2010 NFL Playoffs Divisional Round 1/16/2011

#4 Seattle Seahawks (8-9) at #2 Chicago Bears (11-5) (-10, o/u 41.5); 13:00 FOX. Let's face it: No one outside of Seattle gave the Seahawks a flaming chance to beat the defending Super Bowl Champions last week. But they did, thanks to a great game from QB Matt Hasselbeck and a brilliant late run by RB Marshawn Lynch. Even though the Seahawks won in Chicago in Week Six by a field goal means only the Seahawks aren't intimidated by playing here and have nothing to lose. As much as I despise the Bears, they present the Seahawks with little chance of winning today. The only chance the Seahawks have is if Bears QB Jay Cutler throws INT's all over the place (which could very well happen), but I don't think he will throw more than one. The Bears defense is simply better than the Seahawks offense and the Bears offense has more talent than the Seahawks defense. That being said, I do think the Seahawks will make a game of it and at least cover the spread. The winner will host the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship next weekend.
MY PREDICTION: @ Chicago Bears 34, Seattle Seahawks 28
ACTUAL RESULT:

#6 New York Jets (12-5) at #1 New England Patriots (14-2) (-9, o/u 44); 16:30 CBS. What better matchups can you get this weekend in the AFC, part two. The Jets and Patriots each won, in the regular season, as the home team. The Jets won 28-14 in Week 2 and the Patriots won 45-3 in Week 13. That last game will be hard for the Jets to get over, especially in Foxboro. Pats QB Tom Brady has lost his last two postseason games (SB XLII to the NY Giants (still painful) and last years wild card game to the Ravens.) and I doubt he'll make it three in a row. Jets coach Rex Ryan just can't seem to shut up and neither can his team. Do your talking on the field, boys. I do expect the Patriots to win, but the game will be much closer than 45-3. If the Patriots win, they will host Pittsburgh next weekend for the AFC Championship. If the Jets win they will play in Pittsburgh.
MY PREDICTION: @ New England Patriots 40, New York Jets 20
ACTUAL RESULT:

2010 NFL Playoffs Wild Card Games 1/8/2011

#5 New Orleans Saints (11-5) (-10, o/u 45.5) at #4 Seattle Seahawks (7-9); 16:30 NBC. New Orleans is the defending Super Bowl champion while the Seattle became the first division winner with a losing record. Because of the NFL's playoff format, division winnners get home field advantage over wild card teams, which is why this game is being played in Seattle rather than in New Orleans. The Saints are obviously the better team, and have beaten the Seahawks already this season in Week 11 34-19. That game was played in New Orleans. Playing outdoors for a dome team is tough and Q-West Field is one of the loudest outdoor venues in the league. The Saints are hurting at RB but QB Drew Brees and the Saints have superior WRs. Seattle has QB Matt Hasselbeck back after missing the Week 17 playoff clinching victory over the St. Louis Rams. Hasselbeck has great career numbers vs. New Orleans. The winner of this game will play either at Atlanta or at Chicago, depending on the result of the Packers @ Eagles game tomorrow. Seattle, playing at home, will make it a close game for three quarters but the Saints will pull away in the 4th Quarter.
MY PREDICTION: New Orleans Saints 30, @ Seattle Seahawks 17
ACTUAL RESULT: @ Seattle Seahawks 41, New Orleans Saints 36

#6 New York Jets (11-5) at #3 Indianapolis Colts (10-6) (-2.5 o/u 44.5); 20:00 NBC. These two teams did not play each other in the regular season. The Colts defeated the Jets in last season's AFC Championship game. Jets coach Rex Ryan is 1-5 vs. Peyton Manning's teams and has said that this week is personal. The one win Ryan has came late last season, when the Colts were resting most of their starters. That won't be the case tonight. Ryan is bold and outspoken and, while the media loves him for his mouth, he needs to shut-up. Jets QB Mark Sanchez played sparingly in the Week 17 win over Buffalo, not throwing a pass and resting his sore shoulder. The defending AFC Champion Colts have been decimated by injuries to key players on offense and defense and needed a four game winning streak at the end of the season to qualify for the playoffs for an NFL record tying ninth straight season. The Colts have been running the ball better of late and the Jets running game has struggled late in the season. If the Jets win, they play at New England next Sunday. If the Colts win, they will play at Pittsburgh next Saturday. I'd be crazy not to pick Peyton Manning at home in the playoffs.
MY PREDICTION: @ Indianapolis 24, New York Jets 16
ACTUAL RESULT: New York Jets 17, @ Indianapolis Colts 16