So how did I do last week?
Not good. I only got the Cowboys game correct and I thought, it'd be close, but it wasn't. Once you are in the playoffs, anything can happen. All you need is a chance, and lots of teams got their chances.
I was wrong on the Jets. They destroyed, and I mean, destroyed the Bengals. I was wrong on Baltimore, they demolished, really demolished the Patriots. 21-0 in the first quarter? Wow! The Patriots defense was exposed. It has been weak and leaky all year. They got into the playoffs, because their division was weak. And of course, Indy and the Bengals threw games to let the Jets in. The Patriots have been exposed. They stumbled into three Super Bowls (one of them by the goofy tuck rule), barely won those super bowls. They won by running the ball and smashing people. They don't do that anymore. When they started passing and finessing people, they lost the big one. They got beat down by the Ravens. Ravished! The Ravens didn't allow the Pats to do anything. Brady played scared and weak, and couldn't get a single pass out without it wobbling. Baltimore blew them up, the way the Pats used to try and do it. Surprisingly, the Ravens didn't commit any penalties or mental mistakes like they usually do. And not so surprisingly, Ed Reed pitched back an interception return.
The best game of all ended up being Green Bay at Arizona. Wow! Every team that "rested" lost, except for Arizona. Arizona seems to be the only team in the NFL that can turn it on and off whenever they want to. Pretty weird, they did that last year too. After they won their division with 9 wins (and no one else could come close), they shut it down and were getting blown out. Then the playoffs started and they went on the road and beat everyone. Looks like they are doing that again this year. That was the best playoff game I have ever seen. No one wanted to play defense, no one wanted to win. Finally, Arizona facemasked and roughing the passered Aaron Rodgers, and got the ball out for a TD in overtime. Why not call the facemask and roughing the passer? They have been calling it all year on lesser contact? Unless your name is Brady, Manning, or Favre... they aren't going to call that.
Playoffs Round Two
All the games this week are indoor games in domes, except for the Chargers game.
Jets at Chargers: Probably will be the best game of the week. How good is Darrell Revis? The statistics don't lie, he has shut down a lot of great WRs. But the media does overhype him. He is a fantastic CB. Plays his position well, shuts people down, and is extremely athletic. The only issue is that the WR for SD are all tall and he is not. We will see what will happen. He is excellent at baiting QB to throw to the WR backside shoulder, and then jumping it. I am sure Rivers will notice that. The Jets aren't going to be able to cover Gates. They are awful at covering TEs. And Rivers can get it to Gates and those tall WRs. The Jets only hope of winning is Thomas Jones and Shonne Green. Don't stop handing off to those two. The Chargers nose tackle position has been a revolving door all year after Jamal Williams went down. Guys off the street are playing for them. Ultimately, Sanchez is not going to be able to keep up with Rivers. I think the Chargers win in a closer than expected game.
Ravens at Colts: The Colts should not have rested the past few weeks. They are going to be flat. And we saw what Baltimore can do if you come out flat or weak. It's a tough game to call, but I have a feeling that Baltimore will win this one. Yes, Manning is an amazing QB, but they have never gone to the super bowl when they had a first round bye. The Colts are finesse and timing team, it's hard to regain your timing and speed. Baltimore's running game has been firing on all cylinders and Ray Rice can punish defenses. If he gets going early and Manning doesn't get on the field much, it may be over before you know it. But part of me says, it is Manning (probably the best QB of all time) and Flacco is only a second year player. I still will go with the team that hasn't rested.... Baltimore in a close one.
Cardinals at Saints: This may be the next "best playoff game ever" if no one decides to play defense. Both defense seem to have issues. Both teams can pass like crazy! The Super Dome is a difficult place to play in and the Saints have a tremendous home field advantage. Does it get any better? Warner (a sure hall of famer) against Brees (who may be a hall of famer)? It could be an offensive explosion like we have never seen before. Although, 96 points is hard to beat. Brees will pick on McFadden. He is the weak link the Arizona secondary. He was brought over by Wisenhunt from Pittsburgh to help install his defense, but he is a huge liability. Both teams have a running game that is just good enough to get tough yards when you need them. Saints run defense is porous when the score is tied. It's gonna be a tough call. I may have to go with the proven veteran, who has gone on the road before, has nearly every playoff and super bowl record in Kurt Warner. I think Arizona will do just enough to win. It may be a fluke play at the end that is the difference. Should be a fun game to watch.
Cowboys at Vikings: This one is going to be fun to watch as well. The Vikings haven't been playing particularly well the past few weeks and I think the Cowboys can take it to them. The Vikes play mainly out of a Tampa Cover 2 defense, Jason Witten will have a field day in the middle of the field. Austin has emerged as an excellent pass catcher as well as YACer. Can Favre do it? The last few times in the playoffs he has been the reason his team lost. Will he lose it for the Vikes? He doesn't have history on his side. Playing poorly the past few weeks is not a way to end your season. The Cowboys are going to use Felix Jones and Tashard Choice (I hate Marion Barber, he runs like a maniac and needs to learn how to really run) to bring the safeties and LBers in tighter and then unleash Witten and Austin. Just keep it simple. The Cowboys defense has been playing very well. I don't know if they will completely shutdown Adrian Peterson, but they will keep him under 100 yards. The Vikings defense hasn't been the same as they have been the past few years. Could end up being terribly close if turnovers are a factor, but I think the Cowboys will win it.
There you are folks! My playoff picks. Hopefully, I do better this week. Enjoy the games! February is coming sooner than you realize, and you are going to miss the luxory of being able to watch football all the time.
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