Saturday afternoon the Jets go to Cincy to take on the Bengals. NYJ spanked the Bungals in the final game at the Meadowlands this past Sunday to clinch a playoff spot and force a rematch this week. This year the Bengals earned the division outright, sweeping the Steelers, Ravens and Browns to post a 6-0 division record. The Jets season was a rollercoaster. They started out 3-0, then went 1-6 in their next seven, and had to finish the season 5-1 just to make the playoffs. Cincinnati is headed in the opposite direction, having gone 1-3 in their past four games. I have no confidence in Marvin Lewis to right the ship, especially if Chad Ocho-Johnson and Cedric Benson are not 100%. Rex Ryan and the Jets will prevail here.
Prediction: New York 20 — Cincinnati 13
Later Saturday night, there is another rematch from week 17. Philadelphia goes back to the Dallas Indoor Coliseum to face the Cowboys. Dallas crushed Philadelphia a week ago 24-0, ending the Eagles six-game winning streak. That marked only the third time this season the Eagles were held under 22 points, going 0-3 in those games. In fact, Philadelphia is 11-0 when scoring 24 points or more and 0-5 when scoring 23 points or less. Dallas has two consecutive shutouts, and has only allowed more than 21 points twice this season. Felix Jones and Marion "The Barbarian" Barber are healthy and running well, which is a huge advantage. The big house down south will be packed, and the hometown fans are gonna see Tony Homo's first playoff win.
San Diego will come out of the AFC, they are just playing too well right now to lose a game. Expect New England to make a good game out of their matchup, though. Indianapolis lost too much momentum towards the end of the season and I have a feeling someone is going to shut down Peyton Manning. When they won the Super Bowl in 2006, the Colts had a great defense and a great running game because that is what a team needs to win the championship; both are mediocre this year.
The NFC is a crapshoot. I know Minnesota will fall short, but New Orleans, Green Bay and Dallas are all very good teams this year. I think it could be any one of those teams, to be honest. I will go ahead and pick Dallas to run the table. New Orleans has been slacking lately, even before they benched everybody for the last two weeks. The Packers are a supreme underdog, and I like Aaron Rodgers a lot, but their success is going to be tested more than any other team. I just like the way the Cowboys are playing right now and Tony Homo's confidence is at an all-time high.
As for the Super Bowl, I think Dallas can slow down the Chargers enough to squeak past them in an epic game. Really, even though I am a Steelers' fan, I would rather have Dallas win it all than San Diego. I just HATE Philip Rivers so much and am not too keen on Shawne Merriman or LaDainian Tomlinson and it would pain me to see any of them lifting the Lombardi.
Prediction: Dallas 24 — San Diego 23
Sorry Philly fans... but not really.
Later Saturday night, there is another rematch from week 17. Philadelphia goes back to the Dallas Indoor Coliseum to face the Cowboys. Dallas crushed Philadelphia a week ago 24-0, ending the Eagles six-game winning streak. That marked only the third time this season the Eagles were held under 22 points, going 0-3 in those games. In fact, Philadelphia is 11-0 when scoring 24 points or more and 0-5 when scoring 23 points or less. Dallas has two consecutive shutouts, and has only allowed more than 21 points twice this season. Felix Jones and Marion "The Barbarian" Barber are healthy and running well, which is a huge advantage. The big house down south will be packed, and the hometown fans are gonna see Tony Homo's first playoff win.
Prediction: Dallas 28 — Philadelphia 17
As for the sunday games, leading off is the Ravens in New England. The biggest story here is that the Pats will be without Wes Welker, who tore his life in half in week 17. Welker missed weeks 2 and 3 this season, and the Patriots went 1-1. The Ravens are 1-6 this year against playoff teams including a loss in week 4 at Foxborough. New England has been average this year... for a New England team I suppose. However, they are 8-0 at home (opposed to 2-6 on the road). If the Ravens were the real deal this season, this would be a no-brainer, but they are not. However, it is still an easy pick: Go with Tom Brady. He is the comeback player of the year and the Golden Boy in the playoffs.
Prediction: New England 31 — Baltimore 23
Finally, on Sunday afternoon the Packers will travel down to Kurt Warner's house for a week 17 rematch. Arizona rested its starters last week and were grooved by Green Bay 33-7. Arizona has played a very weak schedule this season and the Packers have lost some tough games. Besides a last-second loss to Pittsburgh, Green Bay has won its past seven games. The offense has not been a question all year for the Packers, having scored at least 21 points in all but one game (a 17-7 win vs. Dallas), but the problem is when the defense fails to show up. In the five games the Packers have lost, they have given up 35 points per game, even though they scored 27.5 points per game. The Cardinals are at home, but Green Bay is a far superior team. Chalk it up to the Cheeseheads.
Prediction: Green Bay 34 — Arizona 17
I will just go ahead and give my Super Bowl XLIV quick pick right now.
San Diego will come out of the AFC, they are just playing too well right now to lose a game. Expect New England to make a good game out of their matchup, though. Indianapolis lost too much momentum towards the end of the season and I have a feeling someone is going to shut down Peyton Manning. When they won the Super Bowl in 2006, the Colts had a great defense and a great running game because that is what a team needs to win the championship; both are mediocre this year.
The NFC is a crapshoot. I know Minnesota will fall short, but New Orleans, Green Bay and Dallas are all very good teams this year. I think it could be any one of those teams, to be honest. I will go ahead and pick Dallas to run the table. New Orleans has been slacking lately, even before they benched everybody for the last two weeks. The Packers are a supreme underdog, and I like Aaron Rodgers a lot, but their success is going to be tested more than any other team. I just like the way the Cowboys are playing right now and Tony Homo's confidence is at an all-time high.
As for the Super Bowl, I think Dallas can slow down the Chargers enough to squeak past them in an epic game. Really, even though I am a Steelers' fan, I would rather have Dallas win it all than San Diego. I just HATE Philip Rivers so much and am not too keen on Shawne Merriman or LaDainian Tomlinson and it would pain me to see any of them lifting the Lombardi.
Prediction: Dallas 24 — San Diego 23
Sorry Philly fans... but not really.
Tony Romo will NEVER win a Super Bowl.
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