NFL PICKS: Divisional Playoffs

International Airspace is Steeler Country

I started the Playoffs off a dismal 2-2 but hey, My NFC Sleeper won!!! This week should provide nothing but great matchups across the board with the exception of one game. The Panthers against the Cards. Enough of that .... On to the Picks!

SATURDAY JANUARY 10th

Baltimore Ravens (-1) at Tennessee Titans

This game astounds me. Not the fact that it's two tough teams squaring off. Not the fact that the Ravens, the team with the lesser record, the team on the road, and the team with a rookie QB is favored to win. No the thing that astounds me is that this game is the early game when it's going to be a much better matchup than the later game. Is the NFL doing that well that they don't care about ratings? That all being said I really am trying to figure out what Vegas knows that they are placing the favorite tag on the Ravens. I just have a feeling that the Titan offense is going to figure out a way to beat the defense well today. And I bet the score is a little higher than the 13-10 one the Titans beat the Ravens by in week 5. Good matchup ... plenty of big moments. Titans win 21-17.

Titans +1

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (-5.5)

There is no way the Cardinals win this one. Bet the house. I repeat there is no way the Cardinals win this one. Now that I've got this out of the way let me tell you why they will win. Boldin is hurt and Larry Fitzgerald is going to line up in his place. The Panthers don't have anyone that can effectively cover him. This will lead to at least 3 TD's by Warner and Co. Outside of that though they have nothing. So I'll tell you why the Panthers are the lock to actually win. Steve Smith. Enough said. He will be the game changer. The Panthers offense will look like the '99 Rams Greatest Show on turf. I believe the Cards have never won on the East Coast. There's some crazy stat like that. This one is for Carolina, 38-24.

Panthers -5.5

SUNDAY JANUARY 11th

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (-1.5)

I don't know what you can say about this one. The third meeting between these two teams this season. The Giants won the first meeting in a high scoring affair. The Eagles won the last one post-Plaxico in a lower scoring contest. The Giants have looked like an offense without a great weapon. I don't think they're capable of putting up much more than 20 against the Eagles who have been the hottest team in the NFC. I like this game to be extremely close. Eagles 24-21.

Eagles +1.5

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO! HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!

I've been waiting for this since the '94 AFC title match when the Steelers who were heavy favorites lost to the Chargers at home. Call this a redemption game. The Chargers are coming in to some fine Pittsburgh weather. Game Time temperature is expected to be a beautiful 25 degrees and feel like it's 15. Maybe even colder down on the field. Welcome to Steel Town! Sproles will be taken care of by the linebackers. Gates won't be a problem for the secondary and Ike Taylor will control Jackson while Harrison and Woodley make that douchebag Philip Rivers look up from his backside all game. We just need a little help from the offense (and receiving core will come through in this big game) and all will be well. The Steelers win 24-10.

Steelers -2.5

NFL PICKS: Divisional Playoffs

The bad news: I went 7-8-1 in the final week of the season. But come on ... I was just resting my starters for the playoff picks.

The good news: That ass clown the Sports Guy went 7-7-2. So I finish the regular season with a better record than he does.

So now it's time to pull a little Viking Quest out of me and shout: VICTORY!!!!!!!

That's right Sports Queer .... I went there!

Like all week 17's it was an unpredictable one. But it finished shaping the NFL playoff picture and brought out a few questions:

1. Which late season collapse is worse: The 2007 Mets or the 2008 Broncos?

2. What business does the NFL have making a team on a 9-game winning streak and a 12-4 record go on the road and face an 8-8 team that only made the playoffs by default?

3. How much did you smile after finding out that an 8-8 team is in the playoffs ahead of the 11-5 New England Patriots?

4. When the Sports Guy is sitting there in second place do you think he'd rather see me in this pose

Or this one

VICTORY!!!!!!

Alright, Alright ... enough gloating ... On to the Picks!

SATURDAY JANUARY 3rd

Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) at Arizona Cardinals

I told myself I wouldn't do it. There is no way that I would pick the Cards because of their unpredictability and 9-7 record. But they do have a very good winning record at home and the Falcons are only .500 on the road. Couple that with a rookie QB starting for the Falcons (albeit a very good rookie QB) and you've got a recipe for an Arizona win. Oh yeah ... AND THEY'RE MY NFC SLEEPER!!! I don't doubt that Matt Ryan is good but there is a history of rookie QB's struggling in their playoff games.

Cardinals +2.5

Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) at San Diego Chargers

It's probably the worst case scenario for the Colts. If they win its because they were suppose to. If they lose they'll be the laughing stock of the league and further push the Chargers as the Wild Card darlings. As I said before they got an extremely raw deal from the league. Being the road team against an 8-8 team? Something needs to change. Karma will win out in this one.

Colts -2.5

SUNDAY JANUARY 4th

Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) at Miami Dolphins

I know I just talked about rookie QB's and their first playoff games. But on the flip side when you have an incredible defense to bail your ballerina-looking ass out of a jam like Joe Flacco then you can pull out a win. The Wildcat offense is going to be very ineffective against a defense with the speed that the Ravens have.

Ravens -2.5

Philadelphia Eagles (-3.5) at Minnesota Vikings

I'm really fighting back the temptation to make another Viking Quest joke here. I'll hold off for the sake of my readers. VICTORY!!! Okay I'm done .... I swear ..... I think. Anyways the Eagles are probably the most dangerous team in the NFC right now. They completely manhandled the Cowboys in the final week and have been on a tear since the McNabb benching. nobody wants to face them right now. But I think the Vikings match up well enough to turn them into a one dimensional offense. If they can get Adrian Peterson going and if Peterson can keep from turning the ball over then the Vikings will pull this one out. And the NFC will breathe a sigh of relief.

Vikings +3.5

Last Week's Record: 7-8-1

Season Record: 138-114-3

Sports Guy's 2nd Place Record: 132-116-8