Sat (2-2 last week), writer of the High Road/Low Road, which should be up sometime Friday.
January 12, 2008
No. 3 Seahawks (10-6) at No. 2 Packers (13-3)
Derek Robbins: Green Bay Packers I think that this game really depends on the weather. The Seattle Seahawks have been a good defensive team all year 'round and the Packers are dependent on the pass. If the weather is bad at Lambeau...then I would say the Seahawks stand a pretty good chance of winning. That said, I don't know what the weather is going to be like and I find it hard to go against Bret Favre in the post-season. The Packers have been a good passing and defensive team all year 'round and are truly worthy of the two seed. Barring poor weather, I don't see an upset here.
Larry Csonka: The Green Bay Packers Well Seattle ruined the Redskins feel good story last week, and helped to ruin my picks. I swear I used all of my picking power on the UFC 79 PICK EMZ victory. Anyway, Seattle stepped up and showed me a lot more than I thought they had, so good job for them. With that being said I feel that the better team is the Packers. Favre has had the week to rest, we know both teams don't have GREAT running games right now, and really, the Packers have just been more dependable overall. But Grant has come on strong, and that should make a huge difference. I have more faith in him than I do Alexander. A close game, but the Pack Attack takes the big win.
Ken Schmidt: Green Bay Packers Let me start off by saying that that was the worst group of teams every to come out of the Wild Card Round and the Seahawks are by far the worst. If that was in Washington the Skins would have won by 14. That being said, the Seahawks have a good D but as long as Favre doesn't complete more passes to Trufant than Driver than this game is a walk. They just aren't in the same league.
Sean Garmer: Green Bay Packers There's a lot of hype surrounding this one, with Holmgren vs. Favre and just the fact of what happened in their last meeting. Back then it was the Packers who were in the role of "team that is a surprise" where when they beat the Seahawks not many were expecting them to do anything. The Seahawks are now playing that role, where the Packers had a tremendous season and the Seahawks have nothing to lose here. The Packers have a lot of pressure on them to make it past this round, especially considering that Favre may make this his last year. However, no one should discredit the great defense that the Seahawks have, that can pounce on any Favre silly mistake. Then there's always Holmgren and Favre canceling each other out, but really how can you go against Favre at Lambeau? I can't. The Seahawks don't run the ball well, as opposed to the Packers with Ryan Grant that can blast through at any moment. The Seahawks having to heavily rely on Hasselveck is going to kill them, that Packer defense is going to come after him, and the Packers will go on to the Championship game.
Nick Wallander: Packers I stand by my statements I made last week about Seattle. They are just kind of a bland team. They were lucky that Todd Collins decided to throw that game away last week. This week, however, they get a team that is more than up to the challenge. I ride by Lambeau Field every day on the way to work. I can tell you from first hand experience that it will nut freezing cold here on Saturday. Seattle is from a mild climate. Their kicker is supposed to be wearing heated pants. That is weak. Packers take it 35-17.
Jerome Cusson: Green Bay Packers: As much as I would like to see the Seattle Seahawks win this game, the Green Bay Packers have a semblance of a running game and I'm not as confident Morris and Alexander can get the ground game going. Plus, as good as the Seahawks defense played, don't forget the Packers' defense isn't anything to sneeze at. Plus, the game is Green Bay and this team isn't ready to lose yet. Packers win 24-13.
