NFL Conference Championships 2016

NFL Conference Championships 2016

Carolina Panthers VS Arizona Cardinals

During the Panthers undefeated run, I kept saying that I thought if they played the Cardinals they probably would have lost.  The Cardinals were and still are possibly the most complete team in the NFL.  However, after watching the Cardinals barely squeak by against the injury riddled Packers, I've seen how the Cardinals could lose this game.  On the flip side, the Panthers looked next to unbeatable in the first half of their game against the Seahawks.  And then the second half happened.  Whether they took their foot off the gas, or got too comfortable; either way, the Panthers will lose if that happens in this game.  The Cardinals have too much offensive fire-power to get behind by 31 points.  Both of these teams have some work to do after last week, but in the end, I have to go with the team that has less to fix.

Carolina Panthers win 30 - 27

Denver Broncos VS New England Patriots

What a historic game this will be.  The will more likely than not, be known as the final game that Tom Brady faced off against his nemesis Peyton Manning.  Well... actually, Eli Manning is probably more of his "nemesis", but either way it's 2 hall of fame quarterbacks facing off.  Interesting fact:  Tom Brady has only beat the Broncos in Denver twice.  Historically, he doesn't play very well there.  Luckily for the Patriots, a Brady at 80% is still better than about 25 other starting quarterbacks.  I hope for a good, close game, but something tells me that the Patriots have the upper hand in this one by a significant margin.  The Broncos posses a slightly better defense overall, but the Patriots offense looks leaps and bounds ahead of the Broncos, even without a running game.  In the end, I don't think Peyton Manning has the throwing ability left to make the clutch throws he'll have to make.

New England Patriots win 31 - 24

NFL Divisional Picks 2016

New England Patriots VS Kansas City Chiefs

This is one of the two games this week that I think could go either way.  The Chiefs are currently the hottest team in football but the Patriots have had 2 weeks to prepare.  Those 2 weeks off were crucial to the Patriots who have been riddled with injuries all season.  Gronkowski and Edleman are both active for the first time since week 10.  Jeremy Maclin for the Chiefs is officially a game time decision, but recent reports are expecting him to play.  This game comes down to New England's offense verses Kansas City's defense.  If Tom Brady can get the ball out routinely around the 2.5 second mark, the Patriots win the game.  I predict he will do just that.

New England Patriots win 24 - 20

Arizona Cardinals VS Green Bay Packers

Is Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense back?  The offense that Mike Mccarthy claimed at the beginning of the season had the potential to be the "greatest offense the NFL has ever seen".  Things haven't quite panned out for the Packers like they may have hoped, but nevertheless, they're still alive in the chase for Super Bowl 50.  Until after tonight.  The Arizona Cardinals, in my opinion, are the most complete team in the NFL.  They don't have one clear weakness on their entire team.  The good news for the Packers is that they have a few key offensive line pieces coming back that should help protect Aaron Rodgers at least a little better than the last time these teams met.  I don't see the Cardinals getting 8 sacks again, but I think that the Cardinals stellar secondary should produce some coverage sacks on one of the worst offensive lines in football.  If the Packers can establish the run early and run for over 150yds, they may have a chance to pull this one off.  A strong running game is the only way they can win this game and that hasn't exactly been the Packers most consistent aspect.

Arizona Cardinals win 31 - 24

Carolina Panthers VS Seattle Seahawks

This is the most intriguing matchup of the divisional weekend to me.  The former NFC champions facing the 2016 league MVP.  This isn't the Seahawks vs the Panthers.  This is the Seahawks vs Cam Newton.  After an extra week of rest, Marshawn Lynch is ready to go for the first time in weeks.  Seattle's defense hasn't allowed a road touchdown in 5 straight match-ups.  If I'm going through who has the edge in every position, I give Seattle an overwhelming majority of the categories.  Carolina's defense isn't playing at the same level they started the season.  I can think of about 6 different ways Seattle can win this game and I can only think of 1 way Carolina wins: Cam Newton plays at an MVP level.  Which he can do by the way.  To beat Seattle, Newton has to play a nearly flawless game.  In Carolina's biggest game of the season, I don't think Newton can pull this off by himself.

