2006 Season Playoff Thread

[Packer Backer]

Let the fun begin!

We've got some really interesting match ups this year.

I saw the Seahawks and Colts get knocked out early.

I am also picking the Eagles to beat the Bears for the NFC crown.

Any other predictions?

[brady_branch]

I'm predicting San Diego to win the Super Bowl over the Saints. As for this weekend's games, I've already posted them in another thread. Next weekend, going by my predictions... Chargers over Chiefs, Ravens over Patriots, Bears over Seahawks, Saints over Eagles. Then Chargers over Ravens and Saints over Bears, and Chargers over Saints.

[Giants/Jets Legend]

Seahawks & Colts advance tonight.

Colts over Cheifs-to no suprise Peyton and the Colts were victorious. I was suprised that Larry Johnson was completely stopped by what's supposed to be a weak Colts defense.

Seahawks over Cowboys-All I can say is Wow!....I'ld REALLY hate to be Tony Romo right now. I've never seen a mistake like that.

[ATLFalcons]

I just stickied this thread and I see that brady_branch and Giants/Jets Legend were on target with their picks.....so far. Packer Backer on the other hand.......:D

[efin98]

Seahawks over Cowboys-All I can say is Wow!....I'ld REALLY hate to be Tony Romo right now. I've never seen a mistake like that.

*cough* Leon Lett *cough*

Those funny, stabbingly hilarious plays always seem to happen to Dallas.

The good thing though is that he had some redemption in that he was inches away from getting the game winning TD on the hail mary- but it wasn't meant to be.

[Packer Backer]

I just stickied this thread and I see that brady_branch and Giants/Jets Legend were on target with their picks.....so far. Packer Backer on the other hand.......:D

Yeah... I thought for sure Seattle was done, and that LJ would run all over the Colts D... Good thing fantasy ball is done! :eek: :p

[ATLFalcons]

Good for me that the fantasy season is over!! ;)But the Cowboys had it until the botched snap.

[D.C.]

*cough* Leon Lett *cough*

Those funny, stabbingly hilarious plays always seem to happen to Dallas.


Also, Jackie Smiths dropped TD in the Superbowl (XIII). :cool:

[redlegsfan21]

By BARRY WILNER

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/Chiefs_Colts_Football.sff_NAD107_20070106180421.jp g
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning throws against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter of NFL football action in the Wild Card playoff game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Peyton Manning knows all about falling apart in the playoffs. Though he struggled early Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts' stunningly stingy defense came to the rescue.

Manning and the Colts beat the inept Kansas City Chiefs 23-8 Saturday, and while the star quarterback's numbers were good - 30-of-38 for 268 yards - his performance was mediocre. At least it was for the most prolific passer of his generation.

He threw three interceptions, didn't complete a deep pass and, ultimately, was bailed out by his defense.

"You have to keep playing," said Manning, who improved to 4-6 in the playoffs. "Every time you drop back to throw, your goal is to possess the ball on the next play. Three times, I was very poor on that. As soon as it gets you second-guessing, as soon as it gets you gun-shy, that's when you have problems."

The beleaguered Indianapolis defense was so good - or perhaps more accurately, Kansas City's offense was so bad - that Manning's miscues didn't stop the AFC South champions from advancing to the next round at Baltimore on Saturday.

"Our defense was awesome today," Manning said. "We made some mistakes and the defense made sure we didn't pay for it."

A defense that yielded 173 yards rushing per game this season allowed only 44 to Pro Bowl back Larry Johnson and the Chiefs.

Kansas City's initial first down came with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter. Indianapolis had four sacks, two by Dwight Freeney, and two interceptions. The Chiefs managed 126 total yards.

"We heard it all about having the worst defense," Freeney said. "Now we can here this: We have the best run defense in the playoffs."

Meanwhile, Adam Vinatieri made three field goals and rookie Joseph Addai rushed for 122 yards and a TD for the Colts (13-4). Wisely, with Manning unable to throw deep, Indianapolis gave Kansas City (9-8) a steady dose of short passes that wore out the Chiefs.

That was most evident after Kansas City finally woke up and drove 60 yards to a 6-yard touchdown catch by Tony Gonzalez with 8 seconds remaining in the third period. Then the Colts went 71 yards on nine plays, mostly victimizing the Chiefs' linebackers underneath. Reggie Wayne caught a 5-yard TD pass to make it 23-8.

When Bob Sanders intercepted Green's desperate lob with just more than 6 minutes remaining, the Colts could start making travel plans for Baltimore - the city they left 23 years ago.

"It's a big challenge," Manning said. "Playing Baltimore is tough enough, but to go there - I think it's one of the tougher places to play. And they've been off a week and are fresh."

Until falling behind 16-0, the Chiefs looked like a team surprised to have made the playoffs, which they did last Sunday with a lot of help from other clubs. Johnson, who rushed for 1,789 yards and 17 TDs this season, was never a factor. He had only 32 yards on 13 carries.

"If we can't do what we do best, it amps them up," Johnson said. "And they certainly got amped up."

And while Manning's favorite receiver, Marvin Harrison, also had little impact, tight end Dallas Clark, in just his second game back from a knee injury, had nine catches for 103 yards.

"The way Kansas City's defense was, there were very few times we'd get a true single coverage outside on Marvin and Reggie," Manning said. "Play action to get the ball downfield was not there. But our running backs did such a great job of getting open and catching the ball and what we call 'going north.'

"Those checkdowns turned into 12-yard gains, and that's a real positive for the offense."

This game took a far different shape than the previous meeting between these clubs.

When Dustin Colquitt punted less than 1½ minutes into the game, it was one more punt than in a 38-31 Indianapolis win three years ago at Kansas City. His 37-yard effort gave the Colts good field position, and they wound up with Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal.

Vinatieri added a 19-yarder to make it 6-0 following a 42-yard hookup on third down between Manning and Harrison on another short pass.

Manning nearly handed Kansas City points when his throw behind Harrison from the Colts 49 went to nemesis Ty Law. He ran to the Indy 9, but again the Chiefs couldn't do anything. Even worse for them, Lawrence Tynes missed the chip-shot field goal, clanging it off the left upright.

Combined with four dropped passes, no first downs - that's right, none - and 16 total yards, it made for a futile first half for the Chiefs, who haven't won a postseason game in 13 years.

"We didn't get any rhythm offensively," Chiefs coach Herman Edwards said. "I thought our defense hung in there for the most part, but I think they got a little fatigued."

Law got his ninth career pick of Manning early in the third quarter, but KC went three-and-out again. Edwards, one of Colts coach Tony Dungy's best friends and a former assistant under Dungy, looked perplexed. That look never faded. ^

Notes:

Law has four more interceptions of Manning than anyone else. ... Dominic Rhodes added 68 yards rushing for the Colts. ... Vinatieri's 50-yard FG tied the club record by Mike Vanderjagt in 2000 ... Previously, the fewest net yards allowed in a playoff game by the Colts was 139 against Cincinnati in 1970, and the fewest yards rushing was when Cleveland had 56 in 1968. ... Chiefs WR Eddie Kennison, who had 53 receptions this season, was shut out.

http://sports.myway.com/news/01062007/v0253.html

[redlegsfan21]

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/Cowboys_Seahawks_Football.sff_SEA122_2007010623523 2.jpg
Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo, right, botches the hold on a 19-yard field goal-attempt by Martin Gramatica as the Seattle Seahawks defend with 1:19 left in an NFC wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle. Romo was forced to grab the ball and run, but was stopped at the 2. The Seahawks won, 21-20. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

SEATTLE (AP) -All Tony Romo had to do was put the ball down and let Martin Gramatica make an easy kick - just 19 yards, even closer than an extra point.

That's where it all slipped away from the Dallas Cowboys. The Pro Bowl quarterback who saved their season ended it, too.

Romo's bobble on the field-goal try with 1:19 left led to a scramble that ended 2 yards shy of the end zone and a yard short of a first down, preserving a 21-20 victory for the Seattle Seahawks in the wildest of wild-card games Saturday night.

"You coach long enough, you end up seeing just about everything," Seattle's Mike Holmgren said. "One more thing for the journal."

And one moment Dallas coach Bill Parcells would rather forget after coming oh-so-close to his first playoff win since 1998 and the Cowboys' first postseason victory since 1996.

