NFL Divisional Round Playoff Picks

Last week, 8 teams took the gridiron, and 4 came out as winners, leaving me with a quite impressive 3-1 playoff record. This week, I look to go something that the Colts and Saints failed to do this year: go perfect. Let's get straight to the picks, shall we?
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Arizona Cardinals (11-6, 4th seed) vs. New Orleans Saints (13-3, 1st seed), Saturday, 4:30 pm.

After watching last week's record-setting game between the Cardinals and Packers, I was fully convinced that this game would probably be the game of this round. After an NFL playoff record combined 96 points, the Cardinals put up 51 points on the league's second-best defense. Kurt Warner played one of the best games of his career at the tender age of 38, going throwing more touchdowns than incompletions (5 to 4). The league's most efficient offense goes up against a high-powered offense, in what is almost guaranteed to be a high-scoring game.

If the second-best defense allows 51 points, how does a pretty crappy defense hold up?

The huge key factor in this game will be if Anquan Boldin return that sidelined him for last game. If he comes in, the Saints secondary will not only have to focus on a red-hot Larry Fitzgerald, but a tough and extremely dangerous Boldin. Not to mention the up and coming of Steve Breaston, this game should be interesting to see how the Saints line their men up.

The only problem I see with the Cardinals is really, their special teams. After watching Neil Rackers absolutely botch a 34 yard field goal kick to win the game, it has got people uneasy he lines up.

Pick: New Orleans Saints, 48-42.
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Baltimore Ravens (10-7, 6th seed) vs. Indianapolis Colts (14-2, 1st seed), Saturday, 8:15 pm.

The Ravens came into New England, where Tom Brady had a perfect playoff home record, and absolutely embarrassed them, putting a strong halt to the New England reign that took off at really the start of the 2000's. Their running game, Ray Rice being a major part of it, ran all over the Patriots and left them with a bitter taste of what they can now expect out of a much-improved AFC.

The Colts, who have lost 2 straight due to the injury-prevention-strategy, are coming into this one after a month of full play. That could and probably will be a factor in the game, as the Colts may be a little over-rested. However, that still remains to be seen.

In the battle of offense vs. defense, the Colts and Ravens will definitely engage into something that will be a very fiesty fight between two teams known for two opposite areas.

In this game, expect a great running game and great pressure from the Ravens and expect off-the-charts passing by the MVP, Peyton Manning.

Pick: Indianapolis Colts, 31-27.
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Dallas Cowboys (12-5, 3rd seed) vs. Minnesota Vikings (12-4, 2nd seed), Sunday, 1 pm.

As I've said before, any questions that surrounded the inability to win big games in big situations towards Tony Romo have been cleanly swept. Romo, who was the best quarterback in December, throwing for 11 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions, has turned his bad luck upside down, and finally won a playoff game against their divisional rivals, Philadelphia Eagles.

Now, they take their shot and go to Minnesota, to play the Vikings, who have been one of the coldest teams of late.

This game, to me, isn't going to be something of huge interest. The Cowboys D has one of the best rushing attacks in the league, led by none other than DeMarcus Ware. Yes, they do have Adrian Peterson to keep them honest, but it's hard to rush on a unit that is the 4th best when it comes to rush defense.

On the flipside, the Vikings don't have a terrible defense to say the least. They have one of the most feared, probably behind only the Ravens, but I say that they only perform a decent job against the red-hot 'Boys.

Pick: Dallas Cowboys, 34-21.
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New York Jets (10-7, 5th seed) vs. San Diego Chargers (13-3, 2nd seed), Sunday, 4:40 pm.

The Jets were, to me, the sleeper team of the playoffs. They turned heads after beating the Bengals, who clinched the AFC North. They had an extremely efficient running game, and a defense who, although didn't play up to expectations, played like they wanted the game.

They go to San Diego to face the hottest team in the entire NFL. The Chargers finished off the regular season with an 11-0 record, and have never looked better in a long time. Phillip Rivers is having the best year of his life, actually achieving a higher QB rating than Peyton Manning, who was chosen as MVP of the league. Althought LaDainian Tomlinson hasn't gone back to his hall-of-fame form that he was a few years back, he has showed signs of life again, and seems to be near his groove.

The depleted defense of the Chargers, however, is something that hasn't been wiped away. If they can find a way to shut down this 1 rushing unit in the Jets, they will take this game with ease. Don't expect a whole lot though.

Pick: San Diego Chargers, 42-24.