NFL Divisional Round Previews

Look at that.. as advertised, I went 2-2 with my picks last weekend. This time, I guarantee that same kind of production, maybe better.

This week we have 2 "OMFG GREATEST NFL RIVALRY GAME EVAH!!!" games in the AFC, a shootout in a dome, and I guess the Bears and Seahawks are still playing too...

Let's check it out...


SAT 4:30 PM

RAVENS at STEELERS

De-Fence. Divisional opponents.

Pittsburgh and Baltimore both finished 12-4 in the regular season and scored 27 points apiece in their two meetings, each winning by a field goal on the other’s home field. Five of the seven meetings over the past 28 months have been decided by three points, one by four and the other nine - that courtesy of Troy Polamalu’s late interception return in the 2009 AFC championship game that sent the Steelers to their seventh Super Bowl.

Thing to Watch - Will this be the year Joe Flacco finally gets the best of the Steeler D before Big Ben figures out the Ravens' D? Flacco is 0-5 against Big Ben, but if he plays as well as he did last week, that streak will end. The Steelers have played a lot better than one prognosticator (me) thought they would (they did NOT finish 6-10...), and they have the momentum going into this one.

Score: RAVENS 23, STEELERS 20.


SAT 8PM NFC

PACKERS at FALCONS

Again, the game of the week will most likely come from the NFC. I expect there to be a lot of points, but it will be interesting to see if the Pack D can contain Michael Turner the way the contained LeSean McCoy/Michael Vick the RB. Matt Ryan has only lost 2 games at home, but this pressure-happy GB pass rush will be his toughest test. If he can get some good looks, Roddy White, Michael Jenkins, and Tony Gonzalez should be able to make plays.

Think to Watch - The ATL pass rush. It's been solid all season, but they didn't get much pressure on Aaron Rodgers the first time they met. If they are able to, that could be the key that gives the game to the Falcons. Ultimately, it will most likely come down to the QB, and in the Dome, I'll take Matty Ice over A-Rod.

Score: FALCONS 27, PACKERS 20



SUN 1:00 PM

SEAHAWKS at BEARS

This is how little faith the NFL had in the Seahawks winning: they gave the furthest west team the 1pm game. The Bears snagged the #2 seed by having a tenacious D, the best return man in the league, Jay Cutler being on more times than off, and a fairly easy schedule. Matt Hasselbeck had his best game of the season last week, and heck, he was in a Super Bowl a few years back... Maybe he has his best games on the big stages...I don't know. I don't watch the Seahawks.

Thing to Watch - Jay Cutler. Cutler is in his first playoff game (shocking, I know), and he is a win away from the NFC Championship. If he doesn't have one of his "..the hell are you doing?" games, he should get there.

Score: BEARS 28, SEAHAWKS 16


SUN 4:30 PM

JETS at PATRIOTS

De-Fence. Divisional opponents.

Overwhelming consensus is that this game will be somewhere in between the first game where the Jets won by like 2 touchdowns and the second game where the Pats won by like 2 million. Tom Brady is having his best year as a QB and that's kinda scary when you think about it. The last time he had this good of a year was 2007 when it came to an end at the hands of a shitty QB from NY...(see what I did there?)

Thing to Watch - Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. We know the Jets can shut down wide receivers not from Haiti, so Brady will need his these two to get open and make plays against the Jets linebackers/safeties. For the Jets, why not go vertical against the 30th ranked pass defense? What the hell, right? Both AFC games are likely to be played in sub freezing temps, maybe even snow... I don't know what that means, but figured I'd throw some weather analysis in there.

Score: PATRIOTS 26, JETS 21.