NFL Divisional Round Spread Picks: Can Rex Ryan Stop Tom Brady?
The NFL Divisional Playoff Round is finally upon us.
Eight teams remain in the Super Bowl tournament.
Really, this should be called “sequel weekend,” as we have already seen each one of these matchups during the regular season.
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will be looking to avenge their losses.
Meanwhile, arguably the two biggest rivalries in the NFL will duke it out for the final time of the 2010 season. Both matchups will be the rubber match as they split the regular season meetings. This time, however, the Super Bowl is on the line when the Steelers host the Ravens and the Jets fly to take on the Patriots.
Note: Spreads are taken from Yahoo! Spreads as of January 13.
Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-3)
1 of 17
This will be the third meeting between the Steelers and Ravens this season.
In the first meeting, the Ravens won late in the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh with a Joe Flacco to T.J. Houshmandzadeh touchdown.
In the second meeting, the Steelers went to Baltimore and won the game thanks to a Troy Polamalu sack and forced fumble on Flacco.
Both meetings were three-point games.
The rubber match is back in Pittsburgh and the most important meeting of the season.
Will Baltimore finally be able to win a big game in Pittsburgh?
Why Baltimore Could Cover
2 of 17
The Ravens are coming in with a ton of momentum following their dominant performance on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens defense is hitting harder than ever. More importantly, the offense is finding its groove again.
Anquan Boldin made big plays against the Chiefs and will be relied upon again. That is why they traded for him in the first place.
Boldin is one of the most physical receivers in the game. He will open things up for the rest of the offense since he will need to be double teamed because none of the Steelers corners can take him one on one.
Why Pittsburgh Could Cover
3 of 17
Troy Polamalu.
Troy Polamalu.
Troy Polamalu.
Hey, did I mention Troy Polamalu?
Polamalu is the catalyst for the Pittsburgh Steelers team. Not just the defense. The entire team.
He is the one cog in the machine the Steelers cannot afford to lose and he is finally ready to return healthy after taking time to heal.
Polamalu causes so much mayhem because of his speed, ball hawking skills and intelligence.
Polamalu is one of the most explosive players in the entire league and can single-handedly beat a team by himself.
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Prediction
4 of 17
Anquan Boldin proves to be the major difference maker for the Ravens this postseason as opposed to last year. Joe Flacco emerges as the top quarterback in the AFC North.
The Ravens, with the offense’s foot on the gas pedal, finally win a big game against the Steelers.
Although a close game, the Ravens win outright despite the Steelers fully rested at home.
Pick: Baltimore (+3)
Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons (-2.5)
5 of 17
The Falcons barely beat the Packers 20-17 in the first meeting in Atlanta Week 12.
Now, the Packers come in a completely different team. Not only are they arguably the hottest team in the league, they finally found a running game other than Aaron Rodgers.
James Starks powered through the Eagles defense and kept Michael Vick off the field long enough for Vick to feel the pressure of the time winding down and he threw an interception to Tramon Williams.
The Falcons dominated the NFC, only losing once at home all year. The Falcons boast one of the most balanced offenses in the league with arguably the best receiver in the NFC in Roddy White. Matt Ryan has proven he is one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league, which Rodgers is still trying to prove himself.
Why Green Bay Could Cover
6 of 17
Aaron Rodgers proves he’s not just an elite regular season quarterback, but an elite quarterback throughout the season.
This is Rodgers’ time to vault himself into the upper echelon of quarterbacks, before Matt Ryan.
Rodgers might be the best pure passer in the game and he’ll show that as he throws to everybody and anybody for touchdowns.
Now that James Starks emerged against the Eagles last week, the Falcons will be aware of the rookie runner. This will give Rodgers more room to carry the rock by himself, just like he did in the first meeting.
Why Atlanta Could Cover
7 of 17
The Green Bay defense is playing excellent, but Michael “The Burner” Turner fears no defense. The Packers have a great secondary led by Charles Woodson but Turner can eat up their front seven with his amazing combination of power and speed.
Clay Matthews is one of the league’s best pass rushers, which will disrupt Matt Ryan, but Michael Turner will be relied on to counter his punch. With Michael Turner controlling the clock, Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have enough time to come back and win a close game.
In the end, “Matty Ice” proves once again he is fearless in the face of pressure.
Prediction
8 of 17
This is Aaron Rodgers’ year.
They are the hottest team in the league and the defense has clicked at the prime time. They remind me of the New York Giants team that won the Super Bowl a few years back.
The Packers have two fantastic playmakers on defense in Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews who are two of the top at their respective positions.
