Last week’s games came with as much excitement as they did frustration. The best teams didn’t necessarily win each game, due to a lack of execution.

A few thoughts:

• Until the Eagles install an effective two-minute offense into their system, they will never win a Super Bowl, even if they installed more than two superstars on the team.
• Until he stops venturing away from his regular-season game preparation when the playoffs arrive, Marty Schottenheimer will never win a Super Bowl, no matter how many LTs venture into his backfield.
• Even with a depleted roster, the Seahawks’ second-rate second-team secondary needed only two big third-down stops on a wide open Rashied Davis to swing the game back in their favor.
• The Ravens’ offensive line looked worse than it has in years, allowing three huge sacks on the final Baltimore drive that looked similar to the time I saw my buddy playing against the computer on Playstation 2’s Madden Football, with the skill level set on Pro.

The teams to root for are below, if you aren’t rooting for the Saints, may God and the next hurricane have mercy on your soul. Seriously, though, if any team should be the runaway favorite for “America’s Team,� whatever that actually means, it is the boys from the Big Easy.

Saints at Bears

I have given Rex Grossman crap all year. Even during his hot streak early on. He is a fraud as a quarterback and I refuse to let up until he starts playing like he deserves praise. Last week’s game he hit wide open receivers against a shorthanded Seahawks secondary on the occasion, which helped Brian Urlacher’s Bears move on to face the Saints.

That said, this is the Saints’ game to lose. Their offense has been at the top ever since Donovan McNabb went down for the Eagles against Tennessee. They haven’t looked back yet, even after taking out the McNabb-less Eagles last week. Deuce McCalister is on fire right now. Had Coach Sean Payton elected to hand Deuce the ball about ten times more throughout the game, the Eagles may have headed for the locker room five minutes before the game’s official conclusion. So make this week’s theme for the game, which looks to be played in 30 degree weather, a term coined by a little bald-headed kid on a popular cartoon TV show – “What the Deuce?� If they continue to feed Deuce, and mix in Mr. X-Factor, Reggie “Got Jacked Up But Still Played Outplayed The Eagles and My Concussion� Bush, in and this game could turn into a blowout.

The Bears’ D is the only thing they’ve got going for them. If the weather stays cold, it will come down to which running game will prevail, and while the Bears’ two-headed duo of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson is as bruising as they get, the Saints are playing with a country behind their back and a defense playing as well as any.

Saints win, 28-17.

Patriots at Colts

Adam Vinatieri, the ex-Patriot and current Colt, will help decide this game. Forget the Pats’ weakness without Rodney Harrison, without downplaying its importance. No void will prove to be harder to fill than that of a reliable kicker. The current Pats kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, has been good but has yet to be tested in a high pressure playoff game as big as the Conference Championship where the winner goes on to play for the Super Bowl title. Remember that the Patriots have won games, but have yet to win a Championship game without Vinatieri. Ok, ok, it’s only been one year, but this will be the first of many years of the “Damn, we should’ve never let that damn kicker go!�

The Colts’ defense has played its best when the team needed it most. They stifled Larry Johnson, and the great Kansas City offensive line. Against the Ravens, they stifled Jamal Lewis and what at one point was a very efficient O-line. At the end of the game, the Colts’ D-line played out of their mind, sacking Steve McNair three times on a very big last drive. The offense has been good, but not the typical great that it usually is at any point in any of the recent Peyton Years. But don’t expect Reggie Wayne to remain in hiding. The Pats will double-team Marvin Harrison, so look for Wayne to continue the career year he is having.

Although it will be one of the toughest match-ups of his career, it is time for Peyton Manning to ascend beyond his Achilles heel, the Killer Bs (JWhit, thanks for coining the phrase), Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. All history would indicate that the Killer Bs cannot lose about this time. And all history would indicate that Peyton Manning will do everything in his power, but remain in the same category as Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason as quarterback greats who could never win the big one. Don’t bet on that this year. Not with this quarterback. Not with this team.

Colts win, 35-28.

