Saturday's Wildcard wrap up

Saturday's wildcard games, became wilder then people expected as Seattle a team that was a 11 point underdogs coming in to yesterday game against the Saints last year defending Superbowl champs.

A lot of people just like last week had them not winning, and they were question all week about did they desrve to be in the playoffs, did they desrve to host a playoffs game well i think they put that to rest yesterday as Matt Hasselbeck, completed 22 passes out of 35 with 272 yards 4 touchdowns and 1 int as the Seahawks took down the Superbowl champs 41-36.

It got a little wilder later on when the Jets would face Payton Manning and the Colts which was a rematch of last year AFC Championship game, Coming in to this week's game against the Colts, Jets Head Coach told reporters that this game was personal, and that he blame Payton Manning for last year lose, and the year before last when his Ravens got beat by the Colts in 2008.

Well the game was close just like everybody thought it would as the Jets beat the Colts 17-16 when Nick Folk nail it right down the middle sending the Jets to face the Pats for the three time this year. I will have a update of all the game sunday night, and monday morning..
'

Wild card weekend.....

Well it as come to my mind that this game is surrounded by injuries of the New Orleans, Saints running game, as they prepare for the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks come Saturday's wild card match up. Early this week Chris Ivory was place on the IR list meaning he'll be out for the rest of the year, so Payton brought in DeShawn Wynn, and then a day later they put their power runner Pierre Thomas on the IR and had to bring in Joique Bell from the Eagles, but the good news out of all of this is they finally got a full recovery Reggie Bush, even with the lost last week over the visiting Tampa Bay, Bush, had one of his better games of the year finishing with 70 yards on 9 carries. He even told reporters that he was going to have to step up his game come Saturday. He added that he's not the only one, Julius jones, who as 48 carries for 193 yards on the year, will have to help out Reggie with the load as he returns to the team that cut him early this season, Then they got DeShawn Wynn, along with Joique Bell. I'm going to say their running game will be find, it's their Passing game, no doubt that Brees is one of the top quarterback in the league, and not to say he didn't have a good year because he finish the reg. season 4,620 yards and 33 touchdown, but compare to last year's 11 int's to this year's 22 int, that's what scared's me. We know they can pass, but when Drew has been pessrue this year he seem's to make more mistake throw instead of throwing them away like he did last year. The last four game of the reg. season Brees throw 6 int's, and they when 2-2 on that steak, so yea i want beat around the bush, he's got to go back doing what he did last year, instead of making bad passes which turn in to int's are they want go far in to the playoffs. Coach Payton told reporters "Yes" when ask if he had confidents that they could overcome the injury bug in the running game. He added that like anything else the role changes for the other guys meaning that Bush, Jones, and Wynn will have to pick up their game with Thomas, and Ivory out for the year. He fell much better knowing that Reggie Bush is fully recovery from his injury, he told reporters that after last week's game he thought with the carries and touches he had were encouraging to him. Payton slso experts his feelings on Drew Brees 22 int's on the year, he told reporters that they have emphasis on ball security at all position this week, not just at the quarterback positions. So if the saints are going to go up to Seattle and beat the Seahawks, they will have to pick up the running game with out Thomas and Ivory power runs, and Brees will have to learn how to throw the ball away when need are they may find themself watching next week's games at home.

After last week suprise win over the Rams to clinch a playoff berth for this week's wild card game against the New Orlean Saints. Seattle has been question about their record and did they desrve to get a playoff game, and the big question is why did they get a home game at that. Well for one Seattle play's in a very weak division, and someone had to win the division, and in my mind it came down to the top teams in that division last Sunday night, so yes they do desrve to be in the playoff's, yea having a losing recorder is'nt something to be proud about,but like Pete Carroll told the press after the Rams game he said he's not going apologizing for making the playoff's, he either added that it was kinda cool to make the playoff's after a losing season. Now would he be saying this if they wasn't in the playoff's i doubt it. Being they won their division is the reason their home for the wild card weekend, but let get to the things they will have to overcome to beat the New Orleans Saints. The good news is Matt Hasselbeck will be back on the starting line up come Saturday, but the bad news is how well will he play, i mean come on Charlie Withhurts had a good game last week, and the players came together around him. but coach Pete Carroll told reporters that Matt has been the starter all season long, and that nothing change he just wanted to make sure he was healthy in case of a playoff game. Matt finish the season with 3,001 yards 12 touchdowns, and 17 int's, so as long as he can pick apart the Saints defense, and find WR Mike William who as 2 touchdowns with 751 yard on the year he will be find. Then they have the double running game in both Marshawn Lynch who come over form Bufflo early this season and has put up 6 touchdowns on 165 carries for 573 yards, then they have Justin Forsett who's put 2 touchdowns on 118 carries for 523 yards. So if Matt can get his grub in line and the running game can brake some yeards, then the Seahawks will beable to break down the Saints defense come Saturday and they would be the first team to ever go 8-9 headed to the division playoffs.