The Falcons defense has bent but not broken for most of the year. They will come up short against Aaron Rodgers this time around.
Pick: Green Bay (+2.5)
Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears (-10)
9 of 17
This same Seattle team went into Chicago and beat the Bears 23-20 in Week 6.
Now, the Bears are looking to sink their claws into these birds and bury them once and for all.
The Seahawks come into Chicago this week with ocean-sized momentum behind them. They have essentially already won two playoff games, so they are used to having their backs against the wall fighting for every last breath.
As they say, on any given Sunday…
Why Seattle Could Cover
10 of 17
Marshawn Lynch used to be regarded as one of the league’s best young running backs but then injuries hampered him.
Lynch reminded everyone what they’ve been missing when he ran through the New Orleans Saints defense. On his 67-yard touchdown run to seal the game, Lynch showed great speed, agility and most importantly, power, as he stiff-armed and pushed away on-coming Saints defenders.
Lynch played a vital role in the Seahawks big road win earlier in the season, which was also Lynch’s Seattle debut.
Lynch is now feeling fantastic and ready to prove once again why he is one of the most overlooked backs in the league on an even grander stage.
Why Chicago Could Cover
11 of 17
On any given play, Mike Martz’ all-or-nothing offense can score.
More importantly, so can the Bears vicious defense.
Even more importantly, so can Devin Hester on special teams.
The Bears can legitimately boast the ability to score on any single given play more than any other team in the league.
Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers and the Bears defense are prepared to show they are one of the top units in postseason history and could very well shut out these Seattle Seahawks who have been playing far and away above their talents.
Prediction
12 of 17
The Seahawks are one of the hottest teams in the league right now.
The Bears still need to readjust after the bye, giving Seattle enough time to stick around.
Jay Cutler is known for trusting his arm far too much and in Mike Martz’ high-octane offense, will sling it when he shouldn’t to avoid the sack. This will lead to a turnover, or two, and let Seattle stick around longer than Lovie Smith would care for.
Bears take it, but it's closer than it should be.
Pick: Seattle (+10)
New York Jets @ New England Patriots (-9)
13 of 17
The Jets and Patriots will meet for the third time this season with the AFC Championship and possible Super Bowl on the line.
When the Jets and Patriots entered Week 13 tied atop the NFL with 9-2 records, everyone expected to be treated to one of the best Monday Night Football games in recent memory.
That’s what we fail to realize each year: Expect the unexpected.
The Patriots decimated the Jets.
Actually, the embarrassed them.
Actually, they stole their manhood.
45-3.
That’s what the Jets have had to hang their heads on over the past two months.
Now, they return to the scene of the crime, ready to take back what is rightfully theirs.
Why New York Could Cover
14 of 17
In the first meeting, the Jets threw everything at Tom Brady and caused him to play one of his worst halves of football in his entire career.
Rex Ryan’s relentless blitzes will do that to a quarterback.
He will pressure Tom Brady over and over in effort to make Tom Brady rush into a quick, errant throw to create a turnover.
Really, though, Rex Ryan wants to take Tom Brady out of this game. New York will be head-hunting throughout this contest.
In addition to the Jets’ onslaught on Tom Brady, they need a monster rushing effort from both LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene.
Luckily for the Jets, their running backs have the talent to do so and the Patriots offense can be wildly inconsistent.
Why New England Could Cover
15 of 17
Tom Brady has been in rare, MVP, all-time epic form since the Week 9 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
There’s nothing else that needs to be said.
He has absolutely scorched every single defense he has faced since then, throwing for multiple touchdowns in each of the past nine contests. He has yet to turn the ball over since he played Baltimore Week 6.
Brady is too poised, accurate, intelligent and fearless that he could single-handedly destroy New York on Sunday.
Brady is focused and determined to prove to everyone that he is the all-time greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL.
At this point, who are we to doubt him?
Prediction
16 of 17
At the beginning of the day, before it’s all said and done, this is still a heated rivalry. The Jets have too much pride to roll over to the New England Patriots.
The Jets invested too much in the offseason bringing in veterans for them not to show up in their biggest game of the season.
Did it happen already? Yes.
Are the Patriots the most dangerous team in the league right now led by Brady and Bill Belichick? Yes.
But as we learned that Monday Night Football game Week 13, expect the unexpected.
Pick: New York (+9)
Picks
17 of 17
Four games.
Four road teams.
Baltimore Ravens (+3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Green Bay Packers (+2.5) @ Atlanta Falcons
Seattle Seahawks (+10) @ Chicago Bears
New York Jets (+9) @ New England Patriots
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