Can Favre and Vikings beat the odds?
This is what it comes down to. We have the top two teams that pulled at our heart-strings almost all season, even flat-out telling us they’d try for 16-0 (Thank you, New Orleans), and still delivering themselves into the playoffs with the top seed in their respective conferences.
Yes, you know them and read about them as the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints.
The Colts, 14-2, and the Saints, 13-3, both won their first game in two weeks in deciding fashion, and both seem to be the favorites heading into their championship battle.
But those are the logical teams. Those are the teams with all the numbers and hype, the ones that kept their winning streak going into Week 14, and 13, respectively.
They are the two teams in the league that had us talking until two in the morning, the two teams that we thought in the middle of the season, “Now that would be a good Super Bowl”.
But they’re just two of the four teams.
The Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets, they’re a whole different breed.
The Vikings have the league’s best run defense, as well as one of the better offense’s in the league, led by the famous, seasoned old vet, Brett Favre.
The Jets are the rugged, run-pounding, aggressive up-start squad that has seemingly come out of nowhere, led by a rookie quarterback, as well as a rookie running back.
It’s the ageless wonder (40-year old Favre) and the duo of rookies (Mark Sanchez and Shonn Greene), up against arguably the two best quarterbacks in the league, and their equally impressive supporting casts.
But, as interesting as this story has already been, we need an ending. The question is, where do we go from here?
Read on for some analysis on both match-ups, as well as a prediction for this year’s Super Bowl match-up:
New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts
The one thing that will keep the Jets in this game? Their defense.
True, they have the man-power and talent to run all over the Colts, but based on recent history; oh, I don’t know, Indy’s success against the Baltimore Ravens, even the Colts’ so-so run defense isn’t a good enough reason to give the Jets a real shot.
Add the fact that we’re getting a match-up between one of the most prepared and cerebral quarterbacks the game has ever seen, Manning, against probably (at least right now) the exact opposite, Sanchez, and you may have the writing on the wall.
Really, like I said, New York’s answer is defense.
Darrelle Revis can contain Reggie Wayne. I don’t doubt that.
What I do doubt, however, is New York’s ability to consistently pressure Manning, while also containing Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, and Dallas Clark.
I don’t see the Colts having much success on the ground, simply because their run game has hurt them all season, but I also don’t think they’ll have to.
The Jets need their bread and butter to show up, and then even if it does, the game will inevitably come down to Mark Sanchez playing the game of his life.
This won’t be a 17-14 pound-fest liked the Jets scraped by with against the Chargers. Peyton Manning and co. will put the pressure where it needs to be; on Sanchez to come out of the dark and make something happen.
Whether he has a magical arm or not is yet to be determined. But it looks very much like the cards are set-up for us to find out.
Regardless, I just don’t see a rookie head coach, quarterback, and running back getting to the Super Bowl.
Colts 30, Jets 16
Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints
Both teams have explosive offenses, led by experienced, accurate quarterbacks.
The difference between Drew Brees and Brett Favre? This is Brees’ second NFC Championship game, while this is Favre’s fifth.
Throw ego’s and measuring sticks to the side, because as important as both of these quarterbacks are to their respective teams, this game isn’t ending like everyone hopes it will.
Don’t get me wrong, a shoot-out is very possible, but something tells me the more balanced team will end with the ball in their hands, and with a lead, rather than one of these teams winning in the final seconds.
Why? Because the key ingredients are in Minnesota’s favor.
True, they haven’t been running the ball well. Adrian Peterson found just 60 yards off of 24 carries against Dallas. Not what you like to see.
Then again, the Cowboys were pretty solid against the run. New Orleans, not so much.
Just look at the Cardinals first score; a 70-yard scamper by Tim Hightower. Just imagine what Peterson might be ready to do.
And if you look at the other side of that argument, a ball control offense (if needed/wanted) favors the Vikings in every way.
The Saints, aside from a nice 46-yard run by Reggie Bush last week, simply cannot run the ball effectively, and really haven’t been able to do so for the past six weeks.
Just look at last week’s stats against the Cardinals: No one other than Bush averaged better than three yards per carry.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings can get to the quarterback with the best of them. In fact, they are the best.
Minnesota led the league with 48 sacks in the regular season, and matched that season-long effort by getting to Tony Romo and sacking him six times last Sunday, while forcing two lost fumbles.
The Saints finished 15th in the league with 35 sacks.
This should tell us that Drew Brees, despite only getting sacked 20 times all season, will likely have his hands full.
The final aspect, which is usually over-rated, could very well come into play with two key performers making plays in clutch moments this season.
Minnesota’s electric rookie, Percy Harvin, can make magic happen on kick returns when he’s not doing damage in the slot, while the Saints’ Reggie Bush is healthy and exploded for more than one game-changing play against the Cardinals.
There’s no denying the presence Drew Brees and the Saints offense has, but the odds are somehow stacked against them, even with the game being in their home stadium.
The Vikings can run the ball and stop the run better, and they can get to the quarterback better than anyone in the league. Add Brett Favre to the mix, and you’ve got your answer.
Vikings 34, Saints 27
