Super Bowl 49 Preview!

The day has finally arrived. The long wait is finally over the big game is finally here. University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona is the place. The participants are the NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks taking on the AFC CHampion New England Patriots. Kickoff for this football game is scheduled for 4:30pm (6:30PM EST). This will be the second Super Bowl played in that stadium (42), and the third one held in the Phoenix metropolitan area (XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe).

The New England Patriots are no strangers to playing in the Super Bowl in this building. They played here back in Superbowl 42 in a 17-14 loss to the New York Giants, the Loss that ended their bid for a perfect season. This marks the 8th Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots in franchise history, having gone 3-4 in the previous 7 games. In franchise history, the Patriots hold a record of 27-18. New England got off to a slow start during the regular season, but managed to right the ship to claim the AFC East crown and head into the playoffs on a hot streak. New England ended up finishing the season with a 12–4 record and the number one seed in the AFC. They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring (468 points) and eighth in points allowed (313), and had the largest point differential in the NFL (with an average margin of victory of 9.7 points). The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the AFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 in the AFC Championship Game. With their appearance in this Super Bowl, the Patriots join the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers as one of the three teams that collectively share the record for most all-time Super Bowl appearances, as each has appeared in eight separate Super Bowls to date.

Seattle is making the big game for the 2nd year in a row, becoming the first team to do that since the New England Patriots did it in 2004 and 2005. Before last year, Seattle had made one other appearance in the big game, that coming back in Superbowl 40 in 2--5, a loss to the Steelers. Seattle has a lifetime record of 14-12. As far as this season goes Seattle, much like New England, got off to a rocky start. However, they went on from there to win nine of their final 10 regular season games, preventing their opponents from scoring any touchdowns in five of them. By the time they finished with a 12–4 record and entered the playoffs, they had earned the number one seed, and not allowed any touchdowns in the previous 10 quarters. Their defense ranked first in the NFL in fewest points allowed (254) and their offense was tied at first in rushing yards (2,762). The Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers 31–17 in the NFC Divisional playoffs, and then defeated the Green Bay Packers 28–22 in the NFC Championship Game. Pete Carroll will be the fourth head coach to face his former team: Weeb Ewbank defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, Dan Reeves lost to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII and Jon Gruden defeated the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. Pete Carroll coached the Patriots from 1997 to 1999, and he was succeeded by Bill Belichick.

For the second season in a row, and only the third time in 21 seasons, the number one seed from each conference will meet in the league championship game. This also marks the first ever playoff meeting between Seattle and New England. This is going to be a very physical football game. Both teams come in with the exact same regular season record, although New England had a slightly higher scoring offense. Its going to come down to two things, the run game and the defense. From an offensive perspective, sure New England has the better passing attack. That's no knock on Russel Wilson as a passer but not only is Tom brady a better passer, but he has better weapons to throw to. Sure Doug Baldwin and Jermain Kearse are good wide outs, but I just feel that Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola are slightly better. This is where the defense will really come into play. The Legion of Boom, lets face facts, are a better defense than that of New England. They were able to contain Green Bay in the NFC title game, allowing the offense to get back into the game and help Seattle pull it out. Besides, knowing how well Seattle studies tapes. They are in all likelyhood going to do what Baltimore did in the divisional round. Make life miserable for Brady. I know the Patriots won that game, but Seattle has enough talent to do somethign the Ravens couldn't and that's finish the game off when they have a chance.

The Patriots held the Colts to 83 rushing yards, but face a more daunting task against Marshawn Lynch. Lynch finished the league as the best rusher in the entire league, finishing with 1,306 rush yards on the year. Sure New England has a good running game with LeGarrette Blount. Blount provided a spark by gaining 281 yards and averaging 4.7 per carry in five regular-season games after being cut by Pittsburgh. Now throw in the fact that he rushed for 148 yards and three TDs against the Colts. Those are some stellar numbers. As good as Blunt has been, he's facing the best defense in the league. Seattle hasn't yielded more than 73 yards to any rusher since Kansas City's Jamaal Charles had 159 on Nov. 16 in its most recent defeat. Also if you noticed, the last two Patriots loss in the Super Bowl, both of which were against the New York Giants, they lost to the top defense in the entire league.

Here's how I see this game going down. The Seahawks' defense overwhelms the Patriots' offense with its collective speed, physicality and athleticism. The "Legion of Boom" is going to bully Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola while also putting a blanket around Rob Gronkowski to force Tom Brady into a miserable day. The offense does what is has to do and takes the title.

The Pick: Seattle Seahawks

NHL First Half Recap

We have hit the halfway point of the National Hockey League season. Every season always brings about new surprises, either a player comes out of nowhere to have an outstanding season, or a team will do the very same thing. Most fans like to make predictions at the start of the year, but with the way this season as gone to this point, some things have taken place in the league that nobody really saw coming. So lets not waste any more time and take a look back at what's gone down so far in the first half of the NHL season.

This is what the standings look like heading into the 2nd half of the year:
Atlantic Division 
Tampa Bay Lightning 30-14-4; 64 pts
Detroit Red Wings 27-11-9; 63 pts
Montreal Canadiens 29-13-3; 61 pts
Boston Bruins 25-16-7; 57 pts
Florida Panthers 20-14-10; 50 pts
Toronto Maple Leafs 22-23-3; 47 pts
Ottawa Senators 19-18-9; 47 pts
Buffalo Sabres 14-30-3; 31 pts

Metropolitan Division 
New York Islanders 31-14-1; 63 pts
Pittsburgh Penguins 26-12-8; 60 pts
New York Rangers 27-13-4; 58 pts
Washington Capitals 24-13-9; 57 pts
Philadelphia Flyers 19-22-7; 45 pts
Columbus Blue Jackets 20-22-3; 43 pts
New Jersey Devils 17-22-8; 42 pts
Carolina Hurricanes 16-25-5; 37 pts

Western Conference
Central Division 
Nashville Predators 30-10-5; 65 pts
Chicago Blackhawks 30-15-2; 62 pts
St. Louis Blues 29-13-4; 62 pts
Winnipeg Jets 26-14-8; 60 pts
Colorado Avalanche 20-18-10; 50 pts
Dallas Stars 21-18-7; 49 pts
Minnesota Wild 20-20-6; 46 pts

Pacific Division 
Anaheim Ducks 31-10-6; 68 pts
San Jose Sharks 25-17-6; 56 pts
Vancouver Canucks 26-16-3; 55 pts
Calgary Flames 25-19-3; 53 pts
Los Angeles Kings 20-15-12; 52 pts
Arizona Coyotes 16-25-5; 37 pts
Edmonton Oilers 12-26-9; 33 pts

So there are some new faces at the top of the boards by the all-star break. Not too many people had the New York Islanders pegged as a top team in the East this year, but there they are. With the outstanding goaltending of Jaroslav Halak and the balanced scoring attack, the Islanders have managed to find their way to the top of the chart in the Metro division. They are gonna feel the effects of not having Kyle Okposo, who is now going to be out 6-8 weeks with an upper body injury, which hurts the Islanders. He has been really clicking with star center John Tavares. Now without Kyle in the lineup, the Islanders are going to have to make due with what they have. They have a deep lineup with guys scoring like Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson. then you add in Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy being productive from the back end and it makes a lesson in success.

