Views from the Nosebleeds: 2016 NFL Conference Championships

Sans the second half of Divisional Round Weekend, the 2016-17 NFL Playoffs haven't been competitive.  However, in case you're like me and have been disappointed with many of these weak showings, perhaps the beginning of this edition of "Views from the Nosebleeds" will cheer you up as one guy has been the playoffs' saving grace.  For back-to-back weekends, saxophonist Mike Phillips performed his National "Saxthem" version of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Georgia Dome, which I'm convinced gave the Falcons even more motivation to beat both visiting teams handily.  Not only were both renditions the best instrumental versions of the National Anthem performed at sporting events I've ever heard, but let me tell it, Phillips has turned two of the most memorable versions since the late, great Whitney Houston's stirring performance before Super Bowl XXV.  Granted, nobody compares to The Voice--I got goosebumps listening to it as I was typing this--but he showed up and showed off like few have done since '91.  Alas, since this isn't a music post, I guess we can talk about these beatdowns now...

Scribbler's Recap: NFL Conference Championship Weekend

Whelp, despite being perfect during the Divisional Round, I just can't get all of my picks right every single week.  Glass half full moment though: some poor guy out there bet on the Patriots and Cardinals and his old lady set her Jesus to the side to cuss him out for pissing away her emergency stash for her Newports.  Anyway, since we as avid football fanatics are forced to wait two weeks before the last and most important game of the NFL season, I am not making my highly-anticipated Super Bowl prediction until next Tuesday.  In fact, I'm strongly considering not even doing a typical prediction post, but I'll see how I feel by then.  However, do not fret as I am here to 1) provide a more extensive recap of the AFC and NFC Championships than I have with the other playoff games and 2) help all five of you with your growing case of #FOFSE (Fear of Football Season Ending).  Let's not waste any more time, good people...

Scribbler's Predictions: 2015 AFC and NFC Championships

So we all know the reason why I went 4-for-4 with my picks this weekend: that God-forsaken team who plays in Landover didn't have a game to blow.  Let's quickly recap what will probably be the best weekend of the playoffs--although I said the same thing last year about the Packers-Seahawks game and the Super Bowl may have been on par, so don't put all your stock in a potential "prisoner of the moment" declaration.  The Chiefs might have been a secure Knile Davis carry and a missed Marcus Peters INT away from upsetting the Patriots, but that's a strong might.  Two things about the Packers: 1) I am 85.1 percent certain that Aaron Rodgers has a particular Tupac Shakur song on repeat before every big game, and 2) the Packers would probably go to the Super Bowl every year if they didn't either have to play the Cardinals in Glendale in overtime games or play the NFC West period--a division that has knocked them out of the playoffs four straight years.  Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks do not concede quietly or easily and it always makes for an entertaining game and a boost in respect for their competitive spirit, but you can't turn the ball over, not take field goals when you already don't have the momentum, mismanage the clock, miss field goals when you do take them and go into halftime down 31-0 to a team like the Panthers.  Finally, the Steelers wish they had as sure handed of a Fitzgerald as the Cardinals as they were moving the ball en route to a potential TD that could've give them an eight-point lead.  Gotta love a weekend when even the game that looked like you could run a few errands during the second half ended up being a nail biter.  Nevertheless, more losers are weeded out as the conference championships are upon us and we move another step closer to the golden anniversary of the Super Bowl.  More important, you get to read the slightly-above-average-informed opinion that means the most to you.  Contain yourself, you faithful subscriber you...