heftyinfo

Go Jan Go (Away)

2012-01-29T09:19:00.001-06:00

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer aka 'Old Hag' ...

Stop exposing us for the frauds we are!

Jan Brewer

Jan Brewer in a mud pack facial

Definitely NOT Jan Brewer

Lost photo of Jan Brewer?

Jan Brewer - Good hair day!

NFL Memories - Perhaps the Greatest Play in NFL History

2012-01-28T23:04:00.001-06:00

RETRO MUSIC VIDEO - Motown Sounds

2012-01-28T00:13:00.000-06:00

Indiana - Welcome to Mitch (Daniels) Land

2012-01-26T15:55:00.000-06:00

REPUBLICAN Governor Mitch Daniels and the REPUBLICAN controlled Indiana state legislature are ramming down the throats of Indiana citizens the RIGHT TO WORK FOR LESS MONEY law right now in this very moment.
Yes, that is correct citizens of the "Hoosier State," you now will be residing in "Mitch (Daniels) Land" after this bullshit legislation becomes law and forces more people to work FOR LESS MONEY.

Indiana Governor (REPUBLICAN) Mitch Daniels

Repeal Taft-Hartley (anti-labor law passed back in 1946) immediately is what needs to happen in the United States Congress so that these low life leaders (like Daniels, along with Wisconsin gov. Scott Walker, Ohio gov.John Kasich, Michigan gov. Rick Snyder, etc.) cannot enact this kind of bullshit on the good, hard working people of America any longer.

Hope you Hoosiers learned your lesson for voting for a republican governor and state assembly.

Good luck finding a decent paying job in your state as well.

State of the Union - Will the GOP Follow the President's Lead? Don't Bet On It!

2012-01-24T20:57:00.000-06:00

President Barack Obama is talking common sense and making a good play to the American people, but alas... do not bet on the Republican controlled House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate (led by the Republican filibusters) cooperating with Obama on the things he wants to do.
Hell, Indiana governor Mitch Daniels (he of the right to work FOR LESS MONEY "laws") is giving the Republican rebuttal of the State of the Union address and also Herman "Blame Yourself" Cain is representing the "Tea Baggers" party for a second rebuttal.
Huh?
Since when do we, as Americans, need rebuttals from the obstructionists known as the GOP to the President's State of the Union address?
Quite simply, we don't.

Barack Obama knocked it out of the park with his SOTU speech tonight, but now the real mudslinging will begin as the GOP will knock everything he proposed down while Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, the Republican front running presidential candidates, will continue to slam Obama.
Like they could do any better.
Gingrich belongs in federal prison and Romney is ethically challenged when it comes to business practices.

Enough said!

College Basketball Top Ten

2012-01-24T15:30:00.001-06:00

Heftyinfo Men's College Basketball Top Ten (Week ending January 22)

1. Kentucky (19-1)
2. Syracuse (20-1)
3. Missouri (18-1)
4. Ohio State (16-3)
5. Kansas (16-3)
6. North Carolina (16-3)
7. Baylor (17-2)
8. Georgetown (16-3)
9. Duke (16-3)
10. Michigan State (16-4)
10. (tie) Murray State (20-0)

SUPER BOWL Rematch - Patriots vs. Giants

2012-01-22T21:56:00.001-06:00

The New England Patriots and the New York Giants are going to face off once again (as they did four years ago) in the Super Bowl.
The Patriots beat Baltimore, 23-20 and the New York Giants toppled the San Francisco 49ers, 20-17 in overtime to advance.
Heftyinfo went two-for-two on calling these games ... so now it is on to Indianapolis and Super Bowl 46 for the Giants and Patriots in two weeks.

Patriots QB Tom Brady and Giants QB Eli Manning will face each other once again in Super Bowl 46 in two weeks.

Meet 'Yer GOP

2012-01-22T08:05:00.004-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2012 GOP Golden Child?

