Playoff Football Roundup Part Deux

What is it about playoff football that makes you want to just attempt to spear tackle a Mack truck? Don't worry I won't, because I have stock in CB radio's, but for real, every game this weekend had its own battles that were phenomenal. As usual I realize that you are waiting for me to give you my thoughts on what went down this weekend, so away....we....go....

• The Patriots are a friggin wagon. Their offense is so ridiculously precise, fast and complex they will have NO PROBLEM advancing to the Super Bowl.


• Tom Brady reminded the football world this weekend, that he's still better than Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.


• That back corner end zone catch by Rob Gronkowski is one of the top 3 catches I've ever seen.


• It's unfortunate that the Texans lost their starting quarterback because that team is good and New England got very lucky that they aren't facing the Texans and that tenacious defense.


• The Ravens offense is too stagnant to compete. If the Texans didn't turn the ball over they wouldn't have scored a single point. Not one point.


• I haven't been scared of the Ravens this year. Flacco is too inconsistent for me to pose a threat to New England. The Ravens will go as far as Ray Rice takes them. Unfortunately for Baltimore, Belichick has routinely done one thing in his career: Take away the best option and make the complimentary pieces beat you. What does that mean exactly? Later Ball So Hard University.


• Anyone that hadn't seen San Fran until the game this weekend now realizes why I have them going to the Super Bowl against the Patriots after this coming weekend. Their defense is scary good. No, '85 Bears good.


• Alex Smith is not JUST a "game manager".


• Eli Manning is an Elite Quarterback. There were a few passes with the tiniest of windows that less than a handful of quarterbacks even think about throwing into. Well played sir.


• The Giants as a whole are playing inspired football right now and I honestly hate picking against them, but going across country I love SF at home.


• The Ravens defense is a shell of what it used to be. That's not to take away anything from the careers of Ed Reed and Ray Lewis or the phenomenal play of Suggs and Ngata. But they are slower and the Patriots are high octane and too fast for them.


• John Fox looked a lot like Grady Little this weekend.


• The Patriots defense played so disciplined on Saturday night. They didn't over-pursue any of the options and they were swarming to the ball. Only stat that you need to know is 16 plays for negative yards. I don't care who you're playing in the NFL, that's impressive. Not just impressive, but encouraging going forward.


• Had Brady not thrown the most ridiculous interception in the first quarter, the Broncos probably get shut out in the game.


• Ed Reed's sprained ankle should be a HUMONGOUS concern for Baltimore fans and a blessing for Patriots honks.


• John Fox is an imbecile. Why would you kick the ball to the Patriots to start the game? The biggest thing you had going for you in the first game was that you started fast and controlled the clock for a good portion of the first half. How do you beat the Patriots? Keep Tom Brady off the field, no matter what. He put him on the field to start the game. MORON.

You'll notice I didn't say one thing about Tim Tebow in the bullet points because I'd rather dedicate paragraphs to the messiah. There are going to be some major questions regarding the first year starting quarterback: Should he be the starter going into next year? Is he the long-term answer for the franchise? Do you draft a quarterback?

Should he be the starter going into next year?

Yes he should be the starter going into next year. Tim Tebow needs an off season knowing that he is the starting quarterback. He shouldn't need to continue to prove himself to get the spot in training camp. Does he have an issue throwing? No doubt. But if there is any one person in the NFL that would put the work in to try and fix those flaws wouldn't that be Tim Tebow? If he has a full off season to pick John Elway's brain, or maybe even call the player I think he very well could be some day, Steve Young, and talk about how to throw the football instead of just running a college offense he is going to come to camp next year ready to go.

Is he the long-term answer for the franchise?

I think you'll know within the first 6 games of next year, but he needs those 6 games in order for Denver to make that judgement. I'd like to see what kind of work he puts in during the off season. If its noticeable that he is making strides in speeding up his throwing motion, he's going to wreak havoc all over the league.

Do you draft a quarterback?

I'm not going to say don't draft a quarterback at all in the draft because the Bronco's at the very least need a 3rd stringer. But I would not take a QB anywhere near the first 3-4 rounds there are many other issues the club could address like a good pass catching tight end which I think really would have helped Tebow out immensely this year.

There isn't much left to say on this weekend in football. But you heard it here first. You'll see the writeup later in the week but I got NE and SF going for the whole shebang.

Stay Tuned

Norton