The NFL Playoffs have been an absolute joy to watch this year. Every game has been close and entertaining. I even enjoyed the Indianapolis Colts win over the Baltimore Ravens, regardless of how many touchdowns were not scored. The Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks went to overtime. It was interesting seeing the Seahawks’ Matt Hasselback play the role of inexperienced quarterback when it was suppose to be Rex Grossman’s job.  In the New Orleans Saints’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Reggie Bush got “JACKED UP!� The best game of the weekend was the Patriots at the Chargers.  I do not how the Chargers were able to lose that game. San Diego’s head coach Marty Schottenheimer should have played Martyball. When your MVP, record setting, running back is averaging 5.3 yards a carry and you are up by eight points in the fourth quarter, why would you do anything but run the ball? I understand that punt returner, Eric Parker, muffed a punt and safety Marlon McCree made an amazing interception only to fumble on the return, but Marty was just not using the clock to his advantage. LaDainian Tomlinson should have had more than 23 carries in this game. LT is the MVP of the league, Marty should have run the ball at least 35 times with him, Martyball style.

After the game the Patriots showed no class. LaDainian Tomlinson was right to place the blame on Patriots coach Bill Belichick.That display was arrogant, disrespectful, and unsportsmanlike. There is nothing wrong with trash talk during the game, but that stuff should be left on the field. After the game you should shake hands and move on. This brings me to my next point. Belichick is no better, after watching his half hearted handshake of New York Jets coach Eric Mangini after a regular season loss, you see where the players get it from. There is something to be said about being a gracious winner as well as loser. The New England Patriots’ arrogance as an organization from top to bottom will come back to bite them.

New Orleans Saints lose at Chicago Bears

If this game was in New Orleans, I would pick the Saints to win big.  If this game was in a dome, I would pick the Saints to win big.  Sunday’s NFC Championship game will be played in the cold windy city of Chicago.  The forecast for Sunday afternoon in Chicago is 28 degrees, 10-15mph winds, and snow.  On that forecast alone I make my prediction.  I know Drew Brees played his college football at Purdue, but his Big Ten days are behind him.  I do not see Brees throwing the ball down field accurately on a day like this.  How effective do you think the dynamic Reggie Bush will be in the freezing whether while it is snowing?  Sunday’s game is going to be a low scoring game favoring Chicago.  Middle Linebacker Brian Urlacher will not have to worry about slowing down the explosive offense of the Saints, Mother Nature will do that for him.  On the other side of the ball, Chicago will not have to rely on Rex Grossman to do much.  Chicago will be running the ball 75% of the time in this game.  Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson will each get their fare share of carries and yards.

If I had to compare the NFC Championship game to any other game the Saints played this season it would the Pittsburgh Steeler game they lost in November.  It was a cold weather game against a Steeler team with a good defense and solid running game. Willie Parker had a field day rushing for over 200 yards.  This Sunday the Saints are playing a colder, windier, snowier, weather game against a team with a great defense and an equally solid running game.  Although I will be rooting for the Saints on Sunday, the dream stops here.

17-14 Bears

New England Patriots lose at Indianapolis Colts

I cannot wait for this game.  This game has historic ramifications.  If the New England Patriots win they will be remember as highly as Chuck Knoll’s Steelers of the 1970’s.  Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy need to win this game and get to a Superbowl.  If the Indianapolis Colts do not win on Sunday I do not see them rebounding and ever reaching the Superbowl with this team.  Not only do Manning and Dungy have demons they need to exercise, team president Bill Polian has to prove he can actually win a Superbowl.  If you remember, Polian was the mastermind behind those great Buffalo Bills teams that could never get over hump.  Polian does not want to go down in history as the team president who could never win a Superbowl.

With all that said, the Indianapolis Colts are going to win this game.  I believe that this is the year they make to the Superbowl.  Like the Steelers last year, the Colts are peaking at the right time.  The Colt defense is playing its best football of the season at the right time.  The Colts run defense will continue to play inspired football and keep running backs Corey Dillon and rookie Lawrence Maroney less than 100 yards combined. Although I do not think that Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will be able to notch a single sack this game, I do think he will rush Patriots quarterback Tom Brady into bad throws.  Without the run support that Brady is used to, it will be a long day for the future Hall of Famer.  

