Some picks for the upcoming NFL Divisional Playoff Round:
Green Bay Packers/New York Giants: the Giants almost beat Green Bay earlier on this season meaning they stand a chance against them this Sunday. They suffocated Atlanta last weekend as well, demonstrating that they're making a stand this playoff. But I've never seen anyone as calm and collected as Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the postseason who will be playing in front of their home crowd for the first time. Then again, Eli Manning and the New York Giants were seriously calm and collected when they defeated New England in Super Bowl XLII. Nevertheless, the Giants/Packers matchup reminds me of the Dolphins/Broncos Divisional Round game leading up to the Broncos's Super Bowl XXXIII win. Earlier on that season, the Broncos were something like 12 and 0 when they went into Miami and lost. They then proceeded to stifle the Dolphins 38-3 in the aforementioned Divisional Round game. I don't think Green Bay will beat the Giants by a comparable margin, but I also don't think New York will win. The Packers control the game but New York hangs on long enough to make them sweat.
Baltimore Ravens/Houston Texans: looks like Joey Flacco's all grown up. He won Wildcard games the last three postseasons, one of them versus New England, winning a Divisional Round game in his rookie year as well. And this year he has home field advantage in the second round for the first time. Seems like the stage is set for an appearance in the AFC Championship if his team can continue its winning ways (they beat the Jets, Pittsburgh (twice), Houston, Cincinnati (twice), and San Francisco during the regular season [losing to Tennessee and San Diego]). But I like Houston's chances not only because they had 5 wins on the road this year. It seems to me that this is the year Flacco flounders because he doesn't have as much adversity to overcome and Houston takes advantage of his success to their benefit. I also like that when both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers won their first Wildcard games (in the same year) they both went on to win in the Divisional Round. The Texans handled Cincinnati with ease last weekend and their points for and against are comparable to Baltimore's. If they win (which I think they will) it will be close, if they don't, Flacco will have won another big postseason game.
New England Patriots/Denver Broncos: New England rolled over the Broncos in Week 15 and brought an end to Tebow's 6 game winning streak. The Patriots are likely eagerly seeking revenge for their 2005 Divisional Round loss to Denver. Brady beat Dan Marino's single season passing record this year and only lost 3 games throughout, scoring 204 more points than the Broncos. But something tells me the Broncos's season will not end this Saturday night and that their stalwart defence will make big play after big play to enable Tebow to pull off another stunning victory. Go Broncos!
San Francisco 49ers/New Orleans Saints: New Orleans is obviously ready for the playoffs this year and a formidable offensive force. San Francisco played well during the regular season, winning 13 games and defeating Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Detroit, the Giants, and Pittsburgh along the way. Their defence was the league's best and only allowed 229 points to be scored against them. The NFL's second best offence meets the best defence this Saturday in San Francisco. My gut keeps telling me the 49ers will win and prevent a showdown between Green Bay and the Saints next weekend, but I'm picking New Orleans regardless. Seattle smothered their running attack last year and they must be coming at this game with related strategies in mind.
*Ouch
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