Well here is my picks for divisional weekend. It should be a fun weekend of games. I will also provide weather forecast for the three games played outdoors this weekend.
Saturday,January 13th,2007
Indianapolis +4 @ Baltimore--- Last year the Colts and Payton Manning blew this round to the Steelers. Mike Vanderjagt hit his last second field goal wide Indianapolis. In fact, the kick landed somewhere in Grand Rapids, MI. This year should be no different. Even though they have the Great Adam Vinitari, it is my belief that Vinitari will not have a chance in this game. Payton Manning cannot afford to throw three INT's this week as he did one week ago. If he does, this will not be a close game. This game will also come down to playing good defense. Even though the Colts played great Defense last week can they repeat the performance??? They will need to if they have a shot at winning this game. The weather for this game should be decent football weather. It will be 55 degrees with a 45% chance of showers in Baltimore. The winds will be out of the Southwest at 10 to 15 MPH. So this field could also be sloppy for the visiting Colts. The Ravens opportunistic defense would have a had an extra week to prepare for the Colts and Steve McNair should be able to cut up that Colts secondary. Giving the points and I will take the Ravens ( though I will be cheering on the Colts ).
Philadelphia +4 1/2 @ New Orleans--- The Eagles are a great story. Donavan McNabb goes down and the Eagles season was suppose to be over. They lost the following week against the Colts 45-21 and haven't lost since. They have won 6 straight games. This is a fantastic story for Jeff Garcia and the rest of the Eagles. Then they look across the field and see an even better story in the Saints. The Saints who won just 3 games a year ago. The displaced Saints spent an entire year on the road and struggled. This year they added Drew Brees and Reggie Bush and they took off. This is a team that has accomplished a lot and could lose to the Eagles and everyone in America would be proud of the way they bounced back after Hurricane Katrina devestated them in 2005. I believe this magic carpet ride will continue for the Saints. They are for the moment the best story in America. Expect a great game and expect the Saints to come out on top. Taking the Saints and giving up the points.
Sunday, January 14th,2007
Seattle +8 1/2 @ Chicago--- Seattle is a lucky team after last week's unbelievable finish against Dallas. It should be Dallas in this spot and not the Seahawks. With all the injuries that the Seahawks have endured you almost have to admire their fighting spirit. Now they have Matt Hasslebeck ( who was not impressive last week against Dallas ) and Shawn Alexander back but are they really healthy??? If they are healthy, they have a puncher's chance. They are not the same team that went to the Super Bowl last year. Plus with that secondary injuried this game should be one-sided. Chicago who has struggled with their defense their last 4 weeks probably benefitted from the week off. Their offense is entrusted to an often time shaky Rex Grossman. But even Rex can't screw this week up. The weather this weekend in Chicago calls for a 60% chance of snow. The temperature will reach a high of only 31 degrees on Sunday with the winds blowing out of the Northeast at 15 to 20 MPH. Should be an interesting game but in the end, I will give up the points and take the Bears at home.
New England +4 1/2 @ San Diego--- Let's start with the weather. It will be sunny and 60 degrees with the winds coming out of the Northeast at 10 to 15 MPH. A good day for football. Now depending on what the Chargers do about the rain expected on Friday this field should be in good shape. Let's start with the visiting Patriots. The Patriots are 11-1 in their last 12 playoff games. They are 15-0 in playoff games they are leading at the half. That is a little history. The Patriots gave up 14.8 points a game this season. Last week, they gave up 16 points to the Jets. The Patriots are defense is among the best the league has to offer. The Patriots defense must stop LT and force Phillip Rivers to beat them. Then the offense has Tom Brady who is outstanding in these games. Brady will not lose the game for the Patriots. He does minimize his mistakes. As for the Chargers an explosive offense has got to score early and often. They must get LT running to control the game. It will allow Phillip Rivers to play-action pass. It will also help Rivers if he takes short three step drop passes. It will allow him more tempo and not allow guys like Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork to knock him all over Jack Murphy Stadium. The Chargers must avoid having the game fall squarely on Rivers shoulders. Defensively, Shawne Merriman and the Chargers defense must stay in the face of Tom Brady and knock him down a few times. You won't rattle Tom Brady but maybe distract him. Disrupt his tempo. If they do that, they have a chance. I will root on the Chargers. But, this game will be played closer that the spread. I am taking the Patriots and the points.