Ian Smart: Seattle I will admit at the outset that I may not be able to intelligently discuss this game, because I am a Packers fan, so after watching them over the course of a season their strengths and weaknesses become wildly exaggerated in my mind. For instance, the Seahawks line up in three-wide sets more than any other team that the Packers have seen this year with the possible exception of the Cowboys. A three wide set will put the Packers in a dangerous position, because it will mean that Atari Bigby will be called upon to cover a receiver one on one. I also know that the Packers don't give up many sacks, but that it is primarily because Favre is good at avoiding the sack by throwing the ball away or hitting a checkdown receiver out of the backfield, which doesn't bode well against a dominating front seven such as the Seahawks. That being said, I have infinite confidence that Green Bay can use the quick passes out of the shotgun to minimize the effects of the pass rush the way they have done all season. Reducing the effects of the pass rush is important, because the Seattle secondary can be exploited and has been overvalued due to the effectiveness of Kerney and Tapp coming off the ends and rushing the passer. If you look at the Seattle game, you can see that the two interceptions were more a product of pressure on Todd Collins than good coverage downfield. Against the Redskins, the Seahawks did not run the ball effectively, nor did Matt Hasselbeck pass particularly well. The defense was the difference in the game, and the two late interceptions returned for TDs is what made created the big difference in points. It would follow that the same will be true this weekend at Lambeau. I think the Packers can use their quick hit routes to protect Favre and take advantage of the secondary, but if they get ahead, I can't see them effectively running against the Seahawks front seven, which means that Seattle will have a lot of time to mount a comeback. On the flipside of the ball, All-Pro Corners Charles Woodson and Al Harris should be able to slow down the Seahawks receivers with their strong press-coverage and physical play. Luckily for the Packers, the Seahawks will be limited in what they can do with their tight-ends, because they will likely be needed to protect Hasselbeck's blindside from Aaron Kampman. The added protection will be necessary to keep Kampman neutralized, while on the other end of the line Walter Jones should be able to handle either Cullen Jenkins or Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila one on one. If Hasselbeck minimizes his mistakes, the Seahawks will be in this game the whole way. In the end, I think Hasselbeck will be able to excise his demons and upset his mentor in Lambeau, and I will now light myself on fire.
John Meehan: Packers The Seahawks are good, but nowhere near as good as the scoreboard from last week's game would lead one to believe. Couple that with the FROZEN TUNDRA OF LAMBEAU FIELD *and* the staggering postseason win/loss record of NFL ironhorse Brett Favre, and I could easily see this one being a runaway victory in a hurry for the Cheeseheads. Hasselback is a great player in his own right, but he's prone to emotional play -- which can really bite his team in the ass if and when they fall behind -- and I just don't think the Seahawks have a well-rounded enough squad to bail him out before it's too late. Take the Packers with the spread.
Sat: Green Bay Packers First, I was surprised that Seattle won last week, but one of the main reasons that they won last week was because they were at home. This week, they have to go to Green Bay where they have lost only once in their entire existence. Also, I am not sold on Seattle's running game because Alexander has struggled all year. Plus, Green Bay had the week off and they should be ready to go.
The 411: Packers 8 Seahawks 1
January 5, 2008
No. 5 Jaguars (11-5) at No. 1 Patriots (16-0)
Derek Robbins: New England Patriots It's really, really hard to choose against a team that has yet to suffer defeat this season. When evaluating this, I figure that Jacksonville and New England's defenses are pretty equal...but New England's offense is much better and I just have to give them the edge. Jacksonville has played in close games all year and I don't expect this one to be any different, but...I gotta go with the old faithful New England Patriots here. Tom Brady is money in the playoffs.
Larry Csonka: The New England Patriots Jacksonville rolled into Pittsburgh last week and put on a game that took years off of my life. We have been hearing all year that Jacksonville was bred for the playoffs, were bred to play in the north in the playoffs. Pittsburgh made mistakes and they took advantage of each and every one of them and won the right to face of with the Patriots. The patriots are tremendous coming off of the bye weeks, which this was. Pittsburgh lit up Jacksonville up in the passing game and that leads me to believe that the Patriots will do much of the same and take the game.
Ken Schmidt: New England Patriots I said that the Jags have the best chance of beating the Patriots of all the football teams in the world but it just won't happen. The Jags have a solid D too but I don't think they will score over 10 points. It should be close but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pats play some solid D and use Maroney a good bit and win this one 17-7.
