Brad's NFL Picks - Division games - 2010-2011

by bradley on Jan 14, 2011 3:35 PM MST

Brad's Picks was 3-1 last week: the good and the bad from that:

Jets 17, Undy 16. Colts thought they had the game won when they went up 16-14 on a 50 yard field goal with just 53 seconds left. But a 47 yard kick off return by Antonio Cromartie paved the way for a 32 yard field goal by the Jets to win the game.

Ravens 30, Kansas City 7. The only beat down of the weekend. Chiefs managed just 25 yards of offense in the second half.

Packers 21, Philadelphia 16. Another close game, but Vick the dog torturer threw an INT to Tramon Williams in the end zone with 33 seconds left. Really nice play by Tramon.

the bad:

Seattle 41, Saints 36. Seattle went up 41-30 on Marshawn Lynch's incredible 67 yard TD run with 3:22 left in the game.

Home teams were 143 - 113 versus the Visitors in the regular season. Counting the playoffs, it's H 144 and V 116. Brad's Picks is now 157 - 103 on the season.

this weekend's games: (It's interesting that all these teams have played each other at least once this year) (It's also interesting that the Visiting teams went 3-1 last week) (It's also interesting that, since 2005, teams that enjoyed a bye in the first week of the playoffs are only .500 in the second week of the playoffs).

the Saturday games:

at 2:30 MST:

Baltimore (13-4) at Pittsburgh (12-4) - Las Vegas says the Steelers will win by three points. Third meeting this year, and they're tied 1-1. Baltimore won in Week Four 17-14, while Pittsburgh won in Week Thirteen 13-10. That's pretty much the way it goes between these teams. Low scoring, and a win by a field goal (the last 8 games have been decided by 3,3,3,3,9,4,3 and 6 points). Weather should be decent - high 20's, maybe a little snow. Ravens started slow in Kansas City last week, but then took over. Steelers had the week off. I'm taking the Ravens for two reasons: their win at Arrowhead (a tough place to play) but more because the Steelers O line has had a lot of injuries this year. They've held it together all year, but I've been saying for awhile now that some good defense will expose it. Maybe the Ravens will do it. But I bet the game comes down to a big play by one of the two best safeties in the league - Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed.

the 6:00 MST game:

Green Bay (11-6) at Atlanta (13-3) - Las Vegas says the Falcons will win by 2.5 points. Packers played in Atlanta on November 28, and lost 20-17. Matt Ryan was hot, throwing only 4 incompletions. He was 24 - 28 - 197 with one TD and no INT's. Aaron Rodgers was actually better, throwing for 344 yards and a TD on 25 completions (35 attempts) with no INT's. Packers have found a bit of a run game with rookie James Starks, a 6th round pick out of Buffalo, who got 123 yards on 23 carries against the Eagles last week. If not for too many penalties and a fumble by the Packers on the Atlanta one yard line on November 28, the Packers would have won that game. Falcons are like 20-2 at home with Matt Ryan as QB, but only one of those games was really important - three weeks ago, when the Saints won 17-14. I'm taking the Packers.

the Sunday games:

at 11:00 MST:

Seattle (8-9) at Chicago (11-5) - Las Vegas says the Bears will win by ten. Seahawks have a win at Soldier Field this year - 23-20 on October 17 (Week Six). Hawks sacked Jay Cutler six times (Hasselbeck wasn't sacked at all) and Cutler completed only 17 of 39 with no touchdowns. But the Bears O line, which gave up 4.3 sacks per game in the first seven games - before the Bears bye - have only given up 2.8 since then. Weather will be cold, in the high teens. Seahawks LB Lofa Tatupu has missed practice all week because of a concussion suffered in the Saints game, and I doubt he'll be able to play. I suppose you should take the Bears here.

at 2:30 MST:

New York Jets (12-5) at New England (14-2) - Las Vegas says the Patriots will win by 7.5 points. Two meetings this year - Jets won at home in Week Two 28-14, but the Patriots won in New England in Week Thirteen 45-3. Patriots lead the league in takeaways with 28, due at least in part to Tom Brady's 335 consecutive passes without an interception. Patriots defense is 25th in the league (Jets rushed for 509 yards in the last four games against the Patriots), while the Jets defense is 3rd. Weather will be in the 20's. Lots of trash talking by the Jets. Kind of fun, but I'll take the Patriots. If there's a blowout this weekend, I think it will be in New England.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

Interesting matchups...I wonder which Cutler will show up? Hows Woodson feeling lately?

by bfree2bronc on Jan 14, 2011 3:41 PM MST reply actions

Y'know... we just don't know which Cutler is gonna show up. Y'know?

Like, y’know, sometimes the good quarterback shows up. Y’know… and that quarterback, y’know, has an arm that was stronger than Elway’s. Y’know?. Other times, y’know, it just doesn’t work out and, y’know, it’s just a shame because… well… y’know, it’s not Jay’s fault. Y’know? It’s usually his teammates that deserve the blame. It’s just a tragedy that Jay gets all this attention as a turnover machine.

Y’know what I mean?

The ignorant redneck formerly known as kentuckybronco.

by Troy Hufford on Jan 14, 2011 8:18 PM MST up reply actions

Don't know about Cutler

But I bet the Rears feel more pressure than the Hawks. Anyway, here are the teams that I hope win: Seattle and the Jets. I hope both Baltimore and Pittsburgh lose. And I guess I’d prefer the Falcons to win, but don’t dislike either team. I don’t really dislike the Patriots – just kind of tired of them.

There are more stars in the sky than grains of sand on the Earth.

by bradley on Jan 15, 2011 8:32 AM MST up reply actions

Woodson?

If you mean Charles Woodson of the packers, he’s listed as probable.

There are more stars in the sky than grains of sand on the Earth.

by bradley on Jan 15, 2011 8:50 AM MST up reply actions

I like your picks

although I don’t think Packers will win in ATL. Plus, who knows if that run game will come back and they are on the road and yadda yadda yadda. To me, in the playoffs, if you have this many question marks your probably going to lose.

by DBroncs1414 on Jan 14, 2011 4:24 PM MST reply actions

All tough calls this time of year.

But I like the Packer’s chances, at least in part because they played at the Georgia Dome earlier this year and would have won if not for mistakes. Plus, as I said above, teams that had a bye in the first round of the playoffs have only won half of the second round games. It would be interesting to know how many of those that won did it by beating a team that had to play on the road the week before, like the Packers. Packers have had to endure two long road trips in the last week. That’s a hard thing.

There are more stars in the sky than grains of sand on the Earth.

by bradley on Jan 15, 2011 8:48 AM MST up reply actions