Colts (6) @ Texans (3) - A lot of people are predicting Indy to win this game. I don't see it. I don't think Indy squeaks out 2 wins @ Houston in a row. Indy has a good offense but it is predictable. Houston did a much better job defending in the 2nd time. I think they will do even better the 3rd. If you slow down both Hilton and Ebron they don't have any other good pass catching options. Yes they can run but I don't believe the run game wins it for you usually in the playoffs. Houston to me has a bit of a more balanced attack with their depth options and I expect the 3rd match (and 2nd one in about a month) to favor the better defense - Texans 24 Colts 21
Chargers (5) @ Ravens (4) - I am not buying into the Ravens even with that D. I don't care if they are at home. They are predictable on both sides of the ball. The Chargers are the better team and have a good offensive line. That is the key to slowing down the Ravens defense. They are pass rush and blitz based. I expect a low scoring game by both sides. Chargers 24 Ravens 17.
Seahawks (5) @ Cowboys (4) - These are the 2 teams I wanted to not play each other early as both have looks pretty good recently and turned their season around. Both are arguably more dangerous than the Bears right now to the top NFC teams. In the end I think Seattle is a tad better but Dallas has been very good at home. I think the home D wins this game. Cowboys 20 Seahawks 17
Philly (6) @ Chicago (3) - Nothing much to talk about here. Simply not buying on the Eagles this year. The Bears will hold serve at home with the only play out win of this round. Bears 30 Philly 13
So only 1 away team wins in that round.
Texans (3) @ Patriots (2) - This is the match I am hoping for personally. The Texans have improved but Brady seems to own that D. On defense BB knows all he needs to do is stop Jackson from running and limit Hopkins to hold them down. He will hammer it home all week. The Pats aren't losing to this team at home. Patriots 33 Texans 20
Chargers (5) @ Chiefs (1) - This is the match up KC didn't want. I will be hoping for the Chargers to pull this out. KC has done well at home but haven't faced a lot of hard teams at home. They haven't done well vs hard teams in general. They beat the Chargers and Steelers early on. Since then they have lost to every winning team they played besides the Ravens (at home). It is worth noting all those loses and the win against the Ravens were 1 score games... usually 3 points or less. It is also worth point out most of their loses to the other good teams were on the road and not home. This to me is a toss up. SD won by one point last time they played but that was not in KC. SD has been a very good road team though all year (7-1). High flying offenses tend to come down to earth in the playoffs but who knows. I'll flip a coin and say SD wins. SD 33 KC 30
Cowboys (4) @ Saints (1) - No need to waste time. The Saints are just better and at home. They aren't losing in the divisional round again. Saints 30 Cowboys 20
Bears (3) @ Rams (2) - The Bears slow down the Rams but not enough. Also the Rams expose what is not a very good offenses regardless of what the Stats say. Rams 27 Bears 20
Chargers @ Pats - I won't spend much time here. I'll only say this. The Pats better home they get this match up. I'm not saying for sure they beat SD but they have been much better at home than on the road and have been arguably the best home team all year. If they get KC I think I need to pick again them. Luckily in this prediction I don't. Pats 30 Chargers 27
Rams @ Saints - I don't see how this match up doesn't happen. They have been imo the 2 best teams in the NFL all year and are on a collision course. Saints got home field though and they beat them last time. The Saints to me look hard to stop this year. Saints 40 Rams 34 in a dome game where the NFL encourages 2 offensive teams to score points after a mostly defensive playoffs (by putting in officials which are quick to toss flags on defensive holding and PI.
Pats vs Saints - It is had to not see the Pats as the underdog no matter if they face the Rams or the Saints if they get this far. Hopefully a neutral site again isn't the same as an away game for them. This is a legacy game for Brees and frankly I don't think he loses it. I don't think our D can deal with the saints offense and pass catching RBs. It will be a lot like the philly game. A lot of points but neither D gets many stops. Sadly they have the better offense this year with better play makers and the Pats can't keep up. Saints 41 Patriots 35
