The GOAT turns 70

10 Spot - Playoff Edition

1. Best Game this Weekend?

EBIZZ: hands down the San Fran Saints.it was everything I expected and then some...Hell, they even iced it with Davis doing all that crying at the end ... where is singletary now???

Beans: San Francisco vs. New Orleans.  The first 3 quarters went just about how I thought it would.  Then the offensive explosion happened.  That San Fran D is super serious.  Drew Brees ended up putting up some big numbers but that was after the 49ers held him down for the first half.  Alex Smith really showed some heart in that victory as well.  His strong play is being overshadowed by the D and "The Catch."

DProf: San Francisco vs NO was instant classic. The 4th quarter was Tebowish. But the game was interesting the whole way out, San Fran was sticking, NO was airing it out. NO didnt capitalize enough early in the game. First drive the helmet to helmet hit with the fumble on the 3 set the tone. 

2. Worst Game this Weekend?

Beans: The annihilation of the Denver Broncos at the hands of the New England Patriots.  Guess I wasn't the only one tired of the all the Tebow talk last week.  Tom Brady set everything right with his usual stellar passing.

EBIZZ: Tebow and them looked bad in New England. The damn game was watchable for about 5 minutes.  

DProf: Belicheck did every thing but throw a hail mary to end the game. This game needs no more discussion.

3. Biggest Surprise this Weekend?

EBIZZ:  The discount double check didnt hold up. These guys disappointed me big time. Giants earned every bit of the win but I didnt expect it to come in the fashion that it did.

Beans: Discount Double Choke!  I never expected the Green Bay offense to look as inept as it did on Sunday.  Rodgers didn't look good,  the O-line looked terrible, and the Receivers were even worse.

DProf: How fast the Denver game was over. They didnt leave nothing to the imagination. All of the other games at least sucked you into the 4th quarter drama for the ratings. 

4. Has League Caught up to Tebow?

EBIZZ: The game vs the Patriots did not indicate much. The first time they played this season the Patriots showed that they were clearly the better team. And that they had an answer to stopping Tebow. That does not mean the rest of the league does. It didnt help that they found a way to bring back McDaniels right before the game (and there should be a rule that prohibits this type of mess from happening). Tebow has shown improvement every game this year and overachieved a lot as well. Next year he must continue to get better and prove his critics wrong by winning games. I say its time to get off tip and let him live.

Beans: I agree with E here.  This game did nothing to confirm or deny this, but in my opinion YES!  The entire league sees their weaknesses.  I wanna see Tebow run the option for 16 games next year.  He's gonna get killed!  Good Luck on that off-season mechanics tweaking...

DProf: I agree with one thing E said, Tebow has overachieved and that is an understatement. I dont hate Tebow but he can't throw. I know he hit the deep balls against the Steelers but besides that, he managed 10 pts vs NE, 3 vs KC, 14 vs Buff. I'm not saying caught up as much as he has to evolve into more than deep passes and option runs if he wants to be called a QB. 

5. SF vs NYG?

Beans: It's gonna be another beauty.  San Fran at home, feeding off that crowd.  Eli and that Giant D will be ready though.  I say Giants win this one 24-13.

EBIZZ: I gotta go 49ers with this one. Vernon Davis looks unstoppable out there. Also that 49ers defense is playing at a very high rate at the moment. This will be there toughest game yet, but I think they have what it takes to get it done. I see this game coming down to the wire and San Fran finding a way to pull it through. Giants will not just turn over though. They have the best WR group left playing and will force the issue if need be. But have shown to be real successful at it though. Im expecting this to be the game of the week.

DProf: I predicted the Giants would roll like they did in 2007 and so far they are proving me right. I'll take the Giants in a 20-17 type game. Eli sure as hell shut up those critics that doubted if he was an elite qb didnt he?

6. New England vs Baltimore?

Beans: I'm pretty disappointed with the Ravens.  Yes they beat the Texans, but they had a rookie running the show basically closing his eyes and chucking it down the field  for a good portion of the game.  They've got good D, but not good enough.  I have to go with the best QB in the league, Tom Brady and the Patriots.

EBIZZ: Kendrick Lamar Hiii Power. That's the best way to describe that Patriots offense.Its like a machine. The Ravens are viscous on defense and the offense has shown that they can hold their own too. If the Ravens can slow these guys down a little and get some help from the O, then there is a legit chance they win. The key for the Ravens is not letting Brady get off to one of those hot starts, and try to maintain from there.....

DProf: Its hard to trust Joe Flacco. I mean, if they had anybody else at QB, Baltimore would be the favorite in NE, but I don't see it happening. It will be close, but expect Brady to have on a new hat to match his ugg boots.

7. Super Bowl Matchup will be....

Beans: As much as I'd love to see a 49ers and Ravens Superbowl.  It just won't happen.  Eli and the Giants have more experience and poise.  Tom Brady is just... Tom Brady.

EBIZZ: New England vs San Fran. Lets get it going. 

DProf: New England vs Giants. Think about it, rematch from 2007 in the city Indianapolis that hates the Pats and the city where big brother holds the team hostage. 

