LIGHTS OUT!

Another NFL season is in the books and for the second time in NFL history, the Baltimore Ravens are Super Bowl champions. This game offered a little of everything: big offensive plays, huge defensive efforts, game breaking special teams, a big comeback and a game-deciding fourth down and goal play. As has been the case in recent years, the Super Bowl was super. 

2

DICTATING THE TEMPO

The team scoring first in the Super Bowl has won the Super Bowl most of the time. When a team jumps up by 22 points or more, as the Ravens did, they’ve never lost. The Ravens hit the 49ers with deep passes, stingy red zone defense and forced turnovers in the first half. The 49ers were unable to convert either of their drives deep into Ravens territory and were stonewalled before halftime.

In the pass-friendly NFL, with an explosive and dynamic quarterback like Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers, a 21-6 halftime deficit is not necessarily the kiss of death. The 108 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Ravens’ Jacoby Jones to start the second half could have been. With the momentum completely shifted to Baltimore in the third quarter and the Niners on their way out of the game in spirit, though not in body, Colin Kapernick played lights out. But before he played lights out, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome went lights out…literally.

Beyonce' and her halftime performance were hot! The second half could have used some of her illumination. 1

LIGHTING UP THE STADIUM

A problem involving a breaker caused the electricity in the Superdome to fail, causing half of the lights in the stadium to shut off. The power outage caused a delay of roughly 30 minutes in the Super Bowl. To say the stoppage in play could have decided the outcome of the game would be hyperbole. To say that it had no impact would be naïve.

The Ravens had the 49ers on football-life-support. Down 22 points in the second half and having never scored a touchdown in the game, I am not unconvinced that a sense of panic set in among some of the 49ers. The momentum was completely on the side of the Ravens. The half-hour stoppage in play gave the 49ers an unexpected opportunity to settle down, shake off the panic, go back to the drawing board, and restart their second half game plan. It may have helped the Niners; it did not help the Ravens.

The 49ers got into the end zone on their next full possession following the blackout on a 31 yard bomb from Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree. Then, capitalizing on a big punt return by Ted Ginn, Jr., the 49ers quickly got back into the end zone on a run by Frank Gore. Score: 28-20. Ballgame: up for grabs.

The Superdome had some Ravens fans and some 49ers fans, but the power outage in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII give a new maning to "a house divided". 3

FURIOUS FOURTH QUARTER

What transpired in the fourth quarter was a back-and-forth chess match that demonstrated why both of these teams were in Super Bowl XLVII in the first place. The Ravens could have melted under the warm glow of the red hot 49ers, as the Ravens were forced back on their heels almost immediately following Gore’s touchdown as Ray Rice lost a fumble just two plays into their ensuing possession. The Ravens stopped the Niners cold, only surrendering a field goal and holding on to a five point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Ravens answered the 49ers field goal. The 49ers rebutted with a swift 5 play, 76 yard touchdown drive capped with a 15 yard scoring run by Kaepernick. A failed two point conversion following the Kaepernick touchdown left the Ravens with a two point lead. After another clutch Justin Tucker field goal by Baltimore, Super Bowl XLVII was set for as exciting a final four minutes as any fan could ask for.

CHESS MATCH

Buoyed by a 33 yard gallop by 49ers running back Frank Gore, the 49ers were seven yards away from pulling off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. With two 49ers timeouts remaining, it will remain a mystery to me why a star running back like Gore never touched the ball again. The Niners attempted three rushed passes into the end zone for Michael Crabtree, the last of which was on fourth and goal with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh lobbying for a defensive penalty that would never be called. The Ravens managed the clock so that the 49ers would not run another offensive play and the Ravens became champions.   

  Jim Harbaugh wanted a flag on the incomplete fourth and goal pass. Wish in one hand; crap in the other and see which one fills up first, Jim. 4

FINAL STORYLINES

Bro Bowl I – Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh versus younger brother Jim Harbaugh, Head Coach of the 49ers, went to big brother. Future Hall of Fame Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis joined a very small fraternity of superstar American athletes like John Elway and Michael Jordan who retired after winning a championship. Joe Flacco’s stock rose closer to the top among NFL quarterbacks with his MVP performance. Future Hall of Famer Ed Reed, who will be a free agent in the coming offseason, punctuated his tenure in Baltimore with a championship.

The 49ers came up short but with their roster and their youth, I expect this team to be a perpetual contender for years to come. I expect Kapernick to become exponentially better in the coming years. I expect the 49ers, who have more than ten picks in the 2013 NFL Draft, to acquire even better player personnel next year. This team is going to be a force in the NFC for quite some time.

