Seattle at Green Bay - Seattle’s biggest strength has been homefield advantage - they are 24-4 since 2005. Without that, especially facing a stronger team, I doubt they’ll even make a game of it. The Seahawks have won exactly one playoff game on the road, and that was in 1983. Green Bay, on the other hand, has lost exactly twice during the playoffs at Lambeau. Ever. Green Bay’s lack of playoff experience has to be noted (their roster includes just 17 players who have seen postseason action). But the quarterback matchup alone makes this an easy pick. The west coast offense employed by the Seahawks is the only thing that keeps Hasselbeck from being a complete albatross. Comparing him to Favre is laughable. I wouldn’t bet against Favre if he had to borrow the Dolphins entire roster for the game. How much does deserving to win matter? Not much, based on past evidence, but Favre, deserving to go all the way for his resilience, humility, and hard-nosed play, won’t need any mercy from the football gods. Bottom Line: I’ll take Favre and the Pack against anyone, especially the unremarkable Seahawks. Pick: Packers
Jacksonville at New England - May as well have given New England another bye week. Jacksonville now knows what it feels like to have a week to plan your own funeral. They tried really hard to lose to the Steelers last week, and then Pittsburgh did an even better job of falling on their own sword. Blowing an 18 point lead won’t be fixable against the formidable Pats, not that Jacksonville will ever get an 18 point lead against them to give back. I would love to see the Pats flame out as much as anyone. While sooner or later they have to lose due to the law of averages, it certainly won’t be at the hands of the Jaguars. Bottom Line: No hard evidence needed to back this one up. Brady and Moss will make a mockery of the Jaguars. Pick: Patriots
New York at Dallas: Probably the only matchup this week that has the potential to produce a great game. Dallas has the numbers on its side, but Tony Romo isn’t too scary without Owens. Whether TO will be available remains to be seen, but it could make all the difference. Regardless of Owens’ availability, I still think the Giants can control their own fate. Everyone keeps betting against them, and they keep proving everyone wrong. Eli Manning is among the most highly criticized players in the league, and not entirely without merit, but if anyone has earned the right to silence his detractors, he’s the guy. The Giants should be given an enormous amount of credit for being the only team who had already sealed their playoff fate to man up during week 17 and play the game the way the lazy, paranoid Cowboys and Colts should have. They almost ended the Pats’ perfect season, and they overcame a terrible first quarter on wildcard weekend to handily defeat Tampa Bay. While Manning didn’t post the glittery numbers against the Bucs that he did against the Pats, he played a smart game. The Giants defense got to Garcia, but Manning’s efficiency on 3rd down and lack of any real mistakes won this game. Move over Peyton; looks like Archie produced two sons who came to play. Bottom Line: Gear up for the best showdown in the playoffs thus far. Then say goodbye to Dallas. Pick: Giants
San Diego at Indianapolis: Remember when Peyton used to choke in the playoffs? Yeah, neither does anyone else. As much as I would love to see Indy knocked out early as punishment for Dungy’s total cowardice in week 17 in which he pulled his starters WAY too early and gave Tennessee a free ticket to the playoffs, I’m an optimist, not an idiot. San Diego doesn’t even deserve to be in the playoffs. The only reason they’re even here is because their division was comically weak and they had the good fortune to be matched up with Tennessee on wildcard weekend. Bottom Line: I can’t tell you how much I would love to be wrong about this one. Pick: Colts
No comments:
Post a Comment