8. Super Bowl Winner will be....

EBIZZ: Im goin on that limb and will pick the 49ers to shock the world. Im finally learning to expect the unexpected. 

Beans: Eli has plenty to prove.  Just think he's always been second to his bro.  Now he'll have one more ring than him.  Giants have the necessary firepower to hang with the Pats.  They'll do more than hang, they'll win.

DProf: Giants baby. ELI becomes to Brady what Brady is to Peyton. That would be the ultimate diss.

9. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Coughlin, Brady, Belicheck - Who needs Super Bowl more?

Beans: None of these guys actually.  They've all proven themselves.  I'm going with Eli.  No more backseat for Eli at Manning family get-togethers anymore!!!

EBIZZ: I think all will go down as Hall of Famers, But for Eli this would sort of solidify him some positioning.

DProf: Coughlin probably needs this win to keep his job but this is all about ELI. 

10. Happy MLK Day

And This Weekends NFL playoff picks are.....

This Weekends NFL playoff picks.....

Ebizz 's Picks:

Patriots vs. Broncos

Patriots - I never bet against the Patriots in the playoffs.... and even though i hate them and want them to get that ass kicked, I dont see how they can loose to Denver. Broncos have EVERY odd stacked against them, including the guy who drafted him..... But thats why we play the game.. Folks be "reachin," creating 1000 excuses why the Broncos were lucky to beat the Steelers last week, but the Tebow hate should be over with by now in my opinion. There is no playbook to stop a well rested Patriots team.

New Orleans vs. 49er's

New Orleans - Im goin with N.O.. They are very very very explosive. The 49ers got that defense, and have been shutting teams down left and right. But, I dont think any defense can all the way contain Brees and dem. Saints win by 10.

Ravens vs Texans

Baltimore - Im gone go with B'more, but Im not confident with this pick. The reason? I want to believe the Texans have found some kind of way to get over that hump that has held them back all of these years... That Ravens Defense is gone be all the way ready, But maybe this will be the Arian Foster show anyway....

Giants vs Packers

New York - I love how unpredictable them Giants can be. My boy Eli had alot of haters when he entered the league, but that superbowl win against Patriots was spectacular, and shut down the critics.... But man man man. This Greenbay team came off lockout into the season as if the lockout never occurred, so image how ready they will be for this game..... Dem Packers are ready to go for back 2 back Super bowls..... Gotta go NFC North Green Bay

D Professor's Picks:

Patriots vs. Broncos

New England - For no good reason. The Pats whooped them in Denver after Tebow got out to 16-7 lead I think and then the turnovers start rolling. Pats having won in playoffs in like 3 years but with the extra week off and they still have Brady and Belicheck, I'll take New England. The dream run for Timmy Touchdown has to end, I would rather it end next week vs Baltimore so Skip Bayless can have an on-air orgasm (pause). Buttt.....

Ravens vs Texans

Baltimore - I really dont know which Flacco shows up. The pass happy Flacco that throws them out the game or the run balanced Flacco that has to throw 15-20 times. Houston seems to have the recipe with a QB that doesn't turn the ball over, tough running game and stingy defense...sound familiar Baltimore? Hopefully the real Flacco shows up and Ray Rice touches the ball 40 times.

New Orleans vs. 49er's

New Orleans - They say NO can't play outside, is a dome team, etc. Temperature for tomorrow is set to be around 55 degrees. Its not like they are playing in Lambeau or Chicago. NO was 3-2 on road outside this year, losing to GB and TB, beating Tenn, Car, and Jax. They didnt put up the same type of numbers outside except for GB but they still scored no less than 22. The 9ers at home, only good teams they beat at home were Pitt and Giants. I don't think it is a shootout, but Saints by like 7.

Giants vs Packers

Giants - Pass rush, good offense, great QB play, enough run offense for playaction to work, that is what worked against the historically great NE Pats in Super Bowl. This team is better in many aspects than that team and would play the same type of team all the way to Super Bowl (GB, NO, Pats possibly). If the defense is thrown out the window, GB wins the shootout.

KeFarin's picks:

Patriots vs. Broncos

New England - I was one of Tebow's fiercest critics, but I finally saw his worth. The dude is a winner and he's not great, but can get that job done. With that being said... New England will beat the Broncos by at least 10 points. This is just what Tom Brady does.

Ravens vs Texans

Baltimore - So there is no way I can pick a rookie QB over the Ravens Defense. 'Nuff said.

Now to the real Games.....

New Orleans vs. 49er's

San Francisco - I know, that Brees just secured himself a record and a hall of fame spot this season but that 49ers D is ferocious. I should know they were one of the only bright spots on my Fantasy Team. San Fran will make the game a grind out and will win 20-17.

Giants vs Packers

So this game between the Giants and the Packers has potential to be pretty epic. High powered offenses with play-making defenses. No one really has been able to stop Rodgers, but Eli and the Giants will on Sunday. Giants win this game 27-23 in regulation. Unless it goes into OT where thePack will win29-23.