Brothers Jim and John Harbaugh, opposing coaches in Super Bowl XLVII, embrace at the end. 5

NEXT YEAR

Football fans have four seasons: preseason, regular season, postseason, and next season (or the offseason). Next year is here. More than any other American team sport, football is the closest to a true year round sport. There will be free agent acquisitions, the scouting combine, and the draft to occupy football fans until late April. This will lead into volunteer organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps followed by training camp. And the cycle begins anew.

Until “next year”, the last live bullets we will have to remember were in yesterday’s dramatic Super Bowl. That final image is of a championship being won. Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

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Bro Bowl I

The dust has settled. The final guns have sounded. The scores and stats are in the books. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers are going to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans in two weeks.

BEST SCREENPLAY

There are multiple compelling story lines in this big game. Future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis of the Ravens is playing in his final game, hoping to ride off into the sunset with a second Super Bowl championship. Second year quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, one of the youngest quarterbacks ever to start a Super Bowl, will complete one of the most interesting and unexpected tales of the 2012 NFL season.

Forty-Niners future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss gets one more, and possibly his final, chance to win a Super Bowl ring after losing in the final minute with the Patriots against the Giants in Super Bowl XLII and losing the 1998 NFC Championship Game in overtime (ironically to the Falcons franchise that the 49ers vanquished on Sunday) as a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings.

Forty-Niners linebacker Patrick Willis, win or lose, is set to have the torch passed down to him from Ray Lewis, as the NFL's premiere linebacker. And Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, advancing to his first ever Super Bowl after two prior failed attempts in the AFC Championship Game, has an opportunity to rise to the ranks of the best of the best NFL quarterbacks after a career of being overshadowed by an offense built on the running game and a defense that received first billing in Baltimore.

What a story.... 1

A FAMILY AFFAIR

The most unique and interesting story line, however is on the sideline. If you haven't heard (or guessed) Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh is the older brother, by 15 months, of 49ers Head Coach and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh. It is the first time, ever, though possibly not the last (older brother John is only 50 years old) that two brothers face each other as opposing head coaches in the Super Bowl.

They are close in age. They look alike. But they are very different coaches. John Harbaugh fits the city of Baltimore like a glove. In a way, John was in the shadow of his sibling, Jim, until recently like Baltimore is in the shadow of sibling city (and our nation's capital) Washington, D.C.. Jim Harbaugh was a star quarterback at the University of Michigan, arguably the best passing QB in that school's history (yes, better than Tom Brady). He had success with the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts in the NFL, just one play away against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1995 AFC Championship Game from reaching Super Bowl XXX. Ironically, Harbaugh was the Ravens' starting quarterback in 1998.

Speaking for myself, I didn't even know that Jim had a brother until his name entered circulation among possible new head coaches in the late 2000s. It did not take long for John Harbaugh to make his mark on the Ravens, getting them to the AFC Championship Game in his rookie season of 2008. If you don't know, now you know!

Jim Harbaugh was a star on the field and did not take long to achieve rapid success as a head coach in the college ranks with the University of San Diego and Stanford University. Last season, Harbaugh was the hot college coaching prospect sought for an NFL coaching gig. The 49ers paid a king's ransom for a rookie head coach, paying Harbaugh $25 million over 5 years. Jim Harbaugh, like brother John, reached the conference championship round in his first season, losing to last year's Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants, in overtime.

John Harbaugh, by and large, is cool and composed, Jim Harbaugh, is like an exploding firecracker. John Harbaugh keeps a low profile. Jim Harbaugh is a little crazy, well known for refusing to grant post game interviews with sideline reporters and taking no guff from opposing coaches (like Lions coach Jim Schwartz, with whom Harbaugh appeared to nearly come to blows in 2011 in a testy post game exchange). A Hollywood screen writer couldn't conjure up a better script.

John Harbaugh (right) and Jim Harbaugh (left) on Thanksgiving Night, 2011. 2

THE BIRDESMAIDS

What of the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, the two teams that came so close but so far away? Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the Patriots are the sexy story. Beyond name recognition, they aren't that interesting. They'll be back. Brady is healthy and the offense is loaded with talented support players. New England will not go from "contender" to "front runner" until they do something about their pass defense.

The irony is that the three Belichick-era championship teams were anchored by the defense. Now, the offense is among the most lethal in the league but the Patriots have hit a glass ceiling every year because they cannot stop a runny nose, let alone another offense. They will fend off the Jets and squash peasant revolts from the Dolphins and Bills, but as long as Brady is in good health and continues to play at his current high level, the Patriots will have a seat at the AFC's table every year.

The Falcons are loaded with talent and will be very competitive in the regular season for the foreseeable future. However, they are a playoff-challenged team and I think they need to examine themselves from coaching to quarterback play to the running game to their defense. This team cracks, too often, when the spotlight is on. They blew a 20 point lead to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round and lost after blowing a 17 point lead to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. They have a big problem with finishing games and extinguishing opponents. They had better solve it quickly if they expect to contend in 2013.

