Full of Confidence

Unlike last week, I'm full of confidence for the Niners game. I was at ease last week, just happy to see the Niners in the playoffs again. Nothing like a good dose of VD (see what I did there?) to change my expectations in one week.

This week though I'm full of confidence. All week I keep hearing about how the football Giants will beat the 49ers. From analysts like Ross Tucker, to writers like Chris Burke, to Jim Rome, everyone seems to be picking the Giants. That's what I want. I want everyone to pick the Giants. I want my team to be the underdog despite playing at home. I love the "us vs world" mentality. Here are the other reasons why I'm confident this weekend about the 49ers.

Special Teams: The 49ers have one of the best special teams in the NFL if not the best. Andy Lee and David Akers are both All-Pros and when healthy Tedd Ginn is one of the better return men in the league. The Giants on the other hand are mediocre on special teams and were knocked out of the playoffs last year because of their special teams. Now the weather could definitely neutralize the Niners special teams, but even with the weather looking bad the Niners special teams could play a huge role on Sunday.

Weather: The weather will be a huge factor. There's only a 40% chance of rain on Sunday in San Francisco, but it rained yesterday and is suppose to stay wet for the next week. No matter what happens on Sunday the field is going to be a mess. The field itself is below sea level and retains water and is also natural grass. The field is going to be a mess on Sunday. I don't care what kind of cleats the Giants receivers put on, they're still going to slip and slide in the field.

49ers Already Beat The Giants: Everyone keeps talking about how will the 49ers cover the Giants three receivers. Well they already covered them once and won. Sorry if I don't buy into the notion that this is a different Giants team. They aren't. The defensive line is the same, the receivers are the same, Eli was the Quarterback that day. The Niners have already beat all of them once before.

Turnovers: The Niners were the best team this year at creating turnovers. They forced 5 turnovers from the Saints last Saturday. Eli will definitely throw at least one interception in this game. The 49ers will also force at least one fumble in this game. And in a game this big, one turnover could be huge.

I'm not predicting a 49ers victory although I'm confident they'll win. I'm just stating a few reasons why I'm confident the 49ers have a chance to win on Sunday. No matter what I believe this game will be close and whoever has the ball last will probably win. Whatever happens it should be a fun game.

49ers vs Giants, Next Sunday

If you told me at the beginning of the NFL season the 49ers would be hosting the NFC championship game I would have said you're crazy. Well it's reality. The 49ers will host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game next Sunday. This will be the first playoff game between these two teams since the amazing 2002 Wild Card game and the first NFC championship game between these two teams since 1991. I'm going to be nervous as hell all week but it should be fun. I'll have more on the game in the coming week.

Until then, GO NINERS!

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys MNF Open Thread

There's no other way around this, the National Football Conference is terrible. The Falcons have the best record in the conference at 5-2. The defending conference and Super Bowl champion is 4-3 on the year coming off a loss from Cleveland. The NFC, which was suppose to be the best division in football, is lead by the Giants who were blown out earlier this year by Indianapolis and Tennessee. I didn't even talk about the NFC North and West in fear of going into paralysis. The conference is terrible.

Tonight two of those teams expected to compete for the conference title, the New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys. Even though the Cowboys only have one win on the season, they could still very well win their division. That's how bad the NFC is this season. So enjoy tonight's game, leave comments, and don't be a troll.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys, 5:30 (ESPN - Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden)

The Links

Denise Milani to finish off the week.... Key injuries heading into the first week of the NFL season.... One Hog Flu shot is all you need.... That idiot Joe Wilson is still taking flack over his congress outburst.... Nirvana members are not happy with the new Guitar Hero.... Now Katherine Heigl is the lattest celebrity to adopt a child from a foreign country

Shawne Merriman is quite the freak (The Big Lead)

Anyone taking Caster Semenya to the senior prom? (Daily News)

Quite a story about how Tom Coughlin guided his son to safety during 9/11 (NY Post)

THE MADDEN CURESE LIVES!!!! (Post-Gazette)

Peter Vecsey's speech last night was quite epic (The Big Lead)

Chipper Jones isn't happy with his current performance (MLB Daily Dish)

Raiders send Seymore a "Five-Day letter" (Projo)

Los Angeles continues a push to bring in a NFL team (PFT)

The conversionation between God and Allen Iverson (Basketbawful)

Picture of the Day

Plaxico Burress wants to be traded, which is surprising to the New York Giants.

The Links

- Whitlock's take on Carl Peterson's decision to resign (KC Star)

- Jamie Moyer is going to pitch for at least two more years (NY Times)

- What's wrong with calling a player "Mexican Smirf" (Awful Announcing)

- Comparing "Christmas Story" to the Dallas Cowboys (HuggingHaroldReynolds)

- The Kings won in Kenny Natt's debut (Sactownroyalty)

- Antonio Pierce wife say that wasn't him in strip club video (NY Post)

- Lane Kiffin has just ticked off the guy who supported him in Oakland (SF Chronicle)

- The Lady Vols are not in the Top 10 since 97 (LA Times)

- Paula Abdul is going to stay at "American Idol" (Daily News)

- Madonna settles divorce for $92 million (Washington Post)

- Kanye West "Lip Syncing" no way (ABC.com)

- An Australian couple are notified that they are loosing their house through facebook (Fox News)