Saturday, January 12, 4:30 pm ET
Bal: Joe Flacco
317/531 3817 yds 22 TD
Den: Peyton Manning
400/583 4659 yds 37 TD
Ravens (10-6)
Broncos (13-3) Does anyone expect the Ravens to win this one? I don’t. To be sure, the Ravens have a cagey defense with veterans familiar with Manning. But, they were familiar with Manning and lost to him anyway, in the past. Denver was 7-1 at home and have won their last 11 games. And, they just seem to get better and better. And, while we’re talking defense, Denver’s is pretty darn good, which is more than you can say about the Raven’s offense.
Saturday, January 12, 8:00 pm ET
GB: Aaron Rodgers
371/552 4295 yds 39 TD
SF: C. Kaepernick
136/218 1814 yds 10 TD
Packers (11-5) This is one of the games I’m not comfortable picking. I think man-for-man, the 9ers are the better team. But, the Pack is on a roll, and SF just seems a bit listless compared to earlier in the year. GB did an excellent job containing Joe Webb last week, showing the world they can play against a mobile QB. OTOH, there’s no confusing Webb with Kaepernick. But, then, there’s that other QB, Rodgers. So, I’m picking GB to upset SF. Too close to call! It will come down to execution.
49ers (11-4-1) This is one of the games I’m not comfortable picking. I think man-for-man, the 9ers are the better team. But, the Pack is on a roll, and SF just seems a bit listless compared to earlier in the year. GB did an excellent job containing Joe Webb last week, showing the world they can play against a mobile QB. OTOH, there’s no confusing Webb with Kaepernick. So, I’m going with SF.
Sunday, January 13, 1:00 pm ET
Sea: Russell Wilson
252/393 3118 yds 26 TD
Atl: Matt Ryan
422/615 4719 yds 32 TD
Seahawks (11-5)
Falcons (13-3) This is the other game I don’t like picking. If SF was a bit listless compared to earlier this year, the Falcons are outright lifeless. There’s no denying Seattle is a very good team with an excellent defense. They’ve a fine young QB in Wilson. However, their receiving corps isn’t near Atlanta’s, and Matt Ryan is an excellent QB, himself. But, the reason I’m picking the Falcons is this…. Seahawks’ Lynch expected to play with sprained foot. Lynch is a great player, but don’t expect his usual bounces and cuts. If it slows him down, that will be enough for the Falcons to win.
Sunday, January 13, 4:30 pm ET
Hou: Matt Schaub
350/544 4008 yds 22 TD
NE: Tom Brady
401/637 4827 yds 34 TD
Texans (12-4)
Patriots (12-4) No, I don’t like it. The Pats are a team I love to hate. But, it’s difficult to ignore the recent performances of the Texans. They’re just not the dominate team they were earlier in the year. And, when one considers past performances, we see that Brady has a tendency to do some great work in the playoffs. I think football fans are going to get their wish and see another great Manning/Brady game next week.
Well, that’s how I see it. What do you think?
suyts space 
#1 – Denver is on a roll because their schedule was filled with Patsies once they got by New England (a loss). While I agree with your pick, I think Baltimore can win it, but do not think they will.
#2 – Experience beats inexperience. I agree
#3 – Sorry, Atlanta was NEVER “lifeful” during the year. But they won when they had to and that is what counts in football. I am pulling for Seattle to take it all, but do not think they will. Atlanta here.
#4 – The Texans got to get their act together. They can, they have. But not lately. I have to agree with you, but that does not mean I have to like it.
I’m pulling for the ‘hawks, too. I just don’t think they’ll get there. Especially if Lynch’s foot even moderately effects his running.
Yeah, Manning has beaten that Baltimore defense several times in the past. And they aren’t getting younger. Even though he’s not my QB anymore, would like to see him get another ring.
If you want him to get another ring, buy him a box of cracker jacks. 😉
He seems to prefer Papa John’s…. 🙂
They say the Seahawks will go all the way. However, your picks look pretty good. That’s the way I would bet if I was putting money down.
Jim
I’ll play a pool for a couple bucks, but I do not bet either.