NFC Championship Game Preview

2012-01-21T20:16:00.002-06:00

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

The two teams playing in this Sunday's NFC Championship Game are not the ones most people would have thought just last week.
The New York Giants are playing the San Francisco 49ers in the Bay Area for the ticket to Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis in two weeks.
San Francisco won a memorable playoff game, 36-32 over the New Orleans Saints while the Giants smashed the Green Bay Packers, 37-20 to set the stage for the NFC title game.
Both teams have been playing outstanding defense in recent weeks, but the 49ers were more consistent during the regular season, compiling a 13-3 record.
The 49ers thrive on turnovers, having led the NFL in takeaways on defense with a plus 28 margin.
The Giants sacked quarterbacks with amazing regularity, getting 48 sacks during the regular season.
On offense, Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 4,933 yards while targeting a trio of talented wide receivers in Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham.
Cruz had a huge regular season while it was Nicks doing the damage with two big touchdown receptions against the Atlanta Falcons in the Wild Card Round and then providing the fireworks along with Manning in the win at Green Bay. Nicks has four touchdown receptions in the two playoff games.
Running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw provide the running game for the Giants.
The 49ers have Frank Gore leading the ground game and quarterback Alex Smith, who had a resurgent season after toiling in mediocrity for the first six seasons after being selected number one overall in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Smith hit Tight End Vernon Davis for a 14-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left last weekend to eliminate the Saints. Davis, along with Michael Crabtree and Gore, provide Smith the weapons through the air.
The two teams met in November at Candlestick Park with the 49ers defense coming up with a late stand to make the difference in a 27-20 victory.
That started the Giants on a four game tailspin that nearly kept them from making the post-season, but their late season surge continues and they just might turn the tables this time on San Francisco.

The pick here is a 20-17 win for the New York Giants, with the game possibly being decided in overtime.

AFC Championship Game Preview

2012-01-20T19:31:00.000-06:00

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots

These two teams are polar opposites facing each other for the right to go to Super Bowl 46 in two weeks.
The Ravens play good, solid defense but have a suspect offense, with many questioning quarterback Joe Flacco's abilities in big games.
The Patriots defense is awful, allowing the most yards of any of the four remaining playoff teams. However, they are head and shoulders above the rest (especially Baltimore) when it comes to offense.
Quarterback Tom Brady set a playoff record last weekend with six touchdown passes in the rout of the Denver Broncos. Tight Ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez present match up problems for opposing defenses and of course, Brady's go to guy, Wes Welker is among the league leaders in receiving.
What the game should come down to is turnovers, especially if the Patriots DO NOT commit them.
The Ravens thrive on turnovers as they can put points on the board when the defense gives them a shorter playing field. Baltimore will also need running back Ray Rice to have a big game like he did two years ago when they beat New England in the Wild Card Round.
If this happens, look for a surprise in the game with Baltimore emerging the victor as they were two years in the AFC Wild Card Round when they jumped all over the Pats on the way to an easy 33-14 decision in Foxboro.
However, the Patriots have been rolling and Brady has not been committing turnovers, so it stands to reason the Ravens won't be given the same opportunities they had last week against Houston.
It should be a good game (with weather possibly factoring in it) that could hinge on a huge break going one way or the other.

Therefore, take the Patriots, 27-17 in a well played game as Brady and company make a trip to the Super Bowl for the first time in four years.

Wisconsin Speaks - SO BE IT

2012-01-17T19:07:00.000-06:00

College Basketball Top Ten

2012-01-16T17:12:00.003-06:00

Heftyinfo Men's College Basketball Top Ten (Week ending January 15)

1. Syracuse (19-0)
2. Kentucky (17-1)
3. Baylor (17-0)
4. Duke (15-2)
5. Ohio State (16-3)
6. Missouri (16-1)
7. North Carolina (15-3)
8. Kansas (14-3)
9. Georgetown (14-3)
10. Connecticut (14-3)

NFL Playoffs - Divisional Playoff Review

2012-01-15T19:43:00.001-06:00

Just what we expected and then some surprises as well.

The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers were eliminated by the surprising New York Giants, 37-20 in Lambeau Field while the San Francisco 49ers get some late heroics to knock off the New Orleans Saints, 36-32 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.
The AFC went according to script as the New England Patriots completely destroyed the Denver Broncos, 45-10 while the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans in a defensive minded game, 20-13 to set up the AFC title game next weekend.

Eli Manning and the Giants defense strolled into Lambeau Field and punched the Packers in the mouth on Sunday afternoon.
Manning threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns with one interception to lead the way. Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks made seven catches for 165 yards and two scores, including a 66-yard touchdown grab to give New York a 10-3 lead.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers got roughed up by the Giants

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers suffered through a miserable game, passing for 264 yards and two scores with one interception. In addition, the Packers lost three fumbles and Rodgers was sacked four times by the Giants defense.