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/COWBOYS_SEAHAWKS_FOOTBALL.sff_SEA136_2007010700340 1.jpg
(AP) Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo lowers his head while sitting on the bench following his fumble to the Seattle Seahawks' during the final minutes of their NFC wild card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle.The Seahawks defeated the Cowboys, 21-20.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

"It was just one of those things," Parcells said. "It looked like a good snap. I can't tell you what happened after that. We're an extra point from being down to the eight teams left. That's what's the hardest thing."

Seattle will play on the road next weekend, its foe determined by the Philadelphia-New York Giants game Sunday. If the Eagles win, the Seahawks play at Chicago. If the Giants win, the Seahawks play at New Orleans.

Romo was a big reason the Cowboys even made it this far, having turned their season around by winning five of his first six starts after replacing Drew Bledsoe and blossoming into a Pro Bowler.

That was little comfort after Romo's last-second heave fell incomplete. He walked off the field briskly, head down, and was choked up during a postgame interview. In the locker room, he sat on a chair facing his locker, his shoulders hunched.

"I know how hard everyone in that locker room worked to get themselves in position to win that game today and for it to end like that, and for me to be the cause is very tough to swallow right now," Romo said. "I take responsibility for messing up at the end there. That's my fault. I cost the Dallas Cowboys a playoff win, and it's going to sit with me a long time."

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/COWBOYS_SEAHAWKS_FOOTBALL.sff_SEA112_2007010622020 4.jpg
Dallas Cowboys' Bradie James, left, and teammate Jason Ferguson, right, bring down Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander in the second quarter of their NFC wild card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in Seattle.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Gramatica was supposed to cap a thrilling rally by Dallas.

After protecting a 20-13 lead with a stop by the defense, the Cowboys fell behind when Terry Glenn's fumble turned into a safety and Seattle followed with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Jerramy Stevens. But with Dallas down a point and 4:24 left, Romo drove the Cowboys right back down the field and into position for the win.

He moved the Cowboys from their 28 to the Seattle 2, where a pass to Jason Witten was initially ruled a first down before a replay showed the Cowboys were short. Parcells seemed tempted to go for it on fourth-and-1, leaving his offense on the field until Seattle called a timeout. Then he sent in Gramatica, the late-season replacement for Mike Vanderjagt who'd already made the coach look good by hitting from 50 and 29 yards.

Romo - who has been holding on kicks since last season, long before he ever threw a pass in the NFL - caught the snap cleanly but fumbled the ball as he tried to place it down.

Gramatica never swung his leg, instead forced to get out of the way as Romo picked up the ball and darted left to try to make up for his mistake.

He never reached the end zone - or even the first-down marker. Romo was stopped at the 2 on a shoestring tackle by Jordan Babineaux, whose last-minute interception set up Seattle's game-winning kick the last time Dallas played here.

"I just tried to walk him down," Babineaux said. "I grabbed him by the ankles, saved the tackle. It was very huge."

Holmgren already was thinking about what plays the Seahawks would try on their last drive. Shaun Alexander was talking to receiver Deion Branch about only needing to get within kicker Josh Brown's range.

"We're giving the plan for how we can get to the 35 so Josh can make it," Alexander said. "Then, at the last second, I said, 'What if he misses it? Deion was like, 'Don't even say that. Why even say that?"'

The Seahawks still had to get away from the shadow of their goal line to protect the victory, but did so right away with Alexander running through the middle for 20 yards. Seattle milked the clock to 8 seconds before a punt that gave Dallas one last chance from the 50.

Romo weaved right then left, then heaved the ball into the end zone. Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys who failed to grab it. With that, Seattle's rabid fans began smacking together the Shrek-colored gloves they'd been given, producing their loudest cheer of the night. The goal, of course, is another long playoff run that leads to the Super Bowl, as it did last season.

"Some unusual things happened. That's the playoffs for you," Holmgren said.

As bizarre as this finish was, it was only the second-craziest of the season for Dallas. On Nov. 5, the Cowboys lost 22-19 to Washington after a last-second field goal was blocked and a flag on the return let the Redskins kick the winner with no time left. It was their only other road loss under Romo.

The punch to the gut of that loss, though, was nothing compared to this one. It will haunt Dallas at least until next season and likely until the longest postseason drought in franchise history ends - whenever that is.

And Romo will have to live with one of the most memorable blunders in playoff history.

"I don't know if I have ever felt this low," the disconsolate quarterback said.

Added team owner Jerry Jones: "I feel empty."

The Cowboys are 0-for-2 under Parcells in the playoffs and might have played their last game for him. If so, his four-year tenure would end with three straight losses and four in his last five games.

"I'm going to take a look at things, take a look at what we need to do, and go from there," Parcells said.

Jones wants Parcells back.

"I think we gave ourself a chance this year to meet our goal. We didn't get them met, but we gave ourselves a chance," Jones said.

Hasselbeck was 18-of-36 for 240 yards with two touchdowns, both to Stevens, and two interceptions, both of which resulted in Dallas field goals.

Alexander ran 24 times for 69 yards. His 20-yard burst at the end was his longest of the game.

Romo was 17-of-29 for 189 yards and a touchdown. He didn't have any turnovers after a spurt of them in recent weeks, although he did fumble once. And, of course, there was the botched hold that mattered most.

"It was perfect," Alexander quipped. "Just how we planned it."

Miles Austin, an undrafted rookie, had the first kickoff return for a touchdown in Cowboys playoff history. His 93-yarder put Dallas up 17-13 in the third quarter only 11 seconds after the Seahawks had gone ahead.

The Cowboys' defense was way better than usual, too. They allowed only two first-half field goals, their stingiest half in eight games, and kept Seattle from ever getting into a groove.

Dallas is 0-5 in the playoffs since winning a wild-card game at Minnesota on Dec. 28, 1996. The Cowboys had never lost more than three straight postseason games.

Parcells had never even lost two straight playoff games before this 0-3 drought. In 2003, his first year in Dallas, he became the only coach to guide four teams into the playoffs, but another loss kept him from upping that mark to the only coach to win playoff games with four clubs.

"I did the best I could," Parcells said. "It wasn't quite good enough."

Holmgren won his 12th career playoff game, tying Bill Cowher for fifth-best in NFL history. ^

Notes:

There was a pregame moment of silence for slain Denver cornerback Darrent Williams. ... Seattle had two sacks, matching its total for the previous four games. ... The longest kickoff return by Dallas in a playoff game had been an 89-yarder by Rod Hill in January 1983. ... Injured Seahawks safety Marcus Trufant raised the team's 12th Man flag to a boisterous ovation before kickoff. ... T.O. on his future in Dallas: "Definitely, I see no reason not to" be back.

http://sports.myway.com/news/01072007/v1157.html

[Packer Backer]

Good for me that the fantasy season is over!! ;)But the Cowboys had it until the botched snap.

Yep. I thought I had that game nailed.

Let's try this again for todays picks:

Eagles and Pats are both winners.

[Giants/Jets Legend]

My last post weren't picks. I just recaped the games and offered a brief comment.

But for picks today:

Jets over Patriots :D

Eagles over Giants :(

[efin98]

Also, Jackie Smiths dropped TD in the Superbowl (XIII). :cool:

Let's not forget the ice bowl holding incident(they keep coming and coming for them!)

OK today has the Patriots over the Jets in a tight looking game

Later game has the Eagles riding their momentum to an easy win over the Giants.

[gridiron]

I picked the Jets over the Pats--WRONG! And I'll go with Eagles, who are tied 10-10 as I write this.

Next week:

San Diego,
Baltimore
N.O.
Chicago

[D.C.]

Let's not forget the ice bowl holding incident(they keep coming and coming for them!)

These things couldn't happen to a more deserving team, but sadly enough things seem to even out for them in the long run. :(

OK today has the Patriots over the Jets in a tight looking game

Later game has the Eagles riding their momentum to an easy win over the Giants.

Just swap the predicted points differential you would have been spot on.

[D.C.]

Next week:

San Diego,
Baltimore
N.O.
Chicago

For next week I will go:

New England
Baltimore
Philly
Chicago (I'd like to see Seattle but I think it'll be the Bears).

[redlegsfan21]

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/Jets_Patriots_Football.sff_BXS108_20070107152451.j pg
New England Patriots teammates, including tight end Benjamin Watson, right, and tight end David Thomas, top rear, celebrate a touchdown catch by tight end Daniel Graham (82) near the end of the second quarter in an a AFC wild card playoff football game against the New York Jets in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -Bill Belichick and Tom Brady won three Super Bowls with Eric Mangini on their side.

The Patriots coach taught his former student that maybe he can win another without him - especially with his quarterback in championship form.

