"I've been waiting for my dreams
To turn into something? I can believe in.
And looking for that magic rainbow
On the horizon; I couldn't see it ...
Until I let go, and gave into love,
And watched all the bitterness burn.
Now I'm coming alive; body and soul!
Feeling my word start to turn!
So I'll taste every moment!
And live it out loud!
And know this is the time!
This is the time to be ...
More than a moment!
Or a face in the crowd!
I know this is the time!
This is the time of my life!!! ..."
-- "Time Of My Life" by David Cook ... who I really hope, is available to sing the National Anthem if needed at Arrowhead, come 2:05pm next Sunday ...
--------------------
* The Chiefs Pontification and Prognostication.
Four years ago, walking into NRG Reliant for the Chiefs / Texans Wild Card Game, I noted to my buddy Ryan that "if we (meaning, the Chiefs), if we can't win this game, then we're never going to win a playoff game". I made that statement, because two years earlier, as Ryan and I were standing in the beer line at halftime of the Chiefs / Colts Wild Card Game, I noted that "we've waited twenty (bleeping) years for this!"
Of course, two years ago, after the Chiefs blew an eighteen point lead to the Texans, I had to literally be carried out from everyone's favorite lounge, because apparently I consumed approximately fifteen shots after the defeat. (Note: I don't recall this ... so it was probably closer to twenty shots, but still.)
The Chiefs have playoff history against the AFC South. In "Fat" Andy's six playoff appearances, this will mark the fifth time the first game has been against a team from the South. (Only 2016, when the Chiefs opened against the Steelers, did we avoid a team from that division.)
And this season, the Chiefs went 1-3 against the AFC South, including 0-2 at Arrowhead.
On paper, this game terrifies me. I don't think it's possible to overstate what the loss of Juan Thornhill will mean to this team. (Simply put, it's devastating.) The Texans certainly won't be intimidated by the Chiefs, by Pat Mahomes "Of The Chiefs", or by us, the fans. They not only have already won at Arrowhead this year, they did so after trailing by two touchdowns entering the second quarter.
We know their game plan will be solid, their offense can easily put up thirty plus points, and they have the running game to do the one thing most teams that beat the Chiefs do flawlessly: hold onto the ball and grind down the clock via the ground game.
I also have been on record all week as noting that the line (Chiefs -9 1/2) is the most f*cking ridiculous point spread I may have ever seen involving the Chiefs. There is no way in hell this line is anything other than drunk, stoned, or both. It's at least five points too high. At least.
Having said all of that ...
--------------------
This game is going to finish one of two ways, in my (rarely) humble opinion. Either the Chiefs are going to comfortably win this game, or the Texans are going to steal this one as time expires. I don't see the Texans winning by three scores, and I don't see the Chiefs winning a close game. Either the Chiefs will win relatively easily, or the postseason run ends before it reaches Game Two.
If this were against any other team, or against any other quarterback, I'd confidently type "Chiefs 31, Texans 13" and move on. (I still have to dig New Tito out from the ice and snow, and get going to The Second Parents for dinner and the Titans / Ravens game.) Because to be honest, this game terrifies me.
But sometimes? Fear is one hell of a motivator. And I think it will be on Sunday for the Chiefs.
So I'm going to say * at Chiefs (-9 1/2) 41, Texans 21, in a game that probably won't even seem that close. And then, for only the third time in my life, we can properly respect a week every NFL team dreams of reaching every season: Conference Championship Week.
Enjoy the games everyone. But remember -- it's just a game. Have fun with them. I know I plan to ...
Showing posts with label divisional round picks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label divisional round picks. Show all posts
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
the divisional picks
So ... "The Ex" always got gets a birthday month.
I hope to get a birthday week.
And your lead / theme? Is from my 22nd Birthday -- January 3, 1999 ... the greatest NFL game I never attended, but watched every second of:
Twenty one years later? The finale never gets old * .
(*: eight years old, the other lead / theme below? Still never gets old either. #justbeyou)
Here's to hoping, wishing, and praying, we get a game like this, uuh, this week, between these two teams, on the other side of the NFL Postseason bracket ... to say nothing of the one, on the Chiefs side of the NFL Postseason bracket ...