On Saturday, Drew Brees saw his team's record setting season come to a close in San Francisco as the 49ers used a late 14-yard TD pass from QB Alex Smith to tight end Vernon Davis to beat the Saints, 36-32 and advance to the NFC Championship Game.
Brees attempted 63 passes in the loss, completing 40 of them for 462 yards and four touchdowns, but the 49ers defense also picked off two passes as they raced out to a 17-0 lead in the first half.
Smith (299 passing yards and three TD) and Davis, who made seven catches for 180 yards, hooked up twice for scores for the 49ers and their defense forced FIVE Saints turnovers in the win.
So it is on to the NFC title game for the upstart Giants and 49ers.

The AFC will have the New England Patriots hosting the Baltimore Ravens in the Championship Game as Tom Brady (pictured left) passed for SIX touchdowns (A PLAYOFF RECORD) and 363 yards as the Pats made a huge statement against the Broncos, who stunned Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Round last week.
The Patriots roared out to a 35-7 halftime lead as Brady hooked up with Rob Gronkowski (10 catches for 145 yards) for three touchdowns as they outgained Denver, 509-252 in total yardage.
New England's much maligned defense bottled up the Broncos running game and sacked quarterback Tim Tebow five times.

On Sunday, the Ravens exploded out to a 17-3 first quarter lead behind a pair of touchdown passes from QB Joe Flacco, who threw for 176 yards in the win.
The Baltimore defense intercepted Houston QB T.J. Yates three times and forced a fumble as well to keep the Texans at a distance.
Texans running back Arian Foster rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Friday Night - Retro '80's Music Video

2012-01-13T22:35:00.003-06:00

NFL - Divisional Playoffs Preview

2012-01-13T16:53:00.003-06:00

For all it's worth, they might as well call this "Tebow Weekend" rather than Divisional Playoff Weekend around the NFL.
The game getting all the publicity is the Denver Broncos at the New England Patriots on Saturday night in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
It should be a good game, if you are a Patriots fan.
The Broncos will show up and their quarterback, Tim Tebow will do his thing and in the end the Patriots will emerge from this game with a resounding victory once again.
Just last month (IN DENVER) the Pats crushed the Broncos, 41-23 as New England QB Tom Brady shined in the win.
Of course, the Broncos and their genius Head Coach John Fox have had a month to prepare for this rematch with the Patriots.
Really?
The fact that Denver even made the playoffs was nothing short of a miracle in the 2011 NFL season, so what makes people think they can go into New England and BEAT the Patriots in the playoffs?
Tebow Time!

Not this time.

Final score - New England 38, Denver 17

Oh yeah, there are some other playoff games taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Let's see... the New Orleans Saints, led by record setting quarterback Drew Brees, travel to take on the San Francisco 49ers, another team that has risen from the ashes this season.
Take the Saints!

Final score - New Orleans 31, San Francisco 17

The Baltimore Ravens host the Houston Texans on Sunday and will Ravens QB Joe Flacco deliver against the rugged Houston defense?
How about Texans reserve QB T.J. Yates being able to deliver against Ray Lewis and company?
This should be a good game, even though nobody outside of Houston and Baltimore is paying any attention at all to this game.
Expect a defensive struggle as the Ravens win in a squeaker.

Final score - Baltimore 23, Houston 17

The Green Bay Packers playing in Lambeau Field in mid-January with QB Aaron Rodgers leading the way against the upstart New York Giants, a team that lost (AT HOME) to Rex Grossman and the Washington Redskins just one month ago.
Now people are actually taking the Giants against the Pack in Green Bay?
Are you kidding me?
Fast fact football fans ... the Packers demolished the Giants in a MUST WIN game for both teams last season in Lambeau Field.
What's that you say? The Packers narrowly defeated the Giants just six weeks ago (38-35) in NewYork?
Big deal!
This is the playoffs and AARON RODGERS and company will not (REPEAT... WILL NOT) be denied against the Giants, led by the legendary Eli Manning.
A side note is the Packers Offensive Coordinator, Joe Philbin, is mourning the accidental death of his son Michael this past week and that may be a factor for the Pack. However, this is a resilient team and they will emerge from the game with a win... a BIG win!

