NFL Playoffs

The regular season is over?  Where in the heck did the time go?  Here we are and this weekend starts the playoffs leading up to the Super Bowl here in Indy. I'm very excited to see all the hoopla surrounding hosting the Super Bowl. Look forward to checking out the NFL Experience and see what bands will be playing. But let's get through the first round of the playoffs and go on from there.

AFC
Teams with byes: New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens
I went with the San Diego Chargers back in my NFL Preview, but that looks to be a bad choice, so I'm going with a new pick and that team is the Ravens. I think the Ravens can put it together for this playoff run and make it here to Indy.  How about that a Baltimore team coming to Indy?  Think they will show up in Mayflower trucks?  What about the other match ups?


Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans
This isn't the same Houston team that was on a tear as they have lost their quarterback and are going into this game with TJ Yates. I'm going with a bit of a surprise and picking the Bengals to get out with a win, but by the slimmest of margins.  


Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
This is where we will see what Tim Tebow is made of, can he take Denver to a playoff win?  Not if Pittsburgh has anything to say about it. I look for the Pittsburgh defense to take care of Tebow, and the offense will put up just enough points to win this game.

NFC
Teams with byes:  Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers
I went with the Packers in my preview, and am going to stick with that bold prediction.  Maybe it's not so bold since the Packers won last year, and look even better this year.  But how many times has a team repeated as champ?  And this 49ers team has come on, and the Saints might be able to put up some points against Green Bay, so Green Bay isn't a total lock there. But Green Bay will be my choice to make it out of the NFC.


Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints
Think the Lions are happy just being in the playoffs?  I think so.  They might be able to give a fight to the Saints, but this Saints team has a ridiculous offense going, and it seems like every week they put up 40 points. I don't think Detroit can put up 40 points against the New Orleans defense, and I don't think they could last in a shootout, go with the Saints here.


Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants
I think the Giants got here because of a bad division and the Falcons were rolling yesterday as they had 42 points at halftime.  I look for the Falcons to continue to roll and have a date with the Packers.