It’s such an addictive game!
Yeh, if I had to put money down…. But, that SF GB game is a toss up in my mind.
Two beautiful TD passes from Peyton Manning so far.
No doubt! Ravens are very lucky to have it this close. Flacco had an excellent pass and then what should have been interference to a TD.
You know, I thought that was interference too. The Raven defender pulled down on the Bronco recivers left arm before the ball got there.
Wow, just saw that cool knock down by #25 Bronco corner!
On the bomb to #88, Thomas, of Denver, that was incomplete, the Raven, #29, was beaten and whipped his leg around and tripped Thomas. No call.
Denver ended up scoring on that drive, pass to Stokley.
Yeh, the refs had a couple of series which they didn’t call some fairly obvious calls.
Well, maybe you’re letting your personal feelings about the Smith/Kaepernick switch affect your pick. Your first instinct which you crossed out may have been right.
😉
Could be. It’s a difficult call.
Green Bay hasn’t been playing well lately.
SF beat GB worse in week one than the score showed. GB offense basically did nothing against the SF defense. I can’t see how it will be much different.
I think the SF loss to Seattle is still on people’s mind. But I think that game was an aberration to what SF truly is. SF may seem listless. But they always see listless—except for flashes of excitement on defense.
I don’t trust the GB defense.
I’m taking SF.
I take Rogers over Kaepernick. He was not playing that first week.
We get to find out tonight!
Yes, good one to watch.
I’m out of beer.
LOL, me too!!! I went to go get some and a snack at halftime, but, I’m having extremely normal weather here in Kansas, so I’m letting my truck warm up and hopefully melt some of that ice off my windshield before I run out and get some!
That fumble is killer. It could be what tilts the scales. Baltimore is going to need a big break, like an int, or a kick returned for a TD. Or turn out the lights.
Opps, I thought they just got that break. But a penalty.
We’ll see if Balt. can dig out of the hole they just dug for themselves.
Do I hear the theme from Jeopardy…………………………………………….
Um, think that was tuck rule….
It’ll be interesting how it’s ruled.
Thought it was tuck rule still
Me too.
No such thing. Only used once in history. And we know when that was.
Well, i saw it used a couple weeks ago. And I think the ruler makes sense. It takes the call away from the judgement of each individual official.
Or, was supposed to.
We will never agree. As I said, the rule has only been used once in the history of football that it mattered. The fix was in. Still is as well. It is a bad rule with no basis in reality except to make sure the team you want wins.
4th qtr belongs to Peyton Manning.
Experience over inexperience. Broncos will probably win. But they know they have been in a game.
Sounds right. This game is closer than I thought it would be.
Manning is that good. But he also had a year off.
This has been a great game to watch in spite of the officiating.
REALLY NICE fake hand off by Manning. The defense bit!
Yep!
Boy these little things by Baltimore, motion penalty, dink pass thrown behind the reciever, calling TO to avoid delay of game, All these little loose ends are a reflection of coaching.
Flicking good defense to knock away the 4th down pass!
Defense by the Denver db i meant on the last line.
It was excellent D. I would have passed on that 2nd down play.
Peyton may be great, but the Denver D sure is not!
Man, bad angle by the safety, He could have intercepted it.
The players are suffering from hypothermia. The brain is not working at 100%
Unbelievable lapse!! Yes, horrible angle…… stupid!!!
31 secs
can Peyton pull it off again
ahhhhhh, no time for a beer run!
Why wouldn’t you run a play or two?
Slippery ball maybe. Peyton wont take chances
Plus Peyton knows he can do it. And a TD now wins it, with no rush on time.
You’re taking a chance by sending it to OT. Now the Ravens have the advantage by having the ball first. And, as we’ve seen, Denver’s D makes lapses in judgement. I’d rather put the game on Manning’s shoulders than their D.
I bet they wished they’d run a play or two now!
Peyton can’t play defense as well, can he…. I saw this a lot during the Indy years….
I don’t think he controlled the ball before hitting out of bounds.
The ball never stopped moving. He never had control.
