The Pro Bowl has become NFL biggest joke. And the 2010 Pro Bowl was perhaps the biggest Pro Bowl joke of all. It was obvious that nobody cared - not the players, not the fans and not even the television networks.

There were some changes to this year’s edition of the Pro Bowl. The venue was changed from Hawaii to Florida and the date was moved to one week before the Super Bowl. But that shouldn’t have an effect on the integrity of this supposed NFL Player Showcase.

Another reason it has become such a joke is that many NFL players don’t take the game seriously. More than a dozen Pro Bowlers opted out of the 2010 Pro Bowl contest. Player interest was so bad that one NFC Pro Bowl selectee was actually dismissed from the team for excessive absenteeism.

There was a time when it was considered an honor just to be nominated for a Pro Bowl spot. Once upon a time, players considered making the Pro Bowl an accomplishment, a medal of honor. It meant they had come of age in one of the most popular sports - but not anymore!

Yes it is true that the NFL shares the same All Star selection concerns with Baseball and Football. The fans make the All Star selections but it has become more of a popularity contest than anything else? But that shouldn’t matter one bit!

There is no denying that with the loss of the players from the two best teams (Colts and Saints) and the addition of Pro Bowl alternates, the talent level is watered down. Maybe the NFL made a mistake in moving the venue and date of the game because it has certainly had its affect.

But the biggest joke of all is the level of intensity in the game itself. The Pro Bowl has become more like an NBA All Star Game, where the defense stands around watching the offense score. It has become a travesty and disrespectful to everyone who loves football. It has gone from a competition to an exhibition.

Is it time to end this joke of a game? Should the game go back to Hawaii and be played after the Super Bowl? This may be one issue that even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell can’t solve.

Are you amazed that the New York Jets have made it all the way to the AFC Championship game? Do you think the Jets have no chance at all at beating Peyton Manning and the Colts? Consider this…

Jets disbelievers said that the Colts and Bengals “rested” against the Jets in the final two weeks of the NFL regular season - MAYBE.

They said the Jets would get booted in the AFC wild card game against the Bengals - WRONG!

They said there was absolutely no chance that the Jets could beat the 13-3 Chargers - WRONG!

And now they’re saying the Jets have no chance whatsoever to beat the Colts - WRONG AGAIN!

I have just one thing to say to the disbelievers - remember the 2007 New York Giants? The Giants limped into the playoffs with a 10-6 regular season record. They defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC wild card game, the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Championship game and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game - all on the road.

And the icing on the cake? The Giants were 12.5 point underdog to the undefeated Belichick-Brady Patriots (16-0) in Super Bowl XLII. No body game the Giants any chance of winning. We all know the outcome of that game - the Giants became Super Bowl XLII Champions - remember?

You can draw a lot of parallels between the 2009 Jets and the 2007 Giants.

Here are 10 reasons why the Jets will beat the Colts in the AFC Championship game:

1. Jets have the best overall defense in the NFL
2. Jets have the best against the pass in the NFL
3. Jets have the best rushing offense in the NFL
4. Jets beat a team (the Chargers) that had won 11 games in a row in a game. A game the “experts” said the Jets had no chance to winning
5. The Jets believe in their coach Rex Ryan and themselves
6. The Colts are last in the NFL when rushing the ball
7. The Colts only beat the Ravens last week because of the Ravens mistakes: Two lost fumbles, two interceptions and seven penalties for 65 yards.
8. The Colts offense only scored 20 points against the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Championship even though the Ravens turned the ball over 4 times.
9. Jets have nothing to lose and there is no pressure on them
10. Jets are on a roll and cannot be stopped. The Jets have the momentum.

The AFC Championship Game prediction by the odds makers hve the Colts favored by 7.5 points with the under/over set at 40.5 points.

Thenlfthisweek.com AFC Championship Game prediction:

Jets 24 Colts 21

The Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts meet on Saturday in a 2010 AFC Divisional Playoff game. The Ravens advanced to this AFC Divisional game by beating the New England Patriots in their AFC Wild Card matchup last week. The Colts are the AFC South Division Champions, are the AFC number 1 seed and have home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Colts are favored by 6.5 points and the under/over is 46.5 points.

The Colts had a chance at an undefeated season going into week 15 but the team decided to rest their starters in the second half against the Jets. The result was a Jets win and the end to the Colts run at 16-0. Colts fans were angry about the move but the Colts management stuck to their decision to rest the starters to give them the best chance at ascertaining their goal - a Super Bowl win. The Colts ended up 14-2 and haven’t played a meaningful game in over a month. So the Colts could be rusty coming into this Divisional playoff matchup with the Ravens.

The Ravens are coming off an impressive win against Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots. The Ravens caused Pats QB Tom Brady to throw for 3 interceptions and 1 fumble. RB Ray Rice had an 83-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and the Ravens never looked back. The final score of that AFC Wild Card game was 33-14.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco has thrown ofr 21 TDs 12 INTs for a 63.1% completion percentage. Colts QB Payton Manning has thrown for 33 TDs 16 INTs and a completion percentage of 68.8.

The Ravens hold the rushing advantage over the Colts (who are rated last in the NFL in rushing). Former Rutger standout Ray Rice is averaging 5.3 yard per carry and has scored 7 TDs; he also leads the team in receptions with 78 for 702 yards and 1 TD.

But the Colts passing offense is absolutely devastating. The Colts WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark both have 100 receptions, 10 TDs and over 1000 receiving yards.

Although the Ravens have the momentum and the Colts may be rusty, the Colts passing offense will be too much for the Ravens defense. The Ravens will win but will not cover the spread.

Thenflthisweek.com Prediction

Colts 31 Ravens 28