Another team that's been a surprise leader of a pack has got to be the Nashville Predators. After years of being known as a defense-first team under coach Barry Trotz, the Nashville Predators shifted gears in hope of finding more offense. In the offseason general manager David Poile traded for forward James Neal, signed free agents Olli Jokinen and Mike Ribeiro, and hired offensive-minded coach Peter Laviolette. The moves have worked. The Predators are on pace for 242 goals, which would be the third-most Nashville has scored, behind the 272 they scored in 2006-07 and 259 in 2005-06. Rookie Filip Forsberg leads the Predators in goals (14) and points (38), and Ribeiro has had a huge bounce-back season with 36 points in 41 games. But the defensive roots put in place by Trotz remain strong. Goaltender Pekka Rinne, finally healthy after missing most of last season with hip issues, leads the League with 28 wins and is in the top five in goals-against average (1.98) and save percentage (.930). Just getting Rinne healthy likely would have improved the Predators this season. But in the ultra-tough Western Conference, Nashville has moved to the front of the pack.

Then we also have a couple of surprise teams as well in the form of the Panthers and Jets. Florida has made the playoffs once in the last 13 seasons. This year they been in and out of a playoff spot for most of the first half of the season. The Panthers have climbed the standings in part because of strong play in close games. Of Florida's 39 games, 26 have been decided by one goal, and the Panthers are 14-3-9 in those games. There is also the factor of Roberto Luongo back in the Florida nets. The Panthers are allowing 2.51 goals per game this season after allowing 3.20 last season. And a young core has started to gel, led by third-year center Nick Bjugstad, who leads the Panthers with 15 goals and 24 points, and rookie defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has 23 points. And then there's the Winnipeg Jets. They are holding down the top wild card spot out West right now and are buying into the system put in place by head coach Paul Maurice. One of the big reasons that the Jets are able to sustain this attack is that offense. Offensively, Winnipeg has scored by committee, with seven players have at least 20 points. Jets captain Andrew Ladd leads the way with 34 points and 15 goals.

Sticking with the theme of offense, there are individual players who have plenty of offensive talent. There are number of familiar names at the top of the NHL scoring race, from the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to the Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf and the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane. But with more points than all of them is Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek. In his first five NHL seasons Voracek cracked 50 points once; last season he set a career high with 62. But this season he has 50 points in 42 games, putting him on pace for 97. Voracek could become the first player in Flyers history to win the Art Ross Trophy (in 1994-95 the Flyers' Eric Lindros tied Jaromir Jagr for the League scoring lead, but Jagr had more goals for the tiebreaker).

As you can see there a lot that has gone on. Now lets hand out some hardware. Here now are our midseason awards.

Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year):
Peter Laviolette, Nashville Predators
I would give stronger consideration to Jack Capuano of the Islanders, but I give the edge to Laviolette here. Nashville is the best team in the entire league. He has had move a positive impact on his team than any other coach in the league. Nashville has had a turnaround of sorts this season and the coach has been a big reason

Norris Trophy (Top Defenseman):
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
A strong candidate for this award could go to Shea Weber of Nashville, but I give the edge to Giordano of Calgary. Calgary has gotten off to a great start this season (although they have faded a little bit as of late) and one of the big reasons is this guy. Giordano is second among defensemen in scoring with 35 points, one off the lead (which is 36 by Kevin Shattenkirk of the Blues). If the Flames continue to fade, that might hurt his candidacy. But he’s on pace for 20 goals and 70 points, and he doesn’t have as strong a team around him as other candidates do. There has been a lot of stock thrown into the offensive defenseman for this award, which is a little disappointing since this is supposed to be the best Defenseman award. Still Giordano has been a solid blueliner that has helped out Calgary's goaltending.

Vezina Trophy (Top Goalie):
Pekka Rinne Nashville Predators
This one is almost a bit of a run away vote here. Rinne gets the nod because he has been the best goaltender in the NHL. He leads the league in wins (27), goals-against average (2.00) and save percentage (.929) among netminders who have played at least 18 games. Consider that Rinne has stopped the highest percentage of shots while facing the third-most shots (995). In other words, he has been the best and had almost the biggest sample size. Rinne has had quite a bit of work in the Music City, being a big reason why the Predators have one of the best records in the Western Conference/

Hart Trophy (League MVP):
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
There are two other names that can come into mind here, Pekka Rinne of Nashville and Claude Giroux of the Flyers. Rinne is a key reason the Preds are near the top in the west. Even though the Flyers are near the bottom of the standings, Giroux has been one of the top performers in the entire league. But Getzlaf has an advantage. He may not be the leading scorer in the entire league but he the leading scorer on the best team in the league in the Ducks. He has a 16 point lead over the next best scorer in Anaheim. Getzlaf been the best overall player this season.

So that's just some of what has gone down the first half of the 2014-15 NHL Season!

Deflated Footballs. Did It Really Help?

The New England Patriots have become a team that is used to scandal. Back in 2007, the Patriots were punished for videotaping sideline signals used by the New York Jets during a game. Belichick was fined $500,000, and the team was docked $250,000 and stripped of its 2008 first-round draft pick. So this is something the Patriots have faced in the past. Now the team is involved in what has become none as “Deflate-gate.” The NFL is probing whether the Patriots deflated footballs that were used in their AFC championship game victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

This was reported Sunday night after the Colts-Patriots tilt in the AFC title game. An interception by Indianapolis Colts linebacker D'Qwell Jackson is what initially led to an NFL investigation into whether the New England Patriots intentionally deflated footballs. After Jackson made the pick, which came in the second quarter, he gave the ball to a member of the Colts' equipment staff, who noticed it was not fully inflated and informed Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano. Colts general manager Ryan Grigson was alerted about the ball in the Gillette Stadium press box. Grigson contacted NFL director of football operations Mike Kensil, who then told game officials during halftime (ESPN).

At the time the Patriots had a 17-7 lead, en route to 45-7 crushing win over the Colts. NFL rules stipulate that footballs must be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces. Former NFL official Jim Daopoulos, in an interview with ESPN on Monday morning, explained the process in which footballs are managed. Two hours and 15 minutes before each game, officials inspect 12 footballs from each team and put a mark on them to indicate they meet the proper requirements and are good for usage. Then those footballs are given to the ball attendant. There also is a second set of six footballs, used specifically for the kicking game, that are marked appropriately and remain in the possession of officials at all times.

