By Gayle Saunders
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As expected the New England Patriots have made Josh McDaniels their offensive coordinator. McDaniels was originally brought in during the playoffs as an offensive assistant. After the move he was speculated to take over after offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien left for Penn State.

Belichick made it official yesterday, confirming the move just a day after suffering a super bowl loss to the New York Giants.

Just a few years back the offensive coordinator job was Josh McDaniels from 2006-08 until he left for the head coach position in Denver. McDaniels time in Denver was very brief as he only lasted just 28 games. In 2010 after starting 3-9 the Broncos let him go. This season he was the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.

Looks like Josh McDaniels has found his way back to New England a place where he;s found success in the past, lets hope that relates to the Patriots future.

By Gayle Saunders
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Nielsen is reporting that NBC’s broadcast of Super Bowl XLVI officially scored as the most-watched television program in U.S. history and that the game became the highest-rated Super Bowl in 26 years.

According to fast national data. The game clipped last year’s mark, set by FOX, with 111.3 million average viewers (compared to 111.0 in 2011) and drew a 47.0 rating with a 71 share. Among adults 18-49, the contest scored a 40.5, the best in that demo in 16 years. In total viewers, the tight game drew a total audience of 166.8 million viewers, also a high mark.

By Steve O’Reilly

The Super Bowl is American tradition, one that his engrained in our history and has become quite the media mayhem. Sometimes lost in the “party” of the big game is that there is actually a game to be played. In this segment I’m going to break down the most important factors to this game as I see it. The key points for each team to win the Tiffany Trophy and bring a Championship back to their respective city.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS:

First of all throw all the stats out. Forget the “31st Ranked Defense” talk! Why? Because the Patriots, like most teams with great Quarterbacks are a Defense that is built to get the ball back in his hands. When it comes to turnovers, the Patriots are 3rd in the NFL and while they do give up a ton of yards they also get the ball back and limit points in key times.

1st Key – Get turnovers

Next up is protection! The Patriots have faced elite pass rushers thus far in the Playoffs but as many NFL players are quick to remind you, you’re only as good as the Offensive Line, and so far so good. 1 sack vs great rushers like Elvis Dumervil, Von Miller, Terrell Suggs and the rest of the Ravens Defensive front. Against New York, the Giants honestly believe they are in Brady’s head. Jason Paul Pierre said this in regards to phantom pressure … “Yeah, he was. Yeah, he was reacting to pressure that didn’t exist and he was just throwing the ball places that there wasn’t a receiver there. So imagine us just getting there even faster and we’re actually doing our jobs and getting there and getting hits on him.”

2nd Key – Keep Tom Brady off the ground

Finally is execution. New England is going to be put into situations to succeed, that is a given due to their Head Coach and the time he has to prepare this team. They will get guys open in the passing game and will use the run game to keep the Giants off balance. When the opportunities to present themselves the Patriots must capitalize. That means no dropped balls, no bad passes and no penalties when you do get a big play.

3rd Key – take advantage when opportunities present themselves

NEW YORK GIANTS:

The Giants Offense begins with their running game. As much as everyone wants to talk about Eli and his great season, with due cause, but this team’s rushing attack has heated up as the team made the Playoff push. 115 vs the Jets including the Bradshaw bulldozing TD that capped the Battle of NY. Against the Cowboys they ran it 31 times for over 100 yards again and in the Postseason the Giants aren’t slowing down. The key to deep balls and big plays for the GMen is off play action so look for them to establish their ground game early. If they do New England’s Defense will that much more pressure to defend the entire field.

1st Key – run the ball!

Next up for New York is found in their Secondary. The Safeties for the Giants give New York advantages in this game and they need to make sure they capitalize on them. With Rob Gronkowski a little banged up it’s imperative that the Giants take the Tight Ends out of the game for New England. If Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle can cover the Tight Ends with little or limited help the Giants will be in a great spot to frustrate Tom Brady. However if the Giants can’t come up with a combination to slow down the Tight Ends then all the other Pats weapons become that much harder to stop.

2nd Key – Safeties need to limit the Tight End attack

Finally for the Giants is a key that is the first key for the Patriots, turnovers. The Giants have allowed 9 sacks this postseason but some of that is Eli realizing that sack won’t kill you but a Interception will. New York can not afford to give the ball back to New England, possessions are sacrosanct right now and it’s vital to make the most of every one. The GMen will look to run the clock down (so look for 03, 02, 01 on almost every snap) and will look to dictate the pace of the game. If they turn the ball over, that could be enough for Brady and Co’ to escape Indy with a win.