Brady capped long scoring drives with short touchdown passes to Daniel Graham and Kevin Faulk, and Asante Samuel sealed it with a 36-yard interception return for a score with 4:54 left as New England beat Mangini's New York Jets 37-16 on Sunday.

"We keep playing like that, we can make it a long ways," wide receiver Reche Caldwell said.

New England (13-4), the only team to win a playoff game in each of the last four seasons, will play at AFC top seed San Diego (14-2) next Sunday. The Patriots are going for their fourth Super Bowl title in six seasons.

"I think our players stepped up and just made a few more plays, and that was obviously the difference in the game," Belichick said.

The loss ended a surprising run by the Jets, who won their last three regular-season games to get into the playoffs. This was supposed to be a rebuilding season under Mangini, their rookie coach.

"You look at the big picture and say it was a good job on our part," Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "But if you're competitive, if you're a player, you don't want to go 10-6 and lose in the first round of the playoffs."

Mangini, Belichick's former assistant, showed he learned a lot in his six years in New England. But the mentor still had some lessons left.

After the game, the two coaches, whose relationship has cooled since Mangini left to become coach of the Jets, met at midfield and Belichick hugged Mangini. It was a bit warmer than the loose, businesslike handshakes the two exchanged following their two regular-season meetings.

"I'm not going to get into a postgame analysis here," Belichick said. "Really, I've had enough of that."

Added Mangini: "I've got to tell you, I wasn't focused on that moment. It was nice, but I honestly wasn't thinking about that."

Brady improved to 10-2 against the Jets (10-7), and played much better than in the teams' last meeting, when New York frustrated the quarterback with blitzes and won 17-14.

"I'm beginning to experience it on this side," Mangini said. "He's a great player. He can hurt you at all times."

And this time, Brady was in control from the start.

"I think we had a great plan," Brady said. "This is a pressure defense, and I think we were prepared much more for the pressure this time around."

New England, which has won seven of eight since that loss to New York, improved to 9-1 at home in the playoffs. The Jets made things interesting early, taking a 10-7 lead in the second quarter on a 77-yard touchdown catch and run by Jerricho Cotchery.

But it was all New England from that point in the teams' second-ever meeting in the playoffs, the last also a victory by the Patriots in 1985.

"We showed a lot of resilience and played well, but it's disappointing right now," Jets receiver Laveranues Coles said. "It hurts right now."

With the Patriots leading 23-16, Brady engineered the type of drive that has made him so deadly in big games. New England took over at its 37 and, with a series of short passes and runs got to the Jets 7.

Brady then found Kevin Faulk with a short pass and the running back zipped into the end zone with 5:16 left as the Patriots quarterback put up both hands and pointed skyward.

Brady finished 22-of-34 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while Jabar Gaffney had eight catches for 104 yards. The Patriots also outrushed the Jets 148-70.

New England also took advantage of a big mistake by the Jets late in the third quarter.

Chad Pennington's pass was knocked down by Rosevelt Colvin and picked up by Vince Wilfork, who rumbled 31 yards to the Jets 15 before being tackled by Cotchery.

"He rumbled and rumbled and rumbled, but if I had picked it up: 'Game over,"' defensive tackle Richard Seymour joked.

The play was ruled a backward pass and a fumble, and the ruling was upheld after a challenge by Mangini.

Four plays later, Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 28-yard field goal to give New England a 23-13 lead.

Mike Nugent's 37-yard field goal 3:21 into the fourth quarter made it 23-16.

The Patriots got things started early on Corey Dillon's 11-yard touchdown run 3:07 in.

Cotchery put the Jets ahead 10-7 with his 77-yard touchdown score, the longest in team postseason history, but Gostkowski tied it with a 20-yard field goal.

The Patriots again had a long drive late in the first half, capped by Graham's 1-yard TD catch. New England started at its 20 with 7:05 remaining in the half. After Laurence Maroney's 5-yard run put the ball at the 1, the Jets stopped Heath Evans and Maroney for no gain. On third-and-goal, Brady found Graham in the back of the end zone just out of the reach of linebacker Brad Kassell for a 17-10 lead.

The 15-play drive that took 6:54.

"I just put it up there and tried to let that big guy make a play for us," Brady said. ^

Notes:

Patriots backup Vinny Testaverde, who played for the Jets for seven seasons, took a knee to end the game. ... New England, which led 17-10 at halftime, improved to 15-0 when they lead after two quarters in the postseason. ... Pennington finished 23-of-40 for 300 yards and one touchdown and an interception. ... Nugent had three field goals, extending his streak of kicks made to 21.

http://sports.myway.com/news/01072007/v3877.html

[redlegsfan21]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -The snap was there, the hold was good and the kick was perfect.

David Akers hit a 38-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 23-20 victory over the New York Giants in a wild-card playoff game Sunday.

A day after Dallas lost to Seattle when quarterback Tony Romo fumbled the hold on what could have been a go-ahead field goal, the Eagles executed a seemingly routine play that has cost teams important games in recent weeks.

Brian Westbrook had 141 yards rushing, including a spectacular, slashing 49-yard TD run in the second quarter. His 65-yard punt return for an apparent score in the third quarter was nullified by a penalty on rookie Torrance Daniels.

Jeff Garcia threw for 153 yards, one touchdown and played efficiently enough to win for the sixth time in seven starts since replacing an injured Donovan McNabb.

Eli Manning threw two touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress, including an 11-yard strike that tied it at 20 with 5:03 left.

In what probably was his last game, Tiki Barber ran for 137 yards for the Giants. A three-time Pro Bowl running back, Barber plans to retire after 10 seasons in the NFL.

The Eagles are far from finished, though.

Counted out after a knee injury ended McNabb's season in Week 11, the Eagles (11-6) have won six straight games. They'll play at New Orleans (10-6) next Saturday night.

The Giants overcame a second-and-30 on their tying scoring drive as Manning completed consecutive passes of 18, 14 and 11 yards to Burress.

But the Eagles drove right down the field, mixing in short passes and Westbrook runs.

That set up Akers' winning kick, a moment with a little extra drama in the wake of the botched hold in the Dallas-Seattle game and a bad snap on a critical extra point in a late-season game between Cincinnati and Denver.

Koy Detmer, the longtime backup quarterback signed this week specifically to be the holder, had no trouble putting Jon Dorenbos' snap down for Akers. Dorenbos replaced injured long-snapper Mike Bartrum last month.

Led by Garcia and a rejuvenated defense, Philadelphia turned its season around after a 24-point loss in Indianapolis, captured its fifth division title in six years and earned the No. 3 seed in the conference.

Meanwhile, the dysfunctional Giants (8-9) fell apart after a 6-2 start. They lost four in a row and six of seven before a win at Washington last week put them in the playoffs.

While the Eagles moved within one victory of their fifth trip to the NFC championship game in six years, the Giants face an uncertain offseason. Coach Tom Coughlin might not be back, Barber is retiring and the embattled Manning probably will hear more criticism after failing to win a playoff game for the second straight year.

Manning was 16-of-27 for 161 yards, two TDs and one interception. Garcia was 17-of-31.

The Eagles went ahead 17-10 late in the second quarter on Garcia's 28-yard TD pass to Donte' Stallworth. Garcia completed 6-of-7 passes on the drive, capping it with a perfect strike to Stallworth, who beat cornerback R.W. McQuarters.

Akers kicked a 48-yard field goal - the longest in the playoffs in team history - to give Philadelphia a 20-10 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter.

Jay Feely's 24-yarder cut it to 20-13 early in the fourth.

After going three-and-out on their first three drives, the Eagles finally got it going on their fourth possession. Garcia scrambled seven yards up the middle on third-and-6 for a first down. Two plays later, Westbrook electrified the frenzied crowd at Lincoln Financial Field with a run for the highlight reels.

Westbrook burst through the line, bounced outside, kept his balance after getting tripped, cut back inside at the 20, reversed direction at the 15 and sprinted toward the end zone pylon to tie it at 7. It was reminiscent of Wilbert Montgomery's 42-yard TD run in Philadelphia's 20-7 victory over Dallas in the 1980 NFC championship game.

On the ensuing possession, Sheldon Brown intercepted Manning's pass for Burress and the offense started at the Giants 37. The Eagles had a first down at the 4, but settled for Akers' 19-yard field that made it 10-7.

Barber's 41-yard run to the Eagles 3 put New York in position to go ahead. But Philadelphia's defense tightened and Feely kicked a 20-yard field goal to make it 10-10.