In the past, New England’s coach Bill Belichick has come up with schemes to keep Peyton Manning confused in the playoffs.  Peyton would try to force something feeling the pressure of the moment and make a costly mistake.  This year Manning will break through those troubles.  Manning has not played exceptionally well this postseason tossing only one touchdown this postseason along with five interceptions.  I think that these struggles are going to benefit Peyton in this weekend’s game.  Although Peyton has played poorly thus far, his team has won.  With Peyton’s team playing well it takes pressure off of their great quarterback.  Peyton will not feel the need to force anything this weekend.  He can simply take what is there and march his team down the field.  I do not think the Colts will try to take chances down the field this weekend, but rather take their time and execute.  Look for kicker Adam Vinetari’s field goals to be the difference in this game.

30-20 Colts

The college football bowl games contained just as many blowouts as the Final Four of last year’s men’s NCAA hoops tourney. That said, the football version of the blow-out is ten times more exciting, I must say. LSU put it to the Irish, 41-14, placing Notre Dame coach Charlie Weiss at the same record as prematurely-fired-ex-coach Ty Willingham (0-2). Does the coach get fired now? Even after the hunky suspension? Of course not. In fact, Weiss may get another extension just to keep him from grabbing any other NFL job. Justice? I think not.

Moving on to last week’s predictions, the sure-bets, the bet-your-house-and-home-on-these, I went 3-1. In Indy, Peyton Manning nearly threw the game over to Ty Law (yep, again in the playoffs) and his faltering Chiefs, who could not move the ball on that Colts D to save their life. Maybe the Colts’ D was possessed by that of old great defenses of the past, or maybe Larry Johnson dropped back into “baby� mode, which would make Dick Vermeil even more of a genius for predicting it. But either way, the game was sloppy but the better team won.

If you haven’t seen my piece on Tony Romo yet, go to www.timothylukehopkins.com and read it. He blew it for the team. Sports people always say “no one play loses the game� but they’re wrong. If that 19-yard field goal (!!!) goes through without a hitch, Dallas moves on and Owens’ drops and Terry Glen’s fumble for a safety are ignored. Give it up to the true player of the game, Jordan Babineaux, for making the shoestring tackle on Romo that stopped Dallas short of the goal line and, just as importantly, the first down marker.

The Patriots outplayed the Jets in every aspect. Even in the end after the game, Belichick’s hip-toss of the cameraman who stood in the middle of he and hated ex-coworker/current Jets coach, Eric Mangini, was better than Man-genius’s simple sidesteps. The hug was awkward, strange, and more of a “rubbing your face in it, you punk� than a “congrats on the loss, you’re still my boy.� Jets fans, you couldn’t have possibly thought… nah, you couldn’t have. Next year, you’ll be back and fighting even stronger. Credit the hug.

The Giants fought hard all the way to the end, but the momentum the Birds had from their winning streak proved impossible to overcome. Credit the Eagles’ new-found running game, which allows Brian Westbrook (Please, Washington Metro-area folk, stop confusing him with Michael Westbrook and/or Brian Mitchell. He’s about 100 times better than both.) a chance to show that he is not just the best receiver on the team, he also knows how to run the ball (See resume w/ stats from Villanova). Tiki Barber didn’t go out on a winning note, but at least he knows that thanks to the media and out-spoken (now)ex-teammates, he’ll always be able to cut on a TV and know what’s going on in that locker room.

Moving onto the “bet your cat on em because I don’t like cats� picks…

Colts at Ravens (Saturday, 4:15pm EST)

The staple of the Ravens team is, and always will be so long as Ray Lewis is a part of that squad, the defense. They’re fast, loud and usually trying to injure someone on every play. That said, Peyton Manning is probably licking his chops this week like he’s part of his own pack of wolves. Not the protectors of his city but, rather, the hunters. He knows he can overcome the Ravens’ D and all week he’s worked on ways to make it happen. The Colts’ D is on a high right now so they may play possessed again, but don’t expect them to completely shut down Jamal Lewis. They performed last week and complained that they get no respect, but the media isn’t the one putting up poor defensive numbers all year. They have only themselves to thank for that. So… yeah…

Steve McNair is one of the most underappreciated, tough leaders of my lifetime at the position of quarterback. His position in Baltimore was perfect, for a team that seemed to have every piece imaginable (and then some) on defense but no leader for their shoddy offense. The team was going nowhere with Kyle Boller (a young Jon Kitna, if you ask me) and McNair’s veteran leadership ability is another reason the Ravens have been runaway favorites for this year’s Super Bowl title.