Now come on here this is a little bit ridiculous. Look it was a rainy day, the ball was wet and hard to grip. It was tough for both teams to grip the ball. But it was Indy that was complaining about it. If it was under inflated for New England, it should have been the same way for the Colts as well.

Tom Brady even said in an interview in 2001 on a radio station in Boston that he doesn't mind playing with a slightly deflated football, so it was known going in that Brady is comfortable with those type of footballs. Here's what stick out to me. Indy just seems to be complaining about it after they were blown out in the title game. I mean come on really? If the Colts had played better, even going on to win for that matter, then you wouldn't have heard a word about it. I could be wrong here but I just think Indy is complaining because they were blown out. Just shut up take your loss and move along.

Is it wrong that the balls were deflated? Yes it is. The league has rules and standards. I understand that the Colts wanted this to be a fair game, which is totally understandable. But lets face facts, Indianapolis was outplayed in this football game and it wouldn't really have mattered they were still going to get beat. Even if its proven that the Patriots deflated the footballs, the Colts still lost the game. What good is it going to do now. It should have been brought up to the game officials during the game, not afterwards.

Championship Weekend Set To Go!

It's finally that time. After an over four month battle, we now have four teams left standing. Two teams will move on to the Super Bowl, while two others will head home with heads a little low. Green Bay, Seattle, New England and Indianapolis are all that's left standing. By the time we are through this Sunday, the big dance will have its participants. Enough wasting time, lets get right into it. Here's a look at the two games being played Championship Weekend.

First up Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 3:05PM, the NFC North Champion Green Bay Packers head out to CenturyLink Field in Seattle to take on the NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle got here after having a opening round bye, then dispatching the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round. Seattle is hosting the conference title game for the 2nd year in a row and the 4th time ever. A victory would put them back to the Super Bowl for the 2nd year in a row. Seattle looks to become the first team in a decade to win back to back Super Bowls, as New England was the last to do it in 2004 and 2005.

Green Bay got here after having a first round bye, then following it up by dispatching the Dallas Cowboys in a nail bitter in the divisional round. This marks the 3rd appearance for the Packers in the conference championships since 2000, and the first since their title win in 2010. This marks the 3rd ever meeting between the two teams in the playoffs, with Green Bay having taken the first two (in 2003 and 2007).

This is going to be a fun football game to watch. Seattle opened the season with a home rout of Green Bay, blasting the Packers 36-16 on opening day. Now, four months later, its the Packers who stand in Seattle's way of reaching their 2nd straight Super Bowl. Seattle has won eight straight playoff games at home, a big advantage of that coming from their 12th man. This will be a more competitive rematch with a lot more at stake. Both run defenses are going to have a tough task ahead of them. Marshawn Lynch and Eddie Lacy are both coming in having rushed for over 1,000 yards on the year (Lynch finished with 1,306 yards and Lacy racked up 1,139). Seattle may get the edge here, because their run defense has been just that good this season. As for the passing game, even though he is playing hurt, Aaron Rogers has had a better year than Russell Wilson throwing the ball. Seattle proved last week that they do have a pass game, but it pails in comparison to that of Green Bay. Sure Green Bay has Jordy Nelson and Randel Cobb catching passes, but lets not forget about Davante Adams, who had 117 on seven catches last week against Dallas.

But as good as the Packers have been this year, and they have been an outstanding football team, they are a different animal on. Rogers isn't 100% healthy like he was in week one. Even though he was banged up last week, he managed to pull out the win against Dallas. Hate to break it to everybody but the Seattle defense is better than that of Dallas. Plus the Packers really have only Eddie Lacy out the backfield, while Lynch and Wilson can easily run the ball for Seattle. Green Bay has also struggled on the road this year, going 4-4 on the road, as compared to being a perfect 8-0 at home. Seattle has the run game that could do what Dallas did a week ago and stick it to the Green Bay defense. Rogers will keep this one close, but in the end its going to be too much Beast Mode

The Pick: Seattle Seahawks

Last but not least, with kickoff scheduled for 6:40PM, its the AFC South Champion Indianapolis Colts heading to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro to take on the AFC East Champion New England Patriots.

Indianapolis got here after a 26-10 win over the Bengals in the Wild Card game, then followed it up with a huge 24-13 win on the road in Denver over the Broncos. This marks the 4th trip to the conference title game since 2000, and the 8th time in franchise history. Indy is hoping to get by New England and make it to the big game for the first time since 2010, the year they fell to the Saints.

New England had a bye in the first round then had to fend off the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round to make it here. This marks the 4th straight AFC title game for the Patriots, the 9th time since 2000 and the 11th such appearance in franchise history. New England is looking to get to the big dance for the first time since the loss to the Giants in 2012. This marks the 5th all time matchup between the two teams, with New England going 3-1, including last years 43-22 rout in the divisional round.

This one could shape up to be another classic. Much like Green Bay-Seattle, this is also a regular season rematch. New England put a whooping on Indy in week eleven, to the tune of a 42-20 win in Indy. So you know that the Colts are going to be coming out looking for revenge. It hasn't been easy for the Colts against New England the last three meetings, losing by scores of 42-20, 43-22 and 59-24. In fact the Patriots have won five in a row against the Colts, adding on scores of 31-24 and 31-28 in the other two meetings. Indy hasn't beaten New England since a 35-34 win in November 2009.

New England just squeaked by against the Ravens a week ago, with little help from their running game. they ran the ball for just 14 yards against Baltimore. The difference here is Indy is a more pass happy offense than the Patriots are. If you take T.Y Hilton out of the equation for the Colts, they don't have much more to work with in the pass game. Hate to say it but Reggie Wayne isn't as effective a weapon anymore as he once was. Brady struggled against the pass rush in the first half last week, but was able to find his groove in the 2nd half and take over the game. Indianapolis doesn't have as good a rush as that of Baltimore. New England has to try and establish a run presence more, otherwise its going to put more pressure on Brady, who should be able to handle it.

The Patriots' stiff defensive front will force Indianapolis to play exclusively through the air, which won't be an unfamiliar thing for Luck with how the Colts are put together. But although he goes up against a 17th-ranked Patriots secondary, playmakers Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner are more than capable of forcing some Luck lapses. He'll make enough plays through the air to keep his Colts around, but Brady and the Patriots will control this one from the get-go.

The Pick: New England Patriots

There you have it. Championship Weekend is ready to go, so sit back, relax and get ready for some hard hitting, high octane FOOTBALL!

Is There Still Spark In Islanders-Rangers Rivalry?