Sean Garmer: New England Patriots I agree with many that if there's any team in these playoffs aside from the Colts, that could beat the Patriots it would be the Jags. The dynamic duo of Taylor and Jones-Drew could really wear down a veteran Pats defense, and the Giants and Ravens have done it, The Jags have two running backs and that makes it all the occasion for it to happen here too. The problem is can they stop that ridiculous Patriots offense, I really don't know. They have a good defense, but not a great one, what happened in the last game is that the Jags got a little too confident with that lead, they won't let that happen with the Pats. To me, it all depends on David Garrard, he can't make any mistakes, but most of all he needs to lead that Jags offense to score points. Overall though, the Pats offense is just too lethal to give the Jags that pick.
Nick Wallander: Jacksonville All good things come to an end, so why not the Patriots amazing season? I am fairly confident that Jacksonville can go into Foxboro and come out the winners. That team will be fired up when they hit the field because they have a lot to prove yet. Nobody likes being an underdog. Even worse is when you are being written off, so that won't sit well with the Jags. Sure you all think I am crazy, but you should go back and watch a few of the Patriots' close games. Indy, Dallas, Baltimore, and the Giants all did a real efficient job running the ball. This is perhaps the weakness that nobody seems to want to talk about. Taylor and Jones-Drew will run all over them. Close one with the Jags going out winners at 31-28
Jerome Cusson: New England Patriots: Someone from the Jaguars said the Patriots should have been banned from the postseason after the cheating scandal earlier this season. A blog has put an asterisk next to the Patriots' 16-0 season because they cheated. The Jaguars defense gave up 28 points, over 200 yards passing in the second half and are lucky to even be playing this week. I smell a rout and the Patriots proving once again why they're the best team of the NFL. Brady will chew up the Jaguars and Garrard is going to look stupid against whatever wacky scheme Belichick come up with. Patriots 38-7.
Ian Smart: New England Can you really pick against a 16-0 team? The Jaguars let the Steelers back into the wildcard game, and got a little lucky with some fortunate breaks in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the Jaguars will be without Marcus Stroud and Jon Henderson's status is still uncertain, which will limit the pressure that the Jags can put on Brady, who is already protected by an extraordinary line. That extra time in the pocket will allow the Patriot receivers to get open and will give Brady an opportunity to find them. The Patriots have a litany of weapons that they can use to exploit a number of different weaknesses in the Jacksonville secondary, which will have difficulty matching up against three and four wide receiver sets. It is hard to see what the Jags can do defensively to counter the Patriots offensive juggernaut. That being said, the Jags should be able to keep the game close with a powerful running game that can exploit the one weakness that the Patriots have, which is their inability to stop the run. Ironically, the more inclement the weather, the better the chances are for an upset, because the Jags cannot win in a shootout against the Pats, but may be able to squeak out a win in a ground and pound game, but even that is highly unlikely.
John Meehan: Pats A lot of people are saying that the Jacksonville Jaguars are *the* team to beat this postseason, but a lot of people aren't the New England Patriots. Coming off of an emotional and outstanding regular season, the Pats are simply too fired up and too vested in this game to allow their "dynasty" to crumble while playing at home in their first playoff game. Next week versus the Colts and a fully-healed Marvin Harrison? If we get there, *then* we'll talk. But for now -- it's P-A-T-S, Pats, Pats, Pats. And that's not just because I've been a diehard New England fan for the past twenty years, either (though, admittedly -- there's a certain degree of fanboy talking for me on this one).
Sat: New England Patriots The Jaguars did what I expected them to do against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Jaguars had not had that collapse against the Steelers in the fourth quarter, I would have felt that the Jaguars had a chance. But, I don't think they have a chance in beating in the Patriots. The Patriots will wear them out and blow right by them in the fourth quarter. Plus, I have feeling that Garrard is going to make mistakes in this game. If the Patriots do lose, it will be because they made some mistakes.
The 411: Patriots 8 Jaguars 1
January 13, 2008
No. 3 Chargers (11-5) at No. 2 Colts (13-3)
Derek Robbins: San Diego Chargers The Chargers have played extremely well down the stretch and when they are at their best, I honestly think that they are better than Indy. Defensively speaking, I'm giving the edge to San Diego, offensively to Indy...but for the Colts, their number one receiver is hobbled and their offense hasn't been that great without him. There's too many unknowns for Indy here, and while they are a good team...I think San Diego has their number.
