A Postseason Full of Surprises

The Arizona Cardinals are in the Super Bowl.

I’ll let that sink in for a minute.

Ok, now on with the blogging. While Pittsburgh was expected by many (including myself) to take the AFC Championship, the Cards were written off at each and every stop, only to “shock the world,” as starting QB Kurt Warner put it.

Limping into the playoffs at 8-8 as the champions of the perenially weak NFC West, Arizona was seen as no match for the rejuvenated Atlanta Falcons and their hotshot rookie QB Matt Ryan.

Guess what? Arizona by a landslide.

The Cardinals were then pitted against the Carolina Panthers, a team with a very strong defense and running game. Certainly, a team that could handle the lowly redbirds.

Guess what? Cards to the NFC Championship.

Most football fans at this point would say that the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, written off at midseason, would complete their juggernaut comeback with a road win to cement their place as this year’s Giants. And they almost did.

But guess what? Arizona is in the Super Bowl.

It is at this point that my nonexpert analysis kicks in. It is obvious that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a superior running game, quarterback, and defense in this matchup. Big Ben Roethlisberger and magician safety Troy Polamalu are proven winners and are unlikely to succumb to the red hot (or is it that they wear hot red?) Arizona Cardinals.

I have to pick the Steelers. Every logical football-loving bone in my body says that Arizona has no chance.

But don’t be surprised to see the Lombardi Trophy making a trek through Phoenix. Now that would truly shock the world.

Coming out of Hiding for some NFL Picks

So grad school ended up eating more of my time than I could have ever imagined, but my first semester was a wonderful experience and I learned more in three months than I ever thought possible. Check out some of my student work from the semester on Youtube; I covered New York’s Chinatown neighborhood for Election Day and took a look at some of the services offered to residents.

Anyways, moving on to the NFL. It has been a season full of surprises and disappointments, just like any other season, and playoff time is coming near. Halfway through Sunday’s action, here’s what we know:

• The Titans are the 1 seed in the AFC; the Steelers and Colts are going to the playoffs as well.
• The Giants and Cardinals both clinched their divisions, and the Panthers likely will soon.

So six of the twelve playoff teams are still yet to be determined. There are plenty of games left to play and a multitude of things can happen. My predictions:

AFC:

• Titans and Steelers take 1 and 2 spots and have first-round byes
• Patriots and Broncos each win their divisions and host first-round games
• Colts take one wild-card spot
• There will be a wrestling match between the Jets, Dolphins, Ravens for the last WC spot. Give it to the winner of next week’s Jets-Dolphins game. Call me crazy but I’ll take the Fins.

NFC:

• Giants take homefield and Panthers take the 2 spot
• Vikings and Cardinals host first-round games
• Falcons take one WC spot
• Final spot comes down to Eagles (who tied a game) and the Cowboys, I’ll take the Boys

I’ll wait for the official playoff seedings to make my official predictions. Based on the baseball predictions, don’t use my picks in Vegas.