Rivalry. By definition it is competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field. A very common occurrence in the world of professional sports. We see it all the time, whether it be amongst individuals or teams. In the world of hockey, that is no different. We see it among some of the players, like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux and in today's game Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. As far as rivals among teams go, there are plenty to go around. You have Bruins-Maple Leafs, Red Wings-Maple Leafs, Ducks-Kings and so on. None, though, can come more heated and bitter, among fans and players alike, than that of the Rivalry between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

Ever since the Islanders came into the NHL in 1972, there has always been that competition between the two clubs, largely based on the fact that they play in the same general area in New York. It goes along with some of the other great rivalry's that have taken place in New York, like Knicks-Nets and the old Dodgers–Giants rivalry. Over the course of the last 42 years, including the two times they have already played this season, the two teams have squared off 290 times, with the Rangers holding a record of 122–109–19. Going further, they have played eight more times in the Playoffs, with the Islanders winning five of those series and having a record advantage of 20–19 in those games.

Some might have wondered if the rivalry has lost some steam between these two clubs. The battle for New York City area bragging rights had lost a lot of its luster over the last two decades, mostly because the Islanders as a franchise had struggled, making just five postseason appearances since they were swept by the Rangers in the first round of the 1993-94 playoffs. Now the luster and spark has returned.

Both teams are playing very well for themselves as of late. The Rangers, including the loss to the Islanders on Tuesday night, have won 13 of their last 15 games, and are sitting in the 1st wild card spot if the playoffs were to start tomorrow. The Isles have won three straight games , going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and sit atop the Metro Division right now. Both teams have their star players playing well at the moment too. John Tavares has had 12 points in his last 11 games, and after a slow start, Henrik Lundqvist is now sitting at 20-9-3 on the year.

Why is there spark back into things? Well the most obvious is that both New York Clubs are playing outstanding hockey. New York hasn't seen its two metro area teams play this well at this point of the season since 1984, and we haven't even hit the all star break yet.  Now don't get me wrong, the rivalry has always been in place. During the late 90's and early 2000's, there was a difference between the teams. It was either the Rangers were a good team and the Islanders stunk, or the Islanders were decent and the Rangers not so much. Now this year, it appears that we have two very talented hockey clubs that could be in the playoffs at the same time.

This rivalry will always be around, as long as both teams stay put here in the New York Metro area, there's no doubt about it. Now that the two teams are playing pretty well, and at the same time, it makes the games just that much more fun to watch.

If anybody saw the game Tuesday night, most will agree that it was one of the more entertaining games in the history of the rivalry. So that got me to thinking.....what are the best games ever played between the two clubs? With 290 total meetings between the teams, its kind of hard to pick, but I figured I would give it a shot. So here are the five most entertaining games between the two teams in the history of the rivalry.

Honorable Mention:
October 21, 1972: Rangers 2, Islanders 1
-The first regular season game between the two teams. The Rangers left Nassau Coliseum with a win, and wound up winning all six contests against the Islanders in that inaugural season. It wasn't very pretty for the Isles that first season, showing they still had a long way to go before even becoming a serious threat to the boys from Broadway.

5. February 25, 1979: Rangers 3, Islanders 2
-That season, the Islanders went on to have the best record in the league, and yes the Rangers pulled off the upset of the Isles in the playoffs. But this game went a long way in turning up the flames on this rivalry. The score doesn’t really matter, even though the Rangers handed the Isles their 11th loss of the year. What people remember, particularly Ranger fans, is Denis Potvin hitting Ulf Nilsson, causing the horrible injury to Nilsson's leg, thus ending his season. The MSG faithful still haven’t quite gotten over it.

4. March 5, 1994: Rangers 5, Islanders 4
-Sure Darius Kasparaitis had a pair of helpers and Ray Ferraro had a goal and assist for the Isles. Adam Graves had two goals and a helper. But it was Sergei Zubov netted the winning tally late in the third period to give the Rangers the heart stopping win. This Rangers victory was the first win on Long Island since Oct. 28, 1989. It was a inkling of snapping streaks for the Rangers that year, who went on to win the Stanley Cup later that spring.

3. October 15, 2011: Islanders 4, Rangers 2
John Tavares, to date, has potted five careers hat tricks. On this night, it was his first hat trick in an Isles/Rangers tilt. He did it in front of the home crowd, too. Even though Gaborik scored twice for the Isles, it was the Hatty from Tavares that helped pull out the victory for the Islanders.

2. April 10, 1984: Islanders 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
-This was a great season for both teams, a year in which they had great numbers and both were expected to contend. The Rangers pushed this series, and this game for that matter, to the brink. Don Maloney tied the game up late, forcing it to go to overtime. During the playoffs, that was where the Isles excelled during their glory years. Kenny Morrow scored the goal early in overtime, allowing the Islanders to advance and keep their “Drive for Five” going.

1. April 11, 1975: Islanders 4, Rangers 3 (OT)
-This was an Islander team that had been in the NHL for just three years. They were playing in a playoff series for the first time ever, and it just so happened to be against the well established Rangers. Nobody gave the Islanders a chance, but they went in and won the opener of the series. They series was evened at two before going to MSG for the final game. J.P. Parise stunned the Rangers in overtime, sending the Islanders to their first playoff series victory and silencing the crowd at MSG. The goal arguably put the previously “hapless” Isles on the map and the rest of the NHL on notice that they’d arrived.

With what is still to come this season from both clubs, we could be possibly updating this top five list by the time this season comes to an end.

Ezekiel Elliott Big Day Leads To Big Things

It always seems to happen during playoff time. Its that magical time of the year where anything can happen. Sometimes a team, or a player, can come out of nowhere to have a major impact. A player can have a game for the record books, somehow always finding a way to pop up during playoff time. In the case of the first ever College Football Playoffs, that team was Ohio State and that Player was Ezekiel Elliott.

Things didn't look all that great for the Buckeyes when the season started. First pegged starting QB Braxton Miller gets hurt in August. Then follow it up in September with a loss at home to Virginia Tech. To make matters worse, Quarterback J.T. Barrett got hurt in November, missing the rest of the season. A funny thing happened, though. Every time the Buckeyes looked like they had no chance of making any noise in regards to making a playoff run, they kept getting better. And in the new era of college football, that was enough to earn a chance to win a championship. Had this been the old BCS, they never would have had this opportunity, which is why this new bowl format could really work out for the game.

Ohio State began the first major college football playoff as the fourth and final seed, and was an underdog against both top-seeded Alabama and second-seeded Oregon. Lets not take anything away from the Ducks in this game. They caused Ohio State to turn the ball over four times, a pick and three fumbles, one of which looked a lot like what Jameis Winston did on New Years Day. Heisman Winner Marcus Mariotta had a pretty good day for himself, going 24 of 37 for 333 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. Oregon's offense had many golden chances to get back even and possibly take a lead, but they missed too many red zone opportunities.

