Pink's NFL Picks

Last week’s record (12/24): 9-7; for the season, 140-99

Pick of the Week, 0-1; for the season, 9-7

 

Just to keep you updated, I managed to keep my head above water over the Christmas weekend by posting another 9-7 week, but I missed my Pick of the Week.

I had the Eagles in my upset special so that was a plus. Somehow the games coming up on New Year’s Eve weekend seem puzzling because you need a Ouija board to keep up with all the possibilities that are still available for teams to make the playoffs. We as a paper do not go to print on what turns out to be the last week of the regular season, but just for the record I’ll list my picks for the last weekend of games.

Washington over the Giants, 24-17, Dallas over Detroit, 34-10, Jets over Raiders, 20-7, St. Louis over Minnesota, 27-24 (Pick of the Week), Houston over Cleveland, 14-13, Saints over Carolina, 27-20, Tennessee over New England, 23-20, Tampa Bay over Seattle, 20-17, Pittsburgh over Bengals, 30-27, Chiefs over Jacksonville, 30-17, Buffalo over Baltimore, 17-14 (upset special), Miami over Indianapolis, 21-20, San Diego over Arizona, 34-14, Denver over the 49ers, 27-21 and Chicago over the Packers, 21-17.

New Year’s Weekend picks: 6-10; for the season, 146-109

Pick of the Week, 1-0, for the season, 10-7

Wouldn’t you know it? I waited to the end of the regular season to have a losing record for the week. I did get my Pick of the Week in, the Jets, but missed my upset special, the Bills over the Ravens. All of that, however, is history at this point, because it’s playoff time.

From the opening kickoff of the Wild Card games on Saturday, Jan. 6, until the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 4, all eyes will be focused on each round of the playoffs to see just who will get the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. Let’s get started with Wild Card this Saturday and my picks.

Saturday, Feb. 4

Kansas City at Indianapolis

— As with all the first-round games, this has the makings for a real exciting matchup. The Chiefs, with running back Larry Johnson, and the Colts, led by quarterback Peyton Manning, will provide the faithful with plenty of offense, but the key to game will be whose defense steps up.

 

Both coaches, the Colt’s Tony Dungy and the Chiefs’ Herman Edwards, have extensive backgrounds in coaching defenses, but for some reason, their teams are somewhat weak in this area. The Colts are a one-touchdown favorite, but I think that’s pushing it. I do, however, think the Colts will win, due in part to lesser-than-usual expectations and their big-game experience. I’ll stick with Indianapolis in this one, 24-21.

 

Both coaches, the Colt’s Tony Dungy and the Chiefs’ Herman Edwards, have extensive backgrounds in coaching defenses, but for some reason, their teams are somewhat weak in this area. The Colts are a one-touchdown favorite, but I think that’s pushing it. I do, however, think the Colts will win, due in part to lesser-than-usual expectations and their big-game experience. I’ll stick with Indianapolis in this one, 24-21.

 

— As with all the first-round games, this has the makings for a real exciting matchup. The Chiefs, with running back Larry Johnson, and the Colts, led by quarterback Peyton Manning, will provide the faithful with plenty of offense, but the key to game will be whose defense steps up.

 

Both coaches, the Colt’s Tony Dungy and the Chiefs’ Herman Edwards, have extensive backgrounds in coaching defenses, but for some reason, their teams are somewhat weak in this area. The Colts are a one-touchdown favorite, but I think that’s pushing it. I do, however, think the Colts will win, due in part to lesser-than-usual expectations and their big-game experience. I’ll stick with Indianapolis in this one, 24-21.

Dallas at Seattle

— As far as I see this game, it most likely represents Cowboys coach Bill Parcells’ farewell to the coaching ranks. You have to give the Seahawks credit for overcoming the loss of both pro-bowlers, running back Shawn Alexander and quarterback Dan Hasselbeck, and making it back to the playoffs.

