Just for Sport

I went 2-2 last week, although you could argue that the Dallas Cowboys should have won.  Good riddance.  So, two of my matchups stood up: Philadelphia @ New Orleans and Indianapolis @ Baltimore.  Let’s deal with those two first, because I’m flip-flopping on one of them (guess which one?).  Here we go:

NFC 

#3 Philadelphia @ #2 New Orleans

Apparently it doesn’t matter who Andy Reid puts out on the field; the Eagles just win football games.  But they won’t win this one.  In their regular season meeting, Sean Payton outcoached Reid in a close one that I was originally mad about.  The New Orleans Saints will play to win the game in the Superdome, and they will be successful.  I wish I could be there.

AFC

#3 Indianapolis @ #2 Baltimore

Why am I changing my pick?  Two very important things happened last week that I, as a Colts fan, had been hoping for all year: 1 - Bob Sanders played.  I’ve always thought he was the difference maker on that defense, and it turns out that was true.  2 - Joseph Addai got the start.  Indy would have been good for 2 more wins this year if Tony Dungy hadn’t been so committed to Dominic Rhodes.  It was a smart move, though.  Addai is fresh, and it’s not like the Colts didn’t make it here.  The Ravens have been making stupid comments about Addai this week.  It doesn’t matter how good your defense is, you can’t get cocky against the Colts’ O.  Quick trivia question: What DB did Peyton beat to get his 49th TD pass a couple of years ago?  Chris McAllister.  By the way, Steve McNair isn’t the quarterback he was when he and Manning shared the MVP.

Two of the match-ups changed.  In the playoffs, match-ups are more important (usually) than how good a team is.

NFC

#4 Seattle @ #1 Chicago

Seattle seems to be the team that everybody’s overlooking.  I think that’s pretty justifiable, but it’s always dangerous.  The wild card in this game that a lot of people are talking about is Rex Grossman.  That’s the wrong place to put the emphasis.  If Seattle can establish the run game, get the Bears spread out, and exploit the corners, they will win.  It won’t happen.

AFC

#4 New England @ #1 San Diego

A lot of people are hyping this game up big-time.  The reasoning is that New England always does well in the postseason, they ended strong, bla bla bla.  Remember, those were relatively weak teams.  San Diego is not a weak team by any stretch.  Even if Bill Belichick were to live up to his genius label, it wouldn’t matter.  You cannot gameplan a tackle, and LT doesn’t just lie down for people.  To beat the Chargers, you have to have a passing game, and that’s the Pats weakness, Word Incarnate in Tom Brady notwithstanding.  Remember last week, when Peyton went 30/38 with one interception and two more because his receiver ran the wrong route?  Everybody talked about how horrible his game was.  Tom Brady will have a much worse game than that, but he’ll be praised for his performance if his defense can bail him out like in the past.