By Joe Moskwa
The playoffs are here, and from the looks of things, this weekend should be entertaining. I absolutely love these match-ups, and it’s hard to not pull for ALL of the teams involved.
Even though I already talked about how slow it can seem to watch a lone NFL game – due to the endless commercials and how long the red-flag challenges are – I’m really looking forward to it. I won’t even mention this again, but there ARE a couple of things I’m still not sold on. First, division winners; I still stand by the fact I believe winning a division is very overrated. Take Tampa Bay for instance. They’re one of my favorite teams, I’ve been to their stadium, I’m a huge Garcia, Galloway fan, but they finished 9-7. 9-7 is okay, but they are HOSTING a first round game? Hosting a 10-6 team? Just because they won a division? It’s like the Giants are being penalized for being in the same division as the Cowboys. This will happen almost every year when the number of divisions in each conference (4) doubles the number of non-division winning wild card teams (2) every year. The same goes for Jacksonville (11-5) traveling up to play in Pittsburgh (Steelers 10-6) this Sunday. C’mon NFL, it should go by record.
The other thing I’m not sold on? The New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl. Now while I’d LOVE to make a bold prediction and pick a specific team that’s going to knock off the PATS (say the Colts), and then stick by it and see it come true. But I’m not doing that. All I’m really saying is the Pats put a lot of energy into the regular season, and there are going to be two VERY powerful AFC teams GUNNING for them soon. My call is the two Patriots games will be close, and I won’t be surprised if they get knocked off. The Jags are sound, and the Colts are still the champs. I’d mention the Chargers here, but I don’t think they are built correctly to knock off this year’s Patriots. The Colts and/or Jags will come closest, and if one of those two makes the Super Bowl, the Colts take the Cowboys, but the Cowboys take out the Jags. If the Pats make the Super Bowl? Blowout win.
Okay, onto the picks.
Saturday
Washington Redskins (9-7) at Seattle Seahawks (10-6) – Waterfowls by 3.5
Maxim magazine picked Joe Gibbs as one of their top five coaches this year – to get fired. Nice call guys. Others mentioned? Coach Crennel of the Browns, and Coach McCarthy of the Packers. See? I’m not the ONLY one making bad picks! Also, my BIGGEST pet peeve around here in Michigan: All the fans that root for the Patriots just because Tom Brady went to Michigan. Yeah that’s real hard to root for the top team. And most of them are women. Drives me nuts. One woman I know went to Michigan State, and she didn’t believe me when I mentioned Brady went to Michigan. The others? Quick, name the quarterback Brady replaced. Hint: He also took the Pats to a Super Bowl. [dead silence]. Who is the QB for the Redskins? [dead silence]. It’s Todd Collins. What college did he attend? [dead silence]. This is what I have to deal with around here. “Visiting season†just passed (that’s where I get stuck going to gatherings on Sundays, and I have to listen to simple-minded statements while football is on), and when I have to hear someone rooting for the Pats and not the ‘Skins, it’s almost the same as rooting for Bill Gates and the big oil companies. Anyway, my point here is: Go Todd Collins. I hope you have a starting job next year. The rest of you? Your fanhood has been revoked.
PICK: Gibbs and the racial slurs! (+3.5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) – Iron City getting 3
Don’t get me started on how the Jags have to fly up to the Steel City. Oh wait, I already got started. Okay, I called the Jags “boring to watch†this year. I did. Well, that’s probably because they play playoff-style football in the regular season. Run, manage the clock, run, manage the clock, play sound defense, play sound defense. All the little things you’ll NEVER see out of the Detroit Lions. I’m looking forward to the Jags taking this one outright.
PICK: Black Cats giving the figgie. (-3)
Sunday
New York Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) – Bucs by 3
Another fun game to watch. I still can’t stress how much I love this week’s games. I’d go to this game… if my wife would let me. Odds of that happening? 0%. Not even 0.5 or 0.7. Zero. Thank god there’s this new invention that I just adore. It’s called the television. And mine will be tuned into channel Tampa this Sunday. Pick? Giants. By about 4. Why? Because I’m calling it now! The MANNING-MANNING Super Bowl! (Just kidding). Eli isn’t quite there yet.
PICK: G-Men and the figgie. (+3)
Tennessee Titans (10-6) at San Diego Chargers (11-5) – Bolts by 10
The Titans released Steve McNair last year because he always seemed to be getting hurt. His replacement? Vince Young. This is like the time a buddy of mine got rid of his black Labrador retriever because she sheds too much, but then he goes out and gets a German shepherd. If Vince Young even plays this Sunday, we won’t know for how long. There’s a good chance a Nittany Lion will be taking some Titan snaps on Sunday. PICK? The Chargers are charged, LT is rolling, and I gotta take the Bolts at home. Covering the spread? Probably not. Only because the Titans had them on the ropes a few weeks back, and Jeff Fisher rarely lets his team lay down.
PICK: Take the Thumbtacks and all those points. (+10)
And here’s a little preview for 2008 you can start paying attention to right now. Quarterbacks to watch for next year in regards to them starting or not, and WHERE they’ll be playing: Steve McNair, Todd Collins, Drew Stanton, Chris Redman, Kurt Warner.
Happy New Year.