NFL Divisional Round Playoff Picks

Last week, the Sportscolumn crew went 7-9, dragged down by Mile High’s 0-4, who did just about as good as the Broncos last weekend so he’ll be looking to make a comeback. There were 3 upsets in the first round but nobody got all three upsets right. This week, the Sportscolumn panel is agreeing on the first three games – take the Falcons, Steelers and Eagles. It’s fitting that the only game in dispute looks like it’s going to be the closest game all weekend.

Playoff Picks

MATCHUP	Vegas Vinny	Mile High	Guru Ganu	Mr. X
Jets-Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers	Steelers
Rams-Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Vikings-Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Colts-Patriots	Colts	Colts	Patriots	Patriots
Last Week	2-2	0-4	3-1	2-2

Let’s break down the games one by one.

  Saturday, Jan. 15. 4:30 p.m. on CBS

Vegas Vinny: You want some history? Here’s some history that’s going to be the basis of my picks this weekend. In the 2001 season, 3 of the four teams who won on wildcard weekend lost the next week. In 2002, the 4 teams who won on wildcard weekend all lost in the next round. Last year, 2 out of 4 lost in the divisional round. Unless you are a pretty weak bye team (Chicago in 2001; St Louis and KC last year), the extra week of rest really helps. People tend to forget that because they see how a wild card team looks great on wildcard weekend. How quickly we forget there’s a reason why they’re in the wildcard round.

So, the first game on the dockett is Jets-Steelers. I didn’t give Herm and the boys much of a chance last weekend to go on the road and upset the Chargers. Despite trying to give it away, they pulled it together and won on an OT field goal. Unfortunately, that will be the last good memory for the Jets this season. Following the rule above, Pittsburgh’s a rested team who is very strong. Steelers to win.

Guru Ganu: Last week the Jets got away with a classic Raider move by former Raider Eric Barton, thanks to Martyball, which these days translates to Martypussy. Marty are you kidding me? That was the most conservative play calling I have seen since Jon Gruden had a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter of the snow bowl (It was a FUMBLE). Anyway, lucky teams usually get shut down by good teams, and a good team is what Pittsburgh is. Sure, Sure, Roth is Brady, yeah, yeah, but what really impresses me of late is that Pittsburgh can consistently shut down the run, um, wait, did I just channel Sean Salisbury, forget I said that. Just trust me, Pittsburgh will win because they are better than the J-E-T-S, thought it would be much funnier to have the Jets win so New England can whoop up on New York for old times sake.

Mr. X: The appetizer for the divisional playoff weekend is the best team in football versus a team just happy to be here. Those always end up ugly games. The JETS are really underachieving in many ways. Last week aside, Pennington and his wideouts should have done much more this year and just haven’t. It won’t get
any easier versus the vaunted Steelers and their #1 ranked defense. Look – it’s quite simple – defenses win championships and this reminds me of the 2002 Bucs and the 2000 Ravens. Roethlisberger is really just “Hype” right now and is playing the same role that Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer did…with more talent. He’s a lucky SOB. Look for Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress to make some big plays as NY tries to shutdown the running game. I can see the JETS scoring early and Pitt getting
aggitated and just blowing them out…This team is on the way to the SUPER BOWL and the JETS are not going to stop them. Final Score: Steelers 30 Jets 10

Mile High: Pennington showed that his shoulder clearly isn’t bothering him…or at least any pain is masked by injections as he unloaded on the beauty of a TD pass to Moss last week. However, the Steelers are at home and have a much better D than SD does. Plus their running game is rock solid. And what’s up with John Abraham deciding to not suit up? He’s too worried about missing a big pay day when he’s a free agent next year. Well, guess what? Now you’ve got a rep that you’ve got no heart and are only driven by money.
I’ll take Steeltown in this one.

  Saturday, Jan. 15. 8 p.m. on FOX

Vegas Vinny: Atlanta might be the most fraudulent 2 seed in the playoffs since the 2001 Bears – and you saw what happened to them. Luckily, they go against a team that is still terrible, despite beating another terrible team last week. The Rams have a chance in this one but they are not strong enough and Atlanta is not weak enough to go against the rules I set about earlier. Take the dirty birds in this one.

Guru Ganu: Hold up, is this really a playoff game? This has to be the worst playoff game in league history. You want me to write up a bunch of reasons why a bad team (Atlanta) will beat a really bad team (St. Louis) at home. I don’t know why. I don’t have any idea why, maybe, Michael Vick? Though he has been less than stellar this year. Maybe that fierce Atlanta Defense? Name one difference maker on the Atlanta D, I dare you. Anyway, Atlanta will win, cause they are at home, and they are the best of these two terrible teams. How is this game the 8pm Sat night game while the Philly/Vikes tilt is on at 1pm Sunday afternoon. Nice going Fox.

