Super Bowl XLVIII Prediction

Seattle Seahawks (15-3) vs. Denver Broncos (15-3)

   Well folks, it's finally time for the big game. After two long weeks of media coverage and hype, Super Bowl XLVIII has finally arrived. And this is shaping up to be one of the more spectacular showdowns in recent history. On one end we have a prolific offense: the best in the history of the sport. The opposing defense is suffocating, to say the least, and will be a daunting task for Manning and co. to handle. Two #1 seeds with identical records are squaring off, and I hope you all fastened your seat belts. This is going to be one awesome ride. So let's get to the picking. 

   I usually like to break the game down by position, but I think in all honesty that the Broncos have the advantage at just about every offensive spot (except, perhaps, tail back), and vice-versa for Seattle on Defense. I believe the special teams is a toss-up here, since Percy Harvin looks good to go and Trindon Holliday is explosive as well. Both coaches have lost in the big game and are searching for a first Lombardi trophy, so there's no wiggle room there either. Both Denver and Seattle thrive at home, but neither will have that luxury on Sunday. Heck, the Seahawks and Broncos have both even won at MetLife Stadium once this season, each in convincing fashion. 

   I'm not sure I can recall a Super Bowl in which the two teams were this well-matched. We've seen some great matchups in the past decade (Green Bay-Pittsburgh, Giants-Pats (twice), Colts-Saints) but if this game is anything like the hype has led us to believe, then regardless of the outcome we should all be in for a treat. This is a rare occasion, but I haven't got much more to say on the subject. I like the consistency I see with both teams week in and week out and it's a full blown toss-up as far as I'm concerned. So, if forced to decide I have to go with one key factor: Peyton Manning. I truly understand how tough this Seattle defense is, and I give them all the credit in the world for what they've done. Richard Sherman is a punk, but he does back it up. However, Manning looks incredibly confident and motivated, and I think he's going to put on a show for the ages. Look for him to even up the score with his brother, and to become the first Quarterback to lead two franchises to a championship. 

Prediction: He's the Man(ning). Peyton stars as Broncos win SuperBowl XLVIII, 26-24. 

That does it for me for this NFL Season. I'm 6-4 in the playoffs, shooting for a nice 7-4 finish. Either way, I'm looking forward to what is bound to be a great game in NEW JERSEY (had to go there). Have fun everyone, and stay safe! 

2014 NFL Conference Championship Predictions

Hello again, sportz freaks! I hope you are all as excited as I am about this upcoming weekend's slate of NFL playoff games. I have been making predictions in the post-season since 2003 and on this site since 2010, and I'm hard-pressed to recall a year in which the final four was more enticing than the one that lies before us on Sunday. In the NFC, it's a battle of new-age quarterbacks in a white-hot rivalry between Seattle and San Francisco. The AFC offers a struggle between "old-school" pocket passers as we get yet another chapter in the historic Manning-Brady rivalry. If that doesn't spell ratings, I'm not quite sure what does. I think I've wasted enough time, so let's get down to picking. I went 3-1 last weekend, bringing me to 5-3 overall in the playoffs. A nice 2-0 sweep on Sunday would be great. Let's get started, shall we?

So, We Meet Again. Will Brady or Manning Win Latest Bout in Classic Rivalry?

   Brace yourselves, folks. This may be the very last time we see Peyton Manning and Tom Brady square off in the post-season, and it couldn't come with more on the line than Sunday's contest. The Broncos (14-3, 8-1 home) are feeling good about themselves after ousting the red-hot San Diego Chargers last weekend. Except for a late surge by the Bolts, Denver handled them for the majority of the game and more importantly, they were able to close out at the end: something they couldn't do back in week 12 against New England. Manning didn't look his best, totaling just 230 yards with 2 TD's and a pick, but the ground game kept them moving and the defense played surprisingly well. It wasn't their most impressive victory of the season, but it certainly removed some of the doubt fans may have had about this team after last year's debacle against Baltimore. 

   Switching sides, New England continues to impress me week in and week out. Brady has the Pats (13-4, 4-4 away) scoring 28.6 points per game and all without the likes of Wes Welker, who is now in Denver, and Rob Gronkowski whose season ended in week 14. Unheralded stars such as Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and last week, LaGarrette Blount are shining brightly for perhaps the most surprising New England team we've seen since Belichick and Brady first came onto the scene. Their 43-22 thrashing of the Colts last Saturday was nothing short of impressive, as the somewhat underrated Indianapolis defense had absolutely no answers for the punishing ground game New England unleashed. If they can remain just as balanced on Sunday, this will be an extremely tough task for the Broncos. 

   I think that these two teams are quite well-matched, but if I'm to be honest, I can't help but look back at the meeting between Denver and New England in week 12 to help make my decision. The Broncos got up early, leading 24-0 at the half and slowly but surely squandered the lead away before eventually falling in OT. It's extremely concerning to think that such Denver can give up that type of lead so quickly, and even more-so given the fact that Brady has come back to win games his entire career. This being said, however, I think what week 12 really tells us is that the Broncos are the superior football team here. What? How can that be? You just said that the Pats beat Denver outright and did it in comeback fashion! Well, that's just it. I think a couple of things happened on that cold, November night. And no, none of it had to do with the temperature. For one, New England had its' raucous home-crowd fueling it back to victory. Secondly, the Broncos lit New England up for 24 points and 270 yards in the first half. From there, they cruised and got a bit too comfortable with their lead. This is something I do not expect to happen on Sunday. The Broncos are too good at home, and I am really starting to believe that Peyton is on a mission. What better way for him to get one shot at the Lombardi trophy than knocking off his long-time rival?

Prediction: Manning, Brady Shine Brightly, but Manning Outlasts Brady to send Broncos to Super Bowl: 34-27.

How the West Will Win: Which Pacific Foe Will Book a Trip to Metlife?