--------------------
The Statisticals.
Last Week SU: 2-2-0.
Last Week ATS: 2-1-0.
--------------------
The Non-Chiefs Picks.
Last week gave us four epic games.
This week? I believe will give us two.
One not involving the Chiefs and/or Texans.
Anyways, here we go:
* Vikings (+7) 27, at 49ers 13. Gun to my head, the bomb to Adam Thielen in the opening minutes of overtime, is arguably the gutsiest call of the entire 2019 NFL season. You're entrusting a quarterback whose entire reputation is based on choking when it counts, to complete a forty something yard bomb in the insane asylum known as the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with the game on the line.
And Kirk Cousins completes it, with relative ease.
Folks? If the Saints can't slow down the Vikings at home? Do you really think the ultimate "wine and cheese crowd" in Santa Clara can manage to make enough noise to distract and discombobulate, the Vikings?
They won't. Vikings advance with relative ease.
(Also -- this isn't a prime time game. Something Kirk Cousins can't avoid next week ... but he can again this week.)
* at Ravens (-10) 45, Titans 3. For two weeks, the best regular season team has had to listen to various (alleged) credible pundits declare that they're not the best regular season team this season. They've had to listen to (alleged) credible pundits declare that the Titans are vastly underrated, that the Ravens are insanely overrated, and that one man (Derrick Henry) is so unstoppable, the Ravens might as well not even show up, in their own stadium, with the season on the line.
In the words of Chad Ochocinco: "Child? Please!"
This is going to be an ass kicking of Biblical proportions, as my dad would say. This is going to be an utter and total destruction from the moment "go". The Ravens are not losing this game. This game will be over with so early, I might get ten hours of sleep Saturday night, and I am fully aware The Bus is leaving for Arrowhead no later than 6:15am Sunday morning * .
I have argued all week the Chiefs / Texans line is at least five points too high. (I stand behind that statement -- the Chiefs should not be four point favorites at NRG Reliant (which being favored by ten suggests they would be), and anyone with an IQ above room temperature knows that.)
This line? Is at least five points too low. This is going to be an absolute destruction -- to the utter dismay of us Chiefs fans. Baltimore in an epic route on the Saturday Divisional Round prime timer, the likes of which we haven't seen, since Tim Tebow was losing 45-10 in New England, nine years ago.
(*: full details coming in the Chiefs / Texans pick manana.)
* at Packers 24, Seahawks (+4) 21 (OT).
This ... is going to be one epic battle.
Sadly, Matt Hasselbeck won't be on the field to open overtime to declare "we want the ball, and we're going to score!" Because that worked out so well last time.
But -- but! -- the intrigue of this game is so effing awesome.
Russell Wilson back in Wisconsin (albeit a few hours northeast of Madison).
Aaron Rodgers with his best shot at a second Super Bowl since ... losing in overtime in Seattle in the 2014 postseason.
And no matter what the other game's outcome is? It's one of (mike gundy voice) four! (chanel west coast voice) ridiculousness(ly)! sick matchups next week.
It's either Vikings at Packers (a really solid rivalry), Seahawks at 49ers (a properly rated rivalry), or Vikings at Seahawks (two great MNF games the last two years) or Packers at 49ers (a return to the late 1990s / early 2000s glory years of that rivalry).
We are all winners, no matter who wins these three games -- especially the two NFC ones.
--------------------
So here we go, people. Four games, four conference championship spots up for grabs. Somehow, three of the four home teams are favored by at least a touchdown. This is going to be real, and it is going to be spectacular.
Just like twenty one years ago, by the Bay.
(Good God. That game is old enough to drink!)
--------------------
Be safe out there tonight, KC. Brush Creek has already overflowed onto South Ward Parkway, and it's a watery mess outside the Intercontinental. (I spend my happy hour there tonight, with "Uncle" Bob, and wherever the hell Pat fits in, to the family configuration.)
And until tomorrow?