Seattle Seahawks win 20 - 17

Denver Broncos VS Pittsburgh Steelers

I was really looking forward to watching one of the NFL's best secondaries facing off against the NFL's most explosive offense.  With Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams both ruled out, that's not what we're going to get.  You have to think that after 2 weeks of rest, Peyton Manning will be ready to go and prove that he can still play this game at a high level.  The one thing that may be in Pittsburgh's favor this game is that, while one of Denver's biggest strengths is their pass rush, Roethlisberger is maybe the hardest quarterback in the NFL to take down.  In the end, I can't see any way that the Steelers can pull off a win in this game without their best offensive weapon in Brown.

Denver Broncos win 31 - 20

NFL Wild Card Picks 2016

NFL Wild Card Picks 2016

Ahhh the Wild Card round.  Originally made to weed out the bad teams that made the playoffs because of bad divisions.  Or maybe it was so the NFL could make a few more million dollars.  I forget which.  This year (as almost always) there are some pretty easy to pick games in my opinion.  Mainly because, more often than not, the team with the better quarterback wins.  Look it up and tell me who the last "average" quarterback to play in the Super Bowl was.  However, anything can happen in the playoffs.  Here's my picks:

Houston Texans VS Kansas City Chiefs

This is one of those rare games where the better quarterback won't really be the deciding factor in my eyes.  Mainly because both of these quarterbacks are more "game managers" than anything else.  Which by the way, is not a bad thing.  A lot of teams would love it if their QB just took care of the football instead of throwing picks and trying to make plays out of nothing.  The Texans have played well in the last half of the season, but we can't overlook the fact that the only reason they're in the playoffs is because their division is probably the worst in the NFL.  So they're the best of the worst.  That's something I guess.  On the other side, the Chiefs have been the 2nd most impressive team in the NFL in the second half of the season (next to the Seahawks... I'll get to them), and are riding a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs.  What's most impressive to me is how they're winning.  A solid running game (with backup RB's by the way), competent quarterback play, and fundamentally sound defense that doesn't miss tackles.  All things that are not greatly affected by bad weather by the way.  Teams are not going to want to play this squad in January.

Kansas City Chiefs win 27 - 17

Cincinnati Bengals VS Pittsburgh Steelers

Some teams just can't catch a break.  Doesn't it seem like every year the Bengals end up having to face a team that's way too good for their seed?  AJ Mccarron has played pretty well in Dalton's absence, but they now face a team that you're not going to beat scoring less than 24 points.  The Steelers are the team in the AFC that no one wants to play.  Even without Bell they have arguably the most explosive offense in the NFL.  I think the Steelers take care of business in Cincinnati and Marvin Lewis's squad has to face yet another 1st round playoff exit.  Whether it's Fair or not, you'd think at some point his time in Ohio would come to a close.

Pittsburgh Steelers win 31 - 24

Minnesota Vikings VS Seattle Seahawks

In my opinion, the Vikings made a bad decision winning last Sunday against the Packers.  Sure they won the NFC North and got a home playoff game, but now they have to face the NFL's hottest team in the Seattle Seahawks who just got finished annihilating the #2 seed Cardinals.  Had they lost, they would have played the Packers again in Green Bay which I believe is a much more favorable matchup for the Vikings.  I picked Seattle to win the Super Bowl this season and right now, that pick is still looking pretty good.  The Seahawks are the NFC's version of the Steelers.  A Wild Card team that nobody wants to play.

Seattle Seahawks win 28 - 17

Washington Redskins VS Green Bay Packers

Credit where credits due: the Redskins have played some great football as of late.  The Packers on the other hand, have not.  I was surprised how the loss of Jordy Nelson has had such a massive effect on the Packers offense.  I understand that he's a fantastic player, but I thought that Aaron Rodgers would be able to carry the offense more than he has been able to.  The eye test for this game says to pick the Redskins.  The recent stats say to pick the Redskins.  All logic points to picking the Redskins to win this game.  I just can't.  I can't see Aaron Rodgers letting the Packers get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.  He thinks too much of himself to let that happen.

Green Bay Packers win 31 - 28