Well that was fun. Going 2-1 After not having made picks since week 2 are a solid way to get back in the fold. The only thing better going? Well, if I went 3-0. The problem is that Ryan Lindley is atrocious, and so atrocious in fact that his team mustered less than 90 yards on the day and he had some of the most atrocious turnovers in the red-zone this side of Eli Manning. However, I will still defend the pick because even despite the atrocious play of the Arizona offence, they were still in a position to take the game, or at least cover the spread, with their defense. Anyway no sense spending any more time on spoiled milk, let’s get to the picks.
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
BRONZE PICK
Colts (+7) OVER DENVER
It might just be me, but Peyton Manning has looked really shaky over the last few weeks. Yes, Denver has been relying more on the run of late which is great for a team looking to make noise in the playoffs, but something is going on and my skunk detector is going off. Peyton Manning has looked especially vulnerable of late and maybe the high altitude and cold of Denver is finally taking its toll on him. Plus, Julius Thomas has been less than useless over the last 5 weeks and a year ago he was Manning’s best weapon (he also led the league in touchdown receptions until he got hurt this year as well). Again, Manning has been saved with the solid running game of CJ Anderson and the defense is much improved over last year, but the team is old and if someone were to get injured in the secondary look for the Colts to take advantage and probably win outright. However, I still have trouble envisioning Luck getting blown out against his predecessor in a game of this magnitude. Tom Brady might be able to blow Luck out of the water, but I doubt Manning and his suspect playoff record can.
SILVER PICK
Cowboys (+6) OVER PACKERS
First, I would like to clear something up; The fix was not in and the refs did not have it in for Detroit. For three quarters Detroit was getting every single call including the roughing the passer call in the first half which ended up giving them a 14-0 lead and Dallas got not such mirror call when its own punter was mangled while punting later in the game. Although I am a Cowboys fan I saw the questionable play in real time I thought it was a BS flag, and yet another one that benefited Detroit. Yes, the Dallas defender did not turn around, but he barely touched the receiver at all. However, if I was a ref and Dez Bryant charged the field to protest I would definitely have thrown a flag for that. But since Dallas should not have a penalty on that play, Dez would not have stormed the field so in essence there should have been nothing to penalize in that sequence of events. Plus, give me a break because as a Dallas fan with the numerous brutalizing defeats I have been forced to live through I could use one. Anyway, this game seems right up Dallas’ alley because whereas Detroit is a nightmare matchup, pass-rush and tremendous talent at receiver, Green Bay is slightly better because everything flows through one man for them, Aaron Rodgers. Plus the fact that Rodgers is now hurt aids Dallas and their improving pass rush because now they might actually get to Rodgers. I think this combination will lead to Rodgers throwing his first pick at Lambeau and propel Dallas to at least a competitive game. Another factor that could help Dallas’ is Romo returning home, a fact I do not hear anyone talking about. Players who return to their hood usually step up and play some of their best ball as evident by Stafford last week and the awful Colt McCoy earlier in the year when they returned home to Dallas. Dallas has been great on the road all year and with Romo returning home and used to playing in the cold, Dallas could very well make this a competitive game if not (dare I say) win outright. Ok there, I just jinxed it. Ok please Dallas just cover the spread.
GOLD PICK
Ravens (+7) OVER PATRIOTS
If the Lions are a match-up problem for the Cowboys, the Ravens are a match-up problem for the Patriots except that the Patriots are a very good team (ok have I sufficiently taken the jinx off the Cowboys yet??) While the media loves to dap the Patriots, and they are a phenomenal regular season time, they have not done won a title in over 8 seasons. Post 2005 Brady’s woes are similar to Manning and a team like the Ravens (or Giants) really gives him problems up front. Baltimore has serious mojo coming into the playoffs and especially after their road win in Pittsburgh last week. Although the Patriots are much improved on the defensive side of the ball, I seriously question their run game and for anyone outside of Gronkowski to put up points through the air. Fortunately for the Patriots, the Ravens secondary is shaky, but I also believe that they should do enough to at least hold the Patriots to the spread. Back to the Patriots defense, while it is improved, it is not really a scoring defense so as long as Baltimore can hold up the Pat’s receivers and run the ball to take time off the clock there is a good chance they can win this game outright. There is said it.
GOOD LUCK AND PLEASE GAME RESPONSIBLY
