Guess what...only three more NFL games left this season...well four if you include the Pro Bowl, but I'm probably not going to analyze that game.  Looking back at last weekend we again found three of the four games as boring blowouts.  These playoffs have really been uninteresting.  Maybe this week will be better.  But before we go into this week, let's take a look at the standings:

Jesse: 12 (3-1 last week)
Jim: 11 (3-1 last week)
The Suze: 9 (2-2 last week)
Daytrader: 6 (2-2 last week)
Rose: 6 (3-1 last week)
Greg: 4 (2-2 last week)

With four points at stake for each correct pick this week, who knows what will happen!  OK...now for this weekend's games.


New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts (-7.5)
Well the Jets shocked the world last weekend by beating the Chargers.  Being a nine point underdog definitely helped with people betting on them, but I don't think most people thought that they would actually get the victory.  While the Jets did play their game, the Chargers really helped out.  Three missed field goals (two of them very makeable) and a very bad coaching decision to on-side kick with a timeout and the two-minute warning left really helped the Chargers lose the game.  Now I don't want to take anything away from the Jets because they did play their type of a game, but I think that if San Diego makes one of those field goals the Jets probably lose.

Switching to the Colts, they shut down the Ravens last week.  Only allowing three points to a team that blew out the Patriots the week before is something to say about the Colts' defense.  And I don't need to say much about the offense.  Peyton Manning looks unstoppable right now.

So now we look to this game.  The Jets run the ball better and play better defense than the Ravens, but the Colts' offense is better than the Chargers' offense.  Looking at last week, it would seem that the Colts would have the advantage.  But the Jets' defense has been able to change and adapt to each offense they've played.  But the Colts should have a little revenge factor here.  If they didn't pull their starters in that Week 16 game against the Jets, they probably would have won, most likely would still be unbeaten (assuming they kept their starters in against Buffalo too), and more importantly the Jets wouldn't be in the playoffs.  I personally like both of these teams and will root for the winner in the Superbowl, but I think the Colts have just too much firepower.  If the Jets were playing anyone else besides Peyton Manning I probably would go with the Jets, but Manning is just too good and I think the Colts will be able to put up points.


Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints (-3.0)
Wow, the Vikings brought the Cowboys back down to earth last week.  The Minnesota defensive line got to Tony Romo and basically showed all teams that Romo cannot handle consistent pressure.  I think teams are going to look at that for next year.  But back to the Vikings, not only did their defense do the job, Brett Favre did his job and was perfect.  Just look at that first touchdown pass to Sidney Rice.  Favre threw it over 40 yards and Rice didn't even have to move his arms and the ball just appeared in his hands, who was in full stride!  And the Vikings sent a message by pouring it on at the end by throwing a 4th down touchdown pass with less than two minutes to go up by 24.

Moving to the Saints, I didn't expect their performance last week.  I was on the Cardinals' bandwagon.  But New Orleans just came out and took it to Arizona, after the Cardinals scored a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.  Reggie Bush had his breakout game last week, with a rushing touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown.  Their defense played well enough to stop a Cardinals' offense that looked to be unstoppable.

But for this game things will be different.  The Vikings are on the road where they are only 4-4 this season.  The real question for me will be can the Vikings' defense get pressure on Drew Brees.  And I'm not sure.  Two of their starting defensive linemen are injured, and even though they both will probably play, I doubt they'll be 100%.  If they can't get to Brees, I see the Saints being able to throw on the Minnesota secondary.  And that might open up the Saints' running game.  If New Orleans can win time of possession I think they should get the win.  But what about the Vikings' offense and Mr. Favre?  Some people are a little worried that Favre will have a poor game, but I'm not one of them.  Favre will be playing very close to where he grew up, and it will be an emotional game.  And he ALWAYS plays his best in these type of emotional games.  Here is the key for me.  Can Adrian Peterson run the ball?  If he can I like the Vikings.  As much as I would like to see a Favre-Manning Superbowl, I think that Favre will lose another NFC Championship Game, and I'm taking the Saints.