New York's offense was crisp at the start. Manning capped a 67-yard drive with a 17-yard TD pass to a wide-open Burress across the middle. Burress also had a 29-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage.

The Giants lost at home to Carolina, 23-0, in a first-round playoff game last year. The Eagles, who lost to New England in the Super Bowl two years ago, finished 6-10 last season.

http://sports.myway.com/news/01072007/v4079.html

[12th man seahawks fan]

The Seahawks game was great. I have a headache today from it.

[efin98]

The Seahawks game was great. I have a headache today from it.

Next time avoid the ceiling when you jump for joy :D

[brady_branch]

I got yelled at at halftime of the Pats game, and as a result, didn't start watching again until it was 23-16. I saw Samuel's interception, though.

[redlegsfan21]

brady_branch, what happens when the Ravens and the Patriots meet in the AFC Championship Game (if that happens), who will you root for. Of course, thats a problem I would love to have.

[brady_branch]

Pats. They're the team I first watched, they're the team I associate with football more than the Ravens, and while I dread coming to my Ravens-obsessed school the day after they play each other, if it indeed happens (first the Pats would have to beat San Diego, which is no small task), I would root for the Pats all the way. If the Ravens win, though, I won't be upset. If one team wins and the other loses this weekend, I won't mind, I'll just start rooting for the other. Now, if both teams lose, I'll have to root for the Chargers, who are a distant third in my favorite teams list.

[gridiron]

I'm rooting for the Pats, but don't expect them to beat the Chargers.

[Packer Backer]

OK, let's try this again for this coming weekend...

Seahawks over Bears, 17-13. Rex Gross implodes, Bears D chokes.
Chargers over Pats, 27-21. Tomlinson rushes and throws for TDs.
Ravens over Colts, 24-21 in OT. Ravens D holds up just long enough.
Eagles over Saints, 31-17. Brian Westbrook has a field day; Brees beat up.

[brady_branch]

Here we go:

Seahawks over Bears
Pats over Chargers (OT)
Ravens over Colts
Saints over Eagles

They're hyping up the Ravens-Colts game like it's the Super Bowl or something. "BEAT INDY" is the unofficial town slogan. The headline on this morning's paper was "'I never want to see that team do well. Ever.'"

[12th man seahawks fan]

Seahawks over Bears in a close one. I think this might be the game where Seattle finally decides to play at the level they are capable of playing. The Bears defense will keep them in this.

Ravens over Colts by a lot. Manning chokes and his team gets stomped. Need I say more?

Saints over Eagels by a TD. Big games by both QB's with the Saints coming out on top.

Patriots over Chargers in a close one. Sure Tomlinson is hot, sure the Chargers are the better team, but Tom Brady will show why he is the best playoff Quarterback out there.

[redlegsfan21]

By DAVID GINSBURG
BALTIMORE (AP) -Adam Vinatieri and the resurgent Indianapolis defense helped the Colts heap another dose of misery upon Baltimore.

Signed during the offseason specifically for his playoff experience, Vinatieri kicked five field goals Saturday to put his name in the NFL record book and carry Indianapolis past the Baltimore Ravens 15-6 and into the AFC championship game.

Although unspectacular, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was efficient enough to make up for some of his previous playoff failures and keep alive his hope of playing in the Super Bowl for the first time.

Indianapolis never trailed in eliminating the No. 2-seeded Ravens (13-4), who were coming off a first-round bye and poised to extract a measure of revenge against the franchise that broke the hearts of Baltimore fans by sneaking out of the city to Indianapolis in March 1984.

The third-seeded Colts (14-4) will next face the winner of Sunday's game between San Diego and New England. If the Patriots win, the game will be in Indianapolis.

Vinatieri won two Super Bowls with late field goals and scored 117 points in the postseason for New England. He was signed by Indianapolis as a free agent to replace Mike Vanderjagt, who missed a 46-yard field goal with 17 seconds left last season in the Colts' 21-18 playoff loss to Pittsburgh.

Vinatieri justified the acquisition with a flawless performance Saturday. He connected on field goal tries of 23, 42, 51, 48 and 35 yards; the fourth kick gave him set an NFL-record 33 career postseason field goals.

Vinatieri, who kicked three field goals last week against Kansas City, broke the mark of 32 held by Gary Anderson. The record-setting kick came with 10:57 left in the third quarter and put the Colts ahead 12-3.

That was enough support for a defense that during the regular season finished last against the run. The Colts did not allow a touchdown, held Jamal Lewis to 53 yards rushing also forced four turnovers - intercepting Steve McNair twice and recovering two fumbles.

Like Vinatieri, McNair was obtained during the offseason because of his success in the playoffs. With McNair leading the way, the Ravens finished with nine wins in 10 games for the best regular-season record in franchise history.

But he went 18-for-29 for only 173 yards, and Baltimore managed only two field goals by Matt Stover in its first playoff game since 2003.

Manning finished 15-for-30 for 170 yards. The victory improved his career playoff record to 5-6.

Baltimore fans were looking forward to this game since the Colts advanced with a 23-8 win over Kansas City last week. Many in Baltimore have never really gotten over the Colts' move to Indianapolis in 1984, and those emotions came to the forefront Saturday.

In a tribute to former Baltimore Colts quarterback John Unitas, who wore No. 19, someone in the lower deck unfurled a sign that read: "19 WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN 18," the number worn by Manning.

The record crowd of 71,162 did all it could to hinder Manning's calls at the line, but he appeared undaunted by the noise from the outset. After the Ravens went three-and-out on their first possession, Manning put together an 11-play drive that produced a field goal.

The volume of the crowd dimmed even further during the ensuing drive, when Ravens tight end Todd Heap lost a fumble at the Baltimore 31 after being hit by Colts cornerback Nick Harper. Referees ruled Heap down, reversed the call after Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy challenged the call, and Vinatieri followed with a field goal for a 6-0 lead.

Baltimore halved the deficit with a 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Ed Reed then picked off a pass by Manning, and the Ravens moved to the Indianapolis 5 before Antoine Bethea intercepted McNair's third-down throw at the 1.

It was the closest Baltimore would get to scoring a touchdown.

The Colts then held the ball for six minutes before Vinatieri kicked a 51-yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced through.

Late in the half, Manning gave the impression he was running run out the clock with a 9-3 lead before launching a long pass to Aaron Moorehead. The pass was caught, but it took Moorehead out of bounds before he could get two feet in.

http://sports.myway.com/news/01132007/v8072.html

[redlegsfan21]

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/Eagles_Saints_Football.sff_NUA140_20070113231643.j pg
New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister (26) runs as Philadelphia Eagles defenders Juqua Thomas (75), Sheldon Brown (24) and Brian Dawkins (20) give chase during the NFC divisional playoff football game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Who needs Mardi Gras when you're one game from the Super Bowl?

Deuce McAllister and rookie sensation Reggie Bush gave this battered city a reason to throw itself a party, carrying the New Orleans Saints where they've never been before - one game from the Super Bowl.

To constant chants of "DEUCE!" or "REG-GIE! REG-GIE!" the Saints used an assortment of spectacular plays to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24.

"This year, some things have happened for us and it's like, wow, this may be destiny," McAllister said.

"It means everything," Bush said. "All that stuff we went through as a team, these are the type of games we live for. And this game is even bigger for the city."

The Saints are the first team in NFL history to make a conference championship after losing 13 or more games the previous season.

With victory secured for the Saints (11-6) on McAllister's powerful rushes for a clinching first down to run out the clock, team owner Tom Benson did his "Benson Boogie" on the field. The players hugged and saluted their long-suffering fans while a jazz band belted out tunes.

"I think it means a tremendous amount," quarterback Drew Brees said. "You could see it and feel it after the game, people still standing and yelling and screaming."

It was the veteran McAllister with his two touchdowns and team playoff mark of 143 yards rushing, and the rookie Bush with his collection of magnificent moves, that made the difference in the raucous Superdome.

"It's my first opportunity to be in the playoffs, I didn't want to be one and out," McAllister said. "I didn't want to say, 'If I had done this or prepared differently, we would have been successful.'

"It's just the determination of this team and this city - to give them everything we have."

Even after Brees' high pitchout got away from Bush with 3:18 remaining and Philadelphia recovering, the Saints would not be denied. Their defense held Brian Westbrook, who was brilliant for the Eagles (11-7), near midfield.

McAllister became the first Saints player to rush for more than 100 yards in the playoffs.

"Deuce was fantastic tonight and they weren't going to stop him," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "He ran his heart out."

McAllister scored on a 5-yard run and an 11-yard pass in the third quarter.

