Everyone knew all season that this upcoming weekend would see the Colts at the Pats and the Packers at the Cowboys. Well, that didn’t exactly happen.
Both the Colts and the Cowboys should be ashamed of themselves for the way they played last week. The Colts lost to an inferior team that lost it’s starting quarterback, starting running back and essentially their starting tight end. The Cowboys were mental midgets against the Giants and deserved to lose. Shameful. So anyway, let’s look at the games:
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
In 1982, the Chargers played at Cincinnati for the right to go to the Super Bowl. It was minus 9 degrees with a -59 degree wind-chill factor. It’s on record as the coldest game in NFL history (and you thought it was the Ice Bowl). Well, it won’t be that cold in New England on Sunday, but it will be chilly. It’s looking like there will be a high of 21 degrees with the winds whipping around. I’ve lived up there; it gets nasty. The Chargers are expected to have Ladainian Tomlinson and they’ll need him. They better run him and Michael Turner until their tongues are dragging on the turf. They need to keep Tom Brady off of the field, which they can theoretically do. Having Antonio Gates hurting will be a problem because he’s perfect to take advantage of some of the older and slower Pats linebackers.
As for the defense, I know I sound like a broken record, just like everyone else in the media: Get to Tom Brady. Probably won’t happen because it never does. Everyone talks about it, but that’s all that happens. It’s all talk. Actually doing it is a very different story.
…and on the other side:
The Patriots have to hope that the wind doesn’t wreak havoc on their passing game. It probably won’t. Nothing stops these guys. And if it does, they’ll run it. I don’t know what else I can really say about the Patriots, we all know the deal.
My pick: San Diego is too hurt to do any damage: Chargers 14, Patriots 31
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
Speaking of cold, there is a football game being played in Green Bay this weekend. The latest report I checked said the weather will be 4 degrees. I talked to a guy who said that he heard it was going to be 7 degrees, and I could only think of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” when cousin Eddie told Clark he didn’t want any lubricant on his sled because of the government plastic in his head: “You really think it matters, Eddie?” It’s going to be ice cold.
What’s the over/under on how many times the media and announcers reference the 1967 Ice Bowl game between the Cowboys and the Packers? Will Plaxico Burress run his pass patterns with his hands in his pants like the Cowboys’ Bob Hayes? Will Manning’s face get so cold that he can’t call the plays in the huddle like Don Meredith? Ok, I’m done referencing the Ice Bowl.
Now, the Giants are technically a cold-weather team. But there are cold-weather teams, and then there are cold-weather teams. Eli Manning tends to be not-so-hot in the frigid temperatures, so they better be able to run the ball. Special teams is going to be huge as well and I hope that punter Jeff Feagles practiced punting bricks this week, because that’s what it will feel like. The defense needs to contain Ryan Grant and let those nasty defensive ends do their thing with Favre. I have a feeling Favre won’t be laying down for Strahan again any time soon.
…and on the other side:
The Packers just out-class the Giants in terms of personnel. They have dynamic wide receivers that are going to be problems for a secondary that is hurt and wasn’t that good to begin with. The Giants safeties better take better angles this week or they are going to see the name “Grant” as they chase helplessly. With Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Donald Lee (underrated), James Jones and Ryan Grant on offense, the Packers will hit the Giants with a variety of weapons. I heard their quarterback isn’t that bad either, but his name escapes me at the moment.
My pick: The fairy tale is over for Eli: Giants 17, Packers 34
micahw@feverpitchmedia.com
