This week in football, the final two teams in the NFC and AFC meet to see who will be making a trip to South Beach and Super Bowl XLI on February 4.
In the NFC match up, the fairy tale New Orleans Saints travel to Chicago to battle the Bears. After much doubt in the ability of Bears QB Rex Grossman, Grossman temporary silenced his critics on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks by completing 21 out of 38 passes and throwing a touchdown. Both the Bears and the Saints will want to run the ball as each has a strong duo of running backs (Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush for New Orleans and Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson for Chicago). An interesting match up to watch is QB Drew Brees against the Bears powerful defense.
Prediction: Rex Grossman will not have two solid games in a row and the Saints magic carpet ride will continue with big games from Brees and the tag team of Bush and McAllister.
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The Indianapolis Colts will again have to beat their play-off rival, the New England Patriots to get to the Super Bowl, only this time, the Colts have home field. The Colts beat the Patriots earlier this year, but beating the Patriots and Tom Brady in the postseason is a different story. Brady has been the definition of clutch, with a 12-1 playoff record. At the end of the season, the Patriots have looked like the dominate football team that won three Super Bowls, especially last Sunday with an impressive win at San Diego. The Colts defense was great last week only allowing six points, and has carried the team in the wake of Peyton Mannings struggles. However, they have a tough task ahead as they try to contain the Patriot offense. After the Colts victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Coach Tony Dungy gave the team a full three days off, which is uncommon in the NFL. If the Colts come out of the gate flat this Sunday, many analysts will be questioning this move.
Prediction: Payton Manning will finally get over the hump by beating the Patriots and making it to the Super Bowl thanks to the foot of Adam Vinatieri. Sorry Steve Gostowski.
