How did your wildcard picks hold up? In a week where Eli Manning became the man in New York and the Redskins went down with nary a whimper, I am 3-1. That has changed the matchups a bit because now the Giants, being the lowest remaining seed in the NFC, will face the Cowboys for the third time this year instead of the Packers.
Let me know how your picks did and register your picks for the next round. Remember, you can't say "I told you so", unless you told us to begin with. Two of my pre-season picks in the NFC are still in it, the Giants and the Cowboys. Three of my pre-season picks for the AFC are still in it. That's my best year ever so far.
The following 3 brackets are my pre-season picks and my picks just before Week 12 and my final picks. My week 12 picks were pretty close to the final match-ups. ;)
Week 1 Results and Week 2 Match-Ups:
Wildcard: My record in this round is 3-1. How did you do?
NFC: N.Y. Giants vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs have been surviving by the sheer will of their defense since Garcia's injury. The Giants played with a new intensity against the Patriots and they have lost only one road game all year. This will be a low scoring game and I think the Giants win a close one
GIANTS 24-14 - I picked this one.
NFC: Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins have a quarterback who has been on fire the last four weeks and the Seahawks have seemingly removed all of the running plays from their playbook. This one won't be a war of attrition, rather an air show. The Redskins win in a high scoring contest.
SEAHAWKS 35-14 - This one went nothing like I envisioned.
**Dwindy, fridayharborgal, DezzNutz, onesouthernlion, harebear, racer256 - It is duly noted that you got this pick right. I am having my crow with some fava beans and a nice chianti.**
AFC: Pittsburg Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars are the best team that has been flying under the radar all year. No one has wanted to meet this Jags team in the Playoffs. The Steelers have key injuries and don't look to get healthy before next week. Big Ben has a good game but succumbs to the Jacksonville defense by at least a touchdown.
JAGUARS 31-29 - Pittsburg put up more of I fight than I expected. Close game, but I got the outcome right.
AFC: San Diego Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans The Titans squeaked into the playoffs against the Colts in a game that Peyton Manning only played one quarter and Marvin Harrison stayed on the bench to heal a little more before coming back. With a healthy Albert Haynesworth they might be able to stuff the running game of the Chargers. With Haynesworth operating as he is now, at about half capacity; they are no match for LaDanian Tomlinson and the Chargers. Chargers, quite literally, run away with this one.
GIANTS 24-14 - I picked this one.
2nd Round:
NFC: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys Eli is having his coming out party in the last two weeks. He is finally delivering what those in the Giants organization thought he could when they traded the farm to San Diego for him a few years ago. The Giants are playing inspired football in the last two weeks since their close loss to New England. After losing twice to Dallas this year, New York will key on the receivers that have been the source of their demise in the past two against Dallas. This will open up Barber for a huge rushing game. Romo has matured a lot as a football player since last years playoff goof-ups. Where he cracked under pressure last year, this year that is when he is at his best. Dallas by 10.
NFC: Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers Which Seahawk team will show up. In a year where they have been notoriously inconsistent, that will be the determining factor to how close this game gets at the end. Green bay will be be able to key on the passing game, because the Seahawks have no running game to speak of. They do, however, have a decent secondary. Green Bay will run the ball well in this game and that will make the linebackers have to cheat up a bit, opening up the middle for some big pass plays. Brett Favre is his best in the playoffs and I don't see this game as an exception. Packers by 7.
AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots Indianapolis, Philadelphia and New York showed that you can almost beat this Patriot team. Jacksonville will be the one to close the deal. When most teams come after Tom Brady, he has the quick outlets to Faulk and Moss coming back to bail him out. Jacksonville has the speed in their defensive ends and line-backing corp to take away these outlets and make Brady have to move out of the pocket. Jacksonville also has the power running game with Fred Taylor to keep the Patriots secondary honest and allow Garrard to throw the short routes he has been so successful with all year. In a shocker, Jacksonville by 3.
