One week into the playoffs and my postseason picks aren't too bad. I went 3-1 last weekend (which I was hoping to go 4-0 but Baltimore won so that didn't happen) and so it's onto the Divisional Round (for more banter check out the Three and Out Podcast where I discuss more about my picks).
The first game on Saturday is Baltimore vs. Denver. The Ravens are coming off their win against the Colts while the Broncos lie in wait. Out of all the games, this is the easiest game for me to pick. I can't stand the Ravens + I like Peyton Manning = I'm picking the Broncos. And the fact that Denver blasted them only a few weeks ago in Baltimore only adds to my case. I think this will be the least interesting game and I'm okay with that because (hopefully) the Broncos will move on to the title game.
Broncos 31 Ravens 10
The night game on Saturday is Green Bay vs San Francisco. We have another match up against two teams that played in the regular season. In Week 1, the 49ers came into Lambeau Field and beat the Pack. This will be different as it will be in San Francisco and the 49ers QB will be Colin Kaepernick instead of Alex Smith. Out of the 4 games, this one is the hardest for me to pick. Green Bay is playing better and healthy but they still have their weaknesses (O-Line shaky, not much of running game, defense can let teams hang around). The 49ers have more playmakers this year compared to last year but this is Kaepernick's first playoff start. I think this will be a close one but I'm thinking the home team pulls this one out.
49ers 20 Packers 17
The early Sunday game is Seattle vs Atlanta. The Seahawks are coming off their first road playoff victory since 1983 after beating the Redskins. They now have to travel again, this time to Atlanta. Ironically, this is the only matchup this weekend where the teams are meeting for the first time. Atlanta has a lot of pressure on them as the top seed with home field advantage. QB Matt Ryan & HC Mike Smith are winless in the postseason but they do have that explosive offense. Obviously key matchup will be Falcons WRs vs. Seahawks secondary. It will be tough for a 10:00am pacific kickoff (1:00pm Eastern) but I think the Seahawks can pull it out and keep the ball rolling.
Seahawks 24 Falcons 20
The late Sunday game is Houston vs New England. This is another rematch from a regular season game that saw the Pats beat the Texans on a Monday night game in the middle of the season. The Texans are coming off a big win against the Bengals to kind of right the ship from the previous few weeks. They do have a good offense and a good defense. The Pats have their typical high scoring offense. I think this time around the game will be a lot closer, however I still think the Patriots will win the game.
Patriots 27 Texans 24
Showing posts with label divisional round. Show all posts
Showing posts with label divisional round. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2013
Friday, January 13, 2012
2012 Divisional Round Predictions
Well, I didn't do too bad with my Wild Card predictions going 3-1 (missed on Atlanta but then again they didn't show up last week). This weekend's games have some easy to root for teams for the most part. Lets see if I can keep the winning tradition going (as always the scores don't really matter just the picks).
The first game of the weekend is New Orleans vs San Francisco. The Niners are in the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. They have a stifling defense & a potential coach of the year in Jim Harbaugh. The Saints are coming off a win against Detroit in the Wild Card round. This is a tough matchup. The Saints aren't the best road team in the world but they do have playoff experience and a top QB in Drew Brees. The Niners do have a solid running game in Frank Gore and the aforementioned tough D. Out of the 4 matchups, this will be the toughest to pick. However, despite the road concerns, I'm taking the Saints. Their defense will give Alex Smith fits. I think for another week Saints fans can chant "Who Dat?"
Saints 27 49ers 17
The night game on Saturday is Denver vs New England. Brady vs. Tebow II. A lot has been said the first time around so there really isn't more that needs to be said. Patriots won the first game though the Broncos put up a great fight in that game. That time it was in Denver. This time it's in New England. Tebow had a great game last week against the Steelers. And New England hasn't won a playoff game since the 2007 season. Then again, if we go by history the division winner that no one expected to win in WC round lost the next round. Think this time will be no exception. Close one but think it'll be the Pats again.
