NFL playoffs prediction: Colts win again

The start of 2010 means New Year’s resolutions and a fresh start for everybody. For us sports fans it means the NFL playoffs and the road to the Super Bowl. It also is time for each fan to give predictions for the Playoffs. Here is my insight.

Wildcard Round

Game: New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals 27, Jets 13

Spin: In my opinion, this is the easiest game to predict in the playoffs. Rookie quarterbacks typically don’t fare well in the playoffs, especially one with 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions like March Sanchez. The Bengals defense will force Sanchez into at least three interceptions.

Game: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots: Patriots 24, Ravens 17

Spin: The Patriots are banged up going into this matchup, though I still think they will win. Tom Brady has had numerous small injuries throughout the year, but the loss of Wes Welker is the biggest blow to the Patriots. The Ravens need a big game from their defense and Pro-Bowl running back Ray Rice to win, but I think they will come up short.

Game: Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals: Packers 35, Cardinals 24

Spin: The Packers are hot, winning seven of their last eight to finish the season, including a 33-7 win against the Cardinals in week 17. Both teams flaunt high scoring offenses. The Packers are led by Aaron Rodgers and Donald Driver; the Cardinals have Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald. The Packers solid defense, led a secondary featuring Charles Woodson and Nick Collins, will make the difference.

Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys: Eagles 30, Cowboys 27

Spin: What’s the old saying? Can’t beat a team three times in a season? I think this is the case for the Eagles who have lost twice to the Cowboys this year. Quarterback Donovan McNabb has lots of playoff experience, and he should have a good game. Tony Romo will struggle in the playoffs again for the Cowboys sending Dallas fans into hysteria.

Divisional Playoff Round:

Game: Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers: Chargers 31, Bengals 13

Spin: If you thought that the Packers were hot, then the Chargers are something else. They’ve won their last eleven games and will continue that streak. The Bengals defense won’t have as much success against Philip Rivers and the Bengals offense will struggle as well.

Game: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 35, Patriots 34

Spin: How many times will we see Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady in the playoffs? Well, at least one more as Brady and co. will travel to the dome in Indianapolis to take on the Colts. This game will be a shootout as neither team has a great defense. The winner of this game typically wins the Super Bowl; I like the Colts.

Game: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 31, Packers 27

Spin: Vikings vs. Packers round 3. Remember the old rule that you can’t beat a team three times in a year? Disregard that for this game as I like the Favres to beat the Packers for the third time this year. Both teams have really good defenses, but the offenses are the story of this game. A late touchdown pass from Favre is the difference for Minnesota.

Game: Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints: Eagles 23, Saints 17

Spin: Many people think the Cowboys are going to take down the Eagles, but I have the Eagles winning two games in the playoffs. The combination of blitzes will have Drew Brees confused and the Eagles will hold the Saints to just 17 points. Out of the top four seeds, the Saints look the weakest as they are losers of three straight.

Conference Championships:

AFC Game: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts: Colts 38, Chargers 27

Spin: Another shootout in the AFC, but Philips Rivers can’t keep up with Peyton Manning. The Chargers have knocked out the Colts the past two years, but not this year. The Colts are no longer unbeaten, but they have their players healthy. Neither team can run very well, so the quarterback position becomes even more important. Edge: Colts.

NFC Game: Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings: Vikings 30, Eagles 17

Spin: The Eagles are trying to repeat what their Pennsylvania friends (the Steelers), have done in the past: win the Super Bowl as a six seed. The Vikings are at home, where the whole team plays better. The Eagles can’t run the football, while the Vikings have Adrian Peterson shoving the ball down their throat. Peterson is the difference as he runs for 150+ yards.

 Super Bowl XLIV

Game: Minnesota vs. Indianapolis Colts (in Miami): Colts 34, Vikings 28

Spin: Brett Favre decided to come back for another year and it was a good decision. He made it to the Super Bowl, but will come up short. Favre throws for three touchdowns in his final game, but Peyton Manning and the Colts are able to overcome this and win. The Vikings run the ball better than the Colts, but the Vikings can’t cover Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. Colts win a close won to capture a second Super Bowl in four years.

