Pyle of List

Every Monday, our very own DLamp will be taking a look at what just happened the day before in the NFL, and looking ahead to the Monday night game(s).

Championship Sunday is often described as the best weekend of football of the year. Well, in light of that, I have a confession to make…

I didn’t watch the games yesterday.

STOP THROWING TOMATOES! To be fair, I saw parts of both games. But with family in town for a family wedding, there were too many brunches and drives to the airport for me to just sit back and watch all the games.

And it killed me.

The worst was the back and forth shoot-out that ended up going to overtime. I was teaching a class and one of my students kept getting text updates. With each one I got madder and madder. What was I thinking scheduling first class for this weekend. What a fool I was.

But it’s okay though, I still have the Super Bowl. Right? I mean, that’s still a good day to watch football, right? I didn’t miss the perfect day of football for this season, right?

*softly weeps onto keyboard*

Could Favre’s season have ended any more perfectly?

Not for me, and all the other Favre haters out there. Watching him throw back against his body to get picked, to take away their shot at a game winning field goal was like a dream. Just last week the announcers were gushing how Favre loves to do something that is a big no-no in being a pro QB. And to watch (or read about later, as the case may be) this guy that thinks he is above every rule of thumb get put in the dunce cap, I loved it. Sure, now he gets to play his wishy washy game again, but who cares. He didn’t win! All that praise, and all that attention and he still didn’t get to the Super Bowl.

How can you not root for the Saints?

I get it if you’re a die hard Indy fan. You have to root for the Colts. But every other person out there should be rooting for the Saints in two weeks. Why? Because it will be amazing. To watch a team that’s never won it finally win it. To watch Drew Brees, who no one was sure could still throw after his shoulder surgery, achieve the ultimate goal. To watch Kim Kardashian jump up and down with glee. Oh, and something something Hurricane Katrina.

Should we all be scared of the Jets next year?

No. Two main reasons: One, Thomas Jones is probably gone. Yes, Shonn Greene looked better in the playoffs, but who carried them there during the regular season? Jones. In this day, in the NFL, you need 2 good backs (or one great one). Shonn Greene isn’t great, and if they let Jones walk their rushing attack will truly suffer. Two, they aren’t going to surprise anyone next year. This year, they kind of snuck up on people. They snuck into the playoffs when no one was looking, and then when everyone wrote them off because of their rookie QB, they got to play all loosey goosey. Next year, people will be gearing up for them. I think it will be a similar story as we saw with the Falcons this season.

Who is the early favorite for Super Bowl MVP?

I think it’s Brees. One, I think the Saints are going to win. Two, unless someone makes a truly spectacular play (see: Holmes, Santonio) it goes to the QB. Although, my sleeper pick is Pierre Thomas. He looked good against a good Vikings run defense yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a lot of work come Super Bowl Sunday.

How good has Manning been in the playoffs?

Almost too good. He’s completely silenced any and all critics who said Chris Johnson should have gotten the MVP. He’s looked unbeatable. Even robotic at times. Listening to Rex Ryan’s press conference after the game, you could hear how good Manning was in Ryan’s voice. Pey-pey had reduced this coach full of bravado to a mumbling mess. It was like Ryan had just seen some mythical creature come to life. And he had. We’re watching greatness each week with this guy. And I’m the idiot picking against him in the Super Bowl…

Fantasy Question of the Week

Will all these fumbles cause Adrian Peterson to fall in your drafts next year?

Possibly. You could be sitting there at #2 and have him “fall” to you (Chris Johnson going #1 overall). But I don’t think he falls anywhere past that. UNLESS, Chilly comes out at some point before the season and says that Chester Taylor is going to be a lot more involved in the offense. But I don’t see that happening. I think Childress, and everyone else in Minnesota, knows they have a very special player in Peterson. I also expect him to recognize the problem and put a lot of work into fixing it over the offseason.

Monday Night Playoff Sneak (Preview) Attack

Ind vs. NO - It’s just too story book. As good as Manning has been (and he has been great) I just can’t pick against the feel good story of New Orleans winning. Pick: Saints

Playoff Prediction Record: 5-5