Patriots 34 Broncos 30
The early Sunday game features Houston vs Baltimore. Let's face it. I don't like Baltimore and will not pick them to win. Even with a 3rd string QB and little playoff experience, Houston does have a tough running game & their defense is top notch. Plus I don't think Flacco is that great a QB. Texans keep hope alive in Houston
Texans 24 Ravens 10
The final game features the NY Giants vs Green Bay. They matched up earlier in the year with the Packers pulling out the victory in dramatic fashion. The Giants are coming off a win against the Falcons and many are comparing them to the team that won the Super Bowl in the 2007 season. Eh, I'm not really seeing it. They are still inconsistent and their secondary is weak. Aaron Rodgers can and will exploit it. Packers keep up the chance for a repeat
Packers 37 Giants 27
The first game of the weekend is New Orleans vs San Francisco. The Niners are in the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. They have a stifling defense & a potential coach of the year in Jim Harbaugh. The Saints are coming off a win against Detroit in the Wild Card round. This is a tough matchup. The Saints aren't the best road team in the world but they do have playoff experience and a top QB in Drew Brees. The Niners do have a solid running game in Frank Gore and the aforementioned tough D. Out of the 4 matchups, this will be the toughest to pick. However, despite the road concerns, I'm taking the Saints. Their defense will give Alex Smith fits. I think for another week Saints fans can chant "Who Dat?"
Saints 27 49ers 17
The night game on Saturday is Denver vs New England. Brady vs. Tebow II. A lot has been said the first time around so there really isn't more that needs to be said. Patriots won the first game though the Broncos put up a great fight in that game. That time it was in Denver. This time it's in New England. Tebow had a great game last week against the Steelers. And New England hasn't won a playoff game since the 2007 season. Then again, if we go by history the division winner that no one expected to win in WC round lost the next round. Think this time will be no exception. Close one but think it'll be the Pats again.
Patriots 34 Broncos 30
The early Sunday game features Houston vs Baltimore. Let's face it. I don't like Baltimore and will not pick them to win. Even with a 3rd string QB and little playoff experience, Houston does have a tough running game & their defense is top notch. Plus I don't think Flacco is that great a QB. Texans keep hope alive in Houston
Texans 24 Ravens 10
The final game features the NY Giants vs Green Bay. They matched up earlier in the year with the Packers pulling out the victory in dramatic fashion. The Giants are coming off a win against the Falcons and many are comparing them to the team that won the Super Bowl in the 2007 season. Eh, I'm not really seeing it. They are still inconsistent and their secondary is weak. Aaron Rodgers can and will exploit it. Packers keep up the chance for a repeat
Packers 37 Giants 27
Friday, January 14, 2011
2011 Divisional Round Predictions
It's time for more predictions, the Divisional Round is here and last week I went 2-2. Ironically it was the first game and the last game of the weekend that I got correctly. This weekend has some intriguing matchups with some hard decisions as to who I will pick. So here's the picks:
The first matchup of the weekend is Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh. If there was any matchup this weekend that I didn't like either team, this would be it. I kind of wish this was an instance where it was like pro wrestling and there was a double disqualification and both don't advance. However, that's not the case. Baltimore came off a win against Kansas City. Pittsburgh enjoyed the bye week off and got some rest to help with some of their injuries. A key stat is that Baltimore's coach John Harbaugh has never beaten Pittsburgh when Ben Roethilsberger starts for the Steelers....he's starting for the Steelers.
Steelers 24 Ravens 17
The primetime game on Saturday is Green Bay vs. Atlanta. They met in the regular season in one of the marquee games of the year and the Falcons came out on top. Aaron Rodgers got his first playoff win last weekend on the road against Philly and it was the first time Green Bay had won a road playoff game since the late 90s. Matt Ryan has lost only two times as a starter at the Georgia Dome (20-2) however, he lost his previous playoff game in a shootout against Kurt Warner and the Atlanta Falcons a couple of years ago. This will probably be the game of the weekend. I like both teams. I could see either of these teams in the Super Bowl. But given propensity to who I'm picking in the next game. I'm going to say that Rodgers and Green Bay get revenge and eek out a victory.
