Last minute change of heart...

At the end of my blog yesterday, as always, I made my prediction for the outcome of the today's Super Bowl XLV. I said that I want the Packers to win (no hard feelings since they knocked my Eagles out of the playoffs), but I think the Steelers will win. However, in the Jets/Patriots game, I wanted the Jets to win but predicted they would be defeated by the Pats. The outcome of that game was a glorious upset by the Jets. And so, I am changing my prediction for today's Super Bowl and going with what I want to happen. I want an NFC victory with a Packers win so that is what I am predicting: the Green Bay Packers will beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. And what the heck, let's throw in a score, too...a very close 27-24 victory for the Packers. Let's see what happens later today!

It's time for Super Bowl XLV!

So once again, I was one-for-two in my predictions for the last weekend of the playoffs. Not only am I bummed that I was wrong with my prediction of the Steelers/Jets game, but also pretty disappointed in the outcome of the game. I, along with the rest of New York City, was hoping the Jets would be moving on to the Super Bowl. As we all know, that is not going to happen. The Packers will be moving on to play in Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers tomorrow. Both teams are no strangers to the Super Bowl. The Packers are 3 for 4 in Super Bowl victories, while the Steelers are 6 for 7. So which team will be adding one more win to their Super Bowl record tomorrow...
First, let's talk quarterbacks. It was a rough start at the beginning of the season for Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who was suspended for the first four games after facing very public sexual assault allegations. But he came back matured and ready to play. He lead his team to another winning season this year and is now looking to add a third championship to his resume in the seventh year of his career. On the other team, Aaron Rodgers really came out of the shadow of Green Bay's former star quarterback, Brett Favre, and shined this season. His talents, including his ability to run the ball under pressure, were even more evident in the past few weeks during the postseason playoff games. It was clear after the Packers win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild card round that Rodgers could carry his team all the way to the Super Bowl; and that he did.
The Steelers also have a defense to be reckon with, the best in the league this year, and Troy Polamalu with his flowing locks. (Polamalu was voted 2010's defensive player of the year). Then again, the Packer's defense finished second in the league with their own "Samson", Clay Matthews. If anything, we can look forward to a 'hair-off' tomorrow between Polamalu and Matthews...
One thing's for sure though, Super Bowl XLV will not be a boring one to watch. This could be one of the best match ups in Super Bowl history. As much as I would like the see the NFC victorious tomorrow with a Packers win, I think the Steelers will prevail.
And ladies, if you're not really into the idea of sitting for four hours tomorrow with your man or your guy friends to watch this incredible match up, look on the bright side: you have numerous multi-million dollar Super Bowl commercials and a half-time performance by the Black Eyed Peas to look forward to...

AFC v. NFC...who's going to the Super Bowl?

After the divisional playoffs last weekend, the Steelers moved on, da' Bears almost shut out the Seahawks, the Packers moved on and, even though I was wrong in my prediction, I got what I asked for and the Jets knocked the Pats and their Ken Doll Brady out of the playoffs! So what about this weekend? Da' Bears take on the Packers at home in Chi-town in the NFC Championships. This is the first time these teams have gone head-to-head in a playoff game since 1941. After the match up seventy years ago, da' Bears walked away as champions. This time around, though, it could be a different story. First of all, weather is a non-issue for these two teams; the Packers should feel right at home playing in the ice-cold Chicago weather. And I think that's just the beginning...Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has been on fire with some of his best throws occurring when he is on the run, and the Packers' defense has carried the team through the playoffs. The Bears are still a strong team, but they haven't really had an even match up yet. Tomorrow will be their chance to really show what they can do against the Packers. It should be an exciting, close game, but I think this time, seventy years later, the Packers will come out victorious and continue on to the Super Bowl. 

As for the second game tomorrow, the Pittsburgh Steelers play the New York Jets in the western Pennsylvania steel city. The Steelers have a recent Super Bowl under their belt already, but there isn't really anything special about the team. Ben Roethlisberger is, aside from being a huge dirtbag, a talented quarterback who focuses on getting the ball out quickly. Though the Steelers have made it this far, the number of key players lost this season to injuries may finally affect the team's performance...especially if the Jets come in and play like they did last weekend against the Patriots, and the week before that against the Colts. The Jets have been quite the Cinderella story this post season. They have been the underdog that has fought until the last second of each game to pull through with an astonishing win. And  they will do it again tomorrow. It looks like it's going to be a very green Super Bowl this year.

