Written by Josh Katz
It’s the most wonderful time of the year boys and girls, NFL postseason time! It’s time to forget about the fact that your team probably wasn’t good enough to get into the tournament because of a devastating injury, mind-boggling mid-season meltdown or inexplicablbly bad coaching decisions, which ultimately led to your team’s demise (fellow Giants fans, you can relate). The following is my feeble attempt to breakdown and somewhat handicap each game so you mutts can better lock into what promises to be an entertaining playoffs. So grab your favorite six-pack and Costco brand chips. It’s playoff time baby!
American Football Conference
New England Patriots (14-2, 1st Overall Seed, 1st Round Bye)
-It seems that every year since George W. Bush stole the Presidential election, we have been discussing the Patriots as the best team in football, and this January, we have no reason to think otherwise. Lead by Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Belichick and superstar quarterback Tom Brady, the Pats are primed for another run at yet another Super Bowl championship. The road to Dallas must go through Foxborough, and with the supporting cast of hard-working, blue-collar characters this team has, it is difficult to see this Patriot team getting knocked off by anyone.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4, 2nd Overall Seed, 1st Round Bye)
-The Steelers have had an interesting year. Without troubled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the helm for the first four games for, um, being a little too free with his hands with some young ladies, it was difficult to tell what type of year the Steelers would have. But in typical Steelers fashion, Pittsburgh has gritted their teeth and marched through the AFC with relative ease. They have lost at home to the Jets and Patriots, two teams whom they might see again in the tournament, but despite that, have played GREAT defense and used outstanding wide receiver Mike Wallace to control games. They are well coached and are poised to give New England a run for their money.
New York Jets (11-5) @ Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Saturday, 8PM, NBC
-This game has interesting written all over it. A rematch of last year's AFC title game features two total polar opposites pitted against each other for a shot at hated New England. The Jets lead by head coach Rex Ryan like to talk. Hard Knocks, drunk-driving wide receivers, foot-fetishes, the whole nine yards. The Jets had a nice year despite their arrogance; arrogance, which would have lead us to believe they finished 16-0. When you break down this team, they are actually tough to decipher. They play a bend-don’t-break style of defense, usually making big plays in order to preserve leads in which their streaky offense bestows upon them. Their offense is even tougher because of the inconsistency of their second year QB Mark Sanchez. Their self-proclaimed “ground & pound” style running attack has been absent since last January when they were dropped by this same Colts team. This however, is NOT the same Colts team as last year. Not long ago, the Colts were 6-6 and on the playoff fringe. Peyton Manning looked as human as ever as injuries riddled this depleted offense. But in typical Manning fashion, Peyton rallied the troops to rattle off four straight wins and a division crown, restoring order to football world. This game will be competitive, a lot of scoring and a lot of talking – at least from the New York side of things. Look for some late heroics from the kickers, and a big game from Mark Sanchez.
The Pick: Jets 26, Colts 23
Baltimore Ravens (12-4) @ Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
Sunday 1PM, CBS
-Yawn. It seems that every year we discuss the Ravens defense as a powerhouse, smash-mouth, defense which could ride it’s own coattails all the way to a Super Bowl, and this year seems no different. This Ravens defense is of course older and draws no parallels to its year 2000 counterparts, but is still effective in its ways. They do however give up points, relying more heavily on QB Joe Flacco and stud RB Ray Rice to control the clock and eat up yards to keep the opposition’s offense on the sidelines sipping Gatorade. The Chiefs on the other hand are a total wildcard. They did win their soft division at 10-6 with their new car scent. Basically everything about this team is brand new, from upper-management to the water boy. But everything they have done this season has been good enough, despite laying a real stinker the last week of the season against Oakland at home. Matt Cassel has looked real nice, along with rushing title holder Jamaal Charles who has stole the show on the ground this season. Its good offense versus good defense in this clash, but unfortunately for KC, good defense usually wins out.
The Pick: Ravens 24, Chiefs 9
National Football Conference
Atlanta Falcons (13-3, 1st Overall Seed, 1st Round Bye)
-Hotlanta is hotter than hot. When Matt Ryan came out of Boston College, I called him the next Tom Brady. I stick by that saying. Matty Ice is the king of his territory, with an unfathomable winning record at the Georgia Dome. The kid does not lose in Ludacris’ backyard. And his team is pretty decent as well. The Falcons have a stud RB in Michael Turner, and a good defense which forces turnovers and sacks the QB with an outstanding pass rush. I really want to jump on this bandwagon, but owner Arthur Blank looks like a character from the game Clue, so I can’t just yet. Also, that home loss to the Saints on Monday Night Football not long ago made me wonder about this team in a big spot. But until then, they are the best in the NFC, and the road to Dallas first must go through Georgia.
Chicago Bears (11-5, 2nd Overall Seed, 1st Round Bye)
-I am having some real trouble throwing my full support behind the Bears. I mean, on paper, the Bears are real good. They play solid defense, have a nice running game and a prolific passer, Favre 2.0, in Jay Cutler. But I suppose that is just it. I don’t trust Cutler in a big spot at all. The guy is a pure pick machine. When in doubt, and he is sometimes in doubt, he just hurls the ball up like a hot potato much to the delight of defense backs. The Bears do have the tools to go deep into January, but are certainly beatable. Plus, I am still a little sour because they didn’t beat the Packers, which would’ve sent the Giants to playoffs. Hey, you can’t fake win ‘em all, right?
New Orleans Saints (11-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
Saturday, 4:30PM, NBC
-What a weird scenario. The division champion Seahawks, who are still losers in my book, are hosting a playoff game against the defending world champs. I am fine with the system, but I can’t even give the Seahawks a fighter’s chance against Drew Brees and the high-octane Saints. The Saints are hungry, falling under the category of the least talked about defending champions ever, going into play a Seahawks team running on fumes with a first-year head coach. The Saints have all the tools to repeat, despite some head-scratching losses this season. They are sans Chris Ivory, which hurts, but they have enough to beat the hapless Seahawks who may be relying on Charlie Whitehurst to bring home the bacon. Go get ‘em Charlie. The only thing going for the ‘Hawks is that they are playing in the toughest venue in football with house money. That adrenaline may carry them through a quarter and half before the Saints tear through them like tissue paper. Who Dat?
The Pick: Saints 33, Seahawks 13
Green Bay Packers (10-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Sunday 4:30PM, FOX
-Oh, what a wonderful story Mike Vick is! Just joshing. I cannot stand the sight of Mike Vick. But he has been incredible, and so has this Eagles offense. They are explosive and high-powered, with the ability to take it in for six points on any given play. With weapons like Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Lesean McCoy it is tough to keep this offense in check, even with the defense Green Bay has. However, the Packers have a player named Aaron Rodgers, who has transformed into a star before our very eyes. A-Rod can do it all (except slide) while inside and outside of the pocket. I do not question either team's ability to score points, but I do question Philadelphia’s ability to stop offenses. Lets not forget the first 52 minutes of the Giant game; they gave up 31 points, got beat down by a bad Vikings team and a bad Dallas squad, both with 3rd string QB’s. That spells trouble for the Eagles. Plus, the Eagles like to choke away opportunities as we have become accustomed to. The Packers are also riding momentum, which I am a big believer in. If Vick can stay upright, it could be a long day for the Green Bay defense. But the question is, is Vick entirely healthy? My thought: the last team with the ball wins.
The Pick: Packers 35, Eagles 30
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