Both of these teams met back in week 11 in the Superdome, and the Saints laid it on the Seahawks beating them 34-19, Matt Hasselbeck throw 366 yard and 1 touchdown, Mike Williams had a 109 yards on 6 passes. so look for these two to pair up once again come Saturday. Drew Brees, had 382 yards with 4 touchdowns and 2 int's Chris Ivory finish the day with 99 yards on 23 carries, and 1 touchdowns, the Saints will have to play without Chris Ivory this time around, as he was put on IR early this week. Marques Colston had a real good day as he finish with 113 yards on 8 passes, and 2 touchdowns. so if Brees can hook up with Colston and Moore, and his lates target Jimmy Graham along with Reggie Bush, and Julius Jones then the Saints will be find and be looking to get back to the Super Bowl. The Saints lost last week to Tampa Bay, but will have their eye's on the prize come Saturday, Seattle had to fight their way to get in to the playoffs, so i don't see them just laying down, it will be a hard fought game and the team that makes the least mistakes will be the one with the W at the end of the game.

NFC week 17 wrap up.......

Yes people the NFL playoff's are here, but lets go back and see how it all unfolded and fell in to place in the NFC yesterday. For one: last years Super Bowl champs New Orleans, Saints, were still in the hunt for the overall seed, but they would have to beat Tampa Bay, and have the Panthers beat the Falcons, then you had Green Bay, NY Gaints, and Tampa Bay still in the hunt for the 6 and final seed that's what you call going down to the wire. The Packers, all they had to do was to win against the Bears and they would be in. The Gaints would need to win against the Redskins, and have the Packers to lose to the Bears and they would be in, Tampa Bay had the roughest road to take, they would have to beat the saints and hope that both Packers, and Gaints lose in their games. think that confusing just wait....Their is more, yes people you still had the 6-9 Seattle Seahawks playing for a home playoff game and a divison championship against 7-8 St.Louis Rams last nite on NBC. Now that you know what was going down before the games, let me get you updated on what happen in them games and how everything panned out the way it did, and i'll give you a short and sweet playoff picture for next week wild card games.

I will start off with the Saints vs. Tampa Bay, and Panthers vs. Falcons the battle for the first seed. Yea it was easy for the Saints to just lay down and let Tampa Bay win because they were already in the playoff's next week, but they did have something to play for. A win and a Falcon lose to the Panthers and they could have grab the first seed, but Josh Freeman and co. still had a lot to play for themself. For one with a win and both the Packers, and Gaints lose they would grab the 6 seed, so when it came down to it Josh Freeman the second year quarterback for Tampa Bay finish the day with 255 yard and two touchdown one that pretty much kill the Saints hopes of a comeback when he hook up with Mike Williams for a 18 yard touchdown making the game 20-10. And the way i see it When Coach Payton seen that the Panthers were losing he when ahead and took out Brees, because no matter if they would have won, with a Falcon win the saints still would only get the 5 seed, and he wasn't going to take a chance on Brees getting injuried in a meaningless game. The Falcons needed a big win at home against the Panthers who have struggle all year to just get three wins, so everything look good for the Falcons as it seem they would grab the number 1 seed and have home field through the playoffs, this coming a week after they lose a close game against the Saints so they needed this win to get everything back on track before the playoffs started. The Falcons didn't disappoint their fans as Matt Rayn finish the day with 236 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Turner ended the day with 17 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown, as the Panthers never got close to winning with a 31-10 lose to the Falcons, with that the Falcons wrap up the divison title and home field throught out the playoffs.

This is were things got confusing you had Green Bay facing the Bears, then you had the Gaints facing the Redskins. The Gaints needed the Packers to get beat by the Bears, because the Gaints lose to Green Bay a week ago, which gave the Packers the upper hand on the 6 seed. So as i watch the Packers and Bears i thought to my mind that man the Packers are going to lose to the Bears, as the Bears lead 3-0 a till the third quarter, When Mason Crosby kick a 23 yard fieldgoal to tie the game, then the Packers put it away when Aaron Rogers hit Donald Lee for a 1 yard touchdown pass, the Bears was driving down the field with 30 sec. left in the game and would have tie the game up and sent it to overtime, but Nick Collins pick off Jay Cutler to end the game with 10-3 win and sent them to the playoffs next week, the Gaints hopes for a playoff game ended even know they beat the Redskins 17-14 defensive tackle Berry Cofield told a reporter that there locker room was the most somber winning locker room you'll ever see. going on and saying that at the end of the day they were overall loser, because they didn't acheive their goal and that was to make the playoffs.