   In what may perhaps be a passing of the torch, so-to-speak, the end of the Denver-New England will make way for a match-up between two quarterbacks with a majorly contrasting style to that of Manning and Brady. Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson have battled for two long years now, and could very well be the future of this league. But are they, really? Kaepernick has played well during the 49ers eight-game win streak, but nothing spectacular. Wilson has been even more mediocre, averaging less than 200 passing yards per game in the last four with four td's and three interceptions. It's funny how a quarterback will always steal the spotlight on a good team, when truthfully Seattle and San Francisco have not gotten by with new-age offenses, but rather old-school ground and pound football and solid defense. I guess they're not as modern as we thought. 

   We begin this conversation by discussing the white-hot San Francisco 49ers. Though a wildcard, the Niners are 14-4 on the season and have won eight straight contests, including three straight on the road. They are 8-2 away from home this season, and moreover, Kaepernick is unbeaten on the road in the post-season. Sure, beating the 'Hawks at Century Link Field is no easy task, but Jim Harbaugh's team has shown us that they are not afraid to enter hostile territory. This is an extremely confident 49ers team, and one that has a lot to prove in Seattle on Sunday. They have certainly showed that they can compete with the Seahawks, outlasting them 19-17 in week 14. However, this is a team that was blown-out by the Seahawks 29-3 in week 2, and have been outscored 71-19 in their last two trips to Seattle. If Kaepernick and company want to head back to the Super Bowl, they're going to have to get it done in the most brutal of conditions. 

   While not quite as hot, the Seattle Seahawks have definitely been the best team in the NFC this season, and perhaps the NFL. They are 14-3, while boasting an impressive 8-1 record at home. What has to be at least of some concern is that two of their three losses have come in the past five games, one of which was against this same San Francisco team. As mentioned, Russell Wilson has been less than stellar in this stretch, but the Seahawks are still winning games based on defense and an undeniable effort on the part of Marshawn Lynch. Another solid day for Mr. Skittles will have to be in order if Seattle hopes to play for the grand prize. 

   This impending match-up between NFC West rivals, in my opinion, is an absolute toss-up. The two teams are extremely similar on both sides of the ball, as well as on the sidelines. The noise will certainly be a factor, but I don't think it will be as bothersome as people may think. So since I have been having such a hard time deciding, I'm going to rely on one stat to make my decision. Since 2008, only four #1 seeds have played on Super Bowl Sunday, and of those four, just one has come from the NFC. In addition, just once (2010) have both #1 seeds played in the big game since Super Bowl XXVIII, twenty one years ago. If I'm going to pick Denver, then I am also going to go with my gut which tells me that the Niners will head back to the Superbowl. 

Prediction: San Fran Survives Gruesome Battle, Stun Seahawks 26-20. 

   Well, there you have it. I'm going with a Denver-San Francisco showdown in Super Bowl XLVIII, although in recent memory this is the first time I can recall a year in which I'd feel less satisfied by any of the possible match-ups. Regardless of Sunday's winners, the Super Bowl is shaping up to be quite spectacular. Enjoy the games folks, and I'll be back next week to discuss more football. 

2014 NFL Divisional Playoff Predictions

Will Beast Mode Take Full Effect Against the Saints?

   Well, here we go again. The game in which "beast-mode" originated will once again be brought to life this Saturday when the Saints head to Seattle. This is a rematch from a week 13 beat-down, courtesy of the Seahawks. In that game, the Saints were completely ineffective on offense, accumulating just 188 total yards to Seattle's 429. The defense wasn't much better, giving up an average of 6.2 yards per play. It was an overall dud for Brees and company, and you can be sure that Sean Payton and Rob Ryan will have their team playing much more competitively this time around. 

   The Saints are coming off a motivational victory in Philly which finally closed the book on whether or not they could win on the road. As great as it was, the Saints didn't, in all honesty, look good doing it. The defense played very well, shutting down an explosive Eagle offense. However, Brees was mediocre, throwing two interceptions against a suspect Philadelphia defensive unit. If he plays even close to that on Saturday, the Seahawks will eat him alive. He is going to have to kick it up a notch if his team wants to move on to the NFC Championship next Sunday. 

   On the other side, the Seahawks are fully rested and ready to continue (so they hope) their dominant ways at home. Before being upset in week 15 by the Cardinals, Seattle had not lost a home game since Dec. 24th, 2011: 14 straight victories. The win by Arizona does show that the 'Hawks can be beaten at Qualcomm, but it is extremely difficult to do so. I think that Payton will throw everything he can at Seattle and the Saints will keep this thing a lot closer than in week 13. However, I feel the Seahawks are just too talented on both sides of the ball and will be able to pull out the win. 

Prediction: Late TD Drive by Wilson sends 'Hawks to Title Game: 26-23. 

Do Gronk-less Pats Have Enough Juice For Another Playoff Run?

   For the second week in a row, I find the Colts to be in the most complicated contest. Just as with the Chiefs, I can't quite seem to get a read on Indy, and I'm having a hard time doing the same with the Pats. Just when I think I've figured these teams out, they do something to sway me in the opposite direction. In fact, despite my prediction of a Colts' victory last week, Andrew Luck and co. had me completely baffled in the first half and looked like a third-rate ball club. They were able to turn it on in the second half, but most teams won't be as generous as the Chiefs. Getting down by 28 in New England is not a situation in which Luck will be able to dig himself out. 

   As I said, the Patriots are a bit tricky as well. This is a team that came into the season having lost quite a bit of talent, including Wes Welker, Danny Woodhead, Rob Gronkowski (for much of the season), and of course, Aaron Hernandez. At best, I had pinned them as an 8-8, 9-7 team with a small chance of winning the division. However, Brady and Belichick have continuously proven that they are the commanders of this team and can work with any number of personnel on offense. Not only did they win the East, but they did so with an impressive 12-4 record. As much as I hate admitting it, Brady is the best quarterback in the league right now (yes, Peyton, that includes you) and has his team rolling once again. Add this to the fact that the Pats are virtually unstoppable in post-season home games (11-3 since '02, Brady's first season) and I have a hard time picturing anything but a New England victory. The Pats have surprised me with losses in this scenario in the past, including last year's defeat at the hands of the Ravens. However, I believe Baltimore was a team of destiny and I do not feel the same way about the Colts, as miraculous as their win was last week. I've got a different team in mind for my 'Cinderella', which I'll get to later. Pats win. 

