The Office 1.11.07: NFL Playoffs Week 2

Posted by Ken Schmidt on 01.11.2008

A war is being waged as we speak.

Woo last week was ugly, I am Joe Theisman's leg ugly. I went a miserable 1-3 and the one game I did win I had to sweat out to the end. To all you Giant's fans who are coming out of the woods now to praise Eli as their messiah, let me tell you something. He hasn't done anything yet. Yeah, he won a game most people thought they would lose and didn't throw a single interception, very rare for him. Well it is time for his second playoff test of the season and I expect to see him perform more like Eli. Ok Giants fans, start your engines. Talk smack, tell me you have a shot at this one, but any realistic fans can't expect much from this game. I am hoping it stays close and is exciting because I hate both teams. (An eagles fan can't cheer for the Giants or Cowboys by law).

The Office

Like I said last week was pretty ugly for me, as I am sure readers already know. However, I am not lying down. For one, the Steelers line closed at Pitt +2.5 so though I lost the Office I still took down the units. That put me at a modest 4 for 10, which isn't horrible but it is time for a come back. Unfortunately it won't get any easier this week because it is just going to get tougher. Big spreads always mean that a game could swing either way. Here is my breakdown and 10 units for this week.

Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers (-8.5)

Obviously the 8.5 point spread is scary because even if I am confident in the Pack taking this one down in frosty Wisconsin, they need to win by more than a touchdown to pull down the money. Looking at the numbers, they all sway one way and that is the Packers dominating in everything but run defense. Matt Hasselbeck has proven to be a guy who makes mistakes (he made a memorable one in Green Bay a few years back) and the Packers secondary has been pretty good all season, even sending Al Harris to the Pro Bowl (o-v-e-r-r-a-t-e-d). The wide receivers for the Seahawks last week played out of their minds, I did not expect to be hearing D.J. Hackett praised all day. And let's not forget the Redskins kept that game close the whole way and were a stupid rule away from winning that game I feel (if they were allowed to run that kick-off recovery into the endzone they win that game). Now I will repeat what I said last week: The Seahawks have the easiest regular season schedule of anyone in the playoffs. No one in the NFC West was any good at all and that was 6 games for the Seahawks, easily the worst division in football Now I know the Packers didn't necessary come out of the AFC South but still a tougher division. Finally, there is the Lambeau Field advantage. Temperatures in Seattle mid 60s, temperatures in Green Bay Wisconsin very very cold. You can never bet on a warm weather team in this situation. 4 Sports Kid Units on the Pack in this one.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots (-11)

This line started out at 11 and moved all the way to 13. Is anyone else surprised by this because I am. This is another game where the stats are dominated by one team but EVERYONE gets dominated by the Pats in statistics. Another issue I have here is betting against a double digit underdog who is 12-5 this season (and playoffs) against the spread. DOUBLE DIGITS! I just can't put any money against the Jags in this situation but I can see the Pats pulling this one out. Also, when the Jags have played outside their division (the toughest division in football) they are 9-1. That number should change to 9-2 but it won't be by double digits. I still am not willing to put a lot of money against the Pats ever though so I am going to put 2 Sports Kid Units on this one.

San Diego Chargers @ Indianapolis Colts (-8)

The Colts have a better defense AND a better offense in this one but 8 points is still a lot for a playoff game. Before I decide to jump one way or the other I want to look at when these two teams locked up in the middle of the season. The Chargers won! So does that mean they have the Colts number and will pull off the awesome upset? Even without the upset does that mean they will cover the spread? I am going with to cover but not to win. The Colts did not play during a three game stretch after the Pats game and this was one of those games. However, in the last ten games of the season the Colts were not the covering machines they were before they lost to the Pats. They only covered half their games and some times lost the spread by 10+ points. The Chargers have really stepped up their game as of late but there is no way I think they win this game. If you needed my opinion? I'd say Colts 27, Chargers 23. 2 Sports Kid Units here.

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys (-7.5)

T.O. practiced on Thursday and that could make all the difference. We all have seen T.O. play banged up before and he rarely misses a step. Romo continues to be up and down but Eli is usually just DOWN besides last week. Even though he played well against the Pats he still threw that game changing interception he always seems to throw. I have an interesting idea to any gambling degenerates out there. If you can find a bet of over/under interceptions in this game from either a casino or a bookie with way to much free time, take the over. Another great bet would be the under of this game, the under is 7-1 this season when the Giants are on the road. However, getting to the game I think the Cowboys could run away with this one because their secondary is finally healthy and Eli is just dying to start throwing interceptions again. The Cowboys can just pound the ball on the ground and limit mistakes Romo will make because he is the only thing that can lose this game. 3 Sports Kid Units on the Cowboys (that hurts me to do).

Brad Borchardt picked up a perfect week last week (big surprise) so he gets the pick of the week! Also props to Ron Martin who also pulled off the perfect week in the wild card but unfortunate for him Brad had 37 points in the final game while Ron had 45 so Brad took it down.

Pick of the Week Brad Borchardt Since I have the season wrapped up for first place in picks, I think I went more with my heart this week then I usually would with picking the Jaguars and Giants but I think they are laying good enough football to do so. My pick of the week was going to be my Packers, but I just have to go with the Colts. I know the Chargers seem to have their number at times, but the Chargers won't be able to play the first half against the Colts like they did with the Titans. Also, the Colts defense is playing great and Antonio Gates may be out of the line up for the Chargers. I also feel the Chargers, outside of the Seahawks, are the worst team in the playoffs right now. Giants would have that slot but they are playing inspired football right now. Wow, this is getting long. Ummmm.....Colts are my Pick of the Week. And just in case this is my last Pick of the Week for the season, just want to say, Packers vs. Colts at the Super Bowl.
Wow that was round about…. Ok here is what everyone is picking this week as I have two columns for the fans at home to see all 8 members picks this week.

>>>>

Game	Brad Borchardt	Sat	Charlie Von Plato	Ken Schmidt	Debbie Schmidt	Melissa Fox	Ron Martin
Seahawks @ Packers (-8.5)
Jaguars @ Patriots (-11.5)
Chargers @ Colts (-8)
Giants @ Cowboys (-7.5)

And finally I will wrap it all up with the office standings:

Brad Borchardt- 142-102 .582 (8 Victories)
Sat 100-92 .521 (1 Victory)
Charlie Von Plato 109-106 .507 (1 Victory)
Ken Schmidt- 123-121 .504 (1 Victory)
The 411- 123-121 .504
Debbie Schmidt- 121-123 .496
Melissa Fox- 117-127 .480 (2 Victories)
Ron Martin- 117-127 .480 (1 Victory)

Playoffs YOU'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PLAYOFFS?
Brad Borchardt 4-0 (1 Victory)
Ron Martin 4-0
Sat 2-2
Charlie 2-2
411 2-2
Ken Schmidt 1-3
Debbie Schmidt 1-3
Melissa Fox 1-3

Time To Punt

Dear all Giants fans,

Bring it on.

Sincerely Ken The Sports Kid Schmidt

P.S. hopefully I will see a classic Eli face on Sunday.