And now for some terms...

The quarterback is the leader of the team's offense. He takes the snap, throws the ball to receivers and communicates all plays to his teammates.

A snap is when the center passes the ball between his legs to the player behind him, usually the quarterback, to commence the play.

The Super Bowl is the championship game in which the winner of the AFC (American Football Conference) and the NFC (National Football Conference) play one another in a neutral location. This year is Super Bowl XLV and will take place in Arlington, Texas at Cowboys stadium.

Division playoffs so far...

Steelers/Ravens:

The Steelers/Ravens game started off strong with the Steelers scoring first, then, with two Pittsburgh turnovers, the Ravens scored 2 touchdowns in 27 seconds before halftime. In the 2nd half of the game, the Steelers came back because of 3 Baltimore turnovers. Baltimore failed to gain even 100 yards by the third quarter and it was clearly a game-over for the Ravens when T.J. Houshmandzadeh dropped Joe Flacco's pass with a little over a minute left in the game. The game ended with (my correct prediction) a Pittsburgh win, 31-24.

Falcons/Packers:

It's still only the 2nd quarter in the Packers/Falcons game but damn this is a close game! The back-and-forth scoring is making me bite my cuticles in nervous anticipation. The Falcons scored in the first quarter. Then, in the 2nd quarter, after a Green Bay touchdown, Falcon's Wide Receiver, Eric Weems, scored a 102-yard touchdown from the kickoff return. And the touchdowns just keep coming! The Packers retaliated with another 3 touchdowns, the 3rd resulting from an interception by Tramon Williams just before the end of the first half...

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday:
Tomorrow's division playoffs will kickoff with the Seattle Seahawks playing in Chicago against da Bears. Though the Seahawks had quite a game last weekend, defeating defending Super Bowl champs, the New Orleans Saints, I think da Bears have it tomorrow. Then, at 4:30pm, it's the New York Jets versus the New England Patriots; it's smokin' Sanchez versus Ken Barbie Doll Brady. It should be an exciting game to watch. And as much as I would LOVE to see the Pats get there a**es handed to them by the Jets and get knocked out of the playoffs, I think the Pats will advance to the AFC championships next weekend.

Some terms to know:

*A turnover is an unintentional loss of possession of the ball during a play. It can occur as a result of either a fumble or an interception.

*A fumble is when a player carrying the ball loses possession of it by either dropping the ball or having it knocked out of his hands before the end of the play.

*An interception occurs when a pass is caught in the air by a player of the opposite team. Said team then gains possession of the ball and becomes the offense.

*A return is an attempt by a player to advance the ball in the other direction after kickoff, a punt or an interception.

*Kickoff starts the game, the second half and overtime; it also restarts the play after each score. A player kicks the ball from his own 30-yard line to the defending team. Then the defending team tries to advance the ball the other way. 

Predictions, predictions, predictions...

It's time for the divisional playoff games this weekend...first up today, the Baltimore Ravens are up against the Pittsburgh Steelers.. Its a pretty even matchup. The Steelers (12-4) won the AFC North with the Ravens (also 12-4) right behind them, winning the AFC wild card game last weekend. The Steelers made it to the top with odds against them this season, playing their first four games without QB Ben Roethlisberger and dealing with a bunch of injuries. And the Ravens have been coasting along. They are a solid team but haven't really dominated in offense or defense. They had an easy game last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but I think they have their work cut out for them this afternoon versus the Steelers. It will definitely be an exciting game to watch, but I'm going with a Steelers victory.

Tonight, at 8pm, it's the Green Bay Packers versus the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers did beat my Eagles last weekend, which I'm still a little bitter about, however, they deserved to win. The Eagles did not play well at all; they obviously weren't hungry enough. The Packers have a strong defense and QB Aaron Rodgers can make big-play throws or run the ball if need be. The Falcons, on the other hand, have the NFC's best record (13-3). They're quiet but consistent. Not the fanciest team in the NFL, the Falcons simply play a solid game of football. It will be close game and I think the Falcons will win.

*Check back tonight for comments on today's games, tomorrow's predictions, and some more football terms and definitions.

Here Comes the Rant...