Then their was the game that everybody talk about all week the 6-9 Seattle Seahawks vs. the 7-8 Rams, most years people would look at this game and say yea these teams have nothing to play for other then to get ready for next year, but not on this night, both of these teams were playing for the right to host a playoff game against the New Orlean Saints next Saturday. Most People gave the favorite to the Rams because of their record which in my mind wasn't any better then Seattle. Shockly the Seahawk won the game,"I wasn't so shock by it." It wasn't a big score game, as back up quarterback Charlie Whitehurst show that it doesn't take a doctor to figure out how to pick a part the Rams defense, as he finish the night with 192 yard and 1 touchdown as they broke up the dreams of Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams playoff hopes with a 16-6, and became the first team to ever make the playoffs with a losing record. Coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game that he thinks it's pretty cool to make the playoffs with a losing record, and added that somehow it happen.

South state playoffs. Ben predictions.

I have had time to look at all of the brackets and man their are a lot of rematches on tab for tonight and it's going to be a great night for so Mississippi high school playoff football. I'm going to throw my predictions out their. So! here it is.

Starting with Class 6A

Brandon at Oak Grove-Oak Grove beat Petal last week in overtime and Brandon blanket George County. Now the rematch is set and ready. Drum roll my pick is going to be........ Brandon over Oak Grove. 21-7.

GulfPort at Meridian-Gulf Port knock out Natchez last Friday night and earn a trip to Meridian to face the no. 2 team in class 6A who drop a goose egg on Ocean Spring. this is a no brainier Meridian over Gulfport 42-14.

Class 5A

Wayne County at Brookhaven- Brookhaven when down and beat Long Beach last week to shock the state. Now they will host Wayne County once again who beat Moss Point last week. this in my mind should be easy, but Brookhaven has been on playoff mode since three weeks before the playoffs. So here it goes Brookhaven over Wayne County in overtime 28-21.

Vancleave at West Jones-West Jones beat D'Iberville as Vancleave shock the people of Picayune with a win last Friday night and now get the toughest team in 5A West Jones. easy, easy , easy West Jones over Vancleave 42-7.

Class 4A

North Pike at Forrest County AHS-North Pike has come back and beaten both Greene County and Laurel the past two weeks form behind. Now they will travel to face the team that put them out of the playoffs last year Forrest County. I feel that the Jaguars have shown that this year is their year so North Pike over Forrest County 25-21.

St. Stanislaus at Mendenhall-St.Stanislaus beat Quitman last week and Mendenhall upseted Purvis last week and now finds itself traveling to St.Stanislaus to face the defending state champs. Mendenhall over St.Stanislaus 14-12.

Class 3A

Tylertown at Jefferson County (played at Alcorn State)-Tylertown beat Southeast Lauderdale last week and now will face a team at one point didn't even think they were going to make the playoffs Jefferson County who upseted Morton last week will be looking for this game as Tylertown beat them early in the season. Tylertown over Jefferson County 35-14.

Hazlehurst at Forest-The Bearcats feel that this is the year for them to win it all and after they beat Franklin County last week now they face Hazlehurst a team that took the no. 2 team down last week and will aim the do the same against Forest. Hazlehurst over Forest 21-20.

Class 2A

Mize at Lumberton-Lumbeton is coming off a big win over Puckett last week and now face's Mize Bulldogs this week who beat Scott Central last week it will be two teams clashing. Mize over Lumberton 7-0.

Taylorsville at Bassfield-this game in my mine is going to be a hard one to predict because both are really good and Bassfield won it all last year. Bassfield blanket Wesson last week as Taylorsville be Union to get here. Taylorsville over Bassfield 26-24

Class 1A

Cathedral at Dexter-I will be covering this game for the Enterprise Journal and it will be a big one in Walthall County as both these teams played each other and now they will get a rematch. As Cathedral beat Noxapater and Dexter upseted South Leake fan last week. Dexter over Cathedral 43-14.

Mt.Olive at Nanih Waiya-Nanih Waiya beat Bogue Chitto and Mt.Olive beat French Camp last week. this is also a rematch from last year. Nanih Waiya over Mt.Olive 14-7.

Race to the 6A state championship south state first round roundup.

Oak Grove made a statement when they beat Petal in overtime in the first round Friday night and now will try to get back to Jackson, but they will have to beat Brandon next week. Brandon took care of the job at hand when they beat the visiting George County Rebels 28-0. Natchez was hoping for a third straight first round win, but Gulfport had something else in mind when they crush the Bulldogs 38-27 Friday night. Ocean Spring look like a pee wee team against top rank Meridian when the Wildcats blow them out with a 22-0 win.

