NFL picks: championship weekend

Last week: 4-0
Season record: 167-85

Well folks, we're getting to the end of the NFL season.  I kind of want it to end and get it over with, and at the same time I want to savor Sunday's games.  Actually, I can...we can.  Because it's one of the best slates of title games I can remember in quite some time.  You've got Manning v. Brady, again.  And you've got two of the youngest, most talented NFC teams that both feature absolutely fierce defenses.  You could well have an 80 point game followed by a 25 point game.  Well, let's enjoy this Sunday while we still have two games on in a given day.....

New England at Denver--Forget the teams.  This is once again about the quarterbacks, and with two future Hall of Famers, it kind of has to be.  Will Tom Brady reach his sixth Super Bowl, or will Peyton Manning reach his third?  I think they said this is the 15th meeting between them.  And it seems like every one of those is a tight one with the QBs playing an important role.  The Pats bring in a solid running game and opportunistic D, while the Broncos are extremely balanced on both sides of the ball.  Both teams have outstanding special teams as well.  Sure, Denver lost at home to the Ravens a year ago in heartbreaking fashion and they shouldn't do that again, but I can't with a clear conscience go against Brady and Belichick here.  Patriots 40, Broncos 37

San Francisco at Seattle--If there is one thing this season showed, it's that someone can beat the Seahawks in Seattle.  The Cardinals did that and it showed that the 12th man doesn't necessarily give the home team a W every time.  And, well, the Niners are on such fire now and I think they are still so hungry after having a taste of the Super Bowl last year.  They wanna get there again, and you know Jim Harbaugh wants to not face his brother this time, which he won't.  The Hawks are young, they are talented, and they are as hard to beat at home as any sports team in North America.  But their time may be next year, not this year.  Of course, this will be a serious defensive battle, and it more than likely will come down to who has the ball last.  Niners 19, Seahawks 16