Final score - Green Bay 35, New York 21

Last Week's Record: 1-3

An Instant Classic

2012-01-12T18:20:00.000-06:00

FINAL 2011 College Football Top Ten

2012-01-10T17:13:00.002-06:00

Final Heftyinfo College Football Top Ten

1. Alabama (12-1)
2. LSU (13-1)
3. Oklahoma State (12-1)
4. Oregon (12-2)
5. Arkansas (11-2)
6. Stanford (11-2)
7. Boise State (12-1)
8. South Carolina (11-2)
9. Wisconsin (11-3)
10. Michigan State (11-3)

College Basketball Top Ten

2012-01-09T18:37:00.001-06:00

The Heftyinfo Men's College Basketball Top Ten (Week ending January 8)

1. Syracuse (17-0)
2. Kentucky (15-1)
3. North Carolina (14-2)
4. Baylor (15-0)
5. Indiana (15-1)
6. Ohio State (15-2)
7. Duke (13-2)
8. Michigan State (14-2)
9. Missouri (14-1)
10. Georgetown (13-2)

NFL - Wild Card Playoff Review

2012-01-09T09:31:00.000-06:00

Of the four NFL Playoff games that took place this weekend, perhaps none was more exciting than the inexplicable performance that Pittsburgh put on against Denver.
Granted, the Steelers went into the game with significant injuries to key players, but allowing Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow to shred the top pass defense in the NFL was downright embarrassing as the Steelers never quite looked right in this one, which cost them a shot at another possible Super Bowl appearance.

The Broncos surprised the NFL's best defense with a 29-23 overtime win in the AFC Playoff game as Tebow connected with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas for a 80-yard touchdown pass play (on the first play in OT) to advance to next weekend's Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Tim Tebow

Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions to spark the offense. Meanwhile, the Denver defense sacked Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger five times, including a huge tackle for loss late in the fourth quarter when the Steelers were driving into field goal range in the final minute of regulation.
Denver advances to play at New England next Saturday night.

Earlier on Sunday, the New York Giants defense dominated in a 24-2 win over the Atlanta Falcons in a NFC Playoff matchup.

Eli Manning

New York's defense limited the Falcons to basically nothing while quarterback Eli Manning threw for three touchdowns and the Giants racked up 172 yards rushing to dominate this one.
Atlanta managed just 64 yards rushing and 247 total yards in offense.
The Giants travel to play against the Green Bay Packers next Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, the Houston Texans won their first ever playoff game at home against the listless Cincinnati Bengals, 31-10 to advance against Baltimore next weekend.

Arian Foster

The Texans fell behind twice before reeling off 24 unanswered points to coast to the victory behind 153 yards rushing and a touchdown by Arian Foster as well as a defensive touchdown on a 29-yard interception return by J.J. Watt that turned the tide in Houston's favor just before halftime.
Rookie reserve QB T.J. Yates had a touchdown pass of 40 yards to Andre Johnson in the second half as the Texans rolled away to the easy win.
Bengals rookie QB Andy Dalton threw three interceptions in the loss.

Drew Brees

The Saturday night game in New Orleans was close for the first half of the game, but then the Saints went marching in as the real star quarterback of the playoff weekend, Drew Brees, threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-28 rout of the Detroit Lions.
Brees led the Saints on five scoring drives in the second half as the Lions simply couldn't stop the New Orleans attack.
Running back Darren Sproles added a pair of scoring runs in the win as well for the Saints, who will next play at San Francisco on Saturday afternoon in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs.

An Important Message For America

2012-01-08T20:37:00.001-06:00

NFL - WILD CARD Round Playoffs Preview

2012-01-08T07:41:00.001-06:00

The NFL Playoffs are under way and the Atlanta Falcons play the New York Giants in the Wild Card round of the playoffs today in New York.
The Pittsburgh Steelers face the surprising Denver Broncos in the AFC Wild Card game later this afternoon in what is being anticipated as a Steelers blowout in the Mile High City.
The following offers a breakdown of the two games with predictions ...