3rd Key – don’t give Tom Brady any more chances then he’s entitled too

In the end this should be a fantastic game. Styles make fights in the NFL and these two teams styles should mean a fantastic game. We’ve seen these Coaches face off before and the game within the game has begun to see who can hoist that Tiffany Trophy and bring to the parade next week!

By Gayle Saunders
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The Boston Herlad is reporting that Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will play in Super Bowl XLVI against the Giants.

Gronkowski injured his left ankle in the third quarter of the game. On film, the injury looked worse than it actually was, however the ankle injury will not prevent him from playing in Indianapolis in two weeks.
The source with inside knowledge to Gronkowski’s injury stated

“He’ll be ready to go.”

With such news Patriots nation can be delighted that their all world TE will be ready for the Giants. Right now the exact injury has not been stated .

After the game Gronkowski sported a walking boot and had tests done after the game as well. On the day Gronkowski ended up with five catches for 87 yards On the year the pro bowl tight end had 90 catches for 1,327 yards with 17 TDs which marks the best season ever for a tight end in the history of the NFL.

The St. Louis Rams made an unprecedented move to help propel international growth for the NFL, agreeing to play a slate of regular season games in the UK over the next three years.

This marks the first long-term move by a franchise to play overseas, with games beginning on Oct. 28 at London’s Wembley Stadium against the Patriots. The game will kick off at 1p and be televised live on CBS.

“The response to NFL games in the U.K. among our British fans has been exceptional,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We are confident that having the Rams host one game in the U.K. in each of the next three seasons will allow us to better serve the growing popularity of our sport beyond the borders of the United States.”

Each week Barry Bach gives you his challenge, to Beat the Barrius!! Those with the most games right will win an actual Championship Belt! Can you pick NFL games better then him? Then give it a shot!! The contest will last until the Superbowl!

BEAT THE BARRIUS! Championship Round
	MATCHUPS	DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT THE BARRIUS?
	Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots	*Grabs a flower* Flacco, Brady, Flacco, Brady, Flacco, Brady, Flacco, Brady……BRADY! Pats over Ravens.
	New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers	The 49ers beat Drew Brees and the Saints last week…..and the Giants beat Aaron Rogers and the Pack….So…..both teams can beat great qb’s…Now Eli sqaures off against Alex Smith……….San Francisco’s oline is a bit inexperienced…..but I think the 49ers find a way to squeek past the GMEN….49ers over Giants
	BALLERS	BEAT THE BARRIUS Standings	WIN TOTAL
	BARRIUS aka Barry Bach	Week 14 – 11 Games Week 15 -8 Games Week 16 -10 Games Week 17 -10 Games Wildcard Weekend Divisional Round – 1 Game	43
	KEVIN BAILEY	Week 14 – 10 Games Week 15 -10 Games Week 16 -13 Games Week 17 -11 Games Wildcard Weekend -4 Games Divisional Round – 2 Games	50
	Brandon Barger	Week 14 – 12 Games Week 15 -8 Games Week 16 -13 Games Week 17 -10 Games Wildcard Weekend	43
	Eric Clark	Week 14 – 12 Games Week 15 -10 Games Week 16 -13 Games Week 17 -14 Games Wildcard Weekend -2 games Divisional Round	53 (leader)
	Todd Harding	Week 14 – 11 Games Week 15 -9 Week 16 -13 Games Week 17 -10 Games Wildcard Weekend -2 Games Divisional Round – 2 Games	47
	Jazzy	Week 14 – 9 Games Week 15 -N/A Week 16 12 Games Week 17 -N/A	21
	Jeremiah	Week 14 – 11 Games Week 15 -10 Games Week 16 N/A Week 17 -N/A	21
	Josh Howard	Week 14 – 10 Games Week 15 -6 Games Week 16 N/A Week 17 -N/A	16
	Marty Martinez	Week 14 – 12 Games Week 15 -8 Games Week 16 -12 Games Week 17 -N/A	30
	Steve O’Reilly	Week 14 – 11 Games Week 15 -8 Games Week 16 -12 Games Week 17 -14 Wildcard Weekend -3 Games Divisional Round -2 games	50
	Paul	Week 14 – 13 Games Week 15 -7 Games Week 16 -6 Games Week 17 -	26
	Chad Smith	Week 14 -N/A Week 15 -9 Games Week 16 12 Games Week 17 -10 Wildcard Weekend – 2 Games Divisional Round – 4 Games	37
	Gayle Saunders	Week 14 – 12 Games Week 15 -9 Games Week 16-12 Games Week 17 -12 Games Wildcard Weekend -3 Games Divisional Round -2 Games	50
	Moe Hindi	Week 14 – N/A Week 15 – 7 Games Week 16 – 13 Games Week 17 14 Games Wildcard Weekend -3 Games Divisional Round -3 Games	40
	Jeff Tucker	Wildcard Weekend – Games Divisional Round -2 Games	5

The Skinny Post Crew breaks down the Championship Round of the NFL Playoffs and much more!!

