Conference Championships Picks
* Normally, I pick four “best bets” and make one of those a “lock” each week. Since there are only two games, they’re both best bets. I’ll still list my lock though. Those are listed at the end.
Denver (-5) vs. New England
For about the millionth time, it’s not Manning versus Brady. Obviously that’s the storyline and it’s all anyone talks about. And it’s kind of all I’m going to talk about, albeit in an indirect way. Allow me to use this moment to pontificate on the quarterback position for a bit. Ok ready? STOP TALKING ABOUT QUARTERBACK “WINS”. Seriously. I couldn’t care less. Tony Romo threw for over 500 yards and 5 touchdowns earlier this season and lost the game. What’s more, it was supposedly his fault that the team lost because he threw a late INT. Meanwhile, Andrew Luck can almost give a game away two rounds ago against Kansas City, but because a fumble bounces right into his hands at the exact right moment, he’s suddenly Captain Comeback. In a game like football, where it’s sixteen game regular seasons and one-and-done playoff scenarios, the margin between winning and losing (greatness and mediocrity) is microscopic. Was John Elway a better QB than Dan Marino? No, not on his best day and Marino’s worst. But those two rings turned Elway from Drew Bledsoe into a guy mentioned amongst the all-time greats. Forget about the offensive line, Terrell Davis, and a formidable defense. No, Elway suddenly became legendary his last two seasons right? He elevated his game. Or something. We’re seeing the same happening here with regard to the TEAM result being far too meaningful toward’s the individual legacy. If Manning doesn’t win, despite being surrounded by obviously more talent than Brady, then the case is closed and Brady will go down as the better QB right? I mean it’s ridiculous to think this way. Manning has won a Super Bowl more recently, and if the Broncos didn’t have a blind man at safety last season there’s a good chance he’d have gone then as well. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Manning is unequivocally better. Just that this one game cannot determine it. Manning’s TEAM has lost two of its best defensive players recently. The Patriots got to take the first 17 weeks of the season off by virtue of playing in the AFC East. So the Pats could win this. But if the stars align for New England and they win, it doesn’t mean Brady is tops. Now obviously I’m biased in that I think Manning is better, but here’s a newsflash. If Denver wins, that doesn’t prove Manning is better either! It’s one game. One game in a long history. The better player, and the guy who plays better, may not even win. It’s football. It’s a team game. Let’s TRY to keep that in mind when we’re ranting all next week regardless of the outcome (I know this will never happen, but it feels good to just vent sometimes).
Pick: Broncos
Seattle (-3.5) vs. San Francisco
We’ve been doing this since the beginning of the season. We’re not going against Seattle at home right? No reason to stop now. The Seahawks should win, and win big. One thing I want to get off my chest though is the constant storyline this week comparing Russell Wilson with Colin Kaepernick. As if it’s not bad enough with those other guys in the AFC, now I have to read about how Kaepernick is getting a bad rap and isn’t actually a bad guy and blah blah blah. Guess what – nobody is saying he eats babies and kicks puppies into lakes. But Justin Bieber wears his hat crooked and keeps the tags on it and acts like he’s hot poop even though he hasn’t really done anything. Just like Kaepernick! So forgive me for not being in love with ole CK. You think people aren’t gonna judge that book by its cover? There’s a reason why Sofia Vergara isn’t going to be cast in the Sound Of Music. It’s been going on since the beginning of time, and Kaepernick plays the villain role well. Let’s just leave it be and stop feeling the need to stick up for the honor of these guys all the time.
PICK: Seahawks
LOCK: Seattle Seahawks
RECORD
LAST WEEK
Overall: 2-2 (50%)
Best Bets: 2-2 (50%)
Lock of the Week: 1-0
YEAR TO DATE
Overall: 144-116 (55%)
Best Bets: 37-39 (48%)
Lock of the Week: 12-7 (63%)
