NFL Playoff Predictions

Ahhh, we’re finally into meaningful football games in January. You know what I’m talking about, the ones that don’t begin with the Capital One Meineke Car Care KFC Dinner Bucket Daffodil Bowl. I’m talking straight forward Wild Card Weekend in the NFL (sponsored by Gillette). Rather than auto tuning my picks (though I still might) I thought I would write them down since that’s really the only thing that separates me from T-Pain, knowing how to write (and probably read!).

Dallas vs. Philadelphia

I’m going with Dallas here. Romo has been playing much better than he has in years past and they didn’t crumble like they normally would in the game last week against the Eagles. The key to this game has to be the containment of DeSean Jackson as both a receiver and a kick returner. He’s the Eagles most explosive player by far and if the Dallas secondary lets him get some open field he’ll burn them pretty quickly (the Giants learned that the hard way). If he’s in shape I think this could be a good opportunity to use Vick to try to throw off the Dallas defense. I don’t know what condition he’s in but it was surprising how little (and how straight forward) they used him during the season. For the most part, if Vick was in the game you were expecting him to run. Obviously people don’t want to take big risks in playoff games, but I think it could be worth having McNabb and Vick in the backfield at the same time and trying to fool the Cowboys defense. I think the Cowboys have the benefit of having a well balanced attack and their breakout star Miles Austin. As long as Tony Romo doesn’t have to hold a game winning field goal, I think they’ll be alright.

Cowboys 27- Eagles 21

Cincinnati vs. N.Y. Jets

I think this is definitely the most underwhelming game of the weekend, and the one I’m glad I’m missing if I go to the Drexel basketball game on Saturday (battle for 1st place!). Even though Cincy had some of their starters in vs. the Jets the effort just wasn’t there, and why should it be since they had nothing to win or lose. I don’t see Sanchez winning his first playoff game but I do see him eating a hamburger on the side line at some point during the 3rd quarter. Passing is the new hotness in the NFL (Andy Reid has been all over it for years) and it’s something the Jets just aren’t that great at. Carson Palmer appears to have regained some of his old form and my boy Cedric Benson should be alright. Cincinnati wins this game and leaves Jets fan wishing they had a dome for Brett Favre to play in last year.

Cincinnati 23- N.Y. Jets 16

New England vs. Baltimore

Remember this: anytime you have a unibrow playing in a wild card game, take the unibrow. Baltimore is going to win this game on the ground (even though I said it’s a passing game above). New England’s defense is right around average compared to the rest of the league and I think Ray Rice and to a lesser extent Willis McGahee will take advantage of that. Plus, I think the knee injury to Welker hurts them a lot more than people think. Welker was averaging almost 9 catches and 102 yards per game. He’s one of the key players in helping New England move the ball and Julian Edelman will not be an adequate replacement. Additionally, I just don’t see New Englands jumble of running backs making significant gains against Baltimore’s defense. Fred Taylor will be back, but he can’t be perfectly in game shape after such a long layoff. Oh, and I don’t know what deal with Brady’s ribs are, but you know Baltimore’s pass rush will be gunning for them.

Baltimore 25-New England 21

Arizona vs. Green Bay

I think this could be the best game of the weekend. I see it as a high scoring affair with a lot of score changes. I’m going to have to go with Green Bay on this one mostly for the great play of Aaron Rodgers. I think Green Bay flew under the radar this year with the Vikings in their division and New Orleans and Indy looking to go undefeated. They’re coming into the playoffs hot having won 7 of their last 8 and their final game was a shut out of Arizona (not that Arizona was trying). Keep the passing attach going and they should be able to outlast Arizona whose hopes ride on a great game from Kurt Warner. Neither team has an amazing running game so we should see them air it out a lot.

Green Bay 35-Arizona 31

Side Notes:
-Has the ever been this many teams playing each other two weeks in a row?
-In Bill Simmons newest article he compares home team records vs. the spread to say that home field advantage is going away. Shouldn’t the spread take home field advantage into account?What’s to say Vegas hasn’t just gotten better at calculating it in?