http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560 Why does the NFL give the Most Valuable Player award before the season is officially over? Is Peyton Manning the MVP of 2008 while sitting in one of his luxurious homes filming yet another round of commercials this&nbsp; winter? Or, are there players still making a difference in the playoffs, and hence extending their team's season after putting up stellar stats all year long, more deserving of an MVP award?&nbsp; Peyton Manning already has this year's Most Valuable Player award, but the real MVP of this season has to be Kurt Warner. I hope you saw one of the biggest playoff upsets in history tonight. The Arizona Cardinals beat the heavily favored Carolina Panthers in a rout tonight 33-13 on the Kittens home North Carolina field.&nbsp; Kurt Warner was Michael Jordan tonight. He simply dominated the game. The Cardinals still have a shot to win it all. Just imagine the two teams with the worst regular season records being opponents in this year's Super Bowl. It could still happen. &nbsp; Why does the NFL give the Most Valuable Player award before the season is officially over? Is Peyton Manning the MVP of 2008 while sitting in one of his luxurious homes filming yet another round of commercials this&nbsp; winter? Or, are there players still making a difference in the playoffs, and hence extending their team's season after putting up stellar stats all year long, more deserving of an MVP award?&nbsp; Peyton Manning already has this year's Most Valuable Player award, but the real MVP of this season has to be Kurt Warner. I hope you saw one of the biggest playoff upsets in history tonight. The Arizona Cardinals beat the heavily favored Carolina Panthers in a rout tonight 33-13 on the Kittens home North Carolina field.&nbsp; Kurt Warner was Michael Jordan tonight. He simply dominated the game. The Cardinals still have a shot to win it all. Just imagine the two teams with the worst regular season records being opponents in this year's Super Bowl. It could still happen. &nbsp; en-us Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:44:30 PST <p></p> <p>There&nbsp;are two MVP awards, one for the regular season and one for the post season (the Super Bowl MVP).</p> <p>Arizona doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against the Eagles. Nor does Baltimore or Pittsburgh.</p> <p>OxyRush will be eating a lot of crow when McNabb takes home the trophy.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358355 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358355 <p></p> <p>There&nbsp;are two MVP awards, one for the regular season and one for the post season (the Super Bowl MVP).</p> <p>Arizona doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against the Eagles. Nor does Baltimore or Pittsburgh.</p> <p>OxyRush will be eating a lot of crow when McNabb takes home the trophy.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Slow down...The Eagles aren't *that* impressive. Baltimore's defense is, however.&nbsp; All teams still alive have a real chance of winning.&nbsp; I don't see the Eagles Offense stomping over the Ravens or the Steelers.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358358 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358358 <p>Slow down...The Eagles aren't *that* impressive. Baltimore's defense is, however.&nbsp; All teams still alive have a real chance of winning.&nbsp; I don't see the Eagles Offense stomping over the Ravens or the Steelers.</p> <p></p> <p>While you're focusing on the Eagles' offense, their defense is doing all the heavy lifting.</p> <p>The Eagles' defense has only allowed a 35% 3rd down conversion rate, kept both the Vikings and Giants running games in check and have 4 turnovers in their two games against teams that don't turn the ball over.</p> <p>Pittsburgh has beaten the Ravens twice this season and will make it a hat trick this weekend.</p> <p>Pittsburgh doesn't match up well against the Eagles. The Steelers' offensive line won't be able to stop the Eagles pass rush and Roethlisberger doesn't hold up well under that kind of pressure.&nbsp; The Steeler's defense&nbsp;won't contain McNabb and he'll have no problem with time to throw.&nbsp;The Eagles will be favored in the warm weather setting of Tampa Bay and should have little trouble controlling the game.</p> <p>That's just my two cents (and my 7-1 playoff record).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In other NFL&nbsp;news, Tony Dungy has retired.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358430 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358430 <p></p> <p>While you're focusing on the Eagles' offense, their defense is doing all the heavy lifting.