The Eagles will win the Super Bowl

Our very-opinionated intern, Cheyenne, weighs in on who will be (and won't be) in the Super Bowl, and takes a swipe at Daily News sportswriter Josh Krueger:

The Philadelphia Eagles are 10-4 and most likely will end the season 12-4, going into the playoffs on a five-game win streak. Quarterback Michael Vick is a strong candidate for the NFL MVP

DeSean Jackson is a top-five wide receiver with the ability to run back a kick or punt for a touchdown any time (the Giants are well aware of that), and he’s also one of Vick’s top targets.

Daily News sportswriter Josh Krueger wrote a blog post entitled “Vick, Eagles are unlikable” and called DeSean Jackson an “idiot receiver.” Well, that “idiot” is arguably the best receiver in the NFL. Many people probably think DeSean is an idiot, but people tend to hate on top players. So if you want to diss DeSean, go ahead, but you’re basically saying he is great.

In addition to these superstars, the Eagles also have receiver Jeremy Maclin, running back LeSean McCoy and tight end Brent Celek all on their offense. The Eagles have an amazing offense and a pretty good defense. They can go toe to toe with any team and win. The Eagles are so good, in fact, they got a Dolphins fan talking like it is his favorite team (although they are my second favorite).

I wish the Eagles could play the Patriots in the playoffs, and that can only happen if they both reach the Super Bowl. And the Patriots won’t make it that far. I hate New England so I don’t want it to be in the Super Bowl.

If the Patriots did make it, the Eagles definitely would win. I strongly believe people hate the Patriots more than they hate the Eagles, unless your name is Josh Krueger.

Black & blue Brett

Does taking pleasure in another’s pain make someone a bad person? Even if it does, I’ve decided I don’t care. Seeing Brett Favre take yet another brutal hit that left him face down on the frozen field at the University of Minnesota’s stadium made me laugh. Still does.

Perhaps we finally have seen the last of No. 4. If that’s the case, good riddance.

At the risk of kicking a proverbial dead horse (or, more accurately, an almost-dead quarterback), and stating the obvious, he should have stayed retired. Maybe this time he actually will.

He could have called it quits after the 2007 season and he would have done so as a legend, talked about in the same breath as the all-time greats.

He could have made his second retirement, after the 2008 season, his final goodbye. It was so-so year with the Jets that really did nothing to change anyone’s perception of him. If it had been anyone but Brett Favre, few would remember it.

He came within a game of a third Super Bowl last season after one of the best statistical seasons of his career last year. He enraged an entire fan base and turned countless former supporters against him, but it was almost worth it.

Then, like a card player down to his last few chips, Favre refused to walk away. Instead, he threw those chips into the pot for one last chance at a winner. Not surprisingly, he lost.

Despite the fact that this season became meaningless for the Vikings a couple weeks ago, Favre couldn’t resist the temptation to suit up Monday night against the Bears. Quite possibly his last NFL game ended rather predictably — with Favre injured and on the sideline.

Let’s hope this year’s edition of Favre’s farewell is the real deal, for his sake and ours.

Wrapping up Week 15

- A friend of mine said to me the other day, "I'm looking into plane tickets for Dallas," obviously thinking the Patriots are a lock for Super Bowl XLV. On a side note, when is the NFL going to dump these annoying Roman numerals?

Yes, I think the Patriots are the best team in the league, but games like Sunday night prove that anything can happen on any given Sunday. The Packers, with their backup quarterback at the controls, gave New England all it could handle. During their loss to the Cleveland Browns, their last defeat, the Patriots admitted that a bad week of practice led to the loss. I wonder what happened at this last week of practice.

Especially with the Jets' victory over the Steelers, Tom Brady and company should be very happy they snuck out of Gillette Stadium with a win. More importantly, it gave me bragging rights over Daily News sportswriter Josh Krueger, who really believed his Packers could pull this one out.

Sorry, Josh.

- Ever since Super Bowl XLII, I've hated the Giants. So a little smirk came across my face when DeSean Jackson returned a punt for a game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game.

- You have to wonder what the future holds for Randy Moss. For the second straight game, the former New England Patriots receiver wasn't targeted, and furthermore, it proved the Titans can win without him.

- The Ravens, who defeated the defending champion Saints, will be a tough out in the playoffs.

- Brett Favre has been updated to questionable for tonight's game against the Bears. Why do I have this sneaking suspicion he'll play?

