NFL Divisional Round Picks! Plus San Diego Chargers Season Reflections

After a rough Saturday of picks, I was able (like most people) to get the Sunday games right last week.  Let's face it, few people outside of Seattle had the guts, or the inclination to pick the Seahawks over the World Champions.  Those dirty birds knocked out 41 points and came away as the first team in NFL history to win a playoff game after having a sub .500 regular season record.

Well, I don't have to recap the games from last week.  Being sports fans, I'm sure by now you have all of the info on those games you care to read, see, or hear.  Let's move right into this week's divisional round.

Playoff Record:  2-2

Saturday Games

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Saturday kicks off with a bang!  This could be the hardest-hitting game of the weekend.  This winner may be decided by who has enough healthy players at the end of regulation to be able to field a team next week!

Okay, maybe that is a little dramatic, but it should be a very good, extremely hard-hitting game.

My concern for this game is that the Ravens had to play a game last week (blow out or not, it was still a game) and the Steelers got to rest and plan for this week.  That time getting healthy and formulating a game plan should give the Steelers the edge they need to squeak by the Ravens.

Sorry Ray Lewis, but I think Big Ben and company are going to, once again, find a way to edge you out.

Ravens  17   Steelers 21

Green Bay Packers vs Atlanta Falcons

I am really having a hard time picking a winner here.  Green Bay may be the hottest team in the NFL. Atlanta was almost unbeatable at home!  Both teams have tough defenses.  Both teams have very good quarterbacks who are breaking on to the NFL scene in a big way. 

With Michael Turner, the Falcons have the edge in the running game, but the Packers did run the ball efficiently last week against the Eagles. 

Defensively, the Packers do not stop the run as well as Atlanta, which should give Turner a good shot at a big day.  The Falcons don't stop the pass as well as the Packers so we can look for Aaron Rodgers to come up big.

All week long, I have been leaning towards the Packers......until right now.  The way I see it, if Michael Turner can be productive, "Matty Ice" is easily good enough to get the play action pass game working well and the Falcons should be able to control the time of possession.  With that in mind...

Packers 24   Falcons 27

Sunday Games

Seattle Seahawks vs Chicago Bears

The Seahawks shocked the world last week by upsetting Drew Brees and he Saints.  This week, they have to travel to Chicago, deal with the cold weather, and deal with a very staunch Bears defense.

I will admit that I have considered picking another upset this week in this game.  Then I decided that my thoughts of Seattle winning this one stems from my desire to see a sub .500 team possibly host the NFC Championship game, and my dislike of Bears QB, Jay Cutler.

It is true that Cutler is hardly the type of quarterback who makes his teammates and fans feel comfortable when he plays.  He tends to struggle in prime-time and within the red zone.  However, he has shown the ability to make very tough throws and if he is on his game, he can be as good as almost anyone.

The Seahawks showed their potential on offense last week, but their defense did give up 36 points.  I don't see them scoring 41 this week so if the Seahawks are going to win, their defense better step up their game.

I believe this is the week where Cinderella's clock strikes twelve and the boys in blue head back to the Northwest.

Seattle  10   Bears  24

New York Jets vs New England Patriots

I am really looking forward to this game!  Rex and his Jets have been slinging mud all week and trying to get the Patriots out of their game.  The Pats have responded by making sneaky, thoughtful remarks that should cut much deeper than profane rants by an overrated defensive back.

The two Patriots digs that I enjoyed the most was when Tom Brady responded to Antonio Cromartie's rant by saying that Cromartie is a good player and that Revis is a great player.  Do you think that "Cro" even realized that he was insulted right there?  Remember, we're talking about a guy who can't figure out the proper use of a condom.

Next was Wes Welker's 10 minute interview where he mentioned feet, or toes, more times than I have in my entire life.  It was obvious that he was picking on Rex Ryan and his foot fetish, but is wasn't rude or obvious to the casual fan.  Nicely done.

As for the game, I don't think anyone beats the Patriots after they have an extra week to prepare.  Top that with some extra motivation courtesy of the Jets' big mouths and I see a comfortable win for the Pats.

Jets 17   Patriots  38

There you have it!  Let me know what you think and enjoy the games!

Chargers Reflections 2010/11 Season:

I want to focus this week on the contract disputes between Chargers GM, A.J. Smith, Marcus McNeill and Vincent Jackson.

Over and over, I hear Chargers fans and San Diego radio personalities (one named after a common tool) talking about how the Chargers didn't make the playoffs because of the way Smith handled the situation with McNeill and Jackson.  People seem to think that both players were disrespected and trying to bully them into camp caused a distraction, and a lowering in talent that caused the Chargers to get off to a slow start.  Hmmmmm.  I just don't see it that way.

First of all, I can't lump both players together.  McNeill was a Pro Bowl left tackle who was a class act on and off the field.  He has never embarrassed himself, or his employer, and in my opinion deserved a long term deal way back in the preseason. 

As it turned out, McNeill tried to be proud and stubborn and so did A.J. Smith.  Eventually, McNeill blinked first, signed his tender, and came in to play football.  His reward was a very large contract that will keep him in San Diego for many years to come.

Jackson, on the other hand, had not been the model citizen that McNeill had been.  Let's take a look at some of the issues that Smith had to consider before handing this guy the kind of crazy money that Jackson demands.

1.  Two D.U.I. convictions!

2.  Cited on the morning of the Chargers/Jets playoff game last year for driving on a suspended license and in an unregistered car. (Received a three-game suspension)

3.  During the playoff game, Jackson kicked the challenge flag during a late comeback by the Chargers, costing the offense 15 yards and risking the game.

4.  One legal issue away from a full season suspension.

Would you kiss this guy's feet?  I wouldn't.

So, in short, I do think that Smith should have worked harder at getting McNeil in to camp.  Jackson, on the other hand, should have felt the need to prove his worth and got his butt into camp and earned a new contract by staying out of trouble and playing great football.

As for the Chargers' start....that is what they do under Norv Turner.  They did have injuries and a lot of player turnover, but that should not cause five blocked punts, a few run backs for touchdowns, and losses to teams like the Rams, Seahawks and Raiders.