Wow, how right was I? If only Brad Childress had listened to The Axis of Stevil Show on Saturday, he would have never sent the offense out on the field against the Saints when he got the turnover on the New Orleans ten yard line. He would have marched his special teams unit straight out there and taken the sure 3 and avoided the Brett "Middle Man" Favre and his offense turning over the ball and the Vikings would be headed to the Super Bowl. If you missed the show, you can hear it here. Here is what I said in my post about it.

On three occasions in this game, Dallas turned the ball over in field goal range. First on the 20, then on the 15, and finally on the 31. Had Minnesota just marched their kicker out there and attempted the field goal straight out the gate off of these turnovers, they would likely have netted 9 points off of them. Instead, they put the ball in the hands of Brett Farve who was able to turn a sure 9 points into 6. I guess that is amazing in it's own little way.

Now I know it wasn't Favre that turned the ball over here, but it was his offense. That having been said, let me take a moment to dispose of this notion that this game was somehow a fluke for Favre. I'm sick and tired of him being called one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Yea, you loved it when I ate the crow last week, so bear with me while I wash it down with a nice tall cold glass of Brett Favre Haterade.

Brett Favre History Lesson

A Giant Debacle

Date: Jan. 20, 2008 Score: Giants 23, Packers 20

On a frigid night in Green Bay and with a Super Bowl berth on the line, Favre faded badly in the second half of the NFC Championship game. He ended his Packer career with an ugly overtime interception to Corey Webster that the Giants converted into the game-winning field goal. Favre said good-bye to Green Bay looking old, cold, and indifferent.

Raped And Plundered

Date: Jan. 9, 2005 Score: Vikings 31, Packers 17

Minnesota visited Lambeau Field as a lightly regarded, 8-8 Wild Card team. The Packers were division champs on a late season roll. Favre responded with yet another playoff stinker, throwing four interceptions. The bad taste of this game carried over into a disastrous 2005 and led to the firing of coach Mike Sherman.

A Pack Of Birds

Date: Jan. 11, 2004 Score: Eagles 20, Packers 17

Favre led Green Bay to a first-quarter advantage in this NFC playoff contest, then seemingly disappeared for the rest of the game. Handed a chance to win in overtime, Favre heaved an ill-advised pass into the hands of Philly's Brian Dawkins. The Eagles converted the pick into the game-winning field goal.

Quoth The Falcon

Date: Jan. 4, 2003 Score: Falcons 27, Packers 7

As NFC North champs, the Packers were a big favorite going into this Wild Card matchup. Green Bay never got on track offensively, Atlanta jumped out to a big lead, and Favre killed any second half comeback attempt with poor play—a lost fumble and an interception in Green Bay's first home playoff loss in history.

Grab A Six Pick

Date: Jan. 21, 2002 Score: Rams 45, Packers 17

The hype for the "Brett Favre vs. Kurt Warner" showdown in the NFC playoffs was huge, but Favre delivered one of the worst postseason quarterback performances in history, tossing six interceptions with two returned for touchdowns.

Now, I am well aware that Brett Favre has passed Marino for all of the NFL Passing records. But understand the difference between a guy who sets records and a guy who compiles records. Despite holding all of the top passing records, Dan Marino is 8th (as of the start of the 2009 season) all time in interceptions with 252. He formerly held the record for most attempts, completions, touchdown passes, and more. The guy whose records he broke was one Fran Tarkenton, who is 5th on the all time interceptions list with 266. Brett Favre, the current holder of all of those records, is #1 on the all time interceptions list with 310. #2 isn't even close with 277. Brett Favre isn't a great quarterback who breaks records. Brett was a good quarterback who hangs around long enough to compile statistics that add up to a record.

I won't address the Brett Favre retirement issue as to speculate if he will stay or if he will go. I'm pretty sure he will schedule another cry baby press conference for the Super Bowl halftime show which will start with Brett in a purple prom dress and end in a make-out session with John Madden and yet another Super Sunday wardrobe malfunction as the two dream of retirement together. Then at some point, I'm sure we will get the reports that Brett has changed his mind. But I, personally, can't think of a better way for the second most over-rated quarterback in the history of the game to go out. 2nd, you ask? Yea, the very fact that anyone even loosely associated with an NFL franchise thought that Kordell Stewart could be a Quarterback makes him the all time most over-rated. Brett ain't far behind.

