Welcome to the playoffs! This week, we take a look at the first round games along with how each of us see the entire playoffs turning out – all the way to the Super Bowl winner. For detailed analysis of this week’s games, listen to the podcast or subscribe via this feed.
As the winner of the regular season picks record (180-76), Ryan McGowan gets the honors.Winners
Ryan’s Picks:
| Round | Game | Game | Game | Game |
| Wildcard | Was at TB | Jax at NE | Car at NYG | Pitt at Cincy |
| Divisional | NE at Den | Pitt at Indy | Was at Sea | Car at Chi |
| Conference | Den at Indy | Chi at Sea | ||
| Super Bowl | Indy vs Sea | |||
Teri’s Picks:
| Round | Game | Game | Game | Game |
| Wildcard | Was at TB | Jax at NE | Car at NYG | Pitt at Cincy |
| Divisional | NE at Den | Pitt at Indy | Was at Sea | Car at Chi |
| Conference | NE at Indy | Chi at Sea | ||
| Super Bowl | Indy vs Sea | |||
Vin’s Picks:
| Round | Game | Game | Game | Game |
| Wildcard | Was at TB | Jax at NE | Car at NYG | Pitt at Cincy |
| Divisional | NE at Den | Pitt at Indy | NYG at Sea | TB at Chi |
| Conference | Den at Indy | Chi at Sea | ||
| Super Bowl | Indy vs Sea | |||
Trevor’s Picks:
| Round | Game | Game | Game | Game |
| Wildcard | Was at TB | Jax at NE | Car at NYG | Pitt at Cincy |
| Divisional | NE at Den | Pitt at Indy | Was at Sea | Car at Chi |
| Conference | Den at Indy | Car at Sea | ||
| Super Bowl | Den vs Car | |||
Ryan McGowan:
AFC: As much as I love the Pats, I think they are going to have a physical game this weekend against the Jaguars, which will wear them out against a Denver team that mopped the floor with them earlier this season at Mile High. Having the first-round bye is such a huge advantage in the NFL playoffs, and I think it will hold up throughout the league this year. Pittsburgh is on a roll but they don’t have enough firepower to take down the Colts on the “fast track.” This is going to be Indy’s year, with the added emotional incentive of rallying around Tony Dungy after his recent family tragedy.
NFC: I think Washington could give Seattle a game, but they aren’t going to go out to the Pacific Northwest and take down the Seahawks, a great home team coming off the bye week. I also can’t see Jake Delhomme and the semi-fraudulent Panthers going up to the Windy City and scoring enough points on the Bears defense to knock them off, Carolina’s playoff experience notwithstanding. Similarly, the Bears and Rex Grossman don’t have enough in the offensive arsenal to keep Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck, Lofa Tatupu, et al., out of the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XL: Colts over Seahawks Like I said earlier, this is Indy’s year (as much as I’d love to see a Patriots-Bears game in a rematch of Super Bowl XX). Their Achilles heels over the past few years have been a porous defense and the inability to make plays against the Patriots. Both of those situations have reversed this year. I think this Super Bowl could be very high-scoring, as both teams have much stronger offenses than defenses. When it comes down to it, I see Indy’s playoff experience as well as the leadership of Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy carries them through to their first Lombardi Trophy since moving to Indianapolis.
Teri Berg:
AFC: Wild-card weekend seems pretty straightforward in the AFC, which for me means Pittsburgh ends up at Indianapolis and New England goes into Mile High Stadium to face the Broncos. Pittsburgh’s conservative offense does them no favors at this point in the season, and I’m going with Indy. I’m going against the fellas here in picking the Pats over Denver — I just can’t see an isolated Champ Bailey covering all the passing Tom Brady does all over the field. Further, I don’t think Jake Plummer is the guy who can take full advantage of the Pats’ godawful secondary, no matter how much Mike Shanahan plans for it. Unfortunately, the Colts WILL be able to take advantage in the AFC title game, and Peyton Manning & Co. get themselves to the Super Bowl.
NFC: The conference is just a mess, and I have a feeling the center’s not going to hold for anyone but Seattle in the end. Since I took Washington over TB, that means the ‘Skins will travel to Seattle for the divisional playoffs. This could be a great game, though I’m picking the ‘Hawks to come out the winners. If the unthinkable happens and Carolina moves past the Giants (I’m still not convinced of my own pick here), the Panthers fly up to the barren, frozen wasteland that is Soldier Field. No way they make it out of there alive. Da Bears face Seattle for the NFC title, and I think the Seahawks find a way around that great defense and move on to Detroit.
