NFL Divisional Weekend

Baltimore (13-4) at Pittsburgh (12-4)           
Saturday 4:30PM



The newly engaged (Yes...you read that correctly) Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers on their home field against the high-flying Baltimore Ravens. How great are the AFC playoffs this year? This is the matchup I most look forward to this weekend, as both teams have the balance on both sides of the ball consistent with a Super Bowl team.

The Ravens are hoping these two can lead them to dominance on each side of the ball.

The Ravens have just a few more offensive weapons than the Steelers, but Big Ben is the great equalizer. With the Saints and Colts both eliminated last weekend, the Pats and Steelers are the only remaining teams that run out a Super Bowl Champion QB this week. In the playoffs, that matters a lot. By the way...he seriously is engaged.

In the year's greatest underdog story, Big Ben managed to nab this chick as the one he can molest for the rest of his life. Way to go, bro. You've come a long way since your "Drink Like a Champion" days (see "Best in AFC" blog).

This is a must-see game that could end up as a playoff classic. Many are picking the Ravens (and some have picked them as the AFC Super Bowl representative) but I find it very hard to pick against the Steelers at home in the playoffs. Both teams have very good defenses, and since they are both AFC North teams, they know each other well. Translation - low scoring game.

THE PICK: Steelers 17, Ravens 13

Green Bay (11-6) at Atlanta (13-3)                

Saturday 8:00PM


Everybody LOVES the Pack in the NFC (except me last week, apparently). They are the trendy pick to make a run and quite honestly, the fact that James Starks went nuts in Philly last week is a very good sign for them. They have the best defense of any remaining team in the NFC, and they could be playing their best football at the right time.

James Starks saw the field so little this regular season, it was hard to even find this picture of him IN uniform. He proved last weekend that he can be a difference maker, and he could be the key to the Packers hopes of advancement.

The Falcons have almost been a forgotten team this year when some mention the league's elite. They have been extremely successful, but seem to lack that defining moment this year that makes people say "Wow, the Falcons are the real deal..." Just to give you an idea, the Packers had that moment (beating the Giants and Bears in consecutive weeks to make the playoffs). They had some quality wins (Ravens), but did not seem to gain much notoriety, despite winning the most competitive division in the NFC.


Maybe the Falcons haven't gotten that much recognition because their coach's name is "Mike Smith".  As vanilla as his name is, this guy can coach.

I picked them weeks ago to go to the Super Bowl in my "Best in the NFC" blog, and I'm sticking with the pick. They control the time of possession clock with Turner, and Matty Ice is able to find White and Tony Gonzalez enough in the passing game to get the Falcons to the NFC Championship.

THE PICK: Falcons 35, Packers 28   

Seattle (8-9) at Chicago (11-5)                  
Sunday 1:00PM

 I'm going to make this statement with a straight face, and with some conviction. The Seattle Seahawks have a legitimate shot to HOST the NFC Championship game. If they are able to keep it rolling against Chicago, and the Packers upset the Falcons, Qwest Field is getting the NFC title game.

Hmm..In school they always taught me that a "u" must come after a Q....what the hell? 

So that's the rah-rah involving the Seahawks, but did you seriously think that I would blog about this game without pointing out that Bears QB Jay Cutler is a total douche. My loyal readers know exactly how the Pepevibe feels about Cutler, and I'm sticking to it. He stinks, takes risks, and is not a Super Bowl QB.

Rumor has it that the Seahawks D will be wearing these under their pads this weekend to properly greet Jay Cutler. See the "Best in the NFC" blog for a particularly douchey picture of Cutler.

Unfortunately, the Bears D is just too damn good for Seattle to do to it what it did to New Orleans. And so, we wait another week for Cutler to be exposed. Make no bones about it, I'll be rooting HARD for the Seahawks in this one, but it will take another miracle...

THE PICK: Bears 31, Seahawks 10

New York Jets (12-5) at New England Patriots (14-2)                
Sunday 4:30PM



OK, here we go. All week long, Jets fans have BEGGED me not to pick the Jets to win. Maybe it had something to do with my 0-4 showing in the wild card games. I dogged both the Jets and Nick Folk, and both proved me wrong....thanks in part to Jim Caldwell's Herman Edwards-like clock management.

Sorry Jets fans, but this guy screwed me so many times as a Cowboy that I just figured it was inevitable. I guess he screwed me again by making the kick that sent me to 0-4 on my picks.

This game has generated such a buzz in the New York area, but the Jets are honestly up against it this week. In Week Two, the Jets thumped the Pats 28-14 and looked good doing it. At the time, it looked as though the balance of power was shifting in the AFC East. However, after some uninspired wins (Broncos, Lions, Browns) that were almost losses, the Jets hardly looked like an AFC power.

True to form, Brady and company embarrassed and humiliated Gang Green on a national stage. The Jets looked lost and the Patriots looked unstoppable. They might be. The amazing thing is that the Pats are rolling with almost no other "big names" on offense. They are a collection of role players with puppet master Tom Brady orchestrating a well-oiled offensive machine.

Tom Brady promised to throw at Antonio Cromartie 10 times on Sunday - once for each of his kids. Wait, where are the other 7?

The Jets need a big day on the ground in order to control the clock and keep it out of Brady's hands. They have proven that they are capable of going into Foxboro and winning, but they haven't done it in the playoffs. They get their shot this weekend to change the tide.


Moxie, swagger, and confidence go a long way at this stage in the game, and the Jets have the playoff experience to hang (within 30 minutes of the Super Bowl last season).

I picked the Patriots earlier in the year to come out of the AFC and win the Super Bowl, but I have to take this opportunity to tweak the Jet fan. Especially after receiving so many "0-4" texts after last weeks picks.

Sorry Jets fans, but...

THE PICK: Jets 31, Patriots 21