I'm a few days late, but you knew this was coming...WHAT HAPPENED SUNDAY!? Eagles, come on! Do you really call that football you were playing? I was at the game, freezing my butt off, but it was okay because I was watching my loves, the Philadelphia Eagles, play the Greenbay Packers in the playoffs.
    It started out as an amazing event you just have to experience for yourself to understand. The feeling of Philly pride was oozing from every inch of the city and it was awesome. I've been to games at the Vet before, but I've never seen Philly fans so hyped up for a game like they were on Sunday. Maybe it's because it was a playoff game, or maybe everyone was just trying to stay warm, but the adrenaline that was pumping throughout the parking lot and the stadium was intense. I almost started to understand why outsiders consider Philly fans to be some of the craziest fans out there. The second we got to our seats, everyone in the stadium started chanting the Eagles fight song in unison as loud as they could. Fireworks shot out from the top of the stadium and a thunderous roar exploded from the fans as the Eagles ran through the giant, inflatable bald eagle's beak from the locker room to the field. I felt like a teeny-bopper at a Justin Bieber concert screaming at the top of my lungs and jumping up and down as DeSean Jackson took the field, followed by the unstoppable, Michael Vick. Soon after, the field was covered from corner to corner by an American flag as the entire stadium stood in silence as a lone trumpet player performed the National Anthem. Screams and fireworks followed and then it was time to play ball...at least that's what I thought I came there to watch.
   First of all, the love of my life, DeSean Jackson, was injured in the first quarter of the game with a knee injury. Fortunately, he was back before the end of the second quarter, but by that time the Birds were already down 14-0. The Packers defense looked good, but there was no excuse for Philly being down two touchdowns by halftime. For the most part, the Eagles offensive line is to blame. They never offered Vick the protection he needed. Luckily, Vick is a quarterback who can run the ball, which he did, in and out of trouble, countless times throughout the game. Another problem at Sunday's game: kicker David Akers. He missed two, yes two, field goals. The first was 41-yards; okay, we'll let that one slide, even though he's made field goals farther than that. But the second missed field goal was 34-yards, a distance that should have been easily made for veteran Akers. If he made both field goals, as he should have, and the game played out exactly, and horribly, as it did, the Eagles would have won the game. As for the Eagles defense, they could have been out there scratching their butts for all we know, because they certainly were not out there playing defense. The lack of pressure put on the Packers, made quarterback Aaron Rodgers look practically flawless. The mistakes just continued to add up; on top of everything else that happened, or didn't happen, Brent Celek stepped out of bounds prior to making the catch for a 2-point conversion and Jason Avant dropped a key pass. But there was still an glimmer of hope left as DeSean Jackson prepared for a punt return in the fourth quarter. Fans once again rose to their feet, jumping up and down, cheering and waving their complimentary white Eagles towels that read "Heart," in anticipation that Jackson would make a play like he did in the Meadowlands just a few weeks ago, coming back and winning the game against the Giants. But we all know how this story ends; there was no miracle this time. The game ended in a 21-16 loss for the Philadelphia Eagles, and an advance to the next round of playoffs for the Greenbay Packers.

Now that my Birds are out of the playoffs (tear), I'm putting my hope in the New York Jets. I think they have the goods to be the team to beat if they play their cards right, and, I would LOVE to see the New England Patriots lose in the next round. Plus, Mark Sanchez is way hotter than Ken Barbie Doll, I mean Tom Brady.

Sports Dictionary

Before I talk, well rant, about yesterday’s playoff games, I’d like to start a little tutorial. At the beginning of every blog post, I will write about a term used in the current seasons’ sport and the definition of that term. My roommate, who gave me the idea to start this blog, could care less when I talk her ear off about sports because she doesn’t know much about sports. I think if women knew more about sports, they would be able to converse about and enjoy sports more. So today’s term, since it’s football season, is “sack”.  Ladies, keep your dirty thoughts to yourself on this one. The term ‘sack’ is a verb. It is what happens to the quarterback when he has possession of the ball and is tackled by a player of the opposing team behind his line of scrimmage. For example, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Michael Vick, was sacked several times during yesterday’s game against the Greenbay Packers because the Philadelphia offensive line didn't have his back.

As a bonus, here is another term so you can fully understand the definition of 'sack.' The 'line of scrimmage' is an imaginary line that no player can cross before the ball is snapped. And each team has its own 'line of scrimmage.' 

Predictions...

