NFL Playoff Picks: Divisional Round

I was a little late for the Wildcard picks but to inform readers, I went 2 for 4 last week. I correctly picked the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest, and the Jaguars on the road. I was wrong on both Sunday games picking the major underdogs the Titans and the home favorites the Buccaneers. This week we have for more game to go, and is it just me, but it is getting a little sad. The season is 3 weeks from over, or a month if you count the pro bowl. So without further ado here are my week 2 playoff predictions.


Saturday games

Seattle Seahawks VS. Green Bay Packers


I am pretty sure that the vivid image of Green Bay returning on interception on Matt Hasselbeck in the overtime playoff game which was his to lose is still fresh in his mind. It was a hard fought game in Green Bay where Matt distinctly called the coin toss, won, chose to receive and said they were going to score. Now years later he makes his way back to the cold, probably snow filled green, or white, as the chills will be cold enough to freeze the blood. Just because Bret Favre is nearing 40, doesn’t mean that he still can’t beat the birds at home. Only one team has ever beaten the Packers at Lambeau and that was the Falcons when they still had Vick. Brett Favre is the star of this game and the Seahawks will freeze all the way back to Seattle.

Winner: Green Bay

Seattle 23 Green Bay 38


Jacksonville Jaguars VS. New England Patriots

3 words, New England Patriots. Period. Ok, if you add the word period, it’s four but now way are the Jaguars going to travel to New England and beat Brady and Moss. As much as I would like to see the underdog win, it doesn’t happen this week, and maybe not ever. The Patriots string of linebackers, who many people consider old, will turn loose a punishment on both Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew. David Garrard had a key fourth down to pull the victory but with Vince Wilfork, Vrabel, and star veteran Junior Seau the road to victory proves very tough. With a sure snow fight on the way, the Jaguars go home hanging their heads. By the way, let not forget that Brady has had the most touchdowns in a single season, Moss the most TD receptions in a single season, and to top it off, the offense has the most points scored and touchdowns. It all points to one way. Jacksonville average over 4 yards a carry, and can potentially keep up with the Pats, but when they get behind they be forced to throw, and its not happening.

Winner: New England Patriots

Jacksonville 10 New England 34



Sunday Games

 
San Diego Chargers VS. Indianapolis Colts

Well the repeat of the regular season when the bolts almost blew a 23 point lead will not happen again. There will be no lead to be lost because Peyton will not have a 6 interception game either. The Colts will control the game and shut down Rivers and Tomlinson. The playoff sparkle that we saw last year when the Super Bowl defense emerged, is back and better allowing more than a 100 points less over the regular year. This may not be smart or work out for me, but I am going to pick all favorites, all home teams to pull away with victories. That rarely happens but I feel it this year.

Winner: Indianapolis Colts

San Diego 17 Indianapolis 31


New York Giants VS. Dallas Cowboys

I am going to go ahead and call this the game of the week. In a football year it is difficult to sweep a competitor, now add on a third game in the playoffs with the steak 10 times higher than when they played the second time and you could possibly have disaster. We have all heard the hoopla of Tony Romo not being focused, but in his games against New York this year he has 8 touchdowns, and just 2 lone interceptions. They are at home and the stadium will be louder than it has been since 1995, when the boys won their last Super Bowl. Eli Manning, the incompetent younger brother of Peyton, will not have the games he has had against the Patriots and the Buccaneers. They have had two games of hard playing and the time off will prove valuable for Dallas.

Winner: Dallas Cowboys

New York 27 Dallas 35