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Introduction

Well, wildcard weekend is behind us and I think most people weren’t surprised by the results. As for my picks I went 2 for 4. The Redskins did not march into Qwest Field and steal a victory as I anticipated and demonstrated why it’s so hard to pick a game involving a team you’ve never seen play. Meanwhile, the Giants did march into Tampa Bay and Eli played one of the best games of his career.

As predicted the Jags went into Pittsburgh and simply outfought the Steelers. They proved that they do belong in the playoffs and can contend against the (historically) more physical northern teams.

I was scared while watching the beginning of the Chargers-Titans game. I expected the Chargers to simply dismantle the Titans but that didn’t appear to be the case. The Titans held their own through the first half but Philip Rivers really stepped up in the second half. The Chargers showed they can win without LT dominating and could be an upset team.

Now, that the review of last week is over it’s time to make picks for this weekend.

San Diego at Indianapolis

In week 10 the San Diego Chargers defeated a faltering Colts team. Indy had lost the previous week to the New England Patriots and were also missing Marvin Harrison. It was about this time that the Colts suffered a number of key injuries and people wondered if they would even make the playoffs.

However, the Chargers victory was really a combination of unlikely events. First, the Colts gave up a couple special teams touchdowns to Darren Sproles on a kickoff and a punt. Then Peyton Manning played like a rookie by throwing 6 interceptions (3 to the prodigy that is Antonio Cromartie). Finally, Adam Vinatieri missed a couple field goals, one that could’ve captured the lead from 29-yards out.

The Chargers are a solid team but they barely got away with a win that week and I don’t think they will get out of Indy with another one. The Colts have been playing well lately and Peyton is back to form. Plus, Marvin Harrison may be coming back and that can only improve an offense that has really come together. Meanwhile, their defense is powerful and I believe they will shutdown the “Bolts” offense.

This game will go back and forth until the fourth quarter. It is then that Peyton Manning will take over and lead the Colts to victory. The Colts will win in a close one and the Chargers will have their hopes put off for yet another season.

Seattle at Green Bay

This is a flashback game, lots of history between these two teams. Holmgren will have the Seahawks well prepared and Matt Hasselback would love nothing more than to go into Lambeau and win. However, Brett Favre is playing the best football of his long career and the young team around him knows how to conduct itself.

Ryan Grant has been a true find and has added the all important rushing attack many believed the Packers were in desperate need of. Mike McCarthy has coached this team into the top tier in the NFC and their defense is one of the best in the league.

While I expect the Seahawks to go into Lambeau well prepared I can not pick against the Packers at home. This game will be close and it will be Favre’s to win or lose. If he plays like he has for most of this season then the Packers will be fine, however, if he reverts to his occasional gunslinger faults then it will be up to their defense.

New York at Dallas

It’s hard enough to sweep a division opponent during the regular season; it’s even more difficult to do it and then beat them again in the playoffs

However, that’s the task that lies ahead of the Dallas Cowboys. And they have some major questions. Their once hot offense has cooled off lately and one of their biggest weapons in Terrell Owens may be missing for this game. Meanwhile, their running game accumulated a total of one yard against the Redskins in the season finale and Tony Romo has only thrown one TD in the past four games.

The Giants, on the other hand, played valiantly against the Patriots and even better against the Bucs. Eli played like he should’ve been playing for about two or three years now and their defense held its own.

But, I think at the end of the day the Cowboys are simply the better team. Terry Glenn should be back near full strength for the game and that adds a dimension that will be difficult to prepare for. Also, Marion Barber will be extremely motivated to silence the critics and I expect him to punch the Giants’ defense in the mouth (literally).

Also, I believe the Cowboys are really going to rally because of how much doubt is being tossed in their direction. Everyone is discounting them and pointing out reasons why they can’t win: peaked too soon, head coach doesn’t win the playoffs, quarterback is faltering, defense is weakening, etc.

Great teams win when the doubts are highest and this is the time for the Cowboys to show their a great team.

Jacksonville at New England

The Patriots are having historic success. They are the first team to go 16-0 and are looking to become only the second team in history to go undefeated. If they can accomplish that then they will no doubt be heralded as the greatest team in NFL history.

However, this is the upset pick of the century. I believe the Jaguars will go into Foxboro and shock everyone. While the Patriots seem unstoppable I don’t believe they are. They have a few weaknesses and I believe the Jaguars are the perfect team to exploit them.

