Dylan Bland's Predictions
1. SEAHAWKS (+10.5) over Saints
I went back and forth on this one, since I was getting flashbacks of Brees dominating in the playoffs last year. But I just think that with the injuries that have accumulated for the Saints, especially the fact that they are essentially playing without an effective running back. Julius Jones will cause just enough goofy turnovers to lose this game for the Saints -or at least make the Seahawks cover- assuming that Matt Hasselbeck can put together one decent game and move the chains effectively. Also, the fact that nobody believes in the Seahawks at home where they have true fans is a red flag for me.
Ten and a half points is way to many to lay in the playoffs. Now watch while Drew Brees carves up the Seahawks D.
2. Jets (+2.5) over COLTS
For the same reasons I don't trust the Saints to have a good game I don't expect the Colts to. Peyton Manning's dominance is the only reason that the Colts even made it to the playoffs in the first place, but they are just too banged up to make a difference. Manning, while he strung together some nice games to end the season on a high note, has had far too shaky of a season to make me confident he can pull another one out against a formidable Jets defense. The Jets need to win this game to avoid becoming the laughing stock of the NFL.
3. Ravens (-3) over CHIEFS
I can't tell which Chiefs team will show up for this one. There's a chance that the offensively dynamic team that has shown up this season will erupt with Matt Cassell connecting with Dwayne Bowe for 3 touchdowns. But there is an even greater chance that the lethargic, inept, discombobulated team will show up. You know, the one that got flat-out manhandled by the Raiders in Week 17. The Ravens won't need many points to get by Kansas City, so if Flacco can avoid a terrible game this one is their's to lose.
4. EAGLES (-2.5) over Packers
This one is a hard one. Vick or Rodgers? Jackson or Jennings? Eagles banged up D or Packers banged up D? This one has the makings of a pure shootout, which makes trying to pick the game a toss up. I personally think Michael Vick's resurgence will continue into the postseason, and he will carry this high powered offense on his back. When the Eagles are firing on all cylinders they are truly frightening, which is why I can't pick against them in this game.
I went back and forth on this one, since I was getting flashbacks of Brees dominating in the playoffs last year. But I just think that with the injuries that have accumulated for the Saints, especially the fact that they are essentially playing without an effective running back. Julius Jones will cause just enough goofy turnovers to lose this game for the Saints -or at least make the Seahawks cover- assuming that Matt Hasselbeck can put together one decent game and move the chains effectively. Also, the fact that nobody believes in the Seahawks at home where they have true fans is a red flag for me.
Ten and a half points is way to many to lay in the playoffs. Now watch while Drew Brees carves up the Seahawks D.
2. Jets (+2.5) over COLTS
For the same reasons I don't trust the Saints to have a good game I don't expect the Colts to. Peyton Manning's dominance is the only reason that the Colts even made it to the playoffs in the first place, but they are just too banged up to make a difference. Manning, while he strung together some nice games to end the season on a high note, has had far too shaky of a season to make me confident he can pull another one out against a formidable Jets defense. The Jets need to win this game to avoid becoming the laughing stock of the NFL.
3. Ravens (-3) over CHIEFS
I can't tell which Chiefs team will show up for this one. There's a chance that the offensively dynamic team that has shown up this season will erupt with Matt Cassell connecting with Dwayne Bowe for 3 touchdowns. But there is an even greater chance that the lethargic, inept, discombobulated team will show up. You know, the one that got flat-out manhandled by the Raiders in Week 17. The Ravens won't need many points to get by Kansas City, so if Flacco can avoid a terrible game this one is their's to lose.
4. EAGLES (-2.5) over Packers
This one is a hard one. Vick or Rodgers? Jackson or Jennings? Eagles banged up D or Packers banged up D? This one has the makings of a pure shootout, which makes trying to pick the game a toss up. I personally think Michael Vick's resurgence will continue into the postseason, and he will carry this high powered offense on his back. When the Eagles are firing on all cylinders they are truly frightening, which is why I can't pick against them in this game.
Andrew Pasquini's NFL Predictions
Wild Card:NFC-
#6 Green Bay over #3 Philly,
#5 New Orleans over #4 Seattle.
AFC-
#3 Indianapolis over #6 Jets,
#5 Baltimore over #4 Kansas City.
Division: NFC-
#6 Green Bay over #1 Atlanta,
#5 New Orleans over #2 Chicago.
AFC-
#1 New England over #5 Baltimore,
#3 Indianapolis over #2 Pittsburgh
NFC Championship: #5 Saints over #6 New Orleans
AFC Championship:#3 Indianapolis over #1 New England
Super Bowl: New Orleans over Indianapolis
#6 Green Bay over #3 Philly,
#5 New Orleans over #4 Seattle.
AFC-
#3 Indianapolis over #6 Jets,
#5 Baltimore over #4 Kansas City.
Division: NFC-
#6 Green Bay over #1 Atlanta,
#5 New Orleans over #2 Chicago.
