NFL Divisional Playoff Picks

Last week I was 50% not good enough I need to step it this week.

Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints- I made the mistake of underestimating Kurt Warner last week. Green Bay came back and made it a great game but a poor start and a poor finish doomed them. This week the Cards will likely have Anquan Boldin back he is tough, and even if they don't have Boldin, Breston and Doucet really stepped up. The Saints biggest weakness has been stopping the run and the Cards now have a running attack with Wells and Hightower. The Saints are on a losing streak and have let other teams stay in games even get ahead of them throughout the regular season. Besides how can I go against someone who before Arena Football and then the NFL was bagging groceries in Iowa. Cards win 42-31?

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts- The Ravens shocked at least one person (me) last week in handing the Patriots their first home loss of the season.  Meanwhile the Colts shut it down and rested starters after locking up home field advantage. In the playoffs it normally comes down to who has the best quarterback and coaching. Peyton Manning is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL but who knows about Jim Caldwell really. Pass protection and stopping the run must be the key focus of the Colts who start slow but win 28-17.

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings- The Cowboys came through for me last week and are playing great despite the coaching of Wade Phillips. Brett Favre is having a great season and is keeping the turnovers down, the Vikings Defensive line is stout against the run and will control Marion Barber but Felix Jones will have a couple of big plays. Tony Romo out plays Favre and gets the win 27-20.

New York Jets @ San Diego Chargers- The Jets also came through for me last week and the only team I dislike more than the Chargers is the Raiders (even thought the Raiders are irrelevent) but I just don't think the Jets are going to have enough Offense to keep up with the powerful Charger Offense. Darrelle Revis may slow down Vincent Jackson but even if he does the Kerry Rhodes Antonio Gates match up very much favors the Chargers. The top rushing attack of the Jets will be taken away by the Chargers offense more than the defense and the Bolts win 36-17.