The playoffs are where real men are made and skirts are pulled.  The great majority of teams are making staffing changes and trying to figure out ways to tell veteran players to hang up their cleats.  Here's a recap of this weeks action and a preview of next week's games.

Seattle Seahawks 35, Washington Redskins 14

Some friends just have hate boiling in their blood.  Here you have a feel good story with 36 year old Todd Collins leading the Skins into the playoffs after the injury to Jason Campbell.  Collins is a guy who has had a hard time maintaining a backup QB spot on most people's rosters, in what is probably considered his last whimper. (definitely not a hoorah)  So we should all cheer for him no?

My phone rings Saturday before the Skins game and its Blickees writer Jermaine Gibson on the other line:

JG: You know this Todd Collins BS has to end at some point.  He can't continue.  Its got to stop.

Me: Man, you never know, maybe he can put together a couple of good games, he's a veteran, gets rid of the ball quickly. 

JG: Common dude, the guy has never been a starter for a reason, are you trying to tell me people have been overlooking this guy for over 10 years.

Me: No, I'm just saying the guy looks good and he's a veteran.

Needless to say, he was right.  I personally knew it had to come to an end, but it doesn't hurt to cheer for the old guy every once in a while does it?  Now we've got to watch the Seahawks, and Bobby Engram for another week?  Not my idea of entertaining football.

With the Skins season over, they've got to be thinking about what changes to make for next season.  Alot of it will depend on Jason Campbell and whether he can get healthy and continue to improve.  However, even if that happens, the Skins are old on both sides of the ball and getting some young talent in needs to be a top priority.

Jacksonville Jaguars 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 29

In the first half, Ben Roethlisberger did everything to lose the game and in the second half, "Mr. Game Manager" himself David Garrard tried to one up Roethlisberger by giving the game right back.  Garrard almost matched his interception total for the year in this game but the lesson to be learned is one already known around the league: if the Jags can't run the ball and Garrard has the win the game for them, the Jags might be in trouble. 

The Jags get the first shot at the Patriots which will be the game to watch for me next week as I think the Jags, Chargers and Colts all have a good shot to destroy the evil empire.  The Patriots' defense has been mighty suspect the last couple of weeks and I'm hoping the Jags can get a good ball control scheme going against the juggernaut Pats offense.  We can always hope.  Either way, the Pats get two tough games to make it to the Super Bowl.  Is it wrong to either hope they lose or are so beat up coming out of the AFC that they lose in the Super Bowl?  If its wrong, I don't wanna be right.

New York Giants 24, Tampa Bay Buccanears 14

Everyone picked the Bucs to win this game, primarily because no one believes in Eli Manning.  From the look on his face 90% of the time, Eli doesn't look like he believes in himself.  However, when you consider the alternative in this game, Mr. Jeff Garcia the blue collar quarterback, Eli might not have been such a bad pick.  With Garcia's paper thin arm, the Giants pressured him and dared him to throw deep all day.  The result was a long day and thousands of bumps, bruises, scrapes, and contusions for Garcia and a Bucs loss.

We may need to retire the genius coach label soon.  Gruden since his Super Bowl in Tampa Bay with Tony Dungy's players, hasn't been able to develop a quarterback since he's been there.  In addition, there is not a prospective answer on the Bucs roster.  He's drafted players who can't play and who he hasn't been able to teach to play and now he's stuck with a roster full of stopgap veterans at the QB and WR positions.  (When Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway are starting for you, you're really in bad shape at the receiver position) Sounds very similar to Brian Billick's situation. 

Next year there will be two easy ways to evaluate your teams quarterback situation:

1) If Vinny Testaverde starts any games for your team, your quarterback depth chart is in the toilet.  Not only do you not have a quality starter who can stay healthy, but you don't have any young talent for the future.

2) If Jeff Garcia starts any games for your team, your quarterback depth chart is in the toilet.  Not only do you not have a quality starter who can stay healthy, you don't have any young talent that will be decent in the forseeable future. 