By Jeremy Schloss

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1. 2011 was certainly the year of the Tight Ends, beginning and ending w/ the freaks of nature known as Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski. All the while we all forgot about the original freak of nature TE, Vernon Davis. Had Davis had Brady and Brees throwing to him all these years, we might be talking about his Canton prospects by now. Vernon was just uncover-able this weekend and the main guy I’d be scared off if I’m the Giants coming into town. Suddenly the Niner offense doesn’t look so average with Davis leading the charge. Just who on the Giants is going to cover him again???

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2. During the season, the prolific Packers offense were 6th in dropped passes, which is pretty remarkable considering the stats Rodgers still managed to put up. Against the Giants, the Packers were evidently trying to make it 1st in the league. They dropped more passes than AT&T drops calls. The Packers also found a way to fumble 3 times. It was like the entire offense thought the football had cooties. The Giant defense can take all the credit they want, but Green Bay did themselves no favors moving the ball. On top of that, we saw Rodgers actually miss a few wide open receivers during the game which almost never happens. The NY defense has certainly been better as of late, but to think they are elite again would be giving the Packer offense too much credit. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How did we not see the Denver Massacre coming? I tried to warn everyone last week that Belichick vs. Tebow was not a good match up for the young QB. Few coaches know how to exploit situations and circumstances better than ole’ Bill. All in all its hard to argue it wasn’t a successful 1st season for the Gator product though. Of course only Tebow can dominate the headlines days later after a blowout loss, with Elway giving him a vote of confidence and tabbing him the starter next season. Of course we have no idea what will happen in the draft, free agency, mini camps, ya know stuff like that. It’s amazing that a quarterback so decisive while playing the position, as good as anyone ever has, is so flip floppy with his opinion on his current QB. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Can’t say I’m surprised Jim Caldwell was fired. There was no indication he had any idea what he was doing. Peyton Manning is essentially the only player coach in the game today. I know basketball players used to do this, but pending a more diligent persons research, I don’t think it’s ever been done in the NFL. If the Colts are intent on keeping Peyton, I’d just hire some coordinators and save money on a coach. For all important decisions, which btw, half the coaches in the league screw up anyway, I’d still defer to Peyton. Any kind of clock management, time outs, or 4th down decisions I’d trust his judgment anyway over most coaches. (I’m talking to you Andy Reid and Norv Turner)

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5. For a 5th round pick out of UNC, my hats off to TJ Yates this season. It was impressive how far he helped take them. Hard not to think that if Schaub were healthy, this Texans team would have been the most complete in the AFC, perhaps even the NFL. Every other team was dominating on one side of the ball, but not both. After watching Yates play against a pretty dam good Ravens Defense on the road, I will say I have one small critique for him. He can’t be afraid to run for the first down. Teach him to slide so he doesn’t get hit, which he seemed absolutely terrified about, and I guarantee he picks up at least 2-3 more first downs in that Ravens game. He threw a number of passes into double and triple coverage when all he had to do was pull a Rodgers and scamper a few yards past the imaginary yellow line. (how did we ever watch football w/ out that line I might add…) Ray Lewis can’t still be that fast can he? Yates does that and its a different ball game. As far as the Ravens go, the fact that it came down to the last drive against a rookie 5th rounder QB at home, is rather unnerving. What are you going to do up in Gillette against what looks like a pissed off Tom Brady and his two unique weapons who play the TE position? ____________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Did Alex Smith just become a legit NFL quarterback with that performance against the Saints? He seemed completely in control on his offense. The 49’ers are supposed to beat you with their defense and run game. The defense did their best but still gave up 30 points. Gore had a nice day but only carried 13 times (half his yardage was on one big run none the less). Of all the ways the Saints thought they would loose that game, I’m sure Alex Smith torching them was last on the list. Still, going up against the Giants this week, I really wish they had a 2nd wide receiving threat. The Braylon Edwards experiment didn’t work, Josh Morgan got hurt, and Ted Ginn always looks like he is drinking Ted “Gin” when he is on the field. If San Fran loses this game, they need to look long and hard for a receiver to compliment Crabtree in the draft. Bleacher report has them selecting Gamecock receiver Ashlon Jeffery with their pick. If he lasts that long, the 49’ers brass will be so elated they might have to be revived. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Interesting match up no one is talking about. Bernard Pollard comes back to Foxboro! For those with short memories, Pollard is the safety that drilled Brady and tore his ACL a few years ago. And while Matt Cassel has probably showered him with gifts due to the millions he made off of him, I’m sure neither Tom, nor the Pats fans, nor probably the Chiefs fans as they are now stuck with Cassel as their QB, have forgiven him. You can’t tell me all of Gillette stadium will not be holding their collective breath if Pollard comes barreling in on a blitz. And to screw with the Pats, if I’m coach Harbaugh, I call this safety blitz on the first play of the game. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

