I want to say that the two losers of the NFC and AFC Championships last year (49ers and Ravens) will be in the Superbowl, simply because it felt like both of those teams lost in a rip-off way in 2011. The 49ers had those fumbles on the punts and the Ravens had a cheap call go against them in the endzone and their kicker missed the FG to win the game. Plus, the whole "rematch" effect of Giants-Patriots was too high, and they had already sold the Harbaugh Bowl during Thanksgiving 2011.
So, this year reminds me of 2002, where the two teams that lost the 2001 AFC and NFC Championships over some B.S. (Raiders and Buccaneers) kinda got the "free-pass" to the Superbowl in 2002. Consider the 2001 "Tuck Rule" game that sent the Patriots to the Superbowl to boost the country's morale after 9-11. Consider how close the Rams-Buccaneers game was (10-6), and a call late in the game could've sent the Bucs to the Superbowl. It seemed like the NFL was still giddy over "The Greatest Show on Turf" and did not want to see brothaman Shaun King or black coach Tony Dungy that year in the Superbowl. Notice the next year, with a white quarterback and a white coach, the Bucs were in the Superbowl with Gruden and Brad Johnson. (I'm just playin, but at that period of time, Mike Tomlin, Lovie Smith, and Tony Dungy had not been in a Superbowl.)
With all of that said, as I look at the way this post-season matchups will play out, it looks like the Superbowl will be the following two teams
AFC = Patriots
NFC = Falcons
Here is how I came to that conclusion:
Seahawks were 8-0 at home and 3-5 on the road. They'll host the first round, and probably win against a beat up Redskins team, but after that, the magic ends when they hit the road in Atlanta.
Texans, Bengals, Ravens, Packers are not what the media want to sell. They've already sold us those storylines. These teams are already eliminated in my book.
Since Adrian Peterson did not beat Dickerson's record, the Vikings are eliminated in my book.
1st round: Texans beat Bengals and go on to play Patriots, and Patriots mop the floor again with the Texans.
Colts beat Ravens and go for what the media wants and that is Andrew Luck vs Peyton Manning. Luke Skywalker lost to Darth Vader in the first match up, and that is what happens here. Broncos win. And you have Broncos Patriots - the match made in heaven.
NFC. 1st Round - Seahawks beat Redskins, lose to Atlanta in 2nd round. Packers beat Vikings, lost to 49ers in San Fran. Falcons play 49ers at home and win.
Patriots - Falcons.
The rookies: Andrew Luck (Colts), RG3 (Redskins), Russell Wilson (Seahawks) - they definitely want to sell us that. If they could line up Luck vs RG3 in the Superbowl they would have a forever feather tickling their hinies forever. "The Rookie Bowl". Unlikely to happen. (but they would love it.)
The 49ers have enough drama and storylines with their quarterback situation that the media could enjoy selling them, but ever since the 49ers switched to Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers have fallen out of favorite with the media. The 49ers are like the guy you caught beating off in the bathroom, everyone just kinda stays away and shys away and doesn't want to talk about it anymore.
The world wants the Rookies. Unfortunately for this reality, the Redskins play the Seahawks in the Wildcard first round. So one of the two will be eliminated right off the bat. And the Seahawks seem to only win at home. Seahawks, as a wildcard team won't play any games at home except in the wildcard round. Seahawks chances look slim. Redskins are beat up. The road to the Superbowl goes through Atlanta. They have the first round bye. They have home field advantage. Falcons are looking like the favorite. The media likes selling us Matt Ryan and their coach and Tony Gonzales, the aging wonder. But two of their starters got injured. Falcons paid the same price the Saints and Eagles played all of those years - great records, getting to playoffs and falling short. It's the Falcons turn. Matt Ryan has played all of the politics, kissed every ring, done everything to get his Falcons into the Superbowl. I don't want to see the Falcons in the Superbowl .... oh ... maybe it will be a repeat of 1998 - Broncos Falcons, and just as Elway retired after beating Falcons, Manning will too?
I used to say it would be Patriots-49ers, but looking at the logistics of the games, it looks like it will be Patriots-Falcons. The Falcons are almost a lock for the NFC. Broncos or Patriots are a lock for the AFC.
But I do recognize the Seahawks as being the hottest team in the NFL, but they would have to go 3 more games against all odds, without home field advantage.
They certainly want to sell us Peyton Manning, but Peyton Manning is aging, and if they could sell us Andrew Luck, they could sell us a product for 16 more years, whereas this would likely be Manning's last stand. I'm not sure how they're weighing their wager. Long term or short term.
We can assume they will ensure that The Patriots play The Broncos for the AFC Championship game. Manning vs Brady. The game is in Denver. It will be cold. I think Tom Brady is more equipped for the cold weather than Manning. Manning played in a dome all of those years. Brady played in the snow. I think the Patriots go all the way.
Of course, something unpredictable could happen like Ray Lewis coming back from injury and harnessing his Tim Tebow Powers to will the Ravens to victory.
