The Tournament begins…and then there were 8

This is the best time of the year if you are a fan of the NFL as the annual Super Bowl Tounament begins…(note to BCS, this is how you determine a champion!)

On Saturday one home team won, the Arizona Cardinals for the first time since 1947, and one lost, the Minnesota Petersons to the Philadelphia Eagles (note to Vikings…only 6 carries for AP in the second half, when you were only down by two for most of the time? What were you thinking?) On Sunday, home teams were again 1-1 as Baltimore crushed the Dolphins (was there really any doubt about this one?) and the Chargers continued their improbable season ending streak by beating the hot, MVP Peyton Manning -led Colts in OT. The games were well played for the most part and very exciting as the league was able to showcase both young (Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, AP, Larry Fitzgerald, Philip Rivers…) and not so young (Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, Ray Lewis, Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook…) stars. Now it gets good as there are 8 teams left and the matchups are outstanding…

In the AFC…Baltimore is at Tennessee…Joe Flacco is the only rookie QB to start the first 16 games of his career and win his first playoff game…can he continue against the tough Titan defense? Playoff tested Kerry Collins has been here before, facing the Ravens in SB XXX and losing…Chris Collins will have a tough go against the run tough Ravens defense…look for Baltimore to continue its winning ways, 20-17…San Diego is at Pittsburgh in the other AFC semi-final game…even though Philip Rivers and Darren Sproles have been great the past 6 weeks, they haven’t played a defense like this one, led by Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison…Big Ben is well enough to play, Hines Ward will make a big catch, Harrison and Polamau will force turnovers and the SD express will be done for the season…Pitt 24, SD 13

On tot he NFC where the matchps are equally strong…Philly is at the G-Men in their third meeting this year…Philly is on a roll, McNabb playing like his career is on the line, and BWestbrook providing his consistent all around offensive brilliance…the defending champs played like it this season and are hoping the running back tandem of Jacobs and Ward will grind down the Eagles defense that has been one of the top units in the league this season…in the playoffs it is being your best at the right time and it looks like Philly has the chance to do what NY did last season against the ‘Boys in BigD…Philly heads to another championship game and neither of the Manning brothers get to Tampa, Eagles 27, NYG 24…the finale of the weekend is Arizona at Carolina…the Cardinals haven’t traveled well, Carolina has played well all year at home…both QBs, Warner and Delhomme have been to the big game…both teams have good running backs, Hightower/James and Williams/Stewart…but the Panther defense will make the difference here…the sunshine boys will have trouble with travel again, and as much as it would be fun to see Warner throwing to Fitzgerald for another week…Carolina 17, Arizona 10…

The rookies this year were remarkable, enough to make GM’s rethink their strategy as they see teams go from worst to first with young QBs in charge…with new rb’s and receivers making play after play…the top rookies for collectors should be:

Matt Ryan, Falcons
Joe Flacco, Ravens
Chris Johnson, Titans
Matt Forte, Bears
Steve Slaton, Texans
Eddie Royal, Broncos
DeSean Jackson, Eagles
Tim Hightower, Cardinals

Get their cards while they are still reasonable, as a good follow-up sophmore season will make their rookie cards/relics/autos an excellent investment! The divisonal games this weekend should be great…enjoy!