Conference Championships
As predicted here, Philly and New England advanced. I won't crow over that a lot; after all, both teams were favored.
The good: As usual, the teams with the better passer rating won. McNabb (111.5) and Brady (130.5) outdueled Vick (45.5) and Roethlisberger (78.1). If you're keeping track, the higher-rated passer has now won every game except one (9-1).
The bad. Two consecutive hideous coaching decisions by Jim Mora, Jr. Third and 10k early in the fourth, shotgun formation, you try the draw? This leads to fourth and 8 at the Philly 37, down by 10 early in the fourth quarter, you've got to go for it. Instead Mohr punts it into the end zone for a net 17 yard gain. Three plays and a first down later, the Eagles are past the 37.
The Upshot: As usual, those of us who've been contending that Brady's really something special and not just a guy who lucked into a system, are seeing him make the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger had a brutal day, but he comes out with a 14-0 record as a regular season quarterback and 1-1 in the playoffs. Not bad for a rookie.
Vick got a horrendous vote of no confidence from his coach on the two bad plays highlighted above. He's the highest paid player in the league and you don't give him two cracks at it late in the game?
My guess is the Patriots are favored by 5 in the Super Bowl. At this point, I gotta figure they'll win going away. And if that happens, Brady moves into the inner ring of NFL QBs with 3 titles or more: Starr (5), Montana (4), Bradshaw (4), Herber (4), Luckman (4), Graham (3), Unitas (3) and Aikman (3), and he would do it at a younger age than any of the others in the Super Bowl era. Brady's 28, Aikman was 29, Bradshaw 30 and Montana 32.