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton returns to the sidelines next season and the NFC South goes back from a three team a four team division next season. The Carolina Panthers with Cam Newton at QB and the Greg Schiano coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be tough outs, too. The Falcons will be a hard team to beat between September and December, but I was never a buyer on their January prospects and need to see some significant changes before I am.

I don't feel sorry for him. 

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

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Houston Texans Obituary 2012

While I don't consider myself to be a Houston Texans die hard, I did live in the Space City for a couple of years after graduating from college. I typically pull for Houston teams if they do not conflict with any closer, more personal sports interests and still try to see a few Astros games every summer, in spite of the fact that there is little to see.

The Texans were the last team with which I had any traces personal rooting interests and they were unceremoniously bounced out of the playoffs in the second round for the second straight year. Josh Innes, of J&R (Josh Innes and Rich Lord) on Sportsradio 610 in Houston is a personal friend of mine and he asked me for my two cents on the Texans' season. I offered him the following:

The 2012 Houston Texans season died on Sunday, January 13, 2013, in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Houston suffered from multiple ailments, including decades of championship round starvation, chronic end zone allergies, untimely turnovers, clutch situation under-achievement, lukewarm head coaching, and chronic choking. It was 18 weeks old.
 

The Texans, child of Bob McNair, are survived by over 60 complacent active, inactive, injured reserve, and practice squad players. Perhaps a second year of bitter disappointment in the Divisional Round may motivate them to spend less time making it rain in the club and more time focusing during training camp in spite of the rain. The Texans are also survived by hundreds of thousands of fans who, while disappointed, are not surprised. The shade of blue has changed, but the result is the same.

The Texans will be buried in the sports media multiple times, eulogized earlier today by Colin Cowherd, Jim Rome, and Dan Patrick. The final services will be held today on Sportsradio 610, eulogies by Josh Innes and Rich Lord. In lieu of flowers, please send a passing attack, including deep threat wide receivers, glasses for Matt Schaub to read defenses in the playoffs, and a pamphlet on the Heimlich maneuver so that, hopefully, the 2013 Texans don’t choke away home field advantage.

Texans logo image from www.sportsgeekery.com

Retweet of the Day - January 14, 2013

If you read regularly, you know that the Retweet of the Day is generally a chance to give a regular Joe in the Twittersphere his or her 15 minutes of fame for a clever use of 140 characters or less. Every now and then, someone in the public eye has a tweet that I felt compelled to share with you readers. There are two retweets, both by linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (‏@brendon310) of the Baltimore Ravens.

The first tweet is to give you the flavor of the Haterade he's serving for the New England Patriots, whom the Ravens throw down with on Sunday at Foxboro, Massachusetts in the 2012 AFC Championship Game. The second is an apology by Ayanbadejo issued earliler, to give you an idea of the stir this has caused.

As I heard on talk radio, Ayanbadejo also offered up some criticisms of the Patriots' organization and threw some Spygate stink at the Pats. This is already a clash of two titans in the AFC, and not of the Tennessee variety. I'm sure Ravens coach John Hargbaugh cannot be crazy about the bulletin board material that the 10 year veteran served up to the enemy, but for us fans, it contributes to a great build up to what I expect to be a great game.

"New England does some suspect stuff on offense. Can't really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot b4 a fight" (1/13/13 - 4:41 PM)

"I made selfish comments on twitter last night that reflected poorly upon myself, my teammates, and the organization. For that I apologize." (1/14/13 - 11:30 AM)

Fans deserve an encore after the abrupt end to last year's AFC Championship Game. 

Image from www.sportsjourney.com

Ghosts of Playoffs Past - 2012 Edition

In what is becoming an annual Daily Hat Trick tradition, we will look at the greatest playoff moments in the histories of the eight teams that have reached the divisional round of the playoffs, with no repeats from past editions of "Ghosts...".

8) Stayin' Alive - January 5, 2013 - 2012 Wildcard Round, Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans

Texans 19 Bengals 13

After an 11-1 start, the Houston Texans simply needed to split their remaining four games to clinch home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Texans would go on to lose three of their next four games, with all four performances offering little inspiration to their loyal, playoff success starved fans. The Bengals were on fire heading into the game, having won seven of their last eight games.

It wasn't pretty, but the cream rose to the top. The Texans looked like the better team all year long and they played like it in front of their fans when it mattered most. Running back Arian Foster carried the team on his back and galloped for 140 yards and a touchdown. While the Texans appeared to have some sort of collective allergy that frequently repelled them from the end zone when they were close, Texans kicker Shayne Graham salvaged his team's offensive efforts, going 4 for 4 on field goals, including an early 48 yarder. The Texans defense harassed Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and smothered the Cincinnati running attack, good enough for a six point win and survival for another week.

