NFL Picks - Wildcard Weekend

Pick Standings:

Andrew – 1448 Points (165-90-1) – Winner of Week 17

Greg – 1407 Points (160-95-1)

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

6 Cincinnati at 3 Houston

Andrew– Although Houston enters the playoffs losing three of their final four games, they are the home favorite in this matchup. But they are a very shaky favorite if you ask me. Although Arian Foster has been great again this season, the offense as a whole has been up and down. The defense is also streaky and isn’t playing their best at this point. The Bengals boast equally inconsistent play on both sides of the ball, but they have been trending up over the second half of the season. AJ Green is their big playmaker though and he has been too quiet in recent weeks despite the rest of the team playing well. But that will bite the Bengals here, as they will lose a tight contest on the road.

Pick: Houston

Greg - Cincinnati is on a roll, and their defense has been playing great while Houston has lost 3 of 4 and Matt Schaub is really struggling.  Against my better judgement I am picking Houston here.  They have had too good a season to get bounced in the first round of the playoffs. All that said, I wouldn't be surprised if Cincinnati pulled this one out.

Pick: Houston

6 Minnesota at 3 Green Bay

Andrew– Obviously this is a rematch of last week. The big storyline then was AD pursuing the all-time rushing record in a season, and the Vikings trying to make it into the playoffs. The Packers played their hardest and came up short. Although I’m tempted to think Minnesota will beat them again, I expect the Packers to make some adjustments and slow down AD a little bit. Also, there is no way Christian Ponder will play well at Green Bay. Close for a half but Green Bay will pull away late.

Pick: Green Bay

Greg - Minnesota would be the hottest team in the league if it weren't for Seattle, and they just beat the Packers last week in Minnesota.  It is going to be extremely cold again, so I see Minnesota pulling this one out. But the game will hinge on Christian Ponder's play, and he just got ruled out, so I have to then go with Green Bay.

Pick: Green Bay

5 Indianapolis at 4 Baltimore

Andrew – There are a lot of storylines in this one… This will be Andrew Luck’s first playoff game of his career (along with many others on the team for that matter) while Ray Lewis may be playing his last. Joe Flacco is fighting for respect still even though he has now taken his team to the playoffs in his first five seasons (all-time record). Coach Pagano is only coaching his second game back on the sidelines, and this will also mark his return to Baltimore where he coached for four seasons. Indy is a passing team while Baltimore excels in the run with Ray Rice. Indy boasts a “faster defense”while Baltimore is the more “physical defense.” Overall, this is an extremely good matchup and tough to predict. I wouldn’t be surprised either way.

Pick: Indianapolis 

Greg - The Colts season has been a magical one, and this week Ray Lewis threw his own wrench into the storyline of this week. Unfortunately for Ray, I think his career will end in a home playoff loss.  The Colts are hot, having just beaten the Texans and knocking them out of the #1 seed in the AFC. Though the Colts have struggled on the road I think this game will be a good one and Andrew Luck outplays Joe Flacco in a Colts win.

Pick: Indianapolis

5 Seattle at 4 Washington

Andrew – These teams are very similar… Both teams enter this game red hot and both teams boast rookie quarterbacks. They both run similar offenses (although there are differences) and both have solid defenses. But I think Seattle is running their stuff a little bitter, the defense is playing a little more physical, and they have a little more momentum. In the playoffs though, that little bit is all that matters. Sorry RG3, the run ends here.

Pick: Seattle 

Greg - Going against my gut again on this pick.  I love Seattle. They have played great. Russell Wilson has been absolutely fantastic, and marshawn lynch has been solid as well. But they are playing a team that does similar things on offense, but just does them a little bit better than what Seattle does. Washington wins this game and continues their hot streak.

Pick: Washington

By: The Sports Guys