Prediction: No 'Luck' in New England: Pats roll over Colts, 34-19

Which Top-Tier 'D' Will Stand up in Charlotte?

   Three months ago, an unprecedented run began in Carolina. The Panthers had just come off an ugly 22-6 beating at the hands of the Cardinals (which doesn't sound so bad now, judging by how Arizona finished), and were an unimpressive 1-3 after their first four. In week six, however, Cam Newton and the Panthers got things rolling with a 35-10 thumping of the Vikings and went on to win eleven out of their final twelve games, with the lone loss coming at the Super Dome. The Panthers remind me a lot of another team playing this weekend, and that would be the Indianapolis Colts. They're a talented team with a talented quarterback who sometimes underachieve at the oddest moments. They're also a team who, outside of a couple of blowouts (against Atlanta, Tampa), win a lot of close games in the final seconds. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as they have proven they can win in clutch situations. Carolina's most impressive victories this season have come at home against the Saints in week 15, and at the 49ers back in week 10. They are 7-1 at home this season, with the only loss coming way back in week 1 to the Seahawks. They have thrived on defense all year and hope to do so again on Sunday. 

   Speaking of defense, I would be remised if I didn't once again mention the San Francisco 49ers. This team has been dominating on defense in the past two months, and proved themselves once again at Green Bay last week in unfavorable conditions. Although they were unable to force any turnovers, the Niners limited Aaron Rodgers to just 177 passing yards, and the Pack to just 281 yards total. They sacked Rodgers four times in that contest and did not let him get comfortable at all in the pocket. If they hope to win on Sunday, they will have to do the same to Cam Newton, who we know presents a much larger threat in terms of the ground game. They did just that in their week 10 loss, limiting Super Cam to 184 total yards with a pick and three sacks. However, it was the Panther 'D' that really shut things down as they held Colin Kaepernick to just 107 total yards, as well as sacking him six times and forcing one interception. 'Kap has got to be a whole lot more effective on Sunday for the Niners to have any shot. Carolina won't be as forgiving on the edges as Green Bay was, and so Kaepernick is going to have to find another way to be successful. 

   What worries me about San Francisco is that all four of their losses this season have come against teams that are still in the playoffs. They have lost to the Colts, Seahawks, Saints and as mentioned, the Panthers. Their most impressive wins came at home against Seattle and two victories against Green Bay. Their resume' leaves a bit to be desired, but they keep on finding ways to win. I flip-flopped on this game a bit before coming to a conclusion, but I can't help but foresee an all-NFC West championship game. For that reason, I think the 49ers will squeak by and exact revenge for their week 10 defeat. 

Prediction: 4th Quarter Goal-Line Stand Propels 'Niners past Carolina, 20-16. 

   

Can Rivers Keep The Bolts Rolling?

   Last, but not least, we come to the Sunday late game between the Broncos and the Chargers. There isn't a whole lot to say about Denver that hasn't already been said. Peyton Manning has been phenomenal all season, shattering records left and right. He has a plethora of offensive weapons, including Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and a nice safety valve in Julius Thomas. In addition, Denver's running core is solid as well, as Moreno and Ball have nicely carried the weight all year. Their defense has suspect, but the amount of points they put up have covered up that blemish. In order to beat the Broncos, you better be prepared to score at least thirty. In fact, the three games in which Denver lost, the opponents scored 39, 34 and 27 points respectively. Even still, scoring a bunch doesn't secure a victory. Just ask the Cowboys, who ran all over Dallas for a whopping 48 points and still lost by three. There aren't a lot of ways to beat this team, but the Chargers just might hold that key...

   Every season there is one team which enters the post-season in remarkable fashion, either by stringing together a bunch of wins or by sneaking in with a lot of outside help. The San Diego Chargers are offenders of both, having won four straight prior to last week's victory in Cincy, and gained an excess amount of support from the Dolphins and Ravens, who decided they'd rather take January off in favor of the golf course. What's usually the most intriguing fact about these last-second playoff teams is that they often go on to shock the world and win the Super Bowl. Such beneficiaries of this theory are the Ravens, Giants (twice), and even Green Bay. You may recall that although the Packers have been a great team in the past three years, their Super Bowl run was nothing short of incredible. I'm not sure that San Diego has that same type of aura, but they certainly have gotten things together in a hurry. Since week 14, the Chargers are 5-0, averaging almost thirty points a game and giving up only sixteen. They have beaten Kansas City, Cincinnati and Denver in that stretch, all three of whom made the playoffs. Rivers has averaged 195 yards per game since week 14, which isn't great but he has ten touchdowns to just two interceptions in that span. His lack of turnovers has been very key in their current run. 

   The main factor in San Diego's win at Denver in week 15 was a strong run game. Mathews, Woodhead and Brown combined for 168 yards on the ground and kept Manning on the sideline quite a bit. Establishing this type of scheme early on Sunday will be important for San Diego. Not only do they want to keep the ball out of Manning's hands, but a balanced attack allows for Rivers to get the ball to his weapons Antonio Gates and Keenan Allen. Although most statistics point in the opposite direction, my gut is having a hard time siding with Peyton, who is known to struggle in the post-season. I have seen this movie before, where Manning sets the world on fire for sixteen weeks in the regular season and then fails to come through in the playoffs. I am going to go against the odds-makers this week and pick the San Diego Chargers as my upset special. 

Prediction: Rivers Shines as Bolts Stun Broncos, 30-24. 

That does it for another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. I was 2-2 last weekend, and so I hope to improve for this week's set of games. Enjoy, everyone!

