Divisional Playoff Round

So after another weekend of playoff football, we've learned once again that anything can happen in sports. The games started in Tennessee where the number one seed in the AFC lost to the Baltimore Ravens. The game was really more of a wrestling match that happened to have a football game going on during it, as predicted by one of the players early in the week. There was pushing and shoving after just about every play. So after the first game, we've already lost the number one seed in the AFC. Granted the Ravens have a very very good defense. Second overall in the league as a matter of fact. The difference maker may have been the loss of Chris Johnson who went down in the second half. The Ravens had no answer for Johnson but had no problem stopping his backup Lendale White. The short week for the Ravens seemed to affect them early on as they were getting pushed around by the Titans which didn't happen all year.

Now on to game two. In the game that was supposed to be the easiest to predict, the Cardinals headed to Carolina to take on the Panthers. The game started just like many predicted with the Panthers marching right down the field to take an early 7-0 lead. That's where all the predictions went out the window. The Cardinals answered right back and rolled for the rest of the game to a 33-13 win. Jake Delhomme played especially poor finishing the game with a very unimpressive line of 17-34 for 205 yards, 1 TD, 5 interceptions and a lost fumble.

Sunday held a highly anticipated matchup in the Meadowlands with the Eagles taking on the hometown Giants. It was the third time the teams met up this season with a 1-1 split where the road team pulled out the win both times. Foresight maybe? The Eagles looked to become the third team to pull the upset in as many games. Eli Manning looked to have problems throwing the ball through the swirling winds and coupled with two failed fourth and short conversions, the Eagles sent home the NFC's top seed. The loss made the Giants the first defending Super Bowl champs to lose their first game when being the number one seed. The final score of 23-11 was the first time in NFL history a game ended with that score.

The fourth and final game of the weekend was in Pittsburgh where the Steelers took on their improbable opponents, the San Deigo Chargers. The Chargers rode into Pittsburgh without LaDainian Tomlinson who was inactive for the first time in his career. They also had Pro Bowl snub, Phillip Rivers who was the league leader in touchdown passes and passer rating. But the Steelers had the league's top ranked defense. The Chargers looked to improve on their 2-0 record in postseason games in Pittsburgh, although they are 0-13 in the regular season. Strange yes, but what else do you expect from two teams who played in the NFL's first ever game to end with a final score of 11-10 just a few weeks earlier. The Chargers started with a 41 yard touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson in their opening drive. The lead was short lived when Santonio Holmes tied the game on a 67 yard punt return on San Diego's next drive. The turning point in the game was the third quarter when the Chargers held the ball for just one snap which resulted in an interception. They also had a ball bounce off a player's helmet which Pitt recovered following the interception. Big Ben and company held down the speedy Sproles and Rivers on their way to a 35-24 win. The win assured them that the Ravens have to beat them in their own house in order to play in this year's Super Bowl. The win also made sure that all four home teams didn't lose which would have been a first for the NFL Division Series. And on a fun note, the Steelers are the only team remaining whose mascot is not a bird. Chew on that.

Harbaugh to Baltimore

John Harbaugh will be the next coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and the second coach to be hired this off season after the Dolphins named Tony Sparano their new head coach. Harbaugh has spent most of his coaching time with the Philadelphia Eagles. This hiring now leaves just two head coaching jobs open, the Falcons and the Redskins. Monday may bring a third vacancy if Tony Dungy steps down as the head coach of the Colts although it is thought that he will stay one more year to welcome their new stadium. Even if Dungy decides to leave, it wouldn't be a coaching opening as much as it would be a breeze. Assistant coach Jim Caldwell has been all but promised the job when Dungy is gone.

Jerry Jones wants Garrett..Dungy Gone?

According to the Dallas Morning News, Jerry Jones will match any offer Jason Garrett recieves. Garrett has reportedly turned down the Ravens head coaching job although they are still negotiating. Garrett is now headed to ATL to interview with Arthur Blank and the Falcons. To me, this should be an easy choice. If Garrett goes to either Baltimore or Atlanta, he will have to rebuild a program, especially in Atlanta. And since Jones has already said that he will match any offer, there are no monetary reason to leave Dallas. After coming off a 13-3 season, Dallas has the players in place and is already a playoff team so why leave? Whether Phillips gets fired this year or not, which it seems like he will, Garrett has to know that he is the heir appartant. What is there to even think about?

Some more NFL coaching news..according to profootballnow.com, Tony Dungy will step down as the Colts coach so that he can follow his kids as they attend school in Tampa Bay. Assistant Coach/QB Coach Jim Caldwell will take over. Congratulations to one of the classiest guys in sports. The NFL and its fans will miss you.

NFL Coaching Notes

-According to Len Pasquarelli on ESPN.com, the Dolphins have officially hired Cowboys Assistant coach Tony Sparano as their new head coach. This is the first (or second if you count all of the firings) move made by Bill Pacells and Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland in an attempt to improve the 1-15 Dolphins. Sparano was contacted in the past to become the Saints, Chargers, and Browns Offensive Cooridinator but was not allowed by Jerry Jones. Sparano was especially disappointed by not being allowed to go to the Big Easy. Sparano wanted to go to Baylor but the feeling was not mutual and instead he finds himself being the head coach of the 2007 NFL laughing stock of the league.
-The Baltimore Ravens have reportedly offered Jason Garrett their head coaching job. According to an NFL source it's about 60-40. The offer should speed up Jerry Jones' decision on whether or not to keep Wade Phillips around. Jones doesn't want to let Garrett go, and remember he was hired before Wade last year, and was even a candidate to be their head coach. Phillips may have blown his only chance to coach "America's Team" after leading them to a 13-3 season but losing to the Giants in their only post season game.