2009-2010 NFL Playoffs-AFC-NFC Championship Games and Predictions

The AFC Championship and NFC Championship Games are set. The NY Jets have a rematch with the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship and a playoff ticket to the Super Bowl. The Minnesota Vikings will travel to the New Orleans Saints to meet for the NFC Championship and the right to play in the Super Bowl.

The first game of the Conference Championship Playoffs Round will be Sunday January 24th, 3 p.m. Eastern Time on the CBS network featuring the NY Jets @ Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The second Conference Championship Game will start at 6:40 p.m. Eastern Time featuring the Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on the FOX Network. The winners of these games will play in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, Florida on February 7th, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium.

Jets Pass Rush-Peyton Manning- The NY Jets love to blitz. It doesn’t matter who the quarterback for the opposing team is, the Jets will bring the blitz. Peyton Manning is the master of reading blitz packages from defenses. He has a quick release and ways of getting the ball out of his hand. The key will be if the Jets can get to Manning, hit him and prevent him from making plays. This will be the determining factor of the game.

Colts Offense-Jets Defense- Manning & Co. needs to score early and build a lead. The longer the Jets are allowed to stay in the game the more confidence they build and their ability to wear down the Colts defense to make plays with their running game. If the Colts can build a sizable lead early they can force Sanchez to pass the ball and eliminate the threat from the powerful running game of the Jets.

Derrelle Revis –Colts Receivers- Revis has shut down the best receivers all season long. Whoever he is lined up with is taken out of the game plan. The problem will be who can shut down the other wide receivers Manning has at his disposal. The Jets will probably rotate Revis on Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Garcon and Collie. Manning has no issue will passing his throws to different receivers. Revis can’t stop everyone by himself. Who else will step up?

Jets Running Backs-Colts Defensive Line- Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene make up the league’s #1 rushing attack. The Jets will run the ball. With this two back tandem they can pound and pound against the defense until fatigue sets in and then make big plays. Can the defensive line of the Colts hold up? Jones and Greene will get their yardage, the Colts defense will need to limit the big plays and hope the game is not as close as the San Diego/Jets game near then end.

Mark Sanchez (Rookie QB)- Sanchez may not get huge stats in a game, but in the playoffs he hasn’t made critical mistakes. This will be key for the Jets offense. The Colts played well defensively against the running game of the Baltimore Ravens last week. Sanchez may have to make some plays in the passing game for the Jets to have a chance to win the game. He must protect the ball. Sanchez has matured a lot during the season, but the playoffs if a whole new ballgame. Sanchez will need to stay focused and not let the excitement of a playoff atmosphere mess with his head.

Favre-Brees- The two best Quarterbacks in the NFC this year square off in the NFC Championship game. Favre and Brees have had fantastic years and not been prone to making major mistakes in games. Favre has the playoff experience, but also has fallen apart in the playoffs, especially if he gets banged around. Brees will have to be exceptionally quick to read the defense and throw the ball. The Vikings defense will send the blitz to prevent him from getting into his rhythm. The Quarterback that handles the blitz the best should have a big game.

Vikings Front Four-Saints Running Game- Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell will need to be able to run the ball to keep the pressure off of Drew Brees. Reggie Bush, who had a huge game last week versus the Cardinals, will need to replicate a similar output. If the Vikings front four can control the line of scrimmage and shut down the Saints running the ball, they can apply pressure on Brees and disrupt his passing game.

Adrian Peterson-Saints Defense- Adrian Peterson has been held under a hundred yards in 8 straight games. He only has 3 games over 100 yards for the season. The Vikings need to feed Peterson the ball and establish the running game to prevent the Saints pass rush from going after Favre. The Saints rush defense was ranked 21st this season so Peterson should be able to make some plays.

Coaches-Sean Peyton-Brad Childress- Sean Peyton has been here before while Brad Childress has not. Sean Peyton has ways of motivating his team. Brad Childress needs to have control of this Vikings team. December brought out the tug-of-war between Childress and Favre on play calls, but Childress needs to keep a level head and be the Leader.

Who Dat Nation-Vikings- The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated at home and over-powering, but have not played well on the road. The Superdome will be rocking and the Vikings need to score early and get to Brees with defensive pressure to quiet the crowd. The Saints fans will be a factor if the Saints jump on the Vikings early and Favre is forced to make plays.

AFC Prediction: Indianapolis Colts --27 NY Jets--17

NFC Prediction:New Orleans Saints--38 Minnesota Vikings--27

NY Jets at Indianapolis Colts- The NY Jets and the Indianapolis Colts will fight for the AFC Championship this Sunday, January 24th. The Jets received a Christmas gift win from the Indianapolis Colts in week 16 when Coach Jim Caldwell pulled key starters in a close game and allowed the Jets the opportunity to win the game and to get into the playoffs. Will this move come back to haunt the Colts?

