Pats 38-28 Colts 31-13 Cowboys 34-20 Seahawks 20-17 The key for the Jags is not getting bombed early and having to try to pass to catch up. If they stay close and can be balanced--they can wear out the Pats defense and win. I am a little worried that Brady might put them away early--the Jags defense has been ripped pretty good through the air by good QBs/passing offenses-- Manning (twice), Big Ben (twice) and Brees. So I think the 1st quarter and half are key, either the Jags have to put up points or they have to slow NE--I think there better bet is having their offense ready to go, have to be sharp and relaxed out of the gate. On the Colts game, this is my close to sure thing blow out. Indy could control SD's offense as it is, without a healthy Gates they are not going to move it on Indy. Indy just has to put up a couple of TDs early and the game will slide downward from SD from there, I think they will. On the Boys-Giants. Both teams are excellent at pressuring the QB and in the defensive front 7. But Dallas has a better Oline, secondary and QB. Dallas is also well rested and the Giants have effortwise played 2 strait playoff games. I think Dallas will control from start to finish. As a Boys fan this game would really scare me if Shockey was there to open up the middle--their offense is not totally nuetered, but still a lot less scary, without him. While I do think TO will play, the Boys offense without him could be stifled quite a bit by NYG because then their sucky secondary won't be exploited to the same degree. But even w/o TO Witten, Barber and Crayton (plus Glenn, Hurd) are enough weapons for Romo to move the ball some. GB-Sea is the toughest call. These teams are very even matched and mirror images. Big play but sometimes risky QBs, good wideouts, inconsistent running games, pairs of good bookend pass rushers, and fast defenses overall. I think Holmgren knows enough to tip the scales for Seattle (get Frave into some mistakes) and Seattle will be fresh enough, only really having to exert themselves 1 game over the last few weeks..
I'm going with... Jaguars over Patriots - Probably the only team that NE should have been worried to face. The cold doesn't bother them. They play tough defense and ball control with a very good running game. Garrard can make the throws. If they get an early lead, they have the ability to hold on and keep Brady off the field. Chargers over Colts - The Chargers have been playing well and I'm not sure if the Colts will stop LT this time around. Giants over cowboys - This is more hope than belief, but the Giants have been playing very well the last couple of weeks. If Owens doesn't play, the cowboys might have a tough time scoring as the Giants will load the box to stop Barber/Jones. Packers over Seattle - You don't beat Brett Favre in the snow...and certainly not at home.
I've been calling the Jags upset for a while now. I haven't seen any weather reports for this weekend, but I'm really hoping for snow. Jags 24-20 Packers 27-10 Colts 28-27 Cowboys 21-16 Unless your name is Mike Vick.
I remember when Holgrem took an underdog road Packers team and beat his former team the 49ers in no small part to his knowledge of Steve Young and their offense (thank you from a Boys fan because we whacked that Packers team the next wekk). Same thing again here--Holmgren is the best person to get Farve into spots where he will make mistakes and Seattle has the pass rushers and secondary to execute the plan. Then the Boys will whack Seattle next week and we will send Mike another thank you note.
He had them on the ropes with a lesser Seattle team in the playoffs. Al Harris had the OT pick 6/Matt H choke for TD that saved the day. The man still knows Farve. The above event was what 3 years ago. I really think this game is a toss-up and GB might very well win. But if I have to pick one road team/dog--Seattle is it. It terms of even talent and relatively even freshness (compared to the other 3 match-ups)--this game is it.
