Super Prediction

Maybe it is because I admire Kurt Warner’s journey.*{for those that do not know his story I found it online and decided to post it at the end of my blog because it is quite intriguing}Maybe it is because Kurt Warner helped me win fantasy football two years in a row. Maybe it is because these Arizona Cardinals have never reached the Super bowl and it is fun to root for the underdog. Whatever the reason may be, I have jumped along the Arizona bandwagon and honestly believe they will be the next NFL champions and here is why.

1. The Cardinals Coach is a former Pittsburgh employee and if anybody wants revenge on his former team for not giving him the head coaching job when Bill Cowher left it is Ken Whisenhunt. As an Offensive Coordinator for Ben Roethlisberger during their Super bowl win three seasons ago, he knows his strengths and weaknesses better than anybody. The coach also knows and surely discussed plays that Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau likes to call. It should not be extremely significant to the outcome of the game; however, knowing the opposing quarterback’s flaws and being familiar with plays that the defense will call should surely play some sort of role throughout the course of the game. Shouldn’t it?

2. There are not too many injuries worth mentioning for either team because after all it is the Super bowl so if you have a heart beat chances are you’re playing. {Even Dick Chaney would be considered healthy enough to play] It is worth noting though that Hines Ward has an injured right knee and will probably not be that effective. He is the heart and soul of this offensive with his run blocking and pass catching abilities and was also the Super bowl XL MVP when they won a couple of seasons ago. His limitations on the field should really hurt the Pittsburgh offense as they try to play catch up to the potent and high scoring Cardinals offense.

3. Usually the best player on the football field will let it be known to the entire world with practically the entire world watching. So who exactly is the best player between both teams? Larry Fitzgerald. 419 receiving yards, 23 receptions, and 5tds in just three post season games. Do I really have to go further? These numbers are absolutely astonishing over a three game span in the playoffs. A healthy Anquan Bolden, after getting an extra week of rest, and Steve Breaston makes it nearly impossible to double Fitzgerald, which means the Steelers defense will have to pick their poison. Fitzgerald should continue to dominate like he has all season long even if he is going up against the number one ranked defense in the NFL because he may just be the best wide receiver in the NFL.

4. If the game was being played in cold, rainy conditions I might change my opinion, but the game is in beautiful Tampa Bay, Florida and this should only play into the Cardinal’s advantage. A warm weather atmosphere type game should logically favor a team that plays its home games in the desert you would think.

5. Finally the one and only thing while watching the big game that should be expected is the unexpected. Did you think that the new comer onto the scene, Tom Brady, would be able to win his first Championship by defeating “The Greatest Show on Turf” in the Rams? Remember when Oakland was favored only to get destroyed by the Tampa Bay defense. Those who say defense always beats offense, how about the Colts two years ago beating “Da Bears” and their dominant defense. And honestly did you believe that the undefeated New England Patriots were going to lose to the New York Giants? Whatever you believe might happen surely could occur, but all I am saying is I would not count on it.

*KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy was busy working when a new voice
came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was
almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the
call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the
new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26 and he was
only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find
out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card
and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only
to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left
the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again,
outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a
baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted
his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived
at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The
baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well,
let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not
taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet
her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis
thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a
paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't
come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman
with two kids, especially if one had disabilities just like her first husband
and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary, he had a
different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the
movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he
needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and
brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda
knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life
with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children.
Since then they have added two more kids.

Road Warriors Should Win on Wildcard Weekend

Kurt Warner was an early MVP favorite {and I appreciate him helping my fantasy football team} but his team decided to stop playing competitively after they clinched the NFC West division. They went 2-3 in their last 5 games and were defeated by an average of 30 points in those losses. Their two wins came at home against the struggling Rams and Seahawks. While they are 6-2 at home their two losses came against NFC playoff opponents. Michael the Burner Turner should be able to run all day against a porous Arizona defense. Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan as well as rookie head coach Mike Smith will not be fazed by the national exposure of playoff football. In the battle of the birds, the falcons will come away victorious.

In the most compelling of the wild card weekend games, the hottest two teams in the league will collide where somebody has to lose. The Chargers at 8-8 have won their last 4 games to overtake the Broncos in the AFC West while the Colts have won their last 9 games to get the number 5 seed. They come into the playoffs as an extremely dangerous team as they continue to get healthy with Joseph Addai and Bob Sanders returning to the lineup. They have the post season experience necessary, after winning a super bowl only two seasons ago, and have a chance to do some real damage after seeing the Giants win the Super bowl last year from the same # 5 seed. With the consistency of Peyton Manning, who should win MVP, the Colts will continue their successful season by defeating the Bolts in a close but exciting high scoring game.

Sunday has two great games as well. The first features two teams that last season had a total of 26 losses. Now with both teams finishing at 11-5, the Ravens and Dolphins make for the most unlikely of matchups heading into the year. New coaches and new quarterbacks have allowed both of these teams to improve drastically. Joe Flacco won the job by default and has exceeded expectations as a rookie by playing excellent football. Chad Pennington was gift rapped to the Dolphins after the Jets let him walk. He won his second comeback player of the year award and has helped to ignite the wild cat offense which was unseen in the NFL before. In another close game the key question will remain can the Ravens force enough turnovers to win the game? My answer is yes. While the Dolphins actually lead the league in fewest amounts of turnovers, this is the number 2 ranked defense in all of football. With Ray Lewis 117 total tackles and Ed Reed’s league leading 9 interceptions, the defense will be the great equalizer and give the edge to the Ravens.

Alright Scott Silverman I am finally going to give one of your Philadelphia teams some respect. After getting some much needed luck {Oakland yes Oakland beat the Buccaneers and Chicago lost on the road} they humiliated the Cowboys to earn the last playoff spot. After tying the Bengals earlier in the year, the season seemed all but over. Andy Reid made a gutsy decision to bench Donovan McNabb in Baltimore and now looks pretty smart for doing so. Since then, the club has gone 4-1 and McNabb has only thrown one pick after previously throwing 10 interceptions in 11 games. Having a healthy dose of Brian Westbrook and an effective Jim Johnson schemed defense of heavy blitzing have also helped in this late season turnaround. Minnesota’s head coach Brad Childress plays his former employee in what should be a defensive contest with few points to show. As good as Adrian Peterson is, he cannot do everything for his team. A young Tarvaris Jackson will look his age against this Eagles defense that strives on playing inexperienced quarterbacks. As they play a tough Minnesota opponent, the Eagles in the end will prove to be too much for the Vikings to handle.