We have decided to go with the 49ers, the first team in nearly 30 years to be a road favorite! There has to be a reason for that. Let’s break down why we think that San Francisco will face the Patriots in the Super Bowl…
The ‘new breed’ of quarterback in 2012 has made for some exciting football although for the Falcons, they have created havoc. This season alone they split the season series with the Panthers and Cam Newton, and came within a hair of defeat against Russell Wilson. Cam Newton’s Panthers rolled up almost 900 yards of total offense in their two games vs the Falcons while the elusive QB rushed for over 200 yards and two TD’s vs them. He also passed for a combined total of 502 yards and 4 TD’s. Similarly, Wilson passed for 385 yards and two scores while rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown.
RGIII, Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson are part of the new breed of QB that has given the Falcons fits at times. Photo: nfl.com
What stands out even more than these quarterback’s abilities to dominate Atlanta, is the implosion of the team in the second half of last week’s game. Up by 20 at the half, when it became 27-14, the Falcons went three and out, three and out, and four and out. Of course that was followed by the two passes against Seattle’s prevent-defense and the Bryant field goal to miraculously end the game, but that kind of collapse exposed the Falcons to some extent. With Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore and upstart WR Michael Crabtree to deal with, another collapse like that and it might result in a much different outcome.
And the 49ers have another weapon in veteran TE Vernon Davis. Atlanta could not contain Seahawk’s TE Zach Miller last week who burned them for 8 receptions good for 142 yards and a touchdown.
#85 TE Vernon Davis, who didn’t have one of his best seasons, always shines in big games. Photo: cbcsports.com
Although listed as questionable, Defensive End, and staunch pass rusher John Abraham will play on Sunday but it’s not clear for how long or just how effective he will be. He is 13th in the NFL with 122 career sacks, however he hasn’t had one since November 29th in the game vs New Orleans. Abraham only played in 15 snaps last week and was limited in practices this week but his presence will be a huge lift to the home team if he plays well. Not nearly being at full strength will just make things easier for Kaepernick.
We’re going with the 49ers in this one, who came ‘this close’ to winning the NFC Championship game last year, and look forward to a “shoot ’em up” exciting game this Sunday, followed by an appearance in New Orleans in the Super Bowl.
FANTASY FURNACE 
Uh, RGIII didn’t beat the Falcons and Cam Newton only beat them once. Sorry, but Wilson, Newton and Griffin are a combined 1-3 against Atlanta.
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Absolutely correct Sean. It has since been amended. Thanks!
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I’m going with the 49ers again as well. Hope my luck doesn’t run out. :)
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Good luck to both of us Shannon!! ;)
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New breed of quarterback ? Or more to do wit the fact that the quality of the coaching in the NFL has been average at best amongst a number of the coaches that many thought were good ?
The NFC championship game could prove to be very good , if both quarterbacks , are anywhere close to their regular season form . But the overall edge will go with the Niners, as they are the more balanced team !
Tophatal ……..
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No, new breed of QB. When was the last time the NFL had a RGIII, Russell Martin, Colin Kaepernick,Cam Newton, and Andrew Luck all at the same time? What do they have to do with ‘average’ coaches in the NFL?
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Superlatives merely being used because the coaches and <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/byteam?g defenses have simply been awful . There was a reason behind ” Black Monday” in the NFL ! The league had the talent there , the issue was the fact that the players didn’t show the maturity level seen by the aforementioned players .
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Part of the reason for these players’ success is also because of NFL rule changes that protect the QB way too much as he is the main reason that the fans come out in the first place. The league will have to look into amending existing rules now that the read-option play is becoming commonplace.
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The talent was there , the fact was it did not all materialize simultaneously . Bad defenses can make even the most average of quarterbacks look good .
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So in other words the coaches are not intelligent enough to adapt with regard to those rule changes ?
Pis#ed off at the Patriots with their lackluster second half display against the Ravens !
Tophatal …………..
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In some cases they are & in some cases they’re not.
Very un-Patriot like to fold and collapse like they did in the second half. They did not come prepared to play-very unusual for a Belichick coached team..
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I’ve always maintained that while Belichick tinkers with the defense , rather than allowing Matt Patrica to do his job the defense of the Patriots will be as ” soft” as a baby’s @ss ! Brady won’t be getting any of that Brazilian luvin’ when he arrives home because Gisele Bundchen will be breast feeding the baby instead !
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Their ‘D’, or lack thereof, has been that way for eons and they still (Brady/Belichick) have 3 rings between them..Not sure about Patrica doing his job or not because they just don’t have the talent on defense. Period.
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How is it that these two high seeded teams not go into the second half both games and not put up points on the board ? Never mind the woefully inept performance of the Pats’ defense .
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There’s definitely something wrong when the Pats can’t put up points on the board in the second half a postseason championship game .
And the same thing was applicable with the Falcons .
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Some of the blame has to fall on crybaby Belichick. He gets credit when the Pats win …why can’t he take some of the heat when they not only lose, but they fail to even show up to play!?!
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I concur with that, wholeheartedly ! Far too often Belichick behaves like an imbecilic and petulant child . His lack of sportsmanship and disdain for others (a victorious opponent) when having lost , is one of the main factors that the franchise is so disliked . It has never been the players , but more so to do with Bill Belichick’s demeanor . Even when he breaks a smile , he still looks if someone stole something from him . I consider him to be a damn good coach , but a pi#s poor human being ! And that’s me speaking as a diehard Patriots’ fan !
Tophatal ……….
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If at all interested let me know what you think ? Merely click unto the link shown to view .
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/todays-athlete-well-worth-the-hype-or-simply-a-sham/
Tophatal ……………
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Read the piece. Clicked ‘Liked” but it didn’t go through. And had no place to leave a comment… so I did not watch the ‘tell all’ spot that Oprah gave to Lance because it felt t like it was going to be the same diatribe we heard when LeBron took an hour to tell us he was going to take his talents to South Beach.
If I lie & cheat there are consequences…not $4 million paydays!
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The money paid to LeBron by ESPN , he actually donated in full to the Boys & Girls Club of America . Now the question one should be asking is how much money did he accept as a player in high at St Mary’s of Akron , Ohio . I don’t know of that many teenagers who were rolling around in a $70,000 in a ” souped up ” SUV prior to declaring their eligibility for the 2003 NBA Draft . How about you ? Yet somehow this was all overlooked by David Stern and the NBA hierarchy ? Stern is a goddamn hypocrite !
Tophatal
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