 

As for the Cowboys, they may be another team that wide receiver Terrell Owens has managed to disrupt with his presence. To be honest, I’m not a Cowboys fan and that stems from the presence of owner Jerry Jones. If Dallas does lose the game — and I think they will — I’ll look forward to seeing Jones squirm a bit. I’ll take the Seahawks in this one, 27-20.

Sunday, Feb. 5

 

As for the Cowboys, they may be another team that wide receiver Terrell Owens has managed to disrupt with his presence. To be honest, I’m not a Cowboys fan and that stems from the presence of owner Jerry Jones. If Dallas does lose the game — and I think they will — I’ll look forward to seeing Jones squirm a bit. I’ll take the Seahawks in this one, 27-20.

Sunday, Feb. 5

 

— As far as I see this game, it most likely represents Cowboys coach Bill Parcells’ farewell to the coaching ranks. You have to give the Seahawks credit for overcoming the loss of both pro-bowlers, running back Shawn Alexander and quarterback Dan Hasselbeck, and making it back to the playoffs.

 

As for the Cowboys, they may be another team that wide receiver Terrell Owens has managed to disrupt with his presence. To be honest, I’m not a Cowboys fan and that stems from the presence of owner Jerry Jones. If Dallas does lose the game — and I think they will — I’ll look forward to seeing Jones squirm a bit. I’ll take the Seahawks in this one, 27-20.

Sunday, Feb. 5

New York Jets at New England

— Unfortunately for fans in the Northeast, we have to watch one of our local teams get bounced out of the playoffs early. These two teams know each other well and they split their two regular-season games this season. The odds makers like the Pats by better than a touchdown, as well they should. Head Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady are a tough combination to beat when it comes to big games.

 

First-year coach Eric Mangini of the Jets is basically a clone of Belichick and that is what makes this game even more interesting. I look for a low-scoring game with the Patriots holding on for a 21-17 victory.

 

First-year coach Eric Mangini of the Jets is basically a clone of Belichick and that is what makes this game even more interesting. I look for a low-scoring game with the Patriots holding on for a 21-17 victory.

 

— Unfortunately for fans in the Northeast, we have to watch one of our local teams get bounced out of the playoffs early. These two teams know each other well and they split their two regular-season games this season. The odds makers like the Pats by better than a touchdown, as well they should. Head Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady are a tough combination to beat when it comes to big games.

 

First-year coach Eric Mangini of the Jets is basically a clone of Belichick and that is what makes this game even more interesting. I look for a low-scoring game with the Patriots holding on for a 21-17 victory.

New York Giants at Philadelphia

— Some things never change and once again Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin and his archaic coaching methods have lost control of a team. Coughlin is a dinosaur and needs to be replaced. With that said, it is not his fault that the Giants suffered more than their share of injuries this season, and that has certainly played a major role in their horrendous performance in the second half of the season. On the other side of the ball, Head Coach Andy Reid has shown why he has the respect of his peers and players. He has not only overcome the loss of Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb — he has adjusted the Eagles’ offensive scheme to better suit the talents of quarterback Jeff Garcia, who has taken over the reins of the offense with much success. I hope I’m wrong, but I see the Giants bowing out of this game following a meager performance. I’ll take the Eagles, 24-14.

 

 

 

— Some things never change and once again Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin and his archaic coaching methods have lost control of a team. Coughlin is a dinosaur and needs to be replaced. With that said, it is not his fault that the Giants suffered more than their share of injuries this season, and that has certainly played a major role in their horrendous performance in the second half of the season. On the other side of the ball, Head Coach Andy Reid has shown why he has the respect of his peers and players. He has not only overcome the loss of Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb — he has adjusted the Eagles’ offensive scheme to better suit the talents of quarterback Jeff Garcia, who has taken over the reins of the offense with much success. I hope I’m wrong, but I see the Giants bowing out of this game following a meager performance. I’ll take the Eagles, 24-14.

 

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