The AFC Championship game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens is will be a low scoring affair with the Pittsburgh Steelers ending up on top.  Here are the 3 reasons why:

1. The Steelers number one ranked defense will dominate and keep the Ravens from scoring even one touchdown. 
2. Experienced QB versus the rookie. The Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger has the experience. He has won before in an AFC Championship Game and he has a Superbowl ring.  The Ravens Joe Flacco will be overwelmed by the tenacious “D” of the Steelers
3. Steelers are at Home.

GAME INFO

Date: Sunday, January 18, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM EST
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms

THE SPREAD
The Pittsburgh Steelers are favored by 6 points.  The Over/Under is 34 points
GAME TRENDS
Top Trends
PITTSBURGH is 77-48 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 1992.
PITTSBURGH is 38-18 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points since 1992.
PITTSBURGH is 38-22 ATS in all games where the total is 35 or less since 1992.
BALTIMORE is 14-4 ATS in all games this season.
BALTIMORE is 14-4 ATS in all lined games this season.
BALTIMORE is 8-2 ATS in road games this season.
BALTIMORE is 8-2 ATS in road lined games this season.
BALTIMORE is 11-3 ATS against conference opponents this season.
BALTIMORE is 12-3 ATS in games played on a grass field this season.
 
 
Head-to-Head Series History
BALTIMORE is 4-2 against the spread versus PITTSBURGH over the last 3 seasons 
PITTSBURGH is 3-3 straight up against BALTIMORE over the last 3 seasons 
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons 
 

GAME PREDICTION
Pittsburgh Steelers 17  Baltimore Ravens 3

The Ravens offensive line will not be able to provide QB Joe Flacco enough time to throw or be able to help their running game.  Big Ben Roethlisberger will do enough to get the Steelers in the endzone and win in a low scoring contest.

sources: nfl.com, espn.com, thespread.com, fox.com

The New York Jets are actively seeking a new head coach to replace Eric Mangini.  Many reports put the Jets ofensive coordinator Brian Shottenheimer as the early favorite.  But it won’t happen!  The best choice to take over the Jets hasn’t even had an interview yet, and his name is currently on the bottom of the list – Brian Billick.

Brian Bilick was the Baltimore Ravens Head Coach from 1999 to 2007 and lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl championship against the New York Giants in 2000 by a score of 34-7. 

On December 31, 2007, Billick was fired from his position as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. This came after a season in which the team went 5–11, including 1–5 in the division, and lost to the otherwise winless Miami Dolphins. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti described the decision to fire Billick as the toughest decision he has ever had to make. Billick, in a short statement, said Bisciotti did what he believed was best for the Ravens, and asserted that the two men are and will remain friends.

But why would Billick be the best choice as head coach for the New York Jets? Her are 12 reasons:

1. He is and experienced NFL head coach. He coached the Ravens from Jan 199 through December 2007 with a 85-67 record
2. He coached in the AFC, the same conference as the Jets
3. He is refreshed. He did not coach in the 2007 NFL season
4. His previous experience with previous Front Offices have been good. He should be be ok with General Manager Mike Tannenbaum making personal decisions
5. He  has won a Superbowl (against the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV)
6. The Jets Fans won’t stand for another “newbie” – any assistant coach without head coaching experience
7. The Jets Fans want to distance themselves with the leadership that lead to this year’s collapse
8. He is an offensive coach. He started out as a Tide End coach with the Vikings in 1992 then was promoted to offensive coordinator. He quickly created one the most explosive offensives in the league. Something you wouldn’t have expected with his defense in Baltimore
9. Owner Woody Johnson wants a winner
10.Woody Johnson wants an experienced head coach
11.The last three Jets head coaches were defensivehead coaches -Al Groh, Herm Edwards and Eric Mangini
12.He could work with Brett Favre (if Brett decides to return)

There are other candidates for the job, including:

• Brian Shottenheimer, the current New York Jets Offensive Coordinator. But links to the team leadership in the Jets collapse, combined with his inexperience as a head coach, don’t bode well with fans.
• Steve Spagnolo, the New York Giants Defensive Coordinator. He is being courted by three other teams – the Browns, Lions and Broncos. And according to reports of his interview with the Jets front office, he was ill prepared.
• Rex Ryan – Ravens Defensive Coordinator.  No head coaching experience.
• Russ Grimm, Cardinals Assistant Head Coach. He was turned down as head coach by the Chicago Bears in 2004, they opted to go with Lovie Smith.
• Ron Meeks, Colts Defensive Coordinator.  Defensive coach and no head coaching experience.
• Jeff Jagodzinski – Boston College Head Coach. Rumor has it his job security was in danger if he decides to interview with the Jets.  Besides, the Jets fans won’t buy into the idea
• Leslie Frazier -Viking Defensive Coordinator.  Just got a one year extension from the Vikings and he is a defensive coach with no head coaching experience

The question is – would Brian Billick be willing to come back into the limelight and play in New York?

The answer is: He’d be crazy not to!

Eric Mangini, the former New York Jet coach, is reported to have had an outstanding interview with the front office of the Cleveland Browns.  He is now the favorite to become their next head coach.  The Browns wasted no time in their coaching search, after firing Romeo Crennel immediately after the 2008 NFL regular season.

If Mangini gets the job, sources intimate with the Browns internal affairs expect that George Kolinis, the director of pro personnel for the Baltimore Ravens, would become the team’s general manager.

Can “Man-Genius” turn Cleveland around?

For the first half of the 2008 season, Eric Mangini seemed a lock to sign a long term contract with the NY Jets.  But the collapse of the Jets at the end of the season caused the front office to find a scapegoat.  Managini became the sacrifical lamb.

The NY Jets fans, as all New York sports teams fans, are extremely demanding.  They become outspoken that it was time for a change. 

If the Browns do offer Mangini the coaching post, it is uncertain what will happen to the current Browns assistant coaches.

No decision has been made but sources say it will be Mangini!