Andy Richardson
Alftred Hitchcock would be proud: birds rule! Ravens, Eagles, Cardinals, and of course the (I'm guessing, I haven't actually seen the odds) prohibitive Super Bowl favorites from The Final Four, the Steelers. Some interesting storylines, fantasy and otherwise, from the four conference semifinal games, so here goes....
Ravens at Titans: As expected. Baltimore's defense had a little more teeth, or at least was more opportunistic, or Tennessee's offense was more mistake-prone...you know, one of the three. Plus the Titans seemingly lost a lot of players due to injury, during the game, most notably Chris Johnson, who scored the team's only touchdown and then spent the rest of the game watching LenDale White be, well, the team's second-best running back. It's hard not to think the biggest play in this game was an Alge Crumpler fumble near the Baltimore goal line after a reception late in the game; if he doesn't fumble, Tennessee perhaps goes up 14-10 and maybe wins. Fantasy notes for next season: LeRon McClain and Chris Johnson No. 1s, Willis McGahee probably with a new team, LenDale White a goal-line back, Titans maybe hoping Vince Young does some major improving in the offseason. Justin Gage a legit No. 1, but the Titans still need more capable receivers.
Cardinals at Panthers: You can look it up: I gave the Cards a chance in this one. It's been weird this postseason, people acting like games have already been played. The facts are that despite Carolina's nice late run and near claiming of the No. 1 seed, their defense was kind of mediocre for most of the season and Jake Delhomme didn't exactly have his finest year either. Oh yeah, and Larry Fitzgerald is the best wideout in the game, which some of us knew already, and it's tough for any defense to shut him down. And props to Kurt Warner, who is doing a lot to prove he's a pretty good quarterback. Fantasy notes for next season: Panthers probably will start developing a decent young quarterback who can step in for Delhomme if need be. DeAngelo Williams is great and will be a legit first-rounder next year, but there's certainly a concern that Jonathan Stewart will get a healthy share of the work (just because he's good too). Still, we know John Fox is loyal to his veterans (to DeAngelo's and Carolina's detriment when DeShaun Foster was still around), so I suspect Williams will actually be underdrafted rather than overdrafted next season. And if you're going to use a first-round pick on a wideout, why not Larry Fitzgerald? I drafted him at No. 15 in a 14-team league last year and made him the first wideout drafted in a dynasty draft two years ago, and have no regrets whatsoever.
Eagles at Giants: Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't help but think of last year's Packers-Giants conference championship game while watching this one. Suddenly, the shoe was on the other foot for the Giants. Again it was the visiting team converting all the critical third downs; the visiting quarterback making all the plays; the home quarterback looking frustrated and seeing his passes flutter; the underdogs looking hungrier and getting the big stops. The Eagles basically dominated this game; there wasn't much of a point where it appeared the Giants were going to win. Just like Giants-Packers a year ago. Fantasy notes for next season: Guess the Eagles will probably bring back Donovan McNabb, especially after he gets the Eagles into the Super Bowl next week. Brent Celek will make it very easy for the Eagles to let L.J. Smith walk. For the Giants, it's interesting. They'll probably ante up for Brandon Jacobs and let Derrick Ward walk, but I kind of like Ward -- hard runner. Could be a nice back for some team next year, and we know Jacobs gets kind of banged up. And I think they have to at least consider bringing Plaxico Burress back. Or replacing him with a pretty good player. I don't know if this offense will function with a Domenik Hixon-Steve Smith (couple of drops Sunday)-Amani Toomer trio, no to mention Toomer isn't a young guy anymore.
Chargers at Steelers: Finally a game that goes as it's supposed to. Steelers were a really good team all year long. Chargers just weren't. Steelers were the No. 2 seed while playing a brutal schedule. Chargers played in one of the league's two worst divisions and were fortunate to win eight games. It's funny how often one team scores the first touchdown in a game like this, as the Chargers did, and then gets basically dominated the rest of the way. I'm one of those people who thinks Ben Roethlisberger doesn't get enough credit, rather than too much, as a playmaker; he just seems to be a guy who doesn't care about the pass rush, which is something to be admired in a quarterback, plus he's surprisingly mobile for a guy who gets hit as often as he does. And then there's Willie Parker, who destroyed fantasy teams all season long and then comes through with a huge game at just the right time. Good for the Steelers, who I'm willing to predict will set up the first all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl. Fantasy notes for next season: Nothing really springs to mind, beyond wondering if the Chargers are really planning to let a Tomlinson backup walk for the second straight year, with Tomlinson himself seemingly nearing the end of the road. Sproles should be a quality committee back for some team next year, getting at least half the carries and causing defenses fits. Why can't that team be San Diego? I think the Chargers should at least consider trying to make it happen. Apart from that, well, Philip Rivers looks like a pretty good young quarterback. Should be drafted a lot earlier next season. So will Vincent Jackson. That duo could be around in the playoffs for a while, especially with the AFC West currently a wasteland of what looks to be three rebuilding teams, and them.
Conference Championship Game predictions: Eagles 24, Cardinals 20. Steelers 20, Ravens 17.
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