Here’s who the Saints have beaten this year:

Cleveland, Green Bay, Atlanta (2), San Francisco, Tampa Bay (2), Dallas, Philly (2), Giants.

Who did they lose to? Carolina (2), Baltimore, Washington, Cincy, Pittsburgh.

Dome teams in conference championship games played outdoors? 0-8. Why is that? Try playing in a dome and then try to retain timing with receivers in the cold, snow and on grass. So how many picks do you think Brees will throw this week?

I’m worried. No question. But at home with snow accumulation possible, wind chill temps of 10 degrees and gusting to 30 mph, I have to pick the Bears. The “Bear Weather” is mostly myth. But the conditions are real and the stats don’t lie. Bears win 24-17.

Over in the AFC, lots of people are saying this is the year for Peyton Manning and the Colts. They also said that last year. And the year before. Sure, the Colts beat the Pats earlier in the season. That team is gone, replaced by an offensive machine. In their last 3 regular season games the Pats scored 40, 24 and 40 points. Then they piled up 37 on the Jets and 24 on the Chargers in the playoffs. Split the difference against the Colts and they get about 31. Do the Colts get 31 on the Pats this week? No.

Super Bowl Re-Shuffle! Pats vs. Bears, Part II.

Technorati tags: Colts / Chicago Bears / Patriots / Saints / NFL Playoffs