NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks

    The NFL playoffs will be upon us in this upcoming weekend.  Undoubtedly they come to us in a bit a of controversy.  While many are calling for changes to be made to the format due to the 7-9 Seahawks not only making the playoffs but hosting the defending champion Saints, I say leave it alone.  These 7-9 Seahawks are an anomaly.  It isn't like sub .500 teams crash the playoffs every year. Lets also not forget that the last time the media labeled a team worst playoff team ever, only Santonio Holmes tip-toeing the endzone kept them from winning the Super Bowl. The NFL isn't the only post season that is flawed. Everyone, including the President of the United States has problems with the BCS. Although they seemed to have gotten in right this year. 50 win teams in the NBA's Western conference have to watch the playoffs from home while .500 teams from the East play on. Even the seemingly perfect NCAA March Madness tournament has its flaws. Lowly teams like Lehigh get the right to get throttled by the number one seeds while consistent power houses like Arizona who have a down year are relegated to the NIT. No system is perfect but they work most of the time. The 2010 Seahawks making the playoffs is not most of the time. Leave the system alone, I'm a Giants fan, so no one has gotten screwed more by the Seahawks then me and I'm moving past it.  Time to make so predictions.


AFC Matchups
Colts vs. Jets
It is a good thing Rex Ryan has a foot fetish because that is exactly what he is going to get plenty of from this game.  There will first be his own foot that will be lodged in his mouth for the comments he made to give Peyton Manning bulletin board material. Manning will go down as the statistically greatest quarterback ever, if not the all around greatest, you don't give guys like this bulletin board material. Then there will be Peyton Manning's feet, first the will be used to slide in the pocket to evade the Jets blitz, then after the game they will be waiting for Rex to worship at.  Manning owns Rex and always has. Don't rile up the bully that takes your lunch every time you see him. The Colts have been in playoff mode for the last four weeks, they are playing in the friendly confines of home and Sanchez hasn't exactly looked like the Sanchize down the stretch. Colts healthy running game provides balance and they win easily, 31-13.

Chiefs vs. Ravens
The Chiefs having their best year since the Priest Holmes days was a fun story for the regular season, however, I see the fun ending with just one playoff game.  With that pesky playoff format at work again, the Ravens will be considered the lower seed, however, they are undoubtedly the better team. This Ravens team was tested throughout the year and it will show in this game. In the end, the Chiefs will struggle to run the ball against this Ravens D but the home field advantage will be just that.  The Ravens sometimes play down to their competition (Hello Buffalo) and they are going on the road in a tough environment but they win a close one, 21-17.


NFC Match ups
Seahawks vs. Saints
This is the best game to pick as an upset.  If you're right, you're sporting genius. If you're wrong, just say you were joking.  In all honesty the Seahawks have more of a chance then you may think.  Being awarded home field advantage was huge for the Seahawks. Invesco Field is not a fun place to play for opposing teams. This place is loud in the regular season, now throw in a home playoff game for a city whose baseball team hasn't done much and whose basketball team was stolen; this place is going to be rocking. The Saints have never won a true playoff road game. Finally, the Seahawks have nothing to lose. A team with nothing to lose is a very dangerous team. I doubt you'll find a looser team this weekend. Super laid back Pete Carroll is already the coach and no one in the world outside of Seattle expects them to win. With all the possibility of the Seahawks upset, I'm going with the Saints. It won't be close, 38-10. But remember all the Seahawks upset talk if it some how happens.

Eagles vs. Packers
I saved this game for last because it will surely be the best game...and toughest to pick. Both teams had their highs and lows of the season and both teams came into the playoffs in drastically different ways.  The Packers, like the Colts, have been in playoff mode for the last few weeks of the season. The Eagles haven't played a meaningful game since the amazing week 15 comeback against the Giants.  MVP candidate Michael Vick didn't look so MVP-like after the comeback and sat out the last game. I had Vick on my fantasy team and I waited all year for that to bite me, nonetheless, Vick never seemed to falter. I feel like the playoffs could be the time where his comeback season falls short, but he's been proving me wrong all year.  Even after the concussion, Rodgers has looked very good down the stretch and the Pack's D could bottle up Vick.  Last year the Packers went on the road in the playoffs and had a memorable game and lost, this year I think they get over the hump and upset the Eagles, 31-28.