And Then
There Were Twelve...
Picks appear
in bold.
Atlanta (-1)
at Arizona
I have been going against the Falcons for much of the year
and, with a rookie quarterback at the helm and making his
first playoff game, it might not be the best time to jump on
the bandwagon. However, I just don't believe in the
Cardinals right now - whether they're at home or on the
road. I think Michael Turner will be able to run the ball
against a mediocre Arizona run defense that really struggles
against power running teams. On the flip side, Atlanta's
pass defense is ranked 20th in the league, but that's
misleading because they've been ahead in so many games,
forcing teams to throw. In addition, Kurt Warner can get
rattled when knocked around, and John Abraham will harass
him all day.
Indianapolis (PK) at San Diego
Both of these teams come into the playoffs playing very
well, especially at the quarterback position. I like the
Colts because they've been more consistent all year. Think
about it, from week to week we never knew which Chargers'
team would show up - the one that could run the ball and
take pressure off of Philip Rivers or the one that averaged
less than 3.5 yards per carry in nine of their 16 games. Of
course, if all things are equal and I'm somewhat unsure of
the outcome, I'm going to side with Peyton Manning. Trust
me, he'll make sure to put up one more point than San Diego.
Baltimore
(-3) at Miami
Actually, I'm very surprised to see the spread this low.
Even if it were closer to a touchdown, I would still take
the Ravens. The week seven matchup, in which Baltimore won
27-13, was no fluke. Ray Lewis and the boys held the
"Wildcat", and every other running formation for the
Dolphins, to a grand total of 71 yards rushing. As much as I
like Chad Pennington and his story, I just can't imagine him
beating one of the best, and most aggressive, defensive
backfields in football. Offensively, I think John Harbaugh
will run the football, neutralizing Joey Porter and his pass
rushing skills.
Philadelphia (-3) at Minnesota
I've said this several times before and I'll say it again -
the Eagles can beat anyone, anywhere with a healthy Donovan
McNabb and Brian Westbrook. And, they run the kind of
offense that will keep the Vikings off balance. Minnesota's
physical front seven that specializes at stopping the run
and rushing the passer will struggle against a team that
utilizes the screen pass as much as Andy Reid. Plus, without
a true threat at wide receiver, Tarvaris Jackson will have a
hard time beating Jim Johnson, Philadelphia's defensive
coordinator, and his band of merry blitzers.
Last Week:
11-5
Season: 133-118-5
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