I hope to get a birthday week.
And your lead / theme? Is from my 22nd Birthday -- January 3, 1999 ... the greatest NFL game I never attended, but watched every second of:
Twenty one years later? The finale never gets old * .
(*: eight years old, the other lead / theme below? Still never gets old either. #justbeyou)
Here's to hoping, wishing, and praying, we get a game like this, uuh, this week, between these two teams, on the other side of the NFL Postseason bracket ... to say nothing of the one, on the Chiefs side of the NFL Postseason bracket ...
--------------------
The Statisticals.
Last Week SU: 2-2-0.
Last Week ATS: 2-1-0.
--------------------
The Non-Chiefs Picks.
Last week gave us four epic games.
This week? I believe will give us two.
One not involving the Chiefs and/or Texans.
Anyways, here we go:
* Vikings (+7) 27, at 49ers 13. Gun to my head, the bomb to Adam Thielen in the opening minutes of overtime, is arguably the gutsiest call of the entire 2019 NFL season. You're entrusting a quarterback whose entire reputation is based on choking when it counts, to complete a forty something yard bomb in the insane asylum known as the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with the game on the line.
And Kirk Cousins completes it, with relative ease.
Folks? If the Saints can't slow down the Vikings at home? Do you really think the ultimate "wine and cheese crowd" in Santa Clara can manage to make enough noise to distract and discombobulate, the Vikings?
They won't. Vikings advance with relative ease.
(Also -- this isn't a prime time game. Something Kirk Cousins can't avoid next week ... but he can again this week.)
* at Ravens (-10) 45, Titans 3. For two weeks, the best regular season team has had to listen to various (alleged) credible pundits declare that they're not the best regular season team this season. They've had to listen to (alleged) credible pundits declare that the Titans are vastly underrated, that the Ravens are insanely overrated, and that one man (Derrick Henry) is so unstoppable, the Ravens might as well not even show up, in their own stadium, with the season on the line.
In the words of Chad Ochocinco: "Child? Please!"
This is going to be an ass kicking of Biblical proportions, as my dad would say. This is going to be an utter and total destruction from the moment "go". The Ravens are not losing this game. This game will be over with so early, I might get ten hours of sleep Saturday night, and I am fully aware The Bus is leaving for Arrowhead no later than 6:15am Sunday morning * .
I have argued all week the Chiefs / Texans line is at least five points too high. (I stand behind that statement -- the Chiefs should not be four point favorites at NRG Reliant (which being favored by ten suggests they would be), and anyone with an IQ above room temperature knows that.)
This line? Is at least five points too low. This is going to be an absolute destruction -- to the utter dismay of us Chiefs fans. Baltimore in an epic route on the Saturday Divisional Round prime timer, the likes of which we haven't seen, since Tim Tebow was losing 45-10 in New England, nine years ago.
(*: full details coming in the Chiefs / Texans pick manana.)
* at Packers 24, Seahawks (+4) 21 (OT).
This ... is going to be one epic battle.
Sadly, Matt Hasselbeck won't be on the field to open overtime to declare "we want the ball, and we're going to score!" Because that worked out so well last time.
But -- but! -- the intrigue of this game is so effing awesome.
Russell Wilson back in Wisconsin (albeit a few hours northeast of Madison).
Aaron Rodgers with his best shot at a second Super Bowl since ... losing in overtime in Seattle in the 2014 postseason.
And no matter what the other game's outcome is? It's one of (mike gundy voice) four! (chanel west coast voice) ridiculousness(ly)! sick matchups next week.
It's either Vikings at Packers (a really solid rivalry), Seahawks at 49ers (a properly rated rivalry), or Vikings at Seahawks (two great MNF games the last two years) or Packers at 49ers (a return to the late 1990s / early 2000s glory years of that rivalry).
We are all winners, no matter who wins these three games -- especially the two NFC ones.
--------------------
So here we go, people. Four games, four conference championship spots up for grabs. Somehow, three of the four home teams are favored by at least a touchdown. This is going to be real, and it is going to be spectacular.
Just like twenty one years ago, by the Bay.
