Shocking: Four Playoff Picks that Win
I hate the wildcard games. Crappy football teams playing better ones because the NFL needs
money. Jeebus, the NFL needs money like I need another taco. Look at some of the teams
that played last week.
The Titans have one player on the team worth my time: Albert Haynesworth. Vince Young
is a slower, less athletic Randall Cunningham. Maybe he becomes an NFL QB but right now
he couldn't hold Tom Brady's muddy cleats.
The Steelers were doomed from the start. No running game, missing important players on
either side of the ball and an overrated defense, not a recipe for success by any stretch of
the term.
The Buccaneers beat no one all year, played no one all year and stopped playing weeks
before the playoffs. They were set up to lose and lost to a Giants team that left everything
on the field a week earlier.
And the Todd Collins "Magical Mystery Tour" was running on fumes the moment it started.
It ran too many exits without a fill-up. There is a reason Todd Collins and people at his skill
level sit on the bench... they suck.
Okay, enough about last week. This week the playoffs really start. We have the four best
teams on either side of the NFL. We'll take the games in TV Schedule order.
Seattle at Green Bay -7.5/43
Weather: 30 degrees, no wind, light flurries
The weather favors a Seattle team or doesn't disfavor them. But that's all favoring the
Seahawks. Both teams play reasonable defense and can throw the ball while protecting the
QB. The big difference is in the running game: Green Bay can and Seattle can't. This will
make a difference in time of possession, forcing the Seattle defenders to spend much longer
on the field than they'd prefer.
Look for the Packers to mix run and pass in the first half, which will allow players like Greg
Jennings to get loose on play action. Seattle not having Hackett will hurt. Bobby Engram is
a great complementary player but when you need him to carry the show he's limited. I hate
the lines for this game. But if forced I take:
Packers giving the points and the over.
Jacksonville at New England -13.5/50
Weather: 38 degrees, light wind, no precipitation
Funny how the weather plays a part in each game. Some may think that the Patriots would
like cold, nasty weather. No effing way. This team was built to pass. They want little wind
and a fast track.
Where the Patriots are weak or have shown a weakness is against the run. The Jags love
to run. They do this for two reasons: they can and their passing game is mediocre. One thing
evident in the final weeks of the season was the Patriots weren't blowing anyone away. And
I don't think they can blow Jacksonville away.
That said, if the Patriots score early this game could go away quickly.
The one thing I want to know is who was the idiot putting this game on Saturday night. This is
the showcase game, not Dallas/New York.
Oh well, I'll shut up and make my pick.
Patriots to win, Jaguars to cover and Under.
San Diego at Indianapolis -9.0/45.5
Dome
Easiest game to call. While Indy has its problems the Chargers have the two biggest to overcome:
Phillip Rivers and Norv Turner. Rivers is the weakest QB remaining. He doesn't have the strongest
arm and makes poor decisions. Norv Turner is the worst coach remaining.
And missing Antonio Gates is the stake in the heart.
Tomlinson is a great back, the defensive line can play well but if they don't get to Manning then
he'll pick them apart. Remember it took six picks and a couple missed field goals for the Colts to
lose the first time they played.
Bet with force:
Colts giving nine and Over.
New York Giants at Dallas -7.5/46.5
Weather: 59 degrees, light wind, no precipitation.
This game may scare some people as the Giants are coming off two impressive games but it doesn't
scare me. The game comes down to two things: the health of the Cowboys recievers and the Giants
pass rush. If Owens and Glenn are near 100-percent and the Giants pass rush can't get to Romo...
look out.
The Cowboys and Giants played twice; the Cowboys winning both times. Many times people look at the
"third time's the charm side of things." Me, I look for who is best and where can they dominate. The
Giants can only dominate on the defensive line. If they don't the Cowboys are very likely to dominate
in the passing game. The Giants sacked Romo twice in two games.
It's easy to see who wins here.
Cowboys giving 7.5 and the Over.
By the way, the Giants gave up 22 straight points to the Patriots before scoring a meaningless TD late.
It was a case of the bigger brother letting the younger one get his way for a little while before
stomping them late.