Everywhere you look this week, sports experts are trying to predict the winners of Sunday's NFL conference championship games. Will the Saints offense be able to penetrate the Bears defense?  Will Peyton finally figure out New England in the playoffs?  Which Colts defense will show up?  Most experts give their carefully crafted logic based off of stats and trends that they have seen throughout the NFL year.  They bring up Brady's record on turf, the Bears record at home playoff games, the Saints record in playoff games period.

Well, I have noticed my own NFL trend.  It has nothing to do with stats and nothing that involves breaking down matchups.  It has everything to do with Hurricane Katrina.  What I have noticed is that certain teams just seem to make it to the big show following a major occurrence or disaster in this country.

Back in 1990, America invaded Iraq in what became the first Gulf War.  This was a huge moment for the U.S., as it was the first major conflict for this country since the last helicopter lifted away from Saigon in 1974.  The Vietnam conflict ended with less than stellar results and American self-confidence sank to unforeseen depths shortly thereafter.

The Gulf invasion prompted a huge conflict in this country as to why we were once again sending our boys overseas to fight a war.  After more than a decade of relative peace, Americans would have to once again feel what it was like to live in war-like conditions.

Shortly thereafter in Tampa, Super Bowl XXV took place between the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. While many viewers remember Whitney Houston's stirring rendition of the National Anthem, I noticed something special on the field.  In this particular Super Bowl, the one that took place directly after we went to war again, both teams competing wore the colors of red, white, and blue.  I was amazed at how that worked out, but dismissed it a coincidence.

In 1995, Oklahoma City was rocked by a blast to its Federal Building in what was the deadliest domestic terrorist attack at the time. We had to endure lasting images of Oklahoma City residents covered in dirt and rubble wandering aimlessly as they tried to find loved ones who may or may not even be in one piece.