(Good God. That game is old enough to drink!)
--------------------
Be safe out there tonight, KC. Brush Creek has already overflowed onto South Ward Parkway, and it's a watery mess outside the Intercontinental. (I spend my happy hour there tonight, with "Uncle" Bob, and wherever the hell Pat fits in, to the family configuration.)
And until tomorrow?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
divisional round picks
Last Week SU: 3-1
Last Week ATS: 2-2
The Quick Divisional Round Picks:
* at 49ers (+4) 30, Saints 27. As someone who still somewhat longs for the glory days of the early to mid 1990s ... how awesome is it to see the 49ers hosting a divisional round game? It’s been awhile.
The last two home playoff games the 49ers have hosted ... are amongst the ten greatest games in NFL history. Nine years ago, the 49ers hosted the Giants in a wildcard game following the 2002 season ... and promptly fell behind 38-14 as the third quarter rapidly drew to a close.
Then ... magic happened, as the 49ers scored 25 unanswered points, survived a last second botched field goal, and emerged as a one point winner in one of the wackiest wildcard games every played.
But as wacky as that one was? Is how epic the previous one was, four years earlier, on my 22nd birthday. 49ers. Packers. To this day, if I am asked “Stevo, what’s the greatest NFL game you’ve ever watched”, that is instantly my answer. Don Starkey with the perfect call. “ Owens! Owens! He caught it! He caught it!” How else do you describe a play like that, other than stating the obvious?
I don’t expect as great a game this afternoon as either of those two were ... but I expect a really good contest that the home team finds a way to survive. Barely.
* at Packers (-7 ½) 41, Giants 20. I don’t get the love for the Giants in this one. For starters, this isn’t four years ago. The Packers don’t have a turnover machine under center, it’s not going to be 15 below zero at kickoff, and the Giants aren’t as good (and the Packers are more talented) than those 2007 squads were.
I expect a solid Packers victory Sunday afternoon. I don’t know why anyone else doesn’t.
* at Ravens 13, Texans (+7 ½) 10. The toughest game on the board to predict. It’s hard to believe, given how successful they have been, that this is John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco’s first postseason home game. It is not hard to believe, given how crappy they have been, that this is the Texans first ever postseason road game.
I’m really looking forward to watching these two defenses go at it. I’m not looking forward to watching these two offenses go at it. If this game was at Reliant, I’d probably pick Houston to win. Since it’s in Baltimore, I’ll take the Ravens on a late field goal ... although I’m not sold on it, and I’ll be rooting for Houston.
Finally ...
* tebows (+13 ½) 44, at Patriots 41. For five reasons:
1. I rewatched the Pats at denver game last night, thanks to a (really bad) stretch of blackjack at Ameristar, and them having the NFL Network on. Here’s what I took from that game: denver was competitive. Two huge plays swung that game – tebow’s fumble (that I thought was an incomplete pass), and the fumbled punt with :03 left in the half. It gave the Pats 11 free points. They won by 18, and denver was driving when tebow fumbled. In essense, if those two plays don’t occur? Overtime. (Which is what I project this game to end with.)
2. Its the Saturday Night prime time game! Wacky shit ALWAYS happens in this slot! At the risk of rehashing history, we’re entering year 11 of prime time playoff football, and every year, at least one game in the prime time slots (there’s three total) delivers a “wait, what?!?!” performance. Unless you think next week’s NFC Title Game is that game ... this is your nominee.
3. The Patriots haven’t won a playoff game since “Deadbeat Ex Roommate” was still in good standing with me and DJ. Let that one sink in – we were still three months away from forcibly evicting Ben the last time the Patriots won a playoff game. Senator Clinton was still the presumptive Democratic nominee the last time the Patriots won a playoff game. (OK, let’s pretend the entire 2008 primary never occurred. It’s been four years, and I am still in denial. And yes, I know I am long overdue with a “Stevo looks at the Republican field” post. We’re ten days away from (depending on who opposes him: hopefully) President Obama’s final State of the Union address. I’d probably better get on that “look at the potential opponents” post ...)
