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| Authored by Mike Camerlengo - 11th January, 2006 - 7:22 pm
 On Monday I delivered my picks, at a rather early juncture, for this weekends? AFC Divisional match ups. I took New England over Denver and the Colts over Pitt. The NFL is great, but having to wait a whole week to see the next round is worse than Nick Lachey having to wait until marriage for Jessica Simpson?s goods?. At least in his case, he knew what he was getting. Us on the other hand, can only guess what this weekends? games will bring. And with that, my picks for the NFC divisional games?
Washington @ Seattle
When you take in to consideration Seattle went 13-3 this year, has the league?s MVP in Shaun Alexander, and is playing at home, this contest shouldn?t be much of one. But the Redskins, led by Hall of Famer Coach Joe Gibbs, are looking like a team that is finally clicking. Their defense is coming up big forcing costly turnovers last week against a highly overrated Tampa Bay team and they have the always-dangerous Clinton Portis at running back. But there remains a problem: their offense. Washington scores about as frequently as Steve Urkuel and although Gibbs should author the book ?How to Win a Super Bowl with Anybody at Quarterback?, Mark Brunell doesn?t exactly give me a warm feeling. But this is Seattle, and this is January; meaning Mike Holmgren has not won a playoff game with them in seven seasons. I do expect the game to be very close and if the Skins? find someway to shut down Alexander, they have a shot. But this Seahawks team is different than those of years past. Their receivers are finally catching balls and they look like a team who has learned how to win. And this week, winning is what they shall do. My pick is Seattle in a typical NFC game 24-13.
Carolina @ Chicago
Enjoy watching any possible offense you can for the first three games, because by the time this game is over you will be wondering how two professional teams have such a hard time scoring points. Carolina at Chicago is another interesting game with both teams meeting at the end of November with the Bears totally man-handling the Panthers. But Carolina seems to finally be hitting their stride and looking like the team that went to the Super Bowl two years ago. Their defense is much improved and Jake Delhomme can play well when need be. But their real strength is in the running game and with a guy named Steve Smith at receiver. This past weekend the Giants tried to shut him down but found it almost impossible as Smith dodged double coverage to be a difference maker. The Bears on the other hand, have shown their impressive defense all year, winning the NFC North with an 11-5 mark. Brian Urlacher is the defensive player of the year and remains feared across the middle. Their offensive woes have been chronicled all season with rookie Kyle Orton at QB. But Rex Grossman is back and people in Chicago are treating this like the return MJ to the Bulls. I?m not so sure Grossman is the cure and would even go to say that he is going to throw three, yes count like the owl in the Tootsie roll pop commercial does? one, two, threeeeee interceptions. You might even see Kyle Orton storming in to the game as a late replacement. Chicago has been a nice story all year, but the 85? Bears they ain?t. And for this reason I?m taking Carolina on the road in a slugfest. Carolina 13-Chicago 6.
Those picks are about as solid as the contents of infants diaper, but as of now, that?s all I got for you. Maybe these NFC games will be filled with high-paced play and become an offensive shootout. If that?s the case, that breastfeeding mother just might turn out to be Pamela Anderson instead of the usual Star Jones. See you soon. |
