Divisional Round Thoughts

1. My old baseball coach always used to use the phrase, “Act like you’ve been there before.” My old DIVISION III baseball coach used to say that. I did not care for the Jets lack of professionalism after their win in New England. From Shonn Greene’s touchdown celebration to Braylon Edwards’ Ozzie Smith flip. If you go to ESPN.com right now you’ll see a picture of Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards with their arms fully extended (like Jets) . . . . . . . like 8 year olds. I thought it lacked respect and class, but that seems to be the Jets mantra right now.

2. I counted at least two times that the Jets (at least to me) faked an injury to slow up the hurry up tempo of New England. One was very early in the game and one was very late. One of my biggest pet peeves about watching NFL games is when a player gets hurt. The world stops. Trainers are at his side. Commentators are concerned. The flow of the game is stopped and they take it to commercial. Once they return from commercial the camera is on the player who now appears to be fine. He sits out the one obligatory play and is back on the field. I don’t wish anyone harm, BUT if you’re hurt enough to take this game to a commercial break YOU BETTER BE HURT.

3. The stats on the Patriots/Jets game are staggering. First downs, total yards and time of possession are all in favor of New England. So how did the Jets win this game? Sacks. They sacked Brady 5 times and threw him completely off his game. Brady didn’t play poorly, but he certainly didn’t have the same cadence he normally has.

4. DROPPED BALL alert – Deion Branch. Yes, it was thrown a little behind you but you had both of your mitts on it. The ball must be caught.

5. Shonn Greene breaks free with an easy run for a touchdown at the end of the game. By him running in and scoring that left a chance for New England to win the game (not a good chance, but a chance nonetheless). If he falls down at the 3 yard line and takes a knee he leaves the Patriots a 0% chance of winning the game. We’ve seen other running backs do this over the last few years. Greene decided to score the touchdown, act like a fool and get a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

6. Bottom line – Jets won.

7. Too little too late Seahawks. 3 points through 3 quarters. Really?

8. I know Mike Williams had 2 touchdown catches (one of which was really amazing) but I just wasn’t impressed with him on the game as a whole. He only had 4 receptions for 15 yards. Hasselbeck threw the ball 46 times. Williams needed to come up bigger on many of those possessions.

9. Jay Cutler gets a stay of execution. Bears fans are scared though. Have you ever gone out for a night of friendly drinking with your buddies but you have that one friend who always gets into a fight once he’s drank too much? And you wait for it, you dread it, you know it’s coming, the longer you're out the more you fear it. Cutler was last seen doing Tequila shots in the corner by himself Bears fans.

10. 176 rushing yards for the Bears. The rushing attack must be maintained to be able to keep the Packers off of the field next week.

11. Seattle’s leader rusher? Golden Tate, 1 carry for 13 yards.

12. NFC Championship game Green Bay at Chicago. The NFL is very happy right now.

13. Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind (as I predicted). A 136.8 passer rating on the game. Wow!

14. How bad would this game have been IF Greg Jennings doesn’t fumble that ball after the long completion in the 1st quarter (the Falcons scored off that) and if Weems doesn’t return the kick off 102 yards for a touchdown? This game could have easily been one of the all time playoff embarrassments.

15. Falcons need a weapon that can stretch the field on offense.

16. The Packer’s defense produced 5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 touchdown. Oh, and they didn’t punt once all game. Look out Chicago.

17. DROPPED PASS alert – Anquan Bolden AND T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Inexcusable! Right off your chests, both of you.

18. Steelers win the second half 24-3. Way to protect that 14 point half time lead Baltimore.

19. 126 total yards, 12 first downs, 3 turnovers, 5 sacks given up. The Ravens have a TON to think about during the off season. I mean, a TON.

20. Roethlisberger gets sacked at the end of the first quarter. The ball jumps ahead a few yards. It appeared as if he was throwing it and his arm was going forward. Except he wasn’t. The whistle never blew. Shame on EVERY GUY on both teams that quit on that play. Only after a few seconds of ambiguity did Redding scoop up the ball and run it in for a touchdown. Was a whistle ever blown? You play to the whistle!

21. What’s most unimpressive, Flacco’s 125 yards passing, Rice’s 32 yards rushing or Bolden’s 1 catch for -2 yards?

22. Against the Chiefs the Ravens only had 7 completions to their wide receivers. Against the Steelers? 4 (for 36 yards).