My NFL Conference Championship Preview

My Picks in the Championship Games today are:
STEELERS OVER RAVENS
The Steelers are playing their best Football. The Ravens defense has played well, but they are tired, and Joe Flacco will struggle against Pittsburgh's defense.
CARDINALS OVER EAGLES
The Arizona Cardinals have it all. A good running game, a great passing game, and a good enough defense to make it to the Super Bowl.

My NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks

CARDINALS OVER FALCONS
DOLPHINS OVER RAVENS
COLTS OVER CHARGERS
VIKINGS OVER EAGLES

Baltimore Ravens Win Last Game At Texas Stadium

The Baltimore Ravens weren't supposed to crash this party at Texas Stadium.

They did it anyway.

The Baltimore Ravens pulled off a stunning 33-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the last game ever played in Texas Stadium.

Matt Stover kicked four field goals to wipe out an early deficit, then Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain ripped off long, record breaking touchdown runs each time the Cowboys cut the defecit to just two points in the final minutes. The loss spelled doom for the Cowboys playoff hopes and head coach Wade Phillips' hope of a future with the team beyond this season.


The loss by the Cowboys clinched a playoff spot for the Carolina Panthers, who play the Giants tonight to determine who will get homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The Cowboys are dead. There is no way they will beat a resurgent Eagles team in Philly next week. No chance, especially with a hobbled Tony Romo under center. Romo's reputation as a big game choker will only get bigger after these two losses.

Once the Cowboys are officially eliminated, Wade Phillips will be fired and replaced with Jason Garrett. The handwriting has been on the wall ever since Garrett was about to take the job as Ravens head coach last season.

John Harbaugh gets my vote as Coach of the year. Joe Flacco should be the rookie of the year. Flacco actually played better in this game than Tony Romo! Flacco made smart decisions like throwing the ball away instead of forcing it into coverage,like Romo did.

The Cowboys defense, which looked good early, choked at the two most important parts of the game, on those two long touchdown runs. It looked like, on both times, McClain and McGahee ran past the run blitzers! Inexcusable defense also cost Dallas this game.

The Dallas Cowboys can now say they have something in common with the New York Mets.

They both choked away their playoff hopes in their home stadium finales.

Cam Cameron To Join Ravens

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron, dismissed after winning only one game in his only season with the club, has reached an agreement in principle to join the Baltimore Ravens' staff.


There remain some details to be addressed in Cameron's contract, a source close to the negotiations told ESPN.com on Wednesday morning, but there are no significant sticking points and the deal almost certainly will be finalized at some point later in the day.

Cameron, is expected to serve as offensive coordinator or assistant head coach under new Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who on Saturday was introduced as the successor to Brian Billick.

Harbaugh was on the staff at Indiana in 1997, when Cameron was the Hoosiers' head coach and the two men have maintained a close relationship in ensuing years.

The addition of Cameron is the first major hire by Harbaugh, who may attempt to retain Rex Ryan as his defensive coordinator. Ryan has interviewed for three head coach vacancies, but it appears he will not land any of them, and he technically remains under contract to the Ravens.

Before his one season as the Dolphins' head coach, Cameron, 46, was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers for five seasons (2002-2006). He also served as the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach 1994-96, before taking the Indiana job in 1997.

Harbaugh Hired To Lead Ravens

John Harbaugh was hired Friday as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who hope their second choice proves to be a first-rate success.

Harbaugh spent this season as Philadelphia's secondary coach after making a name for himself working with special teams. He has never been a head coach, but has coaching in his genes — his father, Jack, is former head coach at Western Kentucky.

The 45-year-old Harbaugh will be introduced as the third coach in Ravens history at a news conference on Saturday.

Harbaugh interviewed a second time at the Ravens' training complex Friday with owner Steve Bisciotti, president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome. Harbaugh arrived around 9:30 a.m. and finally reached an agreement around 5:30 p.m.

He then left in a limousine for his home in Philadelphia without talking to the media.

Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne said Harbaugh wanted to first share the news with his wife and parents before sharing his feelings in front of cameras and reporters.

Harbaugh replaces Brian Billick, who was fired on Dec. 31 after a nine-year run. The Ravens earlier this week offered the job to Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who spurned Baltimore in favor of staying in Dallas. Garrett rejected the Ravens' job offer after receiving a raise from owner Jerry Jones and a promotion to assistant head coach.

Harbaugh was selected the NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers in 2001. He shifted to the secondary last season, working under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.

Jason Garrett Will Stay Put In Dallas

After looking into two coaching jobs, Jason Garrett decided to remain offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.

Garrett went through second interviews in Baltimore and Atlanta earlier this week, then returned to Dallas to meet with team owner Jerry Jones.

Jones, who hired Garrett last year before hiring coach Wade Phillips, apparently convinced him his future was just as bright with the Cowboys, who are coming off a 13-3 regular season with eight of his offensive players going to the Pro Bowl.

