So instead of hearing about Favre every day until the Super Bowl we get to see grainy color film of the Manning boys playing catch in the backyard and hear tales of Drew Brees in his motor boat picking people off roofs. I’m mainly happy that I don’t have to hear Rex Ryan blathering on about how his team should be favored. Maybe he was saying flavored instead of favored? Is that why he has put on an extra 150 pounds? Are there any back up Jets’ kickers missing?
I’ll save you all the suspense; I’m going with The Mannings in this bout of white bread vs. Creole. Besides the fact that I think Peyton is the ultimate X factor, I refuse to root for any team with Jeremy Shockey on it to win the Super Bowl. As commenter Danimal35 said, no team that lost to the Buccaneers in the regular season has ever won the Super Bowl. I think that record will continue in Miami in two weeks. Two weeks!? Ugh.
Peyton Manning: I would like to thank Manning for not making me look too stupid in front of my throngs of readers. Hi mom! My prediction that passing is the new fad to take over the NFL was correct! And also thanks to Bradbury Robinson and his “projectile pass,” which sounds more like vomit than football, but whatevs. Even though the AFC Championship wasn’t a last second affair like the NFC game, it was a better all around game without the fumbleruski play being implemented on each drive. Peyton once again showed why he is the best QB in the game by steering away from Revis Island and docking most his passes on Collie Reef and in Garcon Bay. Next week he gets the turnover happy, but not very cover happy pass defense.
Joseph Addai: He came out of the game again this week, but managed to get back in there and out rush the rushing elite Jets. With 2 weeks rest he will be ready to go in the Super Bowl against the poor Saints’ rush defense.
Pierre Garcon: He had 11 receptions, 151 yards and a touchdown and I could chalk it all up to Revis taking out Wayne, but Garcon didn’t look like he was just a beneficiary of a lot of targets and poor defensive backs; he made some amazing catches. I like Anthony Gonzalez, but he may have just been Wally Pipped.
Austin Collie: Collie also came up big, but didn’t look quite as athletic after the catch as Garcon. He ended up with a great 123 yards and a touchdown grab, but should see his role decreased a little as long as Darrelle Revis doesn’t make the trip to Miami.
Reggie Bush: He caught a pass for a touchdown, but otherwise he once again showed why he is pretty much worthless in the sense of things that are worth something, which he isn’t. He muffed a punt, or bushed it, if you will. And by muffed or bushed, I mean that he bailed out so he wouldn’t get hit.
Pierre Thomas: He totaled 99 yards and a rushing touchdown and looks like he’ll continue to be the go to guy in the Super Bowl after Reggie Bush had no luck running the ball. He was the second Pierre to have a good game on Championship Sunday. What happened to all the Merican football players?!!
Drew Brees: He has 6 touchdowns and no interceptions in the playoffs so far. It was difficult to tell if he was playing or not since all I can remember is Brett limping around, but looking back at the stats it looks like he was. He didn’t out grit Ol’ Favre, but he was steady. He gets a Colts pass defense that wasn’t really tested by Flacco and Sanchez actually looked good against them. Look for around 1,000 total yards passing in Miami.
Devery Henderson: The DH has come up big in the playoffs so far. Picking what receivers will get the yards and touchdowns for the Saints is a crapola shoot at best, but if you like riding the hot hand, and who doesn’t?, then get DH in your lineup. I think the DH is allowed to play in a neutral stadium.
Brett Favre: He really did get beat like a 40 year old pinata, but made some amazing throws in the process. His last throw was a pick, but I still can’t understand why Childress was running the ball and settling for a 51 yard field goal? Then, after having too many men in the huddle, the Vikings were pretty much out of field goal range and Favre had to make a play, so he forced it like is his want to do, and got pickaruskied. It wasn’t like they were on the five yard line and needed a chip shot to win it. Whatever happens with Favre he proved that he can still play at an elite level, which just doesn’t happen with 40 year oldies.
Adrian Peterson: He had some great runs and three touchdowns and some really bad ball control, no not the Paris Hilton kind (sorry mom), but the fumbling kind. He needs to figure some shizz out and quick. He hasn’t lost his speed or moves or power, but he doesn’t look like he knows what the eighch he’s doing out there. He just plows ahead with reckless abandon and coughs up the ball (see Paris Hilton) more than he should. He had an amazing game statistically and there is no reason to think he will slow down fantasy wise. So why should we care?!
Sidney Rice: He caught a touchdown, but saw a lot of double coverage, so Favre looked elsewhere. Rice has the skills to be an elite #1 receiver in this league, but TJax isn’t the guy to help him remain an elitist.
Bernard Berrian: 102 yards receiving was his highest number for the season. His age, injury proneness, competition, and possible loss of Favre make him free agency fodder in a lot of leagues next season.
Mark Sanchez: I was impressed by the Bearded-Sanchez. When he needed to make throws he made them. Ryan should have actually turned him loose in the early downs more often instead of plodding ahead with the ineffective running game, but what do I know? (don’t answer that). Sanchez will continue to improve, but his fantasy value should still have a low ceiling (think Gandalf in Bag End) next year. If they can keep Greene, Jones and Washington they should continue to run it down opponents’ throats.
Shonn Greene: He injured his ribs and only ended up with 10 carries for 48 yards, but he had already shown his ability in the games before this. He is going to be super-hyped, especially if Thomas Jones is let go due to salary and oldness. If that happens, I’ll probably be conducting the super-hype train.
Braylon Edwards: He ended up with 100 yards and a long touchdown which he amazingly caught. Edwards must be a head case or maybe he just can’t catch, but he has the ability to get open and make amazing catches when the ball doesn’t hit him directly in the hands. I’ll always be wary of drafting him.
Jerricho Cotchery: Sanchez hooked up with Cotchery 5 times for 102 yards. The Cotch Rocket is a steady receiver and should continue to be as Sanchez blossoms. Looking back at what I just wrote I could be writing a review of a new ABC Family show. If they make a pregnancy pact I am going to freak out!