Chris

Peabo

Kevin

Brett

Rich

James

Comments:

C: I have to go with the Saints here. One part destiny + One part talent = Super Bowl Champions.

This will be a match-up to remember. To see two of the best quarterbacks to ever play matched up in the Super Bowl after masterful seasons will be a game to remember. Both teams match up well, so it will come down to who wants it more. Peabo keeps telling me that Freeny and Mathis will be the difference makers, but I’ll take Darren Sharper and Reggie Bush on special teams as the game breakers.

P: Two of the classiest teams in the NFL. Great cities… great franchises. The cream of the crop of the NFL. Very evenly matched teams, starting with two dominant quarterbacks, however I give Manning the edge in this game. Two underrated defenses as well. I think this game comes down to which defense makes the biggest plays and who has the ball last.  Look for Freeny and Mathis to come out hard like Demarcus Ware did when the Saint’s played Dallas. I believe the defensive line match-up for the Colts can wear down the slower offensive line of the Saints. Look for Brees to be knocked down a lot and lose his rhythm. Colts win. 31-28

K: The Colts won their conference championship in more impressive fashion, but if the Saints get away with what they did to Brett Favre, they should win this game. Who dat? Dey dat.

B: The Saints have an uncanny ability to throw down, and I have a feeling that the crowd will be on their side. I’m taking the Saints for the Superbowl.

R: Please New Orleans prove that you belong here. Keep it close. I am hoping for a win but Indy has all the experience.

J: Minus the turnovers, the Saints defense gave up over 400 yards of offense to the Vikings. You can bet your bottom dollar that Manning will not make any Favre-like mistakes Late in the game and will cash-in on trips to the red zone. The Saints are very talented and will no doubt score points and make it a game, but Manning will overcome and show why he may just be the best ever.

AFC Championship

Sunday, January 24th, 3:00PM

Chris

Peabo

Kevin

Brett

Rich

James

Comments:

C: The Jets have to be the luckiest team in the NFL, the Chargers fell apart last week and all but handed the Jets the game. I don’t expect that from the Colts as the starters seek revenge for the Jets putting an end to their perfect season earlier this year. Even though I didn’t expect the Jets to beat the Chargers, I can’t imagine them beating the Colts.

P: The Jets are a good team and beat the Colts in the regular season even though most of the starters for the Colts didn’t play. The Jets Defense is spectacular but I don’t think they can hold the Colts down. Peyton Manning is the smartest quarterback to ever play. He will study the Jets, and he will get past them and make it to his 2nd Super Bowl.

K: The Jets’ run ends here. There’s no way a rookie out-does Peyton Manning.

B: With everything to lose, I heretoforth present my pick of the week. The Jets are a solid team, and they’re going to throw a lot at the Colts. The rushing attack is going to be present, and I expect to see some interesting wildcat plays thrown down. The Colts will again completely rely on their passing, and this will end up being their downfall. Yes, Peyton Manning is unbelievable. I don’t expect many sacks, as he gets the ball off amazingly fast. However, the Jets should be able to apply just enough pressure on him to try and draw out some turnovers. This is the best defense in the league, and this game will completely hinge on their ability to draw at least a few turnovers from the Colts offense. Crazy pick? Maybe. But as studly and majestic as Peyton Manning is, there’s room for an upset here, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

R: I would be alright if the Jets actually won the game but Indy will be motivated for this game, and I am sure Ryan will open his yup and say something stupid.

J: The now infamous Week 15 match up now gets a full 4 quarters of game play. The Jets defense is for real, holding a potent Chargers offense to just 14 points, but never underestimate mister 4-time MVP Peyton Manning.

NFC Championship

Sunday, January 24th, 6:40PM

Chris

Peabo

Kevin

Brett

Rich

James

Comments:

C: These two teams have been on a collision course all season, and for one of them to have lost last week would have left a lot of disappointed fans, but after this game no one should be disappointed. Both teams are pretty even so the edge goes to New Orleans who will have home field advantage, and the Super Dome will be LOUD.