2014 NFL Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Can K.C. Rebound From Week 16 Dud?

   Welcome back, sportz freaks, to my annual NFL post-season prediction blog. I'm diving right into this one with what I believe to be the most complicated selection of this coming weekend. The Colts and Chiefs have been two of the most maddeningly difficult teams to figure out this season. Kansas City boasts an impressive 11-5 record, but has stumbled as of late. Indy has come on strong in recent weeks, winning four of their last five but have suffered from mediocre performances against sub-par foes. These teams met two weeks ago at Arrowhead, an affair the Colts won convincingly. The Chiefs are going to need to change things up quite a bit in order to avoid a repeat of that thrashing. Alex Smith, for starters, will need to eliminate the turnovers he uncharacteristically committed, as he threw a pick and lost a pair of fumbles. K.C. is a good road team, but recent struggles and a lack of a convincing schedule have turned many off to their success. The Chiefs have beaten just one team who is in the post-season, and that came in week 3 at Philadelphia. Indianapolis, meanwhile, has beaten the likes of Seattle, San Francisco and Denver, although these all came prior to the Colts' week 8 bye. I think what it comes down to is the play of second-year quarterback Andrew Luck. If he plays as well as he has in the past month, the Chiefs are going to have a rough afternoon. Indy proved that Jamaal Charles can have a great day but still not impact the outcome of a game, and so it will take more than a solid performance from him to get the job done. I believe the shaky K.C. defense will be exposed once again as the Colts roll.

Prediction: Luck strikes twice as Colts cruise by K.C. 30-19

Is Cold too Much for Brees, Saints?

   Anyone who has even glanced at ESPN in the past week is almost assuredly vomiting from the talk of Drew Brees heading into the cold in Philadelphia on Saturday. I've never been one to believe that weather impacts great players. Those who are stars will shine, regardless of the conditions. I think that what is a bit of a concern, however, is the fact that the Saints are 0-5 under Sean Payton in road playoff games. They have shown us that, once outside the Dome, they are an average team at best. If history is any indication of this, just ask the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks from a couple of years ago. Comparing Philly to the hostile environment that is Seattle is probably not fair, but it is a bit alarming to see New Orleans perform so poorly in these types of scenarios. For me, it's not whether or not Brees can handle the cold, it's if the team can rise up aove allegations of their mediocrity on the road. 

   Lost in the midst of the aforementioned conversation is the season the Philadelphia Eagles are having. Chip Kelly has taken the Eagles, 4th place in the NFC East in 2012, and spun them around into 10-6 division winners, albeit in a sub-par division. Nick Foles has played like a man-possessed, and a re-vamped offense has given the likes of LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson new life. Although the saints possess a plethora of weapons, including Marques Colston, Darren Sproles and Jimmy Graham, the depth of the Eagles is no joke either. In addition to McCoy and Jackson, Kelly has also utilized tight ends Zach Ertz and Brent Celek to perfection, and has added another deep ball threat in Riley Cooper. Position-wise, the Eagles actually match up quite well. Ironically, I believe that what will determine the outcome of the game is defense, and I will go on record in saying that scores will fall well below expectations. Though porous at times, I think the Eagles' pass rush will make Brees just uncomfortable enough to pick up the win. 

Prediction: McCoy, Eagles Soar Past Saints: 27-20

Can Unlikely Playoff Berth Spark Chargers?

   Two weeks ago, the San Diego Chargers sat at 6-8 and had just a 3% chance to make the post-season. Flash forward to week seventeen, and the unthinkable outcome had taken place. Baltimore and Miami, both of whom had much control over their playoff chances in the final month, inexcusably threw games away and a late playoff push by Pittsburgh fell short. Add this to a thrilling overtime victory over Kansas City, and the Chargers are your #6 seed in the AFC. The NFL truly is about teams getting hot at the right time, and the Chargers are certainly beginning to warm up. 

   Flip sides to Cincinnati, and you'll see a team with much to prove. This is a club that has been bounced from the post-season in back to back years by Houston, and who have not won a single playoff game under Marv Lewis. Not helping matters is the inconsistency of Quarterback Andy Dalton, who has looks like a star some weeks, and a dud in others. He has played well as of late, however, leading the Bengals to victories in five of their last six. 

   This game has had the 'cold' discussion thrown in as well,  but again I believe it to be a non-factor. To be honest, I feel the biggest factor in this game will be crowd noise. Cincinnati hasn't hosted a playoff game since the '09 season (a loss to the Jets) and haven't won in the post-season since 1990. The fans are going to have to get up in the cold for this one and really get behind Dalton to give them the edge they've had all year, going 8-0 at home. I think they will, and I feel that Cincy's excess of weapons will be too much for San Diego to handle. 

Prediction: Bengals go 'Green' as A.J. helps Cincy win first Playoff game in 24 Years: 23-16.

Now Healthy, Do Packers Have Another Playoff Run in Store?

   It came very late in the season, but the return of Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb could not have come at a better time for Green Bay. Virtually dismissed from the post-season after a 40-10 Thanksgiving thumping by the Lions, the Pack have surged back to win three of their last four en route to an NFC North championship. Never had the Packers looked as vulnerable as they did in the weeks without Rodgers, but Matt Flynn and company stuck around just long enough to win the mediocre division. As previously mentioned, it's not how you start but how you finish, and Green Bay is here and ready to go. 

    San Francisco, on the other hand, is perhaps the hottest team playing this weekend. The Niners have won 6 straight and 11 of their last 13. A huge portion of this can be attributed to the strong play of the San Fran defense. In their last six games, San Fran has allowed an average of 15.6 points per game and have caused 9 turnovers in this span, returning two for scores. Colin Kaepernick has played well in this stretch also, racking up 232 passing yards per game with ten td's and one pick, as well as 32 yards per game on the ground and a score. He hasn't been lighting the world on fire, but he has limited his turnovers and is getting the job done. 