The Eagles, who won six in a row after losing quarterback Donovan McNabb, got a superb performance from Westbrook, who rushed for 116 yards and scored twice, including a 62-yard run that was a franchise playoff record.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia's run of success ended, but he combined with former Saints receiver Donte' Stallworth on an Eagles-record 75-yard touchdown in the first half.

McAllister, who missed 11 games last season with a knee injury, has been overshadowed by the spectacular Bush and surprising seventh-round draft pick Marques Colston. But he came through when he was needed most against the NFC's hottest team.

So did Bush, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner whose arrival after Houston passed on him in the draft lifted the spirits of the Gulf Region. He scored on an eye-popping 4-yard run in the first half and had an equally scintillating 25-yarder to set up one of John Carney's two field goals.

So let the parties begin - at least until the conference title game.

"There's still a lot of work to be done," said Payton, the NFL Coach of the Year. "We just hope we can put a little kick in their step Monday and Tuesday, and give them something to look forward to next weekend."

McAllister's 28-yard run set up Carney's 33-yard field goal for an early lead. And Carney's 23-yarder in the second quarter that made it 6-0 also was the result of a long run - by Bush.

The rookie started to his right, but with a bunch of Eagles in his way, he reversed field. After faking going down the middle, he sped to the left sideline and picked up 25 yards.

Brees then threw his best pass of the half for a 35-yard gain to Devery Henderson behind Rod Hood, who was in for injured Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia's best cover cornerback.

Garcia trumped that with his perfect pass to Stallworth beyond Fred Thomas, the longest pass play and longest touchdown in Philly's playoff history.

The Saints accepted the challenge and marched 78 yards in 14 plays. Bush pulled off another stunner when, from the Eagles 4, he was stopped up the middle, broke right and outraced the defense to the corner of the end zone for a 13-7 lead.

But Philly's resourcefulness on third downs highlighted an 80-yard drive to the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard leap over the pile by Westbrook. Garcia found Reggie Brown for 32 yards and Hank Baskett for 25 on third-down plays, with both receivers wide open.

The half ended in confusion. First, punter Steve Weatherford gained 15 yards and a first down when he saw his kick was about to be blocked and he took off to the right. Then Brees' desperation pass into a group in the end zone momentarily was caught by Colston. William James then ripped it loose, and the Saints stayed on the field hoping for a video review by the replay booth. The Eagles, meanwhile, headed to the locker room, soon followed by the officials. ^

Notes:

Eagles All-Pro tackle Shawn Andrews injured his neck in the first half and was taken to a hospital with swelling. ... Eagles LB Shawn Barber injured his ankle. ... The Saints also beat the Eagles 27-24 here during the season. ... Stallworth finished with 100 yards on three catches for Philly, while Colston had five for 55 and seldom-used tight end Billy Miller caught four passes for 64 yards for the Saints.

http://sports.myway.com/news/01142007/v9228.html

[Packer Backer]

Well... So far I am 3 for 3... As in picking the losers.

At least the Chargers look like they have command of the game at the half.

[efin98]

Well... So far I am 3 for 3... As in picking the losers.

At least the Chargers look like they have command of the game at the half.

Reports of the Patriots' demise are greatly exagerated, or however that saying goes :D

Patriots win 24-21 on a missed San Diego field goal that would have tied the game with just seconds left on the clock.

Patriots vs. Colts and Saints vs. Bears- anyone for a Super Bowl XX rematch? :D

[brady_branch]

HE MISSED IT!! WIDE RIGHT AND SHORT!!

KEVIN FAULK IS THE MAN!! RECHE CALDWELL TOO!!

(still got that euphoria hangover)

[ATLFalcons]

It was a great weekend!! But, did anybody see the hit Shelden Brown put on Reggie Bush? HE GOT JACKED UP!!

[gridiron]

Pats over Colts (sorry Adam)
Saints of Bears--OK, that one is sentimental. I suspect a SB XX rematch is coming.

[Romosexual]

This is tough for me. My favorite player in football right now is Adam Vin, but the Pats are my AFC team... tough to predict... Adam needs to switch sides... oh well, Pats to win the Super Bowl!

[gridiron]

I'm a born and bred Massachusetts man, so I also wish Adam was still a Pat.

[brady_branch]

Tom Brady, regarding Adam Vinatieri: "He looks so ugly in that uniform."

Here we go:

Pats over Colts (if they can beat the Chargers, they can beat the Colts)
Saints over Bears (they'll find a way to win)

[Packer Backer]

I can't believe I picked all the LOSERS over the weekend... Glad I didn't throw any money down.

This coming weekend:

Colts win
Bears win (as much as I hate them, just don't see the Saints doing it)

[Giants/Jets Legend]

k I'm picking:

Colts over Patriots: Peyton is better than Tom Brady.

Bears over Saints: Although it would be a great story if Saints win the Bears are better on defense and at the running game. It will be close though.

[ATLFalcons]

My picks:

Colts over Pats- I predicted them to go to the big game and lose to my Falcons, but that can't happen so I'll take the Colts.

Bears over Saints- The Bears defense can stop the 3-headed monster of Brees, Deuce, and Bush.

[redlegsfan21]

By RICK GANO

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/Seahawks_Bears_Football.sff_CXA154_20070114164434. jpg
Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould (9) and holder Brad Maynard (4) react after Gould kicked a 49-yard field goal to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in overtime in the NFC divisional playoff football game in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

CHICAGO (AP) -Two swings of the foot by Robbie Gould were all the Chicago Bears needed to offset any shortcomings in Rex Grossman's arm.

And the Chicago Bears got their first playoff win since 1995, moving them one step from the Super Bowl.

Gould, working construction 16 months ago, cleared a path for the Bears with his strong leg Sunday, kicking a 49-yard field goal in overtime for a 27-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The game-winner came shortly after Grossman got them in position with a clutch pass to Rashied Davis.

"A year ago I'm pounding nails. Now I'm hitting game-winning kicks and going to the NFC championship game," Gould said. "I didn't even watch the end of it. I hit it right where I wanted it to go."

Where the Bears want to go is their first Super Bowl in 21 years. Chicago will host the Saints next Sunday in the NFC championship game; New Orleans never has been this far.

"We win one game and we're in the Super Bowl," Grossman said, "two wins away from having a ring on my finger for the rest of my life."

Grossman, one of the most scrutinized figures in the football-crazed city for his inconsistent performances, set up the kick with his pass to Davis.

"In every game you're not going to play perfect. There were several situations where I wish I would've had a few plays back, but for the most part I'm pleased," Grossman said.

Grossman completed 21-of-38 for 282 yards with an interception and a fumble. It was quite an upgrade from his final performance of the regular season, when he had a quarterback rating of 0.0 in a loss to Green Bay.

Seattle got the ball first in overtime, but Chicago's Israel Idonije forced an 18-yard punt by Ryan Plackemeier with a strong rush. Grossman hit Davis for a third-down pass of 30 yards to the Seattle 36.

"I've learned that he knows how to bounce back from tough situations," coach Lovie Smith said of Grossman. "He's been roasted the past couple weeks over all different kinds of things. He is our quarterback. ... There was a lot of pressure on him and our entire football team and I thought they handled it well."

The unheralded Davis is a former Arena League player.

"After I got up, I screamed. It was probably the biggest catch I made in my life," Davis said.

Gould, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and is now headed to the Pro Bowl, made his first 24 field goals this season, and 32 of 36 overall. His 41-yarder with 4:24 left Sunday just cleared the crossbar and tied the game at 24.

The Bears had won a division title and earned a first-round bye in their previous two playoff appearances, only to lose their first game at home, so their elation was tinged with relief.

The Seahawks (10-8), ravaged by injuries throughout the season, got a strong performance from Shaun Alexander. Alexander, who missed the first meeting between the teams, a 37-6 Chicago win in October, gained 108 yards and gave the Bears' defense a tough time. He had a pair of touchdowns runs.

"It's hard to say 'If we had this or that,"' Alexander said. "It was, 'Nah we came up short."

Late in the fourth quarter, the Bears stacked up Alexander on third-and-1 for no gain at the Chicago 44, and the Seahawks decided to go for it. But Matt Hasselbeck bobbled the snap and Lance Briggs threw Alexander for a 2-yard loss, turning the ball over to the Bears with just under two minutes to go.

"If the snap was smooth, I could have run for a TD," Alexander said. "It was definitely the best I felt all season running the ball."

After a short completion and two of Grossman's passes were deflected - one nearly intercepted - the Bears punted.

