So even though the NFL Regular Season is over, it doesn't mean that I can't make incorrect playoff predictions and embarrass myself further on this blog.  In our Yahoo Pick 'Em league, we started with 12 teams.  After a week or two, two teams basically stopped picking, thus leaving 10 teams remaining.  Out of those 10 teams, I finished in 8th place.  Which sucks!  On further review, if we did NOT use Confidence Points, I would have finished 10th.  My win-loss record was the worst.  But since I wrote a weekly blog (most weeks) and told everyone my picks I influenced everyone else to pick the opposite and then they won.  Other people would have done bad also if I didn't disclose my picks, at least that's what I tell myself to make me feel better.

Anyway, there are four games this weekend.  Interestingly, three of the four are rematches of games played LAST WEEK!  And two of those three are in the same location!  Also, if the Ravens would have lost last week to the Raiders, all FOUR games would have been rematches, since the Texans would have gotten in and then played the Patriots.  I doubt that's ever happened before.  I doubt that even these three match-ups have ever happened a week later before either.  Just a piece of meaningless NFL trivia that I find interesting.  OK...to the incorrect picks!


New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals (-2.5)
People (Texan fans) can say that the Jets backed into the playoffs, and in reality, they did.  I firmly believe that if the Colts didn't pull their starters out against the Jets a few weeks ago then the Colts would have won that game.  I completely disagree with the Colts taking them out in the first place, but that's not the Jets' fault.  If the Texans, Steelers, Broncos, and any other team complaining would have WON a game earlier in the season, this would all be a moot point.   (Texans: Lost to the Jets in Mark Sanchez's first NFL start, Steelers: Lost at home to Oakland and on the road to at the time 1-win Cleveland, Broncos: Home losses to both Oakland and Kansas City, and a road loss to the Redskins.)  So I'm sick of the "backing in" complaint.  Plus, last week the Jets would have beaten the Bengals regardless of who was playing for Cincy, and their starters did play a good portion of the game.  So that brings us to this week.  The Jets DESTROYED the Bengals in New York just a few days ago, but this one is in Cincinnati.  Now I'm sure that the Bengals will sell this game out, but they've had a tough time selling out this season, and that's with a WINNING TEAM!  If the Jets can play defense like they did last week and run the ball, they'll control the clock and win the game.  I'm sorry Bengals, a 37-0 whoopin' last week cannot be ignored, regardless of who was playing.  My bold prediction from last week comes true as the New York Jets win a playoff game.


Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (-4.0)
Where were the Eagles last weekend!?  With a chance to get the #2 seed in the NFC, giving them a home game next week and a BYE this week, the Eagles lay an egg (hehe) in Dallas, inflating the egos of a football team that has no reason to have such a big ego.  Might I remind everyone that the Dallas Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996!  And I have to say that history is NOT on the Cowboys' side.  Not only because of that stat, but might I remind people about two years ago, when the Giants, who were swept by the Cowboys in their 2 Regular Season games, went to Big D and beat the #1 seed Cowboys in the Divisional Round.  And not only that, but this is an Eagles team that has gone to FIVE NFC Championship Games, including last season's game.  Philly has the experience and Dallas does not.  I cannot expect the Eagles to play as bad as they did last week.  They are notorious for having 3 or 4 dud games a season.  (Losing in Oakland and getting blown out by New Orleans at home, granted that was when Kevin Kolb was the quarterback.)  As much as I hate rooting for either of these teams, I know that if the Eagles win, they'll lose in the NFC Championship Game (or to the Patriots in the Superbowl) so I like the Philadelphia Eagles to figure things out against Dallas and get it done.


Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots (-3.5)
This is a little interesting game now isn't it.  Six days ago if you told me that the Ravens would travel to New England and asked me to pick the winner I would say "Patriots" without hesitating.  But now, Wes Welker is injured, and there should be no complaining about why he was in the game.  He was in the game because he's a football player and he "plays to win the games".  He didn't even get hit on that play, so no crying Patriots fans.  So even though I don't have a problem with the way he was injured or the reason why he was in the game, it is a fact that he will NOT be in this game.  And that greatly affects the Patriots pass attack.  However, might I drop a name to all of the saddened Pats fans.  Kevin Faulk.  Kevin Faulk is the exact same player as Wes Welker.  Good hands, scrappy player, gets first downs.  And even though Randy Moss will probably get a lot more attention, the Patriots won those three Superbowls without a true #1 receiver in my opinion, which is why I believe that Tom Brady is deserving of the credit he gets.  I know that Baltimore went to Miami and Tennessee last year and beat them in the playoffs, but I can't see the Ravens going to New England, where the Patriots are undefeated this season, and winning this game.  So I'm sticking with my hypothetical prediction of six days ago and picking the New England Patriots.


Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals (-1.0)
I find it a little ridiculous that the Packers are the underdog in this game.  The Packers dismantled the Cardinals last week, and even though they had nothing to play for (and is why they took out a good deal of their starters not far into the game) they should have had a better performance.  Green Bay looks unstoppable right now.  Their passing offense is clicking.  Their running attack is starting to catch its stride.  Their defense is playing like one of the best in the league.  A lot of people are jumping on this bandwagon.  And why shouldn't they?  Their path to the Superbowl would go through Arizona, New Orleans, and Minnesota, all teams that have taken several steps backwards in the recent months.  And I like Green Bay to travel deep into the playoffs, IF they win in the desert.  And I'm not so sure about that.  I bring up the playoff experience again.  The Cardinals went to the Superbowl last year, and lost by the second best play in Superbowl history in my opinion.  (That Santonio Holmes catch does NOT beat out the Manning-Tyree combo in Superbowl XLII.  I've seen TD catches on the sideline like that before, Mike Wallace had one to beat the Packers earlier this season and Greg Lewis caught one for Minnesota to beat the 49ers earlier this season too.  I've NEVER seen anything like that Manning-Tyree hook up.  The combination of Manning escaping the rush and Tyree catching the ball with his helmet and with Rodney Harrison draped all over him...incredible!  What are we supposed to be talking about?)  I think this is going to be a close game, and I just have a feeling that the Arizona Cardinals are going to win this game, just like they won every playoff game last year when everyone else thought that they would lose.