Arian Foster takes a well deserved bow after last week's game. 1

7) More Than Beginner's Luck - December 31, 1983 - 1983 Divisional Round, Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins

Seahawks 27 Dolphins 20

The Seahawks won their first playoff game, ever at home in the Kingdome against rookie sensation John Elway and the Denver Broncos just one week prior. Their reward? A trip across country to face another future Hall of Fame rookie, Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino at the Orange Bowl. The Dolphins were tied with the Los Angeles Raiders for the AFC's best record at 12-4. This game was expected to be little more than a speed bump on the way to a showdown with the Raiders to decide the AFC's representative in Super Bowl XVIII.

The Dolphins appeared to come to get their playoff passports stamped while the Seahawks arrived on business. After three quarters, Seattle led by a point and then extended their lead, 17-13 on a Norm Johnson field goal. Marino, who would engineer many 4th quarter comebacks in his 17 year career, led the Fins down the field, regaining the lead late. Another rookie sensation, Curt Warner, the 3rd pick in the 1983 NFL Draft behind Elway and running back Eric Dickerson of the Los Angeles Rams, capped off a 113 yard performance  with his second touchdown of the day to give the Seahawks the lead for good.

The Seahawks would appear in their first (and only) AFC Championship Game in the team's history, but fall to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Raiders. It was the first road playoff win in the franchise's history. The Seahawks would not win another playoff game away from Seattle until 29 years later, last week at the Washington Redskins.

Before The Greatest Show on Turf, there was another Curt Warner burning up NFL defenses. 2

6) Cinderella Spoils The Super Rematch - January 12, 1986 - 1985 AFC Championship Game, New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

Patriots 31 Dolphins 14

Before Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning made it look easy, the New England Patriots became the first team in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl by winning three games on the road  The difference? Nobody outside of the northeast thought they had a prayer of doing so.

After extinguishing the slumping New York Jets at The Meadowlands and surviving a street fight with the Los Angeles Raiders, who were without their starting quarterback, conventional wisdom was that the Patriots would be run out of The Orange Bowl as quickly as they arrived. The Pats were a good team; the defending AFC Champion Dolphins were thought to be a dynasty in the making at the time.

Earlier in the 1985 season, the Dolphins hosted the 12-0 Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Miami was seen as the last realistic threat to a perfect regular season for the Bears. The 1985 Bears defense, considered by many football historians to be the greatest in the modern history of the game, averaged 12 points allowed per game. They gave up 31 in the first half.

Having blemished the Bears' perfect season, the expectation was that there would be a clash of the titans in Super Bowl XX in New Orleans. The Dolphins and the Killer Bees defense, however, could not stop the Patriots' running attack while Dolphins QB Dan Marino was uncharacteristically stymied by the Patriots defense. Craig James of the Pats chipped in 105 yards in a 255 yard rushing effort by New England. Marino was picked off twice and The Super Rematch was not to be and New England reached their first, ever, Super Bowl before being mauled by the Bears, 46-10 in what was the most lopsided Super Bowl, ever, at that time.

Before he was an ESPN college football analyst, Craig James put a few skins on the wall on the gridiron. 3

5) Ray's Last Dance - January 6, 2013 - 2012 AFC Wildcard Round, Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

Ravens 24 Colts 9

Ray Lewis announced, the week leading into the playoff game against the Colts, that the 2012 NFL season would be his 17th and final one. With the elimination of the sixth seeded Cincinnati Bengals, this would be the fourth seeded Ravens' final home game of the season and the final home game of Ray Lewis' Hall of Fame career.

Ray Lewis gave the crowd one more pre-game performance of his trademark dance and then turned in a performance during the game worthy of such a finale. Lewis had 13 tackles, playing his first game since tearing his triceps in October, leading his team to a win over the Colts and extending the Ravens' season, and his career, one more week.

Ray Lewis would like to save the last dance for New Orleans. 4

4) A First at Lambeau - January 4, 2003 - 2002 NFC Wildcard Round, Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers

Falcons 27 Packers 7

The Green Bay Packers are the second oldest active franchise in the NFL (Cardinals), joining the league in 1921 (established as an independent team in 1919). Prior to the 2002 season, one thing that had never happened was a Packers home playoff loss. In comes second year super-athlete quarterback Mike Vick and the revived Atlanta Falcons.

In spite of the home crown and a 20 degree temperature at kickoff at night, conditions that have always favored the Pack in postseason, the Falcons, bolstered by a defense that forced future Hall of Fame Packers quarterback Brett Favre into two interceptions, and escapability by Vick that kept the Packers' defense on the field, the Falcons jumped to a 24-0 lead from which Green Bay, and its perfect home playoff record, would never recover.