8. I don’t care for the 2 Sunday games format for the conference championships. Why not split it up? Starting the game at 3 and having one right after means my whole Sunday is shot. (I know not everyone gets up past noon like me, but I get two days to sleep in a week and I take full advantage of that) I’d rather have something to look forward too on both days. And that 3 o’ clock time really kills a day. Make it either 1 or a night game. I thought this league caters to the lazy Sunday crowd? ____________________________________________________________________________________________

9. I hate that I keep picking the Giants to upset teams and they keep doing it. This week I will try and break my reverse jinx and pick no upsets in the conference championships. Pats are just two difficult to cover with Gronk and Aaron Hernandez (who runs the ball now btw… and is good at it!). Brady looks locked in and I just don’t think Joe Flacco has enough juice to out shoot the Pats. As for the NFC, the Giants are just riding way to high right now. This is the usual time where they let their fans down. The Niners defense is a thousand times better than the Atlanta and Green Bay ones that Eli has seen. Half of Manning’s yards this post season, and all season really, has been Cruz and Nicks making defenders miss and running for a ton of yardage after the catch. The Niners are not a defense that misses many tackles. Alex Smith’s confidence is at an all time high and if the Niners O-line can hold up, he will be able to find his targets down the field. The Giants will also be hard pressed to find running room against one of the top run defense of the past decade, and we all know how a lack of running game negatively affects this offense. (this is all me trying to talk myself into a Giants loss…It’s barley working….)

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10. Really cool potential Super Bowl match-ups here. 2 potential rematches if the Giants win as they would get to face either a Ravens team that beat them back in 2001 led by Trent Dilfer, who will forever be the thorn in the argument for needing an elite QB to win championships, or a re-match with Pats after the most memorable Super Bowl of this millennium. Of course it never hurts the ratings when the two of the biggest markets play each other. While Niners/Ravens would be an epic defensive battle and from a football purist standpoint, perhaps their ideal game, ratings wise and casual fan wise, not exactly drawing in those fans who watch one game a year. If you think girls will tune in to watch Flacco (and his uni-brow) vs. Smith your crazy. Meanwhile Eli vs. Brady has all the makings of an US Weekly cover story. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Extra Point: I heard my boss say Happy New Year on a conference call today. Its January 17th, time to end this form of greeting and small talk. Not sure anyone has ever come up with an official cut off date. It’s odd because no other holiday really has this affect. No one ever wished me a happy Thanksgiving in December. Or a Merry Christmas in January. I’m proposing a 2 week limit on the Happy New Year phrase. Anyone who breaks this new rule should be ignored and mocked immediately…or basically exactly how we all treated Caleb Haine all season.

By Gayle Saunders
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According to the Baltimore Sun the Ravens look to be going into the AFC Championship Game healthy against New England .

It was thought that Safety Ed Reed’s left ankle would keep him out this weekend, however it looked worse than it actually was. Reed hurt his left ankle on the last play of the game against the Texans, but after Jim Harbaugh’s announcement the savvy veteran will be able to play Sunday.

“Ed looks like he’s all right with the ankle,” Harbaugh said Monday, Everything’s come up OK as far as the X-rays.”

Harbaugh mentioned that linebackers Jameel McClain who sprained his left knee and Brandon Ayanbadejo who sprained his right quadriceps are in good shape as well to play.

“They fought through theirs,” he said. “They were right-to-the-last-minute decisions, and they came out of them OK.”