AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND:
5) Baltimore Ravens (13-4) at 2) Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)- 4:30PM EST Saturday at Heinz Field (Pittsburgh, PA) on CBS
These two teams hate each other. In a division full of heated rivalries, this one is probably the most heated up. This is the second time in the last three years, and the third time overall that these teams have met in the playoffs. Pittsburgh is unbeaten (1-0 against Cincinnati, 1-0 against the then-Houston Oilers, 2-0 against Cleveland, 2-0 against Baltimore) against division rivals in the AFC Playoffs. Don't expect a lot of points to be scored in Heinz Field on Saturday afternoon. Last week, Joe Flacco proved why he is only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to reach the postseason in his first three years as the Ravens soared over the Chiefs, 30-7, in which the Chiefs' star receiver Dwayne Bowe was completely shut out of the mix. This week, the Ravens defense will have a field day with the Steelers offense, and vice versa.
Pick: Pittsburgh 17-10
6) New York Jets (12-5) at 1) New England Patriots (14-2)- 4:30PM EST Sunday at Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA) on CBS
These two teams don't get along. Over the course of the week, unpleasantries were exchanged back and forth from players (Jets' CB Antonio Cromartie and Patriots' QB Tom Brady) and coaches alike. The last time the Jets were in Foxborough, the Patriots shot them down 45-3. This will be an ugly and bitter fight in cold, snowy Foxborough.
Pick: New England 28-7
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND:
6) Green Bay Packers (11-6) at 1) Atlanta Falcons (13-3)- 8PM EST Saturday at Georgia Dome (Atlanta, GA) on Fox
Let me argue my case for why the Falcons will win, and it is NOT the NFL Play60 Commercial. The Falcons will win because Matt Ryan NEVER loses at home (OK, he's lost twice in his three year career, thus far). Matt Ryan almost NEVER loses at home. Here is why the Falcons will lose. The Packers defense has come to play when the going got tough. When they needed to win out to make the playoffs, the Green Bay defense has risen to the occasion, and that is why an upset in on the horizon in the land of peaches and Ted Turner.
Pick: Atlanta 23-20 (OT)
4) Seattle Seahawks (8-9) at 2) Chicago Bears (11-5)- 1PM EST Sunday at Soldier Field (Chicago, IL) on Fox
The Seahawks won here earlier this season before they got into their funk which led to them being not only the first 7-9 (or losing team) to a) Win their Division and b) Reach the Playoffs, but (c) they became the first losing team to do A & B win a playoff game (which is again, C), by knocking off last year's Super Bowl Champs, New Orleans in a wild one 41-36, where the Seahawks led by as many as 14. The Bears, fresh off a week off, need to get a little pep in their step, because Jay Cutler has little to no postseason experience, what-so-ever. And Pete Carroll...well, he spent the last nine years at USC, where, need I mention his accomplishments there?
Pick: Seattle 27-14
If this holds up...
AFC Championship- 2) Pittsburgh Steelers at 1) New England Patriots
NFC Championship- 4) Seattle Seahawks at 1) Atlanta Falcons
My Super Bowl Predix are STILL New England vs. Atlanta.
COACHING CAROUSEL:
The San Francisco 49ers hired Stanford Head Coach Jim Harbaugh (a 14-year NFL quarterback) as their new head coach last Friday. Harbaugh received offers from the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and his alma mater, the University of Michigan.
The Cleveland Browns hired St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur today.
The Denver Broncos hired former Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox today.
No comments:
Post a Comment