The Cowboys did not immediately comment Thursday on Garrett's status, but the Ravens released a statement about it.

"We did negotiate with Jason Garrett to become our head coach. In the end, he decided to stay in Dallas," the Ravens said.

Garrett is widely considered the Cowboys' next head coach. Speculation is so intense that Jones held a news conference last week in part to shoot down talk that Garrett would be promoted if Dallas didn't win the Super Bowl. Jones denied he would move out Phillips and promote Garrett after the Cowboys' season ended with a loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.

Brian Billick Given The Axe In Baltimore

Brian Billick never came close to duplicating the success he enjoyed early in his career as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and it finally cost him his job.

Billick was fired Monday, less than 24 hours after his team concluded a season of high expectations with a disappointing 5-11 record. His entire staff, including defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, also was dismissed.

The firing was first reported by FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer.

"I believed that it was time for a change, I believed that we have the nucleus of a team that can get back to the Super Bowl, and we felt that in the next five years we had a better chance with a new coach than leaving Brian in that position," said owner Steve Bisciotti, who made the decision after consulting with team president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome.

Billick won the 2001 Super Bowl in his second season with the Ravens, but since Bisciotti took over full ownership in 2004, Baltimore was 33-33. That included two losing seasons and only one playoff appearance, a one-and-out performance in 2006.

Billick led the Ravens to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2006. But Baltimore lost a team-record nine consecutive games this season before ending the skid Sunday with a 27-21 win over Pittsburgh.

Bisciotti said he made the decision to fire Billick hours before kickoff, and carried out the move Monday morning in a meeting at the team's practice facility.

While Brian Billick was fired, at the same time, general manager A.J. Smith received a five-year contract extension Tuesday that will keep him with the team through 2014.

Details weren't announced, but various reports said the extension was worth $11 million.
Smith didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

Team president Dean Spanos was traveling and unavailable for comment, his secretary said.

Smith's previous contract was due to expire following the 2009 season. He was promoted in April 2003 after John Butler died of cancer.

The Chargers have won the AFC West for the third time in four seasons under Smith. They'll try to break a four-game postseason losing streak dating to January 1995 when they host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in the wild-card round. Two of those playoff losses have come on Smith's watch.

Although it was Butler who drafted star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, Smith has proven to be a strong talent evaluator by drafting star players such as outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, quarterback Philip Rivers and cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

He's also signed undrafted players who developed into Pro Bowlers, most notably tight end Antonio Gates, a three-time All-Pro. Two other free agent pickups, guard Kris Dielman and special teams player Kassim Osgood, have developed into Pro Bowlers.

Smith is probably best known for holding his ground when Eli Manning's representatives told the Chargers just before the 2004 draft that the quarterback wouldn't play for San Diego if it took him with the first overall pick.

Smith drafted Manning anyway, then swapped his rights to the New York Giants for the rights to Rivers, as well as picks he used to take kicker Nate Kaeding later in that draft and Merriman the following year.
Smith also obtained wide receiver Chris Chambers from Miami at this year's trade deadline. The acquisition of Chambers has helped open up the running game.

The Chargers are 50-30 under Smith, but 0-2 in the postseason.

Smith became involved in a front-office soap opera when his relationship with coach Marty Schottenheimer soured to the point that the two men didn't talk to each other.
Schottenheimer was fired by Spanos in February, a month after the top-seeded Chargers fell apart in their playoff opener, a shocking 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots.

The Chargers also lost to the New York Jets in overtime in the 2004 wild-card round, also under Schottenheimer.

Smith hired Norv Turner to replace Schottenheimer. After a stunning 1-3 start, the Chargers head into the playoffs having won six straight and 10 of 12.

NFL Week One Preview

Rex Grossman has a tough assignment taking on Shawne Merriman and the tough San Diego Chargers Defense.


UPDATE: THIS BLOG POST WAS FIRDT UPDATED SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH WITH THE SCORES FROM EVERY GAME UNTIL THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME SCORE. THIS BLOG POST WAS UPDATED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH WITH THE SCORE OF THE SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME. THIS BLOG POST WAS UPDATED ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, WITH THE SCORES OF THE MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAMES.

The NFL Kickoff Weekend kicked off Thursday Night, as the Indianapolis Colts beat down the New Orleans Saints 41-10.

Here's a preview of the rest of the games on the schedule.

Early Games

Atlanta at Minnesota, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Adrian Peterson may have a field day in this game. He'll be running wild. Expect Pat Williams to sack Joey Harrington at least once in this game.
MINNESOTA OVER ATLANTA.

FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 24, ATLANTA 3

Carolina at St. Louis, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Jake Delhomme and Marc Bulger will both have good days in this game. This game has the potential to be an offensive shootout. Torry Holt and Issac Bruce are two good veteran Wide Recievers, and I expect them to help St. Louis get the victory.
ST LOUIS OVER CAROLINA

FINAL SCORE: CAROLINA 27, ST LOUIS 13

Denver at Buffalo, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Two Quarterbacks take the field that are expected to take the next step in this game, Jay Cutler for Denver and J.P. Losman for Buffalo. Whoever wins this game takes that big first step to helping their team improve. I pick Denver over Buffalo because Denver is the more complete team.
DENVER OVER BUFFALO.

FINAL SCORE: DENVER 15, BUFFALO 14

Kanasas City at Houston, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Two teams that are rebuilding at the Quarterback Spot. Damon Huard takes over for the Chiefs, while Matt Schaub takes over for the Texans. I'm going with the Chiefs to win because Larry Johnson will be running all over the Texans defense.
KANSAS CITY OVER HOUSTON.

FINAL SCORE: HOUSTON 20, KANSAS CITY 3

Miami at Washington, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Dolphins Head Coach Cam Cameron has a lot of pressure on him his rookie season. Trent Green will be handing the ball of to Ronnie Brown many times in this game. Miami is the better team, and I expect Miami to win this game.
Miami Over Washington.

FINAL SCORE: WASHINGTON 16, MIAMI 13 (OT)

New England at New York Jets, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Tom Brady will be throwing the ball deep to Randy Moss in this game, and I expect Brady to have the better game than Chad Pennington. Pennington will try to keep pace with Brady, but New England's tough defense will ensure that doesn't happen.
NEW ENGLAND OVER NEW YORK JETS

FINAL SCORE: NEW ENGLAND 36. MEW YORK JETS 14

Philladelphia at Green Bay, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Donovan McNabb needs to stay healthy, or he may get the Byron Leftwhich treatment from Head Coach Andy Reid. I expect Philly to win this game, as Green Bay would be considered a rebuilding team if Brett Favre wasn't there anymore.
PHILLADELPHIA OVER GREEN BAY.

FINAL SCORE: GREEN BAY 16, PHILLADELPHIA 13

Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: Pittsburgh will win this game. Ben Rothelisberger will throw to his heart's content. Charlie Frye will be the starting Quarterback for the Browns in at least this game.
PITTSBURGH OVER CLEVELAND.

FINAL SCORE: PITTSBURGH 34, CLEVELAND 7

Tennesee at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM EST
Analysis: This is David Garrard's First Game in his First full season as the Starting Quarterback of the Jaguars. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor are two very good running backs. Vince Young has lost two recievers from last season, so expect him to scramble more often than he did last season. I take Jacksonville over Tennesee because of the running of Jones-Drew and Taylor. Don't count out Tennesee, but I think Jacksonville will win.
JACKSONVILLE OVER TENNESEE.

FINAL SCORE: TENNESEE 13, JACKSONVILLE 10


Late Games
Chicago at San Diego, 4:15 PM EST (THE GAME OF THE WEEK)
Analysis: This is, in my opinion, the Game of the Week. Rex Grossman will have a tough time getting anything started for the Bears against Shawne Merriman and this tough San Diego Defense. Norv Turner will get his first win as Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers.
SAN DIEGO OVER CHICAGO

FINAL SCORE: SAN DIEGO 14, CHICAGO 3

Detroit at Oakland: 4:15 PM EST
Analysis: Many people were expecting this game to be the battle of the Number One Draft Pick taking on the Number Two Draft Pick, but it looks like JaMarcus Russell, the Number One Pick, may not even agree to a contract to start the season. Calvin Johnson will be the target of Jon Kitna early and often, and that may be enough to stop the veteran Daunte Culpepper and his veteran Wide Receiver Jerry Porter, who is now the number one receiver after The Raiders traded Randy Moss to New England.
DETROIT OVER OAKLAND

FINAL SCORE: DETROIT 36, OAKLAND 21

Tampa Bay at Seattle: 4:15 PM EST
Analysis: Tight End Jaramy Stevens played in Super Bowl XL with the Seattle Seahawks, and now he is with the Buccaneers, playing the Seahawks. Sean Alexander will have a good day on the ground, and Matt Hasselbeck will have a great day through the air as he passes often for Deion Branch.
SEATTLE OVER TAMPA BAY.

FINAL SCORE: SEATTLE 20, TAMPA BAY 6

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

New York Giants at Dallas, 8:15 PM EST
Analysis: This is the second game that I am wailting for. Tony Romo and Eli Manning are both expected to improve this season. The Giants are reeling from the loss of Tiki Barber, but Brandon Jacobs is a faster version of Tiki Barber. Dallas hasn't really lost much in the retirement of Bill Parcells, as Wade Phillips is going to improve Dallas defensively this season. Tony Romo will be throwing the ball deep for Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, who suddenly becomes the number two receiver after Terry Glenn is out with an injury. Michael Strahan is back, but he may not even play in this game, and, even if he does, I don't expect him to be a factor because he will be nowhere close to 100 percent.
DALLAS OVER NEW YORK GIANTS.

