I’ve always been a huge NFL fan. No other professional league boasts the parity and competitive balance of the NFL. It seems like any team has the chance to go all the way in any given year. Well, any team but the Lions, at least as long as Matt Millen’s running the show.
Now that playoff time is here, it’s time for my annual picks. I’ll go ahead and let you know what I’m predicting for the big game: Ravens / Saints. You heard it here first. Now on to this week’s matchups.
AFC
Chiefs at Colts – A lot of prognosticators are picking the upset here. They point to the Colts porous run defense and the down-hill running style of Larry Johnson, KC’s bruising tailback. This is certainly the matchup the Colts didn’t want in Round 1. What’s being discounted, however, is the Colts ability to score points in bunches. I’m predicting a shoot out here, but I give the advantage to the Colts offense playing at home. Colts by 3.
Jets at Pats – I know these two clubs split their regular season meetings, but this is the easiest pick of the week, IMHO. Brady and Bellichik turn it up a notch in the playoffs. I can’t see a weak-armed Chad Pennington beating the Pats in Foxboro. Patriots by 10.
NFC
Cowboys at Seakhawks – The NFC is so weak. The Seahawks lost their All-Pro QB and their MVP RB for most of the season, yet they still won their division. I’d take a handful of AFC teams that didn’t make the playoffs over either of these clubs. That said, I like Seattle to make some noise this offseason. They have everybody back healthy and when they’re clicking, they’re the best offense in the NFC this side of New Orleans. Alexander will carve up the ‘Boys for a couple TDs and the ‘Hawks will roll. Seahawks by 9.
Giants at Eagles – No game is a greater testimony to the mediocrity of the NFC than this one. Despite their best efforts to implode, the Giants somehow survived their late season swoon and made the playoffs. After Donovan McNabb went down, I figured the Eagles were toast, too, until Jeff Garcia started playing like the Pro Bowler he used to be in San Fran. I’m not big on either of these clubs, but I’m going to go against the grain and pick the Giants here, solely on the strength of Tiki’s running. Giants by 1.
already & not yet 
I’m with you until the last one. The Giants don’t have a quarterback. Eagles win that one.
Eagles, Cowboys win.Chiefs run all over Indy. Peyton goes down in history as the great one who never even made it to the big dance. At least Marino had 2 shots.
Jon,Even if Peyton went to the big one, he probably wouldn’t win it. It seems like I’m just about the only one who’s picking Indy to win at home, though. Kenny,I can’t put that much stock in the Cowboys. They’re too inconsistent. Of course, the same argument holds true for the Giants. But I think the clock’s about to strike midnight on Jeff Garcia’s fairy tale season. The Giants have too many weapons. Any other Super Bowl predictions at this point?
I’m still holding out hope for the Colts. They’re too talented to keep choking it away every year. Maybe this is the year they get it done since no one is expecting it.Also, I don’t remember Marino playing in two SBs. I thought he went to one in his second or third year against SF and then never returned.Can’t imagine the Giants beating Philly.
I think the Giants have a chance. I know they’ve played like garbage down the stretch, but six weeks ago, everybody had them in the NFC championship game against the Bears. I think it’ll be a tight one and I wanted to pick an upset. Marino only played in one Super Bowl.