Vikings Are Winners, Sean Payton Is a D!ck, and the NFL Championship Weekend Cheat Sheet
When I was a kid, one of my most favorite sports moments to see was a team winning a championship.
That raw elation shared by a small group is something I love watching.
This sideline view of the Minnesota Vikings game-winning touchdown over the New Orleans Saints in last week's Divisional playoff round by WR Stefon Diggs is probably the best one minute video clip (below) I have ever seen. Listen for the incredible increase in crowd noise at 0:10, see the first of many hugs at 0:20, and all the "suits" getting bumped out of the way by the Vikings dog pile at 0:30. That is why I keep tuning in to this stuff...so damn cool.
You know what is also cool? Seeing karma come back to haunt a dick. I am looking at you Sean Payton (Saints head coach).
Last weekend the Saints kicked what should have been a game-winning field goal with 0:25 left on the clock. After that field goal, but before the Diggs touchdown, Payton turned his back to the field and taunted the Viking faithful with their own signature Skol clap. It was the second time in two months that Payton has been seen taunting opposing fans, according to Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated.
A former soldier-turned-folk-singer that I am friends with on Facebook has a song entitled "Try Not to Be a Dick." You won't find that in the Life's Little Instruction Book you get from your grandmother at Christmas, but it is pretty solid life advice. Payton might want to flip through one of those instruction booklets before next year -- he has time for free reading now, anyway.
Two championship games today which guarantees us an opportunity to see some moments of elation again...let's get to the cheat sheet.
AFC Championship Game
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. (-7.5) New England Patriots: Jacksonville advanced to the AFC title game by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-42 at Heinz Field last week. So much of what I have heard on this game centers around the Jaguars pass rush. If the Jags can create pressure from their down linemen without having to send additional blitzing linebackers or defensive backs, they will have at least a chance to pull off the upset. You know two teams that got pressure on Patriots QB Tom Brady in the playoffs? The New York Giants did in Super Bowls XLVI (2011 season) and XLII (2008 season). You know who was the Giants coach in the Super Bowl victories? Tom Coughlin. Coughlin is now the executive vice president of the Jaguars and they have the top-ranked pass defense in the NFL with 48.5 sacks from linemen. Jacksonville was second in the NFL with 55 team sacks on the year. That is all well and good, but I am not picking against the Patriots at home in the playoffs. Hal Bent of the Patriots blog MusketFire sees the underrated New England defense and offensive weapons like TE Rob Gronkowski and RB Dion Lewis as the keys to a Patriots victory. I can't argue with that. -- PATRIOTS
NFC Championship Game
Minnesota Vikings vs. (+3.0) Philadelphia Eagles: These are two franchises that have never won a Super Bowl. These are two teams that are starting a quarterback that was not the starter at the beginning of the season. These are two top-rated defenses, Vikings (1st) and Eagles (4th). Neither team rushed particularly well last week in their Divisional Round victories as both were held under 100 yards rushing. Turnovers determine tight games between teams with great defenses and flawed quarterbacks. The Eagles created more turnovers (31 to the Vikings 19), and had the better turnover differential (+11 to the Vikings +5). Philadelphia QB Nick Foles was able to avoid turning the ball over last week against the Atlanta Falcons, as well. Paul Kasabian of the BleacherReport thinks the combination of Vikings wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen will swing this game to Minnesota. That sounds legitimate, but I am in second place in a pick 'em league, and need to go with an underdog today. This has to be the safer underdog bet. -- EAGLES
Real sports writer along the Potomac touts Pacers Stephenson
I had to get to Sports Clips yesterday to get my "hair cut correct, like Anthony Mason." I brought the Saturday Washington Post for the long weekend wait, and on the front page of the sports section was an article about Indiana Pacer Lance Stephenson and his connection to Indiana and Pacer fans.
The article by Washington Wizards beat reporter Candace Buckner of course had to touch on our dysfunctional public political discourse of the current age, but Buckner practically made me shed a tear. Stephenson is an NBA underdog, the Pacers always have been underdogs (and always will be), and the connection between Stephenson and the fans has the Brooklyn native feeling "like this [Indiana] is home." I feel you, Lance -- keep ballin'!
Pacer fans need to enjoy every positive this year, because they are probably not going to finish strong. Adam Friedman of IndyCornrows dug into the stats to highlight that Indiana's pace of play has slowly declined from their fast start as they have lost key players to injury, shortened their rotation, and are probably wearing down do-everything catalyst G Victor Oladipo. Excellent insight, bad news.
Well, we will get to see two small bands of brothers elate in victory tonight, at least. The fans of my teams won't be celebrating, but I will be happy for all the fans exalting tonight outside of Boston. Enjoy the games, folks.
