Divisional Round NFL Predictions

Divisional Round Predictions

I don’t usually brag, but you are now reading a post from a guy who has now been included in TWO Bill Simmons’ mailbags in the last four weeks. Steadily becoming a modern day Sports Guy. I hope. I kind of wish I was mentioned three times so I had an excuse to use “thrice” in a column. Anyway, the games last week. My eyes are still burning from the atrocity. What a horrible week of football. Three of the games sucked, and the good one will go down in history as the RGIII ACL game. I went 4-0 picking winners and technically 3-1 on the spread, except the one loss should come with an asterisk because of the whole failed Joe Webb experiment. Still a pretty solid week for me though. One quick thing about the RGIII thing: I’m not one of those people who is ripping Shanahan for leaving him in the game. If he pulled Griffin at halftime or something, made his decision early and stuck with it, then that would be fine. But once you leave him out there, and he says he can go, then you go with the best option. Remember, the Redskins were still up 14-13 until midway through the 4th. Could you imagine the backlash if Cousins came in and threw a pick-6? Very tough situation. The captain went down with the ship that carried the team to the playoffs. Hopefully Griffin is ok for next season, but we’ll see. Also one more quick point before I pick this round: did you guys here the whole KG-Melo “your wife tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios” thing? I’m a New Yorker, and even I admit: this is hilarious. This is almost certainly not what KG actually said, but I don’t want to know the truth. This is way funnier than anything it could realistically be. Never before has cereal been so provocative. I can’t wait for Melo to drop 50 on the Celtics one game and have reporters and talking heads on Sportscenter question if Honey Nut Cheerios fueled him. If I’m Carmelo Anthony, I eat Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast every morning until that January 24th game in Boston, and then drop the hammer on the Celtics like a LeBron Game 6 kind of thing last year. I love this whole situation. Not sure where it ranks on a trash talking list, but it’s great. Ok, so now, finally, on to the games. Since I have all the winners right from last week, my scores will be the same as they were in my pre-playoffs predictions.

BAL vs DEN (-10) - The Broncos are obviously superior to the Ravens, with Peyton Manning looking for his second Super Bowl, as is Ray Lewis for Baltimore. Quick fact: there has been a lot of talk about the greatness of the Ray Lewis-Ed Reed era for the Baltimore defense, and while it has been phenomenal, they have never won a Super Bowl together. Reed wasn’t there for that 2000 beatdown of the Giants. Which begs the question, what the hell was this offense doing for a decade? Anyway, while Denver crushed the Ravens in their regular season game, it was really close until Flacco threw that horrendous pick 6 right before halftime. He’s good in the playoffs, especially on the road. Ten points is too much for me. The Ravens are an experienced playoff team that has played Peyton really well even though 18 usually wins. So give me the Ravens and the points, even though I think Denver wins. Game over for Ray Lewis, one of my favorite players ever in any sport. Baltimore 14, Denver 23.

GB vs SF (-3) - This is going to be a great game. The 49ers have a lot of talent and potential explosiveness with Kaepernick running the show. They went up to Lambeau in Week 1 with Alex Smith and took it to the Pack. But I don’t care. There is nothing “potential” about the explosiveness of the Packers; they are terrifying, and healthy. The defense has been playing better. More importantly, this is the biggest F U game of Aaron Rodgers’ career. Going back home, in the playoffs, taking on the team that passed him over for the 1st pick in the draft...it’s perfect. And I don’t trust Kaepernick still, especially not in his first playoff game. Tight game, but Rodgers wins it for Green Bay. Specific prediction: Randall Cobb has 9 rec, 114 yds, 1 TD. He’ll be a nightmare over the middle of the field. Pack win straight up. Green Bay 24, San Francisco 20.

SEA vs ATL (-2.5) - How funny is it that even though the Falcons are 13-3 and the number one seed for the second time in three years, people (including me) are just writing them off because of their previous playoff ineptitude? I don’t like this team, and I will not pick them until I see them win. Plus, they are a horrible matchup with the Seahawks. Seattle will rush for over 200 yards in this game, and they have two physical corners to match up with the two stud receivers for Atlanta. It’s such an obvious pick, I’m scared for it. But whatever. Russell Wilson is great. Seattle 24, Atlanta 16.

HOU vs NE (-9) - This can’t be another blowout, can it? The Texans have to get an early lead, because if they have to play from behind then they are screwed. Schaub can not bring this team anywhere. I think that Foster has a solid game, and the Texans defense will force two turnovers that keep this team in it, but the Patriots in the end are just better. I’m actually thinking about changing my pick right now to take the Pats, but I won’t. Gotta stick with the pick of Texans with the points. Even though I don’t see any way that they win this game. By the way, Houston vs Cincinnati should be an illegal game from now on in the playoffs. Horrible. Houston 24, New England 27.

Those are my picks for this week. I just realized I took the points in all four games, which is nerve-wracking, but that should make for some exciting football. This is the best weekend in the NFL, so sit back, relax, and get ready. In a couple of days we’ll be down to four. Game on.