If Brett comes back, I'm sure we'll all get a few more good laughs as his fans take him seriously one more time. If he doesn't, what a fitting way for it all to end. Sure, Brett got knocked around. He got absolutely blasted by the Saint's defense. He got hit so hard that he wound up sitting on the training table trying to figure out if the team doctor was holding up 3 fingers or a pack of hot dogs. But that... check that. Nothing is an adequate excuse for that pass Brett threw at the end of the game. There was a rookie QB on the field Sunday, but he wasn't in New Orleans, and he was far more disciplined than that.

Some are pinning this loss on Brad Childress. To them I say, give me the game plan that gives 4 turnovers to the best offense in the NFL and comes away with the win. Yet with under 40 seconds in the game, that is where the Vikings were. A"do"able 56 yard field goal away from a trip to the Super Bowl in Miami. Brett Favre had the ball in his hands. He had the odds in his favor. He had to chose one of four options. 3 left you with a good chance to win, one did not. The numbers alone dictate that one has a 75% chance of selecting a winning option.

1. Snap the ball and take the knee. Not the best choice, but a 56 yard field goal is possible.

2. As he scrambled, throw the ball away. Once again, not the best, but you still have that 56 yard field goal attempt upcoming.

3. Scramble. There is a clear lane ahead of Brett. Even with his injured ankle, he is sure to get a minimum of 5 yards. This would set up a field goal attempt of between 46 and 51 yards.

4. As you scramble to your right, throw back across your body into the double coverage into the middle of the field.

3 acceptable choices, yet Brett goes with the 4th choice, which was a completely unacceptable decision.  Against all odds, Brett Favre managed to snatch defeat from the hands of victory. Why? Because Brett always does. Can you find blame elsewhere? Of course. If Peterson doesn't fumble at the Saints ten... If Childress doesn't send 12 men into the huddle... all of these scenarios I recognize. Yet there was one, and only one point where it was make or break do or die. You didn't need a great pass. Heck, you didn't even need a pass. You didn't need a great run. Truth be told, you might not have even needed a run at all. You needed an average quarterback with marginal decision skills. What you had was Brett Favre. Hence, New Orleans goes to Miami to take on Indianapolis.

Never before have I seen a Championship round that presented such polar opposites. The Colts went up against the #1 defense in the league and slowly but surely picked it apart. Manning was unbelievable. He was nearly perfect reading and adjusting to that defense. New Orleans played exactly as poorly as a team can play while advancing. Given 5 turnovers, the Saints needed all of them to convert on a long field goal after a several close calls went their way to put them in position for said field goal. They were positively horrible. I don't see the Colts having much trouble with the Saints on their way to Mannings second ring.  Indianapolis gets the win here no problem.

As for the Vikings and the Jets, let me say this. I am no Jets fan by any stretch of the imagination. I feel the need to applaud them on a great season. That having been said, let us face the fact that they overachieved and probably won't get nearly this far next year. For the Vikings, I was very impressed with their defense. Offensively, they are a pretty good team to. If they give up on this ridiculous notion that Brett Favre is the missing piece to the puzzle, they could well be on their way to the big game next year. If they rely on Brett again, look for another notorious Favre melt down to knock them out of the playoffs once again.

Let me start this all off by wrapping up my 0-2 Sunday picks. I'll start with my boldest prediction and the one that I have and will continue to receive the most criticism for. The Vikings defense laid down the law in Minnesota holding Dallas to 3 points and sending Minnesota off to the NFC Champonship Game. Oh, were you wanting me to put this the way the rest of the media does and act as if the "Ageless Brett Favre continues to amaze"? Let's take a closer look at reality here. This was a win by the Vikings Defense.