The NY Jets bring the league’s # 1 ranked defense #1 scoring defense and #1 running game with rookie Head Coach Rex Ryan, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and rookie running back Shonn Greene into the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. The defense led by “shut-down” cornerback Derrelle Revis (Revis Island), will try to once again shut down the Colts passing game for their first Super Bowl trip since the Joe Namath led Jets surprised the world with the New York Jets winning Super Bowl III over the Baltimore Colts. The league’s #1 rushing attack is lead by Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene. Mark Sanchez (QB-USC) has been steady in the playoffs passing the ball to Dustin Keller, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery.

The Indianapolis Colts had a chance at an undefeated season heading into week 16 at home against the NY Jets. The #1 seed in the playoffs was already decided and Head Coach Jim Caldwell planned to pull starters from the Jets game to rest and not risk injury to key players. The Colts were leading 15-10 in at the 5:36 mark of the 3rd quarter when Manning & Co. were pulled and rookie Quarterback Curtis Painter was inserted into the line-up with thunderous boos from the Colts fans. Painter’s second series he dropped back to pass and was hit by Jets linebacker Calvin Pace and the Jets recovered in the endzone for the touchdown and the lead. The Jets won the game by a final score of 29-15, ending “the run to perfection” by the Indianapolis Colts.

The NY Jets, who were outside the playoffs looking in, now controlled their own playoff destiny. The Jets crushed the Cincinnati Bengals 37-0 the following week, then beat the Bengals again in the Wildcard round 24-14. The Jets used a dominating defense and power running in upsetting the favorite San Diego Chargers 17-14. Now the Jets meet the Colts again for the AFC Title and right for the AFC representative to the Super Bowl.

The Indianapolis Colts used defense to shut down running back Ray Rice and defeat the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round and advance to the AFC Championship Game. The Colts 18th ranked defense will again be tested by the powerful rushing attack from the NY Jets.

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints- The New Orleans Saints will host the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC Championship this Sunday, January 24th.  The top 2 seeded teams advanced to the title game after winning convincingly in the Divisional Playoff round.

The New Orleans Saints began their football season 13-0 before losing at home to the Dallas Cowboys 24-17 at home to end their hopes of an undefeated season. The Saints lost their last 3 games to finish 13-3. Concerns were raised about the end of season skid and questions whether the Saints could regain their momentum to make a Super Bowl run. Starters were rested in the last game, but there were no signs of players being rusty as the Saints jumped all over the Arizona Cardinal in the Divisional Game to lead 35-14 at the half. Drew Brees was sharp and his corps of wide receivers caught balls all over the field. The Saints defense, which had been vulnerable most of the season, smothered Kurt Warner and caused turnovers in defeating the Cardinals 45-14. Key starters from the defense finally returned to the team for the playoffs and Reggie Bush had a fantastic game to spark the offense.

Brett Favre threw for 4 touchdown passes, 3 of them to Sidney Rice in the blow out of the Dallas Cowboys at the Metrodome. The Viking defense sacked Tony Romo 6 times and never allowed him to get in any kind of rhythm. The 3-headed running attack of the Cowboys by Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice was taking away quickly as the Vikings jumped on the Cowboys 17-3 at the half. Brett threw his 4th touchdown of the game to put an exclamation point when his fourth-and-3 pass from the 11 was caught in the end zone by Visanthe Shiancoe after the 2-minute warning of the 4th quarter. The Vikings won the game 34-3.

Wild Card Weekend - Saturday, Jan. 9

N.Y. Jets 24 at Cincinnati 14
Philadelphia 14 at Dallas 34

Wild Card Weekend - Sunday, Jan. 10

Baltimore 33 at New England 14
Green Bay 45 at Arizona 51 (OT)

Divisional Playoffs - Saturday, Jan. 16

Baltimore 3 at Indianapolis 20
Arizona 14 at New Orleans 45

Divisional Playoffs - Sunday, Jan. 17
NY Jets 17 at San Diego 14
Dallas 3 at Minnesota 34

Conference Championships - Sunday, Jan. 24

NY Jets at Indianapolis 3 p.m. E.T. CBS

Minnesota at New Orleans 6:40 p.m. E.T. FOX

Pro Bowl -- Jan. 31 -- Land Shark Stadium (Miami, Fla.)

AFC vs. NFC 4:30 p.m. NBC

Super Bowl XLIV -- Feb. 7 -- Land Shark Stadium (Miami, Fla.)

AFC vs. NFC 6:30 p.m. CBS