NFL Picks - Divisional Round

Pick Standings:

Andrew – 1478 Points (168-91-1) – Winner of Wildcard Weekend

Greg – 1427 Points (162-97-1)

NOTE: Each Playoff Game this weekend will be worth 10 points in the standings.

4 Baltimore at 1 Denver

Baltimore looked good in a win last week against the Colts (proving both Greg and Andrew wrong). The defense is fully united and healthy for the first time all season, and they are playing inspired due to Ray Lewis’s pending retirement. But now they play against the old Colts QB on the road and that’s tough sledding. Denver has won 11 straight games and Manning may be the MVP of the league. It will mark the best defense Manning has ever had in the playoffs, and that’s scary for the Ravens.

Andrew:         Denver

Greg:               Denver

3 Green Bay at 2 San Francisco

This is a rematch of an early season game, which the 49ers won, but this time it’s at San Francisco, which should make them a clear choice to win. A lot has changed though… First, Green Bay is playing much better currently than they did at the start of the year. Second, Green Bay is healthier than at any other point this year. Third, San Francisco has a new QB than they did earlier in the season, which Greg and I agree will hurt them here and not help them. Harbaugh’s QB switch will prove to be his first big mistake as an NFL coach.

Andrew:         Green Bay

Greg:               Green Bay

5 Seattle at 1 Atlanta

There are plenty of storylines in this one. One the one hand you have a pass heavy team that’s exciting, up tempo, high scoring, all about it’s WR’s, has a veteran QB, but hasn’t won a playoff game in a while, and ended the season on a low. That’s Atlanta. Seattle is physical, run heavy, controlling of the pace, built on defense, has a rookie QB, has won playoff games recently (last week for one), and ended the year hotter than most teams in the league. So obviously these teams contrast quite a bit which should make for a very fun game. Atlanta is at home which has proven to be an important thing for them, but Seattle will have nothing to lose. This reminds me a lot of the game between New Orleans and San Francisco last year in the playoffs. It could go either way.

Andrew:         Seattle

Greg:               Atlanta

3 Houston at 2 New England

We’ll say this to start: I hope it isn’t as boring and ugly a game as a few weeks ago when they hooked up. But it very well could be… Houston isn’t playing so hot and is built on running the ball with the lead. But New England is playing great and will likely be ahead in this game. Therefore it’s truly a tough matchup for the Texans and it makes the first quarter or two a HUGE part of the game.

Andrew:         New England

Greg:               New England

By: The Sports Guys