NFL Final Four vie for Super Bowl XLII

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 1/17/2007

 HONOLULU, HAWAII — The New England Patriots (17-0) and Green Bay Packers (14-3) appear to be on a collision course for Glendale, Arizona, and Super Bowl XLII. After all, both teams are at home this weekend as favorites and will host the AFC and NFC Championship games.

 The Patriots are the highest scoring team (589 points and 75 touchdowns) in league history. They have won three Super Bowls since 2001.

 The Packers have won 18 of their last 21 games for Head Coach Mike McCarthy, and they rallied in the snow and cold of Lambeau Field from a 14-0 deficit Sunday to rout Seattle 42-20 in the divisional playoff game. Running back Ryan Grant turned from goat to star after fumbling twice in the first quarter; the Seattle Seahawks quickly turned both turnovers into touchdowns.

 Grant redeemed himself, running like a man on a mission for 201 yards and three touchdowns. And, the legendary Brett Favre guided the comeback with a flawless performance, passing for three touchdowns. The Patriots were led by league MVP quarterback Tom Brady’s NFL playoff record-setting 26 of 28 pass completions (92.9 percent) for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

 The San Diego Chargers (13-5) and New York Giants (12-6) have gotten hot at just the right time and might crash the party — both teams are 2-0 in these playoffs. The machine-like Patriots are just the second team in NFL history to have a 17-0 record in January. The last team was the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who completed a perfect season by beating Washington 14-7 in the Super Bowl.

 Suddenly, San Diego has won eight straight games, going into Indianapolis and beating the defending Super Bowl Champion Colts 28-24. Meanwhile, the New York Giants won their ninth straight road game, shutting down the heavily favored number-one NFC seed Dallas Cowboys 21-17.

 When you reach the Conference Finals you’ve had a great year, and all four teams are in position to make history.

Yes, only the Chargers and Giants stand in the path of a dream quarterback showdown in Super Bowl XLII between New England’s Tom Brady and Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers. Last year, the Chargers were 14-2 with NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, and the Patriots knocked them out of the playoffs.

 This year, the Chargers have rebounded under Head Coach Norv Turner and Defensive Coordinator Ted Cattrell. They will have a chance to return the favor and put an end to New England’s perfect season.

 The Chargers have forced more turnovers — 51 — than any team in the NFL, while the Giants led the NFL in sacks with 53. Michael Strahan and company are coming on strong. Defensive pressure has been the key for both the Chargers and the Giants under tough Head Coach Tom Coughlin; both are mentally tough teams.

 Going into last weekend’s divisional playoffs, the teams at home with a bye had won 80 percent of the time. Two 13-3 teams, favorites Dallas and Indianapolis, both rested and playing at home, lost. Dropped passes and turnovers were the difference.

 Former Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Dennis Green broadcast last week’s Patriots vs. Jacksonville game on national radio for Westwood One. “San Diego has a shot at an upset — they have a lot of athletes,” said Green.

 “The Jaguars never blitzed Tom Brady and they double-teamed Randy Moss, so the Patriots spread the ball around and took advantage of things being opened up and ran Lawrence Maroney inside and out while Brady carved up the Jaguars.” (He threw the ball to Wes Welker nine times.) “Brady, he really is incredible, he’s been nothing short of phenomenal,” Green said.

 Indeed, 53 touchdown passes, even when Moss catches just one pass, and the show goes on for Head Coach and mastermind Bill Belichick, who is now 14-3 in the NFL playoffs. Only the legendary Vince Lombardi was better (9-1) in post-season history.

 New England is 50-1 when Brady’s passer rating is 100 or better. Nobody has won more NFL Championships than the Packers with 12; they are 14-2 at Lambaeu Field in the playoffs.

 Eli Manning saw his older brother Peyton win it all last year. He has played flawlessly at quarterback for the Giants, and Phillip Rivers has played big for the Chargers. Remember, the two quarterbacks were traded for each other in the 2004 NFL Draft.

 I’m picking the Patriots over the Chargers, and the Packers are going back to the Super Bowl.

 Marcus Fitzgerald shines in 2008 Hula Bowl

The team of East All-Stars coached by Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook dominated in a 38-7 win at Aloha Stadium in the Hula Bowl Saturday. The College All-Star game of all seniors has been played since 1946.

 Marcus Fitzgerald had two receptions for 49 yards, including a 38-yard catch and run. Fitzgerald, a senior receiver from Marshall University, and Maryland University running back Leon Lattimore were teammates on the winning East All-Star team.

 Both have big brothers in the NFL. Lattimore is the younger brother of Baltimore All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis, and Fitzgerald’s older brother Larry is an All-Pro receiver for the Arizona Cardinals.

 Both big brothers Larry and Ray were on hand to support their younger brothers, who have visions of joining their big brothers as players in the NFL. Marcus was a three-year starter at Marshall and graduated last year.

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.