That’s the problem with the instant replay . It still is a judgement call.
I agree, but they ruled it complete.
Not really good officiating today.
Ok, it’s BAD officiating today!!
Yep, nothing there but good defense
Denver dodged a big one there!
YES they did!
Huh, looks like it didnt touch ground.
Great punt coverage!!!
Yeah, it was.
Delay of game????? Head scratcher.
Kaepernick throws pick 6. So far youre right James.
Uhhggg!!!! This OT game is screwing with my schedule!!! Holiday runs the wrong way!!!!
no
If it goes to a second OT does each team get a fresh 3 to’s?
No. DAMN! NE will play another home game,
Kaepernick redeems himself!
Didn’t know one could take a practice FG between qtrs.
Didn’t know that either……. Denver out-stupided Balt. Great game, but too many mistakes by Denver to overcome.
The officials decided this game. They did a poor job. They took it away from Denver. The game should not have gone to OT.
Well, I didn’t like the officiating either, but, they didn’t throw that int, and they didn’t tell the safety to go to sleep with just seconds left in the game.
There were calls made or not made that kept Baltimore alive. None of the bad calls or non-calls went Denvers way. The game shouldn’t have balanced on a blown coverage by one team. But the officiating made it that way. It is a rare day when officiating decides a game. But today it did decide it.
To give up that long TD pass in the final seconds was inexcusable. Yes, Peyton made a bad throw later in OT, but the game should have been long over.
If I was a Denver player I would have knelt down between the ball and the kicker wherever they placed the ball for that practice FG.
I would have to…… practiced blocking a kick from one foot away.
LOL
But I would have sat right in front of the ball where the kicker kicks it. He wouldnt have seen the ball, just my pretty face. 😉
CHALK ONE UP TO THE OFFICIALS. THEY DECIDED THE GAME WITH THEIR POOR CALLS.
What is this? A conspiracy of stupid to make sure my picks are wrong? I bet they wish Cobb was returning punts now!!
Rogers just confirmed my suspicions!!
What did you suspect?
That there is a conspiracy of stupid to make sure my picks are wrong. 😦
But, now we see Kaepernick is bringing some very strong stupid himself!
That Mr Crabtree is a bit good.
Does he adjust for relativistic mass increase? K is firing them out of a 155mm howitzer right now.
Yeh, and that last TD was laser accurate!
Rogers showed off his cannon on that drive, as well.
He is Howitzer hard. That’s a degree below Favre hard.
True, true. I rather liked watching GB games with Mr Favre.
This one is not bad either.
So far, these games have been very good contests! The first was a diminished by the poor officiating, but a great game nonetheless. And at halftime, this hasn’t disappointed either.
Smith must really hate it when that happens.
LOL, I bet he does.
LOL
Well, containment on an option play is such a tricky concept.. No reason to expect a professional football player to be familiar with the idea..
I swear, I’m going to write a post on how to defend that play.
No reason to expect a professional football player to be familiar with the idea..
LOL!
The whole GB defense went with the hand off to the ball carrier. Just one thing: the QB had the ball. The galloping Kaepernick!
It’s impossible for me to believe the Pack doesn’t have someone assigned to shadow K on those plays.
GB’s defense hasn’t been good since the Super Bowl year.
Right, but this is basic defense against a mobile QB such as K.
It keeps on happening. OK, Rogers got one back, but Kaepernick has what 165 yds running so far? Did I read it right? Whew!
You know, I can’t take anything away from Kaepernick’s ability. He’s a great talent, but 165yds from a QB? That’s just a horrible defensive scheme.
Good thing that GB db grabbed Davis—that would have been a td!
Someone needs to send Capers a note and tell him Hawk can’t cover Davis, he might want one of the safeties to help out on that one.
Game isn’t over, but the fat lady is warming up.
Will K have 200 yds rushing and 300 passing?
LOL, the niners weren’t going to snap the ball. Pack gave them the first.
Suckered. 49ers have them psyched out right now.
Fox had a shot earlier of Clay Matthews looking around ‘where d’it go?’ Not often Matthews is fooled.
