NFL Playoff Predictions

NFL Playoffs are at the halfway point and it has been a great playoff season so far. The Cowboys lost to an inferior Giants team. San Diego went into Indianapolis and beat a far superior team with injured superstars. Green Bay spotted Seattle 14 points to go on to win in a snowy blowout and of course the undefeated Patriots beat the Jacksonville Jags at home.

So who wins this week and why?

Chargers vs. Patriots

First lets look at the Patriots vs the Chargers. This is a rematch of week two game where New England absolutely crushed the Chargers 38 to 14. Tom Brady threw for 3 touchdowns and the Pats defense only gave Tomlinson 43 yards on 18 carries.

The AFC championship game will be no different than the first meeting of these two teams. The three main offensive weapons for San Diego; Gates, Tomlinson and Rivers, are less than 100% and will not be able to run the ball effectively to keep the ball out of Brady's hands. The Chargers defense will be unable to do the things necessary to shut down the most prolific offense in NFL history. With that said my prediction is New England winning this game 28 - 10 with the majority of the scoring coming in the first half for New England.

Giants vs. Packers

With less than six hours to go before this game starts it is, I think, the most intriguing game of the 2007/2008 NFL playoffs and maybe the season. An aging Hall of Fame quarterback facing a young unproven talent. These two teams also faced each other in week two and the results were identical with Green Bay winning 35 - 14. Although the outcome was similar the reason was not. The Giants were missing some key elements in their defense and offense. Brett Farve was also going for the all time wins for an NFL QB.

All this being said Brett Farve has "it". What is "it"? "It" is the intangible characteristic that Vince Young had against USC. "It" is the reason why Joe Montana could lead teams back from insurmountable deficits to win. Brett Farve will impose his will at Lambeau field with temperatures reaching 5 degrees for a high with a wind chill of -9. The Giants defensive line will give Brett fits but Ryan Grant and the running game will put put things right. Eli Manning will have a poor day passing but with some big plays the Giants will hang around. In the end the Packers will pull ahead and win this game 31 to 21.

I know I know I am not going out on much of a limb by picking the two favorites but wait until next week when you see my Superbowl pick. Leave a comment and remember be as nasty as you want to be, it will get posted.

Why the Cowboys lose in the Playoffs!

Another year and another playoff loss! But you shouldn't be surprised because the Dallas Cowboys have not won a playoff game in since 1996. If you are a fan you may be asking yourself why and if you are an outsider it is probably clear why the Cowboys don't win when it counts. The owner.

Jerry Jones is a 65 year old native of Los Angeles, California. He was transplanted in Arkansas shortly after his birth. Jones was your typical high school football player who earned honors and became a scholarship to the University of Arkansas where played with both Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. He was also in a fraternity.

After college Jones had many business opportunities that failed until he started oil exploration in Oklahoma. This company led to his millions today and in 1989 at 47 he purchased the Cowboys.

Jones went on to win three Superbowls with the Cowboys, two with Jimmy Johnson and one with Barry Switzer. Jones has stated to reporters that it didn't matter who he had coaching that they would have won those Superbowls because of the talent he recruited and drafted.

Jones is arrogant and lacks benevolence towards others. He instills in his players cockiness and degrades his coaches as merely figureheads willing to do his bidding. He does not grow his organization he simply recruits the best talent. Talent does not win Superbowls, playing as a team does.

On top of the obvious character flaws that Jones has he also allows his players to develop into players who hold their own needs higher than that of the team's. Tom Brady love him or hate him, he is a classy player who realizes that he is but one man and that without his teammates he would be nothing. He took a pay cut just to free up salary cap room. Cowboy's players are too busy counting the 25 million reasons not to commit suicide and taking young teenage strippers to motel rooms to do coke with.

I know what you are saying, how does that translate into playoff losses? Winning during the season is tough enough with injuries and distractions but in the playoffs your team has to have the mental focus and the ability to put TEAM above your own needs. Not taking vacations to Cabo during your week off.

Jerry Jones is to blame. It is his team and his decisions. He will point the finger somewhere else because he only likes to claim his successes but ultimately the blame is his. His greedy attitude and lack of benevolence leads him to worry about one thing, the bottom line. I mean look at the deal with the NFL network and cable television, nothing but greed there.

America's team is dead!