NFL Conference Championship Sunday

Perfect Patriots
I hate to admit it, but we are truly watching something special as the Patriots are one win away from a historic 19-0 season.

In order to go undefeated, you have to catch a few breaks along the way, like the Ravens’ defensive coordinator calling an ill-advised timeout when the players had it under control on fourth and short, or San Diego’s best player (LT) having to watch from the sidelines nursing an injury in the AFC Championship game. But that aside, the Pats deserve kudos and will likely make history in two week in Arizona in Super Bowl XLII.

We were expecting Brett Favre and the Packers to face New England and have two of the game’s current three sure-fire first ballot Hall of Fame quarterbacks on display. Unfortunately, Eli Manning and company spoiled that plan.

Giants
Speaking of Manning and the Giants, we called them a very "vanilla team" when the playoffs began. We still don’t see anything special there. In fact, we believe they will be a two-touchdown dog by the time kickoff rolls around in the desert.

However, this corner always gives credit when it is appropriate to do so. The Giants advanced in the playoffs because they have arguably the game’s best pass rush and because Eli Manning played mistake-free football at the helm.

When you can constantly drop seven in coverage and create pressure with just four, and your quarterback protects the ball and makes some plays along the way, you have a chance.

Heading into the Super Bowl, he (Manning) has yet to throw a pick in the post-season this year. Forget all the silly post-mortem playoff analysis you are about to hear, that’s why the Giants will be basking in the Arizona sun soon. He’s (Manning) thrown just four touchdown passes in the three games – none in today’s win over the Packers, but he has yet to throw it to the wrong jersey and thus throw away possible points in the red zone or shorten the field for the opposing offense deep in his end.

Prediction
It will take a “Giant” effort – pardon the pun - by the Giants’ pass rush and near perfect play from Manning and company on offense in two weeks for New York to defeat the Pats.

The Patriots went through the much stronger AFC spotless while the Giants survived the weaker NFC. Therefore, it should come as no surprise we like the Patriots to cover – 42-20.

But what do I know. Remember, I had the Broncos in the Super Bowl when the season began.

More Manning
The New York media will now likely start talking about Ely Manning in the same breath as his brother Peyton. They can’t help themselves. Yes, he’s done more than “manage” the game to get them here. But let’s not get carried away yet. If he plays big against the undefeated Patriots, then he deserves the hype. Until then, let’s cool it a bit.

Regardless, good for him, he seems like a nice guy. In other words, he doesn’t seem like the type of guy you have to worry about showing up at some Phoenix Strip Club with his boys in tow at 1 a.m. looking for trouble two nights before the big game.

Any Pac Man sightings lately? I need my weekly fix.

Back on point - Remember, you have two East Coast teams in our country’s largest single sports extravaganza. The large market media will be in heaven. The rest of us will need barf bags the next two weeks to digest this.

We suggest you don’t watch any of the pre-game hype and just turn the game on when the kicker puts it down after the anthem.

Most of you sick freaks can’t help it though. I know.

I’ll be focusing on the presidential race as we approach “Super Tuesday” instead of paying attention to what is being said about the upcoming Super Bowl.

And I’m not going to explain what “Super Tuesday” is and the ramifications of it to you. It would take too long.

Rooting Interest
This one is tough. I can’t root for the Patriots. We all know Mr. Bill made a deal with the devil after he got canned as the Browns-Ravens coach back in the mid-90s. I don’t know what they were called then. I think the team was technically in limbo when he was booted. Yet, I can’t see myself supporting a New York team.

Okay, we’ll go with the lesser of two evils – the Giants. But no cheering will take place unless a Bill Belichick meltdown takes place or Tom Brady whines as he begs for an inteference call down 10 points late. Unfortunately, we don’t expect that to happen.

We wouldn’t mind seeing Michael Strahan get a ring though. This corner is fond of players who play their whole career with one team and excel. That doesn’t happen much in sports anymore.

Come on Michael, put Brady on his $#@! a few times.

Snap Count
Just a thought - it would be wise if quarterbacks change their snap counts more often. Some signal callers get lazy, giving the defensive linemen nearly a running start at times, as they fall into the trap of using the same snap count over and over again.

Overtime
We wanted to cover this earlier this season but didn’t get to it. But since the NFC Championship game went to overtime, we’ll cover it now.

I prefer an overtime that has you play a full quarter with the team leading at the end of the quarter winning the contest. In the regular season, if the teams are tied at the end of the extra period, then it is a tie. In the post-season, you keep playing full quarters until someone is winning of course.

It’s simple and seems fairer than the current system where you might never get to go on offense and lose.

This sudden-death concept where the first score wins has always bothered me. They don’t do it in baseball. Nor do they do it in basketball. You play extra innings with both teams getting at least a shot to score in MLB and a full five minute extra frame in the NBA. Why doesn’t the NFL wise up?

And no, we don’t like the mickey-mouse college rule of placing it on the 25 yard line with each team getting a touch. I never got that one and still don’t. Look for the college rule to be altered soon and the ball to be moved back even farther than the 25. They ought to just play an extra full period and if it's tied, so be it.

That's right, they can't. The presidents would complain that takes the sudent/athletes away from their studies for too long a stretch.

Kickers
I actually felt bad for the Giants’ place kicker after the second miss and wanted him to make that 47-yard game-winner at the end. See, I’m not that heartless.

And how about his coach’s reacting after he hooked the first miss. Nice.

I can see why players don’t like Tom Coughlin. Of course, since the Giants have reached the Super Bowl, we will now hear how “players have warmed up to him” or how “he is “communicating better.”

Winning solves just about everything and always will.

Tiki Barber
Think about it. The Giants lose arguably their MVP in Tiki Barber to retirement - their best offensive player to be sure. Yet, they reach the Super Bowl the following season. I doubt anyone was thinking Super Bowl when they were sitting with a .500 record 10 games in and you were hearing the usual grumblings of Coughlin possibly being canned at year's end.

That team obviously has some excellent locker room leadership. And yes, even Coughlin deserves credit.

I just wouldn't want to be his place-kicker.