But although the picture isn’t painted just right – with the shaky D always seeming to be the lead reason to count Indy out – it is their year to win. They avoided winning 16 games in the regular season to relieve pressure from the entire squad. Then they lost a few games late to have everyone in the league write them off in the first round, to an inconsistent team with one main offensive threat. Just remember that if Peyton Manning can overcome throwing the ball to his favorite defensive target, Ty Law, and still move onto the next round of the playoffs, the league had better get real scared.

Colts win 28-27.

Eagles at Saints

All year I’ve said dreaded the position this game places me in. The team I root for by way of fan obligation (Eagles) is matched up against the team I root for because I think the country has forgotten about, much too quickly (Saints). The damage caused by Hurricane Katrina over a year ago still affects residents today. Some have not had the chance to move back into their homes, either opting to live in another state or FEMA trailers that tend to be much too small for its inhabitants. The attention garnered from a Saints win would bring more national attention to the city (it’s a pity that it takes a sporting event to bring the attention) and the city would need and appreciate any and all help.

That said, I think that even with the Coach of the Year, Sean Payton, on the sideline, the Eagles are riding a wave that isn’t ready to stop just yet. Philly is stacked with veterans who not only have been to the playoffs, but many have been to the Super Bowl (yep, in the T.O. era that wasn’t). Experience trumps young confidence here, and despite the establishment of Reggie Bush as a great pro, and the emergence of Payton as one of the best coaches in the league, they cannot complete the miracle and keep their ball rolling. And I’m almost saddened by it. It’ll be a close one, though, with both defenses having as many holes as one of the failing levees left by the gov’t before Katrina. If this were a basketball game, you better believe Spike Lee would be courtside rooting for New Orleans.

Nobody’s a real loser, despite the outcome, because the story the Saints have had this year will be remembered, and hopefully cause momentum to go beyond the walls of the Superdome and down into the Lower Ninth Ward, where help is truly needed.

Side note: Whoever wins this game will go on to the Super Bowl. Yep, I said it. As a famous character in a certain ‘hood flick said, “Write it down, take a picture, I don’t give a…â€?

Eagles win, 35-31.

Seahawks at Bears

Each week, as I watch the Bears play it’s not a matter of if Rex Grossman will screw the game up, it’s when. Lovie Smith sat in the stands as he watched his two former colleagues, Tony Dungy and Herm Edwards, battle it out to advance to Round 2. On the Kansas City sideline, he saw Edwards battle his instincts, as Trent Green played poorly. With Damon Huard on the sideline pacing frenetically, Edwards now may wish he had pulled the plug on Green for his more capable backup. Smith will encounter the same feeling. Grossman may as well be named Murphy, because his Law goes, “whatever bad can happen, will happen.� It’s almost to the point where I just stare at the TV and say, “Oh, that’s just Grossman being Grossman!� the same way I did when watching Bronson Pinochet’s character back on Perfect Strangers.

The Bears’ D, while one of the best in the land, has been inconsistent as of late. People want reference the great, historic comeback against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football during the season as the reason why there is nothing this team can overcome. (1) That was the Cardinals. (2) It was the Cardinals’ offense, sans Larry Fitzgerald, who put up the early points on that D everyone loves.

Rex will screw up. He has to. The pressure’s mounted and, even though Seattle has no business being here after their lucky win against Dallas, they will defeat the Bears on Sunday. Yes, in Chicago. Hasselbeck is a veteran, playoff-tested quarterback who, so long as he doesn’t make any premature scoring promises after the coin-toss of either regulation or overtime, will come through for his team. It helps to have last year’s MVP in the backfield. And the X-factor is something I don’t think people took notice of last week much when rubbing their lucky rabbit’s foot for the win: Jerramy Stevens actually caught the ball. Effectively. Remember last year? All the smack talk? The ‘hawks ain’t done, by any means.