AFC-
#1 New England over #5 Baltimore,
#3 Indianapolis over #2 Pittsburgh
NFC Championship: #5 Saints over #6 New Orleans
AFC Championship:#3 Indianapolis over #1 New England
Super Bowl: New Orleans over Indianapolis
The NFC West Sized Problem
The NFC West teams.
The NFL needs to fix one of the biggest problems in the NFL and that is Division winners getting home games for the playoffs. The key example why this rule should be changed is the NFC West. At best, the record of the NFC West is 8-8. That is just the Saint Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawk. If the San Francisco 49ners make the playoffs, they will be 7-9. There is a chance that the Saints at 12-4 could have to go to San Francisco that is 7-9. Does that make sense?? No it does not. What the NFL should change it to is this. The top two Division winners get home games for winning their Divisions. The other four teams, the two other Division winners and the two wild cards will be given home games by record. So if the fifth seed has a better record than the 4th seeded Division winner, the wild card will be given the home game. The Jets/Ravens/Steelers this year would love to have a home game for having the second best record in the AFC but, with the set rules they may have to go to Jacksonville/Indianapolis. Both of these teams will have a worse record than the Jets/ Ravens /Steelers . It makes a lot more sense to give a home playoff game to a team or teams that deserve to have them. Rather than given to them because of an easy Division, like the NFC west.
By Daniel Poulter
By Daniel Poulter
Bill Belichicks's Army of Bad Coaches
Bill Belichick pictured above.
Bill Belichick has never had an assistant coach turn out to be a good coach. Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, Eric Mangini and now Josh McDaniel’s, all of them coming out of Belichick’s madness up in Foxboroough. Every single one of them came out with great praise and not one has saved or turned around the program they were at. Not a single one of them is still at the first job they were hired at. What does this tell us? If you are an owner just don’t hire an assistant that was under Bill Belichick. Bill Belichick is a good coach, don’t get me wrong he is an evil mastermind but he is a genius. He gets teams that are not the best to play to their best. I am saying is that if I was an owner I would never pick an Assistant, nor any coaches from under his wing.
By Daniel Poulter
By Daniel Poulter
Power Rankings
1. Patriots- AFC has to go through Patriots.
2. Falcons- Number one seed in NFC.
3. Steelers- Always hard to beat Steelers D.
4. Saints- They lucked out, Seahawks in first round.
5. Ravens- Didnt win AFC North
6. Eagles- When Vicks healthy they are Deadly.
7. Packers- Their a 6th seed???
8. Bears- I still think overrated.
9. Jets- They could win vs Colts or lose bad.
10. Colts- Number 18 all day.
11. Chiefs- Chiefs run vs Raven's Defense.
12. Seahawks- Hey they made the playoffs.
13. Buccaneers- Freeman and Blount are the future.
14. Giants- Where do they improve?
15. Raiders- 8-8 and fire Cable, this is crazy.
16. Lions- 4 game winning streak, under the radar.
17. Rams- Fell short in last game.
18. Chargers- They need better special teams.
19. Cowboys- They need Romo back.
20. Jaguars- How they did good this year,I don't know.
21. Vikings- Farve, Farve stay away.
22. Bills- Sticking with Fitzpatrick, I like it.
23. Texans- They need a Defensive draft bad.
24. Dolphins- A new Quarterback may be in order.
25. Broncos- Gift for Jon Elway,the second pick overall.
26. Titans- Young or Fisher. One stays, one goes.
27. 49ners- They will miss Alex Smith.
28. Bengals- Draft time, is it time for a Quarterback.
29. Browns- This team did have promise.
30. Redskins- Locker anyone??
31. Cardinals- They gave up,they NEED a Quarterback.
32. Panthers- They can only hope, luck comes out.
2. Falcons- Number one seed in NFC.
3. Steelers- Always hard to beat Steelers D.
4. Saints- They lucked out, Seahawks in first round.
5. Ravens- Didnt win AFC North
6. Eagles- When Vicks healthy they are Deadly.
7. Packers- Their a 6th seed???
8. Bears- I still think overrated.
9. Jets- They could win vs Colts or lose bad.
10. Colts- Number 18 all day.
11. Chiefs- Chiefs run vs Raven's Defense.
12. Seahawks- Hey they made the playoffs.
13. Buccaneers- Freeman and Blount are the future.
14. Giants- Where do they improve?
15. Raiders- 8-8 and fire Cable, this is crazy.
16. Lions- 4 game winning streak, under the radar.
17. Rams- Fell short in last game.
18. Chargers- They need better special teams.
19. Cowboys- They need Romo back.
20. Jaguars- How they did good this year,I don't know.
21. Vikings- Farve, Farve stay away.
22. Bills- Sticking with Fitzpatrick, I like it.
23. Texans- They need a Defensive draft bad.
24. Dolphins- A new Quarterback may be in order.
25. Broncos- Gift for Jon Elway,the second pick overall.
26. Titans- Young or Fisher. One stays, one goes.
27. 49ners- They will miss Alex Smith.
28. Bengals- Draft time, is it time for a Quarterback.
29. Browns- This team did have promise.
30. Redskins- Locker anyone??
31. Cardinals- They gave up,they NEED a Quarterback.
32. Panthers- They can only hope, luck comes out.