Wild Card Picks

Houston -3 vs. Cincinnati
1st playoff game ever in Houston and the house will be rockin. Andre Johnson is back and Jake Delhomme, TJ Yates, or Dave Kreig could be throwing him the ball, it doesn't matter. I like the Bengals, but not on the road, and not with a rookie QB in his first playoff game. Houston can run the ball (153 ypg) and play defense (285 total yards allowed per game), two things that will help them keep Cinncy's offense off the field.

Detroit +10 at New Orleans
10 points? Seriously? When did the Lions become the 2010-11 Seattle Seahawks. Last time I checked the Lions could put points on the board. And last time I checked New Orleans wasn't exactly a defensive lock down team. Do they have anyone who can cover Calvin Johnson?  . . . NO, cause apparently nobody can. I'm sure the Saints will win this game, but you want me to believe that they will win by more than 10? The Packers put up 45 on Detroit last week and they only won by 4. This is just too many points for an NFL playoff game.


Atlanta +3 at New York Giants
Atlanta runs the ball better than the Giants do (Atlanta 114 yards per game, NYG 89 yards per game). Atlanta plays better run defense than the Giants do (Atlanta 97 ypg allowed, NYG 121 ypg allowed). Atlanta should control the ground game here, which is important for 3 reasons. First, it will be cold and windy outside at the New Meadowlands and it's easier to run the ball in the cold and wind then it is to pass the ball. Second, running the ball negates New York's defense strength, their D-Line pass rush. Third, New York throws for nearly 300 yards per game, which accounts for almost 75% of their total offense. The best way to defeat a team who throws the ball a lot and can score quickly doing it, is to control the clock and keep that offense off the field.

Don't get me wrong here, I don't like the fact that I'm picking the Falcons to help me out, but was I really supposed to count on Eli? Down Syndrome boy will probably stick it to me, but I'm not going to bet on him (literally). Can you really put your faith in a team that went on a 4 losing streak in the second half of the season? A team that lost 5 of it's last 8 games? A team that only beat a bad Jets team and Dallas, twice, in the second half?


Pittsburgh -8 at Denver
Look, I drank the kool-aid, but those things always come to a crashing halt. Usually with a bunch of dead people around, but a halt non the less. Has anyone seen him play these last couple of games? Um . . Excuse me Miss?  . . I'm done with this kool-aid. Can I have a beer please? My boy Big Ben drinks beers in bars. Just don't go to the bathroom with him.  . . . . . . . Too soon? Inappropriate? Get over it. What the hell did that chick think she was getting into? Oh the starting quarter back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who has 2 super bowl rings, wants to hang out and have some drinks with me. I'm sure he just wants to talk and get to know me as a person. If you don't want to get bit by a shark, stay out of the water lady. Idiot.

Big Ben is hurt, I don't care. Their starting running back is out, doesn't matter. Lost their best corner, who was he gonna cover anyway? The Broncos are going to score 6 points, which means the Steelers need 2 TDs and a field goal to cover. Charlie Batch could start at QB and Jerome Bettis could play running back and they would still score this many points.