Championship weekend …… the opportunity to get a ticket to the Super Bowl. Both division match – up’s pitted storied franchises looking to add to their already rich Super Bowl winning traditions. Through a great 2012 regular season the Ravens, 49ers, Giants and Pat’s all laid claim to why they are deserving of being champions. The Ravens lead by Ray Lewis continue to prove that defense wins championships, but how long will the window stay open for this unit with certain hall of famers possibly on their last leg. We all know that Ray Rice is a “beast”, but is Joe Flacco the QB to lead them into the future. Could they get to the Superbowl?
The 49ers were the comeback story of the season with a rookie head coach, a former number one pick in Alex Smith that no-one believe in, a tight end in Vernon Davis who former coach Mike Singeltary said they couldn’t win with. All that came together for one of the league’s top rated defenses and an offense that has enough weapons to put in you the mind frame of the 49ers of old. Could they get to the Super Bowl? The Giants were the same old Giants living through a season full of drama that only a New York team could have and a new star in wide receiver Victor Cruz step into the spotlight having all grown men ages 25 – up taking salsa lessons …….. Really Vic….. I would say “PAWS” on this but dancing salsa is appealing to all women. Yeah I signed up and got a new Tito Puente mixtape …… Le-Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Could they get to the Super Bowl? The Pat’s have done what the Pat’s do showing again that the combination of Brady and Belichick is one of the greatest the league has ever seen. The question all season has been there defense which has been “TERRIELBLE” (Charles Barkley spelling & voice), but they’re getting healthy and playing better at the right time. Could they get to the Super Bowl?
AFC CHIP
In the AFC championship game we got a rematch from last year’s first round with the Ravens traveling to Foxboro to face the Pats. For the Ravens it’s the same story there defense has gotten them to this point and the offense is much improved, but against the Pats QB Joe Flacco would need to have a solid game to keep pace with this year’s version of “Brady’s Bunch”. Hey they say defense wins championships right ….. For the Pats Brady and that offense have proven with this year’s group they have many ways to beat you …..so be ready for anybody. That is except for Ocho Cinco …… smdh just thinking about you in that “non factor” t- shirt, but hey win this game and you can say you were on a team that made it to the Super Bowl. On a serious note Ocho is a friend to the blog so we wanna send our prayers to you and your family during this time as Ocho lost his father this week. If we see this in the upcoming season of Basketball Wives though you will have officially made it to the tacky Hall Of Fame…….#realtalk
The Pats would get the ball first and in usual fashion march right down the field , but the Ravens defense was able to make the adjustment making key stops only allowing a field goal on the drive. The Ravens offense could do much in the opening quarter with a couple of quick three and outs trailing the Pats 3 – 0 at the end of the quarter. In the second quarter moved the ball down the field on a couple of big plays by QB Joe Flacco putting the ball in the red zone , but the Pats defense stepped up on a third and short play keeping them out of the end zone , thus forcing them to kick a field goal tying the game a 3 a piece. On the Pats next possession Brady was able to mix in the run and the pass getting them right down the field for touchdown by RB Ben – Jarvis Green – Ellis (This is a clear violation of Man Code # 287 which states no grown man should have more than one hyphen in their name…… really Ben…. and no he does not get a pass because he’s a member of my Haiti crew ……Nope….. just another violator…..smdh) pushing the lead to 10 – 3.
Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense would answer with a scoring drive of their own tying the game again on a touchdown pass to TE Dennis Pitta for a 10 -10 game late second quarter. The Pats would add another field goal to close the half with a 13 – 10 lead going into the intermission. In the third quarter Brady continued to look uncomfortable against the Ravens defense struggling to get the ball into the end zone and settling for a field goal pushing their lead to 16 – 10.
The Ravens offense again had answer as Joe Flacco made all the big plays early completing a number of passes before finding WR Torrey Smith on a curl route that he turned into a touchdown and a Ravens lead 17 – 16. On the kickoff Pats RB Danny Woodhead (PAWS) would fumble the ball on the return putting the Ravens in immediate scoring position and after a big play to start the drive the Pats defense would hold up only allowing a field goal pushing the Ravens lead to 20 -16. Say what you will about the Pats defense but keeping them out of the end zone on that drive was huge! Brady was able to get into a rhythm getting the ball down the field punching it in himself for the 23 – 20 lead. After a four and out by the Ravens offense the Pats got the ball back with a chance to make a couple of plays and ice the game, but as usual the Ravens defense came through again as FS Ed Reed deflected a pass on third down forcing the Pats to punt. Two minutes left make or break time for QB Joe Flacco surely against this bad Pats defense right????? Early in the drive it looked good as he made some big plays down the field and on 2nd and 1with 25 seconds on the clock he took a shot into the end zone with a pass to WR Lee Evans that looked like a game winning score, but Pats DB Sterling Moore knocked the ball out of his hands. What the Pats DB’s made a play…….. You gotta be kidding me!!!!!!! So on come the Ravens field goal unit for an attempt to tie the game. A 31 yard field goal to send the game into overtime is nothing more than an extra point for K Billy Cundiff right…….. Apparently nobody heard him say “Do Over” when he kicked it because he missed ending the game and the Ravens chances at going to the Super Bowl. Another classic matchup between these two teams with high profile offenses and defenses , but any real fan will tell you there are three parts to the game and even though Kickers don’t get any respect boy you see how valuable they are. With the 23 – 20 victory the Pats move on with a chance to win a fourth Super Bowl in the Brady / Belichick Era. For the Ravens it’s wait and see what next year brings , but they did get some good news as MLB Ray Lewis said ” I’m absolutely not retiring”.