AFC: San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis' defense that was absent for most of last year until the playoffs is alive and well in 2007. The defensive line of the Colts will stuff the run and force Phillip Rivers to beat a secondary which features one of the best DB's in the league in Sanders. Peyton Manning will have a big game against the Chargers. Indianapolis by 14.
Conference Finals:
NFC: Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys If you saw the game between them earlier in the season, I think this game will be more of the same. The Packers can't rely on the home-field advantage of their frozen wasteland of a field and they have a horrendous record in Dallas; in fact, Favre has never won there. Look for T.O. to burn the Green Bay secondary yet again and Jason Witten to have a big second half when the Packers make adjustments to keep T.O. from beating them during halftime. Favre and his mini-me Romo will both have good games, but I think Dallas' receiving corp will prove to be better. Cowboys by a touchdown.
AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts This is going to be a tough game. The Jaguars will just be coming off of a week in which they ended the Patriot's hope for an undefeated season, but will have no trouble with a let down for this game since it decides who plays Dallas in the Super Bowl. Indianapolis will be trying to earn their second consecutive trip to the SB behind the arm of Peyton Manning. Jacksonville will apply pressure to Manning, but I think Manning will have prepared for it. Jacksonville WILL be able to run on Indianapolis and will methodically work the ball down the field. I think Indy will go up early, but Jacksonville will make it close in the second half as their offense wears down the Indianapolis defense. There won't be many punts in this game. I almost had to flip a coin on this one. Indianapolis wins this one by 7.
Super Bowl:
Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts These two teams are more evenly matched, I think, than people have previously thought. Manning, of course, is the better quarterback. He has all of the same intangibles as Romo, but with a better arm and better mind for the game. Dallas defense is stronger than Indianapolis, with the exception of the secondary. Dallas does have a receiver that can outrun the Colts DB Sanders in the cover two - Terrell Owens. I think this game will go down to the wire and, once again, Indianapolis will be beaten in a big game by a kicker. Dallas by a field goal.
Well, THERE ARE MY PICKS!
***I hate to have to add this, but considering the kind of stuff that has been showing up lately: Please keep your comments above board and intelligent. Remember that the season is not over, so everything at this point is simply yours or someone else's opinion. Respect the opinions of others and yours will also be respected. Incindiery, vulgar or crassly offensive comments have been and will be deleted.***
Not happy with your pick for Colts over the Jags, but I have to respect it. The Colts are a heck of a team. I've been way too tense this season with close games and the Jags winning on because of big defensive plays in the last few minutes of the game. If anyone in the AFC is capable of knocking out the Jags from the playoffs it's either the Colts or the Jags.
Plus the Jags have a history of loosing 3 times to a single team a year.
First off, which young QB sucks it up and leads his team to victory? Or... which young QB coughs it up and leads his team home for the winter? The Giants seem to have become the premier road warriors of the NFL. Can Eli be consistent? He certainly has the pedigree. I've got to say he really looked like a top QB in Tampa. Tony may not have his top weapon in the game or, if T.O. does play, he may be a decoy... Both QBs need to prove themselves under playoff pressure. The Cowboy running game is key against the hard rushing Giant's D line. Watch out for the Giant's running game. It may all boil down to a late game rally for the victory. I'm going out on a limb... Giants win.
I'm going with New York, Green Bay, New England and San Diego moving on. I know I am biased but I like the way the Chargers match up with the Colts and they will at least put up one heck of a fight. I think it would be awesome to see Rivers and E. Manning face each other in the SB since they were traded for each other in the draft. Also, I don't see why P. Manning would have a huge day against the Bolts this time when he has lost to them the last two times. Don't talk to me about Harrison, he's just getting back and Jammer has had a great year.
dash, you consistently pick against my Seahawks...
