What to Watch For: Chargers @ Steelers

Here's the second game of our playoff preview (here's the first):

Chargers @ Steelers

The Chargers scratched and clawed their way into the playoffs and squeaked into the playoffs at 8-8, on top of the AFC West. I think it's embarrasing that a .500 team made the playoffs, but they more than proved their worth by taking down mighty Peyton Manning and the Colts in the Wild Card Round. It took overtime for them to get the win, but if it wasn't for a sneaky touchdown by the Colts in the hurry-up, they would've taken it outright in regulation. Darren Sproles was the gambreaker that the Chargers needed without Tomlinson and made a big splash on the playoff scene last week.

The Steelers faced one of the toughest schedules in league and still came out as the #2 seed in the AFC. James Harrison took home the Defensive Player of the Year award and Troy Polamalu was exceptional all season. The defense in general was best in the league and carried them to where they are now. They have a huge home-field advantage because of the backyard swamp conditions of their field that only helps them play the game more to their style. Slow it down, grind it out.

Here's what I'll be watching for this playoff Sunday:

• How big of an impact will L.T. have on the game? Personally, I think the more he plays, the worse off the team is. L.T. is very hurt and with such a capable back-up in Sproles, there is no reason for Tomlinson to be wasting carries at 2 YPC. This Steelers D is not one that I would want to be playing hurt against. This is most likely going to be a dogfight and the Chargers can't afford to waste possessions with L.T. on the field.


• Antonio Gates needs to be effective for the Chargers to get down the field. If he's hobbled and useless, it'll give Polamalu free-reign to hawk all over the field and wreak havoc on Phillip Rivers and Sproles.


• Ben Roethlisberger is recovering from a "light" concussion and will that affect Big Ben this weekend? Concussions are very serious injuries that the NFL seems to be largely ignoring. The Chargers defense isn't exactly suffocating, but their are an accomplished, veteran defense that will capitalize if Roethlisberger falters and makes mistakes.


• For the Chargers to win, Sproles needs to carry the rock atleast 20 times and he needs to do it well, which is highly unlikely. The Steelers allow less than 80 YPG on the ground and I don't know if Sproles is big enough to handle the beating he is going to take. James Harrison might break Sproles in two if he catches the wrong way. But Sproles proved last week (and all season) that he is a gamebreaker and you know the Steelers do not want him in open space.


• I really can't stand Phillip Rivers. I understand that off the field he may be a personable and engaging gentleman. But on it, he seems like a douche. He's annoying and arrogant and I really don't like him. But he's talented and there's no disputing that. He's got to make some big plays for the Chargers to advance.

Prediction Time: Steelers 20, Chargers 13

I don't know that the Chargers can overcome all of their injuries to take down the powerful Steelers in this one. I think the Steelers are the most complete and playoff ready team in the NFL and it would take a healthy L.T. and Gates and Merriman for the Chargers to take it down. The only way the Chargers win this one is if they get a score defensively and Roethlisberger shits the bed. Which is possible. If I'm Mike Tomlin I give the Chargers a healthy dosage of Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore and take my win and move on.

The Forgotten Ones

In the NFL, there are the superstar athletes that get all the attention, and the ones that lead their teams to victory. But what about those athletes who do the little things that help those superstar athletes shine? How about all those punters and kickers that help head coaches play this game of field possession? A good punter is just as good as a quality quarterback. Without a punter, the game of possession would be impossible.

So who are these punters and kickers that no one really knows about?...

Brad Maynard- Chicago Bears

Maynard, punter for the Chicago Bears was the king of field possession this year. He averaged 41.2 yards per punt, but the number that stands out most: 40. Maynard had 40 punts that were downed inside the opponents 20 yard line.

Donnie Jones- St. Louis Rams

Jones had a lot on his plate this year. With the Rams going 3 and out many times this year, he had to punt the ball many times. His leg was important to the Rams, and he did not disappoint. He averaged over 50 yards a punt this year, which allowed the Rams to slow their opponents... just a little bit.

John Carney- New York Giants

Carney is a prime kicker in the league and has helped the giants to the number 1 seed in the NFC this year. He has only missed 3 field goals all year. He was filling in for the injured Lawrence Tynes, and did a great job doing so.

Mike Scifres- San Diego Chargers

After what Scifres did in the playoff game against the Colts on Saturday night, I put him as the best punter in the league at the time. With 6 punts all inside the 20, and all above 50 yards, it was ridiculous how he was pinning the Colts with bad field possession all night.

Other forgotten ones:

Matt McBriar- Dallas Cowboys

Shane Lechler- Oakland Raiders

Andy Lee- San Fransisco 49ers

Kris Brown- Houston Texans

Ryan Longwell-Minnesota Vikings

NFL Playoffs

How is the world did the Philadelphia Eagles make the playoffs? How in the world did the Miami Dolphins win the AFC East? How in the world did the Denver Broncos lose a 3 game lead with 3 games left over the San Diego Chargers AND LOSE THE DIVISION!?

The wacky world of the NFL had some crazy playoff scenarios for week 17, and some how, some way, they all came true for the team that was not supposed to win!

Let me start by expressing my frustration being a Chicago Bears fan. With a win in week 17 and a loss by the Minnesota Vikings, the Bears would have won the NFC North. However, they could not take care of business. Kyle Orton is a great quarterback for the Bears, however, that defense did not live up to expectations this year. I am blaming that loss to the Houston Texans on the defense. However, I hope the Vikings lose next week to a deadly Eagles team who can make a run in the playoffs.

Speaking about the Eagles, I give them a lot of credit for what they accomplished this season. Ever since Donovan McNabb claimed to never know there were ties in the NFL, and being benched as been on a tear. And with a tiny tiny bit of help, BAM! they are in the playoffs after thrashing the Dallas Cowboys, who were supposed to be the beasts of the NFL this season, and did not live up to hype (Stay tuned to another episode of a Cowboys soap opera coming soon).

Now the Miami Dolphins. Once 1-15 just a year ago, Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano have changed that program around and have tied for the biggest turnaround in NFL history winning 10 games more than the previous year (+10). Last Season, they were not a bad team, they were a team that were in need of a coach, and good management. With Parcells calling the shots in the organization, and Sparano on the sidelines, they were able to make that historic turnaround, and win the AFC East after 8 years.

I don't even know where to begin with the AFC West. How does a team with 3 games left and a 3 game lead blow their season? I think only the Denver Broncos can answer that. Now i know when i am writing this the game is not over (there is currently 9 minutes left and the Chargers are winning 44-21). But how does a team let that happen? The Chargers were helping the Broncos win the division by loosing their games, but not when it matters. I'm going to go out of my way and say the Chargers are going to win the division, but i don't see them getting passed the Colts next week.

My Superbowl Prediction:

Colts over the Giants: 31-24