NFL Playoff week 3 picks

Three games left in this NFL season. Kinda makes me sad.

Baltimore at New England
Derek - New England. I know the Raven D will slow the Pats down a bit but it won't be enough. The Ravens D will HAVE to have big plays from Flacco and can't solely rely on Rice. I don't see it happening enough to make a difference.
Loren - Baltimore. The Ravens should be able to put pressure on Brady and that's the recipe for beating the Pats. Averaging out the defense and offense of the two teams, Baltimore comes out ahead with their ability to run. Defense has been winning in the playoffs, I expect that trend to continue.

New York Giants at San Francisco
Derek - San Francisco. The Giants look like one heck of a team and obviously know what they're doing in the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised if they won, but the 49ers have things clicking right now and don't think the Giants are going to score like the Saints did last week. Again we're talking about a team traveling across country here, we'll see what kind of effect that has.
Loren - San Francisco. I can definitely see this game going either way, and a defensive grinder or an offensive explosion is equally possible. Playing at home gives the 49ers the edge, and the Giants luck is going to run out.

Read the rest of this post...

NFL Playoff week 2 picks

Well after a 3-1 week from me last week I locked up this years NFL 6-pack pick Championship between Loren and I. I'm up 10 with 7 games left. On to the picks.

New Orleans at San Francisco
Derek – San Francisco. I keeping going back and forth on this pick. Brees is obviously playing at the top of his game, but the 49ers have a good D. For me it comes back to the home field advantage not just the field conditions but the west coast travel for the Saints, least we forget last years game with Seattle. Also don't underestimate how good a QB can be if his line gives him time and he's passing against one on one coverage. I think Smith will be able to play mistake free.
Loren – New Orleans. Okay, so the picks don’t really matter anymore. I’m back to picking who I really think will win the games (note the exception below). This boils down to the Saint’s O being better than the 49er’s D. The Saints will be able to score and the Niners won’t be able to keep pace. San Francisco might make it interesting, but they just won’t be able to hang in there with Drew Brees all game.

Denver at New England
Derek – New England. Repeat of the last game between these two. The Broncos can't hang with the Pats on the offensive side of the ball. You can't guard both TEs and Welker.
Loren – Denver. Do I think the Broncos have a legitimate shot against New England? No. Did I think they had a legitimate shot against Pittsburgh? No. Maybe, just maybe, the Broncos D will be good enough to knock New England slightly off pace. Maybe the Broncos won’t kill themselves with turnovers like they did in their last game against the Pats. And maybe the same strategy (lure the defensive backs and linebackers up with run packages and send receivers out in unorthodox patterns) that was successful against Pittsburgh will work against a much leakier defense. Logic doesn’t much matter when your team is fighting for the right to play in the AFC championship game. Hooray for homerism!

Houston at Baltimore
Derek – Baltimore. The Texans have done a great job juggling the season with all the injuries. But they're going to walking to a hailstorm.
Loren – Baltimore. This could get ugly. I actually fear for TJ Yates’ life right now. Seriously, Baltimore is going to send so many blind side blitzes against this kid that the Texans may have to keep blocking TEs and FBs in at all times. Unless Foster goes all superman and gets miraculous blocking up front from the Texans’ O-line, Yates is going to have to pass his team back into the game. He may break the record for most consecutive one-step drops in a row by a QB.

NY Giants at Green Bay
Derek – Green Bay. I wouldn't be surprised if the G-Men pull the upset here, just something about them this year. But I'm not going to pick against Rodgers with Gennings back in the lineup.
Loren – Green Bay. I’m not betting against that offense. I’m not betting against Rogers. Would you?

Read the rest of this post...

NFL Playoff week 1 picks

Well Loren and I did not post our picks last week but I took 4 out of the 5 we choose. increasing my lead to 8 games with 11 to play.

Pittsburgh @ Denver
Derek - Pittsburgh. It's not as bleak as Loren makes it sound but he is right in that, Denver's success is part that the opponents are unprepared. I don't the the Steelers will be, I'd be surprised if Denver scores more than 10.
Loren - Denver. If I'm going to go out, might as well go out by picking my team. Sure, there's not a single logical reason to take Denver, but much of Denver's season has been illogical. I don't believe for an instant that Elway encouraged Fox to put Tebow in because he could win. The Broncos were destined for lottery greatness, but something strange happened along the way. It probably boils down to teams being unprepared for the style of offense the Broncos ran, but the result is a home playoff game. I wouldn't be a true homer unless I took by boyhood team in a situation seemingly against all odds. Go Broncos.

Atlanta @ NY Giants
Derek - NY Giants. I think Eli has played too well in clutch situations not to give him a home playoff game win.
Loren - Atlanta. If I have to take another road team, might as well be a team featuring Michael Turner facing the last ranked rush defense. Does Atlanta have the tools and skill players to take out the Giants? Yes. Is Matt Ryan a head case in the playoffs? Sunday's game will tell.

Cincinnati @ Houston
Derek - Houston. The Texans have issues with injuries but it'd be nice to see them win their first playoff game and it is a home game so...
Loren - Cincinnati. Being 8 down, I don't really have much choice here. I don't really think the Bengals will win this game, but they have a puncher's chance. Right? *sigh*

Detroit @ New Orleans
Derek - New Orleans. I can't wait to see a 50-45 game in the playoffs. I'm taking the Saints here, they've been on a roll, have the home field and have playoff experience. Detroit has Megatron, which is still pretty good.
Loren - Detroit. Well, at least this wouldn't be considered a huge upset. Detroit is completely capable of matching New Orleans point for point. Unfortunately for me, they'll have to do better than match. Hey, even if I lose this match up, it should be an incredibly entertaining game.

Read the rest of this post...