NFC Wild Card Playoff
Game - Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at New York Giants (9-7)

Breakdown: Both of these teams had up and down seasons, so anything is possible here.
The Falcons started slowly, then got it rolling before finishing in second place in the NFC South division while the Giants rode a roller coaster after a 6-2 start.
After the quick start, New York lost four in a row before winning three of the final four games, including two huge wins against Dallas, to win the NFC East division.
One can expect the Falcons to roll over the Giants in the Meadowlands Stadium (like the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins did) OR for the Giants to blow out the Falcons, which happened to Atlanta on occasion in road games this past season.
Both of the teams quarterbacks had decent seasons as Matt Ryan threw for 4,177 yards and 29 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Eli Manning passed for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdowns as well with 16 interceptions.
The difference could be in the running game as Atlanta's Michael Turner (1,340 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns) outplayed Ahmad Bradshaw (699 rush yards, nine TD) and Brandon Jacobs (571, seven TD) during the regular season.
The wide receiving corps are pretty equal between the two teams.
New York has Victor Cruz, who had a monster season with 82 catches for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns, including a record setting 99-yard TD catch. Hakeem Nicks made 76 catches for 1,192 yards and seven touchdowns.
Atlanta's Julio Jones had a big rookie year with 54 grabs for 959 yards and eight touchdowns while Roddy White made 100 catches for 1,296 yards and eight scores. The X factor could be Falcons Tight End Tony Gonzalez, who made 80 catches for 875 yards with seven touchdowns.
Will the Giants defense have an answer to slow down the veteran tight end?
The Giants MUST stop the run, as they allowed 121 yards per game this year, but if Turner is allowed to get big chunks of yardage against them, it could be a long afternoon for the Giants.
The defense also allowed 255 yards passing per game, so they have to pressure Ryan because if he gets time to pick apart the secondary, that will only add to their woes. The Giants had 48 QB sacks this year.
Meanwhile, Atlanta showed they are tough to run against, allowing just 97 yards per game while the passing defense allowed 237 yards per game. Pressuring Manning will be key for the Falcons defense, as their secondary can cover opposing receivers. The Falcons had 19 interceptions during the regular season.

Prediction: Atlanta 24, New York 20

AFC Wild Card Playoff Game - Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at Denver Broncos (8-8)

Breakdown: No contest here, right?
Well, maybe... but they still have to play this game in Denver, where the Broncos play tough defense.
Pittsburgh has the big edge at quarterback with Ben Roehtlisberger, but he has been injured the past month with a high ankle sprain and that limits his mobility.
Roethlisberger (4,077 yards passing with 21 TD and 14 INT) can shred the Denver secondary if he has the time to do so. Denver's defense sacked opposing quarterbacks 41 times during the regular season so it is vital they get to the hobbled 'Big Ben' in the game.
The main targets for Roethlisberger are Mike Wallace (71 catches, 1,193 yards and eight TD) and Antonio Brown, who made 69 catches for 1,108 yards. Tight End Heath Miller is the safety valve Big Ben looks to on a regular basis along with cagey veteran Hines Ward, who may be a factor in this one as well.
The Steelers will rely on Isaac Redman (479 yards, 4.4 ypc average, four TD) to run the football with Rashard Mendenhall out for the year with a knee injury.
Denver has Tim Tebow at QB and he has been in a huge funk the last three games, even though the team made the playoffs.
Tebow completed only 47 percent of his passes this season after taking over as the starting QB back in mid-October.
The running game is the key factor for the Broncos if they are to win this game. Denver led the league is yards rushing per game during the regular season, averaging 165 yards per game.
Tebow ran for 660 yards (5.4 ypc average) and six touchdowns while Willis McGahee gained 1,199 yards (4.8 per carry) and scored four times.
But the Pittsburgh defense allows just 100 yards per game on the ground, so something has to give in this area.
When Denver does throw the ball, Tebow looks to Eric Decker (44 catches for 612 yards and eight TD) and Demaryius Thomas, who had 32 grabs for 551 yards and four touchdowns.
Turnovers will also be a key factor to the game as they always are, especially in the post season.
The Broncos have been giving the ball away regularly in the three-game losing streak at the end of the season. But neither team really generates many turnovers, especially in the secondary. Pittsburgh had only 11 interceptions this season while the Broncos intercepted just nine passes.
One thing to remember is that while the Denver Broncos were winning six in a row from November to mid-December, they were catching teams (Jets, Chargers, Raiders, Bears) that were in big time slumps and in the case of the Bears, missing key players (Jay Cutler and Matt Forte') because of injuries.
The Steelers are not playing at their best heading into the post season and Roethlisberger is not 100 percent healthy going into this game, so it stands to reason the Broncos can spring the upset if they can hang around in this one and Tebow and company can find the "fourth quarter magic" once again.
Stay tuned.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 24, Denver 10

