AFC Wild Card Games
@ 
Saturday, 3:30 P.M. CT on NBC
Ryan says -- The Chiefs got the help they needed Sunday and earned a date with Indianapolis in the wild-card round of the playoffs. But it won't be easy for the AFC's sixth seed as they head to the RCA Dome, where the Colts completed their first perfect season at home since 1958 when the Baltimore Colts won the NFL championship. Still, the key for the Chiefs will be the matchup of running back Larry Johnson, who set an NFL record for carries this season with 416, against an Indianapolis defense that has surrendered rushing yardage in bunches this year. PICK: COLTS
Josh says -- I'd be willing to bet this will be the highest scoring game in the entire playoffs. David Gerrard and Quinn Gray (?!) of the Jaguars passed for over 300 yards against the Chiefs. Peyton Manning is light years beyond these guys. The Colts will put up points quickly and easily. Offensively Kansas City will try to run Larry Johnson as much as possible. The issue with this is it's going to take some time to score points whereas Indy could get to the end zone in a matter of minutes...even seconds. If the Chiefs falter on offense, this could be a potential blow-out. PICK: COLTS
@ 
12 P.M. CT on CBS
Ryan says -- It will be Round 3 for the Jets and Patriots after the AFC East rivals split the regular-season series, with each team winning on the road. New York won the last meeting at Foxboro 17-14 on Nov. 12. Once again, all eyes will be on the head coaches as Jets rookie Eric Mangini served six years under Bill Belichick, five as defensive backs coach andlast season as defensive coordinator. PICK: PATRIOTS
Josh says -- The Jets road record(6-2) is pretty good and overachieved getting to the postseason. They have no feature back and Chad Pennington has done better than a lot of people expected coming back from an injury. Tom Brady on the other hand, underachieved from what we know he can do. His receivers are nobodies and his TE Ben Watson has been banged up. Bill Belichick is the master gameplanner and he flusters Pennington into making some dumb mistakes, New England should have an easy time. PICK: PATRIOTS
NFC Wild Card Games
@ 
Saturday 7 P.M. CT on NBC
Ryan says -- Despite owning the top wild card, Dallas goes into January having lost consecutive games for the first time all season. The Cowboys also have dropped three of four since owning a two-game division lead in early December. The situation is equally disappointing for the Seahawks, who needed a win in the finale to halt a three-game skid. "Our record isn't what we had hoped, to be honest with you, but there's something about 9-7 being a lot better than 8-8," coach Mike Holmgren said. The teams have met 10 times, with Dallas holding a 6-4 edge, but this will be the first postseason encounter. PICK: COWBOYS
Josh says -- Shaun Alexander came back in week 11 and has slooooowly been returning to form. He's just getting back on top of his game. Hasselbeck just got by in his absence and certainly found out Maurice Morris is not a suitable replacement. Alexander could get 30 carries. The Cowboys lost to the Lions last week (aka the team with the #2 pick in the Draft). That's not a good way to move into the postseason. Tony Romo is more talented than Rex Grossman, yet is every bit as up and down. Also to note, a body language analyzer surveyed Bill Parcells last weekend and said he looked like a man who had just given up. Not good. PICK: SEAHAWKS
@ 
Sunday 3:30 P.M. CT on FOX
Ryan says -- With their victory over the Redskins Saturday night, the Giants earned the final NFC wild-card berth and a third game with the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with each winning on the other's field. New York rallied from a 24-7 fourth-quarter deficit in Week 2 to post a 30-24 overtime win in Philadelphia. The Eagles returned the favor in Week 15, riding a 22-point fourth quarter and the outstanding play of Jeff Garcia. PICK: EAGLES
Josh says -- Riding momentum into the postseason is huge and right now that's what the Eagles have. Since Jeff Garcia took the reins, Philly has been hot. And they're playing at home. Despite a week in the final week of the regular season, the Giants aren't very convincing. New York has lost six of its last eight. If Eli Manning struggles, the offense just can't recover. Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs are a great 1-2 combo in the backfield, but Eli needs to get something going through the air. Hopefully a playoff game can properly motivate Plaxico Burress... PICK: EAGLES
2 comments:
Mike says -- rwta had made a rare mistake picking the cowboys. that team is self-destructing by the minute. TO can't catch the ball, Bill Parcells is as frustrated as he's ever been and Tony Romo is starting to look more and more like Sexy Rexy. Oh yeah, and the Cowboys just lost to the Lions. Even the Packers beat the lions. The Seahawks haven't exactly been great recently, but Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander have been regaining their form, and they actually won last week. So the Seahawks get the win, and then get pounded next week.
Mike Also Says -- Im going to step out a little and pick the New York Jets to beat the Patriots. It's a huge upset, but here's why it will happen on Sunday. The Mangenious has turned the Jets into the cinderella story of the year. They have motivation, and are playing pretty well right now. The Patriots just aren't that good this year. Belichick is a great coach, but Tom Brady is having a bad year and he doesn't have anyone to throw to. Chad Pennington throws the ball about as hard as my little sister, but right now he'st still the better quarterback in the game. I think the Patriots will step up and this well be a very close game, but the Mangenious will come up with a way to turn Pennington's 8 mph passes into a win.
Oh Mike. I was nice about Emeka Okafor but you are way, WAY off on this. Cowboys pick? Say what you like, I'm not bothered. Jets vs Pats? Okay, you can pick the Jets but do NOT give the reasons that you did. You are flat out wrong. Tom Brady is playing the best of his career right now because A.) He lost all of his wide receivers and B.) His defense has been decimated. For him to win the AFC East, let alone get in the playoffs, is absolutely fantastic. Brady was screwed out of the Pro Bowl and will make up for it this weekend and the rest of the playoffs. You are wrong. Pennington is NO WHERE NEAR the quarterback Brady is and never will be. -- RWTA and RWSA
Post a Comment