Super Bowl XL: Colts over Seahawks
Of two very well-rounded teams, I’m taking the one that worked a little harder to improve their defensive effectiveness this season. I’m also picking the sentimental favorite. Tony Dungy has been waiting a long time to get to the big game, and his team has every reason to “Tiki Barber” this Super Bowl to get the win for this great coach.
Vin Diec:
AFC: If the wildcard round goes as projected, New England will travel to Denver and Pittsburgh travels to Indy. There is no chance that the Steelers beat the Colts on the fast track. The Steelers were made to play in the cold/slop/grass/mud and they won’t be able to compete against Indy’s track relay team. The Patriots/Broncos game is much more intriguing because a nervous Colts team will be looking on and rooting for the Broncos. The Colts absolutely do not want to see Tom Brady & Co. again even if they did beat them in the regular season. Lucky for the Colts, the Broncos and the Mile High advantage will prove to be too much for New England. It doesn’t matter if Jake Plummer can’t take advantage of New England’s beat up secondary, the running game of Tatum Bell, Mike Anderson, and Ron Dayne (!) will lead the way. However, the following week, the Colts completely destroy Denver, much like they have in the past couple of seasons.
NFC: I have the Giants traveling to Seattle where Jay Feely can relive his worst moments as a pro. However, this time, Seattle, behind the strong running of MVP Shaun Alexander, won’t let it come down to a field goal. On the other side, a warm weather team like the Bucs will be worn down and demoralized against the Bears. Remember how the Bucs played against NE in the cold? Same thing here. In the conference championship, the offense of the Seahawks will be able to outdo whatever Rex Grossman and Chicago can come up with, even if it’s not much.
Super Bowl XL: Colts over Seahawks Just like last year, the two best teams in each conference face off for the Lombardi trophy. I would love to pick the Seahawks to cap off a great year for Holmgren, Alexander, and Lofa Tatupu but they don’t have the horses to keep up with Indy. The AFC takes it again.
Trevor Freeman:
AFC: In the wild card round, I’m going with the veteran playoff experience and I’m pulling the trigger on both New England and Pittsburgh. I think New England take Jacksonville behind the woodshed and deliver a good,
old-fashioned beatdown. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will be a lot tighter, however I think the Steelers can gash Cincy on the ground and the Steelers are different team when Ben Roethlisberger is healthy and playing (11-2).
In the next round, I like Denver over New England. Denver will have the extra week to rest up and prepare (you are kidding yourselves if you think Mike Shanahan isn’t preparing for New England right now). The game is in Denver and the Broncos are a strong home team. Indy should beat Pittsburgh on the fast track.
Since Vin, Teri, and Boston Mac are all going Indianapolis, I’m going to go the other way and take Jake Plummer and the Denver Broncos. If Denver loses…..it was expected…..and if Denver wins, I’ll be talking junk for the next twelve months. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.
NFC: The NFL playoffs are a lot like the NCAA Tournament (which is why they are always the two highest rated/gambled upon sporting events) in that it is not necessarily the best team that wins, but the team on the best roll.
That’s why I’m pulling the trigger on the Redskins this week. They have been on fire and I think score the mild upset in Tampa Bay. In my opinion, Carolina and the New York Football Giants could are the two best teams in the NFC. This was a tough call, but I’m the kind of guy who sticks to his guns. I picked Carolina at the beginning of the year and I am sticking with the Panthers. While they have been inconsistent, they have the ability to be great. This is still basically the same team that
made the Bowl two years ago.
Bill Simmons has a great rule in betting. It is, “When you’re not sure, take another look at the two quarterbacks.” I’m looking and I like Jake Delhomne over Rex Grossman in the next round. On the other side, Seattle will end Washington’s run. In the NFC Title game, I’m sticking with Carolina. I’d be a complete hypocrite if I flip-flopped now and took Seattle.
Super Bowl XL: Broncos over Panthers In the “Battle of Jakes”, I’m going with………hold on………one more pinch………….going to need another one……….yo bartender, I need a refill…………..there it is………I’m taking Jake Plummer and the Denver Broncos
to win the Bowl….