Larry Csonka: The San Diego Super Chargers San Diego saved me from the bog old goose egg last week, so I appreciate that. While the ground game was rough, and the offense was as well during the first half the defense stood tall and kept the game in check. The Chargers started to roll in the second half, and with a hobbled Vince Young the Titans didn't have a chance. Now they have to go to Indy, who is still Indy although Harrison is hobbled. While Peyton is great and has a lot of weapons at his disposal, I feel that the Chargers defense will stand tall again, and lead to the win.
Ken Schmidt: Indy Colts Come on guys stop picking the Chargers! Do we forget how BAD this team was a while ago? I mean towards the middle of the season they couldn't beat anyone. They are a product of one of the worst divisions in history and they just beat the Titans! The Titans suck! Get off the wagon! Not really going to be close. And yes, I picked all the favorites, I am boring, but read The Office this week to see who will win against the GIANT spreads.
Sean Garmer: Indy Colts The game during the season was a complete wash, Peyton was without Dallas Clark and Marvin Harrison, then not to mention they came close to still winning the game, and last weeks game shows me that San Diego just doesn't have what it takes when it matters. The Chargers should have wiped the floor with the Titans and they didn't, and if Vince Young was healthy who knows. Chargers have a very good defense, but Peyton has everyone back, regardless if Harrison is still hurt, you can't teach the chemistry he and Manning have with each other. The defense even without Freeney has been great. Put the icing on there that, Antonio Gates may not play, it just spells a move to the next round for the Colts.
Nick Wallander: Indy They have the better offense. They also have the better defense. Even more important is that Indianapolis wants to last one more week so that they can go into Gillette Stadium and prove that they are the defending Super Bowl Champions. Indianapolis in a blow out 42-10.
Jerome Cusson: Indianapolis Colts: The day I pick a Norv Turner lead team to go into the dome and beat a team like the Colts is the day pigs fly Santa Claus puts out a press release saying the pope is a made-up person. Impending rumors of Dungy's retirement and tight end Antonio Gates sitting this one out only lean me toward the Colts further. Plus, I Phillip Rivers is too inconsistent while Peyton Manning has a monkey off his back and can just play football. Colts 35-21.
Ian Smart: Indianapolis In their last meeting, the Chargers beat the Colts at home by two points. When I reviewed the game, it became incredibly clear that the Colts can easily win this game. In their last meeting, Peyton Manning threw six picks, Adam Vinatieri missed both his field goal tries and the Colts were away from home and without Dallas Clark; yet, they only lost by two points. The last meeting was the ultimate trap game for the Colts who were coming off of a big-loss to the Patriots and were likely in a rut going into the game. This week the Colts will be prepared, and rested. Dallas Clark did not play in the first meeting, which will make a big difference as the Chargers are incapable of covering slot receivers, which is what Dallas Clark is best described as – within the offense he is used as a slot guy far more than a tight-end. Add in the possible return of Marvin Harrison, who may be less than 100%, but still demands strong coverage, and now the Colts can line up two slot receivers in Clark and Anthony Gonzalez. The Chargers will also be without Antonio Gates, which means that Phillip Rivers will be without his receiving threat, but it will have even greater ramifications for LaDainian Tomlinson who will be seeing a lot more of the NFL's Defensive Player of the year. With Gates in the lineup, the Colts would have to keep Bob Sanders in coverage to defend Gates, but with him on the sidelines, Sanders can move up into the box to provide extra support for the run defense and will be free to blitz Rivers sporadically.
John Meehan: Colts Who are the Colts playing this week, again? Doesn't matter. Marvin Harrison is back in action, Peyton is playing well, and the team has long since recovered from their mid-season road bump following that nail-biter of a loss to New England. The AFC spotlight is shining brightly on the *other* divisional matchup this weekend, but The Colts are *your* defending SuperBowl Champions for a reason, ya' know... and their not going down without a fight. Sorry, L.T. -- but smart money is on Peyton & Co. this weekend.
