
LINEUP
FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL ... MORE FOOTBALL
FEATURES
BCS TITLE GAME
30 Alabama vs. Notre Dame
The resurgent Irish met the Crimson Tide for the national championship in Miami
BY TIM LAYDEN
The top 10 bowl performances
SUPER BOWL PICKS
40 Final Forecast
Green Bay and title-tested QB Aaron Rodgers fit the Lombardi formula, but they'll have to get past Denver's Peyton Manning
BY PETER KING
NFL PLAYOFFS
48 The Matchups
Go inside the numbers with SI's football writers as they analyze each of the final eight playoff teams and break down every divisional game
NFL PLAYOFFS
56 Von Miller
The Broncos' defense—the best in the postseason—rides on the shoulders of a sack-machine linebacker who's still learning his job
BY JIM TROTTER
BONUS
66 Falcons Addict
The author has learned bitter life lessons as a hopelessly devoted fan of luckless Atlanta. But this year? This year is different
BY THOMAS LAKE
DEPARTMENTS
4 SI Digital
6 Leading Off
12 The Mail
19 Scorecard
The lesson of Ray Lewis
26 Faces in The Crowd
28 Just My Type
How to guard Stephen Curry
BY DAN PATRICK
78 Point After
In praise of losers
BY STEVE RUSHIN
PHOTO
JOHN W. MCDONOUGH
JOHNNY BE GONE Heisman winner Johnny Manziel (2) gashed Oklahoma for an FBS bowl record 229 rushing yards, leading Texas A&M to a 41--13 Cotton Bowl win.