Wow..... Those guys used absolutely terrible logic to make their picks.
Billick - "Ummmm, Baltimore has already proven they can go into NE and win 2 years ago".
When I might add that both had completely different teams, schemes, personnel.... ect...... ect....... What happened in 2009 doesn't matter one bit to this game moron. That's like saying that it's "good thing the Patriots aren't playing the 2011 Colts in the AFCCG, because back in 2006, NE couldn't beat 2006 Colts in the that game so it stands to reason they can't win this game.
Green - uses the popular "haven't beat a team with a winning record" argument. #1 it not true (Denver was 9-8 when we faced them Saturday). This argument totally ignores that we've been hanging and average of 32 points on every defense we face, which obviously effects total defense stats. Look at Denver...... Take out the two games they played against us (where they got hosed for a total of 86 points), and their defense would actually rate fairly well in the standards (in the top 10 anyway).
You can go right down the line.
Look at Miami......... They are currently ranked 6th defensively in PA.... Take out the 65 points that we hung on them in 2 games and they move up to 3 or 4, which puts them RIGHT on par with where Baltimore is in the only measurable team defense stats that means anything (points allowed).
Go to Philly and find that they are 10th in PA including the 38 we whacked them with in the regular season. Take that out and they are 6th defensively.
Hell, even the Jets get a little little respectible if you take out the 2 azz-whoopings we gave them this year. Their defense goes from 20th in the PA down to tied for 12th with the games we played against them taken out.
Point is....... Playing the New England Patriots dynamic offense that is more likely then not going to hang a minimum of 30 points on you tends to really make your total defensive stats suffer and look bad.