Patriots survive the Pack 31-27

Tully Banta-Cain goes from goat to hero as Pats hold on for 31-27 win.
The backup outside linebacker gets called for illegal use of the hands on a pass rush as Flynn is picked off by Meriweather, thus keeping a Packers' drive alive in New England territory.
Then on the final play of the game with the ball on the 15, Banta-Cain lunges back to tackle Flynn heading forward.
The ball pops loose and New England escapes with a 31-27 win.

Pats lead 31-27 with less than five minutes remaining

Brady comes through. Danny Woodhead, Branch and Hernandez, too. All figure in Patriots going 63 yards on six plays, with Hernandez catching a 10-yard touchdown pass as Pats go ahead 31-27.
Green Bay drives, but has to punt. Pats have ball at their 11 with 4:52 to go. A sustained drive is needed.

New England gets field goal to close within 27-24

Patriots can't convert on a third down play with Brady throwing to Julian Edelman over the middle, but Shayne Graham kicks a 38-yard field goal.
Green Bay's three and out as McCourty gets a sack.

Pack extends lead to 27-21.

New England goes nowhere on its next series as Raji takes down Brady for a 10-yard sack, so a three and out for the Pats.
Now Green Bay's moving again behind Flynn's passing and gets all the way to a first down at the New England 2. But the Pack has to settle for a 19-yard field, thus the Patriots keep it a one-possession game trailing 27-21 instead of 31-21.
But the Pats can't keep Green Bay from controlling the ball. This time for 11 plays for 53 yards and for 5:05.
After three quarters Green Bay has has the ball for 32:42 to 13:34 for New England.

Green Bay goes ahead 24-21

The Pats can't keep Green Bay from marching off another long drive. This time they get into the end zone on a 6-yard pass from Flynn to running back John Kuhn. The series lasts 6:56. Brady's going to get his first snap in the second half with a bit more than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

New England takes 21-17 lead

The Patriots continue to get a big play from a variety of unheralded players. Cornerback Kyle Arrington picks off Flynn and breaks three tackles en route to a 36-touchdown return as Patriots overtake the Pack for a 21-17 lead.
Not bad for a second-year player from a school that dropped football: Hofstra.

New England closes within 17-14

Sometimes big plays come from the strangest places. New England's the latest recipient of that, what with lineman Dan Connolly rumbling 71 yards with the ball on a Green Bay kickoff to the Packers' 4-yard line.
Brady soon has plenty of time on third and goal and hits tight end Aaron Hernandez in the end zone with about a minute remaining in the half.
Thus, the Pats are trail the Pack by just three points at 17-14, and should take the momentum provided by Connolly into the third quarter.

Green Bay increases lead

Green Bay's more than keeping pace. Flynn's throws his second touchdown pass, a 1-yarder to wide receiver Greg Jennings.
Flynn's got a 143-76 edge in passing yards. Green Bay's got a 17-7 lead.

Green Bay answers for 10-7 lead

The Pack's keeping pace. Green Bay takes its second lead, going the Route 66 way down the right sideline: a 66-yard touchdown pass from Flynn to James Jones, a step behind colliding safety Brandon Meriweather and cornerback Devin McCourty.
Aaron Rodgers couldn't have put the ball in there any better.

Patriots take 7-3 lead

New England's responds with no trickery, just a 73-yard drive on seven plays for a 7-3 lead.
Things look bleak when former Boston College star B.J. Raji sacks Brady for a loss of seven yards at midfield and Green Bay standout cornerback Charles Woodson has an excellent chance for an interception but can't hold on.
On But on third and 17 Brady finds old friend Deion Branch for the exact amount of yards needed on the left sideline for a first down. Then the ever-improving BenJarvus Green-Ellis shows he's becoming more of just a short-yardage given with a 33-yard run that starts to the right and ends in the left side of the end zone.
Can Green Bay match this pace?

Packers pull a fast one

Green Bay recovers an onside kick at its 49. Shades of the Saints starting the second half of last season's Super Bowl.
Packers quarterback Matt Flynn gets Green Bay within the red zone, but the Pack has to settle for a 31-yard field goal.
Green Bay only gains 40 yards on 11 plays, but takes a 3-0 lead and 6:15 off the clock - and the ball out of Tom Brady's hands.

New England and Green Bay are soon to be underway

Seasons greetings from Gillette. Patriots will receive the opening kickoff in 32 degrees. Makes Chicago last week feel like Palm Beach.