Strength versus Strength

It's Championship Sunday in the NFL, and we have been provided with two pretty amazing matchups to watch on the ol' big screen HD. In both games, emotion will be at peak levels and game play should be extraordinary as all four of today's teams have something prove and the desire and drive to get to Miami two weeks on. Let's break it down.

New Orleans at Chicago

The doubters, the haters and the prognosticators have all lined up on this one. And if you believe them, then the New Orleans Saints have already been crowned NFC champions. But this game is not, by any stretch of the imagination, going to be easy for America's Team. We all want it to be. We love the story: a city and a quarterback reborn, a showman and his coach taking it to the next level, the thought of the unmitigated shitshow that will ensue on Nourbon Street if New Orleans actually won a Championship. The hard facts are these:

1) The Bears defense has been slighted of late, but they are just that good. Losing Tommie Harris is a HUGE deal, because it means Urlacher has to do almost superhuman things against the pass. But Adewale Ogunleye and others should be able to stuff the Bush/McCallister run tandem and put the game on Brees' shoulders. Which leads me to...
2) Is Drew Brees the guy who can stand up and take on this vaunted Bears defense alone? Do we all really believe that he can put this team on his back and beat the Bears?
3) And this has been overlooked, I think, this week. It's friggin' cold in Chicago today. And it's snowing. This Saints team is an indoor team and we all know the stats on indoor teams in the playoffs.

Still, did you see the Bears game last week? They only beat Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks because they were handed the game in overtime. I have to believe that even with all the hype and consternation and uproar, the New Orleans Saints can overcome the odds and score an amazing victory for the Big Easy in the Windy City.

PREDICTION: Saints 27, Bears 21.

New England at Indianapolis

So, here we are. The Mother of All Battles. Peyton vs. Brady. Dungy vs. Belichick. Vinatieri vs. All of us. Let's face it, if Peyton Manning can't win this game, he will never, ever, EVER, win a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts. It will be a track meet. He should have his choice of receivers open downfield in the depleted Patriot secondary. He should be able to find Dallas Clark all day in the flat. But he will have to rely on his arm. Belichick and his defensive scheme should be able to shut Joseph Addai down, or at least make him irrelevant as they did to Tomlinson last week. (Incidentally, I'm not going to take a shot at LT for his rather odd comments following last week's Patriot celebration. He's a professional and has proved that all season, so I'll chalk it up to a lapse in judgment and a tough loss. But please, LT, don't defend Merriman. He's everything you're not. He's a loser and a drug pusher and should never have been allowed to play in the NFL again. Don't forget also, we have been there before. We know how to act, thank you very much. Anyway, back to today's game.) That puts the game on Manning's shoulders and even though he will be at home instead of on the cold turf at the Razor, this is still the Patriots in the playoffs. We are in your head, Peyton Manning. All that aside, this one ought to be a nailbiter, as Belichick's plan probably calls for the same thing as last week, namely hanging in there and hope we have a chance with the ball with about four minutes left. It might not be "Adam and leave" anymore, but give me that situation and the New England Patriots will go back to the Super Bowl. If not, then, hey, I am about to become the biggest Saints fan you will ever meet.

PREDICTION: Patriots 30, Colts 29.