</p> <p>The Eagles' defense has only allowed a 35% 3rd down conversion rate, kept both the Vikings and Giants running games in check and have 4 turnovers in their two games against teams that don't turn the ball over.</p> <p>Pittsburgh has beaten the Ravens twice this season and will make it a hat trick this weekend.</p> <p>Pittsburgh doesn't match up well against the Eagles. The Steelers' offensive line won't be able to stop the Eagles pass rush and Roethlisberger doesn't hold up well under that kind of pressure.&nbsp; The Steeler's defense&nbsp;won't contain McNabb and he'll have no problem with time to throw.&nbsp;The Eagles will be favored in the warm weather setting of Tampa Bay and should have little trouble controlling the game.</p> <p>That's just my two cents (and my 7-1 playoff record).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In other NFL&nbsp;news, Tony Dungy has retired.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Heavy lifting?&nbsp; Didn't Westbrook break for a 70+ yard catch and run last week?&nbsp; I&nbsp;think Baltimore is going to have Pitt's number.&nbsp; It's hard to beat a team 3 times in a season (Baltimore is the only team to do it) plus their defense is peaking.&nbsp;Anywho,&nbsp;you seem to have it all figured out.&nbsp; We'll see 1 Feb.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358493 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358493 <p>Heavy lifting?&nbsp; Didn't Westbrook break for a 70+ yard catch and run last week?&nbsp; I&nbsp;think Baltimore is going to have Pitt's number.&nbsp; It's hard to beat a team 3 times in a season (Baltimore is the only team to do it) plus their defense is peaking.&nbsp;Anywho,&nbsp;you seem to have it all figured out.&nbsp; We'll see 1 Feb.</p> <p>Tony Dungy is a class act as a human being and football will be a little worse for wear without him.</p> <p>Anyone facing the Raven's defense ought to be a little scared --- even the Steelers. The Ravens aren't kidding around when they hit the field, and everything on it.</p> <p>I don't hold out much hope for Arizona when they play the Eagles, but to be fair I didn't think they'd get the job done against Carolina, but they juked Delhomme out of his jock strap. </p> <p>Guess that's why we watch the game. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358509 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358509 <p>Tony Dungy is a class act as a human being and football will be a little worse for wear without him.</p> <p>Anyone facing the Raven's defense ought to be a little scared --- even the Steelers. The Ravens aren't kidding around when they hit the field, and everything on it.</p> <p>I don't hold out much hope for Arizona when they play the Eagles, but to be fair I didn't think they'd get the job done against Carolina, but they juked Delhomme out of his jock strap. </p> <p>Guess that's why we watch the game. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Couldn't agree with you more about Tony Dungee, Bakoblue. However, I really believe the Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. I think Boldin will play in this NFC Championship game to keep some of the pressure off of Larry Fitzgerald. I think the Cardinals are playing with a mission, and have a leader in Kurt Warner who knows what it takes to win big games. The Cardinals defense has been superb in the playoffs and this unit shut down two of the regular seasons best balanced offenses during this playoff run. I believe the Cardinals defense will step up and hold Philly down enough for a really potent Arizona offense to score the necessary points to win the game. This game will be close.</p> <p>Everything about the AFC game seems to favor Pittsburgh. Terrell Suggs, the other amazing linebacker on the Ravens, has a sprained shoulder and probably will be very limited if he even plays. The Steelers have owned the Ravens on Heinz field and their defense is an exceptionally good one this year. The Steelers are pretty well rested, Roethlisberger excepted. All that said, I think the Ravens will pressure Big Ben, whose concussion issues must still be a worry. I could not figure out why the Chargers failed to blitz more frequently during this weekend's game to put pressure on Roethlisberger. The Ravens will bring the house, and even minus Suggs will put some big hits on Ben.&nbsp; I think the pressure will lead to Steeler turnovers. I think the Ravens win this game and go to the Super Bowl. Both losses to the Steelers this year were incredibly close affairs. This one won't be that close.