Divisional Playoffs Recap

So much for going 11-0 in picking the playoffs. Only went 2-2 this week in picking winner and 1-3 against the spread.

Packers over Seahawks

This was an easy one to pick. Seattle has no running game and I didn't expect them to do much in the snow at Lambeau Field against Brett Favre. Ryan Grant really has come out of nowhere, hasn't he? Goes to show that drafting running backs early is not a good idea unless they are absolutely special.

Patriots over Jaguars

Another easy one to pick, though the Jags did manage to cover the spread. Somehow they kept it relatively close, but if you look at the stats, there was no way that Jacksonville could have won this game. Aside from a game-ending pick, the Jags played an excellent game. Garrard did exceptionally well vs the Patriots defense, they had some success running the ball, and there were almost no penalties.

Still, the Patriots handled them easily. Tom Brady was impossibly good, going 26 for 28, with one of the incompletions being a foolish Welker drop (I don't remember the other one). They did whatever they wanted with Jacksonville's D.

Chargers over Colts

This was a huge surprise to me. I know the Chargers always play the Colts tough, but its the playoffs and the Colts were at home as defending champs. Phillip Rivers hasn't struck me as a clutch QB till now, and I was certain the game was over when Volek took the ball down 3, without LT and with a hobbled Antonio Gates.

How the Colts lost this one is beyond me.

Giants over Cowboys

Another huge upset, though part of me saw this coming. The Giants had been uncharacteristically hot entering the playoffs, and the 'Boys were ice cold and beginning to flounder. I still picked the Cowboys because I have zero faith in Eli Manning's ability to succeed in the playoffs. However, he keeps proving me wrong somehow.


As for next week's conference title games....

Patriots over Chargers

This really is a no-brainer. I don't care how great a win the Indy game was for San Diego, or how motivated they will be to upset the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. There is no way the Patriots are losing this game. None. Especially if LT, Rivers, and Gates are not at 100%. Expect a week of hype regarding the bad blood between the two teams.

Packers over Giants

I want to pick the Giants because I certainly don't want to hear 2 weeks of a Favre love-fest heading to the Super Bowl. He's a great QB and all, but he's the Tim Tebow of the NFL. No matter what game you're watching, he's being talked about by someone.

The Giants are on a roll and very well might win this game, however, eventually the ghost of Eli Manning's past will rear it's ugly head. The Packers seem like a team of destiny, riding the coattails of Favre's record breaking season. Winning this game would set up a ridiculously hyped Super Bowl vs the Patriots. Good vs Evil. Brady vs Favre. Rematch of Super Bowl XXXI. I feel nauseous already.