The Seahawks got the ball at the 20 with 1:38 to go and moved to the Bears 45 before Tank Johnson, whose legal problems have been a headache for his team this season, sacked Hasselbeck.

Davis made his catch when Jordan Babineaux let him get past the line. Babineaux, who also missed an early interception Saturday, hauled down Tony Romo after he bobbled the snap on a field goal attempt in Seattle's 21-20 victory over Dallas last weekend.

"We had this game," Babineaux said of Sunday's disheartening loss. "My job was to reroute the receiver (Davis) and he got behind me real quick. I was supposed to knock him off his route."

Last year's NFC champs took their first lead in the third quarter and momentarily silenced the bundled up crown at Soldier Field - temperatures were in the 30s - when Alexander ran up the middle for a 13-yard TD on a third-and-10 to make it 24-21.

Earlier, as Gould made a field goal that would have tied the game, Seattle's Leroy Hill was called for jumping up and trying to induce a false start. Instead of the three points, the Bears got 5 extra yards on the penalty and a first down at the Seattle 13.

But Grossman's pass went off Muhsin Muhammad's shoulder pad and Pete Hunter, who had been working in a mortgage office before being signed before the playoffs, intercepted early in the fourth quarter.

Hasselbeck gave it right back on first down when his pass was intercepted by Ricky Manning Jr. at the 32. The Bears couldn't convert and punted.

Seattle moved swiftly to the Bears 21 on the opening series of the second half, but Briggs knocked Alexander back for a 1-yard loss on third-and-1. Josh Brown connected on a 40-yard field goal that got the Seahawks within 21-17.

Alexander showed at times why he was the 2005 MVP. In the second quarter, he broke off a 13-yard run, and on fourth-and-1 from the Bears 4, he bulled his way into the end zone to make it 14-14 with 2:29 left in the first half. The score was set up by Grossman's fumble.

But the Bears didn't run out the clock. Grossman rebounded from the turnover, finding Muhammad for 21 yards and Davis with an 18-yarder to the 16.

Muhammad grabbed another pass to the 7, and Thomas Jones ran in for the score on fourth down for a 21-14 lead.

Jones opened the scoring with a for a 9-yard TD to cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive that opened the game.

Seattle got even early in the second quarter. Hasselbeck hit passes of 24 and 14 yards to Darrell Jackson, the Seahawks' leading receiver who's been bothered by a sore toe. Nate Burleson powered his way into the end zone to complete a 16-yard scoring pass play.

The tie lasted 18 seconds. Grossman hit a streaking Bernard Berrian in stride behind rookie corner Kelly Jennings, who was picked on all day, for a 68-yard TD pass.

^Notes: The Bears are in the NFC title game for the first time since Jan. 8, 1989, when they were beaten by the 49ers. ... Bears specialist Devin Hester, who set an NFL record with six kick returns for TDs this season, almost had another in the fourth quarter. His 63-yarder was called back for an illegal block on Manning Jr.

[redlegsfan21]

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails/Patriots_Chargers_Football.sff_CATS131_20070114211 501.jpg
New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, left, and Patriots' Matt Casselin, right, celebrate their fourth-quarter, winning field goal over the San Diego Chargers in their AFC Divisional playoff game in San Diego, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007. Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie (25) watches. (AP Photo/Jack Smith)

SAN DIEGO (AP) -Tom Brady, as cool as ever, delivered every time the San Diego Chargers gave him another chance.

Already a three-time Super Bowl winner, his shot at a fourth is very much alive after the New England Patriots shocked league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers on Sunday, winning 24-21 to advance to the AFC championship game.

Brady overcame three interceptions, his career playoff high, to lead the Patriots to 11 points in 3:26 late in the game. He and coach Bill Belichick now have a 12-1 postseason record together, and need to win at Indianapolis next Sunday to make their fourth Super Bowl trip in six seasons.

Brady and linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who also helped the Patriots in their Super Bowl runs earlier this decade, walked off the field together.

"I said to Tedy, 'Man, that was not easy.' He says to me, 'They never are buddy, they never are,"' said Brady, 27-of-51 for 280 yards.

As tough a win as it was for New England, it was a gut-wrenching loss for San Diego and its coach, Marty Schottenheimer, whose job could be in jeopardy after his career postseason record tumbled to 5-13.

Tomlinson shattered several league records in helping the Chargers go an NFL-best 14-2, including 8-0 at home in the regular season.

Once it was over, Tomlinson, like Brady one of the most laid-back superstars in any sport, lost his cool. He went after an unidentified Patriots player and had to be restrained by a teammate and former Charger Reche Caldwell, who had a huge game for the Patriots.

Tomlinson yelled and pointed at the Patriots player, upset that some Patriots were dancing on the Chargers logo at midfield after they had silenced the record crowd of 68,810 at Qualcomm Stadium.

"I would never react in that way. I was very upset," Tomlinson said. "When you go to the middle of our field and start doing the dance Shawne Merriman is known for, that is disrespectful. They showed no class and maybe that comes from the head coach."

Merriman, nicknamed "Lights Out," did a spasmodic dance to celebrate each of his NFL-high 17 sacks.

"We lost to a better team today," Tomlinson said. "Hopefully the next opportunity we have we'll learn something from this."

Tomlinson ran for 123 yards and two scores, and caught two passes for 64 yards.

While the Chargers respected the mystique Brady and the Patriots had built with Super Bowl wins following the 2001, 2002 and 2004 seasons, they hoped to be the ones raising the Lombardi Trophy in Miami on Feb. 4.

San Diego had nine players voted to the Pro Bowl team and five to the All-Pro team. And it had been supercharged by Tomlinson, who became the most prolific scorer in one season in NFL history with 31 touchdowns and 186 points while winning the rushing title with 1,815 yards.

But Brady is the one who's been there before in January. And nearly always has won - it was Brady's sixth career game-winning drive in the playoffs, and his 24th overall.

The winning points came on a 31-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 1:10 left. That capped a 72-yard drive highlighted by a 49-yard pass to Reche Caldwell, who left the Chargers as a free agent after last season.

With the Patriots trailing 21-13, Brady threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to the wide-open Caldwell with 4:36 to play. The Patriots tied it on a tricky 2-point conversion, snapping the ball directly to running back Kevin Faulk, who was standing next to Brady and ran through the middle of the line.

San Diego's Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding was short on a 54-yard field goal try with 3 seconds left.

Schottenheimer will no doubt be criticized for going for it on fourth-and-11 from the New England 30 in the first quarter rather than having Kaeding try a field goal.

Philip Rivers, the Chargers' first-year starting quarterback, was sacked by Mike Vrabel and fumbled, giving the Patriots the ball at their 35.

Although Schottenheimer has a year left on his contract, at more than $3 million, he and general manager A.J. Smith have had an icy relationship for months, and the front-office felt this team was built for a Super Bowl run.

The Chargers had four turnovers - they had only 15 in the regular season - and made other critical mistakes.

"Anytime you're in the playoffs and lose, and certainly I have plenty of experience at it, there's a disappointment," Schottenheimer said.

Punt returner Eric Parker had a double muff to give the Patriots the ball on their 31 late in the third quarter. Following a third-and-13 on which Brady fumbled and Matt Light recovered, Chargers cornerback Drayton Florence head-butted tight end Daniel Graham and drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That led to Gostkowski's 24-yard field that pulled the Patriots to 14-13.

Tomlinson scored on a 3-yard run with 8:35 left in the game for a 21-13 lead.

On the next Patriots drive, Brady was intercepted by safety Marlon McCree, who, rather than going down, tried for a return and was hit by Troy Brown and fumbled, with Caldwell recovering.

The Chargers challenged, but the play was upheld, and the Patriots had the ball at the Chargers 32. Five plays later, Brady hit Caldwell and Faulk added the conversion.

"There was a lot of gratification," Caldwell said. "I had a chance to come home and show what I could do and I think I made plays."

Tomlinson scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter for a 7-3 lead. Later, he turned a screen pass into a brilliant 58-yard gain, leaving two defenders grasping at air while he scooted to the New England 6. His backup, Michael Turner, scored on the next play for a 14-3 lead.

Brady kept the Patriots in it by running the two-minute offense to perfection, pulling New England to 14-10 just before halftime. At the end of the 10-play, 72-yard drive, Brady had all day to throw a 6-yard pass to Jabar Gaffney in the back of the end zone.