Bulldogs season falls short

Riverside Brookfield varsity football season came to an end on Friday night, facing of against playoff rival Hubbard in the opening round of Class 6A playoffs.

During the first drive of the night, the bulldogs marched down the field with a powerful drive until being stopped by a turnover of downs at the inside of the greyhounds’ 25 yard line.

With a momentum boost from the big fourth down stop, Hubbard went on to score 14 unrivaled points and took control of the game until the second quarter when quarterback Billy Vandemerkt scored on a quarterback draw to cut the lead to 14-6. However Hubbard came right back with a field goal before the half to make it 17-6.

In the start of the second half Hubbard took off on the run game. With a couple of touchdowns the greyhounds strengthened their commanding lead by making it even bigger at 30-6. The bulldogs’ power defense could not stop the power house run game of the greyhounds having let up over 400 yards.

The dogs couldn’t get anything going on the offensive side of the game with a season low of 115 yards in the air; it just wasn’t enough to spark the offense.

The dogs finished the season at 6-4 overall and 5-1 in conference, sharing the conference title with Fenton.

With a highlight season from many players this year including Mark McDonagh’s 165 receptions not only sets a state record but a national record as well. With a season coming to an end wide receiver Mark McDonagh said “It was a fun year and I’m glad I could spend it with my teammates and coaches; it was a year I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Although they are losing many key players due to graduating this year, the bulldogs are already preparing and getting set for next season.

Bulldogs hope for upset in first round

With a victory under their belt from a 24-12 win against the Ridgewood rebels, the Bulldogs are going into the playoffs looking to strike again. 

The Bulldogs started the season by packing into the buses and heading down to face the Metamora Redbirds. In the Bulldogs’ first game, they managed to throw up 41 points against the Redbirds who went on to be second in state. Even with the impressive show of offensive force the Bulldogs fell with an end score of 52-41. 

The bulldogs then faced the Nazareth Roadrunners at home. The bulldogs misfired that night and lost in a crushing defeat of 51-7. 

After being routed, the bulldogs went into their third game against Robeson looking to get their first game the season.  The Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders and crushed the Robeson Raiders 65-26. 

After this victory things were looking up for the Bulldogs as they headed into week four, which was the start of the conference play. In a surprise upset, the bulldogs lost to the Fenton Bison, in an upset of 33-22. 

Since that day, the bulldogs have gone undefeated and ended up with a record of 6-3. The Bulldogs now face the playoffs. Leading the offense is senior Mark McDonagh who has not only broken tackles for touchdowns, but also almost every single receiver record in the state. The Bulldogs will now face their first opponent, Hubbard, this Friday at Gately Stadium in Chicago. 

The Bulldogs are confident for this game, “We got a good draw,” said quarterback Billy VandeMerkt.  Billy has completed 237 passes this season for 2648 yards, and averages 294.2 yards per game. The Bulldogs are looking to strike fast, and score points and then let their stellar defense take the field. 

The Bulldogs are going to be playing Hubbard, a team that has gone through the season as 7-2 and is ranked six while the Bulldogs come in a eleventh with a record of 6-3. 

If the Bulldogs can beat Hubbard, they will either be playing ranked three Chicago Robeson who the Bulldogs beat 65-26 or the Crystal Lake who is ranked tenth. 

The Bulldogs are excited and ready to strike on both sides of the ball. When the bulldogs have won it was due greatly to the defense who in their six wins let up less then ten points per game. “When everyone does their job we play well, which leads to a more aggressive attitude,” said senior defensive tackle Vince Arvis. When the Bulldogs lose however they lose big [averaging about 45 points per game let up]. 

 They key to a Bulldogs Victory is for them to get up early, and get points on the board. When the Bulldogs win they have outscored their opponents 221-55. If the season is going to be any indication of the game expect the bulldogs to up at least 32 points, in what will prove to be a shoot out as Hubbard is averaging a total of 31 points per game. 

The Hubbard Greyhounds are led by quarter back Quincy Skanes and rusher Jerome Laseter. 

Hubbard is by no means the toughest team they have met all year, but it’s not going to be a walkthrough. The Bulldogs are going to have to bring it all together to advance into the next round.