So before I head off to Philly for today's 2nd playoff game, I'd like to make a little prediction for today's games. First up, the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. Overall, the Ravens are a stronger team. Yes, the Chiefs clinched the AFC West with a 10-6 record, but the Ravens took the first AFC wild card spot with 12-4. The Chiefs are the #1 rushing team in the league, and it would be quite the upset if they won, but I think the Ravens have it today. Plus, I think it will be much more interesting to see the Ravens play the Steelers next weekend.
As for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Green Bay Packers this afternoon...if the Eagles play the way they did in the 4th quarter against the Giants 3 weeks ago, there's no question that they will advance. But we've seen them drop the ball a few times this season. In both the game against the Minnesota Vikings and the game against the Chicago Bears, the Eagles did not play up to par. The combination of Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson is a pair to be reckon with, but the Wild Card Packers have proven themselves in the past few games, beating the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears. But of course, I'm not losing hope and I'm going with my Eagles. I think they will bring their A-game and dominate the Packers. Fingers crossed!
GO BIRDS!

Holy Crap That Was A Close One!

I hope you all were watching Game 2 of the NFL Playoffs with the New York Jets playing the Indianapolis Colts at home. The entire game was neck and neck until the last second of the game when the Jets kicked a winning field goal ending the game 17-16. The scoreboard alone shows just how well each team played, and I honestly would have expected nothing less from these two teams.
There are very few negative things I could say about the Colts and the Jets. First of all, I've always had a thing for Peyton Manning. It's an attraction I can't really explain...and Mark Sanchez, I mean, how can you not think he's hot? Second, I dislike the Patriots so much, that I would have been happy with either one of theses teams going up against the Pats next week. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that the Jets beat the Pats again next week like they did earlier in the season. Nothing would make me happier than if the Pats got knocked out of the playoffs next weekend...except the Eagles making it to Super Bowl XLV and winning :-)

And speaking of the Philadelphia Eagles, I'll be at the game tomorrow against the Greenbay Packers. Check back tomorrow night!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

So let's talk about football. Today was Day 1 of the playoffs. The Seattle Seahawks started off with a win against the defending Super Bowl champs, the New Orleans Saints. I'm pretty shocked at how quickly the Saints were knocked out of the playoffs considering the Seahawks came into today's game as the first team ever to make it the playoffs with a losing record (7-9), but I guess someone from the AFC West had to make it, considering the other teams include the Rams, Cardinals and Niners. But how 'bout dem Saints? Drew Brees looked good, completing over 400 passing yards, trumping Hasslebeck by more than 100 yards. But this game was a scoring tug-of-war. A scoring-fest that started with 44 total points scored in just the first half, the game ended with the Seahawks upsetting the Saints, 41-36.

Now girls, let's talk men. Not only do I think the Saints are overall a better team than the Seahawks, but they also have way better looking players. Drew Brees is a cutie; he led the Saints to their 2010 Super Bowl victory and won the AP Athlete of the Year Award. And of course there's Reggie Bush, who runs the ball sexier than any other runningback in the NFL. Even coach Sean Payton isn't bad looking. As for the Seahawks, not much to be mentioned here. More often than not, you can usually look to the quarterback to carry the good looks for the team, but not in the case of Matt Hasselbeck. On the bright side, I'd rather look at him than his brother, Tim. At least I can look forward to a matchup of deliciousness when Peyton Manning plays Mark Sanchez tonight ;-)

More to come on the Game 2 of the playoffs: Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Jets

First Post...AND First Day of the Playoffs

Hey all! For my first blog post, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan, however, I LOVE football more than any other sport...so any excuse to watch it, regardless of who's playing, is a good enough excuse for me :-) I played soccer most of my life, but was always jealous of boys who got to play football. In high school, I thought I could put my soccer skills to some good use and try to use it as a way onto the football field. I talked the football coach into letting me try out for a spot on the team as their new kicker. Unfortunately, I never made it onto the team.
 But when it came time to look at, and apply to, college my number one criteria was whether or not the school had a good football team. My top choices came down to USC, Penn State and the University of Miami. (of course academics and the programs for my major were important, too) After a long debate, I ended up spending four amazing years at the U. I started at UM as a freshman in 2004 when our team was kicking a** as a new member of the ACC, beating Florida State and finishing the season 9-3. By the time I graduated in the spring of 2008, the team wasn't doing so hot :-(
 I moved to NYC in the summer of 2008, knowing I'd be surrounded by Giants and Jets fans. Oh yeah, and a handful of Bills fans. I began working in a sports bar in the city and realized Manhattan is a melting pot for all teams' fans. While on the prowl for a job in sports writing, and eventually a career in sports broadcast journalism, I decided to start this blog. (Actually, my roommate suggested I start it because she is so sick of hearing me talk to her about football.)