Point being, this ain’t your little brother’s Patriots team anymore. They’re beatable. Especially at home, where they’re 0 for their last 2 over the last two seasons.
4. If tebow can throw for 316 yards against (statistically) the BEST pass defense in the NFL last week, uum, how to put this delicately ... what do you think he can do against (statistically) the WORST pass defense in the NFL tonight?
Conversely ...
5. Why doesn’t this have the making of a shootout all over it? It’s not like denver’s defense is the second coming of Gunther’s mid-1990s Chiefs squads.
It all adds up in my brain. Two red hot quarterbacks. Wacky Saturday night slot. Two brilliant defensive head coaches with no idea how to stop the other team’s unconventional offense.
I’m betting on the tebows. Plus, admit it – deep down, even if you hate the tebows as much as I do ... you really, really, really want to see the tebows face Ray Lewis next week. Good versus evil in the purest form of each word. A word of advice timmy – if Ray offers you a ride in a limo to the game, pass on the offer. On second thought, you are a bronco. Accept that offer champ, accept away ...
Last Week ATS: 2-2
The Quick Divisional Round Picks:
* at 49ers (+4) 30, Saints 27. As someone who still somewhat longs for the glory days of the early to mid 1990s ... how awesome is it to see the 49ers hosting a divisional round game? It’s been awhile.
The last two home playoff games the 49ers have hosted ... are amongst the ten greatest games in NFL history. Nine years ago, the 49ers hosted the Giants in a wildcard game following the 2002 season ... and promptly fell behind 38-14 as the third quarter rapidly drew to a close.
Then ... magic happened, as the 49ers scored 25 unanswered points, survived a last second botched field goal, and emerged as a one point winner in one of the wackiest wildcard games every played.
But as wacky as that one was? Is how epic the previous one was, four years earlier, on my 22nd birthday. 49ers. Packers. To this day, if I am asked “Stevo, what’s the greatest NFL game you’ve ever watched”, that is instantly my answer. Don Starkey with the perfect call. “ Owens! Owens! He caught it! He caught it!” How else do you describe a play like that, other than stating the obvious?
I don’t expect as great a game this afternoon as either of those two were ... but I expect a really good contest that the home team finds a way to survive. Barely.
* at Packers (-7 ½) 41, Giants 20. I don’t get the love for the Giants in this one. For starters, this isn’t four years ago. The Packers don’t have a turnover machine under center, it’s not going to be 15 below zero at kickoff, and the Giants aren’t as good (and the Packers are more talented) than those 2007 squads were.
I expect a solid Packers victory Sunday afternoon. I don’t know why anyone else doesn’t.
* at Ravens 13, Texans (+7 ½) 10. The toughest game on the board to predict. It’s hard to believe, given how successful they have been, that this is John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco’s first postseason home game. It is not hard to believe, given how crappy they have been, that this is the Texans first ever postseason road game.
I’m really looking forward to watching these two defenses go at it. I’m not looking forward to watching these two offenses go at it. If this game was at Reliant, I’d probably pick Houston to win. Since it’s in Baltimore, I’ll take the Ravens on a late field goal ... although I’m not sold on it, and I’ll be rooting for Houston.
Finally ...
* tebows (+13 ½) 44, at Patriots 41. For five reasons:
1. I rewatched the Pats at denver game last night, thanks to a (really bad) stretch of blackjack at Ameristar, and them having the NFL Network on. Here’s what I took from that game: denver was competitive. Two huge plays swung that game – tebow’s fumble (that I thought was an incomplete pass), and the fumbled punt with :03 left in the half. It gave the Pats 11 free points. They won by 18, and denver was driving when tebow fumbled. In essense, if those two plays don’t occur? Overtime. (Which is what I project this game to end with.)
2. Its the Saturday Night prime time game! Wacky shit ALWAYS happens in this slot! At the risk of rehashing history, we’re entering year 11 of prime time playoff football, and every year, at least one game in the prime time slots (there’s three total) delivers a “wait, what?!?!” performance. Unless you think next week’s NFC Title Game is that game ... this is your nominee.
