Tom Brady Tag

I was really hoping that my predictions would hold on last weekend but I ended up at .500 after going 2 out of 4.  The good news I am still 6-2 in the 2013 playoffs so I can at least hang my hat on that for another day or so.  Last weekend was one of the best playoff weekends that I can remember in a while.  The Patriots and Texans game was the only one that wasn't up to playoff excitement standards.  The outcome of that game was pretty clear from the first quarter on.  The Texans just didn't have enough to beat New England at home.  It just seems like the Patriots have this whole football thing figured out.

Before I get to this week's games I do want to review the other 3 games briefly.  The Broncos and Ravens game was great and I like seeing Ray Lewis continue his swan song but that was ridiculous.  The Broncos flat gave that game away and it was hard for me to see Peyton Manning contribute so much to a loss.  Manning will receive a ton of MVP votes this season and had an amazing season this year but he kinda choked at the end.  Sad to seem him struggle in the clutch like that.

The grind of the NFL regular season has come to an end.  The slates have been cleared and nothing from the regular season matters any more.  This is what is known as "crunch time".  We are now in the 2 minute drill of the NFL season and its win or go home.  It is hard to believe that this incredible season is already over.  There were stories of triumph, episodes of tragedy, as well as many amazing achievements in 2012.  One of the most intriguing stories this season has been the success of 3 rookie quarterbacks.

The first and second overall picks in last year's draft have already brought their teams to the post-season.  Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III have been tremendous for their teams but ROY honors might go to third rounder Russell Wilson in Seattle.  All three sensations will be in action on Wild Card weekend including a showdown between RG3 and Wilson in Landover, MD.

Here is a detailed look at the NFL Playoff games this weekend and a look ahead to Divisional match-ups.

The schedule makers struck gold this year.  This will be the fourth edition of the annual Cowboys Classic and I don't think we could have landed a better match-up.  These two historic programs have combined for over 1,700 wins and both rank in the top 10 all-time in wins and winning percentage (Michigan: 895 - .734, Alabama: 814 - .697).  Alabama (14) and Michigan (11) are also #3 and #4 respectively in national championships won by a college football program.  Needless to say, these are two of the most accomplished athletic programs in the history of collegiate sports.

The Crimson Tide and Wolverines have only met in three previous engagements.  The maize and blue have managed to grab the advantage 2 games to 1 in the limited but eventful all-time series.  The last meeting between these two teams was at the 2000 Orange Bowl.  Turned out to be a great game that needed extra time to decide the winner.  Michigan ended up the victor with a 35-34 victory in what would be the last collegiate game for some guy named Tom Brady.