Sat: Indianapolis Colts The Chargers are going to be in trouble this week. First, they have a coach that I have no faith in. Second, the Colts can stop the run, so I see LaDainian Tomlinson being neutralized. This will mean that Phillip Rivers will have to win this game and I don't see that happening. I would have been surprised if he had managed it with Antonio Gates, but without him, Rivers is going to be lost. Now, I know that the Chargers beat the Colts in the regular season, but I think that the Colts lost that game and it had nothing to do with what the Chargers did. The Colts were worn out from their game in the previous week against the Patriots and that is the only reason that the Chargers won the game.
The 411: Colts 7 Chargers 2
January 6, 2008
No. 5 Giants (10-6) at No. 1 Cowboys (13-3)
Derek Robbins: Dallas Cowboys Boy do I hate choosing against the Giants. I felt that their play against New England really vigorated them, but...the Cowboys have beat them twice already this year, and I really don't see why anything would change. When both teams are at their best, the Cowboys are the better team. Defensively, offensively, special teams. All better. This game will be probably be close due to the fact that these two teams are so familiar with each other, I just don't see the Giants continuing on their success from last week. Honestly speaking, whoever wins this game I suspect will be playing in the Super Bowl.
Larry Csonka: The Dallas Cowboys While some are quick to praise the Giants after their playoff win last week, I am still not sold on them as a genuine contender. They are banged up, going against a juggernaught in Dallas and Eli is way too unpredictable. I don't buy him as big time as a lot do. I think it will be closer than a lot of other may feel, but in the end the Cowboys take this one.
Ken Schmidt: Dallas Cowboys Eli Manning is going to break, it is just a matter of time. I expect about 4 picks from him this game. On a related side note the Giants have a chance to win if Romo has one of those games where you think "wait does Tony Romo suck?" If that happens we could see a new record for interceptions in a game, making Brett Favre's six pick game against the Rams a while ago seem not that bad.
Sean Garmer: Dallas Cowboys As a person who's family is a Cowboy season ticket holder, even if there was a chance the Giants could defeat the Cowboys, I couldn't vote against them. Regardless, TO is going to play there's no doubt about that. The Cowboys have had time off to get back on track and they will be the Cowboys of old. Eli Manning had a great game against the Pats no doubt, but Tampa Bay just happened to be in a crappy division. Eli will get busted in the mouth and beat up in this game. It does help him that the Cowboys secondary has been suspect for much of the season, but those Linebackers are just too good, that D-Line will be a force and make Eli think twice. Not to mention, the Giants just don't have the weapons to keep up in a shootout with the boys. It is very difficult to beat a team three times, but if there's one that can do it, it is these Dallas Cowboys.
Nick Wallander: New YorkBasically, I just hate the Cowboys and can't bring myself to pick them. Also, I really hope that there is a game here in Green Bay next week. I want to go see an actual NFC Championship game. Also, TO could be ineffective while he limps about the field. New York wins with a late rally, 24-20.
Jerome Cusson: Dallas Cowboys I don't want to pick all four home teams cause I know for sure there is going to be an upset. The law of averages says so. The likeliest upset has been cited for this game because of Romo's tryst with Jessica Simpson and Terrell Owens' injury. I believe Romo, more than any one quarterback, has something to prove. He's had a great season and based off last season's debacle in Seattle, Romo needs to play his best. Also, as long as Owens is out there, I think the Cowboys will be alright. Make no mistake about it though. This will be a close game that won't be decided until the fourth quarter. Cowboys 27-24.
