1. The Eagles have several important weaknesses, but they also have an enormously high ceiling.
The gameplan for beating the Eagles isn’t particularly complicated: Contain Michael Vick as best you possibly can, send enough pressure that DeSean Jackson doesn’t have time to get open for deep balls, and exploit their weak secondary, especially cornerback Dimitri Patterson. The Giants did it for three-and-a-half quarters, the Chicago Bears and even the Minnesota Vikings did it the whole game, and Aaron Rodgers could absolutely pick this team apart. That said, as the Giants and Washington Redskins found out, Michael Vick at his best is effectively unstoppable, and the Eagles’ quick-scoring and game-breaking abilities are virtually unparalleled. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Eagles lost 45-10 in the first round, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they won the Super Bowl.
2. The Falcons are really good, but pay attention to those pesky margins of victory and lack of success against other good teams.
I did not think the Falcons could keep up their torrid pace, but they proved me wrong to the tune of a 13-3 record, easily locking up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. That said, I like to see a little more dominance from upper-echelon teams; the Falcons went only 4-3 against playoff teams, and all the wins were within a touchdown except against the Seattle Seahawks. Atlanta has won a great number of games by close margins, and while some like to say that proves they “know how to win” or “come through in the clutch,” I trust point differential as the best predictor of future performance. They couldn’t close out New Orleans in a possible statement game at home, and they may well have to deal with the Saints again. I’d be picking New Orleans in that game.
3. The No. 5 and No. 6 seeds are better than the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in both conferences, and you could even argue this extends to the No. 2 seeds.
Maybe the most bizarre fact about this season’s playoffs is that the worst road team in the wild card round has the same record as the best home team. While the Kansas City Chiefs’ powerful running game can’t be discounted and Peyton Manning is always capable of putting the Indianapolis Colts on his back, neither team has the defensive prowess of the Baltimore Ravens or New York Jets. The Seahawks are a joke of a team that won a joke of a division and have no business hosting a playoff game. Most people would say that the AFC’s second-seeded Steelers are the second- or third-best team in the league right now, but they did lose to both the Ravens and Jets and have some weaknesses on the offensive line. The Chicago Bears (No. 2 seed in the NFC) have a stingy defense, but good pass rushes can destroy Jay Cutler and with him their offense (as the Giants and Green Bay Packers have shown).
4. As boring as it is, the likeliest outcome is that the New England Patriots roll through the AFC and win the Super Bowl. The main hope is to keep the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands and try to wear down their suspect defense, but they haven’t scored fewer than 30 points since the bizarre loss to Cleveland.
Tom Brady is, as they say, putting up video-game numbers again. But that’s not really even doing him justice. I don’t know about you, but I think I’d need to be playing on pro or even rookie level to throw 36 touchdowns with only four interceptions, especially without any other traditional-style star skill players. That’s the Bill Belichick Patriots for you, though, and I honestly don’t see how the combination of Brady; New England’s excellent offensive line; and the unexciting but ruthlessly efficient play of Wes Welker, Deion Branch and New England’s hybrid running back DanJarvus Greenwood-Ellishead won’t light up any team they play just as they’ve been doing all season.
The only possible fly in the ointment, hair in the soup, wolverine in the souffle, sulfuric acid in the margarita, negative number in the Poisson distribution, etc., is the Patriots’ rather jarring inability to defend the pass, ranking 30th out of 32 teams in opponents’ passing yards per game. This should be taken with a grain of salt, as the Patriots are good at forcing sacks and turnovers and they have an inordinate number of pass attempts against them because they’re always ahead. Still, 30th out of 32 is 30th out of 32, and Green Bay backup Matt Flynn threw for three touchdowns in New England. The right quarterback on the right day could tear New England to shreds, and if Brady makes enough missteps, the Patriots could find themselves toppled by the stingy and surging Ravens or Steelers.
Super Bowl Prediction: Patriots 38, Saints 27.
Read More
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals after 19–18 loss to No. 5 Syracuse
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
With the win, Syracuse advances to the final four for the first time since 2013. For the Tigers, their season ends along with the career of senior standout attacker Coulter Mackesy.
Preview: No. 3 men’s lacrosse plays No. 5 Syracuse in NCAA quarterfinals
Hayk YengibaryanShould the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.
Should the Tigers beat the Orange, they will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2022 as they look to win their first national championship since 2001.