P: The Vikings defense can manhandle the saints O-line. I think the game comes down to that match-up. But it will be a close game.

K: Brett Favre’s mission isn’t complete just yet. Drew Brees and co. will be back next year.

B: If Bush continues hitting his marks, this is going to be a very intense game. The strength in the trenches are going to make it a battle to get runs up the middle, so if Bush is playing well, he’ll have plenty of opportunity to take some outside runs, which could be very dangerous for Minnesota. I simply think that the Vikings are hitting all the right marks right now, and they are one hell of a team.

R: Please, please, please do not have a Indy/ Minnesota Super Bowl. GO SAINTS.

J: I’ll be honest. With as bad as my picks were last week, I’m picking the Saints because part of me wants to see ole No. 4 back in the big dance. That being said, this game could really go either way. These are the top two offenses in the NFC going head to head. The Vikings D has an edge with consistency of play, but Darren Sharper will be on the prowl in the Saints secondary hawking any errant Favre passes.

Chris

Peabo

Kevin

Brett

Rich

James

AFC

Saturday, January 16th, 8:15PM EST

Comments:

C: Their last meeting was an excellent game, and the Ravens will be out for revenge. They are a better, and more confident team now than they were several weeks ago.

P: They said “unless Peyton can get the ball out fast?” That is a stupid statement. He gets the ball out faster then anyone in the league and I am pretty sure he has been sacked less then anyone else this season. He will get the ball out fast and he will dismantle the Ravens Defense.

K: Baltimore is better than people think, and they played the Colts last time. Upset special.

B: I picked them last week, and i’m just as confident. Although I don’t expect the Colts to go down like the Pats did. The Ravens D has done their homework for the playoffs, and unless Peyton can get the ball off incredibly fast, he should be hit with enough pressure to throw him off. I expect the Ravens D didn’t even feel the need to use all of their tricks last week, so the Colts should expect some fresh blitzing.

R: I hate both teams but someone has to win. Colts usually play the first round game like crap. The slide continues.

J: Though the Ravens are on a rampage, they will have to deal with possible MVP Peyton Manning. The Colts have come out flat after a break before, but they usually take care of business at home.

Sunday, January 17th, 4:40PM EST

Comments:

C: The Jets may have manhandled the Bengals, but they won’t be able to do that to the Chargers.

P: The Chargers are probably the most complete team in the NFL. I think they can beat the Jets, but it should be a good game.

K: The Jets are no match for the red-hot Chargers.

B: Well, I’m going to play spoiler once again because it’s a very comfortable role for me. Defense wins championships, and the Jets are probably the best team to hold off the Chargers. This is going to be a great game.

R: Open path to the Super Bowl for Rivers and the Chargers. Jets are no competition.

J: This team is just too talented and too hot for a streaky Jets team to handle. Phillip Rivers will continue to impress and they will run the ball just enough to keep the game out of the Jet’s reach.

NFC

Saturday, January 16th, 4:30PM EST

Comments:

C: I really, really want to pick the Saints, but Arizona hung 51 points on the best defense in the NFC, do the Saints really stand much of a chance?

P: I think this game comes down to wide receivers, and the Cardinals win in that category. No one can stop Larry Fitzgerald. But this game could be higher scoring then the Green Bay game.

K: New Orleans probably forgot how to win, and the Cardinals offense can’t be stopped.

B: I take the Cards in a potential shootout, especially if the Arizona D can show some of the moves that we had minor glimpses of against Green Bay. Could this game beat the record that was set a week before? Maybe!

R: Tough for Chris to pick against the Saints now. Chris you had faith early. I have learned to BELIEVE.

J: The Cardinals are riding high after an offensive explosion a week ago. This team seems to show up when needed and the Saints defense has been exposed in recent games. Look for Beanie Wells to show up.

Sunday, January 17th, 1:00PM EST

Comments:

C: The Vikings have something the Eagles didn’t, a running game, and that will be the difference in this game.

P: I hate the Cowboys.

K: Brett Favre didn’t come back to go one and done. The Cowboys got the monkey off their back, but the Vikes are better.

