Keith Ganzenmuller attended Skidmore College 2004 in Saratoga Springs, NY where he currently resides. He does sales for an internet marketing company and freelance sports writing for a weekly Saratoga paper. Ganzenmuller 's passion is sports writing and he hopes to pursue it as a full time career. He has always been very involved in sports. A three-sport varsity athlete throughout high school, he played four years of varsity basketball at division three Skidmore College. In college, Keith conducted a sociology study in which he surveyed over 200 athletes, wrote an extensive research report and received two post graduate grants. Ganzenmuller has become an avid golfer and golf-fan over the last several years. He is determined to improve his current 8 Handicap into the low single digits. He can be reached at kgkeith@hotmail.com. Each of the NFL's 32 teams began the regular season with the same goal: winning the Super Bowl. This weekend, eight of the 12 playoff teams begin a quest to capture football's ultimate prize.
For many teams, the Lombardi Trophy appears far out of reach. As of January 4th, the New York Jets were the biggest long shot at 40-1, while the New York Giants weren't far behind at 38-1.
Odds makers have selected the San Diego Chargers 12-5 as the favorite to raise the Lombardi Trophy this February. The Baltimore Ravens 18-5 and Chicago Bears 9-2 were next in line. While the Chargers remain the favorite, the Ravens are the most complete team.
There is no clear cut favorite this year, as each team has its own unique set of flaws. Which teams have a legitimate shot to win it all? For arguments sake, let's go with the four teams with first round byes: the Bears, Chargers, Ravens and New Orleans Saints. Then, let's throw the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots into the mix as well.
The Bears have a championship-caliber defense led by Dick Butkus-clone Brian Urlacher. During the regular season, the Bear's defense ranked sixth in NFL, second behind the Ravens among playoff teams. The Bear's rushing attack, with 1,200-yard rusher Thomas Jones is solid, ranking sixth during the regular season, third among playoff teams. Great defense and a solid ground game are prerequisites for postseason success. Unfortunately for the Bears, so is dependable quarterback play, which the Bears lack with the enigmatic Rex Grossman.
The Saints have an array of offensive weapons: an explosive passing attack and versatile ground game. However, their defense is shaky, ranking in the third tier during the regular season and fourth worst among playoff teams. The Saints road to the Super Bowl will likely go through Soldier Field in Chicago, a far cry from the Astroturf and warm confines of the Superdome. The NFL's feel good story of year will not make it out of Chicago in the NFC championship.
The Colts have an all-world quarterback in Payton Manning, a phenomenal vertical passing game and a proven clutch kicker in Adam Vinatieri. The Colts also possess what might be the most porous rushing defense in the history of the NFL. If the Colts can hold Kansas City's stud running back Larry Johnson under 200 yards, they might get past the Chiefs. However, the Colts won't make it out of Baltimore where Ravens fans will be foaming at the mouth looking to devour Baltimore's former team.
The Patriots are balanced offensively and defensively. They have a proven Super Bowl quarterback in Tom Brady, and perhaps the best coach in NFL history in Bill Belichick. The Patriots enter the playoffs on a high note with three straight wins. However, they lack the offensive firepower and consistency to win four straight playoff games. To reach South Florida, the Patriots would have to win at San Diego and then likely travel to Baltimore and face the Ravens, which is too tall a task for this Patriots team.
That leaves us with the Chargers and Ravens. Offensively, the Chargers have no equal. They boast the AFC's Pro B owl starting backfield, with fullback Lorenzo Neal and MVP running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Tight end Antonio Gates is a dynamic red-zone target, and the receiving core is adequate. The Chargers defense is championship caliber and place kicker Nate Kaeding is headed to the Pro Bowl. Despite his Pro Bowl status, quarterback Philip Rivers remains a question-mark. He is, basically, a rookie and unproven in the postseason. Moreover, coach Marty Schottenheimer has a knack for coaching teams with playoff choking tendencies.
The Ravens have the league's best defense… end of discussion. Ranked number one in the NFL, this 2006 Raven defense may be superior to the one that carried them to the Super Bowl XXXV title in 2000. Ray Lewis, the team's heart and soul, is now just one among many great Raven defensive players. Jamal Lewis is inconsistent, a far cry from the power player that led the Ravens to the Super Bowl and rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2003. Nevertheless, he is still a workhorse and a 1,000 yard rusher. The Ravens offense has flourished since Brian Billick took over play calling duties from Jim Fassel. The Ravens receiving core is solid, with Todd Heap a reliable, sure-handed target. Not to mention, Matt Stover is a dependable clutch kicker.
Clearly, the Chargers have the superior offense, but Raven's QB Steve McNair is a proven postseason winner. If I had to choose between McNair and Rivers to engineer a late fourth quarter drive, I'd take McNair, the guy who's been there before, hands down.
McNair and the Ravens will defeat the Chargers in San Diego and go on to defeat the Bears in the Super Bowl. Ravens 20, Bears 14.