That raw elation shared by a small group is something I love watching.
This sideline view of the Minnesota Vikings game-winning touchdown over the New Orleans Saints in last week's Divisional playoff round by WR Stefon Diggs is probably the best one minute video clip (below) I have ever seen. Listen for the incredible increase in crowd noise at 0:10, see the first of many hugs at 0:20, and all the "suits" getting bumped out of the way by the Vikings dog pile at 0:30. That is why I keep tuning in to this stuff...so damn cool.
Sideline view of Minnesota Vikings WR Stefon Diggs game-winning touchdown over the New Orleans Saints, Jan, 13.
You know what is also cool? Seeing karma come back to haunt a dick. I am looking at you Sean Payton (Saints head coach).
Last weekend the Saints kicked what should have been a game-winning field goal with 0:25 left on the clock. After that field goal, but before the Diggs touchdown, Payton turned his back to the field and taunted the Viking faithful with their own signature Skol clap. It was the second time in two months that Payton has been seen taunting opposing fans, according to Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated.
A former soldier-turned-folk-singer that I am friends with on Facebook has a song entitled "Try Not to Be a Dick." You won't find that in the Life's Little Instruction Book you get from your grandmother at Christmas, but it is pretty solid life advice. Payton might want to flip through one of those instruction booklets before next year -- he has time for free reading now, anyway.
Two championship games today which guarantees us an opportunity to see some moments of elation again...let's get to the cheat sheet.
AFC Championship Game
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. (-7.5) New England Patriots: Jacksonville advanced to the AFC title game by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 45-42 at Heinz Field last week. So much of what I have heard on this game centers around the Jaguars pass rush. If the Jags can create pressure from their down linemen without having to send additional blitzing linebackers or defensive backs, they will have at least a chance to pull off the upset. You know two teams that got pressure on Patriots QB Tom Brady in the playoffs? The New York Giants did in Super Bowls XLVI (2011 season) and XLII (2008 season). You know who was the Giants coach in the Super Bowl victories? Tom Coughlin. Coughlin is now the executive vice president of the Jaguars and they have the top-ranked pass defense in the NFL with 48.5 sacks from linemen. Jacksonville was second in the NFL with 55 team sacks on the year. That is all well and good, but I am not picking against the Patriots at home in the playoffs. Hal Bent of the Patriots blog MusketFire sees the underrated New England defense and offensive weapons like TE Rob Gronkowski and RB Dion Lewis as the keys to a Patriots victory. I can't argue with that. -- PATRIOTS
NFC Championship Game
Minnesota Vikings vs. (+3.0) Philadelphia Eagles: These are two franchises that have never won a Super Bowl. These are two teams that are starting a quarterback that was not the starter at the beginning of the season. These are two top-rated defenses, Vikings (1st) and Eagles (4th). Neither team rushed particularly well last week in their Divisional Round victories as both were held under 100 yards rushing. Turnovers determine tight games between teams with great defenses and flawed quarterbacks. The Eagles created more turnovers (31 to the Vikings 19), and had the better turnover differential (+11 to the Vikings +5). Philadelphia QB Nick Foles was able to avoid turning the ball over last week against the Atlanta Falcons, as well. Paul Kasabian of the BleacherReport thinks the combination of Vikings wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen will swing this game to Minnesota. That sounds legitimate, but I am in second place in a pick 'em league, and need to go with an underdog today. This has to be the safer underdog bet. -- EAGLES
Real sports writer along the Potomac touts Pacers Stephenson
I had to get to Sports Clips yesterday to get my "hair cut correct, like Anthony Mason." I brought the Saturday Washington Post for the long weekend wait, and on the front page of the sports section was an article about Indiana Pacer Lance Stephenson and his connection to Indiana and Pacer fans.
The article by Washington Wizards beat reporter Candace Buckner of course had to touch on our dysfunctional public political discourse of the current age, but Buckner practically made me shed a tear. Stephenson is an NBA underdog, the Pacers always have been underdogs (and always will be), and the connection between Stephenson and the fans has the Brooklyn native feeling "like this [Indiana] is home." I feel you, Lance -- keep ballin'!
Lance "Romance" Stephenson is digging his time in Indiana and the fans are digging him.
Pacer fans need to enjoy every positive this year, because they are probably not going to finish strong. Adam Friedman of IndyCornrows dug into the stats to highlight that Indiana's pace of play has slowly declined from their fast start as they have lost key players to injury, shortened their rotation, and are probably wearing down do-everything catalyst G Victor Oladipo. Excellent insight, bad news.
Well, we will get to see two small bands of brothers elate in victory tonight, at least. The fans of my teams won't be celebrating, but I will be happy for all the fans exalting tonight outside of Boston. Enjoy the games, folks.
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