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Show tq TIheCatt9s . by Randy Hanskat If s Dolphins all the way in the NFL playoffs Since I discussed what's wrong with the NFL last week in this space, this week I will talk about what's right with the NFL: this year's playoffs. Way back in September I picked the teams I thought would go into the playoffs, and now, heading into the championship games and the Super Bowl, it is time to look back at those stellar choices. I picked the Dolphins in the AFC East, the Steelers in the AFC Central, and the Raiders in the AFC West. Hey, two out of three ain't bad. And if the Raiders hadn't lost Jim Plunkett early in the season, and been forced to go to ex-BYPew player Marc Wilson, I think the Raiders would've won the division. The one team I was really wrong about was Denver. I - still can't understand how the Broncos lucked through the whole season. They played way over their heads. For the wild cards I picked Seattle and Kansas City. Kansas City stunk up the field until the last month and a half of the season, so I stunk it up by picking them. Still, they'll be back next season, just watch. I knew the Seadogs would choke just enough to not win the division, and they did. In the NFC I did pretty well also, but I did mess up in the NFC East by picking the Cowboys to win the division: Unfortunately, Gary Hog'eboom-boom turned out to be just as inept as Danny White for the Cowboys, so they went down the tubes. The deadskins backed into the division title with a lucky win over the Cardinals, however, so I wasn't far off. (Dallas could've won the division if they hadn't choked late in the season). The NFC Central was cake. I picked the Bears in a runaway. Right on! The NFC West was the easiest to pick. I chose the 49ers, along with the rest of the football public. For the NFC wild cards I said it would be Washington and St, Louis. The Cardinals should have been in there, but a couple of stupid calls by officials gave the Deadskins the victory in the final regular season game and put the Cards out. Neither the Rams nor the Giants should've made the playoffs, as they both proved early on the past couple of weeks. So, that was pretty good choosing, eh? Of the 10 playoff teams I called seven of them. Maybe I should drop this writing racket and go into a new line of work as a bookie. By far the most boring game of the playoffs so far was the NFC Wild Card game pitting the Rams against the Giants. It could've been something if either team had a consistent offense, but noooooo! From there the Giants went on to demonstrate their lack of offensive prowess in the divisional playoff game this weekend against San Fran. If Phil Simms could've read a blitz, the 49er defense would've been easy prey. Instead he chose the sack! I knew it was only a matter of time before Simms sank back into mediocrity. In the other Saturday game the Dolphins looked much like Flipper killing all of those sharks in the old television program, only this time the sharks were Seadogs. Dan Marino cut up the birds as if they were nothing more than a holiday feast. Phil Simms should've been watching. The most satisfying game of the weekend was the Deadskins and the Bears. While blobbing on that game I . repeatedly rolled off the couch and jumped for joy when one of the Bears mashed Joe Theisman's face into the turf. It's good to have the Hogs out of the playoffs. Send 'em to the slaughterhouse! The final game was supposed to be a showcase for the Broncos, who haven't been getting much respect despite their good season, according to their fans and local media. But they didn't gain an inch in my respect book Sunday, as the Steelers chewed them up. Allowing the Steelers to drive up and down the field like that was pitiful. Lame Broncos. So, now it's down to the 49ers against the Bears, and the Dolphins against the Steelers. Two good offenses versus two good defenses. Who's gonna win? Well, the 49ers didn't impress me much in their 21-10 win over the Giants, but they are a strong team. They have to blitz way too much on defense, but the Bear offense is probably too weak to take advantage of it, as was the Giant offense. The 49ers will win 21-17 in a close game, but will get plenty beaten up while doing so. Over in the better conference, the AFC, Marino will make sheet metal of the Steel Curtain. The Steelers are great against the rush, but lacking against the pass. That says it all : 28-10 Dolphins. Now you probably wanna know who to put the dough on in the Super Bowl, right? Don't make the mistake of taking the 49ers 15-1 regular season record at its face value. Most of those wins came at the hands of teams like New Orleans, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and other sorry NFC entries. If the 49ers had to go against teams like Seattle and New England every week they would've wound up around 12-4. The Dolphins, on the other hand, had few slouches on their schedule, if you excuse the Buffalo Bills. Miami was as close as you can get to a 16-0 season. The Dolphin defense slept through a couple of games, especially the two losses (which were almost wins despite the defense), but is back now. Take my word on it. You listen to E.F, Hutton, don't you? Well, listen to me. The Dolphins have got this one in the bag. I called it at 34-21 way back in September, and I stick to it now. MVP? Marino. It's like taking candy from a baby. If you can find anyone wet enough behind the ears to take San Fran, then do them a favor and take their money. Those kind of people would only waste it anyway! - ... , " '' . K ' ? |