3. The Patriots haven’t won a playoff game since “Deadbeat Ex Roommate” was still in good standing with me and DJ. Let that one sink in – we were still three months away from forcibly evicting Ben the last time the Patriots won a playoff game. Senator Clinton was still the presumptive Democratic nominee the last time the Patriots won a playoff game. (OK, let’s pretend the entire 2008 primary never occurred. It’s been four years, and I am still in denial. And yes, I know I am long overdue with a “Stevo looks at the Republican field” post. We’re ten days away from (depending on who opposes him: hopefully) President Obama’s final State of the Union address. I’d probably better get on that “look at the potential opponents” post ...)
Point being, this ain’t your little brother’s Patriots team anymore. They’re beatable. Especially at home, where they’re 0 for their last 2 over the last two seasons.
4. If tebow can throw for 316 yards against (statistically) the BEST pass defense in the NFL last week, uum, how to put this delicately ... what do you think he can do against (statistically) the WORST pass defense in the NFL tonight?
Conversely ...
5. Why doesn’t this have the making of a shootout all over it? It’s not like denver’s defense is the second coming of Gunther’s mid-1990s Chiefs squads.
It all adds up in my brain. Two red hot quarterbacks. Wacky Saturday night slot. Two brilliant defensive head coaches with no idea how to stop the other team’s unconventional offense.
I’m betting on the tebows. Plus, admit it – deep down, even if you hate the tebows as much as I do ... you really, really, really want to see the tebows face Ray Lewis next week. Good versus evil in the purest form of each word. A word of advice timmy – if Ray offers you a ride in a limo to the game, pass on the offer. On second thought, you are a bronco. Accept that offer champ, accept away ...
Friday, January 9, 2009
the divisional round picks
I might not have "The Coin" with me ... but 4 for 4 last week, both straight up and against the final spread.
As always, these are for recreational purposes only.
* 6 Ravens at 1 Titans: these two staged an old school classic earlier this year, with the Titans winning in Baltimore 13-10. This will be the third postseason meeting for these two relocation teams.
The first, in the 2000 playoffs, saw Brian Billick deliver one of the greatest postgame speeches of all time. "You go in, screaming like a crazed banshee, and ask where's the son of a bitch!" I miss Billick. Someone needs to hire that guy. The Ravens won the game, and went on to win the Super Bowl.
The second, in the 2003 playoffs, saw Tennessee go into Baltimore and win. So the home team is 0-2 in their postseason series.
I see no reason why that will change this weekend. The Ravens defense, barely, outlasts the Titans. Ravens (+2 1/2) 16, at Titans 14.
* 4 Cardinals at 2 Panthers. Good Lord, THIS is the prime time game?!?! I get that the rotation says this year the NFC gets the divisional round prime timer and the AFC gets the championship round ... but really? You put THIS in prime time, instead of Eagles / Giants?
That was my initial reaction. Only ... and the Sports Guy pointed this out in his picks, this slot, the Saturday prime time contest, almost always produces something crazy. Furthermore, of the last 6 teams that were double digit dogs in the divisional round, 4 covered, and 3 won outright (95 Packers, 95 Colts, 05 Chargers; the 07 Jags covered in Foxboro).
So there's that factor. Then there's the regular season contest, a game Arizona had in the bag until some late shenanigans by the Panthers led them to a come from behind 27-23 victory.
I don't think the Cardinals get blown out. In fact, I'm predicting the unbelivable to occur. Cardinals (+10) 34, at Panthers 31.
* 6 Eagles at 1 Giants. I know everyone expects this to be a classic contest. The two NFC East rivals each won at the other's team's stadium this year. Combined score of the two games: Eagles 51, Giants 50.
So like everyone thinking the Cardinals will get rolled ... I think everyone's wrong here. This one won't be close. This one is blowout city.
Behind a rested, healthy Brandon Jacobs, a confident Eli Manning, and 80,000 fired up fans who've had a month to prep for this revenge game, at Giants (-4 1/2) 41, Eagles 6.
