A Day Late Friend

I'm sorry, I'm sooooo rude!

My name is Brett Tafel, and I'm from the good ol' nasty of the sag. (Saginaw Michigan for those who are a little slow) And I work with Dakota at the Delta Collegiate.

For the most part this is just a short introduction of who I am. I'm not trying to draw attention to myself, so that's why I'm keeping it brief.

I'll be posting music news from a hip-hop standpoint, and anything else that is underground or independent related. I'm also a huge sports fanatic (which is why I'm the sports editor for the Delta Collegiate), so I'll be posting some game reviews of sports titles, and making my bold predictions with the playoffs in full force in the NFL, as well as some editorial stuff regarding issues with the major sports.

So speaking of the playoffs, the divisional match ups are coming up this weekend. Let's break 'em down.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers
The first game this weekend features a Seahawk team who is starting to come alive defensively (returned two interceptions for touchdowns against a surging Redskins team). Green Bay is coming off a win over a lifeless Lions team...2 weeks ago...They also rested some of their key people (Brett Farve and all their starting WRs). Not only will the Pack be off-key and off-sync against the Seattle Defense, but the Seahawks will look to revitalize Shaun Alexander's season with a big game against a stingy, but beatable Packer front 7. Seattle 27 Greenbay 17

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots
I've been waiting for this game since the Jags won at Pittsburgh. This will be one of the most watched games leading up to the Super Bowl. While the Jaguar offense is anemic compared to the Patriot offense, their defense can match up and force them to be one dimensional (which is okay for the Pats because they're a pass heavy offense to begin with). Jack Del Rio is a respectable coach, and deserves a contract extension for what he's done this season. One big decider is if Maurice Jones-Drew has a big game. It will force the Patriots out of their game plan defensively and that's one of the only ways to give yourself a chance against this team. You saw Baltimore have a big running attack against them, and you just might see the Jags have one too. But I still think that New England is just too powerful for words and the Jags just can't score enough against this defense to win this one. New England 31 Jacksonville 27

San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts
You know, the Colts have been beat twice by the San Diego Chargers in their last two meetings. But things have changed and this is the playoffs...baby. Indianapolis (Super Bowl Champs of last year) are being overlooked. That's going to change after this game. Marvin Harrison may be coming back into the lineup this game, and that spells trouble for San Diego. They'll have to rely on LT to bring them over Indy, because Phillip Rivers is not only over-rated (although not highly rated, but nonetheless) but he folds under pressure. Bob Sanders is an incredible hard hitting safety which is why they'll hold LT to only 80 yards or less. In these playoffs, you have to have a solid rushing attack along with a solid passing attack to keep the defense off balance. San Diego doesn't fit the equation. Indianapolis 28 San Diego 14


New York (Football) Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
This is my upset alert special. The G-Men are playing at a high level of football. Eli Manning and the Giants are 8-0 on the road in their last 8 games. Granted, they lost at Dallas in the season opener, but they're a different team now. Eli is playing poised, and patient football. He's not turning the ball over six times in one game like his brother Peyton, (ouch, that might have hurt, but he'll get revenge this Sunday). And the Giants defense is a solid group of guys as well with Brandon Jacobs...oh wait that's their 6-4 264lbs running back, I thought he was a defensive end, sorry. Jacobs is ridiculous, and the Giants will need him in this game to carry the load. I expect this to be a close game simply because the two are evenly matched as far as defensive fronts and offensive power. New York 14 Dallas 10


So those are my picks for this weekend, and next week I'll pick the teams who will go to the Super Bowl. But for an early prediction...

New England vs. Seattle