Thoughts on this weekend's NFL playoff games

Yesterday's game, and this weekend in general, have prompted me to revive this blog. I'll probably post again in 5 years. Many of the thoughts below are also inspired by Bill Simmons' articles on Grantland.com.

All day yesterday I was grumpy, like Bill Belicheck in the photo above. I hate when my favorite team (the Patriots) plays the Ravens. I hate the Ravens in general, but particularly lately since they've been so darn good at beating the Pats, even in Foxborough.

So, given the up-and-down nature of the game, I was grumpy during most of the game, too. But the Pats pulled out an "epic comeback", and I was much happier when the whistle blew. I'm looking forward to next week, and hopefully a date in February.

Some thoughts on that game:

• Amazing play with Edelman tossing to Amendola...brought back memories of the inventive Pats offense from a decade ago.
• I wish Brady would run for a TD every game...he gets fired up and everyone feeds off that.
• I can't believe Belicheck didn't even run the ball once or twice in those last two minutes. I've never understood the whole, "only two minutes left, we have four downs, we can take four knees" game plan, and with one TO left, Harbaugh proved to them why it's not always a given, especially in the playoffs. A head coach HAS to know that the other team still has a way to stop the clock, and at least attempt to retain possession of the ball. I'm glad it ended well; if the birds had scored on that Hail Mary, it would have been the biggest stomach punch game of all time.

Some thoughts on remaining games:

• I don't think Romo has a chance in Lambaugh unless DeMarco Murray runs for 200 yards.
• Sure, as one of Simmons' readers pointed out, Rodgers only has one playoff win (against Joe Webb) outside of his Super-Bowl winning year. But let's be honest; you can pin a lot of those losses on McCarthy. With a coach who knew how to manage the clock, Rodgers would probably have won two Super Bowls right now.
• I think Indianapolis loses today, for the final Brady-Manning showdown (I think Manning retires after this year). And Peyton will throw at least two picks in Foxborough.
• I am totally scared of Seattle. But, like the Packers, what is scary about them is how good they are even with a tool as a coach (H/T to my bro). But I think this season will reflect Green Bay's '98 season: a consecutive trip to the Super Bowl, but this time with a loss. Then Russel will spend the rest of his career trying to get back to the big game.