Talking's one thing...

Have you ever been woken up by a monotone, incessant ringing in your ear? This ring is consistently annoying, happens oh so often, and nothing you do can affect it, nothing. Non-stop crap over and over, it’s almost unfathomable.

This NFL season, the human version of this said noise has made itself accustomed to anyone and everyone, from trash-talk, to impersonations to anything for 5 more minutes on the T.V or to be on the back of the papers one more day. I’m looking at you, Rex Ryan.

To start the year, the brash, cocky, charismatic Jets, whilst still annoying, were heading into the season on the back of an appearance in the AFC title game. Their roster were another year older, more experienced, and had a coach that they knew would be behind them all the way. From contractual difficulties on “Revis Island” (before Randy Moss abruptly invaded and dismantled everything inside it), to the media hype, to Ryan signing the NFL tour bus “soon to be champs”. “SOON TO BE CHAMPS”, really? A franchise whose last superbowl win was in 1969. A team whose most recognisable players is more famous for being drunk on T.V than playing football. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQqIQyT-RuM – Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa)

The Jets as a franchise, are sort of like Ben Affleck, they did some good things once, but they were so long ago the majority forget they ever happened. This season though, an solid 11-5 record and clinching the final playoff place in the AFC, Ryan’s incessant drone found its way back into all our ears again. He started before their game at the Colts by taking a shot at Patriots QB Tom Brady, claiming Peyton Manning was the better of the two. Then after defeating Manning’s Colts, Rex said of Brady sunbbing the game to see a broadway show “Peyton Manning would have been watching”. ( Although with a 70 million dollar contract, I’m betting Brady can afford the U.S equivalent of Sky +) Without wanting to fuel another mind-numbingly dull Manning vs Brady debate. Here’s some stats.

Career winning %

Brady .776 (125-36) 1st all time.
Manning .664 (150-76) 4th all time.

Brady vs Manning

Brady 8-4 Manning (2-1 in postseason play)

Superbowl rings

Brady 3-1 Manning (Manning’s career postseason record reads 9-10).

You do the math.

More frustrating, if Rex is Willy Wonka, then one of his oompa-loompa’s decided to get in on the “Let’s bash Brady” game. With Antonio Cromartie quoted as saying “He’s (Brady) an a*****e, f**k him” when asked of his thoughts of Brady celebrating every touchdown in the Pats 45-3 demolition of the Jets earlier in the season.

Even Reggie Jackson, a New York sports legend told Cromartie and Ryan to “Shut up, play football, what are you doing, your not affecting Brady, your wasting time”. Throughout the years, Brady and Bellichick have overcome the majority of obstacles facing them, a double digit underdog in superbowl 36, they won. Back to back superbowls (38 and 39) they won. An undefeated regular season with Brady breaking the record for Touchdown passes. Check!.

The 45-3 drubbing last month wasn’t a true reflection on how this season has gone, the defence has been a lot better than it showed that night. There defence is seen as one of the best in the league. The offence on the other hand is a walking disaster, running back LaDainian Tomlinson has cooled off since the start of the season, the receiving corp have Mark Sanchez throwing the ball to them. Imagine George Lucas directed the “Shawshank Redemption”, think of the disappointment and that’s probably the emotion the Jets receivers silently feel. Although the New York media can’t decide whether he’s Joe Namath or Joey Harrington, here’s some worrying stats to Jet fans.

Passer rating – 75.8 (27th in NFL)
Completion % - 54.8% (29th in NFL)

In games @New England.

25-54 (46%) 300 yards, 1TD 7Int’s.

Sanchez is in the Jets family what Fredo is to the Corleone’s, on the surface he looks like a liability, and for long periods is. Sanchez is 3-1 in the playoffs though, all of which being road games, showing life of having postseason potential, Sunday will be his biggest test yet. Difference being, beating the Patriots will be a lot more difficult than keeping Mo Green sweet like Fredo had to.

Predictions for this weeks games.

Last week I had Saints, Ravens, Packers and Colts. So at this point, I’m 2-2.

Seahawks @Bears

It’s got to end now, hasn’t it? The Seahawks won 7 games this season, the Seahawks, since they made the superbowl a few years back are like Lindsay Lohan, they’ve progressively gone down a bad road, and keeps getting worse, now them winning this game and making the title game will be truly stunning. Imagine 2011 being another drug fuelled year for Lohan, but ending with a box office blockbuster to end the year. Unlikely? My point exactly. Bears win
Bears 31-14 Seahawks

Packers @ Falcons

I have few friends that follow the NFL, but 2 of which that do, one is a Falcons fan, the other a Packer, so rivalry will be a plenty this weekend. The war of words started with some pretty appalling trash talk, the lowlight being “beat one set of birds, now to beat another”. The game itself, Matt Ryan is 20-2 at the dome, have dual-threat running game, and a solid defence. The Packers however, have an elite defence, which over the past 2 game have held the Eagles and Bears to a collective 19 points. They defensive player of the year front runner Clay Matthews stuffing the run and the pass. Then Aaron Rodgers has the ability to dissect any defence, and a new found running will be integral to the Pack scoring a minor upset.

Packers 20-16 Falcons

Ravens @ Steelers.

Two teams that just plain don’t like each other. Two mean defences, two teams with good running games, and two teams with signal callers who can control the game. Joe Flacco is proven on the road in playoff time winning in New England last year and Kansas City already this year. Roethlisberger however has 2 rings. Each team have playmakers everywhere. It’s like choosing between “The Godfather” and “The Godfather part 2”. It’s almost impossible, but as I have to, I reckon it comes down to coaching, so I’m taking the Ravens.

Ravens 24-23 Steelers.

Jets @Patriots

The talking has to stop, for the Jets this isn’t a good thing, last time they talked, and talked and talked, and in the end, it turned out the went the same way as Audley Harrison, all talk, but no substance, and were duly humiliated. It won’t be a 42 point game again, I see it being a close, tense affair especially for the first half, with Brady and the Pats pulling away slightly in the 2nd half and going after Antonio Cromartie as an added bonus.

Patriots 27-17 Jets