Now some highlights, the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Seattle Seahawks last week in a thrilling game, the Seahawks came from 20 points down and scored in the final minute to take the lead on this one yard run, but in the final seconds Matty Ice, Matt Ryan got the Falcons into field goal range and Matt Bryant kicked the game winner and a 30 to 28 victory for the Falcons. Irv, tell us about this Falcon team, is this finally going to be their year?"
Brent: "And speaking of that San Francisco team, last Saturday night they defeated the Green Bay Packers behind the amazing Colin Kaepernick... take a look at this 70 yard run, he goes around right end and just like that he is gone! The 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 45 to 31. Jimmy, how about this Forty-Niner team?"
Brent: "Kapernick, Colin Kapernick."
Greek: "Yeah, Kapernick, I saw this kid he had the 70 yard run the other night, he had a run just like that in the preseason against Minnesota, he went 80 yards. And you know everyone said that Harbaugh was crazy for taking Alex Smith out after he got hurt and now everyone's like, Alex Smith who? I ain't never seen nothing like this kid, he's got an arm like Marino and he can run like Deion Sanders. Everybody is talking about the rookies, the Griffith kid in Washington, and Andrew Luck and the kid in Seattle, but this Caperknack guy, I tell you what he's the real deal."
Musburger: "He had an NFL record 181 yards rushing against the Packers, that's a league record for yards rushing by a QB in a game, not just in the preseason, in any game, folks. Now let's bring in our reporter Jack Whitaker who is in Foxboro via Satellite to preview tonight's AFC tilt. Jack are you there?
Brent Musburger: "Welcome back to the NFL Today. They are getting ready for kickoff at the Georgia Dome, and in a moment we will send it to Pat Summerall for the player introductions. But first, we bring back in Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder for his analysis and picks for today's games.
The Greek: "I go down my list here I give a check mark to Atlanta, I give a check mark to San Francisco, these two teams are very evenly matched... Atlanta gets the check mark for kicking because, the kicker for San Francisco has struggled, they even brought the kid in from Baltimore that missed the kick last year, but they're going to stick with the lefty.
Brent: "David Akers"
Greek: "Yeah, Akers from Philly. Atlanta gets a check mark for having the home field advantage. And intangibles, you know uh, Gonzalez, he might retire, but it's just not the same like Ray Lewis for the Ravens. The Falcons finally won a playoff game, I think that the 49ers are just the more well-rounded team, and this Capermash kid, he's the real X-factor, if the Falcons don't keep a spy in the box, he's going to run for 200 yards on that turf down there in the Georgia Dome, and he might anyway, even if they do."
Musburger: "So you're going with the Forty-Niners?"
Greek: "Yeah, they should've gone to the Super Bowl last year, and this year they're even better."
Musburger: "Do you have a score?"
Greek: "Uh... I'll go San Francisco 27, Atlanta 20"
Musburger: "And in the AFC, it's the Ravens, and the Patriots."
Greek: "Well, I gotta give the check mark for quarterback to Brady, I mean, Flacco is playing great, that great win in Denver, but Brady is going for four rings.... On defense, the Ravens aren't the same Ravens defense like they used to be, but they are still very good... uh team speed, Welker and the other guy, as a the team the Patriots are fast. Gronkowski is out, but they got Hernandez from Florida, that's another big TE, and coaching wise, a couple of really well-coached teams, you know, but this guy Belicheck might be the best coach of all time.
Musburger: "The Greek likes the hoodie?"
Greek: "The Greek does like the hoodie, Brent, this is a good team, but you know it's just hard to believe this Patriots team we think of as this dynasty, they haven't won a Super Bowl in eight years. Last year they should have lost to Baltimore, Brady played a terrible game, it just came down to one play and then the kicker missed the chip shot. But forget about last year, do you remember, Brent, when they played the previous time in the playoffs, a few years ago, Ray Rice and the Ravens just ran right through the Patriots.
Brent: "So you like Baltimore?"
Greek: "I think it comes down to intangibles. It's hey diddle diddle Ray Rice up the middle, and with Ray Lewis going out, he wants to get another ring, I know Brady wants to tie Bradshaw and Montana with four, but this is Ray Lewis's last chance and that whole team over there on the Baltimore sideline is behind him, it's about worth three check marks in the intangibles right now."
Brent: "And a score for that game?"
Greek: "I think it's going to be low scoring, it's going to be Baltimore 20, New England 16."
Brent: "So 20 to 16 Baltimore, so you're picking an all-Harbaugh Super Bowl. Okay, well they're just about getting ready to kick off down in Atlanta, so we'll send it to Pat and John in a minute. You're watching the NFL Today on CBS..."