NFC CHIP
The prime time slot was left for the Giants and the 49ers after last week’s game do I need to say who I’m rooting for ……. GO PACK GO ….all day ……cheese head on ….. no pillows …. discount double take dance ……. OK I’m sorry just had to get that off my chest …..I’m good now (deep breathe). Onto the game the 49ers defense came out and immediately let the Giants know they are for real applying constant pressure to Eli and the offense. After a quick three and out the 49ers got the ball and showed why there offense is much improved as QB Alex Smith hooked up with TE Vernon Davis for the games first score and a 7 – 0 lead.
The score would stand throughout the first quarter as the 49ers defense continued its strong play. The second quarter for the Giants offense …aka the Victor Cruz Show would be much better making one big play after another resulting in two scoring drives. A touch down grab by TE Bear Paschoe and a field goal by K Lawrence Tynes would give the Giants a 10 – 7 lead going into halftime.
The third quarter was a perfect copy of the first for the 49ers as the defense did it’s thing and the offense again put points on the board with another touchdown pass to TE Vernon Davis for a 14 – 10 lead. With the pressure that the 49ers defense was applying the game had a feeling that even with Victor Cruz putting on a show they had control of the game keeping the Giants scoreless for the quarter.
Like we saw in the Ravens vs. Pats game special teams would start to play a big part in this game as well. After a Giants punt 49ers KR / WR Kyle Williams had the ball hit the turf and bounce right into his knee allowing the Giants to recover the ball deep in 49ers territory. Eli took advantage of this opportunity finding WR Mario Manningham for the touchdown and the 17 – 14 lead. The 49ers were able to put a good drive together getting as they reached red zone after a couple of plays, but on third down they weren’t able to convert so they had to settle for a field goal by K David Akers for a 17 – 17 tie late in the fourth quarter. On the Giants next drive the 49ers defense made another big play stripping the ball from RB Ahmad Bradshaw and recovering it on the Giants side of the field, but the refs ruled the play dead wiping the turnover off the board.
So the drive continued but they weren’t able to do anything else as the 49ers defense again stood tall sending the game into overtime. Both offenses had an opportunity to score but the defenses again on both sides rose to the occasion, but on the Giants last possession they were forced to punt and again special teams would play a big part. 49ers KR/ WR Kyle Williams was back again to return the punt and what looked like a good return for a second turned into disaster as he fumbled the ball giving it back to the Giants right in scoring territory. After a couple of plays the Giants set up there K Lawrence Tynes for the game winning field goal which he made capping a 20 – 17 victory and setting up the rematch of the 07 Super Bowl Giants vs. Pats.
For the 49ers the future looks bright, but for KR/ WR Kyle Williams ……..Man you better watch your back in the Bay Area they said E-40 and his soldiers are looking for you “weebble” …….. better have the 40 water ready …. cuz …..lmbo. Hey check this pic at least he got a new endorsement deal ……. I’m sorry 9er Nation I had too………. (kanye shrug)
In this week’s version of “Say Word” I want to briefly talk about “Red Tails” the movie about the Tuskegee Airmen and the part they played in World War II. I have to say that I was already familiar with the history around the Tuskegee Airmen and their contributions during this time, but I was excited to see how Hollywood would portray this story especially with the direction of famed filmmaker George Lucas. After seeing the film I walked away with a deeper understanding of what these men went through just in the war, as the hardships they may have faced as civilians transitioned right along with them in the war. How they were presented with the first challenge of becoming pilots …passed that only to be confronted with the new challenge of hurry up and wait as the war was being fought and they were still viewed as not good enough. Ironic thing in those days to me that racism was so deep that even the opportunity to fight and possibly die for this country was deemed too big of an honor for us, but we were hung for nothing more than just being. The Airmen continued to fight to prove they deserved a chance and when the opportunity came they proved how worthy they were in the film earning a great deal of respect from the most unthinkable places. The film also captured the pilot’s individual stories of struggle, ambition, and will which had me at least questioning could I have done that? Overall a great film that I can’t wait to see again, a great conversation piece and a great inspiration for what should lay ahead for us as a people. Now African Americans have always made great contributions to this country….. better yet to the world, but the movie really leads you to examine what are the contributions that YOU are making now mean and the impact they have on others. Just think about that for a minute people …. better yet go see the movie and let’s talk about it!!!!! Til next week people…… Be Easy …… You just read The Rucker Report 
Well, Well…. All I can say is BIG BLUE! Let’s get it popping. 1 more to go. Everyone said so much negative about Eli but no1 gives him credit. He controls the game and didn’t make mistakes down the stretch. Our defence is definitely doing a great job and I feel as though defence wins championships. Check out recent history. And the Patriots D sucks. And “E-40″? WoW… “Sprinkle Me” I do feel bad for Ray Ray though. I would have loved to send him out the right way. With a L in the Bowl. And a SN: Red Tails was terrible though….