Mr. X: I’m declaring this as the game of the Week. I know, I know. But what about the Colts and Patriots? WAAAAAAAAHHHHH…That game will be good, I’m quite certain. Yet, this game matches up a team that only plays well in the DOME (Rams) envrionment against a team in a DOME. The FALCONS remind me so much of the Chicago Bears from 2001, who had a big season and then just got pushed around by the upstart EAGLES in the divisional round. Vick this and Vick that. The FALCONS are just not an elite team…but I cannot overlook the RAMS deficiencies either. This will be a fun game. Torry Holt will have another nice game against the Rookie D’Angelo Hall and Vick will do something fun…in the end it will be a FG in overtime that sends the FALCONS to Philadelphia where their season ends.
Final Score: Falcons 30 Rams 27 (OT)

Mile High:The Seahawks were so close to taking that game to OT…catch the damn ball!
Now we’re forced to watch Mad Martz on the sidelines in all his arrogance yet again. The Falcons are one of the top running teams in the NFL, so I think at home they’ve got this one locked up. The Vick factor and the Mike Martz sucks at clock management factor makes this a no-brainer.

  Sunday, Jan. 16. 1:00 p.m. on FOX

Vegas Vinny: Did Minnesota win that game or did the Green Bay Favres lose it? It’s a toss up in my book. While everyone is salisburying over the Vikings this week, the Eagles are just quietly going about their business. Just a confident quote from McNabb: “Our wr corp is fine, we’ll makes plays and we’ll win the game”. I don’t know about you, but I’m convinced. This is a playoff tested veteran QB making this pronouncement, not Hasselbeck and his “We’ll take the ball, and we’re gonna score!”. Eagles in a blowout.

Guru Ganu: I really want to pick Minnesota, and feel that if the Eagles are going to lose on their way to the Super Bowl it will be here, in this game. But the Vikings are not a good team. Especially without a healthy Randy Moss. I don’t think the Eagles have much of an offense, and they definitely don’t have a Super Bowl level defense, however, when you play in the JV league you need to be just good enough to beat the rest of the JVs, and the Eagles are that. Hey, the 21st century version of the Buffalo Bills can only play who is on the schedule, so don’t blame them. If this is close, McNabb has enough talent to win this game on his own. This win will send the Philadelphia Bills one step closer to immortality, four straight losses in the NFC Championship, three at home. Can they do it? Tune in next week.

Mr. X: This one is way too easy. The worse team left in the NFL playoffs is the Minnesota Vikings. By far. This is a team that finished the stretch run…NEEDING A WIN…By going 1-4 and basicially crapping the bed. They then go in and beat the Green Bay Packers (Which is akin in difficulty to beating ED WADE in a baseball trade) in the wildcard weekend. Wow! THEY MUST GOOD! (Sarcasm) The PACKERS defense is downright terrible. Vomit inducing. The RAMS, Eagles and Titans all put up about 40+ points on the Packers and they define the word “FRAUDS”. The Vikings? Well they pretty much suck. The Purple Moon Machine ends here as McNabb, Kearse, Dawkins,
Westbrook and Co just lay the smack down in the biggest mismatch of the week. Final Score: Eagles 41 Vikings 17

Mile High: Eagles. Is ANYONE picking the Vikes? I mean, if the Eagles were able to make it to the NFC Championship game three years in a row with Todd Pinkston, James Thrash, and no Brian Westbrook, then I highly doubt the Vikings will be able to slow this year’s Eagles down, even with no TO. Now, next week might be another story…

  Sunday, Jan. 16. 4:30 p.m. on CBS

Vegas Vinny: Every rule needs an exception right? Well, here it is. The Patriots are a strong bye week team. The rule says the Patriots should win this one. But I’m not going to bet against Manning and that offense this year. There’s two reasons for this pick: 1) Colts, unlike other teams claiming to have momentum, actually do have momentum. 2) It’s hard to repeat.

Guru Ganu: Yes, yes, I know Peyton is the hot pick, but name one time he has figured out the Belichick D. Never. Peyton will change the play time after time at the line, and get more and more frustrated as the day wears on. Give him a couple years and he will be the spitting image of Dan Marino. I do expect the Colts to give the Pats everything they can handle, but in the end Tom Brady and the New England Defense will find a way to pull it out, and the Colts will have no answer for Corey Dillon. I know, I know, New England’s run has to end sometime, but isn’t that what they use to say about the Niners?

Mr. X: Ah. The Experts Game of the Week. It may very well be. Two terrific NFL teams. The COLTS need no introduction and the Patriots are the Gold Standard in the NFL right now. Look for the COLTS to try and abuse the Pats injury depleted secondary. It will work but how much? Dillon and Brady will own the COLTS and if they can control the clock and frustrate the COLTS by keeping the ball away this one could get ugly. I think it will. New England leads big in the 3rd quarter before Manning and Co. come roaring back. But Vinatierri wins it in the end…and the Pats continue on.

Final Score: Patriots 34 Colts 31

Mile High: I know the Pats are an against all odds team over the past few years, but they clearly are hurting in the secondary. That does not bode well when they’re facing the most dialed-in passer in history. Shut down Harrison?
Sure, but that leaves Reggie Wayne (see Roc Alexander last week). Got him wrapped up too? That leaves Stokely. I’m sorry, it’s just not going to happen this year, with this team. Colts exorcise their ghosts and finally win in Foxboro.