   The lingering question here is whether or not Aaron Rodgers is fresh enough to get his team back to where they were in the past few seasons. We know he's healthy now, but he didn't exactly look like the A-Rod of old in a win over the Bears last week. In fact, it took a desperation 4th down heave to the endzone to beat Chicago, a team who had its fair s hare of blown opportunities as well. Rodgers looked a bit quirky moving in the pocket, as anyone coming off a broken collarbone might. A relentless pass rush from San Fran is not exactly the remedy for this, and I think the rust will really start to show for Mr. Discount Doublecheck. 

Prediction: Suffocating 'D' too much for Rodgers, Pack. Niners roll, 28-17. 

That does it for this week. Tune in next Friday as I run down the divisional playoff match-ups as we begin the march toward Super Bowl XLVIII. Enjoy the games, folks!

SUPER BOWL XLVII PREDICTIONS

     Welcooooooome back, Sportz Freaks, to a very special Super Bowl edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. I'm not sure if everyone else feels the same way, but to me it seems as if we have waited months for this game to take place. While it has only been two weeks, it feels like there has been a tremendous amount of time that has elapsed since the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens won their respective conference championship games. Whether it seems like an eternity or not, the fact remains that tomorrow on the grandest stage of them all, the Harbaugh brothers (John and Jim) will go head to head for the ultimate prize in football.
     Aside from the length between games, if something else seems a bit off to you, I don't blame you one bit. In fact, this year's "big game" is quite different than we're used to in recent years. To be specific, this will be the first game since Super Bowl XXXVII, exactly ten tears ago, not feature a quarterback named Manning (Eli or Peyton), Roethlisberger or Brady. You might not realize how much those four men have dominated the sport in the past decade until you read that statistic. The Super Bowl has a different look this year, however, and perhaps we will see somewhat of a passing of the torch to young guns Colin Kaepernick and Joe Flacco.
     Before we get into specific matchups, let's first quickly discuss the two main storylines that are staring us in the face: Brother vs. Brother and the retirement of Ray Lewis. Which is more enticing? Well, that's really a matter of opinion, but this writer loves both of them and can't wait to see the effect they have on the big game. John and Jim Harbaugh each fell one win shy of reaching this point a year ago. Some were disappointed that a Har-bowl would not be taking place, and the chances it might ever happen seemed unlikely. But here we are, one year later, and the Ravens and Niners have each gotten where they'd hoped to be one year ago. Then there's Ray Lewis, surrounded by controversy, but beloved hero of the city of Baltimore. He brought the Ravens their first championship in Super Bowl XXXV, and can give them one more on Sunday if they beat the Niners. Love him or hate him, Ray Lewis is sure to be the focal point from start to finish in New Orleans.
     Offensively, the San Francisco 49ers have shown us something that could be the next big thing: the read option. A popular college set up, the option has worked wonders for lightning-quick Colin Kaepernick, as well as other speedsters Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson. Yet, Kaepernick seems to have found the most success with it. His keen ability to be able to fool defenses with fake hand-offs and roll-out scrambles is remarkable, and coach Jim Harbaugh is one win shy of looking like an absolute genius for having switched him for Alex Smith back in week 11.
     Speaking of quarterback surprises, how about Joe Flacco? The man has a big mouth, but boy has he backed it up this year. It wasn't too long ago that the fifth year man out of Delaware proclaimed to be in the group of 'elite' quarterbacks, ranking himself up with the likes of the Mannings, Roethlisbergers, and Brees' of the world. While laughable at the time, Flacco has turned this joke into a reality, and is a win away from perhaps cementing his status in that group of top-tier QB's.
     Where we may see the most impact is in the trenches, however. Ray Rice vs Frank Gore isn't a heavyweight fight, but if these guys both bring their A-game, they can definitely put on a show. Rice is undoubtedly quick and can make plays on the ground and through the air. The slightly less dynamic Gore is no pushover, however, as he gets more than his fair share of scores on the ground. So what it comes down to is which defensive line can hang with these guys (as well as the running quarterback, Kaepernick) the longest.
     This game also does not feature A-list wide receivers, but if you want explosiveness from the ball-catchers on Sunday, you are almost sure to get it. The 49ers will ship out Tight End Vernon Davis, last year's hero in a chaotic win over the Saints in the NFC Divisional playoffs, as well as breakout receiver Michael Crabtree. Both these men are capable of big plays at any moment, so keep your eyes on them. But let's not forget the other San Fran receiver, Randy Moss, who may also be suiting up for the last time of his career on Sunday. What a finish it would be for him to go out on top, and not only that, but he has been rather quiet all season. A mature Randy Moss with a Super Bowl ring? Methinks it might be possible!
     The Ravens have two fantastic wideouts on either end of the field, as well. Anquan Boldin, acquired two seasons ago by the Ravens from Arizona, has continued his stellar play from his days as a Cardinal and has had a fantastic post-season thus far. Opposite Boldin is the field-stretching Torrey Smith, who has seemingly made a living from catching 50+ yard bombs from Flacco. And of course, Ray Rice is always a reliable option out of the backfield. San Fran must be able to shut down these explosive weapons down if they are to have any shot of keeping up with Baltimore.
     Now that I've hyped this game up more than ESPN, the NFL Network and CBS combined, let's get to the predictions. First off, I think that this game has actually been relatively quiet in terms of the hype, so regard the above statement as a joke. In fact, I think this year's big game has been far under-hyped considering the level of talent both sides possess. My gut is telling me that the Harbaugh brothers are going to push each other's buttons early and try to throw each other off their game plan. I look for a couple of quick scores, but then expect it to settle down until the 4th. With the Ravens up 20-17 in the final quarter, I see Kaepernick leading San Fran down the field in the final five minutes, setting up the shaky David Akers for the tie. Despite the recent criticism, he connects and sends us to our first overtime in Super Bowl history. Why not? The Ravens saw double OT two weeks ago, and the Niners have been in extra time twice this year. With the score knotted in OT, Flacco gets the dirty birds into scoring territory for Justin Tucker, who gives the Ravens a 23-20 lead. On the ensuing drive, it's a third down sack by Ray Lewis that sets Kaepernick and the Niners up with a 4th and 17, and an incompletion on the following play gives the Ravens the victory. Hey, it could happen...

