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