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358523 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_358523 <p>Couldn't agree with you more about Tony Dungee, Bakoblue. However, I really believe the Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. I think Boldin will play in this NFC Championship game to keep some of the pressure off of Larry Fitzgerald. I think the Cardinals are playing with a mission, and have a leader in Kurt Warner who knows what it takes to win big games. The Cardinals defense has been superb in the playoffs and this unit shut down two of the regular seasons best balanced offenses during this playoff run. I believe the Cardinals defense will step up and hold Philly down enough for a really potent Arizona offense to score the necessary points to win the game. This game will be close.</p> <p>Everything about the AFC game seems to favor Pittsburgh. Terrell Suggs, the other amazing linebacker on the Ravens, has a sprained shoulder and probably will be very limited if he even plays. The Steelers have owned the Ravens on Heinz field and their defense is an exceptionally good one this year. The Steelers are pretty well rested, Roethlisberger excepted. All that said, I think the Ravens will pressure Big Ben, whose concussion issues must still be a worry. I could not figure out why the Chargers failed to blitz more frequently during this weekend's game to put pressure on Roethlisberger. The Ravens will bring the house, and even minus Suggs will put some big hits on Ben.&nbsp; I think the pressure will lead to Steeler turnovers. I think the Ravens win this game and go to the Super Bowl. Both losses to the Steelers this year were incredibly close affairs. This one won't be that close.</p> <p><strong>Arizona doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against the Eagles.</strong></p> <p>So much for absolutes.&nbsp; Cardinals are up 14-3.&nbsp; I&nbsp;hear they're currently serving crow(or is that Eagles?) &nbsp;at University of Phoenix Stadium.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360438 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360438 <p><strong>Arizona doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against the Eagles.</strong></p> <p>So much for absolutes.&nbsp; Cardinals are up 14-3.&nbsp; I&nbsp;hear they're currently serving crow(or is that Eagles?) &nbsp;at University of Phoenix Stadium.</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">JF:&nbsp; is now 14-6&nbsp;&nbsp; Sure wish McNabb would get it together!!&nbsp; The defense also!!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">AZ now inside the 15 headed for the endzone............again :-(</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">hooooo yaaaaa eagles def just stuffed 'em!!!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">oopa :-( another first down - 1 &amp; goal :-(&nbsp; damn</span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360442 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360442 <p><span style="font-size: small">JF:&nbsp; is now 14-6&nbsp;&nbsp; Sure wish McNabb would get it together!!&nbsp; The defense also!!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">AZ now inside the 15 headed for the endzone............again :-(</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">hooooo yaaaaa eagles def just stuffed 'em!!!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">oopa :-( another first down - 1 &amp; goal :-(&nbsp; damn</span></p> <p>24-19 Cards at the end of the 3rd: game on.&nbsp; Somebody let David Akers know that there's a game today (one bonehead play and a failure to execute a pat).</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360462 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360462 <p>24-19 Cards at the end of the 3rd: game on.&nbsp; Somebody let David Akers know that there's a game today (one bonehead play and a failure to execute a pat).</p> <p><span style="font-size: small">HOOOOOOOOO YAAAAAAAA!!!!!!&nbsp; GO EAGLES!!!</span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360464 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360464 <p><span style="font-size: small">HOOOOOOOOO YAAAAAAAA!!!!!!&nbsp; GO EAGLES!!!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small">YA-YA-YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!&nbsp; OMG WHAT A CATCH/THROW!!!!&nbsp; GOIN' FOR THE 2!!!&nbsp; :-(&nbsp; BUMMER</span></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360466 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/adampayne/39560/#c_360466 <p><span style="font-size: small">YA-YA-YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!&nbsp; OMG WHAT A CATCH/THROW!!!!&nbsp; GOIN' FOR THE 2!!!&nbsp; :-(&nbsp; BUMMER</span></p>