NFL - WILD CARD Round Playoffs Preview

2012-01-07T10:02:00.001-06:00

The 2011 NFL season is in the books and now the playoffs begin, starting today with the Cincinnati Bengals traveling to play the Houston Texans while the Detroit Lions take on the New Orleans Saints in the Big Easy in the "prime time" game tonight.
The Sunday games will feature the Atlanta Falcons going on the road to play the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Denver Broncos in the Mile High City in the final of the four weekend wild card games.

Following is a preview of the Saturday games with predictions as well ...

AFC Wild Card Playoff Game - Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at Houston Texans (10-6)

Breakdown: The Bengals roll into this one as the third place team in the AFC North while the Texans lost three in a row down the stretch after wrapping up the AFC South in early December.

Bengals QB Andy Dalton

Cincinnati is a surprise team this year that features rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, who passed for 3,398 yards in the regular season along with 20 touchdown passes and only 13 interceptions. He doesn't get rattled and make the mistakes very often that can cost teams games.
The Bengals also have running back Cedric Benson, who had a typical season with 1,067 yards rushing (3.9 ypc average) and scored six touchdowns.
The main target at wide receiver includes Dalton's favorite go-to guy, A. J. Green, who had a spectacular rookie season as well, grabbing 65 passes for 1,057 yards (16.3 ypc average) and seven touchdowns. Tight End Jermaine Gresham (56 catches, six TD) and Jerome Simpson (50 catches, 14.5 ypc average and four TD) also provide the Bengals a solid passing game.
The Texans counter with a solid one-two punch in the backfield in Arian Foster (1,224 yards rushing with 10 TD) and Ben Tate, who gained 942 yards (5.4 ypc average) and scored four times on the ground.
Houston will go with T.J. Yates at quarterback provided he is healthy enough to play after suffering a shoulder injury in the final regular season game. If Yates can't answer the bell, then veteran fill in Jake Delhomme will play.
All-everything wide receiver Andre Johnson is expected to be back after suffering through a season of misery with two hamstring injuries that limited him to just 33 catches and two touchdowns. The leading receiver for Houston is Tight End Owen Daniels with 54 grabs for 677 yards and three scores.
On defense, both teams are solid as Houston was a top five team in total defense throughout the season implementing Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips 3-4 scheme.
The Bengals were also among the top ten overall on defense, limiting opponents to just 316 yards per game, giving up 104 per game rushing and 212 passing yards per game.
The Texans can get to the quarterback as they registered 44 sacks this season while allowing only 286 yards per game (96 rushing and 190 passing) and holding opponents to an average of 17 points per game. And that was without Mario Williams (out for the season on IR list), who is the team's best pass rusher.

Fast fact: The Texans edged the Bengals in Cincinnati a month ago, 20-19 to wrap up the AFC South division. Since then, the injury bug bit them again (Yates) while the Bengals gained much needed confidence heading into the post-season by winning close games that enabled them to make it this far.

Keys to Game: The Texans must avoid long third down passing situations and keep the Bengals on their toes defensively by pounding it again and again with Foster and Tate. If they succeed in that game plan, they can win this one.
The Bengals will look to mix it up on offense and play the solid defense to keep them in it and then go for the knockout late in the game, as has been their style of play all season long. If Dalton and Green can hook up on a couple of big pass plays, that will definitely open the running game up for Benson.

Prediction: Cincinnati 20, Houston 17

NFC Wild Card Playoff Game - Detroit Lions (10-6) at New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Breakdown: The Detroit Lions are making their first playoff appearance since 1999 and playing the high scoring Saints, led by QB Drew Brees, will be no easy task.
The Saints put up 547 points (second only to Green Bay in 2011) during the regular season while the Lions scored 474 points, including 40-plus points in a game four times.
Lions QB Matthew Staafford finally had a season where he didn't miss significant time due to injuries and put up some eye-popping numbers, including 5,038 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes with just 16 interceptions.

