NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round

It’s Week 2 of the playoffs, also known as the Divisional Round, and 8 teams remain. We, as fans, were treated to one entertaining game this weekend and at first that game (GB vs. ARI) was looking like a blowout. I need some entertainment this weekend and I think we will get our fill. If we don’t get the close games we are looking for, atleast we can expect some pricless facial expressions that Wade Phillips and Brad Childress will bear on the sidelines.

I think the real question this weekend is… How will Saints, Vikings, Chargers, and Colts rebound after having a week off?  

Here are the standings after our 40oz experts and guests did battle in the Wildcard Round…it seems as if the experts aren’t quite experts…

Standings

Buddah                        3-1

Juice Springsteen      3-1

Drunken Jets Fans     3-1

Spi “The Greek”           2-2

Cooney                          1-3

Ryter                              1-3  

Here’s a breakdown of this week’s games and some very insightful information…

Cards +7 @ Saints - Saturday 4:30

Buddah: Give it up Kurt Warner, give it up (Saints)

Juice Springsteen: Saints win in a rout mainly due to the Cardinals d-backs being more fixated on figuring out what that thing on Brees’ face is then covering their assignments. (Saints) 

Drunken Jets Fans: Welp, Kurt basically blasted all over my face after my comments from the previous week, but I believe his time is up. With Darren Sharper roaming deep, look for a possible 5 INT weekend, with D. Sharp returning 3 for TD’s since that’s all he does. The Saints have been salivating for two weeks now; this game is over by halftime. (Saints)

Spi “The Greek”: This will be another high-scoring match-up that will possibly threaten the record of points scored last week.  Kurt Warner when asked to hand the ball off “not now chief, I’m in the zone”.  My guess is that Brees and co. will put up more points and will have the advantage of a jacked up home crowd.  Saints win, and I’m taking the over in this one. (Saints)

Cooney: Kurt Warner continues to impress and surpass expectations each year. Even without Boldin they put up a 50 spot on the Packers last week. The Saints have not played well in a month and have lost some of the luster they had earlier in the season. Depending on what Cards team shows up, they could have a shot to win this outright. (Cards) 

Ryter: When was the last time New Orleans was this excited about a game? The crowd will play a factor. Both teams have an abundance of weapons on offense. This may very well be Warner’s last game and he will go down swinging. However, Brees has the entire city behind him and will out-duel Warner. In the end though it comes down to D. The Cardinals defense looked awful last weekend and I think the Saints D will make plays. (Saints)

Ravens +6.5 @ Colts – Saturday 8:15 

Buddah: They will cover, however Peyton just won a record 4th MVP so….. (Ravens)

Juice Springsteen: Ravens cover against the colts…Ray Lewis commits yet another murder this time finishing off Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark using a water bottle…don’t ask me how he did it…. (Ravens) 

Drunken Jets Fans: See Ray Run anyone? My man crush on Ray Ray just keeps growing every single week; really, your first play from scrimmage is an 83 yd TD against the Pats in Foxboro? The Colts Run D is suspect at best, and I look for a follow up performance by the Ravens D. Oh no, not Curtis Painter….Either way, this game is coming down to a late field goal. (Ravens)

Spi “The Greek”: I think this game is going to be a close and I can see Baltimore winning.  They are fresh off a dismantling of the Pats at their place and their defense has gained a lot of confidence from that.  Ray Rice is looking like a beast and if the Colts can’t stop him, the Ravens will be on their way to the AFC Championship.  My guess is that Peyton shows the world once again why he is the MVP and picks a part a suspect Ravens secondary.  Colts win in a close one. (Ravens)

Cooney:  Even though Baltimore won convincingly over the Pats last week, Joe Flacco was basically a hand off machine. I don’t trust Flacco to make a play when the Ravens will need one this one. The Ravens commit entirely too many penalties and will give the Colts numerous second chances. Peyton Manning will put up points and the Colts have a much improved run defense this year. The Colts cover and advance into the AFC championship. (Colts) 