As good as the passing game was for Oregon, which worked quite well against Florida State on New Years day, the Ducks couldn't unleash its running game against linebacker Darron Lee and that Ohio State front seven. Even with the benefit of four Ohio State turnovers, the Ducks were held to their lowest point total of the season, four touchdowns fewer than their average coming in. They went 2-for-12 on third downs, with two dropped passes in the first half (ESPN).

Ohio State took full advantage of missed opportunities by the Ducks. A big reason for that was Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott, who is a sophomore, was the named offensive MVP for a good reason. He ran for 246 yards and four touchdowns on a career-high 36 carries. In the past three games, the Big Ten championship against Wisconsin, the Allstate Sugar Bowl semifinal against Alabama and the final against Oregon, Elliott had 696 yards rushing. Its safe to say that Elliott had been feeling it heading into the title game, keeping that good mojo going throughout the day.

Ezekiel Elliott's 246 rushing yards are tied for the 3rd-most in any game in Ohio State history and the most for an OSU player in a bowl game. The only two Ohio State players to run for more yards in a game where Eddie George's 314 yards in 1995 (victory over Illinois) and Keith Byars' 274 rushing yards in 1984 (also vs. Illinois). Ezekiel Elliott finished the season with 1,878 yards, the second-most in any season in Ohio State history. Only Eddie George had more, when he gained 1,927 yards on the ground en route to the 1995 Heisman Trophy. Ohio State closed out the year, after losing at home to Virginia Tech back in Week 2, with a 12 game winning streak.

The national title proved to be the 6th in school history for the Buckeyes in football. That has them with the 5th most national titles in college football history, trailing Alabama (10), Notre Dame (8), Oklahoma (7) and USC (7). Ohio State proved that the playoffs is the perfect place for a new hero to arise at any given moment. Congratulations to the Buckeyes on claiming the National Title!

Have We Seen The Last Of Peyton Manning?

It happens all the time in professional sports. Players have outstanding careers, proving their greatness time and again. They always find a way to make it to the big stage, year in and year out they find ways to get to the promise land. At the end of the day, the luck runs out and time will eventually catch up with you. Legands never die, but sometimes they painfully fade away. After what I saw on Sunday in Denver, as much as it pains me to say this, it looks like it might be the end of the line for Peyton Manning.

For the 9th time in his hall of fame career, Peyton and his team were bounced in their first playoff matchup on Sunday by Andrew Luck and the Colts in a 24-13 loss at home. This was a game where Peyton really didn't look like himself. As a matter of fact, Peyton hasn't really looked like himself over the last month. Some sources say that he has been playing the last month of the year with a torn quad, which would explain quite a lot for Peyton's play as of late. But there really is more to it than that.

There were two moments on Sunday's game against Indy that were a telling sign that Peyton may be on his last legs playing in the NFL. First was in the second quarter, when the game was tied 7-7, and Manning dropped back to pass, only to have the football stripped by a Colts pass rusher he never saw coming. Then, early in the 3rd quarter he was facing a 3rd and 5 and had plenty of space to run with the ball, clearly had enough room to run and pick up the first down, but instead tried to pass and miss hitting Sanders. The fact that Peyton didn't try running, I know the leg injury is rumored but still he had enough room to be able to try and run and pick up the first down. That shows that something wasn't quite right with Peyton.

Overall, he's 11-13 in the postseason and this was one of his worst playoff performances ever. He never found a rhythm, constantly overthrew his receivers and finished 26 of 46 for 111 yards, one TD and no interceptions. He never really looked comfortable on the field in this playoff game. When he had to possibly beg for 1st downs during the game, you know something isn't right. It really makes you step back and take a look at whether or not Peyton will be the same.

He will be 39 years old by the time next season gets underway. We have seen QB's have success around that age, with guys like Brett Farve coming to mind. But just watching Peyton play the last month, you can tell that something really isn't quite right with him, besides the injury. Peyton isn't really a $20 million quarterback anymore. Forget for a moment whether Osweiler is ready to step in as Denver's starting quarterback. What's tougher are the honest evaluations and heartfelt talks Manning must have with his family and Elway, one quarterback to another.

Nobody has ever doubted how great a passer Peyton Manning is. that's never going to be a factor. What has to be looked at though, is does he have any magic left in the tank? Does he still have the heart to go out there week after week like this? I can understand wanting to come back after last season to take another shot at a second championship, especially with the way last season ended. He wanted to try and make up for last years Super Bowl loss, but it wasn't in the cards this year.

It's going to be very tough for Peyton to say goodbye, of this I have no doubt. But what he really needs to figure out is if he can both physically and mentally deliver more magic next season. if the answer is yes, then by all means go for it. But if the answer is no, then it should be time to hang the pads up on what is, no doubt, a hall of fame career.

NFL Divisional Round Preview

And then there were eight. We have hit the divisional round in the NFL playoffs.This time the top seeds can really see what they're made of, while an underdog may also possibly emerge. New England and Baltimore get set to face off once again in the playoffs. A battle of Peyton Manning's former team and his current club. Dallas gets a chance to prove they are for real. Cam Newton has a chance to so something that nobody else has been able to, win in Seattle in the playoffs. So lets not waste any more time and dive right into what should be an exciting weekend of playoff football.

Good matchup to get the weekend started. First game, Saturday at 4:40PM we have a rematch of the 2012 AFC title game as the wild card Baltimore Ravens travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the AFC East Champion New England Patriots. For the 6th time in the last 7 seasons, Baltimore is moving on in post season play. The last time Baltimore got this far was just two years ago, a season which ended with a Super Bowl championship. Including their win last weekend over Pittsburgh in the divisional round, Baltimore is now 15-7 lifetime in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Patriots are playing in the post season for the 6th straight year and the 13th time since the turn of the century. The Pats, as a franchise, are 3-3 in the big game, with their last title victory coming in 2004. New England hasn't lost in their first round since falling to the Jets in 2010, and they are 25-18 lifetime in the playoffs.

The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens have enjoyed more playoff success than all other teams over the last 15 years. The Patriots lead all teams with an 18-8 playoff record since 2000, while Baltimore is second at 15-7. Their mirrored success has led to numerous run-ins, and Saturday marks their fourth postseason meeting in six years. Baltimore has taken two of the three meetings between the teams in the playoffs, and it should have been a clean sweep had it not been for Billy Cundiff missed field goal in 2012. New England lost once at home this season, that coming the final day of the year against the Buffalo Bills. So it goes to show that they can be beaten at home, it is possible. Baltimore is coming in off a huge win last week over the Steelers, forcing three Pittsburgh turnovers and scoring on six of their nine possessions. Both teams have weapons to work with and Brady is slightly better than Flacco. What is going to be key in this ball game is how well the defense plays. Baltimore was able to shut down the high powered Steeler offense last week, but going up against New England in Foxbrough is a tough task, especially when you go against Tom Brady and a plethora of weapons. This one going to be a close game, but at the end of the day it's going to come down to the Run game, which Baltimore has the edge.

