Pittsburgh up 13-7

Just over 2:00 to go in the game. Baltimore gets a gift score with a TD from Willis Mcgaheee. The Ravens couldn't have played much worse.

2008 AFC Championship

I'm going to pick the Ravens in an upset today. I'll say 16-15 in a game that will go down as one of the all time great games in NFL history and end up as an NFL Films "NFL's Greatest Game".

It all goes down off exit 16W in New Jersey today

[NY Times 5th Down Blog Preview]

Today's game in East Rutherford, New Jersey is a real golden opportunity for the New York Giants. Everyone is weighing in on it. The road to a repeat begins today. The Giants aren't gonna be able to throw their way to an NFC Championship Game appearance. They're going to need to run a 2-headed attack with Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward. That is why I like Eli Manning. He isn't here for all the stats. He's here to win. He's a different egg then his brother Peyton.

He grew up watching Archie Manning take beating after beating. His dad would come home from taking a pounding and Eli would get him a coke and sit on the couch with him and his dad would be beat up after a tough loss. These are the fibers that make up the champion that is Eli Manning. Today I wouldn't be surprised if he threw for 140 and the Giants win. The key is that they get more 3rd and 3's and 3rd and 2's then 3rd and 8's for Eli.

Something else that is concerning is that his last postseason loss was to these Eagles. He played well, but they were the team he lost to last in the playoffs. Eli played a sparkling, untouched postseason last year. He was fabulous in every way. The model of consistency from a franchise QB. This year, I think a lot of people expect him to throw a critical interception at some point today. If he can keep that from happening, the Giants will win.

Brian Westbrook is a Giants killer. But that said, I don't think he can beat Steve Spagnuolo's defense by himself today. Donovan Mcnabb and Desean Jackson will need to have big contributable games as well.

This should be an absolute war. Things are going to be cold at kickoff. I hate to say it but my gut all week has told me Philadelphia Eagles, which has cut into some of my excitement for this matchup.

Last Lookback: Stover, the Final Brown

[ESPN - Tim Graham] [ESPN - Paul Kuharsky] [Ravens Roost] [Pro Football Talk] [PFT] [PFT 2] [Peter King SI]

Won't be long now

A snooze and a wake up from now and it all goes down. The game I've been waiting weeks to see. It will be an absolute war. Full in-depth wrap up and insights to come. Win or lose. Hopefully the Giants see the NFC title is there for the taking, and they will play like they know a trip to the Super Bowl is at stake.

And if they should win, I'll be following their journey out to New Jersey for my first playoff game.

*Chris Landry just picked the Giants (kind of) and the Steelers on FOX Sports Radio FWIW.

Ravens win war 13-10 over Titans

[Game Book]

Despite failed attempts by Mr. 4-Cheese Pizza himself to ruin this game, this game will go down as an absolute classic in NFL history. If you watched the whole game, it was an absolute war. Guys being carted off the field virtually every play and a rugby scrum-like battle for field position by both teams.

In the end, 4 or 5 big time throws by a rookie quarterback along with a defense that gave up yards but got key turnovers was enough to knock the #1 seed from the playoffs. If anyone saw Keith Bulluck after the game, you know that the Titans have seen enough of the Ravens coming into LP Field and ending their Super Bowl aspirations.

Titans fans will complain about a botched delay of game call against Baltimore--allowing Flacco to find Todd Heap on a 3rd down play to extend what turned out to be the game winning drive. I'll counter with: your team fumbled inside the 20 how many times? You committed 12 penalties. Your kicker missed a field goal. Take your medicine and know that your boring, afterthought team will enter next season not even considered a top-10 team.

Joe Flacco completed only 11 passes, with his first five going to Derek Mason, but he did not make mistakes. His arm can hit any spot on the field. It's tough to have confidence issues when you've got an arm like that. It gives John Harbaugh the option to put the game in the young QB's hands if he must and not second guess about it. And that last sentence could end up in a Peter King column come monday. Joe Flacco becomes the first rookie in the history of the NFL to win 2 playoff games. I gotta say I like the guy's attitude and I enjoy watching him and this Ravens team play.

Browns fans sit at home on a snowy night and watch everything they want in a franchise and a team, and it's all owned by their old buddy Art Modell.

Predictions for NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend

1. The Ravens beat the Titans in Tennesee. Reminiscent of 2000.

2. Look for the Panthers cover the +10 spread. Panthers will win.

3. Eagles end the Giants season, knocking out my playoff horse and although the wifey won't like me saying this, the ride end here.

4. I'd bet my mortgage on Pittsburgh. There's no way they lose this game.

What time is it?

GAME TIME.

What time is it?

GAME TIME.

Any Dogs in the house?

WOO WOO WOO WOO

This will be the game of the weekend. Absolute war coming up in Tennesee.

