed to slow down a little bit. Yes, he was playing the Jets, but he ran all over them in the first half. The NFL season is very long and since Mendenhall has basically been the only running back for the Steelers, he could definitely be hampered by the heavy workload. The Steelers are really going to need to rely on him, so he will have to turn in a good performance. They also may need him to close out the game if they have a late lead. Two weeks ago, Antonio Brown made the play to seal the victory. But Mendenhall is really the closer for the team, and should be relied on in that situation. Don’t be surprised to see a few touches go to Issac Redman early in the game.

3. Can James Starks somehow provide a solid ground game? Starks has been the talk of the town in Green Bay. But it’s not because he’s had eye-popping games or runs, it’s because he actually gives the Packers a running game. It may not be as good as it would be with Ryan Grant, but it’s better than Brandon Jackson. Starks is a rookie who didn’t play his senior year at Buffalo due to injury and didn’t play for the Packers until Week 13. Now he’s being asked to turn in a solid game against the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Not an easy task. Starks should be able to run a little, but don’t expect much. I would be surprised if Starks reaches 75 yards on the game. There is a possibility he has a breakout game, but it’s tough to see that happening. The Packers could really use the boost they would get from him to open up the passing game.

2. Is the momentum of the Packers more important than the experience of the Steelers? A lot of people have been saying how Roethlisberger, Mike Tomlin, and the rest of the Steelers have a huge experience advantage, being in the Super Bowl before. But what about the momentum of the Packers? They have been red hot and tearing through teams. Rodgers has been playing out of his mind, and momentum is often the key to championship runs. Just ask the New York Giants from three years ago. They rode a hot streak to knock off the previously undefeated Patriots. And speaking of New England, they had won the Super Bowl three times before that game. Yes, they had the experience, but it didn’t really help there, did it? After already winning, the Patriots may have been lackadaisical and not as motivated as someone who has never won. They also may have the mindset that even if they don’t play well, they’ll still win. The Steelers have won two of the last five Super Bowls, and they could have a similar thought on their minds. They know how to win, but they have to know how to win again.

1. Which storied franchise will add another ring to their collection? Prediction time. In the end, I think Rodgers will go off, and throw for three touchdown passes. The recipients will be Jennings, Driver, and a surprise, John Kuhn. Starks will have a tough time, but do just enough. I see the Steelers forcing an interception from Rodgers, but I think Roethlisberger will throw two. Mendenhall should have a decent game and get a score, as should Wallace via Roethlisberger. But their offense won’t be able to match Green Bay’s. Matthews will wreck havoc and really beat up Roethlisberger. And in the end, it will be Rodgers holding up the Lombardi Trophy, and having an MVP to his name as well. We may see a Super Bowl championship belt very soon.

Prediction: Packers 24, Steelers 19