Vick running all over the Packers at Lambeau on January 4, 2003. 5 

3) Desmond Howard Takes It to The House - January 26, 1997 - Super Bowl XXXI, New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers

Packers 35 Patriots 21

The Green Bay Packers returned to the top of the mountain for the first time since Super Bowl II, when legendary Vince Lombardi was the Head Coach. The Patriots, themselves were experiencing a bit of a rebirth as coach Bill Parcells helped lead the Pats out of a nadir in the late 80s and early 90s. The Big Tuna was coaching for his third Super Bowl championship in three tries while Mike Holmgren appeared in his first of three career Super Bowl appearances as Head Coach.

The lead changed hands twice in the Big Easy and the Patriots had pulled to within six points on a big touchdown run by Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin. Then Desmond Howard, the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner who would be the MVP of Super Bowl XXXI would make the play to break the game wide open.

Did John Madden ever stop talking? 6

2) The Catch II - January 3, 1999 - 1998 NFC Wild Card Round, Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

49ers 30 Packers 27

In one of the best playoff games I have ever seen, the Niners and Packers locked horns in an instant classic. This game was historically significant for several reasons. First, it was a matchup of two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Steve Young (enshrined 2005) and Brett Favre (eligible in 2016). Second, the 49ers dethroned the two time defending NFC Champions, keeping the Packers from a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. But third, and most significant, a talented, physical receiver, known to football fans as "Terrell Owens", gave birth to the legend of the celebrity that everyone would know as "T.O.".

It's easy to forget the Owens was a pretty quiet guy his first three years in the league. 7

1) The Fumble - January 17, 1988 - 1987 AFC Championship Game, Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

Broncos 38 Browns 33

Why tell you when I can show you the historic play that sent the Broncos to the Super Bowl and broke the city of Cleveland's heart for the second year in a row?

 If you want to skip the build up, skip to 0:35. 8

1) Image from www.nydailynews.com
2) Image from www.corkytrewin.com via http://davekriegsstrikebeard.blogspot.com
3, 5) Images from www.bleacherreport.com
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6, 7, 8) Video from www.youtube.com

2012 Wild Card Weekend Preview - Special Saturday Edition

This is a special edition of the Daily Hat Trick. But it is playoff time and that is pretty special too. The 2012 NFL Playoffs are underway today with two Wild Card round games today and two more tomorrow. Without further adieu, here are my two cents on the Wild Card games.

AFC

Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) at Houston Texans (12-4)

A little deja vu in the Space City.... This is the same matchup in the same place in the same round of the 2011 NFL Playoffs, but the mood in Houston is very different. Last year, the Houston Texans won the AFC South and played their first playoff game, ever, before their home crowd. The Texans suffered injury after injury after injury but continued to truck on. "Next Man Up" became the rallying cry among Texans fans as the Texans celebrated their first playoff win in franchise history under the direction of third string rookie quarterback T.J. Yates.

This year is different. The Texans are sputtering into the playoffs, having lost three of their last four games and blowing opportunities in consecutive weeks to skip the first round and secure home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Bengals are on fire, having won seven of their last eight games. Josh Innes of KILT Sportsradio 610 in Houston is a personal friend of mine and I tune into his afternoon show almost daily. The tone and tenor of the sports talk hosts and the fans calling in sound more like people planning for the imminent death of a loved one rather that a city hosting its second NFL playoff game in the last 20 years.

Both teams are solid on both sides of the ball. But gravity is real. The Bengals are on the way up while the Texans are free falling faster than space junk returning to the atmosphere from outer space. Vegas has the Texans favored by four points. My barometer says otherwise.

Advantage: Bengals



Indianapolis Colts (11-5) at Baltimore Ravens (10-6)

There are two compelling stories at play here. One is of the resurgent Indianapolis Colts. The Colts were the worst team in the NFL and said goodbye to future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning due to uncertainty over an injury, Manning's age, and salary cap constraints. The Colts appeared to be a team in turmoil.

Making matters worse, Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia early in the season and was forced to turn his duties over to assistant Bruce Arians. Arians has since, in my opinion, earned the Coach of the Year award and their rookie quarterback, Andrew Luck, the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, has completely exceeded all expectations to vault the Colts into the playoffs with their best regular season record since their AFC Championship winning season of 2009.

The Ravens were heavy favorites in the AFC coming into the season. However, an injury in the offseason to star outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and an injury during the season to defensive captain and future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis made the Ravens appear to be moving through the season at a pedestrian pace, as opposed to that of a sprinter.

That brings us to the second story: Ray Lewis announced that he is retiring at this season. The Colts won 11 regular season games, but, several times, pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the waning minutes against inferior competition. Baltimore is simply better. They are at home. They are going to be fueled by a rush of emotion rarely seen in the playoffs.

Advantage: Ravens

Could tomorrow be the last time we see this pregame ritual? 3

NFC

Minnesota Vikings (10-6) at Green Bay Packers (11-5)

The Vikings are the biggest overachiever of the playoffs. Their defense is average. Their passing game is abominable. But they have a very a special running back in Adrian Peterson. Peterson recovered from reconstructive knee surgery to run for over 2,000 yards, coming just 9 yards short of breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Great story...but the Vikings are truly a one man show.