^

Notes:

San Diego lost its fourth straight postseason game dating to the Super Bowl following the 1994 season ... The kicker rookie Gostkowski replaced, Adam Vinatieri, kicked five field goals for all of Indianapolis' points in a 15-6 win at Baltimore on Saturday.

http://sports.myway.com/news/01142007/v2805.html

[redlegsfan21]

Predictions
New England 13, Indianapolis 10

New Orleans 24, Chicago 20

[redlegsfan21]

It was a great weekend!! But, did anybody see the hit Shelden Brown put on Reggie Bush? HE GOT JACKED UP!!
It was all over YouTube.

For anyone who hasn't seen it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHe5aV-THpQ

[C. Snake]

For the NFC champioship:

Drew Brees out throws Rex Grossman and Reggie Bush out runs Bears D, Saints win 20 - 14.

For AFC championship:

The Pats D stops Peyton Manning and Tom Brady comes up big, Pats win 23 - 17.

[gridiron]

Pats and Saints. Pats because of their big game history, Saints because the Bears are not consistent and have lucked out a few too many times.

[redlegsfan21]

By BARRY WILNER
CHICAGO (AP) -The Chicago Bears know how to make a Super Bowl memorable. They're making this one historic long before it's played.

Dissed all season long, Rex Grossman and Co. are heading to the big game for the first time since 1985 after rolling over the New Orleans Saints 39-14 Sunday, and Da Coach leading them there makes it all the more special.

Lovie Smith's arrival in Miami will make him the first black head coach to reach the marquee game in its 41 years.

"I'll feel even better to be the first black coach to hold up the world championship trophy," Smith said after the Bears won the NFC championship.

This isn't the wild bunch, led by coach Mike Ditka and quarterbacked by Jim McMahon, that paraded down Bourbon Street, then routed New England for the championship 21 years ago. Its defense isn't overpowering, its quarterback isn't a renegade, its reputation isn't celebrated.

This team, despite its impressive record, was maligned all season and never possessed the overpowering aura of Ditka's gang.

Still, Smith's team did it in true Bears fashion, with big plays on defense and a steady running game in the sleet and snow, ending the Saints' uplifting saga.

The Bears (15-3) will play either the Patriots or the Indianapolis Colts, in Miami in two weeks. A Colts victory would put two black head coaches in the big game for the first time; Indy coach Tony Dungy was Smith's mentor.

"I am really into the great tradition we have with the Chicago Bears," Smith said. "I am just trying to get our football team up to that same standard Mike had his team at, especially that '85 team."

Added All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher: "For our franchise, this is big. They are a big part of this city, and what they did in '85 is huge. We have an opportunity to do that right now. We're excited to have the opportunity to kind of put the ('85) guys in the background for a little while."

All the worries about how genuine the Bears' outstanding season was disappeared thanks to running back Thomas Jones, All-Pro kicker Robbie Gould and a defense that, while not dominant, made enough decisive plays.

"I hate watching TV," defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said, "but when you see everyone picking the Saints, the thing is we won 14 games, now 15, by playing sound defense and we have been doing a good job all season. We know they are coming in as a No. 1 offense and we stepped up to the plate."

For a moment, though, in the third quarter they seemed to be in trouble.

Reggie Bush's electrifying 88-yard touchdown catch and dash to the end zone pulled the Saints within two points, 16-14. But from then on, Urlacher and the Bears' defense took over.

Chicago, which has won nine NFL titles but has been an also-ran for much of the last two decades, later went 85 yards in five plays in the worst of the weather. The oft-criticized Grossman had four completions, including a 33-yarder to a diving Bernard Berrian that clinched it, sending the bundled-up fans in Soldier Field into foot-stomping hysteria and chants of "Super Bowl, Super Bowl."

"We had a great game today," said Grossman, who was 11-for-26 for 144 yards, but made no mistakes. "This is great and all, but we have one game to go."

Jones had all 69 yards on an eight-play ground drive in the second quarter, scored twice and rushed for 123 yards. Gould nailed three field goals.

The Bears, who led the league with 44 takeaways, forced four turnovers, and when NFC passing leader Drew Brees fumbled less than a minute after Berrian's TD, whatever karma the Saints (11-7) carried this season disappeared.

"We talked a lot about getting back to what we do and that's getting takeaways," Smith said.

Cedric Benson then scored on a 12-yard run, and from there it was a matter of searching for the sunscreen.

Smith and Bears owner Virginia McCaskey, daughter of Bears founder George Halas, accepted the Halas Trophy moments after Grossman tossed the ball deep into the stands after the final kneel-down.

"This is why we play the game, to get to the Super Bowl and win," Urlacher said. "This overshadows everything."

It was a bitter, sloppy conclusion to the Saints' remarkable turnaround from a nomadic 3-13 season in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's destruction to this winning season. As their city rebuilds, the team has provided an inspiring respite in the recovery story.

This was the first trip this far into the playoffs for the 40-year-old franchise, previously best known as the Aints, whose fans wore paper bags on their heads because the team was so bad.

"Just to be able to turn this organization around a bit from where it was last year is saying a lot," Bush said. "We don't need to hang our heads about anything. ... We need to use this as motivation to come back and get to this point again next year and, hopefully, get to the Super Bowl."

Down 16-0 and throttled for 28 minutes, the Saints awakened late in the first half on a 29-yard third-down completion to Marques Colston, who previously had several drops and several more slips. Brees threw a pair of sideline darts and Colston beat Charles Tillman for a 13-yard TD that temporarily changed the flow with 46 seconds remaining in the half.

It took New Orleans only 2:40 into the third quarter to make it 16-14 on Bush's spectacular 88-yard touchdown that ended with a couple of bush moves. The rookie beat Chris Harris off the line, ignored the sleet and extended for Brees' looping pass. Then he sped down the left sideline and, at midfield, used one of those Heisman jukes past Danieal Manning.

As Bush neared the end zone, he turned and pointed tauntingly at the hopelessly trailing Urlacher before somersaulting into the end zone.

"I apologized to (coach Sean Payton) about that," Bush said. "Obviously, I know I made a mistake, but I'm not going to kill myself over it. ... You move on."

That hot-dogging wasn't close to Brees' mistake in the end zone. Under pressure but still in the pocket, he threw the ball away, causing a safety.

That erased any momentum for the Saints, and Chicago scored on Berrian's brilliant catch at the 2; he was not tackled down and stood up to cross the goal line.

A Chicago blitz stymied New Orleans' opening drive. After Devery Henderson outfought Tillman for a 40-yard pass to the Bears' 32, an all-out rush on third down led to a sack by Israel Idonije and a Saints punt into the end zone.

It set a first-half trend.

Another sack, by rookie Mark Anderson, Chicago's top pass rusher this season, was even more embarrassing to the Saints. Brees lost the ball and a Keystone Kops chase for it wound up in a 25-yard loss when rookie guard Jahri Evans recovered.

But Chicago's offense went nowhere.

So the defense got things started. Harris stripped the ball from Colston and Tillman returned it to the Saints' 36. After getting their initial first down on a 16-yard reverse by Rashied Davis, the Bears gambled on fourth-and-1 at the 4 and Benson converted.

But all they got was Gould's 19-yard field goal.

New Orleans remained charitable, and Adrian Peterson stripped kickoff returner Michael Lewis at the Saints' 30. Sean Payton lost a video challenge, and Gould hit from 43.

The sloppy footing was an issue all during the game, particularly once the cold rain, followed by sleet and snow, began falling. Runners, receivers and returners kept slipping and areas of the turf were gashed by halftime.

Gould's 24-yarder made it 9-0 and Jones had his personal touchdown drive, with his 33-yard run the Bears' longest all season.

Jones capped the ground march with a 2-yard run for a 16-0 lead. He also scored from 15 yards in the fourth quarter.

"It couldn't have been a more perfect situation for Chicago Bears football," Jones said. "Just perfect."

http://sports.myway.com/news/01212007/v0819.html

[redlegsfan21]

By EDDIE PELLS

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails//AFC_Championship_Football.sff_NAD227_2007012122303 6.jpg
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning celebrates the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots AFC Championship football game Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, in Indianapolis. The Colts won 38-34. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A comeback, a drive, a legacy. And yes - finally - Peyton Manning gets his Super Bowl trip, too. Football's most prolific quarterback put on a show for the ages Sunday, rallying the Indianapolis Colts from 18 points down and driving them 80 yards for the winning score in a wildly entertaining 38-34 victory over the New England Patriots.

In his nine years in the league, Manning has never played in a game like this AFC championship contest. He threw for 349 yards and one touchdown and brought his team back from a 21-3 deficit.