Natchez at Gulfport-Gulfport wasn't going to let the Bulldogs come in and beat them like Petal did the past two years and they took care of the job when the beat the Bulldogs 38-27 and now be getting prepare for a tougher game next week against Meridian in the second round. Natchez finished the season with a 9-3 record.

George County at Brandon-The Rebel came in to Friday night's game with high hope to get pass the Bulldogs, but all they did was get a big gos egg's as the Bulldog put a shut out 28-0 and now hope they can get past the Warriors of Oak Grove once again. George County finish the season with a 7-5 record.

Ocean Spring at Meridian-The Wildcats have one thing on their mind and that's South Panola in the state championship game come December if both teams get their which they blowout Ocean Spring 22-0 Friday night and now will face Gulfport. Ocean Spring finish the season with a 7-5 record.

Oak Grove at Petal-The Panthers thought after the win early this season they would take down the Warriors again Friday night and it took all four quarter and over time for Oak Grove to beat Petal 35-34 in the first round and move to round two against Brandon next week. Petal finish the season with a 9-3 record.

Race to the 5A state championship south state first round roundup

West Jones and Wayne County both won their first round games Friday night, but for Picayune they were the lone dog left out as Vancleave Bulldogs beat the Maroon Tide 34-23 and now they will travel to West Jones to face the top in the south 5A next week in the second round. West Jones took care of D'Iberville with a 31-7 to advance. Wayne County after they got a up on Moss point on their way to a 35-28 win. Now the War Eagles will face Brookhaven next week after Ole Brook rally past the top rank Long Beach 23-21 Friday night.

Brookhaven at Long Beach-No one seen this coming, but Brookhaven came in Friday night's game and upset Long Beach. The Bearcats had a dream season which became a nightmare on a fourth down drop which seal the deal for the Panthers who will have a rematch against Wayne County next Friday night. Long Beach finished the season with a 10-2 record.

Picayune at Vancleave-The Bulldogs did want a lot of people try to do this year in 5A and that was to beat the Maroon Tide and the Bulldogs kept their season alive for one week when they upset Picayune 34-23 to move on next week to play a very tough West Jones team. Picayune finished the season with a 8-3 record

D'Iberville at West Jones-West Jones is one of the completes team i have seen in the south part of the state and they show that Friday night with a win over D'Iberville 31-7 and now will focus on Vancleave coming to town next week. D'Iberville finished the season with a 5-7 record.

Moss Point at Wayne County-The War Eagle are looking to get back to the state championship after losing out over West Point last year and they made one more step closer when they beat Moss Point Friday 35-28 and now will get ready for Brookhaven next week in the second round. Moss Point finished the season with a 8-4 record.

Race to the 4A state championship south state second round roundup

I would say when the south state championship game comes in two weeks it's got to be St.Stanislaus at North Pike both of these teams have had to play come form behind the first two rounds of the playoffs. Last week North Pike won on a last minute touchdown run to secure the win and Friday night they cameback again and score in the fourth quarter to take it to over time were they score and their defense stop Laurel offense on fourth down to advance next week at Forrest County. St.Stanislaus cameback to win against Lawrence County late in the game last week and had to overcome a bad first half this week to win against Quitman. Now the will be home again to face Mendenhall. Mendenhall surprised Purvis when they beat them 27-21 to end a glory season for the Golden Tornadoes. Forrest County just made it by with a 22-17 victory over Northeast Lauderdale.

Laurel at North Pike-The Jaguars once again claw their way out of a lose when they took the game in overtime and their defense came up big for them to stop Laurel offense on fourth down in overtime to move on to the third round next week at Forrest County. Laurel finished the season with a 7-5 record.

Quitman at St.Stanislaus-The defending state champs feel like they are on a collusion to the state title game again when they came back form a poor performance in the first half to win it in the second half 28-22 and now will face Mendenhall next week at home. Quitman finished the season with a 9-5 record.

Purvis at Mendenhall-Purvis season came to a bitter ending Friday night in Mendenhall, as the Tigers beat the Gold Tornadoes who rode most of the season undefeated. Now Mendenhall travel to face defending state champs St.Stanislaus this Friday night. Purvis finished the season with a 10-2 record.

Forrest County at Northeast Lauderdale-The Trojans fought hard last Friday night against the Aggies but couldn't close the deal in time as Forrest County won a close one 22-17 and now will be home to face top rank North Pike next week for the third round. Northeast Lauderdale finished the season with a 8-5 record.