NFL Pick 'Em - Conference Championships

Well...it's a little elementary at this point since I'm up five with three games to go, but no one will ever be able to say we don't follow through! Still, for there to only be a difference of five games is a testament to either how good we both are or how much be both suck. You be the judge.

AFC Championship

NY Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Loren - Pittsburgh. Why go against them now? They have the experience, they have the better coaches, and they're playing at home. Steelers emphatically.

Derek - Pittsburgh. Since I can't catch up I won't just pick against Loren to pick against him, I'll try to do my best...wait is that what I should have been doing this whole time? Anyway I'll take the home team that's been there before. I'm not a huge Big Ben fan but I think he's head and shoulders better at leading his team.

NFC Championship

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

Loren - Green Bay. All the talk is about how well Rodgers has been playing. I like Green Bay's D to win this game. I think they'll pressure Cutler, and Cutler gets a little squirrely when he's pressured. Turnovers will be the difference in this game.

Derek - Green Bay. I think this game comes down to Cutler, and I don't think Cutler is going to have the kind of game that he'll need to have. I expect a low scoring game but with GB controlling it throughout.

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NFL Playoffs Round 2

Well the Eagles cost me another game, I'm now down 3. Desperation sinks in.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Loren - Pittsburgh. They're rested, they're at home, and they are going to throw the kitchen sink at Flacco. I expect this to be a good game, but I expect the Steelers to win.
Derek – Baltimore. I’m down so I might as well go against Loren when there’s a chance. This should be a good game first one to 21 wins, but it might not take that much.

NY Jets at New England
Loren - New England. Revis and Cromartie won't be enough to slow Brady down. The Jets think the 45-3 loss a few weeks ago stung, wait till the Pats hang 'em out to dry in the playoffs.
Derek – New England. Yeah I think they’re going to win it all.

Green Bay at Atlanta
Loren - Green Bay. This game was the hardest to pick. I like the Falcons ability to control clock, but I don't know if their secondary can handle Rodgers for a full 60 minutes. Odds are against the number 1 seed losing in the divisional round, but the Packers have essentially pulled out three win-or-go-home games in a row.
Derek – Atlanta. Home team that plays well in a dome. Number 1 seed on rest. Sound like the way to go for me, they can run it and keep the ball away from Rodgers.

Seattle at Chicago
Loren - Chicago. Last time I made fun of the Seahawks they destroyed the Saints. So I won't make fun of them, but I still don't think they'll win. Frankly, they are not as talented as the other playoff teams and that will catch up to them sooner or later.
Derek – Chicago. Seattle had a lot of advantages last week with the home game. But they are the ones that have to travel this week.

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NFL Playoffs Round 1

I begin the playoffs down two. The pressure mounts.

New Orleans at Seattle
Loren – New Orleans. I don’t think I even need to say anything here.
Derek – New Orleans. The Saints do have to travel a long way, have one day less to prepare and Qwest is a difficult place to play. So yeah they should win by 24+.

New York Jets at Indianapolis
Loren – Indianapolis. This pick scares me, but I want to force Derek to think about taking the Jets. I figure Manning is good for at least one playoff win, especially considering it looks like he’s gelling with his battered receiving corps. Unfortunately, Garcon looked tired last week and the Jets will put Cromartie on him. That match up could decide the game.
Derek – Indianapolis. Since I’m behind I could talk myself into the Jets but I just think Manning is too good against the Jets to lose this one.

Baltimore at Kansas City
Loren – Baltimore. KC just won’t be able to sustain enough scoring drives to keep up with the Ravens.
Derek – Baltimore. I think the Ravens are going to be able to stop the Chiefs running game and will score just enough to win an ugly one.

Green Bay at Philadelphia
Loren – Green Bay. I like the momentum the Packers have headed into the playoffs, while the Eagles ended their season with two straight losses. Yes, they weren’t playing full strength against Dallas, but you don’t want to give the mental edge to the other team, particularly when Green Bay is coming off two huge wins and Rodgers is throwing darts.
Derek – Philadelphia. Well I have to pick on different, might as well be the team with the QB playing for a big contact.

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NFL week 17 picks

I started last week down 6 and after taking four games from Loren, I'm not only down two. Let's see if I can make up more going into the playoffs.

Tampa bay at New Orleans

Loren – New Orleans. As I said on our upcoming show, the Bucs haven’t beaten a good team this year. Things won’t change this week.

Derek – New Orleans. Tampa Bay might be the surprise team of the year but I don’t think they’re going to beat a Saints team whose playing well in the Superdome.

Jacksonville at Houston

Loren – Houston. Don’t see the Jags winning this one on the road without Garrard and probably missing MJD, too. Doesn’t matter since Indy (see below) will win and get in.

Derek – Jacksonville. Andrea Johnson isn’t going to play in this one and I think the Jags D will score and hold Houston down enough to get the big win.

Dallas at Philadelphia

Loren – Philadelphia. Both teams will be playing without their starting QBs (and the Cowboys will be on their third stringer), and the Eagles might sit McCoy. Doesn’t matter, I’ll take Andy Reid over Wade Phillips. Yeah, Cowboys fans, it’s okay to cry. I’d cry too if Wade was my coach.

Derek – Philadelphia. I’m not sure if Loren knows Phillips was fired weeks ago. Anyway The Eagles are at home and you can’t trust a third stringer.

Chicago at Green Bay

Loren – Green Bay. Yeah, Chicago’s starters might start, but it sounds like they won’t play the whole game. I’m taking Green Bay here. They control their path to the playoffs and I like the way Rodgers responded last week in the beat down at New York.

Derek – Green Bay. I think Chicago will be locked into the 2 seed when this game starts and they’ll rest some of their players. Couple that with a Packers team that needs to win and playing at home and you can see the Pack will take it.

Tennessee at Indianapolis

Loren – Indianapolis. I like Indy’s chances in a “win and in” scenario, especially facing an inconsistent team like the Titans. Manning will put the team on his back and deliver under pressure.

Derek – Indianapolis. Really, Manning isn’t going to let this team lose and miss out on the playoffs.

St. Louis at Seattle

Loren – St. Louis. Seattle is prepping Charlie Whitehurst at QB for Sunday. Meanwhile, Bradford attained the record last week for most completions by a rookie QB. The difference maker, though, might be Steven Jackson. He deserves to make the playoffs after being the lone bright spot on this team for several seasons.

Derek – Seattle. What? I know I can’t believe I’m picking them, Whitehurst is terrible but I think the Seahawks will play inspired and have the home field advantage.

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