FINAL SCORE: DALLAS 45, NEW YORK GIANTS 35

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Baltimore at Cincinnatti, 7:00 PM EST
Analysis: this is a big AFC North Matchup, both of these teams think they have what it takes to win the division. I am going with Baltimore becuse of the defense and the veteran offense. Willis McGahee will run for a lot of yards in this game. Expect Carson Palmer and "Ocho Cinco" Chad Johnson, to go deep early and often. Bengals Fans will be expecting an endzone celbration from Chad Johnson, but Ed Reed will be playing him tough. Bengals still have T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but the loss of Chris Henry for the first half of the season hurts Cincinnatti's passing attack.
BALTIMORE OVER CINCINNATTI.

FINAL SCORE: CINCINNATTI 27, BALTIMORE 20

Arizona at San Francisco, 10:15 PM EST
Analysis: Matt Leinart is expected by Cardinals fans to take Arizona to the top of the NFC West, which won't happen as long as Alex Smith is throwing to Vernon Davis and Frank Gore is running the daylight out of the mediocre Cardinals defense.
SAN FRANCISCO OVER ARIZONA.

FINAL SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 20, ARIZONA 17

This is what you can expect to see every Saturday on The Power Zone, a preview of every game of the week with analysis. On Tuesday, I will update this blog with the final scores of each game.

Enjoy Your Sunday! Watch the Games!

NFL Preview: AFC North

Ray Lewis is the heart of the Ravens defense, and he will help the Ravens win the AFC North again.



The Baltimore Ravens may have lost Adalius Thomas to Free Agency, but the Ravens still have Ray Lewis, the best linebacker in the AFC. Add to that defense Samari Rolle, Steve McNair's old buddy from Tennesee, and that the Ravens now have upgraded their running game with Willis McGahee, and Baltimore is going to win the AFC North.

Prediction: 10-6, 1st Place.

What have the teams like Cincinnatti, Pittsburgh and Cleveland done to try to keep up? Here's a quick recap.

CINCINNATTI BENGALS: If The Cincinnati Bengals can spend more time on the field than behind bars, they have a chance to keep up with Baltimore through the early part of the season. The loss of David Pollack for the entire season hurts, but the Bengals still have one of the best offenses in the AFC. Carson Palmer needs to take the next step this year, and Chad Johnson, "Ocho Cinco" will continue to be the focal point of the Bengals passing game, although the loss of Chris Henry for the first eight games will hurt. The Bengals will continue running the ball with Rudi Johnson, who will carry the ball enough times to reach 1,000 yards rushing. I just think Cincinnati needs to show they can step it up in the abscence of David Pollack on the defense and Chris Henry for the first half of the season on offense.

Prediction: 8-8, 2nd Place.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Steelers finally "Won one for the thumb" with their Super Bowl XL victory over the Seahawks, but Pittsburgh is a totally different team since they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy two seasons ago. Jerome Bettis, "The Bus" is gone, Antwaan Randle-El is now with the Redskins, Joey Porter is now with the Dolphins, Ben Rothlisberger is still trying to recover from the adverse effects of his Motorcycle Accident, and former Head Coach Bill Cowher has, at least for now, retired. The Steelers now have former Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Mike Tomlin as their Head Coach. Joey Porter has been replaced by Linebacker Lamar Woodley out of Michigan. Hines Ward is still there, and he will be the focal pointr for Ben Rothelisberger this year, as always. Willie Parker, who broke the longest Touchdown Run in the History of the Super Bowl in Super Bowl XL, could run for up to 1,000 yards, as longtime Steeler Alan Faneca in fact will get ready for the season despite his unhappiness with his current contract. There is just too much missing from the Steelers to have a playoff year this year, but I think they will be in better position next season.

Prediction: 7-9, 3rd Place.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: The "Dawg Pound" is clamoring for Brady Quinn to be the Starting QB for the Browns by the start of the season opener, but it doesn't appear as if it's going to happen. Right Now, the Strting QB job is Charlie Frye's to lose and Brady Quinn's to gain. The Browns have Jamal Lewis, but he is really on the downside of his career. I don't see him rushing for 1,000 yards. Willie McGinest, the former Patriot, is winding down his carrer in Cleveland, and if the team does not show improvement right away, Romeo Crennel might get the axe as Head Coach before the season is over.

Prediction: 6-10, 4th Place.

The Next NFL Preview will be the AFC South. Is Vince Young ready to take the next step, or will hw suffer the "Sophomore Slump", or worse, the "Madden Curse?" Did Jacksonville make a mistake by letting go of Byron Leftwich? Find out all of this and more in the next NFL Preview.