Well it's finally NFL playoff time again and today I'm going to be posting my predictions for the playoff season. Even though my Titans didn't make it at least they still have a coach as of today. Let's start with the AFC.
The first game in the AFC is the 3 seed Colts vs the 6 seeded wild card Jets. This should be a very interesting game and rematch from last years playoff game. The Colts have had a very up and down season, mainly from Peyton's inconsistent play and a team plagued by injuries. I think the Jets win this year in a close one. I realize it is hard to pick against Peyton Manning at home, but I think losing Dallas Clark early in the season really hurt the Colts since he was Peyton's security blanket. Jets will pull this one out in a close one 21-17.
Now to the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs. Baltimore loaded up this past season by adding wide receiver studs Anquan Boldin and T.J Houshmandzadeh and it has paid dividends for quarterback Joe Flacco who has completed 62.6% of his passes throwing for 25 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. The Ravens also have an outstanding rushing attack lead by Ray Rice and Willis Mcgahee. Kansas City has been one of the surprises of the 2010 NFL season by reaching the playoffs possibly a year ahead of schedule. Coming off of a very flat performance against Oakland last Sunday I have a feeling the Chiefs will come out flat again. The experience of the Ravens will show in this game with the Ravens winning 31-17.
With that being said the first divisional matchup I am going to discuss is the 2 seed Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the 6 seed Jets. The Steelers seem to have put all of big Ben's offseason problems behind them and clinched the AFC North in the last game of the season. Big Ben has been stellar since returning from his 4 game suspension. The Steeler's defense is clicking on all cylinders right now lead by all pro safety Troy Polamalu and the former NFL defensive player of the year James Harrison. Mark Sanchez's inconsistent play will continue in this game as he faces those exotic zone blitzes the Steelers defense is known for. The Jets will keep it close; however, I see the Steelers pulling this one out in the end 14-10.
Moving on to Foxboro we have the Patriots hosting the Ravens. The Patriots seem to have their swagger back on the offensive side of the ball and their young defense is growing up every week. Brady blistered NFL defenses all season completing 65.9% of his passes while throwing for 36 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. A 9:1 Touchdown to interception ratio is absolutely unheard of in the NFL and looks more like numbers from a Madden game. I don't see the Patriots slowing down anytime soon even though Ray Lewis will be roaming in between the hashes. Baltimore's secondary has been suspect at best all season and they will get picked apart once again by Brady. I think this one will be a hammering as the Patriots win 38-21.
That leaves us to the AFC championship with the Steelers traveling to New England to attempt to derail the Patriots offense. I think this game will be a chess match between Bellicheck and Steelers hall of fame defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau. This is a matchup of the best offense in football against the best defense in football. I think the Steelers derail the Brady aerial assault and win the AFC championship in a close one, 24-21.
Moving on to what most consider the weaker of the divisions the NFC. First we have the Saints vs. the Seahawks. The Saints seem to have their team back on track by slinging it with Drew Brees and their defense forcing costly turnovers. The Seahawks made the playoffs with a 7-9 record and gets to host a playoff game. The Seahawks have one of the best home field advantages in all of football, but I don't see it making a difference in this game. The Saints cruise to a victory 31-3.
The other game in the NFC is a much more intriguing game to me and probably most of you as well. The Green bay Packers traveling to play the Philadelphia Eagles. Since coach Andy Reid decided to start Michael Vick over Kevin Kolb the Eagles have been rolling. Green Bay is very banged up and can not run the ball against anyone. Look for the Philadelphia receivers to make big plays against Green Bay's man to man press. The Eagles will win this one at home 31-24.
The NFC divisional round will be very interesting to watch and has some very intriguing matchups. The Eagles will travel to Chicago to play the Bears. The Giants laid out a blue print on how to stop Vick, and the Bears may just have a defense that can match their effort. The Bears defense has been stellar all year with Brian Urlacher manning the middle of the field. I look for this one to be a close one but I think the Eagles will control the clock and get to Cutler. Eagles win 21-10.
The other side of the bracket presents us with New Orleans vs. the Atlanta Falcons. This is the third matchup of the season between these 2 teams and both games have come down to the wire. The Falcons have been very solid this year and Matt Ryan has proved to be nearly unbeatable at home. Look for Roddy White to make some big plays against a suspect New Orleans secondary. I just can not go against Drew Brees in this situation though. Brees goes into Atlanta and stuns the crowd with the Saints winning 27-21.
The NFC championship game will be the Eagles hosting the Saints. What a matchup, the reigning world champs against the Philadelphia Eagles exciting big play offense. This one has all the makings of a good ole fashioned shootout. Greg Williams will have the Saints defense prepared in this one and will be willing to take penalties in order to hit Michael Vick. Once again though the Eagles speed will prevail, look for Desean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin to have a breakout game. Eagles will win this one 38-31.
So all we have left now is the Superbowl which is hosted in the new Cowboy's stadium this year. I wonder if Jerry Jones will be in attendance to see their division rival Philadelphia. The state of Pennsylvania will have both of their teams representing their respective conferences in the Superbowl and I expect a stellar game. The Steeler's blitzing defense is the only thing I can see slowing down Vick and the Eagles explosive receivers. Expect to see Polamalu spying Vick most of the game and don't be surprised if the Steelers bring several lottery blitzes. Steeler's wideout Mike Wallace has proved he is one of the most dangerous big play receivers in the game and I think he will have at least one big play this game as well. It will be a close one, with the Steeler's kicking one through the uprights to win 17-14.
That's it for my predictions, I look forward to hearing your opinions and your predictions as well.
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ReplyDeleteFirst off I want to point out that your 2nd round playoff match-ups are incorrect. The way the NFL is set up, the number 1 seed will play the lowest seed no matter what. So the Patriots would be playing the Jets in the 2nd round and Baltimore would go to Pitt. I like all of your picks minus Indy, I think the Jets are falling apart and the Colts are coming together so I will take the Colts. I think New England will come out of the AFC. I disagree with Saints over Falcons, I like Falcons Eagles championship with Mike Vick running wild in Atlanta to take the Eagles to the Super Bowl against the Patriots. Eventually I think the Patriots win it all.
ReplyDeleteyeah the nfl needs to fix their bracket too lol that's the blank bracket of possible scenarios i was looking at when typing this up
ReplyDeleteWorthless, the NFL itself cant even get it together. They must just assume that the Colts are going to win.
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