Often enough today!
Zero out of two today. I hope it’s zero out of four tomorrow. 😉
Jim
Lol, I’m hoping no one bet the bank on my picks!!! It’s a sad position for me. I hope I miss the picks tomorrow as well.
Today, I saw some strange play and some stupid play. Stupid beat the Pack today. Though, I don’t wish to take anything away from the good play of the niners.
Seattle didn’t look so physical on that drive. No 12th man.
Seattle 3 and out, plus a procedure penalty, plus bad punt, Reality setting in,
Reality Bites.
Maybe they’ll settle down.
Looks like Atlanta really wants this game. Odd for Marshan Lynch to fumble. Hard hit to the ball.
I think the home atmoshpere, all that noise, juices them up. No juice for them in Atlanta.
I think the crowd is a big part of Seattle’s success.
Really thought Seattle was going to lose from the get go then they came back and the Ref gave it to Atlanta on the field goal call. They should of taken the first field goal they kicked . He missed it by alot, but no they had to let him kick it again to let Atlanta win. Oh well both my teams out now so don’t care who wins now. 😦
Well, Seattle had a great season. They’ll be back next year.
Seattle comes back down to earth………
#29 of Seattle—sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug!
LMAO!!!!
Gambled 4th and 1, snake eyes!
Stupid….. take the FG and get some points on the board!!
And why not take advantage of Wilson’s legs on 3rd? Roll him out with the option to pass or run, sending the receivers to the endzone!!!
On 4th down too. I would have faked the hand off to the FB and then faked to the TB to freeze the defense again. Then either a pass, or your good idea, roll out Wilson. The guys been known to run now n again.
Bet they wish they had 3 points on the board now!
I think ATL wants to finally show they can do something in the playoffs.
I think they’re showing it.
Wow, what a turn around at the last 21 secs of the half!
It’s the attack of the stupid!!! Seattle could easily have 6 on the board making it only a two possession game….. now. They better have something special in the locker room.
They won’t have it there either. If not for RGIII knee it would be Washington here today.
Speaking of that knee did you see this joke?
http://mobilwi.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a6dde087970b017d3fc66b58970c-800wi
LOL, that’s sad!
That shovel pass was cool as Fonzie!
It’s pretty early for a Don Meridith serenade, but, it’s starting to look like the “party’s over”.
are the ‘hawks reading our comments? They should have run that play when I told them to!!
If only they had logged onto suyts NFL post today. What a shame
Pretty obvious pass interference on the intended reciver on the interception.
Refs blind this weekend??
Oh-oh…. stupid has swung to the Falcons!!! The Seahawks can make this a game if they score!!!
What in the world? First the Falcons run an end around when they’re being successful running straight at them, then Ryan throws the ball to the other team giving them a chance to get right back in the ball game……. Stupid attacking the Falcons with a vengeance!!!!
#23 of Seattle flagrantly interfered with the reciever. We can pass the hat to buy glasses for the refs this weekend.
I can’t believe I’m watching another game where the refs incidentally help the lesser team back into the game.
IDK about this one. This is all Falcon stupidity. And piss poor tackling.
Well, true also. Never underestimate the ability of the Atlanta coaching staff to squander the work of Matt Ryan.
Well, Ryan shouldn’t have thrown that ball, but the play caller needs slapped. Good for Seattle to seize the opportunity, but it should have never been given to them.
Well, on the replaty watch for 23 of Seattle blocking the reciver from getting to the ball. I’m blaming it on the officiating for missing that clear and easy to spot penatly.
I thought that good defense. When I played corner that’s the way I played the deep passes if I was infront of the receivers.
It’s interfering with the reciever getting to the ball. Place the ball at the spot of the foul because the ball was in the air. 1st down Atlanta. But not this weekend.
Not if the defender has position first.
The reciver has the right to the ball, the defender slowed down and made contact, intentionally, to slow the reciver down. The defender was not going for the ball. He was going for impeding the reciever. It was pass interfence. 1st down for Atlanta. The refs blew it.
It’s the defenders fault the receiver is faster than the defender? The defender if positioned first, has as much right to the territory as the receiver.