The Packers stumbled out of the gates to start the season, but have since won  9 of their last 11 games. While the Pack did lose the regular season finale last week in Minnesota, there is much more at stake this week and the game is being played at Lambeau Field. I can count on one hand the number of playoff games that the Packers (est. 1920) have lost at Lambeau. In addition, the Viking funeral may be underway already as multiple reports have surfaced that career backup Joe Webb will start at quarterback in place of the injured Christian Ponder (elbow). I don't plan on running out of counting fingers any time soon.

Advantage: Packers

Can Peterson pull off an encore? 2

Seattle Seahawks (11-5) at Washington Redskins (10-6)

The Redskins exceeded everyone's expectations this season under the leadership of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin, III, the second pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Washington went from being the NFC's worst team in 2011 to the 2012 NFC East division champions, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and hosting its first playoff this century.

The Seahawks, under third year head coach Pete Carroll, missed the playoffs in 2011 after winning the division in 2010. They attempted to upgrade the quarterback position by signing free agent Matt Flynn to a lucrative deal. However, the shocker was that third round draft pick Russell Wilson would rise to the top of the depth chart in training camp and steal the job from Flynn. After taking baby steps in the first half of the season, Wilson and the Seahawks surged, winning seven of eight in the latter half of the year and reaching the playoffs.

The Redskins are a great story, but they are a two man show with Griffin and running back Alfred Morris. The Seahawks are a solid team that simply needed a boost at the QB position to step up to the next level. Their defense is very good. Running back Marshawn Lynch is a one man wrecking crew. And Wilson is coming into his own at the best time of the season: the postseason.

Advantage: Seahawks

Earlier this season I posted this picture and said it was a bit premature. While very unlikely, it isn't impossible for this season...yet. 1

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

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Retweet of the Day - January 3, 2013

Today's retweet is a knee slapper! The New England Patriots have a first round bye in the 2012 AFC Playoffs, which surprises nobody. Their odds of reaching their eighth Super Bowl in franchise history and sixth in the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era, I would guess, is between 40% and 50%, which is pretty good.

In recent years, the Patriots have had to be as concerned with an NFC team knocking them out of the playoffs (in a manner of speaking) as with their AFC rivals. The New York Giants have beaten the Patriots twice, in dramatic fashion, in the Patriots' past two Super Bowl appearances. The Giants have twice denied Belichick from joining Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Knoll as the winningest Super Bowl Head Coach with four Super Bowl wins and denied Brady from tying Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the winningest Super Bowl starting QBs, also with four wins.

That leads us to today's retweet by NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes)

"Eli and the Giants have been Patriots killers in the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/lAeMwDIh"

A lot of memes are ridiculous and, while amusing, not realistic. I'm not convinced Tom Terrific didn't say something like this.

NFL Home Stretch: The NFC

Just before the start of the regular season, we previewed all 16 NFC and all 16 AFC teams. Twelve games into the season, we have some answers, some questions, and some surprises. The preseason commentary is in black; week 14 commentary is in blue. Enjoy!

NFC North

Green Bay Packers (8-4) – This team learned the hard way that an NFL team can have arguably the best quarterback in the game and the best offense in the game. When the calendar turns to January, teams have to be able to run with competence and stop the run with competence (not necessarily “excellence”, but competence). Incompetence in those areas combined with costly turnovers equal an early exit. I expect the Pack to improve in those areas in 2012.

This team is going to the playoffs and I think they have more in the tank down the home stretch than the Chicago Bears. They could be the team that flies under the radar, heading into the playoffs (if that's possible). They still have a huge hole in their running  game that should concern any Packers fan.   

Detroit Lions (4-8) – This team had a breakthrough in 2011 and as long as quarterback Matt Stafford remains healthy, they will be no one year wonder. If Kevin Smith stays healthy and resembles anything to himself in his first two years in the NFL, a deep Lions run through the NFC Playoffs is not far fetched.

No team has tasted more bitter waters of defeat than the Lions. This is a talented team that has piled up too many close losses in a game of inches. Seven of their eight losses have been by a touchdown or less, with three by three or less including two in overtime. Sunday's collapse on the final play of the game against the Indianapolis Colts was the coups de gras. 


Chicago Bears (8-4) – Speaking of “not far fetched” it is not far fetched for the Bears to be the third team from the NFC North to reach the playoffs. Their leaders on both sides of the ball are the “X” factors. If quarterback Jay Cutler stays healthy, the Bears will be in the discussion in December. Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is a bigger variable than Cutler. Cutler, by all accounts, is healthy coming into the season, Urlacher isn’t. If 80% of Brian Urlacher is better than 100% of most linebackers, the Bears could be playing in January.