Seahawks win, 31-28.

Patriots at Chargers

Fresh off the Man-genius defeat and consequential hug, Bill Belichick is on Cloud 9. He knew he could beat his former protégé, of course, but, I’m saying, he’s… still happy for the team and “blah, blah, this week’s game.� So last week’s win behind them, the Pats beat up on a team that in no way rivals the talent of the San Diego (Super)Chargers.

LT is near unstoppable right now. As the saying goes, “You cannot stop him. You can only hope to contain him.� And their defense has been on fire, lit by the enhanced-spark known as Shawn Merriman. For the sake of this article’s examples, we’ll affectionately refer to him as the “lighting fluid�. And, of course, that nickname in no way references his four-game suspension for using illegal enhancers. Seventeen sacks in twelve games is enough to make any quarterback fear for his life. That is, any quarterback other than Tom Brady. The aggressive blitz package that the Chargers utilize is just what the Pats’ dink-and-dunk offense thrives on. It frustrates people like me who love open offenses that put many, many points on the board.

This one looks to be a battle of the ages; one where the outcome will come down to Tom Brady defeating Philip Rivers. And it sure is extremely difficult to pick against, as Jason Whitlock calls them, the “Killer Bs� this time of the year. But it also seems hard to pick against any team led by LT. The Pats will bring fans from the stands and tigers from under the stadium a-la Gladiator, just to slow down the MVP of the league. Call Tomlinson Maximus Aurillius if you want, but even his performance will not stop the Pats from their continued playoff success/skill/luck.

Patriots win, 31-28.

Before we take a look at this weekend’s football games, let’s take a second to reminisce on last weekends events.

First and foremost, good luck to Tiki Barber in his future projects. Role models in professional sports are hard to come by, and we just lost one of the few. Second, I would like to apologize to Ty Law. I forgot that you have owned Mr. Manning for some time now and I will never doubt you again against Peyton.

In other news, after being beat for two touchdowns passes while over-playing the run, Roy Williams should not be allowed to play in the Pro Bowl.  Tony Romo should also give back his invitation after losing every game he started since making the Hawaii roster.  In Romo’s last three games he has thrown four touchdowns, three interceptions, fumbled four times, and botched a game-winning field goal snap.  In other NFC East news, how does New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin not get fired?  Does it look like Mr. Discipline has any control of that team?  Was he really an upgrade from Jim Fassel?  Also, do you really think that roid rage Bilichick would have hugged Mangini if he had lost? I don’t either.

With all that said and the first round of the NFL Playoffs in the books, let’s take a look at the Divisional Round:

Indianapolis Colts lose at Baltimore Ravens 

This is going to be a great game. It is your classic offensive versus defense, finesse versus power match up. The team that wins in the trenches will win this game. That is why I am picking the Ravens to win this game in a close contest. I cannot wait to watch the Ravens front seven attack the Colts offensive line. Look for big games out of Terrell Suggs, Adalius Thomas and Bart Scott. These guys will be in the backfield as much as Joseph Addai.  On offense the Ravens will also dominate the trenches. On offense, Jamal Lewis will run the football behind Jonathan Ogden all day long.  Dwight Freeney will be too concerned with getting to Ravens’ Quarterback Steve McNair to bother with trying to stop the run. Jamal Lewis is a large bruising back that will wear down that Colts defense throughout the game. I love Baltimore’s balance. Steve McNair will use his veteran savvy to control the game, keeping Manning off the field and his defense fresh. McNair is a former NFL MVP and a proven winner who will make Billick look like a genius for acquiring him in the off-season.

20-17 Ravens

Philadelphia Eagles lose at New Orleans Saints

There is no way that the New Orleans Saints will lose a home playoff game this year.  I do not care about any other stat than that the game will be played in the Superdome.  Do you remember how emotional the first home game this season against the Atlanta Falcons was? Even Michael Vick said that he felt like the whole world was rooting against them.  The Saints won that game on emotion alone, despite the fact that the Saints were the better football team. Saturday evening, the Superdome will be filled with so much emotion and energy it will not be possible for the Eagles to play their best game of the season.  I do not care how well Brian Westbrook is playing.  I do not care that the Saints rush defense is far from the best.  I do not care about any kind of momentum the Eagles have coming into this game.  All that momentum will be stopped in its tracks the second the starting lineup for the New Orleans Saints is announced.  What is the over/under on Eagle false starts this game?  I say 6 ½ and I am taking the over.  By no fault of the Eagles, this game means much more to the Saints. 

