Shocking

Well, my playoff predictions were horrible.  0-2 on championship weekend.  The difference was a dropped pass /missed FG and Kyle Williams not knowing how to return/field kicks.  I guess that's the NFL for you.

We'll probably work on a Super Bowl preview, which the way things are going, I would take to Vegas and bet the opposite.

Also, now that the NFL is about over, and I may have some free time on my hands, I should probably quit sucking at predictions and start doing actual writing/bitching/calling people out.

Yeah, that's right.  Everybody else sucks.

Championship Weekend

New York Giants (11-7) at San Francisco (14-3)

This is the game everyone predicted, right?  Oh wait.  I guess that's the NFL for you.  Loads of storylines in this game.  It really is all about Jim Harbaugh though.  Alex Smith, the bust who was taken before Aaron Rodgers in the '05 draft, is all of the sudden in the NFC Championship game.  His performance vs. the Saints is one that 49ers fans won't soon forget.  Well, that and Vernon Davis.  He had a man's game.  But really, the Niners are all about defense.  Ask Pierre Thomas (ok, he probably doesn't remember).  Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman are the best linebacking tandem this side of Brian Cushing/DeMeco Ryans or Ray Lewis/Terrell Suggs.  And the 49ers have 2 other "Smiths" that have made a huge impact.  Justin Smith is a stalwart on the D Line, and rookie Aldon Smith has burst on the scene as a sackmaster, although with less recognition than Von Miller.

I don't have much to say about the Giants, mostly because I am bitter.  But we all know what they do.  Should be a good game.  People keep making parallels to the '07 Giants, like they are a team of destiny, especially with the Patriots looming on the other side of the bracket.  But to me, this feels like the year for San Francisco.  They will jack Eli up in a way that the Packers were not capable of.  Hakeem Nicks will not be running around the secondary unguarded.  Brandon Jacobs is horrible, and will be exposed as such.  San Francisco 26-21


Baltimore (13-4) at New England ( 14-3)

This is a damn good game on paper.  I think we all knew these were to best two teams in the AFC all season.  Pittsburgh and Houston had their moments, but it's come down to the best.  This is difficult for me to call.  I have always gone with the Patriots.  Tom Brady is tremendous, and he has quite the rapport with his receivers/TEs/random white guys on his offense.  Baltimore is the exact opposite.  Playmaking defense, steady offense, led by Ray Rice.  He is one of the few legitimate backs out there these days who you can count on to carry a team.  Unfortunately, Jay Flacco is not the kind of QB you can count on.  He is one of those QBs who sucks 95 percent of the game, but makes a couple big throws when he has to.

My preseason prediction was the Packers & Patriots.  I could be half right.  But since October, I've had the feeling that Baltimore would rough New England up when it came down to it.  Nothing would surprise me here, and I feel like copping out and not even making a pick.  But, I'll put my neck on the line.  Baltimore 31-28

Patrick's Divisional Picks

This is what many consider the best weekend of NFL football, figured I should make some picks.

New Orleans (14-3) at San Francisco (13-3)

I have a hard time with this one.  All season I have thought that the 49ers couldn't hold up to the Packers or Saints offenses.  I still think that, but I'm not as confident in it.  New Orleans is not the same team on the road.  They just aren't.  San Francisco actually averages as much points at home as New Orleans does at home.  I really want to pick the Niners, but when it comes down to it, I don't think they can score enough TDs.  They stall too much in the red zone, settling for Field Goals.  New Orleans 27-26

Denver (9-8) at New England (13-3)

Tim Tebow is a joke.  The Patriots defense is a joke.  New England keeps getting down 16 to 21 points in the 1st quarter, which they obviously can't do in a playoff game.  The Broncos keep sucking for most of the game, then pulling something out at the end.  Neither styles are very successful for playoff football.  The Patriots have lost their last 2 home playoff games.  If that happens again Bill Belicheck should just retire.  The spread is a little high (13), and NE hasn't been very successful covering those high spreads this year.  New England 31-20

Houston (11-6) at Baltimore (12-4)

I like what Houston doing before all these QB injuries.  They still have some talented players, but going on the road to Baltimore to face that defense is going to be too much for them.  And they don't have Andy Dalton to fall apart for them.  Not that Joe Flacco is great, but he'll do what he needs to get the victory.  Baltimore 27-15

New York Giants (10-7) at Green Bay (15-1)

People seem to have forgotten how good the Packers are. Will Green Bay be able to score as well in the cold.  Here's a hint, yes.  In Dec/Jan they scored 46, 35, and 45 at Lambeau, the last time with their BACK UP QB.  The Packers, not the Saints, are the highest scoring team in the League (35 ppg) and have averaged 40 ppg at home. The Giants are the "hot" team.  Comparisons are being made to 2007 when the Giants beat the Packers in their last home game, and beat the undefeated Patriots.  The fact is, the past means nothing.  The Packers are the most well prepared team in the NFL, and they are healthy.  Yes, the Giants can pose problems with their pass rush.  Yes, the Packers defense is a liability at times.  But the fact is, Aaron Rodgers will not make the killer mistake.  Eli Manning will make a couple.  Green Bay 41-31