Ok, but the defender intentionally slowed down the reciver. If it had happened in the act of getting to the ball it would have been ok. But the defender wasn’t trying to get to the ball. He went toward the reciver who had the right to an uninterfered chance at the ball. The defender intentionally interfered. so it was a spot of the foul penalty. 1st down for Atlanta.
The defender has the right to the ball. He wasn’t going for the ball. This wasn’t incidental contact. It was intended to intefere with the offense.
Atlanta coaching, continuing to drive the final nails in the coffin. Good job boys.
LOL, they need every man!!!!
Stupid is running rampant on Atlanta!!!
Like I said, I don’t trust the coaching staff of Atlanta.
Matt Ryan, once again, has to pull this team out of the fire. They have plenty of time to get a fird goal. Seattle left too much time on the clock. Atlanta can still win in spite of all the efforts of the coaches to FUBAR it.
Holy Crap!… I spoke too soon. ATL still can’t seem to do it in playoffs.
30 more yds for a field goal.
ohhh, 10 yds for a field goal
Smith still dummied up. Why didn’t they let the clock run down to where they don’t have to kick to them?
Fantastic game!
Why? Because the coaching staff of Atlanta works hard to blow the efforts of the best clutch QB of all time. Not only didn’t they run the clock down but they did an onside kick. No words can describe this bizarre behavior.
I shouldnt say works hard to blow his efforts.Thats just frustration watching them be incompetent at coaching year after year. Matt Ryans great play has saved those coaches from being exposed for the level they really are at and thus getting fired.
FG RANGE!!!
Matt Ryan DOES IT AGAIN
They should take one shot at the end zone
Matt Ryan, best clutch QB i ever saw!!!!
Thanks Pete for that practice kick.
STUPID COACHING, WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HAND THE GAME TO SEATTLE!!!
sensless onside kick
I was in shock at that play. Atlanta coaching did their level best to lose that game.
Amen
Lol, I ran out of smokes at the end of that game…… What a bizarre sequence of events.
NE had a quick snap at the goal line? Shocker……. why aren’t teams ready for that play either?
LOL, no one cares about NE and Texas?
Oh, sorry, just woke up, nap
You didn’t miss anything but more stupid. Texans were surprised by Brady’s quick snap….. over and over again. Vereen scored 3 TD’s mostly because the D coach doesn’t understand linebackers can’t cover him one-on-one on deep passes. Clock management was….. perplexing, and the play calling was even more… incoherent.
Houston is the more talented team. They’re not the best coached team.
Schottenhiemer, paging Marty Schottenheimer.
I can imagine awesome things with him together with Matt Ryan. 🙂
I watched part of it and thought ‘Houston, we have a problem’. Texans weren’t in the game.
They certainly weren’t ready for what they got. But, they should have been.
Yeah, coz that coach has had years of shots at the big one. The ownership may grow wearing of building a very talented team but not having the coaches fullfilling that potential.
The coaches haven’t impressed me during these playoffs.
Why wouldn’t you have a linebacker covering Vereen on a deep pass?
Raspberries.
Jim
Yeh….. there’s a lot to say about the games this weekend, but, raspberries sums it up well.
I think the Atlanta defense won’t be able to stop both Kaepernick and Gore. One or the other, and probably both, will have a big day. How to stop Matt Ryan? Have him spend lots of time on the sidelines watching the Niners offense control the clock.
They were exposed to the QB, but Seattle didn’t take advantage. K will destroy them. But that isn’t the question. The question is which coach will be the most stupid. I’m giving the edge to Smith ….for now. Meaning that Smith will out stupid dude.
#1 – As soon as Baltimore won, that queered the SF/GB prediction. The Harbaughs win together and lose together (I expect both to lose this weekend coming up).
#2 – The Atlanta game played out almost exactly as I expected. That is how a good team becomes a great team. I was amused they flashed up the stat about Week 5 and the Raiders. If you do not play 60 minutes, do not expect to win.
#3 – The snoozer was NE/Hou. That one played out exactly according to script.