Last Week's Record: 1-3
Overall Playoff Record: 1-3
Final Regular Season Record: 135-113-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
6-Baltimore at 1- New England
A Case for the Ravens: Did
I tell you that the Ravens under John Harbaugh are a tough out in the playoffs?
You have to like the momentum as the Ravens head to New England fresh off their
convincing win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh last week. Plus, having Haloti
Ngata back helps that front seven keep the pressure off their depleted
secondary. With Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs coming off the edge, the
Ravens can get pressure on Tom Brady and disrupt the Pats offense. Maybe the
one team that the Pats wanted to avoid was the Ravens, and all of a sudden here
comes Baltimore on Saturday. No one else in the AFC knows how to play the Pats
better than the Ravens. Did I mention how clutch Joe Flacco is in the playoffs?
The Ravens have won a Super Bowl, and a lot of those key members are back for a
possible run this year.
A Case for the Patriots: This might be the best Patriots team to
make a run at the Super Bowl since 2010. With Rob Gronkowski back in the fold
and healthy, this offense has been superb. Brady has Gronk available and that
makes the world of difference. Also, if the Pats want to run the ball, they can
do it. On defense, for the first time in a few years, you aren’t worried about
the secondary or injuries. They are healthy in the front seven, and with
Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner in the secondary, they can shut the Ravens
offense down. I just can’t see how the Ravens secondary is going to hold up to
the Patriots offense with Gronk, Julian Edelman, and a rested Tom Brady.
Prediction: NEW ENGLAND (-7) over Baltimore: This game has all the
making of a close one, and I could see the Ravens pulling the upset-I don’t
think the Pats were thrilled to see them advance. But the thought of Tom Brady
picking apart that Ravens secondary is what I keep coming back to over and over
again. Look for the Pats to advance to their fourth straight AFC Championship.
Final Score: Patriots-30 Ravens-21
4-Carolina at 1-Seattle
A Case for the Panthers: Don’t
you think that the Panthers are the type of team that can match the Seahawks in
a physical sense? These two teams twice in the last two years, and both times
the Panthers played the Seahawks really tight and lost close games both times.
I have confidence that their defense can stifle the Seahawks for a little
while, and I could see Cam Newton taking this game over. Plus, there is no one
picking the Panthers and they are the one team that really has nothing to lose
this weekend.
A Case for the Seahawks: They
are clearly the best team in the NFC, and they are at home against a team that
was 7-8-1 in the regular season. It would be a tall task for the Panthers to go
into Seattle, battle the 12th man, and win this game. Seattle has
been playing great the last month and a half of the season, and their defense
is playing at the level it played last year. I can’t see how the Panthers and a
banged-up Cam Newton are going to be able to move the ball consistently on this
Seattle defense.
Prediction: Carolina (+11) over SEATTLE: The Seahawks will win this
game outright. There is no doubt that Seattle is advancing, but this line seems
a little too high. I see the Seahawks winning a tough, grind-it-out, game and
advance back to the NFC Championship.
Final Score: Seahawks-24 Panthers-14
3-Dallas at 2-Green Bay
A Case for the Cowboys: The
Cowboys can run the ball, have a great offensive line, weapons on offense, and
Tony Romo. You can win a playoff game on the road with those things. You have
to like the Cowboys chances in that regard. I think they match up really well
with the Packers. Don’t you feel like they got that monkey off their back with
that comeback win over the Lions last week? Now, they can play fast and loose
as the underdog. Also, wouldn’t be typical of the NFL if the Cowboys rode the
momentum of that non-call last week against the Lions and went on a run to the
Super Bowl after almost getting eliminated in the Wild Card round.
A Case for the Packers: They
are the better team, and they are at home in Lambeau. The Packers were just so
dominating at home this year. On a frigid Sunday in the playoffs, you can just
see them going off and getting a huge lead early. I know Aaron Rodgers is a
little banged up with the calf injury, but he will play, and I expect him to be
at his best. I like his matchup with his receivers and the Cowboys secondary.
It would be a tall order for someone to come in and beat the Packers at home in
these playoffs.
Prediction: Dallas (+7) over GREEN BAY: I love this matchup early
on Sunday. Cowboys-Packers from Lambeau Field. What a setting for the
Divisional Round. The Packers will probably win, but how much fun would it be
if the Cowboys advanced. I think they have a shot, so I’ll take them in the
upset.
Final Score: Cowboys-30 Packers-27
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