Championship Round

So I've been taking a break from the internets in honor of the first week of my last semester as a lazy ass college student. I know you clowns are itching have been itching for me to drop all this time. Well I'm here to make your dreams come true, five minutes before the kickoff of the AFC Championship. Without further ado, I'll get started:

San Diego @ New England: So I'll take the heat for what I said last weekend about the Chargers. Fuck it, I'm glad to see the Colts get knocked off. Credit Rivers, Tomlinson, Merriman and Co. for bouncing back after a mostly unimpressive showing the previous week against a significantly inferior Titans team at home. This team is playing with swagger despite being banged up at several key positions, including quarterback.

All that said, you don't go from So. Cal up to Foxboro in the winter and get a win. Belichick, Brady, and Moss aside - I'm sorry, you just don't. This Charger squad has a lot of confidence right now, as evidenced in their press conferences, but all the factors point against them. Gates, Rivers, and Tomlinson are all playing hurt. The Patriots have not lost a playoff game at home since my father was my age (you can try to do the math if you want). As Anthony Smith from Pittsburgh will tell you, antagonizing this team in the media interviews does not do much to help. Last, but not least, I just don't think the Chargers can score with the Patriots the way their offense is designed. If they want to make it close, they'll get plenty of pressure on Brady with Merriman and the front four, force a couple turnovers and hope for the best.

Pick: Patriots

New York @ Green Bay: I'm sorry Dad. I'm sorry Mizzle. I hadn't bought into this Eli Manning thing. I've watched a lot of Giants football over the years and seen some of the disappointment you guys have suffered. I've seen you get excited year in and year out just to see you get burnt by a Tiki Barber fumble, a Jeremy Shockey dropped pass, a Trey Junkin choke job, or mediocre quarterback play. Of all the years for the team to come together, I never thought this would be the one.

Brett Favre could not be more en vogue right now. A Brady-Favre G.O.A.T. duel for the title is being considered almost a foregone conclusion. I myself am guilty of sleeping on the Giants, having picked against them each of the past two weeks. But I've watched them closely in both games. I like the way the front seven can get after the passer and react to the run. Manning has played efficiently within himself and stepped up to make plays when necessary. Although this team doesn't stomp their opponents, they play their game and find a way to win. Green Bay has played some impressive football over the course of the season, but haven't faced a pass rush as good and linebackers as versatile as Torbor, Pierce, and Mitchell. I genuinely believe that they can cause havoc for Favre and take him out of his rhythm to the point where he goes back to playing his typical, mistake-prone ball. After looking stupid two weeks in a row, I think I can take a chance on picking Coughlin's happy little children on the road.

Pick: Giants