I know, I know, they've been inconsistent all season while playing a mediocre schedule. The part you evidently overlook is they are a veteran team and they can play defense. D wins in the NFL, year in year out... Take the D so long as the O can put up a few points and hang onto the ball. The Pack has put together a good D as well. These teams mirror each other in many ways The one real unknown here concerns when and/or if the Seahawk offense will ever gel and put a complete game together. I keep thinking it's going to happen... Doing it in Lambeau Field is a very tall order. Brett Favre can be just as much a wild card as the Seahawk O. When he's good, he's very good... The Seahawks lost in their last playoff game in this stadium (and Hasselbeck ate a lot of crow in the process)... Will the stars align this year for the Hawks? Man, I hate taking two road teams in the playoffs... But I will, Seahawks win! If my first pick and this pick come to fruition, we'll see the Giants at the Seahawks in another week! Me and Boomer are both great predictors?
There I got the NFC all squared away... The AFC is a little more straight forward. Home teams win... Jacksonville has made a great run, but the buck stops in New England. The Pats have way too much for the Jags to contend with and that goes for both sides of the ball. The Patriots are a veteran team, All Pros everywhere, the league MVP and arguably one of the greatest coaches ever. Pats win.
Indianapolis is getting healthy on offense again. They have key people out on D. San Diego will give them a run for their money, but the Colt D will hold up and in the end the Colts win by a minimum of two scores.
Are you people real, picking 38 Stretch farlahhhh...Cmon, Cowboys will be lucky to beat the Giants...If Dallas does win, they face either the Seahawks or Green Bay...A great defense has made Romo a mess...
YES IT WILL BE TOUGH FOR THE COWBOYS TO WIN THIS WEEK BUT IF ROMO KEEPS HIS HEAD OUT OF BLEEP,THEY CAN.I BELIEVE IT WILL BE PATS. AND THE COWBOYS
IN THE SB
I pretty much agree with the NFC picks. The NFC is squirrely right now, kinda hard to tell who will show up.
As for the AFC. I also look for the home teams to win this round. I expect Jacksonville to wear the Pats out. The Jags are a tough physical team with a punishing running game and it will take it's toll on the Pats defense but in the end I think the Pats will have a bit too much for the Jags. This will leave us with another classic Colts/Pats AFC title game. Not sure how that will go but the team with the fewest mistakes pulls that one out. I see Indy winning by a field goal because the Colt offense, with the return of Harrison will be able to move the ball consistently.
The SB will be a good one. I see Green Bay - Indy with Indy winning that one by 16.
Dash, I like the way you think and You have a winning record. I think that If the Jags beat The Patsies they will be pumped to beat the colts, unless the injuries that they take beating the Pats hold them back. So, I think if they win this weekend they go all the way to AZ. Also, I'm pretty sure that playoff records do not reflect regular season, and Playoff records is one thing for which Romo has nothing to show. The only thing we have to go on is the feeble showings of the end of the season. I say that the NFC Championship is Greenbay in Dallas, and Favre wants to go out breaking that losing record more than every one he took this season. I think that The playoff game to watch is the NFC championship in Dallas, where Green Bay wins by a Field goal in 2nd or 3rd OT. So, I'll go with you on the Jags win, and say I'm watching the Super Bowl at the Youth Minister of my Church's house where his Jags loose to Green Bay by 10 points. Immediately followed by Favre, Announcing that he's coming back next year to claim his third ring, of his 4th appearance. This Immediately followed by The Price of Favre Memorabilia quadrupling in price every where, including the stick hole of a Dallas born business known as EBAY. Ending with every fan present rushing to get an autograph from the "Great One" for the purpose of recouping part of thier ticket cost. Thus causing Ebay, and Green Bay, stocks to skyrocket. Even as everyone knows that Green Bay stocks are currenlty not for sale and those of use owning them would not sell at any price. Then everyone enters sales orders of their Ebay stocks
I almost flipped a coin on that pick. I know the Jags have just the right match-ups to knock off New England. I just think that the Colts have the same kind of favorable match-ups against the Jags.
Add another to the GB vs Indy list. We shall see. I hope that isn't the match-up. As a fan of the Cowboys, it has been way too long since we had a deep playoff run.