35-28 Saints  

Seattle Seahawks win at Chicago Bears

Seattle will win in a close battle between two of the Nifco’s best. The Seahawks will win this game because of where each team’s weaknesses lie. Seattle is devoid of starting cornerbacks. I am still baffled why Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells did not pass every down against them last week. The Bears receivers are more than capable of dominating Seattle’s depleted secondary, the only problem is that they do not have a quarterback to get them the ball.  There lies one of the two major weaknesses of the Chicago Bears.  The Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman has been playing awful the second half of the season.  We are talking about a quarterback who had a 0.0 quarterback rating against Green Bay the last game of the season.  I have never played an organized down of football in my life and I am sure that could have at least pulled off a 1.0 QB rating.  I have played enough Madden in my day that I truly believe this. 

Chicago’s second weakness plays towards Seattle’s biggest strength. Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris tore his left hamstring in early December and has missed the last four games.  Harris was arguably the best defensive tackle in the game this year.  He pressured the quarterback, stopped the run, and graced the cover of ESPN The Magazine.  Long story short, this guy was having a career year.  Now that he is hurt, the Bears will struggle to stop the run.  This happens to be the Seahawks’ strength, so expect a big game out of running back Sean Alexander.  I do not think Alexander will reach over 125 yards, but by being able to effectively run the football against the Bears stingy defense will be a huge advantage for the Seahawks.  The Seattle Seahawks will be able to exploit the Chicago Bears weakness, while Bears quarterback is not capable of taking advantage of Seattle’s. 

13-9 Seahawks.

New England Patriots lose at San Diego Chargers

As Teddy P used to say, “Turn out the lights,� although, in this scenario it is a more aggressive version. “Lights Out!� Shawne Merriman, although he did not deserve to make the Pro Bowl, is a complete beast. I honestly cannot wait to watch Merriman try to kill Tom Brady every snap.  Merriman led the NFL with 17 sacks despite sitting out four games this season because he was juicing. He will be going against the best post season offense line I have ever witnessed. Did you know that when the Patriots won their third Super Bowl, Brady was not sacked once the entire playoffs? That is an amazing stat.  That is more impressive than Brady’s 12-1 record in the playoffs in my opinion. This Patriots offensive line might not be the exact same offensive line it was in 2005, but they are pretty darn good.

I know Brady is one of the best quarterbacks of all time, but I think he has met his match.  Football is different than basketball, one player cannot win you a championship.  Ask Peyton Manning.  I do not see Brady picking apart the Charger defense this weekend with this bunch of receivers.  I do not care how much of a genius Bilichick is.  The other reason why I know that the Chargers are going to win…

LT, but Phillip Rivers has had a drop off, LT, but this is Rivers first playoff game, LT, but Bilichick is a defensive genius, LT, but Brady is 12-1 in the playoffs, LT! 

31-21 Chargers

Random side comment:
I think Teddy Bruschi took HGH in order to return pre-maturely from his stroke, so he evens out the Shawne Merriman match up.

That beam bouncing off the screen you are currently reading is completely my fault. Ever since the Cotton Bowl beat-down Notre Dame received courtesy of those young and fresh LSU Tigers I have yet to stop smiling. Now that beloved and loyal Charlie Weis holds the same bowl record with the Irish as former tossed-to-the-curb-before-his-time coach Ty Willingham. Maybe I’ll lift my Irish root-ban come next season. Or… maybe not.

Either way, until the biggest Bowl game of them all goes down Monday night, we can temporarily turn our attention over to professional football in all its exciting non-BCS playoff greatness.