Ian Smart: Dallas This is another game where the Tight-end will be called upon in a number of situations to block, because the Cowboys have trouble protecting Tony Romo from strong pass rushes off the ends. The Giants showed last week that they can get to the quarterback effectively. The Cowboys will not be as dangerous on offense as they have been in the past, with Terrell Owens still feeling the effects of the high ankle sprain he suffered in late December. If he is ineffective on Sunday, the Giants have an excellent chance of stealing a win in Dallas. The Buccaneers failed to blitz Eli Manning- almost entirely- which gave him time to make a lot of good throws to open receivers; Manning will likely not be as lucky this week, as he faces a defense that will look to put more pressure on him. A big part of this game in my mind will be how often the ‘boys are able to rush, or better yet get a hit on, Eli Manning who has shown that he can unravel when facing heavy pressure. The Giants can make use of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, who will be matched up against less than stellar corners. Kevin Boss should also have a big day as well, especially when he is Roy Williams coverage assignment; Williams has slipped in recent years as a coverage safety and is now more of a run stopper, so he can be exploited. More than anything this matchup will come down to how much pressure the Cowboys can get on Eli, because the fourth quarter of the Patriots/Giants game showed that Eli can be pressured into making bad throws. I think this will happen, so I see the Cowboys winning.
John Meehan: G-Men UPSET SPOILER OF THE WEEK!!! Sure, Shockey is injured, the Giants haven't performed well in the playoffs over the past five years, and Eli is notoriously inconsistent (and since he's played well for two weeks in a row... he might just be due to implode right about... this weekend). That said, Tony Romo is equally untested in the playoffs, perhaps even moreso, as this is his first big game since his last big flub in the '06-'07 postseason. Throw in the fact that the Cowboys have been frighteningly flat over the past four weeks, T.O. has that trick "touch-and-go" ankle, and the Cowboys have been fielding all sorts of distractions thanks to that X-factor of one Jessica Simpson and a recent Romo-jaunt to Cabo (the irrational media attention directed this guy's way is *absurd*) -- and it seems as if the stars might just be in the right alignment for the G-men to walk away victorious by the time the final whistle sounds. If the Cowboys *do* win, it'll be because the Giants beat themselves. In my book, this one is their game to lose.
Sat: Dallas Cowboys I think that if Terrell Owens plays against the Giants, then the Cowboys are guaranteed to win this game. They have already done it twice this season and they should be able to do it again. Plus, I think that Tony Romo has something to prove after is fumble against the Seahawks last year and the fact that a lot has been made about his vacation to Mexico last week.
I am ready to watch the playoffs this saturday and sunday and looks to me that picks for divisonal playoffs are going to be top teams not weak ones and Look at them NEw england there undeafted so i all need time and patiance to watch some soda and popcorn and good time to watch on tv. it gets better this time.
Posted By: Steven (Guest) on January 11, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Derek you're a damn fool if you think that the Cowboys have a better D than the Giants. In every way shape and form the NY D beats the Cowboys'.
And come on people picking teams isn't a vote for them like this is some sort of popularity contest, its supposed to be an educated guess as to who will win. I don't care if your mother owns the damn team, how about picking based on stats and pure football know-how?
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on January 11, 2008 at 04:49 PM
I will back Derreck up a bit and say I like the Cowboys secondary better and the linebackers are a bit better, no one can compare to the Giants defensive line though
Posted By: Ken Schmidt (Guest) on January 11, 2008 at 06:05 PM
You know who does compare to the giants line? Tennessee's.
Posted By: tony (Guest) on January 12, 2008 at 02:27 AM
I'm with whoever posted the 2nd comment. People read these columns for analysis of these games, not the "boy I hope my team wins" card. We want stats, we want x-factors of each game... and the Giants D is far and away better than the Cowboys'.
Posted By: yeah (Guest) on January 12, 2008 at 02:58 AM
If Dallas wins i think i will throw up, can someone please beat the shit outta Romo for me
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on January 12, 2008 at 05:56 AM
jags 31 pats 28
Posted By: e-roc (Guest) on January 12, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Yeah baby!!! Giants win, take that Dallas!
Posted By: Ramon Aranda (Registered) on January 13, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Well so much for that run game of the Jags. It was the Pats that had the running game going. I've heard often that certain teams have what it takes to knock them off. Maybe they do on paper but so far no one has been able to do it on Sunday or Saturday.
Posted By: Mac (Guest) on January 13, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I quote Ian - "I can't see them effectively running against the Seahawks front seven." Do you think if you make the same prediction for the Giants next week that Ryan Grant will have another career day? Go Pack!
Posted By: Sean (Guest) on January 14, 2008 at 12:46 AM
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