Dash, There is nothing Classier than The way you do it, Man. Deleting for a very Classy reason, then post the bulk of the content.
Not olny that but a TRUE Cowboy fan, in a sea of bandwagons. Much respect to you.
Peace
New England all the way. How could you even suggest anything else? Key losses: Roosevelt Colvin, Sammy Morris, true, however they have overcome everything at home and on the road. Indy in Indy, Dallas in Big D, Giants in E. Rutherford.
In the immortal words of Dr. Dre, try to get close and your (...) will get smacked.
I am a Dallas fan, but do not believe in Phillips, do not consider their D great due to secondary, and can't believe in Romo, whom chooses horrible times during the season to fall in love.
Brady doesn't even see his newborn. He just takes care of business. Not that I agree with his choices morally, but it does lead to production on the field. This year it has been the Pats and the also-rans.
Hi Dash. Interesting picks for round 2, but these days, anything goes. I still think New England has what it takes to beat Jacksonville; I can't see a repeat of the Chargers/Indy regular season oddity--I think Indy wins easily. Green Bay takes out a Seattle team that hasn't played great on the road. My only upset would be the Giants over Dallas. If the Giants play the same inspired football they did against New England and Tampa, I think they have a real shot at beating Dallas. Anyone feel free to rip me for picking 3 favorites or for picking against your team:)
Hi,
I think that the Cowboys will make it to the Super Bowl as long as Romo's girl doesn't show up(lucky you if she doesn't). And you also better hope that he doesn't fumble it last second again like last year.
My pick for the AFC is the Jags, after getting pumped from last weeks game they should be ready to go, especially since they didn't get a week off.
Wow, you're picks are definitely bold. Both the Colts and the Patriots fall in the same round. One one top-two seed makes it through and that's only by a field goal.
Okay, I think someone has been watching too much college football this season for his own good. :)
They beat a Marvin Harisson-less Indy. With him in there...big difference. I don't think they get past Jacksonville though. I don't think Jacksonville is the best team in the playoffs, I just think they will match-up well with the Pats.
Cowboys all the way every year for me chum. I've had some lean years lately. I'm looking forward to some redemption.
You're breaking my heart. Beautiful young girl with football knowledge to burn picking against my Cowboys.
I guess that's what I get for picking against your Packers in the next round. If the Giants beat Dallas, I think Green Bay makes it to the Super Bowl. If Dallas wins, I think they once again handle Green Bay.
Naah. I don't rip into anyone unless provoked. Then...well...let 'er rip.
diggs, are you aware that Jessica was at several games before the Philly game. Her presence had nothing to do with his bad game. Don't you think other players had wives or girlfriends at the game.
And Brady does not see his newborn? And you put that down to his just taking care of business? Sure, you go ahead and believe that.
Packersgirl, wonder if that is a bit of wishful thinking. After all, if the Giants win, they have to come to Green Bay, if Dallas wins, Green Bay has to go to Dallas.
And who is to say that the Giants are going to play like that did against New England. They are just as likely to play the way they did against Dallas the first time.
The Giant defense continues to play the same as they have the last few weeks and pushed Dallas' front four around to get to Romo as they upset my beloved Cowboys 21-17.
I'm going to amend some of the picks I made in your last post.
Seattle over Green Bay
Dallas over New York
San Diego over Indianapolis
New England over Jacksonville
I still have San Diego beating Dallas in the Super Bowl. I know that it looks like a long shot but like you said last time, if I'm correct I'm going to have some good bragging rights.
well ive been reading all the picks everyone has and it seems like hardly anyone is giving seattle a snowballs chance in hell of beating green bay, bad mistake. seattle is more than able to go to green bay and win just depends on which seahawk team shows up. they are battle tested and the defense is excellent which could give favre and the pack fits,with that being said here are my picks, seattle over green bay,dallas over the g-men,colts over the chargers, and pats in a close game over the jags