The Pick: Baltimore Ravens

Next we have the Saturday night game, the wild card Carolina Panthers heading to CenturyLink Field to take on the NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks. Carolina comes into the matchup after a big win last week against Arizona, a game in which they held the Cardinals to 70 total yards of offense. This is the 6th playoff appearance for the Panthers, but the 4th time they have made it passed wild card weekend. Carolina has one appearance in the big game to their credit, losing to the Patriots in 2003. Carolina is 7-5 lifetime in the post season. As for the Seahawks, they take their first post season step to defending their crown and trying to become the first repeat Super Bowl champions in a decade. This also marks the 4th time in the last 5 seasons that Seattle is playing playoff football. Seattle is 1-1 lifetime in the big game, and as a franchise are an even 12-12 lifetime in the post season. These two clubs have squared off once before in the playoffs, that coming in 2005, a game which Seattle won 34-14.

Seattle has seemingly returned to form on the defensive side of the football, shutting down the opposition as of late. The Seahawks allowed three touchdowns, 39 points and kept five of six opponents to seven points or less while winning their last six games to finish 12-4. Carolina isn't a pushover, having two 1,000 yard receivers in their lineup in the form of Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin. So Cam has plenty of weapons to throw to. But the Panthers run attack isn't that great, while Seattle is built around the run game. Carolina run defense isn't nearly as good as it was this time last year. Going into hostile territory won't be an easy task at all for the Panthers.

The Pick: Seattle Seahawks

Now for the action on Sunday. First up at 1PM the wild card winning Dallas Cowboys head to historic Lambeau Field to take on the NFC North Champion Green Bay Packers. Dallas comes in on the heels of a huge win over the Lions wild card weekend, the first time Dallas has been able to advance past the first round since their last playoff appearance in 2009. Dallas looks to make their first appearance in a conference title game since 1995. The Boys haven't won the big game, or even been there for that matter, since 1995. Dallas, as a franchise, is 34-25 lifetime with 5 Super Bowl titles. As for Green Bay, this marks the 6th straight year they have appeared in a playoff game. The Pack last made it out of the 2nd round in 2010, the year they won their last title. Green Bay, as a franchise, is 13-2 lifetime in the big game and 30-19 in playoff games. Dallas has won four of the previous six meetings between the teams in the playoffs, the last win coming in 1995.

This is a battle of 8-0 teams. Green Bay is 8-0 at home, while Dallas is 8-0 on the road this year. It's a battle of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object. Dallas has to be going in with a little bit of confidence, having won four straight playoff games against the Packers. But this is a different team. Dallas got a little bit lucky last week against the Lions. Romo was sacked 5 times last week by the Lions defense. Green Bay hasn't had quite as good a D as that of Detroit, but its still something to be feared in its own right.
DeMarco Murray and Eddie Lacy both had over 1,000 rushing yards this season, so we know both teams can run the ball. The passing attack has been good in Dallas, but Rogers and company have been just a little bit better. This week, Dallas playoff luck is going to run out.

The Pick: Green Bay Packers

The final game of the weekend kicks off off Sunday at 4:40 as the AFC South Champion Indianapolis Colts travel to Sports Authority Field at Mile High to do battle with the AFC West Champion Denver Broncos.Indy has missed the playoffs just twice since the turn of the Century, and are looking to build off last weeks victory over the Bengals. The Colts are looking to get to the AFC title game for the first time since going to the Super Bowl in 2009. The Colts are 4-3 lifetime in the big game and 21-22 lifetime in the post season. denver meanwhile is coming off their disappointing loss in the Super Bowl a season ago. This is also the 4th year in a row that Denver has made it to the playoffs. Denver is 20-18 lifetime in the playoffs but 2-5 in the big dance. Indy is 2-0 lifetime vs. Denver in the playoffs. The Colts haven't won in the divisional round since getting by Baltimore 20-3 on Jan. 16, 2010, with Manning leading the way.

It's a battle of mirror images among the QB's. Manning and Luck have been setting the world on fire this season. Both teams have lethal passing attacks there's never been any doubt. The difference is in both the run game and the defense. Denver has an edge in both departements. It's going to be a close game but we are setting up for a Brady-Manning Rematch.

The Pick: Denver Broncos

So there you have it our predictions for the divisional round!

Best Fit For Jameis Winston?

Looks like Florida State will be looking for a new starting Quarterback next season. Why? Well 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has announced that he will be leaving the school and entering the NFL Draft. Many people have him pegged as the 2nd best QB going into June's draft, right behind reigning Heisman winner Marcus Mariotta. Some people also have him pegged as the 6th best player in the draft, which if it holds up means he could fall to the New York jets, who hold the 6th pick. But who knows if he even falls that far in the Draft. This does lead one to wonder where exactly will Jameis end up?

Being a Quarterback and winning the Heisman trophy hasn't exactly translated into being a success in the NFL. Currently, there are five former Heisman Winning QB's playing in the NFL: Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford and Carson Palmer. Those five QB's have a combined record of 132-157-2. None of them have a winning record and the only one who has won a playoff game is Cam Newton, who just did that last week. So being a Heisman trophy winning Quarterback doesn't guarantee that you are going to be a success in the pros.

As far as Winston is concerned, he has a ton of talent to play the position. Winston ranks fourth in touchdown passes (65), fourth in passing yards (7,964) and second in passes of 20 yards or more (124) since the start of the 2013 season. He has the arm strength and the talent to play quarterback, but there are a few red flags with him going into the draft.  He has laundry list of off the field issues, which include a rape allegation for which he was not charged, and served a one-game suspension earlier this season for yelling a vulgar phrase in an on-campus dining area. There are more problems that have been caused off the field, but those where the most notable ones.

Those are some major red flags that teams are going to take into account. If a guy comes into the draft with noted off the field problems, teams aren't going to be too keen on taking the guy because of those issues. He may have all the talent in the world but if there is a history of off the field problems, it could still translate into the pro game.

With all that being said, there still a few teams who could use the services of a guy like Winston. There's the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who currently hold down the top pick. They have plenty of weapons in the passing game, with guys like Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins. So he has enough to work with. If the Bucs decide to go the other way and take Mariotta with the pick, then the Tennessee Titans would be another good fit for Winston. Winston’s 6-4, 230-pound frame, accuracy and ability to move in (and out of) the pocket would probably make him a better fit than Mariota for the offense run by Tennessee’s Ken Whisenhunt. The coach’s best seasons have come with the assistance of Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner and Philip Rivers, who all share some physical attributes with Winston.

