And then there were eight…..it’s the Divisional Playoffs in the NFL this weekend, and we’ve got three great games on tap, one of the four I suspect will be fairly decisive, that being the New England Patriots game in Foxboro against the Houston Texans. While I respect the job Houston has done, unfortunately they got the unlucky draw in Tom Brady and the Pats, who rarely lose at home in the NFL Playoffs. Brady has added incentive as one more victory will send him past ex-49ers QB Joe Montana as the winningest playoff QB in history. Sorry, but Houston, “we have a problem”.
In Atlanta, the top-seeded Falcons await the NFL’s “Cinderella” team this season, the Seattle Seahawks, who have a Richmond “connection” in QB Russell Wilson & RB Michael Robinson. The 804 duo helped lead Seattle past the Washington Washington Football Team last weekend, and despite Atlanta’s stellar QB Matt Ryan and a trio of great receivers, this is my upset pick of the weekend. I’m gonna go with my heart on this one and wish much success to our native sons as I pick the Seahawks to roll on into the NFC Championship game next weekend.
A rare West Coast playoff game this weekend as the San Francisco 49ers host the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. The Packers defeated Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings, but the Niners have a deeper arsenal and RB Frank Gore. While the Pack can score and Aaron Rodgers is a heckuva QB, I like San Fran to win on Saturday and for the first time in a while, an all-West Coast NFL championship game between Seattle and the NFC West champs, the 49ers next weekend at Candlestick Park.
Last but not least, The Baltimore Ravens have defense, they have attitude, and they have an emotional leader in the locker room who could be playing the final game of his career on Saturday. Ray Lewis has had a Hall Of Fame career and has the Ravens poised to make another Super Bowl appearance, IF they can get past another future Hall Of Famer in Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning. This is going to be a classic battle of offense vs defense, and at the end of the day, I believe that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS! So I’m rollin’ with the Ravens in a Mile-High upset!
