Redskins, Panthers, Colts, Patriots To Advance
INEXPERIENCE HURTS PLAYOFF CHANCES
Last week playoff novices in Byron Leftwich, Jon Kitna, Chris Simms and Eli Manning showed just how intense the road to the Super Bowl can be. All miserably failed. Look for the trend to continue in the Divisional Playoff round.
Denver's Jack Plummer, Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck and Chicago's Rex Grossman (or Kyle Orton) will be under the gun this week. All should fail in advancing their teams to the final four.
WASHINGTON @ SEATTLE (Sat., 1:30pm, Line: Sea -9 1/2)
The Skins are The T's pre-playoff sleeper and everything seems in place for another road upset.
Wind and rain is forecast for Saturday's afternoon game in Seattle. As if Matt Hasselbeck didn't have enough trouble with Washington's swarming defense.
One of the great surprise of last week's win for the Redskins was its hard-hitting defense. They constantly had a hat on every Tampa runner and the turnovers led to crucial points in the 17-10 win.
In that game, Washington's offense was stymied, but look for WR Santana Moss to have a big game and for the Redskins to negate NFL MVP Shaun Alexander.
Take the 9 1/2 points for sure. In bad January weather anything can happen.
NEW ENGLAND @ DENVER (Sat., 5pm, Line: Den -3)
These are still the two-time defending Super Bowl champs were talking about here. Didn't you check out their thoroughly systematic win last week against Jacksonville?
New England may not have the wide receivers to exploit Denver's porous secondary, but somehow--like he always does--Tom Brady will find the right receiver.
The Patriots will win squarely on the backs of their defense. If Denver can't score they will not be able to keep the Patriots off the board.
Again, a playoff rarity, take the points and look for the Brady to increase his playoff record to 11-0.
PITTSBURGH @ INDIANAPOLIS (Sun., 10am, Line: Ind -9 1/2)
Indy rocked Pittsburgh two months ago on Monday Night Football, other than a fresh Ben Roethlisberger, not much has changed.
I'm not a big fan of Roethlisberger but he seems to get just enough done to get the Steelers W's. That type of QB is usually nearing 40 and past his prime. They call those guys "wily vets".
Nevertheless, the story of the Colts' season will not end during this round of playoffs. Too much is against the Steelers against the number one seeded Colts.
One, the dome will be ear-splitting in Indianapolis. Second, Peyton Manning has something to prove (whatever that means?) and third, everyone forgets about Indy's defense. It's what won them the tough games against New England, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
The Steelers are a good team and 9 1/2 points is too much to give in this situation. Take the Steelers and the points.
CAROLINA @ CHICAGO (Sun., 1:30pm, Line: CHI -3)
This is the toughest game of the weekend to prognosticate. The huge wildcard is whether you believe Chicago's number one rated defense will hold the Panthers to three points again like they did during the regular season.
In that game, the Bears allowed only 55 rushing yards, but gave up 169 yards to WR Steve Smith. Smith didn't score a touchdown, but if Chicago's employs that same philosophy chances are that he'll burn them for one or two TD's.
It's not a good sign when your hanging your chances on the possibility that the combined score of the game is under 17 points.
Unseasonably tolerant weather in Chicago will be the bane of Bears. Carolina has a great defense, too and a return to Charlotte for an all-wildcard NFC Championship game seems sure. Take the Panthers and the points.
LAST WEEK: 4-0.
OVERALL: 28-18.
Last week playoff novices in Byron Leftwich, Jon Kitna, Chris Simms and Eli Manning showed just how intense the road to the Super Bowl can be. All miserably failed. Look for the trend to continue in the Divisional Playoff round.
Denver's Jack Plummer, Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck and Chicago's Rex Grossman (or Kyle Orton) will be under the gun this week. All should fail in advancing their teams to the final four.
WASHINGTON @ SEATTLE (Sat., 1:30pm, Line: Sea -9 1/2)
The Skins are The T's pre-playoff sleeper and everything seems in place for another road upset.
Wind and rain is forecast for Saturday's afternoon game in Seattle. As if Matt Hasselbeck didn't have enough trouble with Washington's swarming defense.
One of the great surprise of last week's win for the Redskins was its hard-hitting defense. They constantly had a hat on every Tampa runner and the turnovers led to crucial points in the 17-10 win.
In that game, Washington's offense was stymied, but look for WR Santana Moss to have a big game and for the Redskins to negate NFL MVP Shaun Alexander.
Take the 9 1/2 points for sure. In bad January weather anything can happen.
NEW ENGLAND @ DENVER (Sat., 5pm, Line: Den -3)
These are still the two-time defending Super Bowl champs were talking about here. Didn't you check out their thoroughly systematic win last week against Jacksonville?
New England may not have the wide receivers to exploit Denver's porous secondary, but somehow--like he always does--Tom Brady will find the right receiver.
The Patriots will win squarely on the backs of their defense. If Denver can't score they will not be able to keep the Patriots off the board.
Again, a playoff rarity, take the points and look for the Brady to increase his playoff record to 11-0.
PITTSBURGH @ INDIANAPOLIS (Sun., 10am, Line: Ind -9 1/2)
Indy rocked Pittsburgh two months ago on Monday Night Football, other than a fresh Ben Roethlisberger, not much has changed.
I'm not a big fan of Roethlisberger but he seems to get just enough done to get the Steelers W's. That type of QB is usually nearing 40 and past his prime. They call those guys "wily vets".
Nevertheless, the story of the Colts' season will not end during this round of playoffs. Too much is against the Steelers against the number one seeded Colts.
One, the dome will be ear-splitting in Indianapolis. Second, Peyton Manning has something to prove (whatever that means?) and third, everyone forgets about Indy's defense. It's what won them the tough games against New England, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.
The Steelers are a good team and 9 1/2 points is too much to give in this situation. Take the Steelers and the points.
CAROLINA @ CHICAGO (Sun., 1:30pm, Line: CHI -3)
This is the toughest game of the weekend to prognosticate. The huge wildcard is whether you believe Chicago's number one rated defense will hold the Panthers to three points again like they did during the regular season.
In that game, the Bears allowed only 55 rushing yards, but gave up 169 yards to WR Steve Smith. Smith didn't score a touchdown, but if Chicago's employs that same philosophy chances are that he'll burn them for one or two TD's.
It's not a good sign when your hanging your chances on the possibility that the combined score of the game is under 17 points.
Unseasonably tolerant weather in Chicago will be the bane of Bears. Carolina has a great defense, too and a return to Charlotte for an all-wildcard NFC Championship game seems sure. Take the Panthers and the points.
LAST WEEK: 4-0.
OVERALL: 28-18.
The only game you got wrong is Washington. It's 1:18pm right now, the 'Skins season will be over in roughly 4 hours.
Posted by
MrYosemite |
Saturday, January 14, 2006 1:18:00 PM
Good work ace! You got 1 out of 4 right! Where were these predictions when I was playing you in fantasy football???
Posted by
MrYosemite |
Monday, January 16, 2006 7:29:00 AM
Good work ace! You got 1 out of 4 right! Where were these predictions when I was playing you in fantasy football???
Posted by
MrYosemite |
Monday, January 16, 2006 7:29:00 AM
CHECK AGAIN, HOSS!
INDY DIDN'T COVER THE POINTS--2-2; .500 FOR THE WEEK.
Posted by
Steven Tavares |
Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:21:00 PM