2012-13 Picks - NFL - Divisional Playoffs (Sunday)

It’ll be tough to live up to the standards of excitement of Saturday’s games, but the Falcons and Seahawks are more closely matched than many believe. And in the late game, the Texans will likely come out swinging which should make for a compelling start. The story lines that may be the result of these games though is pretty compelling. Pats v. Broncos? Seahawks v. 49ers? Lets roll.

Sunday, January 13

Seattle @ Atlanta | 12:00 pm CT
The Atlanta Falcons are coming off of another 13-win season. Matt Ryan has got weapons all over the field and a fairly strong offensive line to protect him. Their biggest offense weapons, Jones and White are both deep threats and Ryan has the arm to put it there. But if there’s a secondary that can hold their own against them, it’s the Legion of Doom of the Seahawks. This team is dangerous because of its ‘chip on the shoulder’ mentality – and Russell Wilson. At the end of the day Falcons have something to prove this year, I just don’t buy what they’re selling.

My Pick: Seahawks

Houston @ New England | 3:30 pm CT
The Texans were embarrassed by the Pats on Monday Night Football earlier this year. It was ugly. Not to mention, the Pats were without their star TE, Rob Gronkowski. The balance on offense for the Patriots this year is back, and their defense has been creating turnovers. But the Texans are a little ticked off at how little of a shot they’ve been given against the Belichick / Brady combination. Will they have enough steam to power through 4 quarters in Foxboro? Probably not.

My Pick: Patriots

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2012-13 Picks - NFL - Divisional Playoffs (Saturday)

This weekend doesn't really need much set up. So I’ll just drop a few names. Peyton Manning. Ray Lewis. Aaron Rodgers. Patrick Willis.

Enjoy.

Saturday, January 12

Baltimore @ Denver | 3:30 pm CT
This is by far the hardest game for me to pick in these playoffs. Between Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, John Harbaugh, Champ Bailey and Von Miller, there’s so much on both sides of the ball that it’s more / less a coin flip. The weather seems to suit the Ravens. But Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning and he’s hungry to get back to the Superbowl. But after watching Rey Lewis’ postgame speech after beating the Colts, it’s tough not to be pumped up for the Ravens. Then again Von Miller has really been getting to the QB this year. It was a tough enough decision that I literally flipped a coin to decide. Best of 7 tosses. Heads, Broncos. Tails, Ravens. Ravens came out on top 4-3 and I was okay with that decision.

My Pick: Ravens

Green Bay @ San Francisco | 7:00 pm CT
I’ve been skeptical of the Kaepernick move to start at QB since it happened. At every opportunity that I expected him to flop, he seemed to dodge a bullet. This is the playoffs now and Aaron Rodgers is a straight shooter with a scope on his rifle. The Packers offense is healthy and the pressure is on. As Stephen A. Smith likes to say, “he’s a baaad man” and it’s tough to pick against him playing back on the west coast where he’s from.

My Pick: Packers

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