Tim Tebow: Is it Magic or Faith?
He pulled off the miracle last Sunday at home. Can the Chosen One do it again?
Tim Tebow’s brilliant pass to Demaryius Thomas (a Gator to a Golden Knight) for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime gave the 8-8 Denver Broncos and almost unthinkable 29-23 win over the 10-6 Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of Wild Card Weekend. With the victory, the Broncos stunned the football world and yet their reward is another impossible task: the New England Patriots, a team that beat them 41-23 in Denver on Dec. 18.
Now were this game in Denver, I might be inclined to continue to believe in the magic and the hype, but it’s not in Denver and it involves an opposing quarterback who is not only perfectly healthy (last week the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger couldn’t walk, let alone run) but has won big games before — Tom Brady. We’ll find out this weekend if Tebow just magical or if this is the result of pure, unadulterated faith.
This week, Tebow will face one of the worst defenses ever to be part of a 13-3 team and yet he’s still going to have to put up a huge number of points because we all know Brady will. This could mean the end of the Denver Dream, but if it doesn’t, then the sky is definitely the limit.
This week it’s Division Playoff Weekend and even though Vegas has handed us four prohibitive favorites, there is always a chance something wild, wonderful and wacky could happen. Unlikely, sure, but there is always a chance. After all, the Broncos won last week.
And last week the Doc was 3-1 (171-89) straight up and 2-2 (147-113) against the spread. Coach was 2-2 straight up (174-86) and 2-2 (142-118) against the spread.
This week, The Doc is on holidays, so the responsibility for our weekly NFL picks falls at the feet of The Coach alone. And make no mistake, The Coach has picked up the mantle. Of course, if The Doc gets off the beach (or out of the bar) to send in his picks, we’ll add them later. (Note: The Doc left the bar. His picks are included).
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints (14-3) at San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
Line: Saints by 3.5
At his news conference this week, New Orleans coach Sean Payton said this about the 49ers: “They’ve been very consistent all year. The formula has been outstanding defense. They’re the No. 1 team in taking the football away and they’re the No. 1 team in protecting the football offensively. Those are significant numbers.” Indeed. Especially in the playoffs. However, the Saints simply ripped up NFL defenses. Drew Brees and the Saints set NFL records for total yards on offense (7,474) and yards passing (5,347, including sacks). Brees also blew up Dan Marino’s 27-year-old record of 5,084 yards passing by throwing for 5,476. He had 468 completions, breaking Peyton Manning’s 2010 mark of 450, and completed 71.6 percent of his passes, breaking his own 2009 record of a 70.6 completion percentage. Meanwhile, little Darren Sproles set an NFL record with 2,696 combined yards, easily breaking the previous mark of 2,690 set by Derrick Mason with Tennessee in 2000. The Saints simply have too much offense.
DR. FOOTBALL: SAINTS TO WIN AND COVER
THE COACH: SAINTS TO WIN AND COVER
SATURDAY NIGHT
Tom Brady
Denver Broncos (9-8) at New England Patriots (13-3)
Line: Patriots by 13.5
Back in December, QB Tim Tebow played very well early in a game with New England and built a 16-7 first quarter lead. But the lead was short-lived and the Patriots won handily 41-23. That game was in Denver. This one is in Foxboro and it’s unlikely Brady and his powerful Patriots offense will start so slowly Still, that game against New England was probably Tebow’s best performance until last week’s game with Pittsburgh. Rev. Tim threw for 194 yards and ran for 93 more and scored two touchdowns. But it was clear by halftime that the Broncos simply weren’t good enough and despite the fact New England’s defense is banged up and porous, this Patriots team is still too much for Denver. Even with Tim Tebow at quarterback.
DR. FOOTBALL: PATRIOTS TO WIN BUT NOT COVER.
THE COACH: PATRIOTS TO WIN AND COVER
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Joe Flacco
Houston Texans (11-6) at Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
Line: Ravens by 7.5
It’s hard not to like the Ravens in a romp, but the numbers give me pause. Baltimore was only 4-3-1 against the spread at home during the regular season. In the final four games of the season, Baltimore’s offense was not very good at all. They put up only 24 points at home against Indy, the worst team in the NFL, 14 on the road against San Diego, 20 against the Browns and 24 against Cincinnati. Not awful, but certainly not outstanding. Baltimore’s defense wasn’t great either (I know that because Baltimore was my fantasy D). Terrell Suggs and Co. gave up 34 to San Diego on Dec. 18. Not good. Right now, Houston’s defense might be better than Baltimore’s. In fact, Houston is playing quite well under the circumstances. T.J. Yates ain’t no Matt Schaub, but he was certainly good enough last weekend in the Wild Card playoff game against Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Houston’s D was ranked second in the NFL right behind Pittsburgh. If the Ravens were on the road, I’d have a different opinion of this one.
DR. FOOTBALL: RAVENS TO WIN AND COVER.
THE COACH: RAVENS TO WIN BUT NOT COVER.
Aaron Rodgers: Maybe it IS faith.
New York Giants (10-7) at Green Bay Packers (15-1)
Line: Packers by 7.5.
The Giants were terrific on both sides of the football in last week’s 24-2 thrashing of the Atlanta Falcons, but that was on a balmy day in New Jersey. This week, the Jints have to play at Lambeau and it’s supposed to be very cold and very windy. Still, the Giants think a great deal of themselves. ESPN radio picked the Giants to win and All-Pro defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul guaranteed a victory: ”We are very confident,” Pierre-Paul said following the Atlanta game. “Last time [the Packers] came in here and they beat us, which they shouldn’t have, and we are just going to go out there and play some great football. It’s going to be cold and the atmosphere will be theirs, but we’re going to be ready to play.” Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is rested and ready and he’s demolished the Giants in their last two meetings, putting up 776 passing yards against them. The Packers also know that New York is going to run Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs at them all day long. Still, despite the Giants swagger — and their running game — it’s hard not to like Green Bay.
DR. FOOTBALL: PACKERS TO WIN BUT NOT COVER
THE COACH: PACKERS TO WIN AND COVER
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