The Bears have looked like a Super Bowl contender all season, but their collapse in the final minutes against the Seattle Seahawks at home on Sunday raise a red flag on this team's ability to close out games against quality opponents. I think the Bears will reach the playoffs as a Wild Card but I don't think their offensive line is good enough to carry this team through a deep run in the NFC.

Minnesota Vikings (6-6) – Their strongest asset, running back Adrian Peterson, is a big uncertainty as he is coming back from a torn ACL. I expect quarterback Christian Ponder to go through more hard knocks in his sophomore season. I think the Vikings will be more competitive than they were last season, but I also expect them to finish in the cellar again.

This team is much improved. Big props to Leslie Frasier. The Cinderella carriage ride stops here. They've lost four of their last five and the losing will continue. If you can't throw, you can't win and the Vikings' December schedule is stout.

Adrian Peterson came back strong! Too bad the rest of the offense has yet to follow. 1

NFC South

New Orleans Saints (5-7) – Prior to this preseason, I would have picked the Saints to finish second in the division to the Atlanta Falcons. However, quarterback Drew Brees, in all of his first unit reps, appears to be worth every nickel of the $40 million he is going to earn this season. “Coach on the field” gets thrown around often when describing players with top flight leadership abilities. I am beginning the think that the label may literally apply to Brees. The paycheck certainly will.

To quote Bugs Bunny, "I could be wrong, you know!" I guess coaching really does matter. I am not convinced that this team is incapable of ripping off wins in its final four games against the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, and Carolina Panthers. The problem for the Who Dat Nation is that the Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, and Washington Redskins control their own fates before the Saints do. 

Atlanta Falcons (11-1) – The coach, Mike Smith, is good. The quarterback, Matt Ryan, is good. The receivers, Roddy White and Julio Jones, are good. The home field advantage is good. I expect the Falcons to have a “good” year but, if they are playing ball in January, I expect a “grand opening…grand closing” playoff performance from this team.

They won the NFC South like they have every other season dating back to 2008. Big deal. Call me when they win a playoff game.

Carolina Panthers (3-9) – This team is the “wild card” of the division. A number of variables will need to come together, particularly the back seven on defense, for the Panthers to have a winning season. They are also stuck having to play the Saints and Falcons twice per year. However, I am “all in” on the stock of second year quarterback Cam Newton. Through him, all things on the gridiron are possible. Assuming Newton is healthy, this is going to be a very fun team to watch in 2012, playoffs or not.

This has been a fun team to watch, if they are your favorite team's opponent. This is the Hard Luck Loser of the Year in 2012, with seven of their nine losses coming by six points or less, often losing leads in the final minutes. This is not a team that anyone should want to play. Once they start figuring out how to close out games and win, they are going to be a very tough out...next year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneeers (6-6) – Expect the house cleaning that began at the end of 2011 with former Head Coach Raheem Morris to extend to underachieving quarterback Josh Freeman if his play doesn’t turn around in 2012. Rookie Head Coach Greg Schiano has a monster of a turnaround job in front of him. A competitive 7-9 record could merit Coach of The Year consideration because the Bucs are that bad!

This has been my 2012 NFC Whiskey Tango Foxtrot pick. Greg Schiano has this team believing in itself and the offense has done a complete "180". Still their secondary is aging and/or injured and cannot stop anyone. I don't know who will take the second wild Card spot in the NFC, but it won't be the Bucs. 

December has often given Falcons Fan something to cheer about. January has been another tale. 2

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles (3-9) – The NFC East is a beast! Philadelphia has had the most talented skill position players on paper since last season, but it took too long for everything to come together and the Eagles finished 8-8. Andy Reid is coaching for his job in 2012, but he’s coaching with a fully loaded, fully armored tank. The health of quarterback Mike Vick will decide this team’s fate. I do not expect Vick to start all 16 games, but I expect the Eagles to win enough games to win this division, however it comes.

What I don't know could fill a book and the NFC East could have an entire chapter in that book. Boy did I whiff on the Eagles! In my own defense, however, I said that the health of Mike Vick would decide this team's fate. His bill of health has been anything but clean and so has the Eagles' season. Andy Reid has had a great run during his 14 years in Philly, but all good things must come to an end. And his tenure will. 

New York Giants (7-5) – The defending Super Bowl champions are going to be a tough out this year. The problem is that defending champions, in recent years, have had such a big target on their backs that they only advance so far in the years following their super Bowl wins. In addition to wearing this year’s biggest bullseye, the Giants have to play the Eagles twice, the Cowboys twice, and the Redskins (who may not be a pushover with QB Robert Griffin, III) twice. They could win this division and they could make the playoffs. It will be very difficult, though.

The G-men are in a mini-funk, losing three of their last four. This is a team that sleepwalks until it can ill-afford to, then they blow everyone's doors off. I expect them to win the division and I expect them to be the toughest out in the playoffs. 

