My Wild Card 'Picks' (Sort of)

It’s the NFL playoffs. Football fans (and fans of football pools) are making their picks in work places all over the country.After much study, I’ve concluded that my picks would be (on the record, usually are) a ‘crap-shoot.’

While I follow the NFL (meaning the Vikings, Jeannie’s Broncos, and because I’m now in Arizona, and can’t avoid it, the Cardinals) I’ve realized that most of my ‘analysis’ is little more than a rationalization of what I want to happen, rather than a realistic appraisal of what will happen.What follows, then, are the wild-card winners I want to see – mostly because they’ll give me the games I want to see later.

Jets at Bengals (Bengals by 2 ½) – If I were picking this game to (perish the thought) “lay a quid on the line” I’d have to take the favored Bengals, even after Week 17’s Jets’ beat-down. Jets’ quarterback Sanchez doesn’t appear ready to win a playoff game, and the Bengals will be that much-heard-of “different team” with the return of three starters who sat out last week. The Jets are the leagues No. 1 defense, so is it “Win on defense?” Not this year; Cincinnati is the likely winner. But I’m not making that pick. The game I want to see in the Divisional Round is Jets-Chargers, teams with some history, and a story line that won’t include class clown Chad Ochocinco. I’ll be pulling for the Jets.

Eagles at Cowboys (Cowboys by 4) – Before this game was played the Dallas Cowboys were a mediocre team that started December by dropping games against the ordinary Giants and the pretty good Chargers. There was some redemption in a win over a New Orleans team in a season-ending swoon; shutting out the really awful Redskins was a ‘gimme.’ Suddenly the pundits (most notably CBS Sportsline house idiot Pete Prisco) make the ‘Boys the team to beat. On the body of work, though, it’s hard to ignore the Eagles. I’ve no doubt they’re better coached, and would expect them to beat the spread, if not the Cowboys outright. I’m not going there, though, since the next game I want to see is the Cowboys at the Vikings. I’m one who remembers the pass that put “Hail Mary,” into our football lexicon, Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson against the Vikings in the playoffs December 28, 1975. It’s been a bit “on hold” in recent years, but there was a day when the Vikings-Cowboys was a bitter rivalry between the best in the NFL. For this one day (ok, two weeks in a row, since the ‘Boy’s win last week put the Vikings in the 2-seed) I’m a Cowboy’s fan.

Ravens at Patriots (Patriots by 3 ½) – The Patriots are 8-0 at home, but the Patriots without Wes Welker aren’t the Patriots. The Ravens will be able to shut down the mid-field passing game (Welker’s territory) while doubling Randy Moss to take away the deep threat, leaving the Patriots reliant on mid-pack (league 12th) running attack. That won’t likely be enough, because the Raven’s Ray Rice will thrive in the running game and on screens in the New England cold. I’m not going there, though, because I want a Patriot’s win. Why? For Boston-native and Pats fan Dave, my son-in-law at West Point, for certain, but it also likely puts the Patriots on the road at the Chargers in a Divisional game. Consecutive (likely) match-ups of Patriots and Colts for the resurgent Chargers is an appealing prospect.

Packers at Cardinals (Cardinals by 1) – You’d think I might be pulling for the “new home-town” Cardinals? If the Cardinals win, we don’t get that Packer’s – Vikings matchup for the NFC Championship (after the Vikings beat the Cowboys). Those two games are truly a pair for the ages. Could I make a case for a Cardinal win? It’s harder than any of those above, for certain. Coach Whisenhunt played key starters and got two hurt while having his team otherwise ‘lay down’ to the Packers in a meaningless week 17 game. The locals seem proud of a “better” running game that’s 32nd in attempts, 28th in yardage, and tied for 3rd in fumbles. Among those hurting (and perhaps out) is Antwan Bolden, the ‘second’ receiver after all-world Larry Fitzgerald (who dropped to 7th in catches, but 17th in yard this season). Here’s one I’d have to call for the Packers even if I had something at risk. (I don’t.)

The teams I’ll be pulling for (whatever good that will do) this weekend, are:New York Jets; Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots; Green Bay Packers