NFL Hyperbolic Statements- Playoffs!!!

It's the post everyone has been waiting for. It's the one where I tell you the eventual Super Bowl winner. Just like my granddad, you'll be taking your phones into the hallway, out of ear shot of your wife, to call your bookie after this one. Don't worry; no dumb ass Peter King-esque scores that could never happen such as 32-18. First the AFC...

The Chargers have flown under the radar all season, overshadowed by the Colts and Saints. But lest we forget, San Diego has won 11 in a row. Perhaps if this win streak started at the beginning of the season and ended in the number zero, people would have taken more notice. Right now they are simply the most complete team in the NFL. I know the Colts have Manning, but I see them gagging. As for the rest of the conference, I don't think there's anyone else close.

AFC Wild Card:

Ravens 21, New England 14 Bengals 16, Jets 10

AFC Divisional Round:

Chargers 30, Bengals 7 Colts 24, Ravens 17

AFC Championship:

Chargers 35, Colts 24

As for the NFC, what a freakin' mess. I love the Saints and Drew Brees, and I wish I could pick them. But how can I pick a team that limped it's way into the playoffs riding a three game losing streak? I decided to go with the teams that I feel have the best playing quarterbacks and the best playing defenses right now.

NFC Wild Card:

Packers 31, Cardinals 20 Cowboys 20, Eagles 17

NFC Divisional Round:

Cowboys 27, Vikings 21 Packers 28, Saints 17

NFC Championship:

Green Bay 26, Cowboys 20

I think a Chargers/Packers Super Bowl would be highly entertaining and represent a changing of the guard a bit for NFL quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers are two of the best young QB's in the game. I see a highly competitive relatively high scoring game ending with the first world title in San Diego sports... I believe.

Chargers 37, Packers 27.

NFL Playoff Predictions

Just to show that I have the cajones, I'm going to predict the entire NFL playoffs as if I were filling out an NCAA tournament bracket. I'm just going to lay it all out there and see what the reaction is. First the AFC. As I've said all year, I just can't see the Titans making it to the Super Bowl. If Roethlisberger takes care of the ball, there is no team that will best the Steeler defense. Beware the red hot Colts, however.

Wild Card Round:
Colts 26, Chargers 17; Ravens 13, Dolphins 7
Divisional Round:
Steelers 24, Colts 17; Titans 14, Ravens 3
AFC Championship:
Steelers 31, Titans 17

Now the NFC. If the Eagles and Falcons win on Wild Card Weekend, it will create some unfavorable match ups for the top seeds. No one wants to see a divisional rival for the third time in the playoffs, especially the top seeds who gain virtually no advatange from homefield or the intimidation. That being said, I think the Giants and Panthers will find ways to win close games.

Wild Card Round:
Falcons 34, Cardinals 7; Eagles 17, Vikings 7
Divisional Round:
Giants 30, Eagles 24; Panthers 27, Falcons 21
NFC Championship:
Panthers 34, Giants 31

The Super Bowl will feature two teams that appeared in the big game on separate occasions a few years ago. Their experiences and the coaching will make it a hard fought well played game. Unfortunately, for Jake Delhomme and John Fox they will have their second Super Bowl loss in six seasons. The teams match up pretty evenly, but the Steelers have a clear advatage at the most important position, QB. Steelers 24, Panthers 10

Pacman's Last Stand and Pick Results

Adam "Pacman" Jones was recently reinstated into the NFL after his most recent incident involving the police. Now, reports are saying that if there is another incident Pacman will receive a lifetime ban from the NFL.

I would say it is about time Goodell laid down the law. If you were running a company would you ever hire someone who had been arrested 7 times in 2 years? Would you hire someone who, though talented, was fired by his previous employer? I wouldn't. Clearly Pacman has issues, but he still doesn't realize playing in the NFL is a privilege not a right given to talented athletes. Hopefully he will finally get the point, stop being a jerk, and try to become a respectable member of society.

I will start posting on Monday's my picks results from the weekend:
Last week: 6-8 and I laid a huge egg with Denver as a lock. The Broncos did not only not cover, but they lost badly to a bad team. Unfortunately they will still get a 1st round home playoff game. When will the NFL just adopt the English Premier League way of standings and scheduling? There is 1 division and each team plays every other team. My God, it is actually a fair way of doing things and you might actually get the 12 best teams into the playoffs every year. It's Amazing.

NFL Picks

I know I have been slacking with the picks recently, but I will try to do better in the second half of the year.

Locks

Philadelphia -5.5 over Seattle: Seattle is not good and has a lot of injuries. Philly has looked good the past 2 games. Philly wins by at least a TD and probably more to keep pace with the NFC East.

Buffalo +3 over NY Jets: Buffalo had a hiccough last week, but I still think they are for real, and they are back home this week. The Jets might have a chance, but Brett Favre will throw about 9 INTs and their defense isn't good enough to overcome the mistakes of the offense.

Stay Away

NY Giants -7.5 over Dallas: The Giants will win, but 7.5 is a big number. If the Dallas defense decides to show up this game could be closer than what a lot of people think.

Green Bay +1.5 over Tennessee: After a big win on Monday Night this could be a letdown game for the Titans. Green Bay is coming off a bye week and Tennessee had a short week, I think this could be a big factor. I just don't know, but will go with Aaron Rodgers and his new fat contract.

The Rest: Pittsburgh -1 over Washington, New England -1 over Indianapolis, Denver -1 over Miami, Oakland +5 over Atlanta, Houston over Minnesota, St. Louis +4 over Arizona, Jacksonville -4 over Cincinnati, Baltimore over Cleveland, Tampa Bay -6.5 over Kansas City, Chicago +8.5 over Detroit.

NFL Picks

Here are the weekend NFL picks: Buffalo, Chicago -1, Tennessee -8.5, Pittsburgh -8.5, Dallas -7, Baltimore +3, NY Giants -6.5, New Orleans, Detroit +6, NY Jets -5, Indianapolis -2, Washington -2.5, Seattle +8.5, New England +2.5.

Big night for the Sox. Let's hope Josh can give us 6 innings and the bats continue where they left off late Thursday night.

Weekend Picks

I am running a half-marathon this weekend so here are my week 6 picks. 22-19-3 on the season.

Baltimore +1, New Orleans-7, Minnesota -10.5,  Cincinnati +7, Tampa Bay +3.5, Atlanta +4, Washington -13.5, Houston -2, Denver -3.5, Philadelphia -4, Green Bay -4, Dallas -4, New England +2.5, New York Giants -7.5. 

Also two bonus picks for two huge college football games: Oklahoma -6.5 over Texas and LSU +6.5 over Florida.

Picks and Playoff Baseball

I had a bye last week, so I didn't make any picks. Here are my week 5 picks: Houston +3, Tennessee -2.5, Miami +7, Carolina -9.5, Washington +6.5, Chicago -3.5, New York Giants -7, Denver -3, San Francisco +3, Buffalo +1.5, Dallas -16.5, Jacksonville -4.5, Minnesota +3, Atlanta +3.5. On the season I am 16-13-2.

As for baseball, the Sox have been playing well and I expect Beckett to take care of business tonight. He has not pitched since September 22 so he has had plenty of rest. The Sox are great at home and everything points to them winning the series tonight.

The Cubs were eliminated by the Dodgers last night losing 3-1. The Cubs looked awful all week in every aspect of the game, pitching, fielding and hitting. It was clear the pressure got to them before the Dodgers did and the fans in Chicago will have to wait at least one more year.