If for some reason the Titans don't swoop him up, there are still other teams who could use a quarterback of his talents. Tams like Houston, Chicago, Cleveland, St. Louis, Buffalo and the New York Jets are all teams that are looking for a franchise type Quarterback.  The Bills, Jets and Texans have gone through a revolving door of starting QB's lately. St Louis is a solid starter away from being a contender, since there's no promise that Sam Bradford can stay healthy or will even be around after this season.

There really is no accurate way of being able to tell now where Winston will end up, or even if he will make it as a starting QB in the NFL. But if everything falls into place, the best fit for Winston will be in Tennessee with the Titans.

Baseball Hall Of Fame Class Of 2015

This comes around every year at this time. Thirty four names are on a list. Each guy hoping to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Its something that baseball players can only dream about. Becoming a hall of famer carries a lot of weight. By definition, a Hall of Famer is a group of persons, or person, judged outstanding, as in a sport or profession. To become known as a hall of famer, it means that you are the best at what you do. Baseball will now add four new members to their hallowed halls in Cooperstown, New York on July 26.

First up is the man known as the Big Unit, the one and only Randy Johnson. Johnson spent 22 years in the Majors, playing for the Expos, Mariners, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Giants and Astros. His best years were spent in both Seattle (10 years, 130-74 record) and Arizona (8 years, 118-62 record). When all was said and done, Johnson claimed five Cy Young Awards. Johnson finished with a lifetime record of 303-166 with a career ERA of 3.29. Those 303 wins had him 22nd on the all time list. His 4,875 career strikeouts are the second most all time and the most by a left handed pitcher ever. He won 20 or more games in a season three times, with his best season coming in 2002 (at age 38), when he went 24-5 for Arizona. Once the playoffs rolled around, it was a bit different. Johnson finished with a lifetime 7-9 record in the playoffs, but does have a World Series ring (2001 with Arizona).

What made Johnson different from everybody else was his size. Coming in at 6'10", he was a giant amongst his peers, as most other pitchers were around 6' to 6'4. So the ball is coming down from a higher plain. Throw in the fact that he was a side arm pitcher, the ball came out of his hand at a much different angle. That made life for hitters difficult. He was a consistent pitcher his entire career. The 97.3 percentage for the Big Unit was the eighth-highest in the history of voting.

Next up is a personal favorite of mine, in the person of Pedro Martinez. Pedro spent 8 years in the Majors, playing for the Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers, Expos and Phillies. Martinez was 219-100, struck out 3,154, led the major leagues in ERA five times, and in 2004 helped the Boston Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years. Pedro's best single season was in 1999, when he went 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts. Those numbers were the best in the American League that season. With his election, Martinez also became the second player from the Dominican Republic to head to Cooperstown, joining Juan Marichal (1983).

Sure there were other right handed pitchers that had more wins in their careers, like Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens and others. But what made Pedro so good was intimidation. When Pedro took the mound, he wanted to win every single time. He had this look about him that said your going to be in for a long day. Pedro had the ability to change speeds on his pitches, move the ball all over the strike zone. He could really control again when he wanted to. Injuries took there toll on Martinez near the end of his career, but he still had enough in the tank to show he could dominate opposing hitters.

Next up on the list is former Braves pitcher John Smoltz. During his 21 year career, he will be forever rememberd as the third part of the pitching trifecta in Atlanta, along with fellow hall of famers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. His final year in the majors was split between Boston and St. Louis, but the other twenty years were on the hill with the Atlanta Braves. Smoltz, who walked away with the National League Cy Young Award in 1996, finished his career with a 213-155 record. To add to that, he also finished his career with 154 saves, thus being the only pitcher with 200 wins and 150 saves. Smoltz also went 15-4 in the postseason, helping Atlanta reach the World Series five times and win a championship in 1995.

Smoltz was the 3rd man in the Atlanta rotation till an injury kept him out of the 2000 season. Because of the injuries, he switched to the bullpen and managed to save 154 games over the next four years, before switching back to the starting rotation to finish out his career. What separates Smoltz from Johnson and Martinez is that, unlike the other two guys, he didn't blow people away with his stuff. He was more of a control pitcher who had solid command of his pitches. The fact that he was able to take four years of his career to turn from a starting pitcher to a closer speaks volumes as to how good a pitcher he was. He may not have been the flashiest pitcher ever, but he was consistent, which is what got him into the hall.

Rounding out this years hall of fame class was 2nd baseman Craig Biggio. Biggio spent his entire 20 year big league career as a member of the Houston Astros. He was a lifetime .281 hitter, collecting 3,060 hits during that time.  He became the 27th player in MLB history to join the 3,000-hit club in 2007, and the first in Astros history. Biggio was named to the all star team six times. He was also hit by a pitch 285 times, the 2nd most in baseball history. During his playing days, he averaged 174 hits a season, 17 of which would go for home runs. He’s the only player in baseball history with 3,000 hits, 600 doubles, 400 stolen bases and 250 home runs.

When you think of some of the other hall of fame 2nd baseman, guys like Roberto Alomar, Rod Carew, Rogers Hornsby, Bill Mazeroski, Joe Morgan and Ryne Sandberg. All of those guys have the same thing in common in that they had outstanding fielding careers and could swing the bat almost as well. What makes Biggio a little different is that he didn't put up the offensive numbers that really stand out like the other guys. He was a steady hitter, not really relying on power, as he was more of a contact hitter. He could beat you with his legs, by getting on base and making the smart play, both at the plate and in the field.

With the election coming down, it also leads to the debate about the guys who couldn't get the nod to get into the hall. You need 75% votes to make it in, and if you fail to get 5% of votes on the ballot you will be taken off future ballots. Mike Piazza came up short on votes for this year for election, coming in 28 votes short, finishing at 69.9%.  I still find it a little hard to believe that the greatest hitting catcher in baseball history hasn't been able to get into the hall yet. I think the problem is that he just happen to fall into rough ballot classes, going against guys who put up better numbers. Would it have been nice to see him get in? Yes it would. Will he get in next year? That I have no doubt.

Other notiables not selected were Don Mattingly (in his final year on the ballot), Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jeff Kent, Curt Schilling, Mike Mussina and Edgar Martinez. Of those guys, there are a few who have a real long shot to get into the hall in general. Clemens, Bonds, McGuire and Sosa all have to deal with the steroid alligations. Now of those guys, Bonds and Clemens are locks to get in, had they not had ties to steroids. Now there is still a chance they could get in, but it might be a long shot. With Jeff Kent, much like Piazza, he has a good chance to get in depending on the ballot. he put up huge numbers in his own right playing second base.

