My picks for the Divisional Playoffs
As expected, the AFC produced 2 lop-sided games last week and the fiesty NFC served the NFL fans with a close encounter and an instant classic. It's time to pick this weekend's games. I am in the mood to pick the underdogs in each of the 4 games this weekend.
Colts over Ravens
The Ravens might have a superior defense but I have the confidence in Manning & co. to score the points against any defense. Plus, the Ravens offense is nothing to rave about. And they do not boast of a powerful running game, which is what you need if you want to keep the Colts offense off the field. The Chiefs failed to get their running game & offense going and they paid the price for it. The Ravens may the favorite but I am picking the Colts to win this one, in a surprisingly convincing manner.
Patriots over Chargers
The Chargers, in everyone's opinion, are the best team in the NFL. But to me, the best coach in the league is Bill Belichick. Who else can lead a team which lost 4 of its best receivers from last season, to a 12-4 regular season record. His clinical execution of the Jets last weekend was a gentle reminder of his coaching capabilities. LT has been held to under 100 yards in 5 games, this season. So expect the Patriots to do that too. IMO, the only thing that is going for the Chargers is the home field advantage. But the Patriots have been outstanding on the road this season, with only 1 of their 4 losses coming on the road. I pick the Patriots in this one, which should be very close.
Eagles over Saints
Sean Payton has brought this team from the very depths to the best team in the NFC and he deservedly won the Coach of the year honors. They have everything going for them - 1 week's rest, home field advantage and all that. But the Eagles have been resurgent under Garcia. Nobody, absolutely nobody, gave the Eagles a chance when McNabb was done for the season. But the Eagles have truly defied all odds and have come thus far. The Saints offense wont be able to score easily, the way they have done against most teams this season, against a Brian Dawkins-led Eagles defense. Plus, the Eagles have a really effective running game. Expect a high scoring affair with the Eagles edging out the Saints in the home stretch.
Seahawks over Bears
As a Seahawks fan, this was the match-up that I asked for. If there was ever a chance for our struggling team to get to the next round, it has to be against the Bears. The vaunted Bears defense is definitely penetrable as the Patriots (and even the Cardinals in that infamous Monday Night game) showed. Rex Grossman will be Seattle's trump card, as we need him to be inconsistent. Finally, it all comes down to the Seattle offense, or to be precise, to Shaun Alexander. His failure to get going has hurt the offense, making it too one dimensional and thus putting too much pressure on Hasselback. Being in Seattle, I have to pick the Seahawks in this one :)
There goes my 4 picks for this weekend's games. At the end of it all, I might end up looking foolish with all 4 favorites (and overwhelming at that) winning the games, but I am still placing my bet on the underdogs.
Colts over Ravens
The Ravens might have a superior defense but I have the confidence in Manning & co. to score the points against any defense. Plus, the Ravens offense is nothing to rave about. And they do not boast of a powerful running game, which is what you need if you want to keep the Colts offense off the field. The Chiefs failed to get their running game & offense going and they paid the price for it. The Ravens may the favorite but I am picking the Colts to win this one, in a surprisingly convincing manner.
Patriots over Chargers
The Chargers, in everyone's opinion, are the best team in the NFL. But to me, the best coach in the league is Bill Belichick. Who else can lead a team which lost 4 of its best receivers from last season, to a 12-4 regular season record. His clinical execution of the Jets last weekend was a gentle reminder of his coaching capabilities. LT has been held to under 100 yards in 5 games, this season. So expect the Patriots to do that too. IMO, the only thing that is going for the Chargers is the home field advantage. But the Patriots have been outstanding on the road this season, with only 1 of their 4 losses coming on the road. I pick the Patriots in this one, which should be very close.
Eagles over Saints
Sean Payton has brought this team from the very depths to the best team in the NFC and he deservedly won the Coach of the year honors. They have everything going for them - 1 week's rest, home field advantage and all that. But the Eagles have been resurgent under Garcia. Nobody, absolutely nobody, gave the Eagles a chance when McNabb was done for the season. But the Eagles have truly defied all odds and have come thus far. The Saints offense wont be able to score easily, the way they have done against most teams this season, against a Brian Dawkins-led Eagles defense. Plus, the Eagles have a really effective running game. Expect a high scoring affair with the Eagles edging out the Saints in the home stretch.
Seahawks over Bears
As a Seahawks fan, this was the match-up that I asked for. If there was ever a chance for our struggling team to get to the next round, it has to be against the Bears. The vaunted Bears defense is definitely penetrable as the Patriots (and even the Cardinals in that infamous Monday Night game) showed. Rex Grossman will be Seattle's trump card, as we need him to be inconsistent. Finally, it all comes down to the Seattle offense, or to be precise, to Shaun Alexander. His failure to get going has hurt the offense, making it too one dimensional and thus putting too much pressure on Hasselback. Being in Seattle, I have to pick the Seahawks in this one :)
There goes my 4 picks for this weekend's games. At the end of it all, I might end up looking foolish with all 4 favorites (and overwhelming at that) winning the games, but I am still placing my bet on the underdogs.
posted by Filbert at 2:58 PM
3 Comments:
Except for one of the interceptions that he threw, Hasselback was decent. Against this kind of a defense, his performance was not all that bad. But yeah, that ugly hand-off to Shaun on the 4th & 1 play proved costly at the end. But I was glad that the Seahawks put a spirited fight on the road against a superior defense.
Yeah, I too noticed that - I have picked the AFC right and the NFC wrongly. I was so pissed when everyone went around predicting a Chargers - Ravens conference championship games. I have always thought the Ravens to be a over-rated team and I was proved right on Saturday.
Mourning the loss of Seahawks from this season..
Yeah Mallik, it was a tough loss. But I wouldn't go as far as calling it heartbreaking or gutwrenching. Our team was far removed from the team of last year when we led the league in scoring offense. This year, our offense has been patchy at best. So, no regrets. We lost to a superior team and I was actually very happy that we gave the Bears a tough fight. But dont expect me root for the Bears next week :)
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