Ryter: I picked against the Ravens last week and can’t do it again. The Colts are the better team and may win the game, however the Ravens run game will control the tempo and keep them close. The Ray boys, Lewis and Rice of course, are both beasts. I think resting players at the end of the year can take away some momentum and speaking of momentum, the Ravens are getting hot at the right time. Ravens D may not be as good as they were in 2000, but Flacco is an upgrade over Dilfer. (Ravens)

Cowboys +2.5 @ Vikings – Sunday 1:00 

Buddah: As much as I hate to say it, Favre will teach Romo a couple more lessons (Vikings) 

Juice Springsteen: Dallas wins at Minny despite Wade Phillips being in the bathroom changing his poop sacks for the majority of the game (Cowboys) 

Drunken Jets Fans: Toughest game of the week in my opinion. Cowboys have yet to let up a 100 yd rusher all season, the D has been playing out of their minds as of late, and Mr. Romo seems to be playing the way Cowboys fans have been praying he would since he broke up with Tits. Look for the Vikes to get down early, and Brett letting his ego take over quickly ruining the game plan, as well as the Vikings Super Bowl hopes.  (Cowboys)

Spi “The Greek”: In my opinion, this is the toughest game of the weekend to pick.  The Cowboys are the hottest team in the playoffs right now after torching the Eagles 2 weeks in a row.  I think this game will be a defensive battle with both teams sporting above average defenses and running games.  It will not be as easy for the ‘Boys to run in this game with the Williams Wall in the middle of the Vikings defense.  I say Peterson has a monster game and if Favre doesn’t make a bunch of stupid throws, the Vikings will win at home. (Vikings)

Cooney: As hard as it is for me to admit, the Cowboys are the hottest team playing right now. Tony Romo has finally stopped trying to be Brett Favre 2.0 and is making big time plays. The development of Garfield’s own Miles Austin has made this offense much more dynamic. Favre is notoriously bad in big time games and I doubt his feud with Childress over play calling is over. I envision 2-3 turnovers from Favre and 3-5 grimaces from Childress. (Cowboys) 

Ryter: Crap, I hate picking other NFC East teams. Like the Ravens in the AFC, the Cowboys are getting hot at the right time. I don’t trust Favre. I realize he was playing “hurt” last year, but I simply don’t trust 50 year old Favre, maybe if he was 25. Roy Williams played better last week and I think he has an even bigger game this weekend. (Cowboys)

Jets +7.5 @ Chargers – Sunday 4:40

Buddah: LT will have his helmet on standing on the sidelines midway through the first quarter (Jets) 

Juice Springsteen: Rex Ryan is a fat bastard with more chins then a Chinese phonebook…Norv “crater face” Turner and his bolts win convincingly (Chargers)

Drunken Jets Fans: I think I was the Drunkest Jet fan last Saturday, and that’s a god damn accomplishment. My boys came to play, with the D proving why they finished the year ranked # 1. The Jets have to be confident going against the 20^th ranked rush defense, and Thomas Jones should ready to go after a quiet week. If the Jets end up winning time of possession, the Jets will win this game by 10. Swaggerlicious they are….. (Jets)

Spi “The Greek”: The Jets defense is looking good so even if the Chargers win, I expect this one to be close.  This game, just like last game, will rest on Mark Sanchez.  If he can take care of the ball and take advantage of the few shots the Jets take downfield, the Jets can win this game.  They are running the ball very well and I don’t expect things to be different against an average Chargers defense.  Philip Rivers is playing the best football of his career right now and can be the difference in this game.  Vincent Jackson will have a tough go at it against Darrell “the island” Revis, so look for Antonio Gates to have a big game.  Upset pick: Jets win! (Jets)

Cooney: The Jets strength is obviously running the football and limiting mistakes. The Chargers struggle at stopping the run and this will allow the Jets to control the clock. But, the Chargers dynamic pass offense can put up points in a hurry. Look for a big day from Gates and Macolm Floyd. Chargers win but in a close one. (Jets) 

Ryter: I’m still not buying the Jets. Revis will keep Vincent Jackson in check, but I think Malcolm Floyd has a big day. I think the added pressure of playing in southern California will get to Sanchez and he will make a few big mistakes. Everything inside of me wants me to believe in the Jets, I just don’t…(Chargers)