The #1 Reason Mangini wanted Cleveland job

We've been told that the biggest reason Eric Mangini wanted the Browns head coaching job was Brady Quinn. After an in-depth conversation about the offense to expect from Mangini and Brian Dabol and they are going to run a Charlie Weiss style offense that is taylor made for Quinn. This offense will emphasize much usage of the tight end. Anyone who watched Brady Quinn at Notre Dame became familiar with his love of the use of the tight end.

Also seen will be a lot more of the running backs getting downfield in the passing game instead of the sideline. You will see receivers in shorter crossing routes to set up the deep ball down the middle of the field. We are told Mangini likes Quinn's leadership, smarts, and thinks he can be a star with the variables that already exist in Cleveland.

Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini

Eric Mangini has been named the new coach of the Cleveland Browns, signed to a 4-year deal. Mangini understands the situation in Cleveland, having grown up a ball boy and assistant under Bill Belicheck.

So another fresh start for my team. I admit, I wasn't a huge fan of this guy but he will keep us competitive. I also do buy into the fact that he knows about the fan base and he truly wanted to be in Cleveland over other situations as opposed to just having a job. If he wins, the other things I don't like about him will go away quickly.

Can Mangini do what Chris Palmer, Butch Davis, Terry Robiskie, and Romeo Crennel could not? I will make the prediction and say that Mangini will get the Browns to multiple playoff appearances in his tenure here.

Mangini said the next step is to name a GM, and that GM will not be Tom Heckert or Scott Pioli. It's going to be Kokinis. And I'm alright with that after hearing that Ernie Accorsi wanted Kokinis to get the job.

Baltimore Ravens 26, Miami Dolphins 9

[Game book]

Joe Flacco is the ONLY rookie quarterback in NFL history to start every game during the regular season and then go on to win a playoff game. No one else has ever done it. He accomplished this feat by going 9 of 25 for 135 yards and no turnovers. He also added a rushing touchdown.

The story of this game was obviously the defense and Ed Reed. Reed picked off 2 more passes and returned one for a score (as he so usually does when he touches the ball).

What I saw while watching this game was a quarterback in Chad Pennington who failed time and time again to stretch the field on a defense that you must be able to stretch the field on. If you can't keep them honest somewhat they will play up and eat you alive. There just wasn't any windows for Pennington to throw into and this affected the rest of the Miami gameplan.

Miami also featured a stout defense but the Ravens had a nice 2-headed attack from Laron Mclain and Willis Mcgahee. Like the Ravens or not, it's fun to watch Joe Flacco throw the ball. And he's a likable player on a team that isn't that likable. And this is a team who I expect to go into Tennesee and take out the #1 seed as they did in 2000.

It's Mangini

The next head coach of the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns really just don't get it.

I've been told that Eric Mangini will be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns and that the decision will be anounced tomorrow or tuesday.

And I'm not going into a long, drawn out explanation of why this decision sucks and why the Browns as an organization are so fucked up. They just are. They probably always will be. Someone in that front office--beginning with the owner--has no idea what it takes to be a winning organization in the NFL. They haven't had a clue in a long time. Not since Modell sold the real Browns to Baltimore.

I'm also told that Pioli wanted to hire Kirk Ferentz, that it was the major sticking point in Pioli accepting his offer to be Cleveland's GM. Owner Randy Lerner basically said no way.

So let me get it out there before anyone else on the web can react to it. This move will never work out for the Browns. Not the way that I mean work out. This doesn't end with the hoisting of a Lombardi Trophy does it? And while I do expect a turnaround to the point where Mangini will bring some playoff games to Cleveland; this isn't what many Browns fans are longing for. This isn't a real fix that a Steve Spagnuolo would be, it's a band-aid.

And this is why the Browns will always be behind the Pittsburgh Steelers as an organization. This is why they're 0-9 against Ben Roethlisberger. The Browns make decisions that losers make.

Rolle with a huge play for Arizona

Antrel Rolle just picked off a fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to give Arizona the lead 21-17. The play occurred because of a defensive lineman Darnell Dockett of Arizona blowing up the play.

Nice first half for Ryan

Matt Ryan in the first half of today's ballgame: 18 for 25, 141 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Obviously things can change but if Mike Mularkey doesn't go conservative in the 2nd half it could set up for a dramatic finish and a game that winds up being a classic shootout. The Falcons took the lead with a TD pass Ryan to TE Justin Peele.

Micheal Turner had a pedestrian first half with 10 carries for 42 yards and a TD.

Roddy White had 8 catches for 70 yards. Boldin (2 catches) and Larry Fitzgerald (3 catches) had 72 yards receiving a piece, each with a touchdown.

Best day of the year for NFL fans

Today is the finest day of the year for NFL fans. Whether or not your team made it this far it's still the best day of the year due to the anticipation of the rest of the NFL postseason, and we've got a couple of great games to kick it off.

The Falcons lead 17-14 as of right now out in Arizona. Matt Ryan is having a huge first half. More to come.