Drew Brees had a record setting season

But Drew Brees topped all those figures as he set new NFL records with 5,476 passing yards and also had a record regular season completion percentage of 71.2 percent along with 46 TD passes and only 14 picks.
The Saints also have a running game to go with their record setting aerial attack as four running backs combined to go for 2,127 yards during the regular season.
Darren Sproles leads the way (603 yards and a 6.9 ypc average) along with Pierre Thomas (562, 5.1 ypc average), Mark Ingram (474, 3.9) and Chris Ivory (374, 4.7). In addition, Sproles also made 86 catches for 710 yards and seven touchdowns and also scored on a kick return.
Tight End Jimmy Graham provided Brees with a huge target as he hauled in 99 catches and scored 11 touchdowns. Marques Colston had 80 receptions for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns while Lance Moore had 52 grabs for 627 yards and eight scores as well.
Throw in Robert Meacham (40, 640, 6 TD) and Devery Henderson (32, 503, 2 TD) and it's easy to see that the Lions already vulnerable pass defense will be up against it in this game.
Detroit can throw the football and the Saints have been prone to get burned by the big play in the 2011 season. New Orleans allowed 260 pass yards a game, which ranked near the bottom of the league.
Stafford has perhaps the best wide receiver in the game in Calvin Johnson, who made 96 catches for a league high 1,681 yards (17.5 ypc average) and also scored 16 touchdowns.
Along with Johnson, Tight End Brandon Pettigrew made 83 catches for 777 yards and five touchdowns while Nate Burleson (73, 757, 3 TD) and Titus Young (48, 607, 6 TD) provided depth to the wide receiving corps.
Kevin Smith (356 rush yards, 4.9 ypc average and four TD) provided a lift to the ground game when Jahvid Best went out injured early in the season.
The Saints will blitz quite often on defense, which will get them into trouble on occasion and they only had 33 sacks despite the pressure.
Detroit is tough to run against, led by the volatile Ndamukong Suh up front, allowing 128 yards per game but making big stops on third down situations consistently in the regular season. Detroit's secondary had 21 interceptions in the 2011 season, including two taken back for scores while allowing 239 yards per game through the air.

Fast fact: The Saints beat the Lions in the Super Dome in the regular season, 31-17 when Suh was serving a suspension from the NFL. The Saints were 8-0 at home during the regular season, outscoring their opponents 329-143. That figures out to a 41-18 scoring edge at home for the Saints. Wow!

Keys to Game: The Lions must harass Brees consistently and force him to make mistakes, which no teams have been able to do regularly in 2011, evidenced by just 14 interceptions thrown by Brees and his only being sacked 24 times.
The same holds true for the New Orleans defense, because given time, Stafford will pick them apart as he looks downfield for Johnson for the big play.
If the Saints get their running game going early to compliment the passing game, forget it, they will DESTROY the Lions.
Detroit must stop the run and get to Brees and try to rattle him. If they can keep the scoring in the 20-30 point range, they have a shot at winning the game.

Prediction: New Orleans 45, Detroit 24

NFL - Week Seventeen Review

2012-01-02T08:16:00.001-06:00

The NFL Playoffs are set.
After a season full of surprises that gave us everything from a near undefeated season in Green Bay as well as a near winless in Indianapolis along with "Tebow Time" in Denver, the 12 teams entering the post-season are ready to get on with things next weekend and beyond.

The New York Giants rocked the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14 in the Sunday Night Football game behind 346 yards passing and three touchdowns by quarterback Eli Manning. The win clinched the NFC East title for the Giants (9-7) and left Dallas out of the playoffs.

Tim Tebow and the Broncos are struggling heading into the playoffs.

