Well, all my blustery talk of a week ago proved for naught after my ugly 1-3 performance. Sunny fared better, going 2-2 to pull within a game of me in our little competition. Here are the up to date standings:
Jason: 5-3
Sunny: 4-4
This week’s games should be good ones, but for the sake of our picks, it looks like we’re both keeping it pretty vanilla. Since the Super Bowl counts double, though, it’s still anybody’s game. Here are our picks for the weekend, starting in the AFC.
Chargers vs. Patriots. If San Diego were completely healthy, this would be a much better game. As it is, Antonio Gates is nicked up, LT has practiced only sparingly this week, and Philip Rivers will be a gametime decision. As such, I look for New England to lay the smack down this week. Honestly, I don’t know if anybody can beat this team.
Jason’s pick: New England
Sunny’s pick: New England
Giants vs. Packers. There’s a part of me that really wants to go oppo on this one. The Giants have been beasts on the road this year, they defend well, and we’ve witnessed the maturation of Eli Manning in these playoffs. But Ryan Grant’s 200+ yards rushing last week — after fumbling the first two times he touched the ball — showed me something about this Packer team. I guess I’m drinking the Favre Kool-Aid, but unless Tiki Barber suddenly un-retires and suits back up, I just don’t see New York pulling this one out.
Jason’s pick: Green Bay
Sunny’s pick: Green Bay
I really hope both of these teams win, because let’s face it, Green Bay / New England is the marquee Super Bowl matchup everyone wants to see. I would’ve preferred Dallas / New England, but I’m happy as long as New York or San Diego don’t crash the party.
Question: If San Diego were able to miraculously knock off New England at home in the AFC Championship Game with all their skill players banged up, would it be a greater upset than App. State / Michigan this year in the NCAA? My first inclination is to say no. San Diego has great players who aren’t named Tomlinson, Gates, or Rivers. And App. State had no business beating Michigan at the Big House. But then again, this Patriots team is one of the dominant teams in NFL history with the statistical wares to prove it. So I’m torn. Thoughts?
already & not yet 
It would not be a bigger upset than App. State. Although the Patriots are the class of the league this year, NFL teams are still much more even across the board than the haves and have nots in college football.
Not as big an upset, but I’d love to see it.
Yeah, I’m inclined to agree. But the only thing I will say is not only are the Pats the class of the league; they’re one of the handful of teams that can enter the discussion as Greatest Team Ever. I know Michigan was ranked pretty highly when they played App State, but nobody had that kind of expectation of them.I guess my argument will have to be born out. If the Pats truly are one of the best ever, they’ll only prove that by running the table by going 19-0.
If the Chargers were somehow able to beat the Pats, they would be able to pay for their families’ SuperBowl tickets with Schrute Bucks and ride Unicorns to the game because they’d be in mystical dreamland.I think a Chargers upset would be even more meaningful than the Michigan thing. The wolverines really weren’t that good this year. their defense couldn’t tackle a toddler. App State only won the game on a second blocked field goal. I call that “being unlucky.” The Patriots don’t beat themselves, especially in Foxborough so the Chargers would have to win the game outright. The Pats went undefeated. That puts them in a category that Michigan can’t touch. An AFC title for San Diego would be the biggest upset of the year.
Here’s the difference as far as I’m concerned. Some people are saying that the Chargers have a chance to win the game. I’d say 1 for every 15 people probably. When App. State played Michigan at the Big House, NO ONE gave them a chance…
What is the prize for winning this football competition?
Bragging rights, I guess, which is pretty huge around this house.