Well my friends, after last weekend's divisional round, which featured some of the best football games we have seen all year, here we are. This weekend it’s The AFC and NFC Conference Championships. Four teams, two games. These teams have come a long way and now each one is only one game away from making it to The Big Game, also known as The SUPERBOWL.

This is what every person on these teams has worked for since training camps started all the way back in July. To make it to this point is something to be proud of. If your team is still in it, I hope you are enjoying the ride.

Of course, only one team can win each game this weekend, that means somebody is going to go home disappointed and somebody is going to move on for a shot at winning The Superbowl.

I still have not decided on the proper tailgating treats for Sunday. Last weekend I went with chili (3 bowls consumed) and hot-dogs. This weekend I’m thinking sausages, peppers and onions. It’s a classic combo that is sure to please The Football Gods. Maybe some buffalo wings too… Yeah. Sounds good.

How about you? Let us know what you have going on for the games on Sunday.
Sunday, Jan. 21

New Orleans at Chicago: 3:00 pm – FOX

Chicago is in it’s first Conference Championship game since 1988. So why does it seem like people in Chicago are so unhappy with their team? Rex Grossman is not a perfect quarterback by any means, but he’s gotten The Bears to this point, just one game away from The Superbowl. Grossman seems to be very unpopular among Bears fans. I know he makes mistakes but at the same time, look where this team is. I can’t figure it out.

That is just my view as an outsider. Maybe I am wrong about this? Feel free to set me straight in the comments.

New Orleans is playing in the first NFC Championship game in the team’s entire history. They have an explosive offense with the exciting combination of quarterback Drew Brees and rookie running back Reggie Bush. With everything that went on with Hurricane Katrina and the City of New Orleans, this Saints team coming back to The Superdome and making it to the title game is the feel-good story of the year. I think it’s great to see. You can’t make this kind of stuff up.

New England at Indianapolis: 6:30 pm – CBS

The Patriots and Colts meet once again in the playoffs with a trip to The Superbowl on the line. This time it’s on The Colts home turf in the air conditioned comfort of the RCA Dome.

The Colts defeated The Patriots during the regular season 27-20 in a game where The Patriots turned the ball over 5 times. The Patriots have cleaned up the turnover problem since then and their receivers are clicking with Tom Brady. Defensively The Patriots are playing great as well. They are tough against the run and are very good at preventing teams from scoring once they reach the red-zone, (the area between the 20 yard-line and the End Zone.)

The mark against the Colts this year has been their inability to stop the run, but in the playoffs they have done an excellent job of handling two good running backs in Kansas City’s Larry Johnson and Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis. With Colts quarterback Peyton Manning not playing his best in the playoffs so far, it has actually been the Colts defense that has kept them in these last two playoff games and the leg of former Patriots kicker, Adam Vinatieri, that has provided the scoring for The Colts.

Expect both of these teams to lay it all on the line in this game. The Colts want to get The Patriots monkey off their back once and for all. The Patriots want to prove that they are still the team to beat in the AFC. Add in the fact that the winner moves on to The Superbowl and you’ve got the makings of a classic (and a potential heart-attack in my living room.)

Enjoy this weekends games everyone!

Ernie is just wondering what to do when this all over

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