SUPER BOWL XLVII PREDICTION 

Lewis on Top: Ravens beat Niners 23-20 in OT to capture Lombardi Trophy

Baltimore Ravens- 23   San Francisco 49ers- 20  (F-OT)

     That does it for the final Z Money's Sports Talk of the 2012-2013 NFL Season. Enjoy the game, everyone. And if you're a fan of either of these teams, good luck to you! Most of all, enjoy the snacks and commercials...and the game, of course! 

   
   
   

2013 NFL Championship Weekend Predictions

     Welcome back, sportz freaks. This is championship Sunday in the NFL, and so today we find out which two teams will compete for the Lombardi Trophy on February 3rd in New Orleans. In the AFC, we have ourselves a rematch of last year's semifinal round between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots. On the other side, the San Francisco 49ers have returned to championship Sunday after losing to the Giants last season. They will head to Atlanta, who is coming off its first playoff win in the Mike Smith/Matt Ryan era. Like last year, several of the potential Super Bowl showdowns could have very compelling story-lines.      

     Once again, New England-San Francisco is the most intriguing, and is the very match-up I predicted a year ago: a prediction which was only half-right. Should this come to fruition this year, we will see Tom Brady and our era's dynasty try to fend off the aura of the 49ers, the once-great team of the 80's. Should the Ravens pull the upset and take on the Niners, we would of course be given the Har-bowl we were sorely deprived of a year ago. Brothers John and Jim each had their teams a spot away from the big game, but both failed to make it to Miami. I won't exclude the Falcons in this list, either, since the potential of their existence in Super Bowl XLVII would promote a great story of a potentially retiring tight end who has waited his whole career for a championship. That of course, is Tony Gonzalez. Could we see him face off against another retiring legend in Ray Lewis? The possibilities are many in this championship weekend, and so let's get started with the predictions!

3ET, FOX

#2 San Francisco 49ers (12-4-1) @ #1 Atlanta Falcons (14-3)

     In our first game of the day, we will see two teams who at their worst...look pretty bad, but at their best they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The second-seeded 49ers are heading to Atlanta where they hope to get over the hump after losing at this stage ago. San Fran is still haunted by the memory of return man Kyle Williams' multi-fumble day at Candlestick Park which allowed the Giants to earn a trip to last year's big game. A year later, Jim Harbaugh's team sits here again, one win away from a trip to the Super Dome. 

     Atlanta has lost only three games all season, all in their own division. Last weekend, we saw the team we thought the Falcons were all along: an offensive juggernaut who could score points at will and have your defense's head spinning. Well, we saw it for three quarters, at least. Then, up 27-7 in the 3rd, the Falcons showed us their darker, less trust-worthy side. They allowed the Seahawks to climb all the way back and even take a momentary lead, and then had to drive the field and kick a game-winning field goal to hold off the incredible comeback victory. On one hand, it's great to see the Falcons finally get the monkey off their backs and get a playoff win. On the other, it is extremely difficult to feel confident in their ability to win a big game after seeing the way they almost let it slip last Sunday. 

     San Francisco brings perhaps the league's best defensive unit into the Georgia Dome on Sunday, and a unit which did a pretty damn good job of shutting down Aaron Rodgers and Company a week ago. What is a bit more surprising, though, is how easily the 'Niners racked up the points on Green Bay. While not a defensive powerhouse, the Packers went into last week's game at Candlestick Park ranked 11th in overall defense...and then Colin Kaepernick ran wild on them. The Pack could not handle the read option what-so-ever, and it made for a rather convincing victory for the NFC West champions. If Kaepernick has even half of the success we saw last Week, the Falcon faithful could be in for a long afternoon. 

     The Falcons looked absolutely abysmal in the final quarter and a half of the Seattle game, but up until then had actually done a nice job of containing rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, as well as Marshawn Lynch. Atlanta is not known for its defense either, but from what we saw in the first half, they proved they can get stops when needed. Where they have to be questioned is in the second half of games. Did they just try to cruise last week? Was Russell Wilson's speed starting to tire them out? Whatever it was, the Falcons need to fix it this week or they're going home disappointed once again. 

     Everything that factors into this game is pointing directly at a 49ers victory. They have a much stronger defense, their offense looked almost unstoppable, and they are on a mission after losing at this point a year ago. The Falcons are shaky and hard to trust, and don't have a defense that really has me convinced they can stop the likes of Colin Kaepernick, as he seems to be even better than Russel Wilson-ing than Russel Wilson. My gut feeling is that they will pull this off and head to New Orleans. However, we know how incredibly wrong my gut can be, and so I'm going to swing for the fences and call for an upset. Falcons take a close one behind a hostile home crowd. 

Prediction: Surprising defensive effort propels Falcons to Super Bowl. Atlanta tops San Fran, 27-24.

6:30 ET, CBS

#4 Baltimore Ravens (12-6) @ #1 New England Patriots (13-4)

     Well, here we go again. This is like a song that just keeps playing on repeat. Ever since Brady returned from injury in 2009, the Ravens have sought to put him and the Pats in their place and finally breathe some fresh air into the AFC title picture. We all remember the tacky penalty called on Terrell Suggs that year: a roughing the passer foul called after Suggs made contact with Brady's legs. If you don't recall, here's a reminder:

     Ever since that moment, you can sense the animosity between these two clubs. The Ravens would even go on to crush New England in the playoffs that same year, but the Patriots got the last laugh a year ago as their victory over Baltimore sent them back to the Super Bowl for the fifth time in the last decade. The Ravens did get a victory over Brady and Co. earlier this season, but that will mean nothing if they are unable to do it again on Sunday, and fall short of the  big game once again. 

