This Sunday many of us will hunker down in front of our televisions for a modern day soap opera. The soap opera I am speaking of is the National Football League's conference championship games. Many of you will disagree with me and say "Football is a sport" I would agree with that.

However, the NFL is  theater that is built around the concept of sport. Yeah I am one of those conspiracy guys. Fine, I may be annoying but by the end of this piece you will find at least one point that you will find yourself agreeing with me.

 

 

Tom Brady
Getty Images
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Indianapolis at New England: The new Payton Manning will lead his team into the cheater's lair. Does this sound like WWE yet? Andrew Luck the bearded free thinking, new age, quarterback will go up against Bill Belichik and his unique brand of football. I call it unique because Belichick believes the rule book is merely a suggestion. It's young and good versus old and evil. The Patriots saving grace, Tom Brady. The All American boy who was not a high draft pick but has done good.

Here is how the game will play out. The Colts will play well and be in the lead for much of the game. It will come down to a fourth quarter drive. Tom Brady will put the Patriots on  his back and either Belichik will call a play that will have everyone in America researching the rule book to see if it was legal. Or, there will be a questionable call that will give the Patriots just the advantage they need to take the lead with only a few seconds left on the clock. In those closing seconds the Colts will come close but alas, New England will be headed to another Super Bowl, excuse me, big game of championship proportions.

 

 

Seahawks Packers
Kevin Casey, Getty Images
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Green Bay At Seattle: Seattle does not lose at home. Their crowd is loud and rowdy. The weather is worse than Green Bay because it's not frozen,it's liquid wet and cold. The wind will blow off of the many nearby waterways and Seattle will lose the game. Wait ! You just said Seattle doesn't lose at home? They don't but this time they will because the NFL has a new spokesperson to protect and promote.

Aaron Rodgers has been anointed as the new "Brett Favre".  The fact that he is playing with a gimpy leg only adds to his legacy. The NFL is about drama, remember it's theater not sports.Rodgers is a good player. He is becoming a pretty good salesman too. The NFL likes that because companies that hire NFL players as spokesmen advertise in NFL games. Advertisers only hire winners to do their commercials, anybody ever see Tebucky Jones selling anything? I don't think he would even have the credibility to be a spokesperson for a buy here, pay here car lot.

Here's the way this game will play out. Seattle will be all over Rodgers from the opening kick. The Green Bay running attack will have some success but in the end it will come down to Rodgers and the offense having to make a late game charge. Rodgers will complete an incredible throw while balancing on his good leg to put the Packers in position to win the game. In fact this incredible throw will be set up a roughing the passer penalty of a questionable nature on a key fourth down play. If you like prop bets, the over and under on Troy Aikman or Joe Buck comparing Rodgers to basketball great Willis Reed is late second quarter.

So that's how we will get Green Bay and New England in the bowl of big game superiority. It will be good versus evil. That makes for great theater. That makes for great drama. That makes for a whole lot of  money and a lot of talk too.  You can bet there will be enough controversy in these two games to get us fuming about the final game. Remember instant replay isn't about getting it right, it's about getting you to talk about the game Monday morning.

 

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