So far the BCS is one up on the critics after Michigan caught a first-class beatdown courtesy of the “petes� (the two-petes, not the three-petes, courtesy of my boy, Mr. 2006 NFL ROY himself) of USC. So far the only teams with a viable argument for a playoff would be LSU and Boise State. Had there been a playoff, with all their trickery and exciting game-planning (How dare some of you call it luck! We all know football is 100% game-plan and 0% luck, just like poker…) Boise State could’ve been the George Mason of this year’s December/January-Madness. Either way, it looks as if Ohio State is set-up to dominate its opponent, and as we all know there are only a few sure things in life and one is that the favorite always wins.

Ok, enough absurd talk, let’s move onto the juice: The NFL Playoff Sure-Bets.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

Kansas City Chiefs lose at Indianapolis Colts

I am a big Herm Edwards fan. He is a great motivator and coach.

Larry Johnson is a top-five running back. I have heard talk all week about how Larry Johnson and the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense are going to destroy the Indianapolis Colts’ defense and completely agree. Johnson will finish with about 125 yards on the ground, but in a losing effort. It is no secret that the Colts cannot stop teams from running the football, but they still finished 12-4. They won their division and they still have Peyton Manning. I find it laughable that the entire world is focusing on how terrible the Colts run defense is, but no one wants to mention the Chiefs’ defense. This is worse than Kobe Bryant criticizing Gilbert Arenas. Since when have the Chiefs been known to stop anyone?  Does the Kansas Chiefs defense - more importantly, their secondary - scare anyone? Other than Jarred Allen, the Chiefs defense is mediocre at best.

Marvin Harrison is going to show the world how overrated Ty Law really is. This will be a high scoring game and I’ll take a prolific passing offense over a dominating run offense in a shootout any day of the week.

New York Jets lose at New England Patriots

This game is going to be a beating. Let me ask you a question - Would you want to play the New England Patriots after making head coach Bill Belichick mad? Exactly.

Belichick probably wanted this playoff game and is looking forward to putting upstart New York Jets’ head coach Eric Mangini in his place. Belichick did not even want to shake this kid’s hand after the Patriots suffered a 17-14 defeat to the Jets. This contest is more than a playoff game to Belichick, it’s personal. The Jets are clearly overmatched. They have only won one game against a team with a winning record (Patriots) and have been shut out twice this season (Chicago, Jacksonville). Does Chad Pennington scare anyone?  How about Kevin Barlow or Leon Washington? Yeah I don’t think so either. This is going to be a beat down.

New York Giants lose at Philadelphia Eagles

Is there any team hotter in the NFL than the Philadelphia Eagles? Is there any team in more disarray than the New York Giants? Would you rather have an experienced vet at the helm in Jeff Garcia, or an inconsistent Eli Manning? Garcia has thrown ten touchdowns and only two interceptions since taking over the starting duties from injured Donovan McNabb, along with a 5-1 record (including a current five game winning streak). Eli Manning on the other hand has thrown eighteen interceptions this season versus his twenty-four touchdowns. The Giants are 2-6 through their last eight games. The Eagles’ defense has allowed only 46 points in their last three games - all wins - while the Giants have surrendered over double that number, an embarrassing 94 points. I could go on and talk about how Brian Westbrook is a new and improved version of Tiki Barber, or how Plaxico Burress will develop Todd Pinkston alligator arms this weekend with Brian Dawkins out there, but you get the point.

Dallas Cowboys lose at Seattle Seahawks

Along with the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys are another playoff team falling apart. The Cowboys’ cornerbacks are terrible. Roy Williams is an overrated, horse collar tackling, non-Santana Moss covering, fall for double moves late in the fourth quarter of a Monday Night Football game bum! Quarterback Matt Hasselback is going to pick Dallas’ defense apart. If Seattle’s former League MVP running back, Shawn Alexander, gets going look for Seattle to have a lot of success. The aforementioned overrated safety, Roy Williams, tends to overplay the run causing him to constantly get beat.

Quarterback Tony Romo should have some success against Seattle’s patchwork secondary, with weapons such as tight end Jason Witten, and deep threat receivers Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens, but he will make mistakes. Seattle has a mean pass rush that will force Romo into making bad decisions and cause some turnovers. And in case you were wondering, yes I hate Dallas, I am a Redskin fan!