B: I might be digging myself a grave with these picks, but I’ve built myself up a nice cushion from last week. I’m seeing the Cowboys playing very well, and I’m thinking that this will be a fantastic game and a potential great end to Favre’s career.

R: Favre retire please. Boys hitting on all cylinders at right time.

J: Favre has traditionally had some problems with the Cowboys. Something about that star on their helmets or something. He’ll put up a few throws that will cost him and his team to swing momentum Dallas’ way despite the coveted “dome-field” advantage.

Chris

Peabo

Kevin

Brett

Rich

James

AFC

Saturday, January 9th, 4:30PM EST

Comments:

C: The Jets defense is better than the Bengals offense, and could outscore the Bengals offense given the opportunity.
K: Cincy isn’t very good, but neither are the Jets.
B: I still hold the Jets defense in high enough regard to take this game – remember, folks, Defense wins championships.
R: Cincy going home after being trashed by the Jets. Revenge will be on the menu, and oh yes, revenge is a dish better served cold.
J: The Bengals have been the most maligned team in the NFL when it comes to off-the-field tragedy, but as a team they have managed to perservere and rally when needed. Both teams have shown the ability to stop the run so this one could come down to quarterback play giving Cincy the edge it needs to advance.

Sunday, January 10th, 1:00PM EST

Comments:

C: The Patriots are 8-0 at home and the Ravens are 3-5 on the road. I have to go with the Patriots and the experience of Belichick and Brady, even with Welker hurt.
K: Can you really see the Patriots stopping Ray Rice and Willis McGahee? I can’t.
B: I’m going to go ahead and throw this one down to the Ravens. They’re playing well, and have an ability to win. And the Pats are hurting.
R: Brady gets a big slap in the head this week and remembers the early part of the century. Oh yeah, ball control, Pats control clock and win.
J: Both of these teams have reputations that proceed themselves, but this is not the same Patriots teams that went 16-0 nor is this the same Ravens defense that pulverized opposing teams week in and week out just a few years ago. Still, with Ed Reed back in the Baltimore secondary and Wes Welker out for the season, Brady may have trouble finding favorable matchups in the passing game. The tandem of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee for Baltimore will take the pressure off of Joe Flacco and wear down the Patriots defense.

Bye: Indianapolis, San Diego

NFC

Saturday, January 9th, 8:00PM EST

Comments:

C: Despite the game last week, the Eagles have been almost unstoppable. I don’t see a repeat performance from McNabb and the Eagles this week in Dallas.
K: The Cowboys are on a mission, and it’s not over until they win a playoff game.
B: Cowboys, playoffs, at home, against a team that they delivered a morale-smashing defeat to last week? Hmm…
R: The problem with the loss on Sunday is that the Eagles looked disinterested. Cowboys win in OT.
J: As hard as it may be to beat a division foe three times in a season, the fact that both teams were playing for something in week 17 and the Cowboys dominated in all phases does not bode well for Philly. Romo seems to have exorcised his December demons and will now focus on leading his team to the big dance. This one should be closer, but big D is rolling and will prevail over a stunned Eagles team.

Sunday, January 10th, 4:40PM EST

Comments:

C: I had originally chosen Arizona to win this game based on the fact that they didn’t play Warner, and struggled on offense, but the offense didn’t let Green Bay put up 33 points. Green Bay wins again.
K: Green Bay can’t go on the road and beat Arizona twice in two weeks. It just won’t happen.
B: I think Arizona is going to step it up this week, because last week was embarrassing.
R: Mr Rodgers neighborhood might be in Zona.
J: This game will certainly be a lot closer than the week 17 beatdown of last Sunday. Still, injuries to DRC and Anquan Boldin places question marks on two key Cardinals players. The Packers continue to play well and come in hot having won 7 of their last 8. It appears Charles Woodson will be near 100% and Aaron Rodgers has proven himself to be one of the elite passers in the league. In the end the Packers just have too many weapons on offense and defense for the Cardinals to overcome.

Bye: New Orleans, Minnesota