Jets X
Bengals
I like the Jets D. They have maybe the best unit in the AFC. The Bengals looked terrible on O in the last meeting and I look for a similar outcome this week.
Ravens X
Patriots
Same thing here, the Ravens D will dominate this game. Without Wes Welker, Randy Moss gets double teamed and the Ravens D will shut down Tom Brady in the passing game and do the same on the Pats below average running game.
Eagles X
Cowboys
I know the Cowboys spanked them this past week but I believe the Eagles rise up and upset them this week. Tony Romo is a notorious choke artist, look for him to do it again in this game.
Packers X
Cardinals
This one is a tough one for me personally. I like both teams as a fan. The Cardinals have always been my favorite NFC team going clear back to when they were in St. Louis. My gut tells even though I’d like to see the Cardinals win this one the Packers come in a much more talented and hungry team. Right now a very good argument could be made that Aaron Rodgers is playing the best football of any QB in the NFC going into the playoffs and that includes Brett Favre and Drew Brees.
I put Rodgers very high on all my fantasy draft lists this year and I was so happy that my hunch about just how well he would play this season worked out for me. He was my starting QB in over half of the 12 fantasy leagues I was in. He also led my team to a victory in the one money league I played in so I’m very high on Rodgers. I want a Cards win in this one but just don’t think they can pull out another great postseason miracle like last year.
My Preseason Picks for 2009:
NFC NORTH
Division Winner: Green Bay Packers
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions
NFC SOUTH
Division Winner: New Orleans Saints
NFC Champion
2. Atlanta Flacons Wildcard
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC EAST
Division Winner: New York Giants
2. Philadelphia Eagles Wildcard
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Washington Redskins
NFC WEST
Division Winner: Arizona Cardinals
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. St. Louis Rams
AFC NORTH
Division Winner: Baltimore Ravens
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Cleveland Browns
AFC SOUTH
Division Winner: Indianapolis Colts
AFC Champion & Super Bowl Champion
2. Houston Texans Wildcard
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC EAST
Division Winner: Miami Dolphins
2. New England Patriots Wildcard
3. Buffalo Bills
4. New York Jets
AFC WEST
Division Winner: San Diego Chargers
2. Oakland Raiders
3. Denver Broncos
4. Kansas City Chiefs
My prediction about who would be the best teams in both the NFC and AFC were spot on. I still like my picks. Since both the Colts and the Saints have home field advantage throughout the playoffs I see them both in the Super Bowl with the Colts winning it.
I know the Saints have stumbled down the stretch but I believe they come out like a house a fire when they host their first playoff game and march to the Super Bowl with relative ease.
As for the Colts, I think way to many people have underestimated just how good this team is. Peyton Manning is the smartest big game player (the smartest player in the NFL period) in the playoffs and even though this Colts team doesn’t have the same talent as the last Super Bowl unit I give the Colts the edge based on Manning’s leadership, experience and intelligence alone.
My sentimental pick is of course the Arizona Cardinals to win the whole thing. Will they win it? Very doubtful. They don’t have much of running game, they’ve got injuries to key players that get them beat by the Packers.
My sentimental pick for an AFC team would be the San Diego Chargers. I hate Philip Rivers to be sure but if any team is long overdue in the AFC it would be them. Personally I don’t believe their defense will play well enough to get them there. Yea, they have the O but as we've seen time again the teams who play great defense and mistake free offense in the playoffs usually come out the victor.
Who do you guys like and why? I’m interested.
