The 2007 NFL Championship games take place tomorrow as the San Diego Chargers travel to New England to take on the Patriots in the AFC Championship game while the New York Giants travel to Green Bay to tangle with Packers in the NFC Championship game.

Weather is definitely going to be a factor in both games as the temperature right now here in my backyard, one hour south of the Frozen Tundra, is minus 6 degrees with a wind chill of minus 16 degrees.

Foxborough will be a summer haven compared to the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field. The game time temperature in New England calls for 29 degrees with mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will drop steadily throughout the game. 

The National Football League hit it right on the head as they saved the best conference championship game for last.

The AFC Championship took a major blow as the San Diego Chargers upset the Indianapolis Colts, 28-24, last weekend in the RCA Dome.

The whole sports nation was waiting for the rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game won by the Colts, 38-34. New England led at one point by 18 last year in Indianapolis but Peyton Manning and Company eventually wore down the older Patriots as the Colts advanced on to the Super Bowl where they would beat the Chicago Bears for the World championship.

The Chargers had no business winning in Indianapolis last weekend and they have no chance of pulling an upset tomorrow against the Patriots.

I give the Chargers credit for winning last weekend in Indy without QB Philip Rivers, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, and TE Antonio Gates. All three players missed extended time in the win. Billy Volek will go down as a folk hero in San Diego history as he led the Chargers on a time consuming, game winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots looked dominating in winning for the 17th consecutive time this season as they dismantled the dangerous Jaguars, 31-20, last weekend at Foxborough in a game not as close as the final score indicated.

Tom Brady dinked and dunked his way to a 26-of-28 passing performance, setting an NFL record for the highest completion rate (92.9) in a game — postseason or regular season.

Jacksonville’s game plan was to stop WR Randy Moss at all-cost. The scheme worked to perfection as the Jaguars held Moss to a season low, one catch for 14 yards.

Unfortunately for Jacksonville, the Patriots have as many weapons as the United States Military has at their disposal.

The Patriots posted some extraordinary numbers on offense this season. Tom Brady threw an NFL-record 50 touchdown passes. Randy Moss had a league-record 23 scoring receptions, Wes Welker tied for the league lead with 112 catches, the Patriots scored a record 589 points, and though all the aerial fireworks obscured it — the running game was effective when it had to be.

Bottom Line: The Chargers are banged up and  already have traveled a long, emotional road in the playoffs. The Chargers will put up little resistence if QB Philip Rivers is not available for the entire game.

Prediction: New England 41, San Diego 17.

The GreenBay Packers finally made Hookscenter a believer last weekend as they overcame a horrendous start, down 14-0 to Seattle in the first four minutes of the game thanks to two Ryan Grant fumbles, to crush the Seahawks 42-20 in a snowstorm on the Frozen Tundra.

The Packers had three statement games this season and they laid an egg in all of them.

The Packers lost to Chicago at home in week 5, 27-20. Green Bay entered the game undefeated at 4-0 and couldve put a strangle-hold on the division with a win against the Bears.

Green Bay lost in Dallas in week 12 with the top spot in the NFC on the line. The Cowboys humbled Brett Favre and Company, 37-27, as they grabbed the inside track to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Green Bay still had an outside shot at home-field heading into a week 16 matchup in Chicago against the Bears. The Packers wouldn’t even beat the Miami Dolphins with their performance that day at Soldier Field, as the arch-rival Bears embarrassed the NFC North champs, 35-7, in absolutely miserable conditions on the south shores of Lake Michigan. 

Favre knows that his defense is allowing only 15.0 points per game at home, so the plan will be simple: avoid mistakes. The Packers will use RB Grant to slow the Giants’ pass rush with a heavy dose of outside runs to the side of RE Osi Umenyiora, who will struggle against the runs right at him. LE Michael Strahan still can break down and shed blocks, but he has lost a step in pursuit.

Favre’s ability to spread the ball and take what the coverage gives him will force the Giants to disguise their looks and use zone blitz schemes. The Giants will want to hit Favre as often as possible and hurry him into forcing throws. 

New York will want to ride the hot right arm of road warrior, Eli Manning. In the Giants’ two playoff wins, he has completed more passes per game (18.4 to 18.1) despite having significantly fewer attempts (29.5 to 34.9). That gives him a Pro-Bowl looking 62.4 percent compared to his ugly 52.0 percent at home. He also has two fewer interceptions on the road in two more games played.

When Manning isn’t throwing the ball, the Packers will see a big dose of RB Brandon Jacobs, especially if the weather is expected to be a factor again this weekend at Lambeau Field.

After scoring two touchdowns in the Giants’ opening playoff game, Jaobs scored another Sunday in the Divisional Playoff game at Dallas. He carried 14 times for 54 yards and caught a pass for five.

Jacobs rushed for 1002 yards this season despite having played in only 11 games due to various injuries. Jacobs breakout season has Giants fans saying, “TIKI WHO”. 

Bottom Line: The two teams seem to be even on paper in every category except for one, quarterback. You have to believe that Favre will outplay Manning Sunday in the frigid cold in Wisconsin.

This battle pits an excellent road team against a great home team. But you have to believe Favre will get the Pack back to the Super Bowl. 

Prediction: Green Bay 24, New York Giants 14.

5 Star Playoff Pick of the Week (1-1): New England (-14) vs San Diego. 

4 Star Playoff Pick of the Week (1-1): Green Bay (-7) vs New York Giants.

Rest of the Playoff Week: 4-0.

2007 Playoff Record: 6-2. 

2007 Playoff Lock of the Year: 1-0.