NFL Playoff Predictions

The NFL playoffs start today but I will breakdown the whole month of playoffs for you and why.

AFC Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, Jan. 5
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) at 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Heinz Field, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
Everyone in America thinks Jacksonville is the trendy pick to go far in the playoffs. While I like their running game and the fact that QB David Garrard doesn't turn the ball over, Pittsburgh has more playoff veteran's and that counts for a lot. Plus, the Steelers are playing at home and were not happy they got embarrassed a few weeks back by these same Jags. Pittsburgh wins in a close one, 21-17.

Sunday, Jan. 6
6. Tennessee Titans (10-6) at 3. San Diego Chargers (11-5)
Qualcomm Stadium, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
San Diego is famous for the implosion in last year's playoffs but the fact that the Titans could be down their starting QB and two WR, things don't look good. All SD needs to do is give LT the ball and run into the next round. Let's see if Norv Turner is smart enough to do that, SD 35-20.

First-round byes
1. New England Patriots (16-0) and 2. Indianapolis Colts (13-3)
are the top two seeds in the conference and have first-round byes.

NFC Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, Jan. 5
6. Washington Redskins (9-7) at 3. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
Qwest Field, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
The Redskins are a great story winning their last four games and may be the hottest team coming into the playoffs. I have always been a Matt Hasselbeck fan and he has won big games before. This is the week the 'skins and QB Todd Collins come back down to earth, Seattle 20-10.

Sunday, Jan. 6
5. New York Giants (10-6) at 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Raymond James Stadium, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
The Giants are easily the worst team in the playoffs. I watched them live and was unimpressed. QB Eli Manning still has a lot to prove but I don't buy into Tampa Bay at all, Giants 24-14.

First-round byes
1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3) and 2. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
are the top two seeds in the conference and have first-round byes.


AFC Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 12
Pittsburgh at New England, 8 p.m. ET (CBS)
As much as I hate NE this is not the week that they blow their perfect although if the weather is crappy and QB Tom Brady can't toss 50 passes this could be the big upset of the playoffs. My heart says Pittsburgh but my mind knows Pats, NE 35-14.

Sunday, Jan. 13
San Diego at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
The Colts are still the champions until someone knocks them off. QB Peyton Manning doesn't lose very much in the dome and will have Marvin Harrison back, Indy 31-24.


NFC Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 12
Seattle at Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
The site of the famous coin toss with Hasselbeck saying they will take the ball and win only to throw an interception that was returning for a TD a few years back. Favre still has his old coaches number and with temps to be around freezing, GB all the way 28-17.

Sunday, Jan. 13
New York Giants at Dallas, 4:30 p.m., ET (FOX)
Dallas will not suffer the same playoff mistake as they did last season and QB Tony Romo will ask Jessica Simpson to watch at home. Eli Manning comes back down to earth, throwing a few picks, Dallas 31-20.

AFC, NFC championships: Sunday, Jan. 20
Indianapolis at New England, TBA (CBS)
If the Patriots are going to lose in the playoffs, this is the day. New England will have the mother of all snow storms haulting the Pats potent passing game. Indy RB Joseph Addai becomes the star running the Colts back into the Super Bowl as he tears up NE's aging LB corps, Indy in a squeaker 28-24.

Green Bay at Dallas, TBA (FOX)
Dallas beat GB in the regular season but in Favre's possible swan song (I know we say that every year) he rises to the occasion with one of his biggest games of his career carrying the young Pack on his back to the Super Bowl, 31-28.

Super Bowl XLII: Sunday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.,
University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
Green Bay vs. Indianapolis
Both Manning and Favre looking for their second SB title. In the warm weather, this turns into an old western shootout as Favre gets the last laugh with a late TD pass to Greg Jennings to seal a 38-35 victory.

Call me crazy for this not ending in a Patriots perfect season but karma says the Pats can't possibly run the table. Besides, the '72 Dolphins slipped me a few bucks to get them knocked out!