-I'm not a Pete Carroll fan by any stretch but he had his team ready to play with a good game plan and excellent play-calling. The injury to Reggie Bush didn't help matters and the second-half adjustment to take Marques Colston out of the game was brilliant. Matt Hasselbeck looked great and the game could have been over much sooner had Ben Obomanu and Mike Williams not had bad drops in the fourth quarter.
-After watching him on Saturday, would you believe me if I told you that Darren Sharper had nine interceptions and three touchdowns last year? I know he was hurt to start the year but he had no interceptions over eight games and is on the wrong side of 35; the Saints need to look elsewhere at safety next year.
-I can't remember a run like Marshawn Lynch had while he was here in Buffalo. I'm not sure we've seen a better TD run this season.
-A very questionable timeout by Jim Caldwell late in the fourth quarter. Not sure what Caldwell was thinking but great audible by Mark Sanchez to hit Braylon Edwards (who played a great game). I'm curious to see what happens with the running back situation next year in Indianapolis. Joseph Addai is a free agent, Donald Brown got zero touches Saturday and Dominic Rhodes isn't exactly in his prime.
-I'd take the Jets plus the nine points next week in New England, although I think the Patriots win (and lose in the AFC Championship game). Please give me a late holiday gift and not over-analyze this game all week…
-Dwayne Bowe getting zero targets is inexcusable. Even if he's covered, Matt Cassel has to look his way a few times a game as the team's best receiver. Speaking of Cassel, one has to wonder if something is wrong injury-wise. The last two games he's gone 20-for-51 (39 percent) for a 3.62 YPA and a TD:INT ratio of 0:5.
-Dexter McCluster has nice upside but I'm not sure why he was given six touches (22 yards) while Jamaal Charles got only 10 touches (97 yards). While they were behind, Charles only got a whopping three touches in the second half. If I'm a Chiefs fan, I'd be calling for Todd Haley's head. In a related note Thomas Jones got 15 yards on five carries, showing what a force he is. It would behoove the Chiefs to pick up a legit #2 wide receiver via free agency or the draft a to complement Bowe. It's never good when you have to sign Kevin Curtis on Wednesday to play Sunday and de-activate Chris Chambers.
-Derrick Mason and Greg Jennings were the Sunday versions of Reggie Wayne.
-Who is Vince Faraday? I loved the pilot episode of "The Cape." Apparently "Franklin" from "True Blood" did not die at Jason Stackhouse's hand and is now known as "Chess." Whenever a "little person" in a drama can take out "The Sphinx", I'm sold.
-Granted, he'll be 30 before next season but how much will Nnamdi Asomugha command on the open market? Did teams steer away from him as much as Darrelle Revis? Possibly since Asomugha had 19 tackles this year while Revis had 26.
-Despite thinking James Starks is the second-coming of Ryan Grant, the Packers need to know that Aaron Rodgers will make or break the team. Mike McCarthy's usage of time at the end of the second quarter was not good to say the least. When the Eagles brought pressure, Rodgers only got one first down off third down on a pass to Donald Driver. Other than that, Rodgers did not look good when Philly blitzed.
-Speaking of James Starks, if he is the premier running back for Green Bay, why is he returning the kickoffs? The duo of Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson looked horrible in the same role on Saturday.
-Is it possible the Eagles let Michael Vick walk and go with Kevin Kolb next year? It's unlikely but possible. Until the late interception Vick looked excellent throwing the ball, threading the needle consistently. I'm not sure he was completely healthy or comfortable all game as his eight carries was tied for the lowest amount of runs he had in a game since Week 4.
-While defending the run was supposed to be a weakness, the Packers did a great job shutting down LeSean McCoy (12 carries, 46 yards, 3.8 YPC).
-David Akers is the anti-Adam Vinatieri in the playoffs, at least this year. You can't talk me off Vinatieri as being the best clutch kicker |STAR|ever|STAR|, Captain Obvious reporting for duty here. We'll never see the same type of kicker in our lifetime ever. 50-yarder? No problem.
-How much were the Chicago Bears rooting for the Packers on Sunday? Just a thought.
-I advocated backing the dogs in each of the four games this weekend and three of them won outright. So I'm now 3-1 in the playoffs ATS; next week I'll take the Jets +9, Steelers -3.5, Atlanta -2 and Seattle +10.
-If I had to make a wager on tonight's National Championship game, I'd back the over. The line started at 76 and the immediate reaction from my family and friends was that it was ridiculously high. The line has dropped since (it's 72-74 in most places now) and I'd expect by kickoff it will be even lower. Has there ever been a National Championship game with a line this high?
-Thoughts and opinions are always welcome, hit up the comments folks.