The Patriots have trouble with physical runners and none are more physical then the tandem of Jones-Drew and Taylor. If those two can get off the ground early then they can do a lot of damage to the Patriots. The Ravens almost (should have) defeated the Patriots on the legs of Willis McGahee and not much else. I believe the Jaguars can do the same.

Meanwhile, I believe if the Jaguars can combine physical defense and power running they have the perfect combination to beat the Patriots. But, the Patriots are one of the best coached teams in the NFL and will be well prepared.

While the Jaguars have the ability to beat the Pats I won’t be surprised if the Patriots find a way to win. However, I have to pick against the Pats because the only thing better than another undefeated season would be an upset.

Quick Recap

Colts over Chargers

Packers over Seahawks

Cowboys over Giants

Jaguars over Patriots

Well, I picked safer this week. Instead of a fifty-fifty split with upsets I only picked one major upset. The only pick I’m truly confident in is the Colts over the Chargers. I feel that Indianapolis is coming together at the right time and just in a great position to advance. Meanwhile, I’m shaky on all my other picks. The Seahawks looked really good last week, the Cowboys have been severely under performing while the Giants have been excelling, and the Patriots may in fact be the best team ever.

Tony Romo on Vacation

I am so disgusted with the constant discussion of Tony Romo’s personal life. So football players aren’t allowed to have personal lives? He’s not allowed to date someone famous? He’s not allowed to use his three-days away from football to actually get away from football!?!?

Listen, if I played professional football then I would work hard to win; but, if I was dating Jessica Simpson I would work hard to get some alone time with her too. One of the reasons Romo broke up with Underwood was because she wanted him to take more time away from football. He refused, relationship over.

Now you have everyone and their mother worried about what Tony Romo does with his vacation time. It doesn’t matter. No matter how he does on Sunday it will have nothing to do with him taking his off days off! I mean, does your weekend really affect your work week? It can if you let it but hopefully you’re smart enough to not let it.

I believe that Tony Romo (who has gone from undrafted out of a D-II school to the starter on one of the most prestigious teams in the league) is smart enough to not let it affect his game. If he struggles, it will have nothing to do with how he spends his off time and everything to do with his readiness to play at a high level.

Enough of this what did Tony Romo do with his vacation? Vacations are so you can get away from your job and if he can get away to Mexico with Jessica Simpson then more power to him.

Side note: Skip Bayless is a complete hack whose hatred for the Cowboys is so transparent to be absurd. He has gone so far as to slander legendary coach Tom Landry and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman. I would love to see the Cowboys be successful not only because I’m a fan but just to shut Skip Bayless up.

Joe Gibbs Resigns

I want to say that Joe Gibbs deserves to be in the Hall of Fame simply for what he was able to do this season. While the past four years haven’t been all that successful he dealt with something no one should have to: the death of a young and rising star.

While the Redskins lost their first game after Sean Taylor’s murder they rallied soon after to four straight victories. And even though the Redskins lost in the playoffs the fact that they got in is a testament to how good of a coach Gibbs truly is.

Joe Gibbs deserves all the credit in the world and will be missed by the NFL. It will take someone special to fill his shoes and I’m not sure another coach could do what he has done.

Fred Taylor Named to Pro Bowl

All I can say is that’s about time. Fred Taylor has deserved a trip to Hawaii several times but was continually over looked. Until yesterday. With Willie Parker’s injury he was finally named to the Pro Bowl (the only Jaguar to go).

Fred Taylor resurrected his career only a little while after it looked like he might retire. He looks as good as he has during any other part of his career and looks like he could play for several more seasons.

I’m glad Taylor finally made the Pro Bowl and (contrary to the opinion of many others) I’m not so sure the Jags will be willing to part with him for Jones-Drew. Regardless of where he goes I think Taylor has a few more productive seasons and will receive a lucrative contract this off season.

49ers Hire Mike Martz as OC

Great move. I said earlier this season that I anticipated the loss of Norv Turner would hurt the ‘Niners. A great coordinator is under rated and his loss was over looked. Martz once had a great run in St. Louis and was never quite able to replicate it in Detroit. Hopefully he’s learned to tone down his love for the passing game and will utilize Frank Gore in San Francisco.

Conclusion

Well, that wraps up the second week of my playoff picks. I’m hoping I do much better this week but no matter how poorly I do, I fully intend to be back after next weekend and make my picks for the Conference games!