In the AFC West, the Denver Broncos (8-8) backed into the playoffs even though they lost at home to Kansas City, 7-3 as the Oakland Raiders (8-8) lost at home as well, 38-26 to the San Diego Chargers, who also finished the 2011 season with an 8-8 record.
The Kansas City defense limited Denver QB Tim Tebow to just 60 yards passing and only 16 yards rushing in the win.
Oakland could not stop the Chargers' offense as Philip Rivers passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns and Richard Goodman took a kickoff back 105 yards for a touchdown to lead the way. Raiders' QB Carson Palmer threw for 417 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, which kept them from making the playoffs.
Tennessee QB Matt Hasselbeck passed for 297 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Titans held off the Houston Texans, 23-22.
However, the Titans will not be in the post-season as a result of the New York Jets losing to Miami and Cincinnati losing to Baltimore. The complicated tie-breaker kept the Titans out of the playoffs, even though they won the game to finish 9-7, the same record as the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals fell behind by 14 points at halftime in their 24-16 setback to the Ravens, who clinched the AFC North with the win, as Heftyinfo NFL co-Player of the Week Ray Rice (pictured left) ran for 191 yards and scored on two long runs to lead the way.
The Miami Dolphins won at home, 19-17 to send defensive standout Jason Taylor, who's retiring, off in style.
The Dolphins' defense intercepted Jets' QB Mark Sanchez three times to keep the Jets (8-8), who lost their final three games of the season, out of the playoffs.
The New England Patriots sealed home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs with a 49-21 rout of the Buffalo Bills to finish 13-3 for the season.
Patriots' QB Tom Brady joined Drew Brees in shattering the 5,000 yards passing mark for a season as he threw for three TD and 338 yards while the New England defense intercepted four passes, including one for a score to complete the comeback from a 21-0 first quarter deficit.
Pittsburgh struggled but managed to defeat the host Cleveland Browns, 13-9 to finish 12-4, but may be without running back Rashard Mendenhall, who suffered a knee injury in the game, next week at Denver in the Wild Card Playoffs round.

Drew Brees had a record setting season

New Orleans routed the Carolina Panthers, 45-17 as QB Drew Brees had 389 yards (and a new NFL record of 5,476 yards passing in a season) and also had five TD passes for the second straight game as the Saints (13-3) head into the post-season on a big time roll.
The Green Bay Packers sat Aaron Rodgers for the final regular season game, but still put up huge numbers in a 45-41 win over the Detroit Lions to finish the year at 15-1 and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Reserve quarterback Matt Flynn, the Heftyinfo NFL co-Player of the Week, set a team record with 480 yards passing and had SIX touchdown passes in the win.
Detroit QB Matthew Stafford threw for 520 yards and five touchdowns in the loss, but the Lions (10-6) are the sixth seed and will face New Orleans next weekend in the playoffs.
The Atlanta Falcons (10-6) rolled to a 45-24 home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to move up to the five seed in the NFC Playoffs, where they will face the New York Giants next week.
Falcons' running back Michael Turner ran for 172 yards and two scores, including an 81-yard TD run to spark a 42-0 second quarter lead for Atlanta.
The Bucs (4-12) finished the season with ten consecutive losses and announced after the game they are firing Head Coach Raheem Morris.
San Francisco clinched a first round playoff bye as they finished 13-3 by topping the host St. Louis Rams, 34-27 as QB Alex Smith ran and threw for a touchdown and kicker David Akers also threw a TD pass on a fake field goal to pace the win.
Following the final game, the Rams announced they have fired Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo after finishing 2-14 this season. In three years, Spaguolo compiled a 10-38 record with the Rams.

Around the rest of the league ... The Chicago Bears snapped a five-game losing streak with a lack luster 17-13 win at Minnesota as Charles Tillman returned an interception for a touchdown ... Philadelphia (8-8) wrapped up a disappointing season with a 34-10 rout of the Washington Redskins as they scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to break open a tight game behind 335 yards and three TD passes from Michael Vick ... Jacksonville bested the Indianapolis Colts, 19-13 as running back Maurice Jones-Drew rumbled for 169 yards to assure the Colts will have the number one pick in the 2012 NFL Draft ... The Arizona Cardinals won 23-20 in overtime against Seattle as kicker Jay Feely drilled a 28-yard field goal to help the Cards finish at 8-8 for the season after a 1-6 start.

The Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Year is Green Bay Packers Quarterback AARON RODGERS.

By the way, Heftyinfo NFL picks finished 12-4 for the final weekend and had a FINAL RECORD of 165-91 for the 2011 season.

College Basketball Top Ten

2012-01-01T09:35:00.002-06:00

The Heftyinfo Men's College Basketball Top Ten (Week ending January 1)

1. Syracuse (15-0)
2. Kentucky (13-1)
3. North Carolina (13-2)
4. Duke (12-1)
5. Connecticut (12-1)
6. Georgetown (12-1)
7. Indiana (13-1)
8. Ohio State (13-2)
9. Baylor (13-0)
10. Missouri (13-0)

Happy New Year - Rockin' with AC/DC

2011-12-31T21:43:00.000-06:00