     The Ravens entered the 2012 playoff scene with a lot of unanswered questions. Were they legitimate contenders? Could they win big games? Is Joe Flacco the quarterback who can get the job done for them? Coming in as the four seed, and losing to the Bengals on the last week of the season, the Ravens were a bit tough to trust. Even a convincing victory at home over Andrew Luck and the Colts wasn't enough to cement their status as a contender. Then, a bit of magic happened last week in Denver. The Ravens, toughing it out and staying with the #1 Broncos the entire way, found a way to pull off a miraculous game-tying touchdown and go on to win it in overtime. This, of course, was aided by some shaky play in the Bronco secondary, but Flacco threw a great pass, and the rest is history. Will luck be on their side again in New England?

     The Patriots looked quite convincing in their win over the Texans last weekend. Houston stuck around for a bit, but New England stepped on their necks and finished off what had been a disappointing last month or so for the AFC South champions. New England has won ten of its last eleven games, and has scored an average of 33.5 points per game over that span. Their offense is clearly playing at a high level right now. But with tight end Rob Gronkowski's season-ending arm injury, can they still produce that type of consistency against a stingy Ravens defense? 
     Baltimore has been quite the opposite in terms of playing well in recent months. They are 3-4 over their last seven, although three of those losses came against teams who made the post-season, and one loss to the Steelers. The Ravens are an okay 5-4 on the road this season, which looks worse compared to a New England team who is 7-2 at home this season. That being said, two home losses is actually more than the Pats are used to in the Brady-Belichick era. Can they get one more victory in front of their home crowd to get back to the Super Bowl?
     In the last game's prediction, I went 100% against my gut feeling. While my heart says San Fran, my head won't let me pick them after going 1-3 last weekend in what I thought were picks from the heart. So now, my gut feeling is telling me that the Ravens will finally get the job done and oust New England in their own building. I just can't go against my instincts twice in the same day. While this and the Atlanta prediction might come up and bite me in the rear, I am picking a pair of dirty birds to face off in a monster showdown in two weeks. Gimme the Ravens. 

Prediction: Flacco near-perfect as Ravens finally get by Pats, 26-23. 

SUPER BOWL XLVII Prediction: 

#4 Baltimore Ravens vs. #1 Atlanta Falcons

     

2012 NFL Divisional Round Predictions

Welcome back, sportz freaks to another edition of Z Money's Sportz Talk. Last week in the Wildcard round, yours truly managed to go a perfect 4 for 4 on the predictions, as Houston, Green Bay, Baltimore and Seattle all emerged victorious. Those same four teams will play again this weekend against the four squads who had last week off. So without further a due, let's get to the predicting!

AFC: #4 Baltimore Ravens (11-6) @ #1 Denver Broncos (13-3)

     Our first contest takes place in the Mile High City on Saturday afternoon. The Ravens, led by a solid performance by soon-to-retire linebacker Ray Lewis, are looking to continue their path to a potential rematch with New England in the AFC Championship. Last Sunday, the purple birds looked the best they have in quite some time, knocking out the Colts in a convincing 24-9 victory. Ray Rice looked good despite a pair of fumbles, and the defense returned to its true form, harassing rookie quarterback Andrew Luck from start to finish.  
     The Broncos are getting set to play after a week off, but prior to that had won their last 11 in a row. They have been on an absolute tear, and included in that stretch was a sound beating of this weekend's opponent, 34-17 in week 15 at Baltimore. In that game, the weaknesses of the Raven defense were clearly highlighted and exploited, and the Broncos won with ease. Denver will look to match that success on Saturday. 
     The Ravens went just 4-4 on the road this season, although three of those clubs (Cincy, Houston, Washington) made the post-season. The Broncos are 13-3 on the year, and an impressive 7-1 at home. They have not lost at Invesco since week 3 against Houston. You know that Peyton Manning is still steaming from the loss to Brady and the Pats way back in week 5, the Broncos' last defeat. Manning would love nothing more than to get New England on his turf in Denver and take another crack at the defending AFC champs. On the other side, Ray Lewis is hoping to keep his career alive another week in hopes of reaching the NFL's promised land one last time. But I just think these two teams are headed in different directions right now, and for the Broncos it's up up up. I think Baltimore keeps this close early but Manning will open it up in the second half en route to a Bronco victory. 

Prediction: Broncos control clock, ground and Manning adds a pair of TD's as Denver wins 27-13. 

NFC: #3 Green Bay Packers (11-5) @ #2 San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1)

     A tie with the St. Louis Rams, or a touchdownception, whichever you prefer, are just influential enough to have this weekend's game be played at Candlestick Park. The 49ers found themselves deadlocked with St. Louis in week 10, and neither was able to seal a victory. This result allowed the 49ers to end the season with just four losses, while the Packers, despite winning the same number of games as San Fran, ended theirs with five defeats. Hence, we find ourselves along the bay on Saturday, rather than Lambeau Field. While it might not seem like much of a difference, the fact is the Niners are an impressive 6-1-1 at home this season, while the Pack are just 4-4 away from home. San Fran also has a head to head victory over Green Bay which occurred way back in Week 1 at Lambeau. 

     The 49ers have been an impressive club this season, but a bit bipolar: both in their quarterback selection and their overall performance. You might recall that the Niners kicked off the year with starting quarterback Alex Smith, a man who had been heavily criticized in years past before leading his  team to an NFC title appearance a year ago. After that performance, coach Jim Harbaugh finally, or so we thought, showed complete faith in his leading man. Then week 11 came, and an injury forced Smith to sit the bench. Enter Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick, up until that point, had been used as a utility man: someone they could bring in to run an option or bootleg, which was a great use of his quickness. But in week 11 against the Bears, Kaepernick was a star and the Niners flattened Chicago 32-7. From there, the starting gig was handed over to Colin, and Smith remained a backup option. Call it crazy. Call it unfair. But regardless of what we call it, the 49ers are once again a Superbowl threat, and are just two wins from heading to New Orleans.

