Sunday NFL Playoff Picks
January 13, 2013 Leave a comment
So I didn’t do so well yesterday going 0-2. I guess it serves me right for going against both Harbaugh brothers. I’m still 4-2 on the post-season so hopefully I can get back on the winning track today. Here are the picks:
Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (1:00 PM, FOX) – I love Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson. Pete Carroll not so much though. The Seahawks have been an incredible story, coming out of nowhere to win 11 games and then winning on the road against RG III and the Redskins last week. The Seahawks have a great defense but they will be tested today in the dome against Atlanta’s high-powered offense. The match-up between Seattle CB’s Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman facing off against Atlanta WRs Julio Jones and Roddy White will be a fun one to watch. I’m not too sure who will get the upper hand in that one. The Falcons are OK on defense. Hopefully they were watching how Green Bay handled the read option last night against San Fransisco and do the opposite of what they did. Seattle uses the read option to feast on opposing defenses and if they get that going it could be a long day for the Atlanta defense. A lot of people have pointed out this week that rookie Russell Wilson already has more playoff wins than Matt Ryan. Despite being the NFC’s #1 seed people aren’t expecting much from the Falcons. I think Matty Ice finally gets it done today as the travel will become too much for the Seahawks. If the Seahawks had home-field advantage I would ride them all the way to the Super Bowl but they don’t. I think Ryan does just enough to get his first playoff win and put Atlanta into the NFC Championship game.
Final Score Prediction: Atlanta Falcons 27, Seattle Seahawks 24
Houston Texans at New England Patriots (4:30, CBS) – I’m thinking that this game will be much closer than the one in Foxboro last month. Matt Schaub has struggled in the last few weeks but he can wake up today against a below average Pats secondary. On defense J.J. Watt has to show up more than he did in New England. The key for Houston is to slow down the Pats offense just enough to keep it close. Another factor for the Texans will be to limit the mistakes on offense. On the Pats side obviously they have a lot of playoff experience and the best playoff coach in the game in Bill Belichick. The Pats will try and do their thing on offense and they should move the ball with everyone healthy. Stevan Ridley will be key as they will need him to move the ball without fumbling it. The team who plays mistake-free ball will be the one who advances. I expect to see a more efficient Matt Schaub this time around against the New England defense but his one mistake will be the difference in the game. The Pats will take advantage and go into a re-match of last year’s AFC Championship game against the Ravens.
Final Score Prediction – New England Patriots 34, Houston Texans 24