Oh, so you thought this was just a hip-hop blog, huh? We versatile up in this bitch! I'm a huge football fan. Watch it religiously, root for my Giants, play fantasy football... I gets it in. With so much parity in the NFL, an even wilder wild-card weekend is upon us. I'll be predicting the outcomes of the games throughout the playoffs to see how I stack up against these so-called experts. Let the madness begin!
(Home team in CAPS)
New Orleans Saints Over SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Did the 7-9 Seahawks deserve a spot in the playoffs? Under the NFL rules, yes. Under life rules, hell no. Not while two 10-6 teams watch from home. But they're in & facing the defending Super Bowl champs. This is the one playoff game that everyone is expecting to be a blow-out, including Vegas, who has the Saints as a double-digit favorite despite playing on the road.
The one point I've heard about why this game might be closer than expected is that the Saints are a dome team & Seattle is notorious for being a tough place to play. However, looking at the Seahawks' home schedule this year, they only went 5-3. Their most impressive win was a 27-20 victory over San Diego in week 3 (the Chargers are known to be slow-starters). While their five wins came against non-playoff teams, their three losses all came against playoff teams in which they lost by a combined 68 points. Add to the fact that the Saints went 6-2 on the road & I don't see how this game is closer than two touchdowns.
New York Jets over INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Peyton Manning's 5-1 record vs. Rex Ryan defenses (the one loss in a game he sat out the second 1/2). The remarkable Jets playoff run last year where they won two road games w/ a rookie QB. The absence of Austin Collie & Dallas Clark. The presence of LaDanian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes & Antonio Cromartie. The Colts are clearly the hotter team, winning four straight & coming back to take the AFC South from pesky Jacksonville. The Jets, albeit against tougher competition, have lost three of their last five. All these things have been running through my head while deciding who I would pick to win. This is the definition of a pick-'em.
In last year's AFC Championship, Peyton was able to pick on any Jets' cornerback not named Darrelle Revis as Pierre Garcon had the game of his life. That won't happen this time with Cromartie there. The way to beat the Colts is through the ground & the Jets were #4 in rushing yards this year behind the two-headed monster of LDT & Shonn Greene. Sure, the Colts had the #1 passing offense in the NFL this year but the Jets were #6 in passing yards allowed, despite having their All-Pro CB either banged up or out earlier on. I just can't pick Indy when the Jets look like they're clearly the more talented team. It's time for them to show & prove.
So for today, I'm going with the two road teams. I'll be back tomorrow morning to recap today's games & offer my predictions for the Ravens/Chiefs & Packers/Eagles showdowns.
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