     Green Bay stumbled at the finish line of the regular season with a loss at Minnesota, but quickly redeemed themselves in a rubber match last weekend at Lambeau, winning in decisive fashion: 24-10 (it had been 24-3 until a garbage time td). What is most intimidating about this club right now is that they finally seem to be getting healthy, and this is a team that, when it is fully healthy, is loaded with weapons. The defense is packed with stars like Clay Matthews, Sam Shields and Charles Woodson, and the offense consists of a boatload of targets for quarterback Aaron Rodgers such as Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb. Saturday night, however, they'll face a much tougher defensive unit than the one they saw these past two weeks. But one has to question just how ready this defense is ready for Rodgers and company. Prior to defeating Arizona in week 17, San Fran's unit gave up a whopping 76 points to New England and Seattle, combined. Now, those are two great offensive teams, but then again, so is Green Bay. Something's gotta give, but when the smoke clears I see Rodgers avenging the week 1 loss as San Fran falls short again. 

Prediction: Kaepernick's 2 picks, Rodgers' 2 tds lead to San Fran downfall. Pack wins 26-14. 

NFC: #5 Seattle Seahawks (12-5) @ #1 Atlanta Falcons (13-3)

     Not sure if NFC playoff game...or Angry Birds. In all seriousness, this should be a very interesting contest which features perhaps the most potent offense in the NFL against quite pssibly the stingiest defensive unit. The Seahawks, winners of their last six, are coming off an impressive road victory at Washington last Sunday, a game in which they trailed 14-0 early. Pete Carroll's squad showed great resilience, however, scoring the final 24 points en route to a ten point victory.  The Falcons are the NFC's top seed, but that designation does not come with a bit of skepticism. The dirty birds of Atlanta have been questioned every step of the way, based both on this year's performances, as well as postseasons past. Under head coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons are 0-3 all-time in the playoffs. In order to shake that off and finally get over the hump, they're going to have to get by a Seattle team which can score on either side of the ball.

     Atlanta went 2-2 over its final four contests, although they had been in command of the NFC for much of the season until that point. The Falcons are also 2-0 against teams that made the playoffs this year, but haven't beaten such an opponent since week 5 at Washington. One thing that you can say about Atlanta is that all three of their losses have come within the division, which are almost always forgivable. They also have an early-season victory over their AFC #1 seeded counterparts, the Denver Broncos. If home field stands throughout the playoffs, these two could be headed for a rematch of Superbowl XXXIII. 

     The Seahawks have undoubtedly been the NFL's hottest team over the past two months. They've won six straight, including a blowout win over the #2 seeded 49ers, and at Washington last week, a game that removed a lot of doubts about Seattle in terms of playing games on the East coast. That changes a bit this weekend, however, as this game is slated in the 1:00 spot. Counting that win at Washington, Seattle is a whopping 5-1 against postseason teams this year, with its lone loss coming to San Francisco way back in week 7. They have an, albeit controversial, victory over Green Bay, San Francisco, and New England. They can get the job done both offensively and defensively, and have been quite a dual threat with rookie sensation Russell Wilson, who has suddenly emerged among the Luck's and Griffin's of the world. 

     If the Falcons have anything positive to note, it's that the Seahawk defense was exposed a bit early in the Washington game, and perhaps Matt Ryan can find a way to exploit a few of the weaknesses we saw. That being said, Seattle shut the Skins out for the remainder of the game, and returned to true form. Granted, RGIII was limping around for most of that span, but a shutout is a shutout. I enjoyed watching the high-powered offensive attack for Atlanta all year, and I would love to see them finally exorcise those post-season ghosts in a big win at the Georgia Dome. Unfortunately, I think they're running into the wrong team at the wrong time, and I see Seattle limiting that offense and meeting up with Green Bay next weekend in a toucherception rematch. 

Prediction: Seahawks' D shuts down Falcons, Atlanta playoff woes continue. Seattle wins 30-17. 

AFC: #3 Houston Texans (13-4) @ #2 New England Patriots (12-4)

     Well, if nothing else, it can't be any worse than the last time these two teams met, can it? The Texans, coming off a less-than-stellar showing against Cincinnati last Saturday, will now head into hostile territory as they take on Tom Brady and the Pats in a rematch of their week 14 showdown. That game was won decisively by New England, 42-14, a victory which most likely was the deciding factor between the #2 seed and a bye week, and the #3 seed and a date with the Bengals. While Houston was struggling to get by last weekend, the Patriots were resting, and more importantly, preparing for their next opponent. One thing you never want to give Bill Belichick is extra time to prepare. 

     With the win at home last weekend, the Texans improved to just 4-4 against teams that made the post-season. They have wins over Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Baltimore and Denver, all of which are credible victories. Where the problem comes is when the spotlight is on the Texans. In two key matchups where Houston had a chance to really prove its worth, the Texns fell flat, losing 42-24 and 42-14 against Green Bay and New England, respectively. In these games, the supposed stingy Texan defense was confused all day and their powerful rushing attack was limited. If the Texans hope to have any shot of winning, they need to get runningback Arian Foster going early and often. 

      There isn't much to say about their opposition that hasn't already been said. You've seen this team a hundred times before. You know their deal. It's January, in New England, with Tom Brady under center and Bill Belichick calling the shots. Tight End Rob Gronkowski is finaly starting to get healthy, and Wes Welker is the same threat he's always been. I'd love to go into more detail than that, but facts are facts. It might come back to haunt me, but this game just seems like a no-brainer. The Texans have not looked good at all as of late, and the Patriots are, well, the Patriots. I think we get a better game than we saw just over a month ago, but give me Brady and the Pats when it's all said and done. 

Prediction: Brady throws for three more TD's against Houston as the Pats move on. New England gets the victory, 33-20. 

Well that'll do it for this week's predictions. Let's hope these games live up to their expectations, as we could really be in for some amazing football over the next 48 hours. Enjoy the games, sportz freaks!