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The 2008 NFL Playoffs Continue - Lame Sports Predictions

By Jason Levy

Four games down, seven to go before the champion of the NFL season is crowned. Let’s just hope that the remaining games are better than what the Wild Card round gave us. With the exception of Jacksonville-Pittsburgh, all the games were duds.  Seattle blew past Washington after a brief scare to start the second half (Todd Collins on the road was too much for the spirit of Sean Taylor to overcome).  Tampa had three weeks to figure out how to beat the Giants and still couldn’t do it, and now every Giants fan has their Super Bowl trip to Phoenix planned.  And the Chargers acted like Super Bowl champs after winning their first playoff game in a decade, finally showing up in the second half against a mediocre-at-best Titans team.  Maybe last weekend lacked juice because few people really believe any team that won had a shot at the Super Bowl, or even winning this week.  The contenders are out to play, so let’s get to it.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers

“We’re gonna take the ball, and we’re gonna score” were Matt Hasselbeck’s famous last words after the overtime coin toss in Lambeau Field in 2004.  Technically he did score, but it was for the Packers.  Now Hasselbeck and Mike Holmgren are back in Green Bay trying to throw the wrenches into Brett Favre’s storybook season.  But the Seahawks are as bad on the road as they are good at home.  This season they went 3-5 on the road, only beating the awful 49ers and Rams, and an Eagles team that was in the midst of destroying their season.  When they faced off against quality opponents in cold weather cities, such as Cleveland and Pittsburgh, they came away empty handed.  Ever since the Packers blew a home playoff game to the Falcons in 2002, everyone’s backed off the Lambeau in January as a sure thing.  But chalk that up to the then-unheralded Michael Vick.  The Packers are simply a better team than the Seahawks, and Mr. Favre’s wild ride continues.

Packers 27 - Seahawks 10

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New England Patriots

I was rooting for the Jags last week because I thought they had a better chance of beating the Patriots than the Steelers did.  And they do.  If the Jags control the ball with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor, and David Garrard plays mistake-free football, and the Jags defense puts pressure on Tom Brady and contains Randy Moss, and wins the turnover battle, the Jags have a shot.  But honestly, can anybody expect that to happen. The Jags have been a nice story and if they peaked last year or next year they could’ve made a Super Bowl run, but the Patriots have had two weeks to prepare for this game, and you can’t expect them to be one-and-done in January against a predictable team in uncharted waters.  If the Pats get two quick strikes and its 14-0 with 3:30 left in the 1^st quarter, do you really think Garrard can rally the Jaguars, while the D silences the Pats for the rest of the game?  Everyone outside of New England will root for it, but save your energy for next week.

Patriots 38 - Jaguars 16

San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts

One of the easiest playoff games to pick in a long time.  The Cleveland Browns have to be furious, because they would’ve had a 21-0 halftime lead against the Chargers last Sunday.  But it was nice of the Chargers to show up for the second half.  And even if that Chargers team shows up in Indy for 60 minutes, it’ll be a Colts route.  Yes, the Bolts downed the Colts in San Diego back in week 10, but that was against an Indy team that was missing half its starters, just played an emotional game against the Pats, playing in a storm with Peyton Manning throwing six interceptions and Adam Vinatieri missing a 29-yard field goal.  Yet, the Colts still looked like the better team.  All you have to do on Sunday is look at Manning and Tony Dungy leading the Colts, and Phil Rivers and Norv Turner leading the Chargers.  And we’ll get the AFC Championship game we’ve all been waiting for.

Colts 41 - Chargers 14

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Giants are the “it” team now, the one team everyone thinks can win on the road this weekend.  The Giants probably have the best shot out of anyone, but beating Dallas is easier said than done.  Tony Romo has eaten the Giants D alive this season, scoring 76 points in two games.  Terrell Owens may be banged up, but he will play, and when he plays he always gives 100% of what he has.  And the Giants have had no answer for Jason Witten.  Remember back in week 10 when these two teams met in Giants Stadium, the Giants on a six game winning streak and ready to take over the division?  Well the Cowboys won that game handily, only trailing for a 4-minute stretch in the 2^nd quarter.  Now the Giants don’t have Jeremy Shockey, and will likely be without corner Sam Madison.  The home teams haven’t swept in the second round since 2002, but this looks like a year when it’s safe to say “There’s no place like home.”

Cowboys 30 - Giants 21

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