Earlier today it was confirmed that the Chargers will be breaking out their powder blues during Saturday night's home playoff game against Indianapolis.  Now it's official...the Bolts will beat the Colts.  There is simply no doubt about it.   San Diego has won seven straight games while wearing their powder blue jerseys and it's a fait accompli that Indy will be victim number eight.  

Back on Monday, I told my friend Bo that the Bolts would need to come out in their powder blues and blitz the hell out of Peyton Manning.   Step one has been accomplished.  Now it's up to defensive coordinator Ron Rivera to make sure there is constant pressure on Manning.  By constant pressure I mean one or two guys need to be blitzing on every play (including safety and cornerback blitzes).  The pass rush generated by the front four of the Chargers has been anemic all season and Rivera needs to pull out all the stops.  Sure, Peyton will make some big plays during the game.  However, if Manning isn't flustered and consistently pressured then he's going to absolutely carve up a very suspect secondary. 

I already predicted that the Chargers would win 33-31.  Now you can take it (and the 1 point spread) to the bank...






This picture is from a few years ago, but hopefully Marlina Moreno and the other Charger girls will be in similar attire Saturday night.  Believe it or not, the road team is favored to win all four playoff games.  Even though I truly think all four games could go either way, one or two home teams should prevail.  Since I already picked the Chargers, I think I'll go with Arizona as well.

Arizona   +2   Even though Atlanta is playing well and Arizona is not
Baltimore -3  Pennington could get it done, but the Ravens should win a low scoring game
Philly -3          I hate betting on Andy Reid, but Childress and Tarvaris scare me       






In a stunning move late Tuesday afternoon, Mike Shanahan was fired by the Denver Broncos.






Oh sorry...this is actually a photo of the former Broncos coach.  Despite an epic collapse down the stretch, I was almost certain Shanahan would be back next season with a new defensive coordinator.  I guess not...and this is certainly great news for Charger fans unless Broncos owner Patrick Bowlen decides to back up the Brinks truck in Bill Cowher's driveway.  Speaking of which, I'm not quite sure why all non-playoff teams don't pay whatever it takes to get proven winners like Cowher and Bill Parcells.  The Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills and every other bad/mediocre team in the league would be smart to fork over total control and a $7 to $10 million annual salary tout de suite.  With retreads like Jim Haslett and Dick Jauron as alternatives, what is the risk?  Would you rather pay a spineless pansy like Jauron $2 million to go 7-9 (at best) or Cowher $8 million to get your team to the playoffs?  As far as I'm concerned the answer is simple...  






On Saturday I posted a list of guys who you can't stop but can only hope to contain and Charles Barkley came in at #7.   Well, apparently the Chuckster can be stopped...by the Phoenix police.  Instead of wating until New Year's Eve, Barkley decided to get his drink on a little early and was busted for running a stop sign and suspicion of driving under the influence late Tuesday night.   2008 certainly could have ended better for Barkley as well as...





Professional golfer and health nut, John Daly.  Yesterday afternoon, Daly stated that he had been suspended for six months by the PGA Tour for "conduct that brought unwelcome publicity."  The suspension appears to be a direct result of Daly having to spend one night in a North Carolina jail for being intoxicated outside of a Hooters restaurant.  I'm sure Daly will take this time off to eat right, work out and get his act together.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will refrain from smoking cigarettes, drinking beer and gambling during the entire six month suspension...