* 4 Chargers at 2 Steelers. At least the NFL saved the best for last.
I wish they could move this bad boy into prime time. This game is going to be a classic. The regular season game was. Arguably the greatest gambling game of all time, as in the span of 10 minutes you went from a last second miraculous Steelers cover ... to having the touchdown taken off the board to give the Chargers a one point loss.
(To Mike Pereira admitting the next day that the refs blew it, and the Steelers should have had the touchdown, and the cover. Which was fine by me -- I had the Chargers).
I love this Chargers team. I said last week the winner of Indy and San Diego would go to the Super Bowl, and I stand behind that pick.
Darren Sproles runs for 105, Rivers throws for 200 and a touchdown, and the Chargers front seven does just enough to contain the Steelers rushing attack to escape town with a win.
From 4-8 to hosting the AFC Title Game in the span of 6 weeks. (peter griffin voice) Cracked Magazine. Chargers (+6) 13, at Steelers 6.
As always, these are for recreational purposes only.
* 6 Ravens at 1 Titans: these two staged an old school classic earlier this year, with the Titans winning in Baltimore 13-10. This will be the third postseason meeting for these two relocation teams.
The first, in the 2000 playoffs, saw Brian Billick deliver one of the greatest postgame speeches of all time. "You go in, screaming like a crazed banshee, and ask where's the son of a bitch!" I miss Billick. Someone needs to hire that guy. The Ravens won the game, and went on to win the Super Bowl.
The second, in the 2003 playoffs, saw Tennessee go into Baltimore and win. So the home team is 0-2 in their postseason series.
I see no reason why that will change this weekend. The Ravens defense, barely, outlasts the Titans. Ravens (+2 1/2) 16, at Titans 14.
* 4 Cardinals at 2 Panthers. Good Lord, THIS is the prime time game?!?! I get that the rotation says this year the NFC gets the divisional round prime timer and the AFC gets the championship round ... but really? You put THIS in prime time, instead of Eagles / Giants?
That was my initial reaction. Only ... and the Sports Guy pointed this out in his picks, this slot, the Saturday prime time contest, almost always produces something crazy. Furthermore, of the last 6 teams that were double digit dogs in the divisional round, 4 covered, and 3 won outright (95 Packers, 95 Colts, 05 Chargers; the 07 Jags covered in Foxboro).
So there's that factor. Then there's the regular season contest, a game Arizona had in the bag until some late shenanigans by the Panthers led them to a come from behind 27-23 victory.
I don't think the Cardinals get blown out. In fact, I'm predicting the unbelivable to occur. Cardinals (+10) 34, at Panthers 31.
* 6 Eagles at 1 Giants. I know everyone expects this to be a classic contest. The two NFC East rivals each won at the other's team's stadium this year. Combined score of the two games: Eagles 51, Giants 50.
So like everyone thinking the Cardinals will get rolled ... I think everyone's wrong here. This one won't be close. This one is blowout city.
Behind a rested, healthy Brandon Jacobs, a confident Eli Manning, and 80,000 fired up fans who've had a month to prep for this revenge game, at Giants (-4 1/2) 41, Eagles 6.
* 4 Chargers at 2 Steelers. At least the NFL saved the best for last.
I wish they could move this bad boy into prime time. This game is going to be a classic. The regular season game was. Arguably the greatest gambling game of all time, as in the span of 10 minutes you went from a last second miraculous Steelers cover ... to having the touchdown taken off the board to give the Chargers a one point loss.
(To Mike Pereira admitting the next day that the refs blew it, and the Steelers should have had the touchdown, and the cover. Which was fine by me -- I had the Chargers).
I love this Chargers team. I said last week the winner of Indy and San Diego would go to the Super Bowl, and I stand behind that pick.
Darren Sproles runs for 105, Rivers throws for 200 and a touchdown, and the Chargers front seven does just enough to contain the Steelers rushing attack to escape town with a win.
From 4-8 to hosting the AFC Title Game in the span of 6 weeks. (peter griffin voice) Cracked Magazine. Chargers (+6) 13, at Steelers 6.
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