Every good team should have a great quarterback, or a good quarterback and a quarterback of the future.  If Vinny or Jeff are playing on your team, you need to re-evaluate your situation.

San Diego Chargers 17, Tennessee Titans 6

Phillip Rivers, who's play has been the question mark for the Chargers all season, played great and found his weapons.  (Chambers 6 rec. 121 yds, Jackson 5 rec. 114 yrds)  Unfortunately Gates went down and for how long is still up in the air.  Without Gates, the Chargers lose a huge part of their offense and any shot at doing anything special this postseason.

Meanwhile, Tennessee is second guessing the whole Vince Young thing.  Although they made the playoffs, if you really examine Vince Young's contribution, you'd be hard pressed to argue that he did anything other than put a bigger burden on the defense and the running game.  His passing numbers are terrible and he didn't really make a dent on the ground.  Sophomore slump or Madden curse?  I know the Titans are praying that its one of the two, because the alternative doesn't look so hot for a Titans franchise with Kerry Collins as the backup.

Next Week Matchups:

Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

I like the Jags.  They were my squad on Madden for a long period of time.  However, the reasons I stopped playing with them are the same reasons I can't pick them to win this game.

1) Lack of depth in th secondary

Do you really want to have this issue against a Pats offense with Welker in the slot and Gaffney as a decent 4th option with game winning catches in two games already this year?  Not to mention Ben Watson is still there to worry about.  The Jags also sport a huge hole at Strong Safety.  (When your starting SS has 80 speed on Madden, he's one of the first to go in the offseason)

2) Can Garrard win games for you

Its tough to stop the Jags ground game, but if you are able to slow it down and force Garrard to pass, the Jags are not at their best.  If the Jags have to come from behind or if you load up the box and have solid cover corners, you've got a great shot to win.

3) No go to receiver

They got guys who can make plays, but none of their wideouts are dominant or dependable.  You're left with a bunch of lost potential and an occasional big game here and there.  Crucial drops hurt, trust me I know.

Patriots 31, Jaguars 21

San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts

The last time these teams met, Antonio Cromartie narrowly escaped a fine and a suspension for using "Stick Um."   He picked Peyton Manning 3 times in the first half and had one of the most memorable interceptions in league history.  (the one handed go-go Gadget arm interception)  The Colts offense was decimated with multiple injuries along the offensive line and in the receiving corps,  (Craphonso Thorpe sighting. Florida State Product!)  yet the only reason they lost was because the greatest clutch kicker in NFL history missed a gimme game winner.

Fast forward to the present and the Colts are relatively healthy, Bob Sanders just won defensive player of the year and Dungy has finally whipped the Colts' D into one of the best in the league.
Smells like a blowout to me.

Colts 34, Chargers 14

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are primed for an upset.  TO is questionable with a high ankle sprain.  Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett is one of the hottest names in head coaching searches and has to daydream just a little more often now about running his own ship.  More importantly, when is this Tony Romo thing gonna end?  This year he's shown us how good he can be, but we've also seen how terrible he can be at the drop of a hat.  He's proven he'll turn it over and I'm sure his botched snap in his last playoff appearance has not been completely erased from his memory.  With the rush the Giants are able to generate, this could be interesting.

It looks like TO even if he plays is not going to be 100%.  Although this weighs in the Giants favor, TO had a huge game against the Patriots a couple of years back coming off a broken leg.  He's older now, so hopefully the ankle sprain limits him to decoy duty.

Just last week, I was asking a friend of mine who loves the Giants did he really have faith in Eli.  This week, I think the Giants may be able to win this.  Eli has played well the last couple of weeks, but with that sheepish look in recent 4th quarters, the only reason I can rely on to validate what I'm about to do is Eli's pedigree.

I'm going with the pedigree one last time on this one.

Giants 27, Cowboys 21

 
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers

Ahh the memories.  The last time these teams met in the playoffs, we witnessed Matt Hasselback flush his teams hopes down the toilet by predicting victory after winning the toss in overtime.  This time I'm going with destiny. 

Packers 24, Seahawks 17.