Packers 27 Falcons 24
The early Sunday game features Seattle vs. Chicago. Last week Seattle won in a shootout over the defending champs New Orleans. They put together one of their best games of the season. The running game came alive and QB Matt Hasselbeck channeled the 2005 version and had a big game. Now they travel to Chicago to take on the Bears. These two teams met earlier in the year and Seattle won that matchup. The Bears are a different team but so are the Seahawks. One key stat is that first time starters in the playoffs since 2003 are 5-19. On top of that, this is the first postseason game in the career of Jay Cutler, college or pro. And then a thought, prior to the playoffs starting I said that these Seahawks remind me of the 08 Cardinals, inconsistent in the regular season, turn it on at the end and make a deep playoff run. Last week didn't do anything to deter me from that thought. I'm going homer and picking the Hawks.
Seahawks 27 Bears 17
The final game of the divisional round is between the NY Jets and New England. This has become of the big rivalries in the NFL with both sides spouting off at the mouth. I know there are a lot of people who can't stand New England. I don't mind them that much. I used to like them but after the 2009 game against the Titans when Belicheck ran up the score I don't really like them anymore. But, I'm really not a fan of the Jets. So simply put, I'd like to see what happened the last time these two teams met happen again. Pats roll.
Patriots 42 Jets 17
So there you have it, I'm thinking a Packers/Seahawks NFC Championship game and a Steelers/Patriots AFC Championship game. So lets see if I end up right or not.
The first matchup of the weekend is Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh. If there was any matchup this weekend that I didn't like either team, this would be it. I kind of wish this was an instance where it was like pro wrestling and there was a double disqualification and both don't advance. However, that's not the case. Baltimore came off a win against Kansas City. Pittsburgh enjoyed the bye week off and got some rest to help with some of their injuries. A key stat is that Baltimore's coach John Harbaugh has never beaten Pittsburgh when Ben Roethilsberger starts for the Steelers....he's starting for the Steelers.
Steelers 24 Ravens 17
The primetime game on Saturday is Green Bay vs. Atlanta. They met in the regular season in one of the marquee games of the year and the Falcons came out on top. Aaron Rodgers got his first playoff win last weekend on the road against Philly and it was the first time Green Bay had won a road playoff game since the late 90s. Matt Ryan has lost only two times as a starter at the Georgia Dome (20-2) however, he lost his previous playoff game in a shootout against Kurt Warner and the Atlanta Falcons a couple of years ago. This will probably be the game of the weekend. I like both teams. I could see either of these teams in the Super Bowl. But given propensity to who I'm picking in the next game. I'm going to say that Rodgers and Green Bay get revenge and eek out a victory.
Packers 27 Falcons 24
The early Sunday game features Seattle vs. Chicago. Last week Seattle won in a shootout over the defending champs New Orleans. They put together one of their best games of the season. The running game came alive and QB Matt Hasselbeck channeled the 2005 version and had a big game. Now they travel to Chicago to take on the Bears. These two teams met earlier in the year and Seattle won that matchup. The Bears are a different team but so are the Seahawks. One key stat is that first time starters in the playoffs since 2003 are 5-19. On top of that, this is the first postseason game in the career of Jay Cutler, college or pro. And then a thought, prior to the playoffs starting I said that these Seahawks remind me of the 08 Cardinals, inconsistent in the regular season, turn it on at the end and make a deep playoff run. Last week didn't do anything to deter me from that thought. I'm going homer and picking the Hawks.
Seahawks 27 Bears 17
The final game of the divisional round is between the NY Jets and New England. This has become of the big rivalries in the NFL with both sides spouting off at the mouth. I know there are a lot of people who can't stand New England. I don't mind them that much. I used to like them but after the 2009 game against the Titans when Belicheck ran up the score I don't really like them anymore. But, I'm really not a fan of the Jets. So simply put, I'd like to see what happened the last time these two teams met happen again. Pats roll.
Patriots 42 Jets 17
So there you have it, I'm thinking a Packers/Seahawks NFC Championship game and a Steelers/Patriots AFC Championship game. So lets see if I end up right or not.
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