On three occasions in this game, Dallas turned the ball over in field goal range. First on the 20, then on the 15, and finally on the 31. Had Minnesota just marched their kicker out there and attempted the field goal straight out the gate off of these turnovers, they would likely have netted 9 points off of them. Instead, they put the ball in the hands of Brett Farve who was able to turn a sure 9 points into 6. I guess that is amazing in it's own little way. 

The Vikings managed to create a little controversy with their play calling inside the two minute warning. Going for the first down on 4th and 3 is fine by NFL etiquette.  Dallas stacked the box expecting a run play, which is the typical move by a team who has the game already won. Instead, Minnesota decided to steal a play out of New England's playbook and throw one into the end zone. Against a sell out run defense, Favre was finally able to produce a touchdown out of a turnover on the Dallas end of the field. Here is what Cowboys Linebacker Keith Brooking had to say about the play call. 

"I thought it was totally classless and disrespectful," Brooking said. "This is the NFL, that's not what this is about. I don't think there's a place for that ... I was looking for [Vikings coach Brad] Childress. I didn't think it was right, but they've got to see us next year. They've got to see us. You better believe I'll have that one circled on the calendar, but I say that, we get paid to stop them. I don't care what's called, but sometimes I don't think there was much class in that decision to do what he did."

Reading the comments, one can easily see that there are pretty much two sides taken by NFL fans on this outburst.  Yes, especially under Jimmie Johnson, the Cowboys have been accused of running up the score. However, the way they did it was typically lining up and running the ball down your throat there, often with a backup running-back. To throw there is classless and running up the score. I understand Brooking's frustration. But save it for the field, big guy. Your anger should be at your own offense, not the other guys. Romo and company were completely unable to move the ball against Minnesota when they really needed to. Their problems were further compounded by two missed field goals. 

So here it is, people. The Minnesota Viking defense rammed the crow down my throat and pushed their team on to the NFC Championship Game to face the New Orleans Saints who made short work of the Cardinals on Saturday. The Vikings Defense will do much better against New Orleans than did Arizona, but they will not be able to shut them down like they did the Cowboys. Look for the Saints to have little trouble with the Vikings on Sunday. I like the Saints to win by at least a touchdown. 

In Sundays other game, the Jets shocked the Chargers and whoever the heck showed up wearing the Chargers uniforms. The team that Brett Favre (yes, one last shot) couldn't get into the playoffs last year is now one game away from the Super Bowl. The problem? That one game is against the Colts. It's basically a speed bump on the road to the Super Bowl everyone expected a month ago. Colts by ten to head on to Miami to face the Saints in the big game.

I get tired of breaking down individual games, so I have decided to take a little different approach this year. Instead of matching up teams head to head, I'm going to rank each team and let the chips fall where they may. In each league, the lower number is a higher rank. Hence, the Super Bowl should include the two number 1 teams.

AFC

1. San Diego Chargers

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Baltimore Ravens

4. New York Jets

NFC

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Arizona Cardinals

4. Minnesota Vikings

As for the AFC, this is a slight change from last week (although I did not post it). I had the Bengals at 4, the Jets at 5, and the Patriots at 6. It didn't come as a shock to me that the Jets won however, because I never have any faith in Cincinnati. Nor was it any surprise that the Ravens blew out the Patriots. The days of Patriot domination have gone the way of Spygate. The team is only effective when the have cheated.

In the NFC, there was a big change. The Cowboys back to back domination of the Eagles caused me to bump them up to the 1 spot. I formerly had them at #2. Also, the Vikings only occupy the 4 spot based on their first round bye. They are, in my opinion, the weakest team in the playoffs. Here are this weekends matchups and your projected winners.

Arizona (3) @ New Orleans (2) Sat. 4:40 pm ET on FOX

Baltimore (3) @ Indianapolis (2) Sat. 8:15 pm ET on CBS

Dallas (1) @ Minnesota (4) Sun. 1:00 pm ET on FOX

N.Y. Jets (4) @ San Diego  (1) Sun. 4:40 pm ET on CBS

 The only potential I see here for an upset is the first game, Arizona at New Orleans. Other than that look for the higher ranked team to dominate.