Dallas Cowboys (6-6) – I need to give this team an extra paragraph. This is the first time in five years I have entered the season not thinking that the Cowboys were the most talented team in the NFC. Last year, however, their weaknesses began to show. I cannot help but think that former Head Coach Wade Phillips, often the scapegoat for the postseason shortcomings of America’s Team, helped mask the deficiencies to the Cowboys defense.

DeMarcus Ware said in a radio interview last year that he thought he was the best player in the NFL. I am not convinced that statement is untrue, but I have to call the quality of the secondary into question. The receiving corps impressed me as being inconsistent and sometimes undisciplined. The bright spots on the offense are over-criticized quarterback Tony Romo and (should he remain healthy) running back DeMarco Murray.

This team is right in the thick of things, in theory. They are only one game back of the division lead, mathematically. Get ready for the Cowboys' Annual December Train Wreck starring Jerry Jones and co-starring Tony Romo. To borrow another Looney Tunes line from Sylvester, "Now sit back and watch the fun!"

Washington Redskins (6-6) – This team has some questionable management and coaching practices during the Mike Shanahan era. What has not been questioned is the wisdom of drafting quarterback Robert Griffin, III with the second pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He has not taken a regular season snap yet, but all pre-debut indicators could not be more promising for this future superstar. If Griffin does what I think he is capable of doing, I think he can will this previously hapless and dysfunctional team to a six win season, which would be progress.

If the Seahawks slip, I expect the Redskins to step in and take the final Wild Card spot. You heard it here first. The secondary, however, is just awful. To quote Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, "It isn't rocket science." If you cannot stop the pass, you have to out-pass your opponents and as talented as Robert Griffin, III is, the Skins aren't at that level yet.

Not probable, but not (yet) impossible. 3

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1) – The East is a beast but the West is certainly not the best. The 49ers are loaded everywhere except at quarterback and wide receiver, possibly the most important two position combination is a pass oriented league. Alex Smith had a breakthrough in 2011, but it was more of a “don’t lose the game” breakthrough rather than a playmaking breakthrough. That is not enough to win a championship in the NFL. The addition of Randy Moss could prove to be interesting. But this Niners team is not built to be pass happy and Moss, while in great shape from all accounts, is on the wrong side of age 35.

I understand the excitement over quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but there is a reason Alex Smith was the starter at the beginning of the year. Sunday's fourth quarter meltdown against the St. Louis Rams is a textbook example of why the Niners, who are among the best in the NFL in every facet of the game other than the passing game, should stick with steady and experienced Alex Smith, in spite of his limited playmaking ability. Smith has not made mistakes during the past two seasons and the Niners need to be as mistake free as possible if they expect to make it to the Super Bowl this year.

Arizona Cardinals (4-8) – The Cardinals could be a sleeper for the Wild Card if Kevin Kolb or John Skelton can just play mistake free football. I could walk on to an NFL team at age 37 if I cut my body fat down to 8% and reduced my 40 yard dash time to 4.5. I’ll let you guys connect the dots.

Well, I may have had a side of crow with my dinner if you read this after the first month of the season. Instead the Cardinals became the first team in NFL history to post a 4-8 record after a 4-0 start. 

St. Louis Rams (5-6-1) – I expect this team to win six to eight games, but if Sam Bradford has the breakthrough that coaches expected him to have through his third season, the Rams could be a surprise team in the NFC. Bradford missed much of the season due to injury last year and the support he had while healthy was non existent. The Rams made some very high-value draft picks, including defensive tackle Michael Brockers out of LSU and former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins. This team is going to give some of the “better” teams some trouble this year.

So far, I hit the bullseye on the Rams. Jeff Fisher should receive some votes for Coach of the Year as he has quickly turned this team around. They have to be taken seriously and Fisher's defensive mind is clearly reflected upon his young players. The Rams only have one opponent with a winning record for the remainder of the regular season (Seahawks). A playoff appearance is not likely, but not completely far-fetched.

Seattle Seahawks (7-5) – This team could sniff .500 or already be on the clock for the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The receivers are mediocre. The offensive line is mediocre. The defense is mediocre. Running back Marshawn Lynch is a monster, however, and rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has a high ceiling. The team will go as far as Wilson develops in his rookie year. Perhaps the Ocean Birds can exceed low expectations.

This team spent the first half of the season playing above its ability (and getting extremely lucky) and now they think they're a legit contender. Sunday's overtime win at Chicago is slowly making a believer out of me.The ball is in their court and, on paper, they only have one tough game remaining in the regular season, against the 49ers on December 23rd.

One event...one questionable call has sent a ripple effect through the NFC playoff race. 4

Tomorrow: the AFC!

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4) Image from a prior Daily Hat Trick edition (cited). 
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