Looking ahead to next year, the 2016 ballot, there are some interesting names on there for the first time. The big name first timers include Ken Griffey, Jim Edmonds, Troy Glaus, Luis Castillo, Randy Winn, Garret Anderson, Trevor Hoffman and Brad Ausmus.

So there you have it, the Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2015!

NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview

The NFL regular season has now come and gone, meaning that the playoffs are finally here. This is the time of year that football fans really enjoy, as the second season has gotten underway. There are 12 teams left standing as the drive to Super Bowl 49 begins with Wild Card Weekend in the NFL. With the way things played out to get to this point, there is the potential for some epic matchups during this playoff run. To kick off the road to the Super Bowl, we got to start someplace and that's where this Wild Card Weekend comes into place. There two exciting games slated for Saturday, with two more great games being played on Sunday. So lets start there shall we!

First up on Saturday at 4:35 it is the Wild Card winning Arizona Cardinals heading to Bank of America Stadium in Carolina to take on the NFC South Champions the Carolina Panthers. This marks the first trip to the playoffs for the Cardinals since 2009, and the first time they come in as a wild card team since 1998. Lifetime, the Cardinals organization has a 6-7 lifetime record in the playoffs, with one Super Bowl appearance, a lost to Pittsburgh in 2008. As for the Carolina Panthers, they have won the South for the 2nd year in a row, making the playoffs for the 6th time in franchise history. Carolina has made the Super Bowl once, losing to New England in 2003. Carolina is lifetime 6-5 in the playoffs. These teams have met once in the playoffs, that being in 2008, a 33-13 win by the Cardinals.

These two clubs come into the playoffs in very different ways. Carolina and Arizona both have an identical record. Carolina is 4-4 at home, Arizona is 4-4 on the road. But there are differences between the two teams. Carolina is coming in riding a four game win streak to close out the regular season. Even though the Panthers defense isn't as dominant as it was a season ago, Cam Newton is playing inspired football since returning from injuries caused by a car accident. Arizona is starting to slip a little bit. The Cardinals have lost two straight games, both of which with third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley under center, and that hasn't proved fruitful. Lindley has two touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his career, and Arizona has lost the last two games with him under center. He's simply not good enough to lead a team to victory on the road in the playoffs. Carolina will win and advance. A couple of months ago this would be a different story but now its kind of easy to pick.

The Pick: Arizona Cardinals

Now the night game Saturday, which is an 8:30 kickoff, will see the Wild Card winning Baltimore Ravens heading to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh to take on division rival and AFC North Champion the Pittsburgh Steelers. For Pittsburgh, a team that has won six Super Bowl Titles (last one being in 2008) this is their first trip to the playoffs since 2011. They have a record of 33-23 lifetime in the playoffs. Of note, the last two times the Steelers went into the playoffs as the division champs, they made it all the way to the SuperBowl (going 1-1). As for the Ravens, this is their 2nd playoff appearance in three years, their last trip to the post season was a victory in Super Bowl 47.  Baltimore is unbeaten in Franchise history in Superbowls (winning in 2000 and 2012), and have a record of 14-7 all time in the playoffs. These two teams have met three times previously in the playoffs, with Pittsburgh winning all three times.

Since they play in the same division, this is the rubber match on the year. Baltimore won the first meeting in Baltimore back in week two, by a 26-6 score. Pittsburgh returned the favor in Pittsburgh in week nine with a 43-23 win at home. Both teams have solid passing games, being lead by Ben Rothlesberger and Joe Flacco respectively. Flacco and the Ravens pass game hasn't really loo9ked good the last few weeks, week seventeen not included.Another difference might be the running game, with Pittsburgh being slightly better at the moment. Even though the Steelers might not have the service of Le'Veon Bell with injuries. But still the Steelers have enough to out score the Ravens.

The Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

Now to the Sunday games. First up, with a 1:05 kickoff it's the Wild Card winning Cincinnati Bengals heading to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the AFC South Champions the Indianapolis Colts. For the Bengals, this is their 4th straight years in the playoffs and the fifth time in six years they have made the post season. Cincy has made the Superbowl twice (1981 and 1988), losing both times. In fact the Bengals are 5-12 lifetime in the post season, and haven't gotten out of the first round since 1990. Meanwhile, the Colts are in the playoffs for the 3rd time in four years, in fact they have only missed the playoffs twice since 2000. Indy has won 4 NFL Championships in 7 appearances in the title game. The Colts have a record of 20-21 lifetime in the playoffs. These two clubs have played once in the playoffs, back in 1970, a game which the Colts won 17-0.

Indy is 6-2 a home this season and Andrew Luck having an outstanding year this year under center. The Bengals are the team you have to be a little worried about in this game. With Andy Dalton as quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengals have never won a playoff game. In the three postseason games he's played, he's never had a quarterback rating higher than 67. This won't all fall on Dalton if the Bengals fail again in the first round. Something to look at is going to be the Bengals defense as well, since it hasn't exactly looked like a stout defensive unit during the second half of the season. Cincinnati is ranked 20th in passing and rushing yards allowed. It's too much to ask of the defense to shut Luck down. Luck has a field day with this one.

The Pick: Indianapolis Colts

The final game of Wild Card weekend is Sunday at 4:05 from AT&T Stadium in Dallas Texas, as the AFC East Champions the Dallas Cowboys play host to the wild card winners the Detroit Lions. This marks the firs trip to the playoffs for the Lions since 2011 and only the 2nd time they have made the playoffs since 1999. Detroit hasn't seen a championship game since 1957. The Lions have 3 NFL Championships in their history but have a record of 7-11 all time in the playoffs. Meanwhile, this is the first trip to the post season for Dallas since 2009, the year they last won the AFC East title. Dallas is 5-5 lifetime in the Big Game, but haven't made it to a Superbowl since their last title win in 1995. In fact Dallas has gotten out of the 1st round since 1996. The Cowboys are 33-25 lifetime in the playoffs. Dallas and Detroit have met twice before in the playoffs, Dallas won 5-0 in 1970, while Detroit took the most recent meeting, 38-6 back in 1991.

If your Matthew Stafford, this game is going to be a true test for you as a starter. Including playoffs, Matthew Stafford is 0-17 in road games vs teams that finished season over .50 (ESPN). Stafford has no luck on the road against winning teams. Even though he has Megatron (Calvin Johnson) and Golden Tate to throw to, Stafford just can't get the job done. And Detroit does have a much improved defense. The Lions defense has been a top five defense all year long, even with Suh in the lineup. But they are going up against the Dallas Cowboys, who have probably the most complete offense in the entire league right now. I know the knock against Tony Romo and his inability to find success in the post season. But they have decent receivers and DeMarco Murray has been outstanding running the ball this year. Detroit is going to keep the game close but they won't have enough.

The Pick: Dallas Cowboys

There you have it. Our predictions for the opening round of the NFL playoffs!