NFL Divisional Round Picks

Ok, so my showing during wild-card weekend was pathetically bad (1-3). It was almost as pathetically bad as the Bucs' performance on Sunday. Let's get the divisional round picks over with and hope I don't embarrass myself too much.

SEATTLE @ GREEN BAY
I think we all loved a few years ago in the playoffs when Seattle was at Green Bay and, right when they were going into overtime and Seattle won the coin toss, Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck said "we want the ball, and we're gonna score."

Who could forget him completing that perfect spiral to Al Harris for the winning score? Oh yeah, Harris played was (and still is) with the Packers.

I don't expect this game to be nearly as interesting as that, but it should still be relatively close. Both teams aren't really known for running the ball (although the Packers have gotten a lot better while Seattle has gotten a lot worse lately), so I'm interested to see how well both teams can pass in what's sure to be a hella cold game in Green Bay. I believe that's the actual forecast for Saturday — "hella cold."

JACKSONVILLE @ NEW ENGLAND
The Jags certainly have the running game to control the clock and hang with New England, as the Eagles and Ravens did. Unfortunately, going into both of those games (the closest the Pats came to losing along with their game against the Colts) the Patriots were supposed to completely crush their opponent and were caught off-guard.

People are actually giving Jacksonville a decent shot to win going into New England (kinda the way they gave the Steelers a chance to win) and we all remember how that turned out. Also, this is the playoffs — I don't see the Patriots taking a nap again, do you?

SAN DIEGO @ INDIANAPOLIS
San Diego's beaten Indy in Indy before by putting intense pressure on Peyton Manning. Still, I don't like the way Tennessee completely shut down Ladainian Tomlinson in the first half of their wild card game and I think the Colts much-improved run defense can do close to the same.

Also, I would like San Diego a lot more if their best receiver (TE Antonio Gates) weren't likely out for this game. Finally, you can't give Peyton Manning (who's no longer a playoff choker) two full weeks to prepare for an opponent and his favorite receiver back. Sure, Marvin Harrison hasn't played in a LONG time, but he and Peyton Manning don't strike me as two guys who need a ton of practice to get their timing down. They'll be fine.

NY GIANTS @ DALLAS
I don't really like either of these teams. I don't like the Giants because they're so unpredictable (frustrating for someone who picks games) and I don't like the Cowboys because I've just never liked the Cowboys.

Anyway, the Giants are playing their best ball of the season and have been terrific on the road (8-1). Then again, they lost both times they played Dallas this season and, though the Cowboys are battling the curse of Jessica Simpson and some injuries, if you don't think T.O. is going to play in this game, you're crazy.

The Cowboys have had an extra week to prepare, but I'm actually going to take the hot team going into this one. Mostly, it's because I just don't think very much of Wade Phillips (pictured, left) as a coach, and I don't really think the Cowboys'll take full advantage of the extra time they've had. I mean, look at Phillips. I'm sure he's a nice guy, and his players love him, but he kinda looks like a buffoon, doesn't he. He looks like one of the sad sack real-estate salesmen getting ripped a new one by Alec Baldwin in "Glengarry GlenRoss" than a leader of men.

Again, I'm sure he's a great guy, but look at that face. Do you really trust that man with your top-seeded NFL team?