Divisional Playoffs - 2009

2 for 2 last week, which rarely bothers me.  But this time it did, because I was wrong about the game I most wanted to be right about, and right about the one in which I most wished to be incorrect.  I really wanted a Manning v. Manning Super Bowl and I really love that Vikings defense.  Ah well, that's why they play the game.  Now things get a lot more real.

NFC

Arizona Cardinals (4) at Carolina Panthers (2)

I'll start with the easy pick.  Arizona was 3-5 away from Phoenix.  Carolina doesn't lose at home.  Every pundit on the block is saying the same ridiculous thing:  Arizona *must* stop Carolina's running game to win.  They won't.  They can't.  The Cardinals gave up more points this season than all but 3 other teams.  They were able to hang in with Atlanta and then dominate late, but they did that by flustering a young quarterback and rookie coach.    The Panthers won't give them the chance.  I'll be surprised if Carolina ends this game with less than 40 minutes time-of-possession.

Arizona - 13, Carolina - 28

Philadelphia Eagles (6) at New York Giants (1)

Yes, I know.  Tuck is questionable.  McNab is hotter than the surface of a bigger sun than ours (or Halle Berry's left hip).  Eli Manning (repeat every bullshit thing written by others last year while he rocked to be a SB MVP.)  Giants, Eagles blah blah.  I look forward to this game more than all the others.  The Eagles blitz, alot.  Much has been penned by Shakespeare wannabes about what Eli must do to avoid the pressure.  Bull.  The Giants are simply better coached.  Does every talking head out in sports-land actually think the Giants don't know that the Eagles bring heat?  New York is a solid football team.  They are rested, and they know what to expect.  And I wouldn't put it past Coughlan to have pooched the game in week 15 (which didn't matter for shit to the Giants) just as a psych set-up for this very game.

Philedelphia - 13,  New York - 24

AFC

San Diego Chargers (4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2)

I got me a fundamental attitudinal issue with any team which has its punter hailed as some kind of hero.  God bless the team with heroes, and God pity the team that needs them.  And that's what drove the Bolts last week.  Darren Sproles and Mike Scifres won that game with competant play from Phillip Rivers and a few flashes from Antonio Gates and Vince DUI Jackson.  But this is not the Charger team that seemingly everybody thought would be duking it out with the Patriots for the AFC.  They're fair to middlin', with a chance to be seen as really good.  And this might be their week.  Rothlesburger has serious question marks circling his head with the tweety birds.  The Pittsburgh defense seems reduced to their usual (and almost mundane) hard play with Polomolu carrying the load.  The Steelers can be beaten.  I don't doubt that for a second, nor do I doubt that this Chargers team can do it with a great game.  But the Bolts aren't consistent, they aren't at home, and they still suffer Norv Turner.  I'm so tempted to pick an upset here.  But I can't.

San Diego - 10, Pittsburgh - 17

Baltimore Ravens (6) at Tennessee Titans (1)

If ever I could pick a Mulligan game, this would be it.  I want a Mulligan if I'm wrong.  Really.  Reed and that Raven defense scares me.  They scare me a whole hella lot.  They should scare you too.  Aren't you scared?  Calm it down if you are.  Tennessee is the most polished team I've seen in quite some time.  As far as I'm concerned Jeff Fisher is the coach of the year.  The Titans don't rattle.  They don't bend and they don't break.  They aren't the flash and fury of last years Patriots, and they don't need to be.  They are just a seriously competent football team.  The Ravens are Grendel to the Titans' Beowulf.  Tennessee will rip their arm off and beat them with it.

I like the Ravens.  They are the raving barbarian hoard that the Raiders so long have tried to be.  But they are not that good a football team this year.  They are a defense with attitude.  The Titans will handle them, and probably do it well.

Baltimore - 10, Tennessee - 24

Comments

[Mark T]

This may be off the subject a bit - I don't know. You tell me. Isn't Andy Hammond about the dumbest shit you have ever met on the blogs?

[Rebecca]

Only a bit, Mark, but you know what? It never hurts to bring it up.

[Wulfgar]

Mark, look I'm trying very hard to be patient with this shit. But if you really don't like what I post, then too bad. Piss off.

I like football. Don't fuck with that.

[dew-r-lite]

You'll feel better once you reconcile to Denver and their injection of Patriot-ism, right?

Say hi to the redhead at the cash register.

[Wulfgar]

There's a couple of them, but I'll do my best.