NFL Divisional Predictions
January 8, 2008, 7:34 PM | 6 Comments
Last week’s Wild Card weekend wasn’t actually as exciting as I thought it would be. Sure, the Jaguars/Steelers match was a lot of fun to watch, but that was really the only game that kept my full attention from start to finish. Congratulations to Eli Manning for winning his first playoff game and the San Diego Chargers, for winning their first one in long time as well.
My predictions last week got me off to a good start for the playoffs by picking 3 of the 4 games right. Hopefully I can continue that success this week in what looks like a bit more of an unpredictable weekend.
For most people, the game of the week this week is probably going to be the Jaguars at Patriots. It should be a great battle.
With that, I’ll get right to my picks for the Divisional Playoffs as I’m not feeling well right now, and I really don’t feel like typing anymore. As always, feel free to let me know what you think about this week’s action by posting a comment below.
| Away | Home | Comments | Pick | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 Packers(14-3) |
See below: | |
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The Packers and Seahawks may actually match up fairly well and even though I think Seattle has been largely a pretender this year, their familiarity with Green Bay (and the grudge they’ll no likely be holding since their overtime loss last time these 2 teams met in the postseason) will definitely help their game-planning. I think Green Bay is definitely the better team though, and they should be able to pull out a victory. What the Packers can’t do though is lose the turnover battle, because I think this game will come down to turnovers. Seattle has had trouble running the ball all season long, which means QB Matt Hasselbeck is going to have to throw the ball a lot. That should give the Packers secondary a few opportunities to make a game-breaking play, and hopefully the Packers offense will be able to put up a crooked number on that Seattle D, just to make things more comfortable. Update: WOW! What a game!!! On to the NFC Championships, GO PACK GO!!! |
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 Jaguars(12-6) |
 Patriots(17-0) |
See below: | |
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| I can’t pick against New England, regardless of who is playing them. Having said that, Jacksonville is a team that’s more than equipped to be able to beat the Patriots in New England. That doesn’t mean it will happen, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it ended up being the outcome. To beat the Patriots though, the Jaguars will have to do something that they didn’t do last week, and that’s showing their relative playoff inexperience by blowing an 18 point lead and allowing the Steelers to get back in their Wild Card game. I still think the Patriots should win this game easily though. They just have too much talent and their coaching is too good to allow them to finish a perfect regular season by going “1 and done” in the playoffs. | ||||
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 Colts(13-4) |
See below: | |
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| Earlier this season, the Chargers were able to eek out a win over the Colts, so we know they have what it takes beat them. However, that game was played in San Diego and the Colts were without Marvin Harrison. With Harrison finally ready to lace up again for the playoffs, this should be a much different game than the one we saw back in early November. Manning and the rest of the Colts offense will be more than prepared to slice through the Chargers secondary and everything is setting up for Indianapolis and New England to meet in the AFC Championship game for a second straight year. I don’t expect the Chargers to be able to put any wrinkles in those plans. | ||||
 Giants(12-6) |
 Cowboys(13-4) |
See below: | |
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| The Cowboys should be worried about this game a little bit, because they don’t really have a whole lot going for them right now. If TO doesn’t play in this game, I may consider changing my pick to the Giants, but that decision will be made right before the game, so this pick may as well have an asterisk beside it. Without a healthy Terrell Owens, Tony Romo may have to spend a bit more time looking around for an open receiver, and up against the Giants tough D-line, that won’t be very easy. With all that in mind, I’m still going to tentatively pick the Cowboys, because I think they’ve really got the Giants’ number this season after beating them in both of their previous 2007 meetings. At home, the Cowboys are always tough to beat, even if they’re not healthy. I think this game may turn into a shootout and come down to whoever ends up with the ball last. | ||||
SeahawksDon’t forget to check out this week’s Expert Picks over at ESPN.
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Comments
1. Ryan - January 9, 2008, 10:40 AM
Well, nothing different from me. I think the team that has the best shot at reaching the conference finals is the Giants, but I don’t think they’ll prevail if TO shows up
I tell you what though, if I were a starting QB for the Cowboys, I certainly wouldn’t be on vacation taking it easy with my gold digging girlfriend.
2. Veil - January 9, 2008, 11:49 AM
If the Giants beat the Cowboys then the Packers have home field vs. the Giants woooooo! Go Giants.
3. Katan - January 9, 2008, 3:13 PM
I agree that the Pack should come out with a win this weekend but I think you’re overestimating the Pack and marginalizing a pretty solid Seahawks team. Sure, the Hawks play in a ridiculously weak division and through the regular season they probably don’t dominate it the way they should (ie., close wins over Arizona) but if you look at how their defense has played lately (specifically their pass rushing and CB coverage), you’ll see that’s it’s more than capable of containing Favre.
Considering how both teams are pass happy and have yet to find a real solid rushing game (I am not yet convinced of Grant), I think the two teams are a pretty good reflection of each other. I’m expecting this one to be the closest game of the weekend.
4. Ryan - January 9, 2008, 4:43 PM
Hey Katan, I wanted to comment on your description of seattles D. You are 100% correct. They arguably have a bendier-less-breaking D then even our favourite elasticy GB D. Their D also keeps opposing passers at a measly 73.3 rating. But GB’s D is no slouch at 75.6.
I said earlier to Jonathan that this game will be won in the trenches. There is a significant advantage GB’s great o-line has in this game over SEA’s average o-line seeing as their d-lines are both rock solid.
Jonathan also mentioned turnovers. While the Hawks have a great looking turnover differential, I say we need to add more dimension to this stat. This is a key fact about GB’s success this year. Their ability to make the big play (defensive points, special teams, picks, fumbles, long bombs, long runs). GB makes em and gives few of them up, with Seattle, they give and much as they get.
I said scrimmage battles are key this weekend, Jonathan says the big play. I think it will be a little of both that will eventually contribute to GB’s advance to the Conference finals.
5. Ryan - January 14, 2008, 10:15 AM
Grant! Favre! Bigby! A Lambeau Classic! Best Packers game of my lifetime!
6. Katan - January 14, 2008, 3:10 PM
I hate the Packers. Booooooooo Favre.