Congratulations to the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints for reaching the conference championships.

Of course, why are you listening to me? In my Dec. 22 column, I picked the San Diego Chargers to win it all. I said they were due. I said they entered the postseason with a full head of steam.

Shows what I know.

But you're still reading, so you either have some faith in me or are waiting for another misfire.

About that Chargers-Jets game:

Chargers coach Norv Turner is taking a lot of heat for not kicking off with 2:14 remaining. Instead, he chose an onside kick, which, of course, didn't work.

Turner made the right decision. He's taking heat because it failed.

The unsuccessful onside kick put the Jets in four-down territory. If San Diego had kicked off, the Jets would have faced the fourth-and-1 situation in their own territory. They would have punted, giving the Chargers some extra time.

However, just as there is the assumption that an onside kick would fail — the percentage of it working is slim, especially when the opponent is expecting it — there was the assumption that the Jets weren't going to get a first down.

The thinking was that the Jets would have run three plays, San Diego would have used its timeouts and gotten the ball with a long field to try to get at least a field goal.

The only problem was the Jets had run the ball somewhat effectively. Remember running back Shonn Greene's 53-yard touchdown run with 7:17 left in the game to open a 17-7 lead?

The Jets finished with more than 160 yards rushing and had the ability to break one.

Turner's only real option was to try an onside kick. His team had just scored to make it a three-point game. There were a little more than two minutes remaining and Turner had to think this might be his last chance to get the ball.

With one timeout and the two-minute warning remaining, the Chargers were in no position to stop the clock any more.

Turner rolled the dice with the best option he had and missed. No crime there, but, of course, the Chargers will wonder what happened again.

A 10-game winning streak entering the playoffs was wiped out because of another playoff loss. Those fans will have the whole offseason to wonder what happened.

But worse yet, my Super Bowl pick is gone. But don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

Instead, it's time to find another.

I said in that column that New Orleans would reach the Super Bowl and I'll stick with the Saints, who are tough at home, especially since the Vikings lack a dependable running game (sorry Adrian Peterson).

I'm sold again on Indy because of Peyton Manning. The Jets boast the top defense, but Mark Sanchez brings very little experience or poise at QB, something he'll need in the Colts' dome.

As for a Super Bowl winner, that will come in good time. I still have plenty of time to change my mind.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.