Joseph Addai capped Manning's late drive with the winning score, a 3-yard run with 1 minute left to help the Colts (15-4) complete the rally and send coach Tony Dungy to his first Super Bowl - and a very special one.

Dungy and the Colts will face the Chicago Bears and his good friend Lovie Smith in Miami in two weeks. Together they are the first black coaches to make the Super Bowl in its 41 years.

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/thumbnails//AFC_Championship_Football.sff_NAD142_2007012121562 3.jpg
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning celebrates completing a two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Marvin Harrison in the third quarter of the AFC Championship football game Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

After Indy's last touchdown, Manning was on the sideline, his head down - he couldn't bear to watch. New England's Tom Brady - he of the three Super Bowl rings - threw an interception to Marlin Jackson and the RCA Dome crowd went wild. One kneel down later and Manning ripped off his helmet to celebrate.

Not only was it a win for Manning, the All-Pro, All-Everything son of Archie, it was a riveting, back-and-forth showcase of two of the NFL's best teams, best quarterbacks, and yet another example of why football is America's favorite sport.

It was anything but by-the-book, and that started becoming obvious when New England left guard Logan Mankins opened the scoring by pouncing on a fumbled handoff between Brady and Laurence Maroney that squirted into the Indy end zone midway through the first quarter.

It got worse from there for Manning, who telegraphed a throw to the sideline that Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel snatched and took 39 yards into the end zone for a 21-3 lead.

From there, the gameplan changed because it had to, and the game morphed from another Manning meltdown into something much more than that.

He led the Colts on an 80-yard drive late in the first half for a field goal to make it 21-6. In the third quarter, he was at his cruel best, dissecting an exhausted Patriots defense for a pair of long drives and scores.

The first came on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. The second was capped by a 1-yard pass to Dan Klecko, a defensive tackle who came in as a supposed decoy at the goal line. A circus catch by Marvin Harrison for the 2-point conversion tied the game at 21.

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20070122/D8MQ32RG1.html

[brady_branch]

That game was a lot of fun until about the last drive of the first half. Then it was exciting, and then it was a nightmare. Literally.

[Giants/Jets Legend]

The Bears were in control of the Saints for most of the game. The real shocker was the Colts-Patriots game. After being down 21-6 at halftime and come back like that. Way to go Peyton and the Colts!!!

[ATLFalcons]

I didn't watch the Colts-Pats game until the 4th quarter. That was an exciting game. I'm probably not the only one who noticed this, but doesn't it look like Reche Caldwell is surprised everytime he makes a catch? :D

http://cachemediasrv.patriots.com/ImgDyn.cfm?s=reche_caldwell_minicamp_1.jpg&c=1&w=525&cs=1

[brady_branch]

I think he just has really big eyes that are always wide open.

[ATLFalcons]

Have you seen his brother Andre? He plays for the Florida Gators.

http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Player/photo/CALDWELL,-ANDRE150.JPG

[gridiron]

I've got a feeling the Bears are going to take the Colts--I hope not, but they seem to be rising to the occasion the last couple of games.

[efin98]

I didn't watch the Colts-Pats game until the 4th quarter. That was an exciting game. I'm probably not the only one who noticed this, but doesn't it look like Reche Caldwell is surprised everytime he makes a catch? :D

http://cachemediasrv.patriots.com/ImgDyn.cfm?s=reche_caldwell_minicamp_1.jpg&c=1&w=525&cs=1

"Mike Singletary"(sp?) eyes

[redlegsfan21]

MIAMI (AP) -A wet and wild Super Bowl, the winning conditions for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

A team built for indoors found its footing on a rain-soaked track and outplayed the Chicago Bears to win the NFL title 29-17 Sunday night. The Colts were far less sloppy, particularly their star quarterback, who proved he can indeed win the big game - the biggest game.

That's what it was for Tony Dungy, too. He became the first black coach to win the championship, beating good friend and protege Lovie Smith in a game that featured two black coaches for the first time in Super Bowl history.

It was a game of firsts: the first rainy Super Bowl and the first time an opening kickoff was run back for a touchdown when sensational Bears rookie Devin Hester sped downfield for 92 yards.

And not since the Buffalo Bills self-destructed with nine turnovers in losing to Dallas 14 years ago had there been so much messiness. The first half was marred by six turnovers, three for each team. Even football's most clutch kicker, Adam Vinatieri, missed a chip-shot field goal, and an extra point attempt was botched, too.

The second half wasn't quite so ugly, but when much-maligned Bears quarterback Rex Grossman's wobbler was picked off and returned 56 yards for a touchdown by Kelvin Hayden with 11:44 remaining, it was over.

Chicago (15-4), which led the league in takeaways this season, finished with five turnovers, including two interceptions by Grossman.

The Colts (16-4) will take it. It's their first title since the 1970 season, when they played in Baltimore.

Manning ended up 25-for-38 for 247 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, and was the game's most valuable player.

It was confirmation of his brilliance, even if he didn't need to be dynamic. The son of a quarterback who never got to the playoffs, Manning has been a star throughout his college career at Tennessee and his nine pro seasons with the Colts.

Now he is a champion.

It also was a validation of Dungy's leadership. He helped build Tampa Bay, one of the NFL's worst franchises, into a contender before being fired after the 2001 season. The next year, the Bucs won the Super Bowl under Jon Gruden.

The Colts hoisted their coach on their shoulders and he switched his blue Colts cap for a white one that read "NFL champions." Dungy was carried from the sideline, then was lowered so he could share a long embrace and a handshake with Smith.

Then Dungy waded through the mob to find his quarterback, giving him a big hug.

The Colts reached the pinnacle by winning four postseason games with a defense that made a complete turnaround in the playoffs.

And with a running game that perfectly complemented Manning, thanks to Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes, who combined for 190 yards - 113 on 21 carries by Rhodes and 77 on 10 carries by Addai, who also had 66 yards receiving.

Chicago was denied its first Super Bowl title since the powerhouse 1985 team. These Bears could have used Da Coach, Sweetness and their buddies.

It rained from start to finish; there was even "Purple Rain" during halftime when Prince sang some of his signature songs. And though Vinatieri twice was a victim of the slop, he kicked three field goals.

Hester's spectacular return provided a stunning beginning - and a severe jolt to the Colts. The local product and only rookie All-Pro this season pumped his arms to excite the crowd before the kickoff, then lifted the fans from their seats with an electrifying run on which he never was touched.

He barely touched the ball again as Indy went to squibbing kickoffs.

Leading 16-14 at halftime, the Colts spent half the third quarter with a march to Vinatieri's 24-yard field goal. Twice on the drive, Manning fell to the ground while throwing. But he completed them.

Grossman had it even worse on Chicago's initial possession of the second half, twice in a row slipping and getting sacked. Maybe he would have done better on icy turf.

Thomas Jones, forced to carry the Bears' entire rushing load when Cedric Benson was hurt in the first half, was Chicago's best player. But with Grossman ineffective, even inept, all the Bears managed in the second half was Robbie Gould's 44-yard field goal late in the third period.

After Hester's opening dagger, Manning tried to force a pass to Marvin Harrison in double coverage and was picked off by Chris Harris to spoil Indy's first possession, but the Colts struck back on their next series, converting three third-downs. The final one was the most important as Manning got everything on a long pass to the uncovered Reggie Wayne even though Tank Johnson had his hands on the quarterback. Wayne trotted into the end zone for a 47-yard score.

Then the rain ruined three straight plays.

Holder Hunter Smith dropped the snap on the extra point and Vinatieri couldn't get off a kick. Then Vinatieri, well aware of who was lurking deep, squibbed the kickoff to tight end Gabe Reid, who fumbled at his 35, with Tyjuan Hagler recovering for the Colts.

But Manning and Addai botched the handoff on the next snap and Chicago's Mark Anderson recovered, the third turnover in the first 8½ minutes.

Couldn't anybody play this game?

Jones certainly could. He used a sharp cutback to break a 52-yard run, the longest of his career, to the Colts' 5, and Grossman found Muhammad in the front of the end zone for a 14-6 lead.

Jones finished with 100 yards rushing.

A fourth giveaway in the opening quarter, by Benson on his first carry before injuring his knee, didn't damage Chicago.

Vinatieri, who made two Super Bowl-winning kicks for New England, nailed a 29-yard field goal early in the second period